Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Product assembly or manufacturing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-07
2004-03-16
Picard, Leo (Department: 2125)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Product assembly or manufacturing
C112S470060, C112S102500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06708076
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
The invention relates to a sewing apparatus management system for collectively managing a plurality of sewing apparatuses, such as an embroidery sewing machine and an embroidery data processing apparatus, via a network.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, a sewing apparatus, such as an embroidery sewing machine and an embroidery data processing apparatus, includes a control unit similar to a general personal computer to control operations of the sewing apparatus. At a sewing plant where products are manufactured using a plurality of embroidery sewing machines or embroidery data processing apparatuses, in order to manage the entire plant, the terminal of each embroidery sewing machine or embroidery data processing apparatus is connected to a management computer via a network line. Therefore, the embroidery sewing machines or the embroidery data processing apparatuses are collectively managed. Each embroidery sewing machine performs a sewing operation to form an embroidery pattern and the embroidery data processing apparatus creates data for an embroidery pattern. The operations that can be performed on the embroidery sewing machine and the embroidery data processing apparatus are different. However, there is no difference in the invention even when either one is used, so that hereinafter the embroidery sewing machine will be described.
Conventionally, in a management system for the embroidery sewing machines networked as described above, a supervisor generally performs operations by observing information displayed on a display of the management computer sent from each embroidery sewing machine. The information for each embroidery sewing machine includes, for example, an installation site of the embroidery sewing machine, a model, an operating condition, an embroidery pattern name being sewn, and an operator's name. There are various kinds of embroidery patterns. For example, there are small embroidery patterns, such as a patch and a mark on a cap, and large embroidery patterns, such as those formed on a back of a jacket or on a short split curtain. Further, there are continuous embroidery patterns formed on a fabric before cutting or sewing and single embroidery patterns formed on a work cloth after cutting or sewing. Therefore, conditions for management, such as a turnaround time of embroidering and the size of the embroidery pattern, vary with the embroidery pattern.
At a small plant, the number of the embroidery sewing machines is relatively small, and the number of kinds of the embroidery patterns ordered by the plant is also small. Therefore, the embroidery sewing machines can be easily managed. However, as the scale of the plant becomes large, the installation sites of the embroidery sewing machines are spread out in the plant and the number of kinds of the embroidery patterns ordered by the plant increases. Therefore, it is important to network the embroidery sewing machines. The supervisor assigns operations for embroidering a newly-ordered embroidery pattern to each embroidery sewing machine, and sends the embroidery data to be used in each embroidery sewing machine using the management computer. Wasted operations at the entire plant can be eliminated by such that the supervisor supplies materials and products as necessary in accordance with work progress, manages the operations so that the work is provided evenly to all operators, and speedily takes countermeasures toward the embroidery sewing machines when an abnormal condition occurs. Therefore, operating efficiency can be increased.
However, in the conventional management system, as the number of embroidery sewing machines to be managed increases, the amount of information to be displayed on the display of the management computer also increases. Accordingly, it is difficult to manage all the embroidery sewing machines at the same time. There may also be cases where the plants to be managed are spread out in all parts of the world. In this case, the number of embroidery sewing machines becomes enormous, so that the management of all the embroidery sewing machines becomes more difficult. In particular, it is serious when the information sent from all the embroidery sewing machines cannot be displayed in a frame on the display. In order to obtain the information of all the embroidery sewing machines, the supervisor has to scroll the information on the screen and interchange the pieces of the information. As a result, the supervisor gets tired, or confused, and may miss important information. Information of the desired embroidery sewing machine can be displayed by searching the information under certain criteria. However, a key operation, such as inputting new criteria every time searching criteria change is required causes the management operation to become troublesome and time is wasted.
On the other hand, as the number of the embroidery sewing machines to be managed further increases, the amount of data collected in the management computer becomes extremely large. Therefore, the amount of data may exceed the capacity of the computer. In order to address this problem, a method is conceivable in which the number of the embroidery sewing machines to be managed by one management computer is reduced by using a plurality of management computers. However, if the number of the management computers is increased, the management is spread over many places. Accordingly, collective management becomes difficult. When the management computers are spread out in all parts of the world, data exchanged between the management computers may be mixed. Therefore, the collective management of the whole management system becomes more difficult.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing problems, the invention provides a sewing apparatus management system that can manage a plurality of sewing apparatuses via a network with improved efficiency. In the sewing apparatus management system, one or more management computers are used to manage the plurality of sewing apparatuses.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, a sewing apparatus management system may include a plurality of sewing apparatuses; a plurality of terminals are provided, each corresponding to a one of the plurality of sewing apparatuses; and a management computer connected to the plurality of terminals via a network to manage the plurality of sewing apparatuses, various management information for the plurality of sewing apparatuses being transmitted from the plurality of terminals to the management computer; wherein the management computer comprises a classification information storage device to store classification information obtained by identifying the plurality of sewing apparatuses and classifying the same into a plurality of groups according to a category; and a managing device that selectively manages, when one of the plurality of groups is selected on the management computer, at least one sewing apparatus belonging to the selected group.
With this configuration, the management computer manages the plurality of sewing apparatuses based on the management information transmitted from the plurality of terminals. Upon a selection of one of the plurality of groups, the management computer handles the management information associated only with the selected group and selectively manages a part of the plurality of sewing apparatuses. Accordingly, the management computer handles, at any one time, a limited number of sewing apparatuses and a lesser amount of management information and, as a result, takes a shorter time to identify relevant sewing apparatuses and process relevant management information. Thus, the plurality of sewing apparatuses can be managed with improved efficiency, each serving apparatus, for example, including an embroidery sewing machine and an embroidery data processing apparatus.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, a sewing apparatus management system may include a plurality of sewing apparatuses; a plurality of terminals each provided correspondi
Tei Gyomei
Zhang Rui
Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Cabrera Zoila
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Picard Leo
LandOfFree
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