JP2011010719A - Sewing system and sewing system program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sewing system and a sewing system program, for efficiently sewing an embroidery pattern when sewing one embroidery pattern using a plurality of multi-needle sewing machines.SOLUTION: In the sewing system including the plurality of multi-needle sewing machines, thread reel color data and the IDs of the multi-needle sewing machines are acquired. Embroidery data are acquired (S80 or S90). Thread color data included in the embroidery data and the thread reel color data are compared (S100 or S180). On the basis of a comparison result, a following multi-needle sewing machine to be used is determined from the plurality of multi-needle sewing machines as a sewing machine, and a partial pattern is allocated to the sewing machine (S100 or S180). To the sewing machine, specifying data are transmitted (S270). When the sewing machine receives the specifying data (S110:Yes), the partial pattern specified by the specifying data is sewn onto work cloth (S140).

Description

  The present invention relates to a sewing system including a plurality of multi-needle sewing machines and a sewing system program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a multi-needle sewing machine having a plurality of needle bars with sewing needles and a needle bar case provided with the plurality of needle bars is known. The multi-needle sewing machine can mount the same number of threads supplied as upper threads to the respective sewing needles.

  In a multi-needle sewing machine, when sewing, the thread color data included in the embroidery data for sewing is compared with the thread piece color data of the thread supplied to the sewing needle. The multi-needle sewing machine selects a sewing needle supplied with a thread corresponding to the thread color data included in the embroidery data as a sewing needle for sewing. On the other hand, when the thread corresponding to the thread color data of the embroidery data is not attached to the multi-needle sewing machine, the multi-needle sewing machine interrupts sewing. The user replaces the thread supplied to the sewing needle with a thread corresponding to the thread color data of the embroidery data, and resumes sewing with the multi-needle sewing machine. In order to efficiently execute the sewing of the embroidery pattern, it is desirable to reduce the number of times of changing the thread spool as much as possible and to shorten the time during which the sewing by the multi-needle sewing machine is interrupted. Accordingly, various methods have been proposed for efficiently exchanging thread spools of a multi-needle sewing machine. For example, a sewing machine control device that determines the relationship between each needle bar and the thread in consideration of the sewing order, the thread use frequency, etc. so as to reduce the number of thread spool replacements at the time of sewing, and informs the user of their correspondence. Has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  A sewing system in which a plurality of multi-needle sewing machines are connected to each other is known (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In the embroidery sewing system described in Patent Document 2, on the premise that one pattern is sewn with a plurality of multi-needle sewing machines, a portion to be sewn on a multi-needle sewing machine so that the number of thread spool replacements is small and the sewing time is shortened. Assign a pattern.

JP 2004-33538 A JP 2009-22400 A

  However, in the case of a conventional multi-needle sewing machine, when one embroidery pattern is sewn using a plurality of multi-needle sewing machines, it is not possible to obtain an efficient order of using the multi-needle sewing machine considering the number of times of thread spool replacement. It was. Specifically, the sewing machine control device described in Patent Document 1 has not been assumed to sew an embroidery pattern using a plurality of multi-needle sewing machines. Further, the embroidery sewing system described in Patent Document 2 assigns partial patterns to the multi-needle sewing machine so that the number of thread replacements after the start of sewing is reduced. That is, the embroidery sewing system assigns a partial pattern to the multi-needle sewing machine without considering the number of times of changing the thread spools before starting the sewing. For this reason, in the embroidery sewing system, it was not possible to determine the multi-needle sewing machine used for sewing and the order of use so that the sewing can be performed without changing the thread spool as much as possible even before the start of sewing. It is also conceivable that the user determines the order of use of the multi-needle sewing machine. However, it is necessary for the user to determine the use sequence suitable for the embroidery data after grasping the thread color data corresponding to the sewing needle for all the multi-needle sewing machines provided in the sewing system. there were. Further, when the sewing order of the multi-needle sewing machine is not properly determined, there is a problem that the number of times of thread piece replacement increases, and accordingly, the sewing time and labor required for thread thread replacement increase.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and a sewing system for efficiently sewing an embroidery pattern when sewing one embroidery pattern using a plurality of multi-needle sewing machines, and An object is to provide a sewing system program.

  To achieve the above object, a sewing system according to a first aspect of the present invention is a sewing system comprising sewing means including a plurality of needle bars and a plurality of multi-needle sewing machines for sewing an embroidery pattern on a work cloth. Communication means for mutually connecting the multi-needle sewing machines and thread piece color data indicating the color of the thread piece mounted on the multi-needle sewing machine for each of the plurality of multi-needle sewing machines provided in the sewing system. Acquired by a color acquisition means for acquiring in association with ID data for specifying a sewing machine, a pattern acquisition means for acquiring embroidery data for sewing the embroidery pattern composed of a plurality of partial patterns having different thread colors, and the pattern acquisition means A color comparison unit that compares the thread color data included in the embroidery data and the thread piece color data acquired by the color acquisition unit, and a comparison result of the color comparison unit. And determining at least one multi-needle sewing machine from among the plurality of multi-needle sewing machines as a sewing machine to be used for sewing the embroidery pattern, and assigning the use order and at least one partial pattern to the sewing machine. Assigned to the sewing machine determined by the sewing machine determining means so as to cause the sewing machine to sew the partial pattern assigned to the sewing machine in accordance with the order of use. Sewing control means for transmitting the designation data designating the partial pattern via the communication means, and when the sewing machine receives the designation data, the partial pattern designated by the designation data is processed. Sewing control means for driving and controlling the sewing means so as to sew the cloth.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, the sewing machine determining means replaces a thread spool provided in the sewing system when sewing the embroidery pattern. The sewing machine is determined so as to minimize the number of times, and the use order and at least one partial pattern are assigned to the sewing machine.

  A sewing system according to a third aspect of the invention includes, in addition to the configuration of the invention according to the first or second aspect, informing means for informing information specifying the sewing machine determined by the sewing machine determining means. Yes.

  According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a sewing system program causes a computer incorporated in the sewing system to function as various processing means of the sewing system according to any one of the first to third aspects.

  In the sewing system according to claim 1, when an embroidery pattern is sewn using a plurality of multi-needle sewing machines, the efficient use of the multi-needle sewing machine in consideration of the number of times of changing the thread spool based on the comparison result of the color comparison means. The order can be determined. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the time required for sewing time and thread replacement when sewing one embroidery pattern using a plurality of multi-needle sewing machines.

  Further, in the sewing system according to claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 1, the use order of the multi-needle sewing machine that minimizes the thread change can be obtained based on the comparison result of the color comparison means. . Therefore, it is possible to reduce the time required for sewing time and thread replacement when sewing one embroidery pattern using a plurality of multi-needle sewing machines.

  In the sewing system according to claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 1 or 2, the user can know the use order of the multi-needle sewing machine in advance. Therefore, the user can efficiently form an embroidery pattern by causing the sewing machine to perform sewing in the order according to the notification result.

  Further, by executing the sewing system program according to claim 4 by a computer, the same effects as those of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3 can be obtained.

1 is a conceptual diagram of a sewing system 100 including a plurality of multi-needle sewing machines 1. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-needle sewing machine 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the inside of a needle bar case 21. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a multi-needle sewing machine 1. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a sewing screen 200 displayed on the liquid crystal display 7. FIG. It is a flowchart of a main process. It is explanatory drawing of the thread spool color data of the specific example 1. It is explanatory drawing of the thread spool color data of the specific example 2. It is a flowchart of the idle loop performed by the main process of FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a sewing machine determination process executed in the idle loop of FIG. 9. It is explanatory drawing of the process which determines a sewing machine in the specific example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of instruction data. It is explanatory drawing of the sub screen 250 which displays ID of a sewing machine. It is explanatory drawing of the process which determines a sewing machine in the specific example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the process which determines the sewing machine in the specific example 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the sub screen 260 which displays the needle bar number which needs replacement | exchange of the thread spool 13, and the thread color of the thread spool after replacement | exchange of a thread spool. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a sewing system 300 including a plurality of multi-needle sewing machines 1.

  Hereinafter, a sewing system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The drawings to be referred to are used for explaining the technical features that can be adopted by the present invention, and the configuration of the described apparatus is not intended to be limited to this, but merely an illustrative example. .

  First, the sewing system 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The sewing system 100 includes three multi-needle sewing machines 1. The three multi-needle sewing machines 1 are connected in series by a USB cable 101 connected to a connector 9 (see FIGS. 2 and 4) described later. The physical configuration and the electrical configuration of the three multi-needle sewing machines 1 are the same.

  Next, with reference to FIG.2 and FIG.3, the physical structure of the multi-needle sewing machine 1 with which the sewing system 100 is provided is demonstrated. In the following description, the lower left side of FIG. 2 is the front side of the multi-needle sewing machine 1, and the upper right side of FIG. 2 is defined as the left side of the multi-needle sewing machine 1, and the diagonally lower right side of FIG.

  The multi-needle sewing machine 1 includes a support part 2, a pedestal part 3, and an arm part 4. The support portion 2 is formed in an inverted U shape in plan view and supports the entire multi-needle sewing machine 1. The pedestal 3 is erected upward from the support 2. The arm portion 4 extends from the upper end portion of the pedestal column portion 3 to the front side. A needle bar case 21 is attached to the tip of the arm portion 4 so as to be movable in the left-right direction. Details of the needle bar case 21 will be described later.

  An operation unit 6 is provided on the right side of the central portion of the arm unit 4 in the front-rear direction. The operation unit 6 is rotatably supported by the arm unit 4 with an axis extending in the vertical direction as a rotation axis. The operation unit 6 includes a liquid crystal display 7 (hereinafter referred to as “LCD 7”), a touch panel 8, and a connector 9. For example, an operation image for the user to input an instruction is displayed on the LCD 7. The touch panel 8 is used for receiving instructions from the user. The user performs sewing by pressing the position of the touch panel 8 corresponding to the position of the input key or the like displayed on the LCD 7 with a finger or a dedicated touch pen (hereinafter, this operation is referred to as “panel operation”). Patterns and sewing conditions can be selected. The connector 9 is a USB standard connector and can be connected to the USB device 44 (see FIG. 4).

  A cylindrical cylinder bed 10 extending forward from the lower end of the pedestal 3 is provided below the arm 4. A hook (not shown) that houses a bobbin (not shown) around which a lower thread (not shown) is wound is provided inside the tip of the cylinder bed 10. The cylinder bed 10 includes a shuttle driving mechanism (not shown) that rotationally drives the shuttle. On the upper surface of the cylinder bed 10, there is a needle plate 16 provided with a needle hole (not shown) through which the sewing needle 35 is inserted.

  An embroidery frame moving mechanism 11 that moves the embroidery frame 84 back and forth and right and left is provided below the arm portion 4. When the embroidery pattern is sewn, the embroidery frame 84 on which a work cloth (not shown) is mounted is set on the carriage of the embroidery frame moving mechanism 11. The multi-needle sewing machine 1 sews an embroidery pattern while moving the embroidery frame 84 back and forth and left and right by the X-axis motor 63 (see FIG. 4) and the Y-axis motor 64 (see FIG. 4) of the embroidery frame moving mechanism 11.

  A pair of left and right thread spool bases 12 are provided on the back side of the upper surface of the arm portion 4. Each thread spool base 12 is provided with a thread stand bar 14 on which a thread spool 13 is pivotally supported. Each thread spool base 12 can pivotally support a maximum of three thread spools 13. That is, the same six thread spools 13 as the number of needle bars 31 are placed on the pair of thread spool bases 12. An upper thread 15 extending from a thread spool 13 pivotally supported on the thread spool base 12 passes through a thread guide 17, a thread tensioner 18, and a balance 19, and each sewing needle 35 attached to the lower end of the needle bar 31. To the eyes (not shown).

  Next, the internal configuration of the needle bar case 21 provided on the front side of the arm portion 4 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, six needle bars 31 are provided in the needle bar case 21. Each needle bar 31 is given a needle bar number for identifying the individual needle bar 31. In the present embodiment, needle bar numbers 1 to 6 are assigned in order from the right side in the figure. The needle bar 31 is supported by two upper and lower fixing members (not shown) fixed to the frame 80 of the needle bar case 21 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. A presser spring 72 is provided in the upper half of each needle bar 31, and a presser spring 73 is provided in the lower half. A needle bar holder (not shown) is provided between the presser spring 72 and the presser spring 73, and a presser holder 83 is provided below the presser spring 73. The needle bar 31 is slid in the vertical direction by a needle bar drive mechanism 85 using a spindle motor 54 (see FIG. 4) as a drive source. The needle bar drive mechanism 85 includes a balance drive cam 75, a connecting member 76, a jump tie 77, a guide bar 78, and a connecting pin (not shown). A sewing needle 35 (see FIG. 1) is attached to the lower end of the needle bar 31. The presser foot 71 is formed so as to extend slightly below the lower end portion (tip end portion) of the sewing needle 35 from the presser foot clamp 83, and is intermittently worked cloth (not shown) in conjunction with the vertical movement of the needle bar 31. ) Down.

  Next, the operation of forming stitches on a work cloth (not shown) mounted on the embroidery frame 84 will be described with reference to FIGS. The embroidery frame 84 on which the work cloth is mounted is supported by the embroidery frame moving mechanism 11 (see FIG. 2). First, one of the six needle bars 31 is selected by moving the needle bar case 21 left and right. When the main shaft 74 is rotationally driven by the main shaft motor 54, the needle bar drive mechanism 85 is driven. The rotational drive of the main shaft 74 is transmitted to the connecting member 76 via the balance driving cam 75, and a jump tie 77 on which the connecting member 76 is pivotally guided is guided by a guide bar 78 disposed horizontally with the needle bar 31. It is driven up and down. Then, the vertical drive is transmitted to the needle bar 31 via a connecting pin (not shown), and the needle bar 31 to which the sewing needle 35 is attached is driven up and down. Further, the balance 19 is driven up and down by rotation of the balance drive cam 75 via a link mechanism (not shown in detail). On the other hand, the rotation of the main shaft 74 is transmitted to a shuttle driving mechanism (not shown), and the shuttle (not shown) is rotationally driven. In this way, the sewing needle 35, the balance 19, and the shuttle are driven in synchronization with each other, and stitches are formed on the work cloth.

  Next, an electrical configuration that governs overall control of the multi-needle sewing machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the multi-needle sewing machine 1 includes a sewing needle drive unit 57, a sewing target drive unit 65, an operation unit 6, and a control unit 41. Hereinafter, each of the sewing needle drive unit 57, the sewing target drive unit 65, the operation unit 6, and the control unit 41 constituting the multi-needle sewing machine 1 will be described in detail.

  The sewing needle drive unit 57 includes a spindle motor 54 that reciprocates the needle bar 31 in the vertical direction and a spindle drive circuit 51 that drives the spindle motor 54 in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 41. The sewing needle drive unit 57 includes a switching mechanism 55 that switches the needle bar 31 and a switching drive circuit 52 that drives the switching mechanism 55 in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 41. The sewing needle drive unit 57 also cuts the thread supplied to the sewing needle 35 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), and a cutting drive circuit 53 that drives the cutting mechanism 56 in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 41. And.

  The sewing target drive unit 65 includes an X-axis motor 63 that moves the embroidery frame 84 (see FIG. 2) in the left-right direction, and an X-axis drive circuit 61 that drives the X-axis motor 63 in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 41. ing. The sewing target drive unit 65 includes a Y-axis motor 64 that moves the embroidery frame 84 in the front-rear direction, and a Y-axis drive circuit 62 that drives the Y-axis motor 64 according to a control signal from the control unit 41.

  The operation unit 6 includes a touch panel 8, a connector 9, an LCD drive circuit 66, and an LCD 7. The LCD drive circuit 66 controls the LCD 7. The connector 9 is a USB connector. A USB device 44 can be connected to the connector 9. Examples of the USB device 44 include a USB memory, a CD-ROM, a personal computer, and other multi-needle sewing machine 1.

  The control unit 41 includes a CPU 45, a ROM 46, a RAM 47, an EEPROM 48, and an input / output interface (I / O) 50, which are connected to each other by a bus 49. The input / output interface 50 is connected to a sewing needle drive unit 57, a sewing target drive unit 65, and an operation unit 6. Hereinafter, the CPU 45, the ROM 46, the RAM 47, and the EEPROM 48 constituting the control unit 41 will be described in detail.

  The CPU 45 controls the main control of the multi-needle sewing machine 1 and is a read-only storage element. The CPU 45 executes various calculations and processes related to sewing in accordance with an embroidery program stored in a program storage area (not shown) of the ROM 46. The embroidery program may be stored in an external storage device such as a flexible disk.

  Although not shown, the ROM 46 includes a program storage area, an embroidery data storage area, and other storage areas. The program storage area includes various programs for operating the multi-needle sewing machine 1 including an embroidery program and a sewing system program. The embroidery program is a program for operating the multi-needle sewing machine 1 based on embroidery data. The sewing system program is a program for executing main processing of the sewing system 100 described later. The embroidery data storage area stores embroidery data that is data for sewing an embroidery pattern. The embroidery data includes sewing order, thread color data, and needle drop point data. The RAM 47 is a storage element that can be arbitrarily read and written, and is provided with a storage area for storing the calculation results and the like calculated by the CPU 45 as needed. The EEPROM 48 is a readable / writable storage element, and stores various parameters for executing various processes in the multi-needle sewing machine 1. Further, the EEPROM 48 stores an ID for distinguishing the multi-needle sewing machine 1 provided in the sewing system 100. The ID can be set as appropriate, and is represented by, for example, a 10-digit manufacturing number. In the present embodiment, the ID of the multi-needle sewing machine 1 on the left side of FIG. 1 (hereinafter also referred to as “first sewing machine 1”) is 1000, and the central multi-needle sewing machine 1 (hereinafter referred to as “second sewing machine 1”). The ID of the right hand multi-needle sewing machine 1 (hereinafter also referred to as “third sewing machine 1”) is 1200.

  Next, the main process of sewing the embroidery pattern in the sewing system 100 will be described by taking as an example the case of sewing the embroidery pattern 202 shown in FIG. First, an outline of main processing executed in the sewing system 100 will be described. In the main process, one of the three multi-needle sewing machines 1 connected by the USB cable 101 is determined as a “sewing machine” for sewing an embroidery pattern. The main process is started with an arbitrary multi-needle sewing machine 1. The multi-needle sewing machine 1 (hereinafter also referred to as “start sewing machine 1”) whose main process has been started by a user instruction transmits a start command to another multi-needle sewing machine 1. When the other multi-needle sewing machine 1 receives the start command, it starts the main process. Thus, once the main process is started with any one of the multi-needle sewing machines 1, it is executed on all the multi-needle sewing machines 1 provided in the sewing system 100.

  Next, the embroidery pattern 202 will be described with reference to FIG. The embroidery pattern 202 is a bird pattern sewn with six thread colors. The embroidery pattern 202 includes partial patterns for each thread color, that is, six partial patterns. The embroidery data of the embroidery pattern 202 is created for each thread color data. On the sewing screen 200 displayed on the LCD 7, the embroidery pattern 202 is displayed in the pattern display area 201. The sewing order display area 204 displays the sewing order of thread colors for sewing the embroidery pattern 202. As shown in the sewing order display area 204, the embroidery pattern 202 is sewn with partial patterns in the order of white, blue, yellow, orange, red, and black. In the thread spool display area 203, when the embroidery pattern 202 is sewn using one multi-needle sewing machine 1 displaying the sewing screen 200, the color of the thread spool to be set in the multi-needle sewing machine 1 is It is displayed in association with the needle bar 31 number. The embroidery data of the embroidery pattern 202 is stored in any one of the ROM 46, the EEPROM 48, and the USB device 44, for example. For example, the embroidery data may be acquired via an Internet line.

  Next, the sewing system 100 will be described with reference to a main process for sewing an embroidery pattern. The main processing of the sewing system 100 shown in FIG. 6 is executed by the CPU 45 according to the embroidery program stored in the ROM 46. The main processing of the sewing system 100 is performed when, for example, an instruction to sew an embroidery pattern using a plurality of multi-needle sewing machines 1 is input by panel operation in any of the multi-needle sewing machines 1 provided in the sewing system 100. Executed. The main process of the sewing system 100 is started when a start command transmitted from another multi-needle sewing machine 1 is received. As an example, a case where the main process is started in the first sewing machine 1 will be described.

  Note that the three multi-needle sewing machines 1 provided in the sewing system 100 are connected in series. Therefore, data is transmitted and received between the first sewing machine 1 and the third sewing machine 1 via the second sewing machine 1.

  As shown in FIG. 6, first, the number of multi-needle sewing machines 1 provided in the sewing system 100 is acquired, and the acquired number is stored in the RAM 47 (S10). The process of S10 is executed by the following process, for example. The first sewing machine 1 transmits to the multi-needle sewing machine 1 in the sewing system 100 a notification command that instructs to notify the first sewing machine 1 of the ID. The other multi-needle sewing machine 1 that has received the notification command transmits its own ID to the first sewing machine 1. In S10, the number of IDs received by the first sewing machine 1 within a predetermined period is the number of multi-needle sewing machines 1 provided in the sewing system 100. When the multi-needle sewing machine 1 in which S10 is executed is the start sewing machine 1, a start command is transmitted to the other multi-needle sewing machine 1 in S10. The start command is a command for starting main processing in another multi-needle sewing machine 1. In the other multi-needle sewing machine 1 that has received the start command, the main process is started.

  Next, among the three multi-needle sewing machines 1 provided in the sewing system 100, the thread spool color data of the thread spool 13 mounted on the thread spool base 12 (see FIG. 2) of each multi-needle sewing machine 1 is shared. (S20). In S20, for example, the following process is executed. Each multi-needle sewing machine 1 provided in the sewing system 100 transmits the thread spool color data of the thread spool mounted on its own thread spool base 12 (see FIG. 2) to the other multi-needle sewing machines 1 together with its own ID. Each multi-needle sewing machine 1 receives the thread piece color data and the ID transmitted from the other multi-needle sewing machine 1 and stores them in the RAM 47. As a specific example 1, it is assumed that the thread piece color data is shared by the process of S20 as shown in FIG. As specific example 2, it is assumed that the thread piece color data is shared by the processing of S20 as shown in FIG.

  Next, an idle loop is executed (S30). In the idle loop, a process in which an embroidery pattern designated by the user is sewn using the multi-needle sewing machine 1 provided in the sewing system 100 is executed. Details of processing executed in the idle loop will be described later. Following S30, the main process ends.

  Next, the idle loop executed in S30 of FIG. 6 will be described with reference to FIG. In the idle loop, it is first determined whether or not instruction data has been received (S80). The instruction data is data for instructing the sewing machine to sew the embroidery pattern. The instruction data includes “ID”, “Start”, “End”, and “Stitch” as parameters. ID indicates the ID of the sewing machine. Start indicates from what color the sewing machine starts sewing an embroidery pattern. End indicates how many colors the sewing machine sews the embroidery pattern. “Stitch” indicates embroidery data of an embroidery pattern. That is, by the instruction data, the multi-needle sewing machine 1 that sews the partial pattern from Start to End of the embroidery data indicated by Stitch is specified as the sewing machine. The instruction data is created in a sewing machine determination process described later.

  If the instruction data has not been received (S80: No), it is determined whether or not the embroidery data has been designated by the user (S90). Whether or not the embroidery data is designated is determined by whether or not the embroidery data is selected by a panel operation. When the embroidery data is not designated (S90: No), S280 described later is executed. When the embroidery data is designated (S90: Yes), the designated embroidery data is stored in the RAM 47 and the sewing machine determination process is executed (S100). In the sewing machine determination process executed in S100, the sewing machine having the first use order and the partial pattern assigned to the sewing machine are determined. More specifically, a sewing machine that sews a partial pattern from the first thread color to the nth thread color among the embroidery patterns of the embroidery data specified in S90, and n are determined. The sewing machine determination process will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the sewing machine determination process, the sewing machine is determined as follows. The multi-needle sewing machine 1 that does not require replacement of the thread spool 13 and can sew the most colors according to the sewing order is determined as the sewing machine of the next use order. The sewing machine determination process is executed for each partial pattern that can be sewn continuously. That is, the sewing machine determination process is executed for each use order in the multi-needle sewing machine 1 (S100) in which the embroidery data is designated or the multi-needle sewing machine 1 (S180) in which the sewing is finished according to the designated data. In the following description, “sewing order” refers to the sewing order of partial patterns.

  Specifically, in the sewing machine determination process, first, the thread color data of the i-th partial pattern that is included in the embroidery data stored in the RAM 47 is acquired, and the acquired thread color data is set to color. (S190). In the sewing machine determination process executed in S100, the initial value of i is 1. In the sewing machine determination process executed in S180, which will be described later, the initial value of i is set to the same number as the Start of the instruction data. The embroidery data stored in the RAM 47 is embroidery data included in the instruction data acquired in S80 of FIG. 9 or embroidery data specified by the user in S90. Next, the RAM 47 is referred to, and the multi-needle sewing machine 1 in which the thread spool corresponding to the color set in S190 is mounted is searched (S200). Specifically, the yarn piece color data acquired in S20 of FIG. 6 is compared with the color. In the specific example 1 in FIG. 7 and the specific example 2 in FIG. 8, there is the multi-needle sewing machine 1 to which the thread spool 13 corresponding to the first thread color data “white” is mounted (S210: Yes). A sewing machine capable of continuously sewing the largest number of partial patterns of the order i + 1 is searched (S220). “Can be continuously sewn” means that it is possible to sew without exchanging the thread spool halfway after the start of sewing.

  The process of S220 is demonstrated using the specific example 1 shown in FIG. The thread color data of the embroidery pattern 202 is read together with the sewing order, and the read thread color data and the sewing order are stored in the RAM 47. For example, white, blue, yellow, orange, red, and black are stored in the RAM 47 together with the sewing order as thread color data of the embroidery pattern 202. Next, the second and subsequent thread color data in the sewing order are read in order, and the read thread color data and thread piece color data associated with each multi-needle sewing machine 1 stored in the RAM 47 are obtained. To be compared. Then, the multi-needle sewing machine 1 on which the yarn pieces of the thread color data read out continuously are installed is the sewing machine that can continuously sew the partial patterns in the second and subsequent sewing sequences. The In the present embodiment, the sewing machine that can continuously sew the partial patterns with the sewing order of i + 1 and after is the sewing machine. By determining the sewing machines in this way, the number of sewing machines to be used can be reduced as much as possible. In FIG. 11, when the thread piece of the read thread color data is attached to the multi-needle sewing machine 1, diagonal lines are given to the square corresponding to the needle bar number to which the thread piece of the thread color data is attached. Has been. As shown in FIG. 11, the first sewing machine 1 can be continuously sewn up to the partial pattern of the thread color data “yellow” in the third sewing order. The second sewing machine 1 can be sewn continuously up to the partial pattern of the second thread color data “blue” in the sewing order. The third sewing machine 1 can sew only the partial pattern of the first thread color data “white” in the sewing order. Therefore, among the multi-needle sewing machines 1 provided in the sewing system 100, the first sewing machine 1 is a sewing machine. In the second specific example, the first sewing machine 1 is also a sewing machine. Next, instruction data is set based on the search result of S220, and the set instruction data is stored in the RAM 47 (S230). In the case of specific example 1 in FIG. 11, the instruction data is set as shown in FIG. In the specific example 1 of FIG. 12, 1000 is set as the ID, 1 is set as the Start, 3 is set as the End, and embroidery data is set as the Stitch.

  In S210, when there is no multi-needle sewing machine 1 to which the color set in S190 is attached (S210: No), the embroidery data stored in the RAM 47 is referred to, and the i + 1th thread color data (partial It is determined whether there is a pattern) (S210). If there is the (i + 1) th thread color data (S240: Yes), i is incremented and the process returns to S190. If there is no i + 1-th thread color data (S240: No), the instruction data is set, and the set instruction data is stored in the RAM 47 (S250). The process of S250 is a process when the i-th thread color data (partial pattern) set to color in S190 is the last thread color data (partial pattern) in the sewing order. In the sewing system 100 of the present embodiment, when the thread piece corresponding to the last thread color data is not attached to the multi-needle sewing machine 1 provided in the sewing system 100 in S240 (S240: No), the sewing machine determination process is performed. The executed multi-needle sewing machine 1 is determined as the sewing machine. Therefore, when the sewing machine determination process is executed in the first sewing machine 1, in S250, 1000 is set as the ID, the last sewing order is set as Start and End, and the embroidery data is set as Stitch. Subsequent to S230 or S250, the ID set in S230 or S250 is displayed on the LCD 7 (S260). In the process of S260, for example, the sub screen 250 shown in FIG. On the sub-screen 250, a message 251 including the sewing machine ID set in S230 or S250 is displayed. Next, the sewing machine determination process ends.

  Next, the idle loop will be described with reference to FIG. When the instruction data is received in S80 (S80: Yes), or following S100, it is determined whether or not the ID included in the instruction data received in S80 or the instruction data set in S100 is its own ID. If it is not the own ID (S110: No), the instruction data is transmitted to the sewing machine (S270).

  If it is the self ID (S110: Yes), the thread spool 13 needs to be replaced when the partial pattern instructed by the instruction data is sewn using the currently mounted thread spool 13. Is determined (S120). In S120, the own thread piece color data stored in the EEPROM 48 is compared with the thread color data of the partial pattern from Start to End. If the thread color data is not included in the thread spool color data, it is determined that the thread spool 13 needs to be replaced (S120: Yes). If the thread spool 13 needs to be replaced (S120: Yes), the needle bar number and the color of the thread spool 13 after replacement are displayed on the LCD 7 (S130).

  If it is not necessary to replace the thread spool 13 (S120: No), or subsequent to S130, the partial pattern of the thread color data from Start to End of the instruction data is sewn (S140). The process of S140 is executed on the assumption that the embroidery frame 84 (see FIG. 2) on which a work cloth (not shown) is set is attached to the embroidery frame moving mechanism 11. When the sewing operation is instructed by the panel operation, the needle bar driving mechanism 85 and the embroidery frame moving mechanism 11 are driven, and the partial pattern from the start to the end of the instruction data is not replaced with a new thread spool 13. Sew continuously. Next, it is determined whether or not the partial patterns of all colors have been sewn (S150). If all color sewing is completed (S150: Yes), the instruction data received in S100 is cleared (S160). Next to S160 or S270, it is determined whether or not an instruction to terminate the system has been input (S280). The system termination instruction is input by, for example, a panel operation. The system termination instruction is transmitted from the multi-needle sewing machine 1 to which the system termination instruction has been input by the user. If the system termination instruction has not been input (S280: No), the process returns to S80. If an instruction to terminate the system is input (S280: Yes), the idle loop is terminated, and the process returns to the main process in FIG. The multi-needle sewing machine 1 to which an instruction to end the system is input through the panel operation transmits an instruction to end the system to another multi-needle sewing machine 1 before returning to the main process.

  If the sewing of the partial patterns of all colors is not completed in S150 (S150: No), the sewing machine determination process is executed (S180). In the sewing machine determination process in S180, the sewing machine whose use order is the second or later and the partial pattern assigned to the sewing machine are determined. That is, in S180, among the embroidery patterns included in the instruction data, the multi-needle sewing machine 1 for sewing a partial pattern from End + 1 to the nth thread color included in the instruction data and n are determined. The instruction data is the instruction data received in S80 or the instruction data set in S100. Since the sewing machine determination process in S180 is similar to the process in S90, detailed description thereof is omitted. Based on the instruction data in FIG. 12, when the sewing of the partial pattern of the thread color data with the sewing order from 1 to 3 is completed (S140, S150: No), the thread with the sewing order from 4 (3 + 1) to 6 is obtained at S180. The color data is read in order (S220 in FIG. 10). The process of S220 executed in the sewing machine determination process of S180 will be described using the specific example 1 shown in FIG. 14 and the specific example 2 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 14, in the first specific example, the second sewing machine 1 can continuously sew the partial patterns having the fourth to fifth sewing orders. The third sewing machine 1 can continuously sew the partial patterns in the sewing order from the fourth to the sixth. Therefore, in the first specific example, among the multi-needle sewing machines 1 provided in the sewing system 100, the third sewing machine 1 is the second sewing machine in the order of use. On the other hand, in the second specific example, as shown in FIG. 15, the second sewing machine 1 can sew only the fourth partial pattern in the sewing order. The third sewing machine 1 can continuously sew the partial patterns in the sewing order from the fourth to the fifth. Therefore, in the second specific example, among the multi-needle sewing machines 1 provided in the sewing system 100, the third sewing machine 1 is the second sewing machine in the order of use.

  Following S180, the instruction data set in S180 is transmitted to the multi-needle sewing machine 1 indicated by the ID of the instruction data (S270). In the first specific example and the second specific example, the instruction data is transmitted to the third sewing machine 1. In the third sewing machine 1, a similar idle loop is executed, and an embroidery pattern is sewn according to the instruction data (S80: Yes, S110: Yes, S120: No, S140). In the second specific example, the third sewing machine 1 sews the fourth to fifth thread color data partial patterns according to the instruction data (S140, S150: No), and then the ID of the third sewing machine 1 in S180. Is set (S210: No, S240: No, S250). Thereafter, in S120 that is repeatedly executed, it is determined that the thread spool 13 needs to be replaced (S120: Yes), and a message prompting the user to replace the thread spool 13 is displayed on the LCD 7 (S130). In S130, for example, the sub-screen 260 of FIG. On the sub-screen 260, a message 261 including the needle bar number “1” that needs to be replaced and the color “orange” of the thread spool 13 after replacement is displayed. Following S130, the process of S140 is executed, and the sewing of the embroidery pattern 202 is completed (S150: Yes).

  As described above, the main process is executed in the sewing system 100. The USB cable 101 that connects the three multi-needle sewing machines 1 to each other corresponds to the communication means of the present invention. In S20 of FIG. 6, for each of the three multi-needle sewing machines 1 provided in the sewing system 100, the multi-needle sewing machine 1 is identified with thread piece color data indicating the color of the thread 13 mounted on the multi-needle sewing machine 1. The CPU 45 that acquires in association with the ID to function functions as color acquisition means of the present invention. The ID corresponds to ID data of the present invention. The EEPROM 48 for storing the yarn piece color data corresponds to yarn piece color data storage means. In S80 or S90 of FIG. 9, the CPU 45 that acquires embroidery data functions as the pattern acquisition means of the present invention. The ROM 46 for storing embroidery data corresponds to the pattern storage means. In S220 of FIG. 10, the CPU 45 that compares the thread color data included in the embroidery data acquired in S80 or S90 and the thread piece color data shared in S20 of FIG. 6 functions as the color comparison means of the present invention. To do. In S230 of FIG. 10, based on the comparison result of S220, the embroidery pattern is sewn from the three multi-needle sewing machines 1 so that the number of times the thread spool 13 provided in the sewing system 100 is replaced is minimized. A CPU 45 that determines a sewing machine to be used and assigns a partial pattern from Start to End to the sewing machine functions as a sewing machine determination unit. The designated data is transmitted to the sewing machine via the USB cable 101 (S270). The CPU 45 functions as the sewing machine control means of the present invention. When the multi-needle sewing machine 1 receives the designated data (S80: Yes, S110: Yes) or when the designated data is set (S100, S110: Yes), the needle bar driving mechanism 85 is driven to designate the designated data. (S140) The CPU 45 functions as the sewing control means of the present invention. The needle bar drive mechanism 85 including the needle bar 31 corresponds to the sewing means of the present invention. The LCD 7 that displays information for designating the sewing machine determined in S230 or S250 (S130) functions as the notification means of the present invention.

  In the above-described sewing system 100, when one embroidery pattern is sewn using a plurality of multi-needle sewing machines, an efficient use sequence of the multi-needle sewing machines in consideration of the number of thread spool replacements based on the comparison result of the color comparison means. Can be requested. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the time required for sewing time and thread replacement when sewing one embroidery pattern using a plurality of multi-needle sewing machines. In S220, the sewing system 100 obtains the order of use of the multi-needle sewing machine that minimizes the number of thread spool replacements based on the comparison result. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the sewing time and labor required for replacing the thread spool when sewing one embroidery pattern using a plurality of multi-needle sewing machines. In the above-described sewing system 100, the multi-needle sewing machine 1 that does not require replacement of the thread spool 13 and can sew the most colors according to the sewing order is determined as the sewing machine of the next use order. For this reason, the use order of the multi-needle sewing machine 1 is determined so that the number of the multi-needle sewing machines 1 to be used is minimized. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the time and labor required for the user to move the embroidery frame 84. Further, since the sewing machine is notified in S260 of FIG. 10, the user can know the order of using the multi-needle sewing machine in advance. Therefore, the user can efficiently form an embroidery pattern by causing the sewing machine to perform sewing in the order according to the notification result.

  The sewing system of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the following modifications (A) to (F) may be added as appropriate.

  (A) The number of the multi-needle sewing machines 1 provided in the sewing system may be plural. The number of needle bars provided in the multi-needle sewing machine may be plural. Further, the multi-needle sewing machine provided in the sewing system only needs to be able to communicate with each other, and the communication means can be changed as appropriate. For example, a plurality of multi-needle sewing machines may communicate wirelessly. When a plurality of multi-needle sewing machines are connected by wire, they may be connected by, for example, a LAN cable in addition to a USB cable. Moreover, the connection method between the multi-needle sewing machines 1 can be changed as appropriate. For example, one multi-needle sewing machine 1 may be connected to all other multi-needle sewing machines 1 as in a sewing system 300 shown in FIG. The sewing system 100 includes a plurality of multi-needle sewing machines having the same physical configuration and electrical configuration, but may include a plurality of multi-needle sewing machines having different physical configurations or electrical configurations. In this case, it is only necessary that the same embroidery frame can be mounted and sewing can be performed according to the same embroidery data.

  (B) The method for determining the sewing machine can be changed as appropriate. For example, when there are a plurality of combinations of multi-needle sewing machines that minimize the number of thread spool replacements, the sewing machine determination process may be executed as follows. When there are a plurality of combinations of the multi-needle sewing machines that minimize the number of times of thread spool replacement, the multi-needle sewing machine that is closest to the installation position may be determined as the sewing machine that is closest to the sewing machine that has been used in the previous order. In this way, the movement amount of the user who moves between the sewing machines is reduced. In this case, the multi-needle sewing machine 1 includes an installation position acquisition unit that acquires the installation position, and when the thread spool color data is shared, the installation position may be shared. As an installation position acquisition means, CPU45 which acquires the installation position input by the user is mentioned, for example.

  (C) As another example of the sewing machine determination method, for example, the processing may be executed in consideration of matters other than the number of thread spool replacements and the number of sewing machines used. As a matter other than the number of times of changing the thread spool, for example, setting the needle bar 31 that does not execute the thread change can be mentioned. If the needle bar 31 on which the frequently used thread spool 13 is mounted is set as the needle bar 31 that does not execute the thread change, it is possible to avoid the thread spool 13 from being replaced. Further, the process may be executed taking into consideration only the number of times of thread spool replacement.

  (D) As another example of the method for determining the sewing machine, for example, in the start sewing machine 1, all the sewing machines for sewing the embroidery pattern and their use order may be determined. In this case, the start sewing machine 1 may include the order of use in addition to ID, Start, End, and Stitch in the instruction data. In this case, the instruction data may be transmitted from the start sewing machine to all the sewing machines at once. The instruction data may be transmitted from the start sewing machine to the sewing machine of the next use sequence when the end report transmitted from the sewing machine is received. When the sewing machine receives the instruction data, it executes sewing according to the instruction data when the order of use is reached.

  (E) The parameters included in the instruction data may be changed as appropriate. For example, when each multi-needle sewing machine included in the sewing system has already stored the same embroidery data, an ID for identifying the embroidery data may be set in the Stitch included in the instruction data.

  (F) In the above embodiment, the sewing machine ID is displayed on the LCD 7 in S260 of FIG. 10, but the sewing machine ID may be notified by other methods. For example, the sewing machine ID may be notified by voice. The process of notifying the sewing machine ID may be omitted as necessary.

1 Multi-needle sewing machine 7 Liquid crystal display 13 Yarn piece 31 Needle bar 45 CPU
85 Needle bar drive mechanism 100, 300 Sewing system 101 Cable 250 Sub screen

Claims (4)

In a sewing system that includes a sewing means including a plurality of needle bars and includes a plurality of multi-needle sewing machines that sew an embroidery pattern on a work cloth.
Communication means for interconnecting the plurality of multi-needle sewing machines;
For each of the plurality of multi-needle sewing machines provided in the sewing system, color acquisition that acquires thread piece color data indicating the color of a thread piece mounted on the multi-needle sewing machine in association with ID data that identifies the multi-needle sewing machine Means,
Pattern acquisition means for acquiring embroidery data for sewing the embroidery pattern consisting of a plurality of partial patterns having different thread colors;
Color comparison means for comparing the thread color data included in the embroidery data acquired by the pattern acquisition means and the thread piece color data acquired by the color acquisition means;
Based on the comparison result of the color comparison means, at least one multi-needle sewing machine is determined as a sewing machine to be used for sewing the embroidery pattern among the plurality of multi-needle sewing machines, and the use order and at least one of the sewing machines are determined. A sewing machine determining means for allocating the partial pattern of
The partial pattern assigned by the sewing machine determining means to the sewing machine determined by the sewing machine determining means so as to cause the sewing machine to sew the partial pattern assigned to the sewing machine according to the order of use. Sewing machine control means for transmitting designation data for designating via the communication means;
Sewing control means for driving and controlling the sewing means so as to sew the partial pattern designated by the designation data on the work cloth when the sewing machine receives the designation data. Sewing system.   The sewing machine determining means determines the sewing machine so that the number of times the thread spools provided in the sewing system are replaced is minimized when sewing the embroidery pattern, and uses the sewing machine in the order of use and at least one of the sewing machines. The sewing system according to claim 1, wherein the partial pattern is assigned.   The sewing system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising notification means for notifying information for designating the sewing machine determined by the sewing machine determination means.   A sewing system program for causing a computer incorporated in the sewing system to function as various processing means of the sewing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.