Patents by Inventor Midori MAGARA
Midori MAGARA has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
-
Patent number: 9976240Abstract: An embroidery frame includes an inner frame, an outer frame, an elastic member, and an attachment member. The inner frame is formed in a ring shape. The outer frame is formed in a ring shape and is configured to be fitted onto an outside of the inner frame. The elastic member is arranged on at least one of an outer peripheral surface of the inner frame and an inner peripheral surface of the outer frame. The attachment member detachably attaches the elastic member to one of the inner frame and the outer frame.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2015Date of Patent: May 22, 2018Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Midori Magara, Nobuhiko Funato
-
Patent number: 9416473Abstract: An upper feed device includes a mounting portion, a feed mechanism, a drive portion, and a connecting portion. The mounting portion is configured to mount the upper feed device to a presser bar of a sewing machine. The feed mechanism is configured to feed a work cloth. The drive portion is configured to drive the feed mechanism. The connecting portion is configured to electrically connect the drive portion to a control portion of the sewing machine.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2013Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Midori Magara, Harumi Kato
-
Patent number: 9303344Abstract: A sewing machine includes a bed, a needle plate, a needle bar, a needle bar swing mechanism, a lift mechanism, an optical detecting portion, and a control portion. The lift mechanism is configured to raise and lower a presser foot. The optical detecting portion is configured to optically detect a cord guided by the guide portion, and to output data representing the cord. The control portion is configured to calculate a width of the cord based on the data output by the optical detecting portion, calculate a height position of the presser foot based on the width of the cord, and cause the lift mechanism to move the presser foot to the height position.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2014Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Harumi Kobayashi, Midori Magara
-
Patent number: 9303345Abstract: A cutting needle rotation device includes a mounting portion, a first member, a moving member, and a rotation mechanism. The mounting portion is removably mounted on a needle bar of a sewing machine. The first member is a member to which a cutting needle is affixed. The moving member is positioned in a first position when the moving member does not receive an external force and moves to a second position when the moving member receives an external force. The rotation mechanism, when the moving member is in the first position, holds the first member such that the cutting needle does not rotate, and when the moving member moves from the first position to the second position and returns from the second position to the first position, rotates the first member such that the cutting needle rotates by a specified angle of rotation in one direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2014Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Katsuhisa Hasegawa, Midori Magara, Kiyokazu Sekine, Harumi Kato
-
Patent number: 9212438Abstract: A sewing machine includes a first drive portion, a switching portion, a second drive portion, a control portion, and a memory. The first drive portion is configured to drive to feed, in a first direction, a work cloth. The switching portion is configured to switch a position of the first drive portion. The second drive portion is configured to drive to feed the work cloth. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions that instruct the sewing machine to execute steps of driving the first drive portion in the first position in a case where the second drive portion drives to feed the work cloth in the first direction and switching the position of the first drive portion to the second position in a case where the second drive portion drives to feed the work cloth in a second direction, based on the sewing data.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2013Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Harumi Kato, Midori Magara
-
Patent number: 9127386Abstract: A sewing machine includes a bed, a needle plate, a needle bar, a needle bar swing mechanism, an optical detecting portion, and a control portion. The optical detecting portion is configured to optically detect a cord pressed by a presser foot, and to output data representing the cord. The control portion is configured to calculate a width of the cord based on the data output by the optical detecting portion, calculate a swing width of the needle bar based on the width of the cord, and cause the needle bar swing mechanism to swing the needle bar with the swing width.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2014Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Harumi Kobayashi, Midori Magara
-
Publication number: 20150240402Abstract: An embroidery frame includes an inner frame, an outer frame, an elastic member, and an attachment member. The inner frame is formed in a ring shape. The outer frame is formed in a ring shape and is configured to be fitted onto an outside of the inner frame. The elastic member is arranged on at least one of an outer peripheral surface of the inner frame and an inner peripheral surface of the outer frame. The attachment member detachably attaches the elastic member to one of the inner frame and the outer frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 10, 2015Publication date: August 27, 2015Inventors: Midori MAGARA, Nobuhiko FUNATO
-
Patent number: 9027489Abstract: A sewing machine includes a needle bar, a presser bar, a threading device, a processor, and a memory. The needle bar is configured such that a sewing needle is attached thereto. The presser bar is configured such that an accessory device is mounted thereon. The threading device is configured to perform a threading operation in which an upper thread is passed through an eye of the sewing needle attached to the needle bar. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions. The computer-readable instructions cause the processor to perform processes that include determining whether a mounted device is a specific accessory device and causing the threading device to perform the threading operation in a case where it is determined that the mounted device is the specific accessory device and a specific condition is satisfied. The mounted device is an accessory device mounted on the presser bar.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2014Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Harumi Kato, Midori Magara
-
Publication number: 20150094842Abstract: A sewing machine includes a bed, a needle plate, a needle bar, a needle bar swing mechanism, an optical detecting portion, and a control portion. The optical detecting portion is configured to optically detect a cord pressed by a presser foot, and to output data representing the cord. The control portion is configured to calculate a width of the cord based on the data output by the optical detecting portion, calculate a swing width of the needle bar based on the width of the cord, and cause the needle bar swing mechanism to swing the needle bar with the swing width.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2014Publication date: April 2, 2015Inventors: Harumi KOBAYASHI, Midori MAGARA
-
Publication number: 20150090168Abstract: A sewing machine includes a bed, a needle plate, a needle bar, a needle bar swing mechanism, a lift mechanism, an optical detecting portion, and a control portion. The lift mechanism is configured to raise and lower a presser foot. The optical detecting portion is configured to optically detect a cord guided by the guide portion, and to output data representing the cord. The control portion is configured to calculate a width of the cord based on the data output by the optical detecting portion, calculate a height position of the presser foot based on the width of the cord, and cause the lift mechanism to move the presser foot to the height position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2014Publication date: April 2, 2015Inventors: Harumi KOBAYASHI, Midori MAGARA
-
Patent number: 8978566Abstract: A sewing machine may comprise a needle bar driving mechanism, a cutting needle rotation mechanism, and an embroidery frame movement mechanism configured to move an embroidery frame comprising a protruding portion. A cam member may be fixed to the needle bar and comprise a plurality of cams. A processor of the sewing machine may set a height of the needle bar to a specific position from a plurality of positions. Each of the plurality of positions may represent that each of the plurality of cams is able to contact with the protruding portion. The processor may instruct the needle bar driving mechanism to move the needle bar to the specific position and instruct the embroidery frame movement mechanism to move the embroidery frame to a position where the protruding portion is able to contact with one of the plurality of cams.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2014Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuhisa Hasegawa, Midori Magara, Kiyokazu Sekine, Harumi Kobayashi
-
Patent number: 8904946Abstract: An upper feed device is configured to be arranged above a bed of a sewing machine and feed a work cloth. The upper feed device includes a feed portion, a mechanism arrangement portion, and a drive portion. The feed portion includes a first feed mechanism and a second feed mechanism and is configured to feed the work cloth in a feed direction. The first feed mechanism and the second feed mechanism are arranged side by side in a first direction, which is parallel to a top surface of the bed and orthogonal to the feed direction. The mechanism arrangement portion is configured to arrange the first feed mechanism and the second feed mechanism in different positions in a second direction, which is orthogonal to the top surface of the bed. The drive portion is configured to drive the first feed mechanism and the second feed mechanism in synchronization.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2013Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuki Ihira, Midori Magara
-
Patent number: 8899164Abstract: An embroidery frame transport device includes a carriage, a first drive portion, a drive switching portion, and a rotary drive portion. The carriage is provided with an embroidery frame that is rotatable. The first drive portion includes a first transport mechanism and a first drive source. The first transport mechanism transports the carriage in a first direction. The first drive source drives the first transport mechanism. The drive switching portion shuts off transmission of drive power to the first transport mechanism from the first drive source when the first drive portion transports the carriage to a specified position in the first direction. The rotary drive portion causes the embroidery frame to rotate using the drive power of the first drive source, in a state in which the transmission of the drive power from the first drive source to the first transport mechanism is shut off by the drive switching portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2013Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Midori Magara, Katsuhisa Hasegawa
-
Patent number: 8869723Abstract: An embroidery frame transport device includes a carriage and a first drive mechanism. The carriage rotatably supports an embroidery frame and that is capable of moving in a first direction. The first drive mechanism is provided separately from the carriage, that transports the carriage in the first direction and that causes the embroidery frame supported by the carriage to rotate.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2013Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Katsuhisa Hasegawa, Midori Magara, Masayuki Hori
-
Publication number: 20140290549Abstract: A sewing machine includes a needle bar, a presser bar, a threading device, a processor, and a memory. The needle bar is configured such that a sewing needle is attached thereto. The presser bar is configured such that an accessory device is mounted thereon. The threading device is configured to perform a threading operation in which an upper thread is passed through an eye of the sewing needle attached to the needle bar. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions. The computer-readable instructions cause the processor to perform processes that include determining whether a mounted device is a specific accessory device and causing the threading device to perform the threading operation in a case where it is determined that the mounted device is the specific accessory device and a specific condition is satisfied. The mounted device is an accessory device mounted on the presser bar.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Harumi KATO, Midori MAGARA
-
Publication number: 20140290547Abstract: A cutting needle rotation device includes a mounting portion, a first member, a moving member, and a rotation mechanism. The mounting portion is removably mounted on a needle bar of a sewing machine. The first member is a member to which a cutting needle is affixed. The moving member is positioned in a first position when the moving member does not receive an external force and moves to a second position when the moving member receives an external force. The rotation mechanism, when the moving member is in the first position, holds the first member such that the cutting needle does not rotate, and when the moving member moves from the first position to the second position and returns from the second position to the first position, rotates the first member such that the cutting needle rotates by a specified angle of rotation in one direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Katsuhisa HASEGAWA, Midori MAGARA, Kiyokazu SEKINE, Harumi KATO
-
Publication number: 20140290550Abstract: A sewing machine may comprise a needle bar driving mechanism, a cutting needle rotation mechanism, and an embroidery frame movement mechanism configured to move an embroidery frame comprising a protruding portion. A cam member may be fixed to the needle bar and comprise a plurality of cams. A processor of the sewing machine may set a height of the needle bar to a specific position from a plurality of positions. Each of the plurality of positions may represent that each of the plurality of cams is able to contact with the protruding portion. The processor may instruct the needle bar driving mechanism to move the needle bar to the specific position and instruct the embroidery frame movement mechanism to move the embroidery frame to a position where the protruding portion is able to contact with one of the plurality of cams.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2014Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Katsuhisa HASEGAWA, Midori MAGARA, Kiyokazu SEKINE, Harumi KOBAYASHI
-
Publication number: 20140144360Abstract: An embroidery frame transport device includes a carriage, a first drive portion, a drive switching portion, and a rotary drive portion. The carriage is provided with an embroidery frame that is rotatable. The first drive portion includes a first transport mechanism and a first drive source. The first transport mechanism transports the carriage in a first direction. The first drive source drives the first transport mechanism. The drive switching portion shuts off transmission of drive power to the first transport mechanism from the first drive source when the first drive portion transports the carriage to a specified position in the first direction. The rotary drive portion causes the embroidery frame to rotate using the drive power of the first drive source, in a state in which the transmission of the drive power from the first drive source to the first transport mechanism is shut off by the drive switching portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2013Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Midori MAGARA, Katsuhisa HASEGAWA
-
Publication number: 20140144361Abstract: An embroidery frame transport device includes a carriage and a first drive mechanism. The carriage rotatably supports an embroidery frame and that is capable of moving in a first direction. The first drive mechanism is provided separately from the carriage, that transports the carriage in the first direction and that causes the embroidery frame supported by the carriage to rotate.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2013Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Katsuhisa HASEGAWA, Midori MAGARA, Masayuki HORI
-
Patent number: 8738171Abstract: A sewing machine may comprise a mounting portion configured to be mounted with an embroidery frame comprising a frame and an outer frame. The sewing machine may also comprise an image capturing device configured to capture an image including the embroidery frame mounted on the mounting portion. The sewing machine may further comprise a processor configured to execute instructions, and a memory. The memory may be configured to store computer-readable instructions that instruct the sewing machine to execute steps comprising identifying a mark from the captured image, wherein the mark is provided on the embroidery frame or on a work cloth held by the embroidery frame, determining a rotation angle of the frame with respect to the outer frame based on the identified mark, and notifying rotation information based on the determined rotation angle. The rotation information may be information for adjusting the rotation angle to a specified rotation angle.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Harumi Kato, Midori Magara, Katsuhisa Hasegawa