A sewing machine including a detection portion that detects a movement amount of a workpiece, a sewing machine motor that serves as a driving source for vertical movement of a needle bar, and a control device that controls the sewing machine motor based on the detection result by the detection portion and performs control to maintain a constant stitch pitch. The control device lengthens a period for obtaining an output of the detection portion when the movement amount of the workpiece per unit time based on the detection result by the detection portion is decreased, and shortens the period for obtaining the output of the detection portion when the movement amount of the workpiece per unit time based on the detection result by the detection portion is increased.

An embroidery sewing machine includes a storage device storing coordinate data of an embroidery pattern; an X-Y moving mechanism that moves an embroidery frame in X- and Y-directions based on the coordinate data; a display device that displays the embroidery pattern; a transparent touchscreen; a touch point detector that detects a position of touch on the touchscreen; a coordinate data extracting unit that extracts coordinate data within a certain distance from the detected position of touch; a coordinate data selecting unit that selects a coordinate data candidate from the extracted coordinate data; a candidate list display unit that displays a list of a needle position candidate based on the selected coordinate data; and a coordinate data supplying unit that supplies, when any needle position is specified, the X-Y moving mechanism with coordinate data of the specified needle position and moves the embroidery frame to the needle position.

A sewing machine moves a needle up and down relative to a cloth based on drive force from a rotating upper shaft to form a stitch. A first output generating unit reciprocates a first output point along an output axis so as to convert the rotational motion of the upper shaft into a linear motion. An assist rod that serves as a connection portion links the first output point with a needle bar. A needle-bar swing unit swings the needle bar. An output shaft moving unit moves a guide that is the output axis in a cloth feeding direction in accordance with the motion of the needle-bar swing unit. The assist rod changes the inclination in accordance with the movement of the output axis, and reciprocates the needle bar in substantially parallel with the output axis while maintaining the inclination.

A sewing machine moves a needle up and down relative to a cloth based on drive force from a rotating upper shaft to form a stitch. A first output generating unit reciprocates a first output point along an output axis so as to convert the rotational motion of the upper shaft into a linear motion. An assist rod that serves as a connection portion links the first output point with a needle bar. A needle-bar swing unit swings the needle bar. An output shaft moving unit moves a guide that is the output axis in a cloth feeding direction in accordance with the motion of the needle-bar swing unit. The assist rod changes the inclination in accordance with the movement of the output axis, and reciprocates the needle bar in substantially parallel with the output axis while maintaining the inclination.

A method for identifying reference points in a hand drawing track with a number (n) of dots includes marking a first one of the dots as a reference point; for each of a (k.sup.th) one of the dots, determining an included angle; marking the (k.sup.th) one of the dots as a reference point when the included angle associated therewith is larger than a predetermined angle; calculating an accumulated distance between the (k.sup.th) one of the dots and a last one of the reference point (s) thus marked when the included angle is not larger than the predetermined angle; and marking the (k.sup.th) one of the dots as a reference point when it is determined that the accumulated distance thus calculated is larger than the predetermined distance, 2k(n1).

In one preferred mode, the operator selects by the touch panel 2 a pattern from the displayed patterns on the display 1 and starts the embroidery by operation of the start/stop switch. The CPU 10 is checking the detection signal from the sensor 3 and when the signal is on, the CPU 10 keeps the display 1 in operation. When the operator goes out from the sensor detectable area 60, the signal of the sensor 3 disappears and the CPU 10 generates the LED display 4 indicating the progress of the sewing. Since the operator can see the LED display 4 from the outside of the display visible area 61, the operator recognizes the conditions of the machine A.

In one preferred mode, the operator selects by the touch panel 2 a pattern from the displayed patterns on the display 1 and starts the embroidery by operation of the start/stop switch. The CPU 10 is checking the detection signal from the sensor 3 and when the signal is on, the CPU 10 keeps the display 1 in operation. When the operator goes out from the sensor detectable area 60, the signal of the sensor 3 disappears and the CPU 10 generates the LED display 4 indicating the progress of the sewing. Since the operator can see the LED display 4 from the outside of the display visible area 61, the operator recognizes the conditions of the machine A.

The present invention provides a sewing machine that enables to switch frequently used functions during the sewing work with good usability, validate only the indicator related to the work among a plurality of indicators, and enables GUI operations by a screen display unit. Thus, high operability can be achieved. The sewing machine includes: a setting unit for setting operation buttons related to desired sewing work; an operation display unit for displaying the operation buttons set by the setting unit, the operation display being arranged at an arm part; and a screen display unit arranged at a position different from the operation display unit.

A sewing machine includes at least: a movement detection unit for detecting a movement amount of a material to be sewn; a drive motor for operating a needle; a control unit for operating the drive motor; and a storage unit. The storage unit stores a sewing speed and a sewing pitch. The control unit is configured to implement a first control mode and a second control mode. In the first control mode, the control unit operates the drive motor at the stored sewing speed when the detected value by the movement detection unit exceeds a predetermined first threshold. In the second control mode, the control unit operates the drive motor such that the sewing is carried out at the stored sewing pitch on the basis of the detected value when the detected value exceeds a predetermined second threshold. These first control mode and second control mode are switchable.

Systems and methods for interactive guidance of sewing activities are described herein. Many sewing activities such as threading media, conducting general machine maintenance, and sewing using a pattern can be difficult and may require multiple steps to be performed correctly. Through the use of augmented reality (AR), the technologies disclosed herein provide interactive guidance to a user in order to perform one or more sewing activities. The performance of these activities is further enhanced using sensor feedback which can reduce common errors associated with each activity.