JPH0117399B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to an electronic sewing machine that automatically forms a desired pattern selected from a large number of pre-stored patterns on a workpiece cloth, and in particular, relates to an electronic sewing machine that automatically forms a desired pattern selected from a large number of pre-stored patterns on a workpiece cloth, and in particular, relates to an electronic sewing machine that automatically forms a desired pattern selected from among a large number of pre-stored patterns on a work cloth. The present invention relates to a technique that allows patterns representing each character to be selected from among a plurality of kana characters while minimizing the number of types of shapes.

PRIOR ART In an electronic sewing machine that automatically forms a desired pattern selected from a plurality of pre-stored patterns on a workpiece cloth, images of the pattern are generally displayed on the front of the sewing machine, and the displayed A desired pattern can be selected quickly and accurately based on the pattern shape.

By the way, in such electronic sewing machines,
In recent years, the types of patterns that can be sewn have increased, such as
The number of patterns has been expanded to more than 100, and the number continues to increase.As a result, the number of patterns displayed on the front of the sewing machine is also increasing, but on the other hand, the display area of the pattern on the front of the sewing machine is limited. Therefore, as the number of patterns increases, the size of each displayed pattern tends to gradually become smaller, which has become a problem in this type of electronic sewing machine.
In order to quickly and accurately select a desired pattern based on the image of the pattern displayed on the front of the sewing machine, it is necessary to display the image of the pattern in a reasonably large and easy-to-see manner so that it can be easily distinguished. However, as the number of types of patterns to be displayed has increased in recent years, the size of each pattern has to become significantly smaller, and as a result, it has become difficult to distinguish between each pattern. As a result, it has become difficult to select a pattern quickly and accurately, and there is a risk that the operability of selecting a pattern quickly and accurately may be impaired.

On the other hand, despite these circumstances, there is a desire to selectively form character patterns representing each of a plurality of alphabetic characters and kana characters, together with various other patterns. However, in order to meet these demands, the number of types of patterns that can be sewn increases significantly, and the number of types of pattern shapes that must be displayed on the front of the sewing machine increases significantly. As the size of the pattern becomes extremely small, it becomes extremely difficult to distinguish the shape of the pattern, and the operability of selecting the pattern is reduced.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention has been made against the background of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its purpose is to selectively create character patterns representing at least each character in alpha alphabetic characters and kana characters on a processed cloth. By making it possible to select and specify each character without displaying the image of the pattern representing each character in the sewing machine on the front surface of the sewing machine, an electronic sewing machine that is designed to be able to form patterns on the front surface of the sewing machine Images are displayed larger to make them easier to distinguish.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic sewing machine which allows a desired pattern selection operation based on a pattern shape to be performed more quickly and reliably.

Structure of the Invention In order to achieve this object, an electronic sewing machine according to the present invention (a) selectively generates stitch data groups related to character patterns representing each character among a plurality of types of alpha alphabet characters and a plurality of types of kana characters; (b) character specifying means having an operating body for specifying each of the plurality of types of alphabetic characters and generating a character code signal corresponding to the specified alphanumeric character; (c) a first mode for selecting a character pattern representing an alphabetic character specified by the operating object; and a character pattern representing a Romanized kana character of at least one alphanumeric character specified by the operating object; mode switching means for switching the pattern selection mode between a second mode for selecting and a second mode for selecting; (d) when the pattern selection mode is switched to the first mode, the characters generated from the character specifying means; converting the code signal into a pattern code signal indicating the pattern of the corresponding alpha alphabetic character; and when the pattern selection mode is switched to the second mode, at least one character code signal generated from the character specifying means; (e) a signal converting means for converting the pattern into a pattern code signal indicative of a pattern of a kana character in Roman alphabet format using the corresponding alphabetic characters; and (e) the stitch data generating means in accordance with the pattern code signal from the signal converting means. selecting means for selecting one stitch data group to be generated from the selected stitch data group, and is configured to perform stitch formation in accordance with each stitch data in the selected stitch data group.

Effects of the Invention By doing this, by operating the operating tool for specifying an alpha-abbetic character in the first mode, the alpha-abbreviated character can be operated in the Roman alphabet format in the second mode. This makes it possible to select character patterns representing kana characters, and to form the selected character patterns reliably on the work cloth.
In other words, there is no need to display on the front of the sewing machine the shapes of the character patterns representing each letter in the kana characters. It is now possible to display the shapes of other patterns, including the character patterns representing them, in a larger size on the front of the sewing machine, making it easier to distinguish between the pattern shapes and selecting the desired pattern based on the pattern shape. This allows for faster and more reliable operations.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the external appearance of an electronic sewing machine to which the present invention is applied, in which a pillar part 12 is erected on a bed part 10, and an arm part 14 is horizontally supported by the pillar part 12 at one end. Supported.
A head 16 is formed at the other end of the arm portion 14, and a sewing needle 18 is provided at the lower end of the head 16 and is driven reciprocally in the vertical direction in synchronization with the rotation of the main shaft of the sewing machine (not shown). A bar 20 and a presser foot 22 are provided which can be manually moved to a raised position and a lowered position, respectively. On the other hand, near the needle drop point of the sewing needle 18 on the bed portion 10, a feed dog 24 is provided which feeds the work cloth by being reciprocally driven in synchronization with the rotation of the main shaft of the sewing machine.

Pattern display section 2 provided on the front side of the arm section 14
6, a large number (for example, about 100 types) of patterns consisting of groups A, B, and C are displayed together with two-digit pattern numbers (not shown). Group B
Those belonging to Group A are the shapes of so-called continuous sewing patterns, including practical stitches such as straight stitches and zigzag stitches, as well as decorative patterns. Those belonging to Group A are letters such as alpha alphabets and numbers, and those belonging to Group C are figures of a series of patterns or patterns. It is a pattern of letters. The figural patterns belonging to these groups A and C are so-called cycle patterns in which each pattern is sewn individually. At the bottom of the pattern display section 26, ten pattern selection switches 28 are provided as operation bodies each having a number engraved thereon for selecting a desired pattern. On the right side of the pattern display section 26 is a two-digit number display 30 for displaying the pattern number, and on the right side of the pattern selection switch 28 is a combination designation switch 32 for designating a combination of cycle patterns. Each is provided. Below the number display 30, when an alphanumeric character is specified by operating the 1-cycle designation switch 34 for designating single-cycle sewing and the pattern selection switch 28, the character is As a mode switching means for switching and selecting whether to form the designated alphabetical characters as they are on the work cloth or to form kana characters represented in Roman alphabet form by the designated alphabetic characters. A mode changeover switch 36 is provided with LEDs 38 and 40 that indicate the respective operation states, and furthermore, a mode changeover switch 36 is provided below the mode changeover switch 36, when a mode for forming kana characters is selected by the mode changeover switch 36. In,
A lowercase character designation switch 42 is provided for designating that the kana character be formed as a lowercase character by operating it subsequent to the operation of the pattern selection switch 28. Note that 44 is a start/stop switch for starting and stopping the sewing machine, and 46 is a speed setting device for instructing to set the speed of a sewing machine motor 48 to a desired value, which will be described later.

The electronic sewing machine configured as described above is equipped with a control circuit shown in FIG. 2.

That is, when a two-digit pattern number is specified by operating the pattern selection switch 28, the encoder 50 selects the numerical value of the two-digit pattern number, in other words, the pattern specified by the pattern number. The code signal representing the pattern is output as pattern specification data SS,
Display drive circuit 52, signal conversion circuit 54, input port L of multiplexer 56, and pattern discriminator 5
8, respectively. In other words, in this embodiment, the character code signal corresponding to an alpha alphabet character is outputted from the encoder 50 as pattern designation data SS when an alpha alphabet character is designated by the pattern selection switch 28. , this encoder 50 and the pattern selection switch 28 constitute a character designation means. In addition, when inputting a two-digit pattern number using the pattern selection switch 28, the encoder 50 starts up when the designation of the first digit number is completed with the pattern selection switch 28, and the encoder 50 starts up when the designation of the second digit number is completed. An operation signal SO that falls when the operation is completed is also output, and the operation signal SO is supplied to the signal conversion circuit 54.

The display drive circuit 52 supplies a display signal for displaying the two-digit number represented by the pattern designation data SS to the number display 30, and the pattern number designated and inputted by the pattern selection switch 28 is displayed on the number display 30. It is becoming more and more common. By checking the numerical value displayed on the numerical display 30, the operator can accurately specify the desired pattern number.

When a kana character is specified in the Roman alphabet format by inputting a pattern number corresponding to an alphabetic character by operating the pattern selection switch 28, the signal conversion circuit 54 converts pattern designation data SS representing a pair of alphabetic characters. , convert these alpha characters into one code signal (with the same number of bits as the code signal of the pattern specification data SS) corresponding to the kana character expressed in the Roman alphabet format, and convert the converted code signal into the pattern conversion data.
It is supplied as ST to the input port H of the multiplexer 56, and has a configuration as shown in FIG. 3, for example.

That is, the pattern designation data SS is supplied to the channel selector 60, and is passed through the channel selector 60 to the first and second latch circuits 62, 6.
4. In the channel selector 60,
Pattern designation data to these latch circuits 62 and 64
The supply of SS is controlled by the channel switching signal SOD from the T-type flip-flop 66. The operation signal SO is input to this T-type flip-flop 66, and the level of the channel switching signal SOD, which is its output, changes when the first pattern number is designated by the operation of the pattern selection switch 28. At the fall of the operation signal SO based on the specified operation, the L level changes to the H level, and conversely, when the second pattern number designation operation is performed, the H level changes to the L level at the fall of the operation signal SO based on that operation. Each level is inverted. Then, in the channel selector 60, the channel switching signal SOD is set to H.
The pattern designation data SS is supplied to the first latch circuit 62 when the level is low, and conversely to the second latch circuit 64 when the level is low. In other words,
When kana characters are designated in the Roman alphabet format, a code signal representing the first consonant side alphabetic character is supplied to the first latch circuit 62, and a code signal representing the vowel side specified later is supplied to the second latch circuit 64. It is now being supplied to

Further, the channel switching signal SOD is supplied to the first and second one-shot multi-circuits 68, 70, and the one-shot multi-circuits 68,
70 to the first and second signals at the rise and fall of the channel switching signal SOD, respectively.
The latch pulses SL1 and SL2 are connected to the latch circuit 6.
2,64 and channel selector 60
The pattern designation data SS from is latched. The pattern designation data SS latched by the latch circuits 62 and 64 are supplied to the conversion memory 72 and the character discriminator 74 as first and second latched data DL1 and DL2, respectively. In other words, the code signal representing the alphanumeric character on the consonant side is the first latch data DL1, and the code signal representing the alphanumeric character on the vowel side is the second latch data DL1.
2, they are supplied to a conversion memory 72 and a character discriminator 74, respectively. The contents of the latches in the latch circuits 62 and 64 are updated at the falling edge of each latch pulse signal SL1 and SL2.

On the other hand, the second latch pulse signal SL2 from the second one-shot multi-circuit 70 is supplied to the input terminal CK of the D-type flip-flop circuit 76 via the delay circuit 78, and during the pressing operation of the lower case designation switch 42, the The lowercase level designation signal SK is supplied to the input terminal D of the D-type flip-flop circuit 76. In the delay circuit 78, the delay time is set to be longer than at least the time required from the end of the operation of the pattern selection switch 28 until the lowercase letter designation switch 42 is pressed following the operation,
When the lowercase character designation switch 42 is operated subsequent to the operation of the pattern selection switch 28, the second pulse signal SL supplied via the delay circuit 78
2, the D-type flip-flop circuit 76 is brought into a set state. Therefore, if the lowercase designation switch 42 is operated subsequent to the designation operation of the second pattern number by the pattern selection switch 28, the level signal will be at H level, and if the operation is not performed, the level signal will be at L level. It is output to one input terminal of the AND circuit 80.

On the other hand, the output signal of the character discriminator 74 is supplied to the other input terminal of the AND circuit 80. The character discriminator 74 receives latch data DL1 and DL from the first and second latch circuits 62 and 64.
“YA”,
This is to determine whether lowercase Kana characters such as “YO”, “TU”, etc. are being represented, and when such lowercase Kana characters are being represented, the output is H. level, and at all other times, it is set to L level. In other words, AND circuit 8
The output of 0 becomes H level when the pattern selection switch 28 is operated to specify a kana character that can be a lowercase letter, and the lowercase letter specification switch 42 is operated subsequent to the operation of the pattern selection switch 28. Thus, the data is supplied to the conversion memory 72.

The conversion memory 72 stores in advance a large number of kana character data corresponding to each character in the kana characters, and when a kana character is specified in Roman alphabet format by the alphanumeric characters represented by the latch data DL1 and DL2, , the kana character data corresponding to the designated kana character is read out, and is output as a code signal having the same number of bits as the code signal representing the alphabetic character. In addition, the above-mentioned "YA",
When kana characters such as "YO", "TU", etc., which can be lowercase, are expressed in Roman alphabet format, when the signal from the AND circuit 80 is at L level, "ya",
Outputs code signals corresponding to uppercase kana characters such as "yo" and "tsu", and conversely, outputs code signals corresponding to lowercase kana characters such as "ya", "yo", and "tsu" when at H level. It is designed to output a signal.
The code signal thus converted and output is then supplied to the input port H of the multiplexer 56 as the pattern conversion data ST, as described above.

Incidentally, in the above explanation, there was no particular mention of the case of kana characters (vowels) that can be represented by one alphanumeric character such as "A", "U", "O", etc., but in such a case, For example, by specifying those alphanumeric characters twice in succession, code signals corresponding to the alphanumeric characters are supplied to both latch circuits 62 and 64, respectively.
It is sufficient that the pattern conversion data ST is latched so that the conversion memory 72 outputs pattern conversion data ST representing one kana character using code signals of the same two alphabetic characters.

Returning to FIG. 2, the multiplexer 56 is
Pattern specification data supplied to input ports L and H
Either one of SS and pattern conversion data ST is selected and the selected data is output as pattern data SM to the start address memory 86 and stitch number data memory 88, and the selection control is performed in the mode described above. This is performed based on the operation of the changeover switch 36 and the output of the pattern discriminator 58. The mode changeover switch 36 sends a mode changeover signal to the T-type flip-flop 82 each time it is pressed.
SC is supplied, and the T-type flip-flop 82 is set and reset each time it is pressed, and its output is the mode display signal SME (H level).
The signal is supplied to one input terminal of the AND circuit 84 as a signal. The pattern discriminator 58 also uses pattern designation data.
It is decided whether or not the pattern number represented by SS represents an alpha alphabet character used to designate kana characters in the romaji format. If it is determined that the character represents an alphanumeric character used to designate a large character, it outputs an H-level character determination signal SLJ and supplies it to the other input terminal of the AND circuit 84. . And those mode display signals
When both SME and character judgment signal SLJ are supplied to the AND circuit 84, the output of the AND circuit 84 is supplied as the mode designation signal SA (H level) to the port select terminal of the multiplexer 56, and the input port of the multiplexer 56 is switched from L to The pattern conversion data ST that is switched to H and is supplied to the input port H is output as pattern data SM.

As is clear from the above description, in this embodiment, when the mode display signal SME is not output and when it is output are the first and second modes of the pattern selection mode, respectively. The state is T-type flip-flop 8.
The information is displayed by lighting the LED 40 connected to the output of No. 2. Further, in this embodiment, a signal conversion means is constituted by the multiplexer 56 and a signal conversion circuit 54 including the lowercase character designation switch 42, and the pattern data SM output from the multiplexer 56 corresponds to a pattern code signal. do.

The start address memory 86 is a memory that stores the start addresses corresponding to each pattern that can be sewn. In addition to the pattern data SM, the mode designation signal SA is supplied from the AND circuit 84 to this head address memory 86, and the LED 40 whose pattern selection mode is set to the first mode by the mode changeover switch 36 When is not lit,
Setting of the second mode in which the start address corresponding to each pattern represented by the pattern data SM, that is, a pattern such as an alphanumeric character displayed on the pattern display section 26 on the front of the sewing machine is output, and the mode designation signal SA becomes H level. At times, the start address corresponding to the kana character pattern represented by the pattern data SM is output to the channel selector 90.

Channel selector 90 supplies pattern data SM from head address memory 86 to pattern code memory 94 when it is not receiving activation signal SST (H level) from motor control circuit 92 (described later), but when it is not receiving activation signal SST (H level), In this state, the start address from the pattern code memory 94 is supplied to the stitch data generator 96.

The pattern code memory 94 is a memory for temporarily storing the start address supplied from the start address memory 86 via the channel selector 90, and is set to a write state when the start signal SST is not supplied. , start signal SST
When supplied, the read state is set. Therefore, in the write state, the supplied start address is stored at an address position corresponding to the count contents of the address counter 98, which will be described later, and in the read state, the start address of the address position specified by the address counter 98 is stored. is read out and supplied to the stitch data generator 96 via the channel selector 90.

Stitch data generating device 96 constitutes stitch data generating means, and in addition to being supplied with the start address from pattern code memory 94 via channel selector 90, rotation of the main shaft of the sewing machine (not shown) is supplied from timing signal generating circuit 100. A timing signal TS synchronized with the sewing machine main shaft is supplied, and based on these start addresses and the timing signal TS, a series (group) of stitch data (signals) corresponding to the start address is transmitted to the rotation of the sewing machine main shaft ( The timing signal TS) is sequentially supplied to the actuator drive circuit 102 in synchronization with the timing signal TS. That is, the stitch data generator 96 loads the start address when it is input, and also includes an address counter (not shown) that counts the timing signal TS in addition to the loaded content, and an address counter (not shown) that corresponds to each pattern that can be sewn. The sewing machine is provided with a stitch data memory (not shown) in which a group of stitch data is stored in advance and sequentially outputs stitch data addressed according to the count contents of the address counter as a stitch signal. The stitch signal output from the stitch data memory is supplied to the actuator drive circuit 102. Note that this stitch data generation device 96
From now on, when a series of stitch signals generated based on the specification of one start address reaches the end, an end signal SE is generated, and this end signal SE is generated by the OR circuit described later. 1
04 to the clock terminal CK of the address counter 98.

The stitch signal is composed of a needle position signal SH representing the swing position of the sewing needle 18 and a feed signal SF representing the feed amount and feed direction of the work cloth, and the actuator drive circuit 102 receives these needle position signals.
SH and feed signal SF are converted into analog signals, power amplified, and supplied to needle swing actuator 106 and feed actuator 108, respectively. The needle swing actuator 106 changes the swing position of the needle bar 20 by driving the needle swing mechanism, and the feed actuator 108 changes the rotation position of a feed adjuster (not shown). Feed dog 24
The feed amount and feed direction of the work cloth are changed by the needle position signal SH and the feed signal SF, respectively, and the individual needle positions on the work cloth are sequentially determined and correspond to the start address. A pattern is formed. Note that, as is clear from this, in this embodiment, the head address memory 86 serves as the selection means.

The pattern discriminator 58 outputs the character determination signal SLJ as described above, and also outputs the pattern determination signal SAC, which is supplied to one input terminal of the AND circuit 110. This pattern determination signal SAC is not output when the pattern specified by the operation of the pattern selection switch 28 is a continuous sewing pattern belonging to group B, and is at an H level when it is a cyclic pattern belonging to groups A or C. is output. This pattern determination signal SAC is also supplied to an AND circuit 112 (described later), and when cycle patterns of groups A and C are designated by the pattern selection switch 28, the operation of the 1 cycle designation switch 34 is enabled. I'm starting to do that.

The AND circuit 110 has the combination designation switch 32 connected to the other input terminal, and when the combination designation switch 32 is pressed while the cycle pattern is selected by the operation of the pattern selection switch 28, H level combination designation signal
SB is supplied to the clock terminal CK of the address counter 98 via the OR circuit 104, and is also supplied to the adder 114.

A start signal is sent to the clear terminal CL of the address counter 98 via the one-shot multi-circuit 116.
SST is supplied, and the count contents are cleared at the rise of the start signal SST, that is, every time the sewing machine is started. Therefore, when the sewing machine is not in operation, the address counter 98 performs a check every time the combination designation switch 32 is pressed when specifying a cycle pattern, and when the sewing machine is in operation, every time the end signal SE is supplied from the stitch data generator 96. In addition, in the pattern code memory 94, when a combination of cycle patterns is specified, the start address corresponding to the specified cycle pattern is sequentially written in accordance with the count contents of the address counter 98, and the cycle pattern is During formation, the written start addresses are read out sequentially in the writing order, and the start addresses sequentially read out in the write order are sent to the stitch data generator 96 via the channel selector 90. By being
The cycle patterns whose combinations are specified are successively formed on the work cloth in the specified order.

The adder 114 is used to calculate the total number of stitches required for one single sewing operation of the sewing machine when forming a cycle pattern on a work cloth, and is an adder supplied from the signal conversion circuit 54. In accordance with the load signal SLD, a signal representing the number of stitches corresponding to each designated pattern is loaded from the stitch number data memory 88, and when combining cycle patterns, a combination designation signal from the AND circuit 110 is loaded.
The loaded signals are sequentially added based on SB, and the added signal is supplied to the motor control circuit 92 as the stitch number signal SN.

As is clear from FIG. 3, the adder 114 receives the second latch pulse signal SL2 from the delay circuit 78 via the OR circuit 118 and the output signal of the AND circuit 120 as the adder load signal SLD.
It is now being supplied as a The operation signal SO from the encoder 50 is supplied to one input terminal of the AND circuit 120, and the mode designation signal SA is supplied from the AND circuit 84 to the other input terminal via the inverter 122. When the first mode is set by the mode changeover switch 36, the adder load signal SLD is supplied to the adder 114 each time the pattern selection switch 28 is operated. .

On the other hand, the stitch number data memory 88 is a memory in which data representing the number of stitches required to form each cycle pattern is stored, and in addition to the pattern data SM from the multiplexer 56, A mode designation signal SA is supplied from the start address memory 86, and the pattern designated by these signals SM and SA, as in the case of the first address memory 86, is, that is, when the first mode is set by the mode changeover switch 36, a pattern such as an alphanumeric character, etc. is supplied. The cycle pattern displayed on the pattern display section 26 on the front of the sewing machine,
Further, when the second mode is set, a signal representing the number of stitches required to form a pattern of kana characters expressed in Roman alphabet format using alpha-alphabetic characters is outputted and supplied to the adder 114.

That is, in the adder 114, when the pattern selection mode is set to the first mode by the mode changeover switch 36, the pattern selection switch 28 is set to the first mode.
When the signal representing the number of stitches of the cycle pattern displayed on the pattern display section 26 including the alpha alphabet character specified by the operation is loaded, and the pattern selection mode is set to the second mode, the pattern By operating the selection switch 28, a signal representing the number of stitches of a pattern of kana characters expressed in Roman alphabet format using alphanumeric characters specified is loaded, and the signals representing the loaded number of stitches are used as the combination designation signal. It is designed to be added each time SB is input.

The motor control circuit 92 controls the driving of the sewing machine motor 48 via the motor drive circuit 126 based on the operation of the start/stop switch 44 and the one cycle designation switch 34, and includes, for example, a T-type flip-flop (not shown). The starting signal SST instructs to drive the sewing machine motor 48, and the speed change command signal STO instructs to set the rotation of the sewing machine motor 48 to a predetermined low speed. These signals SST and STO are output to motor drive circuit 1.
26. That is, T
The output level of the type flip-flop is reversed each time the start/stop switch 44 is pressed.
The output of the T-type flip-flop whose level is inverted every time the button is pressed is supplied to the motor drive circuit 126 as a starting signal SST. Further, when the start/stop switch 44 is operated while the 1 cycle designation signal SI at H level is being supplied based on the operation of the 1 cycle designation switch 34, the subtraction counter receives the stitches from the adder 114. As well as loading the stitch number signal SN, the loaded stitch number signal SN is subtracted and counted by the timing signal TS from the timing signal generation circuit 100, and the motor control circuit 92 calculates the counted contents. When STO reaches a predetermined constant value, the shift command signal STO is supplied to the motor drive circuit 126, the count becomes zero, and the needle position detector 128 indicates that the needle is in the raised position. When the raised position signal SU representing the start signal SST is supplied, the T-type flip-flop is reset and the output of the start signal SST is stopped.

In the motor drive circuit 126, the motor control circuit 9
When the start signal SST is supplied from 2, driving power is supplied to the sewing machine motor 48 to drive it;
When the start signal SST is stopped, the power supply to the sewing machine motor 48 is stopped and the sewing machine motor 48 is automatically stopped at the raised position of the sewing needle 18, and the speed change command signal STO is also supplied. When the machine is running, driving power is supplied so that the sewing machine motor 48 rotates at a predetermined low speed.

A signal for specifying the rotation speed of the sewing machine motor 48 is input from the speed setting device 46 to the motor drive circuit 126, and a signal representing the actual rotation speed of the sewing machine motor 48 is input from the speed detector 130. The driving power is output so that the rotational speed of the sewing machine motor 48 matches the set rotational speed.

The output signal of the one cycle designation switch 34 is supplied to the T-type flip-flop 132 via the AND circuit 112, and one cycle is designated in the presence of the pattern determination signal SAC indicating that a single sewing pattern has been selected. Each time the switch 44 is pressed, the T-type flip-flop 132 is set or reset.
A one-cycle signal is generated by lighting the LED 38 connected to the output terminal of the type flip-flop 132.
The status of whether SI is at H level or not is displayed.

The main operations of this embodiment will be explained below. When forming the cycle patterns of groups A and C on the work cloth, operate the mode changeover switch 36 to set the pattern selection mode to the first mode while the sewing machine is stopped, and then set the pattern selection mode to the first mode. While checking the display, operate the pattern selection switch 28 to specify the two-digit pattern number corresponding to the desired pattern. In this way, since the pattern selection mode is set to the first mode, the multiplexer 56 specifies the pattern of the code signal corresponding to the pattern on the pattern display section 26 specified by the pattern selection switch 28. Data SS is the same pattern data SM
Based on the pattern data SM and the mode designation signal SA from the AND circuit 84, the start address memory 86 outputs the start address corresponding to the specified pattern. and,
This start address is stored in the pattern code memory 94 via the channel selector 90. In addition,
When specifying a combination of cycle patterns, the combination specification switch 32 is operated subsequent to the designation operation of the pattern number. In this way, the start addresses corresponding to the designated cycle pattern are sequentially written into the storage locations in the pattern code memory 94 designated by the count contents of the address counter 98.

After specifying the desired pattern as described above, when the start/stop switch 44 is pressed to start the sewing machine, a start signal SST is output from the motor control circuit 92 and the sewing machine motor 48 is driven. The leading addresses stored in the pattern code memory 94 are read out in the writing order according to the addressing of the address counter 98 which is reset by the activation signal SST. Therefore, this head address is sequentially supplied to the stitch data generator 96 via the channel selector 90, so that the stitch signals corresponding to each cycle pattern are sent via the actuator drive circuit 102 to the needle swing actuator in the specified order. 106 and feed actuator 108, and a desired specified pattern is formed on the work cloth.

On the other hand, when forming a pattern representing kana characters on the work cloth, the mode selection switch 36 sets the pattern selection mode to the second mode, and
The pattern selection switch 28 is used to specify two consecutive alphanumeric characters so that one desired kana character is expressed in the Roman alphabet format. In addition, when selecting multiple kana characters, after specifying one kana character and pressing the combination designation switch 32,
At the same time, specify the following kana characters in romaji format. Here, when specifying a lowercase kana letter, the lowercase letter specification switch 42 is operated following the pattern selection switch 28.

In this way, the pattern data SM corresponding to the desired kana character expressed in the Roman alphabet format by the alpha alphabetic characters will be output from the multiplexer 56 as described above, and this pattern data will be output from the head address memory 86. According to SM and the mode designation signal SA from the AND circuit 84, the leading address corresponding to the desired kana character is output. Then, this start address is stored in the pattern code memory 94, and is formed on the work cloth by operating the start/stop switch 44, similarly to the case of the cycle pattern displayed on the pattern display section 26, such as the alpha alphabet letters. The Rukoto. In other words, in this embodiment, the pattern display section 26 on the front of the sewing machine
Even if the image of the pattern representing the kana characters is removed, the pattern representing the desired kana characters can be accurately formed on the processed cloth by specifying the kana characters in the form of Roman letters using alphabetic characters. .
Therefore, even if the number of patterns that can be sewn is significantly increased by making it possible to form patterns representing kana characters,
By making these kana characters sewn,
There is no need to reduce the size of the pattern on the pattern display section 26, and the size of other pattern images can be maintained at a size that is easy to distinguish. In addition, when forming a cycle pattern on the work cloth as described above, when one-cycle sewing is designated by the one-cycle designation switch 34, the activation signal output from the motor control circuit 92 is used to start sewing. When the timing signal is supplied for the number of stitches of the desired pattern and the raised position signal SU is supplied, the output is stopped, so that the sewing machine motor 48 is automatically stopped at the raised position of the sewing needle 18.

When forming the continuous sewing pattern of group B on the pattern display section 26 on the workpiece cloth, set the pattern selection mode to the first mode and simply select the pattern corresponding to the desired continuous sewing pattern using the pattern selection switch 28. All you have to do is specify the number. In this case, a series of stitch signals for forming a specified pattern are repeatedly read out in the stitch data generator 96 based on the start address loaded into the address counter in the stitch data generator 96. The specified continuous sewing pattern is repeatedly formed on the work cloth. Note that when this continuous sewing pattern is formed, the pattern determination signal SAC is not output from the pattern discriminator 58, so the operation of the combination designation switch 32 and the operation of the one cycle designation switch 34 are both invalid.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, this is literally an illustration, and the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited to this embodiment.

For example, in the block diagram of FIG. 2, part or all of the circuit surrounded by the dashed line may be constructed by a microcomputer. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, so-called 10 numeric keys are used as operating objects, and by operating the numeric keys to designate a two-digit number, an alphanumeric character can be designated, and the character can be designated as such. By specifying two alphanumeric characters and specifying a kana character in the Roman alphabet format, a pattern corresponding to the desired kana character was formed on the fabric. It is not necessary to use numerical keys, and alphabet keys that can directly specify alphabetic characters may be used.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the stitch data group corresponding to each pattern was simply stored in advance in the stitch data generating device 96, but stitches of patterns corresponding to hiragana characters and/or katakana characters The stitch data group is different from the stitch data group of other patterns.
It is desirable to store the information in another removable memory such as a ROM pack, and to determine whether or not a pattern representing kana characters can be formed by adding or removing such memory. In this way, electronic sewing machines based on the same base can
It becomes possible to easily and economically classify models that can form kana characters and models that cannot form kana characters, and it is possible to improve productivity when sewing machines are organized into series by class.

Further, in the above embodiment, in order to clear the address counter 98, the one-shot multi-circuit 116 that supplies a signal to its clear terminal CL is operated based on the start signal SST, but the start/stop switch 44 The device may be activated based on the output signal of the device.

Although not listed in detail, it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented with various modifications and improvements within the scope of the spirit thereof.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of a sewing machine to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the signal conversion circuit shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 26...Pattern display section, {28...Pattern selection switch (operating body), 50...Encoder} (character designation means), 36...Mode switching switch (mode switching means), 54...Signal conversion circuit (signal conversion means), 56... multiplexer, 86... head address memory (selection means), 96... stitch data generation device (stitch data generation means), pattern designation data SS (character code signal), pattern data SM ( pattern code signal).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Stitch data generating means capable of selectively generating a stitch data group related to a character pattern representing each character among a plurality of types of alpha alphabet characters and a plurality of types of kana characters; a character specifying means having an operating body for specifying each of the characters and generating a character code signal corresponding to the designated alphanumeric character; mode switching means for switching a pattern selection mode between a first mode and a second mode for selecting a character pattern representing a kana character in a romaji format using at least one alphabetical character designated by the operating body; , when the pattern selection mode is switched to the first mode, converts the character code signal generated from the character designation means into a pattern code signal that designates the pattern of the corresponding alphabetic character, and the pattern selection mode is switched to the first mode. When switched to the second mode, a signal for converting at least one character code signal generated from the character specifying means into a pattern code signal indicative of a pattern of a kana character in Roman alphabet format corresponding to the character code signal; converting means; and selecting means for selecting one stitch data group to be generated from the stitch data generating means in accordance with the pattern code signal from the signal converting means, and selecting the selected stitch. An electronic sewing machine that forms stitches according to each stitch data in a data group.