METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING AND/OR REGULATING A SEWING MACHINE, SEWING MACHINE, AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE PRODUCT

Abstract

A method for controlling and/or regulating a sewing machine, in particular an overlock sewing machine, for a sewing operation for mechanically producing a seam (1) within a base material (2), the method including the following steps: identifying a sewing operation or an upcoming sewing operation of the sewing machine (100); setting an upper sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) of the sewing machine (100); setting a lower sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) of the sewing machine (100); and carrying out the sewing operation at a sewing speed between the lower sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) and the upper sewing speed limit (v.sub.max). A device (10) for carrying out the method is provided, and for a sewing machine (100) having the device (10), and to a computer software product (70) for use in the device (10) or in the sewing machine (100), respectively, the computer software product (70) being configured for carrying out the method.

Claims

1. A method for at least one of controlling or regulating a sewing machine (100) for a sewing operation for mechanically producing a seam (1) within a base material (2), said method comprising the following steps: identifying a sewing operation or an upcoming sewing operation of the sewing machine (100); setting an upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) of the sewing machine (100); setting a lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) of the sewing machine (100); and carrying out the sewing operation at a sewing speed between the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) and the upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising identifying at least one parameter of the seam (1) to be produced, of the base material (2) to be used, or of the sewing machine (100) used in the sewing operation, and automatically setting the upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) and the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) dependent on the at least one parameter identified.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising identifying a manual modification of the upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) or a manual modification of the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min), and automatically modifying the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) dependent on the manual modification identified of the upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max), or automatically modifying the upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) dependent on the manual modification identified of the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min).

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) and the upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max), respectively, are automatically modified according to at least one of the following: when the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) is manually decreased by a defined value the upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) is automatically decreased by the same defined value; when the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) is manually increased by a defined value the upper stitch specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) is automatically increased by the same defined value; when the upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) is manually decreased by a defined value the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) is automatically decreased by the same defined value; or when the upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) is manually increased by a defined value the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) is automatically increased by the same defined value.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein in the case of the manual modification of the upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) remains unchanged when the manual modification of the upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) is carried out within a defined temporal period following a manual modification of the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min), or in the case of the manual modification of the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) the upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) remains unchanged when the manual modification of the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) is carried out within a defined temporal period following a manual modification of an upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max).

6. The method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising identifying a temporal period of a sewing operation that is carried out following an automatic modification of the upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max), and in in the case of a subsequent manual modification of the upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) remains unchanged when the identified temporal period of the sewing operation is shorter than a defined temporal period or a temporal period of a sewing operation that is carried out following an automatic modification of the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) is identified, and in the case of a subsequent manual modification of the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) the upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) remains unchanged when the identified temporal period of the sewing operation is shorter than a defined temporal period.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising setting a defined sewing speed range only in which the upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) and the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) can be modified.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising triggering at least one of an acoustic or visual warning signal when at least one of the upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) or the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) exceed(s) or undershoot(s), respectively, a defined limit threshold value.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising triggering at least one of an acoustic or visual warning signal when a difference value between at least one of the upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) or the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) exceeds a defined difference threshold value.

10. A device (10) for at least one of controlling or regulating a sewing machine (100) for a sewing operation for mechanically producing a seam (1) within a base material (2) configured to carry out the method of claim 1.

11. The device (10) as claimed in claim 10, comprising an input device (20) configured to allow a user of the sewing machine (100) to manually set whether or not a manual modification of the upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) results in an automatic modification of the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min), or a manual modification of the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) results in an automatic modification of the upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max).

12. The device (10) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the device (10) is configured such that the upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) remains unchanged when the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) is manually increased, or the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) remains unchanged when the upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) is manually decreased.

13. The device (10) as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a storage device (30, 40) configured to store at least one of various seam-specific, base-material specific, or sewing-machine specific upper sewing speed limits (v.sub.max) and lower sewing speed limits (v.sub.min).

14. The device (10) as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a storage device (30, 40) configured to store various user-specific upper sewing speed limits (v.sub.max) and lower sewing speed limits (v.sub.min).

15. The device (10) as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a storage device (30, 40) and an input device, the storage device is configured to store at least one of an upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) or a lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) by activating the input device.

16. The device (10) as claimed in claim 11, further comprising an input device, and the storage device is configured to store at least one of the modified upper sewing speed limits (v.sub.max) or the modified lower stitch-specific sewing speed limits (v.sub.min), pertaining to at least one of a specific seam (1), a specific base material (2) or a specific sewing machine (100) by activating the input device.

17. The device (10) as claimed in claim 16, wherein the device (10) has a reset function by way of which at least one of the stored modified upper stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.max) or the lower stitch-specific sewing speed limit (v.sub.min) in the storage device 30, 40) can be deleted.

18. A sewing machine (100) for mechanically producing a seam (1) within a base material (2), having the device as claimed in claim 10.

19. A computer software product (70) stored on a fixed memory and configured to carry out the method as claimed in claim 1 on a sewing machine (100) for production of a seam (1) within a base material (2).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] Further measures that improve the invention are derived from the description hereunder of various exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are schematically illustrated in the figures. All the features and/or advantages which can be gathered from the claims, from the description or from the drawings, including design details and spatial arrangements, may be essential to the invention both in their own right or in a wide variety of different combinations.

[0044] In the figures, in each case in a schematic manner:

[0045] FIG. 1 shows an overlock sewing machine according to the invention;

[0046] FIG. 2 shows a device according to the invention for controlling and/or regulating the overlock sewing machine;

[0047] FIG. 3A shows a non-uniform stitch pattern;

[0048] FIG. 3B shows a uniform stitch pattern;

[0049] FIG. 4 shows an input device according to the invention in a first operating state, according to a first embodiment;

[0050] FIG. 5 shows an input device according to the invention in a second operating state, according to the first embodiment;

[0051] FIG. 6 shows an input device according to the invention in a third operating state, according to the first embodiment;

[0052] FIG. 7 shows an input device according to the invention in a fourth operating state, according to the first embodiment;

[0053] FIG. 8 shows an input device according to the invention in a fifth operating state, according to the first embodiment;

[0054] FIG. 9 shows an input device according to the invention, according to a second embodiment;

[0055] FIG. 10 shows an input device according to the invention, according to a third embodiment;

[0056] FIG. 11 shows a flow chart for explaining a method according to the invention, according to a first embodiment;

[0057] FIG. 12 shows a flow chart for explaining a method according to the invention, according to a second embodiment;

[0058] FIG. 13 shows a flow chart for explaining a method according to the invention, according to a third embodiment;

[0059] FIG. 14 shows a flow chart for explaining a method according to the invention, according to a fourth embodiment; and

[0060] FIG. 15 shows a flow chart for explaining a method according to the invention, according to a fifth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0061] Elements with identical functions and operating modes are provided with the same reference signs in each of FIGS. 1 to 15.

[0062] A sewing machine 100 in the form of an overlock sewing machine is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. The sewing machine 100 has a device 10 such as a controller for controlling and/or regulating the sewing machine 100. The device 10 has an input device 20 in the form of a touch-sensitive display.

[0063] FIG. 2 shows a block circuit diagram for explaining the device 10. The device 10, apart from the input device 20, has a non-volatile storage 30, a volatile storage 40, a motor 50 for driving the sewing machine 100, and a motor controller 60. A computer software product 70 according to the invention which by way of the motor controller 60 can be run for controlling and/or regulating the sewing machine 100 is stored in the non-volatile storage 30. Moreover, various seam-specific, base-material specific, and/or sewing-machine specific upper sewing speed limits and lower sewing speed limits are stored in the non-volatile storage 30. Moreover, various user-specific upper sewing speed limits and lower sewing speed limits are stored in the non-volatile storage 30.

[0064] Various operating parameters such as, for example, an upper sewing speed limit v.sub.max and a lower sewing speed limit v.sub.min can be set by way of the input device 20. The motor controller 60 serves in particular for setting the desired sewing speed by mutually matching and adapting a nominal sewing speed and an actual sewing speed. The actual sewing speed can be obtained by the motor controller 60 by way of devices and methods that are known in the prior art. The nominal sewing speed is obtained by the motor controller 60 by way of an input by the user by way of the input device 20, or by reading the non-volatile storage 30 and/or the volatile storage 40.

[0065] The device 10 furthermore has a reset function by way of which a stored and potentially modified upper sewing speed limit and/or a lower and potentially modified sewing speed limit can be deleted in the non-volatile storage 30 and/or in the volatile storage 40.

[0066] A non-uniform stitch pattern or seam image N1 on a base material 2 is illustrated in FIG. 3A. The seam 1 shown in FIG. 3A is the result of a sewing operation at sewing speeds that differ widely from one another.

[0067] A uniform stitch pattern or seam image N2 on the base material 2 is illustrated in FIG. 3B. The seam 1 shown in FIG. 3B is the result of a sewing operation according to the invention which has been carried out at a sewing speed between an upper sewing speed limit v.sub.max and a lower sewing speed limit v.sub.min.

[0068] FIG. 4 shows an input device 20 having a display 21 for an upper sewing speed limit v.sub.max, adjustment panels 22 for modifying the upper sewing speed limit v.sub.max, a display 23 for a lower sewing speed limit v.sub.min, adjustment panels 24 for modifying the lower sewing speed limit v.sub.min, a slider 25 for modifying the upper sewing speed limit v.sub.max, and a slider 26 for modifying the lower sewing speed limit v.sub.min. FIG. 4 shows an input device 20 on which basic settings are illustrated once the sewing machine 100 has been switched on. The basic settings accordingly are an upper sewing speed limit v.sub.max of 1000 st/min and a lower sewing speed limit v.sub.max of 500 st/min.

[0069] A first embodiment of the present invention will be subsequently described with reference to FIG. 4 and FIG. 11. To this end, an ongoing or an intended sewing operation is initially identified. An upcoming sewing operation is identified in that switching-on of the sewing machine 100 is identified, for example. The upper sewing speed limit v.sub.max and the lower sewing speed limit v.sub.min are subsequently set, as is illustrated in FIG. 4. Thereafter, a sewing operation is carried out while adhering to the upper sewing speed limit v.sub.max and to the lower sewing speed limit v.sub.min.

[0070] A second embodiment of the present invention will be subsequently described with reference to FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 12. For the sake of simplification, a repetition of method steps that have already been described will be dispensed with. Upon identification of the sewing operation, a stitch pattern is selected. Depending on the stitch pattern selected, the upper sewing speed limit v.sub.max is now set to 1000 st/min, and the lower sewing speed limit v.sub.min to 500 st/min. Should a manual increase of the lower sewing speed limit v.sub.min from 500 st/min to v.sub.min+=700 st/min now be identified, the upper sewing speed limit v.sub.max is automatically also increased by 200 st/min, thus from 1000 st/min to v.sub.max+=1200 st/min, as is illustrated in FIG. 5. A sewing speed band between the new lower sewing speed limit v.sub.min+ and the new upper sewing speed limit v.sub.max+ consequently remains identical at a value of 500 st/min. A sewing operation is subsequently carried out while adhering to the new sewing speed limits v.sub.max+, v.sub.min+.

[0071] A third embodiment of the present invention will be described hereunder with reference to FIG. 4, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 13. Initially, the first five steps are carried out as has been described with reference to the second embodiment. A step in which it is determined or identified, respectively, whether a sewing operation has or has not been carried out since the automatic increase of the upper sewing speed limit v.sub.max now follows. If no sewing operation has been carried out, and if a manual increase of the upper sewing speed limit v.sub.max from 1200 st/min to 1300 st/min in a direct manner, for example within 5 s, is detected, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the lower sewing speed limit v.sub.min+ is maintained, and the sewing operation is subsequently carried out between these limit values.

[0072] By contrast, if it is detected that a sewing operation has been carried out, a differentiation pertaining to the length of the latter is initially performed. Herein a differentiation as to whether the sewing operation has continued for more or less than 5 s is performed. If the sewing operation has continued for more than 5 s, it is assumed that a sewing operation has been concluded and a new sewing operation is to commence. If a manual increase of the upper sewing speed limit v.sub.max+ from 1200 to v.sub.max++=1300 st/min is now identified, as is illustrated in FIG. 6, the lower sewing speed limit v.sub.min+ is also automatically increased from 700 st/min to v.sub.min++=800 st/min. Thereafter, a sewing operation is carried out between the upper sewing speed limit v.sub.max++ and the lower sewing speed limit v.sub.min++.

[0073] Should the sewing operation have continued for less than 5 s, it is assumed that the sewing operation has not yet been concluded and that the sewing speed band is to be readjusted. If a manual increase of the upper sewing speed limit v.sub.max+ from 1200 to v.sub.max++=1300 st/min is identified, as is illustrated in FIG. 7, the lower sewing speed limit v.sub.min+ is maintained and a sewing operation is subsequently carried out between the upper sewing speed limit v.sub.max++ and the lower sewing speed limit v.sub.max+.

[0074] A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be subsequently described with reference to FIG. 4, FIG. 8 and FIG. 14. The first four steps of the fourth embodiment again correspond in principle to the first four steps of the second and the third embodiment. However, it is subsequently determined or identified, respectively, whether the sewing speed band will become larger or smaller by modifying the lower sewing speed limit v.sub.min. In order for the risk of a non-uniform stitch pattern to be reduced, the sewing speed band according to this embodiment must not become larger. That is to say, if it is now identified that by decreasing the lower sewing speed limit v.sub.min the sewing speed band will or could become larger, respectively, the upper sewing speed limit v.sub.max is automatically decreased by the value of the decrease of the lower sewing speed limit v.sub.min. A sewing operation at a sewing speed band that has remained the same is subsequently carried out. However, if it is established that by increasing the lower sewing speed limit v.sub.min the sewing speed band will or would become smaller, respectively, the upper sewing speed limit v.sub.max is maintained, as is illustrated in FIG. 8. A sewing operation is subsequently carried out at a reduced sewing speed band.

[0075] A fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which it can be selected by way of a check box 27 whether a modification of a sewing speed band is to be permissible or not, will be described hereunder with reference to FIG. 9 and FIG. 15. A modification of the sewing speed band is not permissible if the YES area is selected or activated, as is illustrated in FIG. 9. If a sewing speed limit is now modified, the other sewing speed limit is forcibly and conjointly modified. However, a modification of the sewing speed band in the context of the embodiments illustrated above is permissible or possible, respectively, if the NO area is selected or activated, respectively (not illustrated).

[0076] FIG. 10 shows a further embodiment of the input device 20 in which a sewing speed band 28 is illustrated graphically on a touch-sensitive surface of the input device 20. In this case, a user by way of his/her finger 3 or another activation device can displace directly the sewing speed band 28 or the associated sewing speed limits in the context of the of the permissibility as illustrated above. As soon as the sewing speed band 28 or a sewing speed band of the other embodiments has been set, said sewing speed band can be stored manually or automatically in the non-volatile storage 30 or in the volatile storage 40.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0077] 1 Seam [0078] 2 Base material [0079] 3 Finger [0080] 10 Device [0081] 20 Input device [0082] 21 Display for upper sewing speed limit [0083] 22 Adjustment panels for modifying the upper sewing speed limit [0084] 23 Display for lower sewing speed limit [0085] 24 Adjustment panels for modifying the lower sewing speed limit [0086] 25 Slider for modifying the upper sewing speed limit [0087] 26 Slider for modifying the lower sewing speed limit [0088] 27 Check box [0089] 28 Sewing speed band for modifying the upper and the lower sewing speed limit [0090] 30 Non-volatile storage [0091] 40 Volatile storage [0092] 50 Motor [0093] 60 Motor controller [0094] 100 Sewing machine [0095] vmax Upper sewing speed limit [0096] vmin Lower sewing machine limit [0097] MAX Maximum sewing speed of the sewing machine [0098] MIN Minimum sewing speed of the sewing machine