Patent Application
20120245727
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application 2011-064349, filed on Mar. 23, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure relates to a sewing machine system comprising a sewing machine and a computer communicably connected to each other. The present disclosure also relates to a sewing machine constituting such sewing machine system.
In the field of sewing machines, sewing machine systems have been known in which a sewing machine and a computer are communicably connected to each other to allow data communication between them. In one example of such sewing machine system, the sewing machine sews patterns on a workpiece based on the incoming information from the computer. The sewing machine, on the other hand, sends information such as error information to the computer for trouble shooting purposes when encountering errors within the sewing machine.
In conventional systems however, information stored in the computer pertaining to the sewing operation such as pattern data and control programs were not accessible from the sewing machine side. Thus, it is desired to provide the user with access to such information through the sewing machine.
Further, in conventional systems, information was sent from the sewing machine to the computer only when errors were encountered within the sewing machine. However, access to other information such as the operational status of the sewing machine is desired on demand from the computer side to improve system management.
One object of the present disclosure is to provide a sewing machine system comprising a sewing machine and a computer communicably connected to each other and that, when required, allows sewing information stored in the computer to be viewed from the sewing machine and sewing machine information such as the operational status of the sewing machine to be viewed from the computer. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a sewing machine configured to be incorporated into such sewing machine system.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, a sewing machine system including a sewing machine and a computer interconnected with each other is disclosed. The computer is configured to store sewing information and the sewing machine is configured to form sewing patterns on a workpiece based on the sewing information. The sewing machine includes a connecting unit configured to establish connection with the computer; an input unit configured to receive user inputs; an accessing unit configured to access the sewing information stored in the computer through the connecting unit based on the user inputs made through the input unit; and a disclosing unit that discloses sewing machine information pertaining to the sewing machine to the computer through the connecting unit.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, a sewing machine is disclosed. The sewing machine is interconnected with a computer that is configured to store sewing information to constitute a sewing machine system. The sewing machine includes a connecting unit configured to establish connection with the computer; an input unit configured to receive user inputs; an accessing unit configured to access the sewing information stored in the computer through the connecting unit based on the user inputs made through the input unit; and a disclosing unit that discloses sewing machine information pertaining to the sewing machine to the computer through the connecting unit.
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.
One exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in
Access point 11 supports wired and wireless LAN (Local Area Network) features and allows reciprocal communication between the nodes or the terminals of the LAN such as PC 12, mobile terminal 13, and sewing machine 14. Access point 11 is provided with an Internet connecting feature typically implemented as a router functionality which is used to connect to internet 16 by way of communication provider 15. Internet 16 is also accessed by communication carrier 17. In the example shown in
PC 12 is an off-the-shelf computer readily available in the market and is typically configured by LCD (liquid crystal display) 121 and key board 122. In the first embodiment, PC 12 is connected to access point 11 through wired LAN connection to allow the user to access embroidery data and control programs from server 19 through internet 16. The user may also create the embroidery pattern data using PC 12. In an alternative embodiment, PC 12 and access point 11 may be connected through wireless LAN.
Mobile terminal 13 is typically a hand carried terminal with wireless LAN feature such as mobile phones, smart phones, and PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). Mobile terminal 13 is also connected to internet 16 through communication carrier 17.
The two sewing machines 14 are communicably connected to access point 11 through a wireless LAN connection, which may be replaced by a wired LAN connection.
Next, a description will be given on the mechanical configuration of sewing machine 14 with reference to
As can be seen in
Above feet 20, carriage 27 oriented in the left and right direction is disposed which contains an X-direction drive mechanism not shown that drives a frame mount base not shown provided in front of carriage 27 in the X direction or the left and right direction. X-direction drive mechanism is driven by X-axis motor 28 shown in
Needle-bar case 24 supports ten vertically extending needle bars not shown that are arranged side by side in the left and right direction. Needle bars are allowed to move up and down and each needle bar has a sewing needle not shown attached to its lower end. Needle-bar case 24 is further provided with ten thread take-ups 32 that are associated with the ten needle bars. Thread take-ups 32 are also allowed to move up and down. On top of needle-bar case 24, ten thread tension regulators 33 are provided for thread tension adjustment. Behind thread tension regulators 33, a pair of left and right thread spool stands 36 and thread guide mechanism 35 for guiding needle thread 37 drawn from thread spools 36 are provided so as to be located on the rear upper surface of arm 22. Each of the left and right thread spool base 34 is capable of holding five thread spools 36 and thus, taken together is capable of holding ten thread spools 36. Needle thread 37 drawn from thread spools 36 are passed through thread guide mechanism 35, thread tension regulator 33, and thread take-up 32 to be supplied to a needle eye not shown of the corresponding sewing needle.
On the upper surface of cylinder bed 23, needle plate 38 is provided that has a needle hole not shown, also representing a needle drop position, for allowing the sewing needle to strike through. Within cylinder bed 23 below needle plate 38, a rotary hook not shown is provided. Though not shown, arm 32 contains a needle-bar selection mechanism that moves needle-bar case 24 in the X-direction to move either of the pair of needle bar and thread take-up 32 to a position immediately above the needle drop position. Thus, one of the ten pairs of needle bar and thread take-up 32 is selected that is associated with the desired thread color. The selected needle bar and thread take-up 32 is driven up and down by sewing machine motor 39 shown in
When forming the stitches, sewing machine 14 accesses embroidery pattern data also referred to as sewing information stored in computer 12 as will be later described in detail and moves the embroidery frame in the X and Y directions based on the embroidery pattern data as will be later described in detail to form embroidery patterns on the workpiece. In other words, sewing machine 14 relies on the sewing information stored in computer 12 and not on those possessed by itself in executing the sewing operation.
Provided on the right side surface of arm 22 is a foldable control panel 25. Control panel 25 comprises liquid crystal display (LCD) 40, touch panel 41, start/stop switch 251, a buzzer not shown, and connector 252 for establishing connection with an external storage medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. LCD 40 displays various information such as choice of various embroidery patterns, information on the color of needle thread 37 associated with each needle bar, parameters such as thread tension and sewing speed, names of various functionalities used in a sewing operation, and other sewing related information. Touch panel 41 includes a plurality of touch keys configured by transparent electrodes provided on the front face of LCD 40. The user is allowed to perform various controls through touch key operation such as providing instructions for executing various functionalities, setting parameters, and thread spool replacement.
Next, the configuration of a control system of sewing machine 14 will be discussed with reference to the block diagram shown in
ROM 43 and RAM 44 store but not limited to control programs such as a sewing control program, a communication control program, a display control program for controlling LCD 40, and an input control program for controlling inputs made through touch panel 41 as well as data such as thread information table that store information such as thread information pertaining to the types of threads used in embroidery. Storage device 45 is typically configured by a flash memory which is initialized with embroidery pattern data provided by the sewing machine manufacturer. Communication processor 50 is configured by communication control devices such as wireless LAN device. Sewing machine 14 is communicably connected to access point 11 through communication processor 50. In other words, sewing machine 14 is connected to indirectly with nodes such as PC 12 and mobile terminals 13 through access point 11. In an alternative embodiment, sewing machine 14 may be connected directly to nodes such as PC 12 and mobile terminals 13 without intervention of access point 11.
Access processor 46, disclosure processor 47, and mail processor 48 are virtual software configurations realized through execution of control programs by controller 26. Access processor 46 operate based on the communication protocol NetBIOS (Network Basic Input Output System) and/or NetBEUI (NetBIOS Extended User Interface). Access processor 46 accesses the sewing information stored in PC 12 and server 19 through communication processor 50.
Disclosure processor 47 operates based on the communication protocol HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). Disclosure processor 47 discloses sewing machine information pertaining to sewing machine 14 such as error information, event logs, and maintenance information in an HTTP format such as web pages to external nodes. Mail processor 48 operates based on the communication protocol SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and POP3 (Post Office Protocol Version 3). Mail processor 48 send and receive emails through communication processor 50.
Next, a description will be given on how communication, is processed in sewing machine system 10 with reference to
First, a description will be given on how the sewing information is processed based primarily on access processor 46.
Sewing machine 14 is capable of accessing the sewing information stored in PC 12 through access processor 46. The sewing information in the first embodiment includes embroidery pattern data and various sewing machine control programs. The sewing information is stored in the folders located in the storage device not shown of PC 12. PC 12 manages a hierarchy of folders through a file management program.
PC 12 outputs file management screen 52 shown in
When a given folder is selected from folder pane 521, data pane 522 displays thumbnails of shrunk images of embroidery pattern data 53 stored in the selected folder. The user is allowed select a given embroidery pattern data 53 from data pane 522 to edit or delete the selected embroidery data pattern 53. The user may further create a new embroidery pattern data 53 using PC 12 and add the new data into a new or existing folder.
In sewing machine 14, access processor 46 of controller 26 accesses PC 12 based on the user inputs made through touch panel 41 of control panel 25. Responsively, access screen 54 is outputted on LCD 40 of control panel 25. Access screen 54 is configured by components such as list pane 541, selection data pane 542, and various buttons 543. Access processor 46, when displaying access screen 54 on LCD 40, receives thumbnail data of embroidery pattern data 53 stored in the folders of PC 12 which is accessible from sewing machine 14 through communication processor 50. Then, access processor 46 displays the received thumbnail data of embroidery pattern data 53 as pattern images 55 on list panel 541.
Thereafter, the user selects the desired pattern image 55 from the choice of pattern images 55 displayed on list pane 541 through touch panel 41. Responsively, details of the selected pattern image 55 such as an enlarged image and colors of threads used are displayed on selection data pane 542. Then, upon user depression of button 543 to proceed with the accessing of the source data, controller 26 of sewing machine 14 accesses embroidery pattern data 53 stored in PC 12 which is the source data of the selected pattern image 55 by way of access processor 46 and communication processor 50.
At this instance, “access” performed by access processor 46 does not indicate downloading of embroidery pattern 53 from PC 12. “Access” is used in this context to denote reading embroidery pattern data 53 while converting the same to a predetermined data format. In other words, controller 26 of sewing machine 14 reads embroidery pattern data 53 corresponding to the selected pattern image 55 from PC 12 while converting the same into a predetermined data format. Based on the embroidery pattern 53 read from PC 12 through access processor 46, controller 26 of sewing machine 14 drives X-axis motor 28, Y-axis motor 29, and sewing machine motor 39 to form embroidery patterns on the workpiece not shown. Sewing machine 14 accesses the sewing information stored in PC 12 through communication processor 50 in the above described series of processes.
Controller 26 of sewing machine 14 may be configured to execute the sewing operation while converting and reading embroidery data 53 stored in PC 12 or after the converting and reading of embroidery data 53 has been completed. Still alternatively, the sewing information may be stored in mobile terminal 13 or server 19 and access processor 46 may access the sewing information stored in mobile terminal 13 or server 19 instead of PC 12.
Next, a description will be given on how the sewing machine information is processed based primarily on disclosure processor 47.
In the first embodiment, the sewing machine information includes but not limited to operational status information, error status information, event log, and maintenance information. The sewing machine information is updated at certain timings and is stored, for instance, in storage elements of controller 26 of sewing machine 14 such as storage device 45 and RAM 44. Disclosure processor 47 discloses the sewing machine information based on HTTP protocol in HTTP format such as web pages to external nodes. External nodes such as PC 12 and mobile terminal 13 access the information disclosed by sewing machine 14 in HTTP format. PC 12 and mobile terminal 13 use web browsers preinstalled to them in displaying the sewing machine information disclosed by sewing machine 14.
PC 12 outputs web browser 56 on LCD 121 a shown in
At this instance, “access” performed by PC 12 include acquiring the HTTP formatted information itself disclosed by sewing machine 14 and reading the disclosed HTTP formatted information stored in sewing machine 14 from external nodes. PC 12 displays a web page on web browser 56 based on the HTTP formatted information disclosed by sewing machine 14. The sewing machine information pertaining sewing machine 14 that is displayed on web browser 56 include, for instance, error message 57 as exemplified in
Mobile terminal 13 and server 19 are capable of accessing the HTTP formatted web page disclosed by sewing machine 14 through access point 11 as was the case for PC 12. Mobile terminal 13 is capable of accessing the HTTP formatted web page disclosed by sewing machine 14 through internet 16 byway of communication carrier 17.
Next, a description will be given on how email is sent and received based primarily on mail processor 48.
Mail processor 48 exchanges emails with PC 12 through communication processor 50 and access point 11. Mail processor 48 sends emails carrying the sewing machine information of sewing machine 14 such as error information and status information informing the completion of the sewing operation, etc. to PC 12. Mail processor 48 further receives emails carrying information such as embroidery pattern data and control programs from PC 12 and mobile terminal 13. Mail processor 48 is also capable of sending and receiving emails to and from mobile terminal 13 and server 19 through Internet 16.
As described above, sewing machine 14 constituting sewing machine system 10 is provided with access processor 46 and disclosure processor 47. Access processor 46 accesses the sewing information stored in external nodes such as PC 12, mobile terminal 13, and server 19 through communication processor 50 based on user input through touch panel 41 of control panel 25, Disclosure processor 47 discloses sewing machine information pertaining to sewing machine 14 to PC 12, mobile terminal 13, and server 19 through communication processor 50. Thus, the user is allowed to check the sewing information stored in PC 12, mobile terminal 13, and server 19 from sewing machine 14 and further check the sewing machine information such as operational status of sewing machine 14 from PC 12, mobile terminal 13, and server 19 as required.
Access processor 46 of controller 26 provided on sewing machine 14 constituting sewing machine system 10 operates based on NetBIOS or NetBEUI and disclosure processor 47 operates based on HTTP. Sewing machine 14 is thus, capable of accessing the sewing information stored in PC 12 without a dedicated control program. Further, PC 12 is capable of accessing the sewing machine information disclosed by sewing machine 14 through a preinstalled or readily available web browser.
Sewing machine 14 is further provided with mail processor 48. Mail processor 48 receives emails carrying sewing information from PC 12, mobile terminal 13, and server 19 and sends emails carrying the sewing machine information to PC 12, mobile terminal 13, and server 19. Thus, information can be readily exchanged between sewing machine 14, PC 12, mobile terminal 13, and server 19.
PC 12 and mobile terminal 13 accepts, through web browser 56, the sewing machine information disclosed by sewing machine 14 and displays the accepted sewing machine information on LCD 121 and 131. Thus, the user is allowed to check the sewing machine information more reliably from PC 12 and mobile terminal 13.
Further, mobile terminal 13 is capable of accessing the sewing machine information of sewing machine 14 and exchanging emails with sewing machine 14 not only through wireless LAN but also through internet 16. Thus, the user is allowed to check the sewing machine information of sewing machine 14 using mobile terminal 13 even from a remote location, thereby improving user friendliness.
Sewing machine system 10 allows the folder located in PC 12 to be shared with multiple sewing machines 14. Thus, by storing the embroidery pattern data created for use in a specific type of sewing machine into a shared folder located in PC 12, the embroidery pattern data can be accessed by other sewing machines, thereby further improving user friendliness.
Sewing machine 14 forms sewing patterns on the workpiece by accessing embroidery pattern data 53 stored in PC 12. Thus, the storage capacity of storage device 45 provided in sewing machine 14 need not be excessively increased.
The above described first embodiment may be modified or expanded as follows.
The number of sewing machines 14 constituting sewing machine system 10 may be reduced to one or increased to three or more. The type of sewing machine used is not limited to a multi-needle embroidery sewing machine having multiple needle bars but may be an embroidery sewing machine having a single needle bar or a sewing machine that is not provided with an embroidering feature. Sewing machine system 10 maybe configured by a combination of the above described types of sewing machines.
Multiple sewing machine systems 10 may be communicably connected to each other through internet 16.
Storage device 45 of controller 26 may be configured by external storage medium such as a USB memory connected through connector 252.
The protocol used for operating access processor 46 and disclosure processor 47 is not limited to NetBIOS, NetBEUI, and HTTP.
The protocol used in operating mail processor 48 is not limited to SMTP and POP3.
The computer readable medium storing various control programs is not limited to ROM 43 and RAM 44 of sewing machine 14 but may be configured by storage device 45, CD-ROM, flexible disk, DVD, external memory or other types of storage medium. Operation and effect similar to those described above can be obtained by executing the programs stored in such storage medium by sewing machine 14, PC 12 and mobile terminal 13.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-064349 | Mar 2011 | JP | national |
