JPH04156880A - Embroidery data generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an embroidery data creation device, and more particularly to the creation of embroidery data that can perform embroidery.

Conventional Techniques When filling a pattern with embroidery stitches, the pattern is sometimes divided into multiple blocks and embroidery is applied to each block. An example is when a band-shaped pattern is filled with embroidery stitches. In this case, the stitches are usually formed by alternately connecting two sides extending in the direction in which the pro-locks are lined up. However, if the width (the dimension in the direction intersecting the direction in which the blocks are lined up) is narrow, as in the pattern 200 shown in FIG. 11, it may be desirable to fill it with seams extending in the direction in which the blocks are lined up. be.

Problem to be solved by the invention In this case, the pattern is block BIOI, B102°B10
3. Divided into B104, each pro-tsuku BIO1 to B10
It is also possible to form a seam by alternately connecting the two sides extending in the width direction every 4 blocks, but if this is done, there will be gaps between the seams at the boundaries of adjacent blocks, resulting in poor appearance. A problem arises. When a seam is tightened, the seam is pulled away from the adjacent block, creating a gap.Also, when the sewing needle falls inside the block from the boundary line, it creates a gap between the adjacent blocks. A gap is created.

The applicant of the present invention previously filed Japanese Patent Application No. 1-135624.
In the application No. 1, we proposed a basting data creation device for basting in the longitudinal direction of a pattern.

In this device, the pattern is divided into multiple blocks arranged in a row, the boundaries between the blocks are divided into multiple division positions, and division positions are set, and these division positions are successively connected along the direction in which the blocks are lined up. The basting route is now set.

In this way, a single seam line is formed by a plurality of seams connected in the direction in which the blocks are lined up, and the seams do not fold back on the boundary line between the blocks.
Even when the seams are tightened, there are no gaps between adjacent blocks. However, this device is a data creation device for base stitching, and does not create embroidery data. Understitching is performed to give bulge to the embroidery stitches formed on it and to prevent the embroidery medium, such as processed cloth, from shrinking due to the formation of embroidery stitches, and the stitches fill the embroidery area. They are not formed as densely as they are.

The present invention is an embroidery data creation device capable of creating embroidery data that can fill in stitches in a pattern made up of blocks lined up in a row, and that creates embroidery data that is difficult to create gaps on the boundaries of adjacent designs. This was done with the aim of providing the following.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the embroidery data creation device of the present invention, as shown in FIG. a pattern data storage means 1 that defines a pattern to be filled in, and Φ) data on division positions for dividing a contour line that intersects the direction in which the blocks are lined up into a plurality of contour lines that define a plurality of blocks; (C) dividing position data creating means 2 to create;
The gist of the present invention is to include an embroidery line route setting means 3 for setting a route for an embroidery line passing through the dividing position, extending in the direction in which a plurality of blocks are lined up, and consisting of a plurality of embroidery stitches.

Operation and Effects of the Invention In this way, dividing positions are set on the boundaries between a plurality of blocks constituting a pattern, and the embroidery data is created by sequentially connecting the dividing positions in the direction in which the blocks are lined up to form each embroidery line. If created, there will be no gaps between blocks due to tight stitches, etc., and embroidery can be performed with good appearance.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

In FIG. 2, 10 is a sewing machine table, and on this sewing machine table 10 there is a bed 12 and a sewing machine frame 14.
is provided. The sewing machine frame 14 is composed of a pillar part 16 rising from the bed 12, and an upper arm 18 extending cantilevered from the upper end of the pillar part 16 and substantially parallel to the bed 12. This sewing machine frame 14 has a needle bar 22.
is attached to be movable in the vertical direction by a needle bar stand (not shown), and a sewing needle 24 is fixed to the lower end thereof.

The needle bar 22 is connected to a sewing machine motor 26 (third
(see figure), and the needle bar 22 and sewing needle 24 are caused to reciprocate up and down by the drive of the sewing machine motor 26. An opening is formed in the upper surface of the head 12. Although this opening is closed by the throat plate 30, a needle hole 38 is formed in the throat plate 30, and the needle 24 enters the lower part of the throat plate 30 through this needle hole 38, and cooperates with a shuttle (not shown). to form a seam.

Also, sewing machine table 10. An embroidery frame 42 is mounted on the head 12 so as to be movable in the X-axis direction, which is the left-right direction of the sewing machine, and in the Y-axis direction, which is the front-rear direction. The embroidery frame 42 has an annular outer frame 44 and an inner frame 46 fitted inside the outer frame 44, and these frames 44 and 46 hold the work cloth. A slide portion 48 is formed on the outer frame 44 and extends in the X-axis direction, and is slidably fitted into a pair of guide pipes 50 provided on the sewing machine table 10 in the Y-axis direction. Both ends of these guide pipes 50 are supported by support stands 52 and 54. − side support stand 52
is the feed screw 56. It is adapted to be moved in the X-axis direction by an x-transport motor 58, and the other support stand 5
4 is spaced apart from the upper surface of the sewing machine table 10. These slide portions 48. A pair of endless wires 60 are engaged with the support bases 52.54, and the wires 60 are connected to the rotation transmission shaft 62.54. The slide portion 48 is moved in the Y-axis direction by being moved by the Y-transport motor 64 . The embroidery frame 42 can be moved to any position in the horizontal plane by the movement of the support base 52 in the X-axis direction and the movement of the slide portion 48 in the Y-axis direction.
Embroidery is applied to the work cloth by the vertical movement of step 4.

This sewing machine is controlled by a control device 70.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 70 includes a CPU 72, R
OM74. The main body is a computer including a RAM 76, a bus 78, and the like. An input interface 80 is connected to the lotus 78, and a keyboard 82 and an external storage device 84 are connected to the input interface 80.

The keyboard 82 is used to input the shape of the embroidery pattern to be applied to the work cloth, the type of outline elements that define the pattern, the number of divisions of the outline elements, etc., such as alpha vents, numbers, and symbols.

Various keys necessary for inputting data are provided, including keys for instructing embroidery patterns such as kana.

Further, the external storage device 84 stores data regarding patterns to be embroidered.

In this example, the pattern is such that the curved line is approximated to a straight line, and the sixth
As shown in the pattern 86 shown in the figure, square or triangular blocks are arranged in a row, and pattern data is created for each block. The pattern data includes coordinate data of the vertices of the block and line data representing the type of line defined by the coordinate data. In this embodiment, a block is defined by four points, and if the block is triangular, two of the four points defining the block are considered to overlap. In the case of a block sequence in which multiple blocks are lined up in a row, four points are required to define the first block, but in the case of subsequent blocks, two points are common to the previous block, and two points are required to define the first block. Blocks can be defined by setting points. Therefore, the coordinate data of the pattern data created for the first block in the block sequence includes four coordinates, and these four coordinates are divided into two coordinates each to define the side in the direction in which the blocks are lined up and the direction that intersects the block. When these two coordinates define a boundary line with an adjacent block, boundary line data is attached, and when they define the edge line of the pattern 86, edge line data is attached. Ru.

Further, the coordinate data of the pattern data of the block following the first block includes two coordinates, and boundary line data is attached to these coordinates as line data.

Further, the pattern data created for the end block on the opposite side of the first butt of the block sequence includes two coordinates, and edge line data is attached to these coordinates. Of the two coordinates that are paired in this way to define the boundary line or edge line, one side, that is, the center line of the pattern (the line connecting the center points of the multiple blocks that make up the pattern) First end data is assigned to points located on one side, and second end data is assigned to points located on the other side.

In the case of the pattern 86, as shown in FIG. 6, the first to sixth blocks 81 to B6 are arranged in a line, and the first block B
The pattern data created for 1 is points A, B, C, D.
, edge line data attached to points A and B, and boundary line data attached to points C and D. Further, the pattern data created for the second to fifth blocks B2 to B5 include points E, F, point G, and H1 point 1.
J, point K.

It includes coordinate data of L and boundary line data attached to those points. The pattern data created for the sixth block B6 includes coordinate data of points M and N, and edge line data attached to these points. Furthermore, first end data is attached to points A, C, E, G, r, and M, and points B, D, F, H, J
, L, and N are attached with second end data. These pattern data are stored in the order in which the blocks are lined up starting from B1, and after the last pattern data, end data indicating the end of the pattern is stored.

An output interface 100 is also connected to the lotus 78, and a motor drive circuit 104 is connected to the output interface 100.
．． 106, 108 and the sewing machine motor 26.108 via the display drive circuit 110. x transport remoter 58. A Y-axis road motor 64 and a display device 112 are connected. A display device 112 displays comments and input data that support data input.

The shape of the pattern to be embroidered is displayed on the screen. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the RAM 76 includes a pattern data area 1141, a division position data area 116. An embroidery line route data area 118 and the like are provided together with a working memory. Further, the ROM 74 stores an embroidery line route setting routine shown in a flowchart in FIG. The case of setting the embroidery line path for the pattern 86 in FIG. 6 will be described below.

When data specifying a pattern 86 is input using the keyboard 82, the six blocks B1 making up the pattern 86 are input.
The pattern data created for B6 to B6 is read from the external storage device 84 and stored in the pattern data area 114. When the creation of embroidery data is instructed, six sets of pattern data defining the pattern 86 are first read out in step Sl (hereinafter abbreviated as Sl. The same applies to other steps), and in step S2 pattern 86
The division number data as the division number related data set for the division number is read out. The data related to the number of divisions is data for setting the division position at which the outline of a block is divided, and as in this embodiment, the data on the number of divisions themselves, or the data for determining it, the latter. In the case of , it is expressed, for example, as the number of divisions per certain length. Here, the division number data is input by the operator when selecting the pattern 86 to set the embroidery line route, and is stored in the pattern data area 114. The larger the number of divisions, the more densely the block is filled with stitches, and the size varies depending on the thickness of the embroidery thread and the size of the block to be filled, but the stitches are formed so that the embroidery medium such as processed cloth is not visible. Just set it as you like. For example, it may be set so that five needles fall on a 1 mm line. In S2, the division number data input in advance and stored in the pattern data area 114 as described above is read out, and then in S3, the boundaries and end lines of the block are divided, division positions are calculated, and division position data is read out. It is stored in area 116. Pattern 8
6, if the set number of divisions is 4, the edge lines AB, MN and the boundary lines CD, EF, C, H, IJ, K
L is divided so that the sewing needle falls four times at equal intervals between both end points, and the resulting division positions are stored in the division position data area 116 as the coordinates of the first end (A, C, E,
G.

1, are numbered in order from the side closest to M), and the coordinates of the first end and the coordinates of the second end (B, D, F, H.

J, L, N). As shown in Figure 7,
End lines AB, MN and border lines CD, EF.

GH, IJ, and KL are al to a4. a11~a
14. a21-a24. a31~a34゜a41~a4
4. a51-a55. It is divided into a61 to a64. a
The 1's digit of the number represents the order from the -th coordinate. Furthermore, end position data is attached to the dividing positions formed by dividing the end lines AB and MN.

After the boundary line and end line are divided in this way, embroidery start position data is read out in S4.

The embroidery starting position is each of the four points A, B, and M of the pattern 86.

N, is input together when inputting the number of divisions, and is stored in the pattern data area 114.
In S4, the embroidery start position data is read out. In the case of pattern 86, it is assumed that point A is set as the embroidery start position. Next, S5 is executed, and the route of the embroidery line is set. Point A is the first end point of edge line AB. In this case, first connect the first end points of the boundary line following edge line AB, and when you reach the other edge line, that edge line The boundary line is folded back at a point that is shifted by one point toward the second end point, and the points at the same position as the folding point of the boundary line are connected. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, points A, C, E, G, and I.

After each point of K is connected, it reaches a61 and turns around, then a51. a41. a31. Each point of a21°all is connected. Next to the boundary line CD where all is provided is an edge line AB, which turns back at a point a2 that is shifted by one position toward the second end point side. Hereinafter, a12. a22. a32. a42.
a52 is connected and turned back at a63, a53. a43
．． a33°a23. After a13 is connected, turn back at a4, a14. a24. a34. a44. A54 is connected. Then, a540 is connected to the end line MN
Since the second end data is attached to this point, the boundary lines KL and TJ.

Dots at the second ends of GH, EF, CD and end line AB, J
, H, F, D, and B are connected, and the setting of the embroidery line route is completed. The embroidery line route set in this way is stored in the embroidery line route data area 118. In this embodiment, embroidery is performed by connecting two consecutive divided positions with one stitch, and each point that defines the embroidery line route is a needle drop position, and based on this embroidery line route data. The embroidery is done.

When the embroidery start position is set to point B at the second end of border line AB, the second end points of each border line are first connected, and when folded back at end line MN and end line AB, the first end The setting of the embroidery line path is completed by turning back at the points shifted one by one toward the point side and connecting the first end points of each boundary line.

Also, the embroidery start position is block B at one end of the pattern 86.
When the end point M or point N of 6 is set, the embroidery line path is set in the same way as when point A or point B is set as the embroidery start position, respectively.

As is clear from the above explanation, in this example,
External storage device 84. The pattern data area 114 constitutes the pattern data storage means 1, the portion of the ROM 74 that stores 33 and the portion of the CPU 72 that executes S3 constitute the division position data creation means 2, and the portion of the ROM 74 that stores 35 and the portion of the CPLI 72 that executes S3. 85 constitutes the embroidery line route setting means 3.

In the above embodiment, the pattern 86 has an edge, but the embroidery line path can be similarly set for the annular pattern 130 shown in FIG. 9. In this case, the pattern data set for blocks Bll to B1B constituting the pattern 130 includes two coordinates each as coordinate data, and the lines defined by these coordinates are the boundaries of adjacent blocks. Line data is not attached. Then, this boundary line is divided according to the data related to the number of divisions, the division positions are determined, and the embroidery line path is set.
If point S is set as the embroidery start position, first, the end points on the outer circumference side that define each border line are connected, and when the border line that includes the embroidery start position is reached after going around the pattern 130, the other end point of the border line is connected. The points shifted by one position toward the end point (embroidery end point E) are connected,
Finally, the inner end points of each boundary line are connected to end at point E.

Note that whether or not the pattern 130 has been completed once can be determined by counting the number of connected boundary lines.

Further, in the above embodiment, the dividing positions set on the edge line of the pattern 86 and the boundary line of adjacent blocks are successively connected, but it is also possible to connect every other boundary line. . Taking the pattern 140 shown in FIG. 10 as an example, this pattern 140 is divided into eight blocks, and the outline is defined by points ■ to ■. ? I
If this is the J embroidery start position, first connect ■, ■, ■, and @, and then connect one from [F] to the [stock] side of the end line division positions defined by ■ and ■. Connect the divided positions of
Next, connect the divided positions of one [phase], @, ■, ■ from ■, ■, ■, ■. Even with this setting, if the dimensions of the blocks in the direction in which they are lined up are relatively small, a single stitch will not become too large, and the embroidery will look good and the boundaries between adjacent blocks will not be noticeable. can be obtained.

In each of the embodiments described above, two successive divided positions are connected by one stitch, but they may be connected by a plurality of stitches. In that case, after setting the embroidery line route, it is necessary to set the needle drop position based on the size of the stitch.

In addition, in the above embodiment, adjacent border lines and edge lines are connected by a number of stitches, but
At this time, the dividing positions of adjacent boundary lines may be connected by reciprocating a plurality of times before reaching the next dividing position. Furthermore, the data may be created so that the embroidery line from one end line to the other end line of the pattern is formed by reciprocating a plurality of times.

In this way, the data created for the pattern can be used multiple times to form multiple embroidery lines, which reduces the number of data compared to creating needle drop position data for all needle drop positions one by one. Less is enough.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, for the pattern 86, the number of division positions at which the contour line on which the sewing needle falls is used as the division number-related data, but the number of divisions per certain length is used as the division number-related data. You can also use it as In this case, for each contour line on which the sewing needle of the block falls,
The division positions can be found based on the number of divisions per unit length, but these contour lines do not necessarily have the same length. In such a case, for example, after finding the average length of all the contour lines on which the sewing needle will fall, find the number of divisions for that average length, and dividing all the contour lines by the number of divisions to find the division position. All you have to do is ask for. Alternatively, the number of divisions may be determined for the longest contour line, the shortest contour line, or a contour line of intermediate length, and the division positions may be determined by dividing the other contour lines by that number of divisions. .

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the division positions are determined based on the division number data, but other division positions are regularly determined between the division positions determined by the division number data, and these are connected. You can do it like this.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the pattern 86 is divided in advance and the pattern data is input by the operator, but the division of the pattern 86 and the creation of the pattern data may be performed automatically.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where embroidery is performed with an embroidery sewing machine has been explained as an example, but the embroidery data created by the embroidery data creation device of the present invention can also be used for pattern formation with sewing machines other than the embroidery sewing machine. be able to.

In addition, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the claims.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually showing the configuration of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embroidery data creation device, which is an embodiment of the present invention, together with an embroidery sewing machine. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control device that controls the embroidery sewing machine. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of a RAM of a computer that constitutes the main body of the control device. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the embroidery line route setting routine stored in the ROM of the computer. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a pattern embroidered by the embroidery machine. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which dividing positions are set for the end lines and boundary lines of blocks of the above-mentioned pattern, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing embroidery line paths set for the above-mentioned pattern. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a pattern in which an embroidery line route is set by an embroidery data creation device according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a pattern in which an embroidery line route is set by an embroidery data creation device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 11th
The figure is a diagram illustrating setting of an embroidery line route by a conventional embroidery data creation device. 70: Control device 86: Pattern 81 to B6: Block 114: Pattern data area 116: Division position data area 118: Embroidery line route data area 130: Pattern Bll to B18 block 140: Pattern

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A pattern data storage means for storing pattern data defining a pattern in which a plurality of blocks are lined up in a line and to be filled with stitches of a sewing machine; and a contour line defining the plurality of blocks. , division position data creation means for creating division position data for dividing a contour line intersecting the direction in which the blocks are lined up into a plurality of parts; An embroidery data creation device comprising: embroidery line route setting means for setting a route for an embroidery line consisting of embroidery stitches.