Abstract: An image reading apparatus including a feed mechanism configured to feed a sheet member; a scanner including a reading portion and being configured to read an image on a surface of the sheet member in synchronism with the feeding of the sheet member by the feed mechanism; a cleaning sheet comprising a single sheet including a cleaning portion configured to clean the reading portion, and a reference portion configured to be used in evaluating contamination of the reading portion; an evaluator configured to evaluate the contamination of the reading portion based on read data pertaining to an image of the reference portion of the cleaning sheet read by the scanner; and a controller configured to control the feed mechanism to execute a cleaning operation in which the cleaning sheet is fed so that the cleaning portion cleans the reading portion based on the evaluation of the evaluator.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus including a plurality of types of holding members holding a workpiece and a plurality of types of cutting members cutting the workpiece held by the holding member. Each holding member includes a sheet of base, a holding portion disposed on a surface of the base and having a holding capacity suitable for a type of the workpiece to be held, and a holding member indicator capable of distinguishing the types of holding members. Each cutting member includes a cutter having a blade configured to cut the workpiece and having a cutting capacity suitable for a type of the workpiece to be cut, a support portion supporting the cutter, and a cutter indicator provided on the plurality of types of cutting members and capable of distinguishing the types of cutting members, the cutter indicator being similar in configuration as the holding member indicator of corresponding holding member.

Abstract: A punch data generating device that generates punch data used in an embroiderable sewing machine for punch engraving a pattern on a workpiece by attaching a punch needle that punch engraves a surface of the workpiece in dot-by-dot strokes on a needle bar of the embroiderable sewing machine and moving the punch needle up and down while transferring the workpiece in two predetermined directions by a transfer mechanism. The punch data generating device includes a data generator that generates the punch data so that when punch engraving a plurality of patterns, the patterns are sequentially punch engraved one by one.

Abstract: A workpiece holder for use with an embroiderable sewing machine including a transfer device that transfers a workpiece in two predetermined directions, and a needle bar having a punch needle attached thereto, the workpiece holder being attached to the transfer device and holding a workpiece on which punch work is executed by the punch needle, the workpiece holder including a connecting element that is detachably attached to the transfer device; a placement element on which the workpiece is placed; a support element that is provided with the connecting element and that supports the placement element; a frame element that clamps the portions of the workpiece placed on the placement element exclusive of a workface on which the punch work is executed; and a retainer element that retains the frame element clamping the workpiece.

Abstract: A cutting plotter includes a cutting mechanism, a retaining mechanism and a press mechanism. The cutting mechanism includes a cutter. The cutter has a blade edge on a head of the cutter. The retaining mechanism retains the cutter to allow the cutter to change an orientation of the blade edge. The press mechanism includes a press member. The press member is configured to interlock with the cutter and to press a cutting object near the blade edge. The press mechanism is configured to maintain a positional relationship between the press member and the blade edge when the orientation of the blade edge changes in a relative movement between the cutting, mechanism and the object.

Abstract: A cutting plotter includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores computer-readable instructions that cause the processor to perform setting, counting, storing, and notifying when executed. The setting sets a plurality of partial areas by dividing a cuttable area of a holding member, the cuttable area is an area in which a cutting object is to be detachably adhered. The counting counts a number of cuts by a cutting blade within the cuttable area for each of the plurality of partial areas. The storing stores each of count values associated with each of the plurality of partial areas in a storage portion, each of the count values is counted by the counting for each of the plurality of partial areas. The notifying notifies, based on the count values stored in the storage portion, information relating to the number of cuts for each of the plurality of partial areas.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus including a feed mechanism configured to feed a sheet member; a scanner including a reading portion and being configured to read an image on a surface of the sheet member in synchronism with the feeding of the sheet member by the feed mechanism; a cleaning sheet comprising a single sheet including a cleaning portion configured to clean the reading portion, and a reference portion configured to be used in evaluating contamination of the reading portion; an evaluator configured to evaluate the contamination of the reading portion based on read data pertaining to an image of the reference portion of the cleaning sheet read by the scanner; and a controller configured to control the feed mechanism to execute a cleaning operation in which the cleaning sheet is fed so that the cleaning portion cleans the reading portion based on the evaluation of the evaluator.

Abstract: A cutting plotter includes a housing, a conveying mechanism, a guide shall, a cutting head, a cutter moving mechanism, and a slidable contact. The conveying mechanism is configured to convey a sheet-like cutting object to a first direction. The guide shaft extends in a second direction and is connected to the housing. The second direction crosses to the first direction. The cutting head is slidably supported by the guide shall, and is to be mounted with a cutter. The cutter moving mechanism is configured to move the cutting head along the guide shaft. The cutter moving mechanism includes a roller shaft extending parallel to the guide shaft. The slidable contact is provided in the cutting head and slidably contacts the roller shaft to maintain a position of the cutting head.

Abstract: A multi-needle sewing machine including a plurality of needle bars including a specific needle bar allowing detachable attachment of a punch needle that punch engraves a surface of a punch workpiece in dot-by-dot strokes; a transfer mechanism that allows detachable attachment of a punch workpiece holder a detector that detects the attachment of the punch workpiece holder on the transfer mechanism; and a controller that when the attachment of the punch workpiece holder is detected by the detector, executes a punch engraving operation on the punch workpiece with the punch needle by selecting the specific needle bar and by controlling a needle-bar selector/driver mechanism and the transfer mechanism based on punch engraving pattern data which is pre-stored or given by external components.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a controller and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer readable instructions, The computer readable instructions instruct the controller to execute steps including arranging a plurality of patterns. The plurality of patterns includes a peripheral line, identifying an overlap portion of the peripheral lines of the plurality of patterns, generating data representing a line which connects the determined peripheral lines in the overlap portion. A cutter is configured to cut an object based on the generated data.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a needle bar to which an engraving needle is attached and is capable of executing an engraving process of forming an engraved pattern on a workpiece. The sewing machine further includes a heightwise position adjusting mechanism adjusting a mounting heightwise position of the engraving needle relative to the needle bar, a unit imaging the engraved marks formed on the workpiece by the engraving needle, thereby obtaining an image of each engraved mark, a detection unit extracting a region of each engraved mark from the image to detect a size of each engraved mark, a determination unit comparing the size of each engraved mark with a reference value stored, determining a mounting heightwise position of the engraving needle, and a unit informing of information for adjusting the mounting heightwise position of the engraving needle according to determination made by the determination unit.

Abstract: A thread cutter for a sewing machine includes a first thread seizing assembly reciprocally movable and having a distal end with a first thread seizing portion, a second thread seizing assembly seizing needle and bobbin threads both having been seized by the first assembly during a backward movement of reciprocation of the first assembly, cutting the needle and bobbin threads in cooperation with a cutting blade, and a thread cutting frame supporting the first assembly and formed with a single elongated groove supporting the first assembly so that the first assembly is movable. The elongated groove includes a linear proximal end groove, an oblique portion, and a main groove and being shaped such that the proximal end groove is translated slightly forward through the oblique portion. When moved backward in the reciprocation, the first assembly is swung so that the first thread seizing portion comes close to the second assembly.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus moves a cutting blade and in object to be cut relative to each other based on cutting data, thereby cutting a desirable pattern out of the object. The cutting apparatus includes an extraction unit which extracts from the cutting data a position of a cutting start point and a position of a cutting end point of a cutting line on the object, and a setting unit which changes the positions of the cutting start and end points to a position on the cutting line other than a specified position on the cutting line when the positions of the cutting start and end points extracted by the extraction unit are on the specified position in a case where a closed pattern having the cutting start and endpoints corresponding with each other is cut out of the object.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a holding member selectable from a plurality of types of holding members according to respective types of objects to be cut, the holding member having an adhesive layer removably holding the object and set on the cutting apparatus while holding the object adherent to the adhesive layer, an identification medium located on the holding member for identifying the holding member type, an input unit inputting the object type into the control unit, a detection unit detecting the holding member type from the identification medium when the holding member has been set to the apparatus, and a determination unit determining whether or not the object type input from the input unit and the type of the holding member detected by the detection unit are consistent with each other. The control unit is configured to perform the control according to a result of determination by the determination unit.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a cutting unit including a cutting blade moved together with an object to be cut, relative to each other, cutting the object by the cutting blade, a holding member having an adhesive layer on which the object is removably held, the holding member being set onto the cutting apparatus while adhesively holding the object, a wireless tag located on the holding member and containing cutting information written thereon, the cutting information including information about cutting, a reading unit which reads the cutting information from the wireless tag when the holding member has been set on the cutting apparatus, and a control unit which controls the cutting unit based on the cutting information the reading unit has read from the wireless tag.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus is disclosed in which a cutting blade and an object to be cut are moved relative to each other so that a desired pattern is cutout of the object. The cutting apparatus includes an arranging unit arranging the pattern in a cut-allowable region of the object, a frame setting unit setting a minimum boundary frame which is polygonal or curved in shape and includes a contour of the pattern arranged by the arranging unit, and a cutting data generating unit generating outer line cutting data for cutting an outer line dividing a first region near the pattern within the cut-allowable region and a second region other than the first region, outside the boundary frame, based on the boundary frame. The pattern and the outer line are cut out of the object based on pattern cutting data for cutting the pattern and the outer line cutting data.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus is disclosed in which a cutting blade and an object to be cut are moved relative to each other so that the object is cut by the cutting blade. The cutting apparatus includes a holding member which is disposed at a position opposed to the cutting blade and has an adhesive layer removably holding the object, and a pressing unit which presses the object held by the holding member, the pressing unit being set to a pressing force which meets a holding force necessary for a resultant force to immovably hold the object relative to the holding member when the object is cut by the cutting blade, the resultant force having an adhesion of the adhesive layer and the pressing force of the pressing unit both as components.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus is disclosed in which a cutting blade and an object to be cut are moved relative to each other so that the object is cut by the butting blade. The cutting apparatus includes a holding member which is inserted into the cutting apparatus while holding the object and a supporting member which abuts on the holding member in a direction which differs from an insertion direction in which the holding member is inserted into the cutting apparatus, supporting the holding member. The holding member has a supported portion which is supported by the supporting member and provided with an inclined portion which is inclined to the insertion direction. The holding member is configured so that the inclined portion initially abuts on the supported portion.

Abstract: A punch needle is disclosed. The punch needle is detachably attached to a needle bar of a sewing machine and is configured to punch a workpiece by moving the needle bar up and down. The punch needle including a base section detachably attached to the needle bar; a mid section in continuation with the base section; a tip section formed on the end of the mid section; and a handle provided on the mid section, the handle being configured to be held by a user's fingers during attachment/detachment of the base section to/from the needle bar.

Abstract: A thread cutter for a sewing machine includes a first thread seizing assembly reciprocally movable and having a distal end with a first thread seizing portion, a second thread seizing assembly seizing needle and bobbin threads both having been seized by the first assembly during a backward movement of reciprocation of the first assembly, cutting the needle and bobbin threads in cooperation with a cutting blade, and a thread cutting frame supporting the first assembly and formed with a single elongated groove supporting the first assembly so that the first assembly is movable. The elongated groove includes a linear proximal end groove, an oblique portion, and a main groove and being shaped such that the proximal end groove is translated slightly forward through the oblique portion. When moved backward in the reciprocation, the first assembly is swung so that the first thread seizing portion comes close to the second assembly.