Patent Publication Number: US-9422655-B2

Title: Container and sewing machine provided with the container

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-108999 filed May 27, 2014, the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a container that is able to contain waste fiber that is generated by cutting of a work cloth, and to a sewing machine that is provided with the container. 
     A sewing machine that is capable of performing needle punching is known. As an example of a sewing machine that is capable of performing needle punching, a sewing machine is known that is provided with a waste box that contains waste fiber that is generated in the needle punching process, the waste box being provided underneath a needle plate that is mounted on a bed of the sewing machine. 
     SUMMARY 
     However, the sewing machine is provided with a shuttle mechanism underneath the needle plate. Therefore, in the sewing machine that is described above, it is necessary to ensure a space inside the bed for placing the waste box in a position where it does not interfere with the shuttle mechanism. 
     Embodiments of the broad principles derived herein provide a container that is able to contain the waste fiber and that is disposed inside a bobbin containing portion of a horizontal shuttle such that a dedicated space for the container inside the bed is not required, and also provide a sewing machine that is provided with the container. 
     A container according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure includes a cover body and a holding body. The container is configured to be removably mounted on a needle plate of a sewing machine that is provided with a horizontal shuttle inside a bed in which the needle plate is provided. The horizontal shuttle is provided with an outer shuttle and an inner shuttle. The inner shuttle is disposed inside the outer shuttle and includes a bobbin containing portion that accommodates a bobbin. The cover body is plate-shaped and is configured to be removably mounted in the needle plate in a position above the horizontal shuttle. The cover body includes a first face and a through-hole that extends through the cover body. The first face is configured to occupy the same plane as a top face of the needle plate when the cover body is mounted in the needle plate. The holding body is configured to be disposed inside the bobbin containing portion and includes a side wall and a bottom wall. The side wall encircles an area of a second face in which the through-hole is formed. The second face is a face on the opposite side of the cover body from the first face. The bottom wall is disposed such that the bottom wall is opposite the second face. 
     Further, a sewing machine according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure includes a horizontal shuttle, a needle plate, and a container. The horizontal shuttle is provided with an outer shuttle and an inner shuttle, and is in a bed. The inner shuttle is disposed inside the outer shuttle and includes a bobbin containing portion. The bobbin containing portion accommodates a bobbin. The needle plate is provided in a top portion of the bed. The container is configured to be removably mounted on the needle plate and is provided with a cover body and a holding body. The cover body is plate-shaped and is configured to be removably mounted in the needle plate in a position above the horizontal shuttle. The cover body includes a first face and a through-hole that extends through the cover body. The first face is configured to occupies the same plane as a top face of the needle plate when the cover body is mounted in the needle plate. The holding body is configured to be disposed inside the bobbin containing portion and including a side wall and a bottom wall. The side wall encircles an area of a second face in which the through-hole is formed. The second face is a face on the opposite side of the cover body from the first face. The bottom wall being disposed such that the bottom wall is opposite the second face. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an oblique view of a sewing machine  1 ; 
         FIG. 2  is an oblique view of the sewing machine  1 , in which an area that is indicated by a two-dot chain line A in  FIG. 1  is enlarged; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of a shuttle mechanism  80  and a needle plate  20 , as seen from the direction of arrows on a two-dot chain line in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a left side view of a cutting needle unit  90  that is mounted on a needle bar  51 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of a waste container  70 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the waste container  70 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the waste container  70 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a section view of the shuttle mechanism  80 , on which the waste container  70  is mounted, the needle plate  20 , and a lower thread sensor  95 , as seen from the direction of arrows on a two-dot chain line VIII-VIII in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a section view of the shuttle mechanism  80 , on which the waste container  70  is mounted, the needle plate  20 , and the lower thread sensor  95 , as seen from the direction of arrows on a two-dot chain line IX-IX in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a block diagram that shows an electrical configuration of the sewing machine  1 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a flowchart of waste fiber detection processing that is performed in a cut work mode; 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart of waste disposal determination processing; and 
         FIG. 13  is a plan view of a waste container  170  in a state in which a holding portion  174  has been removed from a cover portion  171 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment that gives material form to the present disclosure will be explained with reference to the drawings. Note that the drawings are used for explaining technological features that the present disclosure can utilize. Accordingly, device configurations and the like that are shown in the drawings are merely explanatory examples and do not serve to restrict the present disclosure to those configurations, flowcharts, and the like, unless otherwise indicated specifically. First, the physical configuration of a sewing machine  1  will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 . In the explanation that follows, the top side, the bottom side, the lower right side, the upper left side, the lower left side, and the upper right side in  FIG. 1  respectively define the top side, the bottom side, the front side, the rear side, the left side, and the right side of the sewing machine  1 . In other words, the side on which a liquid crystal display (hereinafter called the LCD)  31  that will be described later is disposed is the front side of the sewing machine  1 . The direction in which the longer dimensions of a bed  2  and an arm  4  are oriented is a left-right direction of the sewing machine  1 . The side of the bed  2  on which a pillar  3  is disposed is the right side. The direction in which the pillar  3  extends is an up-down direction of the sewing machine  1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the sewing machine  1  is mainly provided with the bed  2 , the pillar  3 , and the arm  4 . The bed  2  is the base portion of the sewing machine  1  and extends in left-right direction. The pillar  3  extends upward from the right end of the bed  2 . The arm  4  extends to the left from the upper end of the pillar  3  such that it is opposite the bed  2 . The left end of the arm  4  is a head  5 . 
     A substantially rectangular needle plate  20  is provided on a top face  2 A of the bed  2 . A top face  20 A of the needle plate  20  forms a flat surface that is substantially in the same plane as the top face  2 A of the bed  2 . A work cloth (not shown in the drawings) is placed on the top face  2 A of the bed  2  and the top face  20 A of the needle plate  20 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the needle plate  20  of the present embodiment includes a first needle plate  21  and a second needle plate  22 . The first needle plate  21  is substantially rectangular in a plan view. The second needle plate  22  is substantially L-shaped in a plan view. The first needle plate  21  is provided below a needle bar  51  (refer to  FIG. 1 ) that is provided in the head  5 . The first needle plate  21  has a needle hole  23  that extends vertically through the first needle plate  21 . The needle hole  23  is an oblong hole that extends from left to right. When sewing is performed, the tip of a sewing needle (not shown in the drawings) that is mounted on the lower end of the needle bar  51  is passed through the needle hole  23  as the needle bar  51  moves up and down. The second needle plate  22  is provided on a top portion of a bobbin containing portion  84  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) of a shuttle mechanism  80  that will be described later. The second needle plate  22  has an opening  24  that extends vertically through the second needle plate  22 . A bobbin (not shown in the drawings) around which a lower thread is wound can be mounted in the bobbin containing portion  84 . When the bobbin is mounted in the bobbin containing portion  84 , a needle plate cover (not shown in the drawings) can be attached to the opening  24 . The needle plate cover closes off the top portion of the bobbin containing portion  84 . Furthermore, when the bobbin is not mounted in the bobbin containing portion  84 , a cover portion  71  (described later) can be attached to the opening  24 . The cover portion  71  is provided with a waste container  70  that can be disposed inside the bobbin containing portion  84 . 
     The second needle plate  22  is provided with a support plate  27  and an opening-and-closing lever  28  at the left edge and the right edge, respectively, of the opening  24 . In a case where one of the needle plate cover and the cover portion  71  has been attached to the opening  24 , the support plate  27  presses from above on a projecting portion  77  (refer to  FIG. 6 ) that is provided on the left edge of the one of the needle plate cover and the cover portion  71 . The opening-and-closing lever  28  engages with a hook  76  (refer to  FIG. 6 ) that is provided on the right edge of the one of the needle plate cover and the cover portion  71 . The opening-and-closing lever  28  is energized toward the left against the second needle plate  22 . When the opening-and-closing lever  28  is not being operated, the opening-and-closing lever  28  maintains the state of engagement with the hook  76 . The opening-and-closing lever  28  and the support plate  27  maintain a state in which the one of the needle plate cover and the cover portion  71  closes off the opening  24 . If the opening-and-closing lever  28  is slid to the right, the state of engagement between the opening-and-closing lever  28  and the hook  76  is released. When the state of engagement is released, the support plate  27  presses the projecting portion  77  downward, so the right edge of the one of the needle plate cover and the cover portion  71  moves upward, with the side where the projecting portion  77  is located serving as a fulcrum point. The separating of the one of the needle plate cover and the cover portion  71  from the second needle plate  22 , as just described, opens up the opening  24 . 
     A lower shaft (not shown in the drawings) is provided inside the bed  2 . The lower shaft is rotationally driven by a main shaft (not shown in the drawings) that will be described later. A feed mechanism (not shown in the drawings), a feed dog  25  (only the upper edges of which are shown in  FIG. 2 ), the shuttle mechanism  80  (refer to  FIG. 3 ), a lower thread sensor  95  (refer to  FIG. 3 ), and the like are provided inside the bed  2 , underneath the needle plate  20 . The feed mechanism drives the feed dog  25 . When ordinary sewing is performed in a state in which an embroidery frame moving device  11  that will be described later is not mounted on the sewing machine  1 , the feed dog  25  moves the work cloth. 
     The shuttle mechanism  80  is a mechanism of a known configuration that forms a stitch in the work cloth by operating in coordination with the sewing needle (not shown in the drawings) that is mounted on the lower end of the needle bar  51 , which will be described later. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the shuttle mechanism  80  is provided with an outer shuttle  81 , an inner shuttle  82 , and a locking member (not shown in the drawings). The outer shuttle  81  is rotated horizontally by the rotation of the lower shaft. The inner shuttle  82  is disposed to the inside of the outer shuttle  81 . The locking member locks the inner shuttle  82  such that it cannot rotate. That is, the inner shuttle  82  is locked by the locking member such that it cannot rotate, even if the outer shuttle  81  rotates. 
     The bobbin containing portion  84  in which the bobbin (not shown in the drawings) is contained is formed in the inner shuttle  82 . The bobbin containing portion  84  is located underneath the opening  24  of the second needle plate  22  (refer to  FIG. 2 ). Two openings are formed in the bobbin containing portion  84  of the inner shuttle  82 , although this is not shown in detail in the drawings. The two openings are provided on a light path L (refer to  FIGS. 8, 9 ) that extends between a light-emitting portion  96  and a light-receiving portion  97  of the lower thread sensor  95 , which will be described later. In other words, light that is emitted from the light-emitting portion  96  is able to pass through one of the two openings, the bobbin containing portion  84  and the other of the two openings. 
     An oblong hole  85  and a notch (not shown in the drawings) are formed in the outer shuttle  81 . The oblong hole  85  and the notch are provided on the light path L, in positions that are on opposite sides of a rotational axis Z. (refer to  FIGS. 3, 8 ). In other words, when the oblong hole  85  and the notch are positioned on the light path L, the light that the light-emitting portion  96  emits is able to pass through the outer shuttle  81 , even when the outer shuttle  81  is rotating. 
     The lower thread sensor  95  detects the amount of the lower thread that is wound around the bobbin that is mounted in the bobbin containing portion  84 . The lower thread sensor  95  is provided with the light-emitting portion  96  and the light-receiving portion  97 . The light-emitting portion  96  emits light toward the light-receiving portion  97 . The light-receiving portion  97  generates an electric current that corresponds to the intensity of the light it has received, passes the current through a current-to-voltage conversion circuit (not shown in the drawings), and outputs the resulting voltage to a CPU  61  of a control portion  60  (refer to  FIG. 10 ). The light-emitting portion  96  and the light-receiving portion  97  are respectively provided to the right and the left of the shuttle mechanism  80 . The light that is emitted from the light-emitting portion  96  travels along the light path L, passing through one of the oblong hole  85  and the notch in the outer shuttle  81 , one of the two openings in the inner shuttle  82 , the bobbin containing portion  84 , the other of the two openings in the inner shuttle  82 , and the other of the oblong hole  85  and the notch, and is received by the light-receiving portion  97 . When sewing is performed, the bobbin around which the lower thread is wound is mounted in the bobbin containing portion  84 , the lower thread is consumed as the sewing operation progresses, and the amount of the lower thread gradually diminishes. When the amount of the lower thread that is wound around the bobbin is large, the light that the light-emitting portion  96  emits is obstructed by the lower thread that is wound around the bobbin. However, as the amount of the lower thread that is wound around the bobbin decreases, the light that the light-emitting portion  96  emits passes through without being obstructed by the lower thread that is wound around the bobbin and is received by the light-receiving portion  97 . Based on the intensity of the light that has been received by the light-receiving portion  97 , the CPU  61  of the sewing machine  1  (refer to  FIG. 10 ) detects that the amount of the lower thread has reached a specified amount. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the LCD  31  is provided on the front face of the pillar  3 . Information that includes various types of items, such as commands, illustrations, setting values, messages, and the like, is displayed on the LCD  31 . A touch panel  32  is provided on the front face of the LCD  31 . The touch panel  32  accepts the input of an operation that is performed using a finger, a special touch pen, or the like. A sewing machine motor  33  (refer to  FIG. 10 ), the control portion  60  (refer to  FIG. 10 ), and the like are provided inside the pillar  3 . The sewing machine motor  33  rotationally drives the main shaft (not shown in the drawings), which is provided inside the arm  4 . The main shaft and the lower shaft are coupled by a timing belt (not shown in the drawings), and the rotation of the main shaft is transmitted to the lower shaft, such that rotations of the main shaft and the lower shaft are synchronized. A main shaft angle detector  34  that detects the rotational angle of the main shaft is provided in the sewing machine  1 , although it is not shown in detail in the drawings. 
     A cover  41  that can be opened and closed is provided in the upper portion of the arm  4 . In  FIG. 1 , the cover  41  is in the closed state. A spool (not shown in the drawings) is accommodated under the cover  41 . During sewing, an upper thread (not shown in the drawings) that is wound around the spool is supplied from the spool to the sewing needle (not shown in the drawings) that is mounted on the needle bar  51 , by way of a specified path that is provided in the head  5 . Note that in the sewing machine  1  of the present embodiment, a cutting needle unit  90  that will be described later is mounted instead of the sewing needle being mounted on the needle bar  51 . A plurality of operation switches  42  that include a sewing start-and-stop switch are provided in the lower portion of the front face of the arm  4 . 
     The needle bar  51  extends downward from the lower end of the head  5 . One of the sewing needle (not shown in the drawings) and the cutting needle unit  90  can be mounted on the lower end of the needle bar  51 . A needle bar up-and-down moving mechanism (not shown in the drawings) is provided inside the head  5 . The needle bar up-and-down moving mechanism is a mechanism that moves the needle bar  51  up and down in conjunction with the rotation of the main shaft. 
     In the sewing machine  1 , in a case where embroidery sewing is performed or cut work is performed by the cutting needle unit  90 , the embroidery frame moving device  11  is mounted on the left end of the bed  2 . An embroidery frame (not shown in the drawings) that holds the work cloth can be mounted on the embroidery frame moving device  11 . The embroidery frame moving device  11  is provided with a drive mechanism (not shown in the drawings) in its interior, and it moves the embroidery frame toward the front and the rear, and to the left and the right, on the bed  2 . The sewing machine  1  is able to sew an embroidery pattern in the work cloth that is held in the embroidery frame, and it can also use a cutting needle  91  that is mounted in the cutting needle unit  90  to cut a specified shape in the work cloth. 
     Next, the cutting needle unit  90  will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 4 . The cutting needle unit  90  is provided with the cutting needle  91 , which cuts the work cloth. The cutting needle  91  has a vertically extending rod shape, on the tip (the lower end) of which is formed a cutting tip of a specified width. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the cutting needle unit  90  is provided with a body  92  and a mounting portion  93 . In a state in which the tip of the cutting needle  91  protrudes downward from the lower end of the body  92 , the body  92  supports the base end of the cutting needle  91 . 
     The cutting needle unit  90  is affixed to the needle bar  51 , on which the sewing needle is not mounted, by affixing the mounting portion  93  to the needle bar  51 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , in the state in which the cutting needle unit  90  is affixed to the needle bar  51 , the position of a center axis Y of the cutting needle  91  is offset by a specified distance toward the front from the position of a center axis X of the needle bar  51 . In the present embodiment, the center axis X of the needle bar  51  (the sewing needle) is positioned inside the needle hole  23  in the needle plate  20 . In contrast to this, the center axis Y of the cutting needle  91  is positioned inside the bobbin containing portion  84  of the inner shuttle  82 . When cut work is being performed, the cover portion  71  of the waste container  70 , which will be described later, is attached to the opening  24  of the second needle plate  22  and closes off the top of the bobbin containing portion  84 . A through-hole  75  that extends vertically through the cover portion  71  is formed in a position that corresponds to the position of the center axis Y of the cutting needle  91 . When cut work is performed, the tip of the cutting needle  91  can be inserted through the through-hole  75 . That is, the center axis Y of the cutting needle  91  is the position where the cutting needle  91  passes through the through-hole  75 . 
     Next, the waste container  70  will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 5 to 9 . In a case where cut work is performed, the waste container  70  contains waste fiber (not shown in the drawings) that is generated when the cutting needle  91  cuts the work cloth. As shown in  FIGS. 5 to 7 , the waste container  70  is provided with the cover portion  71  and a holding portion  74 . The cover portion  71  is formed in a plate shape, and it closes off the opening  24  when the waste container  70  is mounted on the needle plate  20 . The cover portion  71  has a shape that matches the shape of the opening  24  in the second needle plate  22 , its left-right dimension being the longest, and with its right front corner portion missing. The cover portion  71  is provided with the hook  76  near the right edge of an underside  71 B. When the cover portion  71  has closed off the opening  24 , the underside  71 B forms the bottom face of the cover portion  71 . The hook  76  projects downward from the underside  71 B, extending in the front-rear direction, and the corners of its lower edge are chamfered. A recessed portion  76 A that makes the right side face of the hook  76  open is formed in the hook  76 . When the cover portion  71  has closed off the opening  24 , the recessed portion  76 A engages with the opening-and-closing lever  28  (refer to  FIG. 8 ). The projecting portion  77 , which projects toward the left, is provided toward the front of the left edge of the cover portion  71 . In a case where the cover portion  71  has been attached to the opening  24 , as described above, the projecting portion  77  is pressed from above by the support plate  27  of the second needle plate  22 , such that the state in which the opening  24  is closed off by the cover portion  71  is maintained. The through-hole  75 , which extends vertically through the cover portion  71 , is formed approximately in the center of the left-right direction of the cover portion  71  and to the rear of the center in the front-rear direction. As described above, when the cover portion  71  is mounted on the opening  24 , the position of the through-hole  75  is a position that corresponds to the inside of the bobbin containing portion  84 . 
     The holding portion  74  is provided such that it projects downward from the underside  71 B of the cover portion  71 . The holding portion  74  is formed in a circular container shape from a resinous material through which light can pass. The holding portion  74  has a shape that fits inside the bobbin containing portion  84  when the cover portion  71  is attached to the opening  24 . The right side portion of the bottom side of the holding portion  74  is inclined upward. It is therefore possible to avoid interference between the holding portion  74  and the inner side of the bobbin containing portion  84  when the cover portion  71  closes off and opens up the opening  24  of the second needle plate  22 . The holding portion  74  is provided with a circumferential wall portion  72  and a bottom wall portion  73 . The circumferential wall portion  72  and the bottom wall portion  73  are transparent, such that light can pass through them. The circumferential wall portion  72  is formed as a single piece with the cover portion  71 , and it projects downward in a ring shape, enclosing the through-hole  75  in the underside  71 B. The right side portion of the bottom side of the circumferential wall portion  72  is inclined upward, and a notch  72 B is formed such that it is recessed into the right edge of the circumferential wall portion  72 . On the left side of its bottom edge, the circumferential wall portion  72  is provided with two protruding parts  72 A that protrude toward the front and the rear, with a specified interval between them. 
     The bottom wall portion  73  is configured in a circular plate shape of substantially the same size as the outside diameter of the circumferential wall portion  72 . A portion on the right side of the bottom wall portion  73  is bent upward. A protruding portion  73 B that protrudes upward and to the right is formed on the right edge of the bottom wall portion  73 . The protruding portion  73 B engages with the notch  72 B of the circumferential wall portion  72 . A support portion  73 A, which projects to the left and on which recessed portions (not shown in the drawings) are formed in the front and rear end faces, is formed on the left edge of the bottom wall portion  73 . The recessed portions of the support portion  73 A engage with the protruding parts  72 A of the circumferential wall portion  72 , such that the bottom wall portion  73  pivots, with the circumferential wall portion  72  serving as the fulcrum point. That is, the side of the bottom wall portion  73  where the protruding portion  73 B is located is able to swing up and down, with the support portion  73 A serving as the fulcrum point. When the bottom wall portion  73  has been swung upward and the protruding portion  73 B is engaged with the notch  72 B, the bottom wall portion  73  closes off the opening at the lower edge of the circumferential wall portion  72 . As described above, the waste container  70  is formed as a hollow container that is connected to the outside through the through-hole  75 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the waste container  70  can be mounted in and removed from a position in the upper portion of the bed  2  that is above the shuttle mechanism  80  that is provided inside the bed  2 . As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , in the present embodiment, the waste container  70  is mounted in the second needle plate  22  of the needle plate  20  by attaching the cover portion  71  to the opening  24  in a position above the shuttle mechanism  80 . The pressing on the projecting portion  77  from above by the support plate  27  of the second needle plate  22  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) and the engaging of the opening-and-closing lever  28  with the recessed portion  76 A of the hook  76  that is provided on the underside  71 B enable the cover portion  71  to maintain the closed-off state of the opening  24 . An outer side  71 A, which is the top face of the cover portion  71  when the opening  24  is closed off, forms a flat surface that is substantially in the same plane as the top face  20 A of the needle plate  20 . That is, the outer side  71 A forms a flat surface that is substantially in the same plane as the top face  2 A of the bed  2 . 
     As explained above, the holding portion  74  is formed into a shape that fits inside the bobbin containing portion  84 . The holding portion  74 , which is provided on the underside  71 B of the cover portion  71 , is disposed inside the bobbin containing portion  84  when the opening  24  is closed off by the cover portion  71 . As also described above, the center axis Y of the cutting needle  91  is in a position where it passes through the through-hole  75  and the holding portion  74 . Therefore, when cut work is performed, the waste fiber that the cutting needle  91  generates by cutting the work cloth enters the holding portion  74  from the through-hole  75  and is held there. Because the opening at the lower edge of the circumferential wall portion  72  is closed off by the bottom wall portion  73 , the holding portion  74  is able to store the waste fiber in its interior. Therefore, when the sewing machine  1  performs cut work, the waste fiber is not scattered outside of the holding portion  74 , that is, in the interior of the shuttle mechanism  80 , including the interior of the bobbin containing portion  84 , or inside the bed  2 . 
     As was also explained above, the light path L, along which the light-emitting portion  96  of the lower thread sensor  95  that is provided inside the bed  2  emits light, passes through the interior of the bobbin containing portion  84 . In a case where the holding portion  74  of the waste container  70  is disposed inside the bobbin containing portion  84 , the light path L passes through the interior of the holding portion  74 . The circumferential wall portion  72  and the bottom wall portion  73  of the holding portion  74  are transparent, so light passes through them. Therefore, by utilizing the function of the lower thread sensor  95 , the CPU  61  of the sewing machine  1  (refer to  FIG. 10 ) is able to detect the waste fiber that has accumulated inside the holding portion  74 . 
     The electrical configuration of the sewing machine  1  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 10 . The sewing machine  1  is provided with the CPU  61  and with a ROM  62 , a RAM  63 , a flash ROM  64 , and an input/output (I/O) interface  66 , each of which is connected to the CPU  61  by a bus  65 . The CPU  61  performs main control of the sewing machine  1  and, in accordance with various types of programs that are stored in the ROM  62 , performs various types of computations and processing that are related to sewing and cut work. The ROM  62  is provided with a plurality of storage areas, including a program storage area and a pattern storage area, although these are not shown in the drawings. Various types of programs for operating the sewing machine  1  are stored in the program storage area. Among the stored programs, for example, is a program for waste fiber detection processing that is performed in a cut work mode that will be described later. Sewing data for sewing various types of patterns are stored in the pattern storage area. Cut data that describe a pattern in which the work cloth will be cut in the cut work mode are also stored in the pattern storage area, for example. The cut data include data on the amounts by which the embroidery frame moving device  11  moves the embroidery frame (not shown in the drawings) on the bed  2 . When cut work is performed, the CPU  61  causes the embroidery frame moving device  11  to move the embroidery frame in accordance with the cut data and moves the cutting needle  91  up and down by moving the needle bar  51  up and down, such that the work cloth is cut along the pattern. 
     Storage areas that store computation results and the like from computational processing by the CPU  61  are provided as necessary in the RAM  63 . Various types of parameters for the performing of various types of processing by the sewing machine  1  are stored in the flash ROM  64 . Drive circuits  67 ,  68 , the main shaft angle detector  34 , the touch panel  32 , the operation switches  42 , the light-emitting portion  96  and the light-receiving portion  97  of the lower thread sensor  95 , and the embroidery frame moving device  11  are connected to the I/O interface  66 . 
     The sewing machine motor  33  is connected to the drive circuit  67 . The drive circuit  67  drives the sewing machine motor  33  in accordance with a control signal from the CPU  61 . The driving of the sewing machine motor  33  rotates the main shaft, such that the needle bar up-and-down moving mechanism is driven and the needle bar  51  is moved up and down. The lower shaft is rotated by the rotating of the main shaft, and the outer shuttle  81  of the shuttle mechanism  80  is rotated by the rotating of the lower shaft. The main shaft and the outer shuttle  81  thus rotate in a synchronized manner. The lower thread sensor  95  is configured such that, in a case where the rotational angle of the main shaft (hereinafter called the main shaft angle) is not less than 5 degrees and not greater than 75 degrees (5 degrees to 75 degrees), the light that the light-emitting portion  96  of the lower thread sensor  95  emits is able to pass through the oblong hole  85  and the notch of the outer shuttle  81  and arrive at the light-receiving portion  97 . 
     The drive circuit  68  drives the LCD  31  in accordance with a control signal from the CPU  61 , causing the LCD  31  to display an image. The touch panel  32  that is provided on the front face of the LCD  31  outputs to the CPU  61  coordinate data that describe the position where an operation has been input using a finger, a special touch pen, or the like. Based on the coordinate data it has acquired from the touch panel  32 , the CPU  61  recognizes the item that has been selected in the image that is displayed on the LCD  31  and performs the corresponding processing. In a case where the touch panel  32  has accepted the input of a specified operation that commands the sewing machine  1  to perform cut work, the CPU  61  (refer to  FIG. 10 ) performs the waste fiber detection processing, which will be described later. The operation switches  42  accept operational inputs to the sewing machine  1 , such as starting sewing, stopping sewing, and the like, separately from the touch panel  32  and output those inputs to the CPU  61 . 
     The light-receiving portion  97 , having received the light that was emitted from the light-emitting portion  96  of the lower thread sensor  95 , generates an electric current that corresponds to the intensity of the received light, passes the current through the current-to-voltage conversion circuit (not shown in the drawings), and outputs the resulting voltage to the CPU  61 . The CPU  61  uses a built-in A/D conversion portion to perform an A/D conversion of the magnitude of the voltage that corresponds to the intensity of the light that was input from the light-receiving portion  97 , yielding an intensity value for the light that is expressed by a numerical value from 0 to 255, for example. The embroidery frame moving device  11  moves the embroidery frame in accordance with instructions that the CPU  61  outputs based on the cut data. 
     The waste fiber detection processing that the CPU  61  performs in the cut work mode will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 . The waste fiber detection processing is started in a case where a command to shift the operation mode of the sewing machine  1  to the cut work mode has been input on the touch panel  32 , for example. The cut work mode is an operation mode in which, instead of the sewing needle that is mounted on the needle bar  51  for ordinary sewing, the cutting needle unit  90  is mounted on the needle bar  51 , and cutting is performed on the work cloth that is held in the embroidery frame. The program that controls the operation of the sewing machine  1  in the cut work mode is stored in the ROM  62  (refer to  FIG. 10 ) and is read into the RAM  63  and executed by the CPU  61 . The program for the waste fiber detection processing is also read into the RAM  63  from the ROM  62  by the CPU  61  and executed in parallel with other programs. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the CPU  61  establishes storage areas in the RAM  63  for a notification flag and a detection flag, then sets both of the flags to OFF (Step S 1 ). The CPU  61  also establishes a storage area for a counter i in the RAM  63  and sets the counter i to zero. The notification flag is a flag that is used for determining whether to issue a message (hereinafter called the disposal message) that urges the disposal of waste fiber that has accumulated inside the holding portion  74 . In the present embodiment, the disposal message is a message that provides notification using an image that is displayed on the LCD  31 . The detection flag is a flag for determining whether a specified amount of the waste fiber has accumulated inside the holding portion  74 . The counter i is a counter for tallying the number of times that a determination has been made that the waste fiber has detected. 
     The CPU  61  performs a waste disposal determination processing subroutine (Step S 2 ). As shown in  FIG. 12 , in the waste disposal determination processing, the CPU  61  determines, based on the output value from the main shaft angle detector  34 , whether the main shaft angle is between 5 degrees and 75 degrees (Step S 11 ). In a case where the main shaft angle is not between 5 degrees and 75 degrees (NO at Step S 11 ), the waste fiber cannot be detected, because the light that the light-emitting portion  96  of the lower thread sensor  95  emits is obstructed by the outer shuttle  81  and cannot pass through the interior of the holding portion  74 , so the CPU  61  returns the processing to Step S 11 . In a case where the main shaft angle is between 5 degrees and 75 degrees (YES at Step S 11 ), the CPU  61  acquires the intensity value that corresponds to the intensity of the light that the light-receiving portion  97  of the lower thread sensor  95  has received (Step S 12 ). 
     The CPU  61  determines whether the intensity value is less than a first judgment value (Step S 13 ). As the amount of the waste fiber that has accumulated inside the holding portion  74  increases, it becomes harder for the light that has been emitted from the light-emitting portion  96  to pass through the interior of the holding portion  74 , so the intensity value that the CPU  61  acquires for the light decreases. In the present embodiment, the CPU  61  determines whether to issue the disposal message by judging the intensity value of the light based on the first judgment value and a second judgment value, which are two threshold values. The first judgment value is a value that indicates that the amount of the waste fiber inside the holding portion  74  has reached an amount at which it is desirable to remove the waste fiber from the holding portion  74 , and it is the threshold value that is used for determining whether to issue the disposal message. The second judgment value is greater than the first judgment value. The second judgment value is a threshold value for a case in which the determination as to whether to issue the disposal message is deferred, because although the amount of the waste fiber that has accumulated inside the holding portion  74  has increased, the holding portion  74  is still able to store more of the waste fiber. In a case where the waste fiber has not accumulated inside the holding portion  74 , the intensity value is greater than the second judgment value (NO at Step S 13 ; YES at Step S 14 ). The CPU  61  resets the counter i to zero (Step S 15 ) and sets the detection flag to OFF (Step S 18 ), then advances the processing to Step S 3  of the waste fiber detection processing. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the CPU  61  determines whether the detection flag is ON (Step S 3 ). In a case where the waste fiber has not accumulated inside the holding portion  74 , the detection flag has been set to OFF (NO at Step S 3 ), so the CPU  61  sets the notification flag to OFF (Step S 4 ) and advances the processing to Step S 6 . The CPU  61  determines whether the cut work has been finished (Step S 6 ). In a case where the cut work that is performed based on the cut data has not been finished (NO at Step S 6 ), the CPU  61  returns the processing to Step S 2  and repeats the processing at Steps S 2  to S 6 . 
     In the waste disposal determination processing that is shown in  FIG. 12 , in a case where the waste fiber that accumulates inside the holding portion  74  increases in conjunction with the performing of the cut work and the intensity value becomes a value that is not less than the first judgment value and not greater than the second judgment value (NO at Step S 13 ; NO at Step S 14 ), the CPU  61  adds 1 to the counter i (Step S 16 ). In the process of the accumulating of the waste fiber inside the holding portion  74 , if the waste fiber accumulates in only one part of the holding portion  74 , for example, the intensity value may temporarily become not greater than the second judgment value. In the present embodiment, while the Steps S 2  to S 6  of the waste fiber detection processing (refer to  FIG. 11 ) are being repeated, in a case where the determination that the intensity value has become a value that is not less than the first judgment value and not greater than the second judgment value is made five times in succession, for example, the CPU  61  determines that the specified amount of the waste fiber has accumulated inside the holding portion  74 . The CPU  61  determines whether the counter i is not less than 5. In a case where the counter i is less than 5 (NO at Step S 17 ), the CPU  61  advances the processing to Step S 18 , keeps the detection flag OFF (Step S 18 ), and advances the processing to Step S 3  of the waste fiber detection processing. As described previously, after the intensity value has become not greater than the second judgment value, if the intensity value becomes greater than the second judgment value (YES at Step S 14 ) before the counter i becomes not less than 5, the CPU  61  resets the counter i (Step S 15 ). It is therefore possible to prevent the amount of the waste fiber that has accumulated inside the holding portion  74  from being detected incorrectly. 
     In a case where the waste fiber that accumulates inside the holding portion  74  has increased further and the intensity value has become less than the first judgment value (YES at Step S 13 ), as well as in a case where the counter i has become not less than 5 (YES at Step S 17 ), the CPU  61  sets the detection flag to ON (Step S 19 ) and advances the processing to Step S 3  of the waste fiber detection processing. As shown in  FIG. 11 , in a case where the detection flag is ON (YES at Step S 3 ), the CPU  61  sets the notification flag to ON (Step S 5 ) and advances the processing to Step S 6 . The CPU  61  repeats the processing at Steps S 2  to S 6 , in the same manner as described above, until the cut work is finished. 
     In a case where the cut work that is performed based on the cut data has been finished (YES at Step S 6 ), the CPU  61  determines whether the notification flag is ON (Step S 7 ). In a case where the notification flag is OFF when the cut work is finished (NO at Step S 7 ), the CPU  61  terminates the waste fiber detection processing. On the other hand, in a case where the notification flag is ON (YES at Step S 7 ), the CPU  61  provides notification that the specified amount of the waste fiber has accumulated inside the holding portion  74  (Step S 8 ). That is, the CPU  61  causes the LCD  31  to display the disposal message. After the disposal message is displayed, the CPU  61  terminates the waste fiber detection processing. 
     As explained above, in the sewing machine  1  of the present embodiment, the holding portion  74  of the waste container  70  can be disposed inside the bobbin containing portion  84  that is formed in the inner shuttle  82  of the shuttle mechanism  80 . It is therefore not necessary for the sewing machine  1  to ensure additional space for mounting the waste container  70  inside the bed  2 . Accordingly, the waste container  70  can easily be mounted in the sewing machine  1  without making any sort of changes to the configuration of the known sewing machine. 
     Furthermore, in a case where the sewing machine  1  is already provided with a function that optically detects the lower thread that is wound around the bobbin, that is, is already provided with the lower thread sensor  95 , that function can be utilized for detecting the waste fiber that has accumulated inside the waste container  70 . In other words, in a case where the waste container  70  is mounted and cut work is performed in the sewing machine  1  that is provided with the lower thread sensor  95 , the waste fiber that has accumulated inside the waste container  70  can easily be detected by the lower thread sensor  95  without removing the waste container  70  from the needle plate  20 . The configuration of the known sewing machine can therefore be utilized in its existing form, making it possible to provide the sewing machine  1  at low cost. 
     When the waste container  70  is mounted in the bed  2 , the outer side  71 A of the cover portion  71  forms a flat surface that is substantially in the same plane as the top face  20 A of the needle plate  20  in the bed  2 . Furthermore, in a case where the cover portion  71  has a structure through which light can pass, that is, where the cover portion  71  is transparent, the waste fiber that has accumulated inside the waste container  70  can easily be visually recognized through the cover portion  71  without removing the waste container  70  from the bed  2 . 
     Configuring the bottom wall portion  73  such that it can be opened and closed in relation to the circumferential wall portion  72  makes it possible for the waste fiber that has accumulated inside the waste container  70  to be removed easily. Because the bottom wall portion  73  does not separate from the circumferential wall portion  72 , there is no concern that bottom wall portion  73  might be lost. 
     Moreover, the opening-and-closing lever  28  that is provided in the second needle plate  22  of the needle plate  20  is configured such that it can engage with the hook  76  of the cover portion  71 , so when the waste container  70  is mounted, the cover portion  71  does not disengage from the needle plate  20 . Therefore, the outer side  71 A and the top face  20 A of the needle plate  20  are able to maintain a flat surface in the same plane. Accordingly, when the work cloth is being moved together with the embroidery frame, the work cloth does not get caught on the cover portion  71 . 
     Furthermore, the lower thread sensor  95  is configured to optically detect the waste fiber inside the waste container  70 , so there is no need to provide a separate, dedicated detector in order to detect the waste fiber. Therefore, the sewing machine  1  can be provided at low cost. 
     In addition, having the sewing machine  1  issue the disposal message to urge the disposal of the waste fiber from the waste container  70  makes it possible to prevent the waste fiber inside the waste container  70  from overflowing and leaking out of the waste container  70 . 
     It is also possible for the waste fiber that is generated when the work cloth is cut by the cutting needle unit  90  to be stored inside the waste container  70  through the through-hole  75 . The waste fiber is therefore not scattered inside the bed  2  and does not impede the rotation of the shuttle mechanism  80 . It is also easy to dispose of the waste fiber. 
     Various types of modifications can be made to the embodiment that is described above. The waste container  70  is mounted on the needle plate  20  by attaching the cover portion  71  to the opening  24  in the second needle plate  22 . However, it is not absolutely necessary for the waste container  70  to be mounted on the needle plate  20 . For example, in a case where the opening  24  is formed in the top face  2 A of the bed  2 , instead of in the needle plate  20 , the waste container  70  may be mounted on the bed  2 . Moreover, in a case where the opening  24  is formed in a separate member that covers the top of the shuttle mechanism  80  and is provided in the top face  2 A of the bed  2  as a different member from the needle plate  20 , the waste container  70  may also be mounted on the separate member. 
     The disposal message does not have to be a message that is displayed on the LCD  31 . For example, the CPU  61  may also issue the disposal message by outputting an audio message to a speaker that is provided in the sewing machine  1 , although this is not shown in the drawings. The CPU  61  may also issue the disposal message by causing an LED lamp that is provided in the sewing machine  1  to turn on or flash. Furthermore, the determination that the disposal message will be issued is made by the CPU  61 , but it may also be made by an electrical circuit such as an ASIC or the like, based on the intensity of the light that is received by the light-receiving portion  97 , and the electrical circuit may also output a command signal to issue the disposal message. 
     In the waste container  70 , the holding portion  74  is formed from a material through which light passes, but the material through which light passes may be either one of a transparent material and a semi-transparent material. A portion of the holding portion  74  may also be formed from a material through which light does not pass, due to a change in the position of the lower thread sensor  95 . For example, if the light path L is configured to pass only through the circumferential wall portion  72 , it is sufficient for at least the circumferential wall portion  72  to be formed from a material through which light passes, and it is acceptable for the cover portion  71  not to be formed from a material through which light passes. 
     The cover portion  71  is attached to the opening  24  by the pressing of the support plate  27  of the needle plate  20  on the projecting portion  77  and the engaging of the hook  76  with the opening-and-closing lever  28 . However, the cover portion  71  may also be attached by being fitted into the opening  24 , for example. The hook  76  is provided on the underside  71 B of the cover portion  71 , but it may also be provided on a side face of the cover portion  71 . 
     The circumferential wall portion  72  of the holding portion  74  that is provided on the underside  71 B of the cover portion  71  is formed as a single unit with the cover portion  71 . However, the circumferential wall portion  72  may also be formed as a separate piece from the cover portion  71  and may be affixed to the cover portion  71  by being glued, by being fitted into the cover portion  71 , by the tightening of a screw, or the like. Furthermore, the bottom wall portion  73  pivots, with the circumferential wall portion  72  as a fulcrum point, but the bottom wall portion  73  may also be attached to the circumferential wall portion  72  by being fitted into the circumferential wall portion  72 , by the tightening of a screw, or the like. 
     The holding portion  74  may also be attached to the cover portion  71  by being fitted into the cover portion  71 , by the tightening of a screw, or the like. For example, a waste container  170  that is shown in  FIG. 13  is provided with a pair of hooks  171 C and a stopper  171 D on an underside  171 B of a cover portion  171 . A holding portion  174  is a circular container shape that is provided with a ring-shaped circumferential wall portion  172  and a bottom wall portion  173  that closes off an opening at the lower edge of the circumferential wall portion  172 . On its upper edge, the holding portion  174  is provided with a pair of protruding portions  172 C that protrude radially outward. When the holding portion  174  is assembled onto the cover portion  171 , the upper edge of the holding portion  174  is brought into contact with the underside  171 B of the cover portion  171 , and the holding portion  174  is slid leftward in relation to the cover portion  171 . The pair of the protruding portions  172 C are engaged with the pair of the hooks  171 C, and the holding portion  174  is disposed in relation to the cover portion  171  in a position where the left edge of the circumferential wall portion  172  comes into contact with the stopper  171 D. The waste container  170  with this sort of form is also mounted on the needle plate  20  by attaching the cover portion  171  to the needle plate  20  and closing off the opening  24 , thus making it possible to dispose the holding portion  174  inside the bobbin containing portion  84  such that the waste fiber from the work cloth that is generated when cut work is performed is stored in the holding portion  174 . Furthermore, with the waste container  170 , the waste fiber that has accumulated inside the waste container  170  can easily be removed by removing the holding portion  174  from the cover portion  171 .