BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention generally relates to sewing machines of a type which sews an elongated sewn material, such as a tape or cord, to an object of sewing (typically, fabric) through lock stitching. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for cutting an elongated sewn material, for example, at the end of sewing.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Conventionally, there have been known sewing machines of a type which includes a vertically driven needle bar, a sewing needle fixed to a lower end portion of the needle bar, a rotary member mounted concentrically with the needle bar and freely rotatable about the axis, and a guide fixed to the rotary member, for guiding an elongated sewn material (e.g., string-shaped embroidering member, such as a tape or cord) to a sewing position of the sewing needle. The sewing machines of the type operate to sew the string material to a fabric through lock stitching, by the rotation of the rotary member being appropriately controlled in accordance with a moving direction of a fabric based on embroidery data and by the orientation of the guide being appropriately varied to optimize the direction in which the string material is guided to the sewing position of the sewing needle. One example of such sewing machines is known from Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication (Kokai) No. H04-163361. The No. H04-163361 publication discloses a cutting apparatus which cuts a string material in a sewing machine of the above-mentioned type. Brief description will now be given of the cutting apparatus disclosed in the No. H04-163361 publication. This cutting apparatus is comprised of a support member which is moved to a retracted position which does not interfere with sewing operation and an advanced position near the sewing position of the sewing needle, and a hook member which is provided on the support member and movable forward and backward so as to hook the string material thereon. The support member always lies at the retracted position during sewing, and when it is necessary to cut the string material having been used for sewing, for example, at the end of sewing, the support member can be moved to the advanced position. When the support member lies at the advanced position, the hook member is moved forward and backward to hook thereon the string material at the sewing position and draw the string material to the support member, and then the string material is cut. In this case, an upper thread as well as the string material is cut at the same time.  
         [0005]     In the conventionally-known cutting apparatuses like the one as disclosed in the No. H04-163361 publication, a drive source for moving the support member to the retracted position and the advanced position, and a drive source for moving the hook member forward and backward are separately provided as individual dedicated drive sources. However, there has been the problem that, since such a cutting apparatus driven by a plurality of drive sources is expensive and large in size, the sewing machine is also expensive and making the sewing machine compact is difficult. There have also been known cutting apparatuses of a type which is provided with the third drive source for driving a cutting blade which actually cuts a string material, but the cutting apparatuses of this type would suffer from the inconveniences that the cost and size are further increased.  
         [0006]     Further, in sewing a string material (elongated sewn material), it is necessary to pull a certain amount of the string material out of the guide and to leave a certain amount of the upper thread at a tip of the sewing needle so that the string material can be reliably sewn onto a fabric at the beginning of sewing. However, in the conventionally-known cutting apparatuses like the one disclosed in the No. H04-163361 publication, after the support member is moved from the retracted position to the advanced position near the sewing position of the sewing needle, the string material at the sewing position as well as the upper thread is drawn to the support member and then cut. Thus, after the string material and the upper thread are cut, only a slight amount of the string material is out of the guide, and only a slight amount of the upper thread remains at the tip of the sewing needle. In such a case, in performing sewing again after cutting the string material and the upper thread, it is necessary to pull out the slight amount of the string material out of the guide and the slight amount of the upper thread remaining at the tip of the sewing needle need by certain amounts. Particularly in multi-head sewing machines of a type which is provided with a plurality of machine heads, the string material and the upper thread must be pulled out in each machine head, which is very troublesome.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a cutting apparatus which can be caused to move from a retracted position to a cutting position and caused to hook a string material (elongated sewn material) by a single drive source.  
         [0008]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a cutting apparatus whose cutting blade is driven by the drive source which drives the cutting apparatus from the retracted position to the cutting position.  
         [0009]     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a cutting apparatus and method which can pull a greater amount of string material (elongated sewn material) out of a guide unit after the string material is cut, as compared with the conventional art.  
         [0010]     The present invention provides a cutting apparatus for cutting an elongated sewn material when sewing of the sewn material is completed in a sewing machine including a guide unit that guides the sewn material to a sewing position of a sewing needle, the sewing machine sewing the guided sewn material onto an object of sewing, the cutting apparatus comprising. The cutting apparatus is comprised of: a main body including a hook section for hooking thereon the sewn material; a fixed blade fixed to a predetermined position of the main body; a cutting blade that cuts the sewn material by moving toward the fixed blade; and a drive device that moves the main body between a predetermined retracted position that does not interferer with sewing operation and a predetermined cutting position for cutting the sewn material. In sewing the sewn material, the main body is held at the retracted position, and in cutting the sewn material, the main body is caused to move from the retracted position to the cutting position by the drive device. The hook section is provided in the main body and at such a location as to hook thereon the sewn material as the main body moves to the cutting position. The cutting blade cuts the sewn material in a state in which the hook section hooks thereon the sewn material.  
         [0011]     With this arrangement, the same drive device can drive the main body to move from the retracted position to the cutting position and cause the sewn material to be hooked on the hook section. Thus, the cutting apparatus has to be provided with only one drive source, and therefore, the cutting apparatus can be reduced in cost and size.  
         [0012]     Preferably, the cutting blade is configured to move in response to movement of the main body and to move toward the fixed blade in cutting the sewn material. Also preferably, in cutting the sewn material, the cutting blade moves toward the fixed blade by being driven by the drive device.  
         [0013]     Still preferably, the cutting apparatus is further comprised of: a connecting mechanism that connects the drive device and the cutting blade to each other; a first regulating member that regulates movement of the main body, having moved toward the cutting position by being driven by the drive device, at a first predetermined position so as to define the cutting position; and a second regulating member that regulates movement of the connecting mechanism having been moved in response to driving operation of the drive device, wherein the second predetermined position is a position which the connecting mechanism reaches when the drive device is driven after the movement of the main body is regulated at the first predetermined position, and after the movement of the main body is regulated at the first predetermined position and before movement of the connecting mechanism is regulated at the second predetermined position, the cutting blade is caused to move toward the fixed blade of the main body by being further driven by the drive device and cut the sewn material.  
         [0014]     With this arrangement, the single drive source can drive the main body to move from the retracted position to the cutting position, cause the sewn material to be hooked on the hook section, and drive the cutting blade to move in response to driving operation of the drive device. Thus, the cutting apparatus can be further reduced in cost and size.  
         [0015]     In a preferred form of the present invention, the cutting apparatus is disposed a predetermined distance away from the sewing position of the sewing needle. In this case, control is performed such that, when sewing of the sewn material is completed, the object of sewing onto which the sewn material has been sewn is moved the predetermined distance toward the location at which the cutting apparatus is disposed, and thereafter, the drive device is driven to cause the main body to move to the cutting position and cut the sewn material.  
         [0016]     By thus moving the object of sewing (fabric) with the sewn material sewn thereon to the position which is the predetermined distance away from the sewing position of the sewing needle, an excess amount of the sewn material can be pulled out of the guide unit. It is therefore possible to pull a sufficient amount of the sewn material out of the guide unit even after the sewing material is cut.  
         [0017]     Further, the present invention provides a cutting method for cutting an elongated sewn material when sewing of the sewn material is completed in a sewing machine including a guide unit that guides the sewn material to a sewing position of a sewing needle, the sewing machine sewing the guided sewn material onto an object of sewing. The cutting method is comprised of the steps of disposing a cutting apparatus for cutting the sewn material a predetermined distance away from a sewing position of the sewing needle; when sewing of the sewn material is completed, moving an object of sewing onto which the sewn material has been sewn the predetermined distance toward the position at which the cutting apparatus is disposed; and causing the cutting apparatus to cut the sewn material.  
         [0018]     The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a front view showing an external appearance of part of an embroidering sewing machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a left side view of the embroidering sewing machine taken from a left side of the machine shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a partly-sectional side view of a machine head;  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a front view of a cutting apparatus lying at a retracted position;  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a left side view of the cutting apparatus taken from a left side of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the cutting apparatus lying at a cutting position;  
         [0025]      FIG. 7  is a left side view of the cutting apparatus taken from a left side of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0026]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the cutting apparatus taken along line I-I in  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 9  is a right side view of a lower part of the cutting apparatus taken from a right side of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 10  is a left side view of the cutting apparatus which has cut a string material;  
         [0029]      FIG. 11  is a conceptual diagram explanatory of a sewing end point to which the string material is to be moved at the end of sewing;  
         [0030]      FIG. 12  is a conceptual diagram explanatory of how the string material is hooked on a hook section of a knife base;  
         [0031]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing a variation example of a lower part of a cutting apparatus where a knife base is provided with a retaining member;  
         [0032]      FIG. 14  is a left side view of the lower part of the cutting apparatus in accordance with the variation example shown in  FIG. 13  and in a state in which the string material is hooked on the hook section; and  
         [0033]      FIG. 15  is a left side view of the lower part of the cutting apparatus in accordance with the variation example shown in  FIG. 13  and in a state in which the string material has been cut by pivotal movement of a pivotable knife. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0034]     The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing a preferred embodiment thereof.  
         [0035]      FIG. 1  is a front view showing an external appearance of part of an embroidering sewing machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a left side view of the embroidering sewing machine taken from a left side of the machine shown in  FIG. 1 . Construction of the embroidering sewing machine will be described below with primary reference to FIGS.  1  to  2 . Whereas a plurality of machine heads H are disposed at predetermined intervals on a front surface (i.e., a surface closer to a reader of  FIG. 1  and a right side surface in  FIG. 2 ) of a machine frame M of the actual embroidering sewing machine, only one of the machine heads H is shown in the figures to facilitate understanding of the following description.  
         [0036]     In addition to such machine heads H, a support member  1  is fixed, via bolts or the like, to a predetermined position of the front surface of the machine frame M. As seen mainly from  FIG. 2 , opposite end portions of the support member  1  which are fixed to the front surface of the machine frame M are formed into a shape having an arm section extending in a horizontal direction toward the front surface of the embroidering sewing machine (right side as viewed in  FIG. 2 ). Further, a bobbin shaft  2  is fixed to a distal end of the arm section. Bobbin  3  having a string material A (elongated sewn material), such as a tape or cord, wound thereon is detachably attached to the bobbin shaft  2  in such a manner that the bobbin  3  can be prevented from falling and can freely rotate.  
         [0037]     Support plate  4  is fixed to the support member  1  in such a manner that it projects toward a position above the bobbin  3 . Proximal end portion of the support plate  4  is rotatably supported by a motor shaft of a drive motor  5  fixed to the support member  1 . Driving pulley  6  is fixed to the motor shaft of the drive motor  5  fixed to the support member  1 . The driving pulley  6  and the support member  1  inhibit the movement of the support plate  4  along the axis of the drive motor  5 . Driven pulley  7  is rotatably provided on a distal end portion of the support plate  4 , and a round belt  8  is wound on and operatively connect the driven pulley  7  and driving pulley  6 . The driven pulley  7  is fixed to one end of a shaft  9  rotatably supported on a distal end portion of the support plate  4 , and a rotary pulley  10  is fixed to the other end of the shaft  9 . The rotary pulley  10  is held in abutment against the string material A wound on the bobbin  3 . Thus, as the driving pulley  6  rotates by being driven by the drive motor  5 , the rotation of the driving pulley  6  is transmitted via the round belt  8  to the driven pulley  7 , which rotates the rotary pulley  10  fixed to the same shaft  9  as the driven pulley  7 . Namely, the rotational force produced from the drive motor  5  is sequentially transmitted to the driving pulley  6 , round belt  8 , driven pulley  7 , shaft  9  and rotary pulley  10  in response to driving operation of the drive motor  5 , so that, ultimately, the bobbin  3  can be rotated by the thus-transmitted rotational force.  
         [0038]     Since the support plate  4  is pivotally supported on the motor shaft of the drive motor  5 , the distal end portion of the support plate  4  is caused to pivot in a clockwise direction (downward as viewed in  FIG. 2 ) under its own weight at that part as the amount of the string material A wound on the bobbin  3  decreases with consumption of the string material A in accordance with a progression of the sewing operation. Thus, even if the amount of the string material A wound on the bobbin  3  decreases, the rotary pulley  10  and the string material A wound on the bobbin  3  are kept in abutment against each other, so that the bobbin  3  can be reliably rotated. It should be noted that a biasing means for biasing the support plate  4  in a clockwise direction (downward as viewed in  FIG. 2 ) may be provided on the support plate  4  so that the rotary pulley  10  can be more reliably abutted against the string material A wound on the bobbin  3 . Also, a non-slip member such as rubber may be provided on a surface of the rotary pulley  10  so that the bobbin  3  can be reliably rotated in accordance with rotation of the rotary pulley  10 .  
         [0039]     Guide member  11  for guiding the string material paid out from the bobbin  3  downward is provided below the bobbin  3 . The guide member  11  is fixed to a guide base  12  which is fixed, via bolts or the like, to a part of the support member  1  below the arm section thereof to which the bobbin shaft  2  is fixed and extending horizontally toward the front surface of the embroidering sewing machine (right side as viewed in  FIG. 2 ). Cover  13  can be fixedly mounted on a front surface of the guide member  11 , and the string material A is guided downward via a space formed by the guide member  11  and the cover  13 . Rod  14  is provided below the guide member  11 , and both ends of the rod  14  are fixed to respective lower end portions of a pair of pivot arms  15  and  16  which are pivotally supported at respective predetermined right and left position sandwiching in the machine head H therebetween. The pivot arm  15  disposed on the left side as viewed in  FIG. 1  is pivotally supported at its substantially middle portion by the guide base  12 , and the pivot arm  16  disposed on the right side as viewed in  FIG. 1  is pivotally supported at its substantially middle portion by the guide member  11 . The pivot arms  15  and  16  are caused to pivot, by tension applied to or acting on the string material A as the string material A is sewn, about the substantially central part thereof supported by the guide base  12  or the guide member  11  as the rod  14  is moved toward the front surface of the embroidering sewing machine (right side as viewed in  FIG. 2 ). Magnet  17  is fixed to an upper end portion of the pivot arm  15  disposed on the left side. In the guide base  12 , a bracket  19  is fixed in such a manner that a surface of part of the bracket  19  faces the magnet  17  fixed to the pivot arm  15 , and a magnetic sensor  18  can be attached to the surface of the part of the bracket  19 . Thus, the magnetic sensor  18  can be disposed at a position opposed to the magnet  17  fixed to the pivot arm  15 , and hence the magnetic sensor  18  and the magnet  17  disposed in opposed relation to each other can detect the pivotal movement of the pivot arm  15  (and the pivot arm  16  which operate in the same manner). Cover  20  is attached to the bracket  19 .  
         [0040]     Also, as shown in FIGS.  1  or  2 , a bracket  22  is fixed to the guide member  11  in such a manner that it covers part of the cover  13 , and the bracket  22  is provided with a timer  21  and a switch  23  for controlling the driving operation of the drive motor  5 . The timer  21  is a well-known analog timer and intended to provide predetermined control in accordance with the time set by a dial operating element  21   a  provided on a distal end portion of the timer  21 . In the present embodiment, control is performed such that the timer  21  starts measuring time at a time point when the magnetic sensor  18  detects the pivotal movement of the pivot arms  15  and  16 , and the driving motor  5  is caused to operate for the time set by the dial operating element  21   a . The switch  23  is intended to make a setting as to whether to interrupt a drive signal from the timer  21  to the drive motor  5  so as to inhibit the drive motor  5  from operating even if the pivot arms  15  and  16  pivot when the string material A is placed so as to be sewn, for example, before the start of sewing.  
         [0041]     Holder  25  is fixed via a bracket  29  to a front surface (i.e., a surface closer to the reader of  FIG. 1  and a right side surface in  FIG. 2 ) of the machine head H, and a flexible first tube  26  for passing therethrough the string material A is fixed to the holder  25 . Further, a second tube (e.g., spiral tube)  27 , more flexible than the first tube  26 , is connected to the distal end of the first tube  26 . The second tube  27  is fixed at its distal end to a holder arm  28  that is in turn fixed to a later-described rotary bush  37  (see  FIG. 3 ). With this arrangement, the string material A guided downward by the guide member  11  can always be guided in a state of abutment against a back side (left side as viewed in  FIG. 2 ) of the rod  14 , through the two tubes  26  and  27 , to a right position (sewing position, i.e., drop position of the sewing needle  29  or position of sewing by the sewing needle  29 ) corresponding to the tip of the sewing needle  29  (see  FIG. 3 ) via a later-described guide  46  (see  FIG. 3 ).  
         [0042]     Now, the construction of the machine head H will be described in detail with primary reference to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  is a partly-sectional side view of the machine head H. The machine head H is a conventional machine head, and a needle bar  30  with the sewing needle  29  fixed to its lower end is vertically-movably provided on the machine head H. Guide pipe  31  is fixed to a bottom plate of the machine head H, and a fabric-holder driving pipe  32  is provided within the guide pipe  31  in such a manner that it is vertically movable along and pivotable about the axis of the guide pipe  31 . The needle bar  30  is passed through the fabric-holder driving pipe  32  for vertical movement. Engaging ring  33  is fixed to and along the outer periphery of an upper end portion of the fabric-holder driving pipe  32 , and a stroke arm  35 , vertically movable via a motor  34 , is held in engagement with the engaging ring  33 . Fabric holder  36  is fixed to a lower end portion of the fabric-holder driving pipe  32 . The rotary bush  37  is provided along the outer periphery of the guide pipe  31  in such a manner that it is rotatable about the axis of the needle bar  30 . Timing pulley section  38  is formed on the outer periphery of an upper end portion of the rotary bush  37 . The timing pulley section  38  is operatively connected, via a timing belt  41 , with a driving pulley  40  that is rotatable via a motor  39 . With such arrangements, the rotary bush  37  can be rotated by activation of the motor  39 .  
         [0043]     Engagement member  42  is fixed to the rotary bush  37  and extends downward therefrom, and the engaging member  42  has, at its distal end, an engagement section  42   a  engaged in a groove  36   a  formed vertically in the outer periphery of the fabric holder  36 . Thus, the fabric holder  36  is vertically movable along and rotatable about the axis of the needle bar  30  together with the rotary bush  37 . Interlocking member  43  is provided along the outer periphery of the rotary bush  37  in such a manner that it is vertically movable and rotatable together with the rotary bush  37 . Ring  44  vertically movable via a not-shown drive source is provided in a groove formed in the outer periphery of the interlocking member  43 . Further, a guide lever  45  (e.g. zigzag swing lever) is rotatably provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary bush  37 . The guide lever  45  is connected with the interlocking member  43  so as to pivot in response to the vertical movement of the interlocking member  43 , and a pipe-shaped guide  46  for guiding the string material A to the sewing position of the sewing needle  28  is fixed to the lower end of the guide lever  45 .  
         [0044]     Referring next to FIGS.  4  to  9 , a description will be given of a cutting apparatus S for cutting the string material A in the embroidering sewing machine constructed as described above.  FIG. 4  is a front view of a cutting apparatus lying at a retracted position.  FIG. 5  is a left side view of the cutting apparatus taken from a left side of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 6  is a front view of the cutting apparatus lying at a cutting position.  FIG. 7  is a left side view of the cutting apparatus taken from a left side of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 6 . In the machine frame M, the cutting apparatus S is disposed at a predetermined position on the right side of the machine head H appearing in  FIG. 1 . Here, the retracted position is a position which does not interfere with sewing of the string material A, and the cutting position is a position at which the string material A used for sewing is cut.  
         [0045]     As seen from FIGS.  4  to  9 , a bracket  47  is fixed to the machine frame M via bolts or the like, and a base member  49  is fixed to the bracket  47  via a spacer  48 . Pneumatically-driven rotary actuator  50  is fixed to the base member  49  in such a manner that a rotary shaft  51  of the actuator  50  passes through the base member  49 . Drive lever  52  is fixed to the rotary shaft  51 , and also, a flat-shaped knife base  53  is pivotally supported on the drive lever  52 . Torsion spring, not shown, is provided between the driver lever  52  and the knife base  53 . By inserting opposite end portions of the torsion spring into holes, not shown, formed in the drive lever  52  and the knife base  53 , for fitting therein predetermined ends of the torsion spring, the torsion spring and the drive lever  52  and the knife base  53  are connected to each other. Thus, when the drive lever  52  is caused to pivot by activation of the rotary actuator  50 , the knife base  53  is rotated at the same time via the torsion spring. The knife base  53  normally lies at the retracted position which does not interfere with sewing of the string material A as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , and when it is necessary to cut the string material A, the knife base  53  is caused to pivot to the cutting position for cutting the string material A as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Stopper  54  against which the knife base  53  having pivoted to the retracted position or cutting position abuts is provided at a predetermined position on the base member  49  so that the knife base  53  can be positioned at each of these positions. On the other hand, a pair of stoppers  61  and  62  which limit the pivotal movement range of the drive lever  52  is provided on the knife base  53 . Further, a hook section  53   a  is formed on a distal end portion of the knife base  53 , and a cutting concave section  53   b  tapered from the hook section  53   a  is formed like a slit. Accordingly, a plate  63  having a groove section  63   a  into which the hook section  53   a  is fitted when the knife base  53  is caused to pivot is fixedly mounted on a well-known machine table below the cutting apparatus S.  
         [0046]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the cutting apparatus S taken along line I-I in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 9  is a right side view of a lower part of the cutting apparatus taken from a right side of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 8 . As seen from  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a fixed knife  55  is fixed to and a pivotable knife  56  is pivotally supported on the fixed base  53 . The pivotable knife  56  is supported at its substantially middle portion by a support pin  57  in such a manner that it is pivotable and movable along the axis of the support pin  57 . Coil spring  58  which biases the pivotable knife  56  in such a direction as to come into contact with the fixed knife  55  is provided on the support pin  57 . One end of the pivotable knife  56  is connected to a distal end portion of the drive lever  52  via a connecting plate  59 . The pivotable knife  56  has a cutting edge thereof normally lying at such a pivot position flush as to be flush with a lower end portion of the cutting concave section  53   b  of the knife base  53 . The fixed knife  55  has a cutting edge thereof provided at such a pivot position as to be flush with an upper end portion of the cutting concave section  53   b  of the knife base  53 . When the knife base  53  is caused to pivot to the cutting position, the fixed knife  55  and the pivotable knife  56  cut the string material A having been hooked on the hook section  53   a  of the knife base  53  and guided into the cutting concave section  53   b . Guide member  60  is disposed in contact with a side of the pivotable knife  56 . The guide member  60  biases the cutting edge of the pivotable knife  56  toward the fixed knife  55  and thereby cuts the string material A in a reliable manner.  
         [0047]     The following paragraphs describe how the embroidering sewing machine constructed as described above operates to sew the string material A to a not-shown fabric, not shown, by lock stitching.  
         [0048]     First, the string material A wound on the bobbin  3  is paid out and guided to the sewing position of the sewing needle  29  via the guide member  11 , back side of the rod  14 , first tube  26 , second tube  27 , and guide  46 , as explained above. Then, control is performed, on the basis of embroidery data, such that the not-shown fabric is moved in X- and Y-axis directions and the needle bar  30  is vertically driven to perform the well-known lock stitching by the sewing needle  29  in conjunction with a not-shown rotary hook. During that time, the fabric holder  36  is driven vertically, in predetermined timing relative to the vertical movement of the needle bar  30 , to perform the fabric holding function, as well known in the art. Further, the ring  44  is driven vertically, in predetermined timing relative to the vertical movement of the needle bar  30 , in response to which the interlocking member  43  is vertically moved to cause the guide lever  45  to pivot. As a consequence, the string material A, having been guided to the sewing position of the sewing needle  29  by the guide  46  fixed to the lower end of the guide lever  45 , is swung to the left and right of the sewing position, for example, per vertical reciprocation (i.e., per stitch) of the needle bar  30 . In this way, the string material A can be sequentially sewn onto the fabric by so-called “zigzag switching”.  
         [0049]     During that time, the rotary bush  37  is rotated by the motor  39  via the driving pulley  40 , timing belt  41 , and timing pulley  38 , in response to which the guide  46  is controlled to be positioned forward in a direction of relative movement of the machine head H based on the movement of the fabric. In this way, the string material A can be appropriately guided to the sewing position of the sewing needle  29 . If the rotary bush  37  is rotated 360 degrees or more, the second tube  27  might get undesirably entwined around the machine head H; thus, it is necessary that the embroidery data be made so as not to rotate the rotary bush  37  360 degrees or more.  
         [0050]     As the string material A is sequentially sewn onto the fabric in the above-described manner, the rod  14  is pulled forward by the string material A, and in accordance with the movement of the rod  14 , the pivot arms  15  and  16  are caused to pivot. When the pivot arm  15  is caused to pivot, the magnetic sensor  18  detects this pivotal movement, and the drive motor  5  is operated to rotate the bobbin  3  for a period of time set by the timer  21  based on the detected pivotal movement, so that the string material A is paid out from the bobbin  3 . After that, when the pivot arms  15  and  16  have pivoted again as the string material A is sequentially sewn onto the fabric, the same operation as the above described one is performed to cause the bobbin  3  to rotate to pay out the string material A. Thus, in sewing the string material A onto the fabric, by repeating the rotation and termination of the rotation of the bobbin  3  in accordance with the tension of the string material A, it is possible to smoothly and appropriately pay out the string material A to the sewing position of the sewing needle  29 .  
         [0051]     The following paragraphs describe how the string material A is cut by the cutting apparatus S after sewing of the string material A is completed.  FIG. 10  is a left side view of the cutting apparatus which has cut the string material A.  FIG. 11  is a conceptual diagram explanatory of a sewing end point to which the string material A is to be moved at the end of sewing.  FIG. 12  is a conceptual diagram explanatory of how the string material A is hooked on the hook section  53   a  of the knife base  53 .  
         [0052]     After sewing of the string material A onto the fabric is completed, the fabric with the string material A sewn thereon is displaced in the X- and Y-axis directions (typically, an embroidery frame holding the fabric is displaced) in such a manner that the final position on the fabric at which the string material A is finally sewn is displaced from the sewing position of the sewing needle  29  to a sewing end point E shown in  FIG. 11 . It goes without saying that during the movement of the fabric, the vertical movement of the needle bar  30  is suspended, and the well-known stitching by the sewing needle  29  and the not-shown rotary hook is inhibited from being performed. As the fabric is moved, the string material A is paid out from the bobbin  3  by an amount corresponding to the displaced amount of the fabric. The sewing end point E is set at such a predetermined position that part of the string material A newly paid out from the bobbin  3  goes over the groove  63   a  of the plate  63 . In a state in which part of the string material A is positioned above the groove  63   a  of the plate  63 , the rotary actuator  50  of the cutting apparatus S is activated to pivot the drive lever  52  in a clockwise direction (see  FIG. 5 ). When the drive lever  52  is caused to pivot, the knife base  53  is also caused to pivot via the not-shown torsion spring together with the drive lever  52 , causing the knife base  53  to pivot from the “retracted position” in which the knife base  52  lies in a horizontal position as shown in  FIG. 5  to the “cutting position” in which the knife base  52  lies in a vertical position as shown in  FIG. 7 . When the knife base  53  is caused to pivot from the retracted position to the cutting position, the hook section  53   a  of the knife base  53  hooks thereon the string material A positioned above the groove  63   a  of the plate  63 , and the hooked string material A is guided to the cutting concave section  53   b  by further pivotal movement of the knife base  53 . The state of the string material A when the knife base  53  has pivoted to the cutting position as described above is as shown in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0053]     Even after the knife base  53  has been caused to pivot to the cutting position (see  FIG. 7 ), the rotary actuator  50  is continuously operated to further pivot the drive lever  52 . However, since the knife base  53  is abutted against the stopper  54  at the cutting position, the pivotal movement of the knife base  53  is terminated to inhibit further pivotal movement thereof. While the pivotal movement of the knife base  53  is terminated, only the drive lever  52  is caused to further pivot, causing the pivotable knife  56  to start pivoting via the connecting plate  59 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , the pivotable knife  56  is caused to pivot counterclockwise about the support pin  57  in response to vertical movement of the connecting plate  59  in accordance with the pivotal movement of the drive lever  52 . The drive lever  52  is caused to pivot to the position indicated in  FIG. 1  at which it is abutted against the lower stopper  61 . Since the pivotable knife  56  is caused to pivot to the position indicated in  FIG. 1  in accordance with the pivotal movement of the drive lever  52 , the string material A guided to the cutting concave section  53   b  is cut in a state in which it is sandwiched between the pivotable knife  56  and the fixed knife  55 . It should be noted that in cutting the string material A, an upper thread, not shown, extending from the fabric to the sewing needle  29  is cut at the same time.  
         [0054]     After the string material A (and the upper thread) is cut, the rotary actuator  50  is rotated backward to pivot the drive lever  52  in a counterclockwise direction. Until the drive lever  52  is caused to pivot from the position indicated in  FIG. 10  to the position indicated in  FIG. 7 , i.e., until the drive lever  52  shifts from the state in which it is held in abutment against the lower stopper  61  to the state in which it is held in abutment against the upper stopper  62 , only the drive lever  52  is caused to pivot by a torsion spring, not shown. As a consequence, the pivotable knife  56  is caused to pivot to its original position. After that, the rotary actuator  50  is activated to pivot the drive lever  52  and the knife base  53  at the same time, so that the knife base  53  is caused to pivot from the cutting position indicated in  FIG. 7  to the retracted position indicated in  FIG. 5 .  
         [0055]     In the embodiment of the embroidering sewing machine, as described above, the knife base  53  is caused to pivot from the retracted position to the cutting position, so that the string material A is hooked on the hook section  53   a  of the knife base  53  and guided to the cutting concave section  53   b  so as to be cut. Thus, the single rotary actuator  50  can drive the cutting apparatus S to move from the retracted position to the cutting position and cause the string material A to be hooked on the hook section  53   a . Also, the rotary actuator  50  also causes the pivotable knife  56  to pivot. Thus, the cost of the cutting apparatus S can be reduced, and the cutting apparatus S can be made compact. Further, the cutting apparatus S is disposed away from the sewing needle  29 , and in cutting the string material S, the fabric is moved to newly pull out so that predetermined amount of the string material S (and the upper thread) can be newly pulled out. Thus, in sewing the string material A again, the user does not have to take the trouble to pull out the string material A of the guide  46  (and the upper thread remaining at the tip of the sewing needle  29 ).  
         [0056]     In a variation example of the above described embodiment, as shown in FIGS.  13  to  15 , the knife base  53  may be provided with a retaining member  100  which retains an end portion of the string material A having been cut.  FIG. 13  is a perspective view showing a lower part of the cutting apparatus S in which the knife base  53  s provided with the retaining member  100 .  FIG. 14  is a left side view of the lower part of the cutting apparatus S in  FIG. 13  where the string material A is hooked on the hook section  53   a .  FIG. 15  is a left side view of the lower part of the cutting apparatus S in  FIG. 13  where the string material S has been cut by pivotal movement of the pivotable knife  56 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , the retaining member  100  is supported by the support pin  57  in such a manner that it is pivotable together with the movable knife  56 , and has a distal end portion  100   a  lies at such a position as to overlap the cutting concave section  53   b  of the knife base  53 . When the movable knife  56  is caused to pivot to the cutting position, the distal end portion  100   a  of the retaining member  100  pivots upward away from a lower surface of the cutting concave section  53   b  in response to the upward pivotal movement of the movable knife  56 , and therefore, the pivotable knife  56  is abutted against an upper surface  53   b ′ of the cutting concave section  53   b . The end portion of the string material A is retained between the retaining member  100  and the upper surface  53   b ′ (see  FIG. 15 ). It should be noted that, if the knife base  53  is provided with the retaining member  100 , the knife base  53  may be positioned at the cutting position even after cutting of the string material A and caused to pivot to the retracted position when sewing is started again.  
         [0057]     It should be noted that in the above described embodiment and variation, the position at which the cutting apparatus S is disposed may be set at any position insofar as a sufficient amount of the string material A enough to perform sewing again can be pulled out of the guide  46  (and the upper thread remaining at the tip of the sewing needle  29 ) after the string material A is cut.  
         [0058]     The pneumatically driven rotary actuator  50  may be another type of actuator such as a pulse motor.  
         [0059]     There may be provided a bearing member which supports a distal end portion of the rotary shaft  51  of the rotary actuator  50 .  
         [0060]     Although in the above described embodiment, the pivotable knife  56  is pivotally supported on the knife base  53 , the present invention is, of course, not so limited, but the pivotable knife  56  may be configured to be slidable and may cut the string material A by sliding.
A cutting apparatus which is comprised of a main body including a hook section for hooking thereon a sewn material, a fixed blade fixed to a predetermined position of the main body, a cutting blade that cuts the sewn material by moving toward the fixed blade, and a drive device that moves the main body between a predetermined retracted position that does not interferer with sewing operation and a predetermined cutting position for cutting the sewn material. In sewing the sewn material, the main body is held at the retracted position, and in cutting the sewn material, the main body is caused to move from the retracted position to the cutting position by the drive device. The hook section is provided in the main body and at such a position as to hook thereon the sewn material as the main body moves to the cutting position. In cutting the sewn material, the cutting blade moves toward the fixed blade in response to driving operation of the drive device. The cutting apparatus is disposed a predetermined distance away from the sewing position.