Sequin feeder apparatus and sewing machine capable of sewing sequins

Abstract

Sequin feeder apparatus includes at least two sequin feed units each including a sequin feed mechanism for feeding a continuous sequin strip toward a predetermined cutting position and a sequin-cutting cutter section located in the predetermined cutting position. One of the sequin feed units is selected and positioned in a predetermined sewing operation position, and driving force of a feeding drive mechanism is transmitted to the sequin feed mechanism to feed out a sequin. Respective cutting positions of the cutter sections of the feed units are adjustable independently of each other.

1 . A sequin feeder apparatus comprising:
 at least two sequin feed units each including a sequin feed mechanism for feeding a continuous sequin strip toward a predetermined cutting position and a sequin-cutting cutter section located in the predetermined cutting position;   a sequin selection mechanism for selecting one of said at least two sequin feed units and positioning the selected one sequin feed unit in a predetermined sewing operation position; and   a drive mechanism for engaging with said sequin feed mechanism of said one sequin feed unit, positioned in the predetermined sewing operation position, and thereby driving, in response to a sewing operation, the engaged sequin feed mechanism to feed the continuous sequin strip toward the predetermined cutting position,   wherein the predetermined cutting position in each of said sequin feed units is adjustable independently of the predetermined cutting position in other of said sequin feed units, and   said cutter section is driven, in response to the sewing operation, to cut a sequin off from the continuous sequin strip having been fed to the predetermined cutting position.   
   
   
       2 . A sequin feeder apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each of said sequin feed units includes an adjustment mechanism for adjusting a position, relative to a position of a sewing needle, of said cutter section of the sequin feed unit independently of the other of said sequin feed units. 
   
   
       3 . A sequin feeder apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said adjustment mechanism of each of said sequin feed units adjusts the cutting position, where said cutter section cuts the sequin off from the sequin strip, by linearly displacing a whole of the sequin feed unit. 
   
   
       4 . A sequin feeder apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein each of said sequin feed units includes a support plate for supporting thereon the continuous sequin strip to be fed toward the cutting position, and said cutter section of the sequin feed unit is provided at a distal end of said support plate, and
 said adjustment mechanism of each of said sequin feed units adjusts the cutting position, where said cutter section cuts the sequin off from the sequin strip, by linearly displacing said support plate of the sequin feed unit.   
   
   
       5 . A sequin feeder apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein said adjustment mechanism of each of said sequin feed units includes a mechanism for linearly displacing the whole of said sequin feed unit. 
   
   
       6 . A sequin feeder apparatus as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said mechanism for linearly displacing the whole of the sequin feed unit includes a mechanism for converting rotation of an adjustment screw into linear displacement of the sequin feed unit. 
   
   
       7 . A sequin feeder apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said cutter section of each of said sequin feed units includes a fixed cutter blade and movable cutter blade that operate independently of the fixed cutter blade and movable cutter blade of the other sequin feed unit. 
   
   
       8 . A sequin feeder apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said sequin feed mechanism of each of said sequin feed units is capable of setting a sequin feed amount independently of the sequin feed mechanism of the other sequin feed unit. 
   
   
       9 . A sequin feeder apparatus as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said drive mechanism drives said sequin feed mechanism of the one sequin feed unit, currently positioned in the predetermined sewing operation position, with a drive amount corresponding to the sequin feed amount set by said sequin feed mechanism of the one sequin feed unit. 
   
   
       10 . A sequin feeder apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said at least two sequin feed units are disposed side by side in such a manner that said sequin feed units are slidable together, and
 said sequin selection mechanism positions one of said at least two sequin feed units in the predetermined sewing operation position by sliding said at least two sequin feed units together.   
   
   
       11 . A sequin feeder apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said drive mechanism includes:
 an engagement portion for engaging with said sequin feed mechanism of the one sequin feed unit positioned in the predetermined sewing operation position;   a motor drivable in interlocked relation to the sewing operation; and   a link mechanism for transmitting motion of said motor to said engagement portion, and   wherein said sequin feed mechanism of the one sequin feed unit positioned in the predetermined sewing operation position is caused to operate, in response to the motion of said motor and via said link mechanism and said engagement portion, to thereby feed the continuous sequin strip toward the predetermined cutting position.   
   
   
       12 . A sequin feeder apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said cutter section of the one sequin feed unit positioned in the predetermined sewing operation position is driven, in response to movement of a needle bar during the sewing operation, to thereby cut a sequin off from the continuous sequin strip. 
   
   
       13 . A sequin feeder apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  which further comprises a detection device for detecting whether or not a supply of the continuous sequin strip from a sequin strip supply source to any of said sequin feed units has run out. 
   
   
       14 . A sequin feeder apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each of said sequin feed units is detachably attached to a base section of said sequin selection mechanism. 
   
   
       15 . A sewing machine comprising the sequin feeder apparatus, recited in  claim 1 , in association with a sewing head. 
   
   
       16 . A sewing machine as claimed in  claim 15  wherein different continuous sequin strips of at least two types are supplied from the sequin strip supply sources to the at least two sequin feed units, and
 which further comprises a control device that, on the basis of sewing pattern data of a desired sequin pattern that uses at least two types of sequins in combination, controls the sequin selection mechanism to select any one of said at least two sequin feed units at a particular sewing position where the sequin to be used is to be changed from one type to another, said control device then performing control such that sequin sewing is performed using the selected sequin feed unit.   
   
   
       17 . A sewing machine as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the desired sequin pattern comprises a pattern to be made by alternately selecting and sewing the at least two types of sequins. 
   
   
       18 . A sewing machine as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the desired sequin pattern comprises a pattern to be made by alternately selecting and sewing the at least two types of sequins in overlapped relation to each other. 
   
   
       19 . A sequin feeder apparatus comprising:
 a sequin feed unit including a sequin feed mechanism for feeding a continuous sequin strip toward a predetermined cutting position and a sequin-cutting cutter section located in the predetermined cutting position;   a drive mechanism for driving, in response to a sewing operation, the sequin feed mechanism to feed the continuous sequin strip toward the predetermined cutting position, the cutter section being driven, in response to the sewing operation, to cut a sequin off from the continuous sequin strip having been fed to the predetermined cutting position;   a displacement member provided between a sequin strip supply source and the sequin feed unit and displaceable between a first position and a second position, said first position being where said displacement member is held stationary in abutting contact with the continuous sequin strip supplied from the sequin strip supply source to the sequin feed unit, said second position being where, due to absence of the continuous sequin strip, said displacement member is located past said first position without abutting against the continuous sequin strip; and   a detection device for detecting that said displacement member has shifted from said first position to said second position,   wherein that a supply of the continuous sequin strip has run out is detected on the basis of an output of said detection device.