SEWING MACHINE

Abstract

A sewing machine includes a bed including a bed surface, a needle bar, a presser bar, a projector, and a controller. A movement detector is attachable to the presser bar. The controller is configured to perform a sewing control of, in a state where the movement detector is attached to the presser bar, controlling an up-down reciprocating speed of the needle bar based on a signal output from the movement detector. The signal corresponds to a movement amount of a sewing workpiece located in a detection region. The controller is configured to perform a projection of, during performing the sewing control, controlling the projector to project an image toward the bed surface.

Claims

1. A sewing machine comprising: a bed including a bed surface; a needle bar; a presser bar to which a movement detector is attachable; a projector; and a controller configured to perform: a sewing control of, in a state where the movement detector is attached to the presser bar, controlling an up-down reciprocating speed of the needle bar based on a signal output from the movement detector, the signal corresponding to a movement amount of a sewing workpiece located in a detection region; and a projection of, during performing the sewing control, controlling the projector to project an image toward the bed surface.

2. The sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to project the image including a guide pattern indicating a position of the detection region.

3. The sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to project the image including a guideline indicating a position of the detection region in a short direction of the bed surface, the guideline extending in a longitudinal direction of the bed surface.

4. The sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to project the image including a first guideline and a second guideline, the first guideline indicating a position of the detection region in a short direction of the bed surface, the first guideline extending in a longitudinal direction of the bed surface, the second guideline indicating a position of the detection region in the longitudinal direction of the bed surface, the second guideline extending in the short direction of the bed surface.

5. The sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to project the image including a guideline extending in a longitudinal direction of the bed surface at a position away from the detection region by a particular distance in a forward feed direction, the forward feed direction being a direction from the needle bar toward the presser bar, the forward feed direction being a direction along a short direction of the bed surface.

6. The sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to project the image including a first guideline and a second guideline, the first guideline extending in a longitudinal direction of the bed surface at a position away from the detection region by a particular distance in a forward feed direction, the second guideline extending in a short direction of the bed surface, the second guideline indicating a position of the detection region in the longitudinal direction of the bed surface, the forward feed direction being a direction from the needle bar toward the presser bar, the forward feed direction being a direction along the short direction of the bed surface.

7. The sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to project the image including an icon indicating an operating state of the sewing machine.

8. The sewing machine according to claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to: in a case where the operating state of the sewing machine is a first operating state, project the image including the icon of a first color; and in a case where the operating state of the sewing machine is a second operating state different from the first operating state, project the image including the icon of a second color different from the first color.

9. The sewing machine according to claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to: in a case where the operating state of the sewing machine is a first operating state, project the image including a first icon; and in a case where the operating state of the sewing machine is a second operating state different from the first operating state, project the image including a second icon having a different shape from the first icon.

10. The sewing machine according to claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to: during a period in which movement of the sewing workpiece is being detected by the movement detector, project the image including the icon in a first mode; and during a period in which movement of the sewing workpiece is not being detected by the movement detector, project the image including the icon in a second mode different from the first mode.

11. The sewing machine according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to project the image including an auxiliary guideline to assist sewing, the auxiliary guideline being thinner than the guideline.

12. The sewing machine according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to project the image including the guideline that is thicker than a length of the detection region in the short direction.

13. The sewing machine according to claim 2, wherein the movement detector includes a presser foot configured to contact the sewing workpiece; wherein the projector is configured to project the image onto a projection region on the bed surface, the projection region being a region surrounding the presser foot of the movement detector attached to the presser bar; and wherein the controller is configured to project the image including the guide pattern that is projected onto a particular region in the projection region, the particular region being a region excluding a region in which the presser foot attached to the movement detector is located.

14. The sewing machine according to claim 2, wherein the movement detector includes a housing attachable to the presser bar; wherein the projector is configured to project the image onto a projection region on the bed surface, the projection region being a region surrounding the movement detector attached to the presser bar; and wherein the controller is configured to project the image including the guide pattern that is projected onto a particular region in the projection region, the particular region being a region excluding a region in which the housing of the movement detector is located.

15. The sewing machine according to claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to project the image including the guide pattern with a white outline.

16. The sewing machine according to claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to project the image in which a position of the guide pattern is changed based on a thickness of the sewing workpiece.

17. The sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the movement detector includes a sensor configured to detect the movement amount of the sewing workpiece located in the detection region; and wherein the sensor includes: a light emitting element configured to emit light; and a light receiving element configured to receive a reflection light that is reflected by the sewing workpiece located in the detection region.

18. The sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to: perform the projection in a case where the sewing control is being performed; and not perform the projection in a case where the sewing control is not being performed.

19. The sewing machine according to claim 1, further comprising the movement detector attached to the presser bar, wherein the movement detector includes: a housing attachable to the presser bar; a sensor configured to detect the movement amount of the sewing workpiece located in a detection region; and a presser foot configured to contact the sewing workpiece.

20. The sewing machine according to claim 7, further comprising a start-stop switch for instructing start and stop of a sewing operation, the start-stop switch including a lamp and configured to notify the operating state of the sewing machine 1 by a lighting state of the lamp, wherein, when the sewing control is performed, a projection mode of the icon in the projected image is same as the lighting state of the lamp of the start-stop switch; and wherein, when the sewing control is not performed, the icon is not included in the projected image.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sewing machine 1 to which a movement detector 9 is attached.

[0008] FIG. 2A is a left side view of the sewing machine 1 to which the movement detector 9 is attached.

[0009] FIG. 2B is an enlarged view of the movement detector 9 in a state where a presser foot 25 contacts a sewing workpiece C.

[0010] FIG. 2C is an enlarged view of the movement detector 9 in a state where the presser foot 25 is located a particular distance above the sewing workpiece C.

[0011] FIG. 3 is a front view of the sewing machine 1 to which the movement detector 9 is attached.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a bed 11 of the sewing machine 1 to which the movement detector 9 is attached.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the movement detector 9.

[0014] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the sewing machine 1.

[0015] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a main process performed in a case where the movement detector 9 is attached.

[0016] FIG. 8 illustrates a table 6 stored in a memory 64.

[0017] FIG. 9 illustrates a screen G1.

[0018] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an image output process.

[0019] FIG. 11 illustrates a screen G2.

[0020] FIG. 12 illustrates a screen G3.

[0021] FIG. 13 illustrates images F1 to F8.

[0022] FIG. 14A illustrates a projection region R in a case where an image F6 including an icon N9 in red is projected.

[0023] FIG. 14B illustrates the projection region R in a case where the image F6 including the icon N9 in green is projected.

[0024] FIG. 15 illustrates an image F10.

DESCRIPTION

[0025] An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The upper-lower direction, the left-lower direction, the right-upper direction, the left-upper direction, and the right-lower direction in FIG. 1 are the upper-lower direction, the leftward direction, the rightward direction, the rearward direction, and the forward direction of a sewing machine 1, respectively. A longitudinal direction D2 of a bed 11 and an arm 13 is the left-right direction of the sewing machine 1. A short direction D1 of the bed 11 and the arm 13 in a horizontal plane is the front-rear direction of the sewing machine 1. In the sewing machine 1, the side on which a pillar 12 is disposed is the right side. The extending direction of the pillar 12 is the upper-lower direction of the sewing machine 1. A direction that is perpendicular to the upper-lower direction and that is from a needle bar 15 toward a presser bar 16 is a rearward direction, and is defined as a forward feed direction F. The direction opposite to the forward feed direction F is forward and is defined as a reverse feed direction B. The forward feed direction F and the reverse feed direction B are directions along the short direction D1.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, the sewing machine 1 includes the bed 11, the pillar 12, and the arm 13. The pillar 12 extends in the upper-lower direction. The bed 11 has a bed surface 10 and extends leftward from the lower end of the pillar 12. The arm 13 extends leftward from the upper end of the pillar 12 in parallel with the bed 11 above the bed 11. The arm 13 has a head 14 at the left end of the arm 13.

[0027] The bed surface 10 extends horizontally. The bed surface 10 includes a needle plate 41 extending horizontally. As shown in FIG. 4, the needle plate 41 is formed with a needle hole 40 through which a sewing needle 17 is inserted. The bed 11 includes a feed mechanism 31 shown in FIG. 6 and a hook mechanism (not shown), for example, below the needle plate 41. The feed mechanism 31 includes a feed dog 32. The feed mechanism 31 drives the feed dog 32 to move the sewing workpiece in the forward feed direction For the reverse feed direction B by a particular movement amount. The forward feed direction F corresponds to the direction in which the sewing machine 1 is disposed with respect to the user. The hook mechanism includes a hook. The hook mechanism drives the hook to entangle an upper thread with a lower thread.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, a liquid crystal display (LCD) 43 and a touch screen 44 that are long in the upper-lower direction are provided on the front side of the pillar 12. The LCD 43 displays messages for sewing work, for example. The touch screen 44 is disposed on the front surface of the LCD 43. When the user selects an item displayed on the LCD 43 with a pointing body such as a finger or a dedicated stylus pen described later, the touch screen 44 detects the selected position. The user inputs various instructions to the sewing machine 1 via the touch screen 44.

[0029] A plurality of switches including a start-stop switch 45 are provided on the front surface of the arm 13. The start-stop switch 45 is a switch for instructing the start and stop of a sewing operation. The start-stop switch 45 includes a green LED and a red LED (an example of a lamp), and notifies a sewing state of the sewing machine 1 by a lighting state of the LEDs. A sewing machine cover configured to open and close (not shown) is provided on the upper portion of the arm 13. In FIGS. 1 and 2A, the sewing machine cover of the arm 13 is not shown. A thread storage portion 50 is provided on an upper surface 53 of the arm 13 that is exposed in a state where the sewing machine cover is opened. The thread storage portion 50 is a recess that is recessed downward and stores a thread spool T around which an upper thread is wound. A thread spool pin 51 extends leftward from the right inner wall surface of the thread storage portion 50. The thread spool T is mounted on the sewing machine 1 by inserting the thread spool pin 51 into an insertion hole of the thread spool T.

[0030] The head 14 includes a needle bar mechanism and a presser foot mechanism (not shown) inside the head 14. The needle bar mechanism includes the needle bar 15 extending in the upper-lower direction, and reciprocates the needle bar 15 in the upper-lower direction. A lower end portion of the needle bar 15 protrudes downward from the lower end of the head 14. A sewing needle 17 is detachably attached to the lower end of the needle bar 15. The sewing needle 17 attached to the needle bar 15 reciprocates in the upper-lower direction. The upper thread inserted through the sewing needle 17 is entangled with the lower thread by the hook, and forms stitches on the sewing workpiece. The presser foot mechanism includes the presser bar 16 extending in the upper-lower direction, and reciprocates the presser bar 16 in the upper-lower direction. A lower end portion of the presser bar 16 protrudes downward from the lower end of the head 14.

[0031] The movement detector 9 is used when the user performs sewing while manually moving a sewing workpiece C placed on the bed surface 10 without using the feed dog 32. The movement detector 9 outputs a signal corresponding to the amount of movement (movement amount) of the sewing workpiece C. The movement detector 9 detects the movement amount of the sewing workpiece C disposed on the bed 11 below the presser bar 16, and outputs the movement amount to the sewing machine 1. The sewing machine 1 controls the driving of the sewing machine motor 33 based on the movement amount per unit time of the sewing workpiece C, that is, movement speed, thereby adjusting (regulating) the length of the stitches formed on the sewing workpiece C. The presser foot 25 is attachable to and detachable from the movement detector 9. The presser foot 25 is disposed above the upper surface of the sewing workpiece C by a particular distance, and is moved to contact the sewing workpiece C, thereby preventing the sewing workpiece C placed on the bed surface 10 from lifting.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 5, the movement detector 9 includes a housing 95, a sensor 97, a cable 99, and a mount body (mount bracket) 98. The housing 95 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is longer in the front-rear direction than in the left-right direction. The housing 95 is attachable to and detachable from the presser bar 16 of the sewing machine 1. The housing 95 accommodates the sensor 97.

[0033] The sensor 97 is located above an opening 100 formed in a lower surface 96 of the housing 95. As shown in FIG. 6, the sensor 97 includes a light emitting element 971 and a light receiving element 972. The light emitting element 971 and the light receiving element 972 are located above the opening 100. The light emitting element 971 emits light toward the sewing workpiece C to detect the movement amount of the sewing workpiece C. The light emitting element 971 is, for example, an infrared light emitting diode that emits infrared light. In a state where the movement detector 9 is attached to the presser bar 16 of the sewing machine 1, the light emitted by the light emitting element 971 is emitted downward. The emitted light passes through the opening 100 and reaches the sewing workpiece C, and is reflected. The light reflected by the sewing workpiece C passes through the opening 100. The light receiving element 972 is an element for detecting the light reflected by the sewing workpiece C located in a detection region M, and detects the light reflected by the sewing workpiece C and converts the light into an electrical signal. The detection region M is a circular region in a plan view and is located below the opening 100. The diameter of the detection region M is, for example, 1 mm. The detection region M is on a guideline extending through a needle position NP and extending in the short direction D1. The detection region M is located rearward of the needle position NP and the presser bar 16. The light receiving element 972 is, for example, an infrared imaging element that detects infrared light. The light emitting element 971 periodically emits light toward the sewing workpiece C, and the sensor 97 detects the movement amount of the sewing workpiece C per unit time.

[0034] The cable 99 extends upward from rearward of the upper surface of the housing 95. The cable 99 is detachably connected to a connector (not shown) provided at the back surface of the arm 13. The movement detector 9 outputs the movement amount of the sewing workpiece C per unit time to the sewing machine 1 via the cable 99. The mount body 98 extends upward from the upper surface of the housing 95. The mount body 98 is detachably attached to the presser bar 16. With this configuration, the movement detector 9 is detachably attached to the lower end of the presser bar 16.

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the head 14 further includes a projector 2 inside the head 14. The projector 2 is configured to project an image onto the bed surface 10. The projector 2 includes a generator 21 shown in FIG. 6, as well as a light guide and a lens (not shown). The generator 21 includes a reflective display device 213, a light source 212, and a mirror and a prism (not shown). The light source 212 is, for example, an LED lamp of RGB. The generator 21 generates image light constituting an image by projecting light from the light source 212 toward an image displayed on the reflective display device 213. The generator 21 emits the generated image light toward the light guide. The generator 21 may operate by using a method other than the reflective display method, such as methods adopted by transmissive display devices, laser light sources, or self-luminous deposition devices. The light guide guides the image light generated by the generator 21 to the lens. The image light guided by the light guide is emitted through the lens toward the bed 11. The lens is an eccentric optics projection lens. An eccentric optical system is an optical system in which the lenses, mirrors, and other components that make up the optical system are not on the same straight line. The number, type, and arrangement of the lenses and mirrors that make up the eccentric optical system may be set as appropriate.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 4, the projector 2 is configured to project an image on a projection region R. The projection region R of the projector 2 is a rectangular region in a plan view. Two sides of the projection region R extending in the short direction D1 are long sides and two sides of the projection region R extending in the longitudinal direction D2 are short sides. In the short direction D1, the projection region R is a region on the bed surface 10 surrounding the presser foot 25 of the movement detector 9 attached to the presser bar 16 and includes the needle position NP located below the needle bar 15. The projection region R is a region surrounding the movement detector 9 that is attached to the presser bar 16. Additionally, the projection region R includes a range of the needle plate 41 on the bed 11.

[0037] Since the projector 2 is disposed leftward of the needle bar 15, when the projector 2 is driven, a shadow of the needle bar 15 is formed rightward of the needle bar 15 due to the image light projected by the projector 2. In other words, the shadow formed by the image light projected by the projector 2 is not formed forward of the needle bar 15.

[0038] The operation of the sewing machine 1 having the above-described configuration when the sewing workpiece is conveyed by the feed dog 32 will be briefly described. When the sewing machine 1 detects that the start-stop switch 45 has been pressed, the hook mechanism, the feed mechanism 31, the needle bar mechanism, and the presser foot mechanism are driven synchronously. With this operation, the sewing needle 17 attached to the needle bar 15 forms stitches in the sewing workpiece C placed on the bed surface 10.

[0039] The electrical configuration of the sewing machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The controller 3 of the sewing machine 1 includes a CPU 61, a ROM 62, a RAM 63, a memory 64, and an input-output interface 65. The CPU 61 is connected to the ROM 62, the RAM 63, the memory 64, and the input-output interface 65 via a bus 66.

[0040] The CPU 61 performs main control of the sewing machine 1 and performs various calculation and processing related to sewing in accordance with various programs stored in the ROM 62. The ROM 62 includes a plurality of storage areas, including a program storage area (not shown). The program storage area stores various programs for operating the sewing machine 1, including a program for performing a main process described later.

[0041] The RAM 63 includes a storage area that stores the results of calculation and processing performed by the CPU 61. For example, the memory 64 stores various parameters used by the sewing machine 1 to perform various processing. The memory 64 stores data for a table 6 shown in FIG. 8. The table 6 includes settings for a stitch regulating function, sewing modes, sewing states when the movement detector 9 is attached to the presser bar 16, and lighting states of the start-stop switch 45 according to movement states and projection modes of icons included in the image projected by the projector 2.

[0042] The stitch regulating function is a function of making the stitch length constant by moving the needle bar 15 in synchronization with the moving speed of the sewing workpiece C, and the setting of the stitch regulating function is ON or OFF. The sewing mode defines conditions for driving the needle bar 15 based on a signal output from the movement detector 9. When the power supply to the movement detector 9 is ON, the sewing machine 1 of this embodiment drives the needle bar 15 in the sewing mode selected from an intermittent mode, a basting stitch mode, and a continuous mode, based on the signal output from the movement detector 9. The intermittent mode and the basting stitch mode are modes in which, when the movement amount of the sewing workpiece C detected by the movement detector 9 is 0, the reciprocal movement of the needle bar 15 in the upper-lower direction stops, and when the movement amount is greater than 0, the needle bar 15 reciprocates in the upper-lower direction at a speed corresponding to the movement amount. The stitch length in the basting stitch mode is greater than the stitch length in the intermittent mode. The continuous mode is a mode in which, when the movement amount of the sewing workpiece C detected by the movement detector 9 is 0, the needle bar 15 reciprocates in the upper-lower direction at a particular speed, and when the movement amount is greater than 0, the needle bar 15 reciprocates in the upper-lower direction at a speed corresponding to the movement amount. The sewing machine 1 of this embodiment drives the needle bar 15 in a free motion mode when the power supply to the movement detector 9 is OFF. In the free motion mode, the movement detector 9 does not output a signal and the needle bar 15 reciprocates in the upper-lower direction at a constant speed, regardless of the movement state.

[0043] The sewing state includes sewing in progress and waiting. The sewing in progress is a state in which the start-stop switch 45 is pressed and the needle bar 15 is movable reciprocally in the upper-lower direction based on the signal output from the movement detector 9. The waiting is a state in which the needle bar 15 stops reciprocating in the upper-lower direction and is waiting for the start-stop switch 45 to be pressed, regardless of a signal output from the movement detector 9. The movement state indicates whether it is determined that the sewing workpiece C is moving or stopped based on the signal output from the movement detector 9.

[0044] The lighting state of the start-stop switch 45 is one of steady green, blinking green, and steady red. The icon is a figure that indicates an operating state of the sewing machine 1. In this embodiment, the icon is projected in a projection mode according to the operating state of the sewing machine 1. When the setting of the stitch regulating function is ON, the projection mode of the icon is the same as the lighting state of the start-stop switch 45. When the setting of the stitch regulating function is OFF, the projection mode of icon is OFF, that is, the icon is not included in the projection image.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 6, the memory 64 of this embodiment further stores a coordinate system of the projector 2 (hereinafter also referred to as projection coordinate system) and a coordinate system of the entire space (hereinafter also referred to as world coordinate system). These coordinate systems are associated with each other in advance by parameters stored in the memory 64. Thus, the sewing machine 1 is configured to identify coordinates in the projection coordinate system based on the world coordinates of the planned projection position of the image, and identify coordinates in the world coordinate system based on image data. According to this embodiment, the image is a multiple-color image. However, the image may be a single-color image, or the color of the image may be adjustable according to the color and pattern of the sewing workpiece C.

[0046] Drive circuits 90, 91, 92, 93 and 94 of a controller (processor) 3, the touch screen 44, the start-stop switch 45, the light source 212 of the projector 2, and the light emitting element 971 and the light receiving element 972 of the sensor 97 of the movement detector 9 are connected to the input-output interface 65. The light source 212 turns on according to a control signal output from the CPU 61 and projects the image displayed on the reflective display device 213 onto the sewing workpiece C placed on the bed 11.

[0047] The drive circuit 91 is connected to the sewing machine motor 33. The drive circuit 91 drives the sewing machine motor 33 according to the control signal output from the CPU 61. When the sewing machine motor 33 is driven, the needle bar mechanism is driven via the main drive shaft 34 of the sewing machine 1, and the needle bar 15 reciprocates in the upper-lower direction. A feed-amount adjustment motor 30 is connected to the drive circuit 92. The feed-amount adjustment motor 30 rotates its output shaft to adjust the feed amount of the sewing workpiece C in the front-rear direction by the feed mechanism 31. The drive circuit 93 drives a presser motor 35 according to a control signal output from the CPU 61. When the presser motor 35 is driven, the presser bar 16 moves in the upper-lower direction independently of the driving of the main drive shaft 34 of the sewing machine 1. The drive circuit 94 drives the LCD 43 according to a control signal output from the CPU 61 to display an image on the LCD 43. The drive circuit 90 drives the reflective display device 213 of the generator 21 of the projector 2 according to a control signal output from the CPU 61 to display an image on the reflective display device 213.

[0048] The main process of the sewing machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 12. In the main process, the needle bar 15 reciprocates in the upper-lower direction based on the detection result of the movement detector 9, in response to an instruction from a user, to thereby perform sewing on the sewing workpiece C. The main process starts when the user inputs an instruction to display a screen G1 shown in FIG. 9. In response to detecting an instruction to display the screen G1, the controller 3 reads out the program for performing the main process stored in the program storage area of the ROM 62 to the RAM 63. The controller 3 performs the following steps according to the instructions contained in the program read out to the RAM 63. The various parameters used to perform the main process are stored in the memory 64. Various data acquired in the course of the main process are stored in the RAM 63 as appropriate. In the following description, the various image data to be processed by the controller 3 is simply referred to as image. Step is abbreviated as S.

[0049] Based on the signal output from the movement detector 9, the controller 3 determines whether the stitch regulating function, which makes the stitch length constant by moving the needle bar 15 in synchronization with the movement speed of the sewing workpiece C, is ON (S1). In response to determining that the stitch regulating function is not ON (S1: NO), the controller 3 drives the sewing machine 1 in free motion mode, in which sewing is performed while moving the needle bar 15 reciprocally in the upper-lower direction at a constant cycle (S41) and turns off the icon, that is, the icon is not included in the image projected by the projector 2 (S42). After the driving in free motion mode is finished, the controller 3 stops driving the projector 2 (S43) and ends the main process.

[0050] In response to determining that the stitch regulating function of the movement detector 9 is ON (S1: YES), the controller 3 displays, on the LCD 43, a screen used when the stitch regulating function of the movement detector 9 is ON (S2). In S2, the controller 3 displays the screen G1 shown in FIG. 9 on the LCD 43. The screen G1 includes key images J1, J2, J3, J4, J5 and J6. The key image J1 is selected when the user inputs an instruction to display a projection condition setting screen. The key image J2 is selected when the user inputs instruction to display a guideline setting screen. The key image J3 is selected when the user inputs an instruction to display a setting screen for a guide pattern indicating the position of the sensor 97.

[0051] The key images J4, J5 and J6 are selected when the user inputs an instruction to select the sewing mode. The key image J4 is selected when the user inputs an instruction to select the intermittent mode. The key image J5 is selected when the user inputs an instruction to select the basting stitch mode. The key image J6 is selected when the user inputs an instruction to select the continuous mode.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 2B, the controller 3 drives the presser motor 35 to lower the presser bar 16 to a position where the presser foot 25 of the movement detector 9 contacts the sewing workpiece C and acquires the thickness of the sewing workpiece C based on the position where the presser foot 25 contacts the sewing workpiece C (S3). As shown in FIG. 2C, after acquiring the thickness of the sewing workpiece C, the controller 3 drives the presser motor 35 to dispose the presser foot 25 at a particular distance above the position where the presser foot 25 contacts the sewing workpiece C. The particular distance is set to a value of 1 to 4 mm, for example.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 10, the controller 3 acquires an image generated by an image output process (S4). As shown in FIG. 10, in the image output process, the controller 3 acquires the color of a guide pattern (S51). The color of the guideline is set by the user with reference to a screen G2 shown in FIG. 11. The screen G2 is displayed on the LCD 43 when the key image J2 is selected on the screen G1 in FIG. 9. The screen G2 includes a toggle switch image K1, fields K2, K3 and K4, and a sub-screen K5. The toggle switch image K1 instructs the user to set whether to include the guide pattern in the image. In FIG. 11, the switch is set to ON, which means that it is set that the guide pattern is included in the image. Note that, in FIG. 11, a label Guideline shown leftward of the toggle switch image K1 means guide pattern in this specification.

[0054] The field K2 is a field for selecting the type of the guide pattern to be included in the image. The controller 3 of this embodiment selects the type of the guide pattern from among six types of guide patterns as the guide pattern to be included in the image in addition to a first guideline and an icon described later. A first guide pattern includes a second guideline that extends in the short direction D1 and indicates the position of the detection region M in the longitudinal direction D2. The second guideline is a guideline passing through the needle position NP and the detection region M and extends in the short direction D1. A second guide pattern is grid lines at particular intervals. A third guide pattern is two guidelines that form a particular angle at the needle position NP. A fourth guide pattern includes a cross formed by a needle bar guideline and the second guideline crossing at the needle position NP as the intersection, and circles centered at the intersection of the cross. The needle bar guideline is a guideline extending in the longitudinal direction D2 through the needle position NP. A fifth guide pattern includes a cross formed by the needle bar guideline and the second guideline crossing at the needle position NP, and auxiliary guidelines located at particular distances from the cross. A sixth guide pattern is selected when no guide pattern is to be included in addition to the first guideline and the icon described later.

[0055] The sub-screen K5 includes a field K6 and a key image K7. The field K6 displays color candidates for the guide pattern. The color candidates of this embodiment include sixteen different colors. The key image K7 is selected when the user enters an instruction to close the sub-screen K5. After the user has selected a color from the candidates displayed in the field K6, the user selects the key image K7 to set the color of the guide pattern.

[0056] The controller 3 acquires a background color of the image (S52). The background color of the image is set by the user by using a screen G3 shown in FIG. 12. The screen G3 is displayed when the key image J1 is selected on the screen G1 shown in FIG. 9. The screen G3 includes a field L1 and the sub-screen K5 similar to that show in FIG. 11. The field L1 is a field for setting the background color of the image. The user selects the field L1 and selects a color from candidates displayed in the field K6. Then, the user selects the key image K7 to set the background color of the image. The background color of the image may be set to a color different from the color of the guide pattern acquired in S51.

[0057] The controller 3 acquires the type of the guide pattern (S53). The type of the guide pattern is set by the user by using the field K2 on the screen G2 shown in FIG. 11. The user selects a guide pattern from six candidates displayed in the field K2, and sets the type of the guide pattern.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 13, the controller 3 generates an image F1 in a background color based on the background color acquired in S52 (S54). In FIG. 13, the length of the image F1 in the left-right direction corresponds to the length in the longitudinal direction D2, and the length of the image F1 in the upper-lower direction corresponds to the length in the short direction D1. The controller 3 generates an image representing a rectangle corresponding to the projection region R filled with the background color. In the image F1, a dotted line represents a mask W, which indicates the range of the movement detector 9 in the image F1.

[0059] Based on the color of the guide pattern acquired in S51 and the type of the guide pattern acquired in S53, the controller 3 adds the type of the guide pattern acquired in S53 in the color acquired in S51 to the image generated in S54, which is a rectangle filled with the background color (S55). In a case where the type of the guide pattern is the fifth guide pattern, the controller 3 generates an image F2 shown in FIG. 13. The image F2 includes a second guideline N1, a needle bar guideline N2, and auxiliary guidelines N3, N4, N5 and N6. The second guideline N1 indicates the position of the detection region M in the longitudinal direction D2, and the detection region M is located on the second guideline N1. The auxiliary guideline N3 extends in the short direction D1 at a particular distance leftward of the second guideline N1. The auxiliary guideline N4 extends in the short direction D1 at a particular distance rightward of the second guideline N1. The second guideline N1 and the auxiliary guidelines N3 and N4 each extend from the front end to the rear end of the image F2. The auxiliary guideline N5 extends in the longitudinal direction D2 at a particular distance forward of the needle bar guideline N2. The auxiliary guideline N6 extends in the longitudinal direction D2 at a particular distance rearward of the needle bar guideline N2. The needle bar guideline N2 and the auxiliary guidelines N5 and N6 each extend from the left end to the right end of the image F2. The thickness of each of the second guideline N1, the needle bar guideline N2, and the auxiliary guidelines N3 to N6 is, for example, 2 mm. The particular distance is a value set by the field K4. In a case where the type of the guide pattern is the fourth guide pattern, the controller 3 generates an image F3 shown in FIG. 13. The image F3 includes the second guideline N1, the needle bar guideline N2, and a circle N7. The circle N7 is a circle with a diameter of a particular value and is centered at the needle position NP. The particular value is a value set by the field K4.

[0060] The controller 3 determines whether the movement detector 9 is connected (S56). In response to determining that the movement detector 9 is not connected (S56: NO), the controller 3 performs the processing of S64 described later. In response to determining that the movement detector 9 is connected (S56: YES), the controller 3 acquires the color and fill mode of the first guideline (S57). The first guideline is a guide pattern indicating the position of the detection region M in the short direction D1. In this embodiment, the first guideline is selected by the user from among a region guideline and a separated guideline. The region guideline extends in the longitudinal direction D2 at the location of the detection region M. The separated guideline extends in the longitudinal direction D2 at a particular distance U from the position of the detection region M and at a location separated from the detection region M in the forward feed direction F. The color of the first guideline is set from among 16 different colors by using a sub-screen similar to the sub-screen K5 shown in FIG. 11, which is displayed when the key image J3 is selected on the screen G1 shown in FIG. 9.

[0061] The fill mode is a mode in which the image includes a mask representing the shape of the housing 95 and the presser foot 25 of the movement detector 9. According to this embodiment, the fill mode is one of two types of fill mode: a mode in which the image includes a background color mask filled with the background color, and a mode in which the image includes a particular color mask filled with a particular color that is different from the background color. The particular color is, for example, black.

[0062] The controller 3 adds the first guideline and the icon of the color acquired in S57 to the image processed in S55 based on the color of the first guideline acquired in S57 (S58). When adding the region guideline as the first guideline and an icon to the image F2, the controller 3 generates an image F4. The image F4 includes a first guideline N8 and an icon N9 in addition to the second guideline N1, the needle bar guideline N2, and the auxiliary guidelines N3 to N6. The first guideline N8 extends in the longitudinal direction D2 at the position of the detection region M. In other words, the first guideline N8 represents the position of the detection region M in the short direction D1, and the detection region M is located on the first guideline N8. The thickness of the first guideline N8 is, for example, 5 mm, which is thicker than each of the second guideline N1, the needle bar guideline N2, and the auxiliary guideline N3. The first guideline N8 extends from the left end to the right end of the image F4. The icon N9 has a rectangular shape (specifically, a square shape), for example. The length of the icon N9 in the short direction D1 and the longitudinal direction D2 is, for example, 12 mm, which is longer than the thickness of the first guideline N8. The icon N9 is disposed between the first guideline N8 and the auxiliary guideline N6 in the short direction D1. The icon N9 is disposed leftward of the auxiliary guideline N3 in the longitudinal direction D2.

[0063] When adding the separated guideline as the first guideline and an icon to the image F2, the controller 3 generates an image F5. The image F5 includes a first guideline N10 and an icon N11 in addition to the second guideline N1, the needle bar guideline N2, and the auxiliary guidelines N3 to N6. The first guideline N10 extends in the longitudinal direction D2 at the particular distance U from the position of the detection region M and at a location separated from the detection region M in the forward feed direction F. The thickness of the first guideline N10 is, for example, 5 mm, which is thicker than the second guideline N1, the needle bar guideline N2, and the auxiliary guideline N3. The icon N11 has a rectangular shape (specifically, a square shape), for example. The length of the icon N11 in the short direction D1 and the longitudinal direction D2 is, for example, 12 mm, which is longer than the thickness of the first guideline N10. The icon N11 is disposed between the first guideline N10 and the auxiliary guideline N6 in the short direction D1. The icon N11 is disposed leftward of the auxiliary guideline N3 in the longitudinal direction D2.

[0064] Each of the first guidelines N8 and N10 and the icons N9 and N11 has a white outline (border) to increase visibility on the sewing workpiece C. The thickness of the first guideline N8 is thicker than the length of the detection region M in the short direction D1. For example, the thickness of the first guideline is more than twice the length of the detection region M in the short direction D1. By making the thickness of the first guidelines N8 and N10 thicker than the length of the detection region M in the short direction D1, the controller 3 increases the possibility that the detection region M is disposed on the first guideline N8 or N10 even when the projection position of the first guideline N8 or N10 is slightly deviated. More specifically, the accuracy of the position of the projected image is approximately (plus or minus) 1 mm when the projector 2 projects the image onto the sewing workpiece C. Since the thickness of the first guideline N8 is 2 mm or larger, it is guaranteed that the sewing workpiece C is within a range where the sensor 97 of the movement detector 9 detects the sewing workpiece C, provided that the entirety of the projected guideline N8 is on the sewing workpiece C. The projection mode of the icon N9 or N11 is set by the processing shown in FIG. 7, and may not be set by the processing shown in FIG. 10 or may be temporarily set by the processing shown in FIG. 10.

[0065] The controller 3 determines whether to fill the image based on the fill mode acquired in S57 (S59). In response to determining that the image is not to be filled (S59: NO), the controller 3 performs the processing of S64 described later. In response to determining that the image is to be filled (S59: YES), the controller 3 acquires a mask of the movement detector 9 (S60). The controller 3 determines whether the color used for filling is the background color (S61). In response to determining that the color of the mask to be added to the image F4 is the background color (S61: YES), the controller 3 generates an image F6 in which a background color mask W1 is added to the image F4 (S62). In response to determining that the color of the mask to be added to the image F5 is the background color (S61: YES), the controller 3 generates an image F8 in which the background color mask W1 is added to the image F5 (S62). In response to determining that the color of the mask to be added to the image F4 is not the background color (S61: NO), the controller 3 generates an image F7 in which a particular color mask W2 is added to the image F4 (S63). As in S62 and S63, the controller 3 adds the mask to the image containing the first guideline, the second guideline, and the auxiliary guidelines as the guide pattern, thereby generating the image containing the guide pattern projected in the range excluding the range in which the housing 95 of the movement detector 9 is disposed. Subsequent to S62 or S63, the controller 3 transfers the generated image to the projector 2 (S64). The controller 3 ends the image generation process.

[0066] The controller 3 controls the projector 2 to start a projection process of projecting an image toward the bed surface 10 (S5). More specifically, the controller 3 starts projecting the image acquired in S4 and including an icon in steady red based on the projection mode of the icon in a case where the stitch regulating function is ON and the sewing mode is not selected in the table 6 of FIG. 8. The color of the icon in S5 indicates that the operating state of the sewing machine 1 is such that driving of the needle bar 15 based on the movement of the sewing workpiece C cannot be performed. In this embodiment, since the projector 2 projects the image toward the bed surface 10 of the bed 11 from diagonally above the sewing workpiece C placed on the bed surface 10, the image is processed to correct distortion of the image.

[0067] The controller 3 projects the image in which the position of the guide pattern is changed based on the thickness of the sewing workpiece C acquired in S3. The projector 2 is located leftward of the needle bar 15. The greater the thickness of the sewing workpiece C, the closer the upper surface of the sewing workpiece C is to the lens of the projector 2. If the projector 2 projects the same image regardless of the thickness of the sewing workpiece C, the position of the upper surface of the sewing workpiece C in the image projected onto the sewing workpiece C is shifted leftward relative to the position of the upper surface of the sewing workpiece C in the image projected onto the sewing workpiece C when the sewing workpiece C has a small thickness. By correcting the position of the guide pattern in the image projected by the projector 2 according to the thickness of the sewing workpiece C, the position of the guide pattern in the image projected onto the upper surface of the sewing workpiece C is approximately constant regardless of the thickness of the sewing workpiece C. For example, in this embodiment, the controller 3 calculates the position of the guide pattern according to the thickness of the sewing workpiece C by using the thickness acquired in S3 by the following procedure. The controller 3 converts three-dimensional coordinates of the world coordinate system of a feature point into three-dimensional coordinates of a point in the projection coordinate system by using a translation vector for converting three-dimensional coordinates of the world coordinate system into three-dimensional coordinates of the projection coordinate system. The controller 3 transforms the three-dimensional coordinates of the projection coordinate system of the feature point into projection coordinates on a normalized image, taking into consideration distortion of the projection lens of the projector 2. A normalized projector is a projector where the distance from the optical center to the screen surface is a unit length. The controller 3 transforms the coordinates on the normalized image in the projection coordinate system into image coordinates by using internal variables of the projector 2. With the correction process described above, when projecting an image onto the sewing workpiece C having a large thickness, the controller 3 projects a larger image rightward than when projecting the same image on the sewing workpiece C having a smaller thickness. Accordingly, the position and size of the image projected onto the upper surface of the sewing workpiece C are roughly the same, regardless of the thickness of the sewing workpiece C. As shown in FIG. 14A, when the image F6 shown in FIG. 13 is acquired in S4, the controller 3 projects the image F6 including the icon N9 in steady red toward the bed surface 10.

[0068] The controller 3 determines whether the sewing mode has been selected on the screen G1 (S6). In response to determining that the sewing mode has not been selected (S6: NO), the controller 3 returns the processing to S6. In response to determining that any of the key images J4 to J6 has been selected (S6: YES), the controller 3 determines whether selection of the continuous mode has been detected. In response to determining that selection of the continuous mode has been detected (S7: YES), the controller 3 projects an image in which the icon in the image acquired in S4 is steady green, which is different from the color in S5, based on the projection mode of the icon in a case where the stitch regulating function is ON and the sewing mode is the continuous mode in the table 6 of FIG. 8 (S8). The color of the icon in S8 indicates that the operating state of the sewing machine 1 is such that driving of the needle bar 15 based on the movement of the sewing workpiece C is performable. As shown in FIG. 14B, when the image F6 shown in FIG. 13 is acquired in S4, the controller 3 projects the image F6 including the icon N9 in steady green toward the bed surface 10. The icon N9 shown in FIG. 14A and the icon N9 shown in FIG. 14B differ from each other in color, that is, the icons have the same shape and position.

[0069] The controller 3 determines whether a sewing start instruction has been acquired based on the detection result of the start-stop switch 45 (S9). When the user starts sewing by using the signal of the movement detector 9, the user presses the start-stop switch 45 to input the sewing start instruction. In response to determining that the sewing start instruction has not been acquired (S9: NO), the controller 3 returns the processing to S9.

[0070] In response to determining that the sewing start instruction has been acquired (S9: YES), the controller 3 starts a sewing control process of controlling the up-down reciprocating speed of the needle bar 15 based on the signal output from movement detector 9 in a case where the movement detector 9 is attached to the presser bar 16. The controller 3 continues the projection process of projecting the image by controlling the projector 2 while the sewing control process is being performed. Based on the settings stored in the table 6 of FIG. 8, in the continuous mode, the controller 3 projects the image in which the icon in the image acquired in S4 is steady green, regardless of the sewing state and the movement state. More specifically, the controller 3 determines whether the sewing workpiece C has moved based on the detection result of the movement detector 9 (S10). The user manually moves the sewing workpiece C while checking the position of the detection region M by the first guideline and the second guideline included in the image projected onto the upper surface of the sewing workpiece C. The movement detector 9 and the presser foot 25 are disposed above the upper surface of the sewing workpiece C placed on the bed surface 10, which allows the user to easily move the sewing workpiece C in a horizontal direction manually.

[0071] In response to determining that the sewing workpiece C has moved (S10: YES), the controller 3 drives the needle bar 15 at a moving-state speed that is the speed when the sewing workpiece C is moving (S11). In this embodiment, when sewing the first stitch from a state where the needle bar 15 is stopped, the controller 3 uses the signal output from the movement detector 9 to determine whether to move the needle bar 15 in the upper-lower direction, and does not use the signal to determine the moving-state speed. The controller 3 sets the speed of the needle bar 15 to a particular target speed. When sewing the second and subsequent stitches, the controller 3 uses the signal output from the movement detector 9 to determine the moving-state speed. More specifically, the controller 3 determines the moving-state speed such that the length of the stitches becomes an approximately constant target value. In response to determining that the sewing workpiece C has not moved (S10: NO), the controller 3 drives the needle bar 15 at a constant stopped-state speed (S12). The stopped-state speed is, for example, 70 rpm.

[0072] Subsequent to S11 or S12, the controller 3 determines whether an end instruction has been detected (S13). In response to determining that an end instruction has been detected (S13: YES), the controller 3 ends the main process. In response to determining that an end instruction has not been detected (S13: NO), the controller 3 determines whether a stop instruction has been detected (S14). In response to determining that a stop instruction has been detected (S14: YES), the controller 3 returns the processing to S8. In response to determining that a stop instruction has not been detected (S14: NO), the controller 3 returns the processing to S10.

[0073] In response to determining that the sewing mode is not the continuous mode (S7: NO), the controller 3 determines whether the sewing mode is the intermittent mode (S21).

[0074] In response to determining that the sewing mode is the intermittent mode (S21: YES), the controller 3 sets the target length of the stitches to a first length (S22). In response to determining that the sewing mode is not the intermittent mode (S21: NO), the controller 3 sets the target length of the stitches to a second length that is longer than the first length (S23). Subsequent to S22 or S23, similar to S8, the controller 3 projects an image in which the icon in the image acquired in S4 is steady green based on the projection mode of the icon in a case where the sewing regulating function is ON and the sewing mode is the intermittent mode or the basting stitch mode in the table 6 of FIG. 8 (S24). Before the sewing start instruction is acquired, the icon in steady green indicates that the sewing machine 1 is waiting for input of the sewing start instruction. The sewing state in the table 6 is waiting.

[0075] The controller 3 determines whether the sewing start instruction has been acquired (S25). In response to determining that the sewing start instruction has not been acquired (S25: NO), the controller 3 returns the processing to S25. In response to determining that the sewing start instruction has been acquired (S25: YES), the controller 3 determines whether the sewing workpiece C has moved based on the detection result of the movement detector 9 (S26). In response to determining that the sewing workpiece C has moved (S26: YES), the controller 3 drives the needle bar 15 at a speed corresponding to the movement amount of the sewing workpiece C, similar to S11 (S27). The controller 3 projects an image in which the icon in the image acquired in S4 is steady green (S28). After the sewing start instruction is acquired, the icon in steady green indicates that the needle bar 15 is reciprocating in the upper-lower direction based on the signal output from the movement detector 9.

[0076] In response to determining that the sewing workpiece C is not moving (S26: NO), the controller 3 stops driving the needle bar 15 (S29). The controller 3 projects an image in which the icon in the image acquired in S4 is blinking green (S30). After the sewing start instruction is acquired, the icon in blinking green indicates that the needle bar 15 is stopped based on the signal output from the movement detector 9. In this way, the controller 3 projects images including icons that are projected in different modes during a period in which movement of the sewing workpiece C is detected by the movement detector 9 and during a period in which movement of the sewing workpiece C is not detected by the movement detector 9.

[0077] Subsequent to S28 or S30, the controller 3 determines whether an end instruction has been detected (S31). To end the main process, the user operates the touch screen 44 to input an end instruction. In response to determining that the end instruction has been detected (S31: YES), the controller 3 stops driving the projector 2 (S43) and ends the main process. In response to determining that an end instruction has not been detected (S31: NO), the controller 3 determines whether a stop instruction has been detected (S32). To stop sewing, the user presses the start-stop switch 45 to input a stop instruction. In response to determining that the stop instruction has been detected (S32: YES), the controller 3 returns the processing to S24. In response to determining that a stop instruction has not been detected (S32: NO), the controller 3 returns the processing to S26. In the above main process, the color of the start-stop switch 45 may be changed according to the table 6 of FIG. 8.

[0078] First to fourth modifications described below may be added to the main process. In the first modification, the processing of S28 and S30 differs from the that in the embodiment described above, and other processes are the same as in the embodiment described above. In S26, in a case where the operating state of the sewing machine 1 is a first operating state, for example, when the movement of the sewing workpiece C is detected based on the signal output from the movement detector 9 (S26: YES) and when the needle bar 15 reciprocates in the upper-lower direction (S27), the controller 3 may project an image of a first mode including an icon in a first color (S28). In a case where the operating state of the sewing machine 1 is a second operating state different from the first operating state, for example, when the movement of the sewing workpiece C is not detected based on the signal output from the movement detector 9 (S26: NO) and when driving of the needle bar 15 is stopped (S29), the controller 3 may project an image of a second mode including an icon in a second color different from the first color (S30). The first color is, for example, green and the second color is, for example, red.

[0079] In the second modification, the shape of the icon included in the image projected in S5 differs from that in the embodiment described above, and other processes are the same as in the embodiment described above. As shown in FIG. 15, the controller 3 may project an image F10 containing an icon N13, which is different in shape from the icon N9 in S5. The icon N13 has a triangular shape. The icon N9 in the image F6 and the icon N13 in the image F10 differ from each other in shape, that is, the icons have the same color and position.

[0080] In the third modification, the timing at which the projection process starts differs from that in the embodiment described above. In FIG. 7, S5 may be omitted and the projection process may be started after the sewing start instruction is acquired (S9: YES; S25: YES). In other words, the controller 3 may perform the projection process when the sewing control process is being performed, and may not perform the projection process when the sewing control process is not being performed.

[0081] In the fourth modification, the image projected in the projection process differs from that in the embodiment described above. In FIG. 7, in S5, an image containing the icon N9 or N11 in the background color image F1 is projected and the sewing start instruction is acquired (S9: YES, S25: YES), and then the projection process may be started to project an image containing the first guideline N8 or N10, the second guideline N1, and the auxiliary guidelines N3 to N5. In other words, the controller 3 may perform the projection process including the guide pattern indicating the position of the detection region M when the sewing control process is being performed, and may not perform the projection process including the guide pattern indicating the position of the detection region M when the sewing control process is not being performed.

[0082] In the embodiment and the first to fourth modifications, the sewing machine 1 is an example of a sewing machine of the present disclosure. The projector 2 is an example of a projector of the present disclosure. The movement detector 9 is an example of a movement detector of the present disclosure. The bed surface 10 is an example of a bed surface of the present disclosure. The bed 11 is an example of a bed of the present disclosure. The needle bar 15 is an example of a needle bar of the present disclosure. The presser bar 16 is an example of a presser bar of the present disclosure. The presser foot 25 is an example of a presser foot of the present disclosure. The housing 95 is an example of a housing of the present disclosure. The sensor 97 is an example of a sensor of the present disclosure. The light emitting element 971 is an example of a light emitting element of the present disclosure. The light receiving element 972 is an example of a light receiving element of the present disclosure. The sewing workpiece C is an example of a sewing workpiece of the present disclosure. The short direction D1 is an example of a short direction of the present disclosure. The longitudinal direction D2 is an example of a longitudinal direction of the present disclosure. The forward feed direction F is an example of a forward feed direction of the present disclosure. The detection region M is an example of a detection region of the present disclosure. The projection region R is an example of a projection region of the present disclosure. The processing of S5, S8, S24, S28, S30, and S43 is an example of a projection process of the present disclosure. The processing of S11, S12, S28, and S30 is an example of a sewing control process of the present disclosure.

[0083] The sewing machine 1 according to the embodiment described above includes the bed 11 having the bed surface 10, the needle bar 15, the presser bar 16, the projector 2, and the controller 3. The presser bar 16 of the sewing machine 1 is configured that the movement detector 9 configured to output a signal in response to the movement amount of the sewing workpiece C is attachable. The movement detector 9 includes the housing 95 that is detachably attached to the presser bar 16 of the sewing machine 1, the sensor 97 configured to detect the movement amount of the sewing workpiece C in the detection region M, and the presser foot 25 configured to contact the sewing workpiece C. When the movement detector 9 is attached to the presser bar 16, the controller 3 performs the sewing control process (S11, S12, S28, S30) of controlling the up-down reciprocating speed of the needle bar 15 based on the signal output from the movement detector 9 and, while performing the sewing control process, performs the projection process (S5, S8, S24, S28, S30, S43) of controlling the projector 2 to project an image toward the bed surface 10. By projecting an image according to the movement detector 9 during the projection, the projection process of the sewing machine 1 contributes to improving user convenience when sewing is performed using the movement detector 9, compared with a case where such image is not projected.

[0084] In order to perform sewing by controlling the speed of the up-down reciprocating movement of the needle bar 15 based on the signal output from the movement detector 9, the user needs to move the sewing workpiece C within a range in which the sewing workpiece C is located in the detection region M of the movement detector 9. However, the sensor 97 of the movement detector 9 is located at a position not visible to the user, that is, the sensor 97 is on the lower surface 96 of the housing 95. Thus, in known sewing machines, the user moves the sewing workpiece C while imagining the position of the sensor 97 of the movement detector 9 while sewing. Further, when sewing an edge of the sewing workpiece C, the user may not be able to move the sewing workpiece C to within the range of the detection region M of the movement detector 9. According to this embodiment, the controller 3 of the sewing machine 1 projects an image including the first guideline N8 or the first guideline N10 as the guide pattern indicating the position of the detection region M in the projection process. If the sewing workpiece C is placed outside the detection region M of the movement detector 9 while sewing and adjusting the stitch length based on the detection result of the movement detector 9, the sewing machine 1 cannot adjust the stitch length properly. The projection process performed by the controller 3 of the sewing machine 1 contributes to reducing the possibility that the user unintentionally places the sewing workpiece C outside the detection region M by projecting an image that includes the detection region M, thereby increasing the possibility that the stitch length is adjusted based on the detection result of the movement detector 9.

[0085] In the projection process, the controller 3 projects an image including the first guideline N8 extending in the longitudinal direction D2 and indicating the position of the detection region M in the short direction D1 of the bed surface 10. The projection process performed by the controller 3 of the sewing machine 1 contributes to reducing the possibility that the user unintentionally places the edge of the sewing workpiece C in the short direction D1 outside of the detection region M and increasing the possibility that the stitch length is adjusted based on the detection result of the movement detector 9.

[0086] The controller 3 projects an image including the first guideline N8 extending in the longitudinal direction D2 and indicating the position of the detection region M in the short direction D1, and the second guideline N1 extending in the short direction D1 and indicating the position of the detection region M in the longitudinal direction D2 in the projection process. The projection process performed by the controller 3 of the sewing machine 1 contributes to reducing the possibility that the user unintentionally places the edge of the sewing workpiece C in the short direction D1 and the edge of sewing workpiece C in the longitudinal direction D2 outside of the detection region M, and increasing the possibility that the stitch length is adjusted based on the detection result of the movement detector 9.

[0087] When a direction from the needle bar 15 to the presser bar 16 along the short direction D1 is defined as the forward feed direction F, the controller 3 projects an image including the first guideline N10 extending in the longitudinal direction D2 at a position separated from detection region M in the forward feed direction F by the particular distance U in the projection process. The projection process performed by the controller 3 of the sewing machine 1 contributes to reducing the possibility that the user unintentionally places the edge of the sewing workpiece C in the short direction D1 outside of the detection region M, and increasing the possibility that the stitch length is adjusted based on the detection result of the movement detector 9.

[0088] When the direction from the needle bar 15 to the presser bar 16 along the short direction D1 is defined as the forward feed direction F, the controller 3 projects an image including the first guideline N10 extending in the longitudinal direction D2 at a position separated from the position of the detection region M by the particular distance U in the forward feed direction F, and the second guideline N1 extending in the short direction D1 and indicating the position of the detection region M in the longitudinal direction D2. The projection process performed by the controller 3 of the sewing machine 1 contributes to reducing the possibility that the user unintentionally places the edge of the sewing workpiece C in the short direction D1 and the edge of the sewing workpiece C in the longitudinal direction D2 outside of the detection region M, and increases the possibility that the stitch length is adjusted based on the detection result of the movement detector 9. In this way, the first guideline N10 is projected at the position separated from the detection region M by the particular distance U in the forward feed direction F. Thus, even when the edge of the sewing workpiece C is slightly moved farther forward (that is, in the reverse feed direction B) than the first guideline N10, the sewing workpiece C is still located at the detection region M. This further reduces the possibility that the user unintentionally places the sewing workpiece C outside of the detection region M, and makes it easier to handle the sewing workpiece C on the sewing machine 1.

[0089] In the projection process, the controller 3 projects an image including the icon indicating the operating state of the sewing machine 1. When sewing using the movement detector 9, the user of the sewing machine 1 generally looks below the needle bar 15, so the icon projected by the projection process is easily visible to the user. The projection process performed by the controller 3 of the sewing machine 1 contributes to informing the user of the operating state of the sewing machine 1 by means of an icon.

[0090] In the projection process, in a case where the operating state of the sewing machine 1 is the first operating state (S6: NO), the controller 3 of the embodiment described above projects an image including an icon in the first color (S5). In a case where the operating state of the sewing machine 1 is the second operating state, which is different from the first operating state (S6: YES), the controller 3 projects an image including an icon in the second color, which is different from the first color (S8, S24, S28, S29). In the projection process, in a case where the operating state of the sewing machine 1 is the first operating state (S26: YES), the controller 3 according to the first modification projects an image including an icon in the first color (S28), and in a case where the operating state of the sewing machine 1 is the second operating state, which is different from the first operating state (S26: NO), the controller 3 projects an image including an icon in the second color, which is different from the first color (S30). The projection process performed by the controller 3 of the sewing machine 1 contributes to notifying the user of the operating state of the sewing machine 1 by the color of the icon.

[0091] In the projection process, the controller 3 according to the second modification projects the image F6 including the first icon (S5) in a case where the operating state of the sewing machine 1 is the first operating state (S6: NO), and projects the image F10 including the second icon, which has a different shape from the first icon (S8, S24, S28, S29) in a case where the operating state of the sewing machine 1 is the second operating state, which is different from the first operating state (S6: YES). The projection process performed by the controller 3 of the sewing machine 1 contributes to notifying the user of the operating state of the sewing machine 1 by the shape of the icon.

[0092] In the projection process, the controller 3 projects an image including an icon that is projected in different modes between a period in which movement of the sewing workpiece C is being detected by the movement detector 9 and a period in which movement of the sewing workpiece C is not being detected by the movement detector 9 (S28, S30). The projection process performed by the controller 3 of the sewing machine 1 contributes to notifying the user of whether the movement of the sewing workpiece C is being detected by the movement detector 9 by the projection mode of the icon.

[0093] In the projection process, the controller 3 projects an image including the auxiliary guidelines N3 to N6, which are thinner than the thickness of the first guideline N8, for assisting in sewing. The projection process performed by the controller 3 of the sewing machine 1 contributes to making the first guideline N8 stand out compared with the auxiliary guidelines.

[0094] In the projection process, the controller 3 projects an image including the first guideline N8 that is thicker than the length of the detection region M in the short direction D1. The projection process performed by the controller 3 of the sewing machine 1 contributes to indicating the detection region M by means of the guideline, even in a case where the projected position of the guideline in the short direction D1 is slightly deviated.

[0095] The projector 2 is configured to project an image onto the bed surface 10 in the projection region R, which is the region surrounding the presser foot 25 of the movement detector 9 that is attached to the presser bar 16. In the projection process, the controller 3 projects an image including the guide pattern projected in a range excluding the range where the presser foot 25 attached to the movement detector 9 is located. The projection process performed by the controller 3 of the sewing machine 1 contributes to making the guide pattern more visible than a case where the guide pattern is projected in a range including the presser foot 25.

[0096] The projector 2 is configured to project an image onto the projection region R, which is the region surrounding the movement detector 9 attached to the presser bar 16. In the projection process, the controller 3 projects an image including the guide pattern projected in a range excluding the range where the housing 95 of the movement detector 9 is located. The projection process performed by the controller 3 of the sewing machine 1 contributes to making the guide pattern more visible than a case where the guide pattern is projected in a range including the movement detector 9.

[0097] In the projection process, the controller 3 projects an image including the first guideline N8 or the first guideline N10 as the guide pattern having a white outline. The projection process performed by the controller 3 of the sewing machine 1 contributes to making the guide pattern easily visible regardless of the color and pattern of the sewing workpiece C.

[0098] In the projection process, the controller 3 projects an image in which the position of the guide pattern is changed according to the thickness of the sewing workpiece C. The projection process performed by the controller 3 of the sewing machine 1 contributes to projecting the guide pattern at a position adapted to the thickness of the sewing workpiece C, compared with a case where the position of the guide pattern is the same regardless of the thickness of the sewing workpiece C.

[0099] The sensor 97 includes the light emitting element 971 that emits light and the light receiving element 972 that detects reflected light reflected by the sewing workpiece C in the detection region M. Since the light emitting element 971 and the light receiving element 972 are used to detect the movement of the sewing workpiece C in a non-contact manner, the movement detector 9 is unlikely to interfere with the movement of the sewing workpiece C for sewing.

[0100] The controller 3 according to the third modification performs the projection process when the sewing control process is being performed, and does not perform the projection process when the sewing control process is not being performed. The sewing machine 1 is energy efficient because the projection process is performed during a period in which a guide pattern is useful. The degradation of the projector 2 due to use is also reduced. The controller 3 according to the fourth modification performs the projection process of projecting an image including the guide pattern indicating the position of the detection region M when the sewing control process is being performed, and does not perform the projection process of projecting an image including the guide pattern indicating the position of the detection region M when the sewing control process is not being performed. Since the sewing machine 1 performs the projection process of projecting an image including the guide pattern indicating the position of the detection region M during a period in which the position of the guide pattern is to be checked, useful information is likely to be acquired from the projected guide pattern.

[0101] While the present disclosure has been described in conjunction with various example structures outlined above and illustrated in the figures, various alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents, whether known or that may be presently unforeseen, may become apparent to those having at least ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, the example embodiments of the disclosure, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative of the disclosure, and not limiting the disclosure. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure is intended to embrace all known or later developed alternatives, modifications, variations, improvements, and/or substantial equivalents. Some specific examples of potential alternatives, modifications, or variations in the described disclosure are provided below.

[0102] For example, the sewing machine 1 may be a sewing machine dedicated to sewing using the movement detector 9. In this case, the feed-amount adjustment motor 30, the feed mechanism 31, and the feed dog 32 may be omitted. The sewing machine 1 may include the movement detector 9, or the movement detector 9 may be omitted. The shape, arrangement, and configuration of the movement detector 9 may be changed as appropriate.

[0103] The type, arrangement, fixing position, fixing method, and projection region R of the projector 2 may be changed as appropriate. The projection region R may not include the needle position NP, may not include the range of the presser foot 25, or may not include the entire range of the movement detector 9. The projector 2 may be disposed forward of or rightward of the needle bar 15. The projection region R may have a shape other than a rectangular shape, such as a square shape, or may have a rectangular shape in which a side extending in the longitudinal direction D2 is a long side.

[0104] The program including the instructions for performing the main process of FIG. 7 and the image output process of FIG. 10 may be stored in a memory of the corresponding apparatus by the time the controller 3 executes the program. Thus, the method of acquiring the program, the acquisition path, and the device that stores the program may be changed as appropriate. The program executed by the controller 3 may be received from another apparatus via a cable or wireless communication and stored in the memory. The other apparatuses include, for example, a PC and a server connected via a network.

[0105] The steps of the main process and the image output process are not limited to the example of being performed by the controller 3, and some or all of the steps may be performed by another electronic device (for example, an ASIC). The steps of the main process and the image output process may be processed in a distributed manner by a plurality of electronic devices (for example, a plurality of CPUs). The order of the steps of the main process and the image output process may be changed, and steps may be omitted or added as necessary. The following changes may be made to the main process and the image output process as appropriate.

[0106] The image is not limited to an image generated by the sewing machine 1, and may be an image that is partially or entirely generated by another apparatus such as a personal computer or a smartphone and acquired by the sewing machine 1. In the image, at least the first guideline, the second guideline, the auxiliary guideline, or the icon may be omitted, and the shape, size, and arrangement of each guide pattern may be changed as appropriate. The image may include one of the first guideline, the second guideline, the auxiliary guideline, and the icon. The guide pattern indicating the position of the detection region M may be changed as appropriate, and may be a guide pattern such as an arrow indicating the position of the detection region M.

[0107] At least the color, the shape, the projection mode, the arrangement, or the size of the icon may be changed in accordance with the operation state of the sewing machine 1. At least the color, the shape, the projection mode, or the size of at least the first guideline, the second guideline, the auxiliary guideline, or the mask may be changed in accordance with the operating state of the sewing machine 1. The thickness, length, or extending direction of at least the first guideline, the second guideline, or the auxiliary guideline may be changed as appropriate, or may be set by the user. The icon may be displayed in the same mode regardless of the operating state of the sewing machine 1. The operating state of the sewing machine 1 may be defined as appropriate. For example, the operating state may be defined according to the set sewing mode, and a state where the continuous mode is set may be defined as a first operating state, and a state where the intermittent mode is set may be defined as a second operating state. The icon may be projected in the same mode in a period in which the movement of the sewing workpiece Cis being detected by the movement detector 9 and a period in which the movement of the sewing workpiece C is not being detected by the movement detector 9. A part or all of the projection modes of the icon may not correspond to the lighting modes of the start-stop switch 45.

[0108] The method of generating the image may be changed as appropriate. The controller 3 may omit the processing corresponding to the fill mode from S59 to S63. In this case, the controller 3 may project a guide pattern in a range excluding the range in which at least the housing 95 of the movement detector 9 or the presser foot 25 is located by disposing the guide pattern in a region leftward of the movement detector 9. At least the background color, the guideline type, or the guideline color may be unchangeable or may be automatically selected according to the color of the sewing workpiece C. The thickness of the first guideline may be less than or equal to the thickness of the auxiliary guideline or the length of the detection region M in the short direction D1. The method of setting the guide pattern included in the image may be changed as appropriate. The controller 3 may project an image including a guide pattern indicating the position of the detection region M and stored in the memory 64. The timing at which the projection process is started may be changed as appropriate. The projection process may be started before the sewing control process is performed, or may be started after the sewing control process is started and before the sewing control process is ended.

[0109] The above modifications may be combined as appropriate as long as no contradiction occurs. The applicant of the present application has an intention to acquire patent rights for aspects combined with each other within a range not departing from the scope of the present disclosure and not causing contradiction, in addition to the combinations exemplified in the claims.