Patent Publication Number: US-11021822-B2

Title: Embroidery frame

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a Continuation Application of International Application No. PCT/JP2017/032443, filed Sep. 8, 2017, which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-015206, filed on Jan. 31, 2017. This disclosure of the foregoing application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to an embroidery frame that can be mounted on an embroidery sewing machine. 
     An embroidery frame that can be mounted on an embroidery sewing machine is known. The known embroidery frame is provided with magnets surrounding window portions of an upper frame and a lower frame. The known embroidery frame holds a sewing object using the magnetic force generated between the magnet of the upper frame and the magnet of the lower frame. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is necessary to cause the embroidery frame to clamp the sewing object while aligning positions of the window portion of the upper frame and the window portion of the lower frame. With the known embroidery frame, an operation to cause the clamping of the sewing object by aligning the relative positions of the upper frame and the lower frame is complex. 
     It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an embroidery frame in which an operation to cause a sewing object to be clamped appropriately between a first frame and a second frame, using a magnetic force acting between the first frame and the second frame, is easily performed. 
     Various embodiments herein provide a embroidery frame that includes a mounting portion, a first frame, and a second frame. The mounting portion is configured to be removably mounted on a sewing machine. The first frame is provided with a magnet. The second frame is configured to clamp a sewing object, with the first frame, using magnetic force. The second frame includes a main body portion and a guide portion. The main body portion includes a clamping surface configured by a magnetic material, in a position facing the magnet of the first frame. The guide portion is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the clamping surface and guiding the first frame to the clamping surface. The guide portion is configured by a non-magnetic material. The guide portion includes an inclined surface. The guide portion protrudes further than the clamping surface in a first direction with respect to the clamping surface. The first direction is, of directions that intersect the clamping surface, a direction to the side of the first frame with respect to the clamping surface. The inclined surface is inclined in a direction opposite to the first direction the further the inclined surface extends in a second direction. The second direction is a direction orthogonal to the first direction and is a direction from an outer side toward an inner side of the second frame. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the disclosure will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sewing machine  1 ; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embroidery frame unit  30 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the embroidery frame unit  30  in a state in which an embroidery frame  5  is removed from a frame attachment member  31 ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a plan view of the embroidery frame  5 , and  FIG. 4B  is a cross-sectional view in the direction of arrows along a line A-A shown in  FIG. 4A ; 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of a first frame  51 ; 
         FIG. 6A  is a plan view of a second frame  52  and a mounting portion  55 , and  FIG. 6B  is a plan view of moving members  58  and  59  of a guide portion  57 ; 
         FIG. 7A  is a plan view of the embroidery frame  5  when, with respect to  FIG. 4A , the moving members  58  and  59  have moved from the inside to the outside of the second frame  52 , and  FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view in the direction of arrows along a line B-B shown in  FIG. 7A ; 
         FIG. 8  is an explanatory diagram of a process to perform position alignment of the second frame  52  with respect to the first frame  51 ; 
         FIG. 9A  is a front view of a protruding member  90 ,  FIG. 9B  is a front view when the second frame  52  of the embroidery frame  5  has moved further to the right than a cylinder bed  10 , and  FIG. 9C  is a front view when the embroidery frame  5  is disposed in a sewing position; 
         FIG. 10A  is a plan view of a second frame  150  and the mounting portion  55  according to a second embodiment and an enlarged view of a moving member  154  from which guide members  167  and  168  have been removed, and  FIG. 10B  is a cross-sectional view in the direction of arrows along a line C-C shown in  FIG. 10A ; and 
         FIG. 11A  is a plan view and an enlarged cross-sectional view of a first frame  251 , a second frame  252 , and the mounting portion  55  of an embroidery frame  250  of a modified example, and  FIG. 11B  is a plan view and an enlarged cross-sectional view of the second frame  252  in which, with respect to  FIG. 11A , a moving member  258  has moved from the inside to the outside of the second frame  252 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, a first embodiment and a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained with reference to the drawings. A physical configuration of a multi-needle sewing machine (hereinafter simply referred to as a sewing machine)  1  and an embroidery frame  5  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . In the following explanation, the upper side, the lower side, the lower left side, the upper right side, the upper left side, and the lower right side of  FIG. 1  respectively denote the upper side, the lower side, the front side, the rear side, the left side and the right side of the sewing machine  1  and the embroidery frame  5 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the sewing machine  1  is provided with a support portion  2 , a pillar  3 , and an arm portion  4 . The support portion  2  supports the sewing machine  1  as a whole. The pillar  3  extends upward from the rear end portion of the support portion  2 . The arm portion  4  extends to the front from the upper end portion of the pillar  3 . A needle bar case  21  is mounted on the leading end of the arm portion  4  such that the needle bar case  21  can move in the left-right direction. Ten needle bars (not shown in the drawings) that extend in the up-down direction are arranged inside the needle bar case  21  so as to be aligned at equal intervals in the left-right direction. Of the ten needle bars, one needle bar that is in a sewing position (a sewing needle bar) is caused to slide in the up-down direction by a needle bar drive mechanism (not shown in the drawings) that is driven by a main motor (not shown in the drawings) as a driving source thereof. A sewing needle (not shown in the drawings) can be mounted on the lower end of the needle bar. In concert with the up-and-down movement of the needle bar, a presser foot (not shown in the drawings) intermittently presses down a sewing object C (refer to  FIG. 4B ). The sewing object C is, for example, a sheet shape, such as a work cloth, leather, a resin sheet or the like. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an operation portion  6  is provided on the arm portion  4 . The operation portion  6  is provided with a start/stop switch  9 . The start/stop switch  9  is used when commanding the start or the stop of sewing. A tubular cylinder bed  10  is provided below the arm portion  4 , extending to the front from the lower end portion of the pillar  3 . A shuttle (not shown in the drawings) is provided inside the leading end portion of the cylinder bed  10 . The shuttle houses a bobbin (not shown in the drawings) on which is wound a lower thread (not shown in the drawings). A shuttle drive mechanism (not shown in the drawings) is accommodated inside the cylinder bed  10 . The shuttle drive mechanism rotationally drives the shuttle. A needle plate  27  that is rectangular in a plan view is provided on the upper surface of the cylinder bed  10 . A needle hole  16 , through which the sewing needle is inserted, is provided in the needle plate  27 . Of the ten needle bars, the needle bar positioned directly above the needle hole  16  is the sewing needle bar. A holder  25  of a movement mechanism (not shown in the drawings), a Y carriage  26 , and an X carriage  28  are further provided below the arm portion  4 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the holder  25  of the movement mechanism supports the embroidery frame  5  via a frame attachment member  31 . The movement mechanism can move the embroidery frame  5  mounted on the holder  25  to a position indicated by a unique XY coordinate system (an embroidery coordinate system). A pair of left and right thread spool bases  12  are provided to the rear side of the upper surface of the arm portion  4 . A plurality of thread spool pins  14  are provided on each of the thread spool bases  12 . The thread spool pins  14  support thread spools  13 . Upper threads  15  are supplied from the thread spools  13  disposed on the thread spool base  12 . The upper threads  15  are supplied to eyes (not shown in the drawings) of each of the sewing needles mounted on the lower ends of the needle bars, via a thread path. The thread path includes a thread guide  17 , tensioners  18 , and thread take-up levers  19 . 
     An operation to form stitches in the sewing object C held by the embroidery frame  5  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . The embroidery frame  5  that holds the sewing object C is supported by the holder  25  of the movement mechanism, via the frame attachment member  31 . As a result of the needle bar case  21  moving to the left and the right, one of the ten needle bars is selected as the sewing needle bar. The embroidery frame  5  is moved to a predetermined position by the movement mechanism. In the needle bar drive mechanism and a thread take-up lever drive mechanism, the selected needle bar, and the thread take-up lever  19  corresponding to the selected needle bar are driven up and down by the main motor as the driving source. Further, the shuttle drive mechanism is driven by the rotation of the main motor and the shuttle is rotationally driven. As described above, the sewing needle, the thread take-up lever  19 , and the shuttle are driven in synchronization with each other, and the stitches are formed on the sewing object C. 
     An embroidery frame unit  30  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 9 . The embroidery frame unit  30  can be removably mounted on the sewing machine  1 . The embroidery frame unit  30  is provided with the embroidery frame  5  and the frame attachment member  31 . The embroidery frame  5  includes a first frame  51 , a second frame  52 , and a mounting portion  55 , and the sewing object C can be held between the first frame  51  and the second frame  52  using magnetic force. The frame attachment member  31  is removably mounted on the holder  25  of the sewing machine  1 . The embroidery frame  5  is removably mounted on the frame attachment member  31 . In other words, the embroidery frame  5  can be mounted on the sewing machine  1  of the present embodiment via the frame attachment member  31 . The embroidery frame  5  of a present embodiment holds the sewing object C in the up-down direction using the first frame  51  and the second frame  52 , in a state in which the embroidery frame  5  is mounted on the sewing machine  1 . The first frame  51  is an upper frame and the second frame  52  is a lower frame. An inner edge  73  of the first frame  51  and an inner edge  83  of the second frame  52  are a polygonal shape. The first frame  51  and the second frame  52  are square frame shapes having rounded corners in a plan view. As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the first frame  51  can be caused to approach or separate from the second frame  52 . 
     The first frame  51  is provided with a main body portion  71  and a pair of gripping portions  72 . The main body portion  71  is a square shape having rounded corners, and is a frame shape having a hole  61  that penetrates in the thickness direction (the up-down direction). As shown in  FIG. 4B  and  FIG. 5 , the main body portion  71  of the first frame  51  is provided with magnets  62 , yokes  63 , and a cladding portion  64 . The magnets  62  are arranged on a peripheral edge portion of the inner edge  73  of the first frame  51 . The magnets  62  are rectangular-shaped, and a total of  8  of the magnets  62  are provided, two on each side, around the inner edge  73  of the first frame  51 . The lengthwise direction of each of the magnets  62  is the same as an extending direction of the side of the first frame  51  on which the magnets  62  are arranged. Each of the yokes  63  conducts a magnetic flux caused by the magnet  62 . As shown in  FIG. 4B , the yoke  63  is a magnetic material (a steel plate, for example) having an inverted U shape that is open downward. The magnet  62  is disposed in a recessed portion of the yoke  63 . An end portion  69  on the side of the second frame  52  (the lower side) of the yoke  63  is positioned to be lower than an end portion on the lower side of the magnet  62 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , two of the yokes  63  are disposed with respect to one of the magnets  62 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4B , the cladding portion  64  is configured by a non-magnetic material (resin, for example) that holds the magnets  62  and the yokes  63 . The cladding portion  64  of the present embodiment includes a first portion  65  and a second portion  66 , and holds the magnets  62  and the yokes  63  using the first portion  65  and the second portion  66 . The first portion  65  and the second portion  66  are fixed to each other using eight screws  67  (refer to  FIG. 5 ). Of the eight screws  67 , four of the screws  67  are fixed in the vicinity of four corner portion of the square-shaped first frame  51 , and the remaining four screws  67  are fixed in the vicinity of the centers of the four sides of the first frame  51 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the magnets  62  and the yokes  63  are disposed between two of the adjacent screws  67  in a bottom view. The first portion  65  is a portion that forms the upper side of the main body portion  71 , and the pair of gripping portions  72  are coupled to each of left and right end portions of the upper surface thereof. The pair of gripping portions  72  are handles that are used when a user causes the first frame  51  and the second frame  52  to approach each other or be separated from each other. As shown in  FIG. 4A , in a usage state in which the sewing object C can be held by the magnetic force when the first frame  51  is close to the second frame  52 , the left end of the left-side gripping portion  72  is further to the left than the left end of the second frame  52 . The right end of the right-side gripping portion  72  is further to the right than the right end of the second frame  52 . As shown in  FIG. 4A , in a plan view, a square-shaped outer edge  74  of the main body portion  71  of the first frame  51  is smaller than a square-shaped outer edge  85  of the second frame  52 . Of the upper surface of the first frame  51  (the first portion  65 ), triangular-shaped markers for positioning are added in the vicinity of the center of each of the four sides of the square shape in a plan view. 
     The second portion  66  is a portion that forms the main body portion  71  on the side of the second frame  52  (the lower side), and is provided with a recessed portion whose cross-sectional shape is a U shape that is open upward. The second portion  66  has a plurality of holes  68  in the surface thereof on the side of the second frame  52 . Each of the holes  68  penetrates in a first direction (the upward direction). The end portions  69  of the yokes  63  on the side facing the second frame  52  are caused to be inserted into each of the holes  68 , and cause the yokes  63  to be exposed to the outside of the cladding portion  64 . The end portions  69  of the yokes  63  on the side facing the second frame  52  are exposed from the cladding portion  64  via the holes  68  of the second portion  66 , and the end portions  69  do not protrude further to the side of the second frame  52  than an end portion  70  of the cladding portion  64  on the side facing the second frame  52  (the lower surface). When the sewing object C is clamped by the first frame  51  and the second frame  52 , the end portion  70  of the cladding portion  64  is in contact with the sewing object C, but the magnets  62  and the yokes  63  do not come into contact with the sewing object C. 
     The second frame  52  can clamp the sewing object C, together with the first frame  51 , using the magnetic force. The second frame  52  has a main body portion  56  and a guide portion  57 . As shown in  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B , the main body portion  56  is a square shape having rounded corners in a plan view, and is a frame shape having a hole  81  that penetrates in the up-down direction. The main body portion  56  has a clamping surface  82  that is configured by a magnetic material, in a position facing the magnets  62  of the first frame  51 . The clamping surface  82  extends horizontally along a peripheral edge of the inner edge  83  of the main body portion  56 . Of the upper surface of the main body portion  56 , the clamping surface  82  is further to the side of the inner edge  83  than the guide portion  57 . In the state in which the sewing object C is clamped by the first frame  51  and the second frame  52 , the sewing object C is placed on the clamping surface  82 . A pair of inclined portions  86 , which incline in the first direction from the inner side toward the outer side of the second frame  52 , are provided on a peripheral edge of the outer edge  85 . The pair of inclined portions  86  of the present embodiment are provided on the end portions of the main body portion  56  in the left-right direction. The left-side inclined portion  86  is inclined in the first direction (the upward direction) diagonally to the left. The right-side inclined portion  86  is inclined in the upward direction diagonally to the right. 
     The rear end portion of the main body portion  56  is coupled to the front end portion of an attachment member  130  of the mounting portion  55  to be described later. In the present embodiment, the main body portion  56  and the attachment member  130  are integrally configured from a magnetic material, such as stainless steel or the like. A protruding member  90 , which extends in the left-right direction and protrudes downward, is provided on the lower surface in the vicinity of a connection portion between the main body portion  56  and the attachment member  130 . As shown in  FIG. 9A , protruding portions  88  and  89  are provided on the end portions of the protruding member  90  in the left-right direction, and the protruding portions  88  and  89  protrude further than a center portion  87  in the left-right direction in a direction opposite to the first direction (namely, in the downward direction). As shown in  FIG. 9B , in the usage state, a position of the lower end of the center portion  87  is substantially the same as the inner edge  83  of the second frame  52 , and positions of the lower ends of the protruding portions  88  and  89  are lower than the inner edge  83  of the second frame  52 . Each of the protruding portions  88  and  89  has a rounded shape that has been chamfered. When the embroidery frame  5  moves in the left-right direction with respect to the cylinder bed  10  of the sewing machine  1 , the protruding portions  88  and  89  of the protruding member  90  come into contact with the upper surface of the cylinder bed  10 , and regulate the position, in the up-down direction, of the embroidery frame  5  with respect to the cylinder bed  10 . The length in the left-right direction of the protruding member  90  is slightly longer than the length in the left-right direction of the main body portion  56 . In the usage state, the inner edge  83  of the main body portion  56  of the second frame  52  as seen from the first direction is substantially aligned with the inner edge  73  of the main body portion  71  of the first frame  51 . 
     The guide portion  57  is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the clamping surface  82  and guides the first frame  51  to the clamping surface  82 . The guide portion  57  protrudes further than the clamping surface  82  in the first direction (the upward direction) that intersects the clamping surface  82 . In the usage state, the first direction of the present embodiment is the direction on the side of the first frame  51 , among the directions orthogonal to the clamping surface  82 . The guide portion  57  is configured by a non-magnetic material, such as a plastic resin or the like. The guide portion  57  has a shape that is larger than the inner edge  83  of the second frame  52  as seen from the first direction (from above), and is a polygonal frame shape having a plurality of corner portions  95  to  98 . The corner portions  95  to  98  are respectively provided on the front left portion, the rear left portion, the rear right portion, and the front right portion of the square-shaped guide portion  57 . The guide portion  57  of the present embodiment has a square shape in a plan view, in which the shape of the inner edge  83  of the main body portion  56  has been made larger from the side of the inner edge  83  to the side of the outer edge  85  of the main body portion  56 . The guide portion  57  has inclined surfaces  91  to  94  that are inclined to the side of the clamping surface  82  (in the downward direction) the further they extend in a second direction from the outer side toward the inner side of the second frame  52 . Of each of the sides of the square shaped guide portion  57 , the inclined surfaces  91  to  94  are respectively provided on the side of the inner edge  83  of the main body portion  56 . The inclined surfaces  91  and  93  face each other and the inclined surfaces  92  and  94  face each other. For example, in the left-hand side of the guide portion  57 , the second direction is the rightward direction, and the inclined surface  91  provided on the left-hand side is inclined downward in the rightward direction. Similarly, in the right-hand side of the guide portion  57 , the second direction is the leftward direction, and the inclined surface  93  provided on the right-hand side is inclined downward in the leftward direction. Angles of the inclined surfaces  91  to  94  with respect to the clamping surface  82  are set to any degree between 30 degrees to 60 degrees, for example. Each of the plurality of corner portions  95  to  98  protrude in the first direction with respect to the clamping surface  82 , but a protrusion amount in the first direction with respect to the clamping surface  82  is smaller than for other portions of the guide portion  57  (portions forming the four sides of the guide portion  57 ). 
     The guide portion  57  of the present embodiment includes a pair of moving members  58  and  59 . The second frame  52  of the present embodiment further includes a plurality of guide members  101  to  104 . The pair of moving members  58  and  59  of the present embodiment respectively form at least a part of the guide portion  57 , and are fixed to the main body portion  56  such that they can move in the second direction and a third direction that is the opposite direction to the second direction. Each of the pair of moving members  58  and  59  has the same shape, and the shape (a planar shape) thereof is an L shape when seen from the first direction. As shown in  FIG. 4B , a cross-sectional shape of the pair of moving members  58  and  59  in the second direction is a hook shape that is open downward. The end portions in the third direction of the pair of moving members  58  and  59  are in contact with the main body portion  56 , and the end portions in the second direction of the moving members  58  and  59  are separated from the main body portion  56 . The pair of moving members  58  and  59  are arranged such that the L shaped angles thereof are arranged so as to be diagonal to each other, thus forming the square frame shape of the guide portion  57 . The moving member  58  includes the inclined surfaces  91  and  92  provided on the left-hand side and the rear side of the square guide portion  57 , and a plurality of long holes  111  to  113  that extend in the second direction and the third direction at the corner portion  96 , and can move with respect to the main body portion  56 . The moving member  59  includes the inclined surfaces  93  and  94  provided on the right-hand side and the front side of the square guide portion  57 , and a plurality of long holes  121  to  123  extending in the second direction and the third direction at the corner portion  98 , and can move with respect to the main body portion  56 . Each of the plurality of guide members  101  to  104  extends in the first direction. The guide member  101  is inserted into the long holes  111  and  121 , and guides the movement of the moving members  58  and  59 . The guide member  102  is inserted into the long hole  112  and guides the movement of the moving member  58 . The guide member  103  is inserted into the long holes  113  and  123 , and guides the movement of the moving members  58  and  59 . The guide member  104  is inserted into the long hole  122 , and guides the movement of the moving member  59 . The guide members  101  and  103  are pins that extend in the first direction from the upper surface of the main body portion  56 , and the upper ends of the guide members  101  and  103  are fixed by retaining rings. The guide member  102  is a screw that extends in the first direction, and fixes the moving member  58  to the main body portion  56 . The guide member  104  is a screw that extends in the first direction, and fixes the moving member  59  to the main body portion  56 . As shown in  FIG. 4B , there is a gap D between an inner edge  75  of the guide portion  57  and the main body portion  56 . The gap D is formed around the whole periphery of the inner edge  75  of the guide portion  57 . The length of the gap D in the first direction is set while taking into account the thickness of the sewing object C that can be clamped by the embroidery frame  5 . 
     When the first frame  51  and the second frame  52  hold the sewing object C using the magnetic force (the usage state), the clamping surface  82  of the second frame  52  faces the lower end portion  70  of the cladding portion  64  of the first frame  51 . The main body portion  71  of the first frame  51  is disposed further in the second direction than the guide portion  57 . In other words, the outer edge  74  of the main body portion  71  is surrounded by the guide portion  57 . 
     The mounting portion  55  is removably mounted on the sewing machine  1 . In a predetermined mounting position to be described later, the mounting portion  55  is removably mounted using the frame attachment member  31  that is provided in the sewing machine  1 . The mounting portion  55  includes the attachment member  130  and a positioning member  140 . The attachment member  130  is supported by the frame attachment member  31 . The attachment member  130  is provided on the rear portion of the embroidery frame  5 . The attachment member  130  is provided with a pair of left and right insertion portions  134 , and a protrusion  137 . The pair of left and right insertion portions  134  are formed by bending the end portions in the left-right direction of the attachment member  130  upward, and include holes  138  that penetrate in the left-right direction. The protrusion  137  protrudes downward in the vicinity of the center, in the left-right direction, of the rear portion of the attachment member  130 . The position in the left-right direction of the protrusion  137  with respect to the attachment member  130  is set to a position that is unique to the embroidery frame  5 . The positioning member  140  regulates the mounting position of the attachment member  130  with respect to the frame attachment member  31 . The positioning member  140  extends in the left-right direction and is a flexible plate spring. The positioning member  140  has a pair of left and right grip portions  142 . The pair of left and right grip portions  142  are provided on the left end and the right end of the positioning member  140 , respectively. Each of the pair of grip portions  142  can cause the position of the positioning member  140  to move in the up-down direction, as a result of being manipulated by the user. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the pair of grip portions  142  are respectively inserted into the holes  138  of the attachment member  130 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , the frame attachment member  31  is mainly provided with an attachment portion  32  and a switching plate  33 . The attachment portion  32  can be mounted on the embroidery frame  5 . The attachment portion  32  is mainly provided with an attachment member  34  and a pressing member  35 . The attachment member  34  is plate-shaped, and extends in the left-right direction. As well as fixing the frame attachment member  31  to the holder  25  of the sewing machine  1  shown in  FIG. 2 , the attachment member  34  guides the movement of the switching plate  33 . The pressing member  35  is a rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction in a plan view. When the attachment member  130  of the embroidery frame  5  is positioned in the mounting position, the pressing member  35  is disposed above the attachment member  130 , and urges the attachment member  130  to the side of the attachment member  34  (downward). When the grip portions  142  are manipulated in the state in which the attachment member  130  is positioned in the mounting position, the pressing member  35  further urges the positioning member  140  in a removal direction. The removal direction is a movement direction of the attachment member  130  when the attachment member  130  is moved from the mounting position. The removal direction of the present embodiment is a direction opposite to a mounting direction, and is a direction from the rear toward the front. The pressing member  35  is fixed to the attachment member  34  by screws inserted through each of through holes. 
     The switching plate  33  is a moving member that moves in the rightward direction in concert with an operation to mount the attachment member  130  of the embroidery frame  5  on the attachment portion  32 , and a movement amount of the switching plate  33  is set in accordance with the type of the embroidery frame  5 . The switching plate  33  is urged in the leftward direction by an urging member (not shown in the drawings). The switching plate  33  is provided with an engagement portion  37  that extends upward in a hook shape from a rear left end portion of the switching plate  33 . The engagement portion  37  engages with a detector  29  that is included in a rotary potentiometer (not shown in the drawings). The detector  29  rotates in accordance with a movement amount of the switching plate  33 . Thus, the rotary potentiometer can detect the movement amount of the switching plate  33  on the basis of a rotation amount of the detector  29 . The sewing machine  1  can detect the type of the embroidery frame  5  on the basis of the rotation amount of the detector  29  detected by the rotary potentiometer. 
     An operation to hold the sewing object C using the embroidery frame  5  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 4 , and  FIG. 6  to  FIG. 8 . The user adjusts the positions of the moving members  58  and  59  in relation to the main body portion  56  in accordance with the thickness of the sewing object C. When the thickness of the sewing object C is relatively thin, the user moves the moving members  58  and  59  with respect to the main body portion  56  such that each of the guide members  101  to  103  are disposed at the end portions in the third direction of the long holes  111  to  113 , and each of the guide members  101 ,  104 , and  103  are disposed at the end portions in the third direction of the long holes  121  to  123 . Then, the user fixes the moving members  58  and  59  with respect to the main body portion  56 . In this case, as shown in  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B , a gap between the outer edge  74  of the main body portion  71  of the first frame  51  and the inner edge  75  of the guide portion  57  is relatively narrow. When the thickness of the sewing object C is relatively thick, the user moves the moving members  58  and  59  with respect to the main body portion  56  such that each of the guide members  101  to  103  are disposed at the end portions in the second direction of the long holes  111  to  113 , and each of the guide members  101 ,  104 , and  103  are disposed at the end portions in the second direction of the long holes  121  to  123 . Then, the user fixes the moving members  58  and  59  with respect to the main body portion  56 . In this case, as shown in  FIG. 7A  and  FIG. 7B , the gap between the outer edge  74  of the main body portion  71  of the first frame  51  and the inner edge  75  of the guide portion  57  is wider than in the case exemplified in  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B . 
     The user places the sewing object C on the second frame  52 , and causes the first frame  51  to approach the sewing object C from the opposite side to the second frame  52 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , when the first frame  51  approaches the second frame  52  in a state of being rotated in a plan view with respect to the second frame  52 , the first frame  51  is guided by the inclined surfaces  91  to  94  of the guide portion  57 . Due to the magnetic force acting between the first frame  51  and the second frame  52 , the first frame  51  is attracted to the clamping surface  82  of the second frame  52  while rotating in the clockwise direction in a plan view. The first frame  51  moves to a position, with respect to the second frame  52 , in which the hole  61  of the first frame  51  and the hole  81  of the second frame  52  are substantially aligned, and the sewing object C is held by the magnetic force acting between the first frame  51  and the second frame  52 . 
     In the present embodiment, there is the gap D between the inner edge  75  of the guide portion  57  and the main body portion  56 . The sewing object C is stretched horizontally over a section that becomes a sewing area set on the inside of the embroidery frame  5 , and is held by the end portion  70  of the first frame  51  and the clamping surface  82 . In the vicinity of the outer edge  74  of the main body portion  71  of the first frame  51  and the inner edge  75  of the guide portion  57 , the sewing object C bends along the inclined surfaces  91  to  94  of the guide portion  57 . At this time, the sewing object C can enter into the gap D, and, since sections of the sewing object C that follow along the inclined surfaces  91  to  94  are not pressed by the first frame  51 , holding marks along the inner edge  75  of the guide portion  57  do not easily occur in the sewing object C. Further, a protrusion amount in the first direction (the upward direction) of each of the corner portions  95  to  98  of the guide portion  57  of the present embodiment is smaller than other sections of the guide portion  57 . As a result, the sewing object C can enter into the corner portions  95  to  98  that are lower than the other sections, and polygonal corner-shaped holding marks do not easily occur in the sewing object C. 
     Operations to mount the embroidery frame  5  on the sewing machine  1  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . By inserting a pair of thumb screws  43  into a hole (not shown in the drawings) of the attachment member  34  and a hole (not shown in the drawings) of the holder  25  and tightening the thumb screws  43 , the user attaches the frame attachment member  31  to the holder  25 . When the embroidery frame  5  is mounted on the frame attachment member  31  that is mounted on the sewing machine  1 , the user first moves the embroidery frame  5  horizontally in the mounting direction (the rearward direction). The protrusion  137  is housed in a predetermined position while being guided by the attachment member  34 . At this time, the switching plate  33  moves in the rightward direction in accordance with the position of the protrusion  137  with respect to the attachment member  34 . When the user moves the embroidery frame  5  horizontally further in the mounting direction, the horizontal movement of the attachment member  130  is regulated and the position of the embroidery frame  5  in the horizontal direction is fixed. Since the attachment member  130  is pressed from above by the pressing member  35 , the attachment member  130  is clamped between the pressing member  35  and the attachment member  34 . The position of the attachment member  130  in the up-down direction is fixed. By the above-described operations, the embroidery frame  5  is mounted on the frame attachment member  31  of the sewing machine  1 . The sewing machine  1  can detect the type of the embroidery frame  5  by detecting the movement amount of the switching plate  33 , using the rotation amount of the detector  29 . 
     When the embroidery frame  5  is removed from the frame attachment member  31  that is mounted on the sewing machine  1 , the user lifts the grip portions  142  upward. When the grip portions  142  are lifted upward, the positioning member  140  deflects and receives a force from the pressing member  35  in the removal direction. The attachment member  130  becomes able to move in the horizontal direction, and, using the force from the pressing member  35  in the removal direction, the user can smoothly move the embroidery frame  5  horizontally in the removal direction. In other words, the user can easily remove the embroidery frame  5  from the mounting position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9B , in the state in which the embroidery frame  5  is mounted on the sewing machine  1  via the frame attachment member  31 , when the second frame  52  is arranged on the right or the left of the cylinder bed  10 , due to the weight of the embroidery frame  5  itself, the position of the lower end of the embroidery frame  5  may be lower than the upper surface of the cylinder bed  10 . In this type of state, if the sewing machine  1  moves the embroidery frame  5  to the sewing position, the end portion of the second frame  52  collides with the cylinder bed  10 . The second frame  52  of the present embodiment is provided with the protruding member  90 . As shown in  FIG. 9B , the protruding portion  88  or  89  of the protruding member  90  comes into contact with the cylinder bed  10  in the course of the sewing machine  1  moving the embroidery frame  5  to the sewing position, and the embroidery frame  5  is lifted such that it is positioned above the cylinder bed  10 . As a result of this, the end portion of the second frame  52  does not collide with the cylinder bed  10 . In the present embodiment, the outer edge  85  in the left-right direction of the second frame  52  is provided with the inclined portions  86 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 9C , even if the end portion of the second frame  52  collides with the cylinder bed  10  in the course of the sewing machine  1  moving the embroidery frame  5  to the sewing position, the movement of the embroidery frame  5  is guided by the inclined portion  86 , and the embroidery frame  5  smoothly rides up over the cylinder bed  10 . 
     The embroidery frame  5  of a second embodiment will be explained. The embroidery frame  5  of the second embodiment is different from the embroidery frame  5  of the first embodiment only in the configuration of a second frame  150 , and the remaining configuration is the same as that of the embroidery frame  5  of the first embodiment. Where the configuration of the second frame  150  of the second embodiment shown in  FIG. 10A  and  FIG. 10B  is the same as that of the second frame  52  of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are assigned. As shown in  FIG. 10A , the points of difference of the second frame  150  of the second embodiment with respect to the second frame  52  of the first embodiment are the configuration of a main body portion  146  and a guide portion  147 , and the provision of urging members  186  to  189 . An explanation of the configuration that is the same as that of the embroidery frame  5  of the first embodiment is omitted, and the configuration that is different from the embroidery frame  5  of the first embodiment will be explained. 
     The second frame  150  of the second embodiment as shown in  FIG. 10A  includes the main body portion  146 , the guide portion  147 , and guide members  161  to  168 . Similarly to the first embodiment, the main body portion  146  is a square frame shape and includes a hole  185  and a clamping surface  190 . The rear end portion of the main body portion  146  is coupled to the front end portion of the attachment member  130  of the mounting portion  55 . In the present embodiment, the main body portion  146  is configured integrally with the attachment member  130  of the mounting portion  55 , from a magnetic material, such as stainless steel or the like. The clamping surface  190  is provided extending horizontally around the peripheral edge of an inner edge  191  of the main body portion  146 . Of the upper surface of the main body portion  146 , the clamping surface  190  is further to the side of the inner edge  191  than the guide portion  147 . When the sewing object C is clamped by the first frame  51  and the second frame  150 , the sewing object C is placed on the clamping surface  190 . The main body portion  146  is provided with attachment portions  181 ,  183 , and  184  that are processed so as to bend in the first direction (the upward direction) at each of the left side, the right side, and the front side forming the outer edge portion of the main body portion  146 . Each of the attachment portions  181 ,  183 , and  184  is bent at a right angle with respect to the clamping surface  190 . The main body portion  146  is provided with an attachment portion  182  that protrudes in the first direction (the upward direction) from the clamping surface  190 , in a substantially center portion in the left-right direction of the rear portion of the main body portion  146 . 
     The guide portion  147  is provided on an outer peripheral portion of the clamping surface  190  and guides the first frame  51  to the clamping surface  190 . With respect to the clamping surface  190 , the guide portion  147  protrudes further than the clamping surface  190  in the first direction (the upward direction), and has inclined surfaces  156  to  159  that are inclined to the side of the clamping surface  190  the further they extend in the second direction from the outer side toward the inner side of the second frame  150 . The guide portion  147  is configured by a non-magnetic material, such as a plastic resin or the like. 
     The guide portion  147  is provided with moving members  151  to  154 . The moving members  151  to  154  are respectively provided with the inclined surfaces  156  to  159 , and have the same shape as each other. In a plan view, each of the moving members  151  to  154  is a rectangular shape, and extends along the respective side of the square inner edge  191  on the outer peripheral portion of the clamping surface  190 . As exemplified by the moving member  154 , a pair of long holes  171  and  172  that extend in the second direction with respect to the moving member  154  are provided at both the end portions of each of the moving members  151  to  154 . The guide members  161  to  168  are pins that extend from the main body portion  146  in the first direction, and the upper ends of the guide members  161  to  168  are fixed by retaining rings. As exemplified by the guide members  168  and  167 , the guide members  161  to  168  are respectively inserted into the long holes  171  and  172  of the corresponding moving members  151  to  154 , and guide the movement of the moving members  151  to  154  with respect to the main body portion  146 . 
     First end portions of the urging members  186  to  189  are respectively fixed to surfaces that form the end portions in the third direction of each of the moving members  151  to  154 . Of the surfaces forming the end portions in the third direction, the first end portions of the urging members  186  to  189  are respectively fixed in a substantially center portion in the lengthwise direction of the moving members  151  to  154 . Second end portions of the urging members  186  to  189  are respectively fixed to attachment portions  181  to  184 . The moving members  151  to  154  are respectively urged in the second direction by the urging members  186  to  189 . The urging members  186  to  189  are coil springs, for example. As shown in  FIG. 10B , for example, the moving member  151  that is provided in parallel to the left side of the inner edge  191  of the second frame  150  is provided with the inclined surface  156  that is inclined downward in the rightward direction that is the second direction. The first end of the urging member  186  is fixed to the center portion in the front-rear direction of the left side surface of the moving member  151 , and the moving member  151  is urged in the rightward direction by the urging member  186 . There is the gap D between an inner edge  175  of the moving member  151  and the main body portion  146 . 
     In the embroidery frame  5  of the second embodiment, the position of the moving members  151  to  154  with respect to the main body portion  146  is automatically adjusted in accordance with the thickness of the sewing object C, using the effect of the urging members  186  to  189 . Thus, when the sewing object C is held, the user does not need to adjust, in advance, the position of the moving members  151  to  154  with respect to the main body portion  146  in accordance with the thickness of the sewing object C. When the thickness of the sewing object C is relatively thin, the guide members  161  to  168  are disposed in the end portions in the third direction of the long holes  171  or the long holes  172 . When the thickness of the sewing object C is relatively thick, the moving members  151  to  154  move with respect to the main body portion  146  in resistance to an urging force of the urging members  186  to  189 , such that the guide members  161  to  168  are disposed in the end portions in the second direction of the long holes  171  or the long holes  172 . 
     Effects common to the embroidery frame  5  of the first embodiment and of the second embodiment will be explained taking the embroidery frame  5  of the first embodiment as an example. In the embroidery frame  5 , when the sewing object C is clamped by the first frame  51  and the second frame  52 , the first frame  51  is guided by the guide portion  57 , and moves smoothly to the side of the clamping surface  82  of the second frame  52  on which the sewing object C is placed. At this time, since the guide portion  57  is configured by the non-magnetic material, there is no attraction between the guide portion  57  and the magnets  62  of the first frame  51 . Thus, in the embroidery frame  5 , due to the magnetic force acting between the first frame  51  and the second frame  52 , the operation to cause the sewing object C to be held appropriately between the first frame  51  and the second frame  52  is easier than in the embroidery frame of related art. Since the embroidery frame  5  of the present embodiment is provided with the pair of gripping portions  72  on the first frame  51 , the operations to mount the second frame  52  on the first frame  51  and remove the second frame  52  from the first frame  51  are easier than with the embroidery frame that does not have the holding portions. 
     The guide portion  57  is a frame shape whose shape is larger than the inner edge  83  of the second frame  52  when seen from the first direction. A protrusion amount in the first direction with respect to the clamping surface  82  of a section of the guide portion  57  in a peripheral direction, which is a direction along the inner edge  83  of the second frame  52 , is smaller than other sections of the guide portion  57 . When the sewing object C is sewn while being held by the first frame  51  and the second frame  52 , there is a case in which the sewing object C is folded over and there is sometimes a section at which the thickness of the sewing object C between the first frame  51  and the second frame  52  becomes thicker than at other sections. In this type of case also, the embroidery frame  5  can alleviate an impact with the thickness of the sewing object C has increased, using the part of the guide portion  57 . 
     Each of the inner edges  73  and  83  of the first frame  51  and the second frame  52  of the embroidery frame  5  is the polygonal shape. When the inner edge of each of the first frame and the second frame is the polygonal shape, when the sewing object is held by the first frame and the second frame, the sewing object is folded over at corner portions thereof and wrinkles easily occur. In contrast to this, the shape of the guide portion  57  of the present embodiment is larger than the inner edge  83  of the second frame  52  when seen from the first direction, and is the polygonal frame shape including the plurality of corner portions  95  to  98 . The protrusion amount of each of the plurality of corner portions  95  to  98  in the first direction is smaller with respect to the clamping surface  82  than the other portions of the guide portion  57 . The embroidery frame  5  can suppress the occurrence of wrinkles when the sewing object C clamped between the first frame  51  and the second frame  52  is folded over at the corner portions  95  to  98  of the guide portion  57 . 
     The guide portion  57  is provided with the moving members  58  and  59  that form at least a part of the guide portion  57 , that can move in the second direction and the third direction that is the opposite direction to the second direction, and that are fixed to the main body portion  56 . When the thickness of the sewing object C is relatively thin, the embroidery frame  5  moves the position of at least a part of the guide portion  57  with respect to the main body portion  56  in the second direction, and when the thickness of the sewing object C is relatively thick, the embroidery frame  5  moves the position of at least a part of the guide portion  57  with respect to the main body portion  56  in the third direction that is on the opposite side to the second direction, and thus, the embroidery frame  5  can appropriately clamp both the sewing objects C. The cross-sectional shape of the moving members  58  and  59  in the second direction is the hook shape that is open downward. Thus, the embroidery frame  5  can cause the weight of the moving members  58  and  59  to be relatively light. 
     The guide portion  57  is provided with the moving members  58  and  59 , and the second frame  52  is further provided with the guide members  101  to  104 . The moving member  58  includes the inclined surfaces  91  and  92  and the plurality of long holes  111  to  113  that extend in the second direction and the third direction at the corner portion  96 , and can move with respect to the main body portion  56 . The moving member  59  includes the inclined surfaces  93  and  94  and the plurality of long holes  121  to  123  that extend in the second direction and the third direction at the corner portion  98 , and can move with respect to the main body portion  56 . The guide members  101  to  104  extend in the first direction and guide the movement of the moving members  58  and  59 . By changing the positions of the moving members  58  and  59  with respect to the main body portion  56 , the embroidery frame  5  can change a space between the inner edge  74  of the main body portion  71  of the first frame  51  and the inner edge  75  of the guide portion  57 . When the thickness of the sewing object C is relatively thin, the user moves the moving member  58  such that the guide members  101  to  103  are positioned on the side of the end portions in the third direction of the long holes  111  to  113 , and moves the moving member  59  such that the guide members  101 ,  104 , and  103  are positioned on the side of the end portions in the third direction of the long holes  121  to  123 . When the thickness of the sewing object C is relatively thick, the user moves the moving member  58  such that the guide members  101  to  103  are positioned on the side of the end portions in the second direction of the long holes  111  to  113 , and moves the moving member  59  such that the guide members  101 ,  104 , and  103  are positioned on the side of the end portions in the second direction of the long holes  121  to  123 . By changing the positions of the moving members  58  and  59  with respect to the main body portion  56  in this way, the embroidery frame  5  can appropriately clamp each of the sewing objects C having the different thicknesses. The embroidery frame  5  can simplify the configuration of the guide portion  57 . 
     In the embroidery frame  5 , there is the gap D between the inner edge  75  of the guide portion  57  and the main body portion  56 . In the embroidery frame  5 , the sewing object C can enter into the gap D between the inner edge  75  of the guide portion  57  and the main body portion  56 . Thus, the embroidery frame  5  can suppress the formation of wrinkles in the sewing object C clamped between the first frame  51  and the second frame  52 . 
     The main body portion  56  is provided with the inclined portions  86  that incline in the first direction from the inner side toward the outer side of the second frame  52 , on the peripheral edge of the outer edge  85 . Even if the second frame  52  makes contact with the cylinder bed  10  of the sewing machine  1  as a result of the embroidery frame  5  being moved in the state in which the embroidery frame  5  is mounted on the sewing machine  1 , the embroidery frame  5  can smoothly move while being guided by the inclined portions  86 . It is thus possible to avoid failure resulting from the collision of the second frame  52  with the cylinder bed  10 . 
     The embroidery frame  5  is provided with the rounded protruding portions  88  and  89 , which are the portions protruding further in the direction opposite to the first direction (in the downward direction) than the inner edge  83  of the second frame  52 , on a portion that is further in the third direction than the inner edge  83  of the second frame  52 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 9B , in the course of the sewing machine  1  moving the embroidery frame  5  to the sewing position after the embroidery frame  5  has moved to a position other than the position above the cylinder bed  10 , the protruding portion  88  or  89  of the protruding member  90  comes into contact with the cylinder bed  10 , and the movement of the embroidery frame  5  with respect to the cylinder bed  10  is smoothly guided. In this way, the second frame  52  of the embroidery frame  5  is lifted so as to be positioned above the cylinder bed  10 , and it is possible to avoid the end portion of the second frame  52  colliding with the cylinder bed  10 . When the embroidery frame  5  has moved to the sewing position, the center portion  87  of the protruding member  90  is disposed above the cylinder bed  10 , a distance between the lower surface of the second frame  52  and the cylinder bed  10  (the needle plate  27 ) is a distance suitable for the sewing, and the protruding member  90  does not obstruct the sewing. 
     The first frame  51  is provided with the yokes  63  and the cladding portion  64 . The yokes  63  conduct the magnetic flux caused by the magnets  62 . The cladding  64  is configured by the non-magnetic material that holds the magnets  62  and the yokes  63 . The embroidery frame  5  can increase the magnetic force of the magnets  62  using the yokes  63 . The embroidery frame  5  can clamp the sewing object C using a stronger magnetic force than the embroidery frame  5  that does not have the yokes  63 . 
     The end portions of the yokes  63  facing the second frame  52  are exposed to the outside from the cladding  64  (to the side of the second frame  52 ), and do not protrude further to the side of the second frame  52  than the end portion of the cladding  64  on the side facing the main body portion  56 . The embroidery frame  5  can reduce a possibility of damaging the sewing object C as a result of the yokes  63  coming into contact with the sewing object C while causing the yokes  63  of the first frame  51  to be as close as possible to the non-magnetic material side of the second frame  52 . The magnets  62  are relatively susceptible to being damaged by impact. In the embroidery frame  5  of the present embodiment, since the magnets  62  are not exposed to the outside from the cladding  64 , the possibility can be reduced of the magnets  62  coming into contact with an object on the outside and being damaged. 
     Unique effects of the embroidery frame  5  of the second embodiment will be explained. The second frame  150  of the embroidery frame  5  of the second embodiment is provided with the urging members  186  to  189  that urge the moving members  151  to  154  in the second direction. Since the embroidery frame  5  of the second embodiment is provided with the urging members  186  to  189 , the operation to change the position of the guide portion  147  with respect to the main body portion  146  in accordance with the thickness of the sewing object C is easy. The guide portion  147  of the second embodiment is different to the guide portion  57  of the first embodiment in that, of the outer edge  74  of the first frame  51 , there are no portions corresponding to the corner portions of the main body portion  71  that is square in a plan view. Thus, in the vicinity of the corner portions, the sewing object C can be disposed along the main body portion  146 . As a result, the embroidery frame  5  can reduce the possibility of the occurrence of wrinkles in the sewing object C in the vicinity of the corner portions. 
     The embroidery frame of the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and various changes may be added insofar as they do not depart from the gist and scope of the present disclosure. For example, the following modifications may be added as appropriate. The configuration of the embroidery frame  5 , the embroidery frame unit  30 , and the sewing machine  1  may be changed as appropriate. It is sufficient that the number of the needle bars provided in the sewing machine  1  be one or more. It is sufficient that one or more types of the embroidery frame be mountable on the sewing machine  1 . The embroidery frame  5  may be configured to be directly mounted on the holder  25  of the sewing machine  1 . When the embroidery frame  5  is attached to the sewing machine  1  via the frame attachment member  31 , the configuration of the frame attachment member  31  may be changed as appropriate. It is sufficient that the mounting portion for mounting the embroidery frame on the sewing machine be coupled to at least one of the first frame and the second frame. The protruding portions need not necessarily be provided. The number, the shape and the arrangement of the protruding portions may be changed as appropriate. It is sufficient that the protruding portions be provided on the lower surface of at least one of the second frame and the mounting portion. An attachment orientation of the embroidery frame with respect to the sewing machine may be changed as appropriate. 
     The size, the plan view shape, the thickness and the like of the embroidery frame  5  may be changed as appropriate. The inner edge of each of the first frame and the second frame may have a shape other than the polygonal shape, such as a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or the like. When the inner edge of each of the first frame and the second frame is the polygonal shape, the shape may be a shape other than the square shape, such as a triangular shape, a rectangular shape, a pentagonal shape, or the like. For example, an embroidery frame  250  as shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B  may be adopted. 
     The embroidery frame  250  of a modified example shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B  is provided with a first frame  251 , a second frame  252 , and the mounting portion  55  that is the same as that of the first embodiment. The first frame  251  is provided with a main body portion  271  and a pair of holding portions  272 . The main body portion  271  is a circular frame shape in a plan view, and has a hole  261  that penetrates in the up-down direction. The pair of holding portions  272  are respectively coupled to the end portions, in the left-right direction, of the main body portion  271 . A view shown inside a circular virtual line in  FIG. 11A  is an enlarged view of a cross section of the embroidery frame  250  of the modified example, and is a view corresponding to the enlarged view in  FIG. 4B . As in the view shown inside the circular virtual line in  FIG. 11A , the main body portion  271  of the first frame  251  is provided with magnets  262 , yokes  263 , and a cladding portion  264 . The cladding portion  264  is provided with a first portion  265 , and a second portion  266 , and the first portion  265  and the second portion  266  hold the magnets  262  and the yokes  263 . Similarly to the first frame  51  of the first embodiment, the magnets  262  and the yokes  263  are arranged in the peripheral direction along the inner edge of the first frame  251 . 
     The second frame  252  can clamp the sewing object C, together with the first frame  251 , using magnetic force, and includes a main body portion  256 , a guide portion  257 , and guide members  301  to  304 . The main body portion  256  is a circular frame shape and has a hole  281  that penetrates in the up-down direction. The main body portion  256  has a clamping surface  282  that is configured by a magnetic material, in a position facing the magnets  262  of the first frame  251 , on a peripheral edge portion of an inner edge  283 . The main body portion  256  includes a pair of inclined portions  286 , provided on the peripheral edges of the outer edge of the main body portion  256  in the left-right direction. The guide portion  257  is configured by four moving members  258  having inclined surfaces  290 . Each of the moving members  258  has the same circular arc shape, and includes a pair of long holes  259  at the end portions thereof. The pair of long holes  259  extend in the second direction and the third direction from the center of the moving member  258  in the radial direction. A protrusion amount of a portion of each of the moving members  258  that overlaps with another of the moving members  258  is smaller in the first direction (the upward direction) than other portions of each of the moving members  258 . Each of the moving members  258  may be configured such that the protrusion amount in the first direction of the portions other than the portion that overlaps with the other moving member  258  is smaller than other portions. The guide members  301  to  304  are pins that extend in the first direction from the main body portion  256 , and are inserted into the long holes  259  of the moving members  258 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11A , when the thickness of the sewing object C is relatively thin, the user respectively disposes the guide portions  301  to  304  in the end portions in the third direction of the long holes  259 , and fixes each of the moving members  258  with respect to the main body portion  256 . As shown in  FIG. 11B , when the thickness of the sewing object C is relatively thick, the user respectively disposes the guide portions  301  to  304  in the end portions in the second direction of the long holes  259 , and fixes each of the moving members  258  with respect to the main body portion  256 . In the embroidery frame  250 , when the moving members  258  are caused to correspond to a position when the thickness of the sewing object C is relatively thick, the inner edge of the guide portion  257  is designed to be a circular shape. 
     In the embroidery frame  250 , since the plurality of moving members  258  have the circular arc shape, when the positions are adjusted in accordance with the thickness of the sewing object C, the shape of the end portion in the second direction of the guide portion  257  is not circular, depending on the position of each of the moving members  258 . It is thus preferable for at least a part of each of the moving members  258  to be configured by a flexible material, such as plastic, that can deform along the outer edge of the first frame  251 . For example, when the design is adopted such that the shape of the inner edge of the guide portion is circular when holding the thin sewing object C, it is preferable that, of each of the plurality of moving members made of the flexible material, at least portions further to the end portion side than the long holes of each of the moving members be configured by the plastic flexible material. 
     The configuration of the first frame  51  may be changed as appropriate. A configuration of the shape, size, arrangement and number of the magnets  62 , the yokes  63 , the cladding portion  64 , the gripping portions  72 , and the like provided in the first frame  51  of the embroidery frame  5  may be changed as appropriate. It is sufficient that there be one or more of the magnets. The yokes  63  need not necessarily be provided. When the embroidery frame  5  is provided with the yokes  63 , the end portions  69  of the yokes  63  need not necessarily be exposed to the outside from the cladding portion  64 . The end portions  69  of the yokes  63  may be positioned lower than the lower end of the cladding portion  64 . The cross-sectional shape of the yokes  63  need not necessarily be the inverted U shape. 
     The configuration of the second frame  52  may be changed as appropriate. The configuration of the mounting portion  55  may be changed in accordance with the configuration of the sewing machine  1 . It is sufficient that the main body portion  56  be configured by the magnetic material at sections facing the magnets  62  of the first frame  51 , and the whole of the main body portion  56  need not necessarily be configured by the magnetic material. For example, of the main body portion  56 , only the clamping surface  82  may be configured by the magnetic material, and, of the clamping surface  82 , only the sections facing the magnets  62  may be configured by the magnetic material. The magnetic material may be a pole of a magnet having the opposite polarity to the end portions  69  of the yokes  63 . The guide portion  57  may be incapable of moving with respect to the main body portion  56 . The guide portion  57  may be configured from single member, such as a circular frame shape or the like. A part of the guide portion  57  may be the moving member. More specifically, when the guide portion  57  includes the moving members  58  and  59 , only the moving member  58  may be movable with respect to the main body portion  56 , and the moving member  59  may be incapable of moving. The cross-sectional shape in the second direction of the pair of moving members  58  and  59  need not necessarily be the hook shape that is open downward. The guide portion may be the frame shape that is configured by the single member having inclined surfaces. 
     The shape and the like of the guide portion  57  may be changed as appropriate. The inner edge of the guide portion of the second frame need not necessarily correlate to the shape of the inner edge of the main body portion of the second frame. When the shape expressed by the end portion in the second direction of the guide portion is the polygonal shape, the protrusion amount in the first direction of the corner portions of at least a part of the guide portion need not necessarily be smaller than that of other portions of the guide portion. There need not necessarily be the gap D between the end portion of the guide portion in the second direction and the main body portion. There may be a gap between only a part of the end portion of the guide portion in the second direction and the main body portion, and not around the whole periphery of the inner edge of the guide portion. The whole periphery of the end portion, in the second direction, of the lower portion of the guide portion may be bent in the third direction. The main body portion need not necessarily be provided with the inclined portions. When the sewing machine  1  can dispose the whole of the embroidery frame  5  in front of the cylinder bed  10 , the inclined portions may be provided on the rear side of the main body portion. When the guide portion is provided with the moving members, the moving members may or may not be urged in the second direction by the urging members. When the guide portion is provided with the plurality of moving members, some of the moving members may be urged in the second direction by the urging members. The urging member may be a member other than the coil spring, such as a plate spring, rubber, or the like. At least one of the moving members  58  and  59  that have the L shape in a plan view, and the moving members  258  that have the circular arc shape in a plan view may be urged in the second direction by the urging members.