Buttoning sewing device

Abstract

To suppress interference between a support part of a thread float member and a first holding member.SOLUTION: A buttoning sewing device includes: a support mechanism 30 which is provided at a button holding mechanism 20, which supports a thread float member 31, and which imparts advancing / retreating motion along a rod-like part 311; and a conveyance device 50 for conveying an object to be sewn along the direction crossing the advancing / retreating motion direction of the thread float member 31. The support mechanism 30 includes a support part 32 which is extended along the advancing / retreating direction of the thread float member 31 from the button holding mechanism 20, which turns into the opposite side from the button holding mechanism 20 with respect to a sewing needle 11, and which supports the thread float member 31 so that a tip of the rod-like part 311 is extended to the button holding mechanism 20 side. A tip part 554 for holding the object to be sewn of a first holding member 55 and an extension part 553 extending from the tip part to a base end part side of the conveyance device are made to be the height capable of passing through the lower side of the support part 32 of the thread float member 31 in a state of holding an object to be sewn.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a button sewing device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventional button sewing machines include a holding mechanism for holding buttons on a workpiece to be sewn, a moving mechanism for moving the holding mechanism back and forth and left and right with respect to a sewing needle to cause the sewing needle to drop into each buttonhole, and a rod-shaped thread floating member disposed above the held button (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this button sewing machine, when the sewing needle moves relatively from one buttonhole to another, sewing is performed so that the sewing thread passing from one buttonhole to another passes through the rod-shaped thread floating member, thereby giving an extra length to the sewing thread for sewing the button. Thereby, a situation such as the sewn button being overly tightened by the sewing thread and unable to be buttoned together is avoided, and the button is sewn so that it can be handled appropriately.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, the development of a button sewing device that combines the above button sewing machine with a conveying device for a workpiece to be sewn and sews a plurality of buttons in a row along a workpiece having a certain length, for example, the front placket of a shirt body fabric, has been carried out. In such a button-attaching sewing apparatus, the support mechanism of the thread floating member needs to perform an operation of pulling out the thread floating member from the sewing thread before transporting the workpiece after sewing. However, on the inner side (the vertical cylinder side, hereinafter referred to as the back side) of the sewing machine with respect to the needle bar, since the components for button-attaching sewing are densely arranged, it is necessary to move it in the reverse direction (hereinafter referred to as the front side) and pull it out. On the other hand, since the thread floating member needs to perform sewing while operating integrally with the held button, it is necessary to mount the support mechanism of the thread floating member on the base of the holding mechanism that holds the button. Therefore, the support mechanism needs to pass the support member that supports the thread floating member from the base around the needle bar to its side and extend it to a far position on the front side of the needle bar, and arrange the thread floating member toward the back side so as to fold back from the far position. By arranging the support member of the thread floating member in this way, it is possible to avoid the area around the needle bar where the components are densely arranged, and it is possible to perform the operation of pulling out the thread floating member to the front side.

[0005] By the way, the transport mechanism of the button-attaching sewing apparatus grips and transports one end and the other end of the workpiece individually from above by gripping members. In this transport mechanism, when a button is sewn near one end of the workpiece, there has been a problem that the gripping member that grips one end of the workpiece interferes with the support member for thread floating.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to suppress the interference between the thread floating member and the gripping member.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The present invention relates to a button-attaching sewing apparatus, a button holding mechanism for holding a button, a needle vertical movement mechanism for sewing the button to the workpiece by the vertical movement of a sewing needle, a movement mechanism for relatively moving the button holding mechanism and the sewing needle to pass the sewing needle through the hole of the button, A thread floating member having a rod-shaped portion disposed between holes and giving an extra length to the sewing thread of the button sewn to the workpiece on the button held by the button holding mechanism; A support mechanism provided in the button holding mechanism, supporting the thread floating member and imparting a forward and backward movement along the rod-shaped portion; A conveying device for conveying the workpiece along a direction intersecting the forward and backward movement direction of the thread floating member; The support mechanism has a support portion that extends from the button holding mechanism along the forward and backward movement direction of the thread floating member and wraps around to the side opposite to the button holding mechanism with respect to the sewing needle, and supports the thread floating member such that the tip of the rod-shaped portion extends to the button holding mechanism side; The conveying device Has a first gripping member and a second gripping member that grip the workpiece from above on one side and the other side in the direction of conveying the workpiece; The first gripping member on the support portion side with respect to the thread floating member has a tip portion that grips the workpiece and an extending portion that extends from the tip portion toward the base end portion side, and in the gripped state of the workpiece, has a height that allows the lower side of the support portion of the thread floating member to pass through.

Effect of the Invention

[0008] The sewing machine of the present invention can suppress interference between the thread floating member and the gripping member.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

[0010] [Outline of Embodiment of Invention] Hereinafter, the button-attaching sewing machine 100 which is an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the button-attaching sewing machine 100. The button-attaching sewing machine 100 includes a sewing machine 10 for sewing buttons on a workpiece, a button supply device 40 for supplying buttons to the sewing machine 10, a transport device 50 for transporting the workpiece with respect to the sewing machine 10, and a control device 90 (see FIG. 6) for controlling the whole. In the button-attaching sewing machine 100, the sewing machine 10 is arranged at an intermediate portion of the transport path of the transport device 50, and the button supply device 40 is arranged adjacent to the sewing machine 10.

[0011] In the following description, as shown in FIG. 1, one direction along the transport path of the transport device 50 is "front", the other direction is "rear", the left side when facing forward is "left", the right side is "right", the vertically upward direction is "up", and the vertically downward direction is "down". Also, it is assumed that the button-attaching sewing machine 100 is installed on a horizontal plane, and the front-rear direction and the left-right direction are orthogonal to each other and both are horizontal.

[0012] [Sewing Machine] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the sewing machine 10, and Figure 3 is a view seen from the left side. The sewing machine 10 has a sewing machine frame composed of a sewing machine bed portion, a sewing machine arm portion, and a vertical cylinder portion. The sewing machine 10 is arranged such that the longitudinal directions of the sewing machine bed portion and the sewing machine arm portion of the sewing machine frame are parallel to the left-right direction, the vertical cylinder portion is on the right side, and the front surface portion at the tip of the sewing machine arm portion is on the left side.

[0013] The sewing machine 10 has a button holding mechanism 20 for holding a button, a needle vertical movement mechanism for sewing the button to the workpiece by the vertical movement of the sewing needle 11, a movement mechanism for relatively moving the button holding mechanism 20 and the sewing needle 11 in order to pass the sewing needle 11 through each hole of the button during sewing, a thread floating member 31 having a rod-shaped portion 311 disposed between holes and giving an extra length to the sewing thread of the button sewn to the workpiece above the button held by the button holding mechanism 20, and a support mechanism 30 provided on the button holding mechanism 20 for supporting the thread floating member 31 and imparting a forward and backward movement along the rod-shaped portion 311. Further, the sewing machine 10 has components such as a bobbin mechanism, a balance mechanism, a thread tension device, a thread cutter device, and a thread guide device necessary for sewing by the sewing machine. Since these are well-known components of the sewing machine, the description thereof is omitted.

[0014] The needle vertical movement mechanism has a needle bar 12 holding the sewing needle 11 at its lower end, a sewing machine motor 15 (see Figure 6), and a crank mechanism for converting the rotational movement of the sewing machine motor 15 into a reciprocating movement along the vertical direction. The needle bar 12 is disposed in a state along the vertical direction at the lower part of the left end near the tip side of the sewing machine arm portion. At the tip portion 14 (left end portion) of the sewing machine bed portion, a needle hole 13 (see Figure 7) is formed at the needle drop position of the sewing needle 11 due to the descent of the needle bar 12. The needle bar 12 is vertically moved by the crank mechanism, and below the needle hole, the bobbin mechanism captures the upper thread which is the sewing thread and performs the operation of winding the lower thread. The components of the needle vertical movement mechanism other than the sewing needle 11 and the needle bar 12 are stored inside the sewing machine arm portion. Since these components are the same as well-known ones, the illustration and detailed description thereof are omitted.

[0015] [Button holding mechanism] The button holding mechanism 20 includes a pair of knob legs 21 and 22 that grip the button horizontally from the front and back, a mounting base 23 that rotatably supports the pair of knob legs 21 and 22, a base (not shown) that supports the mounting base 23, a lower plate 24 that extends leftward from the left end of the base, and a button gripping solenoid 25 (see Fig. 6) that imparts a button gripping operation by rotation to the pair of knob legs 21 and 22.

[0016] The base extends in the left-right direction and is movably supported arbitrarily on the upper surface of the sewing machine bed portion so that the lower plate 24 located at the left end can be positioned at an arbitrary position on the horizontal plane. The mounting base 23 extends in the left-right direction, and its right end is supported by the base so as to be tiltable about an axis along the front-back direction. As a result, the pair of knob legs 21 and 22 supported at the left end of the mounting base 23 can be moved up and down.

[0017] At the left end of the mounting base 23, a pair of knob legs 21 and 22 are supported in a state of extending leftward. The pair of knob legs 21 and 22 are rotatably supported at their right ends by the mounting base 23 about an axis along the up-down direction. The pair of knob legs 21 and 22 are given a rotation operation so that their extending end portions approach and separate from each other by the button gripping solenoid 25. At the opposing portions of the pair of knob legs 21 and 22 facing each other, recesses into which the outer periphery of the button fits are formed. By applying the above-described approaching and separating operation, the button can be gripped and released from both sides in the diameter direction in a horizontal state.

[0018] Below the left ends of the pair of knob legs 21 and 22, a lower plate 24 that extends and is supported leftward from the left end of the base is disposed. As described above, the mounting base 23 can move the left ends of the pair of knob legs 21 and 22 up and down by swinging. Further, the mounting base 23 is pressed downward by a pressing shaft (not shown) and a pressing spring that hang down from the bottom surface side of the sewing machine arm portion, and the bottom surfaces of the left ends of the pair of knob legs 21 and 22 are pressed against the upper surface of the lower plate 24.

[0019] During sewing, the workpiece is pressed and held by the left ends of the pair of knob feet 21 and 22 and the lower plate 24, and the button is sewn on. The lower plate 24 has a substantially square opening formed in the center thereof, and the descending sewing needle 11 drops into the needle hole through the opening. The mounting base 23 is connected with a pressing-up motor 26 as an actuator for pulling up the left end against the pressing spring, and the workpiece held can be released by this pressing-up motor 26.

[0020] [Moving mechanism] The main components of the moving mechanism are stored and arranged in the sewing bed portion. The moving mechanism moves the base of the button holding mechanism 20 from below to position the left ends of the pair of knob feet 21 and 22 and the lower plate 24 at arbitrary positions on the horizontal plane. The configuration of the moving mechanism may be a well-known X-Y type moving mechanism or a well-known R-θ type moving mechanism. In either case, the driving control of two motors whose operation amounts are controllable is performed to position the left ends of the pair of knob feet 21 and 22 and the lower plate 24. In this embodiment, an R-θ type moving mechanism is exemplified. This moving mechanism positions the left ends of the pair of knob feet 21 and 22 and the lower plate 24 at arbitrary positions on the horizontal plane by an X feed motor 27 that determines the turning angle and a Y feed motor 28 (see FIG. 6) that determines the moving amount in the radial direction of the turn. In addition, the X feed motor 27 and the Y feed motor 28 are respectively provided with encoders 271 and 281 for detecting the operation amount (rotation angle). Thereby, for each needle drop, the predetermined hole (thread insertion hole) of the button held by the pair of knob feet 21 and 22 is positioned at the needle drop position by the sewing needle 11, and sewing on the workpiece is performed by causing the needle to drop into different button holes for each needle.

[0021] [Thread floating member] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the thread floating member 31 has a rod-shaped portion 311 that is parallel in the left-right direction and extends rightward, and a connecting portion 312 that bends upward from the left end portion of the rod-shaped portion 311 and is connected and supported to the support member 32 of the support mechanism 30.

[0022] For the pair of knob legs 21 and 22, in the case of a two-hole button, the buttons are supplied from the button supply device 40 with the holes arranged in the front-rear direction, and the pair of knob legs 21 and 22 grip the buttons while maintaining their orientation. Also, in the case of a four-hole button, the two sets of holes are supplied from the button supply device 40 with the holes arranged in the front-rear direction, and the pair of knob legs 21 and 22 grip the buttons while maintaining their orientation.

[0023] The rod-shaped portion 311 is close to the upper surface of the button gripped by the pair of knob legs 21 and 22 in the above-described orientation, and is arranged so as to be aligned above the position of the diameter of the button along the left-right direction. As a result, in a plan view, in the case of a two-hole button, it is positioned between the front hole and the rear hole, and in the case of a four-hole button, in a plan view, it is positioned between the two front holes and the two rear holes. When sewing is performed with the rod-shaped portion 311 in the above-described arrangement, the sewing needle 11 passes between the front hole and the rear hole of the rod-shaped portion 311, and the upper thread forms a stitch straddling the rod-shaped portion 311. Therefore, an extra length is imparted to the upper thread forming the stitch, and by pulling out the rod-shaped portion 311 to the left after button sewing, the upper thread can be put in a slack state. If sewing is performed without this extra length in the upper thread, the button is sewn as if it is stuck to the surface of the workpiece to be sewn, and it becomes very difficult to pass the button through the button hole. Thus, the rod-shaped portion 311 of the thread floating member 31 has an important role in button sewing.

[0024] The connecting portion 312 of the thread floating member 31 is connected to the left end portion of the rod-shaped portion 311, bends upward, and has a shape that is folded back in an inverted U shape at the upper end portion. A set screw 323 is inserted into the inverted U-shaped connecting portion 312 from the left, and is fastened onto the left surface of the rear end portion of the support plate 321 of the support member 32 described later.

[0025] [Support mechanism] The support mechanism 30 includes a support member 32 as a support portion for supporting the thread floating member 31, and a thread floating air cylinder 33 as an actuator for moving the thread floating member 31 forward and backward along the left-right direction via the support member 32.

[0026] As described above, since the rod-shaped portion 311 of the thread floating member 31 extends rightward, it is necessary to move the thread floating member 31 leftward in order to pull out the upper thread of the button after sewing. Also, during sewing, the thread floating member 31 needs to perform a moving operation by the moving mechanism together with the gripped button. Therefore, the thread floating air cylinder 33 of the support mechanism 30 is supported on the mounting base 23 of the button holding mechanism 20.

[0027] The thread floating air cylinder 33 has a plunger directed leftward, and imparts an operation of protruding leftward and a retracting operation rightward to the support member 32 and the thread floating member 31. A support block 322 of the support member 32 is provided at the tip of the plunger of the thread floating air cylinder 33. The support block 322 is a prism-shaped block that is long in the left-right direction. The support plate 321 described above is attached to the left end surface of the support block 322. The support plate 321 is a flat plate body that is long in the front-rear direction. The flat surface of the support plate 321 is parallel to the front-rear and up-down directions. The front end portion of the support plate 321 is supported by the support block 322, and the rear end portion supports the thread floating member 31.

[0028] The support member 32 is supported on the mounting base 23 of the button holding mechanism 20 via the thread floating air cylinder 33 with the above configuration. Then, the support member 32 extends from the mounting base 23 such that the support block 322 passes through the left side of the sewing needle 11 along the left - right direction which is the advancing and retreating direction of the thread floating member 31, and extends farther (to the left) than the sewing needle 11. Furthermore, the support member 32 supports the thread floating member 31 such that the support plate 321 wraps around to the side opposite to the button holding mechanism 20 (left side) with respect to the sewing needle 11, and the tip (right end) of the rod - shaped portion 311 extends toward the button holding mechanism 20 side (right side). Since each member of the needle bar 12 and the button holding mechanism 20 is located on the right side of the thread floating member 31, the support mechanism 30 needs to be arranged avoiding these, and cannot support the thread floating member 31 so as to extend it leftward from the left end portion of the mounting base 23 toward the sewing needle 11. Therefore, as described above, the support member 32 supports the thread floating member 31 from the left side with respect to the sewing needle 11 by passing through the front side and the left side of the sewing needle 11 so as to bypass the sewing needle 11 from the mounting base 23.

[0029] [Button Feeding Device] The button feeding device 40 has the same well - known configuration, so a detailed description is omitted. The button feeding device 40 vibrates a feeder ball containing a large number of buttons to take out the buttons one by one in order, and has a transfer arm that transfers the button placed on the rotating end portion in an oriented state between the pair of knob legs 21, 22 in an open state. The transfer arm has a protrusion that fits into the hole of the button on the upper surface of the rotating end portion. By imparting a fine reciprocating rotation to the button supplied onto the rotating end portion of the transfer arm, the protrusion is fitted into the hole of the button and supplied to the pair of knob legs 21, 22. When the transfer arm reaches between the pair of knob legs 21, 22, in the case of the transfer arm for a two - hole button, the two protrusions are arranged in the front - rear direction, and in the case of the transfer arm for a four - hole button, two sets of protrusions are arranged in the front - rear direction. For this reason, the pair of knob legs 21, 22 can grip the button so that the hole of the button is in the proper orientation described above.

[0030] [Transfer Device] As shown in Fig. 1, the conveying device 50 includes a first conveying plate 51 and a second conveying plate 52 provided on the front side and the rear side so as to sandwich the tip portion 14 of the sewing machine bed portion of the sewing machine 10, a first head 53 that holds and conveys one end side of the workpiece to be sewn, a second head 54 that holds and conveys the other end side of the workpiece to be sewn, and a conveying drive mechanism 57 (see Fig. 5) that moves and positions the first head 53 and the second head 54 in the front-rear direction.

[0031] Both the first conveying plate 51 and the second conveying plate 52 have horizontal plates 511 and 521 that are horizontal and long in the front-rear direction, and abutting plates 512 and 522 provided at the right edge portions of the respective horizontal plates 511 and 521. The upper surfaces of the horizontal plates 511 and 521 are installed so as to be at the same height as the upper surface of the tip portion 14 of the sewing machine bed portion of the sewing machine 10. The abutting plates 512 and 522 have abutting surfaces on the left side that are parallel to the front-rear direction and the up-down direction, and can abut against the side edge portions of the workpiece to be sewn to position it in the left-right direction. The first conveying plate 51 and the second conveying plate 52 are installed in a state where the left-right position of the abutting surface of the abutting plates 512 and 522 can be adjusted. Also, the left-right positions of the abutting surfaces of the abutting plates 512 and 522 are adjusted to coincide with each other. Thereby, it becomes possible to adjust the distance from the side edge portion of the workpiece to be sewn to the button sewing position.

[0032] Fig. 4 is a left side view of the first head 53. The first head 53 includes a horizontal base plate 531, a vertical plate portion 532 erected from the base plate 531, a mounting plate 536 supported by the base plate 531, a first gripping member 55 that presses the workpiece to be sewn on the mounting plate 536 from above, a support member 533 that supports the first gripping member 55, and a first gripping air cylinder 535 as an actuator that imparts a gripping operation to the first gripping member 55.

[0033] The base plate 531 is moved and positioned in the front-rear direction by the conveying drive mechanism 57. The base plate 531 is a flat plate body parallel to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, and is arranged such that its upper surface is close to and faces the lower surface of the horizontal plate 511 of the first conveying plate 51.

[0034] The vertical plate portion 532 is erected from the front right edge portion of the base plate 531 and is a flat plate body parallel to the front-rear direction and the up-down direction. The left surface of the vertical plate portion 532 is closely opposed to the right surface of the abutting plate 512 of the first transfer plate 51 and extends above the abutting plate 512 of the vertical plate portion 532.

[0035] The support member 533 extends in the front-rear direction at the upper part of the left surface of the vertical plate portion 532, and the vicinity of the rear end portion thereof is rotatably supported by a support shaft 534 along the left-right direction by the vertical plate portion 532. Further, the front end portion of the support member 533 is connected to the plunger of the air cylinder 535, and the rear end portion thereof supports the first gripping member 55.

[0036] The air cylinder 535 is attached to the lower front side of the left surface of the vertical plate portion 532 with the plunger facing upward. And through the plunger, the front end portion of the support member 533 can be rotated up and down. Along with this, through the support member 533, the first gripping member 55 supported on the rear end portion side can also be rotated up and down. The first head 53 of the transfer device 50 makes the first gripping member 55 rotatable, so that the contact portion 554 located at the tip end portion can be switched to a position where it grips the workpiece to be sewn and a position where it is separated from the workpiece to be sewn and released.

[0037] The placement plate 536 is supported on the rear side of the left edge portion of the base plate 531 and is in a flat plate shape parallel to the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, and the lower surface thereof is closely opposed to the upper surface of the horizontal plate 511 of the first transfer plate 51. Further, the placement plate 536 places the workpiece to be sewn on its upper surface and grips and conveys it in cooperation with the first gripping member 55.

[0038] The rear end of first gripping member 55 serves as a tip end (rotating end) that rotates up and down, and the front end serves as a base end 551 supported by support member 533. First gripping member 55 has a contact portion 554 at its tip end that contacts the workpiece on mounting plate 536 from above, and further has an extension portion 553 that extends from contact portion 554 toward base end 551. Contact portion 554 is bent to the right relative to extension portion 553, and contact portion 554 contacts the workpiece not at a single point but in a linear range along contact portion 554. Further, when the contact portion 554 is in contact with the workpiece on the placement plate 536, the extension portion 553 is substantially parallel to the front-rear direction.

[0039] Base end 551 supported by supporting member 533 is parallel in the front-to-rear direction with abutment portion 554 abutting against the sewing material, and a hanging portion 552 extending downward is connected to the rear end thereof. The lower end of hanging portion 552 is bent and connected to the front end of extension portion 553. In other words, the first gripping member 55 is generally crank-shaped overall, with the base end 551, the hanging portion 552, the extension portion 553 and the abutment portion 554 being formed, for example, by bending a single round rod-shaped metal body. In addition, an elastic body may be attached to the outer circumferential surface of the contact portion 554 to prevent slipping.

[0040] Moreover, with regard to the first gripping member 55, the member designated by the symbol 555 shown in Figures 2 and 3 is a reinforcing material for maintaining high rigidity of the first gripping member 55 when the contact portion 554 of the first gripping member 55 is pressed against the material to be sewn due to the rotation of the support member 533.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 3, when the first gripping member 55 is in a position where it is gripping the sewing material, the entire abutment portion 554 and the extension portion 553 are set lower than the bottom of the support member 32 of the thread floating member 31. Therefore, even when the abutment portion 554 is brought close to the needle drop position (needle hole 13), for example, when it is brought closest to the needle drop position within the movable range of the first gripping member 55, no interference occurs with the support member 32. Note that the extension part 553 is set to a length such that when the contact part 554 is closest to the needle drop position within the movable range of the first gripping member 55, the hanging part 552 does not interfere with the support member 32. Also, since the part of the reinforcing member 555 along the vertical direction is located in front of the support member 32, it has a structure that does not interfere with the support member 32.

[0042] Similar to the first head 53, the second head 54 has a base plate 541 (see FIG. 5), a standing plate part, a placement plate, a second gripping member 56 (see FIG. 1), a support member, and a second gripping air cylinder 545 (see FIG. 6) as an actuator. Each of the above components of the second head 54 has a structure that is plane-symmetric with respect to a plane of symmetry parallel to the vertical direction and the horizontal direction for each component of the first head 53.

[0043] Note that the second gripping member 56 may have a plane-symmetric structure to the first gripping member 55. However, since the second head 54 and the second gripping member 56 are always located behind the needle drop position within the movable range, they do not interfere with the support member 32 of the thread floating member 31. Therefore, the second gripping member 56 may have a simpler structure without a part corresponding to the extension part 553. For example, the second gripping member 56 may have a base end part along the front-rear direction supported by the support member and a hanging part hanging downward from the front end of the base end part, and the contact part may be provided at the lower end of the hanging part.

[0044] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the conveyance drive mechanism 57. The conveyance drive mechanism 57 includes a pair of connecting rods 571 that connect the base plate 531 of the first head 53 and the base plate 541 of the second head 54 at a fixed interval along the front-rear direction, a conveyance motor 575 that serves as the conveyance drive source for the first head 53 and the second head 54, a pinion gear 574 provided on the output shaft of the conveyance motor 575, a rack member 573 that is supported in a state along the front-rear direction and has rack teeth meshing with the pinion gear 574, and a connecting member 572 that connects the rack member 573 to the base plates 531 and 541, respectively.

[0045] A pair of connecting rods 571 are supported below the first transfer plate 51 and the second transfer plate 52 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction in a state parallel to the front-rear direction. A pair of connecting rods 571 enable the base plate 531 and the base plate 541 to move in the front-rear direction while maintaining a certain interval along the front-rear direction.

[0046] The transfer motor 575 is fixedly installed with its output shaft directed to the left. The transfer motor 575 is, for example, a motor whose operation amount and shaft angle can be controlled, such as a stepping motor. The rack member 573 is long in the front-rear direction with rack teeth formed side by side in the front-rear direction and is supported so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. Since the pinion gear 574 is rotated around an axis along the left-right direction by the transfer motor 575, the rack member 573 can be moved back and forth and stopped at an arbitrary position.

[0047] Since the rack member 573 is connected to the base plates 531 and 541 by the front and rear connecting members 572, the transfer drive mechanism 57 can transfer and position the workpiece to be sewn at an arbitrary position in the front-rear direction through the mounting plate 536 of the first head 53, the first gripping member 55, the mounting plate of the second head 54, and the second gripping member 56.

[0048] [Control System of Button Sewing Device: Control Device] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the control system of the button sewing device 100. As shown in FIG. 6, the control device 90 of the button sewing device 100 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 92 in which a program for controlling the operation of each component is stored, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 93 serving as a working area for arithmetic processing, a rewritable non-volatile data memory 94 as a storage means for storing various setting data, etc., and a CPU 91 (Central Processing Unit) that executes the program in the ROM 92.

[0049] The CPU 91 comprehensively controls the sewing machine 10, the button supply device 40, and the conveying device 50. The CPU 91 is connected to the sewing machine motor 15, the pressing-up motor 26, the X-feed motor 27, and the Y-feed motor 28 of the sewing machine 10 via a drive circuit (not shown). Further, encoders 151, 271, and 281 are provided in the sewing machine motor 15, the X-feed motor 27, and the Y-feed motor 28, respectively, and based on the detection of these, the operating amounts of the sewing machine motor 15, the X-feed motor 27, and the Y-feed motor 28 can be controlled. Also, the CPU 91 is connected to the button gripping solenoid 25 of the sewing machine 10 via a drive circuit (not shown). Also, the CPU 91 is connected to a solenoid valve (not shown), and can control the operation of the thread floating air cylinder 33 of the sewing machine 10 via the solenoid valve. In FIG. 6, for convenience of explanation, the thread floating air cylinder 33 is shown instead of the solenoid valve.

[0050] Also, the CPU 91 is connected to the conveying motor 575 of the conveying device 50 via a drive circuit (not shown). The operating amount of this conveying motor 575 is controlled according to an operation command from the CPU 91.

[0051] Also, the CPU 91 is connected to the origin sensor 577 of the conveying device 50 via an interface (not shown). These origin sensors 577 are sensors that detect the rear end of the movable range of the first head 53 and the second head 54 by the conveying device 50 as the first origin. The rear end of the movable range of the conveying device 50 is the position where the first head 53 moves backward and approaches the most needle drop position (needle hole 13), and the front end of the movable range is the position where the second head 54 moves forward and approaches the most needle drop position.

[0052] FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state where the first head 53 has moved to the rear end of the movable range of the conveying device 50 closest to the most needle drop position. The origin sensor 577 includes a detection unit composed of a light source and a light-receiving element fixedly provided on a frame or the like of the conveying device 50, and a detected object provided on any member (for example, base plates 531 and 541, connecting member 572, rack member 573, etc.) that moves in the front-rear direction during the conveyance of the conveying device 50. The detected object is arranged so as to block light between the light source and the light-receiving element of the detection unit when the first head 53 and the second head 54 reach the rear end of the movable range. The CPU 91 detects the first origin from the change in the light-receiving state by the light-receiving element of the origin sensor 577.

[0053] Further, the CPU 91 is connected to electromagnetic valves (not shown) that operate the first gripping air cylinder 535 and the second gripping air cylinder 545, and can control the operations of the first gripping air cylinder 535 and the second gripping air cylinder 545 of the conveying device 50 via these electromagnetic valves. In FIG. 6, for convenience of explanation, the first gripping air cylinder 535 and the second gripping air cylinder 545 are shown instead of the electromagnetic valves.

[0054] Further, the CPU 91 is connected to the button supply device 40 and controls the operation of supplying buttons to the sewing machine 10.

[0055] Further, the CPU 91 is connected to the start switch 95, and the start of the sewing operation of the button sewing device 100 is input from the start switch 95. This start switch 95 may be a switch operated by hand by the operator, or a switch operated by the foot, for example, the knee.

[0056] Further, the CPU 91 is connected to the setting input device 96, and can input settings and executions of various operations of the button sewing device 100. The setting input device 96 has an input unit and a display unit. The setting input device 96 is composed of a display unit that displays various operation screens and input buttons, and a touch sensor as an input unit provided on the display surface of the display unit for detecting the contact position of the finger during operation input, and functions as an input / output means for various information. Note that the setting input device 96 is not limited to a configuration that performs a touch operation on the screen of the display unit, and the display unit and the input unit may be independent of each other.

[0057] [Home position search operation] When the main power of the button-attached sewing machine 100 is turned on, the CPU 91 of the control device 90 executes home position search operation control to search for the first home position of the conveying device 50. In this case, the CPU 91 operates the first gripping air cylinder 535 and the second gripping air cylinder 545 through the solenoid valve, and performs the home position search with the contact portion 554 at the tip of the first gripping member 55 and the contact portion at the tip of the second gripping member 56 lowered to the gripping positions of the workpiece to be sewn, respectively. During the home position search, the CPU 91 controls the conveying motor 575 of the conveying drive mechanism 57. First, while moving the first head 53 and the second head 54 backward, it monitors the output of the home position sensor 577 to detect the arrival at the rear end of the movable range. Then, when the first home position is detected by the home position sensor 577, the conveying motor 575 is stopped, and the shaft angle (position) of the output shaft of the conveying motor 575 at that time is recorded as the first home position. Note that the second home position indicating the position of the front end of the movable range of the first head 53 and the second head 54 is automatically determined at a position that is a predetermined distance forward from the first home position when the first home position is determined. The distance from the first home position to the second home position (the size of the movable range) can be arbitrarily set from the setting input device 96. The CPU 91 causes the conveying device 50 to perform a conveying operation of the workpiece to be sewn with the range between the first home position and the second home position as the movable range.

[0058] In the home position search, by setting the contact portion 554 at the tip of the first gripping member 55 in a state of being lowered to the gripping position of the workpiece to be sewn, even when the first head 53 is closest to the needle hole 13, the contact portion 554 and the extending portion 553 of the first gripping member 55 can avoid interference with the support member 32 of the thread floating member 31. Note that since the support member 32 of the thread floating member 31 is provided on the front side with respect to the needle hole 13, even when the second head 54 is closest to the needle hole 13, there is almost no possibility that the second gripping member 56 will interfere with the support member 32 of the thread floating member 31. Therefore, in the origin search, it is not necessary to lower the contact portion at the tip of the second gripping member 56 to the gripping position of the workpiece.

[0059] [Settings of Various Parameters for Button Sewing Operation] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a setting screen G1 for setting various parameters of the button sewing operation displayed on the display unit of the setting input device 96. The round numbers (1) to (6) switches in the setting screen G1 individually correspond to a plurality of buttons for which sewing is performed in order in the front-rear direction. The switches individually correspond to the plurality of buttons for which sewing is performed, and data numbers are displayed within the frames of the same number of switches corresponding to the number of buttons for which sewing is performed. In this setting screen G1, since the "4" of the data number is displayed for the switches (1) to (5), and the switch (6) is blank, it indicates that sewing is performed for five buttons.

[0060] In addition, the set length of the interval in the front-rear direction between the buttons is displayed in the window B1 individually provided between the switches (1) to (6). This setting screen G1 shows that the individual intervals of the buttons indicated by the switches (1) to (5) are all set to 100 [mm]. Note that the button corresponding to the switch (1) is assumed to be sewn at the first origin. The set length of the interval between each button can be input by touching each window B1 to display a numerical input screen of a dialog and inputting the numerical value of the set length.

[0061] In addition, in the window B2 provided above the switches (1) to (6) of the setting screen G1, the set value of the set position for performing the attachment operation of the workpiece to the first head 53 and the second head 54 when starting sewing is displayed. The set value is displayed with the distance from the first origin to the front side position as positive with reference to the first origin. The set value of the setting position can be input by touching the window B2 to display the numerical input screen of the dialog box, where the numerical value of the distance from the origin can be entered.

[0062] Also, the switch of the symbol B3 at the lower left of the setting screen G1 is a preparation key. This preparation key B3 is displayed immediately when the main power supply of the button sewing device 100 is turned on. When touched, the setting screen G1 is displayed and sewing can be started. Note that the control device 90 can store a plurality of setting data with various parameters set in the data memory 94, and the setting screen G1 can select and display the setting data with various settings performed. When the start switch 95 is pressed in the state where specific setting data is selected and displayed, the sewing operation is started according to the displayed setting data.

[0063] [Button-attaching sewing operation] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the button-attaching sewing operation executed by the CPU 91 of the button sewing device 100. Based on this figure, the button-attaching sewing operation will be described in order.

[0064] The control of the button-attaching sewing operation starts when the main power supply of the button sewing device 100 is turned on. Before the main power supply is turned on, the first and second gripping members 55, 56 of the conveying device 50 are raised, the pair of knob feet 21, 22 of the sewing machine 10 are lowered, and the thread floating member 31 is retracted to the left.

[0065] When the main power supply is turned on, the CPU 91 determines whether there is an input of the preparation key B3 from the setting input device 96 (step S1). The above determination is repeated until an input is received.

[0066] Then, when the preparation key B3 is input, the CPU 91 lowers the first and second gripping members 55, 56 to the gripping state (step S3) and starts the origin search (step S5). During the origin search, the contact portion 554 and the extending portion 553 of the first gripping member 55 of the first head 53 approach the needle hole 13. However, since they are in the lowered gripping state, interference with the support member 32 of the thread floating member 31 can be avoided.

[0067] When the search for the first origin is completed (step S7), the CPU 91 raises the pair of knob legs 21, 22 (step S9), and conveys the first head 53 and the second head 54 of the conveying device 50 toward the position indicated by the set value of the set position shown by the set data set by the setting screen G1 (the set value of the set position set from the window B2 of the setting screen G1) (step S11). Further, the first gripping member 55 and the second gripping member 56 of the first head 53 and the second head 54 are raised and standby (step S13).

[0068] The operator performs the operation (setting) of attaching the workpiece to be sewn to the first head 53 and the second head 54 waiting at the set position. On the other hand, the CPU 91 continuously monitors the presence or absence of the input of the start switch 95 (step S15). When the start switch 95 is input by the operator who has set the workpiece to be sewn, the first gripping member 55 and the second gripping member 56 are lowered to grip the workpiece to be sewn (step S17).

[0069] Next, the CPU 91 causes the button supply device 40 to supply buttons to the pair of knob legs 21, 22 of the sewing machine 10 and causes the pair of knob legs 21, 22 to grip the supplied buttons (step S19). On the other hand, the CPU 91 causes the first head 53 and the second head 54 of the conveying device 50 to convey the workpiece to be sewn to the first sewing position (step S21). The first sewing position is, for example, the first origin of the first head 53 and the second head 54.

[0070] Next, the CPU 91 moves the rod-shaped portion 311 of the thread floating member 31 to the right and places it on the button (step S23). Further, the pair of knob legs 21, 22 are lowered to press the workpiece to be sewn (step S25). Then, while performing needle insertion into each hole of the button through the cooperation of the sewing machine motor 15, the X-feed motor 27, and the Y-feed motor 28, sewing of the button onto the workpiece is executed (step S27).

[0071] When the button is sewn on, the CPU 91 cuts the upper thread and the lower thread by the thread cutting device, and retracts the rod-shaped portion 311 of the thread floating member 31 to the left (step S29). Then, the pair of knob legs 21, 22 are opened to release the button, and the pair of knob legs 21, 22 are raised to release the workpiece (step S31).

[0072] Next, the CPU 91 determines whether the setting for sewing the next button is set in the setting data (step S33). If the setting for sewing the next button is set, the process returns to step S19, a new button is supplied to the pair of knob legs 21, 22, and the workpiece is conveyed to the next sewing position by the first head 53 and the second head 54, and the processes from step S19 to S33 are repeated.

[0073] On the other hand, in step S33, if the sewing of the last button is completed and the setting for sewing the next button is not set, the workpiece is conveyed to the end position by the first head 53 and the second head 54 (step S35). The end position may be, for example, the second origin. Then, at the end position, the first gripping member 55 and the second gripping member 56 of the first head 53 and the second head 54 are raised (step S37) to release the workpiece. At this time, when the button sewing device 100 includes a stacker device as an option, the CPU 91 controls the stacker device to collect the sewn workpiece. Also, when not including the stacker device, the operator collects the sewn workpiece at the end position.

[0074] Thereafter, the CPU 91 returns the process to step S11, conveys the first head 53 and the second head 54 to the set position indicated by the setting data (step S11), and raises the first gripping member 55 and the second gripping member 56 (step S13). Then, until the next workpiece to be sewn is set by the operator and the start switch 95 is input, the input of the start switch 95 is monitored (step S15). Thereafter, the processes of steps S11 to S37 are repeatedly executed for each workpiece to be sewn.

[0075] [Technical Effects of the Embodiment of the Invention] In the button sewing device 100, due to its structure, it is difficult to secure a space for retracting the rod-shaped portion 311 of the thread floating member 31 from above the sewn button toward the right. Therefore, the support mechanism 30 of the thread floating member 31 bypasses the front side of the sewing needle 11 from the mounting base 23 of the button holding mechanism 20 and extends leftward, and turns leftward with respect to the sewing needle 11, and the support member 32 that supports the thread floating member 31 is configured such that the tip of the rod-shaped portion 311 extends toward the right. Since the left side of the sewn button is on the side opposite to the lap of the sewing machine 10, there is no structure that hinders the retraction of the thread floating member 31 to the left side, so the retraction movement of the thread floating member 31 can be easily performed. On the other hand, since the support member 32 of the thread floating member 31 bypasses the front side of the sewing needle 11 and extends leftward, it is arranged such that it can interfere with the first gripping member 55 of the first head 53 of the conveying device 50 that moves closer from the front side of the sewing needle 11 to the needle drop position.

[0076] However, in the button sewing device 100, at least for the first gripping member 55 on the support member 32 side (front side) with respect to the needle drop position, the contact portion 554 located at the tip thereof and the extending portion 553 extending from the contact portion 554 toward the base end portion side of the first gripping member 55 are set to a height that can pass under the support member 32 in the lowered state where the workpiece to be sewn is gripped. Therefore, it is possible to effectively suppress the interference between the first gripping member 55 and the support member 32. Note that the "first gripping member on the support member side with respect to the thread floating member" means the gripping member on the front side (the support member side with respect to the thread floating member) among the first gripping member and the second gripping member.

[0077] Further, in the button sewing device 100, since the first head 53 supports the first gripping member 55 so that the contact portion 554 of the first gripping member 55 can be switched between a height at which it grips the workpiece and a height at which it is separated from the workpiece, when moving the first head 53 toward the needle drop position side, it moves to the height at which the contact portion 554 grips, and when setting or removing the workpiece, the contact portion 554 can be switched to a height separated from the workpiece. It is possible to improve workability while effectively suppressing the interference between the first gripping member 55 and the support member 32.

[0078] Also, in the button sewing device 100, the control device 90 controls so as to perform the origin search of the conveying device 50 while maintaining the height at which the tip of the first gripping member 55 grips the workpiece. Thereby, even when the first head 53 is configured to move closer to the needle drop position during the origin search, it is possible to effectively suppress the interference between the first gripping member 55 and the support member 32.

[0079] Further, the button sewing device 100 includes a setting input device 96 as a setting input unit for setting the positions (set positions) in the conveying direction of the first gripping member 55 and the second gripping member 56 when performing the attachment operation of the workpiece by the first gripping member 55 and the second gripping member 56 before the start of sewing. Therefore, when the first gripping member 55 or the second gripping member 56 may interfere with the support member 32 of the thread floating member 31 when the first gripping member 55 and the second gripping member 56 are at the release height separated from the workpiece, it is possible to set the position where the first gripping member 55 or the second gripping member 56 does not interfere with the support member 32 in the front-rear direction as the set position, and it is possible to effectively suppress the interference between the first gripping member 55 or the second gripping member 56 and the support member 32.

[0080] Furthermore, regardless of whether the first gripping member 55 and the second gripping member 56 interfere with the support member 32 of the thread floating member 31, there are many components arranged around the needle drop position in the sewing machine 10, and the setting work may be difficult. In particular, when the sewing machine 10 is provided with a protective plate that prevents the fingertips and foreign objects from entering during sewing, a camera, a lighting device, a thread trimming member, and other attachments around the needle drop position, the setting work of attaching the workpiece to be sewn under the first gripping member 55 and the second gripping member 56 may be difficult. Even in such a case, it is possible to set a position separated from the needle drop position as the setting position, and it is possible to improve workability.

[0081] [Others] The above describes each embodiment of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the embodiment, a component integrally formed by a single member may be replaced with a component divided into a plurality of members and connected or fixed to each other. Also, a component configured by connecting a plurality of members may be replaced with a component integrally formed by a single member. In addition, the details shown in the embodiments can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0082] For example, the support member 32 of the thread floating member 31 has a structure that passes in front of the sewing needle 11 and wraps around to the left side of the sewing needle 11, but the support member 32 may have a structure that passes behind the sewing needle 11 and wraps around to the left side of the sewing needle 11. In that case, the second gripping member 56 supported by the second head 54 may be provided with a contact portion that grips the workpiece at the tip and an extension portion that extends from the contact portion toward the base end portion, and these may be configured to have a height that allows them to pass under the support member 32 in the state where the workpiece is gripped. Also, in that case, since the first gripping member 55 does not interfere with the support member 32, a more flexible structure can be selected, such as adopting the structure of a conventional gripping member in which the lower end portion of the hanging portion hanging down from the base end portion serves as the contact portion.

[0083] Further, in the button sewing device 100, although the example in which the CPU 91 of the control device 90 controls the entire sewing machine 10, button supply device 40, and conveying device 50 has been illustrated, it is not limited thereto. For example, the sewing machine 10, button supply device 40, and conveying device 50 may each have a control device, and there may be a configuration in which another control device that comprehensively controls these control devices is provided. Alternatively, the sewing machine 10, button supply device 40, and conveying device 50 may each have a control device, and one of them may send a command to another control device to comprehensively control all the control devices.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0084] 10 Sewing machine 11 Sewing needle 12 Needle bar 13 Needle hole (needle drop position) 14 Tip of the sewing machine bed portion 20 Button holding mechanism 21, 22 Knob legs 23 Mounting base 24 Lower plate 25 Button gripping solenoid 26 Lifting motor 27 X-feed motor 271 Encoder 28 Y-feed motor 281 Encoder 30 Support mechanism 31 Thread floating member 311 Rod-shaped portion 312 Connecting portion 32 Support member (support part) 321 Support plate 322 Support block 33 Thread lifting air cylinder 40 Button supply device 50 Conveyor device 53 First head 54 Second head 55 First gripping member 551 Base end portion 553 Extended portion 554 Contact portion (tip end portion) 55 First gripping member 57 Conveyor drive mechanism 90 Control device 91 CPU 96 Setting input device (input part) 100 Button-attaching sewing device

Claims

1. A button holding mechanism for holding a button; A needle vertical movement mechanism for sewing the button to a workpiece by vertical movement of a sewing needle; A movement mechanism for relatively moving the button held by the button holding mechanism and the sewing needle to pass the sewing needle through a hole of the button; A thread floating member having a rod-shaped portion disposed between holes and giving an extra length to a sewing thread of the button sewn to the workpiece above the button held by the button holding mechanism; A support mechanism provided on the button holding mechanism, supporting the thread floating member and imparting a forward and backward movement along the rod-shaped portion; And a conveying device for conveying the workpiece along a direction intersecting with a forward and backward movement direction of the thread floating member, The support mechanism has a support portion that extends from the button holding mechanism along the forward and backward movement direction of the thread floating member, wraps around to the side opposite to the button holding mechanism with respect to the sewing needle, and supports the thread floating member such that a tip of the rod-shaped portion extends toward the button holding mechanism side; The conveying device, Has a first gripping member and a second gripping member that respectively grip the workpiece from above in one and the other in a direction in which the workpiece is conveyed, The first gripping member on the support portion side with respect to the thread floating member has a tip portion that grips the workpiece and an extending portion that extends from the tip portion toward a base end portion side, and in a state where the workpiece is gripped, has a height that allows the first gripping member to pass below the support portion of the thread floating member. A button sewing device characterized by this.

2. The conveying device supports the first gripping member such that a tip portion of the first gripping member can be switched in position between a height at which the first gripping member grips the workpiece and a height separated from the workpiece. The button sewing device according to claim 1, characterized by this.

3. It is provided with a control device for performing operation control of the conveying device, The sewing machine with buttons according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the control device performs origin search of the conveying device while maintaining the height at which the tip of the first gripping member grips the workpiece to be sewn.

4. A control device that controls the operation of the conveying device, An input unit that sets an attachment operation position in the conveying direction of the workpiece to be sewn by the conveying device for the first gripping member and the second gripping member when attaching the workpiece to be sewn to the first gripping member and the second gripping member before the start of sewing, The sewing machine with buttons according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the control device conveys the first gripping member and the second gripping member to the positions in the conveying direction set by the input unit, enabling the attachment operation of the workpiece to be sewn to the first gripping member and the second gripping member.

Images