FUNCTION CONTROL DEVICE FOR MACHINES

Abstract: A functional control device (1), designed to be used in primarily textile machines (20), in which the speed must be varied in a simple fashion. Its function involves a conversion of a pressure of a gaseous or liquid medium to a code, which is adapted to the machine. When speed control means, having plates (2, 3), designed to be depressed, e.g. in a sewing machine (20), are used, one of the pedals corresponds to a forward depressing movement and the other a backward depressing movement. When a nozzle (4) is used, said functions can also be provided. The so-called forward depressing movement comprises a presser foot downwards and 12 speed steps, from zero to a maximum rotational speed, which can be as high as 400-9,000 rev./min. A backward depressing movement comprises a presser foot as well as a cutting/controlling function. The function of the pressure error interface can be varied in a simple way, for various types of machine control means, and for varying pressure sensitivities. The output signals can be changed in a simple manner.

Description: Function control device for machines. The present invention relates to a functional control de¬ vice of the type set forth in the preamble of patent claim 1. US-A-4 261 273 relates to a pneumatic speed control device, designed for a sewing machine. This control device is actu¬ ated by means of a pneumatic breaker, which successively closes a plurality of contacts concurrently with an air pres¬ sure increase before the breaker, without any spark formation at the contacts. This control device is integrated with the sewing machine and is designed to directly actuate a machine function, namely the motor speed, but merely in one direc¬ tion, namely forwardly or with a speed increase. No flexibi¬ lity or adjustment as to different machines or machine types can be achieved by means of this control device. It is dif¬ ficult or quite impossible to perform a pressure sensitivity and zero adjustment in practice. To use a plurality of mov¬ able parts results of course in a substantial disturbance sensitivity as well as elevated production and assembly costs. The control device is not conducive to making it ea¬ sier for handicaped persons, and large foot movements are required in order to perform substantial speed changes. The used sensor, which is an entirely mechanical construction, is utterly objectionable for this purpose. A direct control using a high voltage is also an inconvenience. Also, US-A-4 722 288 relates to an electric sewing machine having an integrated computer designed to program needle work designs. Also, in this case the control device is inte¬ grated and cannot be separated from the machine to be cont¬ rolled. The foot pedal, described in this document, is used solely to initiate and stop respectively a programmed or preprogrammed work operation, and it is not, like the docu¬ ment discussed above, conducive to helping a handicaped per¬ son, and large control movements are necessary. The purpose of the present invention is to avoid the above- mentioned drawbacks and suggest a functional control device, which can be easily and simply adapted and connected to dif¬ ferent machines in general terms and to different motor cont¬ rol means in particular, and which also is conducive to as¬ sisting a handicaped person, is simple, can be quickly and inexpensively produced and assembled and takes ergonomic and production engineering requirements into consideration, e.g. so called standing sewing operations. These objects are attained by designing a functional control device, of the type mentioned in the introduction, according to the present invention, as mainly set forth in the charac¬ terizing clause of patent claim 1. Additional characterizing features and advantages of the pre¬ sent invention are set forth in the following description, -reference being made to the accompanying drawings, which show a few preferred but not limiting embodiments, and in which: Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a functional control device according to the invention, designed for two different ma¬ chines, namely e.g. a sewing machine and a drilling machine; Fig. 2 shows a functional control device according to the invention in a view from above; Figs. 3-6 schematically show how various feasible functio¬ nal control devices are designed according to the invention; Figs. 7-9 show circuit diagrams for an assembly according to Figs. 3 and ; and Fig. 10 shows a circuit diagram for an assembly according to Figs. 5 and 6. In the drawings reference numeral 1 denotes a functional control device according to the invention in its entirety, and 2 and 3 denote foot bellows, and alternatively a sue- tion and/or blowing nozzle 4 can be used. Hose pipes 5 and 6 connect said bellows to an interface box 7, in which a pie- zo-electric sensor 8 is actuated by means of pressure fluc¬ tuations in the medium in parts 2-6, which medium can be a gas or a liquid. When a suction or blowing nozzle is used, said medium is of course the ambient air. The piezo-electric sensor 8 is designed to generate an analogous output signal, which is amplified in an amplifier 9 and enters an analog/ digital converter 10. The digital signal, obtained in this way, enters a memory 11, in which the digital signal is con¬ verted to a control code, which is adapted to the respective motor control means and can be a so called grey code, or pos¬ sibly an inverted grey code, or any digital code according to what is preferred as to the programming. The code, obtained in this way, enters an output amplifier 12, which adapts the voltage level of the code to the one, which is suitable for the control work. An electric wire 13 then connects the box to an adapter 14 for the motor control means. The interface receives its electric power supply mainly from the motor cont¬ rol means, which suitably is run by means of a reduced vol¬ tage, e.g. -;24 V. A separate connector 15 can for this pur¬ pose be connected in a wire 16, or a special wire, designed for such a power supply through adapter 14 , can be connected in wire 13. The above-described configuration is shown in Figs. 2-4. Some motor control means require an analogous control signal. Assemblies according to Figs. 5 and 6 are designed for this purpose. According to these assemblies the signals are led from piezo-electric sensor 8 to an amplifier 17, which can have the same features as amplifier 9, described above, but which for practical reasons can be designed in a somewhat dif¬ ferent way. See e.g. Fig. 10. The signal subsequently is di¬ vided and led to an amplifier 18 and a simple analog/digital converter 19. Amplifier 18 adapts the analogous" signal to such a signal as is required by the motor control means. Con- verter 19 is designed with additional functions, e.g. start, stop, presser foot lifting or lowering, thread cutting and starting and stopping control signals. The amplifier controls the motor speed and a connection/interrelationship between amplifier 18 and converter 19 may exist. In Fig. 1 it is illustrated that a functional control device according to the invention is easy to use for controlling e.g. a sewing machine 20 or a drilling machine 21. In accordance with a preferred embodiment the forward de¬ pressing movement comprises a presser foot and 12 speed steps or steplessly from zero to the maximum motor speed, e.g. 400-9000 rev./min., and a presser foot and a cutting and control function respectively. The function of the pressure in¬ terface and the electric interface respectively can easily be changed in a way known per se for various types of ma¬ chine control means and different pressure sensitivities. The output signals can also be changed. In Figs. 4 and 6 embodiments provided with e. g. a suction nozzle 4 are shown. In case a blowing is required in order to obtain an actuation, this nozzle can be connected, to the other connection joint, shown in the drawings, which normal¬ ly is e.g. plugged up. As an alternative this joint is open to the ambient air.

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS: 1. A functional control device for machines, particularly sewing machines and other machines in the textile machine industry, designed as a remote control device by means of preferably two foot pedals (2,3) or a suction and a blow¬ ing nozzle respectively (4), a gaseous or liquid medium being used in order to actuate the machine function, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said medium is used to actuate an interface (7), in which the pressure variations of the control device ( 1) are converted to a code, adapted to the machine, in that said control device comprises pre¬ ferably, pneumatic foot pedals (2,3) or a suction or blow¬ ing nozzle respectively (4), which lead to an interface box (7), which comprises a zero adjustment, a program cir¬ cuit and wires (13) for a signal to and from respectively the motor control means , the power supply preferably being a 24 V direct current, and in that, when pedals are used, one of them corresponds to a forward depressing movement and the other a backward depressing movement, and when a nozzle is used, it corresponds to the same functions re¬ spectively. 2. A functional control device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said forward depressing movement comprises a presser foot downwardly as well as 12 speed steps or steplessly from zero to a maximum motor speed, e.g. 400-9000 rev./min. and in that said backward depressing movement comprises a presser foot upwardly as well as a cutting and control function respectively. 3. A functional control device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the function of the pres- sure interface and the electric interface respectively ( 7 ) can be changed for various types of machine control means and different pressure sensitivities. 4. A functional control device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the output signals can be- changed. 5. A functional control device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that, when foot pedals (2,3) are used, they are bellows, from which hose pipes (5,6) lead to a respective joint at the interface box (7) and which hose pipes contain said medium, and, when a nozzle (4) is used, it is connected to the interface box and one of said joints is designed for a blowing function or the other one of said joints is designed for a suction function, preferably using the same hose pipe (5), the joint not used being plugged up or left open to communicate with the am¬ bient air. 6. A functional control device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said foot pedals (2,3) and said nozzle (4) respectively are designed to, in said inter¬ face, actuate a piezo-electric sensor (8), which is designed to generate an analogous output signal, which is to be am¬ plified in an amplifier (9 and 17 respectively). 7. A functional control device according to claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said analogous output signal is to, in connection with said amplifier (9),be fed to an analog/digital converter (10), from which the signal preferably is to be fed to a memory (11), in which the di¬ gital signal is converted to a control code, adapted to said respective motor control means, suitably a so called grey code, or an inverted grey code, from which the code, obtained in this way, is fed to an output signal amplifier (12), which adapts the voltage level of the code to that one required for said control means, in connection with which said elec¬ tric wire ( 13) connects said interface box ( 7) to an adap¬ ter (14) for said motor control means. 8. A functional control device according to claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said analogous out¬ put signal is to, in connection with said amplifier (17), be divided and simultaneously be fed to an amplifier (18) and a simple analog/digital converter (19) respectively, said latter amplifier (18) adapting said analogous signal to a signal, required for said motor control means, and said con¬ verter (19) providing additional functions, e.g. start, stop, presser foot lifting and lowering, thread cutting and star¬ ting and stop control signals, and in that said latter amp¬ lifier ( 18) is to control the)*motor speed, a connection or in¬ terrelationship between said amplifier (18) and said conver¬ ter (19) being provided. 9. A functional control device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said interface (7) is to receive its electric power supply from said motor control means, which suitably is run by means of a reduced voltage, preferably a 24 V direct current. 10. A functional control device according to claim 9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the electric power supply from said motor control means to said interface is fed through an electric wire (16), suitably having a built-in connector (15), or in that in said electric wire (13), between said interface and said motor control means, a particular conduc¬ tor is provided, designed to feed the voltage to said inter¬ face through said adapter ( 14 ) .

Inventors: ERIKSSON JOAKIM, ERIKSSON, JOAKIM
Applicants: NYSTROEM A C G, A C G NYSTROEM
Application year: 1989
Main classification: D05B69
IPC codes: D05B69, G05B19