Stitch decoration device

Abstract

To provide a stitch decoration device capable of improving productivity of a stitch decorative component.SOLUTION: A stitch decoration device 10 has a thread withdrawal portion 50 and a thread insertion portion 60. The thread withdrawal portion 50 holds the other end SB of a thread S1 and pulls out the thread to opposite side of an engaging member insertion portion 220 of a unit holding portion 210 at a threading area SR in a sewing unit 20 after sewing using a thread engaging member unit 1U held by the unit holding portion 210. The thread insertion portion 60 inserts the other end SB of the thread S1 into a thread engaging portion 3 of a thread engaging member 1 of a new thread engaging member unit 1U mounted on the unit holding portion 210 after the other end SB of the thread S1 is pulled out by the thread withdrawal portion 50.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 19

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a stitch decoration device that sews a stitch pattern with a thread that passes through from the front side of a skin material adhered to the surface of a base material. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, some interior parts of automobiles are made of a base material made of hard synthetic resin covered with a soft skin material. Such interior parts are sometimes decorated to improve their design. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a method in which a thread-fastening member that fastens a thread is inserted between the base material and the skin material from the surface side of the skin material, thereby forming a stitch pattern on the surface of the skin material. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-64576 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, the thread needs to be inserted into the thread-retaining portion of the thread-retaining member before the thread-retaining member is inserted into the object of stitch decoration. However, the thread-retaining portion of the thread-retaining member is small, and for example, when the thread is to be inserted into the thread-retaining portion by hand, it takes a long time to insert the thread. This causes a problem of low productivity of stitch-decoration parts.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has an object to provide a stitch decoration device that can improve the productivity of stitch decoration parts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, a stitch decoration device according to the present invention has the following configuration. (1) A stitch decoration device that inserts a thread retaining member having a thread retaining portion for retaining an inserted thread and a slip-out prevention portion extending in a direction intersecting the insertion direction of the thread into the thread retaining portion, between a substrate and a skin material bonded to a surface of the substrate, from the surface side of the skin material, at a position of a stitch in an object of stitch decoration having the substrate and the skin material, and sews a stitch pattern on the surface of the skin material with the thread retained in the thread retaining portion, a unit holding portion that holds a thread locking member unit formed by connecting a plurality of the thread locking members arranged in the same direction of insertion of the thread locking portion to a connecting rod that extends in the insertion direction; a locking member inserting portion that separates one of the thread locking members in the thread locking member unit held by the unit holding portion from the connecting rod and inserts the thread locking member at one end in the insertion direction between the base material and the cover material at the position of the seam; a thread supply section that holds one end of the thread inserted into the thread hooking sections of the thread hooking members of the thread hooking member unit and that is capable of supplying the other end of the thread to the hooking member insertion section; a sewing unit moving section that moves a sewing unit having the unit holding section, the locking member inserting section, and the thread supplying section between a sewing area where sewing is performed on the object and a threading area outside the sewing area; a thread pulling section which holds the other end of the thread in the threading area after sewing has been performed using the thread locking member unit held in the unit holding section and pulls the thread out in a direction opposite to the locking member insertion section of the unit holding section; a thread insertion portion for inserting the other end of the thread into the thread hooking portion of the thread hooking member of a new thread hooking member unit attached to the unit holding portion after the other end of the thread has been pulled out by the thread pull-out portion. death, The thread insertion portion is a threading needle having a threading hole formed at a tip end thereof for holding the thread, the threading needle having a length capable of passing through the thread hooking portions of all of the thread hooking members in the thread hooking member unit; a threading needle drive unit that moves the threading needle forward and backward in the insertion direction; a thread pushing section provided on the opposite side of the thread locking member unit and configured to push the other end of the thread pulled out by the thread pulling section into the threading hole of the threading needle while bending the other end of the thread. It is characterized by:

[0007] In the stitch decoration device according to the present invention, The advanced threading needle can pass through all of the thread retaining portions lined up in the new thread retaining member unit that has been replaced. Furthermore, after the thread is pushed into the threading hole at the tip of the threading needle, the threading needle can be retracted to pass the thread through all of the thread retaining portions. In other words, a single forward / backward movement of the threading needle can pass the thread through multiple thread retaining portions lined up in the new thread retaining member unit. In other words, The thread can be automatically inserted into the thread locking portions of the multiple thread locking members arranged in the new thread locking member unit attached to the unit holding portion, eliminating the need for an operator to insert the thread, and improving the productivity of stitch decoration parts.

[0010] ( 2 )( 1 In the stitch decoration device described in The yarn pushing unit includes: a guide portion that is formed to be able to guide a tip of the threading needle while linearly clamping the other end side of the thread at one opening side of the threading hole of the threading needle located at a forward end; a thread pushing member provided on the one opening side of the threading hole with a thread contact portion facing the threading hole; and a thread pushing member drive unit that moves the thread pushing member forward and backward in the axial direction of the threading hole.

[0011] In the present invention, the thread can be automatically and appropriately held in the threading hole of the threading needle.

[0012] ( 3 )( 1 )or( 2 In the stitch decoration device described in the threading portion has a plurality of threading needle support portions capable of supporting shaft portions of the threading needles, The threading needle support portion supports the shaft portion in a spaced-apart state when the threading needle retracts, and supports the shaft portion in a close-to-close state at a location near the opposite side to the tip of the threading needle when the threading needle advances.

[0013] In the present invention, even if the threading needle is long and thin, the shaft portion of the threading needle can be appropriately supported so that the shaft portion does not bend, etc. Therefore, damage to the threading needle, etc. can be suppressed.

[0014] ( 4 )(1)~( 3 In the stitch decoration device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The threading area includes: a threading position where the thread is passed through by the thread passing portion, and a standby position where the sewing unit is placed on standby; a sewing unit placement portion provided at the threading position and the standby position, on which the sewing unit can be placed, and a replacement table capable of performing a replacement operation to replace the position of the sewing unit placement portion; The sewing unit moving section is characterized in that it attaches and detaches the sewing unit at the standby position.

[0015] In the present invention, after the sewing unit moving section removes the sewing unit at the standby position, the replacement operation is performed by the replacement table, so that the sewing unit that has been removed from the sewing unit moving section and passed through the threading position can be immediately supplied to the standby position. Then, the threading through the thread hooking portion, which takes time, can be performed at a threading position different from the standby position. Therefore, while the sewing unit is performing sewing, the threading through the thread hooking portion of the sewing unit that has been removed and has a new thread hooking member unit attached thereto can be completed. Therefore, the time until the sewing unit that has finished sewing is removed from the sewing unit moving section and the sewing unit that has the new thread hooking member unit attached thereto starts sewing can be shortened. Therefore, the productivity of the stitch decoration part can be further improved.

[0016] ( 5 )( 4 In the stitch decoration device described in The sewing unit placement portion is formed to be movable up and down, and supports the sewing unit at a raised position. The positioning pin can be inserted at the lowered position. The thread insertion portion is positioned relative to the sewing unit placement portion by the positioning pin. In this state, the thread-holding portion of the new thread-holding member unit is attached to the unit holding portion. The other end of the thread is inserted into the thread holding portion of the material.

[0017] High accuracy is required for inserting the threading needle into the thread locking member. Meanwhile, the sewing unit placed on the sewing unit placement section may be slightly misaligned while placed on the sewing unit placement section due to the replacement operation of the replacement table. That is, even if the sewing unit placement section performs highly accurate positioning at the standby position, the positioning accuracy at the threading position may decrease after the replacement operation. In the present invention, the sewing unit can be placed on the sewing unit placement section so as to be movable to a certain extent, and can be positioned with high accuracy at the threading position. Therefore, the threading needle can be properly inserted into the thread locking member. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, there is provided a stitch decoration device capable of improving the productivity of stitch decoration parts. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing an object (stitch decoration part) of stitch decoration by the stitch decoration device according to the present embodiment. FIG. [Diagram 2] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the stitch-decorated part at the position of the stitch pattern. FIG. [Diagram 3] 1 is a plan view showing an entire stitch decoration device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sewing unit of the stitch decoration device. [Diagram 5] 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a stitch decoration part in the middle of sewing and a locking member insertion portion of a sewing unit. FIG. [Figure 6]FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a unit holding portion of the stitch decoration device. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view of the unit holding part (taken along the line AA in FIG. 7). [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a sewing unit mounting portion of the stitch decoration device. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a front view of a thread pull-out unit of the stitch decoration device. [Figure 11] FIG. [Figure 12] 4 is a plan view of a threading needle device of a thread insertion portion of the stitch decoration device. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a tip of a threading needle of the threading needle device. [Figure 14] 13 is a plan view of the thread pushing portion of the thread insertion portion. FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state where a guide portion of the guide device for the thread pushing portion is at a retreated end. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a guide device with a guide portion at the forward end. [Figure 17] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing how the thread is pushed into the threading hole of the threading needle by the thread pushing member of the thread pushing portion; [Figure 18] 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating the first half of the operation when the stitch decoration device performs threading. [Figure 19] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating the latter half of the operation when the stitch decoration device performs threading. [Figure 20] 13 is a view showing a positioning device for positioning a sewing unit at a threading position; FIG. [Figure 21] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating a configuration of a sewing unit mounting portion when positioning is performed by a positioning device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] A stitch decoration device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. First, an object (a stitch decoration part) to be stitch decorated by the stitch decoration device will be described, and then the stitch decoration device will be described in detail.

[0021] <Objects for stitch decoration> FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a stitch decoration part ST. The stitch decoration part ST is an object of stitch decoration by the stitch decoration device according to the present embodiment. The stitch decoration part ST of the present embodiment is an instrument panel disposed in front of the driver's seat and the passenger seat of a vehicle. The surface of the stitch decoration part ST that is visible to the vehicle user is covered with a skin material HZ. A stitch pattern SM extending in the left-right direction of the vehicle is provided on a surface HZ1 of the skin material HZ, for example.

[0022] Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the stitch decoration part ST at the position of the stitch pattern SM. As shown in Fig. 2, the stitch decoration part ST includes a base material KZ and a skin material HZ bonded to a surface KZ1 of the base material KZ, and has a stitch pattern SM formed on the surface KZ1 of the skin material HZ by a thread S1 inserted from the surface HZ1 side of the skin material HZ. The thread S1 forming the stitch pattern SM is held by a thread holding member 1 inserted between the base material KZ and the skin material HZ at the position of a seam S2 of the stitch pattern SM.

[0023] The base material KZ of the stitch decoration part ST applied to the instrument panel can be formed, for example, by injection molding polypropylene (PP) resin into a mold. The skin material HZ can be bonded to the base material KZ by, for example, vacuum molding. The skin material HZ is composed of a skin HZ11 having excellent ductility on the surface side and a foam layer HZ12 on the base material side. The skin HZ11 has a leather-like grain pattern formed thereon to give it a luxurious and soft feel. The skin HZ11 is formed, for example, of an olefin-based elastomer (TPO) resin having a thickness of about 0.5 to 0.8 mm. The foam layer HZ12 is formed, for example, of a polypropylene foam (PPF) resin having a thickness of about 3 to 4 mm.

[0024] The thread S1 of the stitch pattern SM is made of, for example, synthetic fiber with an outer diameter of about 0.5 to 0.8 mm. The thread-locking member 1 is a member that locks the thread S1 at the position of the seam S2 of the stitch pattern SM, and is made of, for example, a polyamide-based synthetic resin (such as Nylon (registered trademark)) which is excellent in strength, or a polypropylene (PP) resin which is excellent in cost. The thread-locking member 1 abuts against the surface KZ1 of the base material KZ, and is covered with a foam layer HZ12 of the skin material HZ.

[0025] With the above-mentioned configuration, the stitch pattern SM is formed on the front surface HZ1 side of the skin material HZ without being affected by the reinforcing rib KZ3 on the back surface KZ2 side of the base material KZ. That is, the thread retaining member 1 that retains the thread S1 at the position of the seam S2 of the stitch pattern SM is inserted between the base material KZ and the skin material HZ, so there is no need to insert the thread S1 to the back surface KZ2 side of the base material KZ. For this reason, even if, for example, a reinforcing rib KZ3 is formed on the back surface KZ2 side of the base material KZ, the stitch pattern SM can be easily formed above the reinforcing rib KZ3 or in a position adjacent to the reinforcing rib KZ3.

[0026] The thread locking member 1 is composed of a retaining portion 2 extending along the substrate KZ, and a thread locking portion 3 formed on the opposite substrate side of the retaining portion 2 for locking the thread S1. The retaining portion 2 is a rod-shaped body (e.g., a cylindrical body) whose longitudinal size is larger than that of the thread locking portion 3. The thread locking portion 3 is formed as a substantially triangular or semicircular plate-shaped body whose base is connected to the retaining portion 2, and a thread insertion hole 4 through which the thread S1 is inserted is formed near the apex. The thread insertion hole 4 can be formed in a circular, elliptical, or oval shape. The retaining portion 2 extends in a direction intersecting with the insertion direction of the thread S1 through the thread insertion hole 4 (the depth direction in FIG. 2). Specifically, in this embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the retaining portion 2 is perpendicular to the insertion direction of the thread S1 through the thread insertion hole 4. In addition, the thread hooking portion 3 is formed in the longitudinal center of the anti-slip portion 2 so that the load applied from the thread S1 hooked in the thread insertion hole 4 acts approximately evenly on both longitudinal ends of the anti-slip portion 2.

[0027] A groove KZ12 is formed on the surface KZ1 of the base material KZ along the sewing direction (direction of arrow F) of the stitch pattern SM. The retaining portions 2 are arranged in the groove KZ12 along the sewing direction F. The stitch pitch SP of the stitch pattern SM can be set to any length. Note that when the stitch pitch SP is set to be shorter than the length of the retaining portions 2, adjacent retaining portions 2 may be arranged so as to overlap each other in the sewing direction F.

[0028] <Stitch decoration device> Next, the stitch decoration device will be described. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the entire stitch decoration device 10 according to this embodiment. The stitch decoration device 10 includes a sewing unit 20, a sewing unit moving section 30, a sewing unit mounting section 40, a thread pull-out section 50, and a thread insertion section 60.

[0029] The sewing unit 20 is a unit that applies a stitch pattern SM to the stitch decoration part ST. The sewing unit moving section 30 is capable of moving the sewing unit 20. Specifically, the sewing unit moving section 30 in this embodiment is a multi-joint robot. In addition, the sewing unit moving section 30 in this embodiment is capable of attaching and detaching the sewing unit 20.

[0030] The sewing unit 20 removed from the sewing unit moving section 30 can be placed on the sewing unit mounting section 40. In this embodiment, two sewing unit mounting sections 40 are provided on the replacement table 70. The replacement table 70 can perform a replacement operation of switching the positions of the two sewing unit mounting sections 40 by rotating.

[0031] The thread pulling portion 50 is for performing a pulling operation to pull out the thread S1 from the sewing unit 20 placed on the sewing unit placement portion 40. The thread insertion portion 60 is for inserting the thread S1 into the thread hooking portion 3 of the thread hooking member 1.

[0032] 3, the stitch decoration device 10 has a sewing area HR. The sewing area HR is an area where a stitch pattern SM is formed on a stitch decoration part ST by a sewing unit 20. That is, the sewing unit 20 performs sewing to form a stitch pattern SM on the stitch decoration part ST while being moved within the sewing area HR by a sewing unit moving section 30.

[0033] The stitch decoration device 10 also has a threading area SR. The threading area SR is an area where the thread S1 is inserted into the thread locking member 1. Hereinafter, the insertion of the thread S1 into the thread locking member 1 may be referred to as threading. The threading area SR is located outside the sewing area HR. The threading area SR also has a threading position SR1 and a standby position SR2. The threading position SR1 is the position of the sewing unit 20 shown by a solid line in the threading area SR. The standby position SR2 is the position of the sewing unit 20 shown by a two-dot chain line in the threading area SR. The two sewing unit mounting sections 40 are located at the threading position SR1 and the standby position SR2, respectively.

[0034] The threading position SR1 is a position where the thread S1 is inserted into the thread hooking portion 3 of the thread hooking member 1 by the thread insertion portion 60. In this embodiment, the thread hooking member 1 is also replenished at the threading position SR1. The standby position SR2 is a position closer to the sewing area HR than the threading position SR1, and allows the sewing unit 20 to wait. The sewing unit moving portion 30 attaches and detaches the sewing unit 20 at the standby position SR2. That is, the sewing unit moving portion 30 can move the sewing unit 20 within the sewing area HR, and can also move the sewing unit 20 between the sewing area HR and the standby position SR2 of the threading area SR.

[0035] In the stitch decoration device 10, the sewing unit 20 forms a stitch pattern SM on the stitch decoration part ST in the sewing area HR. The number of thread locking members 1 attached to the sewing unit 20 decreases as the sewing of the stitch pattern SM is performed. Then, when the number of thread locking members 1 attached to the sewing unit 20 becomes insufficient, the sewing unit moving section 30 removes the sewing unit 20 at the standby position SR2 in the threading area SR. The sewing unit 20 removed at the standby position SR2 is moved to the threading position SR1 by the replacement operation of the replacement table 70. At the threading position SR1, the thread locking members 1 are replenished to the sewing unit 20, and the thread insertion section 60 inserts (threads) the thread S1 into the thread locking portion 3 of the replenished thread locking member 1. Then, the sewing unit 20 to which the thread locking members 1 have been replenished and threading has been completed is supplied to the standby position SR2 by the subsequent replacement operation of the replacement table 70. The sewing unit 20, to which the thread locking member 1 has been replenished, is attached to the sewing unit moving section 30 at the standby position SR2. Thereafter, in the sewing area HR, the sewing unit 20 forms the stitch pattern SM on the stitch decoration part ST.

[0036] In addition, in the stitch decoration device 10 of this embodiment, two sewing units 20 are circulated. Specifically, while one sewing unit 20 is at the threading position SR1, the other sewing unit 20 is attached to the sewing unit moving section 30 at the waiting position SR2 and forms a stitch pattern SM on the stitch decoration part ST in the sewing area HR. That is, while the stitch decoration device 10 is threading the thread locking member 1 that has been supplied to the sewing unit 20 at the threading position SR1, the stitch decoration device 10 can form the stitch pattern SM on the stitch decoration part ST in the sewing area HR. Furthermore, at the waiting position SR2, immediately after the sewing unit 20 after use is removed, the replacement operation of the replacement table 70 can supply the sewing unit 20 that has completed the supply of the thread locking member 1 and threading at the threading position SR1 to the sewing unit moving section 30. Therefore, the time required for the sewing unit 20 to form the stitch pattern SM on the stitch decoration part ST can be extended. Therefore, the stitch decoration device 10 has high productivity.

[0037] Fig. 3 shows an X-axis and a Y-axis. The depth direction in Fig. 3 is the Z-axis direction (height direction). These axes are also partially shown in Fig. 3 and subsequent figures. Note that the orientation of the sewing unit 20 with respect to each axial direction changes as the sewing unit 20 moves. In this regard, in the figures subsequent to Fig. 3, the corresponding relationship between the sewing unit 20 and each axial direction is shown when the sewing unit 20 is placed at the threading position SR1.

[0038] Next, the sewing unit 20 will be described. FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the sewing unit 20. The sewing unit 20 has a detachable part 21 that is detachable from the mounting flange 31 of the sewing unit moving part 30. The sewing unit 20 is provided with a drive source, a detection device, and the like. The wiring for power supply and control signals to the drive source and the like mounted on the sewing unit 20 is connected or disconnected according to the attachment and detachment of the mounting flange 31 and the detachable part 21. The sewing unit 20 also has a unit holding part 210 that holds the thread locking member 1, a locking member inserting part 220 that inserts the thread locking member 1 between the base material KZ and the skin material HZ, and a thread supplying part 230 that supplies the thread S1 to be locked by the thread locking member 1.

[0039] The thread supplying unit 230 holds one end side SA of the thread S1 by winding it around a shaft center 231. The path of the thread S1 supplied by the thread supplying unit 230 is formed by a plurality of thread guides 232. The other end side SB of the thread S1 opposite to the thread supplying unit 230 side passes through the thread guide 232 and extends along the unit holding unit 210 to the locking member insertion part 220. The thread S1 extending along the unit holding unit 210 is inserted into the thread locking part 3 of the thread locking member 1 held by the unit holding unit 210. Among the thread guides 232, the one closest to the unit holding unit 210 in the path of the thread S1 is indicated as a first thread guide 233, and the one next to the thread supplying unit 230 from the first thread guide 233 is indicated as a second thread guide 234.

[0040] FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the stitch decoration part ST and the locking member inserting part 220 during sewing. FIG. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of the locking member inserting part 220. The locking member inserting part 220 includes an insertion needle 221 that holds the thread locking member 1 so that it can move up and down, and an extrusion pin 229 that extrudes the thread locking member 1 from the tip 222 of the insertion needle 221. The insertion needle 221 can advance and retreat in the needle axis direction H1, and the extrusion pin 229 can advance and retreat in the needle axis direction H2. The insertion needle 221 is a hollow needle in which a slit groove 223 is formed in the needle axis direction H1. When the rod-shaped retaining part 2 of the thread locking member 1 is inserted into the stitch decoration part ST, it is inserted into the hollow part 224 of the insertion needle 221.

[0041] Before being inserted into the stitch decoration part ST by the insertion needle 221, the thread locking member 1 is in a state of a thread locking member unit 1U in which multiple thread locking members 1 are connected by a connecting rod 6. In the thread locking member unit 1U, the multiple thread locking members 1 are all lined up in the same direction SH of the thread S1 into the thread hooking portion 3. Specifically, the multiple thread locking members 1 in the thread locking member unit 1U are all arranged so that the axes of the thread insertion holes 4 of the thread hooking portions 3 are coaxial. The slip-out prevention portions 2 are arranged parallel to the needle axis direction H1 perpendicular to the connecting rod 6. The multiple thread locking members 1 in the thread locking member unit 1U are connected to the connecting rod 6 extending in the insertion direction SH via the connecting piece 5 at a predetermined feed pitch PT. The thread locking member unit 1U is moved in a moving direction H3, which is the same direction as the insertion direction SH. The moving direction H3 of the thread locking member 1 is perpendicular to the needle axis direction H1 of the insertion needle 221.

[0042] A one-end engaging portion 6a is provided at one longitudinal end of the connecting rod 6, and an other-end engaging portion 6b is provided at the other longitudinal end. The one-end engaging portion 6a and the other-end engaging portion 6b can connect adjacent connecting rods 6 by engaging with each other. In other words, the thread-locking member unit 1U can be made longer by connecting connecting rods 6 together. This makes it possible to adjust the number of thread-locking members 1 in the thread-locking member unit 1U held by the unit holding portion 210.

[0043] The insertion needle 221, while holding the thread locking member 1 at the front in the feed direction with the thread S1 locked at the thread locking portion 3 separated from the connecting rod 6, inserts the tip portion 222 between the base material KZ and the skin material HZ at the position of the predetermined stitch S2 from the surface HZ1 side of the skin material HZ. The push-out pin 229 advances after or simultaneously with the insertion of the insertion needle 221, and pushes the thread locking member 1 from the tip portion 222 of the insertion needle 221 into the skin material HZ. As a result, the slip-out prevention portion 2 of the thread locking member 1 is inserted between the base material KZ and the skin material HZ. Then, a stitch pattern SM is sewn on the surface HZ1 of the skin material HZ by the thread S1 locked at the thread locking portion 3 of the thread locking member 1. That is, the locking member insertion part 220 can insert the thread locking member 1 between the base material KZ and the skin material HZ by coordinating the advancement and retraction movement of the insertion needle 221 and the advancement and retraction movement of the push-out pin 229 at predetermined timings. Note that it is preferable that the connecting piece 5 is provided with a thin-walled part so that it can be easily separated when pressed by the push-out pin 229.

[0044] Further, a unit feed section 240 is provided near the locking member insertion section 220. The unit feed section 240 can move forward and backward by a feed pitch PT in the transfer direction H3. The unit feed section 240 is also formed with a plurality of feed claws 241 aligned in the transfer direction H3. The plurality of feed claws 241 are provided at intervals of the pitch PT and can engage with the connecting piece 5. Specifically, the feed claws 241 engage with the connecting piece 5 when moving toward the insertion needle 221, and do not engage with the connecting piece 5 when moving away from the insertion needle 221. This allows the unit feed section 240 to perform a feed operation of transferring the thread locking member unit 1U by the feed pitch PT.

[0045] The unit feed section 240 performs a feed operation in accordance with the forward and backward movements of the insertion needle 221 and the pusher pin 229 in the locking member insertion section 220, thereby allowing the thread locking members 1 to be continuously inserted between the base material KZ and the skin material HZ. As a result, the thread locking members 1 in the thread locking member unit 1U are inserted between the base material KZ and the skin material HZ in order from the one closest to the locking member insertion section 220 in the transport direction H3.

[0046] 7 shows a perspective view of the unit holding part 210. In FIG. 7, the configuration of the sewing unit 20 other than the unit holding part 210 is shown by a two-dot chain line. The unit holding part 210 in this embodiment is detachably attached to the sewing unit 20. After sewing is performed using the thread locking member 1 of the thread locking member unit 1U held by the unit holding part 210, the unit holding part 210 can be replaced with a unit holding part 210 holding a new thread locking member unit 1U. That is, in the stitch decoration device 10, the sewing unit 20 is replenished with the thread locking member 1 by replacing the used unit holding part 210 with the unit holding part 210 to which the new thread locking member unit 1U is attached.

[0047] 7, the unit holding part 210 is provided with a connecting piece slit 211. The connecting piece slit 211 is provided continuously in the longitudinal direction of the unit holding part 210.

[0048] FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of the unit holding part 210. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 8, the unit holding part 210 is hollow. An internal space 212 of the unit holding part 210 is connected to the connecting piece slit 211. The connecting rod 6 of the thread-locking member unit 1U held by the unit holding part 210 is located within the internal space 212. The connecting piece 5 of the thread-locking member unit 1U is inserted into the connecting piece slit 211. Therefore, the thread-locking member unit 1U has an outer surface 213 on the outer side of the connecting piece slit 211 and an inner surface 214 on the internal space 212 side sandwiched between the retaining part 2 of the thread-locking member 1 and the connecting rod 6.

[0049] As a result, the thread-locking member unit 1U is held by the unit holding part 210 in a state in which it can move along the connecting piece slit 211. In the thread-locking member unit 1U held by the unit holding part 210, the thread locking portion 3 of the thread locking member 1 is exposed on the outer surface 213 of the unit holding part 210. A new thread-locking member unit 1U can be held by inserting it into the unit holding part 210 in the insertion direction SH of the thread S1 into the thread locking portion 3. For convenience of processing, the unit holding part 210 in this embodiment is configured by combining two members.

[0050] Next, the sewing unit mounting portion 40 will be described. FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the sewing unit mounting portion 40. The sewing unit mounting portion 40 is composed of four mounting pillars 41 located near the four corners of the sewing unit 20. The sewing unit mounting portion 40, which is made up of the four mounting pillars 41, is provided at the threading position SR1 and the standby position SR2, respectively. The mounting pillars 41 are provided at their tips with mounting positioning pins 42 that are inserted into the mounting positioning holes 22 of the sewing unit 20. This allows the sewing unit 20 to be mounted on the sewing unit mounting portion 40 and positioned accordingly. Therefore, the sewing unit 20 can be appropriately attached to and detached from the sewing unit moving portion 30 at the standby position SR2.

[0051] In addition, a replacement table 70 is provided below the sewing unit mounting portions 40. The replacement table 70 can perform a replacement operation of switching the positions of the two sewing unit mounting portions 40 by rotating about a rotation axis extending in the vertical direction.

[0052] Next, the thread pull-out part 50 will be described. Fig. 10 shows a front view of the thread pull-out part 50. Fig. 11 shows a plan view of the thread pull-out part 50. The thread pull-out part 50 is provided in the vicinity of the first thread guide 233 of the sewing unit 20. In other words, the thread pull-out part 50 is provided in the vicinity of the side opposite to the locking member insertion part 220 side of the unit holding part 210.

[0053] The thread pull-out unit 50 has a pair of hooking claws 51, a hooking claw drive unit 52 for opening and closing the hooking claws 51, and a slider 53 for moving the hooking claw drive unit 52. The slider 53 has a movable part 53A. The hooking claw drive unit 52 is fixed to the movable part 53A of the slider 53 by a bracket 54. The moving direction 50H of the movable part 53A is the longitudinal direction of the unit holding part 210, and is the same direction as the insertion direction SH of the thread S1. In FIG. 10, the open state of the hooking claws 51 opened and closed by the hooking claw drive unit 52 is shown by a solid line, and the closed state is shown by a two-dot chain line. Also, FIG. 10 shows the forward end where the hooking claws 51 of the thread pull-out unit 50 approach the unit holding part 210.

[0054] The thread pull-out section 50 is for pulling out the other end SB of the thread S1 from the sewing unit 20 after sewing at the threading position SR1. In this embodiment, the sewing unit 20 after sewing is in a state in which all of the thread locking members 1 held by the unit holding section 210 have been used. Even when all of the thread locking members 1 are gone, the other end SB of the thread S1 still passes through the first thread guide 233 and remains guided by the first thread guide 233. Therefore, the thread S1 is guided by both the first thread guide 233 and the second thread guide 234.

[0055] Then, when the sewing unit 20 after sewing is at the threading position SR1, the thread pull-out section 50 inserts the portion of the thread S1 between the first thread guide 233 and the second thread guide 234 between the hooking claws 51 in the open state, and closes the hooking claws 51. As a result, the portion of the thread S1 between the first thread guide 233 and the second thread guide 234 is held by being caught by the hooking claws 51 in the closed state.

[0056] Next, the thread pull-out unit 50, while holding the other end side SB of the thread S1 with the hooking claw 51, retracts the hooking claw 51. That is, the hooking claw 51 is moved in a direction away from the sewing unit 20. The thread supply unit 230 side (one end side SA) of the thread S1 is fixed. Therefore, by retracting the hooking claw 51, the other end side SB of the thread S1 can be pulled out from the first thread guide 233. This allows the thread pull-out unit 50 to perform a pulling-out operation to pull out the other end side SB of the thread S1 from the sewing unit 20.

[0057] Next, a description will be given of the thread insertion portion 60. The thread insertion portion 60 has a threading needle device 61 located on the side of the locking member insertion portion 220 of the sewing unit 20 located at the threading position SR1, and a thread pushing portion 62 located on the opposite side to the locking member insertion portion 220 side.

[0058] FIG. 12 shows a plan view of the threading needle device 61 of the thread insertion portion 60. The threading needle device 61 has a threading needle 610. The threading needle 610 has a length that allows it to be inserted through the thread locking portions 3 of all the thread locking members 1 in the thread locking member unit 1U held by the unit holding portion 210 of the sewing unit 20. Specifically, the length of the threading needle 610 in this embodiment is longer than the length of the sewing unit 20 in the insertion direction SH. The threading needle 610 has a shaft portion 612 that extends from a tip 611 to the opposite side. The threading needle 610 is thinner than the thread insertion hole 4 of the thread locking portion 3. The threading needle 610 is provided with its longitudinal direction aligned with the insertion direction SH. In addition, the movement direction 610H of the threading needle 610 is the same direction as the insertion direction SH. 12, the threading needle 610 located at the retracted end is indicated by a solid line. The threading needle 610 at the retracted end is located on the side of the locking member insertion portion 220 of the sewing unit 20 with a tip 611 facing the sewing unit 20.

[0059] The threading needle device 61 has a threading needle fixing part 620 to which the side opposite to the tip 611 of the threading needle 610 is fixed, and a threading needle driving part 630 that moves the threading needle fixing part 620. The threading needle driving part 630 has a movable part 631. The threading needle 610 is fixed to the movable part 631 of the threading needle driving part 630 by the threading needle fixing part 620. Thus, the threading needle driving part 630 can move the threading needle 610 forward and backward in the insertion direction SH. Note that in FIG. 12, the state when the threading needle 610 is located at the forward end is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

[0060] The threading needle device 61 has a threading needle support part 640 that supports the threading needle 610. The threading needle support part 640 has a fixed support part 641 fixed near the tip 611 of the threading needle 610 located at the retracted end, and a plurality of movable support parts 642 located between the fixed support part 641 and the threading needle fixing part 620. The threading needle support part 640 also has two guide rods 645 arranged in parallel. One end of each of the two guide rods 645 is fixed to the fixed support part 641. The other end of each of the two guide rods 645 is fixed to a guide rod fixing block 644 provided on the opposite side of the threading needle fixing part 620 from the fixed support part 641 side. The threading needle fixing part 620 also has a through hole larger than the outer diameter of the guide rod 645 at a position corresponding to the guide rod 645.

[0061] Furthermore, the two guide rods 645 pass through a plurality of movable support parts 642 provided between the fixed support part 641 and the threading needle fixing part 620. Guide holes corresponding to the outer diameter of the guide rods 645 are provided at the points in the movable support part 642 where the two guide rods 645 pass through. As a result, the plurality of movable support parts 642 are provided to be movable between the fixed support part 641 and the threading needle fixing part 620 while being guided by the guide rods 645.

[0062] The fixed support part 641 and the multiple movable support parts 642 are provided with a guide hole corresponding to the outer diameter of the shaft part 612 of the threading needle 610. This allows the fixed support part 641 and the multiple movable support parts 642 to support the shaft part 612 of the threading needle 610.

[0063] In addition, the plurality of movable support parts 642 are connected to adjacent ones by a wire 646 having a predetermined length. Therefore, the plurality of movable support parts 642 are configured so that the distance between them does not exceed the length of the wire 646. Among the plurality of movable support parts 642, those located at both ends are connected to the fixed support part 641 and the threading needle fixing part 620 by the wire 646. Therefore, among the plurality of movable support parts 642, those located at both ends are configured so that the distance between them does not exceed the length of the wire 646. The length of the wire 646 is slightly longer than the distance between the plurality of movable support parts 642 when they are evenly arranged from the fixed support part 641 to the threading needle fixing part 620 when the threading needle 610 is retracted.

[0064] 12, when the threading needle 610 has moved to the retracted end, the multiple movable support parts 642 are evenly spaced apart from each other. Furthermore, the distances of the multiple movable support parts 642 located at both ends from the fixed support part 641 and the threading needle fixing part 620 are approximately the same as the distances between adjacent ones of the multiple movable support parts 642. Therefore, when the threading needle 610 has moved to the retracted end, the threading needle support part 640 can support the shaft part 612 of the threading needle 610 at equal intervals.

[0065] Furthermore, when the threading needle 610 is at the forward end, the distance between the fixed support part 641 and the threading needle fixing part 620 is narrower than when the threading needle 610 is at the retracted end. In this case as well, the multiple movable support parts 642 support the shaft part 612 of the threading needle 610 while narrowing the distance between each other and between the fixed support part 641 and the threading needle fixing part 620 at both ends, respectively, compared to when the threading needle 610 is at the retracted end.

[0066] Furthermore, even when the threading needle 610 moves between the forward end and the backward end, the distance between the movable support parts 642 and each of the movable support parts 642 at both ends and the fixed support part 641 and the threading needle fixing part 620 is never greater than the length of the wire 646. That is, even when the threading needle 610 moves, the threading needle support part 640 always supports the shaft part 612 of the threading needle 610 at intervals less than the length of the wire 646. This makes it possible to appropriately support the shaft part 612 of the threading needle 610 so that, for example, the shaft part 612 does not bend, even if the threading needle 610 is long and thin. This prevents damage to the threading needle 610.

[0067] As the threading needle 610 moves from the rear end to the forward end, the tip 611 of the threading needle 610 protrudes from the fixed support part 641 towards the sewing unit 20. As the tip 611 of the threading needle 610 moves further towards the forward end, it moves along the outer surface 213 of the unit holding part 210. As described above, the multiple thread locking members 1 of the thread locking member unit 1U are exposed on the outer surface 213 of the unit holding part 210. All of the thread locking parts 3 of the multiple thread locking members 1 are provided so that the thread insertion holes 4 are coaxial. The movement path of the tip 611 of the threading needle 610 corresponds to the thread locking parts 3 of the thread locking members 1 of the thread locking member unit 1U held by the unit holding part 210. That is, when the threading needle 610 moves from the rearward end to the forward end, it can pass through all of the thread insertion holes 4 of the thread hooking portions 3 of the multiple thread hooking members 1 that are aligned in the insertion direction SH.

[0068] 13 shows an enlarged view of the tip 611 of the threading needle 610. A threading hole 613 is formed near the tip 611 of the threading needle 610. The threading hole 613 in this embodiment has an oval shape. The threading hole 613 passes through the threading needle 610.

[0069] 14 shows a plan view of the thread pushing portion 62 of the thread insertion portion 60. As described above, the thread pushing portion 62 is located on the opposite side to the threading needle device 61 across the sewing unit 20 located at the threading position SR1. FIG. 14 shows the threading needle 610 located at the forward end. The tip 611 of the threading needle 610 located at the forward end protrudes from the sewing unit 20 through the first thread guide 233. The thread pushing portion 62 has a guide device 650 and a thread pushing device 660. The guide device 650 and the thread pushing device 660 are provided opposite to each other with the tip 611 of the threading needle 610 located at the forward end sandwiched therebetween.

[0070] The guide device 650 has a guide portion 651 and a guide drive portion 652 that can move the guide portion 651 back and forth in a movement direction 650H. The movement direction 650H is a direction that intersects with the insertion direction SH. In Fig. 14, the guide portion 651 located at the rear end is indicated by a solid line, and the guide portion 651 located at the forward end is indicated by a two-dot chain line. At the forward end, the threading needle 610 is inserted into the guide portion 651 located at the forward end.

[0071] The thread pushing device 660 has a thread pushing member 661, a thread pushing holding block 662 that holds the thread pushing member 661, and a thread pushing member drive unit 663 that can move the thread pushing holding block 662 forward and backward in a moving direction 660H. Therefore, the thread pushing member 661 can move forward and backward in the moving direction 660H by the movement of the thread pushing member drive unit 663. The moving direction 660H is a direction that intersects with the insertion direction SH and is the same direction as the axial direction of the threading hole 613. In other words, one opening of the threading hole 613 formed in the tip 611 of the threading needle 610 faces the thread pushing device 660 side.

[0072] A thread contact portion 661A located at the tip of the thread pushing member 661 is directed toward one opening of the threading hole 613. In Fig. 14, the thread pushing member 661 located at the rear end is indicated by a solid line, and the thread pushing member 661 located at the forward end is indicated by a two-dot chain line. At the forward end, the thread pushing member 661 is inserted into the guide portion 651 located at the forward end. Furthermore, at the forward end, the thread pushing member 661 intersects with the threading needle 610 located at the forward end. In other words, by moving from the rear end to the forward end, the thread pushing member 661 is inserted into the threading hole 613 of the threading needle 610 located at the forward end.

[0073] Furthermore, the yarn pushing device 660 has a guide block 664 that is provided closer to the guide device 650 than the yarn pushing holding block 662. The guide block 664 can guide the vicinity of the tip of the yarn pushing member 661. This allows the guide block 664 to suppress vibration of the yarn abutment part 661A of the moving yarn pushing member 661.

[0074] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the guide device 650 with the guide portion 651 at the rear end. As shown in FIG. 15, a thread guide groove 653 extending in the insertion direction SH is formed on the side surface of the guide portion 651. The thread guide groove 653 is continuously provided from the side surface on one end side to the side surface on the other end side in the insertion direction SH of the guide portion 651. The guide portion 651 has the thread guide groove 653 facing the other end side SB of the thread S1 in a state where it has been pulled out by the thread pull-out portion 50. The thread guide groove 653 is provided with an introduction portion 654 by an inclined surface that is inclined in a direction that moves away from each other toward the thread S1 side. In the guide portion 651 of this embodiment, the introduction portion 654 is provided at a corner portion where the side surface of the guide portion 651 on the thread S1 side and the side surface on the sewing unit 20 side intersect.

[0075] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the guide device 650 with the guide portion 651 at the forward end. In FIG. 16, the guide portion 651 is shown in an exploded view. For convenience of processing, the guide portion 651 in this embodiment is configured by combining two members as shown in FIG. 16. The guide portion 651 can insert the other end SB of the thread S1 into the thread guide groove 653 by moving to the forward end. The thread guide groove 653 is provided with an introduction portion 654, so that the thread S1 can be reliably inserted into the thread guide groove 653. The guide portion 651 linearly holds the other end SB of the thread S1. One of the openings of the threading hole 613 of the threading needle 610 located at the forward end faces the thread S1 linearly held by the thread guide groove 653. That is, the guide portion 651, by means of the thread guide groove 653, linearly holds the other end side SB of the thread S1 on one opening side of the threading hole 613 of the threading needle 610 located at the forward end.

[0076] Further, the guide portion 651 is formed with a threading needle guide hole 655 at an insertion position of the threading needle 610 inserted into the guide portion 651 at the forward end. Therefore, the threading needle guide hole 655 of the guide portion 651 can guide the vicinity of the tip 611 of the threading needle 610 that has moved to the forward end. That is, the threading needle guide hole 655 of the guide portion 651 can guide the vicinity of the threading hole 613 of the threading needle 610 located at the forward end. Further, the guide portion 651 is formed with a thread pushing guide hole 656 at an insertion position of the thread pushing member 661 that is inserted into the guide portion 651 at the forward end. Therefore, the thread pushing guide hole 656 of the guide portion 651 can guide the thread pushing member 661 that has moved to the forward end.

[0077] 17 shows how the thread S1 is pushed into the threading hole 613 of the threading needle 610 by the thread pushing member 661. In FIG. 17, the upper member of the guide portion 651 is indicated by a two-dot chain line. When the threading needle 610 and the guide portion 651 are located at the forward end, the thread pushing member 661 moves from the rearward end to the forward end. On the way from the rearward end to the forward end, the thread abutting portion 661A of the thread pushing member 661 first passes through the guide block 664 and is then inserted into the thread pushing guide hole 656 of the guide portion 651. As a result, the thread abutting portion 661A is accurately inserted into the thread pushing guide hole 656 while vibration and the like are suppressed.

[0078] The thread abutting portion 661A inserted into the guide portion 651 abuts against the thread S1 held by the thread guide groove 653. Furthermore, the thread abutting portion 661A advances while abutting against the thread S1, and enters the inside of the threading needle 610 from one opening. Then, the thread pushing member 661, at the forward end, passes through the threading hole 613. That is, the thread abutting portion 661A protrudes from the other opening of the threading needle 610. As a result, the thread S1 abutting against the thread abutting portion 661A forms a bent portion at the abutting point with the thread abutting portion 661A, and the bent portion is pushed into the threading hole 613. That is, the thread pushing member 661 can push the other end side SB of the thread S1 into the threading hole 613 while bending it.

[0079] Next, the operation of the stitch decoration device 10 when threading the sewing unit 20 at the threading position SR1 will be described with reference to Fig. 18 and Fig. 19. Fig. 18 shows the first half of the operation of the stitch decoration device 10 when threading, and Fig. 19 shows the second half following Fig. 18.

[0080] 18(A) shows the sewing unit 20 placed at the threading position SR1 after sewing the stitch pattern SM on the stitch decoration part ST in the sewing area HR. That is, the sewing unit 20 is shown in a state in which the sewing unit 20 has performed sewing using the thread locking member 1 held by the unit holding part 210, has been placed at the standby position SR2 without the thread locking member 1, and has moved to the threading position SR1 by the replacement operation of the replacement table 70. In the sewing unit 20 that has reached the threading position SR1, the path of the thread S1 passes through the first thread guide 233 and the second thread guide 234.

[0081] In the stitch decoration device 10, when threading the sewing unit 20 at the threading position SR1, first, a pulling operation is performed by the thread pull-out unit 50. In the pulling-out operation, the thread pull-out unit 50 first moves to the forward end as shown by the arrow in FIG. 18(A). Next, as shown in FIG. 18(B), the thread pull-out unit 50 holds the other end side SB of the thread S1 with the hooking claw 51 and moves to the rear end side. The holding position of the thread S1 by the hooking claw 51 is the other end side SB between the first thread guide 233 and the second thread guide 234. In this way, the thread pull-out unit 50 holds the other end side SB of the thread S1 and performs a pulling-out operation to pull it out to the opposite side of the locking member insertion portion 220 side of the unit holding portion 210. The other end side SB of the thread S1 is pulled out from the first thread guide 233 by the pulling-out operation by the thread pull-out unit 50.

[0082] Following the manual pulling operation by the thread pull-out unit 50, the thread S1 is inserted into the thread hooking portion 3 of the thread locking member 1 by the thread insertion unit 60, as shown in Fig. 18(C) to Fig. 19. Specifically, in this embodiment, following the pulling operation of the thread S1 by the thread pull-out unit 50, the guide portion 651 of the guide device 650 is moved to the forward end, as shown in Fig. 18(C). This causes the guide portion 651 to clamp the other end side SB of the thread S1. Next, in this embodiment, with the other end side SB of the thread S1 clamped by the guide portion 651, the unit holding portion 210 is replaced, as shown in Fig. 19(A). This replacement operation itself is performed by the operator in this embodiment. The unit holding portion 210 after replacement holds a new thread locking member unit 1U. The operator can also supply the new thread locking member unit 1U to the unit holding portion 210.

[0083] 19(B), the thread S1 is pushed into the threading hole 613 of the threading needle 610. Specifically, the threading needle 610 is moved to the forward end, and the vicinity of the tip 611 is guided by the guide portion 651. The threading needle 610 that has been moved to the forward end is inserted into the thread insertion holes 4 of the thread hooking portions 3 of all the thread hooking members 1 in the new thread hooking member unit 1U. Furthermore, with the tip 611 of the threading needle 610 being guided by the guide portion 651, the thread pushing member 661 of the thread pushing device 660 is moved to the forward end. As a result, the other end side SB of the thread S1 is pushed into the threading hole 613 of the threading needle 610 while being bent.

[0084] Thereafter, as shown in Fig. 19(C), the thread S1 is inserted into the thread hooking portions 3 of all the thread hooking members 1 of the new thread hooking member unit 1U. Specifically, after the thread pushing member 661 is retracted, the threading needle 610 is retracted. At this time, the threading hole 613 of the threading needle 610 retracts while holding the bent portion of the thread S1 that was pushed into the threading hole 613. In other words, the portion of the thread S1 that was pushed into the threading hole 613 is caught in the threading hole 613 in a bent state, thereby preventing the thread S1 from coming out when the threading hole 613 is retracted.

[0085] As described above, when the threading needle 610 moves to the forward end, it is inserted into the thread insertion holes 4 of the thread hooking portions 3 of all the thread locking members 1 in the new thread locking member unit 1U. Therefore, when the threading needle 610 moves to the rearward end, the threading hole 613 of the threading needle 610 passes through the thread insertion holes 4 of the thread hooking portions 3 of all the thread locking members 1 while holding the pushed-in portion of the thread S1. Therefore, the other end side SB of the thread S1 can be inserted into the thread insertion holes 4 of the thread hooking portions 3 of all the thread locking members 1 in the new thread locking member unit 1U. Note that the other end side SB of the thread S1 comes out of the threading hole 613 when the threading needle 610 moves to the rearward end.

[0086] As a result, the stitch decoration device 10 can thread the threads of the thread locking portions 3 of all the thread locking members 1 of the new thread locking member unit 1U attached to the sewing unit 20 at the threading position SR1. After the threading is completed, the replacement table 70 performs a replacement operation, and the sewing unit 20 moves to the standby position SR2 and is attached to the sewing unit moving portion 30. Thus, the stitch decoration device 10 can sew the next stitch decoration part ST with the replenished thread locking members 1.

[0087] Here, the thread insertion hole 4 of the thread hooking portion 3 in this embodiment is small. Therefore, in order to accurately insert the threading needle 610 into the thread insertion hole 4 of all the thread hooking portions 3 when moving the tip 611 of the threading needle 610 to the forward end, it is preferable to position the sewing unit 20 with high accuracy. In other words, it is preferable to position the sewing unit 20 with high accuracy at the threading position SR1. This will be described.

[0088] FIG. 20 shows the positioning device 43. The positioning devices 43 are provided on both sides so as to sandwich the sewing unit 20, which is located at the threading position SR1. The positioning devices 43 are equipped with positioning pins 44, and the positioning pins 44 can be advanced and retreated. FIG. 20(A) shows the positioning device 43 located at the retreating end, and FIG. 20(B) shows the positioning device 43 located at the forward end. The positioning device 43 operates to sandwich the sewing unit 20 from both sides when moving forward. In addition, each of the positioning devices 43 provided to sandwich the sewing unit 20 is provided with two positioning pins 44 at different positions in the depth direction of the drawing.

[0089] Further, the sewing unit 20 is provided with positioning holes 23 at positions corresponding to the positioning pins 44 of the positioning device 43. Then, at the forward end of the positioning device 43, the positioning pins 44 are inserted into the positioning holes 23 of the sewing unit 20, respectively. This positions the sewing unit 20 at the threading position SR1. Figure 20(A) shows a gap GA between the positioning pin 44 of the positioning device 43 and the positioning hole 23 of the sewing unit 20 that corresponds to the positioning pin 44.

[0090] As described above, the sewing unit 20 is also positioned by the mounting pillars 41 of the sewing unit mounting portion 40. In addition, for example, when the positioning accuracy of the sewing unit mounting portion 40 is higher than the positioning accuracy of the positioning device 43, the positioning by the positioning device 43 may not be performed appropriately. Therefore, the positioning device 43 positions the sewing unit 20 with higher accuracy than the positioning accuracy of the sewing unit mounting portion 40.

[0091] Fig. 21 shows the configuration of the sewing unit mounting portion 40 when positioning is performed by the positioning device 43. Fig. 21 also shows the gap GB between the mounting positioning pin 42 of the sewing unit mounting portion 40 and the mounting positioning hole 22 of the sewing unit 20. The positioning gap GB between the sewing unit mounting portion 40 and the sewing unit 20 is set larger than the positioning gap GA between the positioning device 43 and the sewing unit 20. Therefore, the positioning device 43 can appropriately position the sewing unit 20 in the horizontal direction.

[0092] Furthermore, the sewing unit placement portion 40 has a biasing portion 45 that biases the sewing unit 20 from below. In other words, the sewing unit placement portion 40 is formed to be movable up and down. The sewing unit 20 placed at the standby position SR2 descends by its own weight against the biasing force of the biasing portion 45. Then, at the threading position SR1, the sewing unit 20 is positioned by the positioning device 43 at a lowered position 20B that is lower than when the sewing unit 20 was placed on the sewing unit placement portion 40. Therefore, the positioning device 43 can appropriately position the sewing unit 20 in the vertical direction as well.

[0093] That is, the sewing unit 20 is placed on the sewing unit placing portion 40 at the raised position 20A, which is located above the lowered position 20B. The sewing unit 20 placed on the sewing unit placing portion 40 is supported so as to be movable up and down. The sewing unit 20 placed on the sewing unit placing portion 40 is positioned with high precision at the lowered position 20B by the positioning device 43. With the sewing unit 20 positioned at the lowered position 20B, the thread is threaded through the thread locking portion 3 of the thread locking member 1 of a new thread locking member unit 1U attached to the unit holding portion 210.

[0094] As described above, high accuracy is required for threading the thread into the thread hooking portion 3 of the thread hooking member 1 of the new thread hooking member unit 1U attached to the unit holding portion 210. On the other hand, when the sewing unit 20 is to be positioned with high accuracy on the sewing unit mounting portion 40, the sewing unit moving portion 30 that places the sewing unit 20 on the sewing unit mounting portion 40 is also required to have high operating accuracy. In addition, there is a risk that the sewing unit 20 placed on the sewing unit mounting portion 40 may become misaligned due to the replacement operation by the replacement table 70. For this reason, it may be difficult to position the sewing unit 20 with high accuracy on the sewing unit mounting portion 40.

[0095] In this embodiment, the sewing unit 20 is placed on the sewing unit mounting portion 40 so as to be vertically movable, and the positioning device 43 positions the sewing unit 20 at the threading position SR1 with high accuracy. Therefore, the positioning accuracy of the sewing unit 20 by the sewing unit mounting portion 40 does not need to be very high. Furthermore, the positioning device 43 can position the sewing unit 20 with high accuracy at the threading position SR1. Therefore, the thread can be appropriately threaded into the thread engaging portion 3 of the thread engaging member 1 of the new thread engaging member unit 1U attached to the unit holding portion 210.

[0096] <Action and effect> As described above in detail, the stitch decoration device 10 according to this embodiment inserts the thread locking member 1 between the base material KZ and the skin material HZ from the surface HZ1 side of the skin material HZ at the position of the seam S2 in the stitch decoration part ST. The thread locking member 1 has a thread locking portion 3 that locks the inserted thread S1, and a retaining portion 2 that extends in a direction intersecting with the insertion direction SH of the thread S1 into the thread locking portion 3. As a result, a stitch pattern SM is sewn on the surface HZ1 of the skin material HZ by the thread S1 locked by the thread locking portion 3. The stitch decoration device 10 also includes a sewing unit 20 having a unit holding portion 210, a locking member inserting portion 220, and a thread supplying portion 230, and a sewing unit moving portion 30 that moves the sewing unit 20 between the sewing area HR and the threading area SR. The unit holding section 210 holds a thread locking member unit 1U in which a plurality of thread locking members 1 arranged in the same direction of insertion SH of the thread locking portions 3 are connected to a connecting rod 6 extending in the insertion direction SH. The locking member inserting section 220 inserts one of the thread locking members 1 at one end in the insertion direction SH of the thread locking member unit 1U held by the unit holding section 210 between the base material KZ and the skin material HZ at the position of the seam S2 while separating it from the connecting rod 6. The thread supplying section 230 holds one end side SA of the thread S1 inserted into the thread locking portions 3 of the plurality of thread locking members 1 in the thread locking member unit 1U, and can supply the other end side SB of the thread S1 to the locking member inserting section 220. The stitch decoration device 10 further includes a thread pulling section 50 and a thread inserting section 60. The thread pull-out unit 50 holds the other end SB of the thread S1 in the threading region SR for the sewing unit 20 after sewing using the thread locking member unit 1U held by the unit holding unit 210, and pulls it out to the opposite side to the locking member insertion unit 220 of the unit holding unit 210. After the thread pull-out unit 50 pulls out the other end SB of the thread S1, the thread insertion unit 60 inserts the other end SB of the thread S1 into the thread locking portion 3 of the thread locking member 1 of the new thread locking member unit 1U attached to the unit holding unit 210. This allows the stitch decoration device 10 to automatically insert the thread S1 into the thread locking portions 3 of the multiple thread locking members 1 arranged in the new thread locking member unit 1U attached to the unit holding unit 210.Therefore, the stitch decoration device 10 does not require an operator to insert the thread S1, and the productivity of the stitch decoration part ST can be improved.

[0097] In the stitch decoration device 10, the thread insertion unit 60 has a threading needle 610, a threading needle drive unit 630, and a thread pushing unit 62 provided on the opposite side of the thread locking member unit 1U from the locking member insertion unit 220. The threading needle 610 has a threading hole 613 capable of holding the thread S1 formed on the tip 611 side, and has a length that allows the thread locking units 3 of all the thread locking members 1 in the thread locking member unit 1U to be inserted therethrough. The threading needle drive unit 630 moves the threading needle 610 forward and backward in the insertion direction SH. The thread pushing unit 62 pushes the other end SB of the thread S1 pulled out by the thread pulling unit 50 into the threading hole 613 of the threading needle 610 while bending it. As a result, in the stitch decoration device 10, the advanced threading needle 610 can pass all of the thread engaging portions 3 lined up in the new replaced thread locking member unit 1U. Furthermore, after the thread S1 is pushed into the threading hole 613 at the tip 611 of the threading needle 610, the threading needle 610 is retracted, thereby allowing the thread S1 to be passed through all of the thread engaging portions 3. In other words, a single advance / retract movement of the threading needle 610 allows the thread S1 to be passed through a large number of thread engaging portions 3 lined up in the new thread locking member unit 1U. This can improve the productivity of the stitch decoration part ST.

[0098] In the stitch decoration device 10, the thread pushing section 62 has a guide section 651 and a thread pushing member driving section 663. The guide section 651 is formed so as to be able to guide the tip 611 of the threading needle 610 while linearly clamping the other end side SB of the thread S1 at one opening side of the threading hole 613 of the threading needle 610 located at the forward end. The thread pushing member 661 is provided at one opening side of the threading hole 613 with the thread abutment section 661A facing the threading hole 613. The thread pushing member driving section 663 moves the thread pushing member 661 forward and backward in the axial direction of the threading hole 613. This allows the stitch decoration device 10 to automatically and appropriately hold the thread S1 in the threading hole 613 of the threading needle 610.

[0099] In addition, in the stitch decoration device 10, the threading unit 60 has a threading needle support unit 640 capable of supporting the shaft portion 612 of the threading needle 610. The threading needle support unit 640 has a plurality of movable support units 642. When the threading needle 610 retracts, the threading needle support unit 640 supports the shaft portion 612 in a state in which the plurality of movable support units 642 are spaced apart from each other. On the other hand, when the threading needle 610 advances, the plurality of movable support units 642 support the shaft portion 612 at a location close to the opposite side of the threading needle 610 from the tip 611 in a state in which they are close to each other. As a result, even if the threading needle 610 is long and thin, the stitch decoration device 10 can appropriately support the shaft portion 612 of the threading needle 610 so that, for example, the shaft portion 612 is not bent. Therefore, damage to the threading needle 610 can be suppressed.

[0100] In the stitch decoration device 10, the threading area SR has a threading position SR1 where the thread S1 is inserted by the thread insertion unit 60, and a standby position SR2 where the sewing unit 20 is placed on standby. The threading area SR has a sewing unit placement section 40 that is provided at the threading position SR1 and the standby position SR2, and is capable of placing the sewing unit 20 on the sewing unit placement section 40, and a replacement table 70 that is capable of performing a replacement operation to replace the position of the sewing unit placement section 40. The sewing unit moving section 30 attaches and detaches the sewing unit 20 at the standby position SR2. In other words, after the sewing unit moving section 30 detaches the sewing unit 20, the replacement operation is performed by the replacement table 70, so that the sewing unit 20 that has been detached from the sewing unit moving section 30 and passed through the threading position SR1 can be immediately supplied to the standby position SR2. The threading of the thread S1 through the thread hooking section 3, which takes time, can be performed at the threading position SR1, which is different from the standby position SR2. Therefore, while sewing is being performed by the sewing unit 20, the thread S1 can be inserted into the thread engaging portion 3 of the sewing unit 20 to which a new thread engaging member unit 1U is attached after being removed. Therefore, the time from when the sewing unit 20 that has finished sewing is removed from the sewing unit moving portion 30 until the sewing unit 20 to which the next new thread engaging member unit 1U is attached starts sewing can be shortened. Therefore, the productivity of the stitch decoration part ST can be further improved.

[0101] In addition, in the stitch decoration device 10, the sewing unit placement section 40 is formed to be movable up and down, and the sewing unit 20 can be placed at the raised position 20A and the positioning pin 44 can be inserted at the lowered position 20B. Then, the thread insertion section 60 inserts the other end SB of the thread S1 into the thread locking section 3 of the thread locking member 1 of the new thread locking member unit 1U attached to the unit holding section 210 in a state where the sewing unit 20 is positioned by the positioning pin 44 relative to the sewing unit placement section 40. High accuracy is required for inserting the threading needle 610 into the thread locking member 1. Meanwhile, the sewing unit 20 placed on the sewing unit placement section 40 may be slightly misaligned while placed on the sewing unit placement section 40 due to the replacement operation of the replacement table 70. That is, even if the sewing unit 20 is positioned with high accuracy at the standby position SR2 by the sewing unit placement section 40, the positioning accuracy at the threading position SR1 may be reduced after the replacement operation. In the stitch decoration device 10, the sewing unit 20 can be placed on the sewing unit placement section 40 so as to be movable to a certain extent, and can be positioned with high accuracy at the threading position SR1. Therefore, the threading needle 610 can be appropriately inserted into the thread locking member 1.

[0102] <Modification> The above-described embodiment may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, if something is not described as essential in the above-described embodiment, it may be deleted as appropriate.

[0103] For example, in the above embodiment, two sewing unit placement parts 40 are provided on the replacement table 70 in the threading area SR, one of which is located at the threading position SR1 and the other at the standby position SR2. However, for example, only the threading position SR1 may be provided in the threading area SR. Also, for example, in addition to the threading position SR1 and the standby position SR2, an additional sewing unit placement part 40 may be provided in the threading area SR. Then, for example, a process other than threading may be performed on the sewing unit 20 at the position of the additional sewing unit placement part 40. Also, for example, when an additional sewing unit placement part 40 is provided, threading may also be performed at the position of the additional sewing unit placement part 40. That is, a plurality of threading positions SR1 may be provided. [Industrial Applicability]

[0104] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be utilized as a stitch decoration device that sews a stitch pattern with a thread that passes through from the front side of a skin material adhered to the surface of a base material. [Explanation of symbols]

[0105] 1 Thread retaining member 1U Thread locking unit 2 Stopper 3 Thread holder 6 Connecting rod 10 Stitch decoration device 20 Sewing Unit 20A Up position 20B Lower position 30 Sewing unit moving part 40 Sewing unit placement section 44 Locating pin 50 Thread puller 60 Thread insertion part 62 Thread pushing section 70 Swap Table 210 Unit holder 220 Locking member insertion part 230 Thread supply unit 610 Threading needle 611 Tip (Threading Needle) 612 Shaft 613 Threading hole 630 Needle drive unit 640 Needle support 642 Movable support part 651 Guide part 661 Thread pushing member 661A Thread contact part 663 Thread pushing member drive unit HR sewing area HZ skin material HZ1 surface (skin material) KZ base material KZ1 surface (base material) S1 Thread S2 stitching SA One end (thread) SB Other end (thread) SH Insertion direction SM stitch pattern SR threading area SR1 threading position SR2 Standby position ST Stitch decoration parts (objects for stitch decoration)

Claims

1. A stitch decoration device comprising: a thread retaining member having a thread retaining portion for retaining an inserted thread and a slip-out prevention portion extending in a direction intersecting a direction in which the thread is inserted into the thread retaining portion; a base material and a skin material bonded to a surface of the base material; a thread retaining member for retaining an inserted thread and a slip-out prevention portion extending in a direction intersecting a direction in which the thread is inserted into the thread retaining portion; a thread retaining member for retaining an inserted thread and a slip-out prevention portion extending in a direction intersecting a direction in which the thread is inserted into the thread retaining portion; a unit holding portion that holds a thread locking member unit formed by connecting a plurality of the thread locking members arranged in the same direction of insertion of the thread locking portion to a connecting rod that extends in the insertion direction; a locking member inserting portion that separates one of the thread locking members in the thread locking member unit held by the unit holding portion from the connecting rod and inserts the thread locking member at one end in the insertion direction between the base material and the cover material at the position of the seam; a thread supply section that holds one end of the thread inserted into the thread hooking sections of the thread hooking members of the thread hooking member unit and that is capable of supplying the other end of the thread to the hooking member insertion section; a sewing unit moving section that moves a sewing unit having the unit holding section, the locking member inserting section, and the thread supplying section between a sewing area where sewing is performed on the object and a threading area outside the sewing area; a thread pulling section which holds the other end of the thread in the threading area after sewing has been performed using the thread locking member unit held in the unit holding section and pulls the thread out in a direction opposite to the locking member insertion section of the unit holding section; a thread insertion portion configured to insert the other end of the thread into the thread hooking portion of the thread hooking member of a new thread hooking member unit attached to the unit holding portion after the other end of the thread has been pulled out by the thread pull-out portion, The thread insertion portion is a threading needle having a threading hole formed at a tip end thereof for holding the thread, the threading needle having a length capable of passing through the thread hooking portions of all of the thread hooking members in the thread hooking member unit; a threading needle drive unit that moves the threading needle forward and backward in the insertion direction; a thread pushing section provided on the opposite side of the thread locking member unit and configured to push the other end of the thread pulled out by the thread pulling section into the threading hole of the threading needle while bending the other end of the thread.

2. The stitch decoration device according to claim 1, The yarn pushing unit includes: a guide portion that is formed to be able to guide a tip of the threading needle while linearly clamping the other end side of the thread at one opening side of the threading hole of the threading needle located at a forward end; a thread pushing member provided on the one opening side of the threading hole with a thread contact portion facing the threading hole; a thread pushing member drive unit that moves the thread pushing member forward and backward in the axial direction of the threading hole.

3. A stitch decoration device according to claim 1 or claim 2, the threading portion has a plurality of threading needle support portions capable of supporting shaft portions of the threading needles, the threading needle support portion supports the shaft portion in a spaced-apart state when the threading needle retracts, and supports the shaft portion in a position close to the opposite side of the tip of the threading needle in a close-to-close state when the threading needle advances.

4. The stitch decoration device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The threading area includes: a threading position where the thread is passed through by the thread passing portion, and a standby position where the sewing unit is placed on standby; a sewing unit placement portion provided at the threading position and the standby position, on which the sewing unit can be placed, and a replacement table capable of performing a replacement operation to replace the position of the sewing unit placement portion; The stitch decorating device is characterized in that the sewing unit moving section attaches and detaches the sewing unit at the standby position.

5. The stitch decoration device according to claim 4, The sewing unit mounting portion is formed to be movable up and down, and the sewing unit is mounted on the mounting portion at an elevated position, and a positioning pin can be inserted into the mounting portion at a lowered position. The stitch decoration device is characterized in that the thread insertion portion is positioned relative to the sewing unit mounting portion by the positioning pin, and inserts the other end of the thread into the thread locking portion of the thread locking member of a new thread locking member unit attached to the unit holding portion.

Images