Sewing machine

Abstract

To provide a sewing machine which performs trial sewing capable of confirming positioning of an object to be sewn.SOLUTION: A sewing machine includes: a needle vertical movement mechanism for performing vertical movement of a sewing needle 11; a feeding device for performing feeding of an object C to be sewn; a control device 90 which performs operation control of the needle vertical movement mechanism and the feeding device, and capable of executing an operation confirmation mode in which the sewing needle is made to stay at a non-sewing position which does not reach the object to be sewn and a feeding operation of the object to be sewn by the feeding device is performed; and a needle location input part 99 in which an operator inputs a needle location command. The control device includes a basting function which controls the needle movement mechanism so as to perform sewing of the predetermined number of stitches, when the needle location command is inputted from the needle location input part, during the execution of a feeding operation confirmation mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 19

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] In a conventional sewing machine, since both the vertical movement of the sewing needle and the feeding operation of the workpiece to be sewn obtain power from the sewing machine motor, it is easy to obtain synchronization between the needle drop and the feeding. However, the vertical movement of the sewing needle and the feeding operation of the workpiece to be sewn are interlocked and cannot be separated (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Conventionally, there has been a demand to perform a trial sewing that exclusively performs the feeding operation of the workpiece to be sewn without causing the needle to drop by the sewing needle. For this purpose, it is possible to realize trial sewing by stopping the vertical movement of the sewing needle or reducing the amplitude of the vertical movement so that the sewing needle does not reach the workpiece to be sewn and exclusively performing the feeding operation of the workpiece to be sewn. However, in the case of trial sewing without needle drop, since the workpiece to be sewn after the trial sewing is not sewn at all, for example, in the case of sewing while matching patterns or in the case of sewing specifications where more accurate alignment is required at various points along the sewing path, it has not been possible to confirm whether it has been achieved.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a sewing machine capable of performing a trial sewing capable of confirming the alignment of the workpiece to be sewn.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The present invention relates to a sewing machine, a needle vertical movement mechanism for vertically moving a sewing needle, a feeding device for feeding a workpiece to be sewn, a control device capable of performing operation control of the needle vertical movement mechanism and the feeding device, and executing a feeding operation confirmation mode in which the sewing needle is retained at a non-sewing position where it does not reach the workpiece to be sewn and the feeding operation of the workpiece to be sewn is performed by the feeding device, and a needle drop command input unit for an operator to input a needle drop command, wherein the control device has a temporary sewing function of controlling the needle vertical movement mechanism to perform sewing of a predetermined number of stitches when the needle drop command is input from the needle drop command input unit during execution of the feeding operation confirmation mode.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] With the above configuration, the sewing machine of the present invention can provide a sewing machine capable of performing a trial sewing for confirming the alignment of the workpiece to be sewn.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

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[0009] [Outline of Embodiment of the Invention] Hereinafter, the sewing machine 100 which is an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is a rear view of the sewing machine 100, FIG. 2 is a left side view of the sewing machine 100, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sewing machine 100. Hereinafter, the downstream side in the feeding direction of the workpiece C (see FIG. 10) is defined as "front", the upstream side in the feeding direction is defined as "rear", the left hand side in the state facing forward is defined as "left", the right hand side is defined as "right", the vertically upward direction is defined as "up", and the vertically downward direction is defined as "down". The front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction are orthogonal to each other. In the following description, it is assumed that the sewing machine 100 is installed on a horizontal plane, and the front-back direction and the left-right direction are horizontal.

[0010] As the sewing machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, a so-called straight sewing machine is exemplified. The sewing machine 100 includes a sewing machine frame 110, a needle up-and-down movement mechanism, a lower feed mechanism 20 as a feed device, an upper feed mechanism 40 as a feed device, a cloth presser mechanism 70 as a presser mechanism, a bobbin mechanism, a thread cutter device, a positioning gauge 50 (see FIG. 10), and a retraction mechanism 60 (see FIG. 10). The needle up-and-down movement mechanism imparts an up-and-down movement to the sewing needle 11. The lower feed mechanism 20 imparts a feeding movement from below to the workpiece C on the needle plate 101. The upper feed mechanism 40 imparts a feeding movement from above to the workpiece C on the needle plate 101. The cloth presser mechanism 70 imparts a pressing force to the workpiece C on the needle plate 101. The bobbin mechanism captures the loop of the upper thread from the sewing needle 11, winds the lower thread, and forms a stitch. The positioning gauge 50 abuts against the side end of the workpiece and determines the width of the corner, which is the distance from the side end to the stitch. The retraction mechanism 60 holds the belt guide 44 of the upper feed mechanism 40 in a retracted position to avoid interference when using the positioning gauge 50. The sewing machine 100 includes various components such as a balance mechanism and a thread conditioner that are provided in a general straight sewing machine, but since these are well-known, the description is omitted.

[0011] [Sewing Machine Frame] The sewing machine frame 110 supports or houses each component of the sewing machine 100 described above. The sewing machine frame 110 has a sewing machine bed portion 111, a vertical body portion 112, and a sewing machine arm portion 113. The sewing machine bed portion 111 is located at the lower part of the sewing machine 100 and extends along the left-right direction. The vertical body portion 112 is erected from the right end portion of the sewing machine bed portion 111. The sewing machine arm portion 113 extends leftward from the upper end portion of the vertical cylinder portion 112.

[0012] [Needle up-and-down movement mechanism] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the upper surface of the left end portion of the sewing machine bed portion 111 with the illustration of the presser foot described later omitted. The needle up-and-down movement mechanism is disposed along the left-right direction inside the sewing machine arm portion 113 and has an upper shaft that is rotationally driven by a sewing machine motor 16 (see FIG. 11). Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the needle up-and-down movement mechanism includes a needle bar 12 that holds the sewing needle 11 at its lower end portion, and a crank mechanism that converts the rotational force of the upper shaft into a reciprocating driving force of up-and-down movement and transmits it to the needle bar 12. Note that the upper shaft and the crank mechanism are well-known, so their illustrations are omitted.

[0013] The needle bar 12 extends along the up-and-down direction and is supported so as to be movable up and down at the lower left end of the sewing machine arm portion 113. The sewing needle 11 is held at the lower end portion of the needle bar 12 and moves up and down together with the needle bar 12. Below the needle bar 12 on the upper surface of the sewing machine bed portion 111, a needle plate 101 made of a horizontal flat plate is provided.

[0014] And at the needle dropping position of the sewing needle 11 with respect to the needle plate 101, a composite opening 102 is formed. In the composite opening 102 of the needle plate 101, a needle hole member 30 having a needle hole 13 and rear lower left belt 21, front lower left belt 22, front lower right belt 23, and rear lower right belt 24 of the later-described lower feed mechanism 20 are arranged so as to be exposed upward. That is, the composite opening 102 has a shape in which a plurality of rectangular openings where the needle hole member 30 and each lower belt 21 to 24 are exposed are integrally combined.

[0015] [Bobbin mechanism] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bobbin mechanism includes an inner bobbin 14 and an outer bobbin 15 provided below the needle hole member 30 of the needle plate 101, and a bobbin shaft (not shown) for rotating the outer bobbin 15. The kettle shaft is rotatably supported in the sewing machine bed portion 111 in a state along the left - right direction. The kettle shaft receives a rotation about an axis along the left - right direction, which is speed - increased to twice the speed of the upper shaft from the above - mentioned upper shaft via a gear mechanism or a belt mechanism.

[0016] The middle kettle 14 is stored inside the outer kettle 15. Further, the middle kettle 14 stores a bobbin (not shown) for supplying the lower thread inside it. The outer kettle 15 is connected to the left end portion of the kettle shaft and rotates around the middle kettle 14. The rotation of the middle kettle 14 is restricted so that it does not rotate together with the outer kettle 15. The outer kettle 15 has a sword tip on its outer periphery for catching the loop of the upper thread from the sewing needle 11. By rotating, the outer kettle 15 can catch the loop of the upper thread with the sword tip and pass through the lower thread fed out from the inside of the middle kettle 14. The above - mentioned outer kettle 15 and middle kettle 14 are arranged in a stored state inside a substantially cylindrical guide frame 29 of a lower feed mechanism 20 described later.

[0017] [Thread - cutting device] The thread - cutting device has a movable blade that rotates along the periphery of the outer kettle 15, a fixed blade that cuts the upper thread and the lower thread in cooperation with the movable blade below the needle hole, and a blade drive mechanism that imparts a reciprocating motion along the periphery of the outer kettle 15 to the movable blade. The blade drive mechanism has a cam mechanism that obtains power from the sewing machine motor 16 and imparts a reciprocating motion to the movable blade. The blade drive mechanism has a thread - cutting solenoid 98 (see FIG. 11) as an actuator that connects and disconnects the power from the sewing machine motor 16 to the cam mechanism. The thread - cutting solenoid 98 is controlled by a control device 90 described later.

[0018] [Lower feed mechanism] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the guide frame 29 of the lower feed mechanism 20, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the lower feed mechanism 20. FIGS. 6 and 7 show cases where the spanning states of the respective lower belts 21 - 24 described later are different. Hereinafter, the lower feed mechanism 20 will be described in detail based on FIGS. 1 - 7.

[0019] As shown in each figure, the downward feeding mechanism 20 includes lower belts 21 to 24 as conveying belts, a first motor 25, a second motor 26, rotating shafts 27 and 28, a first pulley 31, and a second pulley 32. Furthermore, the downward feeding mechanism 20 includes a guide frame 29 for guiding the lower belts 21 to 24 so that they contact the lower surface of the workpiece C, a first pressing mechanism 33, and a second pressing mechanism 34.

[0020] Both the first and second motors 25 and 26 are motors whose operating amount can be arbitrarily controlled, for example, stepping motors or servo motors. The first and second motors 25 and 26 are arranged inside the right end of the sewing bed portion 111 in a side-by-side manner in the front-rear direction, and their output shafts are directed leftward. The first pulley 31 is connected to the output shaft of the front-side first motor 25 via the rotating shaft 27. The second pulley 32 is connected to the output shaft of the rear-side second motor 26 via the rotating shaft 28.

[0021] Both the rotating shafts 27 and 28 are parallel in the left-right direction and are rotatably supported within the sewing bed portion 111. The first and second pulleys 31 and 32 are rotatably supported about an axis along the left-right direction within the left end of the sewing bed portion 111. The first and second pulleys 31 and 32 are respectively imparted with rotational motion from the first motor 25 and the second motor 26 via the rotating shafts 27 and 28. The first and second pulleys 31 and 32 are arranged in an overlapping manner when viewed from the front-rear direction, that is, they are at the same height and at the same position in the left-right direction. Also, the first pulley 31 is arranged in front of the second pulley 32.

[0022] Both the first and second pulleys 31 and 32 can span all of the lower belts 21, 22, 23, and 24 arranged in parallel in the left-right direction. That is, the first pulley 31 has a left groove 311 for spanning the rear lower left belt 21 and the front lower left belt 22 on its outer peripheral surface, and a right groove 312 for spanning the front lower right belt 23 and the rear lower right belt 24. The second pulley 32 has, on its outer peripheral surface, a left groove 321 for looping the rear lower left belt 21 and the front lower left belt 22, and a right groove 322 for looping the front lower right belt 23 and the rear lower right belt 24. Each of the lower belts 21 to 24 has the same width, and the left and right grooves 311, 312, 321, 322 all have a width of at least enough for two belts. As a result, each of the lower belts 21 to 24 can be looped around the first pulley 31 and the second pulley 32 by appropriately selecting them.

[0023] Each of the lower belts 21, 22, 23, 24 is endless and annular, and is looped between the guide frame 29 and the first pulley 31 or between the guide frame 29 and the second pulley 32. Also, the lower belts 21, 22, 23, 24 are arranged in parallel in order from left to right.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 2, the guide frame 29 (guide member) is arranged to substantially coincide with each of the pulleys 31, 32 in the left - right direction and to be between each of the pulleys 31, 32 in the front - rear direction. Further, the guide frame 29 is above each of the pulleys 31, 32 and directly below the needle plate 101. As shown in FIG. 5, the guide frame 29 has a bracket portion 295 for fixing within the sewing bed portion 111, and a cylindrical main body portion 296 for guiding each of the lower belts 21 to 24.

[0025] The guide frame 29 is arranged directly below the needle plate 101 with the central axis of the main body portion 296 oriented in the left - right direction. On the left - right direction center of the upper part of the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 296, a fitting groove 297 extending in the front - rear direction is formed. Inside the fitting groove 297, a plate - shaped needle hole member 30 extending in the front - rear direction is arranged. The needle hole member 30 has a needle hole 13 penetrating vertically at the needle drop position. The needle hole member 30 is connected to a needle vertical movement mechanism (not shown) that moves up and down at the same cycle as the sewing needle 11 using the above-described sewing machine motor 16 as a drive source. The needle hole member 30 moves up and down in a phase opposite to that of the sewing needle 11 by this needle vertical movement mechanism. That is, the forming surface of the needle hole 13 of the needle hole member 30 becomes the highest position that is at the same height as or slightly higher than the upper surface of the needle plate 101 at the phase where the sewing needle 11 reaches the bottom dead center, and becomes the lowest position that has descended the most from the upper surface of the needle plate 101 at the phase where the sewing needle 11 reaches the top dead center.

[0026] Further, the main body portion 296 causes the work piece C to be fed by sliding each of the lower belts 21 to 24 in the circumferential direction at the upper portion of its outer peripheral surface. For this purpose, first to fourth guide portions 291, 292, 293, 294 for guiding the respective lower belts 21 to 24 are provided at the upper portion of the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 296. The first guide portion 291 is provided at the left rear of the needle hole 13, the second guide portion 292 is provided at the left front of the needle hole 13, the third guide portion 293 is provided at the right front of the needle hole 13, and the fourth guide portion 294 is provided at the right rear of the needle hole 13. Each of the guide portions 291 to 294 is a ridge extending in the front-rear direction, and has a width in the left-right direction that is equal to or slightly wider than that of each of the lower belts 21 to 24. The rear end portions of the guide portions 291 to 294 are slopes in which the amount of protrusion radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 296 gradually increases toward the front. Also, the front end portions of the guide portions 291 to 294 are slopes in which the amount of protrusion radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 296 gradually decreases toward the front.

[0027] The first guide portion 291 is located on the left side of the needle hole 13 and is positioned rearward of the center of the needle hole 13 over substantially the entire length. The first guide portion 291 has a guide surface 291a (patterned portion in FIG. 5) that is flat and horizontal in front of the maximum protruding portion of the main body portion 296 radially outward. The guide surface 291a is arranged to face the composite opening portion 102 of the needle plate 101 when viewed from above. The guide surface 291a is set such that the outer surface of the rear lower left belt 21 that slidably contacts and passes over it is slightly higher than the upper surface of the needle plate 101. The guide surface 291a is formed such that its front end portion is located slightly rearward of the center of the needle hole 13, and the rear lower left belt 21 contacts the workpiece C to be sewn on the rear side of the center of the needle hole 13.

[0028] The second guide portion 292 is located on the left side of the needle hole 13 and on the right side of the first guide portion 291, and is located on the front side of the center of the needle hole 13 over substantially the entire length. The second guide portion 292 has a flat and horizontal guide surface 292a (pattern portion in FIG. 5) on the rear side of the maximum protruding portion of the main body portion 296 in the radial direction. The guide surface 292a is arranged to face the composite opening 102 of the needle plate 101 when viewed from above. The guide surface 292a is set such that the outer surface of the front lower left belt 22 slidingly contacting thereon is slightly higher than the upper surface of the needle plate 101. The guide surface 292a is formed such that its rear end portion is located slightly forward of the center of the needle hole 13, and the front lower left belt 22 contacts the workpiece C to be sewn on the front side of the center of the needle hole 13.

[0029] The third guide portion 293 is located on the right side of the needle hole 13 and is located on the front side of the center of the needle hole 13 over substantially the entire length. The third guide portion 293 has a flat and horizontal guide surface 293a (pattern portion in FIG. 5) on the rear side of the maximum protruding portion of the main body portion 296 in the radial direction. The guide surface 293a is arranged to face the composite opening 102 of the needle plate 101 when viewed from above. The guide surface 293a is set such that the outer surface of the front lower right belt 23 slidingly contacting thereon is slightly higher than the upper surface of the needle plate 101. The guide surface 293a is formed such that its rear end portion is located slightly forward of the center of the needle hole 13, and the front lower right belt 23 contacts the workpiece C to be sewn on the front side of the center of the needle hole 13.

[0030] The fourth guide portion 294 is located on the right side of the needle hole 13 and the third guide portion 293, and is located on the rear side of the center of the needle hole 13 over substantially the entire length. The fourth guide portion 294 has a flat and horizontal guide surface 294a (patterned portion in FIG. 5) in front of the maximum protruding portion of the main body portion 296 in the radial outward direction. The guide surface 294a is arranged to face the composite opening 102 of the needle plate 101 when viewed from above. The guide surface 294a is set such that the outer surface of the rear lower right belt 24 slidingly contacting and passing thereon is slightly higher than the upper surface of the needle plate 101. The front end portion of the guide surface 294a is located slightly rearward of the center of the needle hole 13, and the rear lower right belt 24 is formed to contact the workpiece C to be sewn on the rear side of the center of the needle hole 13.

[0031] The guide surfaces 291a and 294a are provided on the rear side of the center of the needle hole 13, and the guide surfaces 292a and 293a are provided on the front side of the center of the needle hole 13. Therefore, when a speed difference (conveying amount difference) is provided between the rear lower left belt 21 and the rear lower right belt 24 on the rear side and the front lower left belt 22 and the front lower right belt 23 on the front side, the lower belts 21 to 24 do not interfere with each other, and the conveying force due to the front-rear feed speed difference (conveying amount difference) can be applied to the workpiece C to be sewn. Accordingly, the desired seam in the differential feed in the front-rear direction is formed, and the sewing quality can be improved.

[0032] The first pressing mechanism 33 applies tension to all the belts stretched between the guide frame 29 and the first pulley 31 among the lower belts 21 to 24 to suppress the generation of slack. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the first pressing mechanism 33 includes a left pressing roller 331, a right pressing roller 332, a support plate 333, and a base block 334.

[0033] The support plate 333 is a long flat plate along the front-rear, upper-lower directions, and is supported by the base block 334 in a state where the longitudinal direction faces the front diagonally upward direction. Furthermore, the support plate 333 supports the left pressing roller 331 and the right pressing roller 332 in a concentric and rotatable manner on the left and right surfaces of its upper end portion. The support plate 333 is arranged such that the left pressing roller 331 and the right pressing roller 332 abut against the outer surface of the belt spanning between the guide frame 29 and the first pulley 31 from the lower rear side.

[0034] The base block 334 is shared with a second pressing mechanism 34 described later and supports the configurations of the first and second pressing mechanisms 33, 34. The base block 334 is fixedly installed below the guide frame 29 within the sewing bed portion 111. The support plate 333 has a long hole along its longitudinal direction and is fastened and fixed to the base block 334 by two bolts inserted through the long hole. The longitudinal direction of the support plate 333 is oriented in a direction substantially orthogonal to the belt stretched over the first pulley 31. Therefore, by loosening the bolts and moving the support plate 333 along the long hole, the pressing force of the left pressing roller 331 and the right pressing roller 332 against the belt can be adjusted. In other words, the tension of the belt spanning between the guide frame 29 and the first pulley 31 can be adjusted.

[0035] The left pressing roller 331 and the right pressing roller 332 have the same outer diameter and are supported by the support plate 333 so as to be rotatable about the same axis along the left - right direction. Also, the left - right widths of both the left pressing roller 331 and the right pressing roller 332 are each twice or more the width of each of the lower belts 21 - 24. Thereby, the left pressing roller 331 can abut against either the rear - lower belt 21 or the front - lower belt 22 stretched between the guide frame 29 and the first pulley 31. Similarly, the right pressing roller 332 can abut against either the front - lower - right belt 23 or the rear - lower - right belt 24 stretched between the guide frame 29 and the first pulley 31.

[0036] The second pressing mechanism 34 applies tension to all the belts stretched between the guide frame 29 and the second pulley 32 among the lower belts 21 - 24 to suppress the occurrence of slack. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6, the second pressing mechanism 34 includes a left pressing roller 341, a right pressing roller 342, a support plate 343, and the base block 334 described above.

[0037] The support plate 343 has the same structure as the support plate 333 described above, and is supported by the base block 334 with its longitudinal direction facing obliquely upward to the rear. Also, the support plate 343 supports the left pressing roller 341 and the right pressing roller 342 concentrically and rotatably on the left and right surfaces of its upper end portion. The support plate 343 is arranged such that the left pressing roller 341 and the right pressing roller 342 abut against the outer surface of the belt passing between the guide frame 29 and the second pulley 32 from the upper rear.

[0038] The support plate 343 also has a long hole, and the support plate 343 can be moved along the long hole. Thereby, the pressing force of the left pressing roller 341 and the right pressing roller 342 against the belt wound around the second pulley 32 can be adjusted. Therefore, the tension of the belt passing between the guide frame 29 and the second pulley 32 can be adjusted.

[0039] The left pressing roller 341 and the right pressing roller 342 have the same outer diameter and are rotatably supported by the support plate 343 around the same axis along the left-right direction. Also, the left and right widths of the left pressing roller 341 and the right pressing roller 342 are both twice or more the width of each of the lower belts 21 to 24. Thereby, the left pressing roller 341 can be brought into contact with both the rear lower left belt 21 and the front lower left belt 22 wound between the guide frame 29 and the second pulley 32. Similarly, the right pressing roller 342 can be brought into contact with both the front lower right belt 23 and the rear lower right belt 24 wound between the guide frame 29 and the second pulley 32.

[0040] The left pressure roller 331 of the first pressure mechanism 33 and the left pressure roller 341 of the second pressure mechanism 34 can both be brought into contact with the rear lower left belt 21 and the front lower left belt 22. Similarly, the right pressure roller 332 of the first pressure mechanism 33 and the right pressure roller 342 of the second pressure mechanism 34 can both be brought into contact with the front lower right belt 23 and the rear lower right belt 24. Therefore, no matter which of the first pulley 31 and the second pulley 32 the lower belts 21 - 24 are looped around, tension is applied by either the first pressure mechanism 33 or the second pressure mechanism 34.

[0041] FIG. 6 shows a state in which the front lower left belt 22 and the front lower right belt 23, which are fed in front of the needle drop position, are looped around the first pulley 31, and the rear lower left belt and the rear lower right belt 21, 24, which are fed behind, are looped around the second pulley 32. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the rear lower left belt 21 and the front lower left belt 22, which are fed on the left side of the needle drop position, are looped around the first pulley 31, and the front lower right belt 23 and the rear lower right belt 24 are looped around the second pulley 32.

[0042] When the bolts are loosened and the pressure rollers 331, 332, 341, 342 are retracted, each of the lower belts 21 - 24 can be easily removed from each pulley 31, 32 and re - looped. Therefore, it is possible to easily select and perform sewing in the looped state of FIG. 6 and sewing in the looped state of FIG. 7.

[0043] For example, in the looped state of FIG. 6 (set as the front - rear differential feed state), it is possible to perform so - called tuck sewing in which the front side of the needle drop position is fed faster than the rear side. Also, in the front - rear differential feed state, it is also possible to perform sewing in which the front side of the needle drop position is fed slower than the rear side to apply tension to the workpiece C.

[0044] In the looped state of FIG. 7 (set as the left - right differential feed state), if the left side is fed quickly, right - turning curve sewing can be performed, and if the right side is fed quickly, left - turning curve sewing can be performed. In addition, since the curvature can be changed according to the magnitude of the left - right speed difference (conveying amount difference), various curved stitches can be performed.

[0045] [Fabric pressing mechanism] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a fabric pressing mechanism 70 as a pressing mechanism for pressing the workpiece C from above on the needle plate 101, and FIG. 9 is a rear view. In FIG. 8, illustration of a positioning rule 50 and its support mechanism 53, which will be described later, is omitted.

[0046] The fabric pressing mechanism 70 includes a pressing foot 71, a pressing bar 72, a mounting base 74, a pressing motor 73 (see FIG. 11), and a height sensor 762 (see FIG. 11) as a pressing height detection unit. The pressing bar 72 is arranged in front of and adjacent to the needle bar 12 and is supported so as to be vertically movable inside the sewing machine arm portion 113 in a state along the vertical direction.

[0047] The upper end portion of the pressing bar 72 is pressed downward by a pressing spring (not shown) inside the sewing machine arm portion 113. The amount of expansion and contraction of the pressing spring can be adjusted by a pressing motor capable of arbitrarily controlling the operating amount. Therefore, by controlling the pressing motor, the pressing pressure of the pressing foot 71 can be arbitrarily set. In addition, the pressing motor also imparts a lifting motion for switching between a pressing height at which the pressing foot 71 presses the workpiece C on the needle plate 101 and a release height spaced upward.

[0048] Also, a height sensor 762 for detecting the height of the pressing bar 72 is provided. Therefore, after setting the pressing pressure of the pressing foot 71 to a preset value, when the height of the pressing foot 71 changes due to a change in the thickness of the workpiece C, the pressing pressure can be maintained at a constant set value by controlling the pressing motor so that the amount of expansion and contraction of the pressing spring does not change.

[0049] The pressing foot 71 is equipped at the lower end of the pressing bar 72 via the mounting base 74. The mounting base 74 is a block with a horizontal and flat upper surface and lower surface. The mounting base 74 has an insertion hole through which the pressing bar 72 can be inserted formed vertically therethrough. The mounting base 74 is fixed to the lower end of the pressing bar 72, for example, by screwing. Also, at the front end of the mounting base 74, the lower end of the link member 474 of the upper feed mechanism 40 described later is rotatably connected about an axis along the left - right direction.

[0050] The pressing foot 71 is disposed above the composite opening 102 of the needle plate 101. The pressing foot 71 presses the workpiece C from above, and appropriately transmits the conveying force by each of the lower belts 21 - 24 to the workpiece C. Further, the pressing foot 71 supports the upper left belt 41 and the upper right belt 42 of the upper feed mechanism 40 so as to be conveyable. And the pressing foot 71 also has a function of pressing each of the upper belts 41, 42 against the workpiece C and appropriately transmitting the conveying force to the workpiece C.

[0051] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the pressing foot 71 has a bottom plate 711 that presses the workpiece C from above and a connecting portion 712 attached to the lower end of the pressing bar 72.

[0052] The bottom plate 711 has a smooth bottom surface and exhibits a so - called boat shape in which the upstream side (rear end portion) in the cloth feeding direction is warped upward. The connecting portion 712 is erected on the upper surface of the front end portion of the bottom plate 711 and is connected to be swingable about an axis along the left - right direction with respect to the bottom plate 711. The upper portion of the connecting portion 712 is fixed to the lower side of the mounting base 74, for example, by screwing. Note that the connecting portion 712 may be joined to the mounting base 74 by welding or the like, or may be constituted by a single member in which the connecting portion 712 and the mounting base 74 are integrated.

[0053] [Upper Feed Mechanism] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 8, and 9, the upward feeding mechanism 40 includes an upper left belt 41 and an upper right belt 42 as conveying belts, the left and right belt guides 43 and 44 described above, an upper left motor 45 that serves as a driving source for feeding the upper left belt 41, an upper right motor 46 that serves as a driving source for feeding the upper right belt 42, and a guide mechanism 47 that guides the upper belts 41 and 42 from the respective upper motors 45 and 46 to the pressing feet 71.

[0054] The left and right belt guides 43 and 44 are provided on both the left and right sides of the pressing feet 71. Each of the belt guides 43 and 44 is rotatably attached by a support shaft (not shown) along the left - right direction to the left and right side surfaces of the lower part of the connecting portion 712 of the pressing feet 71.

[0055] In side view, each of the belt guides 43 and 44 has a shape in which the front end portion extends obliquely upward to the front, is closest to the needle plate 101 in front of the rear end portion, and the rear end portion floats upward obliquely to the rear. Also, each of the belt guides 43 and 44 is provided with feed rollers 432 and 442 that are rotatable about an axis along the left - right direction at the rear end portion. The left and right endless annular upper belts 41 and 42 are each guided so as to pass between the left and right belt guides 43 and 44 and the side surfaces of the pressing feet 71. That is, the left and right upper belts 41 and 42 are each folded downward along the outer periphery from above the feed rollers 432 and 442, guided to advance forward at the portion closest to the needle plate 101 in each of the belt guides 43 and 44, and then pass through in the obliquely upward front direction. When each of the upper belts 41 and 42 advances forward along the portion closest to the needle plate 101 in each of the belt guides 43 and 44, it abuts against the workpiece C on the needle plate 101 and feeds it forward. Note that the contact position of the upper left belt 41 with the workpiece C coincides with the contact position of the workpiece C of the front lower left belt 22 in plan view, and the workpiece C is fed while being sandwiched between these belts. Similarly, the contact position of the upper right belt 42 with the workpiece C coincides with the contact position of the workpiece C of the front lower right belt 23 in plan view, and the workpiece C is fed while being sandwiched between these belts.

[0056] Also, as described above, each of the belt guides 43 and 44 is pivotally supported by a pressing leg 71 on a support shaft. One end of each of the tension springs 433 and 444 as springs is connected to the shaft portions 434 and 444 provided at the front end portions of the belt guides 43 and 44. The other end of each of the tension springs 433 and 444 is connected to the shaft portions 745 and 746 provided on the left and right side surfaces of the mounting base 74, respectively, and applies an upward tension to the front end portions of the belt guides 43 and 44. Therefore, the rear end portion side of each of the belt guides 43 and 44 is biased to rotate downward, and a pressing contact force toward the needle plate 101 is applied to the upper belts 41 and 42 that travel forward along the portion closest to the needle plate 101. Accordingly, a pressing contact force to the workpiece C on the needle plate 101 is applied to the upper belts 41 and 42.

[0057] As the left and right upper motors 45 and 46, motors whose rotation speed can be controlled, for example, a DC motor, an AC motor, a stepping motor, etc. are used. The left upper motor 45 is supported in front of the left end portion of the sewing machine arm portion 113 via a motor bracket 451 with the output shaft facing leftward. Also, the right upper motor 46 is supported above the left upper motor 45 in front of the left end portion of the sewing machine arm portion 113 via a motor bracket 451 with the output shaft facing leftward.

[0058] A motor pulley 452 is equipped on the output shaft of the left upper motor 45, and one end of the left upper belt 41 is wound around the motor pulley 452. Also, a motor pulley 462 is equipped on the output shaft of the right upper motor 46, and one end of the right upper belt 42 is wound around the motor pulley 462.

[0059] The left upper belt 41 is endless and annular, and one end in a state where the loop is stretched is hung over the motor pulley 452 of the left upper motor 45, and the other end is hung over the feed roller 432 of the belt guide 43. The upper right belt 42 is also endless and annular. One end of the belt in the extended state is wound around the motor pulley 462 of the upper right motor 46, and the other end is wound around the feed roller 442 at the rear end of the aforementioned belt guide 44.

[0060] And the path from the motor pulley 452 to the feed roller 432 on the upper left belt 41 and the path from the motor pulley 462 to the feed roller 442 on the upper right belt 42 overlap except for the peripheries of the motor pulleys 452 and 462 when viewed from the left - right direction. Note that the upper right belt 42 is arranged on the right side with respect to the upper left belt 41.

[0061] The guide mechanism 47 guides the upper left belt 41 and the upper right belt 42 along their respective paths. The guide mechanism 47 includes a pair of first tension rollers 471 arranged side - by - side in the left - right direction, a pair of second tension rollers 472 arranged side - by - side in the left - right direction, a guide arm 475 composed of upper and lower link members 473 and 474, and a plurality of guide rollers 476 rotatably provided at each part on the paths of the upper belts 41 and 42.

[0062] The pair of first tension rollers 471 are arranged below the motor pulley 452. Also, the pair of second tension rollers 472 are arranged between the motor pulley 452 and the pair of first tension rollers 471. The pair of first tension rollers 471 are rotatable about an axis along the left - right direction and have a wide axial width. And the pair of first tension rollers 471 press - contact the upper left belt 41 and the upper right belt 42 from the outside to apply an inward tension to them. The pair of second tension rollers 472 are rotatable about an axis along the left - right direction and have a narrow axial width. And the pair of second tension rollers 472 press - contact the upper right belt 42 only from the inside to apply an outward tension to it. Also, since the upper right belt 42 is spread to both the left and right sides by the pair of second tension rollers 472, interference with the motor pulley 452 in the middle of the path can be avoided.

[0063] The upper link member 473 that constitutes the guide arm 475 has one end rotatably connected to the lower end of the motor bracket 451 about an axis along the left - right direction. Further, the other end of the upper link member 473 is rotatably connected to one end of the lower link member 474 about an axis along the left - right direction. Furthermore, as described above, the other end of the lower link member 474 is rotatably connected to the front end of the mounting base 74 about an axis along the left - right direction.

[0064] At the connecting portion of the upper link member 473 and the lower link member 474, there are provided a guide roller 476 that abuts against the inner side of the loop from the front side with respect to the upper left belt 41 and the upper right belt 42, and a guide roller (not shown) that abuts against the outer side of the loop from the front side. As a result, the left and right upper belts 41, 42 are conveyed by the path along the upper link member 473 and the path along the lower link member 474. Therefore, even when the pressing foot 71 moves up and down due to changes in the thickness or unevenness of the workpiece C to be sewn, and the bending angles of the upper link member 473 and the lower link member 474 fluctuate, the left and right upper belts 41, 42 maintain the paths along the upper link member 473 and the path along the lower link member 474. For this reason, the path lengths of the respective upper belts 41, 42 are maintained constant, and fluctuations in tension can be suppressed.

[0065] [Positioning gauge] The positioning gauge 50 is for positioning the side end of the workpiece C to be sewn in the direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the workpiece C to be sewn (left - right direction). The direction in which the positioning of the positioning gauge 50 is performed is preferably the direction orthogonal to the feeding direction of the workpiece C to be sewn, but is not limited thereto, and may be inclined to some extent with respect to the orthogonal direction. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the positioning gauge 50 in the use position and its peripheral configuration. As shown in FIG. 10, the positioning gauge 50 is supported by a support mechanism 53.

[0066] The positioning gauge 50 is an abutting plate for abutting against the side end portion (the right end portion in this embodiment) of the workpiece C on the needle plate 101 to perform sewing (so-called hemming) at regular intervals along the side end portion. In the following description, the regular interval of the hemming performed along the side end portion of the workpiece C is referred to as the "hem width".

[0067] The positioning gauge 50 is switched between a use position in which it is close to or in contact with the upper surface of the needle plate 101 and a non-use position in which it is separated upward from the upper surface of the needle plate 101 by a support mechanism 53. Here, the positions and orientations of the respective parts of the positioning gauge 50 are described on the premise that it is in the use position.

[0068] The positioning gauge 50 has an abutting plate 51 for abutting against the side end portion of the workpiece C and a connecting portion 52 extending from the abutting plate 51 toward the support mechanism 53 side. The abutting plate 51 and the connecting portion 52 are formed by bending a single metal plate.

[0069] The abutting plate 51 is in the shape of a flat plate parallel to the front-rear, upper-lower directions, and its left surface serves as the abutting surface against the workpiece C. The abutting plate 51 has a substantially strip shape when viewed from the side and is long in the front-rear direction. The lower edge portion of the abutting plate 51 is linear, and in the use position, the lower edge portion is horizontal along the front-rear direction and can be brought into contact with or close to the upper surface of the needle plate 101 over the entire length of the lower edge portion.

[0070] In the use position, the front end portion of the abutting plate 51 is preferably at the same position as or in front of the needle hole 13 in the front-rear direction. Also, the lateral distance from the center of the needle hole 13 to the left surface of the abutting plate 51 becomes the hem width during sewing. The lateral distance from the center of the needle hole 13 to the left surface of the abutting plate 51 is adjustable by the support mechanism 53. Note that the abutting plate 51 is arranged such that the left surface is on the right side of the center of the needle hole 13. And the abutting plate 51 can be position - adjusted so that the left surface of the abutting plate 51 is brought as close as possible to the center of the needle hole 13 in the left - right direction within a range where it does not interfere with the sewing needle 11 or the pressing foot 71.

[0071] The support mechanism 53 includes a holding shaft 54 that holds the positioning gauge 50, a cylindrical body 55 that holds the holding shaft 54 in an insert - holding manner, a rotating arm 56 that holds the cylindrical body 55, and an actuator as a drive source (not shown) that imparts a rotating operation to the rotating arm 56. The support mechanism 53 rotates the positioning gauge 50 to perform a switching operation between the use position and the non - use position.

[0072] The holding shaft 54 is supported by the cylindrical body 55 so as to be movable in the left - right direction. The cylindrical body 55 can position - adjust the abutting plate 51 of the positioning gauge 50 to an arbitrary position in the left - right direction via the holding shaft 54 by a position - adjusting motor 57 (see FIG. 11).

[0073] The rotating arm 56 is rotatable by a position - switching air cylinder as an actuator, and imparts a position - switching operation between the use position and the non - use position of the positioning gauge 50.

[0074] In the non - use position, the positioning gauge 50 is in a state of being separated upward from the needle plate 101. In the use position, the positioning gauge 50 abuts on or approaches the upper surface of the needle plate 101 due to the rotation of the rotating arm 56.

[0075] [Retracting mechanism] When feeding the workpiece to be sewn, the left and right belt guides 43, 44 are positioned at a feeding position where the bottom of the rear end portion is at the same height as the upper surface of the needle plate 101. When performing sewing using the positioning gauge 50, the retracting mechanism 60 moves the right - hand belt guide 44 and the feed roller 442 on the positioning - gauge 50 side with respect to the needle hole 13 and the upper - right belt 42 guided by them to the retracted position.

[0076] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the retraction mechanism 60 includes a holding member 61 that holds the right belt guide 44 in the retracted position, a support shaft 62 that pivotally supports the upper end of the holding member 61, and a torsion coil spring (torsion spring) 63 as an elastic member that biases the pivoting end of the holding member 61 toward a predetermined position (front side).

[0077] The holding member 61 has a recess 611 formed at its pivoting end. Also, on the front side of the lower end of the holding member 61, an operation piece 612 that is raised rightward by bending is formed.

[0078] When the holding member 61 is rotated rearward by pushing the operation piece 612 at the lower end of the holding member 61 while depressing the front end of the holding member 61 so that the belt guide 44 is in the retracted position, the shaft portion 444 can be fitted into the recess 611 from below. Thereby, the belt guide 44 is held in the retracted position.

[0079] To return the belt guide 44 to the feeding position, the front end of the belt guide 44 may be depressed or the rear end may be lifted. As a result, the shaft portion 444 fitted in the recess 611 comes off, and the holding member 61 rotates rearward by the torsion coil spring 63. Therefore, the belt guide 44 can also be returned to the feeding position.

[0080] [Use of Sewing Machine] The sewing machine 100 configured as described above is capable of performing sewing that involves feeding the upper belt and the lower belt. In this case, the lower feeding mechanism 20 can perform sewing in which each of the lower belts 21 to 24 is looped in the manner shown in FIG. 6 and fed at different speeds on the front side and the rear side of the needle hole 13. Also, the lower feeding mechanism 20 can perform sewing in which each of the lower belts 21 to 24 is looped in the manner shown in FIG. 7 and fed at different speeds on the left side and the right side of the needle hole 13.

[0081] On the other hand, when performing hemming along the right end of the workpiece C, the front end of the right belt guide 44 is depressed to move it from the feeding position to the retracted position and the retraction mechanism 60 holds it in the retracted position. Then, the actuator of the support mechanism 53 of the positioning jig 50 is driven to move the positioning jig 50 from the non-use position to the use position. Thereby, while feeding the workpiece C so that the right end portion of the workpiece C always abuts against the left surface of the abutting plate 51 of the positioning jig 50, sewing is performed, and sewing is performed with the target cob stitch width.

[0082] [Sewing machine control system] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing the control system of the sewing machine 100. As shown in the figure, the sewing machine 100 includes a control device 90 that controls the operation of each component. The control device 90 is connected to a sewing machine motor 16, a presser motor 73, a first motor 25, a second motor 26, an upper left motor 45, an upper right motor 46, and a position adjustment motor 57 via respective motor drive circuits 16a, 73a, 25a, 26a, 45a, 46a, 57a. In addition, encoders 161, 732, 251, 261, 453, 461, 571 for detecting the rotational speed are provided in the sewing machine motor 16, the presser motor 73, the first motor 25, the second motor 26, the upper left motor 45, the upper right motor 46, and the position adjustment motor 57. These encoders 161, 732, 251, 261, 453, 461, 571 are also connected to the control device 90 via the motor drive circuits 16a, 73a, 25a, 26a, 45a, 46a, 57a.

[0083] In addition, the control device 90 is connected to a solenoid valve 58 that operates a position switching air cylinder for switching between the use position and the non-use position of the positioning jig 50 via a drive circuit 58a. Furthermore, the control device 90 is connected to a thread cutting solenoid 98 that causes the thread cutting device to perform thread cutting via a drive circuit 98a.

[0084] The control device 90 includes a CPU 91, a ROM 92, a RAM 93, and a data memory 94, and executes various operation controls described later. The ROM 92 stores a basic system program. In addition, the data memory 94 stores various types of data, programs, etc. to be described later. Note that the data memory 94 consists of a non-volatile semiconductor memory such as a flash memory, EEPROM, or EPROM, but a storage such as an HDD may also be used. The CPU 91 executes various programs in the ROM 92 and the data memory 94. The RAM 93 is a memory that serves as a working area for the CPU 91.

[0085] Also, an operation input unit 96 as a setting input device is connected to the control device 90 via an interface 96a. The operation input unit 96 includes a display unit 961, and information necessary for inputting various settings is displayed. This operation input unit 96 is composed of a so-called touch panel or touch screen in which a touch sensor is provided on the display unit 961. However, the display screen and the operation input unit may be individually independent configurations.

[0086] Also, a pedal 95 for inputting commands such as the start (feed command) and stop of sewing, the increase and decrease of the sewing speed, and other commands by a stepping operation is connected to the control device 90 via an interface 95a. Furthermore, a temporary stitch button 99 as a needle drop command input unit for executing a temporary stitch function in a feed operation confirmation mode to be described later is connected to the control device 90 via an interface 99a. Also, a height sensor 762 for detecting the height of the presser foot 71 is connected to the control device 90 via an interface 762a.

[0087] [Sewing-related setting data] The sewing machine 100 can input setting data 941 (see FIG. 11) that defines various settings related to sewing from the operation input unit 96. An operator can set a plurality of setting data 941 with different setting contents through the operation input unit 96, and each individual setting data 941 can be registered in the data memory 94. That is, the data memory 94 functions as a storage means capable of storing a plurality of setting data for which settings regarding sewing are determined. Each set of setting data 941 recorded in the data memory 94 is individually assigned an identifier, and a specific set of setting data 941 can be selected using this identifier. The CPU 91 of the control device 90 controls each part of the sewing machine 100 to perform sewing according to the setting content of the selected set of setting data 941.

[0088] Figures 12 and 13 show input screens G1 and G2 that are displayed on the display unit 961 of the operation input unit 96 for setting and inputting the set of setting data 941. The input screens G1 and G2 can be switched and displayed with respect to each other.

[0089] At the upper left of the screen of the input screen G1 in Figure 12, the identifier D of the set of setting data is displayed. At the upper center of the screen of the input screen G1, the set values of the feed pitch U1 of the upper left belt 41 by the upper left motor 45 (the feed amount per stitch) and the feed pitch U2 of the upper right belt 42 by the upper right motor 46 are displayed.

[0090] Also, as described above, it is possible to set a state in which the front lower left belt 22 and the front lower right belt 23 are looped around the first pulley 31 of the first motor 25, and the rear lower left belt 21 and the rear lower right belt 24 are looped around the second pulley 32 of the second motor 26 (Figure 6: front-rear differential feed state). Alternatively, it is possible to set a state in which the rear lower left belt 21 and the front lower left belt 22 are looped around the first pulley 31 of the first motor 25, and the front lower right belt 23 and the rear lower right belt 24 are looped around the second pulley 32 of the second motor 26 (Figure 7: left-right differential feed state).

[0091] At the lower center of the screen of the input screen G1, it is indicated whether it is in the front-rear differential feed state or the left-right differential feed state, and the set values of the feed pitch D1 of each belt by the first motor 25 and the feed pitch D2 of each belt by the second motor 26 are displayed. The display showing the front-rear differential feed state is the connection line L1 in the input screen G1, and the display showing the left-right differential feed state is the connection line L2 in the input screen G1. When showing the front-rear differential feed state, only the connection line L1 in the input screen G1 is displayed, and the connection line L2 is not displayed, and when showing the left-right differential feed state, the connection line L1 in the input screen G1 is not displayed, and only the connection line L2 is displayed. This display switching may be performed by a human being through input of settings, or may be configured to automatically switch by detecting whether the belt is in the front-rear differential feed state or the left-right differential feed state by arranging a sensor on the belt path.

[0092] On the right side of the input screen G1, increase / decrease keys K1 and K2 for inputting and setting the feed pitch of each belt are displayed. When inputting the settings of each feed pitch U1, U2, D1, D2, the respective display fields are selected by touch operation or the like, and then the numerical values ​​are input using the increase / decrease keys K1, K2.

[0093] An identifier D is displayed in the upper left corner of the input screen G2 in FIG. 13, and a setting value for the number of revolutions M (sewing speed) of the sewing machine motor 16 during sewing is displayed in the middle section toward the right center of the screen. The left side of the middle lower section near the center right of the input screen G2 displays the set value of the pressure W of the presser foot 71 by the presser motor 73, the right side displays the set value of the number of stitches T for the basting stitching by the basting function, and the bottom section near the center right of the screen displays the set value of the edge width Co determined by the positioning ruler 50.

[0094] For the number of revolutions M of the sewing machine motor 16, the presser foot pressure W, the number of stitches T for the basting stitch, and the edge width Co, when the respective display fields are selected by touch operation or the like, numeric input keys are displayed and the numeric values ​​can be set. The operation input unit 96 functions as a stitch number setting unit that sets the number of stitches for sewing together in the basting function by making it possible to set the number of stitches T for sewing together in the basting function via the input screen G2.

[0095] As described above, the setting data 941 entered through the input screens G1 and G2 is registered in the data memory 94 together with an identifier. Each of the registered setting data can be selectively read out by an identifier. When the execution of sewing based on the read setting data 941 is input from the operation input unit 96, the CPU 91 controls the presser motor 73 to press the workpiece on the needle plate 101 with the set value of the presser pressure W, controls the position adjustment motor 57 to position the abutting plate 51 at the position where the width Co of the corner is the set value, and operates the position switching air cylinder by the solenoid valve 58 to switch the positioning gauge 50 to the use position. Furthermore, the CPU 91 starts the rotational drive of the sewing machine motor 16 with the set value of the rotational speed M, and drives the upper left motor 45, the upper right motor 46, the first motor 25, and the second motor 26 at their respective feed pitches U1, U2, D1, D2 at a predetermined upper shaft angle for each needle to perform feeding of the workpiece.

[0096] [Linking of Setting Data] A plurality of registered setting data 941 can be linked to execute sewing. FIG. 14 shows a setting screen G3 displayed on the display unit 961 of the operation input unit 96 for linking a plurality of setting data 941. From this setting screen G3, an input can be made to select the setting data 941 by the identifier D in the order of sewing execution. The plurality of input setting data 941 are registered in the data memory 94 as linked data 942 linked in the order of input (see FIG. 11). Note that the linked data 942 may include a plurality of the same setting data 941. Also, the number of the setting data 941 included in the linked data 942 is not limited to four, and may be any number of two or more.

[0097] At the upper left part of the setting screen G3, the identifier Dc of the linked data 942 is displayed. Also, in the center of the screen, icons I1 to I4 indicating the plurality of linked setting data 941 are displayed in the order of execution. Inside each of the icons I1 to I4, the identifier of the setting data 941 is displayed.

[0098] Also, below each of the icons I1 to I4, a setting button B for setting whether to execute thread cutting by the thread cutting device when shifting from each setting data 941 to the next setting data 941 is displayed. Inside each button B, when thread cutting is not executed, a pattern of a sewing needle at the upper stop is displayed, and when thread cutting is executed, a pattern of scissors is displayed.

[0099] Furthermore, right next to each thread cutting setting button B, when executing the feed operation confirmation mode to be described later for the connection data 942, a setting button Ts for setting whether to execute a temporary stitch to be described later when shifting from each setting data 941 to the next setting data 941 is displayed. Inside each button Ts, when the temporary stitch is executed, the letter T and a pattern of a sewing needle are displayed as they are, and when the temporary stitch is not executed, the letter T and a pattern of a sewing needle with a cross mark from above are displayed.

[0100] Also, when performing sewing based on the connection data 942, it is necessary to set a trigger for shifting from each setting data 941 to the next setting data 941. Examples of this trigger include shifting by the operator's input, automatic shifting by satisfying predetermined conditions, and shifting by detecting an index provided on the workpiece to be sewn.

[0101] Shifting by the operator's input corresponds to, for example, inputting a shift command from the pedal 95 or the operation input unit 96. Automatic shifting by satisfying predetermined conditions corresponds to, for example, setting the number of stitches of sewing for each setting data 941, and shifting when sewing for the set number of stitches is performed.

[0102] Shifting by detecting an index provided on the workpiece to be sewn corresponds to, for example, previously forming a notch N as an index like the workpiece C to be sewn shown in FIG. 15, and mounting an image pickup element 97 capable of detecting the notch N at the needle drop position on the sewing machine 100. Then, when the notch N is detected by the image pickup element 97 at the needle drop position as sewing progresses, the corresponding shift is performed. Note that the sewing object C may have not only the notch N but also visual and optically detectable markings such as markings made with a pen or the like or seals. In addition, the detection of the notch N and the markings may be performed not only by the imaging element 97 but also by other sensors.

[0103] [Acquisition of outer shape data] Outer shape data indicating the shape of the outer edge of the sewing object included therein can be obtained from the cutting pattern data of the sewing object. When the sewing machine 100 registers the outer shape data 943 in the data memory 94, setting data can be individually assigned to a plurality of sections of the outer shape indicated by the outer shape data 943.

[0104] FIG. 16 shows the outer edge shape of the sewing object indicated by the outer shape data of the sewing object C. The outer edge shape of the sewing object C is composed of a plurality of sections Se1 to Se3 having different shapes and orientations such as a linear shape, a curved shape, and an arc shape. In such a case, the CPU 91 extracts each shape section of the outer edge portion of the sewing object C from the outer shape data and receives the input of the setting of the setting data for each section. In this case, as shown in FIG. 12, an image P of the outer shape of the sewing object C based on the outer shape data is displayed at the lower left of the input screen G1, and the section in the image P of the outer shape is also displayed by a dotted line St. Then, when the sections Se1 to Se3 are extracted for the sewing object C in FIG. 16 and the setting input of the above-described setting data 941 is performed for each section, the CPU 91 concatenates each setting data 941 according to the order of the sections and generates concatenated data 942.

[0105] [Setting of feed operation confirmation mode] The sewing machine 100 can execute the feed operation confirmation mode by setting from the operation input unit 96. When the feed operation confirmation mode is set, the CPU 91 of the control device 90 controls the operations of the lower feed mechanism 20, the upper feed mechanism 40, the fabric presser mechanism 70, the thread cutter, and the positioning gauge 50 according to the settings of the setting data 941, similar to the sewing process, and executes sewing operations other than needle drop. Note that the sewing machine motor 16 maintains the stopped state, and the sewing needle maintains the upper stop position, which is a non-sewing position where it does not reach the workpiece. Actually, by setting the workpiece and executing the feed operation confirmation mode, it is possible to observe the fabric feed operation based on the setting data 941 without performing needle drop, and it is possible to determine whether the setting content of the setting data 941 is appropriate.

[0106] [Basting function] During the execution of the above feed operation confirmation mode, while the operator holds the two workpieces by hand with the workpieces to be sewn actually superposed, the feed operation is performed while appropriately adjusting the orientation of each workpiece. And by performing the same feed as during actual sewing, it is determined whether the feed can be properly performed along the path where the workpieces are to be sewn together, etc. In the feed operation confirmation mode, in principle, needle drop on the workpiece is not performed and sewing together is not performed, but it is possible to confirm whether the sewing start position and the sewing end position match between the workpieces, or whether the workpieces are greatly displaced from each other at various positions on the feed path.

[0107] On the other hand, in the sewing of workpieces having the same pattern as shown in FIG. 17, pattern matching may be performed so that the patterns of the workpieces do not shift at each part of the seam. In this case, it is necessary to perform sewing so that the patterns match at each part on the path where sewing is performed. Also, when the shape of the path for sewing each workpiece is special, etc., or when sewing is performed according to a predetermined specification, it is necessary to sew the workpieces together at the correct positions at each part on the path where sewing is performed.

[0108] In this case, for example, as shown in FIG. 18, at a location where it is necessary to accurately align the pattern on the sewing path, marks such as notches or markers N are provided, and by visually checking whether the notches (or marks) N of each workpiece match during the trial sewing feed, it is possible to determine the appropriateness of the feed. However, since trial sewing is not actually sewn together in principle, it is difficult to accurately determine the alignment of the notches (or marks) N of the workpieces by visual inspection during feeding. Furthermore, in the case of mass-producing replicas, since there are cases where a plurality of fabrics are stacked and cut to cut out the workpieces at once, there is a risk that some replicas may have misalignments in the outer edge shape of the workpieces or the formation positions of the notches (or marks).

[0109] Therefore, when a needle drop command is input from the basting button 99 during the execution of the feed operation confirmation mode, the CPU 91 of the control device 90 has a basting function of controlling the sewing machine motor 16 to perform sewing with a predetermined number of stitches. For example, when both the input of the needle drop command by pressing the basting button 99 and the input of the feed command by stepping on the pedal 95 are performed, the CPU 91 drives the sewing machine motor 16 to execute sewing for a predetermined number of stitches. The number of stitches for this basting is the number of stitches T for basting set from the input screen G2 described above. As the number of stitches T for basting, about 1 to 10 stitches is good, and it is more preferable to set it to about 2 to 5 stitches.

[0110] [Sewing machine operation control based on setting data (1)] FIG. 19 shows a flowchart of the sewing operation executed by the CPU 91 of the control device 90 in the sewing machine 100 capable of executing the feed operation confirmation mode. In this operation control (1), the operation control based on a single setting data 941 rather than the linked data 942 will be described.

[0111] The CPU 91 of the control device 90 first reads the setting data 941 (step S1). Then, based on the settings of the setting data 941, the position adjustment motor 57 is controlled to align the abutting plate 51 with the position where the set cob width Co is obtained, and the solenoid valve 58 of the position switching air cylinder is controlled to lower the abutting plate 51 onto the needle plate 101 (step S3). If the cob width Co is not set, the abutting plate 51 is not used and step S3 is skipped.

[0112] Next, when an operator inputs a feed command by stepping on the pedal 95 (step S5), the CPU 91 determines whether the feed operation confirmation mode is set (step S7). When the feed operation confirmation mode is not set, the sewing machine motor 16 is driven to the rotation speed M set in the setting data 941 to start sewing (step S9). During sewing, the CPU 91 drives the upper left motor 45, the upper right motor 46, the first motor 25, and the second motor 26 at the respective feed pitches U1, U2, D1, and D2 defined in the setting data 941 at a predetermined main shaft angle to execute the feeding of the workpiece to be sewn.

[0113] Next, the CPU 91 determines whether the end of sewing has been input by operating the pedal 95 (step S11). For example, when a thread cutting command is input from the pedal 95, it may be determined that the end of sewing has been input, thread cutting may be executed (step S13), and the operation control may be terminated.

[0114] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S7 that the feed operation confirmation mode is set, the CPU 91 drives the upper left motor 45, the upper right motor 46, the first motor 25, and the second motor 26 at the respective feed pitches U1, U2, D1, and D2 defined in the setting data 941 at a cycle corresponding to the set rotation speed M without driving the sewing machine motor 16, and only executes the feed operation of the workpiece to be sewn (step S15).

[0115] During the execution of the feed operation confirmation mode, the CPU 91 monitors whether the temporary sewing button 99 has been input by the operator (step S17). When there is no input from the temporary sewing button 99, the process proceeds to step S25. When there is input from the temporary sewing button 99, the CPU 91 proceeds with the process to step S19 and monitors whether there is an input of a feed command by depressing the pedal 95 (step S19).

[0116] That is, in the case of trial sewing (similarly when sewing is performed), the operator performs a feeding operation while holding the two articles to be sewn with both hands. Therefore, when pressing the temporary sewing button 99, since the operator's hands leave the articles to be sewn, it is common for the operator to temporarily lift their foot from the pedal 95 and also interrupt the feeding of the articles to be sewn. Accordingly, the CPU 91 does not start the temporary sewing just because the temporary sewing button 99 is input, and continues monitoring until the pedal 95 is depressed. When the pedal 95 is depressed and a command to resume feeding is input, the CPU 91 controls the sewing machine motor 16 and the first and second motors 25, 26 to execute the temporary sewing (step S21). This enables the operator who pressed the temporary sewing button 99 to perform the temporary sewing again while holding the articles to be sewn with both hands.

[0117] Temporary sewing is a temporary fixing sewing with the minimum number of stitches for the articles to be sewn. When the set number of stitches have been made, thread cutting is executed (step S23). Next, the CPU 91 determines whether the end of sewing has been input by operating the pedal 95 (step S25). When the end of sewing has not been input, the process returns to step S15 and the feeding operation of the articles to be sewn without needle drops is resumed. Also, when the end of sewing has been input, the driving of each part is stopped and the operation control is terminated.

[0118] [Sewing machine operation control based on setting data (2)] A flowchart of the sewing operation executed by the CPU 91 of the control device 90 in the sewing machine 100 capable of executing the feed operation confirmation mode is shown in FIG. 20. In this operation control (2), operation control based on the linked data 942 to which a single set of setting data 941 is linked will be described.

[0119] First, the CPU 91 of the control device 90 reads the connection data 942 (step S31). Then, based on the setting of the first setting data 941, the position adjustment motor 57 is controlled so that the abutting plate 51 is aligned with the position corresponding to the set cob width Co, and the solenoid valve 58 of the position switching air cylinder is controlled to lower the abutting plate 51 onto the needle plate 101 (step S33). If the cob width Co is not set, the abutting plate 51 is not used and step S33 is skipped.

[0120] Next, when an operator inputs a feed command by stepping on the pedal 95 (step S35), the CPU 91 determines whether the feed operation confirmation mode is set (step S37). If the feed operation confirmation mode is not set, the sewing machine motor 16 is driven to the rotation speed M set in the setting data 941 to start sewing (step S39). During sewing, the CPU 91 drives the upper left motor 45, upper right motor 46, first motor 25, and second motor 26 at the respective feed pitches U1, U2, D1, D2 defined in the setting data 941 at a predetermined main shaft angle to feed the workpiece to be sewn.

[0121] Next, the CPU 91 determines whether a condition for shifting to new setting data 941 has occurred (step S41). For example, as described above, when an input operation for shifting the setting data 941 from the pedal 95 is performed, when the feed operation for the number of stitches set in the setting data 941 is performed, or when the notch N of the workpiece C is detected by the imaging element 97 provided in the sewing machine 100, it is determined whether the conditions are met.

[0122] If any of the above conditions is met, the CPU 91 determines whether the execution of thread cutting by the setting button B on the setting screen G3 described above is set in association with the setting data 941 during sewing execution (step S43). Then, when the execution of thread cutting is set, the CPU 91 executes thread cutting (step S45), and when it is not set, the CPU 91 skips thread cutting.

[0123] Next, the CPU 91 determines whether the setting data 941 during sewing execution is the last data in the connection data 942 (step S46). And when it is the last data, the driving of each part is stopped and the operation control is terminated.

[0124] On the other hand, when the setting data during sewing execution is not the last data, the CPU 91 adjusts the position of the abutting plate 51, the rotation speed of the sewing machine motor 16, and the feed pitches U1, U2, D1, D2 of the upper left motor 45, upper right motor 46, first motor 25, and second motor 26 according to the setting content of the new setting data 941 (step S47). Then, the process returns to step S39, and sewing is executed according to the setting content of the new setting data 941.

[0125] On the other hand, in step S41, when the transfer condition of the setting data 941 has not occurred, the CPU 91 determines whether the end of sewing has been input by operating the pedal 95 or the like (step S49). And when the end of sewing has not been input, the process returns to step S39 and sewing continues. Also, when the end of sewing has been input, the driving of each part is stopped and the operation control is terminated.

[0126] On the other hand, when the CPU 91 determines in step S37 that the feed operation confirmation mode is set, the CPU 91 executes the feed operation confirmation mode in which the upper left motor 45, upper right motor 46, first motor 25, and second motor 26 are driven at the respective feed pitches U1, U2, D1, D2 defined in the setting data 941 at a cycle corresponding to the set rotation speed M without driving the sewing machine motor 16 (step S51).

[0127] In the feed operation confirmation mode, the CPU 91 determines whether or not the transition condition of the setting data 941 has occurred (step S53). If the transition condition of the setting data 941 has occurred, the CPU 91 determines whether or not the execution of the temporary sewing by the setting button Ts of the above-described setting screen G3 is set in association with the current setting data 941 (step S55).

[0128] If the execution of the temporary sewing is not set, the CPU 91 advances the process to step S60. If the execution of the temporary sewing is set, the CPU 91 controls the sewing machine motor 16 and the first and second motors 25, 26 so as to execute the temporary sewing (step S57). Furthermore, when the set number of temporary stitches is performed, thread cutting is executed (step S59).

[0129] Next, the CPU 91 determines whether or not the setting data 941 during the execution of the feed operation confirmation mode is the last data in the linked data 942 (step S60). If it is the last data, the driving of each part is stopped and the operation control is terminated.

[0130] On the other hand, if the setting data 941 during the execution of the feed operation confirmation mode is not the last data, the CPU 91 adjusts the position of the abutment plate 51 and the feed pitches U1, U2, D1, D2 of the upper left motor 45, the upper right motor 46, the first motor 25, and the second motor 26 according to the setting content of the new setting data 941 (step S61). Then, the process returns to step S51, and the feeding of the workpiece in the feed operation confirmation mode is executed according to the setting content of the new setting data 941.

[0131] On the other hand, if it is determined in step S53 that the transition condition of the setting data 941 has not occurred, the CPU 91 monitors the presence or absence of the input of the temporary sewing button 99 from the operator (step S63). When there is no input from the temporary stitch button 99, the process proceeds to step S71. When there is an input from the temporary stitch button 99, the CPU 91 proceeds to step S65 and monitors whether the pedal 95 is depressed (step S65).

[0132] Monitoring continues until the pedal 95 is depressed and a feed command is input. When the pedal 95 is depressed, the sewing machine motor 16 and the first and second motors 25, 26 are controlled to perform a temporary stitch (step S67). When the set number of stitches have been sewn, thread cutting is executed (step S69). Next, the CPU 91 determines whether the end of the feed in the feed operation confirmation mode has been input by operating the pedal 95 (step S71). If the end of the feed has not been input, the process returns to step S51 to resume the feeding operation of the workpiece without needle drop. If the end of the feed has been input, the drive of each part is stopped and the operation control is terminated.

[0133] [Technical Effects of the Embodiment of the Invention] Since the sewing machine 100 can execute a feed operation confirmation mode in which the control device 90 keeps the sewing machine motor 16 at the non-sewing position and only performs the feeding operation of the workpiece C by the lower feed mechanism 20 and the upper feed mechanism 40, it is possible to realize a trial stitch without sewing caused by needle drop. Therefore, it is not necessary to process the thread sewn after confirmation, and it is possible to reduce the work load while confirming the sewing operation. In addition, since no needle drop occurs in the workpiece C used for the trial stitch, wasteful consumption of the needle thread and the workpiece C can be suppressed, and it is possible to provide a highly economical sewing machine.

[0134] Furthermore, the control device 90 has a temporary stitch function that controls the sewing machine motor 16 of the needle up and down movement mechanism to perform a temporary stitch of a set number of stitches when a needle drop command is input from the temporary stitch button 99 during the execution of the feed operation confirmation mode. Therefore, in the feed operation confirmation mode, for locations where it is necessary to accurately sew the workpieces together according to the pattern matching or sewing specifications, by performing a temporary stitch, it becomes possible to confirm whether proper sewing can be performed while maintaining the advantages of the feed operation confirmation mode.

[0135] Further, since the sewing machine 100 has an operation input unit 96 as a stitch number setting unit for setting the number of stitches of the temporary stitch function, it becomes possible to perform a temporary stitch for sewing together with an appropriate number of stitches. For example, if the number of stitches is too small, the thread will come undone before the sewing confirmation, and if the number of stitches is too large, the work of removing the thread later will be complicated. However, depending on the type of material of the workpiece and the type of thread used, etc., it becomes possible to perform a temporary stitch with an appropriate number of stitches.

[0136] Also, the control device 90 causes the thread cutting device to cut the thread at the end of sewing with a predetermined number of stitches by the temporary stitch function, so it is possible to suppress the thread from being pulled out during the feed in the feed operation confirmation mode without sewing, and suppress the entanglement and waste of the thread.

[0137] Further, when a needle drop command is input from the temporary stitch button 99 and a feed command is input from the pedal 95 during the execution of the feed operation confirmation mode, the control device 90 controls the sewing machine motor 16 of the needle vertical movement mechanism to perform sewing with a predetermined number of stitches. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the situation where a worker who temporarily stops the feed of the workpiece to press the temporary stitch button 99 and releases the hand from the workpiece performs a temporary stitch without placing a hand on the workpiece. That is, after pressing the temporary stitch button 99, the workpiece can be pressed by hand and then the feed can be restarted with the pedal 95, and it becomes possible to execute the temporary stitch in an appropriate state in order to confirm whether each workpiece is being fed accurately.

[0138] Further, the sewing machine 100 drives the needle vertical movement mechanism by the sewing machine motor 16, and drives the feed device by the first and second motors 25, 26, the upper left motor 45, and the upper right motor 46, which are different from the sewing machine motor 16. Therefore, in order to perform the feed operation confirmation mode, it is only necessary to stop the sewing machine motor 16, and it is possible to eliminate a mechanism or the like that can cut off the power transmission from the sewing machine motor 16, reduce the components and mechanisms constituting the sewing machine 100, and facilitate manufacturing and reduce manufacturing costs.

[0139] Further, the lower feed mechanism 20 and the upper feed mechanism 40 feed the workpiece C to be sewn on both the left and right sides of the needle drop position, and the operation input unit 96 can individually set the feed amount for the left and right sides of the needle drop position of the lower feed mechanism 20 and the upper feed mechanism 40 with respect to the setting data 941. As a result, it is possible to perform good sewing and the feeding operation of the workpiece C to be sewn along curved trajectories on the left and right by differential feeding on the left and right.

[0140] Also, the lower feed mechanism 20 of the feeding device feeds the workpiece to be sewn on both the front and rear sides of the needle drop position by changing the belt, and the operation input unit 96 can individually set the feed amount for the front and rear sides of the needle drop position of the lower feed mechanism 20 with respect to the setting data 941. As a result, it is possible to perform good sewing and the feeding operation of the workpiece C to be sewn while increasing or decreasing the tension of the thread forming the seam of the workpiece C after sewing.

[0141] Further, the lower feed mechanism 20 and the upper feed mechanism 40 feed the workpiece C to be sewn on both the upper and lower sides thereof, and the operation input unit 96 can individually set the feed amount for the lower and upper sides of the workpiece C to be sewn with respect to the setting data 941.

[0142] In addition, since the lower feed mechanism 20 and the upper feed mechanism 40 feed the workpiece C to be sewn by a conveyor belt, there is no risk of damage or indentation on the material of the workpiece C to be sewn like feed teeth, and it is possible to prevent the feed teeth from bouncing up the cloth presser and reducing the accuracy of the feed amount during the high-speed feed operation, as well as suppressing vibration and noise.

[0143] Further, the sewing machine 100 includes a data memory 94 capable of storing a plurality of setting data 941 for which settings are determined for sewing, and the control device 90 causes the feed mechanism 20 and the upper feed mechanism 40 to perform a feeding operation of the workpiece C based on the selected setting data 941. On the other hand, since the sewing machine 100 can easily perform trial sewing any number of times in the feed operation confirmation mode, it is possible to quickly and easily correct the setting data 941, obtain more appropriate setting data 941, and perform better sewing.

[0144] Further, since the control device 90 can concatenate a plurality of selected setting data 941 and cause the feed mechanism 20 and the upper feed mechanism 40 to perform a feeding operation of the workpiece in order, it is possible to continuously perform sewing with different setting contents of the setting data 941, and it is possible to perform more precise and appropriate sewing on the workpiece C. Also, since sewing with different setting contents of the setting data 941 can be continuously performed, the entire sewing operation can be performed more quickly. Also, even for complicated sewing, it can be performed with higher quality.

[0145] Further, when the feed operation confirmation mode is executed based on the concatenated data 942 in which a plurality of setting data 941 are concatenated, the control device 90 also performs basting when shifting from the current setting data 941 to the next setting data 941. Therefore, when performing trial sewing of sewing determined based on a plurality of setting data, basting can be executed under predetermined conditions, positions, or timings, and it becomes possible to more strictly determine the suitability of the sewing based on the concatenated data 942. Also, the concatenated data 942 can also repeatedly concatenate the same setting data 941, and it is also possible to execute basting one or more times during the feed under certain setting conditions.

[0146] Further, the setting data 941 input from the operation input unit 96 includes the feed amount by the lower feed mechanism 20 and the upper feed mechanism 40, the pressing pressure by the cloth pressing mechanism 70, the sewing speed, and the hem width. This enables appropriate sewing to be performed on the sewing object C.

[0147] [Others] As described above, each embodiment of the present invention has been explained. 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 embodiment can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0148] For example, although an example in which the execution of the feed operation confirmation mode is executed by setting from the operation input unit 96 has been shown, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when an execution is input from other input means, switches, levers, pedals, etc., the sewing machine 100 may be controlled so that the sewing object is fed in the feed operation confirmation mode.

[0149] Also, in the control of the feed operation confirmation mode described above, an example of the operation control of feeding the sewing object by the lower feed mechanism 20 and the upper feed mechanism 40 with the drive of the sewing machine motor 16 stopped has been shown, but the present invention is not limited to this. During the execution of the feed operation confirmation mode, the sewing needle 11 may be retained at the non-sewing position, and it is not essential to stop the sewing machine motor 16. Note that the state where the sewing needle 11 is retained at the non-sewing position indicates a state where the sewing needle 11 does not reach the sewing object on the needle plate 101. For example, a retracting mechanism capable of pulling up the needle bar 12 to a height where the tip of the sewing needle 11 does not reach the sewing object on the needle plate 101 even at the bottom dead center may be provided, and in the feed operation confirmation mode, the retracting mechanism may be controlled to pull up the needle bar 12 while driving the sewing machine motor 16. Alternatively, a transmission mechanism capable of interrupting or reducing power transmission may be interposed in the power transmission path from the sewing machine motor 16 to the needle bar 12. In the feed operation confirmation mode, the transmission mechanism may be controlled while the sewing machine motor 16 is being driven, so that power transmission is interrupted or reduced at a position where the needle bar 12 does not reach the workpiece (for example, the upper stop position). Note that the reduction of power transmission means that the sewing needle makes small up-and-down movements within a range where it does not reach the workpiece.

[0150] Further, when a mechanism for interposing a transmission mechanism capable of interrupting or reducing power transmission from the sewing machine motor 16 is provided, the sewing machine motor 16 may be configured to drive both the needle bar 12 and the feed mechanism. Examples of the "transmission mechanism capable of interrupting or reducing power transmission" or "transmission mechanism capable of interrupting or increasing / decreasing power transmission" include a configuration in which a reciprocating motion is extracted from a rotating shaft rotated by the sewing machine motor 16 by an eccentric mechanism or the like, and a feed adjustment body for changing and adjusting the operation direction of the reciprocating motion is interposed to interrupt or increase / decrease the reciprocating motion on the downstream side. In this configuration, the adjustment operation of the feed adjustment body for changing the operation direction may be performed by another motor, or may be configured to input the operation manually.

[0151] In addition, although the temporary sewing button 99 is exemplified as the needle drop command input unit, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be possible to input the execution of temporary sewing from other input means, levers, pedals, etc. In particular, when using setting input means such as pedals that do not require manual operation, levers or buttons that are operated by the foot, it is possible to perform temporary sewing while holding the workpiece with both hands. In that case, it is not necessary to stop the feed operation before performing the temporary sewing, so it is possible to quickly and efficiently perform the confirmation in the feed operation confirmation mode. Further, in that case, the control device 90 does not need to wait for the execution of the temporary sewing until a feed command is input by the pedal after the execution of the temporary sewing is input by the needle drop command input unit.

[0152] When the sewing machine is managed by the system of the whole factory or can be connected to an external information processing terminal, various settings of the sewing machine may be made by this system or the external information processing terminal, and the sewing machine may be configured to obtain data of various settings and perform various operations according to the setting contents. In that case, the sewing machine only needs to have a control function for executing the setting contents and does not necessarily need to have a function for inputting various settings. Further, the sewing machine may be configured to be able to communicate with an external system or information processing terminal by wire or wirelessly, or may be configured to obtain data recorded from a recording medium that is set by an external system or information processing terminal.

[0153] Also, in the sewing machine 100, as shown in FIG. 4, the configuration in which the needle hole 13 is provided in the needle hole member 30 that moves up and down with respect to the needle plate 101 at the same cycle as the sewing needle 11 is illustrated, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the needle hole 13 may be fixedly provided in a member that does not move up and down so as to directly penetrate the needle plate 101.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0154] 11 Sewing needle 12 Needle bar 13 Needle hole 16 Sewing machine motor 20 Lower feed mechanism (feeding device) 25 First motor 26 Second motor 40 Upper feed mechanism (feeding device) 45 Upper left motor 46 Upper right motor 90 Control device 91 CPU 95 Pedal 96 Operation input unit (stitch number setting unit) 99 Basting button 98 Thread cutter solenoid 100 Sewing machine 101 Needle plate 941 Setting data 942 Connection data C Sewing material Co Cob width Feed pitch of D1 and D2 Rotation speed of M Number of needles of T Setting button of Ts Feed pitch of U1, U2, D1 and D2 Pressing pressure of W

Claims

1. A needle vertical movement mechanism for moving a sewing needle up and down, A feeding device for feeding a workpiece to be sewn, A control device for controlling the operations of the needle vertical movement mechanism and the feeding device, and capable of executing a feeding operation confirmation mode in which the sewing needle is retained at a non-sewing position where it does not reach the workpiece to be sewn and the feeding operation of the workpiece to be sewn is performed by the feeding device, A needle drop command input unit for an operator to input a needle drop command, The control device has a temporary sewing function of controlling the needle vertical movement mechanism to perform sewing for a predetermined number of stitches when the needle drop command is input from the needle drop command input unit during the execution of the feeding operation confirmation mode. A sewing machine characterized by this.

2. The sewing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a stitch number setting unit for setting the number of stitches for the temporary sewing function.

3. Equipped with a thread cutting device, The control device of the sewing machine according to claim 1 is characterized in that the thread cutting device is made to cut the thread at the end of the sewing for the predetermined number of stitches by the temporary sewing function.

4. Equipped with a pedal for an operator to input a feeding command to execute feeding by the feeding device, The control device of the sewing machine according to claim 1 is characterized in that when the needle drop command is input from the needle drop command input unit and the feeding command is input from the pedal during the execution of the feeding operation confirmation mode, the needle vertical movement mechanism is controlled to perform sewing for a predetermined number of stitches.

5. The needle vertical movement mechanism is driven by a sewing machine motor, The feeding device of the sewing machine according to claim 1 is driven by a drive source different from the sewing machine motor.

6. Equipped with a setting input device for setting sewing, The feeding device feeds the workpiece to be sewn on both the left and right sides of the needle drop position, The sewing machine according to claim 5, wherein the setting input device can set the feeding amount by providing a difference between the left side and the right side of the needle drop position of the feeding device.

7. Equipped with a setting input device for setting sewing, The feeding device feeds the workpiece to be sewn on both the front and back sides of the needle drop position, The sewing machine according to claim 5, wherein the setting input device can set the feeding amount by providing a difference between the front side and the back side of the needle drop position of the feeding device.

8. Equipped with a setting input device for setting sewing, The feeding device feeds the workpiece to be sewn on both the upper and lower sides of the workpiece to be sewn, The sewing machine according to claim 5, wherein the setting input device can set the feed amount by providing a difference between the lower side and the upper side of the workpiece to be sewn.

9. The sewing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the feeding device feeds the workpiece to be sewn by a conveyor belt.

10. The sewing machine according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the feeding device feeds the workpiece to be sewn by a conveyor belt.

11. It comprises storage means capable of storing a plurality of setting data for which settings are determined for sewing, The sewing machine according to claim 10, wherein the control device causes the feeding device to perform a feeding operation of the workpiece to be sewn based on the selected setting data.

12. The sewing machine according to claim 11, wherein the control device connects a plurality of the selected setting data and causes the feeding device to perform a feeding operation of the workpiece to be sewn in order.

13. When the feed operation confirmation mode is executed based on connection data in which a plurality of the setting data are connected, the control device performs the stitching of the predetermined number of stitches as the basting function when shifting from the current setting data to the next setting data. The sewing machine according to claim 12.

14. The sewing machine according to claim 11, wherein the setting data input from the setting input device includes at least one of the feed amount by the feeding device, the pressing pressure by the pressing mechanism, the sewing speed, the width of the hem, and the number of stitches of the basting function.

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