Patent Publication Number: US-8967060-B2

Title: Sewing machine

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-119381, filed May 25, 2012, the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a sewing machine to which a lid member is attached. 
     Various types of lid member are attached to a sewing machine. For example, a lid member is attached to a frame portion that is provided on an upper portion of a sewing machine, such that the lid member can open and close. In a closed state, the lid member covers an open space provided on the upper portion of the sewing machine. For example, a thread spool storage portion and a thread guard etc. are arranged in the open space. When replacing the thread spool and so on, the lid member is opened and closed by a user. 
     Various technologies are being considered to improve operability when opening and closing the lid member attached to the sewing machine. For example, a sewing machine is known that is provided with a spring portion and a damper portion. The spring portion urges the lid member in a direction to open the lid member. The damper portion performs deceleration control of a rotation of the lid member in the course of the spring member causing the lid member to move to an open position. 
     SUMMARY 
     With the above-described sewing machine, because the lid member is being urged in the direction to open the lid member, a relatively large amount of force is required when closing the lid member. For that reason, there is a case in which an excessive amount of force is applied to the lid member when closing the lid member. When the excessive amount of force is applied to the lid member, the lid member impacts against the frame portion with a lot of momentum, and this sometimes causes a large noise. Thus, there is demand to further improve the operability when opening and closing the lid member that is attached to the sewing machine. 
     Various embodiments of the broad principles derived herein provide a sewing machine with improved operability when opening and closing a lid member. 
     Embodiments provide a sewing machine that includes a frame portion, a lid member, and a control portion. The lid member is attached to the frame portion such that the lid member can open and close. The control portion is configured to control a movement speed of the lid member depending on an aperture of the lid member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a sewing machine when a lid member is open; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the lid member and a control unit as seen from the right side; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the control unit; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the control unit; and 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram showing changes in positional relationships of respective members, in a process in which an engagement member rotates in accordance with opening and closing of the lid member. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained with reference to the drawings. Note that the drawings are used to explain technological features that the present disclosure can utilize, and configurations etc. of devices that are described are simply explanatory examples. 
     A physical configuration of a sewing machine  1  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 1 . In the following explanation, the up-down direction and the left-right direction in  FIG. 1  are, respectively, the up-down direction and the left-right direction of the sewing machine  1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a main body  2  of the sewing machine  1  is mainly provided with a bed portion  11 , a pillar  12 , and an arm portion  13 . The pillar  12  extends upward from the right end of the bed portion  11 . The arm portion  13  extends to the left from the upper end of the pillar  12  such that the arm portion  13  faces the bed portion  11 . The leading end of the arm portion  13  is a head portion  14 . 
     A vertically rectangular liquid crystal display (hereinafter referred to as an “LCD”)  15  is provided on the front face of the pillar  12 . An image including various items, such as commands, illustrations, setting values and messages may be displayed on the LCD  15 . A touch panel  26  is provided in the front surface of the LCD  15 . 
     A frame portion  36  is provided on the upper portion of the arm portion  13 . A lid member  16  is attached to the frame portion  36 . The lid member  16  is attached to the frame portion  36  by control units  40  and  41  such that the lid member  16  can open and close. The control units  40  and  41  are detachably supported by the frame portion  36 . When the lid member  16  is removed from the frame portion  36 , the lid member  16  can be removed together with the control units  40  and  41 . The control units  40  and  41  are configured to control a movement speed of the lid member  16  depending on an aperture of the lid member  16 . The control units  40  and  41  will be explained in more detail later. 
     In a state in which the lid member  16  is completely closed, a thread storage portion  18  is below the lid member  16 , more specifically, in a generally center portion inside the arm portion  13 . Hereinafter, the state in which the lid member  16  is completely closed is referred to as a “closed state.” The thread storage portion  18  is a recessed portion in which a thread spool (not shown in the drawings) can be housed. A thread spool pin  19 , which protrudes to the left toward the head portion  14 , is provided on an inner wall surface of the thread storage portion  18  on the pillar  12  side. When the thread spool pin  19  is inserted through an insertion hole (not shown in the drawings) formed in the thread spool, the thread spool is mounted in the thread storage portion  18 . 
     An upper thread (not shown in the drawings) that is wound on the thread spool may be supplied to a sewing needle  22  that is attached to a needle bar  21 . The upper thread may be supplied from the thread spool to the sewing needle  22  via a thread guard (not shown in the drawings) that is provided on the head portion  14 . The needle bar  21  may be driven to move in the up-down direction by a needle bar up-and-down drive mechanism (not shown in the drawings) that is provided in the head portion  14 . The needle bar up-and-down drive mechanism may be driven by a drive shaft (not shown in the drawings) that is driven to rotate by a sewing machine motor (not shown in the drawings). A presser bar (not shown in the drawings) extends downward from the lower end of the head portion  14 . A presser foot  23 , which can press a work cloth (not shown in the drawings), is replaceably attached to the presser bar. A plurality of operation switches, including a start-and-stop switch  24 , are provided on a lower portion on the front surface of the arm portion  13 . 
     A configuration of the control units  40  and  41  will be explained in detail with reference to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 4 . The control units  40  and  41  each have the same configuration. Therefore, the configuration of the control unit  40  will be explained in detail, and an explanation of the control unit  41  will be omitted. Lower left, upper right, upper left, lower right, up and down in  FIG. 4  correspond, respectively, to the right, the left, the front, the rear, the top and the bottom of the control unit  40 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the control unit  40  includes an engagement member  50 , a cam plate  60 , a contactor  80 , a damper member  90 , a base  100  and a torsion spring  120 . Each of the structural members that configure the control unit  40  is formed of metal or plastic, for example. 
     The engagement member  50  includes a cam portion  51 , a shaft  56  and an attachment portion  57 . A case in which a movement speed of the lid member  16  is adjusted by the control unit  40  and a case in which the movement speed is not adjusted can be switched depending on whether the cam portion  51  engages with an engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80 . The cam portion  51  includes a first engagement portion  52 , a protruding portion  53 , an arc-shaped portion  54  and a second engagement portion  55 . The first engagement portion  52  is a part that is cut out, in a right side view, from an outer side of the engagement member  50  toward the shaft  56 . The protruding portion  53  is a part that protrudes, in the right side view, from the shaft  56  toward the outside, and a leading end portion of the protruding portion  53  protrudes in the anti-clockwise direction. The arc-shaped portion  54  is a part that is arc-shaped in the right side view, centering on the shaft  56 . The second engagement portion  55  is a part that protrudes, in the right side view, from the shaft  56  toward the outside of the engagement member  50 . The shaft  56  protrudes to the left from the left side surface of the engagement member  50 . The engagement member  50  can rotate around the shaft  56 . The attachment portion  57  is a part that may be used to fix the engagement member  50  to an attachment portion  39  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) that is provided on the lid member  16 . Screw holes  58  and  59  are formed, respectively, on a front portion and a rear portion of the attachment portion  57 . The lid member  16  may be coupled with the engagement member  50  by a screw  37  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) that is inserted into the screw hole  58  and by a screw  38  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) that is inserted into the screw hole  59 . 
     The cam plate  60  is a flat plate having a generally rectangular shape in a right side view. In a state in which the control unit  40  is attached to the frame portion  36 , the cam plate  60  is fixed with respect to the frame portion  36 . The cam plate  60  includes a cam groove  61 , a shaft hole  64  and holes  65  to  67 . The cam groove  61  determines a movement path of the contactor  80  when the lid member  16  moves. The cam groove  61  includes a first cam groove  62  and a second cam groove  63 . Both the first cam groove  62  and the second cam groove  63 , respectively, form an arc-shaped hole centering around the shaft hole  64  in the right side view. The upper portion of the first cam groove  62  is joined to the lower portion of the second cam groove  63 . The inner arc radius of the first cam groove  62  is smaller than the arc radius of the arc-shaped portion  54  of the engagement member  50 . The inner arc radius of the second cam groove  63  corresponds to the arc radius of the arc-shaped portion  54  of the engagement member  50 . The shaft  56  of the engagement member  50  may be inserted into the shaft hole  64 . The holes  65  to  67  are formed, respectively, in the upper left portion, the lower left portion and the lower right portion of the cam plate  60  in the right side view. The cam plate  60  may be fixed to the base  100  by screws  110  to  112  that are respectively inserted into the holes  65  to  67 . 
     The contactor  80  is configured to come into contact with the cam groove  61  that is formed in the cam plate  60  and move along the cam groove  61 . When the lid member  16  moves within a range that will be explained later, the contactor  80  moves on the path that is determined by the cam groove  61 , while engaging with the engagement member  50 . The contactor  80  is configured to be coupled with the damper member  90 . The contactor  80  includes a plate portion  81 , the engagement pin  82  and a shaft  83 . The plate portion  81  is a plate that connects the engagement pin  82  and the shaft  83 . The engagement pin  82  protrudes to the right from the right side surface of the plate portion  81 . When the control unit  40  is assembled, the engagement pin  82  is in a state of being inserted through the first cam groove  62  or the second cam groove  63 . The shaft  83  extends to the left from the left side surface of the plate portion  81 . 
     The damper member  90  is a member that is configured to regulate a movement speed of the lid member  16  when the lid member  16  is moved by a force applied to the lid member  16  by a user, and by the urging force of the torsion spring  120 . The damper member  90  includes a wheel  91  and a damper  96 . The wheel  91  is a plate member having a generally circular shape in the right side view. The wheel  91  is configured to be coupled, respectively, to the contactor  80  and the damper  96 . The wheel  91  includes shaft holes  92  and  93 , a groove portion (not shown in the drawings) and a gear portion  94 . The shaft  56  of the engagement member  50  is inserted into the shaft hole  92 . The shaft  83  of the contactor  80  is inserted into the shaft hole  93 . A retaining ring  113  is attached to the leading end portion on the left side surface side of the shaft  83 . The contactor  80  may be coupled to the damper member  90  in this manner. The groove portion is formed on the left side surface of the wheel  91 . The groove portion latches a first arm portion  121  of the torsion spring  120 . The gear portion  94  is a sector gear that centers around the shaft hole  92 . The damper  96  is a so-called rotary damper. The damper  96  is configured to regulate a rotational operation of the wheel  91 . The damper  96  includes a gear portion  97  and attachment portions  98  and  99 . The gear portion  97  may mesh with the gear portion  94  of the wheel  91 . 
     The base  100  is a box-shaped member having a generally rectangular shape in the right side view. The base  100  is configured to support the engagement member  50 , the cam plate  60 , the contactor  80 , the damper member  90  and the torsion spring  120 . The base  100  includes a shaft hole  101 , a recessed portion  102 , an attachment hole  103 , an attachment portion  106  and screw holes  107  to  109 . The shaft  56  of the engagement member  50  may be inserted into the shaft hole  101 . The recessed portion  102  is a portion that is indented from the right side surface side to the left side surface side. Due to the formation of the recessed portion  102 , the shaft  83  does not come into contact with the base  100  when the contactor  80  moves. In a state in which the gear portion  97  penetrates through the attachment hole  103 , the damper  96  is fixed to the left side surface of the base  100  by a screw that is not shown in the drawings. The screw holes  107  to  109  are formed, respectively, in the upper left portion, the lower left portion and the lower right portion of the base  100  in the right side view. The screws  110  to  112  are respectively screwed into the screw holes  107  to  109 . 
     The shaft  56  of the engagement member  50  may be inserted into the shaft hole  64 , the shaft hole  92  and the shaft hole  101 . A retaining ring  114  may be attached to the leading end of the shaft  56  on the left side surface side. The torsion spring  120  urges the engagement member  50 , via the wheel  91 , in the direction of closing the lid member  16 . The first arm portion  121  of the torsion spring  120  is latched into the groove portion (not shown in the drawings) of the wheel  91 , and a second arm portion  122  is latched into a hole (not shown in the drawings) that is formed in the upper right portion of the base  100  in the right side view. 
     A mechanism by which the control units  40  and  41  control the movement speed of the lid member  16  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 5 . The lid member  16  may be opened and closed by the user when replacing the thread spool, for example. In the present embodiment, the control units  40  and  41  are configured to control the movement speed of the lid member  16  depending on an aperture of the lid member  16 . The aperture indicates to what extent the lid member  16  is open. In the present embodiment, the aperture of the lid member  16  is defined in the following manner. The aperture is calculated based on a perpendicular line that passes through the shaft  56  of the engagement member  50  and that intersects perpendicularly with a side  27  (refer to  FIG. 2 ). The side  27  is the lower edge of the attachment portion  39  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) of the lid member  16 . The shaft  56  is a center of rotation when the lid member  16  moves rotationally. As shown in  FIG. 2 , in a closed state, in which the lid member  16  is completely closed, the aperture is zero. 
     A line  251  is a perpendicular line when the lid member  16  is in the closed state. A line  254  is a perpendicular line when the lid member  16  is in a state of being open to a maximum extent. The state of the lid member  16  being open to the maximum extent is hereinafter simply referred to as a “completely open state”. Hereinafter, a range that is between the line  251  and the line  254  is referred to as an aperture range of the lid member  16 . In the present embodiment, the aperture range of the lid member  16  is divided into three ranges, namely, a first range  301 , a middle range  302  and a second range  303 . The first range  301  is a continuous range that includes the aperture of the lid member  16  in the closed state. Specifically, the first range  301  is a range that corresponds to a case in which the lid member  16  is in the closed state and a state in which the lid member  16  is almost closed. The second range  303  is a continuous range that includes the aperture of the lid member  16  when the lid member  16  is in the completely open state. Specifically, the second range  303  is a range that corresponds to a case in which the lid member  16  is in the completely open state and a state in which the lid member  16  is almost completely open. The middle range  302  is a range that is located between the first range  301  and the second range  303 . A line  252  is a perpendicular line that corresponds to a case in which the aperture of the lid member  16  is on a boundary between the first range  301  and the middle range  302 . A line  253  is a perpendicular line that corresponds to a case in which the aperture of the lid member  16  is on a boundary between the middle range  302  and the second range  303 . The control unit  40  is configured to adjust the movement speed of the lid member  16  when the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the first range  301  or within the second range  303 . When the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the middle range  302 , the control unit  40  does not adjust the movement speed of the lid member  16 . The control unit  40  is configured to switches between adjusting the movement speed of the lid member  16  and not adjusting the movement speed of the lid member  16  depending on whether the engagement member  50  rotates while engaging with the contactor  80 . In this way, the control unit  40  enhances operability when opening and closing the lid member  16  and also operates to reliably close the lid member  16 . 
       FIG. 5  shows changes in positional relationships of respective members, when the control unit  40  is seen in a right side view, over the course of the rotation of the engagement member  50  in accordance with the opening and closing of the lid member  16 . Row P in  FIG. 5  indicates the aperture range of the lid member  16 . A range indicated by an arrow  201  corresponds to the first range  301  shown in  FIG. 2 . A range indicated by an arrow  202  corresponds to the middle range  302  shown in  FIG. 2 . A range indicated by an arrow  203  corresponds to the second range  303  shown in  FIG. 2 . Row R shows positional relationships among the engagement member  50 , the cam plate  60 , the engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80  and the wheel  91 . Row S shows positional relationships among the cam plate  60 , the engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80  and the torsion spring  120 . In row S, an illustration of the engagement member  50  is omitted. Row T shows positional relationships among the engagement member  50 , the cam plate  60  and the engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80 . 
     Columns in  FIG. 5  show the positional relationships of the respective members of the control unit  40  at specific apertures of the lid member  16 . More specifically, column B shows the closed state of the lid member  16 . Column C shows a state in which the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the first range  301 . Column D shows a state in which the aperture of the lid member  16  is on the boundary between the first range  301  and the middle range  302 . Column E shows a state in which the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the middle range  302 . Column F shows a state in which the aperture of the lid member  16  is on the boundary between the middle range  302  and the second range  303 . Column G shows the completely open state of the lid member  16 . 
     When the lid member  16  is in the closed state, the engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80  is in contact with the first cam groove  62  and engages with the first engagement portion  52 , as shown in column B in  FIG. 5 . When the user opens the lid member  16  that is in the closed state, the user lifts up a front edge portion  28  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) of the lid member  16 . The lid member  16  moves by rotating in the clockwise direction in the right side view, rotating around the shaft  56  of the control units  40  and  41 . When the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the first range  301 , the engagement member  50  rotates while engaging with the engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80 , as shown in column C in  FIG. 5 . The engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80  moves on a first path along the cam plate  60  while being supported by the first engagement portion  52  of the engagement member  50 . The first path of the present embodiment is a path along the first cam groove  62  of the cam plate  60 . As shown in row S, column C in  FIG. 5 , the first arm portion  121  of the torsion spring  120  rotatingly moves in accordance with the rotation of the wheel  91 , and an angle of deflection increases. 
     When the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the first range  301 , an urging force is applied to the engagement member  50  by the deflection of the first arm portion  121  of the torsion spring  120 . More specifically, the lid member  16  is urged in the direction of closing (in the anti-clockwise direction in the right side view) by the torsion spring  120 , when the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the first range  301 . Further, when the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the first range  301 , the movement speed of the lid member  16  is regulated by the damper member  90 . Thus, when the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the first range  301 , the movement speed of the lid member  16  is adjusted by the control units  40  and  41 . Specifically, the movement speed of the lid member  16 , which is defined by a difference between a force applied by the user in the direction to open the lid member  16  and the urging force applied in the direction of closing by the torsion spring  120 , is regulated by the damper  96 . 
     When the aperture of the lid member  16  reaches the boundary between the first range  301  and the middle range  302 , the engagement member  50  that is engaged with the engagement pin  82  releases the engagement with the engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80 . The engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80  is guided along the cam groove  61  by the protruding portion  53 . The engagement pin  82  moves from the first cam groove  62  toward the second cam groove  63 , and moves from the uppermost portion of the first cam groove  62  to the lowermost portion of the second cam groove  63 . When the aperture of the lid member  16  reaches the boundary between the first range  301  and the middle range  302 , the engagement member  50  releases the engagement with the engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80 , as shown in column D in  FIG. 5 . When the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the middle range  302 , the engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80  is positioned at the lowermost portion of the second cam groove  63 , as shown in column E in  FIG. 5 . As the engagement member  50  and the engagement pin  82  are not engaged with each other, even if the lid member  16  moves, the engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80  does not move. Further, the first arm portion  121  of the torsion spring  120  does not rotatingly move. Meanwhile, the engagement member  50 , which is not engaged with the engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80 , may rotate around the shaft  56 . At this time, the urging force of the torsion spring  120  does not act on the engagement member  50 . Specifically, the lid member  16  is not urged by the torsion spring  120 . Further, the movement speed of the lid member  16  is not regulated by the damper member  90 . Thus, when the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the middle range  302 , the movement speed of the lid member  16  is not adjusted by the control units  40  and  41 . 
     When the aperture of the lid member  16  reaches the boundary between the middle range  302  and the second range  303 , the second engagement portion  55  of the engagement member  50  comes into contact with the engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80 , as shown in column F. In this manner, the engagement member  50  engages with the engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80 . When the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the second range  303 , the engagement member  50  rotates around the shaft  56  of the engagement member  50  while engaging with the engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80 , as shown in column G. The engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80  moves on a second path along the cam plate  60  while being supported by the second engagement portion  55  of the engagement member  50 . The second path of the present embodiment is a path along the second cam groove  63  of the cam plate  60 . When the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the second range  303 , the urging force of the torsion spring  120  is applied to the engagement member  50 . Thus, the lid member  16  is urged in the direction of closing by the torsion spring  120 . Further, the movement speed of the lid member  16  is regulated by the damper member  90 . Therefore, when the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the second range  303 , the movement speed of the lid member  16  is adjusted, similarly to when the aperture is within the first range  301 . When the user removes the user&#39;s hand from the lid member  16  in a state in which the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the second range  303 , the lid member  16  moves such that the aperture of the lid member  16  is on the boundary between the middle range  302  and the second range  303 , due to the urging force of the torsion spring  120 . Further, at this time, the lid member  16  moves slowly, due to the regulating force of the damper member  90 . In this way, the lid member  16  does not stop in a position in the completely open state, but moves to a position in which the aperture of the lid member  16  is on the boundary between the middle range  302  and the second range  303 . 
     When the lid member  16  is closed from the open state (column F in  FIG. 5 ), the user holds the front edge portion  28  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) of the lid member  16  and closes the lid member  16 . The lid member  16  rotatingly moves in the anti-clockwise direction, as seen in the right side view, around the shaft  56  of the control units  40  and  41 . When the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the middle range  302 , the engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80  is positioned at the lowermost end of the second cam groove  63  and does not move, as shown in column E. Thus, the movement speed of the lid member  16  is not adjusted by the control units  40  and  41 . 
     When the aperture of the lid member  16  reaches the boundary between the middle range  302  and the first range  301 , the engagement member  50  that is not engaged with the engagement pin  82  engages with the engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80 , as shown in column D. The engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80  moves from the lowermost portion of the second cam groove  63  to the uppermost portion of the first cam groove  62 , while being guided by the protruding portion  53 . When the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the first range  301 , the engagement member  50  rotates while engaging with the engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80 , as shown in column C. The engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80  moves on the first path that is determined by the first cam groove  62  of the cam plate  60  along the cam plate  60 , while being supported by the first engagement portion  52  of the engagement member  50 . Thus, when the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the first range  301 , the movement speed of the lid member  16  is adjusted by the control units  40  and  41 . More specifically, the movement speed of the lid member  16 , which is defined by the resultant force of the force applied by the user in the direction to close the lid member  16  and the urging force applied in the direction of closing by the torsion spring  120 , is regulated by the damper  96 . When the user removes the user&#39;s hand from the lid member  16  in a state in which the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the first range  301 , the lid member  16  slowly moves to a position in which the lid member  16  reaches the closed state. 
     In the sewing machine  1 , when the user performs an operation to open the lid member  16 , and when the user performs an operation to close the lid member  16 , it is possible to switch between adjusting and not adjusting the movement speed of the lid member  16  depending on the aperture of the lid member  16 . The sewing machine  1  can regulate the movement speed of the lid member  16  by the relatively simple configuration of the damper member  90 . Further, the sewing machine  1  can reliably switch between adjusting and not adjusting the movement speed of the lid member  16  by the relatively simple configuration of the control units  40  and  41 . The sewing machine  1  can inhibit the movement speed of the lid member  16  from becoming excessively large in the vicinity of a position in which the lid member  16  is completely open and in the vicinity of a position in which the lid member  16  is in the closed state. When the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the first range  301 , the sewing machine  1  can reliably close the lid member  16 , even when the user discontinues the opening/closing operation midway. 
     More specifically, in a case where the user performs the operation to open the lid member  16 , immediately after the lid member  16  starts moving, the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the first range  301 . When the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the first range  301 , the lid member  16  is urged in the direction of closing of the lid member  16  by the torsion spring  120 . Thus, the lid member  16  is inhibited from opening unintentionally. Further, when the lid member  16  moves, the movement speed of the lid member  16  is regulated by the damper member  90 . When the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the middle range  302 , the movement speed of the lid member  16  is not adjusted by the control units  40  and  41 . When the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the middle range  302 , compared to a case in which the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the first range  301 , the user can operate the lid member  16  with a relatively small force. When the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the second range  303 , the movement speed of the lid member  16  is adjusted by the control units  40  and  41 . In the vicinity of the position in which the lid member  16  is completely open, the movement speed of the lid member  16  is regulated. As a result, when the lid member  16  is completely open, a load on a coupling section between the lid member  16  and the sewing machine  1  is reduced. Therefore, when the lid member  16  is in the vicinity of the position of being completely open, the sewing machine  1  can reduce an impact that is applied to the lid member  16  and to the main body  2 . 
     In a case where the user performs the operation to close the lid member  16 , immediately after the lid member  16  starts moving, the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the middle range  302 . In this case, the movement speed of the lid member  16  is not adjusted by the control units  40  and  41 . Thus, the user can cause the lid member  16  to move in the direction of closing the lid member  16  with a relatively small force. When the lid member  16  approaches the closed state, the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the first range  301 . In this case, the movement speed of the lid member  16 , which is the movement speed of the lid member  16  as defined by the force applied to the lid member  16  and the urging force applied by the torsion spring  120 , is regulated by the damper  96 . As a result, the sewing machine  1  can inhibit the lid member  16  from being closed with a large amount of force. 
     Further, in the sewing machine  1  of the present embodiment, when the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the first range  301 , the lid member  16  can be reliably closed by the urging force of the torsion spring  120 . Specifically, the user can completely close the lid member  16  simply by causing the lid member  16  to move to a position within the first range  301 . Thus, the user does not need to cause the lid member  16  to move to the position of the closed state. 
     In recent years, advanced sewing machines that have a variety of built-in functions are being designed such that the advanced sewing machines also have a high quality design in terms of appearance. However, when opening and closing the lid member  16 , if the lid member  16  opens or closes with a large amount of force, it may impart a cheap impression. In the sewing machine  1  of the present embodiment, both when the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the first range  301  and when the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the second range  303 , the movement speed of the lid member  16  is adjusted such that the lid member  16  moves slowly. Thus, the sewing machine  1  can impart an impression of high quality also when the lid member  16  is being operated. 
     Generally, around the periphery of the frame portion  36  provided on the upper portion of the main body  2 , there is no space to add large structural members. In this respect, as the control units  40  and  41  are relatively compact, it is possible to attach the control units  40  and  41  to the frame portion  36 . Further, when the lid member  16  is removed from the main body  2 , both the control units  40  and  41  can be removed, and thus it is easy to remove and attach the lid member  16 . The control units  40  and  41  can be removed along with the lid member  16 . Thus, the control units  40  and  41  do not cause interference when other optional members, such as a thread spool base, are attached to the upper portion of the main body  2 . 
     The sewing machine of the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be applied without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. For example, the following modifications may be applied as appropriate. 
     The configuration of the sewing machine  1  may be changed as appropriate. For example, the sewing machine may be another sewing machine, such as an industrial use sewing machine, a multi-needle sewing machine or the like. 
     The attachment position, the shape and the opening/closing method of the lid member may be changed as appropriate. For example, the lid member may be a lid member that covers the LCD  15  on the front surface of the pillar  12 , or may be an upper lid of an auxiliary table that is attached to the machine bed of the sewing machine  1 . Further, the lid member  16  has a rotational axis in the left-right direction of the sewing machine  1 , but the rotational axis may be in another direction, such as the up-down direction. Further, for example, the lid member  16  may be caused to move by parallel displacement in the up-down direction, as a method of opening and closing the lid member  16 . The configuration of the frame portion may be changed as appropriate depending on the attachment position, the shape and the opening/closing method of the lid member. The definition of the aperture of the lid member is not limited to the above-described definition. Any definition is possible, as long as the aperture indicates the extent to which the lid member is open. 
     The attachment position and the number of the control units with respect to a single lid member may be changed as appropriate. For example, the lid member  16  may be supported by the one control unit  40  and by a general-purpose attachment member, such as a support shaft, such that the lid member  16  can open and close. The control unit  40  may be fixed to the frame portion  36 . 
     The configuration of the control units  40  and  41  may be changed as appropriate depending on the attachment position, the shape and the opening/closing method of the lid member  16 , and on the range over which the movement speed of the lid member  16  is adjusted etc. The modifications exemplified below may be added as appropriate, for example. 
     The configuration of the contactor  80  may be changed as appropriate. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which the engagement pin  82  does not directly come into contact with the cam groove  61 . A configuration may be adopted in which the engagement pin  82  rotatably supports a cylindrical roller and the cylindrical roller comes into contact with the cam groove  61 . With this configuration, it is possible to further reduce friction that occurs when the engagement pin  82  of the contactor  80  comes into contact with the cam groove  61 . 
     The torsion spring may be another elastic member, such as an extension spring or the like. Above, the elastic member urges the engagement member  50  both when the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the first range and when the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the second range. However, the elastic member may urge the engagement member  50  only when the aperture of the lid member  16  is within one of either the first range or the second range. 
     The configuration of the damper member  90  may be changed as appropriate. For example, the damper  96  and the contactor  80  may be directly coupled, without using the wheel  91  and using the damper  96  alone as the damper member. Further, the damper  96  is not limited to the rotary damper and any damper can be used as long as the damper  96  can attenuate the kinetic energy of the lid member  16 . 
     The members that configure the control units  40  and  41  may be added or omitted as necessary. For example, the elastic member may be omitted as necessary. More specifically, in a case where the elastic member (the torsion spring  120 ) is omitted in the above-described embodiment, the movement speed of the lid member  16  is regulated by the damper member  90  both when the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the first range and within the second range. In this case, the movement speed of the lid member  16  is regulated both when the lid member  16  is in the vicinity of the position of being completely closed, and when the lid member  16  is in the vicinity of the position of being completely open. As a result, it is possible to inhibit the lid member  16  from closing or opening with a large amount of force. Further, when the movement speed of the lid member  16  is regulated both when the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the first range and within the second range, the control unit may be configured as described below, for example. The shape of the gear portion  94  may be changed such that the gear portion  94  of the wheel  91  meshes with the gear portion  97  of the damper  96  when the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the first range and within the second range, for example, and such that the gear portion  94  does not mesh with the gear portion  97  when the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the middle range. Then, the lid member  16  may be directly fixed to the wheel  91 , and the torsion spring  120 , the contactor  80 , the cam plate  60  and the engagement member  50  may be omitted. 
     The first range and the second range may be changed as appropriate. For example, the movement speed of the lid member  16  may be adjusted when the aperture of the lid member  16  is within either the first range  301  or the second range  303  only. To adjust the movement speed of the lid member  16  only when the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the first range, the second engagement portion  55  is not provided, for example, and the arc-shaped portion  54  may extend as far as the section in which the second engagement portion  55  is provided. In this case, of the above-described effects, the effect can be obtained when the user closes the lid member  16 . With respect to the above-described embodiment, to adjust the movement speed of the lid member  16  only when the aperture of the lid member  16  is within the second range, the first engagement portion  52  and the protruding portion  53  are not provided, for example, and the arc-shaped portion  54  may extend as far as the section in which the protruding portion  53  is provided. In this case, of the above-described effects, the effect can be obtained when the user opens the lid member  16 . Further, for example, the width of the first range and the second range may be changed, respectively, as appropriate. 
     The apparatus and methods described above with reference to the various embodiments are merely examples. It goes without saying that they are not confined to the depicted embodiments. While various features have been described in conjunction with the examples outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, and/or improvements of those features and/or examples may be possible. Accordingly, the examples, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative. Various changes may be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the underlying principles.