US 5,195,451 A · Sewing machine provided with a projector for projecting the image of a stitch pattern

Abstract

When a desired stitch pattern is selected by the operator, stitch pattern data representing the desired stitch pattern and image data representing the image of the stitch pattern to be projected on a workpiece are stored temporarily in a RAM. When the push button of a frame shifting switch is depressed, an embroidery frame holding the workpiece is shifted from a stitching area to an image projecting area. The image of the stitch pattern can be projected without being obstructed by the needle bar, the needle and the presser foot on the workpiece held by the embroidery frame placed in the image projecting area, so that the operator is able to confirm the stitch pattern to be formed easily and correctly. A projector projects the full-sized image of the stitch pattern on the basis of the image data read from the RAM on the workpiece held by the embroidery frame. The position of the embroidery frame relative to a reference position in the image projecting area can be changed by operating frame position adjusting switches to determine the position of the stitch pattern to be formed on the workpiece. The stitch pattern is formed on the workpiece at the position determined by operating the frame position adjusting switches in the image projecting area in forming the stitch pattern on the workpiece held by the embroidery frame placed in the stitching area.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A sewing machine capable of projecting the image of a stitch pattern on a workpiece, said sewing machine comprising:

a stitch pattern data storage means for storing stitch pattern data representing stitch patterns to be formed on the workpiece;
a workpiece holding means for holding the workpiece and defining a stitching area of the workpiece;
a stitch pattern forming means including a needle for forming a stitch pattern, on the basis of the stitch pattern data stored in said stitch pattern data storage means, on the workpiece held by said workpiece holding means placed in a stitching area of said sewing machine;
an image data storage means for storing image data corresponding to the stitch pattern data representing stitch patterns;
an image projecting means for projecting the image of a stitch pattern to be formed on the workpiece by said stitch pattern forming means, on the basis of the image data stored in said image data storage means, on the workpiece held by said workpiece holding means placed in an image projecting area of said sewing machine;
and
a workpiece moving means for moving said workpiece holding means between the stitching area of said sewing machine and the image projecting area.

4 more elements

A sewing machine capable of projecting the image of a stitch pattern on a workpiece, said sewing machine comprising:

a stitch pattern data generating means for generating stitch pattern data representing a stitch pattern to be formed on the workpiece;
a workpiece holding means for holding the workpiece having a holding frame defining a stitch pattern forming area;
an image data generating means for generating image data representing a stitch pattern;
an image projecting means for projecting the image of a stitch pattern on the basis of the image data generated by the image data generating means on an image projecting area;
a stitch forming means for forming a stitch pattern in the stitch pattern forming area on the workpiece in a stitching area of said sewing machine on the basis of the image of the stitch pattern projected by said image projecting means;
and
a moving means for moving said workpiece holding means between the stitching area of said sewing machine and the image projecting area.

4 more elements

A method of projecting the image of a stitch pattern on a workpiece held by a workpiece holding means, said method comprising steps of:

selecting a desired stitch pattern to be formed on the workpiece;
storing stitch pattern data representing the selected stitch pattern and image data representing the image of the selected stitch pattern to be projected on the workpiece;
moving the workpiece holding means holding the workpiece from a stitching area of said sewing machine, in which the workpiece holding means is placed while forming the stitch pattern, to an image projecting area, in which the workpiece holding means is placed while projecting the image of the stitch pattern on the workpiece;
and
projecting the full-sized image of the stitch pattern on the workpiece held by the workpiece holding means placed in the image projecting area, at a position on the workpiece where the stitch pattern is to be formed.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sewing machine provided with a projector for projecting the image of a stitch pattern

Life of this patent

Sewing machine provided with a projector for projecting the image of a stitch pattern

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20