JP2002355458A - Embroidery data preparation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily prepare embroidery data for embroidering a pattern with many colors on the basis of image data obtained from the pattern of a single color. SOLUTION: In preparing the embroidery data, the image data of the pattern of a flower including one or more closed areas are scanner-inputted from the original image of a single color and the pattern is displayed on a screen on the basis of the inputted image data. The image data of the contour of the closed area included in the displayed pattern and the inside of the specified closed area are individually registered as parts for sewing data preparation, and the sewing conditions of thread colors are initialized in the registered image data of the respective parts such as green and red. The image data are converted to the sewing data matching the respectively set sewing conditions to prepare the embroidery data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an embroidery data creation apparatus, and more particularly to an embroidery data creation apparatus suitable for creating embroidery data used for embroidery sewing by an embroidery sewing machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an embroidery sewing machine for embroidering a pattern, embroidery sewing is automatically performed by reading a previously created embroidery data into a sewing controller.

In order to create embroidery data for use in automatic sewing of such embroidery patterns, an original image on which the pattern is drawn is conventionally used as an image scanner (hereinafter, simply referred to as a scanner).
CPU, ROM and RA using an image input device such as
An embroidery data creating apparatus is used which automatically converts the image data into embroidery data (sewing data) which is needle drop data for sewing an embroidery pattern by taking the image data into an apparatus main body made of M or the like. .

In such an embroidery data creating apparatus, when creating embroidery data for sewing a pattern including partial patterns (parts) of a plurality of colors, it is necessary to set sewing conditions such as thread colors.

Conventionally, embroidery data is created by setting colors for a multi-color pattern as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 7-88264.
Is known. In this apparatus, a multi-color original image is prepared in advance, an image is input using a full-color scanner, and the image data is divided into preset hues, so that colors are associated with the corresponding hues. You have set.

[0006]

However, in the apparatus disclosed in the above publication, a target multicolor original image must be created and prepared in advance, and a full-color original image must be prepared in order to capture image data. There was a problem that a scanner had to be used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and based on image data obtained by inputting an original image on which a monochromatic pattern is drawn, a closed area included in the pattern is included. An object of the present invention is to provide an embroidery data creating device that can easily create embroidery data in which sewing conditions such as different thread colors are set every time.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided an embroidery data creating apparatus for creating sewing data for embroidering a pattern from image data representing the pattern. Image input means for inputting image data to be displayed, display means for displaying the pattern on the screen based on the input image data, and image data of a contour of a closed region included in the pattern displayed on the screen. A main storage area to be registered as a part for creating sewing data, designating means for designating a closed area included in the pattern displayed on the screen, and image data inside one or more designated closed areas are newly added. One or more sub-storage areas individually registered as individual parts, initial setting means for initially setting sewing conditions in advance for each part registered in the main storage area and the sub-storage area, The image data of the part, each in accordance with the sewing condition that has been initially set converting means for converting the sewing data, by providing a is obtained by solving the above problems.

That is, in the present invention, by specifying an arbitrary closed region included in the image data of the original image input on the same image, the outline of the closed region and the internal image of each closed region are designated. Since the data is stored in independent memory areas, it is possible to extract image data for each part by one image input operation. By setting and assigning, it is possible to create a plurality of pieces of sewing data having different thread colors from these image data. Therefore, embroidery data for embroidery sewing can be easily created in a short time even for a pattern having a large number of colors.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embroidery data creating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention with a cover opened.

In the embroidery data generating apparatus of the present embodiment, a main body 12 and a flat bed type scanner (image input means) 14 are stored in a storage case 10 and a rear frame 10A of the case 10 is provided. A lid 16 is attached to the upper end so as to be openable and closable.

In the present embodiment, the apparatus main body 12
Is formed integrally with the storage case 10, and has a liquid crystal display (display means) for displaying image data and the like on the upper surface thereof.
18 and a plurality of keys 20 to be pressed to perform various operations displayed on the display unit 18.

The flatbed type scanner 14 has a cover 14A (partly) which has an upper surface in the figure formed of a transparent glass plate on which an original image is placed and which can be opened and closed as necessary. (Shown only), the button switch 14B or the corresponding key 20 is pressed, so that the pattern of the original image can be taken into the apparatus main body 12 as image data.

Further, in this apparatus, a scanner cord 22 for electrically connecting the apparatus main body 12 and the scanner 14 is pulled out from the inside of the case 10 to the outside rear side, and the connection portion at the tip thereof is located behind the scanner 14. It is connected to the connector 14C provided on the side surface. A notch groove 30 is formed at the upper end of the horizontal frame, and the cover 1 is completely removed in a state where the scanner code 22 is released into the notch groove 30.
6 can be closed.

In this embroidery data creating apparatus, a power cord 24 is connected to the side of the storage case 10, and a power switch 26 and a volume for adjusting the brightness of the liquid crystal operation unit 18 are provided on the side. 28 are provided.
Inside the storage case 10, a storage space 10B for storing the scanner code 22 when not in use, and a power cord storage space 10C for storing the power cord 24 when not in use.
Are formed. Further, a mounting pocket (not shown) for mounting a recording medium such as a memory card is provided inside a cover 12A provided on a front portion of the storage case 10, and embroidery data created by the apparatus main body 12 is provided. The data can be stored in the recording medium, and the data can be read by the control unit by mounting the medium in a pocket of a sewing machine (not shown).

In the embroidery data creating apparatus of the present embodiment, as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2, the apparatus main body 12 includes a CPU 32 for executing various calculations such as image processing, and the like.
A ROM 34 in which programs for executing various calculations are stored in a RAM 32;
6 is provided. In the RAM 36, in addition to a work area for data processing, an area for storing data generated in the process of creating embroidery stitching data, the part image data as original image data read from the scanner is referred to as “main”. And a first to eighth parts memory P1 in which a main / sub code, in which the part image data extracted from the original image data is “sub”, and a Z / Z width code, a sewing method code, and a color code are arranged, respectively.
To P8 (the data displayed on the screen 21 in FIG. 25 are shown), a combined parts display memory Ds, a data creation confirmation screen display memory Dc, a display data memory Mp for an embroidery sewing machine, and an embroidery sewing data memory Ms. ing. In order to create a plurality of embroidery sewing data, a plurality of sets of these areas may be prepared.

The scanner 32 and the liquid crystal display 18 are connected to the CPU 32, respectively.
The image data is input to the CPU 32 from above, and the input image data is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display unit 18 directly or after a predetermined process is performed. An external memory 38 such as the memory card can be connected to the CPU 32.

The embroidery data creating apparatus of this embodiment creates sewing data for embroidering a pattern from image data representing the pattern. For this purpose, the scanner 14 inputs image data of a pattern including one or more closed regions from an original image (not shown) and displays the pattern on the screen of the liquid crystal display unit 18 based on the input image data. It is supposed to. Also, a main storage area for registering image data of a contour of a closed area included in the pattern displayed on the screen as a part for creating sewing data, and a closed area included in the pattern displayed on the screen are designated. Designation means, one or more sub-storage areas for individually registering image data inside one or more specified closed areas as new parts, and each of the sub-storage areas registered in the main storage area and the sub-storage area. An initial setting unit for initially setting sewing conditions for each part in advance, and a converting unit for converting image data of each part into sewing data according to the initially set sewing conditions are provided. However, in this case, the sewing conditions include the thread color, radial stitching / horizontal stitching, and the maximum width of zigzag. Specifically, the main and sub storage areas are configured by the RAM 36,
The designating means, the initial setting means, and the converting means include the CP
U32 is realized by software or the like.

Further, the embroidery data creating apparatus of the present embodiment
There is also provided a setting changing means for changing the sewing conditions already set. Further, an additional registration unit is provided for additionally registering a newly specified closed area as the same kind of part in the sub-storage area where another closed area is registered. Means for arranging and displaying the parts registered in the sub-storage area on the screen of the liquid crystal display unit 18 and thereafter arranging and displaying the parts stored in the main storage area It has. Further, by this means, each part registered ("stored", the same applies hereinafter) in the sub-storage area is displayed in the order of registration.

Further, there is provided a means for setting the sewing order of the sewing data created from the image data of each part in the same manner as each part displayed on the screen. In addition, there is provided a means for displaying a part registered in the sub-storage area in a halftone manner so as to overlap a part registered in the main storage area displayed on the screen. Each of the above means is also realized by software in the CPU 32.

Next, the creation of embroidery data according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3 using a specific example.

First, an operator draws an original image in which two flowers having petals and a flower core and a flower pattern with contour lines each representing one leaf as a closed area are drawn as shown in FIG.
And presses the switch button 14B or the key 20 of the apparatus main body 12 to read an image as image data of the original image, and stores the image in the first part memory P1 of the RAM 36 in the main part memory P1. A code of "main" is attached as an area, and a preset Z / Z width of 4 mm, a radial sewing as a sewing method, and a green code as a color are automatically stored as default values. Is stored in the table (step 1). Then, an image of the pattern is displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display section 18 (step 2).

Screen 1 shown in FIG. 4 shows an example of the image image of the pattern first inputted here. Before the image input in step 1 described above, the part count indicating the number of the sub-patterns (parts) constituting the pattern is the initial value 0, an image is input, and the image image is displayed on the screen. At this stage, the part count is incremented by one, and as shown below the switch area indicating the operation function on the right side of FIG. 4, "color part 1" indicating the first part is highlighted. You. If the image input shown in FIG. 4 fails, the user can press the “Yominamioshi” key to start over from the beginning.

When the image input in step 1 is correctly performed, when the operator presses the "end" key (step 3), the image data is stored in the main storage area, and the liquid crystal display 18 displays the image data as shown in FIG. The screen is switched to the parts confirmation screen of screen 2 shown (step 4).

The confirmation screen shown in FIG. 5 has a part display area divided into eight parts. In each area, data representing a contour input by a scanner and parts extracted from the contour data are displayed in units of a unit. The outline data of the flower pattern read in step 1 is displayed. Therefore, the operator can confirm that the input original image has been registered as a part for creating embroidery data by looking at the confirmation screen, and based on the original image, will be described in detail below. By specifying an area to be created, new parts can be sequentially created and registered from a desired closed area.

After confirming that the original image has been correctly input on the screens 1 and 2 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, after the image data of the flower core is created as a part, the " When the "designate" key is pressed (step 5), the process proceeds to a subroutine for part creation (step 6).

In this subroutine, first, the value of a flag F for discriminating between the same color part described later and the next (different color) part is set to 0 (step 7), and the closed area designation on the screen 3 shown in FIG. A screen is displayed (step 8). On this screen, a contour image of a closed area constituting the same pattern as that of the screen 1 registered as the color part 1 is enlarged and displayed, and a pointer formed of a white arrow appears. 4 consisting of up, down, left and right arrow keys on the screen
The pointer is moved to a desired closed area using the direction keys (steps 9 and 10), and the designated area is pressed by pressing the "designate" key in a state where the pointer is matched with the area.
It can be extracted by a so-called boundary tracking algorithm (steps 11 and 12). Here, it is assumed that the left flower core has been extracted. If the "return" key is pressed without performing the designation in step 11, the screen returns to the parts confirmation screen screen 2 (step 13).

When a desired closed region is extracted as described above,
The process of editing the display data for the selection screen for reading out the outline data of the flower pattern stored in the synthetic part display memory Ds and rendering the inside of the closed area extracted and filled with halftone on the screen is performed. Is stored in the composite part display memory Ds of the RAM 36 (step 1).
4). Then, after creating the part image data for displaying the extracted closed area as a registered part in full tone and attaching embroidery codes relating to sewing conditions such as sewing type and color (step 15), the closed area is closed. A flag is determined for the area (step 16).

After the flag is determined, the image data in the corresponding closed area is stored in the sub storage area. However, when it is determined in step 16 that F = 0, it means that it is desired to independently register as a part different from the previously designated (registered) part. When it is determined that F = 1, it means that it is desired to register as a part of the same color as that of the previous time. Therefore, the image data created in step 15 is the same as the part memory in which the previous part image data is stored. The sub-storage area is combined with the previous part image data and stored (steps 17 and 18).

At the present stage, that is, at the stage where the center of the left flower is designated on the designation screen of the screen 3 shown in FIG. 6, since F = 0, the image of the flower core (closed area) is obtained in step 17 described above. The data is stored in the RAM 36 together with the position data of the contour.
Is stored in the second part memory P2 with a "sub" indicating a sub storage area and a code such as a Z / Z width code 4, a sewing method code, a color code, etc., and a display process for increasing the part count by 1 is performed. After that, the display data edited in step 14 shown in FIG. 7 is read out from the composite part display memory Ds, and the area designation mode selection screen of the screen 4 is displayed (steps 19 and 20). In this screen 4, halftone display is performed so that the left center is already specified and registered, and color part 2 is displayed at the lower right so that it is the second part. It is highlighted. When the "return" button is pressed on this screen, the part count is decremented by one and the process returns to step 8 (steps 21 and 22).

On the screen 4, if the user wants to make the right side of the flower core a part of a different color, he presses the "designate" button again. Then, the process returns to step 8 with F = 0 being set, and the next-step area designation screen (screen 5) shown in FIG. 8 is displayed (steps 23 and 24). Even on this screen 5,
As in the case of the screen 3 described above, when the operations of steps 9 to 12 are performed to designate the right-side flower core, the steps 14 to 19 are performed.
Are executed, and the part image data of the right-hand flower core is stored in the third part memory P3 in the code of “sub” and Z /
A display in which a Z width code 4, a sewing code "release", and a color code are added and stored, and the right-hand core of the image data stored in the synthetic part display memory Ds is also displayed in halftone. The display data stored in the composite part display memory Ds is updated with the data, the updated data is read out, and the area designation mode selection screen of the screen 6 shown in FIG.

In this screen 6, the right-side flower core is also displayed in halftone, and is designated as a part different from the previous left-hand flower core.
The addition is performed, and the color part 3 is highlighted at the lower right.

Thereafter, in the same manner, in step 23, by pressing the "designate" key on the screen 6, the flow returns to step 8 to display the area designation screen of the screen 7 shown in FIG. By designating (closed area) as another part of F = 0, the part image data of the left petal is extracted in the fourth part memory P4, and the sub code, Z
/ Z width 4, stitch release, and yellow code are stored. Further, the display data of the combined parts display memory Ds is updated by the halftone display data of the left petal. Then, in step 20, the display data of the combined parts display memory Ds is read out, and the three parts specified in the area shown in FIG. 11 are displayed in halftone and the area of the screen 8 in which the color parts 4 are displayed in reverse. The display changes to the designation mode selection screen.

In this screen 8, since it is desired to make sewing data to be continuously sewn without cutting the right petal designated by the following with the same color thread as that of the left petal designated last time, it is not necessary to specify the range in step 23 described above. Press the "ADD" key on the screen to select the addition (step 25). When this addition is selected, the flag is set to F = 1 (step 26), and the process returns to step 8 to change to the area designation screen of the screen 9 shown in FIG. On this screen, the pointer is moved to the right petal using the four-direction keys, and the "designation" key is pressed, so that steps 14 and 16 are processed in the same manner as in the case of other closed areas. In the flag judgment of F, F = 1, the part image data of the right petal (the image data inside the closed area) is stored in the fourth part memory P.
4 is combined with the previous left petals stored in the fourth part memory P4 and stored again in the fourth parts memory P4 (step 18), and the right petals are also displayed in the combined parts display memory Ds by the halftone display data. Is updated. Without performing the part counting in step 19, the display data in which the right petals are also displayed in halftone in step 20 is read from the combined parts display memory Ds, and the area designation mode selection screen of the screen 10 shown in FIG. 13 is displayed. On this screen, all designated closed areas are displayed in halftone, but the part number remains the same color part 4 as the left petal.

In this screen 10, since no area designation has been made yet for making leaves into parts, normally, step 2 is performed.
Although it is necessary to select the range designation of No. 3, it is assumed that the user has forgotten to do so and has performed an erroneous operation of pressing the "end" key to create embroidery data (step 27).

In this case, the process proceeds to step 4 and
Is displayed on the screen 11 shown in FIG. The parts confirmation screen displays the extracted parts in the order of extraction, in principle, and then displays the contour data of the extraction source, except when a sewing order change operation described later is performed. That is, the part image data and code data of all the closed areas designated and registered so far are read out sequentially from the second to fourth part memories provided with the sub-codes and displayed, and finally the main code is added. The displayed outline data of the flower pattern can be displayed to check all the data. When the "data creation" key is pressed on this screen 11 by erroneous operation as described above, the "data creation" key is selected (step 31), and the process proceeds to a sewing data creation subroutine (step 32). The display data stored in the synthesized part display memory Ds is read out, and all the specified closed areas displayed in halftone are changed to full tone display, stored in the data creation confirmation screen display memory Dc, and read out. FIG.
Is displayed as a data creation confirmation screen (step 33), prompting a final confirmation as to whether or not to execute embroidery data creation.

Since the screen 12 is full-tone display and has a high contrast, the leaves are clearly displayed in white, so that it is noticed that the leaves remain as unspecified areas, and the sewing data is not created. When the operator presses the "No" key (step 34), the display returns to the parts confirmation screen which is the same as the screen 11 in FIG. 14 described above. At 24, F = 0, and at step 8, the display data stored in the combined parts display memory Ds is read, and the designation screen of the screen 13 shown in FIG. 16 is displayed, so that the part creation can be continued.

On the screen 13, the pointer is made to coincide with the remaining leaf by operating the four-direction keys, and the "specify" key is pressed.
Therefore, the extracted part image data of the leaf is stored as the next part memory in the fifth part memory P5, and the “sub” code, the Z / Z width 4, and the sewing method are radially sewn,
A black code is attached, and the leaves are also displayed in the half-tone-displayed synthetic part display memory Ds.
Is updated. In step 20, the display data of the combined parts display memory Ds is read out, and the screen 1 shown in FIG.
4 is displayed, the leaves are displayed in halftone, and registered as color parts 5. By pressing the "end" key again on this screen, the part image data is sequentially read out from the second to fifth part memories to which the sub code has been added, and the first part memory P1 to which the main storage area code has been added. Read out the contour data and
The parts confirmation screen of the screen 15 shown in FIG. When the "data creation" key is selected, the sewing data creation subroutine is activated, and the data creation confirmation screen of the screen 16 shown in FIG.
This is displayed by updating the data creation confirmation screen display memory. From this screen 16, all closed areas are specified,
Since it can be confirmed that the part is registered as a part, the operator presses the "Yes" key (step 35), and the sewing data is created by a known method as follows (step 36). Step 3
If the data is not created in step 1, the process returns to step 2 in step 37 or moves to step 4.

When the "yes" key is selected on the screen 16, the parts which are displayed in full tone on the parts confirmation screen of the screen 15 are created, and the first to fifth parts memories P1 to P5 corresponding to the corresponding memory areas are created. From the image data (image data) stored in the RAM 36, a thread cut temporary stop command is added between the parts, and the sewing data in the RAM 36 is displayed on the parts confirmation screen so that the parts can be sewn in the order of. It is stored in the embroidery sewing data memory Ms. Further, completed pattern color display data displayed in the color of each part and five color part display data accompanied by color name display attached to each part are created.
The data is stored in the display data memory Mp for the embroidery sewing machine in the RAM 36. The created data and the like are stored in an external memory such as a memory card, or transferred to a sewing machine via a transmission line to be used for embroidery sewing.

In the present embodiment, each created part is
As shown in the parts confirmation screen of FIG. 18 and the like, the parts are displayed for each part in the parts display area divided into eight parts. At the time of display, in principle, an image is input, and the created part is inserted immediately before the original image (contour image) stored in the main storage area, and the part created by specifying the area, that is, the color part 2 Thereafter, the parts are arranged in the order of creation, and the color parts 1 representing the outline of the original image are arranged last.

This arrangement order is the same as the sewing order when embroidery is actually sewn using sewing data created from image data of each part. Therefore, when embroidery sewing is performed using actually created sewing data, a portion corresponding to the contour portion is always sewn at the end, so that embroidery with a beautiful finish can be obtained.

The sewing conditions such as the thread color for sewing each part, the sewing method such as radial stitching and horizontal stitching, and the maximum width dimension of zigzag stitching are preset by default. Here, as shown in the figure, the colors are set to 16 default colors as shown by green, red, blue, yellow, etc.
Default colors are automatically assigned in the order of part creation, such as green for the part image data P1 and red for the second part image data P2. In addition, radial stitching is used, and the zigzag width is set to 4 mm.

The display data of each part created together with the sewing data includes display color image data having the same color as the thread color set for each displayed area, and the entire embroidery and each part. Are created, and when they are read into the sewing machine, they can be respectively displayed on the color liquid crystal installed in the sewing machine.

In the present embodiment, the sewing data of each part included in the embroidery data to be created is set with the thread color, the radial sewing or the horizontal sewing, and the maximum width of the zigzag sewing. Is set. That is, in the case of the confirmation screen shown in FIG. 18, for each part display area corresponding to each memory area, the thread is displayed in the order of 1 to 5 as indicated by red, blue, yellow, black, and green. The default color is initially set in advance, the stitching method is radial stitching, the maximum zigzag width is 4 mm, and all the display areas are uniformly initialized.

Further, in the present embodiment, the sewing conditions already set by the initial setting or the like can be changed to desired conditions. Specifically, when the "color component change" key is selected on the parts confirmation screen such as the screen 2 or the like, the process proceeds to the subroutine of the flowchart of FIG. . Here, for the sake of convenience, the screen 17 shown in FIG. 21 is different from the above-described flower original picture, in which two types of parts are fetched from different original pictures by the scanner 14 using the combination function described later. And

On this screen 17, there are eight parts display areas, and for each of areas 1 to 8, when the parts from the top to the eighth swirl arranged on the right side are set as default colors, automatic creation is performed when parts are created. Is set. The colors after the ninth white represent colors that can be used for setting change.

Therefore, while pressing the right arrow "select" key once on this screen 17, the part to be changed is selected (steps 42 and 43), and the up and down arrow color conversion keys are used. As the default colors of the 16 colors displayed on the left side of the key layout, a desired color name is selected from among green, red, blue...
45) When the "setting end" key is pressed (step 4)
6), the color code information of the part image data of the selected part is changed, and the process returns to step 4 and presses the "create data" key (step 47).
Of the parts stored in the embroidery sewing machine display memory Mp by the sewing data creation, the changed color name display is performed on the display data of the part whose color part has been changed, Color part display data based on the color is created.

When the "change sewing" key is pressed (step 48), the routine shifts to a subroutine, and the screen 18 shown in FIG. 22 is displayed (steps 49 and 50).

After selecting a target part on the screen 18 using the "select" key (steps 51 and 5)
2) Press the "radiation" key on the screen to select radial stitching (steps 53 and 54), or press the "horizontal" key to select horizontal stitching (steps 55 and 56). By the way,
In the example of this screen 18, since radial stitching is set by default, if it is changed, horizontal stitching will be selected. Also, if the "setting end" key is pressed, step 42 is executed.
(Step 57), and presses the "DATA CREATION" key to shift to the data creation subroutine of Step 32 (Step 58) where sewing data is created by the selected sewing method and stored in the embroidery sewing data memory Ms. Is done.

When the "Z / Z width change" key is pressed, the Z
The process proceeds to the / Z (zigzag) width change subroutine (steps 59 and 60), and a change screen of the screen 19 shown in FIG. 23 is displayed (step 61).

On this screen 19, after selecting the parts similarly (steps 62 and 63), the maximum width of the zigzag is set to 2 m.
m, 4 mm, and 6 mm can be used to change the settings, respectively (steps 64 to 69), and the "set end" key returns to step 51 (step 70).
When the "data creation" key is pressed, the process can proceed to the subroutine of step 32, sewing data is created in the selected sewing method, and stored in the embroidery sewing data memory Ms (step 71). The maximum width of the zigzag is a size for performing the zigzag sewing up to the width, and performing the folding sewing when exceeding the width.

In this embodiment, when the "combination" key is pressed on the parts confirmation screen displayed in step 4,
Returning to step 1, another image can be input using the scanner 14 (step 29). Here, a specific example will be described below in which a new original image is additionally input by pressing a “combination” key on the confirmation screen of the screen 15 shown in FIG.

Actually, a second original picture having the outline of "bee" drawn thereon is placed on the glass surface of the scanner 14, and the bee is drawn by the scanner 14 as in the case of the flower of the screen 1. The original image data. The fetched image data is stored in the sixth part memory P6, and in addition to the "main" code, a Z / Z code, a sewing method code, and a color code are automatically input according to default values as a main storage area. . At the same time, the display data is updated to the display data in which the bee pattern is combined with the flower pattern including the existing part data stored in the composite part display memory Ds, and the screen 20 shown in FIG.
An image corresponding to the screen 1 is displayed as shown in FIG. On this screen, the image input can be performed again by pressing the "Redo" key as described above, and when the input bee position is not appropriate, the "Zurenaoshi" key is pressed to store the bee in the sixth part memory P6. By correcting the bee outline data, the positional deviation can be adjusted.

If the state of the bee input in the image is appropriate,
By pressing the "end" key, the updated image data obtained by combining the flower pattern and the bee pattern is stored in the combined parts display memory Ds. After that, the parts confirmation screen of the screen 21 shown in FIG. 25 is displayed, and the “main” code is added as the main storage area so that the outline of the first original image displayed in the last area is behind the outline of the flower. The bee of the second original picture with the “main” code is displayed in the part display area. afterwards,
In this bee picture, parts can be created by designating an area in the same way as in the case of flowers, but here, the whole bee is made one part and the "data creation" key is pressed, so that in step 33 A data creation confirmation screen of a screen 22 shown in FIG. 26 corresponding to the screen 16 is displayed,
If it is OK, by pressing the "Yes" key, embroidery data and color display data having a structure in which a bee is flying around a flower can be created.

Further, in this embodiment, when the "edit" key is pressed on the parts confirmation screen displayed in step 4 (step 30), the processing shifts to the editing subroutine shown in FIG. (Step 80).

In this subroutine, if the "edit" key is pressed on the parts confirmation screen of the screen 15 shown in FIG. 18, the same parts are displayed.
8 is displayed (step 8).
1). On this editing screen, a desired part is selected by a "select" key (steps 82 and 83), and the movement of the selected part by a "move" key (steps 84 and 85) is also performed by "rotation / rotation". Rotation / reversal processing of the part selected by the "reverse" key (steps 86 and 8)
7) can be executed respectively. or,
When the "sewing order change" key is pressed, the routine shifts to a sewing order change subroutine (steps 88 and 89), and a sewing order change screen is displayed. Although this screen is not shown, it is substantially the same as the screen 24 before change shown in FIG.
The positions of the “parts to be changed” key represented by the hand mark and the “place to be inserted” key represented by the arrow mark, which are also displayed in FIG. 2
This corresponds to a screen having the same position (initial position) as 5.

An example of a change operation on the sewing order change screen will be described with reference to FIG. First, the "parts to be changed" key is operated to move the hand mark (steps 91 and 92).
Next, by operating the "place to be inserted" key and moving the arrow mark (steps 93 and 94), the third petal is selected as a changed part because of the presence of the hand mark, and the presence of the arrow mark The state is changed to the state of the screen 24 in FIG. 29 in which the insertion position is specified after the last contour part. When the "change" key is pressed on this screen 24, the sewing order is changed, and the screen 2 shown in FIG.
5 (steps 95 and 96). If the "return" key is pressed, the above operation is canceled (steps 97 and 98), and if the "end" key is pressed, the process returns to step 82 with the changed screen 25 (steps 99 and 10).
0), an editing screen (not shown) corresponding to FIG. 28 in which the sewing order has been changed is displayed, and the above-described editing operation can be further performed on the screen, and the above operation is canceled by a “return” key. (Steps 101, 10
2) The user can execute editing by pressing the “end” key and return to the parts confirmation screen in step 4 (step 103,
104). As a method of executing this sewing order change, R
The data stored in the part memories P1 to P8 of the AM 36 may be replaced in the set order, or the sewing order and the corresponding tables of the part memories P1 to P8 may be separately provided, and this table may be changed to check the parts. The display order of the screen display may be set.

In the embroidery data creating apparatus of this embodiment, the parts actually displayed in the last display area are
By selecting the area designation, a new closed area can be extracted and a new part can be created. Therefore, although it is not necessarily appropriate as an example, when the petal part is moved to the last display area using the editing function described above, and the petal is not designated as an area from this petal, , A work of creating a flower core (closed area) as a new part can be performed.

According to the above-described embodiment, as described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 19, based on image data obtained by inputting an image of an original image in which a monochrome pattern is drawn. Since the closed area included in the pattern is designated as an area to create a part and the sewing conditions are initially set for each part, embroidery in which sewing conditions such as different thread colors are set for each part is performed. Data can be easily created.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 21 to 23, the sewing conditions of the thread color, the sewing method, and the zigzag width which have been set can be arbitrarily changed for each part.

The embroidery data consisting of a plurality of parts is
It can be easily created by designating a closed area on a screen displaying an original image captured by one image input. Therefore, even when embroidery data having a large number of colors is created, the embroidery data can be easily created in a short time, so that the work efficiency can be greatly improved.

Further, when a plurality of illustrations (original images) input with images are used as in the prior art, there is a possibility that a gap between the illustrations may occur depending on a position where the illustrations are placed on the reading surface of the scanner 14. In the present embodiment, since the second and subsequent parts created from the outline on the screen can be created without using an illustration, it is possible to create embroidery data without any deviation.

Also, by creating parts (image data) by using the area designation method as in the present embodiment, a plurality of illustrations are not required as described above, so that a lot of time is required for illustration creation. Since it is not necessary to perform the reading operation and the number of readings is one, the work efficiency is improved.

In the present embodiment, the order of parts created from the previously read picture by designating the area is the same as the sewing order of the sewing data created from the previously read picture. Because the sewing is performed, the inside of the closed area is sewn depending on the sewing data created from the image data in which the area is specified, and a portion corresponding to the outline part outside the closed area is sewn last. You can do beautiful embroidery sewing.

Although the present invention has been specifically described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof.

For example, the specific configuration of the embroidery data creation device of the present invention is not limited to the one shown in the above embodiment, and the scanner may be of a so-called handy type instead of a flatbed type. Further, the image input means is not limited to the scanner, but may be a CD-RO.
A driver that reads image data from a recording medium such as M may be used.

[0067]

As described above, according to the present invention,
To easily create embroidery data in which sewing conditions such as different thread colors are set for each closed area included in the pattern, based on image data obtained by inputting an original image in which a single color pattern is drawn. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of an embroidery data creation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of an apparatus main body included in the embroidery data creating apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a main routine of data creation according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an example of a screen showing an image of a screen 1 representing an original image input as an image;

FIG. 5 is an example of a parts confirmation screen of screen 2;

FIG. 6 is a screen example showing an area designation screen of screen 3;

FIG. 7 is a screen example showing an area designation mode selection screen of a screen 4;

FIG. 8 is a screen example showing an area designation screen of screen 5;

FIG. 9 is a screen example showing an area designation mode selection screen of a screen 6;

FIG. 10 is a screen example showing an area designation screen of a screen 7;

FIG. 11 is a screen example showing an area designation mode selection screen of a screen 8;

FIG. 12 is a screen example showing an area designation screen of screen 9;

FIG. 13 is a screen example showing an area designation mode selection screen of the screen 10.

FIG. 14 is a screen example showing a parts confirmation screen of a screen 11;

FIG. 15 is a screen example showing a data creation confirmation screen of the screen 12;

FIG. 16 is a screen example showing an area designation screen of a screen 13;

FIG. 17 is a screen example showing an area designation mode selection screen of the screen 14;

18 is a screen example showing the parts confirmation screen of FIG.

FIG. 19 is a screen example showing a data creation confirmation screen of a screen 16.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a subroutine for changing a color component.

FIG. 21 is a screen example showing a color change screen of a screen 17;

FIG. 22 is a screen example showing a screen for changing a sewing method on the screen 18;

FIG. 23 is a screen example showing a zigzag maximum width change screen of a screen 19;

24 is a screen example showing an original image addition input screen of the screen 20. FIG.

FIG. 25 is a screen example showing a parts confirmation screen of a screen 21;

26 is a screen example showing a data creation confirmation screen of a screen 22. FIG.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing an editing subroutine.

FIG. 28 is a screen example showing a parts confirmation screen 23 before editing

FIG. 29 is a screen example showing an edit screen 24 before change

FIG. 30 is a screen example showing an edited screen 25 after a change.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Storage case 12 ... Device body 14 ... Scanner 16 ... Lid 18 ... Liquid crystal display unit 20 ... Key 22 ... Scanner code 32 ... CPU 34 ... ROM 36 ... RAM

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yuichi Sukekawa 1-2-2, Kokuryo-cho, Chofu-shi, Tokyo F-term in Juke Corporation (reference) 3B150 AA15 CB04 CE23 GE28 GE29 GF02 GF03 GG04 LA05 LA44 LA57 LA67 LA71 LA73 LA74 LB02 MA07 MA08 NA05 NA53 NA62 NB18 QA06 QA07 QA08 5B046 AA10 BA08 CA05 DA02 EA09 FA13 GA01 GA04 HA05

Claims (8)

[Claims] An embroidery data creating apparatus for creating sewing data for embroidering a pattern from the image data representing the pattern. An image inputting means for inputting image data representing an outline of the pattern including at least one closed area. Means, display means for displaying the pattern on the screen based on the input image data, and registration of image data of a contour of a closed area included in the pattern displayed on the screen as parts for creating sewing data Main storage area, a designating means for designating a closed area included in the pattern displayed on the screen, and image data inside one or more designated closed areas are individually registered as new parts. One or more sub-storage areas, initial setting means for initially setting sewing conditions for each part registered in the main storage area and the sub-storage area, and image data of each part Embroidery data creating apparatus, comprising: converting means for converting sewing data into sewing data in accordance with sewing conditions set initially. 2. The embroidery data creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sewing conditions include a thread color, a radial sewing method, a horizontal sewing method, and a maximum width of zigzag sewing. 3. An embroidery data creating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a setting changing means for changing a sewing condition which has been set. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an additional registration unit for additionally registering a newly set closed area as the same kind of part in said sub-storage area in which another closed area is registered. Embroidery data creation device. 5. The screen of the display means arranges and displays the parts registered in the sub-storage area, and thereafter arranges and displays the parts registered in the main storage area. 2. The embroidery data creating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means. 6. The embroidery data creating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each part registered in the sub-storage area is displayed in the order of registration. 7. A means for setting a sewing order of sewing data created from image data of each part in the same order as an arrangement order of each part displayed on a screen of the display means. An embroidery data creating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6. And means for displaying a part registered in the sub-storage area in halftone on a part registered in the main storage area displayed on a screen of the display means. The embroidery data creation device according to claim 1, wherein: