JPH0592091A - Automatic embroidering machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the automatic embroidering machine which can obtain necessary data by a work only in an embroidery frame even in the case of designating a circular arc of a gentle curvature. CONSTITUTION:This automatic embroidering machine is provided with an embroidery frame 2 for holding a material 4 to be embroidered in an expanded state, an embroidery needle which passes through the material 4 to be embroidered and executes a reciprocating motion, and relatively moving means 26, 28 for varying a relative positional relation of both of them. By circular arc curvature designating means 14-20 consisting of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, etc., a radius R of a circle 8 is calculated from length L of a chord and height H of a circular arc. By reference point designating means 14-20, a position of the circular arc 6 on the periphery is designated by inputting a position of a reference point 10 or 12, therefore, such a state as an embroidery pattern is formed on an erroneous position on the periphery 8 is prevented. Original data related to an embroidery pattern outputted by embroidery original data output means 14 //-20 is corrected by data correcting means 14-20 and outputted to embroidery frame motors 26, 28, and embroidery is executed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an embroidery frame which holds an embroidered material such as a T-shirt material in a developed state, an embroidery needle which reciprocates through the embroidered material, an embroidery frame and an embroidery needle. The present invention relates to an automatic embroidery machine which is provided with a relative movement means for changing the relative positional relationship of the above, and forms an embroidery pattern on a material to be embroidered such as a T-shirt cloth according to the locus of relative movement. In particular, the present invention relates to an automatic embroidery machine that can meet demands such as a T-shirt cloth or the like having a circular pattern and embroidering along the circular pattern.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to embroider along an arc, the curvature of the arc must first be specified. If the curvature of the circular arc is not accurate, the embroidery pattern may be separated from the circular arc or may cut into the circular arc. To specify the curvature of an arc, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-220
The technique described in Japanese Patent No. 90 employs a method of inputting a radius from a numerical key. Also, JP-A-62-1208
Japanese Patent Publication No. 77 introduces a method of providing a large number of points on an arc and inputting the coordinates of each point using a digitizer.

[0003]

A method of designating the curvature of an arc by inputting a radius is as shown in FIG. 3 (a) when the center O of the arc 106 exists in the embroidery frame 102. Is extremely effective because the radius R can be directly measured. However, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, when the arc 106 is smooth and its center O does not exist in the embroidery frame 102, a large work space is required to find the center O of the arc 106. However, the radius R cannot be actually measured accurately, and it is easy to specify an incorrect radius. Therefore, the embroidery pattern is curved or flattened more than expected, and the intended curved pattern cannot be obtained.

In practice, the embroidery pattern cannot be determined only by designating the curvature of the arc. FIG. 4 exemplifies this, and if the position of the arc 106 on the circumference 108 is not specified, even if the arc 106 has the same central angle φ,
For example, it cannot be determined whether the pattern shown in FIG. 4A or the pattern shown in FIG. Therefore, in addition to the curvature of the arc, it is necessary to determine at which position on the circle the arc is to be embroidered. Among the conventional techniques described above, in the method of inputting the radius, the data for inputting the radius and the data for designating the position of the arc are completely different, and both must be calculated and obtained one by one. Further, in the method of inputting the coordinates of a large number of points using a digitizer or the like, the input operation is troublesome and a separate device for inputting the coordinates is required. Therefore, according to the present invention, even when an arc having a gentle curvature is specified, the necessary data can be obtained only by the work in the embroidery frame, and the position of the arc on the circumference can be easily specified. Is to develop.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, the concept is schematically shown in FIG. 1, that is, an automatic embroidery machine, that is, an embroidery for holding an embroidered material M7 in a developed state. A frame M8, an embroidery needle M6 that reciprocates through the embroidered material M7 held by the embroidery frame M8, and relative movement means M5 that changes the relative positional relationship between the embroidery needle M6 and the embroidery frame M8. In an automatic embroidery machine equipped with, an embroidery original data output means M1 for outputting original data corresponding to a specified embroidery pattern, a curvature of an arc along which embroidery should be applied, a length of a chord, and an arc from the chord. To the apex of the arc, the arc curvature designating means M2, the reference point designating means M3 for designating a reference point defining the position of the arc on the designated circumference of the curvature, and the embroidery original data output means. M
The original data output from 1 is used as the arc curvature designating means M.
The position and angle of the circle having the curvature specified by 2 are arranged along the arc of the position defined by the reference point specified by the reference point specifying means M3, and the corrected data is moved relative to the relative position. An automatic embroidery machine capable of embroidering a designated embroidery pattern along a circular arc at a designated position of a circle having a designated curvature by adding a data correction means M4 for outputting to a means M5. Created.

The term "curvature" is not used in a strict mathematical sense (that is, the reciprocal of a radius or the like), but generally includes a wide range of variables representing the degree of bending of a curve (here, an arc). It is used as a concept. Specifically, it includes the radius itself as well as the reciprocal of the radius.

[0007]

According to the automatic embroidery machine of the present invention having the above structure, the curvature of the circle is specified by the length of the chord and the height from the chord to the apex of the arc. FIG. 2A exemplifies this. Assuming that the length of the chord is L and the height from the chord to the apex of the arc is H, data indicating the curvature of the circle from L and H (for example, radius R). ) Is determined. Here, the length L of the chord and the height H of the arc can be known directly by measuring the vicinity of the embroidery position to be applied, and the work for this can always be performed only within the embroidery frame 2. Further, in the present invention, since the position of the arc 6 on the circumference 8 is input by inputting the position of the reference point 10, when embroidering is started, as shown in FIG.
It is possible to prevent a situation in which the pattern of FIG. 4B is formed instead of the pattern of FIG. In this way, even when designating an arc with a gentle curvature, the necessary data can be obtained only by the work within the embroidery frame, and the position of the arc on the circumference can be easily designated. is there.

[0008]

[Embodiment] Next, an embodiment embodying the present invention will be described.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 5 to 10. Figure 2
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a method of designating an arc in an automatic embroidery sewing machine which is an embodiment of the automatic embroidery machine of the present invention and a basic configuration of a control unit of the automatic embroidery sewing machine. As an example of embroidery along an arc, FIGS. 2A and 2B show a series of embroidery patterns “A”, along an arc 6, on an embroidery cloth 4 held in an expanded state on an embroidery frame 2. The case where "B", "C", "D", and "E" are embroidered is shown. In this way, even when the center O of the circle 8 to which the arc 6 belongs is located outside the embroidery frame 2, as will be described later, the chord length L and the chord length L of the arc 6 (or another arc belonging to the same circle 8) By using the height H of the circular arc, the size of the radius R of the circular arc 6 can be obtained.
FIG. 2A shows the position of the arc 6 on the circumference 8 (that is, the positions of the embroidery patterns “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, “E”).
It shows a case where the reference point for designating is set to the left end 10 of the embroidery pattern which is the point at which embroidery is actually started.
On the other hand, in FIG. 2B, a series of embroidery patterns “A”, “B”, not the starting point 10 of embroidery as a reference point.
Circle 8 using the center point 12 of "C", "D", and "E"
The case where the upper position is designated is shown.

Next, the electrical construction of the control unit of the automatic embroidery sewing machine will be described with reference to FIG. Figure 2
(C) is a block diagram showing a basic configuration of a control unit of the automatic embroidery sewing machine of the present embodiment. This control unit includes a central processing unit (CPU) 16, ROM 14, keyboard 18, RA
It has an I / O port 24 for inputting / outputting the M20 and an embroidery frame driving mechanism of the automatic embroidery sewing machine, and a bus 22 is connected between them. The ROM
A program 14a for controlling the automatic embroidery sewing machine and data (unit embroidery data) 14b corresponding to the X and Y coordinates of each point forming a unit pattern of each character etc.
Is remembered. The keyboard 18 is used as an input means for inputting various data. The RAM 20 is a working memory in which various calculation results by the CPU 16 are temporarily stored, and a storage area for embroidery original data 20a and embroidery correction data 20b, which will be described later, and other data are temporarily stored therein. Has a region 20c to be formed.

These ROM 14, keyboard 18, RA
According to M20 data and programs, the CP
Various calculation processes are performed in U16, and the results are output from the I / O port 24, and the embroidery frame X-axis motor 2
6 and the embroidery frame Y-axis motor 28 are operated. As a result, the embroidery frame 2 is driven, and the embroidery frame 2 is displaced relative to the embroidery needle (not shown) in the XY plane. Bus 2
Reference numeral 2 functions as a passage for data exchange between these respective devices. The memory device of the ROM 14 and the RAM 20 is not limited to the IC memory, and may be an external connection memory such as a floppy disk. In this embodiment, a floppy disk device is used as an area in the ROM 14 in which the unit embroidery data 14b is stored. Further, in FIG. 2, only the portion related to the present invention is extracted and shown in the automatic embroidery sewing machine, and in addition to the constituent portions shown in the drawing, an essential structure for the automatic embroidery sewing machine such as an embroidery needle and its driving portion. Needless to say, is attached.

Now, a specific procedure of automatic embroidery along an arc by the control unit of the automatic embroidery sewing machine of the present embodiment having the above-mentioned configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 5 to 10. To do. As an example of an actual embroidery work along an arc, a pattern may be formed in advance on a cloth such as a T-shirt or a jumper, and initial characters may be embroidered around the pattern. First, an embroidery pattern such as a character to be embroidered is selected and input from the keyboard 18. In the case of the alphabetic characters "A", "B", "C", "D", "E" shown in FIG.
Input is performed using the character keys “A”, “B”, ... Of the keyboard 18. On the other hand, in the case of a character or the like that is not on the keyboard 18, it is input by a predetermined code (for example, a four-digit number). The correspondence between these characters and codes is
It is stored in the ROM 14 as unit embroidery data 14b.

Subsequently, the size of each pattern and the interval between each pattern are similarly input from the keyboard 18. To enter the size and spacing, first enter a series of embroidery patterns,
It may be input after the arrangement order is determined, or may be input every time the code or the like of each pattern is input. For the embroidery pattern such as the character selected in this way, the data corresponding to the X and Y coordinates of each point forming each pattern, together with the data of the size of each pattern, the arrangement order, and the interval between each embroidery pattern, The original embroidery data 20a is temporarily stored in the RAM 20. As described above, the original embroidery data 20a includes data (unit embroidery data) 14b corresponding to the X and Y coordinates of each point forming the unit pattern of the embroidery pattern.
And data about the size of each embroidery pattern, the arrangement order, and the interval between each embroidery pattern. However, data on how to arrange each embroidery pattern (whether they are arranged linearly or along an arc) has not been given yet. Therefore, next, the arrangement method is designated as described below.

First, as shown in FIG. 2A, in order to determine the radius R of (the circle 8 to which the arc 6 belongs), the length L of the chord of the arc and the height H of the arc are input. .. The values of the length L of the string and the height H of the arc input are assumed to be the arc 6 to be embroidered along the vicinity of the pattern or the like formed on the cloth 4 in advance, and the string at any position thereof. The length L and the height H of the arc 6 from the chord can be obtained by actually measuring the length on the cloth 4. The L and H values thus obtained are input by the keyboard 18 and RA
It is stored in the data temporary storage area 20c of M20. Using the values of L and H, the CPU 16, ROM 14, R
According to the equations (1) and (2) described later in AM20,
The value of the radius R of the arc 6 is calculated.

Next, which of the starting point mode and the center point mode is to be used for embroidery is selected. In any case, the embroidery is started from the left end of the finally specified series of embroidery patterns, and the embroidery is performed toward the right end of the embroidery patterns. The start point mode is, as shown in FIG.
This is a method of designating the position of a series of embroidery patterns by designating the point 10 at the left end of the embroidery pattern on which embroidery is started on the circumference 8. When the embroidery is actually performed, the position where the operator sets the embroidery needle becomes the embroidery start point on the embroidery cloth, and this position is used as the starting point to embroider along the arc 6 from the specified circumferential position 10. It is done. On the other hand, the center point mode is a method of determining the position of the embroidery pattern by designating the middle point 12 of the series of embroidery patterns as shown in FIG. Also in this case, the actual embroidery starts from the left end of the pattern.

The starting point mode is an effective embroidery mode when the length of the character string is short, or when it is desired to make the left end position of the embroidery pattern the same for a plurality of fabrics. On the other hand, in the center point mode, when the character string is long and it is difficult to know where the end of the embroidery pattern will be if you specify it with the start point, or when you want to embroider so that the entire embroidery pattern forms a symmetrical arc. Used. In addition, when it is desired to be symmetrical in this way, it is specified that the center point coincides with the apex of the arc. Further, in the start point mode, the point where embroidery is started is directly specified. On the other hand, in the case of the center point mode, it is necessary to calculate the distance from the center point to the embroidery start point at which embroidery is actually started. This calculation is performed by obtaining 1/2 of the length of the embroidery pattern using the designated character size and spacing. In actual embroidery, embroidery is started after the embroidery needle is moved by this distance from the position corresponding to the center point where the operator first sets the embroidery needle.

Now, when either mode is selected,
Next, the reference point position is input. Here, as the value of the reference point, as shown in FIG. 7, an XY coordinate system whose origin is the center Z of the circle 40 including the arc 30 to be embroidered is considered, and this XY coordinate system is considered. Enter the X coordinate value in. When the start point mode is selected, the X coordinate value of the start point is input, and when the center point mode is selected, the X coordinate value of the center point is input. Using the input X coordinate value of the reference point position, in the CPU 16, the ROM 14, and the RAM 20, in the case of the start point mode, the start point shown in FIG. 9 is calculated according to equations (4) to (12) described later. The value of the angle β ₁ indicating the position of 41a on the arc 30 is calculated. Also,
In the case of the center point mode, the value of the angle indicating the position of the center point is calculated using the input X coordinate value of the center point position according to Expressions (4) to (12).

Next, the rotation direction is designated. In the automatic embroidery sewing machine of this embodiment, the direction in which embroidery is performed is always one direction from the left side to the right side of the embroidery material, and the embroidery along the arc is always performed along the outside of the circle. .. Therefore, by determining the rotation direction (clockwise or counterclockwise), it is determined whether to embroider on the upper side along the upward arc or on the lower side along the downward arc.

FIG. 6 exemplifies this. This Figure 6
In alphabet letters "A", "B", "C"
Consider a case where the embroidery is specified along the arc belonging to the circle 8 so that the starting point 10 is located at the X coordinate = X1 on the circle 8. With just this specification,
Whether it is embroidery along the arc 6a from the starting point 10a on the upper side of the figure or embroidery along the arc 6b from the starting point 10b on the lower side of the figure is unknown, and the final direction is determined by specifying the rotation direction. The method of embroidery is generally decided. When the rotation direction is designated clockwise, the embroidery is embroidered on the upper side along the arc 6a in the embroidery frame 2a, that is, along the upward arc. On the other hand, if the rotation direction is designated to be counterclockwise, the embroidery will be performed on the lower side along the arc 6b in the embroidery frame 2b, that is, along the downward arc.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, when the length L of the chord and the height H of the arc have a relationship of 2H> L, the arc is larger than a semicircle. The number of characters to be embroidered is "A",
In many cases such as "B", ..., "Z", the arc has such a shape. Here, when the X coordinate of the start point 10 is designated as X3, and the rotation direction is clockwise, the state shown in FIG.
The embroidery is performed from the starting point 10c along the arc 6c.
On the other hand, if the rotation direction is designated counterclockwise, embroidery is performed along the arc 6d from the starting point 10d in FIG. 7B.

By the above procedure, the size of the radius of the circular arc, the position of the circular arc on the circumference, and the embroidery direction are all determined. Therefore, finally, the inclination of each embroidery pattern is calculated using the above-mentioned various data, and data indicating the X and Y coordinates of each point forming each embroidery pattern so that the inclination value is obtained (unit embroidery data) Is corrected. After that, at the time of actual embroidery, the operator manually operates the embroidery frame X-axis motor 26 and Y-axis motor 28 shown in FIG. The embroidery frame 2 is moved relative to the XY plane. As a result, the embroidery needle is set at a desired position on the surface of the embroidery cloth 4. Here, when the start point mode is selected, the embroidery needle is set at a position on the embroidery cloth 4 where the left end of the embroidery pattern is to be positioned,
When the center point mode is selected, set the embroidery needle at the position where the center of the embroidery pattern is desired to be located. After that, by switching to automatic operation (embroidery operation mode), the X-axis motor 26 and the Y-axis motor 28 of the embroidery frame automatically operate to start embroidery. Then, the designated pattern is embroidered in the designated direction along the circular arc having the designated radius with the place where the embroidery needle is set as the starting point or the center point.

Now, a concrete example of the above-mentioned mathematical method of data processing will be described with reference to FIGS. First, a method for determining the radius of an arc (the circle to which it belongs) from the length of the chord of the arc and the height of the arc will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 shows a case where the embroidery material 33 fixed to the embroidery frame 32 is embroidered along the arc 30.
The radius R of (the circle 40 to which it belongs) R is calculated as follows based on the chord length L of the designated arc 30 and the arc height H from the chord. As shown in FIG. 8, the radius R of this arc 30 is an isosceles triangle a ₁ b ₁
It is the radius of the circumscribed circle 40 with respect to c ₁ . Therefore, the radius R is obtained by the following equation (2) using the Pythagorean theorem (equation (1)) well known in geometry. R ² = (L / 2) ² + (R−H) ² (1) ∴ R = {(L / 2) ² + H ² } / 2H (2) The equation of the circle 40 to which the arc 30 belongs is As described above, when the center Z of this circle is set as the origin of the XY coordinates, it is expressed by the following equation (3) using the radius R described above. R ² = X ² + Y ² (3)

Next, referring to FIG. 8, in the start point mode, the value of the angle θ representing the position of the start point 34 on the circumference 40 is calculated using the value of the X coordinate of the start point position. The method will be described. The angle formed by the straight line (radius) connecting the embroidery start point 34 on the arc 30 and the center Z of the circle to which the arc 30 belongs to the + direction of the Y axis is θ. Since the position of the embroidery start point 34 is specified by the value of X when the center Z of the circle is the origin of the XY coordinates as described above, the value of this θ is used as the value of θ. Can be obtained by the following equation (4). θ = arcsin (X / R) (4) Here, the relationship between the position of the embroidery start point and the sign of the specified X value is that when the X value is specified as a positive value, the embroidery start point is an arc. It is located on the right side of the apex, and when X is specified by a negative value, the embroidery start point is located on the left side of the apex of the arc.

Next, a data processing method in the center point mode will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG. 9 shows a case where characters 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 are embroidered along the arc 30. First, using the equation (4) as in the case of the start point mode, the angle θ of the center point is calculated from the value of the X coordinate of the center point position in the center point mode.
Is calculated. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, since the center point 35 coincides with the apex of the circular arc 30, the value of the X coordinate of the center point position is zero, and the formula (4)
The value of θ is 0 degree. In this way, by making the center point 35 coincide with the apex of the circular arc 30, the entire embroidery pattern draws a symmetrical circular arc. As for the center point, when X is specified by a positive value, the center point is located on the right side of the apex of the arc, and when X is specified by a negative value, the center point is located on the left side of the apex of the arc. I shall.

As described above, in the center point mode, not only the position of the center point is obtained, but also the specified embroidery pattern size and interval values are used to make the actual embroidery start point from the center point. The distance to the left edge of the embroidery pattern must be calculated. A mathematical method for this will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. This is done by using the widths W _{1 to} W ₆ of the characters 41 to 46 to be embroidered along the arc 30 in FIG. 9 and the values of the intervals (here, zero) between the characters 41 to 46. Arc 30 of 46
It is to determine the position above. Specifically, each character 4
The X and Y coordinates of a point serving as a reference for specifying the X and Y coordinates of each of the points forming the patterns 1 to 46 are calculated.
In this embodiment, the reference point of each character pattern is the point 4 at the lower left corner of each character 41 to 46 shown in FIG.
1a to 46a.

First, the characters 41 to 46 for the circular arc 30.
The central angles α _{1 to} α ₆ occupied by are calculated as follows. Generally, the length of each side of the triangle is a, b, c,
When the angle between side a and side b is φ, the following cosine formula (5) holds. cosφ = (a ² + b ² −c ² ) / 2ab (5) where a and b are the radius R of the arc 30, and c is replaced by the width (base length) W _{1 to} W ₆ of the embroidery character. If
The central angles α _{1 to} α ₆ occupied by the characters 41 to 46 are calculated by the following equation (6). cos α _n = (2R ² −W _n ² ) / 2R ² (6) However, n = 1, 2, ...

That is, the width W of each character_nTo give
Therefore, the angle α in FIG.₁~ Α₆Can be calculated
it can. And α₁~ Α₆If you can calculate
Angle β₁~ Β₆Is calculated by the following equations (7) to (12)
Can be issued. β₁=-(Α₁+ Α₂+ Α₃) … (7) β₂=-(Α₂+ Α₃) … (8) β₃= -Α₃ … (9) β_Four= Α_Four … (10) β_Five= Α_Four+ Α_Five … (11) β₆= Α_Four+ Α_Five+ Α₆ … (12)

Further, from these angles β _{1 to} β ₆ , the X coordinates X _{1 to} X ₆ of the points 41a to 46a, which are the reference of the X and Y coordinates of the respective points constituting the characters 41 to 46, can be calculated by the following equation ( 13) ~
It can be calculated by (18). X ₁ = Rsin β ₁ (13) X ₂ = Rsin β ₂ (14) X ₃ = Rsin β ₃ (15) X ₄ = 0 (16) X ₅ = Rsin β ₄ (17) X ₆ = Rsin β ₅ ... (18) Here, since the angles β _{1 to} β ₃ have negative values, X _{1 to} X 3
_{3 is} also a negative value. In addition, the Y coordinate is expressed by the following equations (19) to (2
4). Y ₁ = Rcos β ₁ (19) Y ₂ = Rcos β ₂ (20) Y ₃ = Rcos β ₃ (21) Y ₄ = R ... (22) Y ₅ = Rcos β ₄ (23) Y ₆ = Rcos β ₅ ... (24) All Y coordinates have positive values.

By the above calculation, the values of the X and Y coordinates (X ₄ , Y ₄ ) of the center point 44a and the X and Y coordinates (X ₁ , Y ₁ ) of the embroidery start point 41a shown in FIG. 10 are obtained. Be done. This is a particular distance to _{(X 1 -X 4, Y 1} -Y 4) values embroidery starting point 41a from the central point 44a in the. Therefore, the position of the set center point, the value only embroidery needle of the _{(X 1 -X 4, Y 1} -Y 4) is after moving in the X-Y plane, so that the embroidery is started.

Finally, the inclination of each character is calculated in each mode. Here, the case of the center point mode will be described with reference to FIG. 10, but the inclination of each character is similarly obtained in the case of the start point mode. Figure 10
As shown in, the angle between the straight line that connects the position of 1/2 of the character width of each of the characters 41 to 46 and the center Z of the arc and the straight line that is the reference of the angle on the arc, that is, the + direction of the Y axis. γ _n is defined as the inclination of the character. This angle γ _n
Can be calculated by the following equations (25) to (30). _{γ 1 = - (α 1/} 2 + α 2 + α 3) _{... (25) γ 2 = -} (α 2/2 + α 3) _{... (26) γ 3 = -} (α 3/2) _{... (27) γ 4 = α} 4/2 ... (28) γ 5 = α 4 + α 5/2 _{... (29) γ 6 = α} 4 + α 5 + α 6/2 (30) In FIG. 10, only γ ₁ and γ ₄ are shown.

As described above, the chord length L of the input arc, the height H of the arc, the X coordinate value of the reference point or the center point position, the size of each embroidery pattern, and the interval between each pattern. The data R is used to calculate the radius R of the arc (the circle to which it belongs), the position of the starting point on the circumference, and the inclination of each character. As a result, the unit embroidery data is corrected,
The embroidery correction data represents the X and Y coordinates of each point for executing the actual embroidery.

The above description is for the case where the apex of the arc is inside the embroidery frame. Next, a method of designating the position of the arc on the circumference when the apex of the arc does not exist in the embroidery frame will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 11 shows an arc 38 formed by the automatic embroidery sewing machine of this embodiment.
It is explanatory drawing which shows the designation | designated method of the circular arc 38 when the apex of is not in the embroidery frame 32. In this case, the embroidery data of the embroidery pattern is developed with reference to both ends of the string designating the arc, and the starting point mode and the center point mode can be set as the reference point. First, as in the case where the apex of the arc is within the embroidery frame, the length of the chord (the linear distance between a ₂ b ₂ ) and the height of the arc (the linear distance between the center point 36 and the point e ₂ ) , Radius of curvature R is determined. Next, X with the lower end a ₂ of the string as the origin
Considering the (2) -Y (2) coordinate system, the length of a straight line that intersects the straight line of X (2) = 0 at 90 degrees through the upper end b ₂ of the string,
That is, the value of the X (2) coordinate of the point b ₂ is designated. This establishes the triangle a ₂ b ₂ c ₂ . Where point a
₂ is the end point of the designated arc, and point b ₂ is the start point of the designated arc (embroidery start point).

Next, X = 0 in the original XY coordinate system and the point b ₂
Find the angle ω made by and. Here, the above triangle a ₂ b
₂ c ₂ is the center point 3 on the arc that starts the embroidery of the embroidery pattern
Consider a triangle a ₂ d ₂ e ₂ separated by an extension of a line connecting 6 and the origin of the original XY coordinate system. This triangle a ₂ d
₂ e ₂ share the interior angles of a triangle a ₂ b ₂ c ₂ and the vertex a _2, the interior angle of vertex c ₂ and vertex e ₂ are each 90 degrees (center point 36 of the arc a ₂ b ₂ midpoint Therefore, the interior angles of the vertex b ₂ and the vertex d ₂ are equal. Then, X = 0 in the XY coordinates and X in the X (2) -Y (2) coordinates.
Since (2) = 0 is parallel, it can be seen that the interior angle of the vertex d ₂ of the triangle a ₂ d ₂ e ₂ is equal to the angle ω ₁ of the center point on the arc represented by the XY coordinate system. Therefore, the central point 3
The angle ω ₁ of the Y axis of 6 with respect to the + direction is equal to the interior angle of the vertex b ₂ , and the length of the chord (the linear distance between a ₂ b ₂ ) is L ₂ and X of the point b ₂ ( 2) When the coordinate value is X2, it is calculated by the following equation (31). ω ₁ = −arccos (X2 / L2) (31) Here, in order to make the value of the angle ω ₁ positive on the right side of the Y-axis of the original XY coordinate system and negative on the left side, formula (31) The minus sign is attached to the right side of.

On the other hand, in order to obtain the angle ω of the point b ₂ in the XY coordinate system, the origin of the XY coordinate and the points a ₂ and b.
Considering the triangle formed by ₂ , the half angle of the angle with the origin of the XY coordinate system as the apex is subtracted from ω ₁ .
That is, the angle ω of the point b ₂ is obtained by the following equation (32). ω = ω ₁ −arccos {(2R ² −L2 ² ) / 2R ² } (32) In this way, the reference points in the start point mode and the center point mode are set. That is, the formula (31) is X−
Lead angle of the center point of the arc a ₂ b ₂ in the Y-coordinate, the formula (32) are leading angle of the start point of the arc a ₂ b ₂ in X-Y coordinates. Next, using the data such as the size and interval of the embroidery pattern from any of the designated reference points, X of each point forming each embroidery pattern is calculated according to the above-described equations (5) to (24). The Y coordinate is calculated. In this way
Even when the apex of the arc does not exist in the embroidery frame, the embroidery start point and the position of each embroidery pattern are determined.

The above-mentioned work procedure will be summarized and described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 6 to 11 and along the flowchart of FIG. In step S10 of FIG. 5, the operation of the automatic embroidery sewing machine is started. First, a pattern (characters, figures, etc.) to be embroidered is selected and input from the keyboard 18 using character keys or codes. At this time, the embroidery order of each pattern is also determined at the same time and input as a series of code groups (step S12). Then, the size of each embroidery pattern and the interval between them are input (step S14). By these two-step operations, the embroidery pattern for outputting the original embroidery data is designated.

Next, data relating to the arc for correcting the original embroidery data is input. That is,
On the embroidery cloth held in the embroidery frame, the length L of the chord and the height H of the arc are actually measured for the arc to be embroidered along, and those values are input from the keyboard 18.
(Steps S16 and S18). Based on the values of L and H, the CPU 1 according to the equations (1) and (2) described above.
At 6, the radius R of the arc 6 is calculated. Next, the start point mode or the center point mode is selected. This selection is also made by key input from the keyboard 18 (step S20). When the start point mode is selected, the process proceeds to step S22 and the X coordinate of the start point is input (step S22). Based on the value of the X coordinate of the starting point, the CPU 16 can be calculated according to the above-described equations (4) to (12).
At, the angle value indicating the position of the starting point is calculated.

Then, the rotation direction (clockwise or counterclockwise) is input (step S24). This determines whether to embroider on the upper side along the upward arc or on the lower side along the downward arc. Based on the above input data, the position and the angle of the data of each point corresponding to each embroidery pattern with respect to the start point are calculated using the above-mentioned equations (4) to (30) (step S2).
6) Then, the data of each point corresponding to each embroidery pattern is converted (step S28). As described above, the unit embroidery data is corrected to be embroidery correction data that represents the X and Y coordinates of each point for executing the actual embroidery. And
Automatic embroidery is started by advancing to the embroidery operation mode in step S28.

On the other hand, if the center point mode is selected, the process proceeds to step S30 and the X coordinate of the center point is input. Based on the value of the X coordinate of this center point, the above equation (4)
~ The value of the angle indicating the position of the center point is calculated according to equation (12). Subsequently, as in the case of the start point mode, the rotation direction is input (step S32), and it is determined whether to embroider on the upper side along the upward arc or on the lower side along the downward arc. It Next, in the case of the center point mode, the number, size, and interval of embroidery patterns are calculated in order to specify the positional relationship between the embroidery start point and the center point (step S34). Based on the above data, the position and angle of the data of each point corresponding to each embroidery pattern with respect to the center point are calculated using the above equations (4) to (30) (step S36), and each Data of each point corresponding to the embroidery pattern is converted (step S38), and automatic embroidery is performed (step S40).

In this way, even when an arc having a gentle curvature is specified, the necessary data can be obtained only by the work within the embroidery frame, and the position of the arc on the circumference can be easily specified. It becomes. In addition, RO of FIG.
The control program 14a of the automatic embroidery sewing machine stored in M14 is assembled so as to execute the above-described work procedure. When the program 14a is executed, a display device (CRT) not shown in FIG. Input items for each step are displayed on the display).

As described above, the automatic embroidery sewing machine of this embodiment is
The embroidery frame 2 that holds the embroidered material 4 in an expanded state, the embroidery needle (not shown) that reciprocates through the embroidered material 4 held by the embroidery frame 2, and the relative relationship between the embroidery needle and the embroidery frame 2. The automatic embroidery machine is provided with relative movement means 26, 28 for changing the positional relationship. Therefore, the ROM 14, the CPU 16, the keyboard 18, the RAM 20, and the bus 22 specify the curvature of the arc along which the arc is to be embroidered by the length of the chord and the height from the chord to the apex of the arc. Is composed of. ROM 14, CPU 16, keyboard 1
8, the RAM 20, and the bus 22 also function as embroidery original data output means for outputting original data corresponding to the designated embroidery pattern.

Further, the ROM 14, the CPU 16, the keyboard 18, the RAM 20, and the bus 22 also function as a reference point designating means for designating a reference point which defines the position of an arc on the circumference having the designated curvature. And ROM1
4, CPU 16, keyboard 18, RAM 20, bus 2
2, and the I / O port 24 uses the original data output from the embroidery original data output means 14 to 22 at the position defined by the reference points designated by the reference point designating means 14 to 22 and the arc curvature designating means. A data correction unit that corrects the position and angle arranged along the arc having the curvature designated by 14 to 22 and outputs the corrected data to the relative moving units 26 and 28 is configured.

In the above description and drawings, only the parts relating to the present invention of the automatic embroidery sewing machine of this embodiment are shown, and other than that, the essential structure of the automatic embroidery sewing machine such as the embroidery needle and its driving part. Needless to say, is attached. Further, although the case where the bottom side of each embroidery pattern is inscribed in the arc is described in the present embodiment, the embroidery pattern may be arranged so that the central portion of the upper side is inscribed in the arc. In this case, the central angles α _{1 to} α ₆ and the equation (1
The calculation is performed by changing the value of R and the like in 4) to (20). Further, the case where six independent embroidery patterns are sewn has been described, but a continuous pattern can be treated in the same manner by considering it separately.

Further, with respect to the XY coordinates, the origin thereof, and the angle θ (α, β, γ), and the embroidery start point, several methods other than this embodiment can be considered. .. In this embodiment, the embroidery pattern is designated by the automatic embroidery machine,
The embroidery pattern may be designated in advance by another method. The structure of other parts of the automatic embroidery machine, the connecting method of the control unit, and the like are not limited to those in this embodiment.

[0043]

According to the present invention, an automatic embroidery machine for calculating the radius of curvature of an arc by designating the height and width of the chord of the arc and inputting the position of the arc on the circumference as the reference point position. Since it is created, even when an arc having a gentle curvature is specified, necessary data can be obtained only by the work in the embroidery frame, and the position of the arc on the circumference can be easily specified. Thus, with an inexpensive configuration, there is no error in designating the arc, and anyone can sew the embroidery pattern along the arc with a simple operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the concept of an automatic embroidery machine of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a method of designating an arc by an automatic embroidery machine of the present invention,
It is a figure which shows the basic composition of the control part of an automatic embroidery machine.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of designating an arc by a conventional automatic embroidery machine.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example in which embroidery is embroidered at different positions on the circumference.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the automatic embroidery machine.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a rotation direction and an embroidery position.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a rotation direction and an embroidery position.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of calculating a radius of an arc or the like.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of designating the position of an embroidery pattern on the circumference.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of designating the position of an embroidery pattern on the circumference.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a designation method when the apex of an arc is not within the embroidery frame.

[Explanation of symbols]

M1 or 14, 16, 18, 20 Embroidery original data output means M2 or 14, 16, 18, 20 Arc curvature designating means M3 or 14, 16, 18, 20 Reference point designating means M4 or 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 data correction means M5 or 26, 28 relative movement means M6 embroidery needle M7 or 4 embroidered material M8 or 2 embroidery frame 6 arc

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An embroidery frame that holds an embroidered material in a developed state, an embroidery needle that reciprocates through the embroidered material held by the embroidery frame, and a relative relationship between the embroidery needle and the embroidery frame. In an automatic embroidery machine equipped with relative movement means for changing the positional relationship, embroidery original data output means for outputting original data corresponding to a specified embroidery pattern, and the curvature of the arc along which embroidery should be applied An arc curvature designating unit that designates the length and a height from the chord to the apex of the arc, and a reference point designating unit that designates a reference point that defines the position of the arc on the circumference having the designated curvature. The original data output from the embroidery original data output means
Of a circle having a curvature specified by the arc curvature specifying means,
Data correction means for correcting the position and angle to be arranged along the arc of the position specified by the reference point specified by the reference point specification means and outputting the corrected data to the relative movement means are added. An automatic embroidery machine capable of embroidering a specified embroidery pattern along a circular arc at a specified position of a circle having a specified curvature.