JP2696341B2 - Embroidery pattern display device in automatic embroidery machine - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an embroidery pattern display device for an automatic embroidery machine. The present invention relates to an embroidery pattern display device capable of displaying.

[Conventional technology]

In an automatic embroidery machine, sewing data corresponding to various embroidery patterns is stored in an external storage device such as a paper tape, and an external storage device such as a paper tape storing sewing data corresponding to a desired embroidery pattern is set. This sewing data is transferred and stored in an internal storage device. Conventionally, data stored in an external storage device such as a paper tape as data relating to an embroidery pattern is only sewing data for realizing an embroidery sewing operation corresponding to the embroidery pattern, and this data is directly transferred to and stored in an internal storage device. Is done. In an automatic embroidery machine, the sewing data transferred to the internal storage device is read and stored.
An embroidery sewing operation is executed according to the read sewing data.

In the above-described conventional embroidery machine, no special means is provided for notifying the operator of the progress of the embroidery sewing operation during the embroidery sewing operation.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

For this reason, it is difficult for the operator to grasp to what stage the embroidery sewing operation has progressed. If you have a pattern graphic sample that shows the entire planned embroidery pattern at hand,
The state of the embroidery sewing operation can be grasped by comparing and referring to the actually finished embroidery pattern and the pattern figure sample, but it takes time and effort.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and by allowing the embroidery pattern of the sewn portion to be displayed as a figure with the progress of the embroidery sewing operation, during the embroidery sewing operation, An object of the present invention is to provide an embroidery pattern display device in an automatic embroidery machine which can easily inform a worker of the progress of an embroidery sewing operation.

[Means for solving the problem]

An embroidery pattern display device according to the present invention includes: a figure pattern data supply unit that supplies figure pattern data of an embroidered pattern of a sewn portion with the progress of an embroidery sewing operation;
A display unit for displaying an embroidery pattern of the sewn portion based on the graphic pattern data supplied by the graphic pattern data supply unit. Further, the apparatus further comprises a whole figure pattern data supply means for supplying the whole figure pattern data of the embroidery pattern to be embroidered, and the display means displays the embroidery pattern based on the figure pattern data supplied from the whole figure pattern data supply means. May be displayed together. The apparatus may further include means for displaying information indicating the embroidery sewn amount or the remaining amount of the entire embroidery amount of the embroidery pattern.

FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a sewing data storage unit that stores sewing data for implementing an embroidery sewing operation corresponding to an arbitrary embroidery pattern;
2 reads out the sewing data from the sewing data storage means,
This is means for executing an embroidery sewing operation for executing an embroidery sewing operation according to the read sewing data. Reference numeral 3 denotes the graphic pattern data supply means, 4 denotes the display means, and 5 denotes the entire graphic pattern data supply means.

[Action]

With the progress of the embroidery sewing operation by the embroidery sewing operation executing means 2, the graphic pattern data supply means 3 supplies the graphic pattern data of the embroidered pattern that has been sewn. In response, the display means 4 displays the embroidery pattern of the sewn portion. Thus, the operator can immediately confirm the finished embroidery pattern by looking at the display on the display means 4, and can confirm how far the embroidery sewing operation is currently progressing.

The whole figure pattern data supply means 5 supplies the whole figure pattern data of the embroidery pattern to be embroidered.
In response to this, the display means 4 also displays the entire figure of the embroidery pattern. Therefore, the operator can immediately check the entire embroidery pattern and the finished embroidery pattern by looking at the display on the display means 4, and can embroider the entire embroidery pattern and the sewn portion. From the relationship with the pattern, it is possible to immediately confirm how far the embroidery sewing operation is currently progressing in the entire embroidery amount.

By providing a means for displaying information indicating the embroidery sewn amount or the remaining amount of the total embroidery amount of the embroidery pattern, how much embroidery sewing work is currently progressing in the entire embroidery amount Can be confirmed.
In this case, for example, the embroidery amount may be represented by a specific number of stitches, or may be a rough amount.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a control system for an automatic embroidery machine according to the present invention. CPU11, program RO
The operation of the entire automatic embroidery machine is controlled by a microcomputer including the M12 and the working RAM 13. Data RA
M14 stores sewing data for realizing a desired embroidery pattern and various data related to embroidery sewing.

The whole pattern graphic pattern memory GPM1 stores the entire graphic pattern data of a desired embroidery pattern to be embroidered (the sewing operation is being performed during the sewing operation). Finished pattern figure pattern memory GPM2
Is for storing graphic pattern data of the embroidery pattern of the already sewn portion during the sewing operation. These graphic pattern memories GPM1 and GPM2 are, for example, RAM.

The operation panel 15 includes various setting switches, a display, and the like. The paper tape reader 16 specifies the sewing data (the position of the embroidery frame for each stitch) recorded on the paper tape.
X, Y data and data directly related to the embroidery sewing operation, such as function data instructing each operation of the embroidery sewing machine such as color change, sewing machine spindle stop, jump, etc.) are read out. A paper tape 17 on which sewing data to be realized is recorded is set. The sewing data read from the paper tape 17 via the paper tape reader 16 is transferred and stored in the data RAM 14.

In this embodiment, the pattern graphic pattern memory
The graphic pattern data of the embroidery pattern to be stored in the GPM1 and GPM2 is created based on the sewing data stored in the data RAM.

The X-axis pulse motor 18 moves the embroidery frame 20 in the X-axis direction, and the Y-axis pulse motor 19 moves the embroidery frame 20 in the Y-axis direction. A drive signal is applied to the pulse motors 18 and 19 via a pulse motor driver 21.

The spindle motor 22 is for rotating and driving the sewing machine spindle 23 of this automatic embroidery machine.
The needle bar and shuttle are driven in accordance with the rotation of 23. The rotary encoder 24 detects a rotation angle of the main shaft 23 (or the motor 22).

Assuming that one sewing head HD is a multi-needle lockstitch head, this head HD includes a plurality of needle bars (threads of different colors are respectively attached to the needle bars). The rotation of the color change motor 25 selects one of the plurality of needle bars of the head HD, and can be driven by the needle bar drive mechanism in the head HD. The needle bar drive mechanism moves the needle bar up and down according to the rotation of the sewing machine spindle 23,
Since it is well known, it is not particularly shown. Sewing head HD
Is not limited to one, and may be provided in plurality.

The start / stop switch 26 includes a bar switch. When the bar is operated, for example, to the right, the start switch is turned on,
When operated to the left, the stop switch is turned on. When the start switch is on, the rotation of the sewing machine spindle 23 is started, and when the stop switch is on, the rotation of the sewing machine spindle 23 is stopped.

The communication interface 27 is an external input / output interface for inputting / outputting sewing data and control data to / from the external device 28. For example, the electrical standard is an RS-232C serial interface.

The external device 28 is, for example, a personal computer having a communication device or an appropriate intelligent terminal device, and can appropriately set, edit, and store sewing data and control data corresponding to the embroidery pattern. It can input and output sewing data and control data to and from the embroidery machine via a communication line.

In the automatic embroidery machine, other devices and devices are provided, but they are not shown. Each device constituting the control system of the automatic embroidery machine has an interface
Signals are exchanged with the microcomputer via the I / F.

The operation panel 15 includes a display unit DPY and a key switch unit KSW.

The display unit DPY is used to display the data being set when setting various data, to display it for checking the contents of various set data, or to display other necessary information. And can also display characters and graphics, and is composed of, for example, a CRT display.

The key switch unit KSW includes a plurality of key switches for setting and inputting various data. Each key switch or a plurality of predetermined key switches in the key switch unit KSW need not be a single function, but may be a multi-function, and the functions currently assigned to the key switches are displayed on the display DPY. You may do so.

In this embodiment, there are a program mode and an operation mode as modes for setting and inputting various data. The program mode is a setting of various data related to an embroidery sewing program for realizing a desired embroidery pattern (for example, input of sewing data corresponding to a desired embroidery pattern, that is, “data input” or a thread color change procedure). This is a mode for performing setting, that is, “program control”. The operation mode is a mode for setting various operation conditions (for example, the rotation speed of the sewing machine main shaft) before the operation of the embroidery machine starts.

Although not particularly shown, a program mode switch operated when the operation mode of the embroidery machine is set to the program mode, and an operation mode switch operated when the operation mode of the embroidery machine is set to the operation mode. Is provided in the key switch unit KSW.

FIGS. 3A to 3C show an example of graphic display of an embroidery pattern on the display DPY. An example of an embroidery pattern graphic display processing procedure will be described with reference to FIG.

First, at the start of the embroidery sewing operation, a desired embroidery pattern to be embroidered is selected, and sewing data (X, Y data and function data for each stitch) of the embroidery pattern is read from the data RAM 14. The sewing data for each stitch, especially the X and Y data, is converted into graphic coordinate data on the display unit DPY (in other words, raster scan data on a CRT display), and coordinate data of the graphic of each stitch line ( That is, raster scan data) is obtained. Thus, the coordinate data of the figure of the continuous stitch line of the entire embroidery pattern (that is, raster scan data)
Is created and stored in the entire pattern graphic pattern memory GPM1 as graphic pattern data. And the memory GPM1
Reads the figure pattern data stored in the
To display the graphic WP of the entire embroidery pattern on the display DPY. FIG. 3A shows an example of this embroidery pattern whole graphic display.

In this way, at the start of the embroidery sewing operation, the entire figure WP of the pattern to be embroidered is displayed to inform the operator. Next, the graphic display of the entire embroidery pattern on the display DPY is switched to a light shade (halftone in the case of a single color display, that is, a color with low brightness). FIG. 3B shows an example of a graphic display in this case.

Then, when the embroidery sewing operation starts, every time the embroidery sewing of one stitch is performed, the sewing data of the stitch, in particular, X,
Graphic data of Y-data on display unit DPY (in other words, raster scan data on CRT display)
The coordinate data (that is, raster scan data) of the figure of the stitch line is obtained. The coordinate data (that is, raster scan data) of the graphic of the stitch line of the stitch is created, and this is stored in the finished pattern graphic pattern memory GPM2 as graphic pattern data of the pattern of the sewn portion. Then, the figure pattern data of the finished pattern portion stored in the memory GPM2 is read and given to the display DPY, and the figure VP of the finished pattern portion is displayed on the display DPY together with the already displayed whole pattern figure WP. . FIG. 3C shows an example of this display. in this case,
It is preferable that the figure VP of the finished pattern portion has a different color from that of the entire pattern figure WP (in the case of a single color display, it is a dark color, that is, a color with high brightness). The figure VP of the finished pattern portion gradually spreads as the embroidery sewing operation proceeds.

In FIG. 3, the figure VP of the finished pattern portion is displayed so as to be superimposed on the entire pattern figure WP, but may be displayed separately. Alternatively, only the figure VP of the finished pattern portion may be displayed.

Next, among the operations executed by the automatic embroidery machine shown in FIG. 2 under the control of the microcomputer, the operations particularly related to the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIG.

When the power of the automatic embroidery machine is turned on, as shown in FIG. 4, the process first proceeds to a sewing machine spindle stop routine via a predetermined initial routine. Various data setting processing operations are executed in this sewing machine spindle stop routine. When the machine is not in operation, the sewing machine spindle stop routine is constantly executed. When the start switch is turned on by the start / stop switch 26,
Move to operation routine. In the operation routine, the sewing machine spindle 23
, And sequentially reads sewing data for each stitch from the sewing data memory area of the data RAM 14 in synchronization with one rotation of the spindle, and performs an embroidery sewing operation based on the data.

An example of the sewing machine spindle stop routine will be described with reference to FIG. First, predetermined initial processing is performed when the sewing machine stops, and in the next step 30, it is checked whether the operation mode is the operation mode or the program mode based on the contents of the operation mode flag. The operation mode is set to the program mode by turning on the program mode switch, and is set to the operation mode by turning on the operation mode switch.

If it is in the program mode, the process proceeds to a routine after step 31 to perform various data setting processing in the program mode. Selection of various data setting modes in the program mode is performed by operating various key switches on the operation panel 15.

In step 31, it is checked whether "data input setting switch is on". The "data input setting mode" means that sewing data corresponding to a desired embroidery pattern is taken in from the paper tape 17 (this is called "memory writing mode") or read out from the data RAM 14 (this is called "memory reading mode"). Or which mode to set. If YES, proceed to step 32.

In step 32, it is checked whether or not the switch for selecting the "memory read mode" has been turned on. Data RAM1
In order to read the sewing data stored in the predetermined address area of No. 4, a switch operation for selecting the “memory read mode” is performed. When reading desired sewing data from an external storage device such as a paper tape and transferring and storing the data in the data RAM 14, a switch for selecting a "memory writing mode" is turned on.

If “Memory Write Mode” is selected,
From NO in step 32, the process proceeds to step 33, where the number of the embroidery pattern for "memory writing" is set and input by the key switch unit KSB. The embroidery pattern number is a number that is arbitrarily set and assigned to the desired embroidery pattern when, for example, the sewing data corresponding to the desired embroidery pattern is read from a paper tape and registered in the data RAM 14. The pattern number set and input is stored in a predetermined address area of the data RAM 14, and at the same time, a memory address is set so that data is written in a predetermined storage area of the data RAM 14 corresponding to the pattern number.

In step 34, the paper tape 17 is
And reads the stitch data (X, Y data and function data) for one stitch stored in the data RAM 14 at a designated address in the data RAM 14.

In the next step 35, it is checked whether the contents of the function data in the sewing data for one stitch read in step 34 is an end code indicating the end of the embroidery pattern. If it is not finished, the process returns to step 34 to read the sewing data for one stitch and write it to the data RAM 14 for the next stitch in the same manner as described above.

When the sewing data of all stitches has been taken into a predetermined storage area of the data RAM 14 corresponding to the pattern number, the contents of the function data become an end code, and
From 35, go to step 37 to automatically switch to "memory read mode". In this case, as the design number to be read, the design number at the time of writing set in step 33 is applied as it is.

On the other hand, if the "memory read mode" is selected, the process goes from step 32 to step 36, where a pattern number corresponding to a desired embroidery pattern to be read from the data RAM 14 is set and input.

In the next step 37, the sewing data for each stitch of the embroidery pattern corresponding to the selected pattern number is read from the data RAM 14, and based on the read data, the arithmetic operation for obtaining the coordinate data of the figure of each stitch line is performed. The figure pattern data of the whole figure is created, and this is stored in the whole pattern figure pattern memory GPM1 and given to the display DPY, and the display D
PY displays the figure of the entire embroidery pattern. That is, in this step 37, a process of displaying the figure WP of the entire embroidery pattern is performed, for example, as shown in FIG. Note that the display of the entire embroidery pattern graphic is continuously performed based on the output of the memory GPM1 even after the end of step 37.

In the next step 38, the total number of stitches of the embroidery pattern corresponding to the selected pattern number is counted and stored,
It is displayed on the display DPY. The display of the total number of stitches may be performed continuously.

In step 39, setting processing of other various data in the program mode is performed.

In step 40, it is checked whether the operation mode switch has been turned on. If NO, the process returns to step 31 to repeat the processing in the program mode.

When the operation mode switch is turned on, the operation mode switches from the program mode to the operation mode. When the mode is switched to the operation mode, the process proceeds to step 41, and the color of the entire figure of the embroidery pattern displayed on the display DPY is switched to a predetermined light color. The display example shown in FIG. 3 (b) corresponds to the display state at this time.

In the next step 42, predetermined preparation processing for starting the embroidery sewing operation (for example, processing for setting the read address of the data RAM 14 to the address storing the sewing data of the first stitch of the selected embroidery pattern, etc.) )I do.

In step 43, various data setting processes in the operation mode are performed.

In step 44, it is checked whether the start switch is set to ON by the start / stop switch 26. If YES, return to the main routine and move to the operation routine. If no, go to step 45 to determine if the program mode switch has been turned on. If it is turned on, the process returns to step 31, and the routine for the desired data setting process in the program mode described above is repeated. If it is not turned on, the process returns to step 43, and the processing in the operation mode is repeated.

Next, various operations of the operation routine in the main routine of FIG. 4 will be described with reference to flowcharts of FIG. 6 and subsequent figures.

As shown in FIG. 6, after a predetermined initial process is executed, the process proceeds to step 50.

 In the next step 50, the spindle motor 22 is started.

In the next step 51, various operation processes are executed for the embroidery sewing operation.

In the next step 52, it is checked whether or not the sewing machine spindle stop completion flag is set. If the flag is set, this step 52 becomes YES, and after performing various stop processes (not shown), returns to the main routine. Back to). If the flag has not been set, step 52 is NO, and the process goes to step 53.

In step 53, it is determined whether the sewing machine spindle stop condition is satisfied. When the start / stop switch 26 is in the stop switch ON state or when a thread break occurs, it is determined that the sewing machine spindle should be stopped. Also, when the content of the function data is a color change code or an end code indicating the end of the embroidery pattern, it is determined that the sewing machine spindle should be stopped. If YES in step 53, the process proceeds to step 54, and if NO, the process returns to step 51.

In step 54, the sewing machine spindle stop request flag is set, and a numerical value “2” is set in the stop counter.

In step 55, the sewing machine spindle motor 22 is decelerated, and the process returns to step 51.

When a clock signal is supplied from the rotary encoder 24 during the processing of the sewing machine spindle operation routine, an encoder clock interrupt subroutine as shown in FIG. 7 is executed.

In the encoder clock interrupt subroutine, after incrementing the encoder counter by one (step 56), it is sequentially determined which processing timing the count value corresponds to (57, 58).
Processing corresponding to each timing is performed. At the embroidery frame movement timing, first, it is checked whether or not the sewing machine spindle stop request flag is set (step 59). If YES, the process returns. If NO, the process goes to step 60 and the current stitch counter outputs the current value. Corresponding to stitches
The X, Y data and function data are read from the data RAM 14. Next, the embroidery frame 20 is set to X in accordance with the X and Y data.
-Output a command to move Y (step 61).

In the next step 62, the coordinate data of the figure of the first stitch corresponding to the X and Y data is calculated and stored in the finished pattern figure pattern memory GPM2.
Display the pattern figure of the sewn part based on the output of Y2.
To display. A display example at this time is as shown in FIG. That is, the pattern figure VP in the sewn portion differs from the pattern figure WP in the unsewn portion in lightness or color, so that the progress of embroidery stitching can be checked at a glance.

In the next step 63, 1 is cumulatively reduced from the total number of stitches for the embroidery pattern, and the remaining number of stitches is obtained. Then, the number of remaining stitches is displayed on the display DPY. That is, as described above, at the start of the embroidery sewing operation, the total number of stitches displayed on the display DPY decreases by one each time one sewing operation is actually performed. Therefore, the progress of the embroidery stitching operation can be confirmed by displaying the number of remaining stitches.

In the next step 64, the stitch counter is advanced to the next sewing stitch, and the process returns to the operation routine. At the sewing machine spindle stop timing, it is checked whether the sewing machine spindle stop request flag is set (step 65). If YES, the stop counter is counted down by 1 to determine whether or not the count value has become zero. When the count value becomes zero (steps 66 and 67), the sewing machine spindle motor 22 is stopped and a sewing machine spindle stop completion flag is set (step 68). Note that other processing such as jump control is performed using other timing processing (step
69).

For easy understanding, instead of displaying the number of remaining stitches in step 63, both the number of finished stitches and the total number of stitches for the embroidery pattern may be displayed.

The display of the number of remaining stitches or the display of both the number of finished stitches and the total number of stitches related to the embroidery pattern makes it possible to know where the current embroidery sewing work state corresponds to in the whole area. Only the finished figure VP may be used.

In the above embodiment, when information indicating the embroidery sewn amount or the remaining amount of the entire embroidery amount of the embroidery pattern is displayed, the embroidery amount is represented by a specific number of stitches. Instead, any display may be used as long as the display can confirm how far the embroidery sewing work is currently progressing in the entire embroidery amount, and the display may be a rough amount.

The display DPY is not limited to a CRT display, but may be an electric or electronic device such as a liquid crystal display, an LED display, or a plasma display, or a hard copy device such as a printing printer.

Further, the device according to the present invention is not limited to the one based on software processing as in the above embodiment, but may be a dedicated hardware device.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, as the embroidery sewing operation proceeds, the embroidery pattern of the sewn portion is graphically displayed. This makes it possible to easily inform the user of the progress of the game.

Therefore, even when the worker is not near the embroidery frame, the embroidery sewing operation status can be efficiently monitored at a remote place.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of an embroidery pattern display device in an automatic embroidery machine according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration schematically showing a control system of one embodiment of the automatic embroidery machine to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a display example of an embroidery pattern, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a main routine of a program executed by the microcomputer in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a main routine in FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a sewing machine spindle operation routine in the main routine of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a sewing machine spindle operation routine in the main routine of FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an encoder clock interrupt subroutine. 1 ... sewing data storage means, 2 ... embroidery sewing operation execution means, 3 ... figure pattern data supply means, 4 ... display means, 5 ... whole figure pattern data supply stop means, 14 ...
... Data RAM, 15 ... Operation panel, DPY ... Display, 18 ...
... X-axis drive pulse motor, 19 ... Y-axis drive pulse motor, 20 ... embroidery frame, 22 ... spindle motor.

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sewing data storage means for storing sewing data for realizing an embroidery sewing operation corresponding to an arbitrary embroidery pattern, reading the sewing data from the sewing data storage means, and performing embroidery in accordance with the read sewing data. In an automatic embroidery machine having means for executing a sewing operation, a graphic pattern data supply means for supplying graphic pattern data of an embroidered pattern of a sewn portion with the progress of the embroidery sewing operation; An embroidery pattern display device for an automatic embroidery machine, comprising: display means for displaying an embroidery pattern pattern of a sewn portion based on the graphic pattern data supplied by the means. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an entire figure pattern data supply unit for supplying the entire figure pattern data of the embroidery pattern to be embroidered. The display means includes a figure pattern data supplied from the entire figure pattern data supply unit. 2. An embroidery pattern display device for an automatic embroidery machine according to claim 1, wherein the entire embroidery pattern is also displayed based on the embroidery pattern. 3. The display means displays the entire figure of the embroidery pattern and the figure of the sewn part of the embroidery pattern at a common coordinate so as to display the sewn part and the unsewn part. 3. An embroidery pattern display device for an automatic embroidery machine according to claim 2, wherein the embroidery patterns are displayed with different brightness or color. 4. An embroidery pattern in an automatic embroidery machine according to claim 1, further comprising means for displaying information indicating the embroidery sewn amount or the remaining amount of the entire embroidery amount of the embroidery pattern. Display device.