JP2000093676A - Embroidering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an embroidering device which can properly change the combination of yarn colors in an embroidering pattern, and can easily recognize the combination. SOLUTION: When a touch panel at the position of a part pattern 35 is pushed down, a designated color list 40 is displayed on the same screen picture as the part pattern 35 and the like. In the designated color list 40 a designated color display area 40a and a color name display area 40b are provided, and in the designated color display area 40a the colors corresponding to the number of colors of the embroidering yarns are display in a strip-form display window, and in a color name display area 40b the color names corresponding to the display colors are displayed. Further, in the designated color display area 40a and the color name display area 40b, many colors and the color names are displayed by the operation of scroll keys 40c, 40d and 40e. When a color is designated by push-down of the touch panel at the position of a display window, the color of the designated part pattern 35 is changed to the color in the display window, and a yarn color name 36 is also changed to the color name of the color. Furthermore, the designated color is reflected in the picture image of the expanded display area 4b.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention belongs to the technical field of embroidery devices such as sewing machines and data recording media for embroidery devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional embroidery sewing machine is configured so that data relating to an embroidery pattern can be read from an external ROM card. By exchanging the external ROM card, anyone can easily create a great variety of beautiful embroidery patterns. You can sew.

For example, an embroidery pattern composed of a plurality of colors needs to be sewn with a thread of a different color for each appropriate part of the embroidery pattern. In addition to the sewing data, display data for each thread color representing the appropriate portion and data indicating a thread color corresponding to each display data are included. The data indicating the thread color is, for example, a thread color code indicating the thread color,
In the built-in ROM of the embroidery sewing machine, font data indicating a thread color name corresponding to the thread color code is recorded in advance. When one of the embroidery patterns is selected, the external R
Display data for each thread color of the embroidery pattern is read from the OM card and displayed on the LCD panel. Further, the thread color code corresponding to each display data is read from an external ROM card together with the display data for each thread color, and font data corresponding to each thread color code is read from a built-in ROM, and the LCD panel Is displayed with the thread color name corresponding to each display data. Further, the sewing data of the selected embroidery pattern is also read from the external ROM card, and when the start key is pressed, automatic sewing of the embroidery pattern is executed. The sewing data includes delimiter data at the portion where the thread color is switched, and the automatic sewing is temporarily suspended when the delimiter data is read. At this point, a portion corresponding to the display data relating to the first thread color is sewn up. At this time, the display data relating to the first thread color is deleted from the LCD panel, so that the operator can recognize that the automatic sewing of the first thread color has been completed. In addition, the LCD panel has
Since the display of the pattern and the thread color name are displayed for the next thread color, the operator replaces the thread with the next thread according to the display and presses the start key again. Hereinafter, such an operation is repeated, the thread is exchanged according to the display on the LCD panel, and automatic sewing is performed, whereby a multicolor embroidery pattern can be sewn up.

[0004]

However, in the conventional embroidery sewing machine, the display of the thread color name performed for each appropriate portion constituting the embroidery pattern is based on the color scheme determined by the manufacturer. However, a user who wishes to sew with another combination of thread colors cannot confirm the finished state without actually performing the sewing process using embroidery threads of several colors.

[0005] The sewing process of the embroidery pattern takes a relatively longer time than the general sewing process. However, it is not possible to judge whether the color selected by the user is appropriate or not. Has to wait until the end of the sewing process for a relatively long time, resulting in a decrease in work efficiency.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an embroidery apparatus capable of appropriately changing a combination of thread colors in an embroidery pattern and easily confirming the combination. The task is to provide.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an embroidery apparatus comprising: a color display unit capable of displaying embroidery information in color; and a different embroidery pattern forming an embroidery pattern as the embroidery information. Partial pattern data used to display thread color partial patterns, thread color data used to display thread color names corresponding to each partial pattern, and display of colors that can be designated as display colors of the partial patterns and the colors And a color information corresponding to the partial pattern data itself or a thread color data corresponding to the partial pattern data recorded in the recording means. Control means for displaying a partial pattern in color using the color information to be displayed, and displaying a thread color name corresponding to each partial pattern based on the thread color data; A partial pattern designating means for designating any of the displayed partial patterns, a color designating process selecting means for selecting a display color designating process for the partial pattern designated by the partial pattern designating means, A display color designating means for designating, wherein the control means, when the designation processing of the display color for the designated partial pattern is selected by the color designation processing selecting means, A color that can be specified as a display color of the partial pattern and a color name of the color based on the display color, and when a display color is specified by the display color specification unit, color specification data corresponding to the display color. And displaying the designated partial pattern in color with the display color and displaying the color name of the display color.

According to the embroidery apparatus of the present invention, the partial patterns constituting the embroidery pattern are displayed in color on the color display means based on the partial pattern data, and each partial pattern is displayed based on the thread color data. Is displayed. Here, one of the partial patterns displayed in color on the color display means is designated by the partial pattern designating means, and the designation processing of the display color for the designated partial pattern is further selected by the color designation processing selecting means. And a color that can be designated as the display color of the partial pattern and a color name of the color based on the color designation data. When the display color is designated by the display color designation means, the designated partial pattern is displayed in the display color in color based on the color designation data corresponding to the display color, and Display the color name of the color. Thus, the color scheme of the embroidery pattern is freely determined by the operator.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an embroidery apparatus according to the first aspect.
The control means, when the designation processing of the display color is selected by the color designation processing selection means, on the same screen of the color display means for performing the color display of the partial pattern and the display of the thread color name A list of colors that can be designated as display colors of the partial patterns and the names of the colors are displayed in a list, and the display color designation means is means for designating any of the colors displayed in the list.

According to the embroidery apparatus of the present invention, the color display means displays the color of the partial pattern and the thread color name. Is selected, the colors that can be specified as display colors of the partial pattern and the colors of the colors are displayed on the same screen as the screen on which the color display of the partial pattern and the display of the thread color name are performed. A list of color names is displayed. Then, when any of the colors displayed in the list is designated by the display color designation means, the designated partial pattern is color-displayed in the display color based on the color designation data corresponding to the display color. At the same time, the color name of the display color is displayed. As described above, the list display of the colors that can be designated as the display colors of the partial patterns and the color names of the colors is performed on the same screen as the screen on which the color display of the partial patterns and the display of the thread color names are performed. As a result, no special key is required, and there is no need to provide a useless key space.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an embroidery apparatus according to the second aspect.
The recording means has recorded therein overall pattern data for displaying an entire pattern which is the entire embroidery pattern, and the control means has a function of controlling the partial pattern to be displayed in color based on the color information of the overall pattern data itself. To display the overall pattern in color on the same screen of the color display means together with the partial pattern and the thread color name, and display the partial pattern in color using the display color designated by the display color designating means. In this case, the whole pattern is displayed again by synthesizing all the partial patterns including the partial pattern displayed in color with the display color.

According to the embroidery apparatus of the third aspect, based on the color information of the entire pattern data itself for displaying the entire pattern, which is the entire embroidery pattern, or by synthesizing a partial pattern to be displayed in color, The whole pattern is displayed in color on the same screen of the color display means together with the partial pattern and the thread color name. Therefore, the operator can check the state of the embroidery pattern after sewing without actually performing the sewing process. When the display color of the predetermined partial pattern is designated by the display color designating means, the partial pattern is displayed in color according to the designated display color. By synthesizing all the partial patterns including the displayed partial pattern, the entire pattern is displayed again. Therefore, when the color of the partial pattern is changed from the initial display state, the content of the change is immediately reflected on the entire pattern displayed on the same screen as the partial pattern, so that the operator performs the actual sewing process. Even if the color is changed, the state of the embroidery pattern after sewing can be checked.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an embroidery apparatus according to the third aspect.
The embroidery pattern selection means for selecting an embroidery pattern is further provided, wherein the control means displays a list of the entire patterns of the plurality of embroidery patterns on the same screen of the color display means, and selects the embroidery pattern by the embroidery pattern selection means. Is done,
The entire pattern, the partial pattern, and the thread color name of the embroidery pattern according to the selection are displayed in color, and all the partial patterns including the partial pattern displayed in color by the display color are combined to redisplay the entire pattern. In this case, all the partial patterns including the partial pattern displayed in color according to the display color are combined and displayed again for the entire pattern displayed in the list.

According to the embroidery apparatus of the fourth aspect, since the entire patterns of the plurality of embroidery patterns are displayed in a list on the same screen of the color display means, the operator can embroider the embroidery recorded on the recording means. The entire pattern can be easily grasped. When a predetermined embroidery pattern is selected from the embroidery patterns displayed in the list by the embroidery pattern selection means, the colors of the entire pattern, the partial pattern, and the thread color name of the embroidery pattern related to the selection are selected. Display is performed. Therefore, the operator can easily create a multicolored embroidery pattern by exchanging the embroidery thread according to these displays. When a display color of a predetermined partial pattern is designated by the display color designating means, not only the partial pattern is displayed in color by the display color, but also the entire pattern is displayed including the display color. Further, with respect to the whole patterns displayed in the list, the whole pattern including the display color is also displayed. Therefore, the operator can easily confirm the embroidery pattern for which the display color was previously specified in the list display.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an embroidery apparatus according to at least one of the first to fourth aspects.
When the display color and the color name are changed from the initial state by the display color designating means, the information indicating the data as the source of the display after the change or the display data itself after the change is recorded in the recording means. The subsequent display is set as the next initial state display.

According to the embroidery apparatus of the fifth aspect, when a change is made from the initial state of the display color and the color name by the display color designating means, the data on which the changed display is based is changed. The pointing information or the changed display data itself is recorded in the recording means. Then, when displaying a partial pattern or the like next time, the data recorded in the recording means is read, and the display after the change is set as the next initial state display. As a result, the operator can quickly perform the sewing process without specifying the overlapping display colors.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an embroidery apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the control means comprises the display color designation means. When the display color and the color name are changed from the initial state, a notification display for notifying that the change has been made is performed.

According to the embroidery apparatus of the sixth aspect, when the display color and the color name are changed from the initial state by the display color designating means, the partial pattern is displayed. In addition, a notification display for notifying that the change has been performed is performed. Therefore, even when a plurality of workers are working and a different worker than the one who has designated the display color operates the embroidery device, it is easy to recognize that the display color has been changed from the initial state. Can be
Work according to the requirements of each worker is enabled.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above problem, in the embroidery apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, a display color and a color name are switched to an initial state. Further comprising display initialization input means, wherein the control means reads the partial pattern data and thread color data from the recording means when the input is performed by the display initialization input means, and The display is performed based on the color data.

According to the embroidery apparatus of the present invention, when an input for switching a display color and a color name to an initial state is performed by the display initialization input means, the partial pattern data and the thread are transmitted from the recording means. The color data is read, and the display is returned to the original initial state based on the partial pattern data and the thread color data. Therefore, even when the display color is specified a plurality of times, the display can be immediately returned to the initial state display, thereby improving the work efficiency.

According to an embroidery apparatus according to an eighth aspect, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the embroidery apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the display color designation processing is selected. The display device further includes a display change instructing unit that instructs a change of display contents of a color that can be designated as a display color of the partial pattern and a color name of the color in the case, and the control unit includes a color that can be designated as the display color and The display of the color name of the color is performed with a number smaller than the total number of colors and color names that can be displayed based on the color designation data recorded in the recording means, and the display change instruction means changes the display content. Is displayed, the color and the color name not displayed before the instruction are displayed.

According to the embroidery apparatus of the present invention, the display of the color that can be designated as the display color and the color name of the color can be performed based on the color designation data recorded in the recording means. This is performed with a number smaller than the total number of colors and color names. Therefore, the display area of the color and the color name is small, and the partial pattern and the like can be displayed on the same screen. Further, when the display change instructing means instructs to change the display contents of the color and the color name, the color and the color name not displayed before the instruction are displayed. Therefore, even in a small display area, all colors and color names based on the color designation data recorded in the recording means can be displayed, and the operator can select a desired color from a very large number of colors. Can be specified.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an embroidery apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, wherein the display color designation processing is terminated. An instruction unit is further provided, wherein the control unit terminates the display of the color that can be designated as the display color of the partial pattern and the color name of the color when the end instruction unit issues an end instruction. It is characterized by.

According to the embroidery apparatus of the ninth aspect, when an instruction to end the display color designation processing is issued by the end instruction means, a color that can be designated as the display color of the partial pattern is displayed. The display of the color name of the color ends. Therefore, until the end instruction is given by the end instruction means,
The display color designation processing can be performed any number of times, and the work efficiency is improved.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an embroidery apparatus according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, wherein the designation, selection, input,
Alternatively, each means for giving an instruction is a switch means made of a light transmissive member attached on the display screen of the color display means, and an operation part of the switch means,
The color display means is provided so as to substantially coincide with a display position of a character or a pattern on a screen of the color display means.

According to the embroidery apparatus of the tenth aspect, each of the means for designating, selecting, inputting, or giving an instruction includes a light-transmitting member attached on a display screen of the color display means. Since the operating portion of the switch means is provided so as to substantially match the display position of the character or pattern on the screen of the color display means, various switch means can be provided without increasing the number of switch means as hardware. Various types of input means can be provided. As a result, without increasing the size and cost of the device,
Have very many types of input.

An embroidery apparatus according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention is the embroidery apparatus according to any one of the first to tenth aspects, wherein the embroidery apparatus or the embroidery apparatus is used as the recording means. An embroidery device data recording medium which is detachably attached to a peripheral device connected to the embroidery device or is connectable to the embroidery device via a network is used.

According to the embroidery apparatus of the eleventh aspect, as the recording means, the embroidery apparatus is detachable from the embroidery apparatus or a peripheral device connected to the embroidery apparatus, or is connectable to the embroidery apparatus via a network. By using the data recording medium for embroidery, the new embroidery information can be easily accessed by preparing a data recording medium for embroidery apparatus on which new embroidery information is recorded.

[0029]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an embroidery sewing machine as one embodiment of the embroidery apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the embroidery sewing machine.

As shown in FIG. 1, an embroidery sewing machine 1 according to this embodiment includes a main motor, a drive transmission mechanism such as a main shaft or a crank, a needle bar drive mechanism, and the like housed in a housing 2. A color LCD panel 4 as a color display means having a touch panel 3 on the surface is provided on a wall surface of the housing 2.

Embroidery information such as an embroidery pattern and a sewing pattern is displayed on the color LCD panel 4. By pressing a key on the touch panel 3 corresponding to the display position, an embroidery pattern or a sewing pattern is selected, or It is possible to specify a finger for starting or ending various processes to be described later, or a color or the like.

When the side on which the color LCD panel 4 is provided is the front of the embroidery sewing machine 1, a cloth is fixed to the lower part of the embroidery sewing machine 1 on the left hand side when facing the front when sewing. A cloth fixing base 5 is provided, and a feed dog, a pulse motor, a driving mechanism for the feed dog, a shuttle for storing the lower thread, and the like are accommodated inside the cloth fixing base 5.

An embroidery unit 6 is mounted on the cloth fixing base 5, and a frame support member 8 supporting an embroidery frame 7 is mounted on the embroidery unit 6.

Further, a sewing needle 10 for performing a vertical operation or a needle swing operation with a needle bar 9 is provided at a position above the feed dog so as to face the feed dog. At a position close to the sewing needle 10, a start / stop key 11 for switching between starting and stopping driving of the main motor is provided.

On the right hand side of the embroidery sewing machine 1, a recording medium on which embroidery pattern sewing data and the like are recorded and an external ROM card 12 as recording means are provided.
It is provided detachably with respect to the main body.

Further, a power switch 13 for turning on / off the power of the embroidery sewing machine 1 is provided below the mounting portion of the external ROM card 12.

Next, the configuration of the control system of the embroidery sewing machine 1 according to this embodiment as described above will be described with reference to the blocks of FIG. In FIG. 2, portions corresponding to the means described in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the embroidery sewing machine 1 of this embodiment comprises a CPU 20 as control means, a ROM 21 as read-only recording means, and a RAM 22 as readable and writable recording means. A control unit 23 is provided. Based on the control program recorded in the ROM 21, the CPU 20 inputs / outputs a signal through each input / output unit, displays on the color LCD panel 4,
Alternatively, a sewing operation or the like by a drive source and a drive mechanism is controlled. The ROM 21 stores not only the control program but also data such as data for displaying an embroidery pattern, font data for displaying a thread color name corresponding to the thread color data, or data for sewing. The CPU 20 performs control processing by reading data from the ROM 21 as needed. Further, the CPU 20 saves or records data or the like in the RAM 22 as needed.

In the address space of the CPU 20, similarly to the ROM 21 and the RAM 22, an external RO
The area of the M card 12 is allocated and the external ROM
When the card 12 is mounted, the external ROM card 12
By accessing the address assigned to
Embroidery pattern display data from the external ROM card 12;
It is possible to read out thread color data or sewing data.

The signal input to the CPU 20 is
The operation is performed by the touch panel 3, the start / stop key 11, and other various keys 24 connected directly to the device 20 or via an input interface (not shown). The CPU 20 is always performing key scan processing, and when an input from any key is detected,
A process corresponding to the key input is performed.

The start / stop key 11 is a key for switching between starting and stopping the driving of the main motor 25. When the key is pressed while the main motor 25 is stopped, the driving of the main motor 25 is started. When pressed during driving, the driving of the main motor 25 is stopped.

The touch panel 3 is a color LCD panel 4
It is a planar switch made of a light transmissive member provided on top of it, and an input interface (not shown)
The pressed position can be identified. Therefore, L
A key is displayed on the CD panel 4, and when a switch on the touch panel 3 corresponding to the position of the key is pressed, the processing can be performed as if the key were pressed.

In addition, the embroidery sewing machine 1 of the present embodiment includes
Although not shown in FIG. 1, a number of various keys 24 such as a key for raising and lowering the sewing needle 10 and a thread cutting key are provided, and a predetermined process is performed by pressing each key.

The output of the signal from the CPU 20 is
Main motor 25, an X-direction pulse motor 26, a Y-direction pulse motor 27, and a color LCD connected directly to an output interface 0 or via an output interface (not shown).
Performed on panel 4.

The main motor 25 is a power source for operating the sewing needle 10 and a feed dog (not shown).
When detecting the depression of the start / stop key 11, the main motor 20 drives a main motor 25 via an output interface (not shown), and the main motor 25 rotates a main shaft (not shown). The rotation of the main shaft is transmitted to a needle bar vertical movement mechanism (not shown), and the vertical movement of the needle bar vertical movement mechanism is transmitted to the needle bar 9, and the sewing needle 10 moves up and down.

The rotation of the main shaft is also transmitted to a feed dog longitudinal movement mechanism and a feed dog vertical movement mechanism (not shown), and the feed dog moves vertically and vertically in conjunction with the vertical movement of the needle bar 9 by these mechanisms. Will work. By moving the feed dog up and down and up and down, the cloth is moved, the sewing needle 10 is moved up and down, and the shuttle is further rotated to form a seam.

However, as shown in FIG. 1, when the embroidery unit 6 is mounted on the cloth fixing base 5, the cloth 14 is attached to the embroidery frame 7, so that the movement of the cloth 14 is controlled by the embroidery unit 6 and the embroidery unit 6. The embroidery frame 7 is moved by the frame support member 8 in the X and Y directions shown in FIG. The movement of the embroidery frame 7 in the X direction is performed by an X direction pulse motor 26 provided in the embroidery unit 6. The embroidery frame 7 is moved in the Y direction by a Y-direction pulse motor 27 provided on the frame support member 8. These pulse motors 26 and 27 are connected to the CPU 20 via an output interface, and are controlled by outputting a predetermined pulse signal from the CPU 20.

That is, when an embroidery pattern is selected as described later, the CPU 20 controls the various needle bar driving mechanisms, the X-direction pulse motor 25, and the Y-direction pulse motor 27 based on the sewing data of the embroidery pattern. Under the control of the embroidery pattern.

The switching of the display by the color LCD panel 4 is also controlled by the CPU 20.
20 displays an embroidery pattern, a partial pattern for each thread color constituting the embroidery pattern, a thread color name, and the like, based on data read from the ROM 21 or the external ROM card 12.

Next, the outline of various processes such as the display process and the sewing process performed in the embroidery sewing machine 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 and the display screens of FIGS. I do.

First, when the power is turned on by pressing the power switch 13 (step S1), the sewing needle 10, the embroidery frame 7, the frame support member 8 and the like are moved to the initial positions, and the color LCD panel 4 is initialized. Various initial processes such as display are performed (step S2). Next, a selection screen for selecting an embroidery pattern is displayed (step S3).
Here, the selection screen is displayed immediately after the initial processing for the sake of simplicity. However, in the initial screen display, selection keys for selecting various sewing processes are displayed. By pressing the touch panel 3 corresponding to the position of the selection key indicating the embroidery stitching, a selection screen is displayed. FIG. 6 shows an example of this selection screen display.

As shown in FIG. 6, the color LCD panel 4
In the upper embroidery pattern display area 4a, a plurality of embroidery patterns 30 are displayed. In addition, a previous page switching key 31, a next page switching key 32, a return key 33, and a selection key 34.
Is displayed. The data for displaying the embroidery pattern 30 is RO
M21 and the external ROM card 12,
The PU 20 reads display data from any of them and displays the data in the embroidery pattern display area 4 a of the color LCD panel 4.

The operator sees the list display of these embroidery patterns, and sees the ROM 21 and the external ROM card 12.
The type of embroidery pattern recorded in the embroidery pattern and the overall image of each embroidery pattern can be recognized.

When the touch panel 3 corresponding to the position of the next page switching key 32 is pressed in a state where the embroidery patterns are displayed in a list as shown in FIG. 6, the embroidery patterns are displayed in the embroidery pattern display area 4a of the next page. Is displayed. At first, since there is no data to be displayed on the switched page, the display data of the embroidery pattern is read again.
When the touch panel 3 corresponding to the position of the previous page switching key 31 is pressed, a list of embroidery patterns is displayed in the embroidery pattern display area 4a of the previous page.
Further, when the touch panel 3 corresponding to the position of the return key 33 is pressed, this embroidery pattern selection screen display is displayed.
For example, the display is returned to the selection screen of the data reading destination. In this data read destination selection screen display, either the ROM 21 or the external ROM card 12 can be selected as the data read destination.

Next, after such an embroidery pattern selection screen is displayed (step S3), it is determined whether or not the selection key 34 as embroidery pattern selection means has been pressed (step S4). In the present embodiment, when the touch panel 3 corresponding to the position of the embroidery patterns displayed in the list in the embroidery pattern display area 4a is pressed and any one of the embroidery patterns is selected, the display of the embroidery pattern is reversed or blinks. It is displayed, and is configured to accept pressing of the selection key 34.

Then, when the operator selects one embroidery pattern from the list of embroidery patterns and presses the touch panel 3 corresponding to the position of the selection key 34 (step S4;
YES), the CPU 20 determines that the embroidery pattern has been selected, and executes a selected pattern display process (step S5).

FIG. 7 shows an example of the selected pattern display. FIG.
7 shows a case where the embroidery pattern 30a is selected from the selection screen display shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, in the selected pattern display, the selected embroidery pattern is enlarged and displayed in the enlarged display area 4b, and the partial pattern display area 4c below the selected embroidery pattern is formed of threads of different colors in each embroidery pattern. The display of a partial pattern (hereinafter, referred to as a partial pattern) 35 is performed. Further, a thread color name 36 corresponding to the thread color of each partial pattern is displayed in the thread color name display area 4d thereunder. Further, in addition to a return key 37 for returning the selected pattern display to the selection screen display, various keys (not shown) for performing various selections or instructions are displayed.

When the selected pattern display processing (step S5) is completed, the CPU 20 waits until any key is pressed by the key scan processing (step S6).

For example, if the operator sets the embroidery thread of the displayed color on the embroidery sewing machine 1 and depresses the start / stop key 11 with reference to the thread color name display shown in FIG.・ Stop key 11 is pressed by CPU
20 and it is determined that the start of sewing is selected (step S6; YES). Thus, the drive of the main motor 25 is started (step S7), and the sewing process of the embroidery pattern is started (step S8).

When the sewing process is started, the CPU 20
The sewing data is read from the ROM 21 or the external ROM card 12 and stored in the RAM 22. Then, based on the stored sewing data, the drive of the X-direction pulse motor 26 and the Y-direction pulse motor 27 is controlled to perform the embroidery pattern sewing process.

The sewing data includes delimiter data for each partial pattern. When the delimiter data is read, the CPU 20 determines that a stop request has been issued (step S9; YES), and drives each motor. Is stopped (step S10). That is, the sewing operation is interrupted every time the sewing of one partial pattern is completed. At this time, in the partial pattern display area 4c and the thread color name display area 4d, the display of the sewn partial pattern 35 and the corresponding thread color name 36 is deleted, and the partial pattern 36 relating to the next sewing and the The display of the corresponding thread color name 36 is shifted to the left. As a result, the operator can recognize that the sewing of the partial pattern displayed on the left end is to be performed next. Therefore, the operator replaces the embroidery thread in accordance with the display of the thread color name corresponding to the partial pattern. Press. The CPU 20 determines that restart of sewing is selected by this pressing (step S
6; YES), driving of the motor is started again, and sewing processing of the next partial pattern is started (steps S7, S8).

By repeating the above processing,
When the sewing of the selected embroidery pattern is completed, the key input is accepted again. For example, when the return key 37 is pressed (step S11; YES), the selection screen is displayed again as shown in FIG. 6 (step S11). Step S3). Then, when the touch panel 3 at the position of any of the partial patterns in the selected pattern display is pressed (step S12; YE)
S), a color designation process is executed (step S13). This color designation processing will be described later. On the other hand, when the touch panel 3 is pressed at the display position of another key (not shown) (step S14; YES), a process corresponding to the key is performed (step S15).

The above is the outline of the processing of the embroidery sewing machine 1 in the present embodiment. Next, among the processes described above, the selection screen display process (step S3), the selected pattern display process (step S5), and the color designation process (step S13) will be described in detail.

<Selection screen display processing> First, the processing for displaying the selection screen as shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the memory map structure diagram of the M card 12. The data for displaying the selection screen is recorded in both the ROM 21 and the external ROM card 12. Here, as an example, the case where the data for display is read from the external ROM card 12 will be described. I do. ROM
Selection of the external ROM card 12 and the external ROM card 12 is performed on the selection screen display of the data reading destination as described above.

FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of the memory map 100 of the external ROM card 12. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, a header area 110 is provided in the external ROM card 12, and the CPU 20 first reads the head addresses of various data from the header area 110. For example, the pattern multi-value display header 113 includes a display data storage area 15 for storing display data of the embroidery pattern 30.
The start address of the multi-value display data address recording area 120 in which the start address of each embroidery pattern at 0 is stored. Multi-value display data address recording area 12
At the beginning of 0, a multi-value display data address recording area 121 for pattern 1 which is the first embroidery pattern is provided, and the CPU 20 reads the start address, which is the content of the pattern multi-value display header 113, and As shown in C, the contents of the multi-value display data address recording area 121 indicated by the start address are referred to. As a result, as shown by the arrow D, the contents of the recording area 151 of the multi-value display data of the pattern 1 can be referred to, and the display data for the multi-value selection screen for the pattern 1 (hereinafter, the display data for the multi-value selection screen) Display data). The multi-value selection screen display data is data for reducing the entire embroidery pattern 30 as shown in FIG. 6, and is stored in, for example, a bitmap format.

The multi-value display data address recording area 12
0, the embroidery pattern, such as the multivalued display data address recording area 122 of the pattern 2, the multivalued display data address recording area 123 of the pattern 3, and the like. The multi-value display data address recording area is provided in the order of the numbers. Therefore, by sequentially referring to the contents of these recording areas, the recording area of the multi-value display data of each embroidery pattern in the display data recording area 150 can be accessed, and the display data for the multi-value selection screen of each embroidery pattern can be accessed. Can be obtained.

In this way, the display data for the multi-value selection screen of each embroidery pattern is read for one page and stored in the RAM 22. Here, one page refers to a size that can be displayed at a time in the embroidery pattern display area 4a shown in FIG. Then, based on the display data for the multi-value selection screen of each embroidery pattern stored in the RAM 22, a list display of each embroidery pattern in the embroidery pattern display area 4a is performed as shown in FIG.

The external ROM card 12 of the present embodiment
The display data for the multi-value selection screen of the embroidery pattern for a plurality of pages is recorded. When the touch panel 3 corresponding to the display position of the next page switching key 32 shown in FIG. The display data for the multi-value selection screen of the embroidery pattern is read.

The address of the multi-value display data address recording area of each embroidery pattern obtained as described above is RA
It is stored in M22.

<Selected Pattern Display Processing> Next, the selected pattern display processing executed when any of the embroidery patterns is selected on the selection screen display shown in FIG. 6 is described in the flowchart of FIG. 4 and the external ROM card of FIG. A description will be given with reference to FIG.

In the present embodiment, the enlarged display area 4b
Is performed by enlarging the multi-value selection screen display data stored in the RAM 22.

On the other hand, for the multi-value display data of the partial pattern to be displayed in the partial pattern display area 4c, it is necessary to read the external ROM card 12 again. As described above, the multi-value display data of the partial pattern is stored for each color in the recording area following the multi-value selection screen display data recording area in the display data recording area 150 for each embroidery pattern. Since the address of the recording area of the display data for the multi-value selection screen of the embroidery pattern displayed on the embroidery pattern display area 4b of the selection screen is already stored in the RAM 22, the embroidery selected from the stored addresses is selected. By reading the address of the recording area of the display data for the multi-value selection screen of the pattern, the address of the recording area of the multi-value display data for the partial pattern can be easily obtained, and the multi-value display data necessary for display can be obtained. Can be easily read.

The reading of the multi-value display data is performed for the number of types of the partial patterns constituting the embroidery pattern. Information on the number of types of partial patterns constituting each embroidery pattern is stored in the color number data recording area 130 for each embroidery pattern, and the header area 110 stores the start address of the color number data recording area 130. A pattern color number header 111 is provided. Therefore, the CPU 20 sets the pattern color number header 111
Is read, and as shown by arrow A, the number-of-colors data recording area 13 indicated by the start address is read.
By referring to the content of No. 1, it is possible to obtain data on the number of colors of the pattern 1, that is, data on the number of types of partial patterns.

After the color number data recording area for pattern 1 is provided, the color number data recording areas for the other embroidery patterns are provided in the order of the embroidery pattern numbers. The address of the pattern color number data recording area can be obtained, and the color number data of the desired embroidery pattern recorded in the color number data recording area can be obtained.

In the present embodiment, when the selected pattern display processing is started, the selected embroidery pattern is enlarged and displayed in the enlarged display area 4b (step S20), and then the color number data of the selected embroidery pattern is displayed. Is acquired and stored in the register M (step S21).

Then, the address of the recording area of the multivalued display data for the partial pattern is obtained from the address of the recording area of the display data for the multivalued selection screen stored in the RAM 22, and each part is referred to by referring to the register M. The multi-value display data of the pattern is read (step S22). These multi-value display data are also data in a bitmap format, for example.

For example, when the embroidery pattern 30a shown in FIG. 7 corresponds to the first embroidery pattern 1 in FIG. 10, the RAM 22 records the display data for the multi-value selection screen corresponding to the pattern 1. By reading the address of the area 151 and adding 1 to this address, the multi-value display data of the partial pattern of the first color is read from the multi-value display data recording area 152 of the partial pattern of the first color. Hereinafter, by sequentially adding 1 to the address, the multi-value display data of the second color partial pattern from the multi-value display data recording area 153 and the multi-value display data of the third color partial pattern from the multi-value display data recording area 154 are obtained. Are read and stored in the RAM 22 respectively. Then, based on the multi-value display data of the partial patterns stored in the RAM 22, as shown in FIG. 7, the respective partial patterns 35 are displayed in the partial pattern display area 4c (step S22).

After the display of the partial pattern 35 is completed, a color name display process is performed (step S23). This color name display process
A thread color name used for embroidery sewing of each partial pattern is displayed in a thread color name display area 4d shown in FIG. 7, and the display is performed based on a thread color code.

In this embodiment, the thread color codes for the partial patterns from the first color to the nth color are recorded for each embroidery pattern in the thread color code recording area 140 shown in FIG.
Therefore, if the start address of the thread color code recording area 140, the color number data of each embroidery pattern, and the number of the selected embroidery pattern are known, the address of the thread color code recording area of the selected embroidery pattern can be obtained. . For example, assuming that the number of the selected embroidery pattern is m, (the top address of the thread color code recording area corresponding to the embroidery pattern of number [m-1]) + (color number data of number [m-1]) By (1), the address of the thread color code recording area of the selected embroidery pattern is obtained. However, when m = 1, the address of the thread color code recording area coincides with the head address of the thread color code recording area 140, and therefore the calculation according to the equation (1) is not performed. In addition, the calculation based on the expression (1) is based on the premise that, when m = 3 or more, the starting address of the thread color code recording area corresponding to the embroidery pattern of the number [m-1] is known. The calculations from 2 to m are performed in order, and the addresses of the obtained thread color code recording areas are sequentially stored in the RAM 22 and used for the next calculation. For example, when m = 5, calculation is performed in the order of m = 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively.

The calculation requires the color number data of the embroidery pattern. However, since the address of the recording area of the color number data of each embroidery pattern is already stored in the RAM 22 when the selection screen display is completed. From this stored address,
The address of the color number data recording area corresponding to the selected embroidery pattern may be acquired, and the necessary color number data may be read from the color number data recording area of the acquired address.

Then, the thread color data for the partial patterns corresponding to the data of the number of colors stored in the register M is sequentially read from the thread color code recording area indicated by the address acquired based on the equation (1), so that the display necessary for the display is obtained. Thread color data can be obtained.

Next, the thread color code read as described above is stored in the thread color code storage area of the RAM 22.
The CPU 20 reads font data corresponding to the stored thread color code from the ROM 21 and performs display using the font data. As a result, as shown in FIG.
In the thread color name display area 4d, a thread color name 36 of emerald green, usmurasaki, usakamurasaki is displayed.

After the end of the thread color name display processing (step S23), various keys such as the return key 37 shown in FIG. 7 are displayed (step S24). This color designation key 37
Is a key for selecting execution of a color designation process described later.

In the display of the selected pattern shown in FIG. 7, since the display is performed based on the data stored in the RAM 22, the contents of the RAM 22 can be changed even when the display color or the like of the partial pattern is changed by the color designation processing described later. Is rewritten. Therefore, after the display color or the like is changed by the color designation processing, the screen once returns to the selection screen display shown in FIG. 6, and the same embroidery pattern as the embroidery pattern subjected to the color designation processing is selected again to display the selected pattern display shown in FIG. Is performed, the external ROM card 1
The display is performed not with the initial display based on the data recorded in No. 2 but with the content after the color designation processing.

<Color Designation Process> Next, the color designation process in the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
11 and a diagram showing a part of a memory map in the ROM 21 in FIG.

Conventionally, only one thread color code is assigned to each partial pattern, and only one type of thread color name is displayed in one embroidery pattern.

Therefore, an operator who desires to sew an embroidery pattern in a color different from the displayed thread color name must be provided after actually performing the sewing process using the thread of the different color.
The finish of the embroidery pattern using the thread could not be confirmed.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the color of the partial pattern can be specified by the operator, and when the color is specified, the thread color name display is changed in correspondence with the specified color, and The display color of the partial pattern is changed in accordance with the designated color, and the display color in the entire display of the embroidery pattern is also changed in accordance with the designated color.

Hereinafter, specific processing contents of the color designation processing of this embodiment will be described. Note that the step numbers in parentheses used in the following description correspond to the flowchart in FIG.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, font data of a thread color name corresponding to the thread color code and color information corresponding to the thread color code are recorded in the ROM 21 as color designation data. I have. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a part of the memory map 200 in the ROM 21. Font data of thread color names corresponding to thread color codes are recorded in the font data recording area 210 in the order of thread color code numbers. The color information corresponding to the thread color code is recorded in the color information recording area 220 in the order of the thread color code number. In the present embodiment, font data and color information of thread color names for 256 colors are prepared to correspond to embroidery threads of 256 colors. Therefore, the thread color code is also 1
From 256 to 256. For example, thread color code 1
Corresponds to "red", and font data for displaying the character "red" is recorded in the font data recording area 210a corresponding to the thread color code 1. Also,
In the color information recording area 220a corresponding to the thread color code 1,
Color information for displaying "red" is recorded. Similarly, in the font data recording area 210b of the thread color code 2 corresponding to "blue", font data for displaying the character "Ao" is displayed, and in the color information recording area 220b of the thread color code 2, "blue" is recorded. Is recorded. Further, the font data for displaying the character “Aiiro” is stored in the font data recording area 210c of the thread color code 3 corresponding to “blue”, and the font information recording area 220c of the thread color code 3 is “blue”. "Is recorded.

Then, any of the partial patterns 35 shown in FIG.
When the touch panel 3 at the position is pressed, information for specifying the partial pattern to be subjected to the color designation processing is stored in the processing target storage area of the RAM 22 (step S30).

Next, as shown in FIG. 8, a designated color list 40 is displayed in an area on the right side of the partial pattern display area 4c and the thread color name display area 4d. A color display and a color name display based on the font data and color information read from the font data recording area 210 and the color information recording area 220 are performed. In addition to the display of the specified color list 40, the display of the color specification end key 41 is performed (step S31). As described above, in the present embodiment, the touch panel 3 at the position of the partial pattern 35 functions as a partial pattern designating unit and a color designating process selecting unit.

Since the designated color list 40 is displayed on the same screen as the enlarged display, the partial pattern display, and the thread color name display, no special key is required, and there is no need to provide a useless key space. .

The designated color list 40 is, as shown in FIG.
A designated color display area 40a in which horizontally long strip-shaped display windows are arranged in a column, a color name display area 40b for displaying a color name on the right of each display window, and scrolling of the display window and the color name display upward. Display area of the upper scroll key 40c for performing
It has a display area for a lower scroll key 40d for scrolling the display window and the color name display downward, and a display area for an upper scroll button 40c for scrolling the display window and the color name display upward or downward. ing.

In the designated color display area 40a, display windows for nine of the 256 colors are displayed. Next, the color information corresponding to the thread color codes 1 to 9 is read from the color information recording area 220 shown in FIG. 11 and stored in the color information storage area of the RAM 22. The display windows for the nine colors are filled based on the color information stored in the color information storage area.

In the color name display area 40b, nine color names are displayed corresponding to the nine color display windows. That is,
The font data for displaying the thread color names corresponding to the thread color codes 1 to 9 is read from the font data recording area 210 shown in FIG. 11 and stored in the font data storage area of the RAM 22. Then, at the position on the right of each display window, each thread color name based on the stored font data is displayed.

When the upper scroll key 40c or the lower scroll key 40d is clicked, or the scroll button 40e is dragged upward or downward,
Further, other color information and font data are read from the color information recording area 220 and the font data recording area 210 of the ROM 21 and stored in the color information storage area and the font data storage area of the RAM 22. Then, the contents of the pointer for indicating the reading position from the color information storage area and the font data storage area are changed in accordance with the click amount or the drag amount, and color display and color name display for nine new colors are performed. . Therefore, the operator clicks the upper scroll key 40c or the lower scroll key 40d, or drags the scroll button 40e upward or downward to display all 256 colors and the color name display in the designated color list 40. Can be displayed,
Any color can be specified. As described above, in the present embodiment, the upper scroll key 40c, the lower scroll key 40d, and the scroll button 40e function as a display change instruction unit.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, when the touch panel 3 at any display window position in the designated color display area 40a is pressed (step S32; YES), the color display in the display window is changed. The used color information is read from the color information storage area of the RAM 22, and the contents of the display data storage area of the RAM 22 for the partial pattern to be subjected to the color designation processing are rewritten by the read color information (step S33). As described above, in the present embodiment, the touch panel 3 at the position of any of the display windows in the designated color display area 40a functions as a display color designation unit. It should be noted that information on the partial pattern to be subjected to the color designation processing is read from the processing target storage area of the RAM 22.

Next, the font data of the thread color name corresponding to the color information is read from the font data storage area of the RAM 22, and the contents of the font data storage area of the RAM 22 for the partial pattern to be subjected to the color designation processing are read. ,
Rewriting is performed using the read font data (step S34).

Next, a partial pattern of a new color is displayed in the partial pattern display area 4c using the display data and font data rewritten as described above, and a new thread is displayed in the thread color name display area 4d. A color name is displayed (step S35).

For example, in the case of FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the partial pattern displayed in the leftmost emerald green as shown in FIG. 8 is selected as a target of the color specification processing, and the color specification list is displayed as shown in FIG. Since “Aomidori” is designated from among 40, the display color of the partial pattern in the partial pattern display area 4c in FIG. 9 is changed to bluish green, and the thread color name in the thread color name display area 4d is “Emerald” "Green" is changed to "Aomidori".

Next, the display data for the multi-value selection screen is rewritten using the display data of the partial pattern whose display color has been changed (step S35). Specifically, the display data of each partial pattern is overwritten in accordance with the display order from the left end in the partial pattern display area 4c of FIG.

Then, enlargement processing is performed on the rewritten display data for the multi-value selection screen, and data for enlarged display in the enlarged display area 4b is recreated and displayed again (step S37). As a result, just by specifying the color of one partial pattern, not only the display color and the thread color name display of the partial pattern are changed, but also the entire embroidery pattern in the enlarged display area 4b which is the same as the sewn state. Since the changed color is reflected in the image, the operator can change the sewing state when the thread color is changed on the same screen as the screen for specifying the color without actually performing the sewing processing. You can check. Therefore, the operator can quickly determine a desired color scheme in the embroidery pattern.

On the other hand, in step S32, the selection of the partial pattern for which the color is to be specified is not performed (step S3).
2; NO), when the upper scroll key 40c or the lower scroll key 40d is clicked or the scroll button 40e is dragged (step S3)
8; YES), as described above, the display color and the color name display in the designated color list 40 are scrolled according to the click amount or the drag amount (step S3).
9). Therefore, even when the display area for the designated color list 40 is small, a very large number of colors can be displayed,
It is possible to specify the color. In addition, every time a color is specified, the entire image of the embroidery pattern in the enlarged display area 4b is displayed on the same screen, which is the same as the state of the finished sewing.
The state of the finished sewing can be checked. Therefore, even when the number of types of colors that can be specified is large, the operator can quickly confirm the color arrangement in the embroidery pattern.

In step S38, if the scroll operation is not performed (step S38; NO) and the color designation end key 41 as the end instruction means is pressed (step S40; YES), the designated color list 40 The display is deleted and the display is returned to the display state shown in FIG. 7 (step S4).
1). Therefore, until the color designation end key 41 is pressed, the color designation process can be performed any number of times, and the state of the finished sewing can be checked, so that the work efficiency can be improved.

Here, when the return key 37 from the display state shown in FIG. 7 is pressed, the selection screen display shown in FIG. 6 is performed. As described above, the display data for the multi-value selection screen is also displayed. Since it has been rewritten using new color information,
The embroidery pattern for which the color is specified is displayed including the new color. Therefore, when the embroidery pattern is selected again, the sewing process can be started immediately with a desired color arrangement without performing the above-described color designation process again.

When the display content immediately after reading the data from the external ROM card 12 is changed by the color designation processing, a mark or the like indicating the change may be displayed as a notification display. Alternatively, if the display content immediately after reading the data from the external ROM card 12 has not been changed, a mark indicating that fact is displayed as a notification display, and the mark is erased when the content is changed. Is also good. Then, on the screen, a key for returning to the display state immediately after the data reading is displayed as a display initialization input means, and when the touch panel 3 at the position of the return key is pressed, the display is forcibly displayed immediately after the reading. Return to the state. With this configuration, even when the color designation processing is performed a plurality of times, it is possible to quickly return to the display state at the time of factory shipment, and to provide an appropriate work environment even when a plurality of workers use the display. it can.

In the present embodiment, since the data rewritten by the color designation processing is only stored in the RAM 22, it is assumed that the external ROM card 12 is replaced with another card and the previous card is used again. However, the result of the previous color designation process cannot be reproduced. Therefore, an external RAM card is used in place of the external ROM card, and a recording area of a color designation processing result is provided separately from the thread color code recording area 140 and the display data recording area 150, and a thread color code corresponding to the designated color is provided. The display data for the multi-value selection screen and the multi-value display data for the partial pattern may be recorded. A storage area for the history information is provided in the same manner as in the case of performing the notification display, and when the previous card is used again, it is determined from the content of the storage area for the history information that the display content has been changed. , Data is read from the recording area of the result of the color designation processing and displayed. As a result, the result of the previous color designation process can always be reproduced.

In the present embodiment, the color designation process is started by pressing the touch panel 3 at the position of any of the partial patterns in the partial pattern display area 4c of FIG. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a color designation key may be provided, and the color designation process may be started by pressing the color designation key.

In the present embodiment, the font data as the display data of the thread color name is the R data of the embroidery sewing machine 1.
Although an example of recording in the OM 21 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this.
Font data may be recorded. Instead of the font data, it may be recorded in the ROM 21 or the external ROM card 12 as bitmap data for displaying the thread color name. Further, the display of the thread color name may be performed in color or in monochrome.

In the present embodiment, the number of colors that can be displayed in the designated color list is 256, but the present invention is not limited to this.
The color may be used.

In the above description, the external ROM card 12 records the thread color code and the multi-valued display data. The thread color code and the binary display data are recorded, and the thread color code and the binary value are recorded. Multi-value display data may be created from the display data.

In the above description, an embroidery sewing machine is used as an example of an embroidery device. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an apparatus that processes only embroidery data without a sewing mechanism, such as a hand-drawn embroidery machine, The present invention is also applicable to an apparatus that reads a pattern with a scanner and creates embroidery data.
In this apparatus, the operator himself decides how to divide the partial patterns, creates embroidery data by assigning thread color names to each partial pattern, and stores the embroidery data in an external RAM card. Therefore, in this case, when the operator himself assigns a thread color name to each partial pattern, the above-described designated color list may be displayed.

An embroidery apparatus using such a scanner is as follows.
It may be configured as a device manufactured and sold as a single unit,
Further, a personal computer, a scanner device, and a drive device such as an external RAM card may be combined.

In the above description, an external ROM card is used as a data recording medium for an embroidery device. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an external RAM card is used.
Card, floppy disk, CD-ROM, CD-R
A recording medium such as AM can be used. When a personal computer or a scanner device is connected on a network, a recording means such as a hard disk of a host computer functions as the recording medium.

The sewing machine of this embodiment employs a method of moving the embroidery frame forward, backward, left and right with respect to the sewing needle.
The present invention is not applied only to such a sewing machine, and sew embroidery by moving a sewing needle forward, backward, left and right with respect to an embroidery frame, or by moving a cloth forward, backward, left and right with a feed dog. Also applicable to sewing machines.

Further, the sewing machine according to the present embodiment has a built-in ROM.
Alternatively, display data and sewing data are recorded as separate data on an external ROM card. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is also applicable to a sewing machine that creates display data from sewing data and performs display. can do. Further, the present invention can also be applied to a sewing machine that creates sewing data from display data and performs sewing. Further, the present invention is also applicable to a sewing machine that creates both display data and sewing data from common data.

[0119]

According to the embroidery apparatus of the first aspect, when designating a display color for a designated partial pattern, the partial pattern is determined based on color specification data recorded in advance. The color that can be specified as the display color and the color name of the color are displayed, and when the display color is specified according to these displays, based on the color specification data corresponding to the display color,
The specified partial pattern is displayed in color in the display color and the color name of the display color is displayed, so that the operator can freely determine the color arrangement of the embroidery pattern.

According to the embroidery apparatus of the second aspect, when the display color designation processing is selected, the partial pattern is displayed on the same screen as the color display of the partial pattern and the display of the thread color name. A list of colors that can be specified as the display colors and the color names of the colors is displayed in a list, and any of the colors displayed in the list is specified, so that no special key is required and unnecessary key space can be omitted.

According to the embroidery apparatus of the third aspect, the entire pattern of the embroidery pattern is displayed in color on the same screen as the partial pattern and the thread color name, and the partial pattern is displayed in color by the designated display color. In this case, since the entire pattern is redisplayed by synthesizing all the partial patterns including the partial pattern displayed in color with the display color, the operator can change the color without actually performing the sewing process. The state of the embroidery pattern after sewing can be checked.

According to the embroidery apparatus of the fourth aspect, the whole patterns of the plurality of embroidery patterns are displayed in a list on the same screen, and all the partial patterns including the partial pattern displayed in color by the display color are synthesized. When the whole pattern is displayed again, the entire pattern displayed in the list is also displayed by synthesizing and redisplaying all the partial patterns including the partial pattern displayed in color with the display color. Can easily confirm the embroidery pattern for which the display color was previously specified in the list display.

According to the embroidery apparatus of the fifth aspect, when the display color and the color name are changed from the initial state, the information indicating the data which is the source of the changed display or the changed display data itself is changed. Since the recorded information is recorded and the display after the change is used as the next initial state display, the operator can quickly perform the sewing process without designating a duplicated display color.

According to the embroidery apparatus of the sixth aspect, when the display color and the color name are changed from the initial state, a notification display for notifying that the change has been made is performed. Even if a worker who has performed the work and a worker different from the worker who specified the display color operates the embroidery device, it is easy to recognize that the display color has been changed from the initial state. It is possible to perform work according to each worker's request.

According to the embroidery apparatus of the seventh aspect, when an input for switching the display color and the color name to the initial state is performed, the partial pattern data and the thread color data are read from the recording means, and the partial pattern data and the thread color data are read. Since the display is performed based on the pattern data and the thread color data, even if the display color is specified a plurality of times, the display can be immediately returned to the initial state display, and the work efficiency can be improved. .

According to the embroidery apparatus of the eighth aspect, the display of the color that can be designated as the display color and the color name of the color is based on the total number of colors and color names that can be displayed based on the color designation data. When a change in the display content of the color and the color name is instructed, the color and the color name that were not displayed before the instruction are displayed. The display area is small, and it is possible to display the partial pattern and the like on the same screen. Further, even in a small display area, all colors and color names can be displayed based on the color designation data recorded in the recording means, and the operator can select a desired color from a very large number of colors. Can be specified.

According to the embroidery apparatus of the ninth aspect, when an instruction to end the display color designation processing is issued, a color that can be designated as a display color of the partial pattern and a color name of the color , The display color can be specified as many times as necessary until the end instruction is given.
Work efficiency can be improved.

According to the embroidery apparatus of the tenth aspect, each of the means for designating, selecting, inputting, or giving an instruction is made of a light-transmissive member attached on the display screen of the color display means. Since the operating portion of the switch means is provided so as to substantially match the display position of the character or pattern on the screen of the color display means, various switch means can be provided without increasing the number of switch means as hardware. Various types of input means can be provided. As a result, without increasing the size and cost of the device,
An extremely wide variety of inputs can be made.

According to the embroidery apparatus of the eleventh aspect, a recording means detachable to the embroidery apparatus or a peripheral device connected to the embroidery apparatus, or a data recording medium for the embroidery apparatus which can be connected to the embroidery apparatus via a network. Since the data is recorded using the embroidery information, it is possible to easily access the new embroidery information by preparing a data recording medium for the embroidery apparatus on which the new embroidery information is recorded.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an embroidery device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system in the embroidery device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of various processes such as a display process and a sewing process in the embroidery device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a selected pattern display process in the embroidery device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a color designation process in the embroidery device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a selection screen display in the embroidery device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a selected pattern display in the embroidery device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a selected pattern display at the time of starting color designation processing in the embroidery device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a selected pattern display at the time of executing a color designation process in the embroidery device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a structure of a memory map of a data recording medium for an embroidery device used in the embroidery device of FIG. 1;

11 is a diagram showing a part of a memory map of a ROM built in the embroidery device of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 embroidery sewing machine 3 touch panel 4 LCD panel 4 a embroidery pattern display area 4 b enlarged display area 4 c partial pattern display area 4 d thread color name display area 6 embroidery unit 12 external ROM card 20 CPU 21 ROM 22 RAM 30 embroidery pattern 35 partial pattern 36 thread color Name 40 Specified color list 41 Color specification end key

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A color display means capable of displaying embroidery information in color, as the embroidery information, partial pattern data used for displaying partial patterns of different thread colors constituting the embroidery pattern, and a thread corresponding to each partial pattern Recording means for recording thread color data used for displaying a color name, display of a color that can be specified as a display color of the partial pattern, and color designation data used for displaying the color name of the color; The partial pattern is displayed in color using the color information of the partial pattern data itself or the color information calculated based on the thread color data corresponding to the partial pattern data, and based on the thread color data. Control means for displaying a thread color name corresponding to each partial pattern; partial pattern designating means for designating one of the partial patterns color-displayed on the color display means; For a partial pattern designated by the pattern designating means, there are provided color designation processing selecting means for selecting designation processing of a display color, and display color designation means for designating the display color. When the selection means selects the display color specification processing for the specified partial pattern, a color that can be specified as the display color of the partial pattern and a color of the color based on the color specification data When a display color is designated by the display color designation means, based on the color designation data corresponding to the display color, the designated partial pattern is color-displayed in the display color. An embroidery device for displaying a color name of the display color. 2. The control means according to claim 1, wherein said display color designation processing is selected by said color designation processing selection means.
On the same screen of the color display means for performing color display of the partial pattern and display of the thread color name, a list of colors that can be designated as display colors of the partial pattern and the color names of the colors are displayed, and 2. The embroidery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the designation unit is a unit that designates one of the colors displayed in a list. 3. An overall pattern data for displaying an overall pattern, which is an entire embroidery pattern, is recorded in the recording unit, and the control unit is configured to execute an operation based on color information of the overall pattern data itself. By synthesizing the partial pattern to be displayed in color, the whole pattern is displayed in color on the same screen of the color display means together with the partial pattern and the thread color name, and the display pattern specified by the display color specifying means is used. The method according to claim 2, wherein when displaying the partial patterns in color, the entire pattern is displayed again by synthesizing all the partial patterns including the partial patterns displayed in color with the display color. Embroidery equipment. 4. An embroidery pattern selecting means for selecting an embroidery pattern, wherein the control means displays a list of all the embroidery patterns on the same screen of the color display means. When an embroidery pattern is selected by the user, the entire pattern, the partial pattern, and the thread color name of the embroidery pattern according to the selection are displayed in color, and all the patterns including the partial pattern displayed in color by the display color are displayed. In the case where the partial patterns are combined and the whole pattern is displayed again, all the partial patterns including the partial pattern displayed in color by the display color are also combined and displayed again for the whole pattern displayed in the list. The embroidery device according to claim 3, wherein the embroidery device is operated. 5. When the display color and the color name are changed from an initial state by the display color designating means,
The information indicating the data that is the basis of the display after the change or the display data itself after the change is recorded in the recording unit, and the display after the change is used as the next initial state display. Item 5. The embroidery device according to Item 4. 6. When the display color and color name are changed from an initial state by the display color designating means,
The embroidery device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a notification display for notifying that the change has been performed is performed. 7. A display initialization input means for switching a display color and a color name to an initial state, wherein the control means, when an input is made by the display initialization input means, a part from the recording means. The embroidery apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pattern data and the thread color data are read, and the display is performed based on the partial pattern data and the thread color data. 8. A display change instructing means for instructing a change of display contents of a color that can be specified as a display color of the partial pattern and a color name of the color when the display color specification processing is selected, The control unit displays the colors that can be designated as the display colors and the display of the color names of the colors in a number smaller than the total number of colors and color names that can be displayed based on the color designation data recorded in the recording unit. And when the change of the display content is instructed by the display change instructing means, the color and the color name not displayed before the instruction are displayed. The embroidery device according to any one of claims 7 to 13. 9. An end instruction means for terminating the display color designation processing, wherein the control means designates, as a display color of the partial pattern, an end instruction by the end instruction means. 9. The embroidery apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display of the possible colors and the color names of the colors is terminated. 10. The means for designating, selecting, inputting, or giving an instruction is a switch made of a light transmissive member which is mounted on the display screen of the color display means. The embroidery device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the operating unit is provided so as to substantially coincide with a display position of a character or a pattern on a screen of the color display unit. . 11. The embroidery device data recording medium detachably attached to the embroidery device or a peripheral device connected to the embroidery device, or connected to the embroidery device via a network. The embroidery device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein