JP2010179014A - Sewing machine and yarn tension establishment program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sewing machine, which can establish yarn tension while an operator easily recognizes an actual needle location point in processed cloth, and a yarn tension establishment program. <P>SOLUTION: An operator designates by operating an operation panel an optional specified location, which performs the establishment or alteration of a yarn tension value, among sewing patterns (S22, S25: YES). If the operator designates the specified location, the sewing machine transfers the feed plate of a cloth presser device holding the processed cloth so as to locate the specified location in the needle location point which is passed through by a sewing needle mounted on the lower end part of a needle bar (S32). The operator establishes or alters the value of yarn tension, which a yarn tension device gives, while actually seeing the specified location located in the needle location point. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sewing machine capable of adjusting thread tension, and a thread tension setting program for a user to set thread tension.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a sewing machine has been known in which a plurality of sewing processes constituting a sewing pattern are displayed on a display unit using characters or figures so that an operator can visually recognize them, and the thread tension is set by the user for each sewing process. (For example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2). According to this sewing machine, the user can set the thread tension in the desired sewing process while recognizing the sewing process with characters or figures.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-311061 JP 2003-326011 A

  However, such a conventional sewing machine has a problem that it is difficult for the user to recognize an actual needle drop point on the work cloth because the sewing process is only displayed on the display unit. Further, when the sewing pattern becomes complicated, it is difficult to recognize the sewing process only by the display content of the display unit. A display unit such as a liquid crystal screen for displaying characters or figures is required, and it is difficult to reduce manufacturing costs.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a sewing machine and a thread tension setting program capable of setting a thread tension while allowing an operator to easily recognize an actual needle drop point on a work cloth. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, a sewing machine according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a thread tension adjusting means for adjusting a thread tension applied to a thread, and a thread tension of the thread tension applied by the thread tension adjusting means. A sewing machine comprising: a thread tension value setting means for setting or changing a value; and a transfer means for transferring a work cloth based on sewing data for sewing a desired sewing pattern, wherein the sewing pattern includes: Position specifying means for specifying an arbitrary specified position for setting or changing the thread tension value by the thread tension setting means, and the transfer means sets the specified position of the needle bar according to the specification by the position specifying means. The work cloth is moved so as to be positioned at a needle drop point through which a sewing needle attached to the lower end is inserted.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the sewing data includes information indicating the number of stitches that is the number of times the sewing needle moves up and down, and The designation means includes first designation means that designates a position corresponding to a desired number of stitches as a designated position, and the transfer means positions the designated position at the needle drop point according to designation by the first designation means. The work cloth is transferred so as to make it move.

  Further, in the sewing machine according to claim 3 of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to claim 1 or 2, the sewing data includes information indicating a division point which is a point at which the thread tension value changes. The position specifying means includes second specifying means for setting the dividing point as a specified position, and the transfer means is configured to position the dividing point at the needle drop point according to the specification by the second specifying means. And moving the work cloth.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a yarn tension setting program that causes a computer to function as various processing means of the sewing machine according to any one of the first to third aspects.

  According to the sewing machine described in claim 1 of the present invention, when the operator designates an arbitrary designated position for setting or changing the yarn tension value, the work cloth moves so that the designated position is located at the needle drop point. Therefore, the operator can easily and reliably set the yarn tension value while visually recognizing the actual needle drop point. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a mistake in setting the yarn tension value and to improve the work efficiency of the operator. There is no need to provide a liquid crystal screen or the like for displaying the sewing pattern.

  According to the sewing machine described in claim 2 of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 1, the operator can specify the position corresponding to the desired number of stitches with the first specifying means. . Along with this, the work cloth also moves so that the position corresponding to the designated number of stitches is located at the needle drop point. Therefore, the operator can easily set or change the yarn tension value while moving the work cloth according to the number of needles.

  Further, according to the sewing machine according to claim 3 of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 1 or 2, the operator designates a dividing point which is a point at which the yarn tension value changes. A designated position for setting or changing the thread tension can be easily designated. Along with this, the work cloth also moves so that the division point designated by the operator is located at the needle drop point. Therefore, the operator can easily set or change the yarn tension while grasping the position of the dividing point on the work cloth.

  Moreover, the thread tension setting program according to claim 4 of the present invention can exhibit the effects of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3 by being executed by a computer.

1 is a perspective view of a sewing machine 1. FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a part of the internal structure of the sewing machine 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the thread tension device 21 provided on the arm portion 4 as viewed from the front of the sewing machine 1. 3 is a front view of an operation panel 6. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the sewing machine 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a RAM 74. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a data configuration of sewing data stored in a flash memory 76. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a thread tension setting process performed by the sewing machine 1; It is a flowchart of the 1st designation | designated process performed during a thread tension setting process. It is a flowchart of the 2nd designation | designated process performed during a thread tension setting process. It is a flowchart of the sewing data change process performed during a thread tension setting process. 3 is a flowchart of a sewing process performed by the sewing machine 1; It is a figure which shows the result of having performed sewing according to the sewing data shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, a sewing machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings to be referred to are used for explaining the technical features that can be adopted by the present invention, and the configuration of the apparatus described, the flowchart of various processes, and the like are not intended to be limited thereto. It is just an illustrative example.

  First, the overall structure of the sewing machine 1 will be schematically described with reference to FIG. 1 is defined as the front side of the sewing machine 1 and the upper right side is defined as the rear side of the sewing machine 1. The diagonally lower right side in FIG. 1 is the right side of the sewing machine 1, and the diagonally upper left side is the left side of the sewing machine 1. The sewing machine 1 is a so-called industrial sewing machine that is mainly used when sewing is performed a plurality of times based on one piece of sewing data.

  The sewing machine 1 includes a bed portion 2, a pedestal column portion 3, an arm portion 4, and the like. The bed portion 2 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is fixed to the approximate center of the upper surface of the work table 66 of the table 65. Moreover, the bed part 2 has fixed the needle plate 5 on the upper surface. The pedestal 3 is erected upward from the rear end of the bed 2. The arm part 4 extends forward from the upper end part of the pedestal part 3 so as to face the bed part 2. The arm portion 4 includes a needle bar 10 (see FIG. 2), a presser foot device 13 (see FIG. 2), a thread tension device 21, and the like which will be described later.

  The work table 66 of the table 65 has an operation panel 6 fixed to the right side of the fixed part of the bed portion 2 for receiving an operator's operation instruction. A control box 7 that houses a control unit 71 (see FIG. 5), which will be described later, is provided below the right part of the work table 66. A pedal-type start / stop switch 8 is arranged on the floor surface that supports the table 65. The operator operates the start / stop switch 8 with his / her foot when instructing the start and end of sewing.

  Next, the needle bar 10 and the presser foot device 13 will be described with reference to FIG. The diagonally lower left side in FIG. 2 is the front of the sewing machine 1, and the diagonally upper right side is the rear of the sewing machine 1. The diagonally lower right side in FIG. 2 is the right side of the sewing machine 1, and the diagonally upper left side is the left side of the sewing machine 1.

  The arm unit 4 includes a needle bar 10 that reciprocates up and down and a balance (not shown). The needle bar 10 is provided at the front end portion of the arm portion 4 and projects downward from the lower end of the arm portion 4. The needle bar 10 has a sewing needle 11 attached to the lower end. As the main shaft (not shown) provided inside the arm portion 4 rotates, the needle bar 10 and the sewing needle 11 move up and down. And the work cloth W is sewed by rotating the rotary hook (not shown) provided in the bed part 2 according to the vertical movement of the needle bar 10 and the sewing needle 11.

  The presser foot device 13 mainly includes a feed plate 14, a presser arm 15, a presser foot plate 16, and a presser solenoid connection portion 17. The feed plate 14 has a rectangular frame shape on the front side, and moves in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction along the upper surface of the bed portion 2. The presser arm 15 is an arm-shaped member that curves and extends forward from the rear end of the feed plate 14. The cloth presser plate 16 has a rectangular frame shape similar to the shape of the feed plate 14, and is provided at the front end portion of the presser arm so as to be movable up and down. The presser solenoid connecting portion 17 connects the upper rear end side of the presser arm 15 and a presser solenoid 18 provided inside the arm portion 4.

  When the presser solenoid 18 is not driven, the presser plate 16 is positioned above the feed plate 14 by the urging force of the spring 19 provided behind the presser arm 15. When the operator inserts the work cloth W between the frame of the presser arm 15 and the frame of the presser plate 16 and instructs the operation of the presser solenoid 18 by the presser switch 9 (see FIG. 5), the presser plate 16 is moved. The spring 19 moves downward against the urging force of the spring 19. Thereby, the presser arm 15 and the cloth presser plate 16 sandwich the work cloth W and fix it.

  The cloth presser 13 moves the fixed work cloth W by moving independently in two directions of the X axis and the Y axis orthogonal to each other. Specifically, an X-axis drive motor 88 and a Y-axis drive motor 91 (see FIG. 5), which are stepping motors, are provided inside the bed portion 2. Then, the presser foot 13 is transferred by the X-axis drive motor 88 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis drive motor 91 in the Y-axis direction. The sewing machine 1 moves the needle bar 10 and the sewing needle 11 up and down while transferring the work cloth W based on the sewing data. At the same time, the thread tension device 21 described below is driven based on the sewing data to adjust the thread tension of the upper thread. Thereby, the sewing along the sewing pattern can be automatically performed on the work cloth W while appropriately adjusting the thread tension.

  Next, the thread tension device 21 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 is the front of the sewing machine 1 and the back side of the paper is the rear of the sewing machine 1. The right side of FIG. 3 is the right side of the sewing machine 1, and the left side of FIG.

  The thread tension device 21 includes a thread tension mechanism 22, a thread tension solenoid 31, an intermediate rod 40, and a drive rod 45. The thread tension mechanism 22 is provided on the right side of the arm section 4, and the thread tension solenoid 31 is fixed on the left side of the arm section 4. The intermediate rod 40 and the drive rod 45 are provided in the arm portion 4 so as to be movable in the left-right direction, and transmit the driving force of the thread tension solenoid 31 to the pressing thread tension plate 23 of the thread tension mechanism 22.

  The thread tension mechanism 22 mainly includes a pressed thread tension tray 23, a pressed thread tension tray 24, a thread tension base 25, a thread tension shaft 26, and a fixing nut 27. The thread tension base 25 having a substantially cylindrical outer shape is inserted into a cylindrical fixing hole 28 formed on the right side of the arm portion 4 and fixed to the arm portion 4 with a screw 29. The thread tension shaft 26 is provided so as to penetrate the thread tension base 25 in the left-right direction, and protrudes rightward from the thread tension base 25. A fixing nut 27 is fastened to the protruding thread tension shaft 26 through a ring-shaped pressed thread tension tray 23 from the right side and further through a ring-shaped pressed thread tension tray 24. A drive rod 45 is disposed in the thread tension shaft 26 so as to be movable in the left-right direction. When the drive rod 45 moves to the right, the right end of the drive rod 45 contacts the left side surface of the pressing thread tension plate 23. At the time of sewing, the upper thread is passed between the pressed thread tension tray 23 and the pressed thread tension tray 24.

  The thread tension solenoid 31 is a proportional solenoid and advances the intermediate rod 40 connected to the output shaft 32 to the right by supplying a drive voltage. By changing the drive voltage supplied to the thread tension solenoid 31, the pressing force on the pressing thread tension tray 23 can be changed.

  The intermediate rod 40 extends rightward from the output shaft 32 of the thread tension solenoid 31 and passes through the large-diameter hole portion 34 formed in the arm portion 4 and further through the small-diameter hole portion 35. The intermediate rod 40 includes a flange 41 at a portion located in the large diameter hole 34. Further, a ring-shaped washer 37 is disposed on a step portion 36 connecting the large-diameter hole portion 34 and the small-diameter hole portion 35. A compression coil spring 43 is interposed between the washer 37 and the flange 41 of the intermediate rod 40, and the compression coil spring 43 biases the intermediate rod 40 to the left. When the intermediate rod 40 moves to the right, the right end of the intermediate rod 40 contacts the left end of the drive rod 45.

  Next, the operation of the thread tension device 21 will be described. When the thread tension solenoid 31 is not driven, the intermediate rod 40 is positioned at the non-operating position by the urging force of the compression coil spring 43. In this case, since the right end of the intermediate rod 40 and the left end of the drive rod 45 are not in contact with each other, no force is applied to the drive rod 45 and no rightward force is applied to the pressing thread tension plate 23. Therefore, the tension is not applied to the upper thread passing between the pressed thread tension tray 23 and the pressed thread tension tray 24.

  When the operator starts sewing, the control unit 71 (see FIG. 5) supplies a predetermined drive voltage to the thread tension solenoid 31 according to the sewing data. Then, the intermediate rod 40 moves to the right by a predetermined stroke against the urging force of the compression coil spring 43. The left end of the drive rod 45 contacts the right end of the intermediate rod 40, and the drive rod 45 presses the pressing thread tension plate 23 to the right. Thereby, tension can be applied to the upper thread passing between the pressed thread tension tray 23 and the pressed thread tension tray 24. Depending on the drive voltage supplied to the thread tension solenoid 31, the pressing force applied to the intermediate rod 40, the drive rod 45, and the pressing thread tension tray 23 changes. Therefore, the operator can automatically perform the sewing work with the thread tension intended by the operator by inputting the desired thread tension value into the sewing data in advance.

  Next, the setting and changing of the thread tension in the sewing machine 1 will be described. As described above, the sewing machine 1 controls the transfer of the work cloth W, the vertical movement of the sewing needle 11, and the adjustment of the thread tension by the thread tension device 21 according to the sewing data. Therefore, the operator can cause the sewing machine 1 to automatically execute the sewing operation with the intended thread tension by setting or changing a desired thread tension value in advance before executing the sewing operation. When the operator sets and changes the thread tension value, the sewing machine 1 moves a designated position in the sewing pattern where the thread tension value is set or changed to a needle drop point where the sewing needle 11 is inserted. Thus, the operator can easily and reliably set the yarn tension value while visually recognizing the actual needle drop point.

  Specifically, the sewing data includes information on the number of stitches, which is the number of times the sewing needle 11 is moved up and down. The operator can designate a designated position for setting and changing the thread tension value by inputting an instruction to advance the number of stitches or an instruction to return the number of stitches to the operation panel 6. The sewing machine 1 transfers the work cloth W along the sewing path so that the designated position of the work cloth W is located at the needle drop point. As a result, the operator can easily determine which part of the sewing path is the designated position. Further, if the operator inputs a unit of the number of needles to be moved each time an instruction to advance the number of stitches or an instruction to return the number of stitches is performed once (hereinafter referred to as “moving needle number unit”), the sewing machine 1 The work cloth W is transferred by the number of moving needles for one instruction. Therefore, when the operator moves the designated position finely, the operator may set the moving needle number unit to a small value. On the other hand, when the designated position is moved significantly, the moving needle number unit may be set to a large value.

  Further, the sewing data includes information indicating a segment point that is a point at which the setting value of the thread tension value changes. The division point numbers are assigned to the division points in order so that the value increases each time the sewing path advances. The operator can set the division point as the designated position by inputting the division point number. The sewing machine 1 moves the work cloth W so that the division point designated by the operator is located at the needle drop point. Therefore, the operator can easily specify the start point or end point of the section where the sewing proceeds with the same thread tension as the specified position, and can actually change the thread tension value by visually recognizing the position of the segment point. it can. When the operator designates the designated position and sets the thread tension value, the sewing machine 1 sets the thread tension value in the section from the designated position to the next division point in the sewing data.

  Next, the operation panel 6 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, a moving needle number unit display section 51, a moving needle number unit increase / decrease key 52, a currently designated position needle number display section 53, and a forward / reverse key 54 are provided at the top of the operation panel 6. The moving needle number unit display unit 51 displays a set value of a moving needle number unit, which is a moving needle number unit to be moved each time an instruction to advance the number of needles or an instruction to return the number of needles is performed once. The moving needle unit increment / decrement key 52 is a key for the operator to input an instruction to increase / decrease the moving needle unit. The current designated position stitch number display section 53 displays the number of stitches corresponding to the current designated position. The forward / reverse key 54 is a key for inputting an instruction to advance the number of stitches and an instruction to return the number of stitches so that the operator designates a designated position for setting and changing the thread tension value.

  The operation panel 6 includes a reset key 55, a segment point number display section 56, a segment point number increase / decrease key 57, a thread tension value display section 58, a thread tension value increase / decrease key 59, a thread tension value setting start key 60, an enter key. 61 and a test key 62 are provided. The reset key 55 is a key for giving an instruction to cancel without confirming the input. The division point number display unit 56 displays the number of the division point that is the point where the set value of the yarn tension value changes. The division point number increase / decrease key 57 is a key for the operator to increase or decrease the number of the division point designated at the designated position. The yarn tension value display unit 58 displays the yarn tension value. The thread tension value increase / decrease key 59 is a key for the operator to increase or decrease the thread tension value. The thread tension value setting start key 60 is a key for inputting an instruction to start setting and changing the thread tension value. The enter key 61 is a key for the operator to confirm the input. The test key 62 is a key for inputting an instruction to end the setting and changing of the yarn tension value.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the sewing machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, in the control configuration of the sewing machine 1, the control unit 71 provided in the control box 7 (see FIG. 1) is the core. The control unit 71 includes a CPU 73, a RAM 74, a ROM 75, and a flash memory 76. The CPU 73 controls the entire sewing machine 1. The RAM 74 temporarily stores various data. The ROM 75 stores a program for operating the sewing machine 1, initial values, and the like. The flash memory 76 is a nonvolatile memory, and stores sewing data (see FIG. 7) and the like.

  An operation panel 6, a start / stop switch 8, a presser switch 9, and a spindle rotation angle detection sensor 78 are connected to the control unit 71. The main shaft rotation angle detection sensor 78 is a sensor for detecting the phase angle of the main shaft (not shown) of the sewing machine 1. In addition, driving circuits 81, 83, 85, 87, 90 are connected to the control unit 71. The drive circuit 81 drives a sewing machine motor 82 that rotates the main shaft. The control circuit 83 drives the presser solenoid 18 that lowers the presser foot plate 16 (see FIG. 2). The drive circuit 85 drives the thread tension solenoid 31 that adjusts the thread tension. The drive circuit 87 drives an X-axis drive motor 88 that moves the feed plate 14 in the X-axis direction. The drive circuit 90 drives a Y-axis drive motor 91 that moves the feed plate 14 in the Y-axis direction. Further, an X-axis encoder 89 that detects the rotation of the output shaft is connected to the X-axis drive motor 88, and the X-axis encoder 89 outputs the detection result to the control unit 71. A Y-axis encoder 92 is connected to the Y-axis drive motor 91, and the detection result is output to the control unit 71.

  Next, various data stored in the RAM 74 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the RAM 74 has a currently designated position stitch number storage area 741, a current section storage area 742, a moving needle number unit storage area 743, an input segment point number storage area 744, an input thread tension value storage area 745, data. Various storage areas such as a rank counter storage area 746 are provided.

  The currently designated position stitch number storage area 741 stores the number of stitches of the sewing data corresponding to the designated position designated by the operator at that time. The current section storage area 742 stores the section to which the designated position at that time belongs. As described above, this section is a section in which sewing proceeds with the same thread tension, and the start point and end point of the section are segment points. The moving needle number unit storage area 743 stores a unit of the number of needles, which is a unit of movement amount when the designated position is moved in response to one instruction to move the designated position. The input division point number storage area 744 stores the input division point number that is input when the operator designates the designated position by the division point number. The input thread tension value storage area 745 stores an input thread tension value that is input when an operator sets a thread tension value. The data order counter storage area 746 stores counter values used to specify the data order of control data processed by the sewing machine 1 among sewing data (see FIG. 7) including a plurality of control data when sewing is performed. Remember.

  Next, an example of sewing data will be described with reference to FIG. The sewing data is stored in the flash memory 76 which is a nonvolatile memory. As shown in FIG. 7, one piece of sewing data is composed of a plurality of control data for controlling the operation of the sewing machine 1, and each of the plurality of control data is given a data rank in the order of processing. Each control data includes a “data type” indicating the type of control data and a “data content” that is the operation content of the sewing machine 1.

  There are three “data types”: thread tension value data, stitch data, and end data. The “data content” of the yarn tension value data includes a division point number and a yarn tension value. The division point number is a number assigned to the division point in order so that the value becomes larger each time the sewing route advances. The yarn tension value indicates the yarn tension value in the section up to the next division point. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the thread tension value data of the data rank “0” indicates that the segment point number at the sewing start position is “0” and the thread tension value in the section up to the segment point number “1”. “10” indicates that sewing is executed. The “data content” of the stitch data includes data indicating the movement amount of the feed plate 14 in the X-axis direction and data indicating the movement amount of the Y-axis direction. The X-axis drive motor 88 and the Y-axis drive motor 91 are driven according to the stitch data. The end data indicates the end of one sewing. Although not shown, the sewing data includes data indicating the number of stitches.

  Hereinafter, the process which the sewing machine 1 which concerns on this Embodiment performs is demonstrated with reference to a flowchart. First, the thread tension value setting process, which is a process when the operator sets and changes the thread tension, will be described. When the operator selects one of the sewing data in the flash memory 76 and presses the thread tension value setting start key 60 (see FIG. 4) for a predetermined time, the CPU 73 is shown in FIG. 8 according to the program stored in the ROM 75. Execute thread tension value setting processing.

  When starting the thread tension value setting process shown in FIG. 8, the CPU 73 first displays each value on the operation panel 6 (S1). Specifically, the initial value of the moving needle number unit is displayed on the moving needle number unit display unit 51. “1”, which is the number of stitches corresponding to the sewing start position that is the initial designated position, is displayed on the currently designated position stitch number display section. The division point number display unit 56 displays the division point number “0” of the start position of the section “0” that is the section from the division point “0” to the division point “1”. The yarn tension value display section 58 displays the yarn tension value set to the section “0” (“10” in the example shown in FIG. 7).

  Next, the CPU 73 determines whether or not the operator has operated the moving needle number unit increase / decrease key 52 (S2). When the operator operates the moving needle number unit increase / decrease key 52 (S2: YES), the CPU 73 updates the moving needle number unit stored in the moving needle number unit storage area 743 (see FIG. 6) of the RAM 74 (see FIG. 6). S3). Then, the process of S1 is performed and the updated moving needle number unit is displayed on the moving needle number unit display unit 51.

  When the operator does not operate the moving needle unit increment / decrement key 52 (S2: NO), the CPU 73 determines whether or not the forward / reverse key 54 has been operated (S4). When the operator operates the forward / reverse key 54 (S4: YES), the CPU 73 executes a first designation process (S5).

  The first designation process shown in FIG. 9 is a process for moving the designated position, which is the position where the operator sets or changes the yarn tension value, by the number of moving needles. First, the CPU 73 updates the number of stitches of the sewing data corresponding to the current designated position stored in the current designated position stitch number storage area 741 of the RAM 74 (S11). For example, when the number of stitches corresponding to the designated position before update is “500”, the number of moving needles is “30”, and the key operation for advancing the number of stitches is performed, the currently designated number of stitches stored The value stored in the area 741 is updated from “500” to “530”.

  Next, the CPU 73 updates the section stored in the current section storage area 742 of the RAM 74 to the section to which the designated position belongs (S12). If the section has not changed before and after the update of the specified position, the section is not updated. Then, the CPU 73 controls the X-axis drive motor 88 and the Y-axis drive motor 91 to move the feed plate 14 along the sewing path so that the designated position of the work cloth W is located at the needle drop point (S13). . Thereby, the operator can easily confirm which part of the sewing path the thread tension value is set and can appropriately set the thread tension value. When the first designation process ends, the process returns to S1 in FIG. The CPU 73 displays the updated designated position and the division point number of the updated start position of the section on the operation panel 6 (S1).

  Returning to the description of FIG. 8, when there is no operation of the forward / reverse key 54 (S4: NO), the CPU 73 determines whether or not the segment point number increase / decrease key 57 has been operated (S6). When the operator operates the division point number increase / decrease key 57 (S6: YES), the CPU 73 executes a second designation process (S7).

  The second specifying process shown in FIG. 10 is a process of moving the specified position to the division point input by the operator. First, the CPU 73 blinks the division point number display unit 56 (S21). The input division point number input by the operator is stored in the input division point number storage area 744 of the RAM 74 and displayed on the blinking division point number display unit 56 (S22). Next, the CPU 73 determines whether or not the division point number increase / decrease key 57 has been operated (S23). If there is an operation (S23: YES), the input division point number is stored and displayed again (S22). ). When there is no operation of the division point number increase / decrease key 57 (S23: NO), it is determined whether or not the reset key 55 has been operated (S24), and when there is no operation of the reset key 55 (S24: NO). Then, it is determined whether or not the enter key 61 has been operated (S25). If there is no operation of the enter key 61 (S25: NO), the process returns to the determination of S23.

  When the operator operates the reset key 55 (S24: YES), the CPU 73 clears the input division point number storage area 744 (S27), and returns the blinking division point number display section 56 to the lighting state. (S28), the process returns to S1 (see FIG. 8). The CPU 73 deletes the input division point number that was blinkingly displayed on the division point number display unit 56, and displays the division point number of the start position of the section stored in the current section storage area 742 (S1).

  When the operator operates the enter key 61 (S25: YES), the CPU 73 stores the number of stitches of the sewing data corresponding to the input division point number in the current designated position stitch number storage area 741 of the RAM 74 (S30). ). The value stored in the current section storage area 742 is updated to the same value as the input division point number (S31). Then, the CPU 73 controls the X-axis drive motor 88 and the Y-axis drive motor 91 to move the feed plate 14 along the sewing path so that the input division point is located at the needle drop point (S32). As a result, the operator can easily designate the segment point, which is the point at which the yarn tension value changes, as the designated position and change the yarn tension value. Next, the blinking segment point number display unit 56 is returned to the lighting state (S33), and the current designated position and segment point number are displayed on the operation panel 6 (S1, see FIG. 8).

  Returning to the description of FIG. 8, when the segment point number increase / decrease key 57 is not operated (S6: NO), the CPU 73 determines whether or not the thread tension value increase / decrease key 59 is operated (S8). When the operator operates the thread tension value increase / decrease key 59 (S8: YES), the CPU 73 executes sewing data change processing (S9). When the thread tension value increase / decrease key 59 is not operated (S8: NO), the CPU 73 determines whether or not the test key 62 is operated (S10). When the operator operates the test key 62 (S10: YES), the yarn tension value setting process is terminated. If there is no operation (S10: NO), the process returns to S1 as it is.

  The sewing data changing process shown in FIG. 11 is a process for changing the sewing data stored in the flash memory 76 to data including information on the thread tension value set or changed by the operator. First, the CPU 73 causes the yarn tension value display unit 58 to blink (S41). The thread tension value input by the operator is stored in the input thread tension value storage area 745 of the RAM 74 and displayed on the flashing thread tension value display section 58 (S42). Next, the CPU 73 determines whether or not the thread tension value increase / decrease key 59 has been operated (S43). If there has been an operation (S43: YES), the input thread tension value is stored and displayed again (S42). ). When the thread tension value increase / decrease key 59 is not operated (S43: NO), it is determined whether or not the reset key 55 is operated (S44). When the reset key 55 is not operated (S44: NO). Then, it is determined whether or not the enter key 61 has been operated (S45). If there is no operation of the enter key 61 (S45: NO), the process returns to the determination of S43.

  When the operator operates the reset key 55 (S44: YES), the CPU 73 clears the input thread tension value storage area 745 (S47), and returns the blinking thread tension value display section 58 to the lit state. (S48), the process returns to S1 (see FIG. 8). The CPU 73 deletes the input thread tension value that has been displayed blinking on the thread tension value display section 58, and displays the thread tension value set at the current designated position (S1).

  When the operator operates the enter key 61 (S45: YES), the CPU 73 returns the blinking yarn tension value display section 58 to a lighting state (S50). It is determined whether or not the current designated position is a division point (S51). If the current designated position is not a segment point (S51: NO), it is necessary to newly set a section. Therefore, the CPU 73 adds the thread tension value data indicating the segment point number and the thread tension value to the position corresponding to the current designated position in the sewing data stored in the flash memory 76 (see FIG. 7). Assign partition point numbers and data ranks. Accordingly, the data rank of the control data having a data rank later than that of the added control data is lowered one by one. Further, the number of the division point having the data rank later than the added control data is increased by “1” (S52). Then, the CPU 73 sets the thread tension value input by the operator as the thread tension value of the added thread tension value data (S53), and returns to the thread tension value setting process.

  If the current designated position is a division point (S51: YES), there is no need to add a new section. The CPU 73 sets the thread tension value input by the operator in the thread tension value data of the segment point that is the current designated position (S54), and the process returns to the thread tension value setting process.

  Next, a sewing process performed by the sewing machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. When the operator selects one of the sewing data in the flash memory 76 and instructs to start sewing by operating the start / stop switch 8, the CPU 73 executes the sewing process according to the program stored in the ROM 75.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the CPU 73 that has started the sewing process initializes the value of the counter N stored in the data rank counter storage area 746 of the RAM 74 to “0” (S61). Next, the CPU 73 starts driving the sewing machine motor 82 (S63), and reads the control data of the rank N in the sewing data (see FIG. 7) (S64).

  It is determined whether or not the read control data is stitch data (S65). If the control data is stitch data (S65: YES), it is determined whether or not it is the transfer start timing of the feed plate 14 (S66). This determination is repeated until the transfer start timing comes (S66: NO). When the timing comes (S66: YES), the CPU 73 drives the X-axis drive motor 88 and the Y-axis drive motor 91 according to the stitch data (S67). “1” is added to the value of the counter N (S68), and the process returns to S64.

  If the read control data is not stitch data (S65: NO), it is determined whether it is yarn tension value data (S70). If it is thread tension value data (S70: YES), the CPU 73 changes the output of the thread tension solenoid 31 according to the thread tension value indicated by the data, and changes the tension of the upper thread (S71). “1” is added to the value of the counter N (S68), and the process returns to S64.

  If the read control data is not stitch data (S65: NO) and is not yarn tension value data (S70: NO), the read control data is end data. In this case, the CPU 73 initializes the value of the counter N to “0” (S73), stops the driving of the sewing machine motor 82 (S74), and ends the sewing process.

  Next, an example of a sewing result based on the sewing data set in the thread tension value setting process (see FIG. 8) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 13 shows the result of sewing based on the sewing data shown in FIG. The CPU 73 that has started the sewing process first reads the control data with the data rank “0”. Since this control data is thread tension value data, the output of the thread tension solenoid 31 is adjusted based on the thread tension value “10” to adjust the thread tension. Next, since the control data of the data rank “1” is stitch data, the feed plate 14 is moved “3” in the X-axis direction in accordance with the operation of the sewing needle 11 and sewing is executed. Thereafter, the CPU 73 repeats this process four times.

  Next, since the control data of the data rank “6” is the thread tension value data, the CPU 73 changes the output of the thread tension solenoid 31 based on the thread tension value “25”. Then, the feeding plate 14 is transferred according to the stitch data of the data ranks “7” to “10”. Since the control data of the data rank “11” is end data, sewing is finished at that time. As a result, the sewing machine 1 performs sewing with the thread tension value “10” in the section “0” from the segment point “0” to the segment point “1”. In the section “1” from the segment point “1” to the end of sewing, sewing is performed with the thread tension value “25”.

  As described above, in the sewing machine 1 according to the present embodiment, when the operator designates an arbitrary designated position for setting or changing the thread tension, the work cloth is set so that the actual designated position is located at the needle drop point. W moves. Therefore, the operator can easily and reliably set the yarn tension value while visually recognizing the actual needle drop point. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a mistake in setting the yarn tension value and to improve the work efficiency of the operator. More specifically, the operator moves the designated position to the actual needle entry point by designating the designated position for changing the thread tension value while fixing the sewn work cloth W to the work clamp 13. Can be made. Therefore, when performing sewing a plurality of times based on one piece of sewing data, the thread tension is adjusted more appropriately while easily grasping which part of the sewing cloth W should be adjusted. The sewing machine 1 can be executed at a desired thread tension after the next time. Further, it is not necessary to provide a liquid crystal screen or the like for displaying a designated position in the sewing pattern on the sewing machine.

  Further, the operator can designate a position corresponding to a desired number of stitches as a designated position. Along with this, the work cloth W also moves so that the position corresponding to the designated number of needles is located at the needle drop point. Therefore, the operator can easily set or change the yarn tension value while moving the work cloth W according to the number of stitches. Furthermore, if the operator inputs the unit of the number of moving needles, the sewing machine 1 transfers the work cloth by the unit of the number of moving needles for one designation of the designated position. Therefore, when the operator moves the designated position finely, the operator may set the moving needle number unit to a small value. On the other hand, when the designated position is moved significantly, the moving needle number unit may be set to a large value. Thereby, the operator can easily designate a desired position as the designated position.

  In addition, the operator can easily designate a designated position for setting or changing the yarn tension value by designating a division point that is a point at which the yarn tension value changes. Along with this, the work cloth W also moves so that the division point designated by the operator is located at the needle drop point. Therefore, the operator can easily set or change the yarn tension while grasping the position of the dividing point at that time in the work cloth W. More specifically, when changing the thread tension of a specific section, the operator specifies where the actual start point of the work cloth W is located by designating a division point that is the start point of the section. By confirming, the yarn tension in the section can be adjusted.

  Further, according to the sewing machine 1, even when the sewing data does not include the thread tension value data in advance, the operator can set the thread tension value while confirming the actual sewing position of the work cloth W. Even within a section where sewing proceeds with the same thread tension, if the thread tension value is set with the desired position in the section as the designated position, the designated position becomes a new division point, and new sewing data is added. Thread tension value data is added. Therefore, the operator can freely set the thread tension value while confirming the sewing position of the work cloth W.

  In the above embodiment, the thread tension device 21 corresponds to the “thread tension adjusting means” of the present invention, and the CPU 73 that performs the sewing data changing process shown in FIG. ”. The CPU 73 for controlling the X-axis drive motor 88 and the Y-axis drive motor 91, the X-axis drive motor 88, and the Y-axis drive motor 91 in S13 of FIG. 9, 32 of FIG. 10, and S67 of FIG. It corresponds to. The CPU 73 that performs the processing of S11 and S12 of FIG. 9 in accordance with the operation of the moving needle number unit increase / decrease key 52 and the forward / reverse key 54 functions as a “first designation means”. The CPU 73 that performs the processing of S30 and S31 in FIG. 10 in accordance with the operation of the division point number increase / decrease key 57 and the enter key 61 functions as a “second specifying means”.

  It should be noted that the configuration and processing shown in the above embodiment are examples, and it goes without saying that various changes can be made. First, when the work cloth W is transferred so that the designated position is located at the needle drop point, the sewing machine 1 of the above embodiment transfers the work cloth W along the sewing path of the sewing pattern. As a result, the operator can easily recognize which position of the sewing pattern is the designated position. However, the transfer method of the work cloth W can be changed. For example, the work cloth W may be transferred through the shortest path. More specifically, if the X and Y coordinates before the transfer are (A, B) and the coordinates after the transfer are (C, D), the X axis drive motor 88 is set to (CA), the Y axis The drive motor 91 may be instructed to transfer (D-B). Thereby, the work cloth W can be moved quickly and the operator can set the yarn tension in a short time.

  Also, the designation method of the designated position can be changed. For example, the operator may directly input the value of the number of stitches, and the processing corresponding to the number of stitches input by the worker may be performed as the designated position.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sewing machine 6 Operation panel 10 Needle bar 11 Sewing needle 13 Work clamp device 14 Feed plate 21 Thread tension device 31 Thread tension solenoid 71 Control device 73 CPU
74 RAM
75 ROM
76 Flash memory 88 X-axis drive motor 91 Y-axis drive motor

Claims (4)

Thread tension adjusting means for adjusting the thread tension applied to the thread;
Thread tension value setting means for setting or changing the thread tension value of the thread tension applied by the thread tension adjusting means;
A sewing machine comprising transfer means for transferring a work cloth based on sewing data for sewing a desired sewing pattern,
A position designating unit for designating an arbitrary designated position for setting or changing the thread tension value by the thread tension setting unit among the sewing patterns;
The transfer means transfers the work cloth so as to position the specified position at a needle drop point through which a sewing needle attached to the lower end portion of the needle bar is inserted according to the specification by the position specifying means. Sewing machine. The sewing data includes information indicating the number of stitches that is the number of times the sewing needle moves up and down,
The position designation means includes first designation means that designates a position corresponding to a desired number of stitches as a designated position,
2. The sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the transfer unit transfers the work cloth so that the specified position is positioned at the needle drop point in accordance with the designation by the first designation unit. The sewing data includes information indicating a division point that is a point at which the thread tension value changes,
The position specifying means includes second specifying means for setting the dividing point as a specified position,
3. The sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the transfer unit transfers the work cloth so that the division point is positioned at the needle drop point according to the designation by the second designation unit. .   A thread tension setting program for causing a computer to function as various processing means of the sewing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images