Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
,, 2~ 277~ 91i~679~
03 Re~9d ~T/P~û O ~ DtC , ~92
A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EMBROIDERING_BEADS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic
bead embroidering method which makes it possible to sew
beads to a cloth by the use of an embroideri~_appara~us
that is used for embroidery on cloth~ and to an apparatus
5 whl~h is used togeth~r with the embroidering apparatus in
order to perform the met~od.
Conventionally, decorative beads are made from
materials such as glass, ceramîcs, metals, and plastics.
Such beads are embroidered on cloth, as ornamentation for
10 clothing. In such an embroidery, the beads are sewn to the
cloth one by one using hand embroidering needles.
Meanwhile, in regard to clothing ornamentation
other than beads, a method in which flat plate-form
ornaments are ~ewn onto cloth is disclosed in Japanese
: 15 Patent Application Publi~ation No. 45-16g85 (U.S. Patent
No. 3;390,650). In this method, flat plate-~orm ornaments
~: ara sewn onto the cloth, and the disclo~ure does not
: addre~s cylindrical~o~ects such as beads which cannot be
embroidered. : :
: ~ ~ Furthermor~e, multi-head type embroidering machines
.: w~i~h perfo ~ embroidery:by:causing ne~dles to perform a
recip~ocating motion ~perpendicular to a~ cloth, and shuttle
pe ~em~oidering ma~:hines with a size o~ 15 yards or
gr~ter ~ (formed by~: ~scaling up the multi-head type
25 erabroidering machines) have been in a practical use and are
thus well known (U.S. Patent Nos. 2,030,495 and 3,062,1~3).
In the ca~e of bead embroidering methods using
conventional hand sewing techniques, considerable time and
làbor are required4 ~ Thus, the productivity of such a
30 method :is extremely low. This dslays the finishillg of
be~d-embroidered products such as clothing, so that there
are problems in terms of late delivery dates. Such late
delivery dates are an extremely serious problem in the
clothing industry, which is subject to abrupt changes in
GJ~l--18641
SUBS'rlTUrE SHEÇ~
W~ 93t~468 ~ . PCT/US91 JOli7g2
fashion.
Furthermore, in the case of bead embroidering
methods using hand sewing techniques, the quality and
pattern of the embroidery are not uniform, and the
5 reliability of the sewn attachments is poor. Embroidering
threads on which beads are sewn may become slac~, or may
break so that multiple nu~bers of beads are~ r~t. As a
result, there are problems in terms of product quality.
Furthermore, since the conventional e~broidering
10 machines perform embroidery using embroidering threads with
ttached beads, the bead embroidering process it~elf cannot
~e automat~d.
SUMMARY _ TH INVENTION
In light of the prior art described abov~, the
present in~ention provides a method and apparatus for
~:~ embroidering ~eads which makes it possible to automate the
~mbroidering of beads on a cloth b~ linking a conventional
: embroidering apparatus~to a bead embroidering mechani~m.
20 ~hs present inven~ion ~mploys a method for embroideriny
eads wherein needles whi~h perform a reciprDcating motion
~: :relative to the ~urface of a cloth are used to ~ffix a bead
severed fxo~ a ~ontinuous bead string to the cloth. The
be~ds are provided to in a continuous be~d string by
25 conne~tin~ ~u~tlple nu~bers of beads via easily eparable
: eonnecting:~ections. The respective indiv~dual b~ad of
each of~-the~co~tinuoUS bead s~ring include ~n axial bore
:the~ethro~gh,~ and the connecti~g ~ection~ are ~ormed to
arrange the~b2ads in a virtually linear arrang~mQnt along
30 ~he direction of the axial bore of the beads.
, . . .
BRIEP D~ IPTION OF THE DR~WINGS
Figure 1 is a:flow chart of the operation of the
m~thod:of the present invention;
Figures 2 ~aj, 2 ~b) and 2(c) are perspective ~iews
illustrating different bead strings which are u~ed in the
present inv~ntion;
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'. W093/O~K~ 2 1 1 ~ 2 7 7 PCT/VS9l,06792
-3
Figures 3(a), 3(b) and 3~c) are top, cross
sectional and front views, respectively, of the bead string
shown in Figure 2(a);
Figures 4(a), 4(b) and 4~c) are top, cross
5 sectional and front views, respectively, of the bead string
shown in Figure 2(b);
Figures 5~a), 5(b) and 5(c) are top~ cross
sectional and front views, respectively, of the bead string
shown in Figure 2(c);
Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram ~howing an
example of a method of manufacturing the bead string shown
in Figure 2(c);
Figures 7(a) through 7(h) are proce~s diagrams
~howing the steps of the method of the present invention in
15 sequence;
Figure 8 i5 an illustration showing one embodiment
::~ of the bead embroidering apparatus of the pr~sent
invention;:
Figure 9 shows a;step of the oper~tion of the
20 embroidering apparatus~:shown in Figure 8;
Figure 10 shows the next step thereo~;
Figure 11 shows the next, n~x* step thereof;
Figure~12 shows he further step thereof;
Figure 13~sh~ws the still fu~ther etep thereof;
2~5 ~ igure 14:is a front view of a s~cond embodiment of
khe~bead.~-e~broidering:apparatus of the pre~ent in~ention;
Figure:15 i~ a tsp:~iew ther~of; ~ .. :- :
Figure 16~:is~a side ~iew thereof;
FigNre 17 is a cross section ~aken along the line
- 30:17-17 in Figure 14;
Figure 18 is a front ~iew o~ a portion of the
: ;needle ~ar used in the embroidering apparatu~ to which the
pre~ent inven~ion is applied; ~. ~
Figure l9-is a side view of the driving mechanism
,: ,
35 of the app~r~tus shown in Figure ~4;
Figure 20 is a front view thereof;
Figure 21 shows the electrical control system used
~:
W~93/~U~ PCT/~S91t~792
21 ~ ~ 2 ~ 7 ~4~
in the apparatus shown in Figure 14;
Figure 22 shows a ~tep of the operation of the
apparatus shown in Figure 14;
Figure 23 shows the next step thereof;
S Figure 24 shows the next, next ~tep thereof;
Figure 25 shows the further step thereo~;
Figure 26 show~ ~till further step ~hereof;
Figure 27 shows the next further step ther~of; and
Figure 28 is an explanatory diagram which
10 illustrates third example of applica~ion of the present
invention.
D~TAILED DESCRIPTIQN 0~ INVENTION
Figure 1 shows a flow chart of the ~ethod of the
15 present invention. First, in Step 1, continuous bead
strings used in the present invention are prepared.
Examples of the continuous bead strings used in the bead
embroidering method of the present invention are shown in
Figures 2(a), 2(bj and 2(c), Cylindrical beads are depict~d
20 ~s examples. A top~::vi~w, longitudinal s~ction, and front
view of each of the examples shown in Figure 2(a~, 2(b) and
.
2(c:3 is shown in:Figures~3, 4 and 5(a), 5(b) and 5(c~,
espectively. Moreover, in~regard to the b~ad shape, the
pree~nt invention~is~not limited to the cyli~drical shapes
`~ ~ 25~ ~cwn in the drawings it ~eing un~er~tood ~hat the
. in~ention is also applicable to~o~her~bead shape~ w~ich
:include an axia~l~bore:including;~beads with circular and
an~ular:~eross secti~s including: ~(hexagonal, s~u~re and
: other polygonal hap~s~. :
In the exa~ple ~hown in Figure 2(a~, multiple
number of:gIa~s ~eads~14 which have been c~t beforehand
into ~parate cylinders are bonded in a continuous line ~o
: a sle~der transparent tape 15, e.g., consisting of an
: acetat~ film with:a width of 1 mm, by means of an adhesiYe.
3S~The respective beads are connected to ~ach other Yia ~he
tape 15. This tape 15 ha~ an adhesive strength which
allows for easy separation durinq the bead embroidering
' W~93/O~K~ PCT/US91/~6792
-s~ 2 7 7
op~ration .
In the example shown in Figure 2(b), individual
beads 16 are formed by way of cut-outs 17 (e.g., at
4-millimeter intervals) in a slender tube (consisting of
5 plastic, etc.) with an external diameter of 2.5 to 3 mm and
an internal diameter of 1.5 to 2 ~m. Thes~ cut-outs 17 are
formed in a cros~-sectional direc~ion by ~ea~s of a cutt~r,
with a portion of the tube left in each cut-out a5 a
connecting section 18. Like the tape 15, t~ese ~onnecting
10 ~ections 18 have a connecting strength that allows for easy
separation during the bead embroidering operatio~.
In the example shown in Figure 2 (c), a belt i5
formed into a tube by: bending, and individual beads 19 are
formed by forming cut-outs 17 in the tube with ~onnecting
15 sections 13 left intact as in the same ~anner as in the
example illustrated in Figure 2(b). These connecting
s~ction~ 18 have a strength which allows for easy
~: ~eparation during the bead e~broidering operation.
Figur~ 6 shows one example of a method which can be
20 used ~o ma~ufacture a continuous ~ad ~tring o~ the type
sho~n in Figure 2(c). A tape 20, for ~xample a polyester
film, which can withstand relatively high temper~tures but
:~ al~o posses es:thermopl sticity, is fed out from a roll and
is for~ed into a long, slender tube with an external
~: 25 diameter of approximately 2.5 ~m and an internal dia~ter
;: ~ of:~pproximately~2~ y means of for~ing rollers 21.~ This
hape i8 fixed by me~ns of a heater 22. Th~ cut-outs 17
ar~ formed:in thi~ tub~:m~terial by ~eans of a cutter 23.
As ~ r sult,:a continuous bead string 25 is formed, and
30 thi~ continuous bead string 25 is tak~n up on a reel 24.
In ca~e~ where a bead string is manufactur~d by ~he
:: for~ing and workin~ of such a p astlc film, various types
~; of pri~ting (us mg heat transfer printihg~ eto.) and
~: fi~i hing (using vacuum evaporation of aluminum, etc.) may
~: 35 be performed on the film before it is formed into a tube.
~rth~Emore, various types of films can b manufaG ured
~ r~latively easily by ~amination, and ~aad strings of
:
~:
W093/~U~ P~T/US9~06792
2 1 1 0 ~ 7 7 -6-
.
~arious colors can be manufactured using these films.
The connecting sections 18 of th~ bead strings are
formed in a generally linear arrangement aligned with the
direction o~ the axis of the axial bore of each beadO The
5 reason for this is that it is necessary to bend each bead
in a fixed direction, as will bP described below.
Accordingly, as long as each bead can be se~ ~in a
substantially ~ixed direction, it is not strictly necessary
for the connecting sections 18 to be located on a straight
10 line.
Returning to Figure 1, in Step 2, the continuous
bead strings are set in an e~broidering apparatus which i~
itself a universally known type of apparatus. In this
case, as will be described in concrete terms below, the
15 bead e~broidering mechanism or apparatus of the present
invention is mounted beforehand on a universally known
embroidering apparatus, and the continuous bead strings are
set as described below in he bead embroidering apparatus
of the pre~ent invention. Figure 7(a) illustrates on~ of
20 the continuous b~ad strings 25 in its set ~tate. ~ach bead
string 25 is preferably set so that its connecting
s~ctiQns 18 face toward the cloth 26 that is to be
.. embroider~d. Ea~h needle 27 in the embroidering apparatus
: per~orms a reciprocating motion, together with a
25 corresponding ~houlder or pushing part 28 which will be
des~cr~bed later, in a direction preferably perpendicular to
- the cloth 26.
In St~p 3, when the setting o~ the co~tinuous!bead
~trings is co~plet~d, the embroidering apparatus is driven
30 so that the ~mbroidering operation is initiated. Each
ne~dle Z7 p~rfor~s a reciprocatin~ motion a~ indicat~d by
~ arT~w A in Fi~ure 7(a), so that an ~mbroid~ring ~hread 2
: is stitched to the cloth 26. The cloth 26 is moved in
accordance with the directi~n of embroidering, as ~hown by
35~arr~w B, relative to the reciprocating path 90 of each
needle 27. ~re, assumi~g that the embroidering thr~ad 29
of each needls 27 i8 a surface-thread with r~8pe~t to the
' W093/~ PCT/U591~792
-7- 2 ~ 7 7
cloth 26, the back thread on the opposite side of the cloth
26 is n~t shown in the drawings.
Next, in Step 4, bead embroidering i~ started in
accordance with a command to initiate bead stitching. As a
5 result in, in Step 5, a linking means which links the bead
embroidering mechanism with the drivi~g mechanism or
mechanisms of the needles 27 is actuated so~at beads are
embroidered by the action of the needles 27 as will be
described later.
First, in Step 6 and in accordance with the
withdrawing action of each needle ~7, indicated by arrow ~
in Figure 7(b), tip bead 25a of each bead ~tring 25 is bent
as indicated by arrow D. In this case, the tip bead 25a is
bent about the corresponding connecting section 18 so that
15 the bead ~5a is oriented perpendicular to the cloth 26.
This is done in order to open the rear end of the bead so
that the needle 27 can be inserted into the axial bor2 of
bead. AGcordingly, as long as an opening which is
suf~icient to guide the needle 27 into the baad is for~ed,
;~ 20 it is not absolutaly necessary that the be~d be bent into a
p~rpendicular position.
In linkag~ with the withdrawing motion of ~ach
~: needle 27, in Step 7 ! each bead string 25 is fed by one
pitch (the l~ngth of one bead) toward the reciprocating
25 path 90 of~the correspo~ding needle 27 as h~wn by ~rrow E
in~ Fi ~ e 7~c).. As a result, the tip bead 25a of each bead
~tri~g 25 i~ position~d in the reciproca~ing path ~0 of the
corresponding needle 27. The bending action of Step 6 and
~ the feeding action of Step 7 are both performed in linkage
:~ 30 with the withdrawing motion of each needle 27, as will be
described later;ihowever, the order of these actions ma~ be
rever~edc
Next, in Step 8, each needle 27 advance~ as
indicated by arrow F in Figure 7(d) and enters the
35 corresponding tip bead 25a.
Furthermore, in Step 9, as each needle 27 advances,
the corresponding tip bead 25a is separated from the
:
WO 93/O&K8 PCr/U~S~1/06792
2110277 -8-
contirluous bead string 25 by the corresponding pushing part
28 as shown in Figure 7 (e~ .
N~xt, in Step 10, the needle 27 withdraws, and the
tip end of the tip bead 25a is stitched to the cloth 26 as
5 shown in Figure 7 ( f 3 .
Next, in Step ll, the cloth 26 is moved in the
direction indic:ated by arrow G in Figure 7 (~g), i . e., in
such a directi~n that the needle 27 is caused to return to
a previous position. As a reæult, the bead 25a is caused
10 to fall over by the thread 29 as shown in Figure 7 (g~ ~
With the bead 25a fallen over, in Step 12, the
needle 27 makes one reciprocating motion as shown in Figure
7 (h), ~ewing the tail end of the bead 25a. In S~ep 13,
sewing action on one bead is thus f ini~hed .
Next, a concrete emb~sdiment of the bead
~mbroidering apparatus which is mounted on the universally
known embroidering apparatus in order to perf orm the bead
embroidering operation will be described with reference to
the subsequent f igures .
Figure 8 illustrat~s the structure of one
: ;; e~bodiment of the bead ~mbroidering apparatus of the
pres~nt inven~ion. A univer~:ally known ~huttle type
mbroidering appar~tus is equipped with a ne~dle bar 3 0 . A
multiple~ number of needles 27 are fa~tened tog~ther with
2 5 corr~lspc~nding pu~hing part-- 2 8 to the needle bar 3 0 at
pre~c:r~ bed intervals via bolts S9 . B~ad e~broidering
hani&ms 3 3 con~ct:ructed ac:cording to- the pre~ent
~; invention are: installed zlt positions corr~sponding to` the
~: ne~les 2?. These bead embroidering mechani~ms 33 are
30 fasten~ to the statie part (not shown in the figur~s) of
~h~ embroi~ering appar3tus via the fastening member 57 of
~the~ )rackets 32 that are installed at pr~scribed interY2lls
on ~a plate: 31. Guide pipes 44 which guide be~d strings 25
to the respe tive needles 27 ~re fastened ~o the plate 31.
35 Threé shafts, i . e., ~irst, second and third ~hafts 34 , 35
; and ~40, are ~ounted to the brack~ts 32. H~xagonal rollers
36 a~e ro~atabl~! mounted on the first shaft 34. The bead
~: :
:~ :
: ~: :
' WO93/~K~ 2 ~ 1 G 2 7 '7 PCT/VSgl~Q6792
_g_
strings 25 are carried around these hexagonal rollers 36
~o that the cut-outs 17 ~see Figure 2) are opened up.
Bead-feeding ~procket wh~els 37 are mounted on a second
shaft 35. This shaft 35 is connected to an air cylind~r
5 39 via a ratchet 38, so that the shaft 35 is intermittently
driven by ~ prescribed pitch in one direction.
Levers 42 are connected to the third shaft'40 via links
41. These levers 42 are installed so that they can rotate
about supporting points 91 which are fastened to th~ plate
10 31. Furthermore, a pin 43 is installed at ~he tip end of
each lever 42. The shaft 40 is connected to an air
cylinder 45, so that the shaft 40 is caused to perform a
r~ciprocating rotary motion.
Reference numeral 51 is a jacguard punch tape used
15 in the e~broidering apparatus~ The horizontal and vertical
movements, i.e., movements in the X and Y directions~ of
~h~ cloth frame (not sho~n), on which the cloth that is to
be ~mbroidered is in~talled, are controlled ~y the hol~
program data of the tape 51, so that a desired e~broidery
20 pa*tern is automatically stitched. A b~-ad embroidering
5~ start" com~and is progr~mmed, by punching, into this punch
tape 51. T~e reciprocating motion, indicated by arrow ~,
~;~ o~ the needle bar 30 on which he needl~s 27 are installed
is contrsll~d by a cam 46. Ti~ing proj~ctions 47 ~nd 48
~: :
25 are for~ed on ~his cam 46, and ~witches 49 and 50 are
provided,~o as to:face~the projections. As a re~ult of
thi8 co~tructionO ~he respectiYe s~itches 49 and 50 are
:actuated ~or desiréd time periods ~y ~he ti~ing o~ the
re~iprocating motion of the n~edles 27.
The bead embroidering "start" command punch~d înto
; the punc~ tape 51 is d~tectèd by a switch 52. ~hen this
C~D and i~ detected, the outputs of the switches 49 and 50
are sent to he driving circuits 55 and 56 o~ the air
cy~lind2rs 39 and 45 via AND circuits 53 and 54. As a
35 r~sult, ~he respective shaft 35 and 40 of the bead
embroidering mechanism5 33 are rotated in linkage wi~h the
needles 27.
;:
WO93/~K8 2 1 1 0 2 7 7 PCT~US~lt~792
--~0--
The operation of the embodi~ent describe.d above is
illu~trat~d in sequence in Figures 9 through 13. Figure 9
shows the state in which the bead strin~s 2 5 are set prior
to the initiation of the bead embroidering ~p~ration. ~ach
5 bead stri~g 25 is carried around one of the hexagonal
rollers 36 so that the spaces between the beads are
enlarged. The respective pins o~ the adjac~nt sprocket
whee~ 37 come into the respective space 92. Each bead
string 2S i5 th~n guided into the corresponding guide pipe
10 44 with the connecting sections 18 of the bead string 25
facing towa~d the cloth 26. Thus, the cloth 26 is ready to
be ~mbroidered by the reciprocating action of the needle
bar 30.
When the bead embroidering "start" command of the
15 punch tape 51 is detected, the shaft 35 rotates by one
pitch~as shown in Figure 10. As a result, the sprocket
wh~el 37 is caused to rotate, so that each bead stri~g 25
is ~ed out by one pitch. Accordingly, the tip bead 25a of
~ the b~ad string 25 protrud~s from the tip of the guide pipe
: 20 44 and ~o~e into the reciprocating path 90 o~ the
corresponding needle 27.
Next, as shown in Figure 11, t~e shaft 40 is driven
o ~hat the lever 42 is rotated via the link 41 in the
direction indicated by:arrow H. As a result, the tipoend
25 pin 4 3 on the lever 42 presses again5t the tip ~ead 25a,
~and b~ds t~a bead 25a as indicated~by arr~w D.
Next,~:as~shown in Figure 12, th~ n~dle 27 ad~ances
and enters the tip~bead 25a~ At th~:sam~ ti~e,- the l~v~r
~: 42 rotate in a reYerse direction so that the pin 43 mo~es
: 30 away fro~ the guide pipe 44.
~ ~urthermore, by the advancing ~ot-ion of the needle
: : bar 30 as shown by arrow ~, the pu hing part 28 comes into
contact with the tip bead 25a and separates the tip bead
: 25a fro~ the bead string 25 as sh~wn in Figure 13.
35 Sub equent operations are performed as illustrated in
~igures 7(f) through 7~h).
Front, top and side views of a second ~bodiment of
.
W09~U~ PCr/USg1~7~2
21~ ~27 ~
th~ b~ad embroidering apparatus of the pres~nt inv~ntion
are shown in Figures 14, 15 and 16, respectively. Like the
previous embodim~nt described above, this second embodiment
is mounted on a known bead embroidering apparatus. In this
5 embodiment, as shown in Figure 22, the fastening part 57 of
the bracket 32 is fastened to a drill base 80 w~ich is used
to open embroidering hol~s in th~ cloth. A ~ ~ft 60 is
rotatably mounted onto the bracket 32 via bearings 64. A
shaft 61 is a}so m~unted to the bracket 32, and the bead
10 string 25 is wound around hexagonal rollers 61a which are
~ounted on this shaft 61.
A plate 31 is fastened to the brackets 32~ ~rooves
are formed in this plake 31 at intervals corresponding to
the spacing of the needles, and guide pipes 44 are
15 spot welded in these grooves as shown in Figure 17. Bead
string guide pipes 65 are inserted into the guide pipes 44
with sleeve bearings 85 interposed so that the bead string
guide pipes 65 are ~ree to s}ide. The bead strings 25 are
: inserted into these bead string guide pipes 65. Figure 18
20 is a ~ront view of~the ~eedle bar 30. The needle 27 and
puæhing:park 28 are fastened to the needle bar 30 by a
boltO
As illustrated in Figure 14, collars 62 ar2
a~tened to the shaft 60, and a lever 42 is connected to
~5~each of the~e collars 62 via a link 41. Two pins 66 ~nd 67
are mounted.on~ each le~er 42 as shown in Fi~ure 16. The
~ re~pective pins 66 and 67 engage with both ~nds of a pipe ~ ~ 68 which is fastened to each 9f the bead ~tring ~uide p~pes
65.
3~ As shown-in Fi~ures lg and 20, an air cylinder 71
is installed for e~ch ~redetarmined n~ber of bead
~; ~ embroidering ~e hanis~s 33. The piston rod 72 of ea~h of
: the e air ~ylinders 71 is connected to a link lever 73 via'
: a æhaft 74. This link laver 73 is fa~t~ned to the shaft
35 60. As a re5ult, when the piston rod 72 of each air
cylinder 71 performs a reciprocatin~ motion as indicated by
arrow I, the shaft 60 is caused to perform re~iprocating
` :
:~
W~ 93J004~8 PC~/U~ 067g2
211027~ -12- ~`
rotary motion, as indicated by arrow J, via the
cor~esponding link lever 7 3 .
Figure 21 illustrates the structure of the
electrical control system of the embodiment. A shaft 75 is
5 used to drive the needle bar 3 0 . The needle bar 3 0
perf orms a reciprocatirlg motion in accordance with the
shape of a :::a~n 46 which is fastened ts~ the s~a3~ 75. A
switch cam 7~ is also fastened to the ~;haft 75, and a
switch 77 is also installed so as to be actuated by this
10 switch cam 76. When bead stitching positions are rea~hed
during the embroidery process using an ~mbroidering thread~
the switch 52 detects a bead embroidering ~I start" ::ommand
via pins ~5 in accordance with program data which is rormed
in the punch tape 51 beforehand. Here, when the switch 77
15 is actuated, a relay 96 is actuated so that the contact P~S,
and RS1z are actuated. These act together with the
prev~ usl~ actuat2d switch 52 so that a further relay 9~ i5
~ actuated. As a result, the contacts RS31 and RS32 of the
:~ relay 98 are actuated. The contact RS31 maintains the relay
20 98 in th~ actuated state and also actuates an air valve 79
via a solenoid 78. As a result, the air cylinder 71 i5
driven so that the shaft 60 is caused to rotate. ~dhen the
shaft 7~ ~nters its second revolution, the switch 52 has
already been returned. When ~he switc:h 77 is again
25 a:ctuated by the cam 76, the relay 96 is actuat~d.
;: Accordingly, the contacts RS11 and RS12 of l:he r~l~y 96 are
~ctuat~d ~o that~the r~lay 97 is actuated. A6 a result of
the actuation of this relay 97, the contact RS21 of the
-~ re}ay 97 is ac:tuated so that the self maintenance of the
30 rel~y 98 is released and relay 98 is no longer ac:tua~ed.
The contacts RS31 and RS32 of the relay 98 then returrl to
th~ir original positions, so that the air valve 79 is
~ raset. As a result, the air cylinder 71 per~orms a re~ers.
:~ driving action so that the shaft 60 is caused to rotate in
; 35 reverse.
The operation of the abo~e-described embodime~t i~
illustrated in ~e~uance in Figures 22 through 27. The
' W093/~ 2 1 1 0 ~ 7 7 P~T/US9~/~792
, .. ..
-13-
operation is substantially the same as that ~hown in Figure
7 which is described based upon the flow chart of Figure 1.
Figure 22 chows the state in which the ~ead string 25 is
set. ~s described above, the bead strings 25 are loaded in
5 the bead string ~uide.pipes 65 with their connecting
sections facing the cloth 26. The tip end b~ad 25a of each
bead string 25 protrudes from the tip of th correspo~d?ng
bead string guide pipe 65. In accordance with the bead
embroidering 7'start" command, the ~haft 60 is driven as
10 indicated by arrow K, as shown in Figure 23~ in linkage
with the withdrawing motion of the needle bar 30, so that
the link 41 is pushed in the direction indica~ed by arrow
L, thus causing the lever 42 to rotate in the direction
indicated by arrow M. As a result, the pin 43 on the tip
15 of the l~ver 42 bends the corresponding tip bead 25a toward
the clothO At this time~ the pin 67 on the lever 42
contacts the pipe 68 provided on the correspondiny bead
string guide pipe 65 ! thus stopping the rotation of the
: le~er 42. A~terward, when the collar 62 rotate further
20 du~ing the withdrawing action of the n~dle bar 30~ ~he
lsver 42 ~o~s together with the pipe 68 in a dir~ctiQn
parallel to ~he ~o~e~ent of the link 41 as indicated by the
arrow P in Figure 24, ~ince the lever ~2 cannot rota~e.
Furthermore, the levers 42 are connected to the pipes 68
: 25:-vi~ supporting ~oints 100 50 that the levers 42 ~re free ~o
rotate.~.~s a result,.~the bead string guide pipes 6~ ~lide
h~ugh ~he guide.pipes 44 toward the needles, so ~hat the
tip~bead~ 25a of each bead string 25 is positioned i~ the
reciprocating path of the corresponding needle 27. As a
30 result of this action, each bead strin~ 25 is fed by one
pitch in t~e direction indica~ed by arrow N.
N~xt, ~s sh~wn in Figure 25, the ne~dle 27 advances
and enters the tip beads 25a, and the pu hing part 28
~-: contacts the tip end bead 25a so that the bead 25a is
~ : .
35 separated ~rom the bead string 2~. Next, as shown in
Figur 26, the shaft 60 is caused to rotate rever~ely, as
indi~ated by arrow Q, together with the withdrawing motion
WO93/~K~ P~T~U~I/~79~
21 1 0 2 7 7 -14-
of the needles 27. Accordingly, the link 4~ is drawn in
the direc~ion indicated by arrow R, so that the lever 42 is
caused to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow S. ~s
a result, the pin 43 at the tip of the lever 4~ i5 caused
5 to move away from the tip of the bead string guide pipe 65.
Then, when ~he pin 69 on the lever 42 contac~s the pipe 68
which is fastened to the corresponding bead ctring guide
pipe 65, the rotation of the levers 42 i~ stopped.
When the sh~ft 60 rotates even ~urther, the bead
lO string guide pipes 65 are drawn upward in the direction
indicated by arrow T in Figure 27 ~ia the pipe 68 together
with the motion of the link 41, since the l~ver 42 cannot
rotate. As a result~ the next bead 25b of the bead string
2s become~ the tip bead and is caused to protrude ~rom the
5 tip of the corresponding bead string guide pipe 65.
Together with:this operation, the bead stitching operation
is per~ormed a~ illustrated in Figure 7~
Figure 28 illustrates third embodi~ent of the
present iDvention. This embodiment illustrates a case in
20 which ~ead e~broidering mechani~m or mechanisms 33
constructed according to the pre~ent invention are attached
o a ~ingle-head type or multi-head type embroidering
apparatus 81 which performs embroidery on a horizontally
posi ed cloth 26. By changing the sh~pe of mounts of
25 the brackets, it is possible to mount bead embroidering
~e~hani~s of th~ pre~ent inYention onto embroidering
machine~ of various shape~ and dimensions~
According to the pre~ent invention, a~ d@scribed
above, cylindrical b~ads or angular tube shaped beads are
30 auto~atically stitched at predetermined positions during an
e~broidering process utilizing an ordinary ~broideri~g
thread, :~Furthermore, bead embroidering mech~nis~
con~tru ted according tv the present in~ention can e~sily
be attached to existing e~broidering machines, thus making
35 it possible to utilize ~he embroidering ~achine~
e~ecti~ely and to improYe the functioning of th~
machines. ~he use of the bead embroiderin~ method and
:
wo9~ i Z ~ ~ ~ 27 7 P~r/U~gl/06792
--15--
apparatus~of the present invention makes it possible to
manufacture desired stable bead embroidery patterns with
high reliability compared to methods using conventional
hand sewing techniques. Accordingly, the quality and the
S productivity can be greatly improved while lowering the
cost. Furthermore, along with the improvemen~ in quality
and increase in productivity, there is a red~uction in the
time required f or manuf acturing . ~ccordingly, product
delivery times can be stabilized and shortened even in
10 areas remote from the manufacturing site. As a result,
clothing fashions, which are subject to abrupt changes, can
be dealt with timely.
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