JPH0747068B2 - Sewing data creation device for automatic sewing machine - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic sewing machine, and mainly to a sewing data creation device for an automatic sewing machine that creates sewing data for embroidery patterns.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in an automatic embroidery sewing machine, it is possible to sew an embroidery pattern such as letters and symbols such as alphabets and a frame pattern composed of zigzag stitches used when surrounding the embroidery pattern. Has become. Like the embroidery pattern, the frame pattern has x and y coordinates at which each sewing point is set in advance.If you want to enlarge or reduce this frame pattern, use the operation keyboard to specify the coefficient for enlargement or reduction. When input, the x and y coordinates of the frame pattern are also calculated based on the coefficient to a numerical value proportional to the coefficient.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) Therefore, conventionally, not only the size of the frame itself but also each sewing point is proportional to its coefficient. For example, if the frame pattern is set to double, the zigzag stitch The width also doubled, and it was not possible to sew with the same width as before the zigzag stitch width was increased. Moreover, the same problem occurs when the size is reduced.

(Purpose) An object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and an automatic sewing machine capable of arbitrarily enlarging / reducing the size of a zigzag stitch frame pattern or the like separately from the sewing width. It is to provide a sewing data creation device.

(Means for Solving Problems) The present invention includes at least one needle, and stitch forming means for forming a stitch on a work cloth as the needle moves up and down, and the work cloth. Storage means for storing the work cloth, and drive means connected to at least one of the stitch forming means and the work cloth holding means for changing the relative position of the needle and the work cloth holding means. A sewing data creating device for an automatic sewing machine that operates the driving means based on the sewing data stored in the sewing machine to form a zigzag stitch on a work cloth, and defines both end positions of a predetermined virtual line segment. Storage means for storing position data, stitch width data of the zigzag stitches, and stitch density data of the zigzag stitches, and enlarging or reducing the specified virtual line segment to calculate new position data. Virtual line segment correction means and its Staggered along the virtual line segment and over the entire length of the line segment based on the new position data calculated by the virtual line segment correction means and the sewing width data and stitch density data stored in the storage means. The gist of the present invention is that it is configured by a computing means that computes sewing data for forming the stitch density.

(Operation) The storage means stores position data defining both end positions of a predetermined virtual line segment, stitch width data of the zigzag stitches, and stitch density data of the zigzag stitches, and the virtual line segment correction means. Calculates the new position data by enlarging or reducing the specified virtual line segment. Then, the calculation means is based on the new position data calculated by the virtual line segment correction position and the like, and the sewing width data and the stitch density data stored in the storage means, along the virtual line segment, and along the line segment. The sewing data for forming the zigzag stitches over the entire length of is calculated.

(Embodiment) An embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in an embroidery sewing machine will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13.

The sewing machine arm 1 is arranged on a table 2, and a needle bar support case 3 is supported at its front end portion so as to be movable along the X direction shown by the arrow in FIG. The five needle bars 4 are vertically movably supported by the support case 3, and the needles 5 are detachably attached to the lower ends thereof. Then, different kinds of threads are supplied to the respective needles from a thread supply source (not shown) through the thread tensioner 6 and the balance 7 on the needle bar support case 3. The needle selection motor 8 is disposed on the sewing machine arm 1 and is drivingly connected to the needle bar support case 3. When a predetermined needle bar selection signal is input to the needle selection motor 8, the needle selection motor 8 moves the needle bar support case 3 to selectively arrange one needle 5 at a predetermined use position. It is like this.

The sewing machine motor 9 is disposed in the rear portion of the sewing machine arm 1, and its power is transmitted to the needle bar 4 in the above-mentioned use position via a power transmission mechanism (not shown) in the sewing machine arm 1 to move the needle bar 4 up and down. It is supposed to be done. Sewing machine bed 10
Is provided on the sewing machine table 2 so as to be opposed to the needle bar 4 arranged at the use position, and in cooperation with the needle 5, the work cloth W is
It incorporates a thread catcher (not shown) for forming a seam. A stitch forming means is constituted by the needle 5, the thread catcher, and the like.

A pair of Y-direction moving frames 11 (only one is shown) are arranged on both left and right edges of the sewing machine table 2 so as to be capable of reciprocating in the Y-direction, and are driven by a Y-direction drive motor (not shown).
A support rod 12 is installed between both moving frames 11. The X-direction moving frame 13 has a base end X along the support rod 12
It is arranged so as to be movable in any direction, and is driven by an X-direction drive motor (not shown). A work cloth holding frame 14 as work cloth holding means is attached to the X-direction moving frame 13 so as to hold the work cloth W detachably.

The relative positions of the work cloth holding frame 14 and the needle 5 are changed in synchronization with the vertical movement of the needle 5 by the Y, X direction moving frames 11, 13, the support rod 12, and the Y, X direction drive motor. A work cloth feeding device 15 as a feeding means for
A stitch pattern such as embroidery is formed on the work cloth W by the relative movement of the needle 14 and the needle 5.

Next, the electrical configuration of the sewing machine in this embodiment will be described. The external storage device 16 is composed of a magnetic disk and a disk drive device, and the magnetic disk device stores a plurality of stitch pattern data. In this embodiment, the stitch pattern data is composed of a large number of relative position data indicating the relative position of the needle 5 and the work cloth holding frame 14, that is, the coordinates of the needle drop position (hereinafter referred to as a sewing point).

A central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 17 includes a calculation means and a virtual line segment correction means. The program memory 18 is a read-only memory and stores various control programs for driving and controlling this sewing machine. Working memory
Reference numeral 19 is a readable / writable memory, and has an area for temporarily storing various data, calculation results, etc., such as when creating sewing data and when storing stitch pattern data from the external storage device 16. is doing.

The stitch pattern data stored in the external storage device 16 is a triangular frame,
For embroidering zigzag stitch stitch data, characters, symbols, etc. for zigzag stitches along a polygonal frame such as a square frame or a rhombus frame, a curved frame closed by a curve, a curve, or a line segment (including broken lines) It is composed of character pattern stitch data and the like created in. Here, the polygonal frame, the curved frame, the curved line, and the line segment are determined as virtual line segments, and the zigzag stitch is formed along the virtual line segment.

As shown in Fig. 13, the stitch data of the polygonal frame is processed from the stitch pattern identification code, the origin position (the origin is preset when creating the stitch pattern data) to the sewing start point position. Polygon vertices (S1, S2, ...) As control data and position data for controlling and driving the cloth feeding device 15.
… Sm) coordinate values [(Dx1, Dy1), (Dx2, Dy2), ……
(Dxm, Dym)] data and the like, and each coordinate value data is provided with various control codes such as a direction flag F1, a line segment identification control code F2, and a straight line identification control code F3.
The stitch data of the line segment (including the broken line) is the stitch pattern identification code, the sewing start point and end point as position data, and in the case of the broken line, each coordinate value data of the bending point located between the start point and the end point. Similarly, each coordinate value data is provided with a direction flag F1, a line segment identification control code F2, and a straight line identification control code F3. Curve stitch data consists of stitch pattern identification code, coordinate data of start point, middle point and end point as position data, direction control F1, line segment identification control code F2, straight line identification control code F3, etc. It consists of codes and command codes. The coordinates of each point are X direction, Y
The coordinate (Dx1, Dy1) of the sewing start point is (O, O).

The direction flag F1 is set at each point (vertex, start point,
This is for deciding whether to perform zigzag stitching on the right or left side in the traveling direction with respect to a virtual line segment that includes the end point, the intermediate point, and the bending point. When performing zigzag stitching on the right side in the traveling direction. Is F1 = 0, and when performing zigzag stitching on the left side in the traveling direction, F1 = 1 is given. The direction flag F1 is set in the case of zigzag stitching. When a stitch is formed between three points G1, G2, G3 as shown in FIG. Since there is a gap A, which is visually unfavorable, it is provided so as not to form a gap as shown in FIG. 3 (b). Line segment identification control code
F2 is for identifying whether the stitch data is line segment data or block data. When F2 = 0, line segment data,
When F2 = 1, block data is shown, and F2 = 0 is given to the zigzag stitch stitch data.

The line segment identification control code F2 (=
1) is a code given when a portion forming a stitch in a character pattern or the like is designated to be divided into triangular or quadrangular stitch blocks.

The straight line identification control code F3 is for determining whether the virtual line segment connecting the points (including the vertex, the start point, the end point, the intermediate point, and the bending point) is a straight line or a curved line, and is composed of 2 bits.
When F3 is [00], it represents a straight line mode connected by a straight line, and when F3 is [10] or [11], it represents a spline mode connected by a curve. When F3 is [10], it represents the start point and intermediate point in the spline mode, and when F3 is [11], it represents the end point in the spline mode.

On the operation keyboard 20, a sewing start key 21 for starting sewing, a sewing data selection for selecting pattern data consisting of characters previously stored in the external storage device 16 and embroidery pattern data corresponding to other special patterns. Key 22, Numeric keypad 23 for entering numerical values, Stitch width setting mode key 2
4, Various programming and various keys such as enter key 25 for instructing the end of the data input command code are provided, and an ON signal is sent to the CPU 17 when each key is operated.
Output to. The drive circuits 26, 27, 28 are connected to the CPU 17 via the interface 29, and control and drive the needle selection motor 8, the sewing machine motor 9, and the work cloth feeding device 15 based on the control signal from the CPU 17, respectively.

Now, the operation of the sewing data creating apparatus configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 10.

When a power switch (not shown) is turned on, the registers, flags and the like of various work memories 19 are initialized (step 1, step is hereinafter referred to as S), and the CPU 17 of the sewing data creation device is validated. Then, at this time, the CPU 17 causes the thread density coefficient N (for example, thread density per 2 mm), the X-direction enlargement / reduction coefficient Rx, the Y-direction enlargement / reduction coefficient Ry, and the pattern stitch width coefficient w.
Various command data and various control data such as are designated from each data group based on predetermined standard control data, and these data are stored in a predetermined storage area of the working memory 19.

Next, the sewing data selection key 22 on the operation keyboard 20 is turned on to select the embroidery pattern data from the external storage device 16 (S2), and the CPU 17 outputs the sewing data selection key 22 selected at this time based on the ON signal. The corresponding pattern is read from the external storage device 16 and the pattern is stored in a predetermined storage area of the work memory 19 (S3). Subsequently, the CPU 17 displays a message corresponding to this selected pattern on a display device (not shown) (S4).

In S5, the CPU 17 determines whether the selected pattern is a pattern in which the stitch width can be set based on the line segment identification control code F2. That is, it distinguishes between line segment data and block data. If F1 = 0, it is assumed to be line segment data and YE
If it is determined to be S, the process proceeds to S6, and if NO, the block data is considered to be present and the process proceeds to S30. Next, in S6, if the user does not want the zigzag stitch and wants the straight stitch, the straight stitch setting key (not shown) is turned on, and the CPU 17 sets the stitch width w to w = 0 and shifts to S11. .

When the stitch width setting mode key 24 is turned on in S6, the CPU 17 determines YES, and then determines in S7 whether the zigzag stitching direction flag F1 of the pattern has been changed.
When the reverse key 31 of the operation keyboard 20 is turned on, the CP
U17 determines YES, and adds 1 to the direction flag F1 of the selected stitch data to set or reset (S8), S9
Move to. If the reverse key 31 is not operated, S9
Wait for the numeric keypad 23 to enter. Then, when a new pattern stitch width coefficient w1 is input with the ten key 23 and the enter key 25 (S9), the pattern stitch width coefficient w based on the standard control data stored in the corresponding address of the working memory 19 is inputted. Is rewritten to the pattern stitch width coefficient w1 input at that time (S10).

Next, when the pattern enlargement / reduction setting key 30 is operated in S11, the determination in S11 becomes YES, and the CPU 17 waits for the input of the pattern enlargement / reduction factors Rx, Ry (S12). If it is not operated, the determination in S11 is NO, and the process proceeds to S15. Numeric keypad in S13
When 23 etc. are operated and the numerical values of the pattern scaling factors Rx1 and Ry1 are input, the pattern scaling factors Rx and Ry based on the standard control data stored in the corresponding addresses of the working memory 19 are set. The scaling factors Rx1 and Ry1 of the pattern input at that time are rewritten (S14). And S1
Next, when the clear key 33 is turned on to perform re-editing in 5, the process returns to S2, and when the sewing start key 21 is turned on, S15 and S16 become YES and the process proceeds to S17.

In S17, C based on the ON signal of sewing start key 21
The PU 17 first refers to the straight line identification control code F3 added to the coordinate data of the starting point to determine whether or not the spline mode is set. Then, the CPU 17 determines YES when F3 is [00] and moves to S18, and moves to S31 when F3 is not [00]. In S18, the CPU 17 sequentially reads each coordinate value data of the pattern stored in the work memory 19, and the X direction enlargement / reduction coefficient Rx1, which has been stored, for each coordinate value.
The scaling process is performed by multiplying the scaling factor Ry1 in the Y direction. Then, the CPU 17 causes the coordinate value [(Rx1.
Dx1, Ry1 ・ Dy1), (Rx1 ・ Dx2, Ry1 ・ Dy2), …… [(Rx1
Dxm, Ry1, Dym)] is stored in a predetermined storage area of the work memory 19 (see FIG. 5). In S19, the CPU 17 sequentially reads the coordinate value data and sequentially calculates the sewing point distance Lm based on the coordinate value data. That is, the length Lm of the line segment formed by the points Sm−1 and Sm is calculated by the following formula. Note that m =
1,2,3, ...

(Note that α = Dxm−Dxm−1, β = Dym−Dym−1) Next, S20
At 17, the CPU 17 calculates the division number n based on the set yarn density coefficient N by the following formula, and obtains the division point Pm-n based on the division number (see FIG. 6).

n = Lm / N Then, in S21, the CPU 17 sets the middle point Qm-n, which is distant from the middle point between the dividing points Pm-n at right angles to the line segment Sm-1 · Sm of the virtual line, by the thread sewing width w. By referring to the direction flag F1 added to the coordinate value data, it is set to the left or right side in the traveling direction (see FIG. 7). That is, if F1 = 0, the point Qm-n is on the right side of the line segment Sm-1 · Sm, and if F1 = 1, the point Qm-n is the line segment.
Set to the left of Sm-1 ・ Sm.

Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the CPU 17 alternates as a new sewing point Sm-1 → Qm-1 → Pm-1 → Qm-2 .. The sewing data including the feed amount of the work cloth feeding device 15 and the sewing direction is sequentially stored in a predetermined storage area of the work memory 19 (S22). When w = 0, since the middle point Qm-n is located on the line segment Sm-1 / Sm, the coordinate values of the sewing points for straight line sewing are sequentially stored in the work memory 19 in S22. It And
In S23, it is determined whether or not it is the last stitch of the pattern. If it is not the last stitch, the process returns to S17, and if it is the last stitch, it is determined in S24 whether or not the calculation of all patterns is completed.

Then, when all the patterns are not finished, the process returns to S17, and when all the patterns are finished, the CPU 17 reads the sewing data stored in the working memory 19 at S25 and sequentially converted into the sewing data for each stitch. put out. Then, the CPU 17 outputs a control signal to the drive circuits 26, 27, 28 based on the sewing data (S2
6), the stitch forming means and the work cloth feed device 15 form a zigzag stitch pattern in synchronization with these control signals (S27).
Then, from S25 to S27 until the seams of all patterns are formed.
When all patterns are completed, the driving of the stitch forming means and the feeding device 15 is stopped (S29), and the process returns to S2.

On the other hand, when the curve is embroidered as shown in FIG. 9, the straight line identification control code F3 given to the coordinate value of the starting point S1 at S18 is [10] or [11], the CPU 17 at S31 The coordinate value data of each point is sequentially read out in the order of the traveling direction of the work cloth feeding device 15, and the coordinate value data in which the linear identification control code F3 assigned to the data is [11], that is, the coordinate value data of the end point. Read is continued until. Then, the CPU 17 reads out the coordinate value data of the end point where the straight line identification control code F3 = [11], and then, for each coordinate value from the start point to the end point, the X direction enlargement / reduction coefficient Rx1, Y stored above.
Enlargement / reduction processing is performed by multiplying the direction enlargement / reduction coefficient Ry1 (S32). Then, the CPU 17 performs the scaling coordinate values [(Rx1, Dx1, Ry1, Dy1), (Rx1, Dx2, Ry1, Dy2), ...
… (Rx1 ・ Dxm, Ry1 ・ Dym)] to the specified work memory 19
Stored in the memory area.

Next, in S33, the CPU 17 sequentially reads the coordinate value data, and obtains a spline function f (x, y) m of a curve that smoothly connects each point based on the coordinate value data. And the yarn density coefficient N
Based on the above, the CPU 17 divides the curve determined by f (x, y) m, and obtains a row of the divided points Tm-n (S34).
Subsequently, the CPU 17 refers to the direction flag F1 attached to each coordinate value data, and splines the fl (x, y) m separated in parallel with the sewing width w to the left or right of the zigzag (hand movement) traveling direction.
Is calculated to obtain (S35). Then, in S36, CPU17
On the curve determined by the obtained spline function fl (x, y) m, find the row of points Um-n that are separated at a right angle from the midpoint between the dividing points Tm-n (see Fig. 10). .

Next, the CPU 17 sets Sm-1 → Tm-1 → Um− as a new sewing point.
The coordinate values of the sewing points for zigzag stitching are stored in a predetermined storage area of the work memory 19 in order of 1->Tm-1-> Um-2 ... (S37). Then, in S23, it is determined whether or not it is the last needle of the pattern, and if it is not the last needle, the process returns to S17.

When F2 is not 0 in S5, the process waits until the sewing start key 21 is operated in S30, and when the sewing start key 21 is operated, the process proceeds to S25 and the sewing is executed.

In the sewing data creating apparatus configured as described above, for example, the zigzag stitch stitch data of the square frame K having Lx in the x direction and Ly in the Y direction and having standard control data of the stitch width coefficient w is used. Was selected and enlarged to twice the standard control data only in the X direction, and when the stitch width coefficient w was made the same as the standard control data, it was formed based on the standard control data of FIG. 11 (a). With respect to the square frame K, as shown in FIG.
A square frame K doubled in the direction is obtained.

As shown in FIG. 12 (a), the z-direction diagonal line has a length of Lx, the Y-direction diagonal has a length of Ly, and the zigzag stitches of the rhomboid frame K1 have standard control data of the stitch width coefficient w. Select the eye data and set the X direction to 1.5 more than the standard control data.
If the stitch width factor w is doubled and the stitch width coefficient w is the same as the standard control data, a rhombus frame K1 with a constant zigzag stitch width w and 1.5 times in the X direction is obtained as shown in FIG. 12 (b). Will be done. The embroidery pattern of the standard control data shown in FIG.
When the direction is enlarged 1.5 times and the stitch width coefficient w is doubled with the standard control data, the zigzag stitch width w is doubled and 1.5 in the X and Y directions as shown in Fig. 12 (c). Double diamond frame K1
Will be obtained.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and can be arbitrarily modified within a range not departing from the spirit of the present invention.

(Effect of the Invention) As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to individually store the coordinates of a large number of stitch forming points as sewing data, and therefore the storage capacity of the storage means is made large. No need.

Furthermore, in order to correspond to other embroidery patterns, it is possible to create, as the sewing data, a pattern in which the width of the zigzag stitch is not arbitrarily enlarged / reduced or changed when the size of the zigzag stitch frame or the like is changed. Further, even when it is desired to be independent of other embroidery patterns, if the zigzag stitch width and the stitch density of the zigzag stitch are arbitrarily set, the sewing data can be created based on the set data. Further, the stitch density of the zigzag stitch can be independently changed regardless of the enlargement / reduction of the virtual line segment.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an electric block circuit diagram of an embodiment in which the invention is embodied in a multi-needle embroidery sewing machine, FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of the multi-needle embroidery sewing machine, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory view for explaining a direction flag. , FIG. 4 is a flow chart, and FIGS. 5 to 10 are explanatory views for explaining the pattern data stored in the working memory and the embroidery pattern formed based on the data.
FIG. 11 (a) is an explanatory diagram of a square frame embroidery pattern formed based on standard control data, and FIG. 11 (b) is an explanatory diagram of an embroidery pattern formed based on the same changed data. FIG. 12 (a) is an explanatory view of an embroidery pattern of a rhombus frame similarly formed based on the standard control data.
(B) and (c) are explanatory views of the embroidery pattern formed on the basis of the changed data, and FIG. 13 is an explanatory view for explaining the contents of various data stored in the external storage device. is there. 1 is a sewing machine arm, 3 is a needle bar support case, 5 is a needle as stitch forming means, 14 is a work cloth holding frame as work cloth holding means, 15 is a work cloth feeding device as driving means, and 16 is an external memory. An apparatus, 17 is a central processing unit (CPU) as virtual line segment correction means and calculation means, 19 is a working memory as storage means, and W is a work cloth.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A stitch forming means including at least one needle, for forming a stitch on a work cloth as the needle moves up and down, a work cloth holding means for holding the work cloth, Based on the sewing data stored in the storage means, the drive means is connected to at least one of the stitch forming means and the work cloth holding means for changing the relative position of the needle and the work cloth holding means. A sewing data creating device for an automatic sewing machine that operates the driving means to form a zigzag stitch on a work cloth, the position data defining both end positions of a predetermined virtual line segment, and the zigzag stitch. A storage means for storing the stitch width data and the stitch density data of the zigzag stitch, and a virtual line segment correction means for expanding or reducing the specified virtual line segment and calculating new position data, Performed by the virtual line segment correction means To form a zigzag stitch density along the virtual line segment and over the entire length of the line segment based on the new position data and the stitch width data and stitch density data stored in the storage means. A sewing data creating device for an automatic sewing machine, which is provided with a calculating means for calculating the sewing data of the sewing machine. 2. The sewing data creation device for an automatic sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the virtual line segment constitutes an arbitrary polygon to be closed. 3. The sewing data creation device for an automatic sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the virtual line segment includes a curve.