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Household type sewing machine having microprocessor control |
| RE32143 |
Household type sewing machine having microprocessor control
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| Patent Drawings: | |
| Inventor: |
Carbonato, et al. |
| Date Issued: |
May 13, 1986 |
| Application: |
06/447,016 |
| Filed: |
December 6, 1982 |
| Inventors: |
Bianchi; Nereo (Pavia, IT)
Carbonato; Gianfranco (Turin, IT)
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| Assignee: |
Necchi S.p.A. (Pavia, IT) |
| Primary Examiner: |
Nerbun; Peter |
| Assistant Examiner: |
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| Attorney Or Agent: |
Cohen, Pontani & Lieberman |
| U.S. Class: |
112/454; 112/456 |
| Field Of Search: |
112/158E; 112/158A; 112/158F; 112/158D; 112/121.11; 112/121.12; 112/121.13; 112/453; 112/454; 112/456; 112/458; 112/457; 364/107; 364/474; 318/567; 318/663; 318/603; 66/5R |
| International Class: |
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| U.S Patent Documents: |
2906219; 3005136; 3076066; 3081724; 3306242; 3356051; 3512060; 3596618; 3613608; 3724404; 3752098; 3807329; 3834332; 3844139; 3847100; 3872808; 3906324; 3913506; 3969912; 3977338; 3982491; 3983370; 3984745; 3986466; 3987739; 4005664; 4014275; 4016821; 4048932; 4051794; 4055130; 4055131; 4069778; 4072114; 4078506; 4079235; 4086862; 4092938; 4100865; 4103632; 4107591; 4108090; 4108091; 4108093; 4109597; 4115858; 4116144; 4122786; 4123981; 4142473; 4144827; 4227472; 4242973; 4326473 |
| Foreign Patent Documents: |
2813220; 45-15713; 47-8675; 0341703 |
| Other References: |
"Necchi Silvia Multimatic 584, Maximatic 586, Instructions", 1977..
"Necchi Lydia MK2, 542-544, Instructions", 1977..
Fr. Gegauf Ltd., "The New Bernina", Nov. 1965, Steckborn TG/Switzerland..
The Singer Co., "Singer Athena 2000 Operator's Guide", 1975..
Machine Design, "A Mechanical View of Electronic Logic", 9-9-76, pp. 129-136..
"Necchi Automatic Supernova Ultra Mark 2, Instructions", Dec. 1959.. |
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| Abstract: |
An improved household type sewing machine having a needle bar and a feed dog wherein an actuator adjusts the transverse position of the needle bar and the positional displacement of the feed dog in response to control signals provided thereto, in which a microcomputer integrated circuit is provided for controlling the machine in response to keyboard selectable pattern and control information stored in a static memory which is interchangeable with other memory configurations to provide different patterns, such as alphabetic stitch patterns. The keyboard contains a numeric display with each of the patterns having a corresponding numeric equivalent which is displayed on the keyboard to indicate which pattern is selected. The microcomputer is capable of selectively controllably functionally operating on the stored stitch pattern data in response to input control signals from the keyboard for controllably redefining the stored stitch pattern data to selectively create output control signals for the actuator different from the output control signals corresponding to any one of the stored stitch patterns whereby the position of the stitch forming instrumentalities may be selectively varied to redefine a stitch pattern arrangement different from any one of the stored stitch patterns. Thus, for example, a constant stitch density may be maintained for a selected pattern as the length of the pattern is varied by the operator in such a manner that the selected stitch pattern shape may be maintained. |
| Claim: |
What is claimed is:
1. In a household type sewing machine having a bed, a standard rising from said bed, a horizontal arm overhanging said bed, said arm ending with a head, a needle bar meansdisposed in said head for enabling transverse oscillation thereof relative to the direction of fabric feed in said sewing machine, feed means for adjusting the length and direction of said fabric feed, actuator means for adjusting the transverse positionof said needle bar means and the positional displacement of said feed means in response to control signals provided thereto and first static memory means for retrievably storing a first plurality of different predetermined stitch patterns each havingassociated retrievably stored bight and feed data corresponding to predetermined positional coordinates of said needle bar and feed means for defining associated stitch position coordinates for the stiches comprising said stitch patterns; theimprovement comprising microcomputer integrated circuit means operatively connected to said static memory means and to said actuator means for selectively processing said stored stitch pattern data from said static memory means and providing outputcontrol signals to said actuator means based on said selectively processed stitch pattern data for controllably adjusting at least the transverse position of said needle bar means, said microcomputer processing means comprising means capable ofselectively controllably functionally operating on said stored stitch pattern data in response to input control signals for controllably redefining said stored stitch pattern data for selectively creating output control signals for said actuator meansdifferent from the output control signals corresponding to any one of said stored stitch patterns whereby at least the transverse position of said needle bar means may be selectively varied to redefine a stitch pattern arrangement different from any oneof said stored stitch patterns; and keyboard means operatively connected to said microcomputer means for providing said input control signals to said microcomputer processing means for initiating the selection of at least one stored stitch pattern andthe functional operation to be performed on said associated selected stored stitch pattern data for controllably adjusting at least the transverse position of said needle bar means for selectively providing a final stitch pattern arrangement from saidplurality of stored stitch patterns, said keyboard means comprising a first common key selector having a plurality of modes for initiating selection of at least any one of a plurality of said stored stitch patterns in a first mode and for varying thepositional coordinate data associated with said one selected stored stitch pattern in a second mode for providing said input control signals for enabling said selecting and redefining of said stored stitch pattern for providing said different stitchpattern arrangement whereby said sewing machine is capable of providing stitch pattern arrangements corresponding to said stored stitch patterns per se as well as to selectably creatable variations thereof.
2. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said keyboard means further comprises a second plurality of common keys for providing input control signals for enabling selection of at least one of a plurality ofdifferent ones of said functional operations to be performed on the stored stitch pattern data selected by said first common key selector.
3. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 2 wherein said keyboard means further comprises means for enabling display by said common display means of information corresponding to the functional operation selected bysaid second plurality of common keys.
4. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 3 wherein said keyboard means further comprises signal indicator means for indicating the status of at least said second plurality of common keys to the operator of saidsewing machine.
5. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 4 wherein said signal indicating means comprises light signal indicating means.
6. In a household type sewing machine having a bed, a standard rising from said bed, a horizontal arm overhanging said bed, said arm ending with a head, a needle bar means disposed in said head for enabling transverse oscillation thereofrelative to the direction of fabric feed in said sewing machine, feed means for adjusting the length and direction of said fabric feed, actuator means for adjusting the transverse position of said needle bar means and the positional displacement of saidfeed means in response to control signals provided thereto and first static memory means for retrievably storing a first plurality of different predetermined stitch patterns each having associated retrievably stored bight and feed data corresponding topredetermined positional coordinates of said needle bar and feed means for defining associated stitch position coordinates for the stiches comprising said stitch patterns; the improvement comprising microcomputer integrated circuit means operativelyconnected to said static memory means and to said actuator means for selectively processing said stored stitch pattern data from said static memory means and providing output control signals to said actuator means based on said selectively processedstitch pattern data for controllably adjusting at least the transverse position of said needle bar means, said microcomputer processing means comprising means capable of selectively controllably functionally operating on said stored stitch pattern datain response to input control signals for controllably redefining said stored stitch pattern data for selectively creating output control signals for said actuator means different from the output control signals corresponding to any one of said storedstitch patterns whereby at least the transverse position of said needle bar means may be selectively varied to redefine a stitch pattern arrangment different from any one of said stored stitch patterns; and keyboard means operatively connected to saidmicrocomputer means for providing said input control signals to said microcomputer processing means for initiating the selection of at least one stored stitch pattern and the functional operation to be performed on said associated selected stored stitchpattern data for controllably adjusting at least the transverse position of said needle bar means for selectively providing a final stitch pattern arrangement from said plurality of stored stitch patterns, said microcomputer processing means comprisingmeans capable of interpolating said stored stitch pattern data for a selected stitch pattern in response to said input control signals provided from said keyboard means for redefining said stitch position coordinates associated with said selected stitchpattern by creating new stitch position coordinates in said selected stitch pattern for generating an increased number of stitches for said selected stitch pattern without varying the shape associated with said selected stitch pattern, whereby thedensity and/or proper length of said selected stitch pattern may be controlled.
7. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 6 wherein said stored stitch patterns comprise a plurality of different satin patterns and said selected stitch pattern is selected from said plurality of satin stitchpatterns.
8. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 6 wherein said interpolating means further comprises means for dynamically maintaining said constant stitch density as said stitch feed is dynamically varied.
9. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said microcomputer processing means comprises means for selectively creating said different output control signals capable of enabling the bight of the stichescomprising said selected stitch pattern to be varied in response to said input control signals provided from said keyboard means, said bight being varied by said first common key selector in a second mode, said stored pattern being selected in a firstmode.
10. In a household type sewing machine having a bed, a standard rising from said bed, a horizontal arm overhanging said bed, said arm ending with a head, a needle bar means disposed in said head for enabling transverse oscillation thereofrelative to the direction of fabric feed in said sewing machine, feed means for adjusting the length and direction of said fabric feed, actuator means for adjusting the transverse position of said needle bar means and the positional displacement of saidfeed means in response to control signals provided thereto and first static memory means for retrievably storing a first plurality of different predetermined stitch patterns each having associated retrievably stored bight and feed data corresponding topredetermined positional coordinates of said needle bar and feed means for defining associated stitch position coordinates for the stitches comprising said stitch patterns; the improvement comprising microcomputer integrated circuit means operativelyconnected to said static memory means and to said actuator means for selectively processing said stored stitch pattern data from said static memory means and providing output control signals to said actuator means based on said selectively processedstitch pattern data for controllably adjusting at least the transverse position of said needle bar means, said microcomputer processing means comprising means capable of selectively controllably functionally operating on said stored stitch pattern datain response to input control signals for controllably redefining said stored stitch pattern data for selectively creating output control signals for said actuator means different from the output control signals corresponding to any one of said storedstitch patterns whereby at least the transverse position of said needle bar means may be selectively varied to redefine a stitch pattern arrangement different from any one of said stored stitch patterns; and keyboard means operatively connected to saidmicrocomputer means for providing said input control signals to said microcomputer processing means for initiating the selection of at least one stored stitch pattern and the functional operation to be performed on said associated selected stored stitchpattern data for controllably adjusting at least the transverse position of said needle bar means for selectively providing a final stitch pattern arrangement from said plurality of stored stitch patterns, said static memory means comprising means forstoring only said bight or said feed data which varies for the stitches comprising each of said plurality of stored stitch patterns for enabling optimal retrieval of said stitch pattern data by said microcomputer means in response to said input controlsignals provided from said keyboard means.
11. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said keyboard means comprises means capable of initially providing input control signals corresponding to a plurality of different selected stitch patterns to saidmicrocomputer means for providing a composite stitch pattern arrangement from said initially provided different selected stitch patterns, said microcomputer processing means comprising means capable of selectively creating said different control outputsignals from said plurality of different selected stitch pattern data in response to said initially provided input control signals from said keyboard means by selectively alternatively combining control signal information corresponding to individualstitch patterns of said plurality of different selected stitch patterns to provide composite output control signals to said actuator means based on said stored stitch pattern data corresponding to said different selected stitch patterns for providingsaid composite stitch pattern arrangement.
12. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 11 wherein said stored stitch patterns comprise a plurality of different satin stitch patterns and said selected stitch pattern is selected from said plurality of satinstitch patterns.
13. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 12 wherein said composite output signal creating means comprises means for repetitively creating said composite output signals.
14. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 11 wherein said composite output signal creating means comprises means for repetitively creating said composite output signals.
15. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said keyboard means comprises a common display means capable of selectively displaying information corresponding to the feed data and the bight data of saidselected stitch pattern and of said final stitch pattern arrangement in a second mode, said pattern being selected in a first mode.
16. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 15 wherein said keyboard means further comprises means for selectively enabling display by said common display means of coded information corresponding to the selected stitchpattern.
17. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 15 wherein said keyboard means further comprises means for selectively enabling display by said common display means of the value of the feed data and the bight data of saidselected stitch patterns and of said final stitch pattern arrangement.
18. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 16 wherein said common display means comprises a numeric signal display means.
19. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said microcomputer means has a plurality of input and output ports for said input and output control signals, respectively, said sewing machine further comprisingan input/output expander means operatively connected to said microcomputer means input/output ports for increasing the capability of said microcomputer means to respond to and provide input and output control signals, respectively.
20. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 19 wherein said keyboard means comprises a plurality of common selection keys including said first common key selector, said machine further comprising a decoder meansoperatively connected between said microcomputer means and said expander means for controllably providing said input control signals from said keyboard means by key group to said microcomputer means.
21. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 20 wherein said keyboard means comprises a common display means capable of displaying both data stored in said static memory means and data provided as a result of theprovision of selected input control signals from said keyboard means, said decoder means being further operatively connected to said keyboard means for controllably enabling said common display means.
22. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said microcomputer means output control signals are digital output control signals and said actuator means comprise analog means, said sewing machine furthercomprising analog-to-digital converter means operatively connected between said microcomputer means digital output and said actuator means analog input for converting said digital output control signals from said microcomputer means into analog outputcontrol signals for said actuator means.
23. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first static memory means is removably connectable to said microcomputer means and is interchangeable with a second static memory means containing a secondplurality of different predetermined stitch patterns each having associated retrievably stored bight and feed data corresponding to predetermined positional coordinates of said needle bar and feed means for defining associated stitch position coordinatesfor the stitches comprising said second plurality of stitch patterns, said interchangeable second static memory means being removably connectable to said microcomputer means in place of said first static memory means for retrievably providing said storedstitch pattern data thereto.
24. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 23 wherein said second static memory means second plurality of stitch patterns comprise stored stitch patterns corresponding to the letters of the alphabet.
25. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first static memory means first plurality of stitch patterns comprise stored stitch patterns corresponding to the letters of the alphabet.
26. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said actuator means comprises separate electromechanical actuator means for said needle bar means and said feed means.
27. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said microcomputer processing means functional operating means is capable of controllably functionally operating on said stored stitch pattern data in accordancewith at least any one of a plurality of different functional operations in response to said input control signals for controllably redefining said stored stitch pattern for selectively creating said different output control signals, and said keyboardmeans comprises means for initiating said selection of said stored stitch pattern from said plurality of stored stitch patterns and said selection of said functional operation from said plurality of functional operations for providing said selectablycreative variations.
28. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said microcomputer processing means functional operating means is capable of selectively creating said different output control signals for selectively varying bothsaid transverse position of said needle bar means and said positional displacement of said feed means to redefine said different stitch pattern arrangement.
29. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said keyboard means comprises a first common key selector for enabling numeric selection of said stored stitch pattern data for a plurality of different storedstitch patterns, each of said numerically selectable different stored stitch patterns having a different corresponding numeric selection code, the number of keys comprising said first common key selector being less in number than the number of possiblestitch patterns numerically selectable by said common key selector.
30. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 29 wherein said keyboard means further comprises a common digital display means for displaying numeric information corresponding to the stored stitch pattern data selected bysaid first common key selector, said first common key selector comprising means for incrementing and decrementing said digital display in accordance with selection of the numeric indication corresponding to the desired stored stitch pattern to beselected.
31. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said microcomputer integrated circuit means is a microprocessor means.
32. In a household type sewing machine having a bed, a standard rising from said bed, a horizontal arm overhanging said bed, said arm ending with a head, a needle bar means disposed in said head for enabling transverse oscillation thereofrelative to the direction of fabric feed in said sewing machine, feed means for adjusting the length and direction of said fabric feed, actuator means for adjusting the transverse position of said needle bar means and the positional displacement of saidfeed means in response to control signals provided thereto and first static memory means for retrievably storing a first pluarlaity of different predetermined stitch patterns each having associated retrievably stored bight and feed data corresponding topredetermined positional coordinates of said needle bar and feed means for defining associated stitch position coordinates for the stitches comprising said stitch patterns; the improvement comprising microcomputer integrated circuit means operativelyconnected to said static memory means and to said actuator means for selectively processing said stored stitch pattern data from said static memory means and providing output control siggnals to said actuator means based on said selectively processedstitch pattern data for controllably adjusting at least the transverse position of said needle bar means, said microcomputer processing means comprising means capable of selectively controllably functionally operating on said stored stitch pattern datain response to input control signals for controllably redefining said stored stitch pattern data for selectively creating output control signals for said actuator means different from the output control signals corresponding to any one of said storedstitch patterns whereby at least the transverse position of said needle bar means may be selectively varied to redefine a stitch pattern arrangement different from any one of said stored stitch patterns; and keyboard means operatively connected to saidmicrocomputer means for providing said input control signals to said microcomputer processing means for initiating the selection of at least one stored stitch pattern and the functional operation to be performed on said associated selected stored stitchpattern data for controllably adjusting at least the transverse position of said needle bar means for selectively providing a final stitch pattern arrangement from said plurality of stored stitch patterns, said static memory means plurality of storedstitch patterns comprising an initial tacking stitch pattern and a straight stitch pattern, said keyboard means comprising means for providing said input control signals for initiating selection of said initial tacking stitch pattern coupled with saidstraight stitch pattern, said microcomputer means providing output control signals to said actuator means for controlling said position of said needle bar means and said feed means to provide said tacking stitch pattern followed by said straight stitchpattern as said stitch pattern arrangement in response to said output control signals, said tacking stitch pattern only being provided for a predetermined number of stitches, said straight stitch pattern being continuously providable thereafter.
33. In a household type sewing machine having a bed, a standard rising from said bed, a horizontal arm overhanging said bed, said arm ending with a head, a needle bar means disposed in said head for enabling transverse oscillation thereofrelative to the direction of fabric feed in said sewing machine, feed means for adjusting the length and direction of said fabric feed, and actuator means for adjusting the transverse position of said needle bar means and the positional displacement ofsaid feed means in response to control signals provided thereto; the improvement comprising static memory means for retrievably storing stitch pattern data capable of providing a plurality of different composite stitch pattern arrangements havingassociated bight and feed data corresponding to stitch positional coordinates of said needle bar and feed means; microcomputer integrated circuit means operatively connected to said static memory means and to said actuator means for selectivelyprocessing said stored stitch pattern data from said static memory means and providing output control signals to said actuator means based on said selectively processed stitch pattern data capable of selectably controllably adjusting the transverseposition of said needle bar means and the positional displacement of said feed means, said microcomputer processing means comprising means capable of selectively controllably functionally operating on said stored stitch pattern data in response to inputcontrol signals for selectively creating output control signals for said actuator means capable of defining a selected composite stitch pattern arrangement; and keyboard means operatively connected to said microcomputer means for providing said inputcontrol signals to said microcomputer processing means for initiating the selection of said stored stitch pattern data and the functional operation to be performed on said selected stored stitich pattern data for selectably controllably adjusting thetransverse position of said needle bar means and the positional displacement of said feed means for selectively providing said selected composite stitch pattern arrangement from said stored stitch pattern data, said keyboard means comprising a firstcommon key selector having a plurality of modes for initiating selection of at least any one of a plurality of said stored stitch patterns in a first mode and for varying the positional coordinate data associated with said one selected stored stitchpattern in a second mode for providing said input control signals for enabling said selecting and redefining of said stored stitch pattern for providing said different stitch pattern arrangement whereby said sewing machine is capable of selectablycreating composite stitch pattern arrangements which are variations of said stored stitch pattern data.
34. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first common key selector comprises means for varying said pattern selection in said first mode and for varying said associated positional coordinates of saidselected pattern in said second mode.
35. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 34 wherein said keyboard means further comprises a common display means for displaying information corresponding to said selected pattern in said first mode and correspondingto said associated positional coordinates in said second mode.
36. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 35 wherein said means for varying said associated positional coordinates comprises means for varying the rate of change of said display thereof on said display means in saidsecond mode.
37. In a household type sewing maching having a bed, a standard rising from said bed, a horizontal arm overhanging said bed, said arm ending with a head, a needle bar means disposed in said head for enabling transverse oscillation thereofrelative to the direction of fabric feed in said sewing machine, feed means for adjusting the length and direction of said fabric feed, actuator means for adjusting the transverse position of said needle bar means and the positional displacement of saidfeed means in response to control signals provided thereto and first static memory means for retrievably storing a first plurality of different predetermined stitch patterns each having associated retrievably stored bight and feed data corresponding topredetermined positional coordinates of said needle bar and feed means for defining associated stitch position coordinates for the stitches comprising said stitich patterns; the improvement comprising microcomputer integrated circuit means operativelyconnected to said static memory means and to said actuator means for selectively processing said stored stitch pattern data from said static memory means and providing output control signals to said actuator means based on said selectively processedstitch pattern data for controllably adjusting at least the transverse position of said needle bar means, said microcomputer processing means comprising means capable of selectively controllably functionally operating on said stored stitch pattern datain response to input control signals for controllably redefining said stored stitch pattern data for selectively creating output control signals for said actuator means different from the output control signals corresponding to any one of said storedstitch patterns whereby at least the transverse position of said needle bar means may be selectively varied to redefine a statich pattern arrangement different from any one of said stored stitch patterns; and keyboard means operatively connected to saidmicrocomputer means for providing said input control signals to said microcomputer processing means for initiating the selection of at least one stored stitch pattern and the functional operation to be performed on said associated selected stored stitchpattern data for controllably adjusting at least the transverse position of said needle bar means for selectively providing a final stitch pattern arrangement from said plurality of stored stitch patterns, said keyboard means including means for enablingsaid positional coordinate data to be continuously varied during the sewing of said selected stitch pattern.
38. An improved household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 35 wherein said microcomputer processing means, said common display means and said keyboard means are digital means.
39. In a household type sewing machine having a bed, a standard rising from said bed, a horizontal arm overhanging said bed, said arm ending with a head, a needle bar means disposed in said head for enabling transverse oscillation thereofrelative to the direction of fabric feed in said sewing machine, feed means for adjusting the length and direction of said fabric feed, and actuator means for adjusting the transverse position of said needle bar means and the positional displacement ofsaid feed means in response to control signals provided thereto; the improvement comprising static memory means for retrievably storing stitch pattern data capable of providing a plurality of different composite stitch pattern arrangements havingassociated bight and feed data corresponding to stitch positional coordinates of said needle bar and feed means; microcomputer integrated circuit means operatively connected to said static memory means and to said actuator means for selectivelyprocessing said stored stitch pattern data from said static memory means and providing output control signals to said actuator means based on said selectively processed stitch pattern data capable of selectably controllably adjusting the transverseposition of said needle bar means and the positional displacement of said feed means, said microcomputer processing means comprising means capable of selectively controllably functionally operating on said stored stitch pattern data in response to inputcontrol signals for selectively creating output control signals for said actuator means capable of defining a selected composite stitch pattern arrangement; and keyboard means operatively connected to said microcomputer means for providing said inputcontrol signals to said microcomputer processing means for initiating the selection of said stored stitch pattern data and the functional operation to be performed on said selected stored stitch pattern data for selectably controllably adjusting thetransverse position of said needle bar means and the positional displacement of said feed means for selectively providing said selected composite stitch pattern arrangement from said stored stitch pattern data, said keyboard means comprising a firstcommon key selector having a plurality of modes for initiating selection of at least any one of a plurality of said stored stitch patterns in a first mode and for varying the positional coordinate data associated with said one selected stored stitchpattern in a second mode for providing said input control signals for enabling said selecting and redefining of said stored stitch pattern for providing said different stitch pattern arrangement whereby said sewing machine is capable of providing stitchpattern arrangements corresponding to said stored stitch patterns per se as well as to selectably creatable variations thereof. .Iadd.
40. A household type sewing machine having a needle bar means disposed for enabling movement thereof relative to the direction of fabric feed in said sewing machine; feed means for adjusting the length and direction of said fabric feed; actuator means for adjusting the position of said needle bar means and the positional displacement of said feed means in response to control signals provided thereto; memory means for retrievably storing at least one predetermined stitch pattern havingassociated retrievably stored bight and feed data corresponding to predetermined positional coordinates of said needle bar and feed means for defining associated stitch position coordinates for the stitches comprising said one stitch pattern; microcomputer processing means operatively connected to said memory means and to said actuator means for selectively processing said stored stitch pattern data from said memory means and providing output control signals to said actuator means based onsaid selectively processed stitch pattern data for controllably adjusting the relative position of said needle bar means and said feed means, said microcomputer processing means comprising system controller means capable of selectively controllablyfunctionally operating on said stored stitch pattern data in response to input control signals for controllably redefining said stored stitch pattern data for selectively creating output control signals for said actuator means different from the outputcontrol signals corresponding to said one stored stitch pattern for redefining a stitch pattern arrangement different from said one stored stitch pattern; and control means operatively connected to said microcomputer means for providing said inputcontrol signals to said microcomputer processing means for initiating the selection of said one stored stitch pattern and an interpolation functional operation to be performed on said associated selected stored stitch pattern data for controllablyadjusting the relative position of said needle bar means and said feed means for selectively providing a redefined final stitch pattern arrangement from said one stored stitch pattern, said system controller means comprising means for interpolating saidstored stitch pattern data for said one selected stitch pattern in response to said input control signals provided from said control means for redefining said stitch position coordinates associated with said one selected stitch pattern by creating newstitch position coordinates in said one selected stitch pattern for generating said different output control signals to said actuator means, said actuator means being responsive to said different output control signals for providing an increased numberof stiches for said one stored selected stored stitch pattern without varying the shape associated with said one stored selected stitch pattern for providing said redefined stitch pattern, whereby the density and/or proper length of said one storedselected stitch pattern may be controlled. .Iaddend. .Iadd.41. A household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 40 wherein said one stored stitch pattern comprises a satin stitch pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.42. A household type sewing machinein accordance with claim 41 wherein said interpolating means further comprises means for providing output control signals to said actuator means for dynamically maintaining said constant stitch density as said stitch feed is dynamically varied. .Iaddend. .Iadd.43. A household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 40 wherein said interpolating means further comprises means for providing output control signals to said actuator means for dynamically maintaining said constant stitchdensity as said stitch feed is dynamically varied. .Iaddend. .Iadd.44. A household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 40 wherein said memory means comprises a static memory means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.45. A household type sewing machine inaccordance with claim 40 wherein said microcomputer means comprises a microcomputer integrated circuit means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.46. A household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 40 wherein said memory means comprises means for retrievablystoring a plurality of different predetermined selectable stitch patterns, said control means initiating the selection of any one of said plurality of said stitch patterns as said one selected stored stitch pattern for redefining the one of saidplurality of stitch patterns which is selected. .Iaddend. .Iadd.47. A household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 46 wherein said stored stitch patterns comprise a plurality of different satin stitch patterns and said selected stitchpattern is selected from said plurality of satin stitch patterns. .Iadd.48. A household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 40 wherein said one stored selected stitch pattern comprises even and odd stitches, said interpolation means furthercomprising means for independently interpolating said even and odd stitches for generating said different output control signals to said actuator means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.49. A household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 48 wherein said onestored stitch pattern comprises a satin stitch pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.50. A household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 49 wherein said interpolating means further comprises means for providing output control signals to such actuatormeans for dynamically maintaining said constant stitch density as said stitch feed is dynamically varied. .Iaddend. .Iadd.51. A household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 48 wherein said interpolating means further comprises means forproviding output control signals to said actuator means for dynamically maintaining said constant stitch density as said stitch feed is dynamically varied. .Iaddend. .Iadd.52. A household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 49 wherein saidinterpolation means further comprises means for generating said different output control signals for varying the associated length of said stored stitch pattern defined by the number of stitches in said redefined pattern as a function of the associateddiameter of the thread used to stitch said pattern defined by the step of the feed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.53. A household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 52 wherein said stored stitch patterns comprise a plurality of different satin stitchpatterns and said selected stitch pattern is selected from said plurality of satin stitch patterns. .Iaddend. .Iadd.54. A household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 41 wherein said interpolation means further comprises means for generatingsaid different output control signals for varying the associated length of said stored stitch pattern defined by the number of stitches in said redefined pattern as a function of the associated diameter of the thread used to stitch said pattern definedby the step of the feed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.55. A household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 54 wherein said stored stitch patterns comprise a plurality of different satin stitch patterns and said selected stitch pattern is selected from saidplurality of satin stitch patterns. .Iaddend. .Iadd.56. In a system controller for use in a microcomputer of a household type sewing machine having a needle bar means disposed for enabling movement thereof relative to the direction of fabric feed insaid sewing machine, feed means for adjusting the length and direction of said fabric feed, actuator means for adjusting the position of said needle bar means and the positional displacement of said feed means in response to control signals providedthereto, memory means for retrievably storing at least one predetermined stitch pattern having associated retrievably stored bight and feed data corresponding to predetermined positional coordinates of said needle bar and feed means for definingassociated stitch pattern coordinates for the stitches comprising said one stitch pattern, said microcomputer being operatively connected to said memory means and to said actuator means and comprising processing means for selectively processing saidstored stitch pattern data from said memory means in accordance with said system controller and providing output control signals to said actuator means based on said selectively processed stitch pattern data for controllably adjusting the relativeposition of said needle bar means and said feed means, said system controller means capable of selectively controllably functionally operating on said stored stitch pattern data in response to input control signals for controllably redefining said storedstitch pattern data for selectively creating output control signals for said actuator means different from the output control signals corresponding to said one stored stitch pattern for redefining a stitch pattern arrangement different from said onestored stitch pattern, and control means operatively connected to said microcomputer for providing said input control signals to said microcomputer processing means for initiating the selection of said one stored stitch pattern and an interpolationfunctional operation to be performed on said associated selected stored stitch pattern data in accordance with said system controller for controllably adjusting the relative positive of said needle bar means and said feed means for selectively providinga redefined final stitch pattern arrangement from said one stored stitch pattern; the improvement comprising means for interpolating said stored stitch pattern data for said one selected stitch pattern in response to said input control signals providedfrom said control means for redefining said stitch position coordinates associated with said one selected stitch pattern by creating new stitch position coordinates in said one selected stitch pattern and means for generating said different outputcontrol signals to said actuator means for providing an increased number of stitches for said one stored selected stored stitch pattern without varying the shape associated with said one stored selected stitch pattern for providing said redefined stitchpattern, whereby the density and/or proper length of said one stored selected stitch pattern may be controlled. .Iaddend. .Iadd.57. A system controller in accordance with claim 56 wherein said one stored stitch pattern comprises a satin stitchpattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.58. A system controller in accordance with claim 57 wherein said interpolating means further comprises means for providing output control signals to said actuator means for dynamically maintaining said constant stitch densityas said stitch feed is dynamically varied. .Iaddend. .Iadd.59. A system controller in accordance with claim 56 wherein said interpolating means further comprises means for providing output control signals to said actuator means for dynamicallymaintaining said constant stitch density as said stitch feed is dynamically varied. .Iaddend. .Iadd.60. A system controller in accordance with claim 56 wherein said one stored selected stitch pattern comprises even and odd stitches, said interpolationmeans further comprising means for independently interpolating said even and odd stitches for generating said different output control signals to said actuator means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.61. A system controller in accordance with claim 60 wherein said onestored stitch pattern comprises a satin stitch pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.62. A system controller in accordance with claim 61 wherein said interpolating means further comprises means for providing output control signals to said actuator means fordynamically maintaining said constant stitch density as said stitch feed is dynamically varied. .Iaddend. .Iadd.63. A system controller in accordance with claim 60 wherein said interpolating means further comprises means for providing output controlsignals to said actuator means for dynamically maintaining said constant pitch density as said stitch feed is dynamically varied. .Iaddend. .Iadd.64. A system controller in accordance with claim 61 wherein said interpolation means further comprisesmeans for generating said different output control signals for varying the associated length of said stored stitch pattern defined by the number of stitches in said redefined pattern as a function of the associated diameter of the thread used to stitchsaid pattern defined by the step of the feed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.65. A system controller in accordance with claim 57 wherein said interpolation means further comprises means for generating said different output control signals for varying the associatedlength of said stored stitch pattern defined by the number of stitches in said redefined pattern as a function of the associated diameter of the thread used to stitch said pattern defined by the step of the feed. .Iaddend. .Iadd.66. A household typesewing machine having a needle bar means disposed for enabling movement thereof relative to the direction of fabric feed in said sewing machine; feed means for adjusting the length and direction of said fabric feed; actuator means for adjusting theposition of said needle bar means and the positional displacement of said feed means in response to output control signals provided thereto; memory means for retrievably storing at least one predetermined stitch pattern having associated retrievablystored bight and feed data corresponding to only a portion of the predetermined positional coordinates of said needle bar and feed means and encoded for defining associated stitch pattern coordinates for all of the stitches comprising said one stitchpattern; microcomputer means operatively connected to said memory means and to said actuator means for selectively processing said encoded stored stitch pattern data from said memory means and providing output control signals to said actuator meansbased on said selectively processed stitch pattern data for controllably adjusting the relative position of said needle bar means and said feed means for providing all of said predetermined positional coordinate for the stitches comprising said onestitch pattern, said microcomputer processing means comprising pattern controller means capable of selectively controllably functionally operating on said encoded stored stitch pattern data in a functional operation thereon in response to input controlsignals for decoding said stored stitch pattern data and selectively creating output control signals for said actuator means for providing all of said stitches comprising said one stitch pattern from said encoded portion of stored bight and feed data; and control means operatively connected to said microcomputer means for providing said input control signals to said microcomputer processing means for initiating the selection of said one stored stitch pattern data and said functional operation thereonfor controllably adjusting the related position of said needle bar means and said feed means for providing all of said stitches comprising said one stitch pattern from said encoded portion of stored bight and feed data, whereby optimal retrieval of allof said stitch positional coordinates by said microcomputer means in response to said input control signals may be
enabled. .Iaddend. .Iadd.67. A household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 66 wherein said memory means comprises means for storing said encoded portion of stored bight and feed data in data records comprising a plurality of bitsof data for each stored stitch position coordinate, with each of said data records comprising information bit designating the identity of the stitch position coordinate in that record as bight or feed data and the status of the otherstitch positioncoordinate comprising that particular stitch of said one stored stitch pattern and value bits designating the value of the identified stitch position coordinate, said pattern controller means functionally operating on and decoding each of said datarecords for creating said output control signals. .Iaddend. .Iadd.68. A household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 67 wherein each of said encoded data records comprises a number of value bits corresponding to the possible resolution ofdisplacement of the needle bar means and feed means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.69. A household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 68 wherein each of said data records comprises a byte. .Iaddend. .Iadd.70. A household type sewing machine inaccordance with claim 69 wherein said byte comprises two information bits and six value bits. .Iaddend. .Iadd.71. A household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 67 wherein each of said data records comprises a byte. .Iaddend. .Iadd.72. Ahousehold type sewing machine in accordance with claim 71 wherein said byte comprises two information bits and six value bits. .Iaddend. .Iadd.73. A household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 72 wherein said two information bits vary atleast in accordance with designation as bight or feed and whether the bight or feed value varies from the previous stitch in said one stored stitch pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.74. A household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 67 wherein saidinformation bits vary at least in accordance with designation as bight or feed and whether the bight or feed value varies from the previous stitch in said one stored
stitch pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.75. A household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 74 wherein said memory means comprises means for retrievably storing a plurality of different predetermined selectable stitch patterns, each of whatcomprises said data records, said control means initiating the selection of and functional operating on any one of said plurality of stored selected stitch pattern data. .Iaddend. .Iadd.76. A household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 67wherein said memory means comprises means for retrievably storing a plurality of different predetermined selectable stitch patterns, each of which comprises said data records, said control means initiating the selection of and functional operation on anyone of said plurality of stored selected stitch pattern data. .Iaddend. .Iadd.77. A household type sewing machine in accordance with claim 66 wherein said memory means comprises means for retrievably storing a plurality of different predeterminedselectable stitch patterns each of which comprises said encoded portion of bight and feed data, said control means initiating the selection of and functional operation on any one of said plurality of stored selected stitch pattern data. .Iaddend. .Iadd.78. In a microcomputer of a household type sewing machine having a needle bar means disposed for enabling movement thereof relative to the direction of fabric feed in said sewing machine, feed means for adjusting the length and direction of saidfabric feed, actuator means for adjusting the position of said needle bar means and the positional displacement of said feed means in response to output control signals provided thereto, memory means for retrievably storing at least one predeterminedstitch pattern having associated retrievably stored bight and feed data corresponding to only a portion of the predetermined positional coordinates of said needle bar and feed means and encoded for defining associated stitch position coordinates for allof the stitches comprising said one stitch pattern, said microcomputer being operatively connected to said memory means and to said actuator means and comprising processing means for selectively processing said encoded stored stitch pattern data fromsaid memory means and providing output control signals to said actuator means based on said selectively processed stitch pattern data for controllably adjusting the relative position of said needle bar means and said feed means for providing all of saidpredetermined position coordinates for the stitches comprising said one stitch pattern, and control means operatively connected to said microcomputer for providing input control signals to said microcomputer processing means for initiating the selectionof said encoded one stored stitch pattern data and said selective processing thereof; the improvement comprising pattern controller means comprising means responsive to said input control signals for decoding said selected stored stitch pattern data andmeans for selectively controllably functionally operating on said decoded stored stitch pattern data for selectively creating output control signals for said actuator means for providing all of said stitches comprising said one stitch pattern from saidencoded portion of stored bight and feed data for controllably adjusting the relative position of said needle bar means and said feed means for providing all of said stitches comprising said one stitch pattern from said encoded portion of stored bightand feed data, whereby optimal retrieval of all of said stitch positional coordinates by said microcomputer means in response to said input control signals may be enabled. .Iaddend. .Iadd.79. A pattern controller in accordance with claim 78 whereinsaid memory means comprises means for storing said encoded portion of stored bight and feed data in data records comprising a plurality of bits of data for each stored stitch position coordinate, with each of said data records comprising information bitsdesignating the identity of the stitch position coordinate in that record as bight or feed data and the status of the other stitch position coordinate comprising that particular stitch of said one stored stitch pattern and value bits designating thevalue of the identified stitch position coordinate, said pattern controller functionally operating on and decoding each of said data records for creating said output control
signals. .Iaddend. .Iadd.80. A pattern controller in accordance with claim 79 wherein each of said encoded data records comprises a number of value bits corresponding to the possible resolution of displacement of the needle bar means and feedmeans. .Iaddend. .Iadd.81. A pattern controller in accordance with claim 80 wherein each of said data records comprises a byte. .Iaddend. .Iadd.82. A pattern controller in accordance with claim 81 wherein said byte comprises two information bitsand six value bits. .Iaddend. .Iadd.83. A pattern controller in accordance with claim 79 wherein each of said data records comprises a byte. .Iaddend. .Iadd.84. A pattern controller in accordance with claim 83 wherein said byte comprises twoinformation bits and six value bits. .Iaddend. .Iadd.85. A pattern controller in accordance with claim 84 wherein said two information bits vary at least in accordance with designation as bight or feed and whether the bight or feed value varies fromthe previous stitch in said one stored stitch pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.86. A pattern controller in accordance with claim 79 wherein said information bits vary at least in accordance with designation as bight or feed and whether the bight or feed valuevaries from the previous stich in said one stored stitch pattern. .Iaddend. .Iadd.87. A pattern controller in accordance with claim 86 wherein sad memory means comprises means for retrievably storing a plurality of different predetermined selectablestitch pattern, each of which comprises said data records, said control means initiating the selection of and functional operation by said pattern controller on said plurality of stored selected stitch pattern data. .Iaddend. .Iadd.88. A patterncontroller in accordance with claim 79 wherein said memory means comprises means for retrievably storing a plurality of different predetermined selectable stitch pattern, each of which comprises said data records, said control means initiating theselection of and functional operation by said pattern controller on said plurality of stored selected stitch pattern data. .Iaddend. .Iadd.89. A pattern controller in accordance with claim 78 wherein said memory means comprises means for retrievablystoring a plurality of different predetermined selectable stitch patterns each of which comprises said encoded portion of bight and feed data, said control means initiating the selection of and functional operation by said pattern controller on any oneof said pluraity of stored selected stitch pattern data. .Iaddend. |
| Description: |
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronic household type sewing machines and more particularly to such machines having automatic control for the needle bar transverse oscillations and the feed member displacement.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Electronic sewing machines are well known which provide for control of needle bar transverse oscillations and feed member displacement. Household types sewing machines of this type which are known to the applicants generally store informationrelative to the needle bar and feed positions as a digital code in a read only memory or other static memory. Such a memory is merely a data bank which is conventionally sequentially explored during the execution of a predetermined sewing programbeginning from the first stitch of a selected pattern to the last one of the same pattern and so on repeatedly. An example of such an arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,984,745 which is owned by the Singer Company. Moreover, the SingerCompany has commercially sold a variety of such means under what Singer has commonly termed their "TOUCH-TRONIC FAMILY" which incudes the Singer Model 2001, the Singer Model 2000, the Singer Model 1200 and the Singer Model 1060. For example, the SingerModel 2001 lets the user select any of 27 preprogrammed stitch patterns by pushing the key uniquely corresponding to that pattern as well as providing automatic selection of length and width for the pattern and, if desired, the mirror image of such apattern. This machine, as well as the other Singer machines known to the applicants, however, are confined to selection of the stored programs, or their mirror images, and do not provide sufficient flexibility to enable the user to vary the stitchpattern data, such as to maintain a constant stitch density while the length of the selected stitch pattern is varied. In addition, the applicants are not aware of any household electronic type sewing machines capable of automatically providingalphabetic stitch patterns, such as to sew monograms. Although prior art mechanical sewing machines employing elaborated camming arrangements, such as previously sold by Borletti S.P.A. of Milan, Italy have been capable of providing monograms.
Other examples of electronic sewing machines known to applicants are disclosed in Japanese Pat. No. 8675/72, issued to Matsushita Electric Ind. Co., Ltd., Japanese Pat. No. 15713/70, issued to Janome Sewing Machine Co., Ltd.; U.S. Pat. No.3,076,066, owned by Mefina S.A.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,005,136, also owned by Mefina S.A.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,834,332, owned by Meister-Werke Gmbh; U.S. Pat. No. 3,613,608, owned by Kayser-Roth Corporation; U.S. Pat. No. 3,752,098, owned by The GerberScientific Instrument Company; U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,982,491; 3,986,466 and 4,051,794 owned by Union Special Corp.; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,078,506; 4,072,114 and 4,069,778 owned by Brother Kogyo; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,108,093 and 4,086,862 owned by Janome; U.S. Pat. No. 4,116,144 owned by Sharp Kabushiki; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,091 owned by Husqvarna AB. The above art is merely exemplary of a field which is becoming increasingly crowded as technology in the sewing machine field continues to convert fromthe mechanical age to the electronic age. Thus, by and large, the majority of prior art electronic controlled sewing machines are merely electronic conversions of their earlier mecanical equivalents which, through the use of various cam stacks, werecapable of providing a plurality of selectable patterns to the operator. These cam stacks were merely replaced by their prior art electronic equivalents, namely a static memory, such as a read only memory or some other type of electronic storage. Thus,these prior art electronic solutions did not enable the processing of the stored stitch pattern data as well as operative flexibility in the use of such data, such as to create additional stitch patterns beyond those stored in the memory through theoperation on the stored stitch patterns, such as for example, interpolating the stitch pattern data to enable the maintenance of a constant stitch pattern density as the length of the stitch pattern is varied while maintaining the shape of the pattern aswell as the ability to select a plurality of patterns which can be alternatively combined to create a new stitch pattern arrangement or to automatically combine stitch patterns such as to provide an initial tacking stitch automatically before commencingthe sewing of a straight stitch. However, the electronic sewing machine disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,122,786, owned by Sharp K.K. is enable alternatively of combining stitch patterns to create a composite stitch pattern arrangement. With the adventof the microcomputer, it has gradually found its way into machine control, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,079,235 owned by McDonnel Douglas Corp.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,058 owned by Houdaille Industries, Inc. and U.S. Pat. No. 3,906,324. However none of these prior art systems economically and efficiently solves the problems of providing a totally electronic sewing machine. Moreover, the electronic controlled sewing machines known to applicants all provide keyboards in which a specifickey is required for stitch patterns selection. This arrangement is not only unsatisfactory but is necessarily physically limiting to the amount of stitch patterns which can be provided in the household type sewing machine as there is only a limitedamount of room for the keyboard on the machine, which is the presently preferred location for such keyboards.
These disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An improved household type sewing machine is provided in which control of the stitch pattern arrangement provided is accomplished through the use of a numeric keyboard which provides input control signals to a microcomputer integrated circuitwhich selectively retrieves stitch pattern data static memory storage, such as a read only memory, and is capable of selectively controllably functionally operating on this stored stitch pattern data in response to various input control signals tocontrollably redefine the stored stitch pattern data for selectively creating output control signals for control of the actuators which adjust the position of the needle bar and feed mechanism of the sewing machine which are different from the outputcontrol signals corresponding to any one of the stored stitch patterns. In this manner, at least the transverse position of the needle bar as well as, if desired, the feed mechanism, may be selectively varied to redefine a stitch pattern arrangementdifferent from any one of the stored stitch patterns as well as, if desired, providing the stored stitch pattern itself. The variations in stitch pattern arrangement may include such variations as maintaining a constant stitch pattern density as thelength of the pattern is varied while maintaining the shape of the selected pattern, such as by interpolating the stored stitch pattern data to create additional stitch position coordinates, or combining a plurality of stored stitch patterns into acomposite stitch pattern arrangement comprising alternate stitches of each of the selected plurality of stitch patterns.
The household type sewing machine may be one such as the type having a bed, a standard rising from the bed, a horizontal arm overhanging the bed, the arm ending with a head, a needle bar disposed in the head for enabling transverse oscillationthereof relative to the direction of fabric feed in the sewing machine, a feed mechanism for adjusting the length and the direction of the fabric feed and electromechanical actuators for adjusting the transverse position of the needle bar and thepositional displacement of the feed dog in response to control signals provided thereto. The read only memory retrievably stores a plurality of different predetermined stitch patterns, such as alphabetic stitch patterns and/or conventional stitchpatterns, and is preferably fixed or removably connectable to the microcomputer so that it may be interchangeably replaced by other read only memories having different stitch pattern data stored therein. The stored stitch patterns preferably each haveassociated retrievably stored bight and feed data corresponding to predetermined positional coordinates of the needle bar and feed dog defining associated stitch position coordinates for the stitches comprising the stored stitch patterns. Preferably,the read only memory stores only the bight and feed data which varies for the stitches comprising each of the plurality of stored stitch patterns rather than storing bight and feed data for each stitch, even where the information is repetitive, therebyenabling optimal retrieval of the stitch pattern data by the microcomputer in response to the input control signals provided from the keyboard.
The microcomputer integrated circuit preferably comprises a microprocessor which is operatively connected to the read only memory, to the actuators and to the keyboard for selectively procesing the stored stitch pattern data from the read onlymemory and providing output control signals to the actuators based on the selectively processed stitch pattern data for controllably adjusting the transverse position of the needle bar and, where desired, the positional displacement of the feedmechanism. The microcomputer processor, as was previously mentioned, is capable of selectively controllably functionally operating on the stored stitch pattern data in response to input control signals provided from the keyboard for controllablyredefining the stored stitch pattern data for selectively creating output control signals for the actuators different from the output control signals corresponding to any one of the stored stitch patterns, such as by interpolating the stored stitchpattern data for a selected stitch pattern in response to input control signals provided from the keyboard for redefining the stitch position coordinates associated with the selected stitch pattern by creating additional stitch position coordinates inthe selected stitch pattern not contained in the stored stitch pattern data, such as for maintaining the constant stitch density of the selected stitch pattern and its shape while the length of the stitch pattern is varied.
The keyboard contains keys for initiating the selection of the stored stitch patterns and the functional operation to be performed on the selected stored stitch pattern data to enable the sewing machine to provide stitch pattern arrangementscorresponding to the stored stitch patterns per se as well as to selectably createable variations thereof. The keyboard preferably comprises a common numeric display for displaying information corresponding to the stored stitch pattern data such as thecorresponding pattern number as well as the length of the bight and feed of the selected stored stitch pattern or selected variations in such length. In addition, the keyboard preferably contains a plurality of light emitting diodes which indicate thekeys which have been operated to select a function. A common set of incrementing and decrementing keys are provided on the keyboard for controlling the numeric digit display. These keys control the selection of the pattern number, and hence thecorresponding stitch pattern, as well as selection of the bight and feed values, where such values are to be varied. Thus, the quantity of keys required for pattern selection is solely limited to the number of digits to be controlled rather than thenumber of patterns, with only two sets of keys, by way of example, being necessary to provide up to 100 different pattern numbers for a two digit display.
Preferably, in the keyboard in the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, keys are preferably provided for the most common stitches, the straight stitch and the zig-zag stitch, two sets of keys for controlling the two digit codecorresponding to the plurality of other selectable stitch patterns, a reverse feed selection key on which the selected pattern may be sewed in reverse, a tacking key which provides input control signals to the microcomputer to initiate automatic tackingand subsequent continuation of sewing of the selected stitch pattern once tacking has been completed, a single pattern selection key which enables the automatic provision of only a single stitch of a pattern, a key which enables controllable variation ofthe stitch length and/or bight in conjunction with the numeric display control common keys, a key which enables automatic balance control for the feed of the sewing machine, a key which enables the combining of a plurality of stitch patterns aspreviously mentioned, and a double needle key which automatically enables the limiting of the width of the stitch pattern selected to a predetermined value, such as 5 millimeters, to enable a double needle to be safely employed. The microcomputer andthe keyboard arrangement thus provide the flexibility which has been lacking in previous electronic controlled household type sewing machines.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front elevational diagrammatic illustration of the sewing machine of the present invention, illustrating the preferred location of various components;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the preferred control system of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram similar to FIG. 2 of the control system of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram, partially in block, of a typical servocontrol loop for controlling the positional displacement of the needle bar of the present invention, the same type of arrangement being typical for controlling the positionaldisplacement of the feed dog of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the main motor lock functional portion of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of a typical keyboard presentation for use with the system of the present invention;
FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, taken together, comprise a schematic diagram, partially in block, of the control system of FIGS. 2-5, with FIG. 9 corresponding to the keyboard management control portion of the control system of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a graphic illustration of the synchronization of the control system of the present invention;
FIGS. 11-46 comprise a logic flow diagram of the various control functions of the microprocessor of the present invention;
FIG. 47 is a graphic illustration of a plurality of different stitch patterns which may be stored in the stitch pattern memory of the present invention and provided by the sewing machine of the present invention, with exemplary pattern codenumbers being shown adjacent to each of the patterns, and with the last illustration being of an exemplary non-stored stitch pattern arrangement created from the above stored stitch patterns in accordance with the present invention;
FIGS. 48A-C are a graphic illustration of the interpolation function of the system of the present invention for an arrow satin stitch pattern (pattern number 98 of FIG. 47), illustrating the maintenance of a constant stitch density and shape forthe pattern as the stitch pattern length is varied;
FIG. 49 is a graphic illustration of the arrow pattern of FIG. 48 showing the various stitch points comprising the stored stitch pattern data for this pattern;
FIG. 50 is a graphic illustration similar to FIG. 49 illustrating the stored stitch pattern data corresponding to a club or clover pattern (pattern number 43 of FIG. 47);
FIG. 51 is a graphic illustration similar to FIGS. 49 and 50 illustrating the stored stitch pattern data corresponding to a buttonhole stitch pattern; and
FIG. 52 is a graphic illustration similar to FIGS. 49-51 illustrating the stored stitch pattern data corresponding to various typical alphabetic letter patterns, such as the letters A, B, C, by way of example.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THEPREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the drawings in detail and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, the presently preferred embodiment of the sewing machine of the present invention, generally referred to by the reference numeral 100, is diagrammatically shown. The sewingmachine 100 preferably includes a housing which contains a conventional bed 112, a conventional standard 114, a conventional arm 116 overhanging the bed 112 and ending with a conventional head 118 containing a conventional type of needle bar 120 carriedby a gate 122 for reciprocating motion relative thereto caused by conventional driving means. The needle bar gate 122 is preferably mounted into head 118 so as to make transverse oscillations in response to pulses received from an electromechanicalactuator 124, such as preferably either a linear actuator or a rotary actuator such as a reversible DC motor. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, such as with reference to FIGS. 2-4, 7 and 8, the electromechanical actuator 124 ispreferably connected to the preferred electronic control system of the present invention, generally represented by reference numeral 126 in FIG. 1, and is responsive to output control signals provided thereby to control the transverse oscillations of theneedle bar 120. Preferably, a keyboard 128, to be described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. 9, is operatively connected to the electronic control system 126 of the present invention and is operated by the operator toselect a sewing pattern or create a variation thereof. This keyboard 128 is preferably located on the standard 114 of the sewing machine 100 for operator convenience although, if desired, the keyboard 128 could be located separate from the sewingmachine 100 housing and electronically connected to the electronic control system 126 such as via a cable. The presently preferred physical arrangement of the keyboard panel 128 is shown in FIG. 6. Suffice it to say at this time that the preferredkeyboard panel 128 preferably includes a plurality of keys, to be described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 6 and 9, and a common numeric display 62 for providing a digital display of the information selected by the keyboard 128, aswill be described in greater detail hereinafter. The electronic control system 126, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter, is also preferably operatively connected to a separate electromechanical actuator 130 which may also be a linear orrotary actuator such as a reversible DC motor, which is preferably mechanically linked to feed dog 132 for controlling the adjustment of the length and direction of the feed dog 132.
As is also shown and preferred in FIG. 1, the sewing machine 100 also preferably includes a conventional handwheel 104 which is located on the end of a common shaft 106 which rotates with the handwheel when driven by the sewing machine 100 maindrive motor (not shown). The shaft 106 and main drive motor control the in and out reciprocation of the needle 108 as it conventionally sews on the fabric being fed past the needle 108 by the feed dog mechanism 132. The shaft 106 preferably contains asynchronizing signal generator arrangement 134-136-138-140 (to be described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 7 and 10) which preferably provides synchronizing signals to the electronic control system 126 indicative of the position ofstarting movement of the actuator 124 which commands the bight of the stitch and the position of starting movement of the actuator 130 which commands the feed. Preferably these synchronization signals are provided by a system in which twosynchronization signals are generated by a pair of moving magents 134-136 and a pair of stationary HALL-effect sensors or magnistors 138 and 140 which remain stationary. The two magnets 134-136 are preferably anchored to a disc of non-ferromagneticmaterial which rotates synchronously with the main shaft 106 of the sewing machine while the magnistors 138 and 140 remain stationary. As shown and preferred in FIG. 10, the presently preferred angle of rotation between the magnistors or HALL-effectsensors 138 and 140 is 175.degree., and the preferred angular points during the rotation of the main shaft 106 at which the two synchronizing signals occur are graphically illustrated in FIG. 10, with the first point being the position of startingmovement of the actuator 124 which commands bight and the second position or point being the position of starting movement of the actuator 130 which commands feed and preferably occurring 175.degree., after the first point as the main shaft 106 rotates. Thus, FIG. 10 represents a graph of the actual needle bar stroke value versus the angular position of the handwheel 104 which corresponds to the degree of rotation of the main shaft 106 or magnets 134 and 136 which rotate synchronously therewith. Thebalance of the graph of FIG. 10 is self-explanatory and will not be described in any greater detail hereinafter other than to say that the control of the needle bar and the fabric feed, respectively, is supplied to the sewing machine 100 with due respectfor the proper moments of synchronization with regard to the oscillation cycle of the needle 108. Accordingly, preferably the needle bar movement is imparted to the needle bar 120 while the needle 108 is out of the fabric and the drive for movement ofthe feed dog 132 is imparted to the feed dog 132 when the feed dog 132 is retracted.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the presently preferred electronic control system 126 of the present invention is shown in greater detail than in FIG. 1, although still in terms of a functional block diagram. As shown and preferred in FIGS. 2and 3, the electronic control system 126 of the present invention, which will be described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 7-9, preferably includes a microprocessor or microcomputer 110 which is preferably an integrated circuit which containsthe microcomputer, the associated control program read only memory, and associated input/output registers on a single chip, such as an INTEL 8049 having 2K of ROM storage of the control program, including the executive control program. The variousportions of the preferred microprocessor chip 110 are interconnected to each other on the integrated circuit chip in conventional fashion to transfer data and addresses in the appropriate manner. Thus, the microprocessor chip 110 preferably comprises amicrocomputer including a central processing unit for controlling the various processing functions of microprocessor 110, such as both selection and functional operation on the stored stitch pattern data. The central processing unit of themicroprocessor chip 110 performs the various functional operations in accordance with the instructions contained in the control program memory 142 (FIG. 7) which is connected on the microprocessor chip 110 via various data buses to the balance of themicroprocessor circuitry, such as the central processing unit or arithmetic logic unit and input/output registers and various operative registers, all generally represented by reference numeral 144 in FIG. 7. These various operative registers containedin the microprocessor 144 are preferably used to store, for a predetermined time, intermediate results provided by the arithmetic logic operations of the central processing unit as well as to store the system state. The microprocessor 144 (FIG. 7) alsopreferably includes a random access memory for temporarily storing the data necessary to enable subsequent processing of data, such as stitch pattern data, by the central processing unit or arithmetic logic unit of the microprocessor 144. Theinput/output registers of the microprocessor 144 permit information exchange between the microprocessor chip 110 and the electromechanical actuators 124 and 130 and the keyboard 128. As further shown and preferred in FIG. 7, a clock generator 146 isprovided, such as the crystal controlled clock generator 146 illustrated in FIG. 7, for providing a clocking signal to the central processing unit of the microprocessor 144 located on microprocessor chip 110. This clock generator 146 is preferablylocated outside the microprocessor integrated circuit chip 110 although, if desired, it could be provided as a portion thereof.
As will also be described in greater detail hereinafter, various operative control signal information corresponding to operative instructions are stored in the control program read only memory 142 which, together with the ability of themicroprocessor 144 to functionally operate on this data, enables the miroprocessor chip 110 to convert stitch pattern or sewing data stored in the stitch pattern read only memory 90 into a succession of positions of the needle bar 120 and of the feed dog132 to provide a desired stitch pattern arrangement on the fabric being sewn including the creation of stitch pattern arrangements not stored in the memory 90 per se, such as composite stitch pattern arrangements or ones in which a constant stitchdensity is maintained as the pattern length is varied. This ability of the microprocessor 144 to functionally operated on this stored stitch pattern data contained in pattern memory read only memory 90 permits considerable flexibility in themodification of the succession of positions of the needle bar 120 and of the feed dog 132 enabling the provision of the stored stitch patterns per se as well as the alteration of such stitch patterns to redefine them and create or provide differentstitch pattern arrangements than were stored in the stitch pattern memory read only memory 90 as a result of selections made by the operator on the keyboard 128. These selections, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter, provide various inputcontrol signals to the microprocessor 144 which, in response thereto, operates on the stored stitch pattern data selected to provide the desired stitch pattern arrangement by providing output control signals appropriate to the correspondingelectromechanical actuators 124 and 130 to result in the provision of the desired stitch pattern arrangement on the fabric being sewn.
As is shown and preferred in FIG. 3, the microprocessor chip 110 preferably controls separate position control circuits 148 and 150 for the needle bar 120 and the feed dog 132, respectively. Preferably, each of these position control circuits148 and 150 is functionally identical. The microprocessor chip 10 output control signals which contain information corresponding to the desired position for the needle bar 120 and for the feed dog 132 are preferably digital output signals with theposition control circuits 148 and 150 being analog circuits. However, if desired, the position control circuits 148 and 150 could be digital circuits with appropriate circuit modifications. Since the presently preferred output control signals aredigital, they are provided to digital-to-analog converters 92 and 93, respectively, for position control circuits 148 and 150. As is shown and preferred in FIG. 4, the digital-to-analog converters 92 and 93, respectively, convert the digital outputsignal representing the desired position into corresponding analog voltage values which are provided as one input to a conventional error amplifier 156 (FIG. 4) in each of the position control circuits 148 and 150, respectively. The other input to theerror amplifier, which is preferably a comparator 156, is an analog voltage corresponding to the actual position of the needle bar 120 for position control circuit 148, and to the actual position of the feed dog 132 for position control circuit 150. This "actual position voltage signal" is preferably provided to error amplifier 156 by means of a position transducer 96, for the needle bar 120, and a position transducer 97 for the feed dog 132. These position transducers 96, 97 conventionally convertthe movement of the corresponding actuators 124 and 130, respectively, into appropriate voltage signals which are provided to the appropriate inputs of the error amplifiers 156. As is also shown and preferred in FIG. 3, the actuators 124 and 130 arepreferably reversible DC motors, which are preferably mechanically linked via conventional mechanical linkages 158 to the appropriate position transducer 96 or 97 which, in turn, provides appropriate electrical signals to the input of the appropriateerror amplifier 156. Each of the error amplifiers 156 then generates an error voltage signal as a result of the difference between the voltage representing the desired position which is provided to one input to the error amplifier 156 and the voltagerepresenting the actual position which is provided to the other input to the error amplifier 156. As is further shown and preferred in FIG. 3, each of these error signals is then preferably provided as one input to a corresponding rate amplifier 160whose other input is a signal proportional to the position rate or actual speed of the corresponding actuator 124 or 130, with this signal being provided from the appropriate opposite transducer 96 or 97, respectively, through an appropriate timedifferentiator circuit 162. The output of this rate amplifier 160 is then preferably provided to the corresponding reversible DC motor actuator 124 or 130 through an appropriate power amplifier 94 (for needle bar 120) or 95 (for feed dog 132) so as toprovide the required power to the appropriate reversible DC motor actuator 124 or 130 to correct its position until the actual position corresponds to the required or desired position provided as the output signal from the microprocessor chip 110. Thus,a separate closed servo loop is preferably provided for the needle bar and feed dog position control circuits 148 and 150 providing both rate and position and feedback, with the corresponding amplifier 160 improving the dynamic performance of the closedservo loop by providing a pseudo speed loop. The error amplifier and rate amplifier 156 and 160 are generally diagrammatically represented by functional blocks 152 and 154 in FIG. 3, with functional block 152 representing the needle bar command signalsprovided to the power amplifier 94 and with functional block 154 representing the feed command signals provided to the power amplifier 95. This arrangement is also illustrated in FIG. 2 where the error amplifier 156, rate amplifier 160 and timedifferentiator circuit 162 have been omitted for purposes of clarity, as has the mechanical linkage 158 illustrated in FIG. 4.
Thus, the microprocessor chip 110 operates in conjunction with the keyboard management control circuitry, functionally represented by block 164, which controls and coordinates the operation of the keyboard 128 as will be described in greaterdetail hereinafter with reference to FIG. 9; with the previously mentioned static stitch pattern memory, which is a read only memory 90 for providing stitch pattern data to the microprocessor chip 110; with the previously mentioned control program memory142 which provides control signals effecting the operation of the microprocessor chip 110; with the previously mentioned synchronizing pulses, generally represented in FIG. 3 by the functional block labeled with reference numeral 166, which are providedfrom the aforementioned synchronizing signal generator 134-136-138-140; and with the main motor lock function, generally represented by the functional block labeled with reference numeral 168, for stopping the main drive motor of the sewing machine 100. Preferably, this main motor lock function 168 is accomplished by providing a control signal to the relay coil of the conventional motor speed control circuit (not shown) employed in a conventional sewing machine so as to close this relay and lock themotor off. This main motor lock function is diagrammatically illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 5 by the functional block labeled main motor speed control relay lock signal 170 which is operatively connected to the conventional motor speed controlcircuit, represented by the functional block labeled with reference numeral 172 which is, in turn, connected to the conventional main drive motor of the sewing machine, represented by the functional block generally labeled with reference numeral 174. This main motor lock signal is provided from the microprocessor 144 as one of the output control signals therefrom via conventional input/output expander illustratively functionally shown as associated with the pattern memory 90 in FIG. 7. As shown andpreferred in FIG. 7, this motor lock relay signal is provided by applying a bias signal to a conventional transistor 176 to bias the transistor into the conducting state.
Referring once again to FIG. 2, the aforementioned input/output expander which is shown as part of block 90 for purposes of illustration, has the function of substantially increasing the input and the output signals available with respect tomicroprocessor chip 110. Preferably, eight of such input control signals are provided for conveyance of the input control signal information from the keyboard 128 to the microprocessor chip 110 and therefrom to the numeric displays 62, which preferablycomprise a two digit display, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to FIG. 6, and to the light emitting diode groups 63 which are associated with the various selection keys of the keyboard 128, as will also be described ingreater detail with reference to FIGS. 6 and 9. Thus, the keys of the keyboard 128, the lighting segments of the displays 62 and the light emitting diode groups 63 are preferably logically subdivided into groups of eight with there being, as shown andpreferred in FIG. 9, ten groups in all comprising four groups of keys, two groups of display digit segments and four groups of light emitting diodes associated with the selection keys. Since all of the data to and from these groups preferably istransmitted over the same eight wires or circuit paths, it is essential that the microprocessor chip 110 know from which key group the signals have originated and, moreover, to which groups the control signals from the microprocessor chip 110 are to bedirected. This routing function is preferably accomplished by a conventional decoder 91, which preferably comprises a keyboard display decoder and digit driver as illustratively shown in FIG. 9 which, in conjunction with the aforementioned input/outputexpander, outputs ten signals in sequence on as many wires, with these signals implementing, at different times, in a group at a time, data conveyance to the microprocessor chip 110 by every key group and data display by every light emitting diode group.
Although not shown, the sewing machine 100 is preferably conventionally operated by a conventional pedal control which operates the main drive motor to conventionally turn the sewing machine shaft 106. This function cannot occur in the presentinvention, however, until an appropriate stitch pattern arrangement has been selected by the keyboard 128 and acknowledged by the microprocessor chip 110. As was previously mentioned with respect to FIG. 10, the electronic control system 126synchronizes its own operations according to the synchronizing signals 166 received from the synchronizing signal generator 134-136-138-140, with these signals indicating the moment at which the feed and needle bar drives must be operated. When thesesynchronizing signals are present, the microprocessor chip 110 preferably searches information about the feed and needle bar movement of the following stitch. When such data is found, the microprocessor chip 110 operates on this data in the mannerindicated by the input control signals provided from the keyboard 128, such as by multiplying these signals by an amplification coefficient of one if the stored stitch pattern per se is to be produced and by some other factor if the stitch pattern datais to be modified or redefined. These digital output control signals, as was previously mentioned, are then sent to the digital-to-analog converters 92, 93 for driving the needle transverse oscillations and the feed strokes, respectively, with thedigital output signals provided from the microprocessor chip 110 being changed into analog signals corresponding to the appropriate stitch position coordinate of the following stitch, which stitch position coordinates define the operative position of theneedle bar actuator 124 and feed actuator 130 to appropriately position the needle bar 120 and feed dog 132, respectively, to accomplish the appropriate stitch position coordinates.
As is also shown and preferred in FIG. 2, under certain circumstances it may be necessary to stop the needle stroke at its upper end point, such as the end of a single pattern, or a buttonhole end, etc. In order to do so, actuators 98, 99 and 103are preferably provided. Thus, under such circumstances, microprocessor chip 110 may in response to the appropriate input control signal from keyboard 128 provide an output control signal to actuator 98 to stop the main sewing motor by means of clutch101, or to limit the machine speed by means of actuator 99 or to operate a special lock clutch 102 if desired by means of actuator 103.
Referring now to FIG. 6, the structure and function of the presently preferred keyboard 128 of the present invention shall be described in greater detail. As shown and preferred in FIG. 6, the keyboard 128 includes the aforementioned two digitdigital display 62 with each of the digit displays preferably comprising a conventional segmented display as illustratively shown in FIG. 6. This common display 62 will display the two digit code number corresponding to the selected stitch pattern aswell as other numeric information such as stitch pattern length and widths, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The keyboard 128 also preferably includes a plurality of keys, with 16 such keys 180, 182, 184, 186, 188, 190, 192, 194, 196,198, 200, 202, 204, 206, 208 and 210 being shown by way of example, for providing various input control signals to the microprocessor chip 110. As is also shown and preferred, keys 188-210, inclusive, all have associated light emitting diodes 63 locatedadjacent thereto for providing an indicating signal when the corresponding key has been selected, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. However, as is also shown and preferred in FIG. 6, keys 180, 182, 184 and 186 which are preferablyassociated with incrementing and decrementing the display 62, with keys 182 and 186 being associated with the least significant digit and keys 180 and 184 being associated with the most significant digit of display 62, do not have associated lightemitting diodes 63.
As was previously mentioned, the sewing machine 100 of the present invention cannot operate until the appropriate functions have been selected by the keyboard 128. Since the straight stitch and the conventional zig-zag stitch are normallyfrequently used stitch patterns, special keys are provided for these stitches as opposed to requiring the selection of these stitch patterns in the preferred manner for selection of any of the other stored stitch patterns. Thus, key 188 is provided forselection of the conventional zig-zag stitch and key 190 is provided for selection of the conventional straight stitch. Corresponding light emitting diode signal lamp 63 preferably turn on as soon as the corresponding key 188 or 190 is depressed. Theselection must thereafter be confirmed by depressing the key 200 marked OK which confirms to the electronic control system 126 that this is the stitch pattern arrangement desired by the operator. The microprocessor chip 110 will then unlock the maindrive motor and, thereafter, once the foot pedal control (not shown) is activated by the operator, the sewing machine 100 will sew in accordance with the selected stitch pattern. The previously mentioned keys 180, 182, 184 and 186 enable selection ofall of the other stored stitch patterns apart from the zig-zag and straight stitch patterns, contained in the stitch pattern memory 90. As was previously mentioned, a two digit code number is assigned to each of these stored stitch patterns, such asillustrated in FIG. 47, and this two digit code number is introduced via the keyboard 128 by means of keys 180, 182, 184 and 186, with keys 180 and 182 incrementing the display from 0 through 9, and with keys 184, 186 decrementing the display from 9through 0. When these keys 180-186 are depressed, the display 62 will immediately light up to display the corresponding digits. By keeping keys 180 or 182 depressed, the corresponding digit will continually increment. Alternatively, by keeping thecorresponding key 184 or 186 depressed, the associated digit in display 62 will continually decrement. When the desired digit is reached, the key is released and the display 62 will stop. When the numerical combination in the display 62 correspondingto the desired stitch pattern is obtained, this information must be confirmed to the microprocessor chip 110. This is accomplished, as was previously mentioned, by then depressing the OK key 200 which causes a confirmation signal to be transmitted tothe microprocessor chip 110. The light emitting diode 63 located above key 200 will then turn on indicating to the operator that the machine 100 is ready to perform the selected stitch pattern arrangement. If, however, the operator selects a codenumber which does not correspond to a stored stitch pattern and thereafter depresses the OK key 200, the display 62 will provide an error signal indication such as the letter E, indicating to the operator that the selected stitch pattern does not existin memory. The same error signal will appear if the operator has not appropriately selected the alternating pattern or composite stitch pattern arrangement function indicated by key 202, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.
If it is desired to invert the stitch direction, or reverse feed, the operator then depresses the reverse feed key 210. The microprocessor chip 110 will then provide output control signals reversing the direction of feed and enabling the stitchpattern selected to be sewn in the reverse direction. The corresponding light emitting diode 63 associated with key 210 will then be turned on or lit to indicate to the operator that the reverse feed function has been selected. If the operator wishesto resume sewing in the forward direction, the reverse feed key 210 is depressed again and the microprocessor chip 110 will then provide output control signals causing the feed to revert to the forward feed direction and the associated light emittingdiode 63 will go off. Thus, the output control signals from the microprocessor chip 110 which are provided in response to selection of the reverse feed function, reverses the polarity of the drive governing the feed, making possible a repetition, withreverse feed, of all of the selected patterns.
As was previously mentioned, key 190 preferably selects the straight stitch pattern. However, if key 190 is selected together with key 198, which corresponds to the tacking key, the sewing machine 100 will preferably automatically performinitial tacking and thereafter will continue to sew onward with the straight stitch pattern. When keys 190 and 198 are selected, the corresponding light emitting diode 63 will be turned on; however, when the initial tacking function has been completed,the light emitting diode 63 located adjacent key 198 will turn off indicating to the operator that the initial tacking has been completed. This initial tacking is a reinforcing operation which is carried out in a straight stitch to reinforce the sewingat the start of the stitch and prevent the unraveling of the thread. Peferably the output control signals provided by microprocessor chip 110 under these circumstances cause three straight stitches to be provided forward and three straight stitches tobe provided backward to accomplish this initial tacking before the normal straight stitching pattern is commenced. Thus the microprocessor chip 110 of the present invention enables the automatic linking of different stitch patterns, such as the aboveexample of the tacking stitch pattern and, thereafter, the straight stitch pattern, which may be automatically sequentially performed without interruption.
Selection of a single stitch of a selected stitch pattern may also be accomplished in accordance with the present invention through the use of key 208 on keyboard 128. Selection of this key 208 indicates to the microprocessor chip 110, byproviding a corresponding input control signal, that the operator only desired that a single cycle of the selected pattern be performed and that the machine 100 is therefore to stop when this single pattern cycle has been performed. Thus, in response tothe input control signal provided by activation of key 208, the microprocessor chip 110 provides the previously mentioned main motor lock signal to the motor speed control relay of the conventional motor speed control circuit 172 by biasing transistor176 into the conducting state to thereafter close the motor speed control relay and lock the main drive motor off until this signal is terminated. This feature is particularly useful when sewing monograms in conjunction with selection of an alphabeticletter stitch pattern or as a method of enabling the operator to preview stitch pattern arrangements prior to actual use. As with the other function control keys, when the single pattern cycle key 208 has been selected the associated light emittingdiode 63 turns on to indicate that this function has been selected.
Preferably, every stored stitch pattern has a predetermined stitch length and width which is stored in the stitch pattern memory 90. These stored associated stitch pattern lengths and widths can be controllably varied by the operator in thesystem of the present invention. Thus, if the operator desires to increase or decrease the associated stitch length of a previously selected pattern, the operator then selects key 194. This will provide an appropriate input control signal to themicroprocessor chip 110 which will thereafter cause the stored stitch length of the previously selected stitch pattern to appear on the common display screen 62, preferably expressed in millimeters and tenth's of a millimeter, although the system can bereadily arranged to express the stitch length in any desired unit of measure. The light emitting diode 63 located adjacent key 194 will then be lit or turned on to indicate to the operator that the digits displayed on the display screen 62 at that timecorrespond to the stored stitch length of the previously selected stitch pattern and not to the stitch pattern code number. The circuit is now enabled to permit the stitch pattern length to be varied by using the same incrementing and decrementing keys180-182 and 184-186, respectively, which are used to change the display 62 in connection with selection of the stitch pattern code number and when the final desired stitch length appears in the display 62, the keys 180-186, are then released. If theoperator now wishes to confirm the pattern code number of the stitch pattern whose length has just been varied, the operator need only press key 194 again and this will provide an input control signal to microprocessor chip 110 which will cause thestitch pattern code number to appear in display 62 in place of the previously displayed stitch length.
Similarly, the operator may increase or decrease the associated stored stitch width, that is the zig-zag width of the stitch. Thus, after the operator has selected the desired stitch pattern whose width is to be varied, the operator depresseskey 192 which corresponds to the stitch width function. This provides an input control signal to the microprocessor chip 110 which will cause the stored stitch pattern width to then appear on the common display 62 in place of the selected stitch patterncode number in the same manner as was previously desired with respect to the stitch length. Again, the circuit is now enabled to permit this width to then be increased or decreased through the use of the incrementing and decrementing keys 180-182,184-186, respectively, in the manner previously described with respect to the stitch length and the pattern code number. At this time, the light emitting diode 63 associated with key 192 will preferably be blinking to indicate to the operator that thewidth of the stitch pattern is being changed. Again, if the operator wishes to recheck which stitch pattern had been previously selected and whose width is being changed, the operator need only depress key 192 again and this will provide an inputcontrol signal to microprocessor chip 110 which will cause the corresponding stitch pattern code numer to appear in display 62 in place of the stitch pattern width.
The sewing machine 100 of the present invention also preferably provides for electronic balance control since balancing stitches may sometimes be useful to compensate for possible variations in fabric feeding. To accomplish such balancing, theoperator first selects the corresponding stitch pattern code number and then depresses key 206 which corresponds to this balance function. This will provide an input control signal to the microprocessor chip 110 which will then cause the display 62 todisplay the number 0 indicating to the operator that the feeding values are perfectly adjusted or balanced in the machine memory. However, this adjustment is preferably on an assumption of normal sewing using standard fabrics and threads. Since thecircuit is now enabled to permit the use of keys 180-186 to change this balance, if the operator wishes to change this balance, the incrementing and decrementing keys 180-182, 184-186 are then employed to increase or decrease this value. Preferably,however, the circuit is arranged to enable the balance to be varied only up to a maximum or down to a minimum of preferably plus or minus 0.9 millimeters, although other arrangements may be provided if desired. Preferably, the light emitting diode 63located above ley 206 will begin blinking as soon as one of the incrementing or decrementing keys 180-186 is depressed to indicate to the operator that the balance value has been modified. If the operator wishes to again display the pattern code numberof the selected stitch pattern, the operator need only depress key 206 again and this will provide an input control signal to microprocessor chip 110 which will cause this pattern code number to be displayed on display 62 in place of the balance data.
As also shown and preferred in FIG. 6, and as illustrated in FIG. 48, in the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, any satin pattern may have its length increased while the density of the stitch pattern remains unchanged asdoes the shape of the pattern. In order to accomplish this, the microprocessor chip 110 preferably interpolates the selected stitch pattern data to provide additional stitch position coordinates between the previously stored stitch position coordinatesso as to thereby maintain the constant stitch density. In order to provide the appropriate input control signals to enable the microprocessor chip 110 to perform this function, the keyboard 128 is operated in the following manner. The desired stitchpattern code number is provided to the microprocessor chip 110 by the keyboard 128 in the manner previously described, such as the pattern code number corresponding to the arrow pattern (pattern number 98 in FIG. 47) illustrated in FIGS. 47-49. Thedensity control key, key 204, is then depressed and the display 62 will then, under control of the microprocessor chip 110, display the stored stitch length of the selected stitch pattern. In addition, the light emitting diode 63 located adjacent key204 will start blinking to indicate to the operator that the information displayed on display 62 now shows the length of a pattern and not its corresponding pattern code number. The operator would then depress the incrementing or decrementing keys180-182, 184-186, respectively, to increase or decrease the length of the satin stitch pattern selected in the manner previously described. It should be noted that preferably a selected satin stitch pattern may be increased up to a length of preferably99 millimeters, although this may be changed without departing from the present invention. If key 204 is again depressed this will provide an input control signal to microprocessor chip 110 which will cause the pattern code number corresponding to theselected satin stitch pattern code to again appear on the common display 62. Besides stretching or increasing the length of the selected satin stitch pattern, if the operator wishes to increase the density of the stitches, this may be accomplished byfirst repeating the operation described above with respect to varying the stitch length and thereafter repeating the operation described above with respect to varying the length of a satin stitch pattern. Thus, the operator may vary this satin stitchpattern length between the standard length, which is defined as the stored number of stitches multiplied by the actual feed, and the maximum permissible value, such as the previously mentioned 99 millimeters. This variation in satin stitch patternlength is the result of the interpolation of new intermediate positions among the previously stored stitch position coordinates for a given satin stitch pattern. The presently preferred interpolation algorithm for accomplishing this is as follows:
On selecting a satin stitch pattern the following variable is considered:
The variable "x" is considered as being equal to 0 and the variable "y" is defined by the expression y=y.sub.n +K(y.sub.n+1 -y.sub.n) where the parameter y is defined as the needle bar coordinate of the next pattern repeat to be interpolated, theparameter y.sub.n is defined as the needle bar coordinate of the stored pattern repeat already executed, and the parameter y.sub.n+1 is defined as the needle bar coordinate of the following stored pattern repeat. The variable K is the stitch point whichinitially=0, but is increased in value at each interpolation of the above quantity c. Whenever the quantity c exceeds 1, this indicates that the interpolation has gone beyond the next pattern repeat of the selected stitch pattern. Under suchcircumstances, | | | |
