Suturing device

Abstract

To provide a suture device that makes it easy to perform setting work of a suture thread before suture work and makes it possible to shorten a suture work time.SOLUTION: A suture device comprises a thread rotation structure for locally rotating parts, hooked at tips of suture needles 34, of a lower thread 42 in a first direction in which the suture needles 34 are arranged, around needle center lines of the suture needles 34 in a direction along a third direction. Each suture needle 34 has a side surface on which a thread passing recessed groove 46 passing through in the first direction in a state in which the suture needle 34 is moved in a second direction is formed. When the suture needles 34 are moved in the second direction in a state in which the lower thread 42 is stretched linearly and locked to the tips of the suture needles 34 before suture work, the thread rotation structure makes the parts, hooked at the tips of the suture needles 34, of the lower thread 42 rotated locally around the needle center lines of the suture needles 34 in the direction along the third direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a suturing device capable of suturing a suture object at once using a suture thread without using a metal staple, and particularly to a suturing device that facilitates the setting operation of the suture thread before suturing and shortens the suturing time.

Background Art

[0002] When suturing a suture object in the field of surgery of a living body or the like, a suturing device has been proposed that can suture the entire suturing site of the suture object at once using a suture thread without using a metal staple. For example, the suturing device proposed in Patent Document 1 is one such device.

[0003] The suturing device proposed in this Patent Document 1 includes a first housing and a second housing provided so as to be able to approach and separate from each other to sandwich the suture object, a plurality of needles arranged side by side in the first housing with their tip portions facing the second housing and capable of holding a suture thread at the tip portions, a needle moving mechanism for moving the plurality of needles toward the second housing, and a thread hook provided in the second housing and movably provided along the arrangement direction of the plurality of needles for hanging the suture thread that has reached the second housing through the suture object by the plurality of needles moved by the needle moving mechanism.

[0004] According to this suturing device, in a state where the first housing and the second housing are brought close to each other and the suture object is sandwiched, when the plurality of needles arranged in the first housing and holding the suture thread at their tip portions are moved toward the second housing by the needle moving mechanism, the tips of the plurality of needles are made to reach the second housing through the suture object. In this state, when the thread hook is moved along the arrangement direction of the plurality of needles, the thread hook passes through the thread loops formed by the suture threads that have reached the second housing through the suture object by the plurality of needles, and the thread loops are hung by the suture threads passed through the tip portion of the thread hook. Therefore, a stitch using the suture thread is formed on the suture object simply and reliably by a mechanical operation based on a simple operation.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, in the sewing device proposed in Patent Document 1, prior to sewing at the sewing site, a fine setting operation is required to hook a part of the sewing thread arranged along the arrangement direction of the sewing needles so as to be locally perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the sewing needles at each tip of the sewing needles. For this reason, it has been an obstacle to shortening the sewing time.

[0007] The present invention has been made against the background of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a sewing device in which the setting operation of the sewing thread prior to the sewing operation is simple and the sewing operation time can be shortened.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The gist of the first invention is: (a) a plurality of sewing needles having thread hooking portions formed at their tip portions and juxtaposed at predetermined intervals along a first direction and capable of hooking a first thread; (b) a first thread holding mechanism for holding the first thread to be locked to the plurality of sewing needles; (c) a needle moving mechanism for moving the sewing needles in a second direction which is the tip direction of the sewing needles intersecting the first direction; (d) a thread rotating structure for locally rotating, around the center line of the sewing needles, a part of the first thread extended in the first direction and hooked by the thread hooking portions of the sewing needles in a direction along a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, in a state where the sewing needles are moved in the second direction; and (e) thread passing concave grooves penetrating in the first direction are respectively formed on side surfaces of the sewing needles in a state where the sewing needles are moved in the second direction.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the sewing device of the first invention, in a state where the sewing needle is moved in the second direction, a part of the first thread extended in the first direction and hooked on the thread hooking portion of the sewing needle is locally rotated around the center line of the sewing needle in a direction along a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, and a thread rotating structure is included. On the side surface of the sewing needle, thread passing concave grooves penetrating in the first direction are respectively formed in a state where the sewing needle is moved in the second direction. Prior to the sewing operation, with the first thread stretched linearly and locked to the thread hooking portion of the sewing needle, when the sewing needle is moved in the second direction, by the thread rotating structure, a part of the first thread extended in the first direction and hooked on the thread hooking portion of the sewing needle is locally rotated around the center line of the sewing needle in a direction along a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction. In this state, since a thread loop is formed at the opening of the thread passing concave groove penetrating in the first direction, the sewing is performed all at once by passing the first thread or the second thread through the thread loop. In this way, prior to the sewing operation, by locking the first thread linearly stretched to the thread hooking portion of the sewing needle, the operation of arranging the first thread on the sewing needle is completed, and thus the setting operation of the sewing thread prior to the sewing operation becomes simple.

[0010] The gist of the second invention is that, in the first invention, the thread passing concave groove has an inclined surface in which the groove bottom of the thread passing concave groove becomes shallower toward the tip of the sewing needle. Thereby, when pulling out the sewing needle from the object to be sewn, the catching of the thread passing concave groove on the object to be sewn is suppressed, and the pulling out becomes easy.

[0011] The gist of the third invention is that, in the first or second invention, the thread rotation structure includes two vertices formed at the tip of the sewing needle, through which the first thread can pass between them, a third-direction guide groove formed in communication between the two vertices in the third direction, and two inclined guide surfaces inclined from the two vertices toward the third-direction guide groove. Thereby, in relation to the sewing needle being punctured into the material to be sewn, a part of the first thread in the first direction, which is locked between the two vertices formed at the tips of a plurality of sewing needles, is automatically guided in the third direction by the third-direction guide groove after passing through the two vertices.

[0012] The gist of the fourth invention is that, in the third invention, the two vertices and the two inclined guide surfaces are formed point-symmetrically with respect to the center line of the sewing needle. Thereby, a part of the first thread in the first direction locked between the two vertices is locally rotated in the third direction as it falls into the third-direction guide groove.

[0013] The gist of the fifth invention is that, in the first or second invention, two vertices through which the first thread can pass between them and a latching concave groove in the first direction formed between the two vertices are formed at the tip of the sewing needle, and the thread rotation structure includes a sewing needle rotation mechanism that rotates the sewing needle around the center line of the sewing needle so as to rotate the latching concave groove in the first direction formed between the two vertices in the third direction. Thereby, a part of the first thread in the first direction latched in the latching concave groove in the first direction formed between the two vertices is locally rotated in the third direction as the sewing needle is rotated by the sewing needle rotation mechanism.

[0014] The gist of the sixth invention is that, in any one of the first to fifth inventions, the needle movement mechanism is provided in a housing that holds the plurality of sewing needles, and includes a needle base provided on the proximal end side of the sewing needle to support the sewing needle, and a moving member that is movable along the first direction of the housing and a fourth direction opposite to the first direction. When the moving member moves, the needle base is slid along the guide portion, and the sewing needle is moved in the second direction. Thereby, the sewing needle includes a first engaging portion in which the needle base provided at the proximal end portion thereof is engaged in a protruding and guidable state formed on the inner wall surface of the housing, and a second engaging portion that engages with a needle driving cam groove formed in the moving member and drives the sewing needle in the protruding direction. Therefore, as the moving member moves, the sewing needle is moved all at once in the second direction, which is the tip side thereof.

[0015] The gist of the seventh invention is that, in any one of the first to sixth inventions, a thread cutting needle is provided at an end position in the first direction that is continuous with the plurality of sewing needles juxtaposed along the first direction, and on the side surface of the thread cutting needle, there is a cutting edge facing the proximal end side of the thread cutting needle at a position on the tip side of the thread cutting needle, and a thread cutting concave groove penetrating in the first direction is formed. Thereby, when the thread cutting needle is drawn into the housing, the first thread passed through the thread loop is cut.

[0016] The gist of the eighth invention is that, in the seventh invention, the cutting edge of the thread cutting concave groove is inclined toward the proximal end side of the thread cutting needle as it faces the tip of the cutting edge. Thereby, when the thread cutting needle is drawn into the housing toward the proximal end portion side, the escape of the first thread in the thread cutting concave groove is suppressed, and the first thread is surely cut.

[0017] The gist of the ninth invention is that in any one of the first to eighth inventions, it includes a first housing and a second housing that can be opened and closed. The first housing includes the suture needle, the first thread, and the first thread holding mechanism. The second housing is longitudinally shaped in the first direction, and has a first thread hook that can be moved in the first direction and a fourth direction opposite to the first direction in the thread passing groove formed on the side surface of the suture needle when the first housing and the second housing are closed. Thereby, the first thread hook that catches the first thread or the second thread provided on the second housing passes through the thread loop formed on the third direction side of the suture needle, and suturing is performed all at once.

[0018] The gist of the tenth invention is that in the ninth invention, the first thread hook has a tubular member whose tip in the first direction is obliquely cut so that the width in the third direction becomes smaller as it faces the first direction in a plane including the first direction and the third direction, and has an oblique end face that opens in the first direction and the third direction, and a hook member whose tip in the first direction has a hook portion bent in a U shape, and the hook portion is inserted into the tubular member so as to be relatively movable in the first direction and the fourth direction until the hook portion abuts against the oblique end face of the tubular member. Thereby, the first thread or the second thread is gripped between the hook wire, the hook portion, and the oblique end face of the hook pipe and passed through the thread loop.

[0019] The gist of the eleventh invention is that in the tenth invention, when the suture needle is moved in the second direction by the needle moving mechanism, the first thread that forms the thread loop formed by the suture needle in the suture needle located at the end in the first direction among the plurality of suture needles is hooked by the hook portion, and the hook member is relatively moved in the tubular member until it abuts against the oblique end face of the tubular member, and after gripping between the hook portion and the oblique end face, the oblique end face is rotated to a position facing the fifth direction opposite to the second direction and moved in the fourth direction in the thread passing groove. Thereby, suturing with the first thread is performed all at once.

[0020] The gist of the 12th invention is that in the 9th or 10th invention, when the first housing and the second housing are in a closed state, the second housing is provided with a second thread holding mechanism that holds a second thread on the first direction side of the sewing needles located at the ends in the first direction among the plurality of sewing needles. When the sewing needle is moved in the second direction by the needle moving mechanism, the first thread hook grips the second thread, then catches it with the hook portion and retracts the hook member into the tubular member, thereby gripping between the hook portion and the inclined end surface. Then, the inclined end surface is rotated to a position facing the fifth direction opposite to the second direction and moved in the fourth direction within the thread passing groove. Thereby, the object to be sewn is sewn with the first thread and the second thread.

[0021] The gist of the 13th invention is that in the 12th invention, the first housing is provided with a first thread guiding groove for guiding the first thread supplied from the first thread holding mechanism, a second thread hook that is moved in the first direction and the fourth direction and on which the first thread passing through the tip of the sewing needle from the first thread guiding groove is hung, and a first thread latching groove for latching the tip of the first thread hung on the second thread hook. Thereby, since the first thread is tightened by the second thread hook, a non-loose stitch can be obtained.

[0022] The gist of the 14th invention is that in any one of the inventions from the 9th to the 13th invention, there is provided an opening / closing mechanism for maintaining a closed state in which the object to be sewn is sandwiched between the first housing and the second housing or an open state in which the first housing and the second housing are separated, and a locking mechanism for maintaining the closed state between the first housing and the second housing by the opening / closing mechanism. Thereby, when the sewing needles in the first housing are moved to the second direction side by the moving mechanism during piercing the object to be sewn with the plurality of sewing needles, the opening of the first housing and the second housing is restricted.

[0023] The gist of the 15th invention is that, in the 14th invention, the opening and closing mechanism fixes the second housing to the first housing at the end of the second housing and has a rotation axis around which the second housing can rotate between an open state and a closed state, and the locking mechanism is a longitudinally shaped member along the first direction and can be inserted into and removed from the second housing in a direction intersecting the rotation axis, and includes a rotation prevention member that prevents rotation around the rotation axis and an engagement hole provided in the first housing into which the rotation prevention member can be inserted and removed in a slidable manner. Thereby, when piercing a plurality of sewing needles into a material to be sewn, the insertion of the rotation prevention member into the second housing restricts the opening of the first housing and the second housing.

[0024] The gist of the 16th invention is as follows: (a) A suturing method for suturing a suture using a plurality of suturing needles juxtaposed at predetermined intervals along a first direction and each formed with a thread-passing groove penetrating in the first direction, and capable of latching a first thread at the tip; (b) a first thread latching and placing step of linearly latching the first thread along the first direction on the tips of the plurality of suturing needles before the plurality of suturing needles penetrate the suture; (c) a puncturing step of puncturing the plurality of suturing needles into the suture and locally rotating the direction of the portion of the first thread latched to the suturing needle in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction to position it on the opening of the thread-passing groove; (d) a first thread suturing step of moving in the first direction and moving the thread hook, with the first thread latched to the tip of the thread hook passed through the thread-passing groove, in a fourth direction opposite to the first direction, thereby passing the first thread through the thread loop formed by the first thread for each suturing needle; and (e) a needle withdrawing step of withdrawing the suturing needle from the suture. Thus, prior to the suturing operation, with the first thread stretched linearly and latched to the thread latching portion of the suturing needle, when the suturing needle is moved in a second direction, due to the thread rotation structure, a part of the first thread stretched in the first direction and latched to the thread latching portion of the suturing needle is locally rotated around the center line of the suturing needle in a direction along a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction. In this state, since a thread loop is formed at the opening of the thread-passing groove penetrating in the first direction, the suturing is performed all at once when the thread hook is passed through the thread-passing groove and the thread loop is passed through the first thread or the second thread. In this way, prior to the suturing operation, by latching the first thread linearly and latching it to the thread latching portion of the suturing needle, the operation of arranging the first thread on the suturing needle is completed, so that the setting operation of the suture thread prior to the suturing operation becomes simple.

[0025] The gist of the 17th invention is as follows: (a) A sewing method for sewing a material to be sewn using a plurality of sewing needles juxtaposed at predetermined intervals along a first direction and each having a thread-passing groove formed therethrough in the first direction, and capable of latching a first thread at the tip; (b) a first thread latching and placing step of linearly latching the first thread along the first direction on the tips of the plurality of sewing needles before the plurality of sewing needles penetrate the material to be sewn; (c) a piercing step of piercing the plurality of sewing needles into the material to be sewn and locally rotating the direction of the portion of the first thread latched by the sewing needle in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction to position it above the opening of the thread-passing groove; (d) a second thread sewing step of moving in the first direction and moving the thread hook, with a second thread latched to the tip of the thread hook passed through the thread-passing groove, in a fourth direction opposite to the first direction, thereby passing the second thread through the thread loop formed by the first thread for each sewing needle; and (e) a needle pulling-out step of pulling out the sewing needles from the material to be sewn. Thereby, prior to the sewing operation, with the first thread stretched linearly and latched to the thread latching portion of the sewing needle, when the sewing needle is moved in a second direction, due to the thread rotation structure, a part of the first thread stretched in the first direction and latched to the thread latching portion of the sewing needle is locally rotated around the center line of the sewing needle in a direction along a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction. In this state, since a thread loop is formed at the opening of the thread-passing groove penetrating in the first direction, the sewing is performed at once by passing the thread hook through the thread-passing groove and passing the thread loop through the first thread or the second thread. Thus, prior to the sewing operation, by latching the first thread linearly and latching it to the thread latching portion of the sewing needle, the operation of arranging the first thread on the sewing needle is completed, so that the setting operation of the sewing thread prior to the sewing operation is simplified.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026]

Figure 1

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0027] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the drawings illustrate the main parts related to the invention, and dimensions, shapes, etc. are not necessarily drawn accurately.

Embodiment

[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the main part of a stitching device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the stitching device 10 as viewed from above in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the second housing 14 is opened from the first housing 12. FIG. 4 is a view showing the mating surface of the second housing 14 in a state where the second housing 14 is opened from the first housing 12. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the first housing 12 with the second housing 14 removed. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view passing through the center of the sewing needle 34 in FIG. 2. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view passing through the cutter 76 in FIG. 2. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view passing through the lock pipe 110 in FIG. 2.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the stitching device 10 includes a longitudinal first housing 12 and a second housing 14 that are connected so as to be openable and closable, and as a whole, it has a prismatic shape. A C-shaped bearing 16 is integrally projected at an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the first housing 12. A rotating shaft 18 that is detachably received by the bearing 16 is integrally projected at the proximal end of the second housing 14. In a state where the rotating shaft 18 is supported by the bearing 16, the first housing 12 and the second housing 14 are connected so as to be relatively rotatable about a rotation axis C that is the center line of the rotating shaft 18. The bearing 16 and the rotating shaft 18 function as an opening / closing mechanism for the first housing 12 and the second housing 14.

[0030] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the direction toward the tip side of the suturing device 10 in the longitudinal direction of the suturing device 10 is defined as the first direction, and the direction opposite to the first direction toward the base end side of the suturing device 10 is defined as the fourth direction. The direction from the first housing 12 to the second housing 14 in the height direction of the suturing device 10, that is, the upward direction in FIG. 1, is defined as the second direction, and the direction opposite to the second direction from the second housing 14 to the first housing 12 is defined as the fifth direction. The direction toward the front side in FIG. 1 in the width direction of the suturing device 10 orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction is defined as the third direction, and the direction opposite to the third direction toward the back side in FIG. 1 is defined as the sixth direction. The rotation axis center C of the rotation shaft 18 is parallel to the third direction or the sixth direction.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first housing 12 includes a main body 20 that holds a plurality of (five in this embodiment) suturing needles 34 and one thread cutting needle 36, a cover member 80 fixed to the main body 20 by bolts 21, and an operation member support base 100 fixed to the cover member 80. The center intervals between the plurality of suturing needles 34 in the arrangement direction are constant, but the thread cutting needle 36 is arranged in a row on the base end side of the plurality of suturing needles 34 at a center interval larger than that.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the main body 20 integrally includes a longitudinal bottom wall 22, a pair of longitudinal side walls 24 and 26 erected from both end edges in the width direction of the bottom wall 22, and a longitudinal central wall 28 erected parallel to the pair of side walls 24 and 26 from the center in the width direction of the bottom wall 22. The base end side end portions of the longitudinal side walls 24, 26, and the central wall 28 are fixed to each other with spacer members 30 shown in FIG. 1 interposed between the side wall 24 and the central wall 28 and between the side wall 26 and the central wall 28, respectively. Further, in a part of the base end side of the first housing 12 among the longitudinal side walls 24, 26, and the central wall 28, long holes 32 having a predetermined length extending in the first direction penetrate in the width direction of the first housing 12 and are respectively formed.

[0033] On each of the facing surfaces of the side walls 24 and the central wall 28 and the facing surfaces of the side walls 26 and the central wall 28 on the tip side of the first housing 12, a plurality of pairs of guide grooves 38 for guiding a suture needle 34 shown in FIG. 11, for example, and a thread cutting needle 36 shown in FIG. 12, for example, in the height direction of the sewing device 10 are formed at predetermined intervals in parallel in the height direction.

[0034] The suture needle 34 includes a base end portion 40 that supports the suture needle 34 so as to be movable in the height direction of the sewing device 10 while maintaining a posture facing the height direction of the sewing device 10, and a thread hooking portion that functions as a thread hooking portion for hooking the lower thread 42 corresponding to the first thread, and a part of the lower thread 42 hooked to the tip of the suture needle 34 is locally rotated around the needle center line CN of the suture needle 34 in the direction from the first direction to the third direction. The suture needle 34 also includes a thread passing concave groove 46 formed so as to penetrate in the first direction on the side surface between the base end portion 40 and the tip end portion 44.

[0035] The base end portion 40 of the suture needle 34 includes a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped needle base 40a provided at the base end of the suture needle 34, and a pair of protrusions 40b protruding from the needle base 40a in the width direction of the first housing 12, respectively. The protrusion 40b is formed with a first engaging protrusion 40c having a rectangular cross section that is slidably fitted into the guide groove 38 and a second engaging protrusion 40d having a circular cross section that is slidably fitted into a later-described needle drive cam groove 68 shown in FIG. 10 in order from the tip.

[0036] At the tip 44 of the suture needle 34, there are two vertices 44a and 44b positioned at intervals smaller than the diameter of the suture needle 34 and allowing the lower thread 42 in the first direction to pass between them, a third-direction guide groove 44c formed to communicate between the two vertices 44a and 44b and formed in the third direction so as to guide a part of the lower thread 42 in the first direction that has passed between the two vertices 44a and 44b in the third direction, and a pair of inclined guide surfaces 44d and 44e that incline from the vertices 44a and 44b along the third-direction guide groove 44c respectively. The two vertices 44a and 44b and the pair of inclined guide surfaces 44d and 44e are positioned on both sides of the third-direction guide groove 44c and are positioned so as to be point-symmetrical with respect to the needle center line CN of the suture needle 34, and the space between the vertices 44a and 44b and the third-direction guide groove 44c is made continuous by an inclined surface. The third-direction guide groove 44c is formed in a convex shape at a position passing through the needle center line CN of the suture needle 34.

[0037] The thread-passing concave groove 46 includes an inclined surface 46a whose groove bottom becomes shallower toward the tip 44 of the suture needle 34, an inclined surface 46b whose groove bottom becomes shallower toward the base end 40 of the suture needle 34, and a flat groove bottom 46c provided parallel to the needle center line CN between the inclined surface 46a and the inclined surface 46b.

[0038] The thread-cutting needle 36 includes a base end 50 configured similarly to the base end 40 of the suture needle 34, a tip 52 shaped like a hemisphere, and a thread-cutting concave groove 54 formed to penetrate in the first direction on the side surface of the thread-cutting needle 36. The base end 50 includes a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped needle base 50a provided at the base end of the thread-cutting needle 36 and a pair of protrusions 50b protruding from the needle base 50a in the width direction of the first housing 12 respectively. On the protrusion 50b, a first engaging protrusion 50c with a rectangular cross-section slidably fitted into the guide groove 38 and a second engaging protrusion 50d with a circular cross-section slidably fitted into the needle driving cam groove 68 shown in FIG. 10 are formed in order from the tip.

[0039] In the thread cutting concave groove 54, the tip-side side wall 54a and the base-side side wall 54b of the thread cutting needle 36 are formed as inclined surfaces that face the tip 52 side of the thread cutting needle 36 as they approach the groove bottom 54c. A cutting edge 56 that is inclined so as to face the opening of the thread cutting concave groove 54 as it approaches the base end 50 side of the thread cutting needle 36 is formed at the periphery of the tip-side side wall 54a.

[0040] As shown in detail in FIGS. 9 and 10, a plurality of sewing needles 34 and one thread cutting needle 36 are juxtaposed at predetermined intervals along the first direction between the side wall 24 and the central wall 28, and between the side wall 26 and the central wall 28. Also, between the side wall 24 and the central wall 28, a pair of needle drive plates 60, 62 are inserted movably in the longitudinal direction of the sewing apparatus 10 with a plurality of sewing needles 34 and one thread cutting needle 36 interposed therebetween, and between the side wall 26 and the central wall 28, a pair of needle drive plates 64, 66 are inserted movably in the longitudinal direction of the sewing apparatus 10 with a plurality of sewing needles 34 and one thread cutting needle 36 interposed therebetween. Second engaging protrusions 40d, 50d respectively formed at the base ends 40 of the sewing needles 34 and the base end 50 of one thread cutting needle 36 are engaged with the needle drive plates 60, 62 and the needle drive plates 64, 66, and needle drive cam grooves 68 for driving the sewing needles 34 and one thread cutting needle 36 in the height direction of the sewing apparatus 10 are respectively formed. The pair of needle drive plates 60, 62 and the pair of needle drive plates 64, 66 are interconnected by a needle operation member 70, a part of which protrudes from the long hole 32 on the base end side surface side of the first housing 12.

[0041] The needle drive cam grooves 68 of the needle drive plates 60, 62, 64, and 66 are inclined in the second direction in a section corresponding to one arrangement pitch of the sewing needles 34 as they go from the tip side to the base end side, and thereafter are linearly and flatly formed in the fourth direction. Thereby, when the needle operation member 70 is operated in the first direction, the thread cutting needle 36 and the sewing needles 34 are driven in the second direction in order.

[0042] The needle drive plates 60, 62 and the needle drive plates 64, 66 that are operated in the longitudinal direction of the first housing 12 by the needle operating member 70, and the second engagement protrusions 40d formed at the proximal end portion 40 of the sewing needle 34 and engaging with the needle drive cam grooves 68 formed in the needle drive plates 60, 62, 64, 66, and the first engagement protrusions 40c formed at the proximal end portion 40 of the sewing needle 34 and engaging with the guide grooves 38 formed on the opposing surfaces of the side walls 24, 26, and the central wall 28 function as a needle movement mechanism for moving the sewing needle 34 in the height direction (second direction) of the sewing apparatus 10.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, a cutter guide groove 72 is formed on the surface of the central wall 28 on the second direction side, and the cutter 76 attached to the tip of the cutter pusher 74 is moved along the cutter guide groove 72. The cutter pusher 74 is held movably in the longitudinal direction by a cover plate portion 82 of a cover member 80 fixed to the main body 20 by bolts 21. The cutter 76 is made of a thin steel plate and is used, for example, to cut between a pair of sewing sites of the workpiece T sandwiched between the first housing 12 and the second housing 14.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 1, the cover member 80 integrally includes a cover plate portion 82 that closes the second direction side of the first housing 12, and a box portion 86 that houses the lower thread bobbin 84 around which the lower thread 42 is wound and closes the distal end side of the main body 20 of the first housing 12. The lower thread bobbin 84 functions as a thread holding mechanism for holding the lower thread 42 supplied for sewing.

[0045] As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, etc., the cover plate portion 82 is formed with a plurality of rows of two rows of needle holes 88 for passing the suture needle 34 and the thread cutting needle 36, and a long hole 90 for enabling the movement of the cutter 76. Among the plurality of needle holes 88, the needle hole 88 through which the thread cutting needle 36 passes functions as a cutting edge for cutting the upper thread 138 and the lower thread 42 between the cutting edge 56 formed on the thread cutting needle 36. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the box portion 86 houses the lower thread bobbin 84 around which the lower thread 42 is wound, and is formed with a thread hole 92 for taking out the lower thread 42 drawn from the lower thread bobbin 84. Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and FIGS. 15 and 16 to be described later, the box portion 86 and the cover plate portion 82 are formed with a linear thread groove 96 that passes through a notch 94 that houses the U-shaped hook portion 102a of the thread hole 92, the needle hole 88, and the lower thread hook 102. The thread groove 96 is for fitting and temporarily positioning the lower thread 42 during the initial setting operation. A thread stop groove 98 for temporarily fixing the end of the lower thread 42 is formed on the side edge of the base end portion side of the cover plate portion 82.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIGS. 5 to 8, on the base end portion side of the first housing 12 rather than the longitudinal intermediate portion where the C-shaped bearing 16 protrudes in the cover plate portion 82 of the cover member 80, a thick plate-shaped operation member support base 100 is fixed. The operation member support base 100 holds a pair of lower thread hooks 102 movably in the longitudinal direction between the cover plate portion 82 of the cover member 80 to which it is fixed. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation member support base 100 is formed with a pair of upper thread hook through holes 104 penetrating in the longitudinal direction of the first housing 12 and a lock pipe engagement hole 106 penetrating in the longitudinal direction of the first housing 12. The operation member support base 100 holds a pair of longitudinal upper thread hooks 108 slidably in the longitudinal direction with the upper thread hook through holes 104 passed therethrough. Further, the operation member support base 100 holds a single longitudinal lock pipe 110 provided with a lock pipe operation portion 110a having a thickness smaller than the diameter of the lock pipe 110 slidably in the longitudinal direction with the lock pipe engagement hole 106 passed therethrough.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 8, the lock pipe 110 is inserted into a lock pipe guide groove 160 formed in the second housing 14, so that when a plurality of sewing needles 34 penetrate a material to be sewn T sandwiched between the first housing 12 and the second housing 14, the opening of the first housing 12 and the second housing 14 is restricted. The lock pipe 110 functions as a rotation prevention member, and the lock pipe 110, the lock pipe guide groove 160, etc. function as a lock mechanism for preventing the second housing 14 from rotating relative to the first housing 12.

[0048] In the initial state, the upper thread hook 108 includes a hook wire 108b having a hook portion 108a formed by bending the tip thereof into a U shape to hook the upper thread 138 as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 in detail, a hook pipe 108c through which the hook wire 108b is inserted, and an upper thread hook operation portion 112 described later shown in FIG. 1.

[0049] The tip of the hook pipe 108c in the first direction is obliquely cut so that the width in the third direction becomes smaller as it goes in the first direction in a plane including the first direction and the third direction, and it is a pipe material having an oblique end face 108d that opens in the first direction and the third direction. On the fifth direction side of the end face 108d, a notch 108e is formed to receive a portion of the hook wire 108b that constitutes the hook portion 108a and is in contact with the oblique end face 108d, so that the oblique end face 108d is flush.

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, FIGS. 5 to 8, etc., the upper thread hook operation portion 112 includes a wire connecting member 114 that rotatably connects the proximal end side ends of a pair of hook wires 108b and is immovable in the longitudinal direction, a pipe connecting member 116 that rotatably connects the proximal end side ends of a pair of hook pipes 108c and is immovable in the longitudinal direction, a spring 118 that is inserted between the wire connecting member 114 and the pipe connecting member 116 and biases them in a direction of separating from each other, that is, in a direction of pressing the hook portion 108a of the hook wire 108b against the end face 108d of the hook pipe 108c, a latching operation tool 120 that latches the wire connecting member 114 and the pipe connecting member 116 to stop their separation, a pair of gears 122 fixed to the proximal ends of the pair of hook pipes 108c, and an operation gear 124 that meshes with the pair of gears 122.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 6, the lower thread hook 102 includes a hook wire 102b having a hook portion 102a formed by bending the tip thereof into a U shape to latch the lower thread 42, a hook pipe 102c through which the hook wire 102b is inserted and having an end face cut at a right angle, and a lower thread hook operation portion 128 shown in detail in FIGS. 1 to 5, etc.

[0052] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the lower thread hook operation portion 128 includes a wire connecting member 130 that non-rotatably connects the proximal end side ends of a pair of hook wires 102b and is immovable in the longitudinal direction, a pipe connecting member 132 that non-rotatably connects the proximal end side ends of a pair of hook pipes 102c and is immovable in the longitudinal direction, a spring 134 that is inserted between the wire connecting member 130 and the pipe connecting member 132 and biases them in a direction of separating from each other, that is, in a direction of pressing the hook portion 102a of the hook wire 102b against the end face 102d of the hook pipe 102c, and a latching operation tool 136 that latches the wire connecting member 130 and the pipe connecting member 132 to stop their separation.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 4, the second housing 14 integrally includes a pair of longitudinally parallel side walls 140 and 142, a central wall 144 disposed parallel to them between the side walls 140 and 142, a bottom wall 146 connecting the tip portions of the side walls 140, 142 and the central wall 144, a front wall 148 connecting the front end faces of the side walls 140, 142 and the central wall 144, and a pair of pivot shafts 18 formed in the width direction of the second housing 14, and a base end connecting member 150 connecting the base end side bottoms of the side walls 140, 142 and the central wall 144.

[0054] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, at the tip of the second housing 14, a pair of detachable partition walls 152 are provided between the side wall 140 and the central wall 144 and between the side wall 142 and the central wall 144, respectively. A pair of boxes for accommodating a pair of upper yarn bobbins 156 around which the upper yarn 138 is wound are formed by the side wall 140 or the side wall 142, the central wall 144, the bottom wall 146, the front wall 148, and the partition wall 152. The pair of partition walls 152 are formed with upper yarn guide grooves 152a for positioning in advance the upper yarn 138 drawn from the upper yarn bobbin 156 at a position where the hook portion 108a of the forward-operated upper yarn hook 108 can be hooked.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 1, the central wall 144 is formed with a lock pipe guide groove 160 for passing the lock pipe 110 and the lock pipe operation portion 110a fixed to the tip thereof. The lock pipe guide groove 160 has a cross-sectional shape in which a circular cross-section slightly larger than the lock pipe 110 is connected to a rectangular cross-section with a thickness slightly larger than the lock pipe operation portion 110a.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 4, on the inner wall surface of the side wall 140 of the second housing 14 and on the wall surface of the central wall 144 on the side wall 140 side, a plurality of upper thread hook support portions 162 that support the upper thread hook 108 from the third direction are provided so as to stably move the upper thread hook 108 between the sewing needles 34. On the wall surface of the central wall 144 on the side wall 140 side and on the inner wall surface of the side wall 142, a pair of thread attracting protrusions 166 are provided, each of which protrudes to both sides of the thread cutting needle 36 in the longitudinal direction of the second housing 14 and forms an inclined surface for attracting the upper thread 138 pulled by the upper thread hook 108 toward the thread cutting needle 36 side. The inclined surfaces of the pair of thread attracting protrusions 166 are inclined so as to face the fifth direction as they face the fourth direction (protruding direction). In the process of lowering the thread cutting needle 36 in the fifth direction, the upper thread 138 is surely inserted into the thread cutting groove 54 of the thread cutting needle 36.

[0057] Next, an operation of sewing the workpiece T with the sewing thread L by the sewing apparatus 10 configured as described above will be described below with reference to FIGS. 15 to 24. The state in which the second housing 14 is opened from the first housing 12, shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, shows the initial state of the sewing apparatus 10, with the rotation axis 18 of the second housing 14 slightly separated from the bearing 16 of the first housing 12. Note that FIGS. 17 to 24 show the second housing 14 removed from the first housing 12.

[0058] In this initial state, as shown in FIG. 15, the lower thread 42 is set on the first housing 12. The lower thread 42 wound around the lower thread bobbin 84 in the box portion 86 is linearly drawn out from the thread hole 92, caught by the hook portion 102a of the lower thread hook 102, and then pressed against a thread stop groove 98 formed on the side edge of the base end portion side of the cover plate portion 82. By such a simple positioning operation of the lower thread 42, as shown in FIG. 11, the lower thread 42 in the first direction is hooked between a pair of apexes 44a and 44b of the sewing needle 34. FIG. 15 shows the first thread hooking placement step, which is a preliminary sewing step.

[0059] Next, after the workpiece T is inserted between the first housing 12 and the second housing 14 in this state, the first housing 12 and the second housing 14 are closed. Next, when the lock pipe operation part 110a shown in FIG. 8 is operated in the first direction, the lock pipe 110 is inserted into the lock pipe guide groove 160 of the second housing 14, and the rotation of the second housing 14 is locked. Then, when the needle operation member 70 shown in FIG. 1 is operated in the first direction, the plurality of sewing needles 34 and the thread cutting needle 36 are moved in the second direction and protruded from the cover plate part 82 of the first housing 12. FIG. 16 shows this state with the workpiece T omitted.

[0060] In the state of FIG. 16, as shown in FIG. 11, the lower thread 42 in the first direction, which was hooked between the pair of vertices 44a and 44b, is pushed down by the workpiece T toward the base end part 50 side of the sewing needle 34, and is rotated 90° around the needle center line CN of the sewing needle 34, and is locally made in the width direction of the first housing 12, that is, the third direction, to form a thread loop R that straddles the thread passing groove 46 in the second direction. FIG. 16 corresponds to a piercing process or a lower thread rotation process of locally rotating the portion of the lower thread 42 in the first direction that is hooked on the tip part 44 of the sewing needle 34 in the third direction.

[0061] Next, an upper thread gripping process is executed in which the upper thread hook 108 grips the upper thread 138 that has been previously drawn out from the upper thread bobbin 156 shown in FIG. 1 and is pre-positioned by the upper thread guide groove 152a formed in the partition wall 152. First, as shown in FIG. 17, when the upper thread hook operation part 112 is operated in the first direction, the pair of upper thread hooks 108 are advanced. In this state, the tip part of the upper thread hook 108 is passed through the thread cutting groove 54 formed in the thread cutting needle 36 and the thread passing groove 46 formed in the sewing needle 34. In the sewing needle 34, since the thread loop R that straddles the thread passing groove 46 in the second direction is formed, the tip part of the upper thread hook 108 is also passed through the thread loop R.

[0062] Next, when the operating gear 124 is operated, the upper thread hook 108 is rotated 90° clockwise toward the tip, and with the hook portion 108a in a horizontal posture parallel to the third direction, when the wire connecting member 114 of the upper thread hook operating portion 112 is further advanced, as shown in FIG. 18, the hook portion 108a of the hook wire 108b protrudes from the inclined end face 108d of the hook pipe 108c. In this state, since the hook portion 108a exceeds the position of the upper thread 138 positioned by the upper thread guide groove 152a shown in FIG. 2, the upper thread 138 enters inside the hook portion 108a. Next, when the upper thread hook operating portion 112 is retracted, the upper thread hook 108 is retracted by a predetermined distance, so that the upper thread 138 is positioned deeper inside the hook portion 108a. FIG. 19 shows this state.

[0063] Next, when the wire connecting member 114 of the upper thread hook operating portion 112 is retracted, as shown in FIG. 20, the hook portion 108a of the hook wire 108b is drawn into the inclined end face 108d of the hook pipe 108c. Thereby, the upper thread 138 is gripped between the hook portion 108a and the inclined end face 108d. Next, when the operating gear 124 is operated, the upper thread hook 108 is rotated 90° counterclockwise toward the tip, so that, as shown in FIG. 21, the hook portion 108a is in the posture shown in FIG. 13.

[0064] Next, when the upper thread hook operating portion 112 is retracted, the upper thread hook 108 is retracted in the fourth direction toward the original position. Also, the sewing needle 34 is retracted into the first housing 12, but the thread cutting needle 36 stands on the first housing 12, so the needle operating member 70 is operated. Further, the pipe connecting member 132 of the lower thread hook operating portion 128 is advanced to abut against the wire connecting member 130, and with the lower thread 42 being gripped, when the lower thread hook operating portion 128 is retracted, the lower thread hook 102 is retracted and the lower thread 42 is tightened. Also, when the needle operating member 70 is retracted, the sewing needle 34 is retracted and the sewing needle 34 is pulled out from the workpiece T to be sewn. FIG. 22 shows the second thread sewing step and the needle pulling step.

[0065] Next, by operating the cutter pusher 74, the cutter 76 is moved to the forward end, and the workpiece T is cut. FIG. 23 shows this state. Next, the needle operating member 70 is further retracted so that the thread cutting needle 36 is drawn into the first housing 12, and the upper thread 138 and the lower thread 42 are cut by the cutting edge 56 of the thread cutting needle 36. FIG. 24 shows this state.

[0066] As described above, according to the sewing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, a plurality of sewing needles 34 having a thread hooking portion formed at the tip 44 thereof, which are juxtaposed at predetermined intervals along the first direction and can hook the lower thread (first thread) 42, a first thread holding mechanism 84 that holds the lower thread 42 locked to the plurality of sewing needles 34, a needle moving mechanism (needle drive plates 60, 62, 64, 66) that moves the sewing needle 34 in a second direction that is the tip direction of the sewing needle 34 intersecting the first direction, and in a state where the sewing needle 34 is moved in the second direction, a part of the lower thread 42 extended in the first direction and hooked on the tip 44 of the sewing needle 34 is locally rotated around the needle center line CN of the sewing needle 34 in a direction along a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction. The side surface of the sewing needle 34 is formed with a thread-passing concave groove 46 that penetrates in the first direction in a state where the sewing needle 34 is moved in the second direction. Prior to the sewing operation, with the lower thread (first thread) 42 stretched linearly and locked to the tip (thread hooking portion) 44 of the sewing needle 34, when the sewing needle 34 is moved in the second direction, by the thread rotating structure (apexes 44a, 44b, third direction guide groove 44c), a part of the lower thread 42 extended in the first direction and hooked on the tip of the sewing needle 34 is locally rotated around the needle center line CN of the sewing needle 34 in a direction along the third direction. In this state, since a thread loop R is formed at the opening of the thread-passing concave groove 46 penetrating in the first direction, sewing is performed at once by passing the lower thread (first thread) 42 or the upper thread (second thread) 138 through the thread loop R. By locking the lower thread 42 to the tip of the sewing needle 34 in a linearly stretched state prior to such a sewing operation, the operation of arranging the lower thread 42 on the sewing needle is completed, so that the setting operation of the sewing thread prior to the sewing operation is simplified.

[0067] According to the sewing device 10 of the present embodiment, the thread-passing groove 46 has an inclined surface 46a in which the groove bottom of the thread-passing groove 46 becomes shallower toward the tip of the sewing needle 34. Thereby, when the sewing needle 34 is pulled out from the workpiece T, the catching of the thread-passing groove 46 with respect to the workpiece T is suppressed, and the pulling out becomes easy.

[0068] According to the sewing device 10 of the present embodiment, the thread rotation structure (apexes 44a, 44b, third direction guide groove 44c) includes two apexes 44a, 44b formed at the tip 44 of the sewing needle 34 and capable of passing the lower thread 42 between them, a third direction guide groove 44c formed in communication between the two apexes 44a, 44b in the third direction, and two inclined guide surfaces 44d, 44e inclined from the two apexes 44a, 44b toward the third direction guide groove 44c. Thereby, in relation to the sewing needle 34 being punctured into the workpiece T, a part of the first direction that has passed through the two apexes 44a, 44b among the lower threads 42 locked between the two apexes 44a, 44b formed at the tips 44 of the plurality of sewing needles 34 is automatically guided in the third direction by the third direction guide groove 44c.

[0069] According to the sewing device 10 of the present embodiment, the third direction guide groove 44c is formed to pass through the needle center line CN of the sewing needle 34 and penetrate in the third direction, the two apexes 44a, 44b are located on both sides of the third direction guide groove 44c, and the two apexes 44a, 44b and the two inclined guide surfaces 44d, 44e are formed point-symmetrically with respect to the needle center line CN of the sewing needle 34. Thereby, a part of the lower thread 42 in the first direction locked between the two apexes 44a, 44b is locally rotated in the third direction as it falls into the third direction guide groove 44c.

[0070] According to the stitching device 10 of this embodiment, it is provided in a housing (the first housing 12 and the second housing 14) that holds a plurality of sewing needles 34, and is provided at the base end portion 40 of the sewing needle 34 to support the sewing needle 34. A needle base 40a, and a moving member (needle drive plates 60, 62, 64, 66) that can move along the first direction of the housing and the fourth direction opposite to the first direction. The needle base 40a includes a first engaging protrusion (first engaging portion) 40c that engages with a protruding guide groove (guide portion) 38 formed on the inner wall surface of the housing, and a second engaging protrusion (second engaging portion) 40d that is formed on the moving member and drives the sewing needle 34 in the protruding direction and engages with the needle drive cam groove 68. When the moving member moves, the needle base 40a is slid along the protruding guide groove 38, and the sewing needle 34 is moved toward the tip portion 44. As a result, when the moving member moves, the needle base 40a is slid along the protruding guide groove 38, and the sewing needle 34 is moved toward the tip portion 44. Therefore, along with the movement of the needle drive plates 60, 62, 64, 66, a plurality of sewing needles 34 are simultaneously moved in the second direction, which is the tip side thereof.

[0071] According to the stitching device 10 of this embodiment, a thread cutting needle 36 is provided in a row at the end position in the first direction of a plurality of sewing needles 34 juxtaposed along the first direction. On the side surface of the thread cutting needle 36, a cutting edge 56 facing the base end portion 50 side of the thread cutting needle 36 is provided at a position on the tip side of the thread cutting needle 36, and a thread cutting groove 54 penetrating in the first direction is formed. Thereby, when the thread cutting needle 36 is drawn into the first housing 12, the lower thread 42 and the upper thread 138 passed through the thread loop are cut.

[0072] According to the stitching device 10 of this embodiment, the cutting edge 56 of the thread cutting groove 54 is inclined toward the base end portion 50 side of the thread cutting needle 36 as it goes toward the tip of the cutting edge 56. Thereby, when the thread cutting needle 36 is drawn into the first housing 12 toward its base end portion 50 side, the escape of the lower thread 42 in the thread cutting groove 54 is suppressed, and the lower thread 42 is surely cut.

[0073] According to the sewing device 10 of this embodiment, it includes a first housing 12 and a second housing 14 that can be opened and closed. The first housing 12 includes a sewing needle 34, a lower thread 42, and a lower thread bobbin (first thread holding mechanism) 84. The second housing 14 is longitudinally shaped in the first direction. In the state where the first housing 12 and the second housing 14 are closed, an upper thread hook (first thread hook) 108 that can move in the first direction and the fourth direction within a thread passage groove 46 formed on the side surface of the sewing needle 34 is provided. Thereby, the upper thread hook (first thread hook) 108 that catches the upper thread 138 or the lower thread 42 is passed through the thread loop R formed on the third direction side of the sewing needle 34, and sewing is performed all at once.

[0074] According to the sewing device 10 of this embodiment, the upper thread hook (first thread hook) 108 has a tubular hook pipe (tubular member) 108c whose tip in the first direction is obliquely cut so that the width in the third direction becomes smaller as it faces the first direction within the plane including the first direction and the third direction, and has an obliquely cut end face 108d that opens in the first direction and the third direction, and a hook portion (hook part) 108a whose tip in the first direction is bent in a U shape. The hook wire (hook member) 108b is inserted into the hook pipe 108c so as to be relatively movable in the first direction and the fourth direction until the hook portion 108a abuts against the obliquely cut end face 108d of the hook pipe 108c. Thereby, the upper thread 138 or the lower thread 42 is gripped between the hook portion 108a of the hook wire 108b and the obliquely cut end face 108d of the hook pipe 108c and is drawn through the thread loop R.

[0075] According to the sewing device 10 of the present embodiment, in a state where the first housing and the second housing that hold the upper thread 138 (second thread) at the tip in the first direction are closed, the second housing 14 holds the upper thread 138 on the first direction side of the sewing needle 34 located at the end in the first direction among the plurality of sewing needles 34. The second housing 14 is provided with an upper thread bobbin 156 (second thread holding mechanism). The first housing 12 includes a sewing needle 34, a lower thread 42, and a lower thread bobbin (first thread holding mechanism) 84. The second housing 14 is longitudinally long in the first direction, and in a state where the first housing 12 and the second housing 14 are closed, an upper thread hook (first thread hook) 108 that can be moved in the first direction and the fourth direction in a thread passing groove 46 formed on the side surface of the sewing needle 34 is provided. Therefore, in a state where the sewing needle 34 is moved in the second direction by a needle moving mechanism such as needle drive plates (moving members) 60, 62, 64, 66, etc., after the upper thread hook (first thread hook) 108 grips the upper thread 138, it is moved in the fourth direction in the thread passing groove 46. Thereby, the workpiece T is sewn with the lower thread 42 and the upper thread 138.

[0076] According to the sewing device 10 of the present embodiment, the first housing is provided with a thread hole (first thread guiding groove) 92 for guiding the lower thread (first thread) 42 supplied from the lower thread bobbin (first thread holding mechanism) 84, a lower thread hook (second thread hook) 102 that can be moved in the first direction and the fourth direction and on which the lower thread 42 passing through the tip 44 of the sewing needle 34 from the thread stop groove 98 is hung, and a thread stop groove (first thread hanging stop groove) 98 for hanging and stopping the tip of the lower thread 42 hung on the lower thread hook 102. Thereby, since the lower thread 42 is tightened by the lower thread hook 102, a non-loose stitch can be obtained.

[0077] According to the stitching device 10 of this embodiment, an opening / closing mechanism (bearing 16, rotating shaft 18) that maintains a closed state in which the workpiece T is sandwiched between the first housing 12 and the second housing 14, or an open state in which the first housing 12 and the second housing 14 are separated, and a locking mechanism (lock pipe engagement hole 106, lock pipe 110) that maintains the closed state between the first housing 12 and the second housing 14 by the opening / closing mechanism are provided. Thereby, when the sewing needles 34 in the first housing 12 are moved toward the second direction side by a needle movement mechanism such as needle drive plates (moving members) 60, 62, 64, 66 when the plurality of sewing needles 34 penetrate the workpiece T, the opening of the first housing 12 and the second housing 14 is restricted.

[0078] According to the stitching device 10 of this embodiment, the opening / closing mechanism (bearing 16, rotating shaft 18) includes a rotating shaft 18 having a rotation axis C that fixes the second housing 14 to the first housing 12 at the end of the second housing 14 and enables the second housing 14 to rotate between an open state and a closed state. The locking mechanism (lock pipe engagement hole 106, lock pipe 110) is a longitudinally shaped member along the first direction, and is insertable and removable in a direction intersecting the rotation axis C with respect to the second housing 14, and includes a lock pipe (rotation prevention member) 110 that prevents rotation around the rotation axis C, and a lock pipe engagement hole (engagement hole) 106 provided in the first housing 12 and into which the lock pipe 110 is insertable and removable. Thereby, when the rotation prevention member is inserted into the second housing 14 when the plurality of sewing needles 34 penetrate the workpiece T, the opening of the first housing 12 and the second housing 14 is restricted.

[0079] According to the suturing method by the suturing device 10 of the present embodiment, before piercing the plurality of suture needles 34 into the object to be sutured T, a first thread hanging step of linearly hanging the lower thread (first thread) 42 along the first direction on the tip portions 44 of the plurality of suture needles 34; a piercing step of piercing the plurality of suture needles 34 into the object to be sutured T and locally rotating the direction of the portion of the lower thread 42 hooked on the suture needle 34 in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction so as to be positioned above the opening of the thread passing groove 46; a first thread suturing step of moving in the first direction and passing the lower thread (first thread) 42 through the thread loop R formed by the lower thread 42 for each suture needle 34 by moving the thread hook 108 in a fourth direction opposite to the first direction with the lower thread 42 hooked on the tip of the thread hook 108 passing through the thread passing groove 46; and a needle withdrawing step of withdrawing the suture needle 34 from the object to be sutured T. Thus, prior to the suturing operation, with the lower thread 42 stretched linearly and hooked on the tip portion (thread hanging portion) 44 of the suture needle 34, when the suture needle 34 is moved in the second direction, a part of the lower thread 42 stretched in the first direction and hooked on the tip portion (thread hanging portion) 44 of the suture needle 34 is locally rotated around the needle center line CN of the suture needle 34 in the direction along the third direction by the thread rotation structure (apexes 44a, 44b, third direction guide groove 44c). In this state, since the thread loop R is formed at the opening of the thread passing groove 46 penetrating in the first direction, the thread hook 108 is passed through the thread passing groove 46 and the lower thread 42 and the upper thread 138 are passed through the thread loop R, so that the suturing is performed all at once. In this way, prior to the suturing operation, by hanging the lower thread 42 linearly and hooking it on the tip portion (thread hanging portion) 44 of the suture needle 34, the operation of arranging the lower thread 42 on the suture needle 34 is completed, so that the setting operation of the suture thread prior to the suturing operation becomes simple.

[0080] According to the sewing method by the sewing device 10 of this embodiment, before piercing the plurality of sewing needles 34 into the workpiece T to be sewn, a first thread hanging step of linearly hanging the lower thread (first thread) 42 along the first direction on the tip portions 44 of the plurality of sewing needles 34; a piercing step of piercing the plurality of sewing needles 34 into the workpiece T to be sewn, and locally rotating the direction of the portion of the lower thread 42 hooked on the sewing needle 34 in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction to position it above the opening of the thread passing groove 46; a second thread sewing step of moving in the first direction and passing the upper thread (second thread) 138 through the thread loop R formed by the lower thread 42 for each sewing needle 34 by moving the thread hook 108 in a fourth direction opposite to the first direction with the upper thread 138 hooked on the tip of the thread hook 108 passing through the thread passing groove 46; and a needle pulling step of pulling out the sewing needle 34 from the workpiece T to be sewn. Thus, prior to the sewing operation, with the lower thread 42 stretched linearly and hooked on the tip portion (thread hanging portion) 44 of the sewing needle 34, when the sewing needle 34 is moved in the second direction, a part of the lower thread 42 stretched in the first direction and hooked on the tip portion (thread hanging portion) 44 of the sewing needle 34 is locally rotated around the needle center line CN of the sewing needle 34 in the direction along the third direction by the thread rotation structure (apexes 44a, 44b, third direction guide groove 44c). In this state, since the thread loop R is formed at the opening of the thread passing groove 46 penetrating in the first direction, the sewing is performed at once by passing the thread hook 108 through the thread passing groove 46 and passing the lower thread 42 and the upper thread 138 through the thread loop R. In this way, prior to the sewing operation, by hanging the lower thread 42 linearly and hooking it on the tip portion (thread hanging portion) 44 of the sewing needle 34, the operation of arranging the lower thread 42 on the sewing needle 34 is completed, so that the setting operation of the sewing thread prior to the sewing operation becomes simple.

Embodiment

[0081] FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing another suture needle 234 used in place of the suture needle 34. The suture needle 234 of this embodiment is common in that it has two vertices 244a and 244b spaced apart in the third direction, a third-direction guide groove 244c between the two vertices 244a and 244b, and a thread-passing concave groove 246 penetrating in the first direction. However, it is different in that the heights of the two vertices 244a and 244b are different, and the groove bottom surface of the third-direction guide groove 244c is a flat surface rather than a convex surface.

[0082] As described above, an embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is also applicable to other aspects.

[0083] For example, the upper thread 138 and the lower thread 42 in the above-described embodiment are preferably a natural thread twisted from a vegetable or animal natural fiber, a synthetic resin thread composed of a single strand or a twisted strand of a synthetic fiber, a metal thread composed of a single strand or a twisted strand of metal, a composite thread composed of a natural fiber and a synthetic fiber, and the like.

[0084] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, as a thread rotation structure for locally rotating a part of the lower thread 42 in the first direction, which is hooked between a pair of vertices 44a and 44b at the tip of the suture needle 34, a third-direction guide groove 44c that opens between the pair of vertices 44a and 44b and is formed at the tip portion 44 of the suture needle 34 was used. However, by rotating the suture needle 34 by 90° around its needle center line CN, a thread rotation structure for locally rotating a part of the lower thread 42 in the first direction, which is hooked between a pair of vertices 44a and 44b at the tip of the suture needle 34, may be adopted. That is, according to the suture device 10 of the present embodiment, the tip portion 44 of the suture needle 34 is formed with two vertices 44a and 44b through which the lower thread 42 can pass between each other, and a first-direction hooking concave groove 44c formed between the two vertices 44a and 44b, and a suture needle rotation mechanism for rotating the suture needle 34 around the needle center line CN of the suture needle 34 so as to rotate the first-direction hooking concave groove 44c formed between the two vertices 44a and 44b at the tip portion 44 of the suture needle 34 in the third direction may be provided. Also by this, a part of the lower thread 42 in the first direction hooked in the first-direction hooking concave groove 44c formed between the two vertices 44a and 44b is locally rotated in the third direction as the suture needle 34 is rotated by the suture needle rotation mechanism.

[0085] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the lower thread 42 and the upper thread 138 were used for suturing, but by performing the first thread suturing step instead of the above-described second thread suturing step, suturing with only the lower thread 42 can be performed. For example, the upper thread hook (first thread hook) 108, in a state where the suture needle 34 is moved in the second direction by a needle movement mechanism such as the needle drive plates (moving members) 60, 62, 64, 66, etc., hooks the lower thread 42 that constitutes the thread loop R formed by the suture needle 34 in the suture needle 34 located at the first-direction end among the plurality of suture needles 34 with the hook portion 108a of the hook wire 108b and retracts the hook wire 108b into the hook pipe 108c, and after gripping between the hook portion 108a of the hook wire 108b and the inclined end face 108d of the hook pipe 108c, it is moved in the fourth direction in the thread passage groove 46. Thereby, the first thread suturing step is executed and suturing with only the lower thread 42 is performed all at once.

[0086] Also, in the above-described embodiment, the first housing 12 and the second housing 14 are the first housing 12 and the second housing 14 having a rectangular cross-section, but may be tubular members having a circular, elliptical, or polygonal cross-section.

[0087] Also, in the above-described embodiment, operation members such as 70, 110a, 112, and 128 may be changed, for example, to a shape for remote operation. Further, it may be changed to a shape capable of connecting an actuator for electrically driving and controlling.

[0088] Also, in the sewing device 10 of the above-described embodiment, the sewing needles 34 are arranged in two rows, but may be arranged in one row or three or more rows.

[0089] Although not exemplified one by one, the present invention can be implemented in various modified and improved forms based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0090] 10: Sewing device 12: First housing 14: Second housing 16: Bearing (opening / closing mechanism) 18: Rotating shaft (opening / closing mechanism) 34: Sewing needle 36: Thread cutting needle 38: Guide groove (guide part) 40: Base end part 40a: Needle base 40c: First engaging protrusion (first engaging part, needle moving mechanism) 40d: Second engaging protrusion (second engaging part, needle moving mechanism) 42: Lower thread (first thread) 44: Tip part (thread hooking part) 44a: Vertex (thread rotating structure) 44b: Vertex (thread rotating structure) 44c: Third direction guide groove (thread rotating structure) 44c: Hooking concave groove 44d: Inclined guide surface 44e: Inclined guide surface 46: Concave groove for thread passage 46a: Inclined surface 50: Base end portion 50a: Needle base 52: Tip end portion 54: Concave groove for thread cutting 60: Needle drive plate (moving member) 62: Needle drive plate (moving member) 64: Needle drive plate (moving member) 66: Needle drive plate (moving member) 68: Needle drive cam groove 84: Lower thread bobbin (first thread holding mechanism) 102: Lower thread hook (second thread hook) 102a: Hook portion 106: Lock pipe engagement hole (engagement hole) 108: Upper thread hook (first thread hook) 108a: Hook portion 108b: Hook wire (hook member) 108c: Hook pipe (tubular member) 108d: Oblique end face 110: Lock pipe (rotation prevention member, lock mechanism) 110a: Lock pipe operation portion 138: Upper thread (second thread) 156: Upper thread bobbin (second thread holding mechanism) 160: Lock pipe guide groove (lock mechanism) 234: Sewing needle 244a: Vertex (thread rotation structure) 244b: Vertex (thread rotation structure) 244c: Third direction guide groove (thread rotation structure) C: Rotation axis center CN: Needle center line (center line) L: Sewing thread R: Thread loop T: Workpiece to be sewn

Claims

1. A plurality of suture needles having thread latching portions formed at their tip ends and juxtaposed at predetermined intervals along a first direction, the thread latching portions being capable of latching a first thread; A first thread holding mechanism for holding the first thread to be latched to the plurality of suture needles; A needle moving mechanism for moving the suture needles in a second direction which is the tip direction of the suture needles intersecting the first direction; In a state where the suture needles are moved in the second direction, a part of the first thread extended in the first direction and latched to the thread latching portion of the suture needles is locally rotated around the center line of the suture needles in a direction along a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, and includes a thread rotation structure; On the side surface of the suture needle, thread passing concave grooves penetrating in the first direction are respectively formed in a state where the suture needle is moved in the second direction; The thread rotation structure is formed at the tip end of the suture needle, and is formed point-symmetrically with respect to the center line of the suture needle, and has two vertices capable of passing the first thread between each other, a third direction guide groove formed in the third direction communicating between the two vertices, and two guide surfaces connecting the two vertices and the guide groove in the third direction; A suture device characterized by the above.

2. The two guide surfaces are two inclined guide surfaces inclined from the two vertices toward the third direction guide groove. The suture device according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The thread passing concave groove has an inclined surface in which the groove bottom of the thread passing concave groove becomes shallower toward the tip of the suture needle. The suture device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above.

4. The needle moving mechanism is Provided in a housing that holds the plurality of suture needles, and includes a needle base provided on the proximal end side of the suture needle to support the suture needle; A moving member movable along the first direction of the housing and a fourth direction opposite to the first direction; The needle base includes a first engaging portion that engages with a guiding portion formed on the inner wall surface of the housing, and a second engaging portion that engages with a needle driving cam groove that drives the suture needle in the second direction formed on the moving member; When the moving member moves, the needle base is slid along the guiding portion, and the suture needle is moved in the second direction. The suture device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the above.

5. A thread cutting needle is provided at an end position in the first direction continuous with the plurality of suture needles juxtaposed along the first direction. On the side surface of the thread cutting needle, a cutting edge facing the proximal end side of the thread cutting needle is provided at a position on the tip side of the thread cutting needle, and a thread cutting concave groove penetrating in the first direction is formed. The sewing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that.

6. The cutting edge of the thread cutting concave groove is inclined toward the proximal end side of the thread cutting needle as it faces the tip of the cutting edge. The sewing device according to claim 5, characterized in that.

7. Comprising a first housing and a second housing that can be opened and closed, The first housing includes the sewing needle, the first thread, and the first thread holding mechanism. The second housing is longitudinally long in the first direction, and includes a first thread hook that can be moved in the first direction and a fourth direction opposite to the first direction in the thread passing concave groove formed on the side surface of the sewing needle when the first housing and the second housing are closed. The sewing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that.

8. The first thread hook includes a tubular member having an oblique end face that is obliquely cut so that the width in the third direction becomes smaller as the tip in the first direction faces the first direction in a plane including the first direction and the third direction and opens in the first direction and the third direction, and a hook portion having a tip in the first direction bent in a U shape, and the hook portion is inserted into the tubular member so as to be relatively movable in the first direction and the fourth direction until the hook portion abuts against the oblique end face of the tubular member. The sewing device according to claim 7, characterized in that.

9. In a state where the sewing needle is moved in the second direction by the needle moving mechanism, the first thread forming a thread loop formed by the sewing needle in the sewing needle located at the end in the first direction among the plurality of sewing needles is hooked by the hook portion, and the hook member is relatively moved in the tubular member until it abuts against the oblique end face of the tubular member, and after being gripped between the hook portion and the oblique end face, the oblique end face is rotated to a position facing the fifth direction opposite to the second direction and is moved in the fourth direction in the thread passing concave groove. The sewing device according to claim 8, characterized in that.

10. The second housing includes a second thread holding mechanism that holds a second thread on the first direction side of the sewing needle located at the end in the first direction among the plurality of sewing needles when the first housing and the second housing are closed. In a state where the sewing needle is moved in the second direction by the needle moving mechanism, after the first thread hook grips the second thread, it catches the hook member with the hook portion and retracts the hook member into the tubular member, and then grips between the hook portion and the inclined end surface. After that, the inclined end surface is rotated to a position facing the fifth direction opposite to the second direction, and is moved in the fourth direction within the thread passing groove. The sewing device according to claim 8, characterized in that.

11. The first housing is provided with a first thread guide groove for guiding the first thread supplied from the first thread holding mechanism, a second thread hook that is moved in the first direction and the fourth direction and on which the first thread passing through the tip of the sewing needle from the first thread guide groove is hung, and a first thread latching groove for latching the tip of the first thread hung on the second thread hook. The sewing device according to claim 10, characterized in that.

12. An opening and closing mechanism for maintaining a closed state in which the workpiece to be sewn is sandwiched between the first housing and the second housing, or an open state in which the first housing and the second housing are separated, A locking mechanism for maintaining a closed state between the first housing and the second housing by the opening and closing mechanism. The sewing device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that.

13. The opening and closing mechanism fixes the second housing to the first housing at an end of the second housing and has a rotation axis around which the second housing can rotate between an open state and a closed state. The locking mechanism is a longitudinal member along the first direction, is insertable and removable in a direction intersecting the rotation axis with respect to the second housing, and includes a rotation prevention member for preventing rotation around the rotation axis, and an engagement hole provided in the first housing into which the rotation prevention member is insertable and removable. The sewing device according to claim 12, characterized in that.

14. A plurality of sewing needles having thread latching portions formed at their tips and juxtaposed at predetermined intervals along the first direction and capable of latching the first thread, A first thread holding mechanism for holding the first thread to be locked to the plurality of sewing needles, A needle moving mechanism for moving the sewing needle in a second direction which is the tip direction of the sewing needle intersecting the first direction. In a state where the suture needle is moved in the second direction, a part of the first thread extended in the first direction and caught by the thread catching portion of the suture needle is locally rotated around the center line of the suture needle in a direction along a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, and includes a thread rotation structure, On the side surface of the suture needle, thread passing concave grooves penetrating in the first direction are respectively formed in a state where the suture needle is moved in the second direction, At the tip of the suture needle, two vertices capable of passing the first thread between each other and a latching concave groove in the first direction formed between the two vertices are formed, The thread rotation structure includes a suture needle rotation mechanism that rotates the suture needle around the center line of the suture needle so as to rotate the latching concave groove in the first direction formed between the two vertices in the third direction. A suture device characterized by the above.

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