SPANGLE SUPPLYING APPARATUS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a spangle supplying apparatus, and more particularly, to a spangle supplying apparatus for cutting a spangle tape into individual spangle pieces (hereinafter, referred as spangles and supplying the spangles to a needle of an embroidery machine piece by piece according to a predetermined supplying interval and order during an embroidering process.

Background Art

[2] Generally, when spangles formed in a variety of shapes such as a circular shape, a polygonal shape, a heart shape and the like are associated with embroidered basic fabric, the embroidered fabric becomes the more value-added product than a simply embroidered basic fabric using embroidery threads of various colors.

[3] These spangles are material usually applied to basic fabric, clothing, shoes, and accessories for women. The spangles are formed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or pure polyester and consecutively formed on a tape (hereinafter, referred as "spangle tape").

[4] A spangle supplying apparatus cuts the spangle tape into individual spangles while moving the spangle tape pitch by pitch. Upon being cut, the spangles are sewed and attached to desired locations of the basic fabric.

[5] Conventionally, when one or more spangle supplying apparatuses are installed regardless of a computerized automatic embroidery machine for new or used for any brands, the spangle supplying apparatuses must receive a spangle signal from a central process unit (CPU) of the embroidery machine. In this case, since the spangle signal systems are different from each other according to the manufactures, a CPU board for receiving the spangle signal from the embroidery machine manufactured by a different manufacture must be prepared, thereby increasing the initial investment costs. Furthermore, when the device for running the signal receiving system and the CPU board are superannuated, there may be a problem in a signal communication for running the spangle signal receiving system.

[6] Also, the spangle tapes are different in a thickness from each other according to the manufacturers due to a different coating process. When the spangle tape having a thickness that is not proper to a spangle supplying apparatus to which it is applied is used, it is difficult to accurately transfer and guide the spangle tape to the needle, thereby making it difficult to effectively do the needlework for attaching the spangle and thus deteriorating the quality of the final produce.

[7] Furthermore, when a new spangle tape having a width greater or less than that of

the formerly used spangle tape is used, a lot of components of the spangle supplying apparatus must be replaced in response to the varied width of the spangle tape. This causes the deterioration of the work efficiency.

[8] The spangle supplying apparatus is designed to ascend so that a wiper can effectively cut an embroidery thread. After the wiper cuts the embroidery thread, the spangle supplying apparatus is designed to descend, in the course of which a position of the spangle supplying apparatus varies. Therefore, the position of the spangle supplying apparatus must be adjusted. This also causes the deterioration of the quality of the final product and the productivity.

[9] Due to the above-described problems, a technology for fixing the spangle supplying apparatus has been proposed not to allow the spangle supplying apparatus to move up and down. In this case, when the spangle apparatus moves to another working point according to a selected design, it must move with running stitches. This causes the design limitation.

[10] Furthermore, when the spangle embroidery machine starts the operation again after there is a failure of electric supply or the operation is finished, a starting point of the spangle must be manually adjusted by the worker. This is troublesome for the worker. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[11] Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the above described problems and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a spangle supplying apparatus that can be used by being attached on a head of an embroidery machine regardless of types of the embroidery machine that are different in a signal system, a manufactured year, the number of heads, an operation manner (automatic or manual operation), or a model No. from each other without receiving a signal from a main CPU but by providing an independent signal system for selectively controlling the spangle supply by controlling the driving of stepping motors installed on respective lower bodies according to a voltage difference detected by detecting a signal voltage differences between terminals connected to jump solenoids arranged on the respective head or the stepping motors.

[12] It is another object of the present invention to provide a spangle supplying apparatus that can control rotation of a stepping motor in clockwise and counterclockwise directions by providing a dual in-line package (DIP) switch to each controller when replacing a spangle tape with a new spangle tape having a different standard and can drive the stepping motor at an angle corresponding to the standard of the replaced spangle tape by controlling an amount of pulse of the stepping motor.

[13] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a spangle supplying

apparatus that can automatically set a spangle tape, which is provided to the spangle supplier, at an accurate cutting position by providing a sensing unit having a pair of light reception and emission sensors and programming the spangle supplying apparatus such that the spangle tape can be returned to an initial poison when re-supplying an electric power after the power is off, thereby reducing a working force and time and power consumptions.

[14] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a spangle supplying apparatus that can overcome the problem of a design limitation by programming the spangle supplying apparatus such that a lower body of the spangle supplying apparatus can wait in an ascended position through a controller when the power is off, an embroidery thread is cut, a needle support is replaced, and a spangle working is finished. Specifically, when moving to another working point after the cut process, the movement is achieved not by the running stitches but by the jump, thereby solving the problem of the design limitation.

[15] It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a spangle supplying apparatus that can, if required, independently control a forward movement, backward movement and returning-to-starting point of a spangle tape supplied to the spangle supplying apparatus by installing a controller to each head.

[16] It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a spangle supplying apparatus that can reduce power consumption by allowing a spangle tape not to move when a head on which the spangle supplying apparatus is installed is stopped by a toggle switch during an embroidering work using a embroidery machine having two or more heads.

[17] It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a spangle supplying apparatus that can be easily mounted on and dismounted from an embroidery machine through an adaptor and can replace a lower body detachable connected to an upper body by a connection unit with a new lower body corresponding to a standard of a spangle tape according to a spangle embroidery design by allowing the lower and upper bodies to be easily assembled or disassembled with each other.

[18] It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide a spangle supplying apparatus that can accurately transfer spangle tapes different in a standard according to a manufacturer and a coating property with each other to a cutting unit without shaking the spangle tapes in vertical and horizontal directions. Technical Solution

[19] To achieve these objects, the present invention provides an spangle supplying apparatus mounted on an embroidery machine to supply spangles by conveying and cutting a spangle tape, the embroidery machine including at least one needle mounted

on at least one head, a needle support for supporting the needle, a thread adjuster, and a tread snatcher, the spangle supplying apparatus comprising: a controller mounted on each head of any type of the embroidery machines regardless of a manufactured year, manufacturing company, and the number of heads, the controller having a drive and a controller, the controller being programmed to independently process a spangle jump signal system such that the spangle jump signal system by the punching design data inputted to a controller of the embroidery machine orders a stop command to a stepping motor mounted on each lower body through a main CPU of the embroidery machine according to a detected signal voltage difference of a terminal connected to a jump solenoid disposed on each head or the stepping motor to supply the spangle or stop the supply of the spangle to return the apparatus to a starting point when electric power is supplied again after being off; an upper body comprising a guide roller unit having a fixing bracket detachably coupled to left, right or front sides of the head, a plurality of rollers for vertically guiding the spangle tape, and a supporting bracket for supporting the rollers; a cutting unit detachably mounted on an extreme end of the lower body to cut the spangle tape; a lower body comprising a driving roller for conveying the spangle tape guided from a rear portion of the cutting unit to the guide roller unit to the cutting unit and a stepping motor mounted coupled thereto to drive the driving roller by a predetermined pitch using a timing belt; a connection unit for detachably connecting the guide roller unit to the lower body and displacing he lower body in X and Y axes relative to the upper body to set a spangle supplying position; a guide unit detachably coupled to a lower end of the lower body to elastically support and guide the spangle tape toward the cutting unit; and an election driving unit comprising a pair of links pivotally connected to the upper body to ascend and descend the upper/lower body and an air cylinder connected to a cutting solenoid of the embroidery machine and operated by a solenoid valve signal.

[20] The controller may be mounted on each head of any type of the embroidery machines regardless of the manufactured year, manufacturing company, and the number of heads and have a drive and a controller, the controller being programmed to independently process the spangle jump signal system such that the spangle jump signal system by the punching design data inputted to a controller of the embroidery machine orders a driving or stop command to a stepping motor mounted on each lower body through a main CPU of the embroidery machine according to a detected signal voltage difference of a terminal connected to a jump solenoid disposed on each head or the stepping motor to supply the spangle or stop the supply of the spangle to return the apparatus to a starting point when electric power is supplied again after being off.

[21] The controller may drive the elevation driving unit to allow the elevation driving unit to ascend along a rotational track corresponding to a length of the pair of lines and

to stand by in the ascended location when the power is off, the thread is cut, the needle support is changed, and the spangle working is finished.

[22] A vertical center of the driving roller and vertical centers of the guide rollers of the guide roller unit may be set at an identical plane.

[23] The supporting and fixing brackets may be provided with projection and groove that are formed at facing surfaces of the supporting and fixing brackets in a longitudinal direction and interlocked with each other to maintain a former descending location when the lower body descends again after it ascends.

[24] The spangle supplying apparatus may further comprises a sensing unit having a mask plate coupled to the driving shaft of the stepping motor to drive the driving rollers by a predetermined pitch using a timing belt and provided with a plurality of holes spaced apart from each other by a predetermined gap and light reception and emission sensors disposed corresponding to the mask plate to output an optical signal by emitting light through the holes formed on the mask plate, wherein the controller, when the starting point is different from that of the former working by the power of or restart of the working, receives the optical signal from the light reception and emission sensors of the sensing unit to drive the stepping motor according to a preset program so that the spangle can be accurately supplied.

[25] The controller may include a DIP switch for, when the current spangle tape is replaced with a new spangle tape different in a thickness standard, varying an amount of pulse of the stepping motor to drive the driving shaft of the stepping motor at an angle corresponding to a pitch of the spangle tape.

[26] The cutting unit may include an upper cutter pivotally disposed on the lower body and having a cutter blade thinner than a fixing side to reduce an interference with the need of the embroidery machine; a lower cutter blade formed on the guide portion to cut the spangle tape by the spangle unit by cooperating with the upper cutter pivotally pressed by the needle support descending together with the needle of the embroidery machine; a pivot shaft for returning the upper cutter to the staring point after the upper cutter cuts the spangle tape, the pivot shaft having a first end elastically fixed on an end of the lower body and a second end coupled to the upper cutter by a fixing bolt; and a holding member disposed between an extreme end of the lower body and the upper cutter and having a groove in which the fixing side of the upper cutter is inserted to allow the upper cutter to pivot at an angle identical to a pivotal angle of the pivot shaft.

[27] The upper cutter may be provided with a groove at a first portion corresponding to the needle support to prevent the thread is inadvertently cut by the interference with an upper portion of the needle support installed on the head of the embroidery machine and the groove has a depth that can avoid the interference with the upper portion of the

needle support when the needle support is located at a bottom dead point.

[28] The upper cutter may be provided at a surface of the first portion with a fixing hole corresponding to one of a pair of hook portions of the rotational plate so that it can be fixedly inserted in one of the pair of the hook portions.

[29] The upper cutter may pivot in a state where a lower end surface of the second portion of the upper cutter contacts a front portion of the lower cutter blade.

[30] The guide unit may include an inclined guide member disposed adjacent to the driving roller to elastically press the spangle tape conveyed from the upper body to the driving roller toward the driving roller; a base plate detachably coupled to a lower end of the lower body and having an upper end contacting an inner surface of the upper cutter when the upper cutter pivots; a pair of left and right guide members disposed on the base plate and facing each other at a distance corresponding to a width of the spangle and variable in response to the width of the spangle tap guide from the driving roller to guide the left and right sides of the spangle tape; and an upper guide unit disposed between the pair of guide members to prevent the spangle tape conveyed toward the cutting unit from being continuously conveyed upward together with the driving roller and guiding the spangle tape with the spangle tape pressed downward.

[31] The inclined guide member may be provided at a center with a cutting groove through which a guide pin of the driving roller can pass in a longitudinal direction.

[32] The upper guide unit may include a Y-shaped press member protruding from left and right sides of the guide pin of the driving roller and pressed on the driving roller to prevent the spangle tape from being conveyed upward together with the driving roller and guiding the spangle tape between the left and right guide member; and a fixing member fixing the Y-shaped press member on the left and right guide members and pressing the Y-shaped press member downward to elastically press the spangle tape conveyed between the left and right guide members.

[33] The spangle supplying apparatus may further include an adaptor for detachably coupling the fixing bracket to a left or right side of the head without damaging the head.

[34] The connection unit may include an upper unit detachably coupled to a lower end of the upper body; a lower unit detachably coupled to an upper end of the lower body; and a connection block interconnecting the upper and lower bodies by interconnecting the upper and lower units and coupled to the upper and lower units to be slidable in a direction perpendicular to the upper and lower units.

[35] The upper unit may include a first upper block coupled to a lower end of the upper body by a plurality of first fixing bolts and provided with an upper contact inclined surface slidably contacting a first upper inclined surface of the connection block and a second upper block detachably coupled to a surface of the first upper block by a

plurality of coupling bolts and provided with an upper contact inclined surface slidably contacting a second upper inclined surface of the connection block; and the lower unit comprises a first lower block coupled to an upper end of the lower body by a plurality of second fixing bolts and provided with a lower contact inclined surface slidably contacting a first lower inclined surface of the connection block and a second lower block detachably coupled to a surface of the first lower block by a plurality of second coupling bolts and provided with a lower contact inclined surface slidably contacting a second lower inclined surface of the connection block.

[36] The spangle supplying apparatus may further include a rotational plate detachably coupled to one of the first upper block and the first lower block; and an adjusting bolt rotatably coupled to the rotational plate by a flange formed adjacent to the head, the adjusting bolt moving one of the upper and lower units in a perpendicular direction relative to the upper and lower units as the head rotates in a forward or backward direction by a screw unit screw-coupled to the connection block. Advantageous Effects

[37] According to the present invention, the spangle supplying apparatus can be generally used for any embroidery machine regardless of the manufactured year, manufacturing company, and the number of heads. Furthermore, even the spangle tapes different in a thickness can be accurately guide and positioned on the needlework location. When the spangle tape is replaced according to the embroidering design, a part of the apparatus is exchanged. Therefore, the working efficiency can be improved. In addition, after the apparatus ascends and descends, the location before it ascends can be accurately maintained. Furthermore, when the electric power is supplied again after being off, the cutting location of the spangle is automatically detected through the optical sensor, the cutting can be accurately realized.

[38] In addition, since the spangle tape can be accurately conveyed and guided at an upper, lower, left and right sides regardless of the thickness of the spangle tape, the deterioration of the final product on which the spangle is attached can bee prevented. As only the lower body is exchanged when the spangle tape having a different thickness is used, the working efficiency and the productivity can be improved. In addition, after the apparatus ascends and descends, the location before it ascends can be accurately maintained. Furthermore, when the electric power is supplied again after being off, the starting point of the spangle is accurately set by automatically detecting the starting point the optical sensor.

[39] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[40] The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which: [41] Fig. 1 is a front view of a spangle supplying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[42] Fig. 2 is a right side view of a spangle supplying apparatus depicted in Fig. 1 ;

[43] Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a fixing bracket and a guide roller unit of a spangle supplying apparatus depicted in Fig. 1 ; [44] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a connection unit for connecting upper and lower bodies of a spangle supplying apparatus depicted in Fig. 1 ; [45] Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a connection unit depicted in Fig. 4;

[46] Figs. 6 and 7 are schematic views illustrating movements of a lower body in left and right directions for setting a spangle supplying position through a connection unit of a spangle supplying apparatus depicted in Fig. 1 ;

[47] Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the cutting unit depicted in Fig. 2;

[48] Fig. 9 is a front view of a modified example of the cutting unit depicted in Fig. 8;

[49] Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the cutting unit depicted in Fig. 9;

[50] Figs. 11 and 12 are schematic front views illustrating an operation of the cutting unit depicted in Fig. 9; [51] Fig. 13 is a schematic view of a sensing unit of a spangle supply apparatus according to the present invention; [52] Fig. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a spangle guide unit of the spangle supply apparatus according to the present invention; [53] Fig. 15 is a schematic view illustrating a moving state of the spangle tape by a driving roller of the spangle supply apparatus; and [54] Fig. 16 is a perspective view of an inclined guide member depicted in Fig. 15.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [55] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. [56] Fig. 1 is a front view of a spangle supplying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a right side view of a spangle supplying apparatus depicted in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a fixing bracket and a guide roller unit of a spangle supplying apparatus depicted in Fig. 1. [57] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a spangle supplying apparatus includes an upper body

10 detachably coupled to a head 3 of an embroidery machine 1 having one or more needles 5, a needle support 6 for supporting each needle 5, an embroidery thread

adjusting unit (not shown), and a thread catching unit (not shown). The upper body 10 has a fixing bracket 20 that can selectively fix the adaptor 21 on left and right sides or a front side of the head 3. A guide roller unit 30 is disposed as a side of the fixing bracket 20. The guide roller unit 30 includes a plurality of rollers 31, 32 and 33 for guiding downward a spangle tape 9 installed on a spangle tape reel unit 8 and a supporting bracket 35.

[58] As the spangle supplying apparatus 21 uses the adaptor 21, it can be mounted through an existing hole of each head of the embroidery machine. That is, the spangle supplying apparatus 21 can be used without modifying the heads of the existing embroidery machine.

[59] In addition, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the guide roller unit 30 is connected to the fixing bracket 20 by an elevation unit 40 to ascend and descend a lower body 60 coupled to a lower end of the guide roller unit 30. That is, a pair of links 41 and 42 are pivotally coupled to side surfaces of the supporting and fixing brackets 35 and 20. Opposite sides of an air cylinder 43 are respectively connected to the pair of links 41 and 42.

[60] The air cylinder 43 detects a voltage difference of a signal terminal connected to a cutting solenoid of the embroidery machine and is driven by an independently- operating solenoid valve according to the detected voltage difference to ascend and descend the guide roller unit 30 and the lower body 60 coupled to the lower end of the guide roller unit 30 by keeping a rotating track corresponding to lengths of the links 41 and 42.

[61] As the lower body 60 ascends and descends flowing the rotating track corresponding to the lengths of the links 41 and 42, the standard of the cutting unit can be minimized. Specifically, when moving to another working point after the cut process, the movement is achieved not by the running stitches but by the jump, thereby solving the problem of the design limitation.

[62] Meanwhile, a V-shaped projection 37 and a V-shaped groove 27 are respectively formed on facing surfaces of the supporting and fixing brackets 25 and 20.

[63] In addition, a connection unit 50 is disposed between a lower end of the guide roller unit 30 and an upper end of the lower body 60. The guide roller unit 30 and the lower body 60 are detachably interconnected by the connection unit 50.

[64] The connection unit 50 includes an upper bracket 51 detachably coupled to a lower portion of the guide roller unit 30, a lower bracket 52 detachably coupled to the upper end of the lower body 60, and a connection medium 53 interconnecting the upper and lower brackets 51 and 52.

[65] The connection unit 50 will be now described in more detail with reference to Figs.

4 through 7.

[66] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the connection unit for connecting upper and lower bodies of the spangle supplying apparatus depicted in Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the connection unit depicted in Fig. 4, and Figs. 6 and 7 are schematic views illustrating movements of the lower body in left and right directions for setting the spangle supplying position through the connection unit of the spangle supplying apparatus depicted in Fig. 1.

[67] As shown in Fig. 4, the connection unit includes the upper unit (the upper bracket)

51 detachably coupled to a lower portion of the guide roller unit 30, the lower unit (the lower bracket) 53 detachably coupled to the upper end of the lower body 60, and the connection block (the connection medium) 52 interconnecting the upper and lower units 51 and 53.

[68] The upper unit 51 is coupled to the lower end of the upper body 10 by a plurality of first fixing bolts 51c and includes a first upper block 51a provided at a lower inner portion with a top contact inclined surface 5 Ie slidably contacting an upper inclined surface 52a formed on a portion of the upper portion of the connection block 52.

[69] A second upper block 5 Ib is detachably coupled to a side of the first upper block

51a to catching an upper portion of the connection block 52 together with first upper block 51a. The second upper block 51b has an upper contacting inclined surface 5 If slidably contacting another upper inclined surface 52a of the connection block 52.

[70] Also, the lower unit 53 is coupled to an upper end of the lower body 60 by a plurality of second fixing bolts 53c and includes a first lower block 51a provided at an upper inner portion with a lower contacting inclined surface 53e slidably contacting a lower inclined surface 52b formed at a lower side of the connection block 52 and a second lower block 53b provided at an upper inner portion with a lower contacting inclined surface 53f slidably contacting another lower inclined surface 52b. The second lower block 53b is detachably coupled to a surface of the first lower block 53a by a plurality of second coupling bolts 53d to catch a lower portion of the connection block 52.

[71] A fixing plate 54 is detachably coupled to a side portion of the first lower block 53a by a plurality of third coupling bolts 55 and an adjusting bolt 56 is rotatably coupled to the fixing bolt 54. That is, a thread portion 56b of the adjusting bolt 56 is thread- coupled to a through hole 52c of the connection block 52.

[72] At this point, the adjusting bolt 56 is rotatably coupled to the fixing plate by the head 56a and the flange 56c formed adjacent to the head 56a.

[73] A process for reciprocating the lower body 60 in a direction of an X-axis using the adjusting bolt 56 will be now described.

[74] In an initial state depicted in Fig. 5, when the head 56a of the adjusting bolt 56 rotate clockwise as shown in Fig. 6, the lower unit 53 contacting the opposite lower

contacting surfaces 52b moves to displace the lower body 60 by a length Ll in a positive direction of the X-axis. On the contrary, when the head 56a of the adjusting bolt 56 rotates counterclockwise as shown in Fig. 7, the lower unit 53 contacting the opposite lower contacting surfaces 52b moves to displace the lower body by a distance L2 in a negative direction of the X-axis. As a result, the user can easily set an X-axis supplying location of the spangles by rotating the adjusting bolt clockwise or counterclockwise by the proper number of rotations.

[75] Additionally, a fixing plate and adjusting bolt that are identical to those of the lower unit 53 may be provided to the upper unit 51 to performing a process for setting the lower body 60 in a direction of a Y-axis. Furthermore, in a state where the first coupling bolts 5 Id rotates in a direction for loosening the coupling of the first and second upper blocks 51a and 51b, the lower body 60 is properly moved in a positive or negative direction of the Y-axis and in a release direction and then the first and second upper blocks 51a and 51b are tightly coupled by rotating the first coupling bolts 5 Id in a direction for tightly coupling the first and second upper blocks 51a and 51b to each other, thereby securely fixing the upper unit 51 on the connection block 52.

[76] Therefore, the lower body 60 connected to the guide roller unit 30 by the connection unit 50 is movable in the directions of the X and Y-axes relative to the guide roller unit 30. As a result, the spangle supplying location can be accurately set without moving the overall body of the spangle supplying apparatus.

[77] Meanwhile, a cutting unit 90 for cutting the spangle tape 9 is provided to a lower front end of the lower body 60 as shown in Fig. 2. The cutting unit 90 will be now described with reference to Fig. 8.

[78] Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the cutting unit depicted in Fig. 2.

[79] The cutting unit 90 has an upper cutter 91 pivotally coupled within a range of 90 degrees by a pivot shaft 92 rotating around its axis in the lower body 60. The upper cutter 91 is fixedly inserted in a groove 93a of the rotational plate 93a and elastically supported on the lower body 60 by a spring 94 connected to an end of the pivot shaft 92. In addition, the cutting unit 90 further includes a lower cutter blade 81b formed on a base plate 81.

[80] When the needle support (6 in FIG. 1) pushes an upper end of the upper cutter 91 to allow the upper cutter 91 to pivot downward. When the upper cutter 91 pivots downward, the spangle tape 9 is cut by the lower cutter blade 81b of the base plate 81.

[81] A modified example of thee cutting unit depicted in Fig. 8 will be now described with reference to Figs. 9 through 12.

[82] Fig. 9 is a front view of a modified example of a cutting unit depicted in Fig. 8, Fig.

10 is a perspective view of the cutting unit depicted in Fig. 9, and Figs. 11 and 12 are schematic front views illustrating an operation of the cutting unit depicted in Fig. 9.

[83] Referring to Figs. 10 and 11, in order to prevent the embroidery thread from being cut by preventing the interference with an upper portion 105a of the needle 105, a cutting unit 190 of this modified example includes an upper cutter 191 provided at an upper end of a first portion 191c corresponding to the needle 7 with a groove 19 If.

[84] As shown in Fig. 10, the upper cutter 191 is provided at a lower end of the portion

191c with a cutter blade 19 Ie and at a second portion 19 Id with a coupling hole 191a through which a fixing screw 197 is inserted. In addition, the upper cutter 191 is further provided with a fixing hole 191b formed below the coupling hole 191a. One of first and second hook portions 193a and 193b of the rotational plate 193 is inserted in the fixing hole 191b.

[85] When the second hook portion 193b is inserted in the fixing hole 191b of the upper cutter 191, the upper end of the second portion 19 Id tightly contacts an inner portion of the first hook portion 193a. Therefore, the second portion 19 Id of the upper cutter 191 closely contacts the rotational plate 193 so that no gap is formed relative to a pivot direction of the upper cutter 191. In addition, since the second portion 19 Id of the upper cutter 191 is fixed to an extreme end of the lower body 60 in a direction perpendicular to the pivot direction, a rear surface of the lower portion of the second portion of the upper cutter 191 closely contacts the front portion of the lower cutter blade 81b.

[86] A gap may be formed between the upper cuter 191 and the lower cutter 81b when the embroidery machine is used for a long time. However, in the present invention, the forming of the gap can be prevented by the above-described structure. Therefore, when the upper cutter 191 cuts the spangle tape 9 while pivoting around the fixing screw 197, the cutting performance for cutting the spangle tape 9 can be effectively maintained. That is, the close contact state of the rear surface of the upper cutter 191 with the front portion of the lower cutter 81b can be continuously maintained.

[87] The reference numerals 181, 183 and 170 that are not described above indicate an embroidery base, a hole through which the needle passes and an embroidery fabric.

[88] The operation of the cutting unit 190 will be now described. A needle 105 held by a needle holder 106 and having an embroidery thread vertically descends, as shown in Fig. 11, a lower end protruding portion 106a of the needle holder 106 presses an upper end 19 Ig of the first portion 191c of the upper cutter 191.

[89] Therefore, as shown in Fig. 12, the upper cutter 191 pivots in a direction about the fixing screw 197 together with the rotational plate 193 to cut the spangle tape 9 disposed between the upper cutter 191 and the lower cutter blade 81b. The upper cutter 191 repeats this cutting process to stitch the spangle on the embroidery fabric 170.

[90] Meanwhile, since the upper cutter 191 is provided with the groove 19 If, when the needle 105 descends by the needle holder 106, an interference between the upper

portion 105a having a diameter greater than that of a lower portion 105b of the needle 105 and the upper end of the upper cutter 191 can be prevented, thereby preventing the thread from being cut in advance. Accordingly, since the embroidering work is not stopped, thereby improving the working efficiency.

[91] As the hook portion 193b of the rotational plate 193 is hooked on the fixing hole

191b of the upper cutter 191a and fixed by the fixing screw 197, the upper cutter 191 is stably supported. Therefore, even when being used for a long time, no gap between the upper cutter 191 and the lower cutter blade 81b is formed to improving the cutting performance for cutting the spangle tape.

[92] Furthermore, since the upper cutter 191 pivots in a state where a surface of a lower end of the second portion 19 Id thereof contacts the front portion of the lower cutter 191, the force applied to the upper utter 191 by the needle holder 106 is uniformly distributed, thereby preventing the damage of the upper cutter 191, that may be caused by the local stress of the upper cutter 191.

[93] Fig. 13 is a schematic view of a sensing unit of a spangle supply apparatus according to the present invention, Fig. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a spangle guide unit of the spangle supply apparatus according to the present invention, Fig. 15 is a schematic view illustrating a moving state of the spangle tape by a driving roller of the spangle supply apparatus, and Fig. 16 is a perspective view of an inclined guide member depicted in Fig. 15.

[94] A driving roller 66 is rotatably coupled to a portion of the lower body 60. The driving roller is guided by the guide roller unit 30 and arranged in rear of the upper cutter 91 to stably hold and convey the spangle tape 9 toward the upper cutter 91. A stepping motor 66 is coupled to the second portion of the lower body 60 to drive the driving roller 64 by a predetermined pitch using a timing belt 65.

[95] In addition, as shown in Fig. 13, a sensing unit 70 for counting the number of spangles and setting a spangle initial mounting point, i.e., an accurate cutting position includes a mask plate 71 coupled to a driving shaft 66a of the stepping motor 66 and having a plurality of emission hole 71a each having a predetermined distance and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined gap A, a light emission sensor 72 formed on opposite sides of the mask plate 71 to emit light through the emission holes 71a, and a light reception sensor 73 for receiving the light emitted from the light emission sensor 72.

[96] The sensing unit 70 can count the number of spangles being supplied using a detecting signal detected through light sensors 72 and 73. In addition, when the embroidering work starts again after electric power is off or the starting point of the spangle is position at a different location from a former position, the sensing unit 70 detects this and transmits the detecting signal to a controller 91 to drive the stepping

motor 66 using a preset program so that the spangle can be positioned to an accurate location.

[97] The spangle cutting position setting may be manually performed by the worker.

However, in the present invention, the spangle cutting position setting can be automatically performed by the sensing unit 70, the controller 101 and the stepping motor 66.

[98] Furthermore, the gap between the holes 70 of the mask plate 71 are set considering a pitch between the spangles and a rotational angle of the stepping motor 66. If required, the exchange of the lower body 60 according to the spangle tape used can be quickly realized.

[99] Accordingly, by mounting each controller on each head, the forward and backward movement and retuming-to-staring point can be independently controlled.

[100] In addition, in an embroidering work using the spangle embroidery machine having more than two heads, only a spangle supplying apparatus operated during an automatic maintenance operation is operated and other spangle supplying apparatuses stands by unit the embroidering work starts and the spangle tapes are not conveyed. Furthermore, when an unnecessary head is stopped using a toggle switch, the spangle supplying apparatus mounted on the stopped head does not move the spangle tape and stands by, thereby reducing the power consumption and efficiently operating the machine.

[101] In addition, since the base plate of the guide unit is adjustable during the guide of the spangle movement, the spangle tape made by different companies and having a different coating properties can be conveyed to a point of time where the spangle tape is cute by the upper cutter 91 and the lower cutter blade 81b without being shaken horizontally and vertically.

[102] Meanwhile, the guide unit 80 is coupled to the lower end of the lower body 60 to elastically support the spangle tape 9 conveyed by the driving roller 64 and guide the spangle tape 9 toward the upper cutter 91 of the cutting unit 90.

[103] The guide unit 80 is, as shown in Fig. 14, comprised of the base plate 81 detachably coupled to the lower end of the lower body 60 and having a predetermined width, a pair of guide members 82 and 83 coupled to an upper portion of the base plate 81 and space apart from each other by a predetermined distance, and an elastic unit 85 disposed between the guide members 82 and 83.

[104] As shown in Fig. 15, the base plate 81 is provided with a cutting portion 81a through which the guide pin 64a inserted in a needlework hole 9a to convey the spangle tape 9 passes when the driving roller 64 rotates.

[105] In addition, the lower cutter blade 81b is formed on a front end of the base plate 81.

The lower cutter blade 81b is formed in parallel to the upper cutter 61 pivoting downward.

[106] Furthermore, the distance between the pair of guide members 82 and 83 is preferably set to correspond to a width of the spangle tape 9 to guide left and right sides of the spangle tape 9.

[107] The elastic unit 85 is disposed between the pair of guide members 82 and 83 to press the spangle tape 9 downward and guide the spangle tape 9 toward the upper cutter 61 advanced between the guide members 82 and 83 by the driving roller 64.

[108] Furthermore, the elastic unit 85 includes a Y-shaped press portion 85a and a bending portion 85b coupled to the Y-shaped press portion 85a and fixed one of the guide members 82 and 83 to elastically support the Y-shaped press portion 85a.

[109] The pair of guide members 82 and 83 and bending portion 85b are, as shown in Fig.

14, fixed on the base by a plurality of fixing bolts 87.

[110] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 15, an inclined guide member (89 of Fig. 16) disposed at a side of the driving roller 64 stably guides the spangle tape from the guide roller unit 30 to the driving roller 64 by pressing the spangle tape toward the driving roller 64 with a predetermined tension.

[Ill] Although the spangle supplying apparatus of the above embodiment is exampled when it is mounted on a single head, when the embroidery machine has a plurality of heads, the spangle supplying apparatus can installed at each head. At this point, the controller 101 is independently provided on each head to independently control the spangle supplying apparatus installed at each head.

[112] When the controller 101 connected to the stepping motor and having a driver and an operator is applied to an embroidery machine having more than two heads, a spangle jump signal system by punching design data inputted in the embroidery controller is programmed such that a signal voltage difference of a terminal connected to the jump solenoid disposed on each head or the stepping motor is detected, a driving or stop command is transmitted to the stepping motor mounted on each lower body according to the detected voltage difference to convey or stop the spangle, and the spangle supplying apparatus is returned to the starting point when electric power is supplied again after being off and is designed to function to realize the forward and backward movements and ascending and descending of the spangle tape.

[113] Furthermore, when the spangle tape is replaced with another spangle tape having a different standard according to an embroidery design, a DIP switch 104 mounted on the controller 101 varies an amount of pulse of the stepping motor 66 to rotate the driving shaft 66a of the stepping motor 66 by an angle in response to a pitch of the replaced spangle tape. Additionally, the DIP switch 104 can control the rotational direction of the stepping motor 66.

[114] In this case, since a vertical center of the driving roller 64 is set at a plane identical to that where vertical centers of the guide rollers 31, 32 and 33, the driving roller 64

can convey the spangle tape 9 in the vertical direction.

[115] Furthermore, the driving roller 64 is provided at an outer circumference with a plurality of guide pins 64a corresponding to the needlework holes 9a formed on each spangle that are consecutively connected on the spangle tape. The guide pins 64a are inserted in the needlework holes 9a of the spangle tape while the driving roller 64 rotates, thereby guiding the spangle tape 9 to the guide unit 80.

[116] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. Industrial Applicability

[117] The spangle supplying apparatus includes the independent controller having the drive and the controller. The controller is programmed to independently process a spangle jump signal system such that the spangle jump signal system by the punching design data inputted from, for example, a floppy disk orders a driving or stop command to a stepping motor mounted on each lower body through a main CPU of the embroidery machine according to a detected signal voltage difference of a terminal connected to a jump solenoid disposed on each head or the stepping motor, thereby supplying the spangle or stopping the supply of the spangle.

[118] Accordingly, by mounting each controller on each head, the forward and backward movement and returning-to-staring point can be independently controlled.

[119] In addition, in an embroidering work using the spangle embroidery machine having more than two heads, only a spangle supplying apparatus operated during an automatic maintenance operation is operated and other spangle supplying apparatuses stands by unit the embroidering work starts and the spangle tapes are not conveyed. Furthermore, when an unnecessary head is stopped using a toggle switch, the spangle supplying apparatus mounted on the stopped head does not move the spangle tape and stands by, thereby reducing the power consumption and efficiently operating the machine.

[120] In addition, since the base plate of the guide unit is adjustable during the guide of the spangle movement, the spangle tape made by different companies and having a different coating properties can be conveyed to a point of time where the spangle tape is cute by the upper cutter 91 and the lower cutter blade 81b without being shaken horizontally and vertically.