JPH0422393A - Data preparation system for embroidery sewing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable various forms to be embroidered efficiently by preparing under-stitch zone border line data on the basis of embroidery zone border line data determining an embroidery zone, and dividing the under-stitch zone border line data, if complicated, into partial data for the automatic preparation of under-stitch data. CONSTITUTION:Embroidery zone border line data is read out from an external memory device 84, and stored in the embroidery zone border line data area of RAM 76. Subsequently, under-stitch seam density data and under-stitch seam pitch data are red out from the external memory device 84, and stored in the under-stitch seam density data area and under-stitch seam pitch data area of RAM 76, respectively. Thereafter, the under-stitch zone border line data, peripheral under-stitch specified line data and the like are obtained from the embroidery zone border line data. If the continuous under-stitching of complicated form cannot be performed, the stitching zone is divided into partial under-stitch zones. Thereafter, under-stitch data is prepared on the basis of the under-stitch zone data or the partial under-stitch zone data, and stored in the external memory device 84.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a data creation system for an embroidery sewing machine, and in particular to data creation for underlay stitching performed prior to embroidery.

Background of the Invention Underlay stitching is a method of forming stitches within the embroidery area prior to embroidery, and it gives appropriate bulge (three-dimensionality) to the stitches formed by embroidery and also controls the progress of the embroidery. This is done for the purpose of preventing shrinkage of the sewing object.

The applicant has previously developed several data creation devices for underlay stitching and filed a patent application. Patent application No. 1135624,
One example of this is the one currently being filed as Japanese Patent Application No. 2-89611, etc., and the former data creation device, as shown in FIG. Underlay stitch data for forming a plurality of underlay stitches F extending substantially parallel to the direction is created. The latter data creation device, which is currently being applied for as Japanese Patent Application No. 2-89611, is designed so that, as shown in FIG. Underlay data necessary to form unit underlay stitches J that alternately connect two parts facing each other in a direction with a planned stitch density along the underlay progress direction parallel to the embroidery progress direction. It is something to create.

According to these devices, since the data of the underlay is automatically created, it is possible to obtain the effect that the work efficiency is significantly improved compared to the case where the data is created by the operator.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention When the embroidery area has a simple shape without branching parts or sharp bends, the underlay area also has a simple shape,
In such a case, the purpose can be sufficiently achieved by the underlay data creation device.

However, if the stitch wA area has a complicated shape with branching parts, etc., the underseam area will also have a complicated shape, making it impossible to perform continuous undersewing over the entire underseam area. . SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention has been made with the object of providing a data creation system for an embroidery sewing machine that can automatically create underlay data even when the underlay area has a complicated shape. .

Means for Solving the Problem In order to solve this problem, the data creation system according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. Underlay area outline data creation means 1 for creating underlay area outline data that defines the outline of the underlay area inside the embroidery area based on the defined embroidery area outline data;
b) Underlay area dividing means 2 that divides the underlay area into partial underlay areas in which underlay stitching can be performed continuously; and (C) underlay stitching that crosses each of the partial underlay areas multiple times. The sewing machine is configured to include underlay data creation means 3 for creating underlay data for sewing.

Here, it is assumed that the embroidery area is surrounded by one closed curve, and that the underlay stitch data includes needle position data representing the position where the sewing needle penetrates the object to be sewn. Also, "capable of performing underlay stitches continuously" refers to running stitches (formation of stitches that are unnecessary for underlay stitches but are necessary to move the position of the sewing needle without cutting the thread). This means that underlay seams can be formed without cutting or cutting threads.

This data creation system may consist only of a data creation device dedicated to the embroidery sewing machine, or it may consist of a dedicated data creation device independent of the embroidery sewing machine and a part of the embroidery sewing machine control device. It is also possible. In the former, of course, creation of the underlay area outline data, division of the underlay area, and creation of underlay stitching data are all performed consistently, but in the latter, a dedicated data creation device is required. , one that has the function of creating underlay area outline data and dividing the underlay area, or in addition to both functions, unit underlay stitching (one underlay stitch that crosses the underlay area) The embroidery machine has a function of creating line data that defines the embroidery machine, and the subsequent data can also be created by an embroidery sewing machine. This data can be created in a relatively short time, so
It is also possible to perform the sewing in parallel with the progress of underlay stitching, and in this case, the storage area for underlay data can be kept small, and the cost of the apparatus can be reduced.

Underlay stitches can be used not only for cross-over underlay stitches that form underlay stitches that cross the underlay area multiple times as described above, but also for other underlay stitches, such as stitches on closed curves inside the embroidery area. It is also possible to employ a circumferential underlay stitch that forms an underlay seam along the line, and a combination of both is effective. Therefore, in addition to the underlay data creation means for creating data for performing cross underlay sewing that crosses each of the partial underlay areas multiple times, the underlay sewing data creation means can be used in addition to the cross underlay data creation means that creates data for performing cross underlay sewing that crosses each partial underlay area multiple times. Inside the II area, the embroidery area is embroidered along at least one of a circumferential underlay specification line that is a reduced outline of the embroidery area itself, and a circumferential underlay specification line that is almost similar to the outline of the partial underlay area. It is preferable that the sewing machine includes a circular underlay stitching data creation means for creating data for performing underlay stitching.

Operation In the data creation system according to the present invention, the underlay area outline data creation means creates underlay area outline data based on embroidery area outline data that defines an embroidery area, and If the area is complex such that it has branching parts and cannot be sewn continuously, the undersewing area dividing means performs undersewing continuously on the undersewing area. Divide into partial underlay areas to obtain. Then, the underlay data creation means creates data for performing cross underlay sewing that crosses the partial underlay area a plurality of times.

Even if the embroidery area has a complicated shape, such as having branched parts, underlay stitch data is automatically created.

Effects of the Invention As described above, even if the embroidery area is complex, the underlay stitching data is automatically created, so that it is possible to efficiently embroidery various shapes.

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

In FIG. 4, 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 is composed of a pillar part 16 rising from the bed 12, and an upper arm 18 extending cantilevered from the upper end of the pillar part 16 and substantially parallel to the bed 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 sewing needle 24 is fixed to the lower end thereof.

The needle bar 22 is connected to a sewing machine motor 26 (fifth
(see figure), and the needle bar 22 and sewing needle 24 are caused to reciprocate up and down by the drive of the sewing machine motor 26. Further, an opening is formed in the upper surface of the bed 12, and this opening is closed by a needle plate 30, and a needle hole 38 is formed in the needle plate 30.

Furthermore, an embroidery frame 42 is mounted on the bed F12 of the sewing machine table 10 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 workpiece cloth as the object to be sewn. A slide portion 48 is formed on the outer frame 44 and extends away from the sewing machine frame 14 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. has been done. Both ends of these guide pipes 50 are connected by connecting members 52 and 54. Connecting member 5
2 is a feed screw 56. It is adapted to be moved in the X-axis direction by an X-axis feed motor 58. Guide pipe 5
0 is supported by the feed screw 56 and the rotation transmission shaft 60 via the connecting member 52, and the other end is supported by the connecting member 54.
The sewing machine table 10 is supported on the upper surface of the sewing machine table 10 via a ball (not shown) which is integrally movably and freely rotatably held by the connecting member 54. Slide part 48. A pair of endless wires 62 are engaged with the connecting members 52 and 54, and the wires 62 are connected to the rotation transmission shaft 6.
The slide portion 48 is moved in the Y-axis direction by being rotated by the zero and Y transport motors 64.

The embroidery frame 42 is moved to any position in the horizontal plane by the movement of the connecting member 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 sewing needle 24 allow the embroidery frame 42 to be processed. Embroidery is applied to the cloth.

This embroidery sewing machine is controlled by a control device 70. As shown in FIG. 5, the control device 70 includes a CPU 72. R.O.
M74. The main body is a computer including a RAM 76, a bus 78, and the like.

An input interface 80 is connected to the bus 78, and a keyboard 82. An external storage device 84 is connected. The external storage device 84 stores data on a magnetic disk, magnetic tape, etc., and stores in advance embroidery area data representing an embroidery area to be filled with stitches.

The embroidery area data includes point sequence data representing the coordinates (X-Y coordinates assumed for the embroidery sewing machine) of each of a plurality of vertices that define the outline of a polygonal closed area.

An output interface 100 is also connected to the passphrase 8, and a motor drive circuit 10 is connected to the output interface 100.
4, 106 and 108 to the sewing machine motor 26. X
A shaft feed motor 58 and a Y-axis travel motor 64 are connected. A display device 112 is further connected to the output interface 106 via a display control circuit 110. The display device 112 is a device that displays the stitch 1 area, underlay area, created embroidery data, underlay stitching data, etc. on a cathode ray tube or the like so that the user can visually see them.

The RAM 76 includes an embroidery area outline data area 114. shown in FIG. Underlay stitch density data area 116. Underlay stitch pitch data area 118, circular underlay stitching regulation line data area 120 underlay area outline data area 1221 partial underlay area outline data area 1
24. A cross-cut underlay data area 1251, a lap underlay data area 1262, a pre-division stack 127, a divided stack 128, etc. are provided, and the ROM 74 contains underlay data represented by the flowcharts in FIGS. 7 to 10. A program for creation is stored together with a program for creating embroidery data, a program for actually performing underlay stitching and embroidery, and the like.

In this embodiment, the H49M area on each side is continuously divided into partial embroidery areas where embroidery can be performed, and the partial embroidery areas are further made into block rows in which a plurality of rectangular embroidery blocks are arranged in a row. The plurality of embroidery blocks belonging to each block row are sequentially filled with embroidery stitches from the first block to the last block.

Furthermore, the embroidery within each embroidery block is a one-stitch stitch extending from one of the two main sides facing each other in a direction perpendicular to the embroidery progress direction among the four sides that define each embroidery block. This is done by sequentially forming two sub-sides facing each other in the embroidery progressing direction from one side to the other side. The embroidery stitch density in each embroidery block is expressed by the length of the portion of the embroidery block occupied by the one-stitch stitch in the embroidery progress direction.

On the other hand, underlay stitches on each side! Underlay stitching is performed on the underlay area set within the tjl 61 area, and this underlay stitching is performed by dividing the underlay area into parts with simple shapes, as shown in Figure 14. Cross underlay stitching 130, in which a straight stitch is formed by zigzag-crossing the partial underlay area multiple times, and underlay stitching, in which a straight stitch is formed by crossing the partial underlay area multiple times in a zigzag pattern, and underlay stitching, which is set parallel to the embroidery area outline line at a position a certain distance inside from the embroidery area outline line. This is performed in combination with circular underlay stitching 132 in which straight stitches are formed along the specified line for the stitching. Similar to embroidery, in cross-cut underlay stitching, the underlay area is continuously divided into partial underlay areas that can be undersewn, and each partial underlay area is further divided into multiple rectangular underlay areas. Sewing blocks are arranged in a block row in a row, and underlay stitches are sequentially formed from the first to the last of the plurality of underlay blocks belonging to each block row. In addition, in each underlay block, among the four sides that define each underlay block, two main sides that are opposite to each other in a direction perpendicular to the underlay progress direction parallel to the embroidery progress direction are Alternately connecting unit underlay stitches are sequentially performed from one side to the other of the two mutually opposing sub-edges in the underlay progressing direction. This point is similar to the formation of the embroidery stitches above, but 2
The length in the direction of underlay stitching of the portion occupied by the unit underlay connecting the main sides (stitch density of underlay stitches) is the length in the embroidery direction of the portion occupied by one stitch of the embroidery (stitch density of underlay stitches). The embroidery stitches are made sufficiently large compared to the stitch density (stitch density), and the underlay stitches and embroidery stitches are made to intersect with each other. In addition, unit underlay stitches do not consist of one stitch, but multiple stitches formed at a constant pitch. Therefore, in order to perform cross underlay stitches, the stitch density and stitch pitch are required. It is necessary to be instructed.

Hereinafter, data creation for underlaying will be explained based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 7 to 10.

FIG. 7 schematically shows the steps for creating underlay data, which are executed in response to the operation of an underlay data creation command key provided on the keyboard 82.

First, step 31 (hereinafter simply referred to as Sl).

The same applies to other steps), the embroidery area outline data is read out from the external storage device 84 and stored in the RAM 7.
6 is stored in the embroidery area outline data area 114.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the outline of the embroidery area is made up of a broken line made up of a plurality of line segments ai, and the embroidery area outline data is based on each bending point O8, 0□, . . . 0□ of the broken line. ,0
．． . 1. ...X- of 07 (0, 1, I are the same as O3)
It includes point sequence data representing Y coordinate values, and is created in advance and stored in the external storage device 84.

Subsequently, in S2, underlay stitch density data and underlay stitch pitch data representing underlay stitch density and underlay stitch pitch are read from the external storage device 84, and R
It is stored in the underlay stitch density data area 116 and underlay stitch pitch data area 118 of AM76. Note that the display is performed on the display device 112 based on the stored data, and if the operator wishes to change the displayed underlay stitch density or underlay stitch pitch,
When these data are input from the keyboard 82, the input data are stored in the underlay stitch density data area 116 and the underlay stitch pitch data area 118.

Next, in S3, underlay area data such as underlay area outline data, two-round underlay sewing regulation line data, etc. is obtained from the embroidery area outline data, and in S4, the obtained underlay area is complicated. If the shape is such that underlay stitching cannot be performed continuously, the area is divided into partial underlay areas where underlay stitching can be performed continuously. Then, in S5, if the underlay area is simple, it is based on the underlay area data itself, or if it is complex, the data of the partial underlay area divided in s4 is used. Underlay stitch data is created based on the data, and the created underlay data is stored in the external storage device 84 in S6.

The creation of underlay area data in S3 above is performed in the eighth step.
This is done by executing each step in the figure.

First, in 5301, the 12th point sequence data stored in the embroidery area outline data area 114 is
As shown in the figure, vertex 0, vertex 01. A string of line segments ai connecting the lines I and I is created.

Subsequently, in 5302, a plurality of straight lines c8 are drawn inside the embroidery area 134 and spaced apart from the embroidery area outline 136, parallel to each line segment a constituting the line segment array. Then, at 5303, the straight line C4 and the straight line C4-
1 is found, and at 5304 the intersection Q,
The data is stored in the circular underlay stitching specification line data area 120 as data representing the circular underlay stitching specification line 138.

Next, in 5305, a plurality of straight lines are drawn parallel to each of the plurality of line segments a and spaced apart by a distance h2 inside the embroidery area, and in 5306, the intersection point P of the straight line with the straight line -1 is drawn. is calculated, and in 5307, the data of these intersection points P is stored in the underlay area outline data area 122 as underlay area outline data representing the outline 142 of the underlay area 140. This completes the creation of the underlay area data 33.

The division of the underlay stitching area in S4 is performed by executing each step shown in FIG. This division is similar to the division of the embroidery area described in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 1-266546 filed by the present applicant, and will therefore be briefly explained.

Division of the underlay area is performed in two stages: first division 5401-3406 and second division 5407-5413.

First, in step 3401, the outline data of one underlay area is transferred from the underlay area outline data area 122 to the pre-division stack 127. And 3402
, the two points that are farthest from each other among all the bending points that define the underlay area are searched, and the line segment connecting these two points is searched so that it coincides with the X axis (or Y axis). coordinate transformation is performed. In the example of FIG. 13, points P and P4.2 are retrieved, and coordinate transformation is performed so that the line segment d connecting these two points coincides with the X axis.

Subsequently, in 5403, it is determined whether or not there is a point among the bending points defining the underlay outline where the X coordinate value becomes an extreme value and the outline curves outward at that position. In the example of FIG. 13, point PJ corresponds to that point, and the result of the determination is YES.

Therefore, 5404 is executed and the underlay area 14 is
0 is point P, and points P, , Pj for a straight line parallel to the Y axis passing through point PJ. Among the bending points located on the opposite side of 1, the point closest to point P (in the illustrated example, point P, -
1) Two partial underlay areas 144 are created by the line segment e connecting
and 146. Partial underlay area 14
4 and 146 are both stored in the pre-division stack 127.

Then, in 5406, it is determined whether or not the pre-division stack 127 is empty, but since it is not empty at the moment, the result of the determination is NO, and steps 5402 and subsequent steps are executed again.

At this time, it is determined whether one of the partial underlay areas 144 and 146 stored in the pre-division stack 127 still requires the first division, and if the first division is not necessary. For example, the data of one partial underlay area is stored in the divided stack 128 at 5405.
is stored in

Similar processing is repeated, and when there is no partial underlay area before division in the pre-division stack 127, the determination result in step 5406 becomes YES, and the first division ends. In the example of FIG. 13, since both the partial underlay areas 144 and 146 do not require the first division, the underlay area 140
is only divided into two parts. Note that if the underlay area itself does not require the first division, the determination result will be NO when step 5403 is executed for the first time.
The first division is not performed.

Following the first division, the second division is performed after 5407. First, in 5407, the partial underlay area (
or the undersewing area that did not require the first division) is transferred from the divided stack 128 to the pre-divided stack 12.
Transferred to 7. Then, in 3408, the first partial underlay area is read out from the pre-division stack 127, and the two points that are farthest from each other among all the fold points that define it are searched. In the example of FIG. 13, if it is the partial underlay area 144 that is read out first, then
Points P and P1.2 correspond to this.

Next, at 5409, the two searched points, here 2
Point P 1. It is determined whether or not there is a line segment connecting each of P i, z and another bending point that is not included in the complete underlay area 144. Since it corresponds to line molecule, the judgment result of 5409 is YES,
At 5410, the partial underlay area 144 is located at points P, +
The area is further divided into smaller partial underlay areas 148 and 150 by the line segment g connecting -1 and the point closest thereto, and stored in the pre-division stack 127. 5412 performed after that
Since the determination result is No, steps 5408 and subsequent steps are repeated again, but since the partial underlay areas 146, 148, and 150 that are sequentially read out do not require the second division, the determination in 3409 is performed. The result is No,
The outline data of these partial underlay areas is 5411
All are stored in the divided stack 128. Eventually, the pre-division stack 127 becomes empty and the determination result in 5412 becomes YES, and in 5413, partial underlay region outline data area 1 is transferred from the divided stack 128.
The outline data of the partial underlay area is transferred to 24.
The second division ends. All of the partial underlay areas after the second division process have simple shapes, and underlay stitching can be performed continuously.

Creation of underlay stitching data in S5 is performed by executing each step shown in FIG. First, in 3501, the data of the intersection point Q representing the circular underlay stitching regulation line 138 is extracted from the circular underlay stitching regulation line data area 120, and a plurality of line segments connecting adjacent intersection points are determined.
Underlay stitch pitch area 118 on each line segment in 02
Needle position data for forming stitches at the pitch specified by the underlay stitch pitch data stored in is created and stored in the circular underlay stitch data area 126. If the embroidery sewing machine is later controlled based on this data, the circular underlay stitch 132 shown in FIG. 14 will be formed. This circumferential underlay stitch 132 is performed in a closed curve along the embroidery area limbus line 136, thereby reinforcing the work cloth in all directions and effectively preventing shrinkage. In particular, in the portions that intersect with the cross-cutting underseam 130 at approximately right angles, the work cloth is reinforced in two mutually perpendicular directions, so that they work together to better prevent shrinkage. This effect is particularly noticeable when the ease with which the processed cloth shrinks is directional due to the weaving method or the like.

Next, in 5503, the first partial underlay area outline data is retrieved from the partial underlay area outline data area 124, and in 5504, a cross underlay is created for performing cross underlay stitching inside the partial underlay area. Calculations are performed on the sewing data. The outline data of the partial underlay area stored in the partial underlay area outline data area 124 is sequentially read out, and each partial underlay area is divided into an appropriate number of areas based on the bending point that defines it. The blocks are divided into rectangular underlay stitching blocks, and the underlay stitching block rows are divided into underlay stitching blocks in order from the beginning to the end, based on the data stored in the underlining stitch density data area 116. The formation position of the underlay stitch is determined, and finally, the needle position on each unit underlay stitch is determined based on the data in the underlay stitch pitch data area 118 and stored in the cross underlay stitch data area 125. The creation of this cross-cut underlay data is carried out in the above-mentioned patent application No. 2
It is described in detail in No.-89611. In addition, the determination of the execution order of underlay stitching between a plurality of partial underlay areas and between a plurality of underlay sewing blocks is described in Japanese Patent Application No. 1-1-2.
Partial side MA S described in the specification of No. 79381
This can be done in the same way as determining the embroidery order between N areas and between embroidery blocks.

In 5505, it is determined whether or not there is unprocessed data in the partial underlay region outline data area 124;
If there is, the outline data of the next partial underlay area is read out in 5506, and cross underlay data is created in 5504, but if not, the creation of cross underlay data is completed. The embroidery sewing machine is later controlled based on the data created in this way, thereby forming the cross-over undersewing 130 shown in FIG. 14.

As is clear from the above explanation, in this example,
A portion of the control device 70 that executes steps 5305 to 5307 constitutes the underlay area outline data creation means 1;
The portion that executes steps 1 to 3413 constitutes the underlay area dividing means 2, and the portion that executes steps 3503 to 5506 constitutes the underlay stitching data creation means 3.

In this embodiment, the control device 70 divides the embroidery area in the same way as dividing the underlay area, but it does not independently divide the embroidery area, but only divides the underlay area. It is also possible to divide at positions corresponding to the positions. Conversely, it is also possible to divide the embroidery area first and then divide the underlay area in accordance with the division of the embroidery area. In this case, means for dividing the underlay area at positions corresponding to the dividing positions of the embroidery area constitutes underlay area dividing means.

In addition, patent application No. 1-13656 for dividing the underlay area
Changed to something similar to the division of the embroidery area described in No. 1,
Alternatively, as described in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 1-134077, the unit underlay of the cross-cut underlay is formed at an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to the direction of embroidery progress. Various modifications based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art,
Of course, it can be implemented in an improved manner.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram conceptually showing the configuration of the present invention. FIGS. 2 and 3 are diagrams each showing an example of a cross-cut underlay. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embroidery sewing machine including a data creation device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control section of the embroidery sewing machine. FIG. 6 is a diagram conceptually showing the configuration of the RAM of the control section, and FIGS. 7, 8, 9, and 10 show the main programs stored in the ROM of the control section. It is a flowchart that extracts and shows only the parts related to the invention. FIG. 11, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, and FIG. 14 are diagrams for explaining the creation of underlay stitches in the control section. 70: Control device 130: Cross-cut underlay 132
: Round underlay 134: Embroidery area 136: Embroidery area outline 138 Double underlay specification line 140: Underlay area 142: Underlay area outline 44° 48°: Partial underlay area

Claims (1)

[Claims] An underlay area that defines the outline of an underlay area inside the embroidery area based on embroidery area outline data that defines the outline of the embroidery area to be filled with stitches of the embroidery sewing machine. Underlay region outline data creation means for creating outline data; Underlay region dividing means for dividing the underlay region into partial underlay regions in which underlay stitching can be performed continuously; and the portions. 1. A data creation system for an embroidery sewing machine, comprising: underlay data creation means for creating underlay data for performing underlay stitching that crosses each underlay area a plurality of times.