Computer controlled pattern stitching machine

Claim 1

A pattern stitching machine, comprising: drive means (32) including cloth feeding devices driven by electric motors (42, 44); control means (28) including a memory device (62) for storing data for controlling the driving of said electric motors, and a microcomputer (58) for controlling the operation of said drive means and said cloth feeding devices; and input means (30) for supplying control instructions to said control means, said control means operating to enlarge or contract a pattern to be stitched in response to control instructions from said input means and to read said drive control data out of said memory device sequentially to control the drive of said electric motors, wherein said drive means includes an X-axis cloth feeding pulse drive motor (42), a Y-axis cloth feeding pulse drive motor (44), and a sewing machine drive motor (50), and wherein said drive means further comprises an X-axis cloth feeding device (52) having said X-axis drive motor coupled thereto through a coupling (64) to a first timing belt (66), an X-axis rail member (70) on which a cloth holding device (68) is disposed for movement in the X direction, said X-axis rail member comprising X-axis stationary rails (72) mounted on a machine bed, and a first moving plate (74) which is mounted through bearings on said stationary rails and which is secured to said first timing belt to move therewith in the X direction, and a Y-axis cloth feeding device (53) having said Y-axis drive motor (44) disposed orthogonal to said X-axis drive motor and fixedly secured to a machine arm coupled to said Y-axis feeding device through a coupling (76) to a second timing belt (78), a bearing (82) being provided at the end of a shaft (80) secured to the second timing belt to move therewith in the Y direction, said cloth holding device being secured to the end of said bearing, a Y-axis rail member (84) mounted on said X-axis rail member orthogonal thereto, said Y-axis rail member having Y-axis stationary rails (86) secured orthogonal to said moving plate of said X-axis rail member, and a second moving plate (88) mounted on said Y-axis stationary rails through bearings, said cloth holding device being secured on said second moving plate of said Y-axis rail member and comprising said bearing, a cloth retaining arm (90) secured to said second moving plate, a cloth retainer (92) provided at the end of said cloth retaining arm, and a cloth retaining lower plate (94) provided below said cloth retainer.