Synchronizing independent stitching machines

• US 6,729,255 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2002
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Melco Industries Incorporated (Oerlikon USA, Inc. (Florida))
• Original Assignee: Melco Industries Incorporated (Oerlikon USA, Inc. (Florida))
• Inventors: Kern, Peter, Ton, Robert Bruce, Block, Jeffrey T., Pearson, Dean Gerald, Henz, Jurg
• Primary Examiner(s): Nerbun, Peter
• Application Number:
  US10/062,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20030140832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 112/475.19, 112/475.01, 112/102.5, 112/155, 112/470.04, 112/470.06, 700/136, 700/137, 700/138, 700/139
• US Class Current: 112/475.19
• CPC Class Codes: D05B 19/02 Sewing machines having electronic memory or microprocessor control unit
• CPC Class Codes: D05B 25/00 Sewing units consisting of combinations of several sewing machines
• CPC Class Codes: D05C 5/02 by electrical or magnetic control devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed which provide a plurality of stitching machines which may be synchronized without mechanical coupling of the stitching machines. Each of the plurality of stitching machines are connected to a control, which coordinates operations of the stitching machines, including the download of patterns to be stitched by the stitching machines. A master stitching machine is selected by either the control, or the stitching machines. Each of the stitching machines, during stitching operations transmits a heartbeat signal to the master stitching machine. The heartbeat signal can include information related to stitching operations, which the master can use to determine that each stitching machine is operating properly. Several clusters of stitching machines may also be present, with each cluster having a master stitching machine.

Claims

1. A method for stitching using a plurality of stitching machines, comprising:

establishing a network that includes a plurality of stitching machines including at least first and second stitching machines that can communicate with a control system that includes at least a first controller;

synchronizing said plurality of stitching machines including said first and second stitching machines, said synchronizing including assigning said first stitching machine to be a master; and

stitching at least a first pattern by each of said plurality of stitching machines at substantially the same time.

2. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said establishing step includes maintaining said first and second stitching machines mechanically uncoupled.

4. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said establishing including providing said first and second stitching machines as independently operable stitching machines, wherein each of said first and second stitching machines can stitch said first pattern when not part of said network.

3. A method for stitching using a plurality of stitching machines, comprising:

establishing a network that includes a plurality of stitching machines including at least first and second stitching machines that can communicate with a control system that includes at least a first controller, said establishing including positioning said first and second stitching machines adjacent to each other wherein, if said first pattern is not stitched substantially at the same time by said first and second stitching machines, portions of said first stitching machine overlap and interfere with said second stitching machine during movement of said portions;

synchronizing said plurality of stitching machines including said first and second stitching machines; and

stitching at least a first pattern by each of said plurality of stitching machines at substantially the same time.

5. A method for stitching using a plurality of stitching machines, comprising:

establishing a network that includes a plurality of stitching machines including at least first and second stitching machines that can communicate with a control system that includes at least a first controller;

synchronizing said plurality of stitching machines including said first and second stitching machines, said synchronizing including configuring said second stitching machine to be a slave; and

stitching at least a first pattern by each of said plurality of stitching machines at substantially the same time.

6. A method for stitching using a plurality of stitching machines, comprising:

establishing a network that includes a plurality of stitching machines including at least first and second stitching machines that can communicate with a control system that includes at least a first controller;

synchronizing said plurality of stitching machines including said first and second stitching machines, said synchronizing including ascertaining whether one of said plurality of stitching machines was assigned to be a master; and

stitching at least a first pattern by each of said plurality of stitching machines at substantially the same time.

7. A method for stitching using a plurality of stitching machines, comprising:

establishing a network that includes a plurality of stitching machines including at least first and second stitching machines that can communicate with a control system that includes at least a first controller;

synchronizing said plurality of stitching machines including said first and second stitching machines, said synchronizing including sending a packet by said first stitching machine related to determining a master and, if said first stitching machine receives no response, then assigning said first stitching machine to be said master; and

stitching at least a first pattern by each of said plurality of stitching machines at substantially the same time.

8. A method for stitching using a plurality of stitching machines, comprising:

establishing a network that includes a plurality of stitching machines including at least first and second stitching machines that can communicate with a control system that includes at least a first controller, said establishing including providing said first stitching machine as part of a first cluster of stitching machines and said second stitching machine as part of a second cluster of stitching machines and further including checking whether said second stitching machine is part of said first cluster;

synchronizing said plurality of stitching machines including said first and second stitching machines; and

stitching at least a first pattern by each of said plurality of stitching machines at substantially the same time.

9. A method for stitching using a plurality of stitching machines, comprising:

establishing a network that includes a plurality of stitching machines including at least first and second stitching machines that can communicate with a control system that includes at least a first controller;

synchronizing said plurality of stitching machines including said first and second stitching machines, said synchronizing including using information related to stitch count; and

stitching at least a first pattern by each of said plurality of stitching machines at substantially the same time.

10. A method for stitching using a plurality of stitching machines, comprising:

establishing a network that includes a plurality of stitching machines including at least first and second stitching machines that can communicate with a control system that includes at least a first controller;

synchronizing said plurality of stitching machines including said first and second stitching machines, said synchronizing including adjusting a stitching speed of said first stitching machine when said first stitching machine is stitching differently from a master stitch number; and

stitching at least a first pattern by each of said plurality of stitching machines at substantially the same time.

11. A method for stitching using a plurality of stitching machines, comprising:

establishing a network that includes a plurality of stitching machines including at least first and second stitching machines that can communicate with a control system that includes at least a first controller;

synchronizing said plurality of stitching machines including said first and second stitching machines, said first stitching machine is a master and said synchronizing including transmitting a heartbeat message by said first stitching machine to each of said other of said plurality of stitching machines; and

stitching at least a first pattern by each of said plurality of stitching machines at substantially the same time.

12. A method, as claimed in claim 11, wherein:

said second stitching machine is a slave and said synchronizing including sending a heartbeat message by said second stitching machine.

13. A stitching apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of mechanically uncoupled stitching machines including at least a first stitching machine and a second stitching machine; and

a control communicating with said plurality of stitching machines;

wherein said plurality of stitching machines and said control define a network in which at least a first pattern is stitched substantially simultaneously by each of said plurality of stitching machines and in which said first and second stitching machines include a first carriage and a second carriage, respectively, that move when stitching said first pattern and said first stitching machine is positioned adjacent to said second stitching machine such that, if said first pattern is not stitched by said second stitching machine when said first stitching machine is stitching said first pattern, movement of said first carriage causes interference with said second stitching machine.

14. A stitching apparatus, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

at least said first stitching machine is independently operable in which said first stitching machine can stitch said first pattern when not part of said network.

15. A stitching apparatus, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

said control including at least one controller communicating with each of said plurality of stitching machines using a hub.

17. A stitching apparatus, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

said first stitching machine is part of a first cluster and said second stitching machine is part of a second cluster and in which said control includes first and second controllers that communicate with said first and second stitching machines, respectively.

21. A stitching apparatus, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

said control includes at least a first controller and at least one of said control and said first stitching machine determines timely stitching by said first stitching machine.

16. A stitching apparatus comprising:

a plurality of mechanically uncoupled stitching machines including at least a first stitching machine and a second stitching machine; and

a control communicating with said plurality of stitching machine, said control including an embroidery network system communicating with said plurality of stitching machines to download stitching designs;

wherein said plurality of stitching machines and said control define a network in which at least a first pattern is stitched substantially simultaneously by each of said plurality of stitching machines.

18. A stitching apparatus comprising:

a plurality of mechanically uncoupled stitching machines including at least a first stitching machine and a second stitching machine; and

a control communicating with said plurality of stitching machines, said control including at least a first controller and in which at least one of said control and said first stitching machine configures said first stitching machine to be a master and said second stitching machine to be a slave;

wherein said plurality of stitching machines and said control define a network in which at least a first pattern is stitched substantially simultaneously by each of said plurality of stitching machines.

19. A stitching apparatus comprising:

a plurality of mechanically uncoupled stitching machines including at least a first stitching machine and a second stitching machine; and

a control communicating with said plurality of stitching machines, said control including at least a first controller and at least one of said control and said first stitching machine ascertain if a master has been previously assigned.

20. A stitching apparatus comprising:

a plurality of mechanically uncoupled stitching machines including at least a first stitching machine and a second stitching machine; and

a control communicating with said plurality of stitching machines, said control including at least a first controller and at least one of said control and said first stitching machine transmits a heartbeat message related to proper operation.