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 seizing a needle thread having passed a bobbin case and a bobbin thread by a first thread seizing portion, a cutting blade located nearer to the needle hole side than a movement locus of the first assembly, and a second thread seizing assembly seizing both threads having been seized by the first assembly during backward movement of reciprocation of the first assembly, cutting both threads in cooperation with the cutting blade. When moved backward in the reciprocation, the first assembly is swung so that the first thread seizing portion comes close to the second thread seizing assembly. The second assembly has a distal end on which a second thread seizing portion is located. The second thread seizing portion is two-forked so that the cutting blade is interposed between the two-forked portions.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a sewing controller that controls sewing machine components, an imaging element capable of capturing facial images of a sewing machine user; a settings storage that stores settings for preset modes, the settings comprising items pertaining to sewing machine functions; a user information storage that stores facial image data of the user captured by the imaging element with mapping to the settings of the mode registered with the user; a verifier that verifies whether or not image data that matches the facial image data captured by the imaging element at sewing operation start exists in the user information storage; and an instruction controller that reads the settings from the user information storage when receiving a positive verification result from the verifier, and that instructs the sewing controller to control the sewing machine components based on the settings read.

Abstract: A thread cutter for a sewing machine includes a first thread seizing assembly reciprocally movable and including two unit thread seizing members having distal ends formed with first thread seizing portions respectively, a cutting blade located nearer to the needle hole side than a movement locus of the first assembly, and a second thread seizing assembly seizing the needle and bobbin threads both seized by the first assembly during backward movement of the first assembly, cutting the threads in cooperation with the cutting blade. When the threads seized by the first assembly are further seized by the second assembly, the first assembly is moved so that the distal ends of the unit thread seizing members are spaced from each other by a predetermined distance in a direction intersecting a movement direction of the first assembly.

Abstract: An embroiderable sewing machine, including a plurality types of embroidery frames that hold a workpiece cloth to be embroidered; a carriage allowing selective attachment and detachment of the embroidery frames; a transfer mechanism that transfers the carriage independently in two orthogonal directions; a first detector that outputs a constant signal corresponding to the type of embroidery frame attached to the carriage; a second detector capable of outputting a detection signal based on presence and absence of a detection subject provided at the embroidery frame; and a signal converter that converts the constant signal outputted from the first detector into a periodic signal based on the detection signal outputted from the second detector.

Abstract: A boring device that can be attached to and detached from a lower end of one of a plurality of needle bars provided on a multi-needle embroidery sewing machine, and includes a boring knife that makes a cut in a work cloth and a first engagement portion to be engaged with a second engagement portion provided on the one of a plurality of the needle bars. The second engagement portion restricts horizontal rotation of the boring device, and a horizontal position of the boring knife with respect to the one of the needle bars is determined when the first engagement portion is engaged with the second engagement portion.

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 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 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: A thread cutter for a sewing machine includes a first thread seizing assembly reciprocally movable and including two unit thread seizing members having distal ends formed with first thread seizing portions respectively, a cutting blade located nearer to the needle hole side than a movement locus of the first assembly, and a second thread seizing assembly seizing the needle and bobbin threads both seized by the first assembly during backward movement of the first assembly, cutting the threads in cooperation with the cutting blade. When the threads seized by the first assembly are further seized by the second assembly, the first assembly is moved so that the distal ends of the unit thread seizing members are spaced from each other by a predetermined distance in a direction intersecting a movement direction of the first assembly.

Abstract: A thread cutter for a sewing machine includes a first thread seizing assembly which is reciprocally movable and has a distal end formed with a first thread seizing portion, the first thread seizing assembly seizing a needle thread passing a bobbin case and a bobbin thread by the first thread seizing portion, the needle thread passing the bobbin case, a cutting blade located at a position nearer to the needle hole than a movement locus of the first thread seizing assembly, a second thread seizing assembly seizing the needle and bobbin threads both seized by the first thread seizing assembly during a backward movement of reciprocation of the first thread seizing assembly, cutting the needle and bobbin threads in cooperation with the cutting blade. When moved backward, the first thread seizing assembly is swung so that the first thread seizing portion comes close to the second thread seizing assembly.

Abstract: A cylindrical frame unit of an embroidery sewing machine including a cylinder bed, an X-directional drive mechanism and a Y-directional drive mechanism, the cylindrical frame unit including a body frame connected to the Y-directional drive mechanism and driven parallel to the cylinder bed; a cylindrical rotary frame pivoted on the body frame and having an inner cylindrical surface; a cylinder frame holding a workpiece and being attachably/detachably attached to the rotary frame; a rotary mechanism connected to the X-directional drive mechanism and driven perpendicularly relative to the body frame to rotate the rotary frame and the cylinder frame attached thereto; a position regulating element that slidably contacts an upper surface of the cylinder bed and an upper inner cylindrical surface of the rotary frame; and a mount element securing the position regulating element to the body frame to allow adjustment in vertical positioning relative to the body frame.

Abstract: A boring device that can be attached to and detached from a lower end of one of a plurality of needle bars provided on a multi-needle embroidery sewing machine, and includes a boring knife that makes a cut in a work cloth and a first engagement portion to be engaged with a second engagement portion provided on the one of a plurality of the needle bars. The second engagement portion restricts horizontal rotation of the boring device, and a horizontal position of the boring knife with respect to the one of the needle bars is determined when the first engagement portion is engaged with the second engagement portion.

Abstract: An embroiderable sewing machine, including a plurality types of embroidery frames that hold a workpiece cloth to be embroidered; a carriage allowing selective attachment and detachment of the embroidery frames; a transfer mechanism that transfers the carriage independently in two orthogonal directions; a first detector that outputs a constant signal corresponding to the type of embroidery frame attached to the carriage; a second detector capable of outputting a detection signal based on presence and absence of a detection subject provided at the embroidery frame; and a signal converter that converts the constant signal outputted from the first detector into a periodic signal based on the detection signal outputted from the second detector.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a sewing controller that controls sewing machine components, an imaging element capable of capturing facial images of a sewing machine user; a settings storage that stores settings for preset modes, the settings comprising items pertaining to sewing machine functions; a user information storage that stores facial image data of the user captured by the imaging element with mapping to the settings of the mode registered with the user; a verifier that verifies whether or not image data that matches the facial image data captured by the imaging element at sewing operation start exists in the user information storage; and an instruction controller that reads the settings from the user information storage when receiving a positive verification result from the verifier, and that instructs the sewing controller to control the sewing machine components based on the settings read.

Abstract: A cylindrical frame unit of an embroidery sewing machine including a cylinder bed, an X-directional drive mechanism and a Y-directional drive mechanism, the cylindrical frame unit including a body frame connected to the Y-directional drive mechanism and driven parallel to the cylinder bed; a cylindrical rotary frame pivoted on the body frame and having an inner cylindrical surface; a cylinder frame holding a workpiece and being attachably/detachably attached to the rotary frame; a rotary mechanism connected to the X-directional drive mechanism and driven perpendicularly relative to the body frame to rotate the rotary frame and the cylinder frame attached thereto; a position regulating element that slidably contacts an upper surface of the cylinder bed and an upper inner cylindrical surface of the rotary frame; and a mount element securing the position regulating element to the body frame to allow adjustment in vertical positioning relative to the body frame.

Abstract: A walking foot for a sewing machine includes a presser foot having a pair of supported portions, an upper feed dog feeding workpiece cloth in synchronization with vertical movement of a needlebar, a supporting member fixed to a lower end of the presser bar and having a pair of engagement supporting portions supporting the presser foot, a swinging supporting mechanism engaging the engagement supporting portions with the supported portions from horizontally outside respectively so that the presser foot is supported on the supporting member so as to be swingable, and a disengaging mechanism moving at least one of the engagement supporting portions horizontally outward from an engagement position where the engagement supporting portion is in engagement with the supported portion of the presser foot, thereby being capable of switching the engagement supporting portion to a disengagement position where the engagement supporting portion is disengaged from the supported portion.

Abstract: A workpiece cloth ruler is disclosed which is detachably attachable to an attaching part of a cloth presser holder or a walking foot to which a cloth presser is attached to press workpiece cloth. The ruler includes a bar-shaped support detachably attachable to the attaching part of the cloth presser holder so as to be directed in a right-left direction and so as to be substantially horizontal, a connecting part located on an end of the bar-shaped support, a cloth guide pivotally non-releasably attached via a supporting part to the connecting part of the bar-shaped support so as to be vertically pivotable, and an elastic member biasing the cloth guide to the workpiece cloth side so that the cloth guide pivots.

Abstract: A zigzag sewing machine including a needle bar having a sewing needle attached thereto, a needle swing mechanism that laterally swings the needle bar, a needle plate disposed on an upper surface of a sewing machine bed, and a feed dog constituted by a first to fourth teeth that feed a workpiece cloth by projecting/retracting from the needle plate. The zigzag sewing machine further includes a feed dog longitudinal transfer mechanism that longitudinally moves the feed dog, a feed dog lateral transfer mechanism that laterally moves the feed dog, and a control unit that controls the feed dog lateral transfer mechanism so that one of the teeth is associated with a needle drop point of the sewing needle.

Abstract: A walking foot for a sewing machine includes a presser foot having a pair of supported portions, an upper feed dog feeding workpiece cloth in synchronization with vertical movement of a needlebar, a supporting member fixed to a lower end of the presser bar and having a pair of engagement supporting portions supporting the presser foot, a swinging supporting mechanism engaging the engagement supporting portions with the supported portions from horizontally outside respectively so that the presser foot is supported on the supporting member so as to be swingable, and a disengaging mechanism moving at least one of the engagement supporting portions horizontally outward from an engagement position where the engagement supporting portion is in engagement with the supported portion of the presser foot, thereby being capable of switching the engagement supporting portion to a disengagement position where the engagement supporting portion is disengaged from the supported portion.