JPH05293270A - Embroidery data processing device and embroidery data processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To apply beautiful embroidery at any size when the size of the same pattern is changed for embroidering. CONSTITUTION:'small', 'medium', and 'large', reference block data are stored on the same pattern. When the magnifying power of the pattern is specified by the operation of a keyboard, 'small' reference block data are selected for the magnifying power of less than 0.7 times, 'medium' for 0.7-2 times, and 'large' for 2 times or above, and the block data for embroidering the pattern having the specified magnifying power are generated based on the selected reference block data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the same figure
The present invention relates to an embroidery data processing device and an embroidery data processing method for creating embroidery data for forming embroidery of an enlarged or reduced size with respect to a standard size of embroidery.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An embroidery sewing machine that automatically executes embroidery of a predetermined figure such as a character or a picture on a work cloth is operated based on embroidery data designating needle drop points and the like. Is becoming The applicant automatically creates embroidery data (stitch data or block data) in such an embroidery sewing machine and corrects the data.
We have developed an embroidery data processing device for editing and applied for it first.

This embroidery data processing device is, for example, a CP
A main unit consisting of a microcomputer equipped with U, ROM, RAM, etc., a keyboard, a hard disk drive,
It is configured by connecting a CRT display, an image scanner and the like. Then, for example, the outline (outline) of the embroidery figure is extracted from the original image of the embroidery figure created by the operator, and the embroidery figure is divided into a plurality of blocks such as a rectangle continuous in the embroidery advancing direction from the outline data. Block data including coordinates of vertices is created.

In this case, the block data file is
The operator appropriately assigns a file name and stores it in a hard disk, for example. The embroidery sewing machine reads this block data, divides the main side portion of each block into equal parts, and performs one stitch development to obtain the needle drop point (stitch data), so that the figure is filled with satin stitches. Embroidery is applied to the work cloth.

The embroidery formed on the work cloth by one piece of embroidery data (stitch data or block data) has a predetermined size according to the data.
On the other hand, particularly when the figure is a character such as a Roman character, it may be desired to form embroidery of which the size is changed even if the figure is the same.

For this reason, the embroidery data processing device is provided with editing functions such as enlargement and reduction, and for an embroidery of a standard size, the operator designates the enlargement ratio or the reduction ratio so that a standard embroidery data can be obtained. The reference embroidery data corresponding to the size is processed, and the embroidery operation can be executed by the new embroidery data in which the figure is enlarged or reduced.

[0007]

When the embroidery data is, for example, block data, the coordinates of the vertices of each block are calculated in accordance with the enlargement ratio or the reduction ratio when the embroidery data is, for example, block data. It is done by a method such as converting. As a result, the shape of each block (and thus the shape of the figure) remains unchanged, and only its size is changed.

However, when enlarging and reducing in this way, if the enlarging and reducing ratio is not so large, a sufficiently beautiful embroidery can be executed by the newly created embroidery data. If the value is too large, the following problems occur.

That is, when the reduction ratio is increased, the stitches may be in the shape of a dump in a fine portion of the figure, and a beautiful embroidery may not be formed. Further, in the case where the figure is in the elongated portion, the length of the stitch becomes short, and the lower thread may come out to the upper part of the work cloth.

On the other hand, when the enlargement ratio becomes large, for example, when a plurality of blocks form an arcuate portion, the embroidery of the outer shape becomes rattling, which is unsightly. In addition, the stitch by the satin stitch becomes too long and the work cloth is pulled, and the work cloth sometimes wrinkles. Furthermore, when performing embroidery such that one block and another block partially wrap,
If the stitch lengthened, a large thread crack might occur on the lower side of the wrap portion when embroidering on the upper side.

As described above, various problems occur when the enlargement / reduction ratio becomes too large.
The reduction rate is suppressed to about 50% to 200% with respect to the standard, and the expansion and reduction are performed only within this range. This situation was the same when the embroidery data was stitch data.

Therefore, in order to perform beautiful embroidery, it is conceivable to separately create embroidery data for each embroidery size and execute the embroidery. in this case,
Depending on the size of the embroidery, you can avoid the problems described above by changing the block division method and shape, changing satin stitch to folding stitch or running stitch, and adding underlay. Therefore, beautiful embroidery can be performed.

However, with this method, the number of pieces of embroidery data to be stored becomes enormous, the time for creating the data becomes very large, and the management of the embroidery data becomes troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to create embroidery data of embroidery of the same figure but different sizes so that the size of the embroidery is beautiful. Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide an embroidery data processing device and an embroidery data processing method capable of reducing the number of embroidery data created in advance.

[0015]

An embroidery data processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a storage means for storing a plurality of reference embroidery data having different embroidery sizes formed with respect to the same figure.
According to the designating means for designating the size of the embroidery to be formed on the work cloth and the size of the embroidery designated by the designating means, one reference embroidery data stored in the storage means is selected. And a data processing means for processing the reference embroidery data to create required embroidery data.

In the embroidery data processing method of the present invention, a step of designating the size of the embroidery and a plurality of reference embroidery data having different sizes of the embroidery formed in advance with respect to the same figure are selected. A step of selecting one reference embroidery data according to the specified embroidery size, and a step of processing the selected reference embroidery data according to the specified embroidery size to create required embroidery data. It has a feature in performing.

[0017]

[Operation] When the standard embroidery data is processed to create the embroidery data having different embroidery sizes, it is created if the enlargement / reduction ratio is not so large with respect to the embroidery size based on the reference embroidery data. With the embroidery data, sufficiently beautiful embroidery can be executed. On the other hand, if the enlargement / reduction ratio is increased, various defects will occur in the processed embroidery data, making it impossible to execute clean embroidery.

According to the embroidery data creation apparatus of the present invention, the storage means stores a plurality of reference embroidery data in which the sizes of embroidery formed for the same figure are different.
When the size of the embroidery is specified by the specifying means, if the data processing means selects the reference embroidery data that is closest to the specified size, the enlargement / reduction rate of the reference embroidery data is reduced. The necessary embroidery data can be created by processing in a state where the size does not increase.

Therefore, the data processing means can create embroidery data capable of executing sufficiently beautiful embroidery over a wide range of sizes. Further, in this case, it is not necessary to increase the number of reference embroidery data so much, and thus the reference embroidery data can be easily created and managed.

Further, according to the embroidery data processing method of the present invention, a specified embroidery size is selected from a plurality of reference embroidery data which are created in advance and have different sizes of embroidery formed for the same figure. One of the reference embroidery data is selected in accordance with the selected embroidery data, and the required embroidery data is created by processing the selected reference embroidery data according to the specified embroidery size. If data closest to the specified size is selected as the data, embroidery data capable of executing sufficiently beautiful embroidery can be created from the reference embroidery data over a wide range of sizes.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. First, the overall structure of the embroidery sewing machine will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, the embroidery sewing machine 1 is constructed by integrally including an arm portion 3 on a sewing machine table 2. A support case 5 having a plurality of needle bars 4, in this case, six needle bars 4, is provided at the tip of the arm 3. The needle bars 4 are laterally aligned and supported in a support case 5 so as to be vertically movable, and sewing needles 4a are attached to lower end portions projecting downward from the support case 5, respectively. An embroidery thread of a different color, for example, is supplied to each sewing needle 4a from a thread supply source (not shown) through a thread tension machine 6 and a balance 7 provided on the support case 5.

The support case 5 is attached to the arm portion 3 so as to be movable in the X-axis direction shown in FIG. 3, and is moved by the needle bar selection motor 8. A driving mechanism for transmitting the driving force of the sewing machine motor 9 to the needle bar 4 and vertically driving the same is provided in the arm portion 3. This driving force is transmitted only to the needle bar 4 located at a predetermined use position. Therefore, by moving the support case 5 by the needle bar selection motor 8, the six needle bars 4 are moved. One of the needle bars 4 is selectively driven.

On the other hand, the sewing machine table 2 is provided with a bed portion 10 located below the needle bar 4, and although not shown, the bed portion 10 is driven by the sewing machine motor 9 and A thread catcher or the like for forming embroidery stitches on the work cloth W in cooperation with the sewing needle 4a is provided. In this case, the work cloth W is supported by the embroidery frame 11, and the sewing table 2 has the embroidery frame 1
A horizontal movement mechanism 12 is provided for moving 1 in the X-axis and Y-axis directions.

The horizontal moving mechanism 12 moves the Y-axis direction moving frame 13 in the Y-axis direction on the sewing machine table 2 by the Y-axis feed motor 14 (see FIG. 4), and also has the X-axis having the embroidery frame 11. The direction moving frame 15 is moved along the Y-axis direction moving frame 13 by the X-axis feed motor 16 (see FIG. 4).
It is configured to move in the axial direction.

The embroidery sewing machine 1 configured as described above is controlled by the control device 17 to automatically execute the embroidery operation on the work cloth W. As shown in FIG. 4, the control device 17 includes a CPU 18, a ROM 19, and an R.
The main component is a microcomputer including an AM 20 and a bus 21 for connecting them, and an input interface 22 and an output interface 23 are connected to the bus 21.

The output interface 23 includes the sewing machine motor 9, the X-axis feed motor 16 and the Y-axis feed motor 1.
Motor drive circuits 24, 25, 26 and 27 for driving the motor 4 and the needle bar selection motor 8 are connected to each other. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the output interface 2
3 includes a display device 2 including a CRT display, for example.
A display drive circuit 29 for driving 8 is connected to the input interface 22, while a keyboard 30 having various keys and the like, a mouse 31, a hard disk drive 32, and an image scanner 33 are connected to the input interface 22.

Then, the control device 17, based on the embroidery data stored in the RAM 20, the control program stored in the ROM 19, and the like, the sewing machine motor 9, the X-axis feed motor 16, the Y-axis feed motor 14, and the needle bar. The selection motor 8 is controlled to automatically execute the embroidery sewing operation on the work cloth W. The embroidery data includes data for instructing thread color switching, and the support case 5 is automatically moved to switch the embroidery thread color.

In this case, in this embodiment, the block data as the embroidery data is given, so that one stitch is expanded from the block data to automatically create the stitch data, and the embroidery operation is executed. There is. Although detailed description is omitted, the block data is divided into a plurality of blocks such as a rectangle surrounded by a pair of main sides extending in the embroidery advancing direction and a pair of sub sides adjacent to the predetermined figure. It consists of a set of coordinates of the vertices of a block, etc. From this block data, the main side of each block is equally divided based on the specified thread density to find the needle drop point, and the figure is satinized. The work cloth is embroidered so that it is filled with seams.

In the present embodiment, the control device 17
Is also provided with a function as an embroidery data processing device for performing processing such as creation and editing of embroidery data (block data in this embodiment). Therefore, this control device 17
Is hereinafter referred to as an embroidery data processing device body 17.

The embroidery data processing device main body 17 creates the block data as the embroidery data.
First, an image of a figure is read by the image scanner 33 to create image data, then the outline of the figure is extracted from this image data to create outline data, and finally block data is created from this outline data. Is becoming

The block data file thus created is stored in the hard disk drive 32. As will be described later, in this embodiment, a plurality of block data in which the sizes of embroidery formed for the same figure are different, in this case, three block data are stored in one file,
It is adapted to be stored in the hard disk drive 32. These three block data serve as the reference embroidery data according to the present invention (referred to as reference block data), and thus the hard disk drive 32 functions as the storage means according to the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the embroidery data processing device main body 17 has a software configuration, in addition to the function of creating block data as described above, the embroidery size specified by the operator when executing embroidery. Depending on the size (in the present embodiment, the magnification with respect to the standard size), the reference block data relating to the figure is read from the hard disk drive 32, and the reference block data is processed to form an embroidery of a specified size. It is designed to create the block data needed to do so.

This processing is performed by a method of converting the coordinates of the vertices of each block of the reference block data according to the designated magnification (enlargement ratio or reduction ratio),
With this, only the size of each block can be changed without changing the shape of each block (and thus the shape of the figure). In this case, as will be apparent from the description of the flow chart below, three pieces of reference block data are stored for one figure, but the reference block data used for processing is the specified magnification. It is designed to be automatically selected according to.

Therefore, the embroidery data processing device main body 17 is
It functions as the data processing means referred to in the present invention. Further, as described above, the operator operates the keyboard 30 or the mouse 31 in order to specify the size of the embroidery. Therefore, these functions as the specifying means in the present invention.

Here, the structure of the file stored in the hard disk drive 32 will be described. In the present embodiment, one file corresponds to figures having the same shape, but each file has the following format, as shown in FIG.
It is composed of a header section for storing attribute information of files and a data section for storing data.

Of these, in the data part, "small",
Three reference block data of "medium" and "large" are written in order. In this case, for example, the "medium" reference block data is block data in which embroidery of standard size is formed, and the "small" reference block data is 0.6 times larger than the standard size. The “large” reference block data, which is the block data for forming the embroidery, is the block data for forming the embroidery that is four times the standard size.

These three reference block data are individually created in advance, and are created so that the optimum (clean) embroidery is formed in each size.
Therefore, the three reference block data are different from each other in the block division method and shape, the satin stitch is replaced with the sewn stitch or the running stitch, and the presence / absence of underlay is different.

Then, in the header part, the three reference block data "small", "medium", written in the data part,
Magnification of "Large" against each standard (0.6x, 1x,
4 times) and the offset amount of how much each data is written at a position offset from the beginning of the data part. Note that such a file is stored in the hard disk drive 32 with a predetermined file name according to the type of figure.

Next, the procedure of the processing for creating the block data in which the size of the embroidery is enlarged or reduced to an arbitrary size specified by the operator with respect to the standard size will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. .. Here, three reference block data of “small”, “medium”, and “large” are already created for each figure, and the above-mentioned files are stored in the hard disk drive 32.

First, in step S1, the operator operates the keyboard 30 or the like to specify the file name of the figure to be embroidered. This designation may be performed, for example, by displaying all the file names on the display device 28 and allowing the operator to select from among them, whereby the file is specified. Next, in step S2, the operator operates the keyboard 30 or the like to input the size of the embroidery to be formed. Here, the size of the embroidery is designated by the magnification M with respect to the standard size (the size of the embroidery formed by the reference block data of "medium" in this case).

The reference block data to be processed is selected according to the magnification M designated in step S2. Here, in step S3, the magnification is less than 0.7 times or 0.7 times. The above is divided into three cases of less than twice and twice or more.

If the designated magnification is less than 0.7, the reference block data of "small" is selected, and the variable N is set to "small" in step S4. The standard magnification of the reference block data (0.6) is substituted, and in the subsequent step S5, the offset amount of the "small" reference block data is substituted for the variable F.

If the designated magnification is 0.7 times or more and less than 2 times, the reference block data of "medium" is selected, and the variable N is set to "medium" in step S6. Of the standard block data of “” against the standard (1)
Is substituted, and in the subsequent step S7, the offset amount of the “medium” reference block data is substituted into the variable F.

Further, when the designated magnification is 2 times or more, the "large" reference block data is selected, and in step S8, the variable N is set to the "large" reference block data. The factor (4) for the standard of
In subsequent step S9, the offset amount of the “large” reference block data is substituted into the variable F.

After that, in step S10, the reference block data of the offset amount F is read from the data portion of the file, and in step S11, the read reference block data is processed. This processing is performed by enlarging or reducing the reference block data by M / N times, and thereby, the block data of the designated magnification is created. For example, if the designated magnification M is 5 times, new block data is created so that the "large" reference block data is expanded to 1.25 times.

Thereafter, when the operator designates execution of embroidery, the main body 17 of the embroidery data processing device develops one stitch of the created block data into stitch data and executes the embroidery operation based on the stitch data. With this,
The work cloth W is embroidered with a figure of a size M times larger than the standard.

As described above, in this embodiment, the sizes of the embroidery formed with respect to the same figure are different, that is, "small", "medium",
When the size of the embroidery is specified, the reference block data that is close to the specified size is selected. The required block data can be created by processing in a state where the enlargement / reduction ratio does not increase so much.

Here, the reference block data is processed and
When creating block data with different embroidery sizes, if the enlargement / reduction ratio is large, the stitches in the processed block data may become dumpling-like, the outer shape of the embroidery may rattle, or the work cloth may be used. Various defects occur in the embroidery that is formed, such as the occurrence of wrinkles, which makes it impossible to perform clean embroidery. However, if the enlargement / reduction ratio is not so large, the embroidery data created will be sufficient There are circumstances where you can carry out.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, block data of embroidery having the same figure but different sizes is used, unlike the conventional case in which one piece of standard embroidery data corresponding to a standard size is processed. Can be created so that beautiful embroidery can be achieved over a wide range of sizes.
Further, compared to the case where the embroidery data is created separately for each embroidery size, it is possible to reduce the number of reference block data created in advance, and it is easy to create and manage the reference block data. It will be.

In the above embodiment, the three reference block data are stored in one file. However, a file is formed for each reference embroidery data, and each file is stored as shown in FIG. For example, in the case of a graphic such as "ALFA", the file node name is "AL
FA ”, and the extension is“ SM ”depending on the size of the embroidery.
It may be attached such that it is "L", "MID", and "LAG". Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a management file for managing the file names of a plurality of reference embroidery data for one figure (“SAMPLE”) may be provided.

In addition, the embroidery data is not limited to the block data, but may be stitch data or a mixture of blocks and stitch data. Further, the embroidery sewing machine may be separated from the embroidery sewing machine, and may have only a function of creating embroidery data and may be applied to the embroidery sewing machine for giving the embroidery data to, for example, a floppy disk.

Furthermore, the reference embroidery data created in advance is not limited to three types, and may be two types of "large" and "small", or may be four or more types. The present invention can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0054]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to create embroidery data of embroidery having the same figure but different sizes so that the size of the embroidery is beautiful. In addition, it has an excellent practical effect that the number of embroidery data created in advance can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, and is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for enlarging and reducing block data.

FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually showing a file structure.

FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing another example of the present invention, showing an example of giving a file name.

FIG. 6 is a diagram conceptually showing the structure of a management file according to another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

In the drawings, 1 is an embroidery sewing machine, 4 is a needle bar, 11 is an embroidery frame, 1
2 is a horizontal movement mechanism, 17 is a main body of embroidery data processing device (data processing means), 18 is a CPU, 19 is a ROM, 20 is a RAM, 30 is a keyboard (designating means), 31 is a mouse (designating means), 32 is a hard disk. Drive (storage means), W indicates a work cloth.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. In a sewing machine for embroidering a predetermined figure on a work cloth, which creates embroidery data necessary for forming the embroidery, a plurality of different embroidery sizes formed for the same figure. The storage means for storing the reference embroidery data, the designating means for designating the size of the embroidery to be formed on the work cloth, and the size of the embroidery designated by the designating means.
An embroidery data processing device comprising: data processing means for selecting one reference embroidery data stored in the storage means and processing the reference embroidery data to create required embroidery data. 2. A method of creating embroidery data required to form the embroidery in an arbitrary size in a sewing machine that embroiders a predetermined figure on a work cloth, and specifies the size of the embroidery. And a step of selecting one reference embroidery data according to a designated embroidery size from a plurality of reference embroidery data having different embroidery sizes created in advance and formed for the same figure, And a step of processing the selected reference embroidery data according to the size of the specified embroidery to create required embroidery data.