The present disclosure relates to a sewing machine that is provided with a plurality of needle bars and to a non-transitory computer-readable medium.
A sewing machine that is provided with a plurality of needle bars is known. For each one of a plurality of partial patterns that make up an embroidery pattern, the multi-needle sewing machine acquires a number n, which is the number of stitches that are required in order to sew the partial pattern. The multi-needle sewing machine is configured to allocate a plurality of upper threads to the plurality of the needle bars, based on the acquired number n, such that the numbers of stitches that are allocated among the plurality of the needle bars are not distributed unevenly.
The known sewing machine is able to change the threads only at specific times that are set by a user when sewing starts.
Various embodiments of the broad principles derived herein provide a sewing machine and a non-transitory computer-readable medium that can make it more convenient for the user to sew an embroidery pattern that is sewn using a plurality of the types of the upper threads.
Embodiments provide a sewing machine that includes a plurality of needle bars, a notification portion, a processor, and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes. The processes include acquiring sewing data for sewing an embroidery pattern that is made up of a plurality of partial patterns, the sewing data including a plurality of upper thread data sets specifying types of upper threads associated with individual ones of the plurality of the partial patterns. The processes include setting correspondences between a needle bar from among the plurality of the needle bars and an upper thread data set included in the acquired sewing data, for each of the plurality of the needle bar. The processes include sewing each of the plurality of the partial patterns on a workpiece by operating, from among the plurality of the needle bars, a needle bar for which the correspondence with the upper thread data set is set. The processes include detecting an error that occurs during the sewing of each of the plurality of the partial patterns. The processes include stopping the sewing of a partial pattern being sewn in a case where the error is detected. The processes include specifying a change-eligible needle bar, which is one of the plurality of the needle bars and for which the sewing is completed, in a case where a target data set exists among the plurality of the upper thread data sets included in the sewing data, the correspondence with one of the plurality of the needle bars not being set for the target data set. The processes include causing the notification portion to notify information that indicates the specified change-eligible needle bar in a case where the error is detected.
Embodiments further provide a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores computer-readable instructions that are executed by a processor of a sewing machine provided with a plurality of needle bars and a notification portion, the computer-readable instructions, when executed, instructing the processor to perform processes. The processes include acquiring sewing data for sewing an embroidery pattern that is made up of a plurality of partial patterns, the sewing data including a plurality of upper thread data sets specifying types of upper threads associated with individual ones of the plurality of the partial patterns. The processes include setting correspondences between a needle bar from among the plurality of the needle bars and an upper thread data set included in the acquired sewing data, for each of the plurality of the needle bar. The processes include sewing each of the plurality of the partial patterns on a workpiece by operating, from among the plurality of the needle bars, a needle bar for which the correspondence with the upper thread data set is set. The processes include detecting an error that occurs during the sewing of each of the plurality of the partial patterns. The processes include stopping the sewing of a partial pattern being sewn in a case where the error is detected. The processes include specifying a change-eligible needle bar, which is one of the plurality of the needle bars and for which the sewing is completed, in a case where a target data set exists among the plurality of the upper thread data sets included in the sewing data, the correspondence with one of the plurality of the needle bars not being set for the target data set. The processes include causing the notification portion to notify information that indicates the specified change-eligible needle bar in a case where the error is detected.
Embodiments will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained with reference to the drawings. A physical configuration of a multi-needle sewing machine (hereinafter simply called the sewing machine) 1 according to the present embodiment will be explained with reference to
As shown in
An operation portion 6 is provided on the arm 4. The operation portion 6 is provided with a liquid crystal display (LCD) 7, a touch panel 8, a connector 9, and a start/stop switch 41. Various types of information that are used when a user inputs a command, for example, may be displayed on the LCD 7 an operation screen. The touch panel 8 is used for accepting commands from the user. The user is able to select and set various types of conditions, such as a sewing pattern and sewing conditions, by using a finger or a stylus pen to press a position on the touch panel 8 that corresponds to the position of an input key or the like that is displayed on the LCD 7. Hereinafter, when the user uses a finger or a stylus pen to press a position on the touch panel 8, the operation of doing so will be called a panel operation. The connector 9 is a USB-compliant connector, and the connector 9 can be connected to a USB device 160 (refer to
A tube-shaped cylinder head 10 that extends toward the front from the lower end of the pillar 3 is provided below the arm 4. A shuttle (not shown in the drawings) is provided in the interior of the front end of the cylinder head 10. The shuttle may accommodate a bobbin (not shown in the drawings), around which a lower thread (not shown in the drawings) is wound. A shuttle drive mechanism (not shown in the drawings), and a lower thread sensor 37 are provided in the interior of the cylinder head 10. The shuttle drive mechanism (not shown in the drawings) is configured to rotationally drive the shuttle. The lower thread sensor 37 is a known sensor that detects that the lower thread has been consumed and has run out (for example, refer to Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2006-34677, relevant portions of which are herein incorporated by reference). A needle plate 16, which is rectangular in a plan view, is provided on the top face of the cylinder head 10. A needle hole 36, through Which the sewing needle 35 may pass, is provided in the needle plate 16. Among the six needle bars 31, the one needle bar 31 that is positioned in the sewing position, which is directly above the needle hole 36, is the sewing needle bar.
A Y carriage 26 of an embroidery frame movement mechanism 11 (refer to
A left-right pair of thread spool holders 12 are provided on the rear side of the top face of the arm 4. Three thread spool pins 14 are provided on each of the thread spool holders 12. The thread spool pins 14 are pins that extend in the up-down direction. The thread spool pins 14 may support thread spools 13. Six thread spools 13, the same number as the number of the needle bars 31, can be disposed on the pair of the thread spool holders 12. The upper threads 15 may be supplied from the thread spools 13 that are disposed on the thread spool holders 12. The upper threads 15 may be supplied through thread guide paths to the eyes (not shown in the drawings) of the corresponding sewing needles 35 that are mounted on the lower ends of the needle bars 31. The thread guide paths include thread guides 17, tensioners 18, and thread take-up levers 19. Although details are not shown in the drawings, the tensioner 18 is provided in its interior with a rotating plate 34 and a rotation detector 33 that are shown in
The electrical configuration that performs overall control of the sewing machine 1 will be explained with reference to
The sewing needle drive portion 120 is provided with drive circuits 121, 123, 125, a drive shaft motor 122, a needle bar case motor 45, and a threading mechanism 126. The drive shaft motor 122 may move the sewing needle bar reciprocally up and down by operating the needle bar drive mechanism 32. The drive circuit 121 may drive the drive shaft motor 122 in accordance with a control signal from the control portion 60. The needle bar case motor 45 may cause the needle bar case 21 to move in the left-right direction. The drive circuit 123 may drive the needle bar case motor 45 in accordance with a control signal from the control portion 60. Although details are not shown in the drawings, the threading mechanism 126 is provided below the front end of the arm 4. The threading mechanism 126 is used for inserting the upper thread 15 (refer to
The sewn object drive portion 130 is provided with drive circuits 131, 133, the X axis motor 132, and the Y axis motor 134. The X axis motor 132 may move the embroidery frame 84 in the left-right direction by driving the embroidery frame movement mechanism 11. The drive circuit 131 may drive the X axis motor 132 in accordance with a control signal from the control portion 60. The Y axis motor 134 may move the embroidery frame 84 in the front-rear direction by driving the embroidery frame movement mechanism 11. The drive circuit 133 may drive the Y axis motor 134 in accordance with a control signal from the control portion 60.
The operation portion 6 is provided with the touch panel 8, the connector 9, a drive circuit 135, the LCD 7, and the start/stop switch 41. The drive circuit 135 may drive the LCD 7 in accordance with a control signal from the control portion 60. The connector 9 is provided with a function that connects with the USB device 160. The USB device 160 may be a PC or a USB memory, for example.
The control portion 60 is provided with a CPU 61, a ROM 62, a RAM 63, an EEPROM (registered trademark) 64, and an input/output interface (I/O) 66, all of which are connected by a bus 65. The I/O 66 is also connected to the rotation detector 33, the lower thread sensor 37, the sewing needle drive portion 120, the sewn object drive portion 130, and the operation portion 6.
The CPU 61 is configured to perform the main control of the sewing machine 1. In accordance with various types of programs that may be stored in a program storage area (not shown in the drawings) of the ROM 62, the CPU 61 may perform various types of computations and processing that pertain to sewing. The ROM 62 is provided with a plurality of storage areas, including the program storage area and a pattern storage area, which are not shown in the drawings. Various types of programs for operating the sewing machine 1, including a main program, are stored in the program storage area. The main program is a program for performing main processing, which will be described later. Sewing data are stored in the pattern storage area. The sewing data and embroidery patterns will be explained later. The RAM 63 is a storage element to and from which data can be written and read as desired. The RAM 63 is provided as necessary with storage areas that contain computation results and the like from computational processing that the CPU 61 performs. The EEPROM 64 is a storage element to and from which data can be written and read as desired. Various types of parameters for performing various types of processing for the sewing machine 1 are stored in the EEPROM 64.
An operation that forms stitches on the workpiece C that is held by the embroidery frame 84 will be explained with reference to
An embroidery pattern 202 and a screen 200 will be explained with reference to
Sewing data 51, an allocation table 52, and a needle bar setting table 53 will be explained with reference to
The main processing that the sewing machine 1 performs will be explained with reference to
As shown in
The CPU 61 sets a change timing (Step S3). The change timing is the timing at which a change is made to the correspondence between one of the upper thread data sets and one of the needle bars 31, which is stored in the needle bar setting table 53. In a case where, before the sewing starts, any one of the upper thread data sets for which the sewing order is from 1 to 6 has not been set for one of the plurality of the needle bars 31, the change timing is set to before the sewing starts. If the change timing is set to a time after the sewing stats, the change timing is set to a time after an M-th partial pattern in the sewing order has been sewn and before an (M+1)-th partial pattern is sewn. M is an integer not less than 1. In other words, the change timing is set to the time when the partial pattern that the sewing machine 1 will be sewing is changed. When the time for the change arrives, the user changes the type of the upper thread 15 that is supplied to the sewing needle 35 that is mounted on the needle bar 31. In other words, the user performs switching of the upper thread 15. In the specific example of the embroidery pattern 202, nine types of the upper threads 15 are used, which is more than the number of the needle bar 31 in the sewing machine 1. Accordingly, the CPU 61 sets a change timing CT between the sixth and the seventh partial patterns in the sewing order, as shown in the allocation table 52 in
The CPU 61 determines whether or not the current time, which is immediately prior to the sewing of the N-th partial pattern, has reached the change timing CT (Step S4). In a case where N is 1, the current time has not reached the change timing CT (NO at Step S4). In that case, the CPU 61 determines whether or not N is 1 (Step S9). In a case where N is not 1 (NC) at Step S9), the CPU 61 performs the processing at Step S11, which will be described later. In a case where N is 1 (YES at Step S9), the CPU 61 determines whether or not a sewing start command from the start/stop switch 41 has been detected (Step S10). The CPU 61 waits until the sewing start command is detected (NO at Step S10). In a case where the sewing start command is detected (YES at Step S10), the CPU 61 performs processing that sews the N-th partial pattern on the workpiece by operating the needle bar 31 for which the upper thread data for the N-th partial pattern have been set (Step S11). By outputting a control signal to the drive circuit 123, the CPU 61 moves the needle bar 31 that is associated with the upper thread data for the N-th partial pattern to the sewing position, which is located directly above the needle hole 36. In accordance with the coordinate data for the N-th partial pattern, the CPU 61 moves the embroidery frame 84 by outputting control signals to the drive circuit 131 and the drive circuit 133. The CPU 61 outputs a control signal to the drive circuit 121 to operate the drive shaft motor 122 in synchronization the moving of the embroidery frame 84. The N-th partial pattern is thus sewn. During the sewing processing, the CPU 61 starts processing that updates, at specified intervals (for example, 100 milliseconds), a sewing time T that is stored in the EEPROM 64.
The CPU 61 determines whether or not an error has been detected (Step S12). The error may be that the upper thread 15 has run out or the lower thread has run out, for example. If the upper thread 15 has run out, it is detected based on the signal that is output from the rotation detector 33. If the lower thread has run out, it is detected based on a signal that is output from the lower thread sensor 37. In a case where an error has not been detected (NO at Step S12), the CPU 61 performs the processing at Step S19, which will be described later.
In a case where an error has been detected (YES at Step S12), the CPU 61 stops the sewing of the N-th partial pattern (Step S13). The CPU 61 stops the moving of the embroidery frame 84 and the operating of the needle bar 31 by outputting control signals to the drive circuit 131, the drive circuit 133, and the drive circuit 121. The CPU 61 stops the processing that updates the sewing time T that is stored in the EEPROM 64. The CPU 61 causes the LCD 7 to display a screen that indicates to the effect that an error has occurred (Step S14). For example, the CPU 61 may cause the LCD 7 to display a screen 250 in
In the lower thread processing, as shown in
In a case where the sewing time T that was acquired at Step S21 is greater than the threshold value (YES at Step S22), the CPU 61 causes the LCD 7 to display lower thread replacement information (Step S23). For example, the CPU 61 may cause the LCD 7 to display a screen 255 in
The CPU 61 waits until the selecting of one of the input key 257 and the input key 258 has been detected (NO at Step S24; NO at Step S26). In a case where the selecting of the input key 257 has been detected (YES at Step S24), the CPU 61 sets the sewing time T to zero (Step S25). In a case where the selecting of the input key 258 has been detected (YES at Step S26), as well as after the processing at Step S25 is performed, the CPU 61 terminates the lower thread processing and returns the processing to the main processing in
As shown in
In the upper thread processing, as shown in
In a case where the variable N is from 2 to 6, the change-eligible needle bar does exist (YES at Step S31). In that case, the CPU 61 specifies the change-eligible needle bar and the target data (Step S32). For example, in a case where the variable N is 4, the change-eligible needle bars are the needle bars 31 with the needle bar numbers 1 to 3. The target data are the upper thread data sets for the partial patterns 7 to 9 in the sewing order. The CPU 61 acquires the correspondences between the change-eligible needle bars and the target data sets (Step S33). In the present example, the CPU 61 acquires the correspondences between the change-eligible needle bars and the target data sets according to the allocation table 52 that was created at Step S2. For example, in a case where the variable N is 4, the individual needle bars 31 with the needle bar numbers 1 to 3 are respectively associated with the upper thread data (the target data) sets 7 to 9 in the sewing order. In a case where the variable N is one of 5 and 6, the number of the change-eligible needle bars is greater than the number of the target data sets. In those cases, there is at least one of the change-eligible needle bars with which none of the target data sets is associated. In a case where the variable N is one of 2 and 3, the number of the change-eligible needle bars is less than the number of the target data sets. In those cases, there is at least one of the target data sets that is not associated with one of the change-eligible needle bars.
The CPU 61 performs processing for determining whether or not the aforementioned specified condition has been satisfied. Specifically, the CPU 61 computes a number P of the change timings (Step S34). The number P of the change timings is the number of the change timings in a case where the change timing is set, and the correspondences between the needle bars 31 and the upper thread data sets are changed, while the sewing is stopped due to an error. The change timings that are set while the sewing is stopped due to an error are not included in the number P of the change timings. For example, in a case where the variable N is 4, if the upper threads 15 are switched for each one of the needle bars 31 with the needle bar numbers 1 to 3 while the sewing is stopped due to an error, the change timing CT (refer to
The CPU 61 determines whether or not the number P that was computed at Step S34 is less than the number Q that was computed at Step S35 (Step S36). The processing at Step S36 is processing that determines whether or not the number of the change timings is less in a case where the change timing is set while the sewing is stopped due to an error and the change timings that were set at Step S3 are changed than in a case where the change timing is not set while the sewing is stopped due to an error. In a case where the variable N is one of 2 and 3, the number P is not less than the number Q (NO at Step S36). In that case, the CPU 61 performs the processing at Step S44, which will be described later. In a case where the variable N is a number from 4 to 6, the number P is less than the number Q (YES at Step S36). In that case, the CPU 61 sets the change timing while the sewing is stopped due to an error (Step S37). The CPU 61 causes the LCD 7 to display information that indicates the change-eligible needle bars that were specified at Step S32 and information that indicates the types of the upper threads 15 that are indicated by the target data (Step S38). For example, on the LCD 7, the CPU 61 may cause the LCD 7 to display a screen 260 that is shown in
The CPU 61 waits until the selecting of one of the input key 262 and the input key 263 has been detected (NO at Step S39; NO at Step S42). In a case where the selecting of the input key 262 has been detected (YES at Step S39), the CPU 61 sets the needle bar setting table 53 (Step S40). Specifically, in the needle bar setting table 53 in
In a case where the selecting of the input key 263 has been detected (NO at Step S39; YES at Step S42), the CPU 61, without changing the needle bar setting table 54 and without updating the change timings, discards the change timing that was set at Step S37 while the sewing is stopped due to an error (Step S43). Following Step S41 and Step S43, the CPU 61 determines whether or not the start/stop switch 41 has been pressed to input a command to restart the sewing (Step S44). The CPU 61 waits until the command to restart the sewing is detected (NO at Step S44). In a case where the CPU 61 has acquired the command to restart the sewing (YES at Step S44), the CPU 61 restarts the sewing of the N-th partial pattern (Step S45). The CPU 61 restarts the processing that updates, at the specified intervals, the sewing time T that is stored in the EEPROM 64. The CPU 61 terminates the upper thread processing and returns the processing to the main processing in
As shown in
In a case where the variable N reaches 7 without an error having occurred during the sewing, it is determined at Step S4 that the current time has reached the change timing CT (YES at Step S4). In the same manner as at Step S32 in
According to the sewing machine 1, when the sewing machine 1 has detected an error, the user is able to specify the change-eligible needle bar based on the information on the LCD 7. Based on the change-eligible needle bar for Which the LCD 7 has provided notification, the user, in responding to the error, is able to choose whether or not to switch the upper thread 15. If, in responding to the error, the user switches the upper thread 15, it is possible that the number of times that the switching of the upper thread 15 is performed for the sewing machine 1 will decrease. If, in responding to the error, the user switches the upper thread 15, it is possible to decrease the number of the upper threads 15 that are replaced at any one time and to distribute the work of switching the upper threads 15, without increasing the number of times that the sewing machine 1 is stopped solely in order to switch the upper thread 15. The sewing machine 1 is therefore able to make it more convenient for the user to sew an embroidery pattern that is sewn using a plurality of types of the upper threads 15.
According to the sewing machine 1, the user is able to check, on the LCD 7, the change-eligible needle bar and the type of the upper thread 15 that is indicated by the target data. In responding to the error, the user is able to choose whether or not to switch the type of the upper thread 15 that is supplied to the change-eligible needle bar to the type of the upper thread 15 for which the LCD 7 has provided notification. The sewing machine 1 is therefore able to make it more convenient for the user to sew an embroidery pattern that is sewn using a plurality of types of the upper threads 15.
According to the sewing machine 1, the user is able to specify the change-eligible needle bar at the change timing, based on the notification on the LCD 7. The user is able to use the LCD 7 to specify the needle bars 31 for which it is necessary to switch the upper threads 15. The sewing machine 1 is able to change the change timing in accordance with a command. If, in responding to the error, the user switches the upper thread 15, based on the notification on the LCD 7, and inputs a command, the change timing can be changed automatically to match the switching of the upper thread 15. In a case where, in response to the switching of the upper thread 15, a notification according to a change timing that was set in advance becomes unnecessary, the sewing machine 1 is able to avoid making the unnecessary notification.
According to the sewing machine 1, the user is notified of the change-eligible needle bar only in a case where the number of the change timings will be decreased if the upper thread 15 is switched in response to an error. Based on whether or not the LCD 7 notifies the user of the change-eligible needle bar, the user is able to determine whether or not the number of the change timings will be decreased. In a case where the user has switched the upper thread 15 in accordance with the information in the notification on the LCD 7, the user is able to switch the upper thread 15 in response to the error, while taking into consideration the fact that the number of the change timings will be decreased.
According to the sewing machine 1, after the sewing machine 1 has ceased to provide an error notification, because the user has responded to the error, for example, the user is able to check the change-eligible needle bar on the LCD 7. The sewing machine 1 is able to give priority to responding to an error. After the user has responded to the error, the user can choose whether or not to switch the upper thread 15 by taking into consideration factors such as the effort and time required, for example.
The sewing machine 1 makes it possible for the user, in responding to the detection of an error, to know, based on information on the LCD 7, approximately how much of the lower thread is remaining. In responding to the error, the user can choose whether or not to replace the lower thread, based on the information in the notification on the LCD 7. If, in responding to the error, the user replaces the lower thread for which the usable amount has become low, the user is able to avoid a situation in which the lower thread runs out comparatively soon after the sewing is restarted, forcing the sewing machine 1 to stop. The sewing machine 1 is therefore able to make it more convenient for the user to sew an embroidery pattern that is sewn using a plurality of types of the upper threads 15.
The sewing machine and a non-transitory computer-readable medium of the present disclosure are not limited to the embodiment that is described above, and various types of modification can be made within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the modifications (A) to (C) below may be made as desired.
(A) The sewing machine 1 needs only to be a sewing machine that is provided with a plurality of needle bars, and the number and the arrangement of the needle bars may be modified. A notification portion needs only to be capable of notifying information, and it may be a display device other than an LCD, such as an LED or the like, a speaker, or the like.
(B) The programs that perform the processing in
(C) The individual steps in the processing in
(C-1) The change-eligible needle bar needs only to be a needle bar whose sewing is completed. Consider, for example, a case in which a specific upper thread is used frequently. In a case where a function exists that prohibits any change to the correspondence between the upper thread data and the needle bar, the CPU 61 may specify a needle bar as a prohibited needle bar, for which any change to the correspondence with the upper thread data is prohibited. It is then acceptable for the CPU 61 not to specify the prohibited needle bar as a change-eligible needle bar, even if the sewing by the prohibited needle bar is completed. That makes it possible to reliably avoid any change to a needle bar that is specified as a prohibited needle bar. In a case where the number of the change-eligible needle bars is greater than the number of the target data sets, the CPU 61 may give priority to the needle bars for which the number of stitches is low and associate the target data sets with those needle bars, as in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2011-167446, relevant portions of which are herein incorporated by reference. In a case where an upper thread of a particular type is used for a plurality of partial patterns at different points in the sewing order, it may happen that even though one of the partial patterns has been sewn, another one of the partial patterns has not yet been sewn. In a case where the upper thread data are set for the needle bar in this manner, it is acceptable for the CPU 61 not to specify the needle bar as a change-eligible needle bar, even though it is a needle bar for which the sewing is completed. This eliminates the user effort that would be required in order to repeatedly mount the same type of upper thread on the sewing machine 1. The processing at Step S8 that sets the correspondence between the needle bar and the upper thread data may also be performed before the upper thread is switched.
(C-2) It is acceptable for the CPU 61 not to allocate the target data to the needle bars at Step S2. In that case, the CPU 61 may allocate the target data to the change-eligible needle bars at the change timing. The processing at Step S3 that sets the change timing may be omitted where necessary. In that case, the CPU 61, by referring to the needle bar setting table 53, may determine whether or not the N-th partial pattern can be sewn using one of the plurality of the needle bars 31. In a case where the N-th partial pattern cannot be sewn, a message that prompts the user to switch the upper thread 15 may be displayed on the LCD 7. In a case where the change timing is set at Step S3, the processing at Step S41 in
(C-3) In a case where the change-eligible needle bar and the target data are specified in the processing in
(C-4) In the processing at Steps S6 and S38, it is sufficient for information to be displayed that is able to specify at least the change-eligible needle bar. The information that is able to specify the change-eligible needle bar may be modified as desired in accordance with the type of the notification portion. For example, in a case where the notification portion is a plurality of LEDs that are disposed in positions that correspond to the individual thread spools 13 on the thread spool holder 12, the CPU 61 may cause the LED that corresponds to the change-eligible needle bar to turn on or to flash. In a case where the notification portion is the LCD 7, the form of the display of the change-eligible needle bar in the upper thread display area 203 may be different from the form of the display of the needle bars 31 that are not the change-eligible needle bar. For example, the form of the display may be a background color, the presence or absence of flashing, the color of the text characters, or the like. In the processing at Steps S6 and S38, in a case where the notification includes information that indicates the type of the upper thread, the information that can specify the type of the upper thread may be modified as desired in accordance with the type of the notification portion. In a case where the notification portion is the LCD 7, the CPU 61 may use a color display in the upper thread display area 203 to display the color of the upper thread that is associated with the change-eligible needle bar.
(C-5) The lower thread processing at Step S17 may be omitted as desired, and the user may be enabled to choose whether or not the lower thread processing will be performed. Information that indicates the amount of the lower thread that is used may also be information other than the sewing time T, such as the number of stitches or the like, and an electrical signal may also be output from the lower thread sensor 37.
The apparatus and methods described above with reference to the various embodiments are merely examples. It goes without saying that they are not confined to the depicted embodiments. While various features have been described in conjunction with the examples outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, and/or improvements of those features and/or examples may be possible. Accordingly, the examples, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative. Various changes may be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the underlying principles.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2015-194367 | Sep 2015 | JP | national |
This application is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/JP2016/072302, filed Jul. 29, 2016, which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-194367, filed on Sep. 30, 2015. The disclosure of the foregoing application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/JP2016/072302 | Jul 2016 | US |
Child | 15716002 | US |