SEWING MACHINE

Abstract

A sewing machine adapted for a USB-C external power supply unit (900) comprises a USB-C plug (901). The sewing machine comprises a frame (1), a needle bar (2), a motor unit (3), a drive unit (7), and a USB-C interface unit (8). The needle bar (2) is mounted on the frame (1) and is movable along an up-and-down direction. The motor unit (3) is mounted on the frame (1) and is configured to drive the needle bar (2) to move in the up-and-down direction. The drive unit (7) is electrically connected to the motor unit (3) and is configured to generate and send a drive signal to the motor unit (3) to instruct the motor unit (3) to drive the needle bar (2) to move along the up-and-down direction.The USB-C interface unit (8) comprises a power supply end (81) which is electrically connected to the drive unit (7), and a USB-C power input port (82) which is intended to receive the USB-C plug (901) inside. Figure 1.

Description

Title of the invention: SEWING MACHINE

[0001] The invention relates to a sewing machine, and more particularly to a sewing machine which comprises a universal serial bus interface unit of type C.

[0002] A conventional sewing machine includes a power cord, a motor drive electrically connected to the power cord, a direct current (DC) motor driven by the motor drive to rotate, and a needle bar driven by the DC motor to move up and down. In practice, the power cord is inserted into a power outlet to receive electricity so that the motor drive can control the DC motor to rotate to move the needle bar up and down to perform sewing operations.

[0003] However, the classic sewing machine requires the presence of a power outlet in order to operate, which implies restrictions on the location of the classic sewing machine.

[0004] Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a sewing machine which can alleviate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0005] A sewing machine is adapted for use with a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) external power supply unit that includes a USB-C plug. The sewing machine includes a frame, a needle bar, a motor unit, a drive unit, and a USB-C interface unit. The needle bar is mounted on the frame and is movable along an up-and-down direction relative to the sewing machine. The motor unit is mounted on the frame and is configured to drive the needle bar to move along the up-and-down direction. The drive unit is electrically connected to the motor unit and is configured to generate and send a drive signal to the motor unit, where the drive signal is for instructing the motor unit to drive the needle bar to move along the up-and-down direction.The USB-C interface unit includes a power supply end that is electrically connected to the drive unit, and a USB-C power input port that is adapted to receive the USB-C plug of the external USB-C power supply unit inside.

[0006] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiment(s) with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that various features may not be shown to scale.

[0007] [Fig.l] is a schematic view illustrating a sewing machine according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0008] [Fig.2] is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the sewing machine according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0009] [Fig.3] is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the sewing machine without frame according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0010] [Fig.4] is a fragmentary, partially exploded perspective view illustrating a needle bar, a transmission unit and a fabric feed unit according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0011] Before the invention is described in more detail, it should be noted that where deemed appropriate, reference numerals or terminal portions of reference numerals have been repeated between the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements, which may possibly have similar characteristics.

[0012] It should be noted here that for clarity of description, space-related terms such as "up," "down," "upper," "lower," "on," "above," "over," "down," "up," and the like may be used throughout the invention while referring to the features illustrated in the drawings. The features may be oriented differently (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations) and the space-related terms used herein may be interpreted accordingly.

[0013] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a sewing machine according to one embodiment of the invention is adapted to a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) external power supply unit 900. The USB-C external power supply unit 900 includes a USB-C plug 901 and an external power supply 902 that is electrically connected to the USB-C plug 901. In this embodiment, the external power supply 902 is a lithium-ion power bank or a small solar power bank that is configured to provide electricity.

[0014] The sewing machine comprises a frame 1, a needle bar 2, a motor unit 3, a fabric feed unit 4, a transmission unit 5, a pedal controller 6, a drive unit 7, a USB-C interface unit 8 and a battery unit 9.

[0015] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the frame 1 comprises a first frame part 11 (which is a lower frame part in this embodiment) which is arranged horizontally, and a second frame part 12 (which is an upper frame part in this embodiment) which is arranged above and connected to the first frame part 11. The needle bar 2 is mounted on the second frame part 12 and is movable along an up-down direction of the sewing machine, where the up-down direction is perpendicular to an upper surface of the first frame part 11 which extends horizontally.

[0016] The motor unit 3 is mounted on the frame 1 and is configured to drive the needle bar 2 to move along the up-and-down direction. The motor unit 3 comprises a motor 31 and an output shaft 32 which is configured to be rotated by the motor 31.

[0017] The fabric feed unit 4 is disposed on the first frame portion 11 and comprises a needle plate 41 which is connected to the first frame portion 11, and a plurality of feed dogs 42 which are movably disposed under the needle plate 4L. Referring also to [Fig. 4], the needle plate 41 is formed with a hole 411 which corresponds in position to the needle bar 2, and a plurality of slots 412 which are adjacent to the hole 411. The feed dogs 42 are adapted to move back and forth relative to the slots 412. In this embodiment, there are six slots 412 and six feed dogs 42.

[0018] The transmission unit 5 is connected to the fabric feed unit 4, and is connected between the power unit 3 and the needle bar 2. The transmission unit 5 comprises a transmission belt 51, a driven gear 52, a first transmission shaft 53, a connecting rod-crank module 54, a connecting rod 55, a second transmission shaft 56, a protruding block 57, a connecting component 58 and an intermediate component 59. The transmission belt 51 is driven on the output shaft 32 and the driven gear 52 so that the driven gear 52 is rotated when the output shaft 32 rotates. The first transmission shaft 53 is fixedly attached to the driven gear 52, and the connecting rod-crank module 54 is connected between the first transmission shaft 53 and the needle bar 2.The connecting rod 55 is engaged with the first transmission shaft 53 (e.g., one end of the connecting rod 55 is eccentrically and rotatably sleeved on the first transmission shaft 53) and is engaged with the second transmission shaft 56 via the connecting component 58 (e.g., another end of the connecting rod 55 is eccentrically and rotatably connected to the second transmission shaft 56 via the connecting component 58). The second transmission shaft 56 is disposed on the first frame part 11 and is configured to be rotated by the connecting rod 55. The protruding block 57 is engaged with (e.g., fixedly sleeved on) the second transmission shaft 56 and is disposed below the drive claws 42. The intermediate component 59 is connected between the protruding block 57 and the drive claws 42.

[0019] Referring to [Fig.l], the pedal controller 6 is configured to generate a control signal based on a pedaling depth on the pedal controller 6, and to send the control signal to the drive unit 7.

[0020] The drive unit 7 comprises an input port 71, a control port 72 which is electrically connected to the pedal controller 6 and an output port 73 which is electrically connected to the motor unit 3. Referring also to [Fig. 2], the drive unit 7 is configured to receive the control signal from the pedal controller 6, and to generate and send a drive signal to the motor unit 3 based on the control signal thus received, where the drive signal indicates a frequency at which the needle bar 2 is driven by the motor unit 3 to move along the up-down direction. In this embodiment, the drive unit 7 may comprise a central processing unit (CPU) or a microcontroller unit (MCU).

[0021] The USB-C interface unit 8 comprises a power supply end 81 which is electrically connected to the input port 71, and a USB-C power input port 82 which is adapted to receive the USB-C plug 901 of the USB-C external power supply unit 900 therein. In this embodiment, the USB-C power input port 82 is a charging port which receives electricity from the USB-C external power supply unit 900 to charge the battery unit 9, but the invention is not limited in this respect.

[0022] The battery unit 9 comprises a battery management module 91 which is electrically connected to the USB-C interface unit 8, and an internal battery 92 which is electrically connected to the battery management module 91. The battery management module 91 comprises an interface end 911 which is electrically connected to the power supply end 81, and a battery end 912 which is electrically connected to the internal battery 92.

[0023] In some embodiments, the battery unit 9 may be omitted, and the drive unit 7 drives the motor unit 3 to operate based on electricity obtained directly from the USB-C external power supply unit 900 via the USB-C interface unit 8.

[0024] In practice, when the sewing machine is implemented according to this embodiment, the battery management module 91 obtains electricity from the USB-C external power supply unit 900 via the USB-C interface unit 8, and stores the electricity thus obtained in the internal battery 92. The drive unit 7 then obtains the electricity from the internal battery 92 via the battery management module 91, and generates and sends the drive signal to the motor unit 3 based on the control signal, so as to drive the motor 31, which in turn drives the output shaft 32 to rotate.

[0025] Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the transmission belt 51 is rotated by the output shaft 32, thereby rotating the driven gear 52 and the first transmission shaft 53. The crank-rod module 54 is driven by the first transmission shaft 53 to move relative to the second part of frame 12 (see [Fig. 2]) so as to drive the needle bar 2 to move in the up-and-down direction. In addition, when the first transmission shaft 53 rotates, the connecting rod 55 is driven to swing by the first transmission shaft 53, thereby driving, via the connecting component 58, the second transmission shaft 56 to rotate back and forth about an axis thereof to a limited extent. When the second transmission shaft 56 rotates about its axis, the projecting block 57 is driven to rotate by the second transmission shaft 56, thereby driving the intermediate component 59 to move back and forth along the up-and-down direction, so as to drive the feed dogs 42 to move back and forth relative to the slots 412 to feed the fabric.

[0026] In summary, the sewing machine according to the invention is adapted to obtain electricity from the USB-C external power supply unit 900 via the USB-C interface unit 8. As a result, the sewing machine can be freely placed at any desired location that cannot be near a power outlet, thereby improving the flexibility of use of the sewing machine.

[0027] In the above description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiment(s). It will, however, be apparent to those skilled in the art that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be understood that reference throughout this specification to "a single embodiment," "an embodiment," an embodiment with the indication of an ordinal number, and so forth means that a particular functionality, structure, or feature may be included in the practice of the invention.It should further be noted that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of simplifying the invention and facilitating the understanding of various inventive aspects; this does not mean that each of these features must be practiced in the presence of all other features. In other words, in any described embodiment, where the implementation of one or more specific features or details does not affect the implementation of one or more other specific features or details, said one or more features may be selected and practiced alone without said other or other specific features or details.It should further be noted that one or more specific features or details of one embodiment may be practiced in conjunction with one or more specific features or details of another embodiment. lization, if necessary, in the practice of the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. A sewing machine adapted for a Universal Serial Bus Type-C (USB-C) external power supply unit (900) which includes a USB-C plug (901), said sewing machine being characterized by: a frame (1); a needle bar (2) mounted on said frame (1) and movable along an up-and-down direction of said sewing machine; a motor unit (3) mounted on said frame (1) and configured to drive said needle bar (2) to move along the up-and-down direction; a drive unit (7) electrically connected to said motor unit (3) and configured to generate and send a drive signal to said motor unit (3), wherein the drive signal is for instructing said motor unit (3) to drive said needle bar (2) to move along the up-and-down direction;and a USB-C interface unit (8) comprising a power supply end (81) which is electrically connected to said drive unit (7), and a USB-C power input port (82) which is adapted to receive the USB-C plug (901) of the USB-C external power supply unit (900) therein.;

2. A sewing machine as claimed in claim 1, further characterized by a transmission unit (5) connected between said motor unit (3) and said needle bar (2), wherein said motor unit (3) comprises a motor (31) and an output shaft (32) which is configured to be rotated by said motor (31), and said transmission unit (5) comprises a driven gear (52), a transmission belt (51) which is driven on said output shaft (32) and said driven gear (52) so that said driven gear (52) is rotated when said output shaft (32) rotates, a first transmission shaft (53) which is attached to said driven gear (52), and a crank rod module (54) which is connected between said first transmission shaft (53) and said needle bar (2),and which is configured to be driven by said first transmission shaft (53) to drive said needle bar (2) to move along the up-down direction.,

3. A sewing machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein said frame (1) comprises a first frame part (11) which is arranged horizontally, and a second frame part (12) which is arranged above and connected to said first frame part (11), wherein said needle bar (2) is mounted on said second frame part (12) and is movable along the up-down direction.

4. A sewing machine as claimed in claim 3, further characterized by a fabric feed unit (4) provided on said first frame portion (11), said fabric feed unit (4) comprising a needle plate (41) which is connected to said first frame portion (11) and a plurality of feed dogs (42) which are movably disposed under said needle plate (41), said needle plate (41) being formed with a hole (411) which corresponds in position to said needle bar (2) and a plurality of slots (412) which are adjacent to said hole (411), said feed dogs (42) being adapted to move back and forth relative to said slots (412).

5. A sewing machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said transmission unit (5) further comprises a connecting rod (55) which is engaged with said first transmission shaft (53), a second transmission shaft (56) which is disposed on said first frame portion (11) and which is configured to be rotated by said connecting rod (55), and a projecting block (57) which is engaged with said second transmission shaft (56), which is disposed below said feed dogs (42), and which is configured to be rotated by said second transmission shaft (56) so as to drive said feed dogs (42) to move back and forth relative to said slots (412).

6. A sewing machine as claimed in claim 1, further characterized by a battery unit (9), said battery unit (9) comprising a battery management module (91) which is electrically connected to said USB-C interface unit (8), and an internal battery (92) which is electrically connected to said battery management module (91), said battery management module (91) comprising an interface end (911) which is electrically connected to said power supply end (81) and a battery end (912) which is electrically connected to said internal battery (92).

7. A sewing machine as claimed in claim 1, further characterized by a foot pedal control device (6) electrically connected to said drive unit (7) and configured to generating and sending a control signal to said drive unit (7), wherein said drive unit (7) is configured to generate and send the drive signal to said motor unit (3) based on the control signal, wherein the drive signal indicates a frequency at which said needle bar (2) is driven by said motor unit (3) to move in the up-down direction.

Images