Patent Publication Number: US-7218986-B2

Title: Sewing machine to which embroidery frame moving device is detachably attachable

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-93690, filed on Mar. 29, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present disclosure relates to a sewing machine comprising an embroidery frame moving device including an embroidery frame and an embroidery frame driving motor and a sewing machine body to which the embroidery frame moving device is detachably attached. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Conventional electronically controlled sewing machines include sewing machines capable of carrying out embroidery sewing as well as sewing machines carrying out normal sewing such as zigzag stitches, decorative stitches or the like. Since the embroidery sewing necessitates special mechanisms and special control manners, the sewing machines dedicated to the normal sewing are unable to carry out the embroidery sewing. Users carrying out the embroidery sewing also wish to carry out the normal sewing using the same sewing machine. To meet the demand, manufacturers have developed and sold sewing machines capable of carrying out both embroidery sewing and normal sewing. 
   The sewing machines capable of carrying out both embroidery sewing and normal sewing include a sewing bed formed into a free bed which is generally referred to as “free arm” and are constructed so that an embroidery frame moving device is detachably attachable to the free bed. For example, JP-A-10-52582 discloses a sewing machine with an embroidery frame moving device. In the disclosed sewing machine, a control mode is set at a normal sewing mode when the embroidery frame moving device is detached from the free bed, so that the normal sewing can be carried out by cloth feed by vertical movement of a needle bar and a feed dog. On the other hand, when the embroidery frame moving device is attached to the free bed, the control mode is set at the embroidery sewing mode, so that selection and edit of a pattern for embroidery sewing and embroidery sewing operation are executable. 
   To meet the demands of both users necessitating embroidery sewing and normal sewing and users necessitating only the normal sewing, the manufacturers have manufactured and sold sewing machines dedicated to the normal sewing and sewing machines capable of carrying out both embroidery sewing and normal sewing. Users carrying out only the normal sewing have purchased the sewing machines dedicated to the normal sewing, whereas users carrying out both embroidery sewing and normal sewing have purchased the sewing machines with detachably attachable embroidery frame moving devices which are capable of carrying out embroidery sewing and normal sewing. 
   However, in a case, a user firstly had no intention to carry out embroidery sewing and purchased a sewing machine dedicated to normal sewing. Now, he or she is interested in embroidery sewing and wishes to carry out embroidery sewing. In this case, the user needs to purchase a new sewing machine to which an embroidery frame moving device is detachably attachable. This results in inconvenience. Furthermore, it is manufacturer&#39;s burden to manufacture and sell two types of sewing machines, that is, sewing machine dedicated to normal sewing and sewing machines to which an embroidery frame moving device is detachably attachable. 
   As countermeasures against the aforementioned problems, it is suggested to sell, as a sewing machine dedicated to normal sewing, a sewing machine which is not provided with an embroidery frame moving device but to which an embroidery frame moving device is detachably attachable, so that a user who desires only the normal sewing would purchase such a sewing machine. However, conventional sewing machines to which an embroidery frame moving device is detachably attachable are designed so that patterns other than those for embroidery sewing is selectable and editable even when the embroidery frame moving device is not attached to the sewing machine in view of convenience. Accordingly, when the aforesaid sewing machine without an embroidery frame is sold as the sewing machine dedicated to the normal sewing, the user carrying out only the normal sewing would be perplexed about and troubled with unnecessary pattern selection for embroidery sewing, switches, display and operation for editing, or the like. 
   SUMMARY 
   Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a sewing machine to which an embroidery frame moving device is detachably attachable, which sewing machine can be used both as a sewing machine dedicated to the normal sewing and as a sewing machine which can perform the embroidery sewing as well as normal sewing and which sewing machine can prevent a user from being perplexed about display, buttons, operation for the embroidery sewing or the like when used as a sewing machine dedicated to the normal sewing and can select and edit patterns other than those for embroidery sewing when used as a sewing machine which can perform both the embroidery sewing and the normal sewing. 
   To achieve the above-described or other objects, the disclosure provides a sewing machine to which an embroidery frame moving device is detachably attachable, which will hereinafter be referred to merely as “sewing machine.” An embroidery sewing operation is executable when the embroidery frame moving device is attached to a sewing machine body, whereas a normal sewing operation is executable when the embroidery frame moving device is detached from the sewing machine body. The sewing machine of the disclosure includes a detector which detects the embroidery frame moving device attached to the sewing machine body. The sewing machine further includes a control device having two operation modes, that is, an embroidery sewing mode and a normal sewing mode. The detector detects the embroidery frame moving device initially attached to a sewing machine body by a user who purchased or leased the sewing machine. The control device stores a result of detection. 
   The control device controls the sewing machine under only the normal sewing mode before the embroidery frame moving device is initially attached to the sewing machine body. In this case, the control device controls the sewing machine so that no display, explanation, switch or the like peculiar to the embroidery sewing mode is provided, whereby the sewing machine is used as a sewing machine dedicated to the normal sewing by the user. 
   After the embroidery frame moving device is initially attached to the sewing machine body, the control device controls the sewing machine under either normal sewing mode or embroidery sewing mode according to selection by the user. The control device accepts pattern selection, edit or the like other than the embroidery sewing operation even when the embroidery frame moving device is not attached to the sewing machine body. When the embroidery sewing operation is instructed under the condition where the embroidery frame moving device is not attached to the sewing machine body, the control device warns the user. When the normal sewing mode is instructed under the condition where the embroidery frame moving device is attached to the sewing machine body, the control device also warns the user. 
   The user can use the sewing machine as a sewing machine dedicated to the normal sewing before the embroidery frame moving device is initially attached to the sewing machine body. In this case, display, explanation, switch or the like peculiar to the embroidery sewing mode is eliminated although the control device includes control functions under the embroidery sewing mode. Consequently, the user can devote himself/herself to the normal sewing without being perplexed by the display, explanation, switch or the like. 
   Furthermore, after the embroidery frame moving device is initially attached to the sewing machine body, the user can carry out either normal sewing mode or embroidery sewing mode according to his/her selection. The control device warns so that malfunction is prevented when the embroidery sewing operation is instructed without attachment of the embroidery frame moving device to the sewing machine body or when the normal sewing mode is selected with the embroidery frame moving device. Consequently, safe operation can be ensured. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clear upon reviewing the following description of an example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sewing machine in accordance with an illustrative aspect of the present disclosure; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the control system of the sewing machine shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart showing the control regarding an enabling flag; 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  are flowcharts showing the control regarding the sewing machine; 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart showing the control continued from  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart showing the control continued from  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  shows an example of operation mode selecting screen; 
       FIG. 8  shows an example of embroidery pattern type selecting screen; 
       FIG. 9  shows an example of embroidery pattern selecting screen; 
       FIG. 10  shows an example of screen displaying the selected embroidery pattern; 
       FIG. 11  shows an example of edit screen; 
       FIG. 12  shows an example of screen for changing an embroidery starting point; and 
       FIG. 13  shows an example of screen for changing an embroidery starting point with a trace key  11 Ad being displayed in gray. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   One embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a sewing machine of the embodiment to which an embroidery frame moving device is detachably attachable is shown. The sewing machine comprises a sewing machine body M to which an embroidery frame moving device  30  is attached as will be described later. The sewing machine body M comprises a sewing bed  1 , a pillar  2  standing on a right end of the bed  1 , an arm  3  extending frontward from an upper end of the pillar  2  so as to be opposed to the bed  2 , and a head  4  mounted on the front of the arm  3 . 
   A needle bar  5  provided with a sewing needle  6  is mounted on a lower end of the head  4  so as to be movable vertically and horizontally. The head  4  has a front side on which a start/stop switch  12  is mounted to instruct start and stop of a sewing operation. Inside the bed  1  are provided a feed dog vertically moving mechanism for vertically moving a feed dog for cloth feed, a feed dog horizontally moving mechanism moving the feed dog horizontally, a thread take-up device (a horizontally rotating shuttle, for example) and the like, none of which are shown. The feed dog horizontally moving mechanism is driven by a feed dog driving stepping motor  19  (see  FIG. 2 ), whereas the feed dog vertically moving mechanism is driven by a sewing machine motor  17 . 
   A card slot  13  and a disc slot  15  are formed in one side of the pillar  2 . A read only memory (ROM) card  40  is inserted into the card slot  13  thereby to be connected to a control device  20  (see  FIG. 2 ). A flexible disc  41  is inserted into the disc slot  15 . 
   Inside the arm  3  are provided a needle bar vertically moving mechanism moving the needle bar  5  vertically, a needle bar swinging mechanism swinging the needle bar  5  in a direction perpendicular to a cloth feed direction, a thread take-up lever moving mechanism moving a thread take-up lever vertically in cooperation with the needle bar  5 , and the like. The needle bar swinging mechanism is driven by a needle bar swinging stepping motor  18 , whereas both needle bar vertically moving mechanism and thread take-up lever moving mechanism are driven by the sewing machine motor  17 . 
   A display device  11 A capable of displaying color image is mounted on a front side of the arm  3 . The display device  11 A includes a touch switch  11 B which is disposed on a front face thereof and comprises transparent electrodes. The display device  11 A and the touch switch  11 B constitute a touch panel  11 . When a user touches with his/her finger various operation keys or an embroidery pattern displayed on the display  11 A, corresponding operation instructions or pattern selection is supplied to a control device  20 . 
   A free bed (not shown) which is generally called “free arm” is formed on the left end of the bed  1 . An embroidery frame moving device  30  is detachably attached to the free bed. The embroidery frame moving device  30  comprises a case  30   a , an embroidery frame  31  to which work cloth is attached, a Y-direction drive mechanism  32  driving the embroidery frame  31  in the Y-direction (forth-and-back direction) and an X-direction drive mechanism accommodated in the case  30   a  for driving the embroidery frame  31  in the X-direction (right-and-left direction). The X-direction drive mechanism is driven by an X-direction stepping motor  33 , whereas the Y-direction drive mechanism  32  is driven by a stepping motor  34 . 
   When the embroidery frame moving device  30  has been attached to the free bed, the X-direction and Y-direction stepping motors  33  and  34  are connected via the connector  14  (see  FIG. 2 ) to the control device  20 . The control device  20  drives the sewing machine motor  17  so that the needle bar  5  is moved vertically. The control device  20  further drives the X-direction and Y-direction stepping motors  33  and  34  in synchronization with the vertical movement of the needle bar  5 , so that the embroidery frame  31  is moved in the X and Y directions. The control device  20  controls an amount of movement of the embroidery frame  31  so that an embroidery pattern instructed by the user is drawn, whereby the instructed embroidery is formed on the work cloth. 
   The arrangement of the control device  20  will now be described.  FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing the control system of the sewing machine. The control device  20  which is the nucleus of the control system comprises a microcomputer  20   a , the touch panel  11 , a drive circuit group  20   b  and a flexible disc controller  28 . The microcomputer  20   a  includes a well-known central processing unit (CPU)  22 , a read only memory (ROM)  23 , a random access memory (RAM)  24 , a non-volatile memory  25 , an input interface  21  and an output interface  26 , all of which are connected to one another by a common buss  27 . 
   The control device  20  has two operation modes, that is, a normal sewing mode and an embroidery sewing mode. In the normal sewing mode, a decorative pattern or utility pattern is sewn while work cloth is fed by the feed dog provided in the bed  1  without use of the embroidery frame moving device  30 . In the embroidery sewing mode, an embroidery sewing is carried out with the embroidery frame moving device  30  being attached to the free bed. The ROM  23  stores control programs for carrying out the sewing under the aforementioned operation modes respectively, a program for driving peripheral devices, a program for executing control peculiar to the present disclosure and the like. 
   The RAM  24  is used as a working area. The non-volatile memory  25  is an electrically rewritable ROM and is accordingly used to store embroidery pattern data for execution of embroidery sewing, an enabling flag which will be described later, and the like. The flexible disc controller  28  controls a flexible disc drive  29 , which is used for execution of data exchange between a flexible disc  41  and the ROM  23  or RAM  24 . The ROM card  40  is adapted to be connected via the card slot  13  to the common bus  27 . The ROM card  40  is used to write, for example, data of a new embroidery pattern on the non-volatile memory  25 . 
   The touch panel  11  comprises the display device  11 A and the touch panel  11 B as described above and serves as a man-machine interface between the user and the control device. To the input interface  21  are connected the start/stop switch  12 , the timing signal generator  16  and the touch panel  11 . The start/stop switch  12  instructs start and stop of a sewing operation. The timing signal generator  16  delivers a synchronous signal pulse to inform the control device  20  of a rotational phase of a main shaft (not shown) driven by the sewing machine motor  17 . The synchronous signal pulse is used in order that the main shaft may be rotated in synchronization with the drive mechanisms driven by the respective stepping motors. 
   The drive circuit group  20   b  is connected to the output interface  26 . The drive circuit group  20   b  includes a drive circuit  17   a  for driving the sewing machine motor  17 , a drive circuit  18   a  for driving a needle bar swinging stepping motor  18  and a drive circuit  19   a  for driving a feed dog driving stepping motor  19 . 
   When the embroidery frame moving device  30  is attached to the free bed, a drive circuit incorporated in the device  30  is also connected via the connector  14  to the output interface  26 . The embroidery frame moving device  30  further incorporates the drive circuit  33   a  for driving the X-direction stepping motor  33  and the drive circuit  34   a  for driving the Y-direction stepping motor  34 . 
   To the input interface  21  is also connected a detector  30   b  for detecting the embroidery frame moving device  30  attached to the sewing machine body M. The detector  30   b  includes an interconnect line L pulled up to +5 V by a resistance R and having one end connected to an input port P of the input interface  21  and the other end connected to the ground potential GND at the embroidery frame moving device  30  side. The potential of the input port P is equal to the ground potential when the embroidery frame moving device  30  is attached to the free bed and it at +5 V when the embroidery frame moving device  30  is not attached to or detached from the free bed. The CPU  22  reads the voltage at the input port P of the input interface  21 , thereby determining attached or detached state of the embroidery frame moving device  30 . 
   The processing which is peculiar to the present disclosure and is carried out by the control device  20  will now be described with reference to the flowchart of  FIG. 3 . The sewing machine of the disclosure functions as a sewing machine dedicated to a normal sewing and a sewing machine which can execute both an embroidery sewing and a normal sewing. A user can use a purchased sewing machine as a special purpose machine without being perplexed by display and/or operation regarding the embroidery sewing. Another user who purchased a sewing machine and later the embroidery frame moving device  30  can carry out the embroidery sewing as well as the normal sewing when the device  30  is attached to the sewing machine. 
   In order that the aforementioned characteristic may be realized, the control device  20  stores the fact of attachment in the non-volatile memory  25  once the embroidery frame moving device  30  is attached to the sewing machine. A flag is provided for storing the fact in the non-volatile memory  25 . The flag will hereinafter be referred to as“enabling flag.” The enabling flag is set at “0” when the embroidery frame moving device  30  has never been attached to the sewing machine. The enabling flag is set at “1” when the embroidery frame moving device  30  has once been attached to the sewing machine. 
   When the enabling flag is set at “0,” the control device  20  controls the sewing machine so that the sewing machine is dedicated to the normal sewing. When the enabling flag is set at “1,” the control device  20  controls the sewing machine so that the sewing machine can execute both embroidery sewing and normal sewing. When the maker ships the sewing machine of the embodiment as sewing machine dedicated to the normal sewing, the enabling flag is set at “0.” The enabling flag is set at “1” when the maker ships the sewing machine as a sewing machine which can execute both embroidery sewing and normal sewing. 
   The status of the flag needs to be rewritten from “0” to “1” when a user who purchased a sewing machine and later the embroidery frame moving device  30  carries out the embroidery sewing as well as the normal sewing. The control device  20  executes the rewriting based on a control sequence shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   The control sequence starts upon power supply to the control device  20 . At S 10 , the control device  20  determines whether the enabling flag is set at “1.” When the enabling flag is set at “1,” the control device  20  finishes the control sequence. When the enabling flag is not set at “1” or is set at “0,” the control device  20  proceeds to S 11  to determine whether the embroidery frame moving device  30  is attached to the sewing machine. The aforementioned detector  30   b  is used in the determination at S 11 . When the embroidery frame moving device  30  is not been attached to the sewing machine, the control device  20  finishes the control sequence. When the embroidery frame moving device  30  is attached to the sewing machine, the control device  20  rewrites the enabling flag from “0” to “1” (S 12 ). 
   Thus, when the user possessing the sewing machine dedicated to the normal sewing later purchases an embroidery frame moving device  30  and once attaches the device  30  to the sewing machine body M, the enabling flag is rewritten from “0” to “1.” When the enabling flag is rewritten from “0” to “1,” the control device  20  subsequently controls the sewing machine so that the sewing machine can execute both embroidery sewing and normal sewing. Consequently, the user can carry out the embroidery sewing as well as the normal sewing. 
   Next, referring to  FIGS. 4A to 6 , the case will be described where the control device  20  controls the sewing machine on the instructions of the user so that the sewing machine executes the embroidery sewing or the normal sewing. The control sequence of  FIGS. 4A and 4B  starts after power has been supplied to the control device  20  and the control sequence of  FIG. 3  has been executed. At S 21 , the control device  20  determines whether the enabling flag is set at “1.” When the enabling flag is not set at “1” or is set at “0,” the control device  20  proceeds to S 28 . 
   When the enabling flag is set at “0,” the control device  20  executes only the control of the normal sewing. More specifically, the control device  20  firstly provides an area for storing an operation mode in the RAM  24  and stores the normal sewing mode as the operation mode (S 28 ). Subsequently, the control device  20  determines whether the start/stop switch  12  mounted on the head  4  is ON (S 29 ). Although the start/stop switch  12  is an instantaneous contact switch, the control device  20  processes the start/stop switch  12  so that the switch  12  functions as an alternate switch. More specifically, when depressed while the sewing operation is not executed, the switch  12  is turned to the ON state, so that the sewing operation is initiated. When again depressed subsequently, the switch  12  is turned to the OFF state, so that the sewing operation is stopped. 
   The control device  20  proceeds to S 40  in  FIG. 5  when the start/stop switch  12  is in the OFF state at S 29 . At S 40 , the control device  20  determines the status of mode selecting keys  11 Ba and  11 Bb which will be described later. The mode selecting keys  11 Ba and  11 Bb are not provided when the enabling flag is set at “0.” The control device  20  then proceeds to S 41  where the control device  20  determines whether the operation mode is set to the embroidery sewing mode. In this case, since the operation mode is set to the embroidery sewing mode, the control device  20  returns to S 29 . The control device  20  again checks the status of the start/stop switch  12 . Thus, S 29  is repeated until the start/stop switch  12  is turned ON. When the start/stop switch  12  is turned ON, the control device  20  proceeds to S 30  where the control device  20  determines whether the operation mode is the normal sewing mode. Since the operation mode is the normal sewing mode in this case, the control device  20  proceeds to S 31 . 
   The control device  20  starts a sewing operation of the normal sewing at S 31 . The control device  20  drives the sewing machine motor  17 , the needle bar swinging stepping motor  18  and the feed dog driving stepping motor  19  so that the sewing operation of the normal sewing is carried out. Subsequently, the control device  20  returns to S 38  to determine whether the start/stop switch  12  has been turned ON. The control device  20  returns to S 38  where the start/stop switch  12  has not been turned ON. S 38  is repeated. The sewing operation of the normal sewing is continued until the start/stop switch  12  is again turned ON. 
   When the user again depresses the start/stop switch  12 , the control device  20  proceeds to S 39  to stop the sewing operation. Subsequently, the control device  20  proceeds to S 40 , returning via S 40  and S 41  to S 29  again. 
   Thus, only the sewing operation of the normal sewing is executable when the enabling flag is set at “0” with the embroidery frame moving device  30  not being attached. In this case, the control device  20  does not display any indication regarding embroidery sewing, switches or the like although the control device  20  possesses programs and data regarding the embroidery sewing. Accordingly, the user can carry out the normal sewing by simplified operation of the sewing machine dedicated to the normal sewing without being perplexed by display or operation regarding the embroidery sewing. 
   The following describes the control after the embroidery frame moving device  30  is once attached to the sewing machine body M and the enabling flag is set at “1” by the control sequence as shown in  FIG. 3 . The control device  20  proceeds to S 22  when the enabling flag has been determined to be set at “1” (S 21 : YES). 
   After the enabling flag has been set at “1,” either embroidery sewing or normal sewing can be executed by the option of the user. Accordingly, at S 22 , the control device  20  controls the touch panel  11  so that an operation mode selecting screen as exemplified by  FIG. 7  is displayed on the touch panel  11 . On the screen are displayed a plurality of keys including the normal sewing mode key  11 Ba for selection of an operation mode of the control device  20 , the embroidery sewing mode key  11 Bb and a guidance key  11 Bd. The guidance key  11 Bd is provided for displaying the explanation of operation. Each key which is used here and will be used hereafter designates a key switch constituted by a key image displayed on the display device  11 A and a part of the touch switch  11 B on the key image. 
   The control device  20  returns via S 23  and S 26  to S 23  again when the user depresses no key. In other words, the control device  20  is on standby for depression of either normal sewing mode key  11 Ba or embroidery sewing mode key  11 Bb. When the guidance key  11 Bd is depressed, the explanation of operation is displayed. The control sequence for this purpose is eliminated. 
   When the user depresses the normal sewing mode key  11 Ba, the control device  20  proceeds to S 24  to determine whether the embroidery frame moving device  30  has been attached to the sewing machine body M. When the embroidery frame moving device  30  has been attached to the sewing machine body M, the control device  20  proceeds to S 25  to warn the user that the normal sewing mode cannot be selected, then returning to S 23 . The reason for this is that the normal sewing cannot be carried out when the embroidery frame moving device  30  is attached to the sewing machine body M. The warning is displayed on the touch panel  11 . 
   When the embroidery frame moving device  30  is not attached to the sewing machine body M (S 24 : NO), the control device  20  proceeds to S 28  to carry out the same control manner as in the previous case where the enabling flag is set at “0.” However, the processing at S 40  differs from the above-described. After the enabling flag has been set at “1,” an operation mode selecting screen as shown in  FIG. 7  is displayed, and the normal sewing mode key  11 Ba and the embroidery sewing mode key  11 Bb are displayed on the display  11 A. Accordingly, at S 40 , the control device  20  determines whether either mode selecting key (operation mode selecting switch) has been depressed. When neither key has been depressed, the control device  20  proceeds via S 41  to S 29 . In this case, the control is the same as in the case where the enabling flag is set at “0.” 
   The control device  20  returns to S 23  when either mode selecting key has been depressed at S 40 . Then, the control device  20  determines whether either key has been depressed at S 23  and S 26 . Accordingly, after the enabling flag has been set at “1,” the embroidery sewing mode key  11 Bb is depressed so that the operation mode can be changed from the normal sewing mode to the embroidery sewing mode. On the other hand, when the normal sewing mode key  11 Ba is depressed, the operation mode can be changed from the embroidery sewing mode to the normal sewing mode. The embroidery sewing mode is also selectable even when the embroidery frame moving device  30  is not attached to the sewing machine body M. As a result, a work for editing an embroidery pattern can be carried out even when the embroidery frame moving device  30  is not attached to the sewing machine body M, as will be described later. 
   When the normal sewing mode key  11 Ba is not depressed on the operation mode selecting screen shown in  FIG. 7  (S 23 : NO), the control device  20  returns to S 26  to determine the status of the embroidery sewing mode key  11 Bb. When the embroidery sewing mode key  11 Bb is not depressed either, the control device  20  returns to S 23 . When the embroidery sewing mode key  11 Bb has been depressed, the control device  20  proceeds to S 27 . 
   The operation mode is changed to the embroidery sewing mode at S 27 . The control device  20  then proceeds to S 42  in  FIG. 5 . S 42  to S 46  is a control sequence for accepting selection of an embroidery pattern by the user. Firstly, an embroidery pattern type selecting screen exemplified in  FIG. 8  is displayed on the touch panel  11  at S 42 . A lower part of the screen is the same as the operation mode selecting screen in  FIG. 7 . An upper part of the screen is the embroidery pattern type selecting screen. A plurality of keys for selecting an embroidery pattern type are displayed on the top of the screen. 
   The user depresses a key corresponding to a desired one of embroidery pattern types on display (S 43 ), for example, a key  11 Aa corresponding to “first animal group.” The control device  20  reads data of embroidery patterns belonging to the selected type, “first animal group” from the non-volatile memory  25 , displaying the read data as an embroidery pattern selecting screen as exemplified in  FIG. 9  on the touch panel  11 . Two types of embroidery patterns belonging to the type, “first animal group” are displayed on an upper part of the screen in the example of  FIG. 9 . 
   The user selects a desired one of embroidery patterns. For example, the user depresses a key  11 Ab corresponding to an embroidery pattern, “horse” (S 45 : YES). The control device  20  displays the selected embroidery pattern, “horse” as a selected embroidery pattern display screen as exemplified in  FIG. 10  (S 46 ). Each one embroidery pattern comprises a plurality of combined pattern elements. Accordingly, every pattern element composing the selected embroidery pattern of “horse” is displayed in the order sewn. 
   When the selection of embroidery pattern by the user is completed, the control device  20  proceeds to S 47  to determine whether the edit key  11 Bc has been depressed. The edit key  11 Bc is displayed only when the selection of embroidery pattern at S 45  has been completed. When the edit key  11 Bc has not been depressed (S 47 : NO), the control device  20  proceeds to S 29 . 
   The control device  20  then determines whether the start/stop switch  12  has been depressed. When the start/stop switch  12  has not been depressed, the control device  20  proceeds to S 40  to determine whether the mode selecting keys  11 Ba and  11 Bb have been depressed. When the mode selecting keys  11 Ba and  11 Bb have not been depressed, the control device  20  proceeds via S 41  and S 42  to S 43  to determine whether the embroidery pattern type selecting key (the key  11 Aa or the like in  FIG. 8 ) has been depressed. When the embroidery pattern type selecting key has not been depressed, the control device  20  proceeds to S 47  to determine whether the edit key  11 Bc has been depressed. When the edit key  11 Bc has not been depressed, the control device  20  returns to S 29 . The above-described determination is repeated until the start/stop key  12  or any one of the aforementioned keys is depressed. 
   Accordingly, the user depresses the embroidery pattern selecting key when having selected an embroidery pattern at S 43  to S 45  but wishes to change the selected embroidery pattern to another. Then, the control device  20  returns from S 43  to S 44 , so that the user can select an embroidery pattern. 
   The user depresses the start/stop switch  12  when the embroidery pattern is specified and the user wishes to start to sew the embroidery pattern. The control device  20  then proceeds from S 29  to S 30 . The control device  20  further proceeds via determination at S 30  to S 32  where the control device  20  determines whether the operation mode has been set at the embroidery sewing mode. Since the operation mode has been set at the embroidery sewing mode, the control device  20  proceeds to S 33 . 
   At S 33 , the control device  20  determines whether the embroidery frame moving device  30  has been attached to the sewing machine body M. When the embroidery frame moving device  30  has not been attached, the control device  20  warns the user that the embroidery frame moving device  30  has not been attached (S 34 ), returning to S 23 . The warning is displayed on the touch panel  11 . When the start/stop switch  12  is depressed under the embroidery sewing mode, the control device  20  determines, before start of the sewing operation, whether the embroidery frame moving device  30  has been attached to the sewing machine body M. As a result, an erroneous operation by the user can be prevented. 
   The control device  20  proceeds to S 35  when the embroidery frame moving device  30  has been attached to the sewing machine body M (S 33 : YES). At S 35 , the control device  20  determines whether selection of an embroidery pattern has been completed. When the selection has not been completed, the control device  20  warns the user that the embroidery pattern selection has not been completed (S 36 ), returning to S 29 . Since the embroidery pattern selection is thus checked, an erroneous operation by the user can be prevented. 
   When determining at S 35  that the embroidery pattern selection has been completed, the control device  20  proceeds to S 37  to start an embroidery sewing operation according to the selected embroidery pattern. The control device  20  reads, from the non-volatile memory  25 , sewing data on which the embroidery pattern selected by the user is sewn. The sewing machine motor  17  is driven so that the needle bar  5  is moved vertically. The X-direction and Y-direction motors  33  and  34  are driven in synchronization with the vertical movement of the needle bar  5 , so that an embroidery frame  31  is moved in the X- and Y-directions. An amount of movement is controlled according to the read data, whereby the selected embroidery pattern is sewn on the work cloth. 
   After starting the embroidery pattern sewing operation, the control device  20  proceeds to S 38  to determine whether the start/stop switch  12  has again been turned on. When the start/stop switch  12  is not turned on, the control device  20  again returns to S 38  to repeat the determination. Thus, the embroidery sewing operation is continued until the start/stop switch  12  is turned ON again. 
   When the user depresses the start/stop switch  12  again, the control device  20  proceeds to S 39  to stop the sewing operation. After stop of the sewing operation, the control device  20  returns to S 40  to determine whether the mode selecting switches  11 Ba and  11 Bb have been depressed. When the mode selecting switches  11 Ba and  11 Bb have been depressed, the control device  20  returns to S 23  to determine the operation mode. When the mode selecting switches  11 Ba and  11 Bb have not been depressed, the control device  20  proceeds to S 41  to determine whether the operation mode has been set at the embroidery sewing mode. The control device  20  proceeds to S 42  since the sewing machine is in operation under the embroidery sewing mode in this case. 
   S 42  to S 46  constitutes the above-described control sequence for selection of the embroidery pattern. When the selected embroidery pattern is changed to another, the user selects an embroidery pattern in the same manner as described above. The control device  20  proceeds to S 47  whether the embroidery pattern has been selected or not. At S 47 , the control device  20  determines whether the edit key  11 Bc has been depressed. When the edit key  11 Bc has not been depressed, the control device  20  proceeds to S 29  to determine again whether the start/stop switch  12  has been depressed. As the result of the foregoing control sequence, the control device  20  re-starts an embroidery sewing operation when the sewing operation has been stopped (S 39 ) and thereafter the start/stop switch  12  has been depressed without depression of other keys. The user can complete the selected embroidery pattern by the repeated sewing operation. 
   Next, a control sequence will be described which is executed when the user edits the selected embroidery pattern. In this case, the user depresses the edit key  11 Bc. When the edit key  11 Bc has been depressed, the control device  20  determines at S 47  that the edit key  11 Bc has been depressed, proceeding to S 48 . The control device  20  previously provides an edit mode flag in the RAM  24 . The edit mode flag is set at ON when the edit mode is under execution. The edit mode flag is set at OFF when the edit mode is not under execution. The edit mode flag is set at OFF immediately after power supply to the control device  20 . 
   At S 48 , the control device  20  determines whether the edit mode flag is set at ON. When the edit mode flag is set at ON, the control device  20  sets the edit mode flag to OFF, then returning to S 29 . That is, the edit mode flag serves as an alternate switch. When the edit mode flag is set at OFF, the control device  20  proceeds to S 51  in  FIG. 6 . At S 51 , the control device  20  determines whether an embroidery pattern has been selected. When the embroidery pattern has not been selected, the control device  20  proceeds to S 52  to warn the user that an embroidery pattern has not been selected, then returning to S 29 . The reason for the warning is that editing cannot be carried out without selection of an embroidery pattern. 
   When an embroidery pattern has been selected, the control device  20  proceeds to S 53  to turn the edit mode flag ON. The subsequent S 54  to S 66  constitute a control sequence of the edit mode. At S 54 , an edit screen as exemplified in  FIG. 11  is displayed. The user instructs to edit the selected embroidery pattern using various edit keys displayed on the edit screen. The control device  20  carries out edit processing in response to the instruction by the user (S 55 ). The edit processing includes scale-up, scale-down, turn, pattern addition, pattern elimination, and the like. 
   Upon completion of edit, the user depresses any one of start-point change key  11 Ac, store key  11 Be and edit key  11 Bc. When the start-point change key  11 Ac to change an embroidery start-point has been depressed (S 56 : YES), the control device  20  proceeds to S 57  where the control device  20  determines whether the embroidery frame moving device  30  has been attached to the sewing machine body M. When the embroidery frame moving device  30  has been attached, the control device  20  displays an embroidery start-point change screen as exemplified in  FIG. 12  (S 58 ). The user operates nine navigation keys  11 Ae on the right upper part of the screen, thereby instructing the change of embroidery start-point. The control device  20  carries out change processing for moving the embroidery frame moving device  30  according to the instructions (S 59 ). 
   Upon completion of the change in the embroidery start-point, the user depresses a trace key  11 Ad on the screen to instruct tracing. The tracing is actually moving only the embroidery frame moving device  30  based on data of edited embroidery pattern so that it is confirmed whether a needle  6  correctly draws the embroidery pattern. When the trace key  11 Ad is turned ON (S 60 : YES), the control device  20  proceeds to S 61  to operate only the embroidery frame moving device  30  without vertical movement of the sewing needle  6  (S 61 ). The control device  20  proceeds to S 63  after completion of operation of the embroidery frame moving device  30 . When tracing is not instructed (S 60 : NO), the control device  20  proceeds to S 63 . 
   When determining at S 57  that the embroidery frame moving device  30  has not been attached, the control device  20  proceeds to S 62  to display an embroidery start-point change screen in which the trace key  11 Ad has been changed to gray display (halftone display), as shown in  FIG. 13 . The control device  20  then proceeds to S 63 . The control device  20  also proceeds to S 63  when the start-point change key  11 Ac has not been detected at S 56 . 
   At S 63 , the control device  20  determines whether the storage key  11 Be has been depressed. When the storage key  11 Be has been depressed, the control device  20  proceeds to S 64  to write data of the embroidery pattern edited at S 55  onto the non-volatile memory  25 . The control device  20  then proceeds to S 65 . The control device  20  also proceeds to S 65  also when the storage key  11 Be has not been depressed at S 63 . 
   At step S 65 , the control device  20  determines whether the edit key  11 Bc has been depressed. When the edit key  11 Bc has not been depressed, the control device  20  returns to S 54 , to repeat the edit processing. When the edit key  11 Bc has been depressed, the control device  20  sets the edit mode flag to OFF, thereafter ending the edit mode (S 66 ). The control device  20  then returns to S 29 . In case that the edit processing has been carried out, the embroidery sewing operation is carried out based on data of edited embroidery pattern when the start/stop switch  12  is depressed. 
   As described above, the user can operate the sewing machine as a sewing machine dedicated to the normal sewing before the embroidery frame moving device  30  is initially attached to the sewing machine body M. In this case, display, explanation, switches and the like peculiar to the embroidery sewing mode are eliminated although the control device  20  has a function of controlling the sewing machine under the embroidery sewing mode. Accordingly, the user can devote himself/herself to the normal sewing without being perplexed by the aforementioned display, explanation, switches and the like peculiar to the embroidery sewing mode. On the other hand, the manufacturer can sell a sewing machine which is dedicated to the normal sewing but can carry out the embroidery sewing and normal sewing. 
   Furthermore, after the embroidery frame moving device  30  is attached to the sewing machine body M even once, the user can selectively carry out either embroidery sewing or normal sewing. In this case, when an embroidery sewing operation is instructed without the embroidery frame moving device  30  being attached or when the normal sewing mode has been selected with the embroidery frame moving device  30  being attached, the control device  20  warns the user, whereupon an erroneous operation can be prevented. Consequently, safety can be ensured in the operation of the sewing machine. 
   The above-described embodiment can be modified as follows. 
   (1) Although various warning messages are displayed on the touch panel  11  in the foregoing embodiment, a warning buzzer may be actuated with or without display of warning message. 
   (2) Although data on embroidery patterns is stored on the non-volatile memory  25  in the foregoing embodiment, data on embroidery patterns may be read out of an external ROM card  40  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Furthermore, data on embroidery patterns may be read out of an external computer by way of communication, and data of edited embroidery pattern may be transmitted to the external computer to be stored. 
   (3) Although execution or non-execution of attachment of the embroidery frame moving device  30  is detected by a potential change in the input port P due to connection or non-connection of the connector  14 , execution or non-execution of attachment of the embroidery frame moving device  30  may be detected by a mechanical switch such as a limit switch or a photoelectric switch. 
   The foregoing description and drawings are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention and are not to be construed in a limiting sense. Various changes and modifications will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. All such changes and modifications are seen to fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.