Patent Publication Number: US-7715939-B2

Title: Embroidery sewing machine with printing function

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates to an embroidery sewing machine with printing function capable of printing a workpiece cloth by an ink-jet printing unit. 
   BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY 
   A conventional embroidery sewing machine includes a sewing machine body; a cloth holding frame that holds a workpiece cloth in a stretched manner; a frame drive unit that drives the cloth holding frame independently in two mutually perpendicular directions in a horizontal plane. Provided in an arm of the sewing machine body is a needle bar vertically moving mechanism that vertically moves the needle bar. Also, various types of loop takers are provided in a bed of the sewing machine body. Household embroidery sewing machines having the frame drive unit installed in the bed of the sewing machine body have been reduced to practice in the household sewing machine field also. 
   In recent years, embroidery sewing machines have been suggested that allow both embroidery and print images to be formed on the workpiece cloth. In such embroidery sewing machines, an ink-jet print head is disposed in the proximity of the upper surface of the workpiece cloth which is held by the cloth holding frame linked to the frame drive unit; and the print head prints various patterns and graphics directly on the workpiece cloth by moving the cloth holding frame in the horizontal direction by the frame drive unit. 
   For example, JP-A-H09-256260 discloses an embroidery sewing machine as described as follows (refer to pages 3 to 4, and FIGS. 2 and 3 in particular). The disclosed embroidery sewing machine is a multi-headed sewing machine incorporating two embroidery sewing machines. A plurality of needle bars and one print head are provided in a color changing mechanism of each embroidery sowing machine. In response to an input of embroidery data upon needle bar selection, the sewing needle is driven and a rectangular embroidery frame is further moved in X-Y direction. Thus, the intended embroidery pattern can be sewn. By selecting a print head, the embroidery frame is moved in X-Y direction based on the inputted print data, thereby allowing the execution of a color printing operation with colors such as cyan, magenta and yellow. More specifically, when executing a printing operation, ink is ejected from the print head in synchronism with the reciprocating movement of the embroidery frame (workpiece cloth) moving in one way at a time in the X-direction; whereupon completion of printing one print line (one way), the embroidery frame is fed by one print line in the Y-direction and the process repeats itself thereafter. 
   Patent document 1: JP-A-H09-256260 
   DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
   Problem to be Overcome by the Invention 
   The embroidery sewing machine described in the above JP-A-H09-256260 includes an X-direction drive mechanism that reciprocably drives the embroidery frame in the X-direction (lateral direction) and a Y-direction drive mechanism that reciprocably drives the embroidery frame in the Y-direction (longitudinal direction) respectively. A stepping motor, generally accepted to have simple drive controllability, is employed in the foregoing mechanisms. In the attempt to reciprocably rotate the stepping motor without falling out of step, an acceleration/deceleration state, in which a rotational speed change occurs, needs to be created at the time of altering the drive direction. Thus, the printer employing the above construction provides poor printing quality in the acceleration/deceleration area corresponding to the acceleration/deceleration state. To overcome such problem, the printer needs to be restricted from printing the workpiece cloth in the acceleration/deceleration area of the stepping motor. 
   However, such restriction in the acceleration/deceleration area of the stepping motor gives rise to a problem of reduced printable area. However, no considerations were given nor ideas were devised to address such problems in the above conventional embroidery sewing machine. Especially in the case of household embroidery sewing machines, there was a limitation in the spacing between the sewing needle and the foot, in other words, the distance in the direction parallel to the lengthwise direction of the bed, which reduces the printable area to a considerable extent. 
   Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an embroidery sewing machine with printing function capable of securing sufficient printable area. 
   Means for Overcoming the Problems 
   The embroidery sewing machine with printing function of the present invention includes a sewing machine body having a bed, a foot, and an arm and capable of sewing a workpiece cloth by a sewing unit; a cloth holding frame that holds a workpiece cloth to be sewn, a frame drive unit that moves the cloth holding device independently in two mutually perpendicular directions in a horizontal plane, and an ink-jet printer having a print head that prints the workpiece cloth held by the cloth holding frame, wherein the frame drive unit has a first drive mechanism that moves the cloth holding frame in a first direction parallel to a lengthwise direction of the bed, and a second drive mechanism that drives the cloth holding frame in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and wherein the print head of the printer comprises arrays of nozzles having a plurality of ink-jet nozzles aligned parallel to the first direction and the printer prints the workpiece cloth while moving the cloth holding frame in the second direction by the second drive mechanism. 
   Also, in the above described construction, it is preferable to employ a stepping motor as a drive source, set the acceleration/deceleration area, where rotational speed change of the stepping motor occurs, to be arranged in both ends in the second direction of the cloth holding frame, and arrange the printer to execute a printing operation in the area exclusive of the acceleration/deceleration area. 
   Under such construction, though the movable distance of the cloth holding frame in the first direction is limited by the presence of the foot, greater movable distance in the second direction can be obtained as compared with the first direction of the cloth holding frame. As for the shape of the cloth holding frame also, greater length in the second direction can be obtained as compared with the first direction. Since the printer prints the workpiece cloth while moving the print head in the second direction, in other words, the lengthwise direction of the cloth holding frame, larger printable area can be obtained in the second direction as compared with the printing operation executed while moving the print head in the first direction, even if a unprintable acceleration/deceleration area were to be set. Moreover, since the printing direction is taken in the longer direction and the cloth feed direction is taken in the shorter direction, switching times of the stepping motor drive direction can be reduced, in which respect also, the overall acceleration/deceleration area can be reduced, in other words, greater printable area can be obtained. 
   Effect of the Invention 
   As described above, sufficient printable area can be secured within the cloth holding frame according to the embroidery sewing machine with printing function of the present invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of an embroidery sewing machine with printing function in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the embroidery sewing machine with printing function in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of the embroidery sewing machine with printing function in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a plan view of a cloth holding frame; 
       FIG. 5  is a plan view of an X-direction drive mechanism and a Y-direction drive mechanism with the cloth holding frame attached thereto; 
       FIG. 6  is a transverse plan view of a main portion of a printer when a purge unit is in a retracted position; 
       FIG. 7  is a bottom view of a head surface; 
       FIG. 8  is a transverse plan view of a main portion of a printer when a print head is in a retracted position; 
       FIG. 9  corresponds to  FIG. 8  with the print head in a printing position; 
       FIG. 10  is a transverse plan view of a main portion of a printer when the purge unit is in a purge position; and 
       FIG. 11  is a block diagram or a control system of the embroidery sewing machine with printing function. 
   

   EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
   Reference symbol  1  designates an embroidery sewing machine with printing function;  2 , a sewing machine main body;  3 , a cloth holding frame;  4 , a frame drive device;  5 , a printer;  10 , a bed;  11 , a foot;  12 , an arm;  30 , a Y-direction drive mechanism (second drive mechanism);  45 , an X-direction drive mechanism (first drive mechanism);  61 , a print head;  61   b , an ink-jet nozzle;  61   c  to  61   f , nozzle arrays;  63 , a purge unit (purge mechanism);  80 , a head cap (cap mechanism);  99 , a sewing unit; W, a workpiece cloth; and J, a acceleration/deceleration area. 
   BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
   One embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings for the purpose of describing the present invention. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , an embroidery sewing machine with printing function  1  in accordance with the present embodiment has a sewing machine body  2  capable of sewing a workpiece cloth W (refer to  FIG. 8 ). The sewing machine body  2  has a frame drive unit  4  mounted thereto and the frame drive unit  4  has a detachable rectangular cloth holding frame  3  holding the workpiece cloth attached thereto. As will be described in detail later, the frame drive unit  4 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , is adapted to move the cloth holding frame  3  and consequently the workpiece cloth W independently in an X-direction (lateral direction) which is a first direction parallel to the lengthwise direction of a bed  10  and a Y-direction (longitudinal direction) which is the second direction perpendicular thereto. As will be described later also, the sewing machine body  2  has an ink-jet printer  5  capable of printing the workpiece cloth provided integrally therewith. 
   Next, a description will be given on the sewing machine body  2 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the sewing machine body  2  includes a bed  10 , a foot  11  standing upward from the right end of the bed  10 , and an arm  12  extending leftward from the upper end of the foot  11  so as to confront the bed  10 . 
   Provided in the foot  11  and the arm  12  is a drive force transmitting mechanism (not shown) that transmits the drive force of the sewing machine motor  93  (refer to  FIG. 11 ) to a main shaft (not shown). Inside a head (left portion of arm  12  in  FIG. 1 ) of the arm  12  are a needle bar vertically moving mechanism (not shown) that vertically moves the needle bar  13 ; a thread take-up drive mechanism (not shown) driving the thread take-up (not shown) that pulls up the needle thread; a presser drive mechanism (not shown) that vertically moves a cloth presser (not shown) by an operation of an operation lever  14 ; and the like. Since the foregoing are generally known technologies, detailed description for the same will not be given. 
   The bed  10  has a loop taker (not shown) that forms a seam in synchronism with the vertical movement of a sewing needle  15  and a lower shaft, or the like, that transmits the rotational drive force of the sewing machine motor  93  to the loop taker. An attachment portion  25   a  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) of the later described frame drive unit  4  is connected to an attachment subject portion (not shown) formed in the bed  10 . In such case, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the attachment subject portion has a female connector  16  connectable to a male connector  27  provided in the attachment portion  25   a  of the frame drive unit  4 . A sewing unit  99  comprises a needle bar  13 , a sewing needle  15 , a sewing machine motor  93 , the needle bar vertically moving mechanism, the loop taker, and the like. 
   Next, a description will be given on the cloth holding frame  3  holding the workpiece cloth on which embroidery is sewn. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the cloth holding frame  3  is formed in substantially rectangular frame-form (substantially ellipse-form), and as shown in  FIG. 4 , the length in the Y-direction thereof is elongated as compared with the X-direction thereof. The cloth holding frame  3 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , has an outer frame  20  comprising a left outer frame portion  20   a  and right outer frame portion  20   b  and an inner frame  21  fitted into the outer frame  20 . Provided in the left side outer frame portion  20   a  are a fastening screw portion having fastening screw  20   c , a screw receiving portion  20   d , and a connecting portion  20   e  (connecting portion  20   c  will be described later) detachably connecting to the frame drive unit  4 . Provided in the right outer frame portion  20   b  are a fastening screw portion having a fastening screw  20   f  and a screw receiving portion  20   g . When the workpiece cloth W is held by the cloth holding frame  3 , first, the fastening screws  20   c  and  20   f  for the left and right outer frame portions  20   a ,  20   b  are loosened. Then, the workpiece cloth W is placed and set over the entire outer frame  20 . Thereafter, the inner frame  21  is pressed into the outer frame  20  from above so as to clamp the workpiece cloth W and the fastening screws  20   c  and  20   f  are fastened with the workpiece cloth W in stretched state. 
   The connecting portion  20   e  will be described hereinafter. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the connecting portion  20   e  is arranged parallel with the left outer frame portion  20   a  of the cloth holding frame  3  and also arranged in a predetermined length. The connecting portion  20   e  has first and second positioning recesses  20   h  and  20   i  formed respectively thereto. When the first positioning recess  20   h  is engaged with a positioning protrusion  41   a  of a link lever  41  of the frame drive unit  4  (each described in detail afterwards), an embroidery area base position Sc (refer to  FIG. 4 ) of the cloth holding frame is arranged to match a sewing base position HPc (refer to  FIG. 3 ) which is based on the position of the sewing needle  15  of the sewing machine body  2 . Also, when the second positioning recess  20   u  is engaged with the positioning protrusion  41   a  of the link lever  41  (each described in detail afterwards), a printable area base position Pc (refer to  FIG. 4 ) of the cloth holding frame  3  is arranged to match the printing base position PPc (refer to  FIG. 7 ). 
   Next, a description will be given on the frame drive unit  4  that moves the cloth holding frame  3  independently in the X-direction and the Y-direction respectively. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 3 , the frame drive unit  4  has a main body case  25  taking on a rectangular-form in rear-view. 
   The main body case  25  is arranged to be detachably attached to the bed  10  (refer to  FIG. 11 ) of the sewing machine body  2  via the attachment portion  25   a  provided integrally in the main body case  25 . A movable case  26  elongated in the Y-direction (longitudinal direction) is provided on the main body case  25 . The movable case  26  is adapted to be reciprocably drivable in the X-direction (lateral direction) with respect to the main body case  25  by the X-direction drive mechanism (first drive mechanism)  45 . A Y-direction drive mechanism (second drive mechanism)  30  is provided inside the movable case  26 . 
   First, the Y-direction drive mechanism  30 , among the X-direction drive mechanism  45  and the Y-direction drive mechanism  30  will be described with reference to  FIG. 5 . In the Y-direction drive mechanism  30 , a guide shaft  31  and a guide member  32  extending in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction in  FIG. 5 ) are placed across the interior of the movable case  26 . A movable carriage  33  movable along the guide shaft  31  and the guide member  32  is supported by the guide shaft  31  and the guide member  32 . Pinion gears  34  and  35  are rotatably pivoted on both ends of the movable case  26 , and an endless timing belt  36  is wound on both pinion gears  34  and  35 . The carriage  33  is linked to the timing belt  36  at one location. 
   A large-diameter gear  37  is mounted coaxially on the pinion gear  35  in the near side (the lower side in  FIG. 5 ). On the other hand, a drive gear  39  is mounted on a drive shaft of the Y-direction drive motor  38  comprising a stepping motor, and the gear  37  is placed in mesh engagement therewith. The timing belt  36  is moved by the drive of the pinion gear  35  driven by the Y-direction drive motor  38 , thereby longitudinally moving the carriage  33  along the guide shaft  31  and the guide member  32 . 
   The carriage  33  has a connecting member  40  having a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction in  FIG. 5 ) fixed thereto. A connection lever  41  is provided at one location of the connecting member  40 , and the connecting lever  41  has a positioning protrusion  41   a  formed in the distal end thereof that selectively engages with the first and the second positioning recesses  20   h  and  20   i  of the cloth holding frame  3 . Thus, in case the cloth holding frame  3  is mounted on the connecting member  40  of the carriage  33  via the connecting portion  20   e  of the cloth holding frame  3 , the cloth holding frame  3  is moved in the longitudinal direction, in other words, the Y-direction in synchronism with the movement of the carriage  33 . 
   Next, a description will be given on the X-direction drive mechanism  45 . In the X-direction drive mechanism  45 , a guide shaft  46  extending in the lateral direction (lateral direction in  FIG. 5 ) is disposed in the interior of the main body case  25 . The guide shaft  46  has a movable body  47  movable along the guide shaft  46  supported thereto. The front end of the movable member  47  is connected to the lower side of the movable case  26  of the Y-direction drive mechanism  30 . Pinion gears  48  and  49  are rotatably pivoted on both ends inside the main body case  25 , and an endless timing belt  50  is wound on both pinion gears  48  and  49 . The movable body  47  is connected to the timing belt at one location. 
   The pinion gear  49  in the right side (right side in  FIG. 5 ) has a large-diameter gear  51  attached coaxially therewith. On the other hand, a drive shaft of the X-direction drive motor  52  comprising a stepping motor has a drive gear  53  mounted thereon, and the drive gears  53  and  51  are placed in mesh engagement. The timing belt  50  is moved by the drive of the pinion gear  49  rendered by the X-direction drive motor  52 , thereby moving the movable member  47  laterally along the guide shaft  46 . Thus, when the cloth holding frame  3  is mounted on the connecting member  40  of the carriage  33 , the cloth holding frame  3  is moved in the lateral direction, in other words, the X-direction in synchronism with the movement of the movable body  47 . 
   Referring to in  FIG. 3 , a male connector  27  (refer to  FIGS. 1 and 11  also) is provided in the attachment portion  25   a  of the frame drive unit  4 . On the other hand, a female connector  16  (refer to  FIGS. 1 and 11 ) is provided in the sewing machine body  2 . Thus, when the attachment portion  25   a  of the frame drive unit  4  is attached to the attachment subject of the sewing machine body  2 , the male connector  27  of the attachment  25   a  and female connector  16  of the attachment subject establish an electrical connection. From this state, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the drive data for driving the drive motors  38  and  52  is transmitted from the control unit  90  to the frame drive unit  4 . Furthermore, a detecting signal sent from position detecting sensors  95  and  96  of the frame drive unit  4  is transmitted to the control unit  90 . 
   Next, a printer  5  for executing color printing operation with four colors of ink on the workpiece cloth W held by the cloth holding frame  3  is described with reference to  FIGS. 2 ,  6 , and  8  to  10 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , the printer  5  is provided inside the printer case  60  fixed in the rear side (left side in  FIG. 2 ) of the arm  12  of the sewing machine body  2 . The printer  5 , as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , has a print head  61  oriented in the downward direction. The print head  61  is arranged to be positioned in the printing position (refer to  FIG. 9 ) closely approaching the workpiece cloth W from above, and a retracted position (refer to  FIG. 8 ) retracted upward from the printing position. Also, the printer  5  has a purge unit  63  (refer to  FIGS. 6 and 8 ) and the purge unit  63  is moved longitudinally by a movement mechanism  64 . Furthermore, the printer  5  is provided with an ink absorbing member  65  that absorbs waste ink. The printer  5  ejects four colors of ink from a plurality of ink-jet nozzles  61   b  (refer to  FIG. 7  showing a lower surface view of ink-jet nozzle  61   b ) and so as to enable color printing of the workpiece cloth W held by the cloth holding frame  3 . 
   A description will be given on the print head  61  hereinafter. Since the print head  61  is a well-known ink-jet color print head being generally used, the description therefor will be kept brief. 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , the print head  61  is located in the substantial front portion (lower portion in  FIG. 6 ) inside the printer case  60  and is arranged to be vertically movable. A head surface  61   a  of the print head  61 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , has four nozzle arrays  61   c  to  61   f  aligned in the Y-direction (second direction), capable of ejecting four colors of ink, namely magenta (M), yellow (Y), cyan (C), and black (B) respectively. Though not shown in detail, each nozzle array  61   c  to  61   f  is constituted by aligning a predetermined number (75, for example) of ink-jet nozzles  61   b  in a zigzag profile parallel to the X-direction (first direction). Each ink-jet nozzle  61   b  is provided with a piezoelectric ceramic actuator (not shown). The piezoelectric ceramic actuator, as shown in  FIG. 11 , is arranged to bend in response to receiving a print drive signal sent from the control unit  100 , thereby downwardly ejecting small amount of ink from the ink-jet nozzle  61   b  (each nozzle array  61   c  to  61   f ). The reference symbol PPc shown in  FIG. 7  indicates the print base position of the print head  61 . 
   Provided on the upper side of the print head  61 , as shown in  FIG. 8 , is a cartridge case  66  accommodating four ink cartridges (not shown) containing magenta (M), yellow (Y), cyan (C) and black (B) ink. Thus, only the ink cartridge of the used up ink can be exchanged selectively. The print head  61  may employ a print head other than the piezoelectric ceramic actuator type. 
   As shown in  FIG. 5 , the sewing base position HPc for performing embroidery sewing with the sewing needle  15  and the print base position PPc for executing a printing operation with the print head  61  is displaced by distance L. However, in the present embodiment, the aforementioned first positioning recess  20   h  and the second positioning recess  20   i  is spaced by L. Thus, the sewing base position HPc can be associated with embroidery area base position Sc by the first positioning recess  20   h , and the print base position PPc can be associated with printable area base position Pc by the second positioning recess  20   i.    
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , a head position switching mechanism  62  is provided inside the printer case  60 , more specifically in the front side (lower side in  FIG. 6 ) of the print head  61 . The head position switching mechanism  62 , as shown in  FIGS. 6 ,  8  and  9 , has a front-and-rear pair of vertically oriented guide rod  70  that guides the print head  61  vertically movably between the printing position and the retracted position. Furthermore, the head position switching mechanism  62  has a head vertically moving mechanism  71  that switches the height of the print head  61  between the printing position in the lower side and the retracted position in the upper side. 
   The head vertically moving mechanism  71  as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , has a crank member  73  pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis of the printer case  60  by a pivot pin  72 . A sector gear  73   a  is formed on one end of the crank member  73 . The sector gear  73   a  is in mesh engagement with a drive gear  76  mounted on a drive shaft of the head vertically moving motor  75 . Also, the other end of the crank member  73  has a link member  74  linked therewith which is arranged to be rotatable with respect to the crank member  73  and the print head  61  respectively. 
   When the head vertically moving motor  75  is driven from the state shown in  FIG. 8 , the drive of the drive gear  76  is transmitted to the sector gear  73   a , thereby moving the print head  61  to the printing position in the lower side as shown in  FIG. 9 . As opposed to this, when the head vertically moving motor  75  is driven from this state, the print head  61  is moved to the retracted position in the upper side. 
   As shown in  FIG. 8 , when the print head  61  is moved up to the retracted position, the later described purge unit  63  is moved forward to a purging position, and the print head  61  is purged (details described later) from the lower side. The purge unit  63  is in a box-form and a head cap  80  and a wiper  81  (refer to  FIG. 6 ) are provided respectively on the upper end thereof. The purge unit  63  has a purge unit vertically moving motor  82 , a suction pump  83 , an ink receptacle  84 , and the like, provided therein. 
   The head cap  80  is composed of a rubber made cap placed in intimate contact with the head surface  61   a  of the print head  61  from below. The head cap  80  is moved up by a purge unit vertically moving motor  67  when the print head  61  is moved up to the retracted position and the purge unit  63  is moved forward to the purging position (refer to U-position in  FIG. 4 ), thereby to bring the outer periphery or the head cap  80  in intimate contact with the head surface  61   a  to cover the same from below. Thus, by enclosing (capping) the head surface  61   a  with the head cap  80 , the plurality of ink-jet nozzles  61   b  can be prevented from drying and a purging operation can be executed therefor as described later, when printing is not executed. In such case, instead of moving up the head cap  80 , the print head  61  may be lowered to the level of the head cap  80  by driving the head vertically moving motor  75  to bring the head cap  80  in intimate contact with the head surface  61   a.    
   The aforementioned purging operation will be described briefly hereinafter. Purging operation is executed when the print head  61  is moved up to the retracted position and the purge unit  63  is moved forward to the purging position. At this time, when the purge unit vertically moving motor  82  is driven, as described earlier, the head cap  80  is moved up to enclose the head surface  61   a  of the print head  61 . In this state, when the interior of the head cap  80  is situated in a negative pressure by the drive of the suction pump, small amount of ink, air bubbles and debris are sucked and removed from the ink-jet nozzle  61   b  of the print head  61 . The wiper  81  is composed of a rubber made blade, and is placed slightly higher than the head surface  61   a  of the print head  61 . 
   Next, a carrier mechanism  64  that carries the purge mechanism  63  in the longitudinal direction will be described hereinafter. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the carrier mechanism  64  includes two parallel guide rails  87  arranged one over the other extending in the longitudinal direction inside the printer case  60  (in the direction perpendicular to the  FIG. 8  plane). A purge unit  63  is supported movably in the longitudinal direction by the guide rails  87 . A purge unit carrier motor  88  is disposed in the right side of the guide rails  87  and a pinion gear  92  is mounted on the output shaft of the purge unit carrier motor  88 . The pinion gear  92  is placed in mesh engagement with the rack gear  63   a  formed on the upper surface of the purge unit  63 . When the purge unit carrier motor  88  is driven, the purge unit  63  is arranged to be carried between the retracted position (refer to  FIG. 6 ) in the rear side and the purging position (refer to  FIG. 10 ) in the front side. 
   After the purge unit  63  is carried to the purging position and the purging operation is performed on the print head  61 , the purge unit  63  is carried to the retracted position in the rear side by the purge unit carrier motor  88 . At this time, the head surface  61   a  of the print head  61  is wiped by the upper end of the wiper  81 . Thus, the remaining ink in the head surface  61   a  is neatly cleaned. 
   Also, even when the workpiece cloth W is in the process of being printed by the print head  61 , there are cases where the ink is ejected for only a predetermined time period. In such case, the ink-jet nozzle  61   b  is flushed (empty ejection of ink) in a predetermined flushing position (refer to  FIG. 4 ) outside the printable area, thereby normalizing the ink-jet nozzle  61   b . When the print head  61  (ink-jet nozzle  61   b ) is carried to the flushing position (refer to V position in  FIG. 4 ), the ink receptacle  84  is disposed under the head surface  61   a . Thus, the ink flushed from the ink-jet nozzle  61   b  is tentatively received by the ink receptacle  84  and thereafter drawn out to the ink absorbing member  65 . 
   The ink absorbing member  65  is made of a material such as a felt, and is extended so as to fully occupy the length taken in the longitudinal direction (direction perpendicular to  FIG. 8 ,  9  plane) as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . Thus, the purged or flushed waste ink is absorbed and accumulated. A purge mechanism is constituted by the purge unit  63  provided with the head cap  89 , the suction pump  33 , and the purge unit vertically moving motor  82 . Also, the cap mechanism is constituted by a purge unit  63  provided with the head cap  80  and the purge unit vertically moving motor  82 . 
   Next, a control system of the embroidery sewing machine with printing function will be described based on  FIG. 11 . First a description will be given on the sewing machine main body  2 . The sewing machine main body  2  has a control unit  90  having a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like; various types of operation switches  91  such as embroidery pattern selection switches; a main shaft phase detection sensor  92  for detecting a rotational phase of the main shaft; a drive circuit  94  for driving the sewing machine motor  93 ; and the like provided therewith. 
   Also, provided in the frame drive device  4  is a Y-direction position detection sensor  95  that detects the Y-direction position of the carriage  33 ; an X-direction position detection sensor  96  that detects the X-direction position of the movable case  26 ; a drive circuit  97  that drives the Y-direction drive motor  38 ; a drive circuit  98  that drives the X-direction drive motor  52 ; and the like. 
   Provided in the printer  5  is a control unit  100  having a CPU, ROM and RAM; a drive circuit  101  that drives the print head  61 ; a drive circuit  102  that drives the head vertically moving motor  82 ; a drive circuit  104  that drives the purge unit moving motor  88 ; and the like. 
   When the frame drive device  4  is attached to the sewing machine main body  2 , the male connector  27  provided in the attachment portion  25   a  of the frame drive device  4  and the female connector  16  provided in the attachment subject portion of the sewing machine main body  2  are connected electrically as described earlier. Then, the frame drive device  4  controls the movement of the carriage  33  based on various types of movement control signals transmitted from the control unit  90 . Also, the connection between the printer  5 , the sewing machine main body  2 , and the control unit  90  is established by the female connector  28  provided on the sewing machine main body  2  and the male connector  67  provided on the printer  5 . Thus, the printer  5  performs print control based on various print control signals transmitted by the control unit  90 . 
   The printer  5  executes printing operation on the workpiece cloth W by ejecting ink from the print head  61  in synchronism with the reciprocating movement of the cloth holding frame  3  holding a workpiece cloth, which is moved in one way at a time in the Y-direction by the cloth drive unit  4 ; whereupon completion of printing one print line (one way), the embroidery frame  3  (workpiece cloth W) is fed by one print line in the X-direction and the process repeats itself thereafter. 
   Since the Y-direction drive mechanism  30  and the X-direction drive mechanism  45  of the frame drive device  4  employs a stepping motor as a drive source as described earlier, acceleration time taken from the stopped state of each drive motor  38  and  52  until reaching the predetermined rotational speed; and deceleration time taken from the predetermined rotational speed to the stopped state are required to prevent the stepping motor from falling out of step upon switching the rotational direction. However, in such case, each drive motor  38  and  52  are rendered in accelerating/decelerating state, exhibiting instability in speed, at the time of rotation start and rotation stop. Printing operation executed in the accelerating/decelerating state provides poor printing performance. Therefore, the workpiece cloth W is printed in an area (refer to area K in  FIG. 4 ) exclusive of accelerating/decelerating area J (refer to J in  FIG. 4 ) corresponding to the aforementioned accelerating/decelerating state. 
   At this time, as shown in  FIG. 3 , in driving the cloth holding frame  3  in the X-directional drive (the lateral direction in  FIG. 3 ), the movable distance of the cloth holding frame  3  in the X-direction is limited by the presence of the foot  11 . However, since no interference is experienced in driving cloth holding frame  3  in the Y-direction, (vertical direction in  FIG. 3 ), the cloth holding frame  3  is provided with sufficient space for movement in the Y-direction. Thus, as shown in  FIG. 4 , reduction of X-directional area of the printable area K is prevented by arranging the printing direction of the printer  5  with respect to the workpiece cloth W in the Y-direction and providing accelerating/decelerating area J in both ends in the Y-direction respectively within the cloth holding frame (within the printable area). As shown in  FIG. 4 , there is no change in the Y-directional embroidable area N. 
   In the above case, though there is no reduction in the X-directional printable area M (in this case, inclusive of embroiderable area) of the printable area K, the Y-directional area is reduced by the accelerating/decelerating area J on both ends thereof. However, since the Y-directional movable distance of the Y-direction drive mechanism  30  and the Y-directional dimension of the cloth holding frame  3  are increased, there is no actual reduction of Y-directional printable area. Moreover, since the printing direction is taken in the Y-direction (longer direction) and the cloth feed direction is taken in the X-direction, in other words, the shorter direction, the Y-directional drive motor  38  experiences less times of drive direction switching, in which respect, the overall accelerating/decelerating area, in other words, the unprintable area in the embroiderable area can be reduced as compared with the printing direction taken in the X-direction. 
   As a result, the printable area K relative to the size of the cloth holding frame  3  can be maximized. In  FIG. 4 , reference symbol Sc indicates the center of the embroiderable area as well as the embroidery area base position, and the reference symbol Pc indicates the center of the printable area as well as the printable area base position. 
   Next, the operation and effect of an embroidery sewing machine  1  with printing function having the aforementioned construction will be described hereinafter. 
   In embroidering the workpiece cloth w while driving the frame drive device  4 , first, a first positioning recess  20   h  of the cloth holding frame  3  holding the workpiece cloth W is engaged and connected with the positioning projection  41   a  of the frame drive device  4 . At this time, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the sewing base position HPc is associated with the embroidery area base position Sc. Thereafter, the frame drive device  4  is driven in synchronism with the vertical movement of the sewing needle  15  driven by the sewing machine motor  93 , whereby the embroidery pattern is formed on the workpiece cloth W held by the cloth holding frame  3 . The embroidery seam as shown in  FIG. 4  is formed in the embroidable area (refer to N in  FIG. 4 ) indicated by leftwardly descending line. 
   On the other hand, in printing the workpiece cloth W with the printer  5 , first, a second locating recess  20   i  of the cloth holding frame  3  holding the workpiece cloth W is engaged and connected with the locating projection  41   a  of the frame drive device. At this time, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the print base position PPc is associated with printable area base position Pc. Printing operation is executed in the printable area (refer to K in  FIG. 4 ) indicated by leftwardly descending and rightwardly descending lines. 
   When executing a printing operation, first, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the cloth holding frame  3  is moved in the Y direction (downward direction in  FIG. 4 ), and the print head  61  (refer to  FIG. 6 ) is relatively moved in the Y-direction (upward direction in  FIG. 4 ). Thus, the workpiece cloth W is printed along the first print scan Pr 1  until the print head  61  reaches the acceleration/deceleration area (refer to J in  FIG. 4 ). When the print head  61  reaches the acceleration/deceleration area, printing is stopped and the cloth holding frame  3  is decelerated and to a halt. Thereafter, the cloth holding frame  3  is moved by a small distance in the X-direction along the first cloth feed movement Gr 1 . Then the cloth holding frame  3  is accelerated and moved along a second print scan Pr 2  and thereafter pursue a second cloth feed movement Gr 2 , a third print scan Pr 3 , and a third cloth feed movement Cr 3 , and finally execute a sixth cloth feed movement Gr 6  and a seventh print scan Pr 7  to finish the printing operation. 
   As described above, the embroidery sewing machine with printing function in accordance with the present embodiment provides acceleration/deceleration areas of the Y-direction drive motor  38  employing a stepping motor, respectively in both ends in the Y direction of the embroidable area (refer to N in  FIG. 4 ), and is arranged to execute a printing operation exclusive of the acceleration/deceleration area, however is arranged to have an elongated Y-dimension for the printable area in view of the acceleration/deceleration area. Thus, there is no reduction in the Y-dimension of the printable area (X-dimension has no acceleration/deceleration area, hence is not reduced) and sufficient printable area can be secured with respect to the cloth holding frame  3 . 
   Also, the print head  61  of the printer  4  has a plurality of nozzle arrays  61   c  to  61   f  capable of ejecting ink of plurality colors. 
   Also, the print head  61  of the printer  5  is arranged to have a cap mechanism used in the form of a head cap  80  to cover the head surface  61   a  of the print head  61 . Therefore, air bubbles and debris inside the ink-jet nozzle  61  can be removed by purging the same by the purge mechanism, and the head cap  80  prevents the ink from drying when printing operation is not executed. 
   Also, the sewing machine body  2  and the printer  5  are provided integrally. Thus, there is no need to attach/detach the cloth holding device  3  to/from the sewing machine body  2 , and both embroidery sewing and printing can be executed with the cloth holding frame  3  connected to the frame drive unit  4 . In such case, since the workpiece cloth W is not removed from the cloth holding frame  3  at the time of embroidery sewing and printing, an embroidery seem can be printed with improved positioning precision. 
   Also, though the cloth holding frame  3  takes on an elongated shape in which the Y-direction is longer than the X-direction, the printer  5  is arranged to print the Y-dimension of the printable area in a non-stop reciprocating manner. Therefore, number of cloth feed times of feed the cloth in the X-direction after tentatively stopping the movement of the print head  61  in the Y-direction is reduced as compared with a printing operation executed in the X-direction, thereby reducing the duration of the overall printing process. 
   The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above or shown in the drawings but can be modified or expanded as follows. 
   First, the printer  5  may be arranged to be detachable from the sewing machine body  2  and be attached thereto as required. 
   Also, the printer  5  may include, other than the control unit, printing data storage memory that stores printing data and embroidery data storage memory that stores embroidery data. In such case, it is preferable to arrange the printer  5  to be detachable from the frame drive unit  4  and print the workpiece cloth W while transmitting the embroidery data created in advance from the printer  5  to the frame drive unit  4 . 
   Also, the printer  5  may be of a single-color use that prints in a single color such as black, cyan, or the like. 
   Also, the direction of movement, or the like, of the purge unit  63  may be arranged adjustable within the scope of the invention. 
   INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
   As described above, the embroidery sewing machine with printing function of the present invention is useful for a household embroidery sewing machine provided with printing function.