Apparatus and method for cutting sewn material in sewing machine

A cutting apparatus has a main body with a hook section, a fixed blade fixed to a predetermined position of the main body, a cutting blade that cuts a sewing material by moving toward the fixed blade, and a drive device that moves the main body between a predetermined retracted position that does not interfere with the sewing operation and a predetermined cutting position for cutting the sewing material. During sewing of the sewing material, the main body is held at the retracted position. To cut the sewing material, the drive device moves the main body from the retracted position to the cutting position, where the hook section hooks the sewing material, and the cutting blade moves toward the fixed blade in response to driving operation of the drive device. The cutting apparatus is disposed a predetermined distance away from the sewing position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to sewing machines of a type which sews an elongated sewn material, such as a tape or cord, to an object of sewing (typically, fabric) through lock stitching. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for cutting an elongated sewn material, for example, at the end of sewing.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, there have been known sewing machines of a type which includes a vertically driven needle bar, a sewing needle fixed to a lower end portion of the needle bar, a rotary member mounted concentrically with the needle bar and freely rotatable about the axis, and a guide fixed to the rotary member, for guiding an elongated sewn material (e.g., string-shaped embroidering member, such as a tape or cord) to a sewing position of the sewing needle. The sewing machines of the type operate to sew the string material to a fabric through lock stitching, by the rotation of the rotary member being appropriately controlled in accordance with a moving direction of a fabric based on embroidery data and by the orientation of the guide being appropriately varied to optimize the direction in which the string material is guided to the sewing position of the sewing needle. One example of such sewing machines is known from Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication (Kokai) No. H04-163361. The No. H04-163361 publication discloses a cutting apparatus which cuts a string material in a sewing machine of the above-mentioned type. Brief description will now be given of the cutting apparatus disclosed in the No. H04-163361 publication. This cutting apparatus is comprised of a support member which is moved to a retracted position which does not interfere with sewing operation and an advanced position near the sewing position of the sewing needle, and a hook member which is provided on the support member and movable forward and backward so as to hook the string material thereon. The support member always lies at the retracted position during sewing, and when it is necessary to cut the string material having been used for sewing, for example, at the end of sewing, the support member can be moved to the advanced position. When the support member lies at the advanced position, the hook member is moved forward and backward to hook thereon the string material at the sewing position and draw the string material to the support member, and then the string material is cut. In this case, an upper thread as well as the string material is cut at the same time.

In the conventionally-known cutting apparatuses like the one as disclosed in the No. H04-163361 publication, a drive source for moving the support member to the retracted position and the advanced position, and a drive source for moving the hook member forward and backward are separately provided as individual dedicated drive sources. However, there has been the problem that, since such a cutting apparatus driven by a plurality of drive sources is expensive and large in size, the sewing machine is also expensive and making the sewing machine compact is difficult. There have also been known cutting apparatuses of a type which is provided with the third drive source for driving a cutting blade which actually cuts a string material, but the cutting apparatuses of this type would suffer from the inconveniences that the cost and size are further increased.

Further, in sewing a string material (elongated sewn material), it is necessary to pull a certain amount of the string material out of the guide and to leave a certain amount of the upper thread at a tip of the sewing needle so that the string material can be reliably sewn onto a fabric at the beginning of sewing. However, in the conventionally-known cutting apparatuses like the one disclosed in the No. H04-163361 publication, after the support member is moved from the retracted position to the advanced position near the sewing position of the sewing needle, the string material at the sewing position as well as the upper thread is drawn to the support member and then cut. Thus, after the string material and the upper thread are cut, only a slight amount of the string material is out of the guide, and only a slight amount of the upper thread remains at the tip of the sewing needle. In such a case, in performing sewing again after cutting the string material and the upper thread, it is necessary to pull out the slight amount of the string material out of the guide and the slight amount of the upper thread remaining at the tip of the sewing needle need by certain amounts. Particularly in multi-head sewing machines of a type which is provided with a plurality of machine heads, the string material and the upper thread must be pulled out in each machine head, which is very troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cutting apparatus which can be caused to move from a retracted position to a cutting position and caused to hook a string material (elongated sewn material) by a single drive source.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cutting apparatus whose cutting blade is driven by the drive source which drives the cutting apparatus from the retracted position to the cutting position.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cutting apparatus and method which can pull a greater amount of string material (elongated sewn material) out of a guide unit after the string material is cut, as compared with the conventional art.

The present invention provides a cutting apparatus for cutting an elongated sewn material when sewing of the sewn material is completed in a sewing machine including a guide unit that guides the sewn material to a sewing position of a sewing needle, the sewing machine sewing the guided sewn material onto an object of sewing, the cutting apparatus comprising. The cutting apparatus is comprised of: a main body including a hook section for hooking thereon the sewn material; a fixed blade fixed to a predetermined position of the main body; a cutting blade that cuts the sewn material by moving toward the fixed blade; and a drive device that moves the main body between a predetermined retracted position that does not interfere with sewing operation and a predetermined cutting position for cutting the sewn material. In sewing the sewn material, the main body is held at the retracted position, and in cutting the sewn material, the main body is caused to move from the retracted position to the cutting position by the drive device. The hook section is provided in the main body and at such a location as to hook thereon the sewn material as the main body moves to the cutting position. The cutting blade cuts the sewn material in a state in which the hook section hooks thereon the sewn material.

With this arrangement, the same drive device can drive the main body to move from the retracted position to the cutting position and cause the sewn material to be hooked on the hook section. Thus, the cutting apparatus has to be provided with only one drive source, and therefore, the cutting apparatus can be reduced in cost and size.

Preferably, the cutting blade is configured to move in response to movement of the main body and to move toward the fixed blade in cutting the sewn material. Also preferably, in cutting the sewn material, the cutting blade moves toward the fixed blade by being driven by the drive device.

Still preferably, the cutting apparatus is further comprised of: a connecting mechanism that connects the drive device and the cutting blade to each other; a first regulating member that regulates movement of the main body, having moved toward the cutting position by being driven by the drive device, at a first predetermined position so as to define the cutting position; and a second regulating member that regulates movement of the connecting mechanism having been moved in response to driving operation of the drive device, wherein the second predetermined position is a position which the connecting mechanism reaches when the drive device is driven after the movement of the main body is regulated at the first predetermined position, and after the movement of the main body is regulated at the first predetermined position and before movement of the connecting mechanism is regulated at the second predetermined position, the cutting blade is caused to move toward the fixed blade of the main body by being further driven by the drive device and cut the sewn material.

With this arrangement, the single drive source can drive the main body to move from the retracted position to the cutting position, cause the sewn material to be hooked on the hook section, and drive the cutting blade to move in response to driving operation of the drive device. Thus, the cutting apparatus can be further reduced in cost and size.

In a preferred form of the present invention, the cutting apparatus is disposed a predetermined distance away from the sewing position of the sewing needle. In this case, control is performed such that, when sewing of the sewn material is completed, the object of sewing onto which the sewn material has been sewn is moved the predetermined distance toward the location at which the cutting apparatus is disposed, and thereafter, the drive device is driven to cause the main body to move to the cutting position and cut the sewn material.

By thus moving the object of sewing (fabric) with the sewn material sewn thereon to the position which is the predetermined distance away from the sewing position of the sewing needle, an excess amount of the sewn material can be pulled out of the guide unit. It is therefore possible to pull a sufficient amount of the sewn material out of the guide unit even after the sewing material is cut.

Further, the present invention provides a cutting method for cutting an elongated sewn material when sewing of the sewn material is completed in a sewing machine including a guide unit that guides the sewn material to a sewing position of a sewing needle, the sewing machine sewing the guided sewn material onto an object of sewing. The cutting method is comprised of the steps of disposing a cutting apparatus for cutting the sewn material a predetermined distance away from a sewing position of the sewing needle; when sewing of the sewn material is completed, moving an object of sewing onto which the sewn material has been sewn the predetermined distance toward the position at which the cutting apparatus is disposed; and causing the cutting apparatus to cut the sewn material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing a preferred embodiment thereof.

FIG. 1is a front view showing an external appearance of part of an embroidering sewing machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2is a left side view of the embroidering sewing machine taken from a left side of the machine shown inFIG. 1. Construction of the embroidering sewing machine will be described below with primary reference toFIGS. 1 to 2. Whereas a plurality of machine heads H are disposed at predetermined intervals on a front surface (i.e., a surface closer to a reader ofFIG. 1and a right side surface inFIG. 2) of a machine frame M of the actual embroidering sewing machine, only one of the machine heads H is shown in the figures to facilitate understanding of the following description.

In addition to such machine heads H, a support member1is fixed, via bolts or the like, to a predetermined position of the front surface of the machine frame M. As seen mainly fromFIG. 2, opposite end portions of the support member1which are fixed to the front surface of the machine frame M are formed into a shape having an arm section extending in a horizontal direction toward the front surface of the embroidering sewing machine (right side as viewed inFIG. 2). Further, a bobbin shaft2is fixed to a distal end of the arm section. Bobbin3having a string material A (elongated sewn material), such as a tape or cord, wound thereon is detachably attached to the bobbin shaft2in such a manner that the bobbin3can be prevented from falling and can freely rotate.

Support plate4is fixed to the support member1in such a manner that it projects toward a position above the bobbin3. Proximal end portion of the support plate4is rotatably supported by a motor shaft of a drive motor5fixed to the support member1. Driving pulley6is fixed to the motor shaft of the drive motor5fixed to the support member1. The driving pulley6and the support member1inhibit the movement of the support plate4along the axis of the drive motor5. Driven pulley7is rotatably provided on a distal end portion of the support plate4, and a round belt8is wound on and operatively connect the driven pulley7and driving pulley6. The driven pulley7is fixed to one end of a shaft9rotatably supported on a distal end portion of the support plate4, and a rotary pulley10is fixed to the other end of the shaft9. The rotary pulley10is held in abutment against the string material A wound on the bobbin3. Thus, as the driving pulley6rotates by being driven by the drive motor5, the rotation of the driving pulley6is transmitted via the round belt8to the driven pulley7, which rotates the rotary pulley10fixed to the same shaft9as the driven pulley7. Namely, the rotational force produced from the drive motor5is sequentially transmitted to the driving pulley6, round belt8, driven pulley7, shaft9and rotary pulley10in response to driving operation of the drive motor5, so that, ultimately, the bobbin3can be rotated by the thus-transmitted rotational force.

Since the support plate4is pivotally supported on the motor shaft of the drive motor5, the distal end portion of the support plate4is caused to pivot in a clockwise direction (downward as viewed inFIG. 2) under its own weight at that part as the amount of the string material A wound on the bobbin3decreases with consumption of the string material A in accordance with a progression of the sewing operation. Thus, even if the amount of the string material A wound on the bobbin3decreases, the rotary pulley10and the string material A wound on the bobbin3are kept in abutment against each other, so that the bobbin3can be reliably rotated. It should be noted that a biasing means for biasing the support plate4in a clockwise direction (downward as viewed inFIG. 2) may be provided on the support plate4so that the rotary pulley10can be more reliably abutted against the string material A wound on the bobbin3. Also, a non-slip member such as rubber may be provided on a surface of the rotary pulley10so that the bobbin3can be reliably rotated in accordance with rotation of the rotary pulley10.

Guide member11for guiding the string material paid out from the bobbin3downward is provided below the bobbin3. The guide member11is fixed to a guide base12which is fixed, via bolts or the like, to a part of the support member1below the arm section thereof to which the bobbin shaft2is fixed and extending horizontally toward the front surface of the embroidering sewing machine (right side as viewed inFIG. 2). Cover13can be fixedly mounted on a front surface of the guide member11, and the string material A is guided downward via a space formed by the guide member11and the cover13. Rod14is provided below the guide member11, and both ends of the rod14are fixed to respective lower end portions of a pair of pivot arms15and16which are pivotally supported at respective predetermined right and left position sandwiching in the machine head H therebetween. The pivot arm15disposed on the left side as viewed inFIG. 1is pivotally supported at its substantially middle portion by the guide base12, and the pivot arm16disposed on the right side as viewed inFIG. 1is pivotally supported at its substantially middle portion by the guide member11. The pivot arms15and16are caused to pivot, by tension applied to or acting on the string material A as the string material A is sewn, about the substantially central part thereof supported by the guide base12or the guide member11as the rod14is moved toward the front surface of the embroidering sewing machine (right side as viewed inFIG. 2). Magnet17is fixed to an upper end portion of the pivot arm15disposed on the left side. In the guide base12, a bracket19is fixed in such a manner that a surface of part of the bracket19faces the magnet17fixed to the pivot arm15, and a magnetic sensor18can be attached to the surface of the part of the bracket19. Thus, the magnetic sensor18can be disposed at a position opposed to the magnet17fixed to the pivot arm15, and hence the magnetic sensor18and the magnet17disposed in opposed relation to each other can detect the pivotal movement of the pivot arm15(and the pivot arm16which operate in the same manner). Cover20is attached to the bracket19.

Also, as shown inFIGS. 1or2, a bracket22is fixed to the guide member11in such a manner that it covers part of the cover13, and the bracket22is provided with a timer21and a switch23for controlling the driving operation of the drive motor5. The timer21is a well-known analog timer and intended to provide predetermined control in accordance with the time set by a dial operating element21aprovided on a distal end portion of the timer21. In the present embodiment, control is performed such that the timer21starts measuring time at a time point when the magnetic sensor18detects the pivotal movement of the pivot arms15and16, and the driving motor5is caused to operate for the time set by the dial operating element21a. The switch23is intended to make a setting as to whether to interrupt a drive signal from the timer21to the drive motor5so as to inhibit the drive motor5from operating even if the pivot arms15and16pivot when the string material A is placed so as to be sewn, for example, before the start of sewing.

Holder25is fixed via a bracket29to a front surface (i.e., a surface closer to the reader ofFIG. 1and a right side surface inFIG. 2) of the machine head H, and a flexible first tube26for passing therethrough the string material A is fixed to the holder25. Further, a second tube (e.g., spiral tube)27, more flexible than the first tube26, is connected to the distal end of the first tube26. The second tube27is fixed at its distal end to a holder arm28that is in turn fixed to a later-described rotary bush37(seeFIG. 3). With this arrangement, the string material A guided downward by the guide member11can always be guided in a state of abutment against a back side (left side as viewed inFIG. 2) of the rod14, through the two tubes26and27, to a right position (sewing position, i.e., drop position of the sewing needle29or position of sewing by the sewing needle29) corresponding to the tip of the sewing needle29(seeFIG. 3) via a later-described guide46(seeFIG. 3).

Now, the construction of the machine head H will be described in detail with primary reference toFIG. 3.FIG. 3is a partly-sectional side view of the machine head H. The machine head H is a conventional machine head, and a needle bar30with the sewing needle29fixed to its lower end is vertically-movably provided on the machine head H. Guide pipe31is fixed to a bottom plate of the machine head H, and a fabric-holder driving pipe32is provided within the guide pipe31in such a manner that it is vertically movable along and pivotable about the axis of the guide pipe31. The needle bar30is passed through the fabric-holder driving pipe32for vertical movement. Engaging ring33is fixed to and along the outer periphery of an upper end portion of the fabric-holder driving pipe32, and a stroke arm35, vertically movable via a motor34, is held in engagement with the engaging ring33. Fabric holder36is fixed to a lower end portion of the fabric-holder driving pipe32. The rotary bush37is provided along the outer periphery of the guide pipe31in such a manner that it is rotatable about the axis of the needle bar30. Timing pulley section38is formed on the outer periphery of an upper end portion of the rotary bush37. The timing pulley section38is operatively connected, via a timing belt41, with a driving pulley40that is rotatable via a motor39. With such arrangements, the rotary bush37can be rotated by activation of the motor39.

Engagement member42is fixed to the rotary bush37and extends downward therefrom, and the engaging member42has, at its distal end, an engagement section42aengaged in a groove36aformed vertically in the outer periphery of the fabric holder36. Thus, the fabric holder36is vertically movable along and rotatable about the axis of the needle bar30together with the rotary bush37. Interlocking member43is provided along the outer periphery of the rotary bush37in such a manner that it is vertically movable and rotatable together with the rotary bush37. Ring44vertically movable via a not-shown drive source is provided in a groove formed in the outer periphery of the interlocking member43. Further, a guide lever45(e.g. zigzag swing lever) is rotatably provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary bush37. The guide lever45is connected with the interlocking member43so as to pivot in response to the vertical movement of the interlocking member43, and a pipe-shaped guide46for guiding the string material A to the sewing position of the sewing needle28is fixed to the lower end of the guide lever45.

Referring next toFIGS. 4 to 9, a description will be given of a cutting apparatus S for cutting the string material A in the embroidering sewing machine constructed as described above.FIG. 4is a front view of a cutting apparatus lying at a retracted position.FIG. 5is a left side view of the cutting apparatus taken from a left side of the apparatus shown inFIG. 4.FIG. 6is a front view of the cutting apparatus lying at a cutting position.FIG. 7is a left side view of the cutting apparatus taken from a left side of the apparatus shown inFIG. 6. In the machine frame M, the cutting apparatus S is disposed at a predetermined position on the right side of the machine head H appearing inFIG. 1. Here, the retracted position is a position which does not interfere with sewing of the string material A, and the cutting position is a position at which the string material A used for sewing is cut.

As seen fromFIGS. 4 to 9, a bracket47is fixed to the machine frame M via bolts or the like, and a base member49is fixed to the bracket47via a spacer48. Pneumatically-driven rotary actuator50is fixed to the base member49in such a manner that a rotary shaft51of the actuator50passes through the base member49. Drive lever52is fixed to the rotary shaft51, and also, a flat-shaped knife base53is pivotally supported on the drive lever52. Torsion spring, not shown, is provided between the driver lever52and the knife base53. By inserting opposite end portions of the torsion spring into holes, not shown, formed in the drive lever52and the knife base53, for fitting therein predetermined ends of the torsion spring, the torsion spring and the drive lever52and the knife base53are connected to each other. Thus, when the drive lever52is caused to pivot by activation of the rotary actuator50, the knife base53is rotated at the same time via the torsion spring. The knife base53normally lies at the retracted position which does not interfere with sewing of the string material A as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, and when it is necessary to cut the string material A, the knife base53is caused to pivot to the cutting position for cutting the string material A as shown inFIGS. 6 and 7. Stopper54against which the knife base53having pivoted to the retracted position or cutting position abuts is provided at a predetermined position on the base member49so that the knife base53can be positioned at each of these positions. On the other hand, a pair of stoppers61and62which limit the pivotal movement range of the drive lever52is provided on the knife base53. Further, a hook section53ais formed on a distal end portion of the knife base53, and a cutting concave section53btapered from the hook section53ais formed like a slit. Accordingly, a plate63having a groove section63ainto which the hook section53ais fitted when the knife base53is caused to pivot is fixedly mounted on a well-known machine table below the cutting apparatus S.

FIG. 8is a sectional view of the cutting apparatus S taken along line I-I inFIG. 7.FIG. 9is a right side view of a lower part of the cutting apparatus taken from a right side of the apparatus shown inFIG. 8. As seen fromFIGS. 8 and 9, a fixed knife55is fixed to and a pivotable knife56is pivotally supported on the fixed base53. The pivotable knife56is supported at its substantially middle portion by a support pin57in such a manner that it is pivotable and movable along the axis of the support pin57. Coil spring58which biases the pivotable knife56in such a direction as to come into contact with the fixed knife55is provided on the support pin57. One end of the pivotable knife56is connected to a distal end portion of the drive lever52via a connecting plate59. The pivotable knife56has a cutting edge thereof normally lying at such a pivot position flush as to be flush with a lower end portion of the cutting concave section53bof the knife base53. The fixed knife55has a cutting edge thereof provided at such a pivot position as to be flush with an upper end portion of the cutting concave section53bof the knife base53. When the knife base53is caused to pivot to the cutting position, the fixed knife55and the pivotable knife56cut the string material A having been hooked on the hook section53aof the knife base53and guided into the cutting concave section53b. Guide member60is disposed in contact with a side of the pivotable knife56. The guide member60biases the cutting edge of the pivotable knife56toward the fixed knife55and thereby cuts the string material A in a reliable manner.

The following paragraphs describe how the embroidering sewing machine constructed as described above operates to sew the string material A to a not-shown fabric, not shown, by lock stitching.

First, the string material A wound on the bobbin3is paid out and guided to the sewing position of the sewing needle29via the guide member11, back side of the rod14, first tube26, second tube27, and guide46, as explained above. Then, control is performed, on the basis of embroidery data, such that the not-shown fabric is moved in X- and Y-axis directions and the needle bar30is vertically driven to perform the well-known lock stitching by the sewing needle29in conjunction with a not-shown rotary hook. During that time, the fabric holder36is driven vertically, in predetermined timing relative to the vertical movement of the needle bar30, to perform the fabric holding function, as well known in the art. Further, the ring44is driven vertically, in predetermined timing relative to the vertical movement of the needle bar30, in response to which the interlocking member43is vertically moved to cause the guide lever45to pivot. As a consequence, the string material A, having been guided to the sewing position of the sewing needle29by the guide46fixed to the lower end of the guide lever45, is swung to the left and right of the sewing position, for example, per vertical reciprocation (i.e., per stitch) of the needle bar30. In this way, the string material A can be sequentially sewn onto the fabric by so-called “zigzag switching”.

During that time, the rotary bush37is rotated by the motor39via the driving pulley40, timing belt41, and timing pulley38, in response to which the guide46is controlled to be positioned forward in a direction of relative movement of the machine head H based on the movement of the fabric. In this way, the string material A can be appropriately guided to the sewing position of the sewing needle29. If the rotary bush37is rotated 360 degrees or more, the second tube27might get undesirably entwined around the machine head H; thus, it is necessary that the embroidery data be made so as not to rotate the rotary bush37360 degrees or more.

As the string material A is sequentially sewn onto the fabric in the above-described manner, the rod14is pulled forward by the string material A, and in accordance with the movement of the rod14, the pivot arms15and16are caused to pivot. When the pivot arm15is caused to pivot, the magnetic sensor18detects this pivotal movement, and the drive motor5is operated to rotate the bobbin3for a period of time set by the timer21based on the detected pivotal movement, so that the string material A is paid out from the bobbin3. After that, when the pivot arms15and16have pivoted again as the string material A is sequentially sewn onto the fabric, the same operation as the above described one is performed to cause the bobbin3to rotate to pay out the string material A. Thus, in sewing the string material A onto the fabric, by repeating the rotation and termination of the rotation of the bobbin3in accordance with the tension of the string material A, it is possible to smoothly and appropriately pay out the string material A to the sewing position of the sewing needle29.

The following paragraphs describe how the string material A is cut by the cutting apparatus S after sewing of the string material A is completed.FIG. 10is a left side view of the cutting apparatus which has cut the string material A.FIG. 11is a conceptual diagram explanatory of a sewing end point to which the string material A is to be moved at the end of sewing.FIG. 12is a conceptual diagram explanatory of how the string material A is hooked on the hook section53aof the knife base53.

After sewing of the string material A onto the fabric is completed, the fabric with the string material A sewn thereon is displaced in the X- and Y-axis directions (typically, an embroidery frame holding the fabric is displaced) in such a manner that the final position on the fabric at which the string material A is finally sewn is displaced from the sewing position of the sewing needle29to a sewing end point E shown inFIG. 11. It goes without saying that during the movement of the fabric, the vertical movement of the needle bar30is suspended, and the well-known stitching by the sewing needle29and the not-shown rotary hook is inhibited from being performed. As the fabric is moved, the string material A is paid out from the bobbin3by an amount corresponding to the displaced amount of the fabric. The sewing end point E is set at such a predetermined position that part of the string material A newly paid out from the bobbin3goes over the groove63aof the plate63. In a state in which part of the string material A is positioned above the groove63aof the plate63, the rotary actuator50of the cutting apparatus S is activated to pivot the drive lever52in a clockwise direction (seeFIG. 5). When the drive lever52is caused to pivot, the knife base53is also caused to pivot via the not-shown torsion spring together with the drive lever52, causing the knife base53to pivot from the “retracted position” in which the knife base52lies in a horizontal position as shown inFIG. 5to the “cutting position” in which the knife base52lies in a vertical position as shown inFIG. 7. When the knife base53is caused to pivot from the retracted position to the cutting position, the hook section53aof the knife base53hooks thereon the string material A positioned above the groove63aof the plate63, and the hooked string material A is guided to the cutting concave section53bby further pivotal movement of the knife base53. The state of the string material A when the knife base53has pivoted to the cutting position as described above is as shown inFIG. 3.

Even after the knife base53has been caused to pivot to the cutting position (seeFIG. 7), the rotary actuator50is continuously operated to further pivot the drive lever52. However, since the knife base53is abutted against the stopper54at the cutting position, the pivotal movement of the knife base53is terminated to inhibit further pivotal movement thereof. While the pivotal movement of the knife base53is terminated, only the drive lever52is caused to further pivot, causing the pivotable knife56to start pivoting via the connecting plate59. As shown inFIG. 9, the pivotable knife56is caused to pivot counterclockwise about the support pin57in response to vertical movement of the connecting plate59in accordance with the pivotal movement of the drive lever52. The drive lever52is caused to pivot to the position indicated inFIG. 1at which it is abutted against the lower stopper61. Since the pivotable knife56is caused to pivot to the position indicated inFIG. 1in accordance with the pivotal movement of the drive lever52, the string material A guided to the cutting concave section53bis cut in a state in which it is sandwiched between the pivotable knife56and the fixed knife55. It should be noted that in cutting the string material A, an upper thread, not shown, extending from the fabric to the sewing needle29is cut at the same time.

After the string material A (and the upper thread) is cut, the rotary actuator50is rotated backward to pivot the drive lever52in a counterclockwise direction. Until the drive lever52is caused to pivot from the position indicated inFIG. 10to the position indicated inFIG. 7, i.e., until the drive lever52shifts from the state in which it is held in abutment against the lower stopper61to the state in which it is held in abutment against the upper stopper62, only the drive lever52is caused to pivot by a torsion spring, not shown. As a consequence, the pivotable knife56is caused to pivot to its original position. After that, the rotary actuator50is activated to pivot the drive lever52and the knife base53at the same time, so that the knife base53is caused to pivot from the cutting position indicated inFIG. 7to the retracted position indicated inFIG. 5.

In the embodiment of the embroidering sewing machine, as described above, the knife base53is caused to pivot from the retracted position to the cutting position, so that the string material A is hooked on the hook section53aof the knife base53and guided to the cutting concave section53bso as to be cut. Thus, the single rotary actuator50can drive the cutting apparatus S to move from the retracted position to the cutting position and cause the string material A to be hooked on the hook section53a. Also, the rotary actuator50also causes the pivotable knife56to pivot. Thus, the cost of the cutting apparatus S can be reduced, and the cutting apparatus S can be made compact. Further, the cutting apparatus S is disposed away from the sewing needle29, and in cutting the string material S, the fabric is moved to newly pull out so that predetermined amount of the string material S (and the upper thread) can be newly pulled out. Thus, in sewing the string material A again, the user does not have to take the trouble to pull out the string material A of the guide46(and the upper thread remaining at the tip of the sewing needle29).

In a variation example of the above described embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 13 to 15, the knife base53may be provided with a retaining member100which retains an end portion of the string material A having been cut.FIG. 13is a perspective view showing a lower part of the cutting apparatus S in which the knife base53s provided with the retaining member100.FIG. 14is a left side view of the lower part of the cutting apparatus S inFIG. 13where the string material A is hooked on the hook section53a.FIG. 15is a left side view of the lower part of the cutting apparatus S inFIG. 13where the string material S has been cut by pivotal movement of the pivotable knife56. As shown inFIG. 13, the retaining member100is supported by the support pin57in such a manner that it is pivotable together with the movable knife56, and has a distal end portion100alies at such a position as to overlap the cutting concave section53bof the knife base53. When the movable knife56is caused to pivot to the cutting position, the distal end portion100aof the retaining member100pivots upward away from a lower surface of the cutting concave section53bin response to the upward pivotal movement of the movable knife56, and therefore, the pivotable knife56is abutted against an upper surface53b′ of the cutting concave section53b. The end portion of the string material A is retained between the retaining member100and the upper surface53b′ (seeFIG. 15). It should be noted that, if the knife base53is provided with the retaining member100, the knife base53may be positioned at the cutting position even after cutting of the string material A and caused to pivot to the retracted position when sewing is started again.

It should be noted that in the above described embodiment and variation, the position at which the cutting apparatus S is disposed may be set at any position insofar as a sufficient amount of the string material A enough to perform sewing again can be pulled out of the guide46(and the upper thread remaining at the tip of the sewing needle29) after the string material A is cut.

The pneumatically driven rotary actuator50may be another type of actuator such as a pulse motor.

There may be provided a bearing member which supports a distal end portion of the rotary shaft51of the rotary actuator50.

Although in the above described embodiment, the pivotable knife56is pivotally supported on the knife base53, the present invention is, of course, not so limited, but the pivotable knife56may be configured to be slidable and may cut the string material A by sliding.