IP Library Granted Patent US 7,921,788
Granted Patent B2
US 7,921,788 · App. 11/802,512 · Granted Apr 12, 2011

Sewing machine

Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,921,788
App. No.
11/802,512
Granted
Apr 12, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sewing machine comprising: vertical movement actuator that vertically moves the presser bar having a presser foot; a control unit, that controls the vertical movement actuator to selectively execute a first mode or a second mode; a mode switch unit capable of selectively switching between the first mode and the second mode; and the control unit, when switched to the first mode, controls the vertical movement actuator so as to retain the presser foot at a cloth pressing position irrespective of an operational status of a sewing process; and when switched to the second mode, controls the vertical movement actuator so as to retain the presser foot in a slightly lifted position while a sewing operation is ongoing, whereas when the sewing operation is stopped, the presser foot is moved and retained in the cloth pressing position.

Claims (12)

1. A sewing machine, comprising:

a vertical movement actuator that vertically drives a presser bar having a presser foot attached thereto;

a control unit that controls the vertical movement actuator to selectively execute a first mode or a second mode;

a mode switch unit capable of selectively switching between the first mode and the second mode; and

the control unit, when switched to the first mode, controls the vertical movement actuator so as to lower the presser foot and retain the presser foot at a cloth pressing position in which a workpiece cloth is pressed irrespective of an operational status of a sewing process; and when switched to the second mode, controls the vertical movement actuator so as to retain the presser foot in a slightly lifted position that is elevated from the workpiece cloth by a predetermined small distance while a sewing operation is ongoing, whereas when the sewing operation is stopped, the presser foot is moved and retained in the cloth pressing position.

2. The sewing machine of claim 1 , wherein the mode switch unit functions as a pattern selection unit that selects a sewing pattern or a sewing pattern group, and the first mode is set as a utility sewing mode that sews utility patterns and the second mode is set as a free motion quilting mode that executes quilting in free motion.

3. The sewing machine of claim 2 , further comprising an operation input unit that starts and stops the sewing operation, wherein the control unit controls the vertical movement actuator to move the presser foot based on an input signal from the operation input unit.

4. The sewing machine of claim 2 , wherein the control unit, when switched to the second mode, controls the vertical movement actuator so as to move the presser foot from the cloth pressing position to the slightly lifted position when the sewing operation is restarted from sewing operation stopped state.

5. The sewing machine of claim 4 , further comprising an operation input unit that starts and stops the sewing operation, wherein the control unit controls the vertical movement actuator to move the presser foot based on an input signal from the operation input unit.

6. The sewing machine of claim 1 , wherein the control unit, when switched to the second mode, controls the vertical movement actuator so as to move the presser foot from the cloth pressing position to the slightly lifted position when the sewing operation is restarted from sewing operation stopped state.

7. The sewing machine of claim 6 , further comprising an operation input unit that starts and stops the sewing operation, wherein the control unit controls the vertical movement actuator to move the presser foot based on an input signal from the operation input unit.

8. The sewing machine of claim 1 , further comprising an operation input unit that starts and stops the sewing operation, wherein the control unit controls the vertical movement actuator to move the presser foot based on an input signal from the operation input unit.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 23, 2007
From: FUJIHARA, SHINYA
To: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 019385/0510 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2006-143856 · May 24, 2006 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070272135A1 · Nov 29, 2007