JPS63212394A - Sewing data forming apparatus for automatic sewing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an automatic sewing machine, and mainly to a sewing data creation device for an automatic sewing machine that creates sewing data for embroidery patterns.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, automatic embroidery sewing machines have been able to sew embroidery patterns such as letters and symbols such as the alphabet, and frame patterns made up of zigzag stitches used to surround the embroidery patterns. It has become. Similarly to the embroidery pattern, each sewing point of the frame pattern has preset x and y coordinates.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) Conventionally, there has been a problem that the more sewing points there are, the more a large capacity memory is required. To solve this problem, for example, when trying to form a polygonal frame with staggered stitches in advance, the position data of the vertices of the polygon, the stitch density data for sewing with a predetermined knot density between each vertex. , and the sewing width data for determining the sewing width of the zigzag stitches are set in advance, and the sewing points are calculated based on this data,
It is conceivable to perform sewing based on the calculation result. However, when forming a zigzag stitch using only the various data described above, for example, three points Gl constituting the vertices G1 to G4 of a rhombus are shown in FIG. 13(a).
, G2 and 03, for example, if a zigzag stitch is formed along the direction of travel indicated by the polygonal line, the gap A in G2
This creates an undesirable visual problem.

(Purpose) The purpose of the present invention was to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the purpose of the present invention is to form visually pleasing zigzag stitches when sewing zigzag stitches between the vertices of a polygon. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a sewing data creation device for an automatic sewing machine.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention includes a seam forming means that includes at least one needle and forms a seam on a workpiece cloth as the needle moves up and down, and a seam forming means that holds the workpiece cloth. and a drive means connected to at least either the stitch forming means or the work cloth holding means for changing the relative position of the needle and the work cloth holding means, and a storage means. A sewing data creation device for an automatic sewing machine that operates the driving means based on sewing data stored in the sewing machine to form a zigzag stitch on a work cloth, the sewing data generating device defining the position of each vertex of a predetermined polygon. directional data for instructing whether to perform the zigzag stitch on the left or right with respect to an imaginary line segment formed by the adjacent vertices of each of the vertices; storage means for storing stitch width data of the zigzag stitches and stitch density data of the zigzag stitches, and a virtual line having both of the vertices as both ends based on the position data of adjacent vertices successively retrieved from the storage means. The first to calculate the minutes
computing means, determining the direction data, determining whether to form a zigzag stitch on the left or right side of the virtual line segment computed by the first computing means, and position data of both vertices; From the stitch width data of the zigzag stitches and the stitch density data, a zigzag stitch having the same stitch width as the stitch width data is formed over the entire length of the virtual line segment from one of the two vertices to the other. The gist thereof is to provide a second calculation means for calculating sewing data for the polygon, and a repetition control means for repeating the calculation by the first and second calculation means between adjacent vertices of the polygon. It is.

(Function) With the above configuration, the storage means stores position data defining the position of each vertex of a predetermined polygon in the order of sewing progress, and performs zigzag stitching on a virtual line segment imagined by adjacent vertices of each of the polygons. Direction data instructing whether to stitch left or right is stored, stitch width data of the staggered stitches, and stitch density data of the staggered stitches are also stored.

Then, the first calculation means calculates a virtual line segment having both of the vertices as both ends, based on the position data of the adjacent vertices read from the storage means. Further, the second calculation means determines the direction data, determines whether to form a staggered seam on the left or right side of the virtual line segment calculated by the first calculation means, and determines the positions of the two vertices. data, the stitch width data of the zigzag stitches, and the stitch density data, over the entire length of the virtual line segment, zigzag stitches with the same stitch width as the stitch width data are directed from one of the two vertices to the other. The sewing data for forming the sewing machine is calculated. Then, the repetition control means repeats the calculation by the first and second calculation means between adjacent vertices of the polygon.

(Embodiment) An embodiment in which the present invention is embodied in an embroidery sewing machine will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 13.

The sewing machine arm 1 is disposed on a table 2, and a needle bar support case 3 is supported at its front end so as to be movable along the direction of arrow X in FIG.

The five needle bars 4 are each supported by the support case 3 so as to be movable up and down, and each needle 5 is detachably attached to the lower end thereof. Different types of thread are supplied to each needle from a thread supply source (not shown) via a thread tension device 6 and thread take-up 7 on the needle bar support case 3. A needle selection motor 8 is disposed on the sewing machine arm 1 and is drivingly connected to the needle bar support case 3.

When a predetermined needle bar selection signal is input to the needle selection motor 8, the needle selection motor 8 moves the needle bar support case 3 to select and arrange one needle 5 at a predetermined use position. It looks like this.

The sewing machine motor 9 is disposed at the rear of the sewing machine arm 1, and its power is transmitted to the needle bar 4 in the use position through a power transmission mechanism (not shown) in the sewing machine arm 1, causing the needle bar 4 to move up and down. It is supposed to be done. sewing machine bed 10
is provided protrudingly on the sewing machine table 2 opposite to the needle bar 4 disposed in the use position, and is a thread ring catcher (not shown) for forming stitches on the workpiece cloth W by V;A action with the needle 5. do not)
Built-in. Said needle5. A seam forming means is constituted by a thread loop catcher and the like.

A pair of Y-direction moving frames 11 (only one shown) is disposed on both left and right edges of the sewing machine table 2 so as to be able to reciprocate in the Y-direction, and is driven by a Y-direction drive motor (not shown). Further, a support rod 12 is installed between both moving frames 11. The X-direction moving frame 13 is connected to the support rod 12 at its base end.
It is disposed so as to be movable in the X-direction along the X-direction, and is driven by an X-direction drive motor (not shown). A work cloth holding frame 14 serving as work cloth holding means is attached to the X-direction moving frame 13, and is configured to hold the work cloth W in a tfflG2 manner.

Note that the relative position between the work cloth holding frame 14 and the needle 5 is changed in synchronization with the vertical movement of the needle 5 by the Y- and X-direction moving frames 11 and 13, the support rod 12, and the Y- and X-direction drive motors. A workpiece cloth feeding device 15 is configured as a drive means, and a stitch pattern such as embroidery is formed on the workpiece @W by relative movement between the workpiece cloth holding frame 14 and the needle 5.

Next, the electrical configuration of the sewing machine in this embodiment will be explained. The external storage device 16 as a storage means is composed of a magnetic disk and a disk drive device, and a plurality of stitch pattern data are stored in the magnetic disk device. There is. In this embodiment, the stitch pattern data is based on a large number of relative position data indicating the relative positions of the needle 5 and the work cloth holding frame 14, that is, the coordinates of needle drop positions (hereinafter referred to as sewing points).

It is configured.

The central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 17 includes first and second calculation means and repetition control means. The program memory 18 is a read-only memory and stores various control programs for driving and controlling this sewing machine. The working memory 19 as a storage means is a readable and writable memory, and is used to temporarily store various data, calculation results, etc. when creating sewing data or storing stitch pattern data from the external storage device 16. It has an area for storing data, etc.

The stitch pattern data stored in the external storage device 16 is zigzag stitched along polygonal frames such as triangular frames, square frames, and diamond frames, curved frames closed by curved lines, curved lines, or polygonal lines divided into line segments. It consists of zigzag stitch data for embroidering, character pattern stitch data created for embroidering characters, symbols, etc. Here, the polygonal frame, curved frame, curved line, and line segment are determined as virtual line segments, and the zigzag stitch progresses along the virtual line segments.

As shown in Figure 12, the stitch data of the polygonal frame is processed from the stitch pattern identification code and the origin position (the origin is set in advance when creating the stitch pattern pattern data) to the sewing start point position. The control data for controlling and driving the cloth feeding device 15 and the vertices of the polygon (Sl
, S2, ......Sm) of each coordinate value [(Dxl
, oyi>, (DX2. DV2), ......(
Dxm, Dym) 1 data, etc., and each coordinate value data is given various control codes such as a direction flag F1, a line segment identification control code F2, and a straight line identification control code 3. Stitch data (including line segments and polygonal lines) includes a seam pattern identification code, the sewing start point and end point as position data, and in the case of polygonal lines, each coordinate value of the bending point located roughly between the start point and the end point. Similarly, each coordinate value data includes a direction flag F1, an identification νj control code F2,
A straight line identification control code F3 is assigned. The curved stitch data consists of a stitch pattern identification code, each coordinate value data of the start point, intermediate point, and end point as position data, etc., and various controls such as direction flag F1, line segment identification control code F2, straight line identification control code F3, etc. Consists of codes, command codes, etc. Note that the coordinates of each point are expressed by the amount of relative movement in the X and Y directions, and therefore the coordinates (Dxl, Dy1> of the sewing start point are (0, O)).

The direction flag F1 is used to determine whether to perform zigzag stitching on the right or left side of the traveling direction with respect to the virtual line segment connecting each point (including the vertex, start point, end point, intermediate point, and bending point) during sewing. F1=0 is assigned when the zigzag stitch is to be performed on the right side in the direction of travel, and F1=1 is assigned when the zigzag stitch is to be performed on the left side in the direction of travel. The reason for setting the direction flag F1 is that in the case of zigzag stitching, the direction flag F1 is set as follows:
Point G1. G2. For example, if a seam is formed between G3 along the direction of movement indicated by the polygonal line, a gap A will be created in G2, which is visually undesirable. It is something that is given.

The line segment identification control code F2 is for identifying whether the stitch data is line segment data or block data.
When it is 0, it represents line segment data, when F2=1 it represents block data, and F2=O is given to zigzag stitch data.

Note that the line segment identification control code F2 (
=1> is a code given when a portion of a character pattern or the like where a seam is to be formed is specified to be divided into stitch blocks consisting of triangles or squares.

The straight line identification control code F3 is for determining whether the virtual line segment connecting the points (including the vertex, starting point, ending point, intermediate point, and bending point) is a straight line or a curved line, and consists of 2 bits.
When F3 is [001, it represents a straight line mode connected by a straight line,
F3 [10] or [11] represents a spline mode connected by a curve.

When F3 is [10], it represents the starting point and intermediate point in the spline mode, and when F3 is [11], it represents the end point in the spline mode.

On the operation keyboard 20 is a sewing start key 21 for starting sewing. A sewing data selection key 22 for selecting pattern data consisting of embroidery pattern data corresponding to characters and other special patterns stored in the external storage device 16 in advance. Numeric keypad 23 for entering numerical values. Various keys such as a stitch width setting mode key 24 and an enter key 25 for commanding the end of various programming and data input command codes are provided, and when each key is operated, an ON signal is output to the CPU 17. Drive circuit 26, 2
7.28 is connected to the CPU 17 via the interface 29, and controls and drives the needle selection motor 8, the sewing machine motor 9, and the work cloth feed device 15, respectively, based on control signals from the CPU 17.

Now, the operation of the sewing data creation device constructed as described above will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 to 9.

When a power switch (not shown) is turned on, various registers, flags, etc. of the working memory 19 are initialized (step 1 (hereinafter, step is denoted by S)), and the CPU 17 of the sewing data creation device is enabled. And at this time, C
PU17 is thread density coefficient N (for example, thread density per 2 mm)
, input direction scaling coefficient RX, Y direction scaling coefficient RV,
Various command data such as pattern stitch width coefficient W and various control data are verified from each data group based on predetermined standard control data, and these data are stored in a predetermined storage area of the working memory 19.

Next, turn on the sewing data selection key 22 on the operation keyboard 20 to select embroidery pattern data from the external storage device @16 32>, and CPtJl 7 is set based on the ON signal of the sewing data selection key 22 selected at this time. The corresponding pattern is read from the external storage device @16 and stored in a predetermined storage area of the working memory 19 (S3).

Subsequently, the CPU 17 displays a message corresponding to the selected pattern on a display device (not shown) (S4).

In S5, the CPU 17 determines whether the selected pattern is a pattern for which the stitch width can be set using the line segment identification control code F.
2. That is, it is determined whether the data is line segment data or block data. If F2=O, it is determined that the data is line segment data, and the result is YES, and the process moves to S6. If F2=O, it is determined that the data is block data, and the process moves to S30. Next, in step 86, if you do not wish to use zigzag stitches but instead wish to use straight stitches, turn on the straight stitch setting key (not shown), and the CPU 17 sets the stitch width W to w=Q.
to move to.

If the stitch width setting mode key 24 is turned on in S6, the CPU 17 determines YES, and then in S87 determines whether or not the zigzag stitch direction flag F1 of the pattern has been changed. When the inversion key 31 of the operation keyboard 20 is turned on, the CPU 17 determines YES, adds 1 to the direction flag F1 of the selected stitch data to set or reset it (S8), and proceeds to S9. or,
If the inversion key 31 is not operated, the process moves to S9 and waits for an input from the numeric keypad 23. Then, when a new pattern stitch width coefficient W1 is input using the numeric keypad 23 and the enter key 25 (S9), the pattern stitch width coefficient based on the standard control data stored in the corresponding address of the working memory 19 is input. W is rewritten to the pattern stitch width coefficient W1 input at that time (310).

Next, when the pattern enlargement/reduction setting key 30 is operated in 311, the determination in 811 becomes YES, and the CPU 17
is the pattern scaling factor RX.

Waiting for the input of Ry (S12). Conversely, if the pattern enlargement/reduction setting key 30 is not operated, the determination in S1-1 becomes No, and the process moves to 315.

In S13, when the numeric keypad 23 or the like is operated and the numerical values of the pattern enlargement/reduction coefficients RXI and RVl are input,
The enlargement/contraction coefficients Rx, RV of the pattern based on the standard control data stored in the corresponding address of the working memory 19 are rewritten to the enlargement/contraction coefficients RXI, Ryl of the pattern input at that time (314). And S
15, when the clear key 33 is turned on to perform re-editing, the process returns to S;2 and the sewing start key 21 is turned on.
is turned on, S15. S16 becomes YES, and the process moves to S17.

In S17, based on the ON signal of the sewing start key 21, CPtJl7 first refers to the straight line identification control code F3 given to the coordinate data of the starting point and determines whether or not the spline mode is set. And CPtJl7 has F3 [
00], it is determined as YES and the process moves to S18, and F3
If it is not [00], the process moves to S3'l. 818
, the CPU 17 sequentially reads each coordinate value data of the pattern stored in one working memory, and sets the stored X-direction scaling coefficient RX for each coordinate value.
The I and Y direction scaling coefficients Ryl are multiplied to perform scaling processing. Then, the CPU 17 calculates the enlarged/reduced coordinate values [(Rx1-DXl, RVl ''oil>,
(Rx1- Dx2. Ryl ・Dy2) ,・--
---(Rx1-Dxm.

Ryl.DVm)] is stored in a predetermined storage area of the working memory 19 (see FIG. 4). In S19, the CPU 17 sequentially reads out the coordinate value data and sequentially calculates the distance 1-m between sewing points based on the coordinate value data. That is, point 3m
−1, the length l−m of the line segment formed by point Sm is calculated using the following formula. Note that m = (in addition, a = Dxm −
Dxm-i, β=D Vm -D ym-i) Next, in 320, the CPU 17 calculates the number of divisions n based on the set thread density coefficient N using the following formula, and divides the thread based on the number of divisions. Find the point p m−n (see Figure 5)
.

n=Lm/N Next, in S21, the CPU 17 calculates each division point Pm-n
From the midpoint between the two, move the midpoint Qm-n, which is perpendicular to the virtual line segment 3m-1. (see Figure 6). That is, if F1=O, point Qm-n is on the right side of line segment 3m-1・Sm, and F
If 1=1, point Qm-n is set on the left side of line segment 3m-1.3m.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the CPU 17 sets a new sewing point as Sm-1-+Qm-1-+pm-1→Qm-2.
The coordinate values of the sewing points for the zigzag stitch, that is, the sewing data consisting of the feed amount and sewing direction of the workpiece cloth feeder 15 are sequentially stored in a predetermined storage area of the working memory 19 as shown in the following. Store (S22>.In addition, in the case of w=Q, the midpoint Qm-n is located on the line segment 3m-1・Sm, so in 322, the coordinate values of the sewing points for straight line are sequentially It is stored in the working memory 19. Then, in 323, it is determined whether or not it is the last stitch of the pattern, and if it is not the last stitch, the process returns to S17, and if it is the last stitch, the calculation for all patterns is completed in S24. Determine whether or not.

Then, if all the patterns have not been completed, the process returns to S17, and if all the patterns have been completed, the CPU 17 returns to S2.
In step 5, the sewing data stored in the working memory 19 is sequentially converted for each stitch and the sewing data is read out. Then, the CPU 17 outputs control signals to the drive circuits 26, 27, and 28 based on the sewing data (526), and the stitch forming means and work cloth feeding device 15 create the zigzag stitch pattern in synchronization with these control signals. Form (327). Then, repeat loops 325 to 327 until the entire pattern of stitches is formed.
When all the patterns are completed, the stitch forming means and feeding device 1
329>, return to S2.

On the other hand, when the straight line identification control code F3 assigned to the coordinate value of the starting point S1 at 518 is [10 or [11], as in the case of embroidering a curved line as shown in FIG.
1, the CPU 17 sequentially reads out the coordinate value data of each point in the order of the traveling direction of the work cloth feeder 15, and reads the coordinate value data such that the straight line identification control code F3 given to the data is [11], that is, the end point. Continue reading until the coordinate value data is reached. Then, when the CPtJ17 reads out the coordinate value data of the end point where the straight line identification control code F3=[11], it enlarges the stored X-direction enlargement/reduction coefficient Rxi and Y-direction for each coordinate value from the start point to the end point. Multiply by reduction coefficient Ry1 to perform enlargement/reduction processing (S32)
.

Then, the CPU 17 executes the enlargement/reduction processing on the coordinate value [(Rx
1・D×1. Ryl・Dy1), (RXl−DX2゜R
VI-Dy2> , ・-・-・-(RXI-DXm,
RVI-DVm) is stored in a predetermined storage area of the working memory 19. Next, in 833, the CPU 17 sequentially reads out the coordinate value data, and based on the coordinate value data, a spline function f (x, y
) Find m.

Then, based on the thread density coefficient N, the CPU 17 executes f (x
, y) divide the curve determined by m, and obtain a sequence of divided points T m-n (334).

Next, the CPL 117 refers to the direction flag F1 attached to each coordinate value data and selects a spline function f1 spaced parallel to the left or right side of the zigzag (needle movement) direction with a sewing width W.
(X, y) m is calculated and obtained (S35). Then, in S36, the CPLJ 17 performs the following on the curve determined by the obtained spline function f1 (X, V)m:
Each division point T A point I spaced at right angles from the midpoint between m-n points
Find the sequence J m-n (see Figure 9).

Next, the CPU 17 selects 3m-1→Tm- as a new sewing point.
The coordinate values of sewing points for zigzag stitching are stored in a predetermined storage area of the working memory 19 in the order of each point as follows: 1→Um-1→Tm-1→um-2, etc. S37>.

Then, in S23, it is determined whether or not this is the last stitch of the pattern, and if it is not the last stitch, the process returns to S17.

Note that if F2 is not O in S5, the process waits until the sewing star 1 to key 21 are operated in S30,
When the sewing start key 21 is operated, the process moves to S25 and R'A is executed.

In the sewing data creation device configured as described above, for example, a zigzag @stitch is created in a rectangular frame having a length LX in the X direction, a length y in the Y direction, and standard control data of a stitch width coefficient W. If the data is selected and enlarged to twice the standard control data in the X direction only, and the stitch width coefficient W is set to be the same as the standard control data, the
), a square frame K with a constant zigzag stitch width W and twice the width in the X direction is obtained as shown in FIG. 10(b). Also, as shown in FIG. 11(a), the diagonal line in the X direction is LX,
The diagonal line in the Y direction has a length of L V, and the zigzag stitch data of 1 is selected in the diamond frame that has the standard control data of the stitch width coefficient W.
When the direction is enlarged by 1.5 times and the stitch width coefficient W is the same as the standard control data, the zigzag stitch width W is constant and 1.5 in the X direction, as shown in Fig. 11(b). You will get 1 in the double diamond frame. The embroidery pattern of the standard control data shown in Fig. 11(a) is enlarged 1.5 times in the X and Y directions compared to the standard control 1-roll data, and the stitch width coefficient W is twice that of the standard control data. In this case, as shown in Fig. 11(C), the zigzag stitch width W is doubled and x
, 1 will be obtained in the diamond frame of 1°5 times in the Y direction.

As described above, in this embodiment, even when the image is enlarged from the standard control data, the shooting direction of the zigzag stitch is determined based on the direction flag, regardless of the data given for the enlargement. In addition, in this embodiment, the direction flag can be changed in S7, so depending on the shape of the polygon, you can arbitrarily create a staggered seam on either the left or right side for the virtual line segment that is created between adjacent vertices of the polygon. It can also be formed into

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, and for example, the stitch pattern data stored in the external storage device 16 may include bent line segments in the frame constituting the polygonal frame. It is also possible to make arbitrary changes without departing from the spirit of the invention, such as providing position data for both ends of a line segment and position data for a bending point of the line segment.

(Effects of the Invention) As described in detail above, the present invention eliminates the need to individually store the coordinates of a large number of seam forming points as sewing data. There is no need to do it.

Roughly, when sewing between each vertex of a polygon with zigzag stitches,
This provides an excellent effect of forming visually pleasing zigzag stitches.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an electrical block circuit diagram of an embodiment of the present invention as a multi-needle embroidery sewing machine, Fig. 2 is an overall perspective view of the same multi-needle embroidery machine, Fig. 3 is a flowchart, and Figs. The figure is an explanatory diagram for explaining the pattern data stored in the working memory and the embroidery pattern formed based on the data. Figure 10(a) is the embroidery pattern with a square frame formed based on the standard control data. FIG. 10(b) is an explanatory diagram of an embroidery pattern formed based on the changed data, and FIG. 11(a) is an embroidery pattern of a diamond frame formed based on the standard control data. FIGS. 11(b) and 11(C) are explanatory diagrams of embroidery patterns formed based on the same changed data.
The figure is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents of various data stored in the external storage device, and FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the direction flag. 1 is a sewing machine arm, 3 is a needle bar support case, 5 is a needle as a stitch forming means, 14 is a work cloth holding frame as a work cloth holding means, 15 is a work cloth feeding device as a driving means, 16
17 is an external storage device as a storage means, and 17 is an N1 and a second storage device.
The central processing unit (C
PU), 19 is working memory, and W is processed cloth. Patent applicant Brother Industries, Ltd. Representative Patent attorney On 1) Hironobu Figure 2

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A seam forming means that includes at least one needle and forms a seam on a workpiece cloth as the needle moves up and down; and a workpiece cloth holding means that holds the workpiece cloth. and a driving means connected to at least either the stitch forming means or the work cloth holding means to change the relative position of the needle and the work cloth holding means, and the sewing machine is configured to perform sewing operations stored in the storage means. A sewing data creation device for an automatic sewing machine that operates the driving means based on data to form a zigzag stitch on a work cloth, the sewing data creating device for sewing position data that defines the position of each vertex of a predetermined polygon. direction data for instructing whether to perform the zigzag stitch on the left or right with respect to the virtual line segment formed by the adjacent vertices of each of the vertices, as well as the sewing width data of the zigzag stitch. a storage means for storing stitch density data of the zigzag stitch; and a storage means for calculating a virtual line segment having both the vertices as both ends based on the position data of adjacent vertices read from the storage means. 1 calculation means, which determines the direction data, determines whether to form a zigzag stitch on the left or right side of the virtual line segment calculated by the first calculation means, and calculates the position data of both vertices and , from the stitch width data of the zigzag stitches and the stitch density data, form a zigzag stitch with the same stitch width as the stitch width data from one of the two vertices to the other over the entire length of the virtual line segment. A second calculation means for calculating sewing data for the polygon, and a repetition control means for repeating the calculation by the first and second calculation means between adjacent vertices of the polygon. Sewing data creation device for automatic sewing machines. 2. The sewing data creation device for an automatic sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the virtual line segment includes a curved line. 3. The automatic sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein the polygon includes a bent line segment, and the position data includes position data of both ends of the line segment and position data of a bending point. Sewing data creation device for