Sewing machine capable of embroidery sewing

Abstract

A sewing machine capable of embroidery sewing includes a plurality types of embroidery frames which hold a workpiece cloth; a carriage that has the embroidery frame detachably attached thereto by sliding the embroidery frame in a predetermined direction; a frame moving unit that moves the carriage in two directions intersecting in a horizontal plane; a control unit that controls the frame moving unit; a detection that detects a type of embroidery frame attached to the carriage; an operation instructing portion that allows a user to instruct movement of the embroidery frame to a predetermined position suitable for attachment/detachment of the embroidery frame, the operation instructing portion outputting a movement instructing signal to the control unit when operated; and a validating unit that validates operation of the operation instructing portion provided that an attachment of a specific type of embroidery frame is detected by the detection mechanism.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become clear upon reviewing the following description of the illustrative aspects with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,

FIG. 1 indicates a first illustrative aspect of the present disclosure showing a perspective view of a sewing machine having a clamp-type embroidery frame attached thereto;

FIG.2 is a perspective view of a clamp-type embroidery frame;

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged front view of the clamp-type embroidery frame in an open position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a detection mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the carriage;

FIG. 6 shows a content of a specified switch data memory;

FIG. 7 is a transverse plan view showing a main portion of a thread cutting mechanism;

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the thread cutting mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a schematic block view of electrical configuration of the sewing machine;

FIG. 10 shows a content of a specific-type embroidery frame memory;

FIG. 11A is a plan view of the clamp-type embroidery frame and a removable area thereof;

FIG. 11B is a plan view of a general embroidery frame;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart indicating process flow for an embroidery frame moving control;

FIG. 13 is a front view showing an example of a detach key being displayed to the display;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the sewing machine when the embroidery frame is moved to an attachment/detachment position;

FIG. 15 corresponds to FIG. 12 and indicates a second illustrative aspect of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 16 indicates a third illustrative aspect of the present disclosure showing a main portion of a flowchart indicating process flow for the embroidery frame moving control.

Claims

1. A sewing machine capable of embroidery sewing comprising: a plurality types of embroidery frames which hold a workpiece cloth;a carriage that has the embroidery frame detachably attached thereto by sliding the embroidery frame in a predetermined direction;a frame moving unit that moves the carriage in two directions intersecting in a horizontal plane;a control unit that controls the frame moving unit;a detection mechanism that detects a type of embroidery frame attached to the carriage;an operation instructing portion that allows a user to instruct movement of the embroidery frame to a predetermined position suitable for attachment/detachment of the embroidery frame, the operation instructing portion outputting a movement instruction signal to the control unit when operated; anda validating unit that validates operation of the operation instructing portion provided that attachment of a specific type of embroidery frame is detected by the detection mechanism.

2. The sewing machine of claim 1, wherein the detection mechanism includes a plurality of detection switches provided in the carriage, and one or a plurality of switch activators formed in the embroidery frame in varying patterns for each type of embroidery frame.

3. The sewing machine of claim 1, wherein the operation instructing portion is composed of a transparent touch panel provided on a liquid crystal display surface for displaying sewing information.

4. The sewing machine of claim 3, wherein the validating unit validates operation of the operation instructing portion by displaying an operation key to the liquid crystal display.

5. The sewing machine of claim 1, wherein the specific type of embroidery frame is a clamp-type embroidery frame provided with an upper frame and a lower frame vertically clamping a workpiece cloth and a clamp mechanism that presses the upper frame against the lower frame.

6. The sewing machine of claim 5, wherein the predetermined attachment/detachment position is a position allowing the clamp-type embroidery frame to pass through a space between an underside of an embroidery presser foot and a needle plate upper surface when moving the clamp-type embroidery frame in a detaching direction.

7. The sewing machine of claim 6, wherein the predetermined attachment/detachment position is a position where the clamp-type embroidery frame is moved to a front side of a sewing machine body.

8. The sewing machine of claim 1, further comprising a thread cutting mechanism that cuts a needle thread extending from an eye of a sewing needle attached to a lower end of a needle bar and a bobbin thread at a position below a needle plate, wherein when attachment of the specific type of embroidery frame to the carriage has been detected by the detection mechanism, the control unit controls the thread cutting mechanism to cut the needle thread and the bobbin thread after completion of embroidery sewing operation and thereafter controls the frame moving unit to move the specific type of embroidery frame to the predetermined attachment/detachment position even in case the operation instructing portion is not operated.

9. The sewing machine of claim 1, further comprising a position detector that detects a current position of the carriage or the embroidery frame, wherein when attachment of specific type of embroidery frame to the carriage has been detected by the detection mechanism, the validating unit validates operation of the operation instructing portion based on a position information of the position detector provided that the specific type of embroidery frame is not in a suitable position for attachment/detachment.

10. A sewing machine capable of embroidery sewing, comprising: a plurality types of embroidery frames which hold a workpiece cloth;a carriage that has the embroidery frame detachably attached thereto by sliding the embroidery frame in a predetermined direction;a frame moving unit that moves the carriage in two directions intersecting in a horizontal plane;a detection mechanism that detects a type of embroidery frame attached to the carriage;thread cutting mechanism that cuts a needle thread extending from an eye of a sewing needle attached to a lower end of a needle bar and a bobbin thread at a position below a needle plate; anda control unit that controls the thread cutting mechanism to cut the needle thread and the bobbin thread after completion of embroidery sewing operation when attachment of the specific type of embroidery frame to the carriage has been detected by the detection mechanism and thereafter controlling the frame moving unit to move the specific type of embroidery frame to the predetermined attachment/detachment position.

11. The sewing machine of claim 10, further comprising a position detector that detects a current position of the carriage or the embroidery frame, wherein the control unit moves the specific type of embroidery frame to the predetermined attachment/detachment position based on a position information of the position detector when attachment of the specific type of embroidery frame to the carriage has been detected by the detection mechanism provided that the specific type of embroidery frame is not in a suitable position for attachment/detachment.

12. The sewing machine of claim 10, wherein the specific type of embroidery frame is a clamp-type embroidery frame provided with an upper frame and a lower frame vertically clamping a workpiece cloth and a clamp mechanism that presses the upper frame against the lower frame.

13. The sewing machine of claim 12, wherein the predetermined attachment/detachment position is a position allowing the clamp-type embroidery frame to pass through a space between an underside of an embroidery presser foot and a needle plate upper surface when moving the clamp-type embroidery frame in a detaching direction.

14. The sewing machine of claim 13, wherein the predetermined attachment/detachment position is a position where the clamp-type embroidery frame is moved to a front side of a sewing machine body.