JPH1190066A - Sewing machine capable of embroidery stitching - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively use an area provided exclusively for the display of a key group on a display and select between functional keys efficiently and display the selected key in the display. SOLUTION: Display information on a first key group comprising a plurality of functional keys such as 'confirmation' or 'time' is stored in ROM on a control device and at the same time, display information on a second key group comprising a plurality of functional keys such as 'layout' or 'help' is stored in the ROM. When an embroidery pattern is selected (S13), a plurality of color- coded pattern parts are displayed (S14). Further, the first key group comprising four functional keys to be operated in the default mode are displayed (S16) in the key group display area of the display. On the other hand, when a display key switching key provided outside for the display is operated (S19:Yes), display information on the second key group comprising four functional keys is displayed after being switched (S26). Therefore, it is possible to display the plurality of functional keys on the display by efficiently switching the keys.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sewing machine capable of sewing an embroidery pattern, and more particularly to a sewing machine in which a plurality of function keys used for sewing a selected embroidery pattern are grouped and displayed in an improved manner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a home electronically controlled embroidery sewing machine has a sewing mechanism including a vertically driven sewing needle and a thread catcher cooperating with the sewing needle, and an embroidery frame on which a work cloth is detachably mounted. A drive mechanism that independently moves and drives the vehicle in two orthogonal directions, and in addition to the pattern data of the practical pattern,
It has a pattern data memory storing a plurality of types of embroidery pattern data such as "flowers" and "animals", and a display and an operation panel. An operator operates the operation panel and the like to display a desired embroidery pattern on the display. After the display and selection, the embroidery sewing is executed. As a result, the drive mechanism is controlled based on the pattern data of the embroidery pattern, and a desired embroidery pattern is formed on the work cloth mounted on the embroidery frame by cooperation of the drive mechanism and the sewing mechanism.

In this type of embroidery sewing machine, when selecting a desired embroidery pattern from a plurality of patterns, a function key for switching a pattern selection screen is required, and the selected embroidery pattern is edited. At this time, various function keys including a function key for changing the size of the sewing pattern and the sewing position are required. Therefore, various sewing machines that display the plurality of function keys on a display have been proposed.

For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei 8-112469 discloses "embroidery patterns" and "character patterns" in addition to "practical patterns".
When a desired pattern type is selected from a plurality of types of selection menus, a first function key group (previous page, next page, menu, combination, etc.) is added to a plurality of patterns included in the type. ..) are displayed and the second function key group (mode, manual, my set,...) Is displayed, while the first function key group is displayed.
By operating a "combination" key included in the function key group, the third function key group (memory, inversion, stock, etc.) is switched and displayed instead of the second function key group. Sewing machines are described.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-49765 discloses that
When a desired pattern type is selected from a plurality of types of selection menus displayed on the liquid crystal display,
In addition to a plurality of patterns included in the type, a plurality of function keys (previous page, next page, confirmation, size setting, etc.) are displayed in a dedicated display area, and a plurality of selected pattern groups are stored. When a memory key for recalling a pattern group that has already been stored is operated, some of the function keys displayed in the function key display area are changed to different function keys. There is described an electronic embroidery sewing machine which is displayed as an image.

[0006]

As described above, in the embroidery sewing machine described in JP-A-8-112469, a third function key group is switched and displayed instead of displaying the second function key group. The combination key is one key included in the first function key group that is always displayed, and is always displayed. Therefore, the size of the display is increased corresponding to the display area for displaying the combination key. There is a problem. Therefore, in order to avoid an increase in the size of the display, it is conceivable to display each function key in a smaller size. However, it is difficult to operate the function keys, and it is difficult to read the function name of each function key. .

[0007] In the electronic embroidery sewing machine described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-49765, a memory key provided other than the display is operated, whereby a plurality of function keys displayed in a function key display area are displayed. Since only some of the function keys except the "previous page" and "next page" are changed to display different function keys, the function key display area is not used effectively In order to switch and display a plurality of function keys, more screen switching operations are required, and there is a problem that operability is lacking. It is an object of the present invention to effectively use a key group display area provided exclusively for a display, and to efficiently display a plurality of function keys in the key group display area.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sewing machine capable of sewing embroidery, comprising: a pattern data storage unit storing a plurality of practical patterns and pattern data of embroidery patterns; a display unit including a display; In a sewing machine capable of performing embroidery sewing, which includes sewing means for forming a pattern or an embroidery pattern, and sewing control means for driving and controlling the sewing means, display information of a first key group including a plurality of function keys related to embroidery sewing. A first display data storage unit that stores a plurality of function keys different from the first key group related to embroidery sewing; a second display data storage unit that stores display information of a second key group;
A key group display control means for reading the key group display information from one of the display data storage means and the second display data storage means and displaying the read information on a display of the display means; A switch command switch for commanding switching of the display information of the first and second key groups.

The first display data storage means stores display information of a first key group comprising a plurality of function keys related to embroidery sewing, and the second display data storage means stores the first key group related to embroidery sewing. Since the display information of the second key group consisting of a plurality of function keys different from the one key group is stored, the display information of the first and second key groups is changed by a switch command switch provided externally to the display. When switching is instructed to the key group display control means, the key group display control means reads out the instructed one of the key group display information of the first display data storage means and the second display data storage means. It is displayed on the display of the display means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the sewing machine according to the first aspect, the first key group and the second key group are switched and displayed in a key group display area provided exclusively for a display. It is characterized by the following. In this case, since a key group display area for switching and displaying the first key group and the second key group is provided exclusively for a part of the display, a plurality of function keys are always provided at a predetermined display position. The displayed key group is displayed so that it is easy to see. In addition, the same operation as the first aspect is achieved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the first or second aspect, the first key group is a basic function key for confirming a thread color, a sewing time, and the like when selecting an embroidery pattern. It is characterized by being. In this case, when selecting an embroidery pattern, several basic function keys for checking thread color, sewing time, etc. are displayed, so especially for beginners who can not do complicated editing work, execute advanced editing functions. By operating only the basic function keys included in the first key group without being confused by unnecessary function keys, thread color, sewing time, and the like can be confirmed. In addition, the same operation as the first or second aspect is achieved.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the sewing machine according to any one of the first to third aspects, the second key group is an editing function key for editing a selected embroidery pattern. It is characterized by the following. In this case, an operator who can perform advanced editing operations can perform various editing operations by operating the function keys for editing by displaying the second key group on the display. In addition, the same effect as any one of claims 1 to 3 is exerted.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to an electronically controlled embroidery sewing machine with an embroidery device capable of sewing various embroidery patterns by detachably mounting an embroidery device as well as a practical pattern. As shown in FIG. 1, an electronically controlled embroidery sewing machine M (corresponding to an embroidery sewing machine) includes a sewing machine bed 1, a pillar 2 erected from the right end of the bed 1, and a pillar. An arm 3 extends leftward from the upper end of the section 2 so as to face the bed 1.

The bed unit 1 accommodates a feed dog vertical movement mechanism (not shown) for moving the feed dog up and down, a feed dog front and rear movement mechanism (not shown) for moving the feed dog back and forth, and a bobbin bobbin, and cooperates with the sewing needle 6. A thread catcher (for example, a horizontal shuttle) is provided.
A ROM card 27 in which pattern data (sewing data and pattern display data) of a large number of embroidery patterns that are optionally added are stored in the pillar 2, and an internal card connector 18.
(See FIG. 2), a card slot 2a for connection to the card slot is formed.

The arm portion 3 has a needle bar driving mechanism for vertically moving a needle bar 5 having a sewing needle 6 attached to a lower end thereof, and a needle bar swinging mechanism for swinging the needle bar 5 in a direction orthogonal to the cloth feeding direction (shown in the drawing). And a balance driving mechanism (not shown) that moves the balance up and down in synchronization with the vertical movement of the needle bar 5. The feed dog vertical movement mechanism, the needle bar drive mechanism, and the balance drive mechanism are driven by a sewing machine motor 14, the needle bar swing mechanism is driven by a needle bar swing stepping motor 15, and the feed dog longitudinal movement mechanism is a feed dog. It is driven by a driving stepping motor 16 (see FIG. 2). The head 4 of the arm 3 is provided with a start / stop switch 12 for instructing start and stop of the sewing operation.

On the front surface of the arm 3, an initial screen display key 7, a display key group switch key (which corresponds to a switch command switch) 8, and a large liquid crystal display 10 are provided. , Various stitch patterns such as practical patterns and embroidery patterns, various function names, and various messages are displayed. On the front surface of the liquid crystal display 10, touch keys 11 made of transparent electrodes are provided in a matrix in correspondence with display positions of a plurality of embroidery patterns and function names indicating functions. That is, when a desired practical pattern or embroidery pattern is selected, an instruction to execute various functions can be realized by pressing the touch key 11 corresponding to the pattern or function name.

A free bed, commonly called a free arm, is formed at the left end of the bed 1, and an embroidery device 30 is detachably mounted on the free bed. The embroidery device 30 includes a main body case 30a, an embroidery frame 34 on which the work cloth W is detachably mounted, and
A housing case 31 having a built-in Y-direction drive mechanism for driving the housing case 31 in the front-rear direction, and an X-direction drive mechanism for driving the storage case 31 and the Y-direction drive mechanism therein in the X-direction (left-right direction). An X-direction driving mechanism is provided in the housing 30a. The X-direction driving mechanism is driven by a first stepping motor 32, and the Y-direction driving mechanism is driven by a second stepping motor 33 (see FIG. 2).

When the embroidery device 30 is mounted on the free bed portion, the first and second stepping motors 32 and 33 are electrically connected to the control device 20 of the embroidery sewing machine M via the connector 19, and As a result, the first and second stepping motors 32 and 33 are driven and controlled, so that the embroidery frame 34 and the work cloth W can be sewn while being independently moved and driven in the X and Y directions. Here, the embroidery device 30, the needle bar driving mechanism, the feed dog driving mechanism, and the like constitute a sewing means. Next, a control system of the embroidery sewing machine M will be described.
As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 20 includes an input interface 21, a computer including a CPU 23, a ROM 24, and a RAM 25, an output interface 26, and a bus 22 connecting these components.

The input interface 21 includes a start / stop switch 12, a touch key 11, and an initial screen display key 7.
And a display key group switching key 8, a timing signal generator 13 for detecting a plurality of rotation phases of the sewing machine spindle, and an output interface 26.
4. Stepping motor 15 for swinging the needle bar, stepping motor 16 for driving the feed dog, liquid crystal display (LCD)
Display controller (LCDC) 17 for 10
And the first and second stepping motors 3 of the embroidery device 30
A connector 19 and the like to which the connectors 2 and 33 are respectively connected are connected. The ROM 28 of the ROM card 27 has a connector 1
8 is connected to the bus 22.

The ROM 24 includes, in addition to a general control program for sewing control and display control for sewing a practical pattern, an editing process for performing an editing process such as a size setting and a thread density setting for the selected embroidery pattern; A control program for pattern selection editing sewing control including embroidery sewing processing for embroidering the selected embroidery pattern, a control program for later-described pattern display control unique to the present application, and the like are stored in advance.

The ROM 24 stores, in addition to display data and sewing data for each of a plurality of practical patterns, display data and sewing data for each of numeric and alphabetic character patterns, as shown in FIG. As shown, a first key group (a group of keys that are hardly operated thereafter such as switching or automatic processing) including four function keys of “confirm”, “time”, “large / small”, and “information” is displayed. As shown in FIG. 8, data and a second key group including four function keys of “layout”, “help”, “size”, and “density” different from the first key group (subsequently, some operation is required. Key data) is stored. That is, the ROM 24 corresponds to the first and second display data storage means.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the ROM 24 stores pattern data of a large number of relatively frequently used embroidery patterns (first embroidery pattern, second embroidery pattern, third embroidery pattern...). Is stored, and the pattern data of a large number of embroidery patterns are stored by being grouped according to the type of the embroidery patterns and by attaching pattern numbers. By the way, a plurality of ROM cards 27 are prepared.
28, a large number of relatively infrequently used embroidery patterns (first
Embroidery pattern, second embroidery pattern, third embroidery pattern ...), pattern data of various types, characters, figures and shapes, marks,
Pattern data of embroidery patterns such as characters (for example, famous people, animals, robots, etc. appearing on televisions and movies) are recorded in the same manner as in the ROM 24 with the pattern numbers assigned to the embroidery patterns by grouping them. ing.

That is, since the pattern data of each embroidery pattern has the same configuration, the pattern data of the first embroidery pattern will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the pattern data includes the embroidery pattern and a plurality of Pattern display data for displaying a color-specific pattern portion, sewing data for embroidery sewing, and additional information display data for displaying additional information when displaying each screen are stored separately. The pattern display data of the first embroidery pattern (for example, “panda”) stores bit data (dot data) of three first to third color-specific pattern portions. Further, as the sewing data, for three colors such as “panda”, the sewing data for the three colors of the first to third color-specific pattern portions is stored.

The RAM 25 is provided with memories (memory such as flags, pointers, counters, registers, buffers, etc.) necessary for the various controls. next,
The pattern display control routine executed by the control device 20 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. still,
In the figure, reference symbol Si (i = 10, 11, 12,...) Indicates each step. When this control is started by turning on the power, an initial screen for selecting a pattern type (classification) is first displayed on the display 10 (S1).
0).

For example, as shown in FIG. 5, selection keys 11a to 11c for selecting a character pattern, a selection key 11d for selecting a practical pattern, a selection key 11e for selecting an embroidery pattern, and a mounted ROM card 27. An initial screen (pattern type selection screen) including a selection key 11f for selecting a pattern recorded in the. Then, when a pattern type selection process for selecting the type of the desired pattern group by pressing the touch key 11 corresponding to the type is executed (S
11) Then, a large number of patterns included in the selected pattern group are displayed by a predetermined number (S12).

For example, by operating the touch key 11e, the RO
When the “embroidery pattern group” stored in the M24 is selected, as shown in FIG. 6, the first embroidery pattern “panda (1/4
0) "and the next embroidery pattern" elephant (2/40) "are displayed. Here, the next embroidery pattern can be displayed sequentially by operating the “next page” key. Next, when a pattern selection process is executed by operating the touch key 11 corresponding to a desired embroidery pattern (S13), a color-specific pattern portion of the selected embroidery pattern is displayed (S14).

Further, the display key mode flag KMF is reset (data is "0") (S15), and a first key group including a plurality of function keys is displayed (S16). For example, when the animal “panda” is selected, as shown in FIG.
The display 10 displays two color-specific pattern portions of the first “white” and the next “red” of the three color-specific pattern portions included in the embroidery pattern “panda”. In a key group display area 11g provided exclusively at the right end, display information of a first key group including four function keys of “confirm”, “time”, “large / small”, and “information” is stored in the ROM 24. Read and displayed.

Here, the "confirmation" key is a function key for displaying the thread color name of the selected embroidery pattern and confirming the color of the embroidery thread to be used, and the "time" key is for each color currently sewn. The "Large / Small" key is a function key for selecting the sewing size from "Large Size" and "Small Size". The "Information" key is a function key for displaying the sewing time of the embroidery area. This is a function key for displaying various information related to “how to use”, “sew”, or maintenance as needed. That is, the first key group is a basic function key for confirming thread color and sewing time.

Next, when a function key displayed in the key group display area 11g is operated (S17 / S18: Yes)
), A process corresponding to the operated key is executed (S2)
3). For example, when the function key “confirm” is operated, three colors “white”, “red” and “midori” used for the embroidery pattern “panda” are displayed. By the way, when the display key group switching key 8 is operated (S17: Yes, S18:
No, S19: Yes), when the display key mode flag KMF is set (data is "1") (S24: Yes)
), S15 and subsequent steps are executed to display the key mode flag KMF.
Is reset, but when the display key mode flag KMF is reset (S24: No), the display key mode flag KMF is set (S25), and the second key group is displayed instead of the first key group. The display is switched to the area 11g (S26).

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a “layout”,
Display information of a second key group including four function keys of “help”, “size”, and “density” is read from the ROM 24 and displayed. Here, a "layout" key is a function key for designating a sewing position of the embroidery pattern with respect to the embroidery frame 34, a "help" key is a function key for sewing the embroidery pattern for each stitch, and a "size" key is a sewing key. This is a function key for setting the size with an arbitrary numerical value, and the "density" key is a function key for changing and setting the thread density during embroidery sewing.
That is, these second key groups are editing function keys for performing a high-level editing process on the embroidery pattern.

However, when the initial screen display key 7 is operated (S17: Yes, S18 to S19: No, S20: Yes),
Returning to S10, an initial screen is displayed. On the other hand, when the start / stop switch 12 is operated after the embroidery pattern is selected and the work cloth is set in the embroidery frame 34 (S17: No, S21: Yes), the sewing machine motor 14 is driven and The embroidery device 30 is driven to perform embroidery sewing. Then, while the sewing is being performed, the display 10 displays the pattern selection screen of FIG. 7 or FIG. When the embroidery sewing is completed (S22: Yes), the process returns to S10.

Next, the operation and effect of the pattern display control executed by the control device 20 of the embroidery sewing machine 1 will be described. In the ROM 24 of the control device 20, display information of a first key group including a plurality of function keys such as “confirm” and “time” is stored, and a second key group including a plurality of function keys such as “layout” and “help” is stored. Since the display information of the two key groups is stored and the display key group switching key 8 for switching the display of the first and second key groups is provided outside the display 10, the display key group switching key 8 is operated. Thus, when the display information of the first key group and the display information of the second key group are switched and displayed, a plurality of function keys are effectively used by effectively using the key group display area 11g provided on the display 10. Can be displayed efficiently.

The first key group and the second key group are provided in a key group display area 11g provided exclusively for the display 10.
, The plurality of function keys to be switched and displayed are always displayed at predetermined display positions, so that the function keys can be operated without fail and easily. In addition, the first key group displayed as a default when selecting an embroidery pattern is a basic function key for confirming thread color, sewing time, and the like. Only the keys can be operated with confidence.

Further, the second key group switched and displayed by operating the display key group switching key 8 is an editing function key for editing the selected embroidery pattern. The operator can freely operate the function keys for editing of the second key group to execute various editing operations, sew the embroidery pattern of his / her own, and enjoy the embroidery sewing greatly.

As a modification of the above embodiment, the function keys provided in the first key group include a "confirm" key and a "time" key.
The keys are not limited to the keys, and a plurality of basic various function keys mainly used by a beginner may be provided. The function keys provided in the second key group include a “layout” key and a “help” key. The present invention is not limited to this, and various function keys for realizing advanced editing functions mainly used by skilled persons may be provided.

The display 10 may be a CRT display. In place of the ROM card 27, pattern data of a plurality of patterns may be stored on a magnetic disk, and the magnetic disk may be detachably mounted on the FDD of the control device 20. It is also possible to apply a CD-ROM and further a magnetic optical disk. The pattern selection display control and the sewing control according to the embodiment are merely examples,
Various changes can be made without departing from the technical idea of the present invention.

[0037]

According to the first aspect of the invention, in the embroidery sewing machine having the pattern data storage means, the display means, the sewing means, and the sewing control means, the display information of the first key group is displayed. A first display data storage unit that stores therein, a second display data storage unit that stores display information of a second key group, and a key group display control unit are provided, and display information of the first and second key groups is switched. Since the switch command switch is provided externally to the display, when the display information of the first key group and the display information of the second key group are switched and displayed by a switch command by the switch command switch provided outside the display, , A plurality of function keys can be displayed efficiently.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the same effect as that of the first aspect is obtained, but the first key group and the second key group are
Since the display is switched to the key group display area provided exclusively for the display, a plurality of switched function keys are always displayed at a predetermined display position, so that the function keys can be operated without fail and easily. be able to. According to the third aspect of the invention, the same effects as those of the first or second aspect are obtained, but the first key group is a basic function key for confirming a thread color, a sewing time, and the like when selecting an embroidery pattern. In particular, a beginner can operate only the displayed basic function keys without any confusion.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the same effects as in any one of the first to third aspects are provided, but the second key group includes an editing function key for editing the selected embroidery pattern. Therefore, a skilled operator who can perform advanced editing operations can perform various editing operations by operating the editing function keys of the second key group and sew a self-made embroidery pattern. You can enjoy sewing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronically controlled embroidery sewing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system of the embroidery sewing machine.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of various data structures stored in a ROM or a ROM card.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a pattern display control routine.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example of an initial screen.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a display example in which an embroidery pattern group “animal” is selected.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a color-specific pattern display of an embroidery pattern “panda” and a display example of a first key group.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a color-specific pattern display of an embroidery pattern “panda” and a display example of a second key group.

[Explanation of symbols]

 M Electronically controlled embroidery machine 8 Display key group switching key 10 Liquid crystal display 11 Touch key 17 LCDC 20 Control device 24 ROM 30 Embroidery device

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A pattern data storage means for storing pattern data of a plurality of practical patterns and embroidery patterns, a display means including a display, a sewing means for forming a practical pattern and an embroidery pattern on a work cloth, and the sewing means. An embroidery sewing machine having sewing control means for controlling driving, wherein: first display data storage means storing display information of a first key group including a plurality of function keys related to embroidery sewing; A second display data storage unit storing display information of a second key group consisting of a plurality of function keys different from the first key group, and a key from one of the first display data storage unit and the second display data storage unit. Key group display control means for reading group display information and displaying the read information on a display of a display means, provided externally to the display; Sewing machine characterized by comprising a switching command switch for commanding switching of the display information of the second key group, the. 2. The sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the first key group and the second key group are switched and displayed in a key group display area provided exclusively for a display. . 3. The embroidery sewing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first key group is a basic function key for checking a thread color, a sewing time, and the like when selecting an embroidery pattern. Sewing machine. 4. The sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the second key group is a function key for editing for editing a selected embroidery pattern. .