Sewing Machine Pattern Alignment via Needle Drop Correction

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sewing machines face difficulties in accurately aligning border patterns due to material puckering, requiring users to perform complex adjustments to ensure precise positioning during the sewing process.

Innovation Solution

A sewing machine and pattern alignment method that utilize a processor and memory to acquire and correct pattern data by adjusting needle drop points based on the actual sewing start point, allowing for simpler operation by rotating, enlarging, or contracting patterns around a reference point for precise alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the user manually adjusts the arrangement between multiple patterns based on the actual sewing position, then the pattern alignment precision is improved, but the operation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepattern alignment precisionVSAvoidoperation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary correction of pattern data by calculating the difference between the sewing start point indicated by pattern data and the actual sewing start point. This correction is applied in advance to generate corrected pattern data, eliminating the need for manual adjustment operations by the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sewing machine automatically detects the actual sewing start point and performs self-correction of pattern data without requiring user intervention. The system uses the detected actual position to recalculate and correct needle drop points, enabling the machine to serve itself in maintaining pattern alignment precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If the pattern data is corrected based on the difference between indicated and actual sewing start points, then the sewing position accuracy is improved, but the processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesewing position accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by detecting the actual sewing start point and using this information to correct the pattern data. The correction process involves calculating the position difference and applying it to adjust needle drop points, creating a closed-loop system that continuously improves sewing position accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment operations with an automated computational system. The processor automatically calculates position differences and corrects pattern data, substituting complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms with electronic processing and software-based correction algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If the user performs complex adjustments for material puckering, then the pattern alignment accuracy is improved, but the time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepattern alignment accuracyVSAvoidadjustment time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary correction of pattern data by calculating the difference between the sewing start point indicated by pattern data and the actual sewing start point. This correction is applied in advance to generate corrected pattern data, eliminating the need for manual adjustment operations by the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sewing machine automatically detects the actual sewing start point and performs self-correction of pattern data without requiring user intervention. The system uses the detected actual position to recalculate and correct needle drop points, enabling the machine to serve itself in maintaining pattern alignment precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11180879B2Sewing machine and pattern alignment method

Publication Date: 2021.11.23 BROTHER KOGYO KK

AI summary

A sewing machine includes a sewing portion, a movement portion, a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, instruct the processor to perform processes. The processes include acquiring pattern data indicating positions of a plurality of needle drop points to sew a pattern, acquiring a position of a sewing start point of the pattern, performing first correction, performing second correction that uses the acquired position of the sewing start point as a base point, and corrects the pattern data, by changing, by an acquired change amount, the positions of the plurality of needle drop points represented by the pattern data corrected by the first correction, and controlling the sewing portion and the movement portion and sewing the pattern on the sewing object, in accordance with the pattern data corrected by the second correction.