JP3831491B2 - Embroidery data creation device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an embroidery data creation apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, the data of the embroidery sewing machine or the machine dedicated to embroidery sewing is used by the manufacturer of the apparatus to create the data and supply it to the user. However, due to the diversification of user preferences, there is an increasing demand for users to create images themselves and embroider them, and in order to meet such demands, original images drawn on paper by users, such as image sensors, etc. There are already commercially available apparatuses that read the embroidery data and generate embroidery data based on this.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When actually sewing an embroidery pattern, if the patterns to be sewn continuously with the same color thread are separated, there is no need to call a jump thread between the end point of the previous pattern and the start point of the next pattern Sewing thread is generated. This jump thread is cut and processed after embroidery. However, when the end point and the start point are close, there is a drawback that the jump thread is short and the cutting process is difficult.
When the stitch data is manually formed, the stitch data is generated in consideration of such jump thread processing. However, in the case of an apparatus that allows the user to create embroidery data as described above, processing is performed. There are problems that cause difficult jump yarns. The present invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of the prior art described above.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an embroidery data creating apparatus according to the present invention includes a means for providing a plurality of images and an image to be stitched first in two images that are separated and continuously stitched among the plurality of images. Means for comparing the distance between the embroidery end point of the image and the embroidery start point of the post-sewing image with a predetermined reference distance, and if the result of the comparison is that the distance is less than the predetermined reference distance, the embroidery start Means for newly setting a jump seam that is a predetermined distance away from the embroidery end point, and means for generating seam data for embroidery stitching the image including the jump seam. It is characterized by providing.
With this configuration, when the images that are continuously sewn are close, jump stitches are formed, so that jump yarn processing can be performed easily.
The position of the jump seam is preferably changeable by means for changing, and it is further preferable that the jump seam position is displayed together with an image so that the jump seam position can be changed on the display means.
The end point is preferably set as data for backtacking.
[0005]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
First, the system of the embroidery data creation apparatus X in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In this embodiment, the embroidery data creation device X is constituted by a personal computer, and the embroidery data creation device X is formed by a program recorded on a storage medium such as a CD-ROM.
The embroidery data creation device X and the second embroidery data creation device 50 are connected and used. The second embroidery data creation apparatus 50 uses an existing one that is already on the market, has a scanner 51 as shown in FIG. 1, reads an original image from the scanner 51, generates stitch data, A function of storing in the card 52 is provided. The embroidery data creation device X of this embodiment can use the functions of the second embroidery data creation device 50, and mainly uses the function of storing the generated stitch data in the memory card 52. It is naturally possible to provide this function in the embroidery data creation device X itself.
The stitch data stored in the memory card 52 is mounted on an embroidery sewing machine or the like and used for embroidery stitching.
Further, a printer is connected to the embroidery data creating apparatus X so that the formed embroidery stitches can be printed and confirmed in advance.
[0006]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the embroidery data creation apparatus X. As described above, these functions are configured by software using a personal computer. FIG. 2 shows the most typical operation steps, which will be described below with reference to FIGS.
The central processing unit 1 controls the entire apparatus, and realizes various functions according to operation commands from the operation command device 43. The image input device 2 inputs image data such as bitmap data and has a function of reading these functions from a storage medium such as a CD or an FD. Alternatively, the scanner 51 as provided in the second embroidery data creation device 50 may be used. It is also possible to store image data in the image data storage device 41 in advance.
[0007]
The image data input from the image input device 2 or the image data stored in the image data storage device 41 and called up is temporarily stored in the temporary storage device 42, and then the contour / block data generation device 30 performs contour line data and block data. (Steps S1, 2, 3). When two quadrangular images are input as shown in FIG. 3, contour lines 90 to 93 and 94 to 97 are generated from the images, and blocks 80 and 81 surrounded by the contour lines are generated. ing. As a technique for generating the contour line and the block data, a known technique developed and proposed by the applicants of the present application and other techniques can be applied.
As shown in FIG. 3, the contour line is divided at each intersection, and the above-described contour lines 90 to 97 are generated (step S4).
[0008]
The image data converted to include the contour line and the block as described above is stored in the temporary storage device 42 and displayed on the display device 40. FIG. 3 described above shows a display state in the display device 40.
The user can determine the embroidery conditions such as the color of each block and outline and the stitches while looking at the display device 40. First, the block thread color / seam designating device 6 is configured to designate the block thread color and the stitch type (step S5). For example, the thread color is selected from red, blue, yellow, and the stitch type is selected from horizontal, vertical, diagonal, cross, and the like.
[0009]
When the thread color and the seam are selected by the block thread color / seam designating device 6, the block designating device 3 selects the block to which the thread color and the seam are applied (step S6). If both blocks 80 and 81 are designated as blocks for embroidery stitching with the set thread color and stitches, the block group designated at this time is treated as a single unit, and generation of stitch data and embroidery stitching is 1 It is done as a unit. That is, the blocks 80 and 81 are treated as one unit, and sewing is continuously performed. This configuration makes it possible to reduce the number of thread replacements during embroidery.
[0010]
When all the blocks are designated by the same operation (step S7), the stitch data is formed for each block group based on the designation (step S8). Further, jump stitches are formed together with the stitch data according to the distance between the blocks and the like. This jump seam will be described in detail later.
The stitch data is generated by the stitch data generating device 31. At the same time, display data based on the stitch data is generated by the display data generating device 32 and can be displayed on the display device 40.
[0011]
In addition to the block designation device 3, an all block designation device 4 and a block designation addition / deletion device 5 are provided to improve operability. The all block designating device 4 designates all the blocks, and it is not necessary to designate one block at a time when all the blocks are sewn with the same color and the same seam.
The block designation addition / deletion device 5 is for adding a new block to the block group formed once designated or deleting an arbitrary block from the block group. It is also possible to quickly perform a designation operation by designating all blocks by the all block designation device 4 and then deleting a predetermined block by the block designation addition / deletion device 5.
[0012]
Next, similarly, the user determines the embroidery conditions of the color of each contour line, the stitches, and the stitch width while looking at the display device 40. That is, the contour thread color / stitch / sewing width designation device 13 is configured to designate the thread color, stitch type, and stitch width of the block (step S9). For example, the thread color is selected from red, blue, yellow, etc., the stitch type is selected from zigzag, straight, etc., and the stitch width is selected from 2 mm, 3 mm, etc.
[0013]
When the thread color, the seam, and the stitch width are selected by the contour thread color / seam / sewing width designation device 13, the contour line designating device 10 selects the contour line to which the thread color, the stitch, and the stitch width are applied. (Step S10). As shown in FIG. 3, among the contour lines 90 to 97, a contour line for performing embroidery stitching with the set thread color, seam, and stitch width is designated. The contour line group designated at this time is handled as a single unit, and generation of stitch data and embroidery stitching are performed as one unit. This configuration makes it possible to reduce the number of thread replacements during embroidery.
[0014]
When all the contour lines have been designated (step S11), the stitch data is formed for each contour group shown in FIG. 3 based on the designation (step S12). As in the case of the block described above, when the seam data is generated, a jump seam is formed if the contour line to be continuously sewn is a predetermined distance away, and the first or last of the contour line is formed for each contour line. Backtack data is generated for at least one of them.
The generation of the stitch data is similarly performed by the stitch data generation device 31. At the same time, display data based on the stitch data is generated by the display data generation device 32 so that the display device 40 can display the display data.
[0015]
In addition to the contour designating device 10 described above, an all contour designating device 11 and a contour designating addition / deletion device 12 are provided to improve operability in the same manner. The whole contour designating device 11 designates all the contour lines, so that it is not necessary to designate one contour line at a time when all blocks are sewn with the same color, the same seam, and the same stitch width. ing.
The contour designation addition / deletion device 12 is for adding a new contour line to the contour group formed once designated or deleting an arbitrary contour line from the contour group. In addition, after all contour lines are designated by the whole contour designating device 11, the designated operation can be quickly performed by deleting a predetermined contour line by the contour line designation adding / deleting device 12.
[0016]
When the specification of the block and the contour line based on the embroidery conditions is completed as described above, each block group or contour line group is displayed on the display device 40 (step S13). Further, at this stage, it is possible to add and delete the designation of the block and the outline as described above (steps S14 and S15).
[0017]
In the above embodiment, the block designation and the outline designation are designated by different devices, and the block and the outline are not continuously sewn as one unit even if they are the same color thread or other embroidery conditions. It is configured.
In the above embodiment, the block group and the outline group are configured by the designated block and outline after designating the same embroidery condition, and the formation of the group is performed by the user's operation. It is also possible to determine the color designated for the block and the contour line and to automatically group for each color. In this case, it is desirable not to treat the block and the contour line as one unit even if they are the same color.
[0018]
The sewing order of the block group and the outline group can be arbitrarily set by the user by the sewing execution order designating device 25, and the block is embroidered first and the outline is set later. The sewing order can be freely set between the block groups and between the outline groups (step S16).
[0019]
Further, by displaying all the blocks and contour lines on the display device 40, the entire image of the embroidery stitch can be recognized in advance (step S17).
[0020]
In this embodiment, the background color designating device 20 can designate the background and background color of the image for display or printing. The background region generation device 33 recognizes the display region of the display device 40 other than the designated block and outline as the background 70 when the background color specifying device 20 is operated (step S18). It is configured to display in the designated color (step S19). With this function, the user can recognize in advance the relationship between the color of the cloth of the embroidery object and the color of the image.
In addition to selecting a color prepared in advance, the color can be specified by the user by the color generation device 21 so that the user can set a color that is the same as or similar to the embroidery fabric. ing.
[0021]
When the above operation is completed, the generated stitch data is stored in the memory card 52 together with the thread color data (step S22) except when there is a block sewing condition change and a contour sewing condition change (steps S20 and S21). ). As shown in FIG. 5, the memory card 52 is mounted on an embroidery sewing machine or the like, where embroidery sewing is executed. Since the stitch data is classified into a block group and a contour group specified by the user based on the embroidery conditions, embroidery can be sewn with a small number of thread changes.
[0022]
The generation of the stitch data and jump stitch data will be described in detail. Hereinafter, the case of a block will be described, but the same applies to the case of an outline.
When the stitch data is generated, the sewing order of the blocks in the block group is first determined. This sewing order is usually close to the sewing start origin. In FIG. 3, the origin is set at the upper left, and the blocks 80 and 81 are sewn in this order.
If the current stitch is set to horizontal tatami stitching, stitch data from the embroidery start point S1 of the block 80 to the embroidery end point E1 is generated as shown by the dotted line. Similarly, regarding the block 81, stitch data from the embroidery start point S2 to the embroidery end point E2 is generated.
Here, the jump seam forming device 22 compares the distance between the embroidery end point E1 and the embroidery start point S2 with a predetermined reference value. If the distance is less than the reference value, the jump seam J is set. This jump seam J is set at a position more than a predetermined distance from the embroidery end point E1 and the embroidery start point S2. This jump seam J generates jump threads H and H.
Further, the user can change the position of the jump stitch J by the jump stitch moving device 23. In this embodiment, the jump stitch J can be dragged with the mouse on the screen of the display device 40 and set at an arbitrary position. When the position of the jump stitch J is determined, the stitch data generator 31 generates stitch data for the jump stitch J and inserts the jump stitch J data between the embroidery end point E1 and the embroidery start point S2. Has been. An example of the data structure is shown in the lower part of FIG. The jump stitches H and H having a long length are formed between the blocks 80 and 81 by the jump stitch J data, thereby facilitating the cutting process.
If the continuously sewn blocks are separated as in 80 and 81, it is desirable to create the embroidery end point E1 as stop stitching data. If the blocks are continuous, this backtack data need not be created. Further, the embroidery start point S2 may also be a back stitch.
[0023]
The operation of generating the jump stitch J will be described with reference to FIG.
First, the stitch data of the adjacent block or contour line is detected in the block group or contour group (step S60), and the distance between the end point of the stitch data of the first stitch and the start point of the stitch data of the rear stitch is the reference value. (Step S61). If the distance is equal to or less than the predetermined reference value, the jump seam J is set (step S62), and if there is a change, the position of the jump seam J is changed (step S63). Then, the stitch data of the jump stitch J is generated and added between the stitch data of the first stitch and the stitch data of the second stitch (step S64).
With the above configuration, a jump yarn having an appropriate length can be formed, and post-embroidery processing becomes easy.
[0024]
In the embodiment described above, since the stitches are formed as a unit for the blocks and contour lines designated in the same group, it is not necessary to change the thread at the time of embroidery sewing of the unit, and the frequency of the thread change is reduced. It is possible. Also, when the jump thread between continuously sewn and spaced blocks or between contour lines becomes shorter, the jump seam J is formed and the stitch data is formed so that the jump thread of an appropriate length is formed. Therefore, the jump yarn after embroidery can be easily processed.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the embroidery data creation apparatus of the present invention has an effect of creating embroidery data that can be easily processed by jump yarns.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an overall operation procedure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation for generating jump stitch data according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing a system according to an embodiment of the present invention including peripheral devices.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: central processing unit, 2: image input device, 3: block designation device, 4: all block designation device, 5: block designation addition / deletion device, 6: block thread color / seam designation device, 10: contour designation Device: 11: All contour line designation device, 12: Outline line designation addition / deletion device, 13: Contour line thread color / stitch / sewing width designation device, 20: Background color designation device, 21: Color creation device, 22: Jump stitch formation device, 23: Jump stitch movement device, 25: Sewing execution order designation device, 30: Contour / block data generation device, 31: Seam data generation device, 32: Display data generation device, 33: Background region generation device , 40: display device, 41: image data storage device, 42: temporary storage device, 43: operation command device, 50: second embroidery data creation device, 51: scanner, 5 : Memory card, 70: background, 80 and 81: Block, 90-97: contour.

Claims (4)

Means for providing a plurality of images;
Means for comparing the distance between the embroidery end point of the pre-stitched image and the embroidery start point of the post-sewn image of the two images that are separated and continuously stitched among the plurality of images with a predetermined reference distance When,
As a result of the comparison, when the distance is equal to or less than a predetermined reference distance, a means for newly setting a jump seam that is a predetermined distance away from the embroidery start point and the embroidery end point;
Means for generating stitch data for embroidery stitching the image including the jump stitch;
An embroidery data creation device comprising: A means for changing the jump stitch position is further provided.
The embroidery data creation device according to claim 1. Display means for displaying the jump stitch position together with the image;
Means for changing the jump seam position on the display means;
The embroidery data creation device according to claim 1. The means for generating the stitch data generates data with the embroidery end point as a stop stitch;
The embroidery data creation device according to claim 1.

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