Sewing – Special machines – Embroidering
Reexamination Certificate
2003-06-24
2004-09-28
Nerbun, Peter (Department: 3765)
Sewing
Special machines
Embroidering
C112S470180, C112S155000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06796253
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for driving an embroidery frame of an embroidery machine. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for driving an embroidery frame of a multi-headed embroidery machine having a plurality of heads, wherein linear motors, for driving the embroidery frame in a direction of X-axis or Y-axis, are subdivided by their capacities so that they can be connected externally to prevent the deflection of the embroidery frame and a plurality of linear motors can be controlled simultaneously by means of a driver and a linear scale.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The constitution and operation of a general embroidery machine will now be explained with reference to drawings.
As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, an embroidery frame
4
is positioned on a table
2
having a rectangular shape. The table
2
has an X-axis slot
6
formed a determined length on its side along its longitudinal direction for guiding the embroidery frame
4
to move in the X-axis direction. The table
2
also has a Y-axis slot
8
formed a determined length on its rear side along its longitudinal direction for guiding the embroidery frame
4
to move in the Y-axis direction.
The embroidery frame
4
is provided with a beam
10
on its center portion. The beam
10
extends to the opposite ends of the table
2
. The beam
10
is provided with a number of heads
12
arranged at an interval. The heads
12
comprise a plurality of needles. The number of heads
12
corresponds to the number of locations where embroidery is to be performed. The heads
12
are connected with a main-axis driving unit
16
positioned below the table
2
at the other side for transmitting power.
The embroidery frame
4
is also provided with an X-axis driving unit
17
on its side for supplying power necessary for the movement (forward or backward) of the embroidery frame
4
in the X-axis direction. The X-axis driving unit
17
will now be described in detail with reference to
FIGS. 3 and 4
.
The X-axis driving unit
17
has a roller
18
positioned at a side of the embroidery frame
4
rotatably. The roller
18
engages with a front portion of a first connector frame
20
for moving the embroidery frame
4
in the X-axis direction. The first connector frame
20
has a guide groove
22
formed on its front face in its longitudinal direction for guiding the roller
18
to slide in the Y-axis direction.
The first connector frame
20
is engaged with an upper end of a supporter
24
at its lower portion. The supporter
24
slides within the X-axis slot
6
and is provided with a linear motor
26
at its lower end for supplying power necessary for the movement of the embroidery frame
4
in the X-axis direction. The linear motor
26
is connected with a control unit
28
for controlling the actuation thereof. The controller unit
28
is positioned below the table
2
.
The control unit
28
is connected with an operation unit
30
for providing an operator with a menu necessary for selecting shapes and colors during embroidery.
There are various types of linear motors
26
. However, the constitution of a linear motor
26
most suitable for the embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following.
The linear motor
26
is provided with a rack base
34
having a magnet
32
positioned in the longitudinal direction. The rack base
34
is interposed by rails
36
acting as guides. A slider
38
is placed on top of the rails
36
. The slider
38
can move in the forward or backward direction. The slider
38
is provided with a coil (not shown) beneath its bottom surface. The coil opposes the magnet
32
and generates a magnet field when supplied with electric currents.
Meanwhile, the embroidery frame
4
is provided with a Y-axis driving unit
39
on its rear end, as shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6
. The Y-axis driving unit
39
can move forward or backward in the Y-axis direction. The constitution of the Y-axis driving unit
39
will be described below.
The Y-axis driving unit
39
has a second connector frame
40
positioned at the rear end of the embroidery frame
4
. The second connector frame
40
is provided with a slide rib
42
on its rear surface. The slide rib
42
protrudes vertically from the rear surface and extends along the longitudinal direction.
A supporter
44
is positioned below the lower end of the second connector frame
40
. The supporter
44
can move forward or backward along the Y-axis slot
8
. The supporter
44
is provided with two guide rollers
46
on its upper end. The guide rollers
46
can rotate and act as guides while making slip contact with opposite sides of the slide rib
42
. A support roller
48
is placed between the guide rollers
46
. The support roller
48
can rotate and acts a guide while supporting the lower end of the slide rib
42
.
Furthermore, a linear motor
50
is positioned on the lower end of the supporter
44
for supplying the embroidery frame
4
with power necessary for its Y-axis movement. The constitution of the linear motor
50
is identical to that of the linear motor
26
described above.
Of course, the Y-axis driving unit
39
may be positioned on the front end of the embroidery frame
4
, if necessary.
Meanwhile, in the case of an embroidery machine as mentioned above, a drive-control unit controls the X-axis and Y-axis driving units
17
and
39
for moving the embroidery frame
4
in the X-axis and Y-axis directions, respectively. The drive-control unit will now be described with reference to FIG.
7
.
An embroidery machine is a two-axis positioning controller which controls the horizontal movement of an embroidery frame
4
, having materials to be sewn (fabrics) fixed thereon, in the X-axis and Y-axis directions, during vertical movement of a needle bar of a sewing machine capable of performing needlework. Conventionally, linear AC servomotors have been used as apparatuses for driving embroidery machines.
An embroidery frame
4
of a multi-headed embroidery machine is positioned on top of a movable block of a linear motor
210
for interlocked movement. The embroidery frame
4
is generally made of aluminum. If only one linear motor
210
is used to actuate the embroidery frame
4
, the embroidery frame
4
tends to be deflected at its opposite ends as the length of the multi-headed embroidery machine becomes larger in the X-axis direction, although the embroidery frame
4
is supposed to move horizontally in the X-axis and Y-axis directions.
For such reasons, it has been generalized to use a plurality of driving apparatuses, not a single driving apparatus, as Y-axis driving apparatuses in the case of multi-headed embroidery machines.
The drive-control unit will now be described in detail.
FIG. 7
a
show a configuration of a driving unit of an embroidery frame according to the prior art,
FIG. 7
b
shows an outer appearance of a movable block of a linear motor, and
FIG. 7
c
shows a coil connection diagram.
As shown in
FIG. 7
a
, a Y-axis driving unit comprises a plurality of (four) linear motors
210
, a plurality of (four) drivers
220
, and a plurality of (four) linear scales
230
. The Y-axis driving unit is controlled by a synchronized signal from a controller
240
.
As shown in
FIG. 7
b
, three-phase, i.e., u, v and w phase windings and an earth wire G are drawn out from a movable block. The remaining wires are molded within the movable block.
FIG. 7
c
shows a coil connection within the movable block. In the case of a Y-connection linear motor, one ends of each of the u, v and w phase windings are connected and molded within the movable block and the other ends and drawn out from the movable block for use.
Even when a plurality of linear motors
210
are controlled simultaneously by means of capacity-division, as in the case of a multi-headed embroidery machine, each of the linear motors
210
should by provided with a driver
220
and a linear scale
230
separately.
In other words, the number of drivers
220
and linear scales
230
must be equal
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Nerbun Peter
Sunstar Precision Co. Ltd.
LandOfFree
Apparatus for driving embroidery frame does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus for driving embroidery frame, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus for driving embroidery frame will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3238954