JPH04158888A - Embroidery data-making device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the stitches of embroidery from rising by the overlap of many stitches at the vertex of a triangular block, by including a means whereby two new vertexes, either of which deviates from a first vertex, are established on one main contour line element, and the triangular block is changed to a new quadrangle block provided for the two new vertexes, a second vertex and a third vertex. CONSTITUTION:Among a plurality of blocks provided for an embroidery area, a triangular block 138 for which a vertex P2 lies on one main contour line element 132 and second and third vertexes P12, P13 lie on the other main contour line element 134, exists. In this case, a triangular block-changing means 2 establishes two new vertexes P2, P1 on the main contour line element 132 and forms a new quadrangle block 136 provided for each of the vertexes P1, P2, P12, P13, as a substitute for the triangular block 138. Since a block adjacent to the triangular block is not changed, its adjoining block and the new quadrangle block are partially overlapped each other. For its overlapped part, an embroidery data-making means 3 makes embroidery data so that stitches are doubly formed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to an embroidery data creation device that creates data for embroidering with a sewing machine, and in particular, it relates to an embroidery data creation device that creates data for embroidering with a sewing machine. This relates to the creation of embroidery data for performing embroidery.

Conventional technology: Divide the IIA eI area into blocks arranged in a row,
The entire embroidery area is filled with stitches by sequentially filling each block with stitches.

The present applicant has previously developed a device that divides the embroidery area into blocks and automatically creates embroidery data.

There are various ways of dividing, but in principle, two main contour line elements that extend opposite each other are set on the outline of the stitch a area, and a plurality of main contour line elements are set on these two main contour line elements. If you set the set point on one main contour line element and connect the set point on the other main contour line element to a nearby set point on the other main contour line element, the embroidery area can be divided into multiple blocks arranged in a line. It can be divided. This block is generally rectangular, but may also be triangular.

When filling a block with seams, seams are formed that alternately connect the sides of the block that form part of the main outline elements, but when the block is triangular, , the vertices on one main contour line element and the bases on the other main contour line element are connected alternately, and many stitches are concentrated on one vertex and bulge, resulting in poor appearance. It looks especially bad when the block is literally triangular, but even if it is technically a square block, the two vertices are very close to each other, and if you fill that block with seams, the seams will bulge out. In this case, it can be considered to be a substantially triangular block. In this specification, for ease of understanding, the term triangular block is used, but this term also includes blocks that can be regarded as substantially triangular as described above.

In order to avoid the above-mentioned inconvenience, the present applicant has developed an embroidery data creation device that has a function of changing triangular blocks to quadrilateral blocks. This is the case currently being filed as Japanese Patent Application No. 1-274746.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention The present invention has been made with the object of providing an embroidery data creation device having a function of changing a triangular block into a quadrangular block by means other than the developed device.

Means for Solving the Problem In order to solve this problem, the embroidery data creation device according to the present invention has an embroidery area in which a plurality of blocks including triangular blocks and quadrangular blocks are arranged in a row, as shown in FIG. A block data storage means 1 stores data defining data as being lined up, and a first vertex among three vertices of a triangular block is located on one of the main contour line elements, and the remaining second and third vertices are located on the other. When located on the main contour element of
Two new vertices are set on one main contour line element, with one of them being outside the first vertex, and a triangular block is defined by the two new vertices, the second vertex, and the third vertex. a triangular block changing means 2 for changing to a new quadrilateral block, the new quadrilateral block, and a block adjacent to the new quadrilateral block on the side where one of the two new vertices that is deviated from the first vertex is located; Embroidery data creating means 3 is configured to create embroidery data so that stitches for both the new rectangular block and the adjacent block are formed overlappingly in the partially overlapping portion.

Function: In the embroidery data creation device configured as described above,
When there is a triangular block whose first vertex is located on one main contour line element and whose second and third vertices are located on the other main contour line element among the plurality of blocks that define the embroidery area, The triangle block changing means 2 sets two new vertices on one of the main outline elements, and creates a new quadrilateral defined by a total of four vertices, including these two new vertices and the second and third vertices. Create a block instead of a triangle block. Triangular blocks are changed to square blocks.

Both of the above two new vertices may be set at a position away from the first vertex, one new vertex is set at the same position as the first vertex, and the other new vertex is set at a position away from the first vertex. May be set. The former is to consider the first vertex as two overlapping vertices, and move the two vertices together along one main contour line element, and the latter is to move the two vertices together along one main contour line element. It is to move one side.

Even if a triangle is changed to a new quadrilateral as described above, the blocks adjacent to the triangle are not changed, so the adjacent blocks and the new quadrilateral partially overlap, and the embroidery data creation means 3 Embroidery data is created so that stitches are formed twice.

In the embroidery data creation device of Japanese Patent Application No. 1-274746, when a triangular block is changed to a new quadrangular block, the boundary line with the adjacent block is moved and the shape of the adjacent block is also changed at the same time. However, in the embroidery data creation device according to the present invention, adjacent blocks are not changed, and the re-device is different in this point.

Effects of the Invention According to the embroidery data creation device according to the present invention, a large number of stitches do not overlap and bulge at the vertices of a triangular block, and good-looking embroidery can be obtained.

Note that double seams are formed in the overlapping portions of the new rectangular block and the adjacent block, but the appearance does not deteriorate to the extent that the seams overlap twice.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

In FIG. 2, 10 is a sewing machine table, and on this sewing machine table 10 there is a bed 12 and a sewing machine frame 14.
is provided. The sewing machine frame 14 includes a pedestal section 16 rising from the bed 12, and an upper arm 18 extending cantilevered from the upper end of the pedestal section 16 and substantially parallel to the head 12. This sewing machine frame 14 has a needle bar 22.
is attached to be movable in the vertical direction by a needle bar stand (not shown), and a needle 24 is fixed to the lower end thereof.

The needle bar 22 is connected to a sewing machine motor 26 (third
(see figure), and the needle bar 22 and needle 24 are caused to reciprocate up and down by driving the sewing machine motor 26. An opening is formed in the upper surface of the bed 12. Although this opening is closed by the throat plate 30, a needle hole 38 is formed in the throat plate 30, and the needle 24 enters the lower part of the throat plate 30 through this needle hole 38, and cooperates with a shuttle (not shown). to form a seam.

Also, sewing machine table 10. An embroidery frame 42 is mounted on the head 12 so as to be movable in the X-axis direction, which is the left-right direction of the sewing machine, and in the Y-axis direction, which is the front-rear direction. The embroidery frame 42 has an annular outer frame 44 and an inner frame 46 fitted inside the outer frame 44, and these frames 44 and 46 hold the work cloth. A slide portion 48 is formed on the outer frame 44 and extends in the X-axis direction, and is slidably fitted into a pair of guide pipes 50 provided on the sewing machine table 10 in the Y-axis direction. Both ends of these guide pipes 50 are supported by support stands 52 and 54. − side support stand 52
is the feed screw 56. It is adapted to be moved in the X-axis direction by an X-axis feed motor 58, and the other support stand 5
4 is spaced apart from the upper surface of the sewing machine table 10. These slide portions 48. A pair of endless wires 60 are engaged with the support bases 52.54, and the wires 60 are connected to the rotation transmission shaft 62.54. The slide portion 48 is moved in the Y-axis direction by being moved by the feed motor 64. The embroidery frame 42 is moved to any position in the horizontal plane by the movement of the support base 52 in the X-axis direction and the movement of the slide part 48 in the Y-axis direction, and this movement and the vertical movement of the needle 24 allow the embroidery frame 42 to be processed. Embroidery is applied to the cloth.

This sewing machine is controlled by a control device 70.

The control device 70, as shown in FIG.
OM74. The main body is a computer including a RAM 76, a bus 78, and the like. An input interface 80 is connected to the lotus 78, and a keyboard 82. An external storage device 84 is connected.

The keyboard 82 is used to input the shape of the embroidery area to be applied to the work cloth, thread density, etc., and inputs alphabets, numbers,
Various keys necessary for inputting data are provided, including keys for specifying embroidery patterns such as symbols and kana. Also,
The created data is stored in the external storage device 84.

An output interface 100 is further connected to the bus 78, and a motor drive circuit 10 is connected to the output interface 100.
4, 106, 108 and the sewing machine motor 26. through the display drive circuit 110. X-axis feed motor 58. A Y-axis motor 64 and a display device 112 are connected. The display device 112 displays comments to support data input, manually entered data, the shape of the embroidery area, etc. on the screen.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the RAM 76 includes block data memories 120. An embroidery data memory 122 and a counter 124 are provided together with other memories, and a ROM 74
stores various programs including a triangular block changing routine shown in the flowchart of FIG. This triangular block changing routine is a routine for changing a triangular block, which occurs in the middle of an embroidery area, into a quadrangular block.This routine will be explained below using the embroidery area 130 in FIG. 6 as an example.

The embroidery area 130 is defined by a plurality of blocks arranged in a line. Of the outlines of the embroidery area 130, two main outline elements 132° that extend opposite to each other! The embroidery area 130 is filled with stitches by forming stitches that alternately connect the two main outline line elements 132, 1.34.
A plurality of set points P are set on each of 34, set points P close to each other on the amphiboid contour element are paired, and each pair of set points P is connected with a straight line. Therefore, the embroidery area 130 is divided into a plurality of blocks. The block is usually a rectangular block 136
However, it may also be a triangular block 138.

The quadrilateral block 136 is represented by a set of coordinate values of four vertices, and the triangular block 138 is similarly represented by a set of coordinate values, assuming that it is a special quadrilateral with two overlapping vertices. Two identical coordinate values are given for one vertex.

As each block is sequentially filled with stitches, the embroidery area 130 is filled with stitches, and as shown in FIG. The stitches are the side that connects the vertices 1 and 3 (represented by sides 1 and 3) and the side that connects the vertices 2 and 4 (sides 2 and 4). The edge connecting the vertices 1 and 2 (edges 1 and 2) to the edge connecting the vertices 3 and 4 (
They are formed in order toward sides 3 and 4).

Note that when a triangular block occurs in the middle of the embroidery area, either the 1st and 3rd vertices overlap, or the 2nd and 4th vertices overlap, but when the triangular block occurs at the edge of the embroidery area, 21 above! In addition to this, there are two other cases: a case where vertices No. 1 and 2 overlap, and a case where vertices No. 3 and 4 overlap. Previous 21! In the case of
The seams are formed so as to alternately connect the overlapping vertices and the opposing sides, and in the latter two embodiments, the seams are formed so as to alternately connect the two sides of the triangle. Since many stitches overlap at one point in the previous two cases, the triangular block 13 is used in the routine of FIG.
6 occurs in the middle of the embroidery area, it is changed to a rectangular block 138.

When the routine shown in FIG. 5 is executed, the block data of the embroidery area 130 is already stored in the block data memory 120 in the form shown in FIG. . In the figure, P and ~PI4 indicate the coordinate values of each vertex. For example, P is the x, y coordinate value (x+
, )'+ ). In the block data memory 120, the 1st and 2nd vertices and the 3rd and 4th vertices of each block are paired and stored in the order of the stitches wA. However, blocks 3 and 4 are embroidered first.
Since the apex of the number coincides with the vertices of the block No. 1 and 2 of the block to be embroidered later, these are shared. For example, the first rectangular block 136 of the stab area 130 is defined by the top two vertex data in FIG. 8, and the second triangular block 138 is defined by the second and third vertex data. Further, n, to n7 indicate the thread density of each block, and are arbitrarily set by the operator. For example, n represents that a stitch is to be formed in the first rectangular block 136 with a thread density n+ (number of stitches per unit length), and n2 represents that a stitch is to be formed in the second triangular block 138 with a thread density n2. Indicates that a seam should be formed.

By executing the routine of FIG. 5, the block sequence of FIG. 6 is changed to the block sequence of FIG. 10.

First, step Sl (hereinafter simply referred to as Sl).

The same applies to other steps), the counter 124
The count value C of is set to 1, and the data of the Cth (here, the first) block is read from the block data memory 120 in S2.

Then, in S3, the lengths of sides 1 and 3 are O and sides 2 and 4
It is determined whether the length of is not 0, that is, whether the triangular block 138 has one vertex on the main contour line element 132 side. Since the first block is a rectangular block 136, the result of this determination is NO, and S7
In this step, it is determined whether the block is a triangular block 138 having one vertex on the main contour line element 134 side. For the first block, this determination result is also No, so S
1, the data of the block currently being read is stored in the embroidery data memory 1 as is, as shown in FIG.
22.

Subsequently, the counter 124 is incremented in step 312, and it is determined in step S13 whether or not there is a C-th link. Here, it is determined whether or not there is a second block, and since the determination result is YES, S2 and subsequent steps are executed again. Regarding the second block, the determination result in S3 is YES, and in S4 it is determined whether there is a block before the block currently being read. If the result of the determination is NO, the third vertex is moved to the third vertex of the next block in S6, but since the determination result is YES for the second block, the third vertex is moved in S5. The vertex of is the 10th
As shown by the broken line in the figure, the triangular block 138 defined by the vertices P, , P, , P, □ is moved to the first vertex of the previous block, and the triangular block 138 is defined by the vertices PI3. PI,
It is changed to a rectangular block 136 defined by P+□+P2.

However, this change does not necessarily change the previous block (here, the first rectangular block 136), so data for a connection block that connects the changed rectangular block 136 and the previous block is also created. . Specifically, the third vertex data shown in FIG. 9 and thread density data having a value of 1 are created and stored in the embroidery data memory 122, and the third vertex data shown in FIG. and thread density data are stored as the fourth data in FIG.

Thereafter, steps 32 to S13 are repeatedly executed in the same way, but when the data of the sixth block in FIG.

A triangular block 138 defined by P,,P, has vertices Ps, P+. , Pa, and PI.

In this embodiment, the embroidery data is given as thread density data and vertex data as block data, and the needle position data (data on the position where the needle 24 penetrates the work cloth) for actually forming the stitch is It is designed to be created in parallel with the execution of embroidery.

The length of the straight line connecting the midpoints of sides I and 2 and sides 3 and 4 of each block is divided by the thread density n to find the number of stitches, and the number of stitches is divided into sides 2 and 4 and sides 1 and 3. The length of is divided to determine the equal dividing points of each side, and the equal dividing points of sides 2 and 4 and sides 1 and 3 are alternately adopted as needle positions every month.

Regarding the connection blocks defined by the second and third data in FIG. 9, the thread density is 1, so one stitch is formed. As mentioned above, thread density is the number of stitches formed per unit length, but the unit length is set to a value larger than the length of a normal block, and the number of stitches formed on a normal block is The number of is smaller than the value of thread density itself. Therefore, for a connection block whose thread density is set to 1, the number of stitches will be less than 1, but since the number of stitches is rounded up when calculating the number of stitches, One stitch is always formed. When the last stitch of the first rectangular block 136 ends at the vertex P13, the vertex P I
If one stitch is formed from ff to apex P, and the last stitch of the first quadrilateral block 136 ends at apex P2, one stitch is formed from apex P2 to apex PI3. It will be done.

If embroidery is performed based on the needle position data created as described above, the stitches shown in FIG. 11 will be formed in the embroidery area 130. Moshi, MA eNNi2
If embroidery is performed with the block row defined by O3 including the triangular block 138 as shown in FIG.
However, in this embodiment, many stitches overlap in the embroidery area 130, resulting in unattractive embroidery.
Since the block row that defines the triangle block 13B is changed to one that does not include the triangular block 13B as shown in Figure 10, the stitches only partially overlap as shown in Figure 11, resulting in good-looking embroidery. is obtained.

As is clear from the above explanation, in this example,
The link data memory 120 constitutes the link data storage means 1. Also, CPtJ72, ROM
74. Of the part of the computer equipped with the RAM 76 etc. that executes the program shown in the flowchart of FIG. The portion stored in the embroidery data generating means 3 constitutes the embroidery data creation means 3, and the other portion constitutes the triangular block changing means 2. In this embodiment, as mentioned above, the embroidery data is created in a block data format that includes thread density data and vertex data as block data, so the connection block data is created and other The means for storing the block data in the embroidery data memory 122 constitutes the embroidery data creation means, but when the embroidery data is created in the needle position data format, the data for the connection block is created, Furthermore, the part that creates needle position data and stores it in the embroidery data memory constitutes the embroidery data creation means 3.

Another embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 12 to 14.

This embodiment differs from the above embodiments in the method of changing a triangular block to a quadrangular block. That is, in the above embodiment, one of the two vertices of the triangular block 138 that are considered to overlap each other is moved to the position of the adjacent vertex on the same main circular line elements 132 and 134. Triangle block 1
38 is changed to a rectangular block 136,
In this embodiment, a triangular block is changed into a quadrilateral block by moving two vertices that overlap each other. For example, the 13th
In the figure, two vertices P2 overlap each other. P9 is the vertex P2'.

By being moved to the positions of,P,#,and,P,′,P,′,, each triangular block shown by a solid line,is changed to a rectangular block shown by a dashed line,,thereby changing the relationship between adjacent rectangular,blocks. 1st in the overlapping part
As shown in Figure 4, a seam is formed at 2]i.

This change is performed by executing a triangular block change routine shown in the flowchart of FIG. The execution of this routine can be understood in almost the same way as the triangular block changing routine of the above embodiment, so the explanation will be omitted.However, two overlapping vertices are not always both moved, but are If there is an adjacent block only on either the front or rear side, by executing steps 5I05-109 or 3111-115, one vertex is moved only to the side where the adjacent block exists.

In Mata, 3106, 3108, 3112, and 5115, "to move the vertex at α" means to move the vertex along it by a distance α times the length of the side to be moved. Therefore, the moving distance of the vertex can be changed by changing the value of α set in 3101.

In this example, as is clear from FIG. 13, a part of the new quadrilateral block changed from the triangular block protrudes from the original embroidery area, and the shape of the embroidery area changes, but the amount There is no problem because the amount is small.

In the above two embodiments, when a triangular block is changed to a rectangular block, the vertex is moved along the side of the adjacent block, but! l If the area is originally defined by a curve and the block row containing the triangular block is formed by connecting multiple set points set on the curve, the vertex of the triangular block It is also possible to change it to a rectangular block by moving it along the above original curve.

In addition, in the above two embodiments, the thread density was defined by the number of stitches formed per unit length, which is longer than a normal block, but for example, the number of stitches formed per unit length is shorter than a normal block, such as 5 stitches per 1 mm. It is also possible to specify the number of stitches to be formed. In this case, it is convenient to also adopt a mode in which the thread density is defined by the number of stitches formed per block. For example, while the flag is ON, the value representing thread density is treated as the number of stitches formed per unit length, while while the flag is OFF, the value representing thread density is treated as the number of stitches formed per bronc. so that it is treated as such. In this way, the thread density value can be set to 1.
By setting the flag as OFF and turning off the flag, one seam can be formed in the connection block.

In addition, various modifications may be made based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

The invention can be practiced in modified forms.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually showing the configuration of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embroidery sewing machine including an embroidery data creation device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control device of the sewing machine. FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually showing the configuration of the RAM of the control device, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing only the portions deeply related to the present invention extracted from the programs stored in the ROM of the control device. It is. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a block sequence changed by execution of the above program, and FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the block sequence. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing data defining the block sequence in FIG. 6, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing data defining the block sequence after modification. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the block rows defined by the data in FIG. 9, and FIG. 11 is a diagram conceptually showing the stitches formed in the embroidery area defined by the block rows in FIG. be. FIG. 12 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 5 in another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is FIG. 11+ showing the block sequence changed by executing the program of FIG. 12, and FIG. It is a diagram conceptually shown. 70: Control device 120 Niblock data memory 122: Embroidery data memory 130: Embroidery area 132.134 = main contour line element 136: Triangular block 138: Quadrilateral block

Claims (1)

[Claims] Embroidery data is created to perform embroidery in which an embroidery area including two main contour line elements extending in opposition to each other is filled with stitches that alternately connect the two main contour line elements. a block data storage means for storing data defining the embroidery area as a plurality of blocks including a triangular block and a quadrangular block arranged in a row; and a first one of the three vertices of the triangular block. When a vertex is located on one of the main contour line elements, and the remaining second and third vertices are located on the other main contour line element, two new vertices are created on the one main contour line element. is set with at least one of them deviating from the first vertex, and the triangular block is changed to a new quadrilateral block defined by two new vertices and the second and third vertices. means, and a part where the new quadrilateral block partially overlaps with a block adjacent to the new quadrilateral block on the side where one of the two new vertices that is off the first vertex is located; An embroidery data creation device comprising: embroidery data creation means for creating embroidery data such that stitches for both blocks and adjacent blocks are formed overlappingly.