Sewing Machine

Abstract

A sewing machine including an input unit that inputs a thread cut instruction; a thread cutting mechanism that cuts a needle thread and a bobbin thread based on the thread cut instruction; a feed dog vertically moving mechanism that vertically drives a feed dog for feeding a workpiece cloth; a feed dog activating switch unit that switches the feed dog between an active state in which the feed dog is vertically driven by the feed dog vertically moving mechanism and an inactive state in which an upper surface of the feed dog is positioned in a lowered position below an upper surface of a needle plate provided in a sewing machine bed; and a control unit that drives the thread cutting mechanism based on the thread cut instruction inputted from the input unit and that controls the feed dog activating switch unit to switch the feed dog to the inactive state in which the feed dog is positioned in the lowered position.

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 is a perspective view of an electronically controlled zigzag sewing machine in accordance with one illustrative aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a left side view of a feed dog vertically moving mechanism when a feed dog is in an upper position;

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the feed dog vertically moving mechanism when the feed dog is in a lower position;

FIG. 4 is a front view (cloth feed state) of the feed dog vertically moving mechanism and a feed dog switching mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a front view (lowered state) of the feed dog vertically moving mechanism and the feed dog switching mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a plan view (cloth feed state) of the feed dog vertically moving mechanism and the feed dog activating switch unit;

FIG. 7 is a plan view (lowered state) of the feed dog vertically moving mechanism and the feed dog activating switch unit;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the feed dog vertically moving mechanism and the feed dog activating switch unit;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the thread cutting mechanism;

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the thread cutting mechanism:

FIG. 11 is a right side view of the thread cutting mechanism;

FIG. 12 is a left side view of the thread cutting mechanism;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a thread taker;

FIG. 14 is a front view of the thread taker;

FIG. 15 corresponds to FIG.9 taking maximum advancing movement position;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a control system of the electronically controlled zigzag sewing machine;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a thread cutting control and a feed dog lowering control;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the thread cutting control and a feed dog inactive state switch process control;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a mode setting control; and

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of the thread cutting control and the feed dog lowering control in accordance with a modified illustrative aspect.

Claims

1. A sewing machine, comprising: an input unit that inputs a thread cut instruction;a thread cutting mechanism that cuts a needle thread and a bobbin thread based on the thread cut instruction;a feed dog vertically moving mechanism that vertically drives a feed dog for feeding a workpiece cloth;a feed dog activating switch unit that switches the feed dog between an active state in which the feed dog is vertically driven by the feed dog vertically moving mechanism and an inactive state in which an upper surface of the feed dog is positioned in a lowered position below an upper surface of a needle plate provided in a sewing machine bed; anda control unit that drives the thread cutting mechanism based on the thread cut instruction inputted from the input unit and that controls the feed dog activating switch unit to switch the feed dog to the inactive state in which the feed dog is positioned in the lowered position.

2. The sewing machine of claim 1, further comprising a feed dog position detection unit that detects a vertical position of the feed dog in the active state, wherein the control unit is controlled to switch the feed dog vertically moving mechanism to the inactive state when the feed dog is in the lowered position, based on an output of the feed dog position detection unit.

3. The sewing machine of claim 2, further comprising a rotational angle detection unit that detects a rotational angle of a sewing machine main shaft, wherein the feed dog vertically moving mechanism is driven in synchronization with rotation of the sewing machine main shaft and the feed dog position detection unit detects the vertical position of the feed dog based on a detection signal of the rotational angle detection unit.

4. The sewing machine of claim 1, further comprising a presser foot operating lever that switches a presser bar supporting a presser foot between a lowered position and a lifted position and an operating lever position detection unit that detects a vertical position of the presser foot operating lever, wherein when the presser foot operating lever is switched from the lifted position to the lowered position, the control unit controls the feed dog activating switch unit to switch the feed dog vertically moving mechanism to the active state based on a detection signal of the operating lever position detection unit.

5. The sewing machine of claim 1, wherein the feed dog activating switch unit includes a feed dog switch mechanism that switches the feed dog between the active state and the inactive state, and an actuator that drives the feed dog switch mechanism.

6. The sewing machine of claim 1, further comprising a mode setting unit that makes a switch between an execution mode and a non-execution mode to determine whether or not to execute a control on the feed dog activating switch unit by the control unit.

7. A control unit of a sewing machine including an input unit that inputs a thread cut instruction; a thread cutting mechanism that cuts a needle thread and a bobbin thread based on the thread cut instruction; a feed dog vertically moving mechanism that vertically drives a feed dog for feeding a workpiece cloth; a feed dog activating switch unit that switches the feed dog between an active state in which the feed dog is vertically driven by the feed dog vertically moving mechanism and an inactive state in which an upper surface of the feed dog is positioned in a lowered position below an upper surface of a needle plate provided in a sewing machine bed; and the control unit drives the thread cutting mechanism based on the thread cut instruction inputted from the input unit and controls the feed dog activating switch unit to switch the feed dog to the inactive state in which the feed dog is positioned in the lowered position.

8. The control unit of claim 7, further comprising a feed dog position detection unit that detects a vertical position of the feed dog in the active state, wherein the feed dog vertically moving mechanism is controlled to be switched to the inactive state when the feed dog is in the lowered position, based on an output of the feed dog position detection unit.

9. The control unit of claim 8, further comprising a rotational angle detection unit that detects a rotational angle of a sewing machine main shaft, wherein the feed dog vertically moving mechanism is driven in synchronization with rotation of the sewing machine main shaft and the feed dog position detection unit detects a vertical position of the feed dog based on a detection signal of the rotational angle detection unit.

10. The control unit of claim 7, further comprising a presser foot operating lever that switches a presser bar supporting a presser foot between a lowered position and a lifted position and an operating lever position detection unit that detects a vertical position of the presser foot operating lever, wherein when the presser foot operating lever is switched from the lifted position to the lowered position, the feed dog activating switch unit is controlled to switch the feed dog vertically moving mechanism to the active state based on a detection signal of the operating lever position detection unit.

11. The control unit of claim 7, wherein the feed dog activating switch unit includes a feed dog switch mechanism that switches the feed dog between the active state and the inactive state, and an actuator that drives the feed dog switch mechanism.

12. The control unit of claim 7, further comprising a mode setting unit that makes a switch between an execution mode and a non-execution mode to determine whether or not to execute a control on the feed dog activating switch unit by the control unit.