Patent Publication Number: US-10760191-B2

Title: Frame holding device and embroidery frame set

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-187458 filed on Sep. 28, 2017, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a frame holding device and an embroidery frame set. 
     An embroidery frame is known that is provided with a support frame and a presser frame. The support frame and the presser frame clamp a cloth using magnetic force. 
     SUMMARY 
     In the known embroidery frame, the presser frame is strongly fixed to the support frame by the magnetic force. Therefore, once the cloth is clamped, an operation to adjust a positional misalignment of the cloth with respect to the embroidery frame may become difficult. 
     Various embodiments of the general principles described herein provide a frame holding device and an embroidery frame set that are capable of easily adjusting a position of a sewing object when the sewing object is clamped by an embroidery frame. 
     Embodiments herein provide a frame holding device that holds an embroidery frame of a sewing machine. The frame holding device includes a fixing portion, a base portion, an engaging portion, a regulation portion. The fixing portion is configured to be detachably fixed to a working table. The base portion is connected to the fixing portion. The base portion extends in a first direction toward the fixing portion. The base portion includes a placement surface. The embroidery frame includes a first frame and a second frame. The embroidery frame is configured to hold a sewing object between the first frame and the second frame. The second frame is configured to be placed on the placement surface. The engaging portion is configured to engage with an engaged portion. The engaged portion is provided on a mounting portion. The mounting portion is included in the second frame and is configured to be detachably mounted on the sewing machine. The engaging portion is configured to restrict the second frame placed on the placement surface from moving in the first direction and a second direction after engaging with the engaged portion. The second direction is a direction opposite to the first direction. The regulation portion is provided further to a third direction side than the placement surface. The third direction is a direction intersecting with the first direction and the placement surface. The regulation portion is configured to restrict the second frame from moving in the third direction, by coming into contact, from the third direction, with the mounting portion in a state in which the engaged portion and the engaging portion are engaged with each other. 
     Embodiments herein provide an embroidery frame set. The embroidery frame set includes the frame holding device and the embroidery frame. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sewing machine  1 ; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embroidery frame unit  30  mounted on a holder  25  of the sewing machine  1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the embroidery frame unit  30 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the embroidery frame unit  30  that is holding a cloth C 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a frame holding device  8  when viewed from the front right side; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the frame holding device  8  when viewed from the rear left side; 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of the frame holding device  8 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of the frame holding device  8 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a right side view of the frame holding device  8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of the frame holding device  8 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a rear view of the frame holding device  8 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view when a second frame  50  is held by the frame holding device  8 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the frame holding device  8  that is holding the second frame  50 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram showing a minimum circumferential length L 1  of a cylindrical cloth C 2  that can be sewn by the sewing machine  1 , when the cylindrical cloth C 2  is clamped by an embroidery frame  5 ; and 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram showing a minimum circumferential length L 2  of the cylindrical cloth C 2  that can be clamped by the embroidery frame  5  held by the frame holding device  8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained with reference to the drawings. In the following explanation, left and right directions, front and rear directions, and up and down directions as indicated by arrows in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 15  are used. 
     The structure of a sewing machine  1  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 . The sewing machine  1  shown in  FIG. 1  is a multi-needle sewing machine. The sewing machine  1  is provided with ten needle bars (not shown in the drawings). Of the ten needle bars, one needle bar located at a sewing position is a sewing needle bar that is involved in sewing. A sewing needle (not shown in the drawings) is mounted at the lower end of each of the needle bars. 
     The sewing machine  1  is provided with a cylinder bed  10 . The cylinder bed  10  extends in the front-rear direction and is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. A shuttle (not shown in the drawings) is provided inside a leading end portion of the cylinder bed  10 . The shuttle houses a bobbin (not shown in the drawings), around which a lower thread (not shown in the drawings) is wound. A needle plate  27  is provided on the upper surface of the cylinder bed  10 . The needle plate  27  is provided with a needle hole  16 . The sewing needle can be inserted through the needle hole  16 . 
     A holder  25 , a Y carriage  26 , an X carriage  28  and the like are provided above the cylinder bed  10 . Hereinafter, when the holder  25 , the Y carriage  26  and the X carriage  28  are collectively referred to, they are referred to as a movement mechanism. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the holder  25  supports an embroidery frame  5  via a frame mounting member  31 . The embroidery frame  5  clamps a cloth C 1  between a first frame  40  and a second frame  50  using magnetic force. The first frame  40  and the second frame  50  will be described later. The movement mechanism can move the embroidery frame  5  mounted on the holder  25  in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The sewing machine  1  is provided with a thread spool stand  12 . A plurality of thread spools  13  are installed on the thread spool stand  12 . Each of upper threads  15  is supplied from each of the plurality of thread spools  13  toward a needle eye (not shown in the drawings) of each of the sewing needles. 
     The embroidery frame  5  that is holding the cloth C 1  is to be mounted on the holder  25  via the frame mounting member  31 . The sewing machine  1  drives the sewing needle bar to move up and down and drives the shuttle to rotate while the movement mechanism is moving the embroidery frame  5 . Thus, the sewing machine  1  forms stitches on the cloth C 1 . 
     The structure of an embroidery frame unit  30  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the embroidery frame unit  30  is provided with the frame mounting member  31  and the embroidery frame  5 . The frame mounting member  31  is detachably fixed to the holder  25  of the sewing machine  1  (refer to  FIG. 2 ). The embroidery frame  5  is provided with the first frame  40  and the second frame  50 . The embroidery frame  5  can clamp the cloth C 1  between the first frame  40  and the second frame  50  using the magnetic force (refer to  FIG. 4 ). A rear portion of the second frame  50  is provided with a mounting portion  55 . The mounting portion  55  is detachably mounted on the frame mounting member  31  fixed to the holder  25 . 
     The first frame  40  has an exterior portion that is formed of a non-magnetic material, such as a resin, for example. The first frame  40  has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. The first frame  40  is open in the up-down direction, and is positioned above the second frame  50 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , magnets  41  are provided inside the exterior portion of the first frame  40 . The magnets  41  are disposed on the bottom surface side of the first frame  40 . A pair of left and right grippers  43  are provided on the left and right end portions of the upper surface of the first frame  40 . By gripping the pair of grippers  43  with both hands, a user can easily move the first frame  40  in a direction closer to the second frame  50  or a direction separated from the second frame  50 . 
     The second frame  50  has a main body portion  51  and a guide portion  52 . The main body portion  51  is a frame member having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. The main body portion  51  is formed of a magnetic material (a sheet metal, for example), such as stainless steel. The main body portion  51  has a hole  53  that is open in the up-down direction. The hole  53  has a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. The upper surface of the main body portion  51  has a clamping surface  54 . The clamping surface  54  is a peripheral edge portion of an inner edge  511  of the main body portion  51 . The clamping surface  54  extends horizontally, closer to the inner edge  511  side than the guide portion  52 . When the cloth C 1  is placed on the clamping surface  54 , the bottom surface of the first frame  40  is disposed so as to face the clamping surface  54  with the cloth C 1  interposed therebetween. In this case, the cloth C 1  is clamped between the first frame  40  and the second frame  50  by the magnetic force. The front end portion of an attachment plate portion  56  (to be described later) of the mounting portion  55  is coupled to the rear end portion of the main body portion  51 . 
     The guide portion  52  is provided on an outer edge portion of the clamping surface  54 , and can guide the first frame  40  to the clamping surface  54 . The guide portion  52  is formed of a non-magnetic material, such as a resin, and is formed in a frame shape having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. When the cloth C 1  is clamped between the first frame  40  and the second frame  50  by the magnetic force, the clamping surface  54  of the second frame  50  faces a bottom portion of the first frame  40 . That is, the first frame  40  is disposed further to the inside than the guide portion  52  (refer to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 ). 
     The mounting portion  55  is provided with the attachment plate portion  56  and a positioning member  57 . The attachment plate portion  56  is coupled to the rear end portion of the main body portion  51  of the second frame  50 , and extends rearward from the main body portion  51 . The attachment plate portion  56  is provided with a lateral portion  560  and a rectangular-shaped portion  561 . The lateral portion  560  is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, and extends in the left-right direction from substantially the center of the attachment plate portion  56  in the front-rear direction. A pair of insertion portions  562  are provided on the left and right end portions of the lateral portion  560 . One of the pair of insertion portions  562  extends upward from one end of the lateral portion  560  in the left-right direction, and the other of the pair of insertion portions  562  extends upward from the other end of the lateral portion  560  in the left-right direction. Each of the insertion portions  562  is provided with a hole  564  that is open in the left-right direction. The rectangular-shaped portion  561  is provided at the rear of the attachment plate portion  56 , and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. A convex portion  563  is provided at a central portion, in the left-right direction, of the rear end portion of the upper surface of the rectangular-shaped portion  561 . The convex portion  563  protrudes upward. A pair of groove portions  566  that extend in the front-rear direction are provided in sections where the left and right end portions of the rectangular-shaped portion  561  intersect with the rear end portion of the lateral portion  560 . The pair of groove portions  566  have a width that allows insertion of a pair of pins  35  (to be described later) of the frame mounting member  31 . 
     The positioning member  57  defines a mounting position of the mounting portion  55  with respect to the frame mounting member  31 . The positioning member  57  is a plate spring that extends in the left-right direction. A central portion of the positioning member  57  in the left-right direction is fixed to a central portion of the upper surface of the attachment plate portion  56  in the left-right direction, using a pair of screws  22 . The positioning member  57  is provided with a pair of engaged portions  58  and a pair of tab portions  59 . The pair of engaged portions  58  are provided on the left end side and the right end side of the positioning member  57 . The pair of groove portions  566  provided in the attachment plate portion  56  are positioned directly below the pair of engaged portions  58 . The pair of pins  35  (to be described later) of the frame mounting member  31  are inserted into the pair of engaged portions  58  from below. The pair of engaged portions  58  can be engaged with the inserted pair of pins  35 . The pair of tab portions  59  are provided on the left and right end portions of the positioning member  57 . The pair of tab portions  59  are respectively inserted through the pair of holes  564  of the lateral portion  560 . By pressing up the pair of tab portions  59 , the user can deflect the left and right end portions of the positioning member  57  upward with respect to the upper surface of the lateral portion  560 . A pair of stoppers  571  are provided on the left side and the right side of the rear end portion of the positioning member  57 . The pair of stoppers  571  are formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. Each of the stoppers  571  has a plate shape that is inclined upward and rearward. 
     The frame mounting member  31  is formed in a substantially T shape in a plan view such that a central portion of the frame mounting member  31  in the left-right direction protrudes forward. The frame mounting member  31  is provided with a fixed portion  32  and a forwardly extending portion  33 . The fixed portion  32  is formed in a plate shape that extends in the left-right direction. The fixed portion  32  of the frame mounting member  31  is fixed to the holder  25  using a pair of tab screws  23  (refer to  FIG. 2 ). 
     The forwardly extending portion  33  extends forward from a substantially central portion of the front end portion of the fixed portion  32 . The forwardly extending portion  33  is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. The pair of pins  35  are provided on the upper surface of the forwardly extending portion  33 . One of the pair of pins  35  is provided at a front right corner portion of the upper surface of the forwardly extending portion  33 , and the other of the pair of pins  35  is provided at a front left corner portion of the upper surface of the forwardly extending portion  33 . The pins  35  of the present example are pins that protrude upward from the forwardly extending portion  33 . The frame mounting member  31  is provided with a pressing member  36  on the upper surface side of the forwardly extending portion  33 . In a front view, the pressing member  36  has a substantially inverted U shape that is open downward. In a plan view, the pressing member  36  has a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction. The left and right end portions of the pressing member  36  are fixed to the upper surface of the forwardly extending portion  33  using screws. An upper wall portion of the pressing member  36  is provided with a pair of pressing tabs (not shown in the drawings) that protrude downward. On the inside of the pressing member  36 , the pair of pressing tabs come into contact with the upper surface of the rectangular-shaped portion  561  of the attachment plate portion  56  and press the upper surface toward the forwardly extending portion  33  side. A plate spring (not shown in the drawings) is provided on the inside of the pressing member  36 . The plate spring comes into contact with the rear end portion of the rectangular-shaped portion  561  and urges it forward. 
     An example of a method for mounting the embroidery frame  5  on the frame mounting member  31  fixed to the holder  25  of the sewing machine  1  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 . The user horizontally moves the mounting portion  55  of the embroidery frame  5  rearward toward the frame mounting member  31 . At this time, the user lifts the pair of tab portions  59  upward, and causes the left and right end portions of the positioning member  57  to deflect upward. The user inserts the rectangular-shaped portion  561  of the mounting portion  55  between the forwardly extending portion  33  and the pressing member  36 , and moves the rectangular-shaped portion  561  rearward. The rectangular-shaped portion  561  moves rearward between the pair of pins  35  provided on the forwardly extending portion  33 . The pair of pins  35  are inserted into the pair of groove portions  566  provided in the attachment plate portion  56 , and move forward relative to the attachment plate portion  56 . The left and right end portions of the positioning member  57  are deflected upward, and therefore, move rearward above the pair of pins  35  without colliding with the pair of pins  35 . 
     The user further moves the embroidery frame  5  rearward. The pair of stoppers  571  provided on the positioning member  57  respectively come into contact with the front end portions of left and right side walls of the pressing member  36  of the frame mounting member  31 . Thus, the rearward movement of the attachment plate portion  56  is restricted, and the attachment plate portion  56  is caused to be positioned in the mounting position. At this time, the pair of engaged portions  58  provided on the positioning member  57  are positioned above the pair of pins  35  provided on the forwardly extending portion  33 . When the user releases his or her hands from the pair of tab portions  59 , the positioning member  57  returns to the original flat plate shape. As a result, the pair of pins  35  and the pair of engaged portions  58  are engaged with each other, and the position of the embroidery frame  5  in the horizontal direction is fixed with respect to the frame mounting member  31 . The rectangular-shaped portion  561  of the attachment plate portion  56  is in a state of being inserted inside the pressing member  36 . The pair of pressing tabs of the pressing member  36  urge the rectangular-shaped portion  561  of the attachment plate portion  56  toward the forwardly extending portion  33  side (downward). As a result, the attachment plate portion  56  is clamped between the pressing member  36  and the forwardly extending portion  33 , and therefore, the position of the attachment plate portion  56  in the up-down direction is fixed. In this manner, the embroidery frame  5  is mounted on the frame mounting member  31  and is attached to the holder  25  of the sewing machine  1 . 
     On the other hand, when the embroidery frame  5  is removed from the frame mounting member  31 , the user lifts the tab portions  59  upward. Since the left and right end portions of the positioning member  57  are deflected upward, the pair of engaged portions  58  of the positioning member  57  are disengaged upward from the pair of pins  35 . As a result, the attachment plate portion  56  becomes able to move forward. Thus, the user can remove the embroidery frame  5  from the mounting position. 
     The structure of the frame holding device  8  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 11 . The frame holding device  8  shown in  FIG. 5  is a jig adapted to easy and rapid position adjustment of the cloth C 1  with respect to the embroidery frame  5  (refer to  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 ). In a state in which the frame holding device  8  is fixed to an end portion of a working table T, the frame holding device  8  holds the second frame  50  of the embroidery frame  5  horizontally. Thus, the frame holding device  8  facilitates the easy and rapid position adjustment of the cloth C 1 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the frame holding device  8  is provided with a base portion  60 , a fixing portion  70 , a frame mounting portion  80 , a regulation portion  90  and the like. The base portion  60  extends in the front-rear direction. The base portion  60  is provided with a placement surface  67  on which the second frame  50  is placed. The fixing portion  70  is detachably fixed to the working table T (refer to  FIG. 12 ). A rear portion of the base portion  60  is connected to the fixing portion  70 . The frame mounting portion  80  is provided on the rear side of the placement surface  67 , and the mounting portion  55  of the second frame  50  placed on the placement surface  67  is mounted on the frame mounting portion  80 . Thus, the frame mounting portion  80  restricts the movement of the second frame  50  in the horizontal direction. The regulation portion  90  is provided so as to cover the frame mounting portion  80 . The regulation portion  90  comes into contact with the mounting portion  55  attached to the frame mounting portion  80 , from above, and thus restricts the upward movement of the second frame  50 . 
     The structure of the base portion  60  will be explained. In a plan view, the base portion  60  has a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction. In a front view, the base portion  60  has a substantially inverted U shape that is open downward (refer to  FIG. 10 ). The base portion  60  is provided with an upper wall portion  61 , a right wall portion  62 , a left wall portion  63  and the like. 
     The upper wall portion  61  is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape that extends in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. An upper-side connection piece  64  is provided on the rear end portion of the upper wall portion  61 . The upper-side connection piece  64  is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view, and extends rearward from a substantially central portion of the rear end portion of the upper wall portion  61 . The upper-side connection piece  64  is fixed to the upper surface of an upper wall portion  71  (to be described later) of the fixing portion  70 , using a pair of screws  79 . The placement surface  67  is formed in the upper surface of the upper wall portion  61 . The second frame  50  is placed on the placement surface  67 . The placement surface  67  can support the second frame  50  substantially horizontally. The lower surface of the upper wall portion  61  is a back surface  61 A (refer to  FIG. 8 ). The back surface  61 A is a surface of the upper wall portion  61 , and is on the opposite side to the placement surface  67 . 
     A concave portion  100  is formed in the front side of the placement surface  67 . The concave portion  100  is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. An inner bottom surface of the concave portion  100  is a surface that extends horizontally at a position lower than the placement surface  67 , and is a predetermined region included in the placement surface  67 . The position and the area of the inner bottom surface of the concave portion  100  respectively correspond to the position and the area of the hole  53  of the second frame  50  that has been positioned on the placement surface  67 . The area of the concave portion  100  is larger than a sewing range of the sewing machine  1  when the embroidery frame  5  is used. The user can confirm the position of the hole  53  of the second frame  50  by tracing the position of the concave portion  100  with a finger from above the cloth C 1 , for example. A plurality of indicators are provided on the inner bottom surface of the concave portion  100 . The plurality of indicators indicate a center position of the hole  53  of the second frame  50 , the front-rear direction and the left-right direction when the center position is used as a reference, the sewing range of the sewing machine  1 , and the like. 
     The plurality of indicators formed on the inner bottom surface of the concave portion  100  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 7 . The plurality of indicators include a center indicator  101 , base lines  121  to  126 , and four convex portions  127 . The center indicator  101  is provided at a center position of the concave portion  100  in a plan view. The center indicator  101  is, for example, a round hole that is open in the up-down direction. The center indicator  101  is an indicator corresponding to the center position of the hole  53  of the second frame  50  that has been positioned on the placement surface  67 . In other words, the center indicator  101  is an indicator corresponding to the center position of the inside of the second frame  50  that has been positioned on the placement surface  67 . Therefore, even when the user cannot visually check the position of the hole  53  due to the cloth C 1  placed on the second frame  50 , by tracing the position of the center indicator  101  with a finger from above the cloth C 1 , the user can confirm the center position of the hole  53  of the second frame  50  using his or her sense of touch. Note that, instead of the round hole, the center indicator  101  may be a polygonal hole, for example. Further, the center indicator  101  may be formed in any shape, as long as the shape can be recognized by the sense of touch. Therefore, the center indicator  101  may be a non-penetrating hole, and may have a convex shape or a concave shape that is formed by embossing, for example. 
     The base lines  121  to  124  are provided in the concave portion  100 . The base lines  121  to  124  indicate the sewing range of the sewing machine  1 . The base lines  121  to  124  are respectively disposed at positions that correspond to four sides of a square centered on the center indicator  101 . The base line  121  is disposed to the front of the center indicator  101  and extends in the left-right direction. The base line  122  is disposed to the rear of the center indicator  101  and extends in the left-right direction. The base line  123  is disposed to the right of the center indicator  101  and extends in the front-rear direction. The base line  124  is disposed to the left of the center indicator  101  and extends in the front-rear direction. The base lines  121  to  124  have an embossed shape having a relatively large width, for example. The base lines  121  to  124  are indicators that indicate the front-rear direction and the left-right direction when the center indicator  101  is used as a reference. Therefore, even when the user cannot visually check the position of the hole  53  due to the cloth C 1  placed on the second frame  50 , by tracing the positions of the base lines  121  to  124  with a finger from above the cloth C 1 , the user can recognize the sewing range using his or her sense of touch. 
     The plurality of base lines  125  are provided in a region surrounded by the four base lines  121  to  124  (namely, a region corresponding to the sewing range of the sewing machine  1 ). The plurality of base lines  125  are provided such that they are aligned at a predetermined interval along the front-rear direction. The predetermined interval is 5 mm, for example. Each of the base lines  125  is formed in a bead shape having a relatively narrow width, and extends in the left-right direction. The plurality of base lines  125  each have a concave shape that is recessed downward. By tracing the positions of the plurality of base lines  125  with a finger from above the cloth C 1 , the user can confirm the sewing range of the sewing machine  1  using his or her sense of touch. Since each of the base lines  125  is formed in the bead shape having the relatively narrow width, the user can clearly distinguish the base lines  125  from the base lines  121  to  124  by the sense of touch. The plurality of base lines  125  include long base lines and short base lines. The long base lines are longer than the short base lines in the left-right direction. It is preferable that the long base lines and the short base lines be alternately arranged in the front-rear direction, for example. For that reason, an interval between the long base line and the long base line is set to 1 cm, and an interval between the long base line and the short base line is set to 5 mm. Therefore, the user can measure a specific length on the cloth C 1 . Further, since the plurality of base lines  125  formed on the inside of the concave portion  100  are aligned at the predetermined interval, the user can, for example, visually check the position of the cloth C 1  from the base line  121  or the base line  122  (in other words, the position of the cloth C 1  from an end portion of the sewing region). 
     The base line  126  is provided in the region surrounded by the four base lines  121  to  124 . The base line  126  passes through the center indicator  101  and extends in the front-rear direction. The base line  126  is formed in a bead shape and has a relatively narrow width. Similarly to the base lines  125 , the base line  126  has a concave shape that is recessed downward. The base line  126  is an indicator that causes the user to recognize, using his or her sense of touch, a position at which the sewing range of the sewing machine  1  is divided into a left half and a right half. More specifically, by tracing the position of the base line  126  with a finger from above the cloth C 1 , the user can confirm the position at which the sewing range is divided into the left half and the right half. 
     The four convex portions  127  are respectively arranged at positions that are to the front, to the rear, to the left, and to the right of the center indicator  101 . The four convex portions  127  are respectively provided on two of the base lines  125  and the base line  126 . Specifically, one of the convex portions  127  is provided at an intermediate position of each of the two base lines  125 . A pair of the convex portions  127  are provided on the base line  126 , with the center indicator  101  being between the pair of convex portions  127 . The convex portions  127  protrude upward in a substantially semispherical shape. The four convex portions  127  are indicators that cause the user to recognize, using his or her sense of touch, the front-rear direction and the left-right direction in the sewing range of the sewing machine  1 . More specifically, by tracing the position of each of the convex portions  127  with a finger from above the cloth C 1 , the user can confirm the front-rear direction and the left-right direction in the sewing range. 
     When the user performs the position adjustment of the cloth C 1  with respect to the second frame  50 , the user traces each of the above-described indicators with a finger from above the cloth C 1 . Thus, the user can clearly recognize the position of the cloth C 1  with respect to the second frame  50 , and a positional relationship between the cloth C 1  and the sewing range of the sewing machine  1 . Further, in the present embodiment, the shapes of the plurality of indicators formed inside the concave portion  100  are different depending on the position/direction indicated by each of the indicators. Therefore, even when the user cannot recognize one of the indicators using his or her sense of touch due to a material or a thickness of the cloth C 1 , the user can identify the position/direction indicated by that indicator on the basis of the sense of touch obtained when tracing the other indicators. Therefore, for example, after confirming the center position of the hole  53  of the second frame  50  on the basis of the center indicator  101 , the user confirms the front-rear direction and the left-right direction centered on the center indicator  101 , on the basis of the base lines  121  to  124 . After that, the user can confirm the sewing range of the sewing machine  1  on the basis of the plurality of base lines  125 . Thus, the user can perform the position adjustment of the cloth C 1  in a good order. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 7 , a guide indicator  611  is provided at a central portion of the front end portion of the upper wall portion  61 . The guide indicator  611  is a cut-out portion that is formed in a substantially V shape in a plan view. The guide indicator  611  is provided in the front end portion of the upper wall portion  61 , at a position to the front of the center indicator  101  provided inside the concave portion  100 . More specifically, the guide indicator  611  is provided in the end portion on the forward direction side of the upper wall portion  61 , at a position of the center indicator  101  in the left-right direction. Therefore, the guide indicator  611  indicates the position, in the left-right direction, of the center indicator  101  in the placement surface  67 . Therefore, by tracing the position of the guide indicator  611  with a finger from above the cloth C 1 , the user can identify the position, in the left-right direction, of the center indicator  101  in the placement surface  67 . Thus, the user can rapidly find the center indicator  101 . 
     A pair of hole portions  612  that are aligned in the front-rear direction are provided at a substantially central portion of the upper wall portion  61  in the left-right direction, and to the front of the concave portion  100 . The pair of hole portions  612  are slits that extend in the left-right direction and are open in the up-down direction. A yoke  202  is fixed to a section of the back surface  61 A of the upper wall portion  61 , the section corresponding to the pair of hole portions  612  (refer to  FIG. 8 ). The yoke  202  is a magnetic body formed in a substantially U shape in a side view, and a specific magnet  201  is fixed to the inside thereof. The yoke  202  conducts a magnetic flux of the specific magnet  201  in a predetermined direction. The yoke  202  is fixed to the lower surface of the upper wall portion  61  in a state in which the specific magnet  201  fixed inside the yoke  202  is exposed upward. A pair of end portions of the yoke  202  in the left-right direction extend upward. The pair of end portions are inserted into the pair of hole portions  612  from the back surface  61 A side toward the placement surface  67  side, and are exposed above the placement surface  67 . That is, the upper end portions of the yoke  202  are inserted into the pair of hole portions  612  and are exposed above the placement surface  67 . Thus, the second frame  50  placed on the placement surface  67  can be attracted strongly, in comparison to when it is directly attracted to the placement surface  67  side by the specific magnet  201  without using the yoke  202 . Note that a height position of the upper end portions of the yoke  202  is the same as or lower than a height position of the placement surface  67 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 9 , the right wall portion  62  extends downward from the right end portion of the upper wall portion  61 . The right wall portion  62  is formed in a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction, in a right side view. A corner portion at which the right wall portion  62  and the upper wall portion  61  are connected to each other is preferably formed in a tapered shape. A lower portion of the front end portion of the right wall portion  62  is formed in a tapered shape that is inclined from the upper front side to the lower rear side. A guide indicator  621  is provided at a front portion of the lower end portion of the right wall portion  62 . The guide indicator  621  is a cut-out portion that is formed in a substantially V shape in a right side view. The guide indicator  621  is provided in the lower end portion of the right wall portion  62 , at a position to the right of the center indicator  101  of the upper wall portion  61 . That is, the guide indicator  621  is provided in the right wall portion  62 , at a position of the center indicator  101  in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the guide indicator  621  indicates the position, in the front-rear direction, of the center indicator  101  in the placement surface  67 . Therefore, by tracing the position of the guide indicator  621  with a finger from above the cloth C 1 , the user can identify the position, in the front-rear direction, of the center indicator  101  in the placement surface  67 . Thus, the user can rapidly find the center indicator  101 . 
     A presser portion  68  is provided on an outer surface (the right side surface) of the right wall portion  62 . The presser portion  68  is a plate spring that extends in the front-rear direction. The rear end portion of the presser portion  68  is fixed by a screw  68 A. A front portion of the presser portion  68  can deflect to the right, with the rear end portion of the presser portion  68  serving as a point of support. Therefore, the presser portion  68  can clamp one end portion of the cloth C 1  between itself and the outer surface of the right wall portion  62 , for example, and can provisionally lock the one end portion of the cloth C 1  (refer to  FIG. 13 ). 
     A right-side connection piece  65  is provided on the rear end portion of the right wall portion  62  (refer to  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 ). The right-side connection piece  65  extends so as to bend to the left from the rear end portion of the right wall portion  62 . The right-side connection piece  65  is formed in a substantially inverted L shape in a rear view. The right-side connection piece  65  is connected to a right portion of the front surface of a vertical wall portion  72  (to be described later) of the fixing portion  70 , using a pair of screws  78 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the left wall portion  63  has a shape that is bilaterally symmetrical with respect to the right wall portion  62 . The left wall portion  63  extends downward from the left end portion of the upper wall portion  61 . In a left side view, the left wall portion  63  is formed in a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction. A corner portion at which the left wall portion  63  and the upper wall portion  61  are connected to each other is also preferably formed in a tapered shape. When the corner portions at the left and right end portions of the upper wall portion  61  are formed in the tapered shape, the base portion  60  can be easily grasped by a hand. A lower portion of the front end portion of the left wall portion  63  is also formed in a tapered shape that is inclined to the lower rear side from the upper front side. A front-side section of the lower end portion of the left wall portion  63  is provided with a guide indicator  631 . The guide indicator  631  is a cut-out portion that is formed in a substantially V shape in a left side view. The guide indicator  631  is provided in the lower end portion of the left wall portion  63 , at a position to the left of the center indicator  101  of the upper wall portion  61 . More specifically, the guide indicator  631  is provided in the left wall portion  63 , at a position of the center indicator  101  in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the guide indicator  631  indicates the position, in the front-rear direction, of the center indicator  101  in the placement surface  67 . Therefore, also by tracing the position of the guide indicator  631  with a finger from above the cloth C 1 , the user can identify the position, in the front-rear direction, of the center indicator  101  in the placement surface  67 . Thus, the user can rapidly find the center indicator  101 . 
     A presser portion  69  is also provided on an outer surface (the left side surface) of the left wall portion  63 . The presser portion  69  is a plate spring that extends in the front-rear direction. The rear end portion of the presser portion  69  is fixed by a screw  69 A. A front portion of the presser portion  69  can deflect to the left, with the rear end portion of the presser portion  69  serving as a point of support. Therefore, the presser portion  69  can clamp the other end portion of the cloth C 1  between itself and the outer surface of the left wall portion  63 , for example, and can provisionally lock the other end portion of the cloth C 1 . 
     A left-side connection piece  66  is provided on the rear end portion of the left wall portion  63  (refer to  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 ). The left-side connection piece  66  extends so as to bend to the right from the rear end portion of the left wall portion  63 . The left-side connection piece  66  is formed in an inverted L shape in a rear view. The left-side connection piece  66  is connected to a left portion of the front surface of the vertical wall portion  72  (to be described later) of the fixing portion  70 , using a pair of the screws  78 . 
     The structure of the fixing portion  70  will be explained. As shown in  FIG. 6 ,  FIG. 9  and  FIG. 11 , the fixing portion  70  is formed in a C shape, in a right side view. The fixing portion  70  is provided with the upper wall portion  71 , the vertical wall portion  72 , a lower wall portion  73 , a fixing tool  74  and the like. The upper wall portion  71  is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. The lower surface of the upper-side connection piece  64  of the base portion  60  comes into contact with the upper surface of the upper wall portion  71 . The upper-side connection piece  64  is fixed to the upper surface of the upper wall portion  71 , using the pair of screws  79  (refer to  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 ). A cushion member  71 A is provided on the lower surface of the upper wall portion  71 . The cushion member  71 A can come into contact with a contact portion  77  of the fixing tool  74  to be described later. The vertical wall portion  72  extends downward from the front end portion of the upper wall portion  71 . The vertical wall portion  72  is formed in a substantially rectangular shape that is vertically long in a front view. The right-side connection piece  65  of the base portion  60  comes into contact with a right portion of the front surface of the vertical wall portion  72 . The right-side connection piece  65  is fixed to the vertical wall portion  72 , using the pair of screws  78  that are aligned in the up-down direction. The left-side connection piece  66  of the base portion  60  comes into contact with the left side of the front surface of the vertical wall portion  72 . The left-side connection piece  66  is fixed to the vertical wall portion  72 , using the pair of screws  78  that are aligned in the up-down direction. The lower wall portion  73  extends rearward from the lower end portion of the vertical wall portion  72 . The lower wall portion  73  is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a bottom view (refer to  FIG. 8 ). It is preferable that the distance of separation between the upper wall portion  71  and the lower wall portion  73  in the up-down direction be longer than the thickness of the end portion (refer to  FIG. 12 ) of the working table T that is assumed to be a fixing target. A screw hole (not shown in the drawings) that is open in the up-down direction is provided at substantially the center of the lower wall portion  73 . 
     A shaft portion  75  that extends in the up-down direction of the fixing tool  74  is inserted through and engaged with the screw hole. A thread is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion  75 . A handle portion  76  is fixed to the lower end portion of the shaft portion  75 . The contact portion  77 , which has a substantially hemispherical shape and a plate shape, is provided at the upper end portion of the shaft portion  75 . The contact portion  77  is open upward. The upper end portion of the contact portion  77  can come into contact with the lower surface of the working table T. By rotating the handle portion  76  of the fixing tool  74 , the user can change the position of the fixing tool  74  with respect to the lower wall portion  73 . Therefore, the user can adjust the position of the contact portion  77  in the up-down direction. Note that the contact portion  77  may have a substantially flat plate shape. 
     In the fixing portion  70  having the above-described structure, the height of the contact portion  77  of the fixing tool  74  is adjusted in a state in which the end portion of the working table T is inserted between the upper wall portion  71  and the lower wall portion  73 . Thus, the fixing portion  70  can clamp the end portion of the working table T between the upper wall portion  71  and the contact portion  77 . In other words, the fixing portion  70  can be strongly fixed to the end portion of the working table T. The fixing portion  70  that has been fixed can be detached from the working table T. 
     Further, in the base portion  60 , the upper-side connection piece  64  is connected to the upper surface of the upper wall portion  71  of the fixing portion  70 , and the right-side connection piece  65  and the left-side connection piece  66  are each connected to the front surface of the vertical wall portion  72 . For example, the second frame  50  is placed on the placement surface  67  of the base portion  60 . There are cases in which the cloth C 1  is stretched from above the second frame  50  placed on the placement surface  67 . Therefore, in many cases, a relatively large weight load is applied to the placement surface  67 . In the present embodiment, even when the relatively large weight load is applied to the base portion  60  from above, the working table T can receive the load via the upper wall portion  71  and the vertical wall portion  72 . Therefore, the user can stably perform an operation of stretching the cloth C 1  with respect to the second frame  50  placed on the placement surface  67 . 
     The structure of the frame mounting portion  80  will be explained. As shown in  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7 , the frame mounting portion  80  is provided on the rear end side of the placement surface  67  of the base portion  60 . The frame mounting portion  80  is provided with a main body portion  81 , a front fixing portion  82 , inclined guide portions  83  and  84 , a rear support portion (not shown in the drawings), a pair of restriction portions  86  and  87 , and the like. The main body portion  81  is formed in a substantially T shape in a plan view. The main body portion  81  is supported such that it is slightly separated from and above the placement surface  67  (refer to  FIG. 9 ). The main body portion  81  is a stepped portion that projects upward. The front fixing portion  82  is provided at a central portion, in the left-right direction, of the front end portion of the main body portion  81 . The front fixing portion  82  is formed in a substantially L shape in a side view. The front fixing portion  82  protrudes downward from the front end portion of the main body portion  81 , and then bends at a substantially right angle and extends forward. The front end portion of the front fixing portion  82  is fixed to the placement surface  67  of the base portion  60  using a screw  89 . The rear support portion is provided on the rear end portion of the main body portion  81 . The rear support portion is supported in a state in which the rear end portion of the main body portion  81  is slightly separated from and above the placement surface  67 . 
     The upper surface of the main body portion  81  can support the mounting portion  55  of the second frame  50  from below. One of a pair of engaging portions  85  is provided at a left-side portion of the front portion of the upper surface of the main body portion  81 . The other of the pair of engaging portions  85  is provided at a right-side portion of the front portion of the upper surface of the main body portion  81 . The shape of the pair of engaging portions  85  and the distance of separation between the pair of engaging portions  85  in the left-right direction are, respectively, the same as the shape of the pair of pins  35  and the distance of separation between the pair of pins  35  in the left-right direction. The pair of engaging portions  85  and the pair of engaged portions  58  provided on the positioning member  57  can be engaged with each other. A long hole  88  is provided in a central portion of the main body portion  81  in the left-right direction. The long hole  88  extends rearward from the downwardly protruding section of the front fixing portion  82 . 
     The inclined guide portions  83  and  84  are respectively provided on the left side and the right side of the front end portion of the main body portion  81 . The inclined guide portions  83  and  84  are aligned in the left-right direction, with the front fixing portion  82  being positioned therebetween. The inclined guide portion  83  is disposed to the right of the front fixing portion  82 , and the inclined guide portion  84  is disposed to the left of the front fixing portion  82 . Each of the inclined guide portions  83  and  84  has a plate shape. Each of the inclined guide portions  83  and  84  is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view. Each of the inclined guide portions  83  and  84  is inclined diagonally upward from the placement surface  67  toward the upper surface of the main body portion  81 . The inclined guide portion  83  is disposed to the front of the right-side engaging portion  85 , and the left-side inclined guide portion  84  is disposed to the front of the left-side engaging portion  85 . When the second frame  50  is mounted on the frame holding device  8 , the inclined guide portions  83  and  84  guide the mounting portion  55  of the second frame  50  rearward toward the upper surface of the main body portion  81 . 
     The pair of restriction portions  86  and  87  are provided on the left and right end portions on the rear end side of the main body portion  81 , and are formed in a rib shape so as to protrude upward. The distance of separation between the restriction portions  86  and  87  in the left-right direction is slightly longer than the length of the rectangular-shaped portion  561  of the mounting portion  55  in the left-right direction. 
     The structure of the regulation portion  90  will be explained. As shown in  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 7 , the regulation portion  90  is provided on the rear end side of the placement surface  67  of the base portion  60 . The base portion  60  covers the frame mounting portion  80  from above. It is preferable that the regulation portion  90  be formed by bending a sheet metal, for example. In a plan view, the regulation portion  90  has a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction. In a front view, the regulation portion  90  is formed in a substantially inverted U shape that is open downward. The regulation portion  90  is provided with an upper wall portion  91 , a right wall portion  92 , a left wall portion  93 , a right urging portion  94 , a left urging portion  95 , a right-side fixing portion  96  (refer to  FIG. 11 ), a left-side fixing portion  97  (refer to  FIG. 11 ), and the like. 
     The upper wall portion  91  is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape that is long in the left-right direction. The upper wall portion  91  is a plate spring and can deflect in the up-down direction, which is a thickness direction thereof. In summary, the upper wall portion  91  is elastically deformable in the up-down direction. Since the regulation portion  90  is the sheet metal formed by press working, the upper wall portion  91  easily has a plate spring function. The upper wall portion  91  is provided with a pair of contact portions  98  that are aligned in the left-right direction. The contact portions  98  protrude from the upper surface of the upper wall portion  91  toward the placement surface  67  side. It is preferable that the contact portions  98  be formed by a bending process, for example. The lower end portions of the contact portions  98  are inclined portions  98 A. The inclined portions  98 A are downwardly inclined toward the placement surface  67  side, as they extend rearward. As will be described later, the pair of contact portions  98  come into contact with the upper surface of the rectangular-shaped portion  561  of the mounting portion  55  of the second frame  50  placed on the placement surface  67 , and thus inhibit the second frame  50  from floating upward. 
     The right wall portion  92  extends downward from the right end portion of the upper wall portion  91 . The right wall portion  92  has a rectangular shape. The right wall portion  92  is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a right side view. The left wall portion  93  extends downward from the left end portion of the upper wall portion  91 . The left wall portion  93  is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape in a left side view. The right urging portion  94  is provided so as to extend to the left from the rear end portion of the right wall portion  92 . A specific section  94 A is provided on the left end portion of the right urging portion  94 . The specific section  94 A is curved in a substantially arc shape in a plan view such that its front side projects forward. The left urging portion  95  is provided so as to extend to the right from the rear end portion of the left wall portion  93 . A specific section  95 A is provided on the right end portion of the left urging portion  95 . The specific section  95 A is also curved in a substantially arc shape in a plan view such that its front side projects forward. When the mounting portion  55  of the second frame  50  is mounted on the frame mounting portion  80 , the rear end portion of the rectangular-shaped portion  561  of the mounting portion  55  comes into contact with the forwardly protruding vertex portions of the respective specific sections  94 A and  95 A. In this way, the right urging portion  94  and the left urging portion  95  urge the rectangular-shaped portion  561  of the mounting portion  55  forward. 
     The right-side fixing portion  96  bends and extends to the left from the lower end portion of the right wall portion  92 . The right-side fixing portion  96  comes into contact with a right section of the rear end portion of the lower surface of the upper wall portion  61 , from below. The right-side fixing portion  96  is fixed to the upper wall portion  61  using a pair of screws  99 . The left-side fixing portion  97  bends and extends to the right from the lower end portion of the left wall portion  93 . The left-side fixing portion  97  comes into contact with a left section of the rear end portion of the lower surface of the upper wall portion  61 , from below. The left-side fixing portion  97  is fixed to the upper wall portion  61  using a pair of the screws  99 . In this way, the regulation portion  90  is supported on the rear end side of the placement surface  67  such that the regulation portion  90  covers the frame mounting portion  80  from above. 
     An example of a method for causing the frame holding device  8  to hold the second frame  50  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 . As shown in  FIG. 12 , the frame holding device  8  is fixed to the end portion of the working table T in advance by the fixing portion  70 . When the frame holding device  8  has been fixed to the working table T, the base portion  60  is supported such that the base portion  60  protrudes forward. The placement surface  67  extends from the front side toward the fixing portion  70  side. The user moves the mounting portion  55  of the embroidery frame  5  rearward along the upper surface of the main body portion  81  of the frame mounting portion  80  of the frame holding device  8 . At this time, the user lifts the pair of tab portions  59  upward, and moves the mounting portion  55  rearward while deflecting the left and right end portions of the positioning member  57  upward. At this time, even when the rectangular-shaped portion  561  of the mounting portion  55  moves along the placement surface  67 , the rectangular-shaped portion  561  is guided by the inclined guide portions  83  and  84  of the frame mounting portion  80 , and thus can ride up over the upper surface of the main body portion  81 . 
     The user causes the rectangular-shaped portion  561  to slip in between the pair of restriction portions  86  and  87 . Thus, the restriction portions  86  and  87  guide the rectangular-shaped portion  561  rearward while restricting the movement of the rectangular-shaped portion  561  in the left-right direction. The rectangular-shaped portion  561  is pushed to the inside of the regulation portion  90 . The pair of engaged portions  58  provided on the mounting portion  55  are guided toward the pair of engaging portions  85 . The pair of engaging portions  85  are inserted into the pair of groove portions  566  provided in the attachment plate portion  56 . The pair of engaging portions  85  move forward relative to the attachment plate portion  56 . The left and right end portions of the positioning member  57  are deflected upward. Therefore, the left and right end portions of the positioning member  57  move rearward above the pair of engaging portions  85 , without colliding with the pair of engaging portions  85 . The convex portion  563  is accommodated in the long hole  88  and moves rearward along the long hole  88 . 
     When the embroidery frame  5  further moves rearward, one of the pair of stoppers  571  comes into contact with the front end portion of the restriction portion  86 , and the other of the pair of stoppers  571  comes into contact with the front end portion of the restriction portion  87 . Thus, the rearward movement of the attachment plate  56  is restricted, and the attachment plate portion  56  is caused to be positioned in the mounting position. At this time, the pair of engaged portions  58  provided on the positioning member  57  are respectively located above the pair of engaging portions  85  provided on the upper surface of the main body portion  81 . When the user releases his or her hands from the pair of tab portions  59 , the positioning member  57  returns to the original flat plate shape. As a result, as shown in  FIG. 13 , the pair of engaged portions  58  and the pair of engaging portions  85  are engaged with each other, and the position of the embroidery frame  5  with respect to the frame mounting portion  80  is fixed in the horizontal direction. The specific magnet  201  is attracted to the main body portion  51 . 
     The rectangular-shaped portion  561  is inserted inside the regulation portion  90 . The pair of inclined portions  98 A come into contact with the upper surface of the rectangular-shaped portion  561  in a well-balanced manner. Thus, the mounting portion  55  of the second frame  50  is inhibited from being displaced upward. Further, the inclined portions  98 A are inclined to the placement surface  67  side, as they extend rearward. Therefore, when the mounting portion  55  is mounted on the frame mounting portion  80 , even when the rectangular-shaped portion  561  is displaced upward with respect to the pair of contact portions  98 , the rectangular-shaped portion  561  is guided to the placement surface  67  side by the inclined portions  98 A. Therefore, the upward movement of the rectangular-shaped portion  561  is finally restricted by the contact portions  98 . As a result, the attachment plate portion  56  is clamped between the pair of contact portions  98  of the regulation portion  90  and the main body portion  81  of the frame mounting portion  80 , and thus the position of the attachment plate portion  56  is fixed in the up-down direction. 
     When a manufacturing error of the second frame  50  of the embroidery frame  5  is relatively large, the position of the mounting portion  55  when the second frame  50  is placed on the placement surface  67  may be displaced in the up-down direction. The pair of contact portions  98  of the regulation portion  90  are provided on the flexible upper wall portion  91 . As a result, in accordance with the displacement of the mounting portion  55 , the pair of contact portions  98  can be easily pushed against the mounting portion  55 . 
     On the inside of the regulation portion  90 , the forwardly protruding vertex portions of the respective specific sections  94 A and  95 A come into contact with the rear end portion of the rectangular-shaped portion  561 . As a result, the rectangular-shaped portion  561  is held such that it is urged forward by the right urging portion  94  and the left urging portion  95 . 
     Since the mounting portion  55  is mounted on the frame mounting portion  80 , the position of the second frame  50  in the horizontal direction and the up-down direction is fixed on the placement surface  67 . The second frame  50  that has been positioned on the placement surface  67  is strongly attracted to the placement surface  67  by the magnetic force from a pair of end portions  202 A (refer to  FIG. 5 ) of the yoke  202  that are exposed from the pair of hole portions  612 . In this manner, the second frame  50  is held on the placement surface  67  of the frame holding device  8 . Therefore, when the cloth C 1  is stretched over the second frame  50 , the frame holding device  8  can inhibit the second frame  50  from unintentionally becoming disengaged from, floating up from, or being displaced from the placement surface  67 . 
     On the other hand, when the second frame  50  (the embroidery frame  5 ) is removed from the frame holding device  8 , the user lifts the tab portions  59  upward. When the tab portions  59  are lifted upward, the left and right end portions of the positioning member  57  are deflected upward, and therefore, the pair of engaged portions  58  disengage upward from the pair of engaging portions  85 . As a result, the attachment plate portion  56  becomes able to move forward. Since the rectangular-shaped portion  561  of the attachment plate portion  56  is urged forward by the right urging portion  94  and the left urging portion  95 , the rectangular-shaped portion  561  is pushed out toward the front from the inside of the regulation portion  90 . By using the forwardly urging force generated by the right urging portion  94  and the left urging portion  95 , the user can smoothly move the second frame  50  forward in the horizontal direction. In this way, the user can smoothly remove the embroidery frame  5  from the mounting position. A case can be assumed in which the user removes the pair of engaged portions  58  from the pair of engaging portions  85  by lifting the front end portion of the second frame  50  (the embroidery frame  5 ) upward, without lifting the tab portions  59  upward. Even in this case, the rectangular-shaped portion  561  is smoothly pushed out toward the front from the inside of the regulation portion  90  by the urging force of the right urging portion  94  and the left urging portion  95 . In this way, the rectangular-shaped portion  561  is unlikely to come into contact with the upper wall portion  91  of the regulation portion  90  or a member located in the periphery of the upper wall portion  91 . Thus, the second frame  50  and the frame holding device  8  are effectively inhibited from being damaged. 
     An example of a working method for stretching the cloth C 1  over the second frame  50  fixed to the frame holding device  8  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 13 . Before the cloth C 1  is covered over the second frame  50 , the concave portion  100  is exposed via the hole  53  of the second frame  50 . In a state in which the second frame  50  is held on the placement surface  67  of the frame holding device  8 , the user causes the cloth C 1  to cover the second frame  50  from above while holding both ends of the cloth C 1  with both hands. At this time, it is preferable that the user uses his or her sense of touch to recognize, via the cloth C 1 , the indicators such as the center indicator  101 , the base lines  121  to  126 , or the convex portions  127 . Thus, the user can perform the position adjustment of the cloth C 1  with respect to the second frame  50 . At this time, by provisionally holding the left end portion and the right end portion of the cloth C 1  using the presser portions  68  and  69 , it is possible to temporarily fix the position of the cloth C 1 . Since the cloth C 1  is provisionally held with a relatively light force by the presser portions  68  and  69 , the user can easily perform a slight adjustment, such as gradually displacing the position of the cloth C 1  with respect to the second frame  50 . 
     After the position of the cloth C 1  is determined, the user grips the pair of grippers  43  of the first frame  40  with both hands, and causes the first frame  40  to approach the second frame  50  from above. The first frame  40  is fixed by the magnetic force. As a result, the cloth C 1  is clamped between the first frame  40  and the second frame  50 . In this way, the second frame  50  is held by the frame holding device  8  and is supported in a horizontal state. Therefore, the user does not need to manually hold the second frame  50 . Thus, while gripping the cloth C 1 , the user can perform the positioning of the cloth C 1  with respect to the second frame  50  supported horizontally by the frame holding device  8 . Thus, in addition to the capability of performing the position adjustment of the cloth C 1  easily and accurately, the slight adjustment of the position of the cloth C 1  can also be performed easily. Since the second frame  50  is held by the frame holding device  8 , even when the cloth C 1  is stretched out again, the user does not need to manually hold the second frame  50 . The user grips the pair of grippers  43  of the first frame  40  with both hands, and lifts the rear side of the first frame  40  while using the front side of the first frame  40  as an axis, thus removing the first frame  40 . As a result, the upward movement of the second frame  50  is restricted by the regulation portion  90 , and the user can easily remove the first frame  40 . 
     A relationship between a minimum circumferential length L 1  of a cylindrical cloth C 2  that can be sewn by the sewing machine  1 , and a minimum circumferential length L 2  of the cylindrical cloth C 2  that can be stretched over the second frame  50  using the frame holding device  8  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 14  and  FIG. 15 . The cylindrical cloth C 2  is a cylindrical-shaped cloth. The cylindrical cloth C 2  is, for example, a sleeve of a shirt, trousers, or the like. The sewing machine  1  can cause the cylindrical cloth C 2  to be clamped as a sewing object by the embroidery frame  5 , and can sew the clamped cylindrical cloth C 2 . The embroidery frame  5  that is clamping the cylindrical cloth C 2  is mounted on the frame mounting member  31  fixed to the holder  25 . At this time, it is necessary to insert the cylinder bed  10  into the inside of the cylindrical cloth C 2 . For that reason, as shown in  FIG. 14 , the minimum circumferential length L 1  of the cylindrical cloth C 2  that can be sewn by the sewing machine  1  is determined taking account of the following two points. The first point is a size of the cylinder bed  10 . The second point is a positional relationship between the embroidery frame  5  and the cylinder bed  10  when the embroidery frame  5  has moved in the left-right direction (the X axis direction) with respect to the cylinder bed  10 . More specifically, when the embroidery frame  5  moves in the left-right direction (the X axis direction) with respect to the cylinder bed  10 , the length by which the cylindrical cloth C 2  can move within a movement range X 1  in accordance with the position of the cylinder bed  10  is the minimum circumferential length L 1  of the cylindrical cloth C 2 . The movement range X 1  is a range in the X axis direction in the sewing range when the sewing is performed using the embroidery frame  5 . 
     A case can be assumed in which the sewing machine  1  sews the cylindrical cloth C 2  clamped by the embroidery frame  5  when the user is unaware of the fact that the circumferential length of the cylindrical cloth C 2  is smaller than the above-described minimum circumferential length L 1 . In this case, there is a possibility that a sewing operation may stop as a result of the cylindrical cloth C 2  being caught up on the cylinder bed  10  during the sewing operation. Therefore, before the embroidery frame  5  is mounted on the sewing machine  1 , the user needs to confirm whether the cylindrical cloth C 2  satisfies the minimum circumferential length L 1  of the cylindrical cloth C 2  that can be sewn by the sewing machine  1 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 15 , in the present embodiment, the size of the base portion  60  is set such that the minimum circumferential length L 2  of the cylindrical cloth C 2  that can be stretched over the second frame  50  held on the placement surface  67  is equal to or larger than the minimum circumferential length L 1  of the cylindrical cloth C 2  that can be sewn by the sewing machine  1 . 
     When the cylindrical cloth C 2  is stretched over the second frame  50 , it is necessary to insert the base portion  60  into the inside of the cylindrical cloth C 2 . For that reason, the minimum circumferential length L 2  of the cylindrical cloth C 2  that can be stretched over the second frame  50  is a minimum circumferential length at which the base portion  60  can be inserted to the inside of the cylindrical cloth C 2 . In other words, as long as the cylindrical cloth C 2  can be stretched over the second frame  50  held by the frame holding device  8 , the user can determine that the circumferential length of the cylindrical cloth C 2  is equal to or larger than the minimum circumferential length L 1  of the cylindrical cloth C 2  that can be sewn by the sewing machine  1 . Thus, before the cylindrical cloth C 2  is mounted on the sewing machine  1 , the user can easily determine whether the cylindrical cloth C 2  has a cloth shape that can be sewn by the sewing machine  1 , by determining whether or not the cylindrical cloth C 2  can be stretched over the second frame  50  held by the frame holding device  8 . 
     A positional relationship between the placement surface  67  of the frame holding device  8  and the main body portion  51  of the second frame  50  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 15 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , when the second frame  50  is placed on the placement surface  67  and the pair of engaging portions  85  engage with the pair of engaged portions  58 , the front end portion of the placement surface  67  (the base portion  60 ) is positioned further to the front than the front end portion of the main body portion  51  of the second frame  50 . Thus, when the cloth C 1  is placed on the second frame  50 , the user can trace the guide indicator  611  with a finger from above the cloth C 1 . Further, since the frame holding device  8  can stably support the second frame  50  on the placement surface  67 , the user can stably perform the operation of stretching the cloth C 1  over the second frame  50  from above. 
     Meanwhile, as shown in  FIG. 15 , the positions of the left end portion and the right end portion of the main body portion  51  of the second frame  50  are positioned further to the outside in the left-right direction than the positions of the left end portion and the right end portion of the base portion  60 . More specifically, the length of the main body portion  51  of the second frame  50  in the left-right direction is longer than the length of the base portion  60  in the left-right direction. Thus, for example, when the cylindrical cloth C 2  is inserted into the base portion  60  from the front, the user can insert the hands into gaps S 1  and S 2  and can grasp the cylindrical cloth C 2 . The gaps S 1  and S 2  are gaps that occur between the left and right end portions of the main body portion  51  of the second frame  50  and the left and right end portions of the base portion  60 . Therefore, the user can easily insert the cylindrical cloth C 2  into the base portion  60  while grasping the cylindrical cloth C 2  with both hands. Since the positional relationship between the second frame  50  and the base portion  60  is the above-described positional relationship, the frame holding device  8  can inhibit the cylindrical cloth C 2  from coming into contact with the presser portions  68  and  69  that are respectively provided on the right wall portion  62  and the left wall portion  63 . 
     The lower portion of the front end portion of each of the right wall portion  62  and the left wall portion  63  has the tapered shape that is inclined downward and rearward from the upper front side. Therefore, the user can easily insert the base portion  60  into the inside of the cylindrical cloth C 2 . Thus, the frame holding device  8  can improve the workability in stretching the cylindrical cloth C 2 . 
     As explained above, the frame holding device  8  of the present embodiment is a jig adapted to hold the embroidery frame  5  that can clamp the cloth C 1  between the first frame  40  and the second frame  50  using the magnetic force. The frame holding device  8  is provided with the base portion  60 , the fixing portion  70 , the frame mounting portion  80  and the regulation portion  90 . The base portion  60  has the placement surface  67  on which the second frame  50  is to be placed. The fixing portion  70  is detachably fixed to the working table T. The placement surface  67  of the base portion  60  extends rearward toward the fixing portion  70 . The frame mounting portion  80  is provided with the pair of engaging portions  85 . The pair of engaging portions  85  engage with the pair of engaged portions  58  provided on the mounting portion  55  of the second frame  50 , and the mounting portion  55  is detachably mounted on the sewing machine  1 . Since the pair of engaging portions  85  engage with the pair of engaged portions  58 , the second frame  50  placed on the placement surface  67  is restricted from moving in the front-rear direction. The regulation portion  90  is provided above the placement surface  67 . The regulation portion  90  comes into contact, from above, with the mounting portion  55  in a state in which the pair of engaged portions  58  are engaged with the pair of engaging portions  85 , and thereby restricts the upward movement of the second frame  50 . In this way, the frame holding device  8  can strongly hold the second frame  50  on the placement surface  67 . In the state in which the second frame  50  is strongly held on the placement surface  67  of the frame holding device  8  fixed to the working table T, the user can stretch the cloth C 1  over the second frame  50  while holding the cloth C 1  with both hands. The user can cause the stretched cloth C 1  to be clamped between the first frame  40  and the second frame  50  using the magnetic force. Therefore, the frame holding device  8  can improve the workability in stretching the cloth C 1 . When the position of the cloth C 1  is displaced with respect to the second frame  50 , the user can remove the first frame  40  in the state in which the second frame  50  is held by the frame holding device  8 . Therefore, the user can also perform the slight adjustment of the position of the cloth C 1  easily. 
     Various modifications can be made to the above embodiment. For example, the following modifications may be added as appropriate. The structure of each of the embroidery frame  5 , the embroidery frame unit  30  and the sewing machine  1  may be changed as appropriate. It is sufficient that the number of the needle bars provided in the sewing machine  1  be one or more. It is sufficient that at least one type of the embroidery frame can be mounted on the sewing machine  1 . The embroidery frame  5  may be configured to be directly mounted on the holder  25  of the sewing machine  1 . When the embroidery frame  5  is attached to the sewing machine  1  via the frame mounting member  31 , the structure of the frame mounting member  31  may be changed as appropriate. It is sufficient that the mounting portion used to mount the embroidery frame on the sewing machine be coupled to at least one of the first frame and the second frame. The attachment posture of the embroidery frame  5  with respect to the sewing machine  1  may be changed as appropriate. The first frame  40  need not necessarily include the magnets  41  and the second frame  50  need not necessarily include the main body portion  51 . In this case, the embroidery frame  5  may be configured to hold the cloth C 1  between the first frame  40  and the second frame  50  without using magnetic force. 
     The size, the planar shape, the thickness and the like of the embroidery frame  5  may be changed as appropriate. The inner edge of each of the first frame  40  and the second frame  50  may have a shape other than a polygonal shape, such as a circular shape, an elliptical shape or the like, in a plan view. When the shape of the inner edge of each of the first frame  40  and the second frame  50  is a polygonal shape in a plan view, the shape of the inner edge may be a shape other than a square shape, such as a triangular shape, a rectangular shape, a pentagonal shape or the like. 
     The cloth C 1  and the cylindrical cloth C 2  are an example of the sewing object that can be sewn by the sewing machine  1 . As long as the cloth C 1  and the cylindrical cloth C 2  are a flexible sheet material that can be sewn, the material of the cloth C 1  and the cylindrical cloth C 2  is not limited. The material of the cloth C 1  and the cylindrical cloth C 2  may be, for example, a work cloth, leather, a resin sheet or the like. The processing cloth may be a nonwoven fabric. The shape of the sewing object may be changed as appropriate. 
     The structure of the frame holding device  8  may be changed as appropriate. As long as the base portion  60  is provided with the upper wall portion  61 , the right wall portion  62  and the left wall portion  63 , the shape of the base portion  60  may be, for example, a cuboid shape, a cylindrical shape, a box shape or the like. The concave portion  100  and each of the above-described indicators provided inside the concave portion  100  may be formed by various methods, and may be formed by half punch processing, for example. The half punch processing can avoid the trouble of having to form the concave portion  100 . The convex indicator may be formed by another member being fixed by welding or the like. The center indicator  101  may be formed in a concave-convex shape. The frame holding device  8  need not necessarily include the center indicator  101 . In this case, the base portion  60  may include the guide indicators  611 ,  621  and  631 . When the pair of engaged portions  58  and the pair of engaging portions  85  are engaged with each other, the guide indicator  611  indicates the center position of the inside of the second frame  50  in the left-right direction. When the pair of engaged portions  58  and the pair of engaging portions  85  are engaged with each other, each of the guide indicators  621  and  631  indicates the center position of the inside of the second frame  50  in the front-rear direction. The number, the thickness, the length, the arrangement and the like of the base lines, which are the respective indicators, are not limited to those in the above-described embodiment and may be changed as desired. Each of the indicators may have a shape other than the hole and the base line. The base lines  121  to  126  of the above-described embodiment may have a shape that is recessed downward, for example. Note however that, from the viewpoint of easy recognition via the sense of touch by the user, it is preferable that each of the indicators has an upwardly protruding shape. Each of the indicators may be an indicator that can only be recognized by a visual check by the user. However, from the viewpoint of easy identification of the positions of the various types of indicators when the various types of indicators are covered by the cloth C 1 , it is preferable that the various types of indicators be indicators that can be recognized via the sense of touch by the user. As long as the guide indicators  621  and  631  are located at the positions where they can guide the position of the center indicator  101 , they may be provided in any section of the right wall portion  62  and the left wall portion  63 . It is sufficient that the guide indicators  611 ,  621  and  631  have a shape that can be recognized via the sense of touch by the user, and may have a shape that protrudes to the outside, for example. The concave portion  100 , the presser portions  68  and  69 , the specific magnet  201 , the yoke  202 , and the pair of hole portions  612  may be omitted as appropriate. The shape and the position of each of the concave portion  100 , the presser portions  68  and  69 , the specific magnet  201 , the yoke  202 , and the pair of hole portions  612  can be changed as appropriate. As long as the positions of the hole portions  612  are on the placement surface  67 , the hole portions  612  need not necessarily be on the front side. 
     The structure of the fixing portion  70  may be changed as appropriate. It is sufficient that the fixing portion  70  be configured to be fixed to the end portion of the working table T, and the structure of the fixing portion  70  may be a clip-like structure, for example. The fixing tool  74  may be provided on the upper wall portion  71 , instead of being provided on the lower wall portion  73 . In this case, a structure that comes into contact with the working table T from above is adopted for the contact portion  77 . 
     The structure of the frame mounting portion  80  may be changed as appropriate. The inclined guide portions  83  and  84  of the frame mounting portion  80  may be omitted as appropriate. Instead of the pair of restriction portions  86  and  87  having the function to guide the rectangular-shaped portion  561  rearward and the restriction function to restrict the rearward movement of the second frame  50  from the mounting position by the pair of restriction portions  86  and  87  coming into contact with the pair of stoppers  571 , another member having the restriction function may be provided. 
     The structure of the regulation portion  90  may be changed as appropriate. Although the pair of contact portions  98  are provided on the upper wall portion  91  of the regulation portion  90 , the number of the contact portions  98  may be one, or three or more. Note however that, when the number of the contact portions  98  respectively provided on the right side and the left side of the central portion of the upper wall portion  91  in the left-right direction is the same as each other, the rectangular-shaped portion  561  of the mounting portion  55  can be pressed from above in a well-balanced manner. The contact portions  98  may be fixed to the lower surface of the upper wall portion  91 . In this case, the contact portions  98  protrude to the placement surface  67  side from the lower surface of the upper wall portion  91 . 
     The frame holding device  8  of the above-described embodiment can be combined with the embroidery frame  5  or the embroidery frame unit  30  and can be used as an embroidery frame set. 
     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.