Sewing machine

Abstract

To provide a sewing machine capable of projecting a wider variety of projection images than before.SOLUTION: A sewing machine 1 includes a needle bar 15, a presser bar 16, a leg column 12, a bed 11, an arm 13, and a projector 2. The leg column 12 extends in the vertical direction. The bed 11 extends in the extension direction orthogonal to the vertical direction from a lower end of the leg column 12. The arm 13 extends in the extension direction in parallel with the bed 11 from an upper end of the leg column 12, above the bed 11. In the case where the direction orthogonal to the extension direction and the vertical direction and going toward the presser bar 16 from the needle bar 15 is defined as a forward feeding direction F, and the direction opposite from the forward feeding direction F is defined as a reverse feeding direction B, the projector 2 includes a first lens 23, and a light source arranged in the forward feeding direction F or the reverse feeding direction B with respect to the first lens 23. The length of the shorter direction D1 of the bed 11 in a projection region is longer than the length in the longer direction of the bed 11 in the projection region.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sewing machine. [Background technology]

[0002] The sewing machine of Patent Document 1 includes a bed, an arm, a needle bar, a transport mechanism, a projector, and a camera. The transport mechanism is capable of transporting the sewing workpiece. The projector is provided at the head of the arm, and has a first lens from which image light of a projection image is emitted, and a lamp which is a light source that outputs light guided to the first lens, and projects a projection image toward a projection area of ​​the bed. The camera is provided at the head, and has a second lens into which light reflected from an imaging target is incident, and captures an image of the imaging target. The first lens of the projector and the second lens of the camera are provided to the left and in front of the needle bar. The projection area is rectangular in shape and is long in the left-right direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-787 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There is a demand for a sewing machine capable of projecting a wider variety of images.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a sewing machine capable of projecting a wider variety of images than ever before. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A sewing machine according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a needle bar to which a sewing needle can be attached, a presser bar to which a presser foot can be attached, a leg column extending in an up-down direction, a bed extending from the lower end of the leg column in an extension direction perpendicular to the up-down direction, an arm extending from the upper end of the leg column above the bed in the extension direction parallel to the bed, and a projector installed on the arm in the extension direction further than the needle bar and projecting a projection image onto a projection area on the bed, wherein if a direction perpendicular to the extension direction and the up-down direction and from the needle bar to the presser bar is defined as a forward feed direction and a direction opposite to the forward feed direction is defined as a reverse feed direction, the projector has a first lens and a light source arranged in the forward feed direction or the reverse feed direction relative to the first lens and outputs light to be guided to the first lens, and the length of the projection area in the short side direction of the bed is longer than the length of the projection area in the long side direction of the bed. In a typical sewing machine, the short side of the bed is the direction in which the sewing material is moved, i.e., the direction in which stitches are formed. In contrast, in the sewing machine of this embodiment, the projector is installed in an orientation in which the light source is disposed in the forward feed direction or reverse feed direction relative to the first lens in the extension direction of the needle bar, so that the length of the projection area in the short side of the bed is longer than the length of the projection area in the long side of the bed. Therefore, it is suitable for projecting a projection image showing a pattern that is long in the short side of the bed, which is the direction in which stitches are formed, and contributes to the projection of a wider variety of projection images than before. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sewing machine 1 with the cover 56 attached. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sewing machine 1 with the cover 56 removed. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a left side view of the sewing machine 1 with the cover 56 removed. [Figure 4] 1 is a front view of the head 14 of the sewing machine 1 with the cover 56 removed. [Diagram 5] 2 is an exploded perspective view of the arm frame 7 and the projector module 20. FIG. [Figure 6]2 is an exploded perspective view of the arm frame 7 and the projector module 20. FIG. [Figure 7] 2 is a plan view of the arm frame 7 and the projector module 20. FIG. [Figure 8] 2 is a right side view of the projector module 20. FIG. [Figure 9] 1 is a plan view of a bed 11 showing a projection area R1 of a projector 2 and an imaging area R2 of an image sensor 8. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The up-down direction, the down-left direction, the up-right direction, the up-left direction, and the down-right direction in FIG. 1 are the up-down direction, the left direction, the right direction, the rear direction, and the front direction of the sewing machine 1, respectively. The longitudinal direction of the bed 11 and the arm 13 is the left-right direction of the sewing machine 1. In the sewing machine 1, the side where the leg column 12 is arranged is the right side. The extension direction of the leg column 12 is the up-down direction of the sewing machine 1. The left side is defined as the extension direction J. The rear direction, which is perpendicular to the extension direction J and the up-down direction and is the direction from the needle bar 15 to the presser bar 16, is defined as the forward feed direction F. The front direction, which is the opposite direction to the forward feed direction F, is defined as the reverse feed direction B. The forward feed direction F and the reverse feed direction B are directions along the short side direction D1 of the upper surface 42 of the bed 11. The extension direction J is a direction along the longitudinal direction D2 of the upper surface 42 of the bed 11.

[0009] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the sewing machine 1 includes a bed 11, a leg post 12, and an arm 13. The leg post 12 extends in the vertical direction. The bed 11 extends from the lower end of the leg post 12 in an extension direction J perpendicular to the vertical direction. The arm 13 extends above the bed 11 from the upper end of the leg post 12 in the extension direction J parallel to the bed 11. The arm 13 has a head 14 at its left end.

[0010] An upper surface 42 of the bed 11 extends horizontally and is provided with a needle plate 41. The needle plate 41 is provided with a needle hole 40 through which the sewing needle 17 is inserted, as shown in FIG. 9. The bed 11 is provided with a feed mechanism, a shuttle mechanism, and the like, which are not shown. The feed mechanism and the shuttle mechanism are provided below the needle plate 41. The feed mechanism is provided with a feed dog. The feed mechanism drives the feed dog to move the workpiece in the forward feed direction F or the reverse feed direction B by a predetermined amount. The forward feed direction F corresponds to the direction in which the sewing machine 1 is disposed relative to the user. The shuttle mechanism is provided with a shuttle. The shuttle mechanism drives the shuttle to entangle the upper thread with the lower thread.

[0011] A vertically long liquid crystal display 43 and a touch screen 44 are provided on the front side of the leg column 12. The liquid crystal display 43 displays messages and the like necessary for sewing work. The touch screen 44 is provided in front of the liquid crystal display 43. When the user operates the touch screen 44 with his / her finger or a special pen, the operation position is detected and an item displayed on the liquid crystal display 43 is selected. The user can input various instructions to the sewing machine 1 via the touch screen 44.

[0012] A number of switches including a start / stop switch 45 are provided on the front surface of the arm 13. The start / stop switch 45 is a switch for instructing the start and stop of a sewing operation. An openable and closable cover (not shown) is provided on the upper portion of the arm 13. The cover of the arm 13 is not shown in Figs. 1 to 4. A thread storage section 50 is provided on an upper surface 53 of the arm 13 that is exposed when the cover is open. The thread storage section 50 is a recessed portion recessed downward that can store a thread spool around which an upper thread is wound. The spool pin extends leftward from the inner wall surface on the right side of the thread storage section 50. The thread spool is attached to the sewing machine 1 by inserting the thread spool insertion hole into the spool pin.

[0013] The arm 13 has an arm frame 7 extending in the extension direction J from the upper end of the leg pillar 12, and a frame 69 connected to the front of the arm frame 7. A main body 70 of the arm frame 7 is a rectangular plate-like shape elongated in the left-right direction. The arm frame 7 is disposed in the forward feed direction F from the needle bar 15 and in the vicinity of the rear end of the arm 13. The arm frame 7 in this example is formed in a U-shape opening to the left when viewed from the front, and is a part corresponding to the arm 13 among the sewing machine frames disposed on the bed 11, the leg pillar 12, and the arm 13. The arm frame 7 is made of a metal such as an aluminum alloy and has thermal conductivity. The arm frame 7 has a fixing surface 72, a heat dissipation surface 73, and a heat dissipation fin 74 at an end 71 in the extension direction J. In the short-side direction D1 of the bed 11, the fixing surface 72, the heat dissipation surface 73, and the heat dissipation fin 74 are located in the forward feed direction F with respect to the needle bar 15. The fixing surface 72 is fixed to the projector 2 described later. The fixed surface 72 is the end 71 of the arm frame 7 in the extension direction J, that is, the front surface of the left end of the arm frame 7. The heat dissipation surface 73 is the surface of the end 71 opposite to the fixed surface 72. The heat dissipation surface 73 is the back surface of the end 71 of the arm frame 7 in the extension direction J. The heat dissipation fin 74 extends from the heat dissipation surface 73 in the forward feed direction F. The heat dissipation fin 74 includes fins 741 to 744 that extend in the horizontal direction. The rear ends of the fins 741 and 742 are inclined forward as they approach the extension direction J in a plan view. The fins 741 to 744 are aligned in the vertical direction. The intervals between any adjacent fins among the fins 741 to 744 are different from each other. The surface area of ​​the heat dissipation fin 74 is larger than the surface area of ​​the fixed surface 72. The arm frame 7 has a recess 75 recessed toward the forward feed direction F to the right of the end 71 in the extension direction J. The frame 69 is spaced apart from the end 71 in the extending direction J and is connected to the front surface of the recess 75 .

[0014] As shown in Fig. 2 to Fig. 4, the head 14 includes a needle bar mechanism 46, a presser foot mechanism 47, a scale mechanism 48, a threading mechanism 49, an image sensor 8, and a projector module 20. As shown in Fig. 1, the head 14 is further provided with a removable cover 56. The needle bar mechanism 46, the presser foot mechanism 47, the scale mechanism 48, the threading mechanism 49, the projector module 20, and the image sensor 8 are covered by the cover 56 in the attached state. The needle bar mechanism 46, the presser foot mechanism 47, the scale mechanism 48, the threading mechanism 49, and the image sensor 8 are each supported by a metal frame 69. The needle bar mechanism 46, the presser foot mechanism 47, the scale mechanism 48, and the threading mechanism 49 are each supported by the arm frame 7 via the frame 69.

[0015] 2 to 4, needle bar mechanism 46 has needle bar 15 extending in the vertical direction, and moves needle bar 15 back and forth in the vertical direction. Needle bar 15 protrudes downward from the lower end of head 14. A sewing needle 17 is detachably attached to the lower end of needle bar 15. Sewing needle 17 attached to needle bar 15 moves back and forth in the vertical direction together with needle bar 15. An upper thread passed through sewing needle 17 is entangled with a lower thread by a shuttle to form a stitch on the material being sewn.

[0016] The presser foot mechanism 47 has a presser bar 16 that extends in the vertical direction, and moves the presser bar 16 back and forth in the vertical direction. The presser bar 16 protrudes downward from the lower end of the head 14. A presser foot 18 is detachably attached to the lower end of the presser bar 16. The presser foot 18 presses the workpiece downward and moves the workpiece in the front-to-rear direction in cooperation with the feed dog.

[0017] The take-up mechanism 48 has a take-up lever 55 with a hole formed therein through which the upper thread passes. The take-up lever 55 is provided in the reverse feed direction B, i.e., in front of the needle bar 15. The take-up mechanism 48 moves the take-up lever 55 back and forth in the up and down direction. As a result, the take-up lever 55 pulls up the upper thread and adjusts the position of the knot with the lower thread.

[0018] The threading mechanism 49 includes a knob 57. The knob 57 is supported so as to be movable in the vertical direction and rotatable about an axis extending in the vertical direction. When the knob 57 is rotated downward, the threading mechanism 49 passes the upper thread through the eye of the sewing needle 17.

[0019] The image sensor 8 is provided on the front side of the frame 69. The image sensor 8 is supported on the frame 69 via a holder 84. The image sensor 8 captures an image of an imaging area R2 on the bed 11. An example of an imaging target of the image sensor 8 is a projected image projected onto a sewing object. The image sensor 8 includes a second lens 81, a lens holder 82, and a detection unit 83. Reflected light reflected from the imaging target is incident on the second lens 81. The second lens 81 guides the incident reflected light to the detection unit 83 described below. In the longitudinal direction D2 of the upper surface 42 of the bed 11, the second lens 81 is disposed in the extension direction J, i.e., to the left, of the needle bar 15.

[0020] The lens holder 82 is provided on the upper end of the second lens 81 and holds the second lens 81. The detection unit 83 is provided on the upper side of the lens holder 82. The detection unit 83 is a CMOS image sensor that detects reflected light guided by the second lens 81 and outputs a signal according to the detected reflected light. The detection unit 83 is not limited to a CMOS image sensor, and may be an image sensor that operates in another manner, such as a CCD image sensor.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 9, the imaging area R2 includes at least a part of the projection area R1 of the projector 2 described later. The imaging area R2 has a rectangular shape with a short side extending in the short direction D1 of the bed 11 and a long side extending in the longitudinal direction D2 of the bed 11. In this example, the length L3 of the short side of the imaging area R2 is 212 mm, and the length L8 of the long side is 302 mm. The end of the imaging area R2 in the extension direction J is further in the extension direction J than the end of the extension direction J of the bed 11. The end of the imaging area R2 in the forward feed direction F is further in the reverse feed direction B than the end of the forward feed direction F of the bed 11. The imaging area R2 includes an extension range of the needle plate 41.

[0022] The holder 84 is interposed between the front surface of the frame 69 and the image sensor 8. The holder 84 supports the image sensor 8 movably relative to the frame 69. The holder 84 has a relay board 85. The relay board 85 converts a signal output from the detection unit 83 of the image sensor 8 into a signal detectable by a control unit of the sewing machine 1 (not shown), and outputs the signal to the control unit. The relay board 85 is in the shape of a plate that extends in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. The detection unit 83 of the image sensor 8 is held on the lower surface of the relay board 85.

[0023] 2 and 4, projector module 20 is disposed spaced apart from needle bar 15 in extension direction J. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, projector module 20 includes projector 2, control board 24, heat dissipation plate 25, and fixing plate 26. Projector 2 is installed at the tip of arm 13 in extension direction J, i.e., at the tip of head 14, and configured to project an image onto projection area R1 on bed 11. Projector 2 is fixed to fixing surface 72 of arm frame 7 so as to be capable of transferring heat generated by projector 2.

[0024] The projector 2 includes a generating unit 21, a light guide unit 22, and a first lens 23. The generating unit 21 is a rectangular parallelepiped long in the front-rear direction. The generating unit 21 includes a reflective display device, a light source 212, a mirror, a prism, and the like. The light source 212 is disposed in the forward direction F or the reverse direction B with respect to the first lens 213. The light source 212 in this example is disposed in the forward direction F with respect to the first lens 213. The light source 212 is, for example, an R, G, or B LED lamp. The generating unit 21 generates image light of a projected image by projecting light from the light source 212 onto an image displayed on the reflective display device. The generating unit 21 emits the generated image light toward the light guide unit 22. The generating unit 21 may be a device that operates by a method other than a reflective display method, such as a transmissive display device, a laser light source, or a self-luminous device. The generating unit 21 includes a heat dissipation fin 211 at an end in the reverse direction B. The heat dissipation fins 211 are constituted by a plurality of plates extending in an extending direction J in the reverse feed direction B from an outer diameter center line C1 of a first lens 23 described later.

[0025] Light guiding unit 22 has a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction. Light guiding unit 22 guides the image light generated by generation unit 21 to first lens 23. The image light guided by light guiding unit 22 is emitted toward bed 11 via first lens 23.

[0026] The first lens 23 is disposed at the lower end of the light guide section 22. The first lens 23 is a decentered optical system projection lens. The decentered optical system is an optical system in which the lenses and mirrors constituting the optical system are not on the same line. The number, type, and arrangement of the lenses and mirrors for constituting the decentered optical system may be appropriately set. The first lens 23 in this example is the lens disposed at the bottom among the lenses and mirrors constituting the decentered optical system. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the first lens 23 is installed in the extension direction J with respect to the needle bar 15, further than the second lens 81 of the image sensor 8. In the forward feed direction F, the needle bar 15 is located between the first lens 23 and the fixed surface 72 of the arm frame 7. In the short direction D1 of the upper surface 42 of the bed 11, the extension range of the needle bar mechanism 46 overlaps with at least a part of the extension range of the projector 2. In the longitudinal direction D2 of the upper surface 42 of the bed 11, the extension range of the needle bar mechanism 46 is separated from the extension range of the projector 2.

[0027] 3 and 4, the projector height H1, which is the vertical distance from the first lens 23 of the projector 2 to the top surface 42 of the bed 11, is a distance in the range of 0.8 to 1.2 times the camera height H2, which is the vertical distance from the second lens 81 of the image sensor 8 to the top surface 42 of the bed 11. The camera height H2 in this example is smaller than the projector height H1. The camera height H2 is 88 mm, and the projector height H1 is 100 mm.

[0028] The longitudinal direction of the light guide section 22 is approximately parallel to the outer diameter center line C1 of the first lens 23. The intersection K1 between the outer diameter center line C1 of the first lens 23 and the upper surface 42 of the bed 11 is located in the extension direction J from the center K2 of the projection area R1. The line segment connecting the center of the first lens 23 and the center K2 of the projection area R1 is defined as the projection image center line C2. The projection image center line C2 in this example is determined according to the position of the center of the exit surface relative to the center of the entrance surface of the first lens 23. Since the first lens 23 is a decentered optical system projection lens, the outer diameter center line C1 and the projection image center line C2 do not coincide. The inclination of the outer diameter center line C1 of the first lens 23 with respect to the vertical direction is 0 degrees or more and 10 degrees or less. The projector 2 is positioned such that the first lens 23 faces generally downward, i.e., the outer diameter center line C1 of the first lens 23 extends generally parallel to the vertical direction, and the projection image center line C2 of the first lens 23 is inclined in the opposite direction to the extension direction J, i.e., to the right, with respect to the vertical direction.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 9, in the longitudinal direction D2 of the bed 11, the projection area R1 of the projector 2 is disposed at the end of the extension direction J of the projector 2, that is, to the right of the left end, which is the opposite direction to the extension direction J. The projection area R1 of the projector 2 is rectangular in shape, with the long side extending in the lateral direction D1 of the bed 11 and the short side extending in the longitudinal direction D2 of the bed 11. In this example, the length L4 of the long side of the projection area R1 is 239 mm, and the length L7 of the short side is 135 mm. In the lateral direction D1 of the bed 11, the first lens 23 is disposed in the reverse feed direction B with respect to the needle bar 15. The projection area R1 includes the needle drop position NP located below the needle bar 15 on the bed 11. The end R4 of the projection area R1 in the forward feed direction F is located in the forward feed direction F beyond the end 39 of the needle plate 41 in the forward feed direction F. The end R3 of the projection area R1 in the reverse feed direction B is located further in the reverse feed direction B than the end 38 of the needle plate 41 in the reverse feed direction B. That is, the needle plate 41 is disposed between the ends R3 and R4 of the projection area R1 in the short-side direction D1 of the bed 11. In the short-side direction D1 of the bed 11, the position of the intersection K1 is substantially the same as the center K2 of the projection area R1. The projection area length L4, which is the length of the projection area R1 in the short-side direction D1, falls within a range of 0.8 to 1.2 times the imaging area length L3, which is the length of the imaging area R2 in the short-side direction D1. The projection area length L4, which is the length of the projection area R1 in the short-side direction D1, is 0.9 times or more the bed length L9, which is the length of the upper surface 42 of the bed 11 in the short-side direction D1. In this example, the projection area length L4 is 239 mm, the imaging area length L3 is 212 mm, and the bed length L9 is 237 mm. Since projector 2 is disposed to the left and front of needle bar 15, when projector 2 is driven, the shadow of needle bar 15 is formed to the right rear of needle bar 15 by the image light projected from projector 2. In other words, the shadow formed by the image light projected from projector 2 is not formed in the reverse feed direction B beyond needle bar 15.

[0030] In the short direction D1 of the bed 11, the projector distance L1, which is the distance in the reverse feed direction B from the needle bar 15 to the center of the first lens 23 of the projector 2, is in the range of 0.8 to 1.2 times the camera distance L2, which is the distance in the reverse feed direction B from the needle bar 15 to the center of the second lens 81 of the image sensor 8, and more preferably, the projector distance L1 is 0.9 to 1.1 times the camera distance L2. That is, in the short direction D1 of the bed 11, the first lens 23 of the projector 2 and the second lens 81 of the image sensor 8 are located at approximately the same position. In this example, the projector distance L1 is 34 mm, and the camera distance L2 is 40 mm. In this example, the center of the first lens 23 of the projector 2 is defined by the outer diameter center line C1 of the first lens 23. In the short direction D1 of the bed 11, the reverse feed distance L6 from the needle drop position NP to the end R3 of the projection area R1 in the reverse feed direction B is 1.5 to 2.0 times the forward feed distance L5, which is the length from the needle drop position NP to the end R4 of the projection area R1 in the forward feed direction F. In other words, the forward feed distance L5 is 1 / 3 to 2 / 5 of the projection area length L4. More preferably, the reverse feed distance L6 is 1.6 to 1.9 times the forward feed distance L5. In this example, the forward feed distance L5 is 85 mm, and the reverse feed distance L6 is 154 mm.

[0031] As shown in Figs. 5 to 8, the control board 24 is provided in the extension direction J relative to the generation unit 21 of the projector 2. The control board 24 is rectangular when viewed from the left side. The longitudinal direction of the control board 24 is parallel to the front-rear direction. A driver element is mounted on the control board 24. The driver element controls the projector 2 to cause the generation unit 21 to generate image light. The rear end of the control board 24 is located further in the forward direction F than the fixing surface 72 of the end 71 of the arm frame 7. The front end of the control board 24 is located further in the forward direction F than the heat dissipation fins 211.

[0032] The heat dissipation plate 25 is formed of a thermally conductive material such as metal. The heat dissipation plate 25 is fixed to the generation unit 21 and transfers heat generated in the generation unit 21 to the arm frame 7. The heat dissipation plate 25 has plate portions 251 to 253 and a heat dissipation fin 254. The plate portion 251 is a rectangular plate when viewed from the front. The front surface of the plate portion 251 abuts against the back surface of the generation unit 21. The back surface of the plate portion 251 abuts against the fixing surface 72 of the end portion 71 of the arm frame 7. The plate portion 251 is formed with holes 258 and 259 penetrating in the front-rear direction. The hole 258 is formed above the center of the plate portion 251 in the up-down direction. The hole 258 is an ellipse that is long in the up-down direction. The hole 259 is formed below the plate portion 251. The hole 259 is an arc-shaped long hole centered on the hole 258. The plate portion 251 is fixed to the fixing surface 72 of the end portion 71 of the arm frame 7 by a screw 255 inserted through a screw hole 721 and a hole 258 formed in the fixing surface 72 and a screw 256 inserted through a screw hole 722 and a hole 259. Since the hole 259 is an elongated hole, when fixing the plate portion 251 to the fixing surface 72 of the end portion 71 of the arm frame 7, the operator can adjust the attitude of the plate portion 251 with respect to the fixing surface 72, in particular the mounting angle around the screw 255 extending in the forward feed direction F, with the screws 255 and 256 temporarily fixed. Since no members such as the needle bar mechanism 46 are arranged in front of the plate portion 251, the operator can easily perform the work of fixing the plate portion 251 to the fixing surface 72 of the end portion 71 of the arm frame 7.

[0033] The plate portion 252 extends in the reverse feed direction B from the end of the extending direction J of the plate portion 251. The right surface of the plate portion 252 abuts against the left surface of the generating unit 21. The plate portion 253 extends horizontally in the reverse feed direction B from the lower end of the plate portion 251. The upper surface of the plate portion 253 abuts against the lower surface of the generating unit 21. The front end of the plate portion 253 abuts against the light guiding unit 22. The lower surface of the plate portion 253 is located slightly above the lower end of the control board 24. The heat dissipating fins 254 are fixed to the lower surface of the plate portion 253 in the forward feed direction F from the light guiding unit 22. The heat dissipating fins 254 are composed of a plurality of plates that protrude downward and are rectangular when viewed from the front. The rear end of the heat dissipating fins 254 is located at approximately the same position in the front-rear direction as the rear end of the plate portion 251.

[0034] The fixed plate 26 is a bent metal plate. The fixed plate 26 connects the heat dissipation plate 25 and the control board 24. The fixed plate 26 has parts 268, 269 extending in the longitudinal direction D2 and a part 267 extending in the up-down direction. The left surfaces of the parts 267, 268 abut against the right surface of the control board 24. The part 268 extends in the reverse feed direction B from the upper end of the part 267. The part 269 extends rightward from the right end of the part 268 and then bends downward. The part 269 is disposed above the generating unit 21. A hole 261 is formed in the front end of the part 268, and a hole 262 is formed in the rear end of the part 268. A hole 263 is formed in the lower end of the part 267. The part 269 has holes 265, 266 aligned in the front-rear direction. Each of the holes 261 to 263, 265, and 266 is circular when viewed from the right side and penetrates in the left-right direction. The fixing plate 26 is fixed to the control board 24 by a screw 271 inserted through the hole 261, a screw 272 inserted through the hole 262, and a screw 273 inserted through the hole 263. The screws 271 to 273 are each inserted from left to right of the control board 24. Pins 275 and 276 provided at the upper end of the plate portion 252 of the heat dissipation plate 25 are inserted through the holes 265 and 266. The plate portion 252 of the heat dissipation plate 25 is disposed between the portion 269 and the generation unit 21 of the fixing plate 26, and the control board 24 in the left-right direction.

[0035] When the projector 2 is driven, the heat generated in the generating unit 21 is dissipated through the heat dissipation fins 254 of the heat dissipation plate 25 having thermal conductivity in contact with the generating unit 21 and the heat dissipation fins 211 of the generating unit 21, and is also transferred to the arm frame 7 having thermal conductivity through the heat dissipation plate 25. The heat dissipation surface 73, which is the back surface of the fixing surface 72 of the end portion 71 of the arm frame 7, is formed with the heat dissipation fins 74. The surface area of ​​the heat dissipation fins 74 is larger than the sum of the surface areas of the heat dissipation fins 211 and the heat dissipation fins 254. Therefore, the end portion 71 of the arm frame 7 suitably dissipates the heat transferred from the generating unit 21 through the heat dissipation plate 25. The arm frame 7 has sufficient thermal conductivity and volume for the amount of heat generated in the generating unit 21. Therefore, the arm frame 7 can suppress the projector 2 from being excessively heated by the heat generated in the generating unit 21. Projector module 20 is separated in the left-right direction from needle bar mechanism 46, presser foot mechanism 47, and balance mechanism 48. For this reason, heat generated in generation unit 21 is not directly transmitted to needle bar mechanism 46, presser foot mechanism 47, and balance mechanism 48.

[0036] The operation of the sewing machine 1 having the above configuration will now be briefly described. When the sewing machine 1 detects that the start / stop switch 45 has been pressed, it synchronously drives the shuttle mechanism, the feed mechanism, the needle bar mechanism 46, the presser foot mechanism 47, and the thread take-up mechanism 48. As a result, the sewing needle 17 attached to the needle bar 15 forms a stitch on the workpiece placed on the upper surface 42 of the bed 11.

[0037] An example of use of the projector 2 and the image sensor 8 of the projector module 20 will be described. The projector 2 is used, for example, to check the position and shape of stitches to be formed on a sewing object before sewing. In this case, the projector 2 emits image light of a projection image showing a pattern selected by a user according to an instruction from the user. The image light is projected onto a sewing object placed on the bed 11. In another example, the projector 2 is used for calibrating the projector 2 before shipping the sewing machine 1. In this case, the projector 2 projects a predetermined calibration pattern according to an instruction from an operator. The calibration pattern is, for example, grid lines arranged in a lattice pattern. The image sensor 8 captures the projected calibration pattern. The control unit of the sewing machine 1 detects the amount of distortion of the captured image and stores it in a storage unit (not shown). When the control unit detects an instruction to project image light of a projection image showing a pattern after shipping the sewing machine 1, the control unit adjusts the image light emitted from the projector 2 so that the distortion of the amount of distortion stored in the storage unit is corrected. This allows the sewing machine 1 to project image light of a distortion-free projection image onto a sewing object. Examples of use of the projector module 20 and the image sensor 8 are not limited to those described above, and the projector module 20 and the image sensor 8 can be used for various other purposes.

[0038] A confirmation test of the heat dissipation effect of the arm frame 7 on the heat generated in the generating unit 21 will be described. A comparative example is a case where the projector module 20 is not fixed to the arm frame 7, and an example is a case where the projector module 20 is fixed to the arm frame 7 at room temperature. The surface temperature of the generating unit 21 when the projector 2 is driven was measured for each of the comparative example and the example. The driving time of the projector 2 was set to 60 minutes, which is a sufficient time for the surface temperature of the generating unit 21 to stabilize. In the comparative example, the surface temperature of the generating unit 21 rose from 58.7°C to about 68.4°C due to the emission of the R, G, and B LED lamps that are the light source 212 of the generating unit 21, whereas in the example, the surface temperature of the generating unit 21 was suppressed from 39.8°C to 42.0°C. In the example, the heat generated in the generating unit 21 was released to the end 71 of the arm frame 7, and the temperature of the end 71 of the arm frame 7 rose by several degrees, but the temperature of the main body 70 did not rise at all. Through confirmation tests, it was confirmed that projector module 20 fixed to end portion 71 of arm frame 7 can effectively release heat generated by generation unit 21.

[0039] When the projection area R1 is made wider than in the past, the light source of the projector 2 needs to emit light brighter by the amount of the wider projection area, and the amount of heat dissipated from the light source increases. In general projectors, heat is dissipated by arranging a heat pipe and a heat sink on the light source, which is the heat source, and by using an air-cooled fan. However, in sewing machines, the use of an air-cooled fan is not preferable because there is a concern that the air-cooled fan may become clogged or stop abnormally due to adhesion of thread dust and machine oil. In contrast, in the sewing machine 1 of the above embodiment, it has been confirmed that the heat can be efficiently transferred to the back side of the arm 13 by directly fixing the projector 2 to the arm frame 7, and the temperature of the projector 2 can be prevented from rising excessively even without providing an air-cooled fan.

[0040] In the above embodiment, the sewing machine 1, projector 2, arm frame 7, image sensor 8, bed 11, needle plate 41, leg post 12, arm 13, needle bar 15, presser bar 16, sewing needle 17, presser foot 18, first lens 23, light source 212, second lens 81, top surface 42, end 71, fixed surface 72, heat dissipation surface 73, and heat dissipation fins 74 are examples of the sewing machine, projector, arm frame, image sensor, bed, needle plate, leg post, arm, needle bar, presser bar, sewing needle, presser foot, first lens, light source, second lens, top surface, end, fixed surface, heat dissipation surface, and heat dissipation fins of the present invention, respectively. The outer diameter center line C1, the short direction D1, the longitudinal direction D2, the extension direction J, the forward direction F, the reverse direction B, the projector distance L1, the camera distance L2, the projection area length L4, the imaging area length L3, the reverse distance L6, the forward distance L5, the projector height H1, the camera height H2, the intersection K1, and the center K2 are each an example of the outer diameter center line, the short direction, the longitudinal direction, the extension direction, the forward direction, the reverse direction, the projector distance, the camera distance, the projection area length, the imaging area length, the reverse distance, the forward distance, the projector height, the camera height, the intersection, and the center of the projection area in the present invention.

[0041] The sewing machine 1 of the above embodiment includes a needle bar 15, a presser bar 16, a bed 11, an arm 13, and a projector 2. A sewing needle 17 can be attached to the needle bar 15. A presser foot 18 can be attached to the presser bar 16. The leg post 12 extends in the vertical direction. The bed 11 extends from the lower end of the leg post 12 in an extension direction J perpendicular to the vertical direction. The arm 13 extends above the bed 11 from the upper end of the leg post 12 in the extension direction J parallel to the bed 11. The projector 2 is installed on the arm 13, further in the extension direction J than the needle bar 15, and projects an image onto a projection area R1 on the bed 11. If the direction perpendicular to the extending direction J and the up-down direction and from the needle bar 15 to the presser bar 16 is defined as the forward feed direction F, and the direction opposite to the forward feed direction F is defined as the reverse feed direction B, the projector 2 has a first lens 23 and a light source 212 that is disposed in the forward feed direction F or the reverse feed direction B relative to the first lens 23 and outputs light that is guided to the first lens 23, and the length L4 in the short direction D1 of the bed 11 in the projection area R1 is longer than the length L7 in the long direction D2 of the bed 11 in the projection area R1. In a typical sewing machine, the short direction of the bed is the direction in which the sewn material moves, i.e., the direction in which stitches are formed. In contrast, in the sewing machine 1, the projector 2 is installed in an orientation in which the light source 212 is disposed in the forward feed direction F or the reverse feed direction B relative to the first lens 23 in the extension direction J from the needle bar 15, so that the length L4 of the projection area R1 in the short direction D1 of the bed 11 is longer than the length L7 of the projection area R1 in the long direction D2 of the bed 11. This makes it possible to project a projection image showing a long pattern in the short direction D1 of the bed 11, which is the direction in which stitches are formed, and contributes to projecting a wider variety of projection images than ever before.

[0042] The sewing machine 1 includes a needle plate 41 provided on an upper surface 42 of the bed 11. The projection area R1 includes a needle drop position NP located below the needle bar 15 on the bed 11. In the forward feed direction F, an end R4 of the projection area R1 in the forward feed direction F is located further in the forward feed direction F than an end 39 of the needle plate 41 in the forward feed direction F. The projector 2 of the sewing machine 1 can project a projection image onto the projection area R1 including the needle drop position NP and an area in the forward feed direction F that is further in the forward feed direction F than the end 39 of the needle plate 41 in the forward feed direction F. Therefore, a projection image showing a pattern extending in the forward feed direction F beyond the needle drop position NP and the needle plate 41 can be projected.

[0043] The arm 13 has an arm frame 7 extending in the extension direction J from the upper end of the leg column 12. The arm frame 7 has thermal conductivity. The arm frame 7 has a fixing surface 72 that is disposed in the extension direction J from the needle bar 15 and fixes the projector 2. The projector 2 is fixed to the fixing surface 72 of the arm frame 7 so as to be capable of transmitting heat generated by the projector 2. In general, when the projection area of ​​the projector is expanded from the conventional one, the amount of heat generated by the light emitted by the projector increases from the conventional one. For this reason, when the projection area of ​​the projector is expanded from the conventional one, it is necessary to dissipate the heat of the projector more efficiently than before. In response to this, the arm frame 7 of the sewing machine 1 fixes the projector 2 so as to be capable of transmitting the heat generated by the projector 2, so that the heat of the projector 2 can be efficiently dissipated even when the amount of heat generated by the light emitted by the projector 2 increases from the conventional one.

[0044] In the forward feed direction F, the fixing surface 72 is located in the forward feed direction F relative to the needle bar 15. The arm frame 7 has a heat dissipation surface 73 on the opposite side to the fixing surface 72, and heat dissipation fins 74 extending from the heat dissipation surface 73 in the forward feed direction F. The arm frame 7 of the sewing machine 1 can efficiently dissipate the heat from the projector 2 by the heat dissipation fins 74, even when the amount of heat generated by the light emission of the projector 2 increases compared to conventional cases.

[0045] The sewing machine 1 includes an image sensor 8 that captures an image of an imaging area R2 on the bed 11. The projector 2 includes a first lens 23. The image sensor 8 includes a second lens 81. The first lens 23 of the projector 2 is disposed in the extension direction J from the second lens 81 of the image sensor 8. If the vertical distance from the first lens 23 of the projector 2 to the top surface 42 of the bed 11 is defined as a projector height H1, and the vertical distance from the second lens 81 of the image sensor 8 to the top surface 42 of the bed 11 is defined as a camera height H2, the projector height H1 is a distance in the range of 0.8 to 1.2 times the camera height H2. If the distance in the reverse feed direction B from the needle bar 15 to the center C1 of the first lens 23 of the projector 2 is defined as a projector distance L1, and the distance in the reverse feed direction B from the needle bar 15 to the center C3 of the second lens 81 of the image sensor 8 is defined as a camera distance L2, the projector distance L1 is a distance in the range of 0.8 to 1.2 times the camera distance L2. Relative to the needle bar 15, the first lens 23 of the projector 2 is disposed in the extension direction J further than the second lens 81 of the image sensor 8. In the sewing machine 1, the second lens 81 of the image sensor 8 and the first lens 23 of the projector 2 are disposed in positions relatively close to each other in the up-down direction and in the reverse feed direction B, and the second lens 81 of the image sensor 8 is disposed closer to the needle bar 15 in the extension direction J than the first lens 23 of the projector 2. This contributes to improving the convenience when calibrating the projector 2 using the captured image of the image sensor 8, compared to a case in which the second lens 81 of the image sensor 8 is disposed in a relatively distant position and the second lens 81 of the image sensor 8 is disposed farther from the needle bar 15.

[0046] Generally, when sewing a pattern with the sewing machine 1, the feed dogs are driven to move the workpiece in the forward direction F or the reverse direction B, i.e., along the short side direction D1, and so a long pattern is often sewn in the short side direction D1. The projection area R1 is rectangular in shape, with the long side extending in the short side direction D1 of the bed 11 and the short side extending in the longitudinal direction D2 of the bed 11. The sewing machine 1 can project a projection image onto the rectangular projection area R1, with the long side being the short side of the short side direction D1 of the bed 11. Therefore, it is suitable for projecting a projection image showing a long pattern in the short side direction D1.

[0047] The projector 2 includes a first lens 23 which is a decentered optical projection lens. An intersection K1 between an outer diameter center line C1 of the first lens 23 which is a decentered optical projection lens and the bed 11 is located in the extension direction J from the center K2 of the projection area R1. Under the same condition of projecting onto the projection area R1, the sewing machine 1 can suppress an increase in the size of the end of the arm 13 in the extension direction J, i.e., the size of the head 14, compared to a case in which the projector 2 does not include a decentered optical projection lens.

[0048] The inclination of the outer diameter center line C1 of the first lens 23, which is the decentered optical system projection lens, in the vertical direction is greater than or equal to 0 degrees and less than or equal to 10 degrees. In the sewing machine 1, the size of the end of the arm 13 in the extension direction J, i.e., the size of the head 14, can be prevented from increasing, compared to when the inclination of the outer diameter center line C1 of the decentered optical system projection lens in the vertical direction is greater than 11 degrees.

[0049] The projection area length L4, which is the length of the projection area R1 in the short direction D1 of the bed 11, falls within a range of 0.8 to 1.2 times the imaging area length L3, which is the length of the imaging area R2 in the short direction D1 of the bed 11. The image sensor 8 of the sewing machine 1 contributes to improving convenience when calibrating the projector 2 using the captured image of the image sensor 8, compared to a case in which the projection area length L4 of the projection area R1 in the short direction D1 of the bed 11 does not fall within a range of 0.8 to 1.2 times the imaging area length L4 of the imaging area R2 in the short direction D1.

[0050] A reverse feed distance L6 from the needle drop position NP to the end of the projection area R1 in the reverse feed direction B is 1.5 to 2.0 times the forward feed distance L5, which is the length from the needle drop position NP to the end of the projection area R1 in the forward feed direction F. The projector 2 of the sewing machine 1 contributes to projecting a projection image onto an area in the forward feed direction F from the needle drop position NP while making the area in the projection area R1 that is in the reverse feed direction B from the needle drop position NP larger than the area that is in the forward feed direction F from the needle drop position NP. Therefore, a projection image showing a pattern that extends in the forward feed direction F from the needle drop position NP can be projected.

[0051] The arm 13 has an arm frame 7 having a fixing surface 72 that is disposed in the extension direction J from the needle bar 15 and that fixes the projector 2. In the short direction D1 of the bed 11, the fixing surface 72 is disposed in the forward feed direction F from the needle bar 15. The first lens 23 is disposed in the reverse feed direction B from the needle bar 15. By disposing the first lens 23 in the reverse feed direction B from the needle bar 15 in the short direction D1 of the bed 11, the projector 2 of the sewing machine 1 contributes to preventing the shadow of the needle bar 15 and the presser bar 16 from being formed by the projected image light in an area in the reverse feed direction B from the needle drop position NP. By being fixed to the fixing surface 72 of the arm frame 7 in the forward feed direction F, the projector 2 of the sewing machine 1 contributes to transmitting heat generated by the projector 2 in the forward feed direction F from the needle bar 15.

[0052] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible. The sewing machine 1 may have a transfer mechanism capable of transferring the embroidery frame in the front-rear and left-right directions. The sewing machine 1 may sew an embroidery pattern while moving the workpiece held by the embroidery frame in the front-rear and left-right directions by the transfer mechanism.

[0053] The type, arrangement, and projection area R1 of the projector 2 may be changed as appropriate. The projection area R1 does not have to include the needle drop position NP. The projection area R1 may be a shape other than a rectangle, such as a trapezoid or an ellipse, or may be a rectangle with a longer side extending in the extension direction J. An end R4 of the projection area R1 in the forward feed direction F may be located further in the reverse feed direction B than an end 39 of the needle plate 41 in the forward feed direction F. The light source 212 of the projector 2 may be arranged in the reverse feed direction B with respect to the first lens 23.

[0054] The projector 2 may not be fixed to the arm frame 7. The fixing surface 72 when the projector 2 is fixed to the arm frame 7 may not be the surface of the end 71 in the reverse feed direction B of the extension direction J, and may be, for example, the surface of the end 71 in the extension direction J, or the lower surface of the end 71. The projector 2 may be fixed to the fixing surface 72 of the arm frame 7 so as not to transmit heat generated by the projector 2. The fixing surface 72 may be located in the reverse feed direction B with respect to the needle bar 15. The arm frame 7 may not have the heat dissipation surface 73 on the opposite side to the fixing surface 72 and the heat dissipation fins 74 extending from the heat dissipation surface 73 in the forward feed direction F. The extension direction of the heat dissipation fins 74 may be changed as appropriate, such as downward or upward. The shape, size, number, and arrangement of the fins 741 to 744 of the heat dissipation fins 74 may be changed as appropriate.

[0055] The sewing machine 1 may not include the image sensor 8. The type, arrangement, and imaging area R2 of the image sensor 8 may be changed as appropriate. The projector height H1 may be smaller than 0.8 times the camera height H2, or may be larger than 1.2 times. The projector distance L1 may be smaller than 0.8 times the camera distance L2, or may be larger than 1.2 times. The first lens 23 of the projector 2 may be disposed on the opposite side of the extension direction J from the second lens 81 of the image sensor 8 with respect to the needle bar 15. The projector 2 may not include the first lens 23 which is a decentered optical system projection lens. The inclination of the outer diameter center line C1 of the first lens 23 which is a decentered optical system projection lens with respect to the up-down direction may be larger than 10 degrees. The projection area length L4 may be smaller than 0.8 times the imaging area length L3, or may be larger than 1.2 times. In the short direction D1 of the bed 11, the reverse feed distance L6 may be smaller than 1.5 times the forward feed distance L5, or may be larger than 2.0 times. The fixed surface 72 may be installed in the reverse feed direction B relative to the needle bar 15. The first lens 23 may be installed in the forward feed direction F relative to the needle bar 15. The projector height H1 may be the vertical distance from the focal point of the projector 2 to the upper surface 42 of the bed 11, and the camera height H2 may be the vertical distance from the focal point of the image sensor 8 to the upper surface 42 of the bed 11. In this case, the projector height H1 is preferably a distance in the range of 0.8 to 1.4 times the camera height H2. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1: sewing machine, 2: projector, 7: arm frame, 8: image sensor, 11: bed, 12: leg column, 13: arm, 15: needle bar, 16: presser bar, 17: sewing needle, 18: presser foot, 23: first lens, 42: upper surface, 71: end, 72: fixed surface, 73: heat dissipation surface, 74: heat dissipation fin, B: reverse feed direction, C1: outer diameter center line, D1: short side direction, D2: long side direction, F: forward feed direction, H1: projector height, H2: camera height, J: extension direction, K1: intersection, K2: center, L1: projector distance, L2: camera distance, R1: projection area, R2: imaging area

Claims

1. A needle bar to which a sewing needle can be attached; A presser bar to which a presser foot can be attached; A leg extending in the vertical direction; A bed extending from a lower end of the leg column in an extension direction perpendicular to the up-down direction; an arm extending from an upper end of the leg column in the extension direction parallel to the bed above the bed; a projector that is installed in the arm in the extending direction further than the needle bar and projects a projection image onto a projection area on the bed; Equipped with When a direction perpendicular to the extension direction and the up-down direction and from the needle bar to the presser bar is defined as a forward feed direction, and a direction opposite to the forward feed direction is defined as a reverse feed direction, The projector includes: The first lens, a light source that is disposed in the forward feed direction or the reverse feed direction with respect to the first lens and outputs light that is guided to the first lens; having A sewing machine, characterized in that a length of the projection area in a short side direction of the bed is longer than a length of the projection area in a long side direction of the bed.

2. The bed further includes a needle plate provided on an upper surface of the bed. the projection area includes a needle drop position located below the needle bar on the bed, The sewing machine according to claim 1 , wherein an end of the projection area in the forward feed direction is located in the forward feed direction further than an end of the needle plate in the forward feed direction.

3. The arm has an arm frame extending in the extension direction from an upper end of the leg pillar, The arm frame has thermal conductivity, the arm frame has a fixing surface that is disposed in the extending direction with respect to the needle bar, the fixing surface being adapted to fix the projector; The sewing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the projector is fixed to the fixing surface of the arm frame so as to be capable of transferring heat generated by the projector.

4. the fixing surface is located in the forward feed direction relative to the needle bar, The arm frame includes: a heat dissipation surface opposite to the fixing surface; a heat dissipation fin extending from the heat dissipation surface in the forward feed direction; 4. The sewing machine according to claim 3, further comprising:

5. Further comprising an image sensor for capturing an image of an imaging area on the bed, the image sensor has a second lens; the first lens of the projector is disposed in the extending direction further than the second lens of the image sensor; When the vertical distance from the first lens of the projector to the top surface of the bed is defined as a projector height, and the vertical distance from the second lens of the image sensor to the top surface of the bed is defined as a camera height, the projector height is a distance in the range of 0.8 to 1.2 times the camera height, a projector distance is a distance in the reverse feed direction from the needle bar to a center of the first lens of the projector, and a camera distance is a distance in the reverse feed direction from the needle bar to a center of the second lens of the image sensor, the projector distance is a distance in a range of 0.8 to 1.2 times the camera distance, The sewing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the first lens of the projector is disposed further in the extension direction than the second lens of the image sensor with respect to the needle bar.

6. 2. The sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the projection area is rectangular in shape, the long sides of which are aligned in the short direction of the bed, and the short sides of which are aligned in the longitudinal direction of the bed.

7. the first lens is a decentered optical projection lens; 2. The sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein an intersection between an outer diameter center line of the decentering optical system projection lens and the bed is located in the extension direction relative to a center of the projection area.

8. 8. The sewing machine according to claim 7, wherein an inclination of the center line of the outer diameter of the decentered optical system projection lens with respect to the vertical direction is equal to or greater than 0 degrees and equal to or less than 10 degrees.

9. The sewing machine according to claim 5, characterized in that, when the length of the projection area in the short side direction of the bed is defined as a projection area length and the length of the imaging area in the short side direction of the bed is defined as an imaging area length, the projection area length falls within a range of 0.8 to 1.2 times the imaging area length.

10. The sewing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, in the short direction of the bed, when a reverse feed distance is a distance from the needle drop position to an end of the projection area in the reverse feed direction and a forward feed distance is a distance from the needle drop position to an end of the projection area in the forward feed direction, the reverse feed distance is 1.5 to 2.0 times the forward feed distance.

11. the arm includes an arm frame having a fixing surface that is disposed in the extension direction relative to the needle bar and that fixes the projector; The fixing surface is disposed in the forward feed direction relative to the needle bar, 3. The sewing machine according to claim 2, wherein the first lens is disposed in the reverse feed direction relative to the needle bar.

Images