JP3854642B2 - Embroidery pattern input device by original picture with discrimination display - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an embroidery pattern input device for creating embroidery sewing data for causing an embroidery sewing machine to perform embroidery sewing. The present invention relates to an embroidery pattern input device for obtaining data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art An embroidery pattern input device is known that, when creating embroidery pattern data for an embroidery sewing machine, takes an original image by image input means such as an image scanner and converts it into embroidery sewing data. If you want to obtain a multicolored pattern, etc., prepare multiple original images for each color, match the positions of the original images, and read multiple levels for each original image using the multicolor image input device. When a color is designated and embroidery is sewn by a sewing machine, a technique for realizing multicolor embroidery by changing the thread at every read stage has already been proposed and realized.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, preparing a plurality of original images for each color and aligning and reading them is a great burden on the user, and there is a drawback that the work is troublesome.
The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Embroidery pattern input device of the present invention in order to achieve the above object, an embroidery pattern input apparatus for obtaining embroidering data from the image data, images data of an original having a geometric determination display corresponding to the color Means for separating the image data for each discrimination display, means for designating a sewing color for each separated image data, means for converting the image data into stitch data, Means for storing the converted seam data in association with the designated sewing color, and the discrimination display is filled, dot, dot shading, horizontal stripe, vertical stripe, diagonal stripe, one-dot chain line stripe, It includes two or more of stripes by dotted lines, differences in thickness of stripe lines, shading density, barcodes, numbers, characters, and marks.
It is also possible to read the original image in a plurality of stages for each discrimination display without providing the separating means.
[0005]
[Action]
Means for providing image data to output the images data of an original having a geometric determination display corresponding to the color of the image. This is specified by means for specifying the sewing color for each discrimination display of the image data. This image data is converted into stitch data and stored in the storing means in relation to the designated sewing color.
[0006]
【Example】
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
In FIG. 1, the embroidery pattern multi-stage input device X includes an image scanner 2 as “means for providing image data” . The image scanner 2 is connected to the input device main body A, and image data read by the image scanner 2 is input to the central processing unit 1 shown in FIG.
[0007]
The original image to be prepared here is provided with a discrimination display corresponding to the color and the like together with the image. For example, in the example of the original picture shown in FIG. 6, a flower shape is drawn as an image, and each picture is divided and drawn by dots, horizontal stripes, and vertical stripes as a discrimination display.
Different types of indications (hereinafter referred to as “patterns”) such as fills, shades of dots, diagonal stripes, stripes by dash-dot and double-dashed lines, stripe line thickness and shade, bar codes, numbers, letters, marks, etc. These may be used, and any combination thereof may be used as long as the difference between the images is expressed separately and can be read by the image input means.
[0008]
The pattern in FIG. 6 represents the difference in color, and as described later, each pattern corresponds to white, yellow, red, green, etc., but can also correspond to the type of seam.
[0009]
The input device main body A is provided with a guide 24. An original image having a pattern is placed on the original image placing portion 25 set on the guide 24, and the image scanner 2 is caused to travel on the original image. As a result, the original image is read. It is also possible to read the image by running on the original image freely without using such a guide 24.
In addition, 20 is a scanner button for reading an image, 21 is a scanner dial for adjusting the density of reading, 31 is a liquid crystal display for performing various displays described later, 32 is a RAM card eject button of the stitch data storage means 6, Reference numeral 33 denotes a power switch.
[0010]
As shown in FIG. 3, the input device body A is provided with an operation command section 5 comprising a plurality of function keys such as a read key 50, a storage key 51, a pattern number input key 52, a sewing color designation key 54, and an RGB input key 55. The operator operates these keys to cause the image scanner 2 to run on the original image so as to read the image.
That is, when the operator operates the reading key 50, the central processing unit 1 enters the reading mode, and when the number of original patterns is input by the pattern number input key 52, the pattern number signal is input to the pattern number input means 3. The number of patterns is set. At the same time, a pattern code corresponding to the number of patterns is set, and these signals are sent to the central processing unit 1 to enter an image reading mode. At this time, a pattern block corresponding to each pattern is formed in the image data storage means. Further, the selected pattern is displayed on the liquid crystal display 31 so that the selected pattern can be confirmed.
[0011]
After performing the above operation, the image scanner 2 is scanned on the original image on the original image placing unit 25 while the scanner button 20 of the image scanner 2 is being pressed, so that the image and pattern of the original image are read by the image scanner 2. It is like that.
[0012]
The image data accompanied by the read pattern data is sequentially sent to the central processing unit 1, and the central processing unit 1 is configured to store the image data in the image data storage unit 11.
[0013]
When the reading of the image is completed , the image data dividing means 4 which is “the means for separating the image data” reads the image data and divides the image data based on the pattern (discrimination display) . . In the example of FIG. 6, image data having pattern data belonging to the pattern P1 is searched based on the discrimination data of the pattern P1, and the corresponding image data is stored in the pattern block of the pattern P1 in the image data storage means 11. It is like that.
The same operation is performed for P2, P3, and P4, and the image data in the image data storage means is separated into the pattern blocks P1 to P4 and stored.
It should be noted that the image data can be divided by various methods, for example, every predetermined bit block unit.
[0014]
Next, when the storage key 51 is operated, the central processing unit 1 performs the embroidery of the sewing machine on the image data for each color block stored in the image data storage means 11 in accordance with the program command from the stitch data conversion program storage means 10. After being converted into the stitch data of the pattern, it is input to the stitch data storage means 6. At this time, the image data is stored in association with the pattern code of the pattern block.
[0015]
The sewing color designation key 54 is a key for designating a color at the time of actual sewing. By operating this key , the sewing color designation means 7 which is a “means for specifying a sewing color” corresponds to each pattern. The actual sewing color of the stored image data can be designated. At this time, the sewing color image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 31 by the image display means 8 which is a “means for displaying a sewing image” . Now, for example, it is assumed that an original image having patterns P1−−P4 as shown in FIG. 6 is read by the image scanner 2 and stored in the image data storage means 11 for each pattern. Here, you want to change as designated color to be shown as an actual sewing color pattern in FIG. 6, the actual sewing color of each image data by sewing color designating means 7 by operating the stitch color specifying keys 54 Can be specified. In the example of FIG. 6, the horizontal stripes of the original image are designated as white, the dots as yellow, the vertical stripes as red, and the fill as green. As a result, embroidery sewing as shown in FIG. 7 can be realized.
As shown in FIG. 3, the sewing color designation means 7 is provided with an RGB input key 55. When the sewing colors are designated, the three primary colors are individually input to synthesize desired colors, which are then displayed on the image display means 8. Thus, designation can be made while displaying on the liquid crystal display 31. Thereby, there is an advantage that the degree of freedom of color specification is improved and a free color design can be performed.
[0016]
When the storage key 51 is operated after the stitch color designation means 7 is designated, the central processing unit 1 functions as “means for converting to stitch data” in accordance with the program command from the stitch data conversion program storage means 10, The image data stored in the data storage means 11 is converted into stitch data and display data of the embroidery pattern of the sewing machine, and the specified stitch color is associated with the stitch data and display data to “store in relation to the stitch color”. so that the input to the stitch data storage means 6 is means "for. The display data is used for image display on the display unit of the sewing machine body.
[0017]
The seam data storage means 6 is a RAM card in this embodiment, and can be attached to and detached from the RAM card slot 30 of the input device main body A as shown in FIG. If the seam data storage means 6 storing the stitch data and display data is removed from the input device main body A and is mounted on the RAM card reading unit 35 of the embroidery sewing machine main body Y shown in FIG. The sewing image is displayed in color on the display unit so that the operator can select a desired pattern. Then, if a predetermined operation of the sewing machine is performed, the embroidery pattern stored in the selected stitch data storage means 6 is called, and the embroidery sewing machine body Y operates according to the stitch data and according to the designated sewing color. The pattern of the color specified by the sewing color specifying means 7 with the same pattern as the original picture can be realized as an embroidery stitch.
[0018]
In this embodiment, the image display means 8 is provided as described above, and the image data stored in the image data storage means 11 is converted into display data for the liquid crystal display 31, and the display data is displayed on the liquid crystal display. The color image is displayed on the basis of the sewing color designated for the pattern.
[0019]
The operation will be described with reference to FIG.
When the operator operates the pattern number input key 52 to input a predetermined number of patterns N (step 60), a pattern code corresponding to the number of patterns is set (step 61), and the central processing unit 1 operates in the image reading mode. It becomes.
Next, when the operator presses the reading key 50 of the input device main body A and moves the image scanner 2 on the original image while pressing the scanner button 20 of the image scanner 2, the image scanner 2 sequentially reads the image and pattern of the original image. The image data and pattern data are sent to the central processing unit 1 (step 62). This image data is stored in the image data storage means 11 (step 63).
[0020]
When the reading is completed, the image data dividing unit 4 sets Ni = 1 and Pi = 1 (step 64), reads the image data including the pattern data from the image data storage unit 11, and reads each predetermined bit block of the data. The data belonging to the P1 pattern is extracted by applying the discrimination data of P1 to (step 65). Then, Ni and Pi are incremented (step 66), data belonging to the Pi pattern is sequentially extracted, and the image data is stored in the image data storage means corresponding to the pattern code. The above operation is repeated until the set number of colors N is reached (steps 67, 68, 69).
[0021]
When reading of all patterns N is completed, the sewing color is designated in accordance with the operation of the sewing color designation key 54 (step 70). For example, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the designated sewing color is designated as white for pattern P1, yellow for P2, red for P3, and green for P4. At this time, an arbitrary color may be designated by the RGB input key 55. Based on the designated color, the image display means 8 sends the image data in the image data storage means 11 to the liquid crystal display 31 for color display (step 71). After the operator confirms the designated color (step 72) and operates the storage key 51, the central processing unit 1 follows the program stored in the image data storage unit 11 according to the program stored in the stitch data conversion program storage unit 10. The data is converted into stitch data and display data (step 73), and the stitch data and display data are stored in the stitch data storage means 6 in correspondence with the designated stitch color code (step 74).
As described above, it is possible to obtain stitch data of a colored image in which an arbitrary color is designated from one original image having an image divided and displayed in a pattern.
[0022]
Next, a method of using the apparatus of the above embodiment will be described.
After the power switch 33 is first turned on, the seam data storage means 6 is inserted into the RAM card slot 30. Then, the number of patterns input key 52 is pressed to set the number of patterns. A pattern code corresponding to this is set by setting the number of patterns. At the same time, blocks of each pattern are formed in the image data storage means 11.
Then, an original image having an image divided by the above-described pattern is prepared, and the original image is placed on the original image placing portion 25 (or other appropriate place) of the guide 24, and the image scanner 2 is placed on the upper end of the guide 24 as shown in FIG. After operating the position reading key 50, the image scanner 2 is moved to the lower end while pressing the scanner button 20. As a result, the image reading unit 22 scans the original image placing unit 25 from the upper end to the lower end, and reads the image and pattern of the original image on the original image placing unit 25.
[0023]
During reading by the image scanner 2, the image data is separated into blocks of the pattern by the image data dividing unit 4 and stored in the image data storage unit 11.
[0024]
When reading by the image scanner 2 is completed, the sewing color designation key 54 is operated to designate the sewing color for each pattern. At this time, since the image of the specified color is displayed on the liquid crystal display 31, it is possible to specify and change the color while viewing a specific colored image. It is also possible to specify an arbitrary color using the RGB input key 55.
When the sewing color designation is completed, the storage key 51 is pressed to convert the image data into stitch data and display data, and store them in the stitch data storage means 6 in association with the designated color.
When all the steps are completed, the operator presses the RAM card eject button 32 to take out the stitch data storage means 6 from the input device main body A, and attach the stitch data storage means 6 to the RAM card reading unit 35 of the embroidery sewing machine main body Y. By operating the embroidery sewing machine body Y, an embroidery pattern can be sewn with a designated sewing color on an image corresponding to an original image of multiple colors. At this time, a colored image is displayed based on the display data by a predetermined operation on the display unit of the sewing machine body Y, and a pattern can be selected while viewing a specific color image.
[0025]
In the above embodiment, the pattern number input means 3, the image data dividing means 4, the sewing color designation means 7, the image display means 8 and the like are configured independently of the central processing unit 1, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead of the configuration, it is also possible to form a single unit with the central processing unit 1.
[0026]
In the above embodiment, the embroidery pattern multi-stage input device X is described as being configured separately from the embroidery sewing machine body Y. The image scanner 2 may be connected to the embroidery sewing machine body Y by being incorporated in Y. In this case, the stitch data storage means 6 can be configured as a card type that can be inserted and removed as in the above-described embodiment, or can be configured as a memory built in the embroidery sewing machine body Y.
[0027]
According to the embodiment described above, multicolor stitch data can be obtained by one reading operation from the original image divided and displayed by the pattern. For this reason, it is not necessary to prepare a plurality of original images, and the image scanner 2 does not need to read a color.
[0028]
FIG. 8 shows another embodiment. In this embodiment, the image data dividing means 4 is not provided, and the image data is read by the image scanner 2 for each pattern at the time of reading, so that the image data is separated and inputted. In this case, it is necessary to use an image scanner 2 that can be selected and input for each pattern. For example, an image is divided as a pattern according to the shade of a fill, and is read by the image scanner 2 for each density. It can be.
[0029]
In FIG. 8, when the operator inputs the number of colors of the original image with the read pattern number input key 52 and further selects the pattern to be read with the read pattern selection means 9, the read pattern is designated, and the signal is sent to the central processing unit 1. The selected pattern reading mode is set.
After performing the above operation, the image scanner 2 is moved on the original image on the original image placing unit 25 while pressing the scanner button 20 of the image scanner 2, so that the image of the selected reading pattern of the original image is displayed on the image scanner. 2 is read. Then, the reading pattern selection unit 9 is operated again to designate a pattern to be read next, and the image scanner 2 is scanned on the original image in the same manner, whereby the image of the next pattern is read by the image scanner 2. If such an operation is repeated for the number of patterns, an image can be read for each pattern and image data for each pattern can be obtained without using the image data dividing means 4.
The read image data is sequentially sent to the central processing unit 1, and the central processing unit 1 is configured to store the image data in the image data storage unit 11 that is a “unit for storing in association with the discrimination display”. Has been. At this time, the image data is stored in association with the pattern of the original image selected by the reading pattern selecting means 4.
[0030]
The operation will be described with reference to FIG.
When the operator presses the reading key 50 of the input device main body A and presses the reading pattern number input key 52 to set the number of patterns N (step 80), the central processing unit 1 sets the pattern number counter Ni = 1 (step 81). Then, the reading pattern selection means 9 is operated to select a reading pattern (step 82). Then, when the image scanner 2 is run on the original image while pressing the scanner button 20 of the image scanner 2, the image scanner 2 sequentially reads the selected read pattern portion of the original image and sends the image data to the central processing unit 1. (Step 83). This image data is stored in the image data storage means 11 in association with the read pattern code (step 84). The central processing unit 1 increments the pattern number counter by 1 (step 85), and executes reading for each pattern until the set number of patterns is completed (step 86).
[0031]
When reading is completed for all patterns, the sewing color is designated as shown in FIG. 6 in accordance with the operation of the sewing color designation key 54 (step 87). At this time, an arbitrary color may be designated by the RGB input key 55. Based on the designated color, the image display means 8 converts the image data in the image data storage means 11 into display data, and displays the image on the liquid crystal display 31 in color (step 88). After the operator confirms the designated color (step 89) and operates the storage key 51, the central processing unit 1 uses the data stored in the image data storage means 11 in accordance with the program of the stitch data conversion program storage means 10 to produce stitch data. (Step 90), the stitch data is stored in the stitch data storage means 6 in correspondence with the designated stitch color (step 91).
[0032]
8 and FIG. 9 described above does not require the image data dividing means 4, and the stitch data of a colored image in which an arbitrary color is designated from one original image divided and displayed by a pattern. Can be obtained.
[0033]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the embroidery pattern input device according to the present invention does not require operations such as preparing a plurality of different original images for each color and aligning them, and by reading one original image having a discrimination display. , Stitch data with color information can be created. Moreover, there is an effect that a desired color can be designated as the sewing color.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view showing an original image placement unit 25 in one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an external view of a sewing machine to which a stitch data storage unit 6 is attached according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a relationship between an original pattern and a designated color according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an image displayed in a designated color.
FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of another embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: central processing unit, 2: image scanner, 3: pattern number input means, 4: image data dividing means, 5: operation command section, 6: stitch data storage means, 7: sewing color designation means, 8: image display Means: 9: Reading pattern selection means, 10: Stitch data conversion program storage means, 11: Image data storage means, 20: Scanner button, 21: Scanner dial, 24: Guide, 25: Original image placement section, 30: RAM card Slot: 31: Liquid crystal display, 32: RAM card eject button, 33: Power switch, 35: RAM card reader, 50: Read key, 51: Store key, 52: Pattern number input key, 54: RGB input key.

Claims (4)

An embroidery pattern input device for obtaining embroidery sewing data from image data,
And means for providing the images data of an original having a geometric determination display corresponding to the color,
Means for separating the image data for each discrimination display;
Means for specifying a sewing color for each of the separated image data;
Means for converting the image data into stitch data;
Means for storing the converted stitch data in association with the designated stitch color;
The discrimination display is filled, dot, shading of dots, horizontal stripes, vertical stripes, diagonal stripes, stripes by alternate long and short dash lines, stripes by two-dot chain lines, differences in thickness of stripe lines, shades of stripes, bar codes, numbers, characters , Including two or more of the marks,
An embroidery pattern input device using an original image having a discrimination display characterized by the above. An embroidery pattern input device for obtaining embroidery sewing data from image data,
An image input means for reading a predetermined discrimination display of an original image having a shape discrimination display corresponding to a color and an image related thereto, and outputting image data including the discrimination display information;
Means for storing the image data obtained by reading the original image in a plurality of stages for each discrimination display in relation to the discrimination display;
Means for designating a sewing color for each discrimination display of the image data;
Means for converting the image data into stitch data;
Means for storing the converted stitch data in association with the designated stitch color;
The discrimination display is filled, dot, shading of dots, horizontal stripes, vertical stripes, diagonal stripes, stripes by alternate long and short dash lines, stripes by two-dot chain lines, differences in thickness of stripe lines, shades of stripes, bar codes, numbers, characters , Including two or more of the marks,
An embroidery pattern input device using an original image having a discrimination display characterized by the above. Means for displaying a sewing image based on the image data and the sewing color specified by the specifying means;
An embroidery pattern input device using an original image having a discrimination display according to any one of claims 1 and 2. The designating means can designate any color by designating the ratio of each primary color.
Embroidery pattern input device according to original having a discrimination display according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images