Abstract:
An embroidery module ( 1 ) is provided that is attached (docked) to the base plate ( 29 ) of a sewing machine ( 27 ) and supplied with power and control commands from the machine electronics. A free space ( 33 ), which permits the insertion of tubular work pieces around the free arm ( 31 ), is created between the embroidery module ( 1 ) and a front end of the free arm ( 31 ). The embroidery module ( 1 ), with or without an embroidery hoop support ( 13 ), can remain docked for all sewing, embroidery, and quilting work on the sewing machine ( 27 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND 
   The subject matter of the invention is an embroidery module for a free-arm sewing machine. 
   Free-arm sewing machines for home use have a relatively small work surface, in order also to be able to process tubular work pieces, such as sleeves, etc. For better support of larger work pieces, so-called slide-on extension tables, which have a U-shaped configuration and which enclose the free arm on three sides, are frequently supplied with the sewing machine. This significantly larger work and support surface, however, prevents the sewing or embroidering of tubular sewing material. 
   The work surface can also be expanded for large work pieces by docking an embroidery module, which is used for driving and supporting an embroidery hoop. Here, it is disadvantageous that after the work is performed, the slide-on extension table or the embroidery module must be removed again, in order to be able to perform different work on the sewing machine. 
   SUMMARY 
   One objective of the present invention is to create an embroidery module, which can be used both for its main purpose, namely the driving and guiding of an embroidery hoop, but also continuously as an enlarged work surface, without having to limit the possibilities of the free-arm sewing or free-arm embroidery for tubular work pieces when the embroidery module is docked. 
   This objective is met by the present invention. 
   This objective is achieved without issue in various respects by the configuration of the embroidery module according to the invention. Here, not only is the use of the embroidery module as an expanded work surface advantageous thanks to the embroidery hoop support that can be completely removed from the embroidery module, but also an embroidery hoop support for larger embroidery hoops, which is consequently long due to the large edge length of such embroidery hoops, can be stored separately from the embroidery module. For most sewing work, the embroidery module can always remain coupled to the sewing machine without the embroidery hoop support or it is advantageous to keep this module docked to the machine. For individual applications, in which the properties of the free arm are required, the embroidery module can also remain docked. 
   On the other hand, the latter construction can be removed from the machine when only tubular work pieces are to be processed for a long time, in contrast to embroidery hoop drives connected permanently to the machine. The mounting of the embroidery hoop support in guides, which are located at the sides of the embroidery module, prevents dust or sewing instruments, e.g., needles or cut threads, from reaching into the guide rails. In addition, the slot-free surface of the embroidery module forms a closed material support that does not interfere with the movement of the material when sewing or embroidering. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is explained in more detail with reference to an illustrated embodiment. Shown are: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embroidery module with the embroidery hoop support removed; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective bottom view of an embroidery module with the embroidery hoop support removed; 
       FIG. 3   a  is a perspective view of a sewing machine with docked embroidery module; 
       FIG. 3   b  is a side view of the sewing machine with docked embroidery module; 
       FIG. 3   c  is a top view of a sewing machine with docked embroidery module; 
       FIG. 4   a  is a perspective view of the sewing machine with docked embroidery module and coupled slide-on extension table; 
       FIG. 4   b  is a side view of the sewing machine with coupled slide-on extension table; 
       FIG. 4   c  is a top view of a sewing machine with coupled slide-on extension table; 
       FIG. 5   a  is a perspective view of the sewing machine and the embroidery module with coupled embroidery hoop support, as well as the embroidery hoop and the slide-on extension table; 
       FIG. 5   b  is a side view of the sewing machine and the embroidery module with coupled embroidery hoop support, as well as embroidery hoop with slide-on extension table; 
       FIG. 5   c  is a top view of a sewing machine and the embroidery module with coupled embroidery hoop support, as well as embroidery hoop with slide-on extension table; 
       FIG. 6   a  is a perspective view of the sewing machine, the embroidery module, and coupled embroidery hoop support without slide-on extension table; 
       FIG. 6   b  is a side view of the sewing machine, the embroidery module, and coupled embroidery hoop support without slide-on extension table; and 
       FIG. 6   c  is a top view of a sewing machine and the embroidery module with coupled embroidery hoop support without slide-on extension table. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The embroidery module  1  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  includes a main body  3  with an essentially rectangular outline. A recess  5 , which can be open at the bottom or can have an approximately v-shaped or cylindrical shell-shaped base  7 , as in the shown configuration, is visible on one of the two narrow sides. Underneath the base  7 , a base plate  9  extending over the entire main body  3  can be attached. In the two longer side surfaces  8 ,  10  of the embroidery module  1 , slots  11  extending on the side of the narrow-side recess  5  up to or only approximately up to the end of the embroidery module  1  are formed parallel to its upper surface. In contrast, on the opposite narrow side, they are open. Within the embroidery module  1  are drives, such as toothed belts, round belts, metal bands, cords, or shafts, which can transport an embroidery hoop support  13  guided in the X-direction exactly parallel through the use of suitable couplings. The drives for the embroidery hoop support  13 , which are not shown in the figures, because they are not visible, are driven by at least one first electric motor inserted within the embroidery module  1 . The embroidery hoop support  13  is connected to a transport device located behind the slots  11  by brackets  15  (cf.  FIG. 2 ), which engage through the slots  11  into the not-described and not-visible couplings. The brackets  15  are dimensioned so that an intermediate space exists between the elongated housing  17  of the embroidery hoop support  13  and the work surface  19  on the embroidery module  1 . That is, the embroidery hoop support  13  or the embroidery hoop  25  does not contact the surface of the embroidery module  1 . 
   In the housing  17  of the embroidery hoop support  13 , a second drive motor for an embroidery hoop adapter  21  is provided, which is mounted so that it can move in the Y-direction in the embroidery hoop support  13 , in the cylindrical section  20  in the center in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The embroidery hoop adapter  21  can have, for example, bores  23 , in which an embroidery hoop  25  can be fixed (cf.  FIGS. 5 and 6 ). 
   Below, the embroidery module  1  is described in more detail in combination with a household sewing machine  27 , i.e., docked to such a machine. 
   In  FIGS. 3   a  to  3   c , it can be seen that the embroidery module  1  is fixed at the end along the edge Q to the end surface of the base plate  29  of the sewing machine  27  and that the free arm  31  projects only by a small amount a into the recess  5  on the embroidery module  1 . The other area of the recess  5  in the embroidery module  1  is not filled by a part of the sewing machine  27 , but instead is used as a free space  33  for inserting, e.g., tubular sewing material over the free arm  31 . In the arrangement described now ( FIGS. 3   a - c  and  4   a - c ), the embroidery module  1  is used solely as an enlarged work surface, i.e., as a sewing-material support especially when sewing large surface area work pieces. To further expand the sewing-material support, a slide-on extension table  35  can be attached, which can also be docked to the free arm  31  of the sewing machine without an embroidery module  1 . Therefore, on one hand the free space  33  formed by the recess  5  is closed at the top and on the other hand the contact surface on the sewing machine is further expanded (cf.  FIGS. 4   a  to  4   c ) in front of and behind the free arm  31  (viewed in the direction of sewing). In this arrangement, it is obvious that the processing of tubular work pieces is not possible. For this purpose, as shown in  FIGS. 3   a  to  3   c , the slide-on extension table  35  must be removed. So that the slide-on extension table  35  forms a plane with the surface of the free arm  31  when the embroidery module is docked, the surface of the embroidery module  1  lies at the height h 2 , i.e., offset by the thickness d of the slide-on extension table ( 35 ), deeper than the surface of the free arm  31 , which lies at the height h 1  (h 1 −h 2 =d). This difference in height between the surface of the free arm  31  and that of the embroidery module  1  does not interfere with sewing or embroidering without the slide-on extension table  35 . In contrast, these steps optimize the accessibility of the free space  33  between the embroidery module  1  and the free space  31 . 
   In  FIGS. 5   a - 5   c  and to  6   a - 6   c , the embroidery hoop support  13  is placed on the embroidery module  1 . This is supported by the two brackets  15 , which engage in the side slots  11  on the foundation  3  of the embroidery module  1 . The embroidery hoop  25  is fixed on the embroidery hoop support  13 , with which sewing material  37  held in tension on the hoop is mounted so that it can move via a computer-assisted program under the needle (not shown) of the sewing machine  27  in the x-direction and the y-direction. The embroidery hoop  25  here lies on the slide-on extension table  35 , as is shown in  FIGS. 4   a  to  4   c.    
   In the representation according to  FIGS. 6   a  to  6   c , the embroidery hoop  25  lies directly on the surface of the free arm  31 . That is, the free space  33 , formed by the recess  5 , is not closed at the top and the free arm  31  itself is free at the side. Consequently, tubular work pieces or also hemispherical work pieces, such as caps, can also be tensioned in the embroidery hoop  25 . The non-tensioned part of this sewing material can move without interference around the free arm  31  during the sewing or embroidering. 
   In the four embodiments of the embroidery module  1  according to the invention, the module does not have to be removed from the sewing machine  27 . Consequently, all of the work performed on a sewing machine  27  can also be performed when the embroidery module  1  remains docked. A lot of sewing work, in which the embroidery module  1  is not needed, can benefit from this module, however, when it is docked for sewing, quilting, or embroidery. The embroidery hoop support  13 , which is not needed for work without the embroidery hoop  25 , can be removed easily from the embroidery module  1  without a tool and placed to the side. 
   LEGEND 
   
       
         1  Embroidery module 
         3  Main Body of  1   
         5  Recess 
         7  Base of  5   
         8  Side surface 
         9  Base plate 
         10  Side surface 
         11  Slot 
         13  Embroidery hoop support 
         15  Brackets 
         17  Housing 
         19  Work surface on the embroidery module 
         20  Cylindrical section 
         21  Embroidery hoop adapter 
         23  Bores 
         25  Embroidery hoop 
         27  Sewing machine 
         29  Base plate of  27   
         31  Free arm 
         33  Free space 
         35  Slide-on extension table 
         37  Sewing material