JP2950071B2 - Embroidery sewing machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an embroidery sewing machine for reading embroidery data representing an embroidery pattern from an external storage device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a sewing machine, it is necessary to create embroidery data in advance in order to sew an embroidery pattern, and the previously created embroidery data is stored in a storage medium such as a ROM card. If necessary, the controller reads out the embroidery data of the embroidery pattern to be sewn, and the controller reads out the vertical feed data, the horizontal feed data, and the needle drop data for each stitch, and moves the embroidery frame supporting the cloth in the vertical and horizontal directions. By moving the needle up and down, an embroidery pattern is formed.

When embroidering a character or illustration pattern, R
The OM card is mounted on a reading device incorporated in the sewing machine, the sewing position is determined, and the sewing is performed after the embroidery data is selected by the embroidery selecting mechanism. If it is desired to embroider the patterns stored in different ROM cards, the embroidery data of a plurality of ROM cards cannot be read at the same time. The sewing is performed after the sewing position is determined by the operator and the next embroidery pattern is selected again by replacing the ROM card with the ROM card storing the desired pattern. Further, when it is desired to use the patterns stored in different ROM cards alternately, the operation of replacing the ROM card and the operation of determining the sewing position are repeated many times each time.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, ROM
Since many patterns of embroidery data are stored in the card, many embroidery data of embroidery patterns that are not used much are also stored. Therefore, every time embroidery data of an embroidery pattern frequently used for embroidery is used, searching and selecting from a large number of embroidery data is a very time-consuming operation.
Also, only the editing within the same ROM card is considered, and when the ROM card is replaced, the pattern before the ROM card replacement is erased from the screen, and the position of the previous pattern is not known. It is difficult to determine a sewing position where the pattern after the replacement is sewn.

Furthermore, since embroidery data of a plurality of ROM cards cannot be read at the same time, it is necessary to frequently replace ROM cards. Then, the selected pattern is stored in a storage device built in the main body of the sewing machine. Therefore, when the same pattern is to be sewn with another sewing machine, the same pattern selection operation and the determination of the sewing position must be performed again. There is a problem that it takes time to perform.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an embroidery sewing machine capable of promptly selecting embroidery data of an frequently used embroidery pattern. Aim.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an embroidery sewing machine which can easily combine patterns stored in a plurality of external storage devices. Aim.

A third object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an embroidery sewing machine in which replacement of an external storage device can be greatly reduced.

The invention according to claim 4 has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to provide an embroidery sewing machine in which the trouble of selecting embroidery data is saved again.

[0010]

In order to achieve this object, an embroidery sewing machine according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises, as shown in FIG. 1, reading means for reading embroidery data from an external storage device; Display means for displaying the contents of the read embroidery data, selecting means for enabling selection of the embroidery data displayed by the display means, and storing a plurality of embroidery data selected by the selecting means from a plurality of external storage devices There is provided a possible storage means, and a writing means for writing the embroidery data of the external storage device selected by the selection means into the storage means. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an embroidery sewing machine that edits the contents of embroidery data displayed on the display unit continuously before the change even when the external storage device read by the reading unit is changed. Editing means is further provided.

Further, the embroidery sewing machine according to a third aspect of the present invention is provided with a reading means to which a plurality of external storage devices can be simultaneously attached.

An embroidery sewing machine according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes storage means which is a writable external storage device.

[0013]

In the embroidery sewing machine according to the present invention, when the reading means reads the embroidery data from the external storage device, the display means displays the contents of the embroidery data and the embroidery data is selected by the selecting means. Becomes selectable. Even if the external storage unit read by the reading unit is changed, the writing unit continuously writes and stores the selected embroidery data in the storage unit. In the embroidery sewing machine according to the second aspect, the data editing means continuously edits the contents of the embroidery data displayed on the display means even if the external storage means read by the reading means is changed. Make it possible.

In the embroidery sewing machine according to the third aspect of the present invention, a plurality of external storage devices are simultaneously installed, and a pattern can be selected without changing storage means while selecting a pattern from the external storage device. It is possible to

In the embroidery sewing machine according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the storage means is an external writable storage device, and the storage means can be detached from the embroidery sewing machine and used for another data reading device. It is possible, and it is possible to use the stored embroidery data again.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The pattern sewing portion of the embroidery sewing machine 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. However, this portion is the same as a general embroidery sewing machine and will be described briefly.

The embroidery sewing machine 10 according to the present embodiment
0a, a pillar 10b erected from the right end of the bed 10a, and an arm 10c extending leftward from the pillar 10b to face the bed 10a. The arm portion 10c is provided with a known needle bar driving mechanism for vertically moving a needle bar on which a sewing needle can be mounted at a lower end, and a known balance driving mechanism for vertically moving the balance in synchronization with the vertical movement of the needle bar. Have been. The bet unit 10a is provided with a known frame moving mechanism for moving the embroidery frame F for fixing the work cloth in the vertical and horizontal directions, a known horizontal shuttle, and the like.

The needle bar drive mechanism, the balance drive mechanism, and the horizontal shuttle are configured to be driven by a known sewing machine motor M1. The vertical direction of the frame moving mechanism is driven by a known frame vertical drive motor M2, and the horizontal direction is
It is configured to be driven by a known frame lateral drive motor M3.

Next, a portion related to the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, an opening (not shown) is provided on the right side of the pillar 10b so that two ROM cards 12 can be mounted on the upper side and the center, and one RAM card 14 can be mounted on the lowermost side. (Not shown) are provided at three places. Inside the embroidery sewing machine 10 facing the upper and central two of the openings, an input section of a reading device 16 that can be connected to an output section of the ROM card 12 is arranged. Inside the embroidery sewing machine 10 facing the lowermost opening, an input / output unit of the writing device 18 that can be connected to the input / output unit of the RAM card 14 is arranged. The reading device 16 is configured to read arbitrary storage contents of the mounted ROM card 12.

The writing device 18 is configured to be able to read arbitrary storage contents of the attached RAM card 14 and to write arbitrary data to an arbitrary storage area. And the reading device 16
The writing device 18 is connected to a CPU 22 that controls the entire embroidery sewing machine 10.

A selection screen 24 of a liquid crystal screen is arranged on the front of the arm 10c as in the prior art. The selection screen 24 is connected to the reading device 16 via the CPU 22, and is configured to be able to display the pattern of the embroidery data stored in the ROM card 12. Further, the upper surface of the selection screen 24 is covered with a conventional touch panel 26 on which the display contents of the selection screen 24 are visible. The touch panel 26 has a plurality of sensing points for sensing the pressed contact, and outputs a signal indicating the pressed sensing point to the CPU 2.
2 is connected to the CPU 22 so as to be able to output to the CPU 2.

Therefore, since the position of the sensing point corresponds to the pattern stored in the ROM card 12 displayed on the selection screen 24, when the touch panel 26 is pressed,
The embroidery data of the pattern is configured to be selected.

A selection screen 24 is displayed in front of the pillar 10b.
Is provided with a square edit screen 28 at the lower right of the RAM card 14. The edit screen 28 is connected to the reading device 16 and the writing device 18 via the CPU 22. Is configured to be displayed. The editing screen 28 is configured to display a cursor indicating a position at which the next pattern to be selected is displayed. The size of the embroidery data displayed on the editing screen 28 can be reduced or enlarged.

Further, an edit screen 28 on the front of the pillar 10b
Below, four movement buttons 32 are arranged. Arrows are drawn on the upper surface of each move button 32, and indicate four directions, up, down, left, and right with respect to the edit screen 28. The cursor is configured to move up, down, left, and right on the edit screen 28 based on the arrow on the upper surface of the operated move button 32. The move button 32 is arranged so as to form a cross, and the center part of the move button 32 is
4 are arranged. When the determination button 34 is pressed, the CPU determines that the command has been determined in the process of editing the pattern.
It is configured as shown in FIG.

An all clear button 36 is disposed on the left side of the move button 32. By operating the all clear button 36, an instruction to erase all data stored in the RAM card 14 is given to the CPU 22. It is configured to be.

The CPU 22 has an editing function for combining embroidery data stored in separate ROM cards 12 or changing the layout of a pattern, in addition to a well-known arithmetic function and timer function. The CPU 22
As shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to detect that the touch panel 26 and the various buttons are pressed,
28, so that commands can be output to the reading device 16, the writing device 18, and the like. Further, the CPU 22 includes:
Internal ROM 42 as an internal storage device of the embroidery sewing machine 10
And an internal RAM 44. The internal ROM 42 is configured to store numerical values and programs necessary for editing in advance. The internal RAM 44 is configured to store embroidery data for displaying various numerical values generated in the course of calculation and the contents of the embroidery data on both screens 24 and 28.

Further, the internal RAM 44 is provided with a storage area for storing data of the ROM card 12 read by the reading device 16. for that reason,
Even if the ROM card 12 is removed from the reading device 16, the CPU 22 can continue the editing work. The CPU 22 is connected to the sewing machine motor M1, the frame vertical drive motor M2, and the frame horizontal drive motor M3, and is configured to control these motors.

On the left side of the move button 32, three LEDs 52, 54, 56 and a mode button 58 are arranged in a vertical line. These three LEDs 52, 54, 56
Is configured to turn on in sequence each time the mode button 58 is pressed (52 → 54 → 56 → 52 →...).
・). When the mode button 58 is pressed, the
U22, and is configured to sequentially switch to the three modes described later (create → select → delete → create →...). Note that the three LEDs 52, 54, 56
The CPU 22 indicates which mode is currently in operation. The creation LED 52, the selection LED 54,
This is a delete LED 56.

The embroidery sewing machine 10 is arranged side by side with the mode button 58.
A card button 64 is disposed in front of the CPU 2 so that the CPU 2 can detect that the card button 64 has been pressed.
2 are connected. When the card button 64 is pressed, the contents of the stored embroidery data are switched between the ROM cards 12 displayed on the selection screen 24. In the front of the pillar 10b near where the ROM card 12 is inserted, display LEDs 65 are arranged. The display LED 65 closer to the ROM card 12 displayed on the selection screen 24 displays the contents of the stored embroidery data so as to light up. RO
The display LED 65 is also switched with the switching of the M card 12.

Hereinafter, data and storage areas stored in the ROM card 12 and the RAM card 14 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The type of the ROM card 12 is a symbol (A, B, C,...) Representing the type of the stored pattern (character, illustration, numeral,. (1, 2, 3,...). A storage area for storing card type data represented by a set of the symbol and the number is a ROM card 12.
Is provided at the top of the list.

One pattern stored in the ROM card 12 has display data, sewing data, and other data, and the patterns are assigned pattern numbers in the order of storage. The display data is a numerical value for displaying a pattern (contents of embroidery data) on the selection screen 24. The sewing data is a numerical value such as a feed amount for forming a pattern on the work cloth. Further, other data are numerical values for controlling the embroidery sewing machine 10 at the time of sewing. A storage area is provided in the ROM card 12 for the display data, sewing data, and other data. Further, there is destination data indicating in which storage area of the ROM card 12 the display data, the sewing data, and other data are stored.

As shown in FIG. 4, the ROM card 12 has a storage area for card type data, and a storage area for destination data in the order of pattern numbers. The destination data is display data, sewing data,
Other data are stored separately. Following the storage area for the destination data, display data, sewing data,
A storage area for other data is provided. These display data, sewing data, and other data are stored in the storage area indicated by the destination data in the order of pattern numbers.

The data is stored in the RAM card 14 in a format different from that of the ROM card 12 because the data is stored along with the editing operation. Therefore, a data reading program for reading data from the RAM card 14 is required. In addition, in order to re-edit the pattern, editing data indicating how the pattern was edited is required,
This editing data is stored in a ROM
It is composed of data indicating the pattern of the card 12 and data indicating a reference position at which the selected pattern is displayed on the editing screen. For example, ROM card 1 called A1
When the pattern No. 01 of pattern No. 2 is displayed at the reference position of X (1), Y (1), the data is a series of data as shown at the head of the edit data in FIG. In the case of one pattern including a plurality of patterns, there are a plurality of sets of pattern numbers and reference positions.

As shown in FIG. 5, the RAM card 14
Is provided with a storage area for storing a data reading program. Then, ROM card 1
Edit data in the order selected (edited) from 2
There are provided storage areas for collectively storing display data, sewing data, and other data for each data.

Note that the embroidery sewing machine 10
It has a power supply such as a small dry battery independent of the power supply, and is configured to store the storage contents after editing. Also, RAM
The output unit of the card 14 has the same mechanism as the output unit of the ROM card 12, and reads the RAM card 14 from the reading device 16
It can be attached to. The RAM card 14 has a sufficient storage capacity for storing the pattern of the ROM card 12 and a reading program.

In this embodiment, the ROM card 12 is
The reading device 16 corresponds to a reading unit.
And the CPU 22 and the editing screen 24 are used as display means.
The CPU 22, the selection screen 24 and the touch panel 2
6 corresponds to the selection means, and the RAM card 14 corresponds to the storage means.
And the CPU 22 and the writing device 18 serve as writing means.
Equivalent to.

Next, the editing operation for creating the pattern shown in FIG. 12 using the embroidery sewing machine 10 of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

To make an embroidery pattern as shown in FIG. 12, first, a ROM card 12U storing alphanumeric characters and the like is used.
Two ROM cards 12 are used, one mounted on the upper side and the other ROM card 12D storing the illustration and the like (mounted on the lower side).

When the ROM card 12 is mounted on the reading device 16, the reading device 16 detects that the ROM card 12 is mounted. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 10, the contents of the upper ROM card 12U are stored in the CPU 22.
Is displayed on the selection screen 24 via. When power is turned on for the first time, the reading device 16 is configured to give priority to the upper ROM card 12U, but if it detects that the ROM card 12U is not mounted on the upper side,
As shown in FIG. 1, the contents of the lower ROM card 12D are displayed. When the reading device 16 detects that both the ROM cards 12 are not mounted, the reading device 16
Are displayed on the selection screen 24.

When it is detected that the card button 64 has been pressed or the ROM card 12 displayed on the selection screen 24 has been removed, the reading device 16
While displaying the contents of the other ROM card 12,
A signal indicating that the display has been changed is output to the CPU 22. At this time, the reading device 16 also switches the lighting of the display LED 65. The display shown in FIG. 10 is for “A to N”, but can be changed to the display of “O to Z” in the latter half of the alphabet by operating the touch panel 26. Similarly, the case can be freely changed.

When the RAM card 14 is mounted on the writing device 18, the writing device 18 detects that the RAM card 14 is
4 is searched. The writing device 18 is a CPU
If it is determined that the read program is not stored in the RAM card 14 via the CPU 22, the read program stored in the internal ROM 42 is stored in the RAM card 14. Next, when the writing device 18 determines that the pattern is not stored in the RAM card 14, the writing screen 18 informs the editing screen 28 that the pattern is not stored in the RAM card 14.
To be displayed. On the other hand, when determining that the pattern is stored in the RAM card 14, the writing device 18
, The pattern of the RAM card 14 is displayed on the editing screen 28. The reading device 16 and the writing device 18 can operate in parallel, and the above operations of the reading device 16 and the writing device 18 are repeated during the editing operation. When the contents of the RAM card 14 are displayed, the CPU 22
Goes to the main routine for editing work shown in FIG.

First, a configuration is made such that the preparation mode is set when the process proceeds for the first time after the power is turned on (S10, S11). Since no pattern has been stored in the RAM card 14 for the first time, it is determined that there is no selected pattern, and the determination is made in the internal RAM 4.
4 (S20: NO). Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the cursor is displayed blinking at the upper left of the edit screen 28 (S21). Next, the CPU 22 waits for input of the pattern of the ROM card 12 displayed on the selection screen 24 (S23). The operator can move the cursor freely on the edit screen 28 by pressing the move button 32 during this input waiting. Therefore, after the cursor is positioned at the position where the pattern is desired to be displayed (embroidered), the touch panel 26 is pressed to select the desired pattern.

First, the case of editing the character pattern "HELLO" will be described below.

After the cursor is moved to the display position, "H" having the same size as the cursor is selected by pressing the touch panel 26. Subsequently, the touch panel 26 corresponding to “IN” on the selection screen 24 is pressed and the CPU
22 as well as an internal RA for display.
When stored in M44 (S23: YES), it is determined whether the selected pattern can be displayed at the location where the cursor is located (S24). Since the character "H" equal to the size of the cursor is selected, it can be displayed (S24: Y
ES). If the pattern cannot be displayed (S24: NO), the correction amount is calculated so that the pattern moves toward the center of the edit screen 28 so that the pattern can be displayed, and the internal RA is calculated.
It is stored in M44 (S25). When the size of the cursor is different from that of the pattern, the correction amount can be considered so that the center of the cursor matches the center of the pattern.

Only when it is impossible to display the pattern as it is, the pattern input in S23 is blinked and displayed at a position corresponding to the cursor on the edit screen 28 in consideration of the correction amount (S26). Next, the CPU 22 waits for an input to determine whether to store the blinking pattern in the RAM card 14 (S2).
7). When the enter button 34 is pressed (S27: YE
S), the CPU 22 reads the internal RAM 44 and
It is determined whether or not the determination is YES, and
If the determination at step 20 is NO, the edited data, display data, sewing data, and other data of the blinking pattern are stored in the RAM card 14 in the order in which they were edited. Further, the right position of the stored pattern, that is, the position where the cursor is displayed next is stored in the internal RAM 44 in order to display the next cursor (S28).

After each data is stored, if the cursor cannot be displayed on the right side of the pattern, the lower, upper or right position of the pattern is stored in the internal RAM 44.

When the storage processing is completed, the stored pattern is statically displayed on the edit screen 28, and the CPU 22 returns to the main routine again. In the creation mode, S
Until the determination button 34 is pressed at 27, it is possible to return to S20 by pressing the all clear button 36 and change the stored pattern.

If the mode button 58 is not pressed, the creation mode is set again (S10, S11). Next time,
The cursor is displayed at the cursor position stored in the internal RAM 44 in S28, that is, on the right side of "H" (S2
0: NO, S21). Next, “E” is input and similarly stored in the RAM card 14 through the processing of S24 to S28. In the same manner, the character portion “HELLO” is stored in the RAM card 14 and displayed as an edit screen 28 in FIG. The input method in S23 is not limited to one character at a time, and it is also possible to select "HELLO" for each word on the selection screen 24 and then input the word to the CPU 22 for each word in S23.

If the pattern is stored in the RAM card 14 and the pattern error, for example, "HELLO" is changed to "HALL"
The case where the operator notices that "O" has been mistaken for a part of the pattern will be described below.

First, when the operator presses the mode button 58, it is determined which selection mode is selected (S10).
The selection mode shown in FIG. 8 is set (S11). Internal R
The AM 44 is searched to determine whether there is a pattern already selected in the selection mode (S30). If it is determined that there is not (S30: NO), the RAM card 14 is searched and
The pattern stored first in the patterns stored in the RAM card 14 is designated (S31). Next, the pattern "H" designated in S31 is displayed on the edit screen 28.
Blinks on the display (S32).

The CPU 22 waits for an input to determine whether the blinking pattern is the pattern to be selected (S3).
3). If the move button 32 is pressed during this input wait, it is determined that another pattern is desired to be selected (S33: N
O, S34: YES), the move button 32 is pressed, and R
Another pattern stored in the AM card 14 is specified again (S35). When the left and upward movement buttons 32 of the movement buttons 32 are pressed, the pattern immediately before (stored before) the blinking pattern is designated, and the right and downward movement buttons 32 are pressed. When pressed,
A pattern that is one pattern later (stored later) than the blinking pattern is designated. Therefore, in S34, R
It is possible to specify an arbitrary pattern among the patterns stored in the AM card 14.

In this case, since “A” is corrected to “E”, “A” stored after “H” is not the initially specified “H”, but the downward or rightward movement button 32 is used.
(S35), and "A" blinks (S32). When the determination button 34 is pressed and determined (S33: YES), the presence of the selected pattern and the type of the selected pattern are stored in the internal RAM 44, and the CPU 22 returns to the main routine (S36).

When the all clear button 36 is pressed in the selection mode, the internal R stored in S36 is pressed.
It is possible to erase the stored contents of the AM 44 and return to S30 to determine that no pattern selecting action has been performed. Also, even after the storage processing is completed in S36, if the mode button 58 is not pressed and the selection mode is maintained, the pattern is assumed to be selected (S3
0: YES), the pattern already stored in the internal RAM 44 is displayed blinking (S32). Therefore, it is possible to change the pattern to be selected.

When the mode button 58 is pressed after the pattern to be corrected is selected in the selection mode, it is determined that the mode is the creation mode (S10), and the creation mode is set (S11). By searching the internal RAM 44, it is determined that the selected pattern is present (S20: YES), and the fact that the determination is YES is stored in the internal RAM 44. The searched pattern “A” flashes on the edit screen 28 at the position stored in the RAM card 14 (S22). Next, when “E” is selected and input by the touch panel 26 (S23: YES),
Similarly, the processing of S24 to S26 is performed. Thereafter, when the enter button 34 is pressed (S27: YES), the internal RA
In M44, it is determined that the determination in S20 is YES, and "E" is replaced with "A", and the RAM card 1
4 (S28). In addition, the display position of the cursor after the correction is completed is not changed and remains in the vicinity of the pattern “O” stored last. Thus, the stored pattern can be corrected.

Further, after the pattern is stored in the RAM card 14, a part of the pattern is deleted, for example, "HELLO
The case where “W” is “HELLO” will be described below.

First, the mode button 58 is pressed to set the selection mode (S10, S11), and similarly, the pattern "W" is selected (S36). Next, mode button 5
8 is pressed to set the deletion mode (S10, S1
1). Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the presence or absence of the pattern selected in the selection mode is determined by searching the internal RAM 44 (S40). Since there is a selection pattern (S40:
YES), the pattern selected in the selection mode blinks on the edit screen 28 stored in the RAM card 14 (S41).

The CPU 22 waits for an input to determine whether the blinking pattern can be deleted (S42).
When the enter button 34 is pressed (S42: YES), the blinking pattern is deleted from the RAM card 14 (S4).
3). When the patterns are deleted one by one from the RAM card 14 and no patterns are stored in the RAM card 14, the cursor is displayed on the upper left of the editing screen 28. When a button other than the enter button 34 is pressed while waiting for an input in S42, the RAM card 14
After that, the CPU 22 returns to the main routine without deleting the blinking pattern.

The case where all the patterns stored in the RAM card 14 are erased will be described below.

First, a mode is deleted without selecting a pattern in the selection mode (S10, S11). Since there is no selected pattern (S40: NO), the CPU 22 waits for the input of an all clear (all erase) instruction (S44).
When the all clear button 36 is pressed (S44: YE
S), all the patterns stored in the RAM card 14 are blinked on the edit screen 28 (S45). CPU2
2 waits for an input to determine whether or not all the contents of the RAM card 14 can be deleted (S46). When the enter button 34 is pressed (S46: YES), all the patterns stored in the RAM card 14 are deleted, and the cursor is displayed on the upper left of the edit screen 28, so that the ROM card 1
2 indicates that nothing is stored (S4
7).

If any button other than the enter button 34 is pressed while waiting for the input in S46, the RAM card 14
The CPU 22 returns to the main routine without performing the entire erasure (S46: NO). In this way, it is possible to delete a part of the pattern even after storing it in the RAM card 14. If the RAM card 14 is inserted, the CPU 22 proceeds to the main routine.
Even if the M card 12 is not mounted, the RAM card 14
Can be deleted.

Next, the ROM card 12 mounted on the lower side
To select a pattern from D, pressing the card button 64 switches the ROM card 12 to be displayed on the selection screen 24, as shown in FIG. At this time, even if the ROM card 12 from which the pattern is read changes, the editing screen 28 continues to display "HELL" as shown in FIG.
The cursor blinks after "O" of "O", and the sewing position is displayed. Next, the cursor is moved to the position where the next pattern to be selected is displayed. Subsequently, the cat illustration is selected in the creation mode and stored in the RAM card 14. As shown in FIG. 12, when the editing of the entire embroidery pattern is completed, the thread and cloth are set on the embroidery sewing machine 10, the embroidery sewing machine 10 is started, and the embroidery sewing is started.

As described above, since the embroidery data can be edited and stored in the RAM card 14 from the separate ROM card 12, the number of original patterns can be remarkably increased. Since the edited pattern is stored in the RAM card 14, the once edited pattern can be reused many times.

Even if the ROM card 12 from which the pattern is read is changed, the sewing position is continuously displayed on the edit screen 28, so that the position of the next pattern to be inputted can be easily adjusted. Also, the pattern before replacing the ROM card 12 is
Since it is continuously displayed on the edit screen 28, the relative position between the pattern to be input after the replacement of the ROM card 12 and the pattern before the replacement can be easily understood, so that it is easy to determine the layout. Therefore, it is possible to easily combine patterns stored in different RAM cards 14.

Further, since the editing is performed while being stored in the RAM card 14, a large amount of pattern data can be edited even if the capacity of the internal RAM of the embroidery sewing machine 10 is small, and the cost of the embroidery sewing machine can be reduced. Is also possible.

Further, since a plurality of ROM cards 12 can be mounted at the same time, even if a plurality of ROM cards 12 are used, the trouble of replacement is greatly reduced.

In this embodiment, an example in which patterns stored in different ROM cards 12 are stored in combination is introduced. However, frequently used patterns, for example, only names and favorite patterns are stored in the RAM card 14. If collected, the number of patterns to be selected is reduced, and the time required for selecting the patterns is shortened, so that work efficiency is improved.

In the above embodiment, the pattern ROM card 12
Although the combination of the patterns is considered, a ROM card 12 created by an image scanner or the like may be used. Further, although the two liquid crystal screens of the selection screen 24 and the edit screen 28 are used, one liquid crystal screen may be shared, but the same screen as that used in the conventional sewing machine is used for the selection screen 24. The operability is good because it is a screen that you are accustomed to by using it. At the same time, if the contents of the plurality of ROM cards 12 are displayed simultaneously and can be selected, the trouble of switching the selection screen 24 is completely eliminated. In the above embodiment, the ROM card 12 corresponds to the external storage device of the present invention, but the external storage device may be a data storage device output via a cable or the like.

Although the touch panel 26 is used for pattern editing, other selection devices such as a pen stick and a keyboard may be used. The selection operation can be performed more quickly by using a mouse.

If three or more ROM cards 12 can be inserted, the trouble of replacing the ROM cards 12 is further reduced. The edited pattern may be edited by simply moving the stored pattern. In this case, the layout can be easily changed.

In addition, since the pattern of the ROM card 12 can be edited with the main body of the embroidery sewing machine 10, an original pattern can be created and the embroidery sewing operation can be performed immediately, and the pattern editing device is not required. Will also be easier. If the editing screen 28 is made detachable from the embroidery sewing machine 10, the screen is easy to see and the working efficiency is further improved.

[0074]

As is apparent from the above description,
The embroidery sewing machine of the present invention is capable of editing embroidery data stored in a plurality of external storage means in another storage device and storing the edited embroidery data. Therefore, if a frequently used pattern is selected and stored, the time for selecting the pattern can be shortened, and the work efficiency is improved. Further, even if the external storage device from which the embroidery data is read is changed, the embroidery data can be continuously edited, so that it is possible to easily combine patterns stored in different external storage devices. Furthermore, since a plurality of external storage devices can be continued at the same time, switching of the external storage devices is easy. Then, since the edited data is stored in the external storage device, the embroidery data can be reused or used for another data reading device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram corresponding to claims.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the embroidery sewing machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a ROM card according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a RAM card according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a main routine of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a creation mode according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a selection mode according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a deletion mode according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a liquid crystal display diagram of the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a liquid crystal display diagram of the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a liquid crystal display diagram of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Embroidery sewing machine 12 ROM card 14 RAM card 16 Reading device 18 Writing device 22 CPU 24 Selection screen 26 Touch panel 28 Editing screen

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An embroidery sewing machine for performing embroidery by relatively moving a work cloth and a sewing needle based on embroidery data representing a pattern, a reading unit for reading embroidery data from an external storage device, and an embroidery data read by the reading unit. Display means for displaying the contents of the embroidery data; selecting means for selecting the embroidery data displayed on the display means; and storing the plurality of embroidery data selected by the selecting means from a plurality of external storage devices An embroidery sewing machine comprising: a storage unit; and a writing unit that writes the embroidery data of the external storage device selected by the selection unit into the storage unit. 2. The embroidery sewing machine according to claim 1, further comprising data editing means for editing the contents of the embroidery data displayed by said display means. 3. The embroidery sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein said reading means is capable of simultaneously attaching a plurality of said external storage devices. 4. The embroidery sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein said storage means is a writable external storage device.