Patents by Inventor Yoshikazu Kurono
Yoshikazu Kurono 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).
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Patent number: 5947043Abstract: A sewing machine includes a plurality of needle bars for performing stitching with multiple needle threads. The needle threads have diameters, tenacity, and stretchability different from one another. Sewing parameters inherent to each of the needle threads are beforehand determined. The parameters are maximum sewing speed, thread breakage sensitivity, thread residual amount, needle-rotary hook meet angle, workpiece fabric feed timing, and feed pitch. A spindle motor, a thread cutting motor, a rotary hook drive motor, an X-axis motor, and a Y-axis motor are controlledly driven based on the selected parameters inherent to the just used needle thread.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 1997Date of Patent: September 7, 1999Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsuo Morita, Masaki Shimizu, Hirokazu Hirose, Yoshikazu Kurono
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Patent number: 5913276Abstract: A multihead sewing machine includes a sewing machine motor, a main shaft rotated by the sewing machine motor, a plurality of sewing needles driven by the main shaft, a plurality of shuttles for capturing thread loops in cooperation with the sewing needles respectively, each shuttle having a hook shaft, and a plurality of shuttle driving motors for rotating the hook shafts of the shuttles independent of the sewing machine motor respectively. The sewing machine motor and the shuttle driving motors are controlled so that the sewing machine motor and each shuttle driving motor are rotated in synchronism with each other. Loss of synchronism of each shuttle relative to the corresponding sewing needle is detected. Rotation of the main shaft is stopped in an abnormal condition in which the loss of synchronism has been detected with respect to at least one of the shuttles.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 1998Date of Patent: June 22, 1999Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshikazu Kurono, Masaki Shimizu, Hirokazu Hirose
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Patent number: 5899157Abstract: In a presser foot device of a sewing machine, a presser foot is vertically movably supported to a sewing machine body frame by a presser bar. A drive device moves the presser bar up and down in accordance with a drive signal. A sensor detects when the presser foot is raised close to a top dead center position, that is, a predetermined position. Based on the detection by the sensor, a control device controls the drive signal for the presser foot drive device.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 1998Date of Patent: May 4, 1999Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshikazu Kurono, Yasushi Mizuno, Masaki Shimizu, Yasukazu Noguchi, Hirokazu Hirose
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Patent number: 5873321Abstract: A sewing device including a head portion for mounting a needle; a support frame; and a bed unit supported on the frame and switchable between a usage position in confrontation with the head portion and a retracted position retracted away from the head portion compared with the usage position.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 1996Date of Patent: February 23, 1999Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Fumiaki Asano, Akio Takahashi, Yoshikazu Kurono, Masaki Shimizu
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Patent number: 5850791Abstract: A sewing machine including a needle bar having a sewing needle, a spindle for driving the needle bar, a bed portion movable selectively to a using position or a retracted position, and a rotary hook housed in the bed portion. A stitch is formed by the cooperation of the sewing needle and the rotary hook. A rotary hook drive motor is provided in the bed portion for driving the rotary hook. A sensor is provided for detecting a position of the bed portion. The needle bar and the spindle is selectively disconnected from each other. If the bed portion is out of the using position, and this out position is detected by the sensor, the needle bar is released from the spindle for stopping the sewing needle. Further, in this case, the rotation of the rotary hook drive motor is also stopped.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1997Date of Patent: December 22, 1998Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yasuhiko Kawaguchi, Akio Takahashi, Masaki Shimizu, Hirokazu Hirose, Yoshikazu Kurono
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Patent number: 5794554Abstract: A sewing machine including a head portion including a needle bar, the needle bar being for mounting a needle threaded with a needle thread; a principal shaft; a sewing machine motor for driving the needle bar via the principal shaft; a bed portion including a loop taker for taking a thread loop of the needle thread in cooperative operation with the needle; a loop taker drive shaft connected to move in association with the loop taker; a drive motor for driving the loop taker drive shaft independently of the principal shaft; a first detection unit for detecting a rotation condition of the principal shaft and outputting a first detection signal accordingly; a second detection unit for detecting a rotation condition of the loop taker drive shaft and outputting a second detection signal accordingly; and a synchronization control unit for controlling at least one of the drive motor and the sewing machine motor based on the first detection signal from the first detection unit and the second detection signal from theType: GrantFiled: November 19, 1996Date of Patent: August 18, 1998Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kohichi Akahane, Takashi Kondo, Masaki Shimizu, Yoshikazu Kurono, Fumiaki Asano
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Patent number: 5791274Abstract: A sewing machine including a head portion including a needle bar, the needle bar being for mounting a needle threaded with a needle thread; a principal shaft; a sewing machine motor for driving the needle bar via the principal shaft; a bed portion including a loop taker for taking a thread loop of the needle thread in cooperative operation with the needle; a loop taker drive shaft connected to move in association with the loop taker; a loop taker drive unit including a loop taker drive motor for driving the loop taker drive shaft independently of the principal shaft; a synchronization control unit for controlling at least one of the loop taker drive motor and the sewing machine drive motor so that the loop taker and the principal shaft rotate in synchronization; and an offset adjustment unit provided to the synchronization control unit and for adjusting an amount that the phase of the loop taker is offset from a reference phase offset amount preset for the loop taker with respect to the principal shaft.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1996Date of Patent: August 11, 1998Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kohichi Akahane, Takashi Kondo, Masaki Shimizu, Yoshikazu Kurono, Fumiaki Asano
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Patent number: 5791272Abstract: A sewing machine including a head portion for mounting a needle with a needle thread; a needle drive motor for driving the needle; a bed portion; and a loop taker module detachably fixed to the bed portion and including: a loop taker for catching a thread loop of the needle thread of the needle; and a loop taker drive motor for driving the loop taker.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1996Date of Patent: August 11, 1998Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kohichi Akahane, Takashi Kondo, Masaki Shimizu, Yoshikazu Kurono, Fumiaki Asano
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Patent number: 5765493Abstract: A sewing machine including a needle bar for mounting two needles separated by a distance in a principal shaft direction; a principal drive shaft for driving the needle bar and extending in the principal shaft direction; a bed portion; a first loop taker disposed in the bed portion; a transmission system for connecting movement between the first loop taker and the principal drive shaft; a loop taker module detachably provided to the bed portion; a second loop taker provided to the loop taker module; and servomotor provided in the loop taker module and for driving the second loop taker.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1996Date of Patent: June 16, 1998Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kohichi Akahane, Takashi Kondo, Masaki Shimizu, Yoshikazu Kurono, Fumiaki Asano
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Patent number: 5454334Abstract: A control apparatus for an embroidery sewing machine performs thread trimming with certainty after a thread is cut upon replacing of the thread in the course of an embroidery sewing operation or upon completion of an embroidery sewing operation. The control apparatus detects the position of a movable frame and determines the thread trimming moving direction in which the movable frame is to be moved for thread trimming in accordance with the position of the movable frame and a movable area of the movable frame. In thread trimming, the control apparatus moves the movable frame in accordance with the moving direction and a movement distance for thread trimming.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1994Date of Patent: October 3, 1995Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshikazu Kurono, Tomoo Hattori
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Patent number: 5392724Abstract: A sewing system includes a first automatic sewing machine and at least one second automatic sewing machine. The first automatic sewing machine includes a RAM for storing stitch data. The stitch data is processed into data for primarily controlling a needle position, and the data thus processed is stored in the RAM. The first automatic sewing machine further includes a data transmitting device for outputting the processed stitch data to the outside of the sewing machine. The second automatic sewing machine includes a data receiving device for receiving the processed stitch data from the data transmitting device in the first automatic sewing machine. When receiving the processed stitch data from the data transmitting device in the first automatic sewing machine, the second automatic sewing machine starts sewing according to the processed stitch data thus received.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 1994Date of Patent: February 28, 1995Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshikazu Kurono, Fumiaki Asano
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Patent number: 5267169Abstract: A non-ravel stitch data creating method and device for a sewing machine capable of forming a stitch pattern according to stitch pattern data stores stitch pattern data and determines whether or not any stitch pitches of a predetermined number of stitches at at least one of the start and the end of the stitch pattern is equal to or greater than a reference pitch based on the stored stitch pattern data. Non-ravel stitch data is created for performing non-ravel stitching at a stitch pitch less than any stitch pitch of the predetermined number of stitches at at least one of the start and the end of the stitch pattern when a result of the determination is affirmative. Non-ravel stitch data is not created when the result of the determination is negative.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 1991Date of Patent: November 30, 1993Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaaki Yokoe, Yoshikazu Kurono
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Patent number: 5218916Abstract: An automatic sewing system includes an embroidery machine and a personal computer. The embroidery machine has an operation panel provided with a LCD, a stitch type display key and a stitch type selecting key, and a sewing control device provided with a stitch type data memory and a stitch data memory. The personal computer has a floppy disc drive unit capable of receiving a floppy disc which stores stitch data and stitch type data. The stitch type data are sent to the sewing control device from the personal computer and stored in the stitch type data memory when the stitch type display key is operated. The LCD displays thereon a stitch type based on the stitch type data stored in the stitch type data memory. The stitch data related to the displayed stitch type are sent to the sewing control device from the personal computer and stored in the stitch data memory when the stitch type selecting key is operated.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 1992Date of Patent: June 15, 1993Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshikazu Kurono, Narihiro Matsushita
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Patent number: 5216615Abstract: A stitch pattern data processing method and device for a sewing machine capable of forming a stitch pattern according to stitch pattern data including a plurality of needle location data stores stitch pattern data. It is determined whether a stitch pitch of a stitch to be formed according to each pair of adjacent ones of the plural needle location data of the stored stitch pattern data is equal to or greater than a reference pitch when contracting the stitch at a specified contraction rate in at least one direction of two perpendicular directions, sequentially from one end of the plural needle location data to another end. Needle location data of a contraction stitch pattern data is created so that when a result of the determination is negative, the needle location data nearer to another end is disregarded until the result of the determination becomes affirmative.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 1991Date of Patent: June 1, 1993Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaaki Yokoe, Yoshikazu Kurono
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Patent number: 5029539Abstract: A sewing machine for forming stitch patterns on a fabric comprising a select key, an input key, a cessation signal generator, and a controller. Stitch pattern data for desired stitch patterns are chosen from a large number of stitch pattern data stored in a memory by the select key, and arrangement data, comprising arrangement direction data, arrangement number data, and margin space data, for the stitch patterns are entered via the input key. The sewing machine forms arranged stitch patterns on a fabric by relative movement between a needle and a fabric holder. When some accident, such as thread breakage and needle breakage, occurs, during the stitch pattern formation, the signal generator issues a cessation signal and the controller stops the sewing machine in response to the cessation signal. The controller further recommences the sewing machine in accordance with the arrangement data of the stitch patterns and the stitch pattern data for the next stitch pattern.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 1990Date of Patent: July 9, 1991Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaaki Yokoe, Yoshikazu Kurono
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Patent number: 5003897Abstract: A sewing system for substantially automatically producing a stitched textile articles by employing a plurality of sewing machines arranged at every manufacturing step.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 1989Date of Patent: April 2, 1991Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaaki Yokoe, Yoshikazu Kurono, Koji Hayashi
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Patent number: 4964352Abstract: An embroidery data processing system controls an automatic sewing machine to produce an embroidery design having a blurred side or blurred boundary line between adjacent blocks which make up the embroidery design.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1989Date of Patent: October 23, 1990Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaaki Yokoe, Yoshikazu Kurono, Koji Hayashi, Tomoe Takagi, Narihiro Matsushita, Yuzo Takagi
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Patent number: 4849902Abstract: A stitch data processing apparatus which can produce an embroidered pattern utilizing an automatic sewing machine from a pattern of any relative size. The pattern to be embroidered on a work piece is input to the stitch data processing apparatus via a charge coupled device. The charge coupled device produces an image which is displayed on a display device. An operator scales the image to fit onto the display device and then indicates points along the contour of the embroidered pattern and defines regions in which the automatic sewing machine will complete the embroidered pattern. The stitch data processing apparatus is capable of creating curved contours from a number of discreet points input by the operator. It is also possible to control stitch density.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 1987Date of Patent: July 18, 1989Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaaki Yokoe, Yoshikazu Kurono, Kouji Hayashi, Miho Hashimoto
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Patent number: 4841891Abstract: A data processing device for a sewing machine stores basic pattern data indicating the relative position between a needle and a material holding unit and including X and Y components of an X-Y coordinate. After setting a reference point on the X-Y coordinate plane and two angles (.alpha.i, .beta.i) based on an X-axis and a Y-axis around the reference point, the data processing device rotates the X and Y components of the basic pattern data on the basis of the two angles (.alpha.i, .beta.i) to form a transformed pattern, and stores the transformed pattern data. The processes such as rotation, inversion and inclination are executed by a single operation by designating the angles (.alpha.i, .beta.i).Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1987Date of Patent: June 27, 1989Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Miho Hashimoto, Masaaki Yokoe, Yoshikazu Kurono, Koji Hayashi
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Patent number: 4823714Abstract: An electronic controlled stitch pattern sewing machine for sewing a desired pattern in a predetermined sewing region by automatically adjusting the size of the pattern by a simple keyboard operation. The pattern sewing machine includes first calculation means for calculating a size of a stitch pattern area, a sewing region designation means, a second calculation means for calculating a ratio of the size of the sewing region to that of the pattern area, modification means for modifying the stitch pattern data based on the ratio and control means for controlling drive means to cause relative movement between a needle and workpiece holder based on the modified stitch pattern data.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1988Date of Patent: April 25, 1989Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masaaki Yokoe, Yoshikazu Kurono, Koji Hayashi, Tomoe Goto