JP2002102561A - Embroidery data editing device, embroidery data editing method and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide an embroidery data editing apparatus capable of eliminating minute stitches that cause thread breakage or the like without making changes in sewing finish noticeable. A case portion embroidery data satin stitch, either the needle drop point P ₁ and the needle drop point P ₂ forming the micro-stitching as it is, the other needle drop point,
And the needle drop point adjacent to the needle drop point (the one that does not have the minute stitch) is deleted. The processing is executed by the same method until the minute stitches disappear. (B)
Then, as a result of deleting the needle drop points P ₂ and P ₃ , the stitch P ₁
While P ₄ is no longer small stitch, the minimum fine stitches has become a state in which remove the stitches P ₄ P _5, and the needle drop point by deleting the second P _5, P _6. As shown in (b), the sewing finish is not much different from (a).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an embroidery data editing apparatus used for editing embroidery data once created.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a stitch having a small pitch is sewn, there is a high possibility of thread breakage. Therefore, a stitch having a fixed pitch length or less (here, such a stitch is referred to as a minute stitch) is embroidered. Deletion from data was being done.

[0003]

However, if the minute stitches are simply deleted as in the above-mentioned prior art, the sewn-up result may be far from what was originally desired. The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and does not make a change in sewing finish noticeable.
An object of the present invention is to provide an embroidery data editing device capable of eliminating minute stitches.

[0004]

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an embroidery data editing apparatus for editing embroidery data to be sewn by an embroidery sewing machine. Micro stitch search means for searching the embroidery data for micro stitches having a small pitch length with a high possibility of thread breakage,
When a minute stitch is found by the minute stitch search means, a needle drop point at which a change in the sewing finish is inconspicuous even if deletion is performed according to the position of at least one needle drop point before or after the minute stitch. It is characterized by comprising a deletion point determining means for determining at least one point, and a needle drop point deleting means for deleting the deletion point determined by the needle drop point determining means from the embroidery data.

[0005] According to the embroidery data editing apparatus configured as described above, since the deletion point is appropriately set, it is possible to eliminate the minute stitch without greatly changing the sewing finish. The embroidery data may be created by an embroidery data creation device separate from the embroidery data editing device, or the embroidery data editing device may have a function of creating embroidery data. May be created. Further, as one function of the embroidery data creating device, the embroidery data editing device of the present invention may be realized.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the embroidery data editing apparatus according to the first aspect, embroidery type determining means for determining whether or not a plurality of embroidery types exist in the embroidery data; Embroidery data dividing means for dividing the embroidery data for each embroidery of the same type, when the embroidery data is determined by the embroidery type determining means to be a plurality of embroidery types;
The deletion point determination means determines the deletion point for each partial embroidery data divided by the embroidery data division means.

According to the embroidery data editing apparatus constructed as described above, since the deletion point is set for each of the partial embroidery data divided by the embroidery data dividing means, the sewing finish is increased in units of the partial embroidery data. Micro stitches can be eliminated without changing.

[0008] The type of embroidery is, for example, the one shown in claim 3. That is, according to a third aspect of the present invention, in the embroidery data editing apparatus according to the second aspect, the plurality of types of embroidery sew the embroidery area by zigzagging portions of the contour of the embroidery area opposite to each other. The satin to be sewn, the tatami where a needle drop point is formed even between the opposing parts of the contour of the embroidery area compared to the satin, and the linear embroidery pattern by the stitch itself without forming the embroidery area. And at least three types of running to be formed.

That is, the embroidery data editing apparatus determines a deletion point for each of these representative embroidery types. According to the embroidery data editing apparatus configured as described above, it is also possible to set a deletion point suitable for each type, and it is possible to eliminate a minute stitch while maintaining the fidelity to a desired sewing finish. An embroidery data editing apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention has shown a method for determining a deletion point when the partial embroidery data is satin.

That is, in the embroidery data editing apparatus according to the present invention, the deletion point determining means forms the minute stitch on the partial embroidery data classified as satin. One of the two needle drop points and a needle drop point adjacent to the needle drop point (not having the minute stitch) are determined as deletion points. Here, "the minute stitch"
Refers to a minute stitch that is eliminated by the just-determined deletion point, and even if there are a plurality of minute stitches in the partial embroidery data, it refers to any minute stitch among them Not.

According to the embroidery data editing apparatus having the above-described configuration, it is possible to determine a deletion point without largely changing the sewing finish from the partial embroidery data classified as satin. The validity of the method of determining the erasure will be described in an embodiment of the invention described later. Further, contrary to this section, in an embroidery data editing device that does not divide embroidery data for each embroidery type, and a device that specializes in editing satin, a deletion point may be determined in a similar manner.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the embroidery data editing apparatus according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, even if the embroidery data dividing means performs the same type of embroidery,
It is characterized in that the data is further divided into a plurality of partial embroidery data in accordance with differences in pitch length, thread and the like.

In other words, in this embroidery data editing apparatus, for example, even when the satin partial embroidery data spreads over a wide area, if there is a change in the pitch length, the thread, etc., it is further divided there. Therefore, it is possible to determine a deletion point suitable for such a pitch length, a thread, and the like.

The embroidery data editing apparatus according to claims 1 to 5 is configured as an embroidery data editing method according to the present invention as set forth in claims 6 to 10, and is similar to the corresponding embroidery data editing apparatus. The effect can be achieved. According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer system to function as each unit of the embroidery data editing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects is recorded. Make a summary.

If this recording medium is read and executed by a computer system such as a personal computer, the effects of the respective means described above can be exhibited.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embroidery data editing device 7 and a sewing machine 8 to which the present invention is applied. Sewing machine 8
, A sewing machine arm 12 is provided on the sewing machine table 10, and a needle bar support case 14 is attached to a front end thereof so as to be movable in the left-right direction. Needle bar support case 14
Supports five needle bars 16 movably up and down, and a needle 18 is attached to the lower end of each needle bar 16. Each needle 18
Are supplied from a thread supply source (not shown) through a thread tensioner 20 and a balance 22 on the needle bar support case 14, respectively. The needle bar support case 14 is driven and moved by a needle selection motor 24 attached to the sewing machine arm 12, and positions one of the five needle bars 16 and the needle 18 at a use position. The needle bar 16 positioned at the use position is connected to the sewing machine motor 2 via a power transmission mechanism (not shown).
6 and is reciprocated vertically. A sewing machine bed 28 protrudes from the sewing machine table 10 at a position facing the needle bar 16 at the use position, and forms a stitch on the work cloth W to be sewn on the sewing machine bed 28 in cooperation with the needle 18. A thread catcher (not shown) is provided for performing the operation.

On both sides of the sewing machine table 10, two Y
A direction moving frame 30 (only one is shown in FIG. 1) is provided so as to be movable in the direction of arrow Y, and is moved by an arbitrary distance in both the forward and reverse directions by a Y-axis drive motor (not shown). A support frame 32 is stretched between the two Y-direction moving frames 30, and the X-direction moving frame 34 is supported by the support frame 32 so as to be movable in the direction of arrow X. X direction movement frame 34
Is moved by an X-axis drive motor (not shown) by any distance in both the forward and reverse directions, and a work cloth holding frame 36 for detachably holding the work cloth W is attached.
The work cloth holding frame 36 includes the X-direction moving frame 34 and the Y-direction moving frame 3.
By moving 0, it can be moved to any position on the XY plane. The Y-direction moving frame 30, the Y-axis driving motor, the X-direction moving frame 34, the X-axis driving motor, the work cloth holding frame 36, and the like constitute a work cloth feed device 38.

The embroidery data editing device 7 includes a main controller 4
2 and the input device 44 are connected. Input device 44
Is composed of a keyboard 46, a mouse 48, a light pen 50, and a CCD image reader 51. Data input from the keyboard 46, data created in the main control device 42, data sent from the sewing machine 8, and the like are also displayed on the display device 52. Main controller 42
Is connected to an external storage device 54. The external storage device 54 includes a flexible disk drive and a hard disk device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the main control unit 42. As shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the main control device 42
U60, ROM 62 and RAM 64 are mainly connected to a computer connected by a bus.
An input / output port 66 is connected to 0. The needle selection motor 24, the sewing machine motor 26, and the work cloth feeder 38 are connected to the input / output port 66 via drive circuits 68, 70, 72, respectively. The input device 44 is also connected to the CPU 60 via an input control circuit 74 to input data, and the display device 52 is connected to the CPU 60 via a display control circuit 76 to control the display. R
The OM 62 includes a needle drop point deletion process shown in FIG.
Various routines necessary for embroidery data creation and embroidery, such as embroidery data creation processing and embroidery area division processing, are stored.

The procedure for eliminating minute stitches from embroidery data will be described with reference to the drawings. First, embroidery data to be deleted is called. To do this, the user clicks an icon or the like in the embroidery data editing device 7 as appropriate,
A window as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display device 52. When desired embroidery data is selected with the mouse 48 or the like from a group of files (one file corresponds to one embroidery data) displayed in the area F of the screen, and an "open" icon H is clicked, for example, as shown in FIG. Thus, the image of the embroidery data is displayed on the display device 52. Instead of selecting from the area F, the file name may be directly input to the column G using the keyboard 46.

The embroidery data thus displayed usually consists of a plurality of partial embroidery data. The partial embroidery data is obtained by dividing the embroidery data for each embroidery of the same type, which is shown in FIG. FIG. 5A is a diagram schematically showing the state of division of embroidery data. In the example of FIG. 5A, one embroidery data is divided into four satin stitch groups 2 shown by shading, and 3 shown by a white background. It is divided into three running stitch groups. That is, this embroidery data is divided into seven partial embroidery data according to whether it is satin stitch or running stitch. As described above, the process of determining the type of embroidery from the embroidery data corresponds to the embroidery type determining unit of the present invention, and the process of dividing corresponds to the embroidery data dividing unit.

Although the same type continues, some parts are divided. For example, the satin stitch group 2 substantially at the center of the figure is divided into three, and the running stitch group 3 at the right end of the figure is divided into two. This is because, even if the type is the same, it is further divided according to differences in pitch length and embroidery direction. FIG. 5B shows the case of the satin stitch group 2. In this figure, the satin stitch group 2 is divided right and left by broken lines. This is because the pitch K of the left satin stitch group 2 and the pitch L of the right satin stitch group 2 are different. Although not shown, the running stitch group 3 is divided not only by the pitch but also by the direction in which the seam runs. Note that the specific method of division is described in
It is not described here since it is described in detail in Japanese Patent Application No. 0-137470.

After the embroidery data is displayed, a pull-down menu M as shown in FIG.
The “stitch deletion” N is designated by the mouse 48 or the like. Then, the needle entry point deletion process shown in FIG. 6B is started. This processing is executed for each partial embroidery data.
When this processing is started, first, in step (hereinafter, referred to as S) 100, a minute stitch is searched from the partial embroidery data.

There is a possibility that a plurality of minute stitches exist in one piece of partial embroidery data. In step S100, the data is searched from the one with the shortest pitch length. This processing corresponds to the minute stitch search means of the present invention. Then, it is determined whether a minute stitch has been found (S110). If not found (S110: NO), this process ends. That is, in this case, since there is no minute stitch in the partial embroidery data, no thread break occurs even when the embroidery operation is actually performed. When a minute stitch is found (S1
10: YES), the process proceeds to S120, where the needle entry point is deleted as appropriate, and the found minute stitch is eliminated. When the needle drop point is deleted in this way, the process returns to S100, and the processing is repeated to completely eliminate the minute stitch from the partial embroidery data.

Here, the type of the partial embroidery data is satin.
The processing of S120 when the group is the stitch group 2 will be described.
I do. As shown in FIG.
Each stitch has an end point of a white circle needle drop point and a black circle needle drop point.
Is displayed as a line segment. Here, the fines discovered in S100
Small stitch (in the case of FIG. 7A, needle drop point P₁ And needle drop
Point P_Two Stitch)
Leave the other needle entry point, and its needle entry point
Needle entry point adjacent to the
Stuff). For example, the needle drop point P₁ As it is
The needle drop point P_Two Adjacent with the same white circle as
Needle drop point P_Four And needle drop point P₁ Create stitches connected by
You. Needle entry point P_Two Assuming you want to leave
Falling point P ₁ In this case, but in this case
Needle entry point P₁ And needle drop point P_Four To
The adjustment is made with the tying stitch (FIG. 7B). This is the needle drop
When the point is deleted, the process returns to S100, and the same method is used.
The process is executed until there are no more minute stitches.

[0026] In FIG. 7 (b), result of deleting the needle drop point P _2, P _3, while the stitch P ₁ P ₄ is not very small stitch, the minimum fine stitches Stitch P ₄ P _5, and the first of the two The needle drop points P ₅ and P ₆ are deleted by the processing of S120. Note that step S120 is a process that also serves as a deletion point determination unit and a needle drop point deletion unit of the present invention. Here, the needle drop points P ₂ , P ₃ , P ₅ , and P ₆ correspond to the deleted points in the present invention.

[0027] Conventionally, simply delete the minute stitch.
It is as follows when compared with the case where it was done. The figure
7 (a), the minute stitch is a stitch P₁P_Two,
Stitch P_TwoP_Three, Stitch P_ThreeP_Four, Stitch P_FourP_Fivewas
And Then the needle drop point P _Two, P_Three, P_Four Is simply removed
It is. Then the needle drop point P₁ Needle drop point P from_Two, P_Four To
Since the needle entry point forming the upper contour disappears, the desired
The image is far from the image shown in FIG. In this regard,
According to the method of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG.
The sewing finish is not much different from that in FIG.

The type of partial embroidery data is running stitch group 3
Is satisfied, one of the two needle drop points forming the minute stitch is simply deleted. As described above, the running stitch group 3 is divided according to the pitch and direction (particularly the latter), so even if the needle drop point is simply deleted,
There is no possibility that the finish will be a corner of the desired pattern.

The case where the type of the partial embroidery data does not exist in the embroidery data of FIG. 5A but is a tatami stitch group will be described with reference to FIG. In this case, not the needle drop points P ₁ , P ₂ ,... Forming the contour like the satin stitch group 2, but other needle drop points Q ₂ , Q ₄ ,.
Use to adjust the stitch length. The portions other than the needle drop points forming the contour are processed in the same manner as the running stitch group 3.

As described above, according to the embroidery data editing device 7, the minute stitches can be eliminated without making the change in the sewing finish conspicuous. Also, since the needle drop point P is deleted after the embroidery data is divided for each embroidery type, the needle drop point can be deleted by a method suitable for each type. Furthermore, since division is not simply performed for each type, but according to pitch length, thread, stitch direction (especially in the case of the running stitch group 3), deletion suitable for each partial embroidery data can be performed. it can.

Although the various routines described above are stored in the ROM 62, they are recorded on a medium such as a floppy disk, a flash memory, or a magnetic tape as another recording medium, and are read and executed. You may. As described above, the embroidery data editing device 7 has been described as an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and can be implemented in various modes.

For example, the needle drop points to be deleted from the satin stitch group 2, the running stitch group 3, and the tatami stitch group may be determined by a method other than the method described above. Further, the needle drop point P may be appropriately deleted for other embroidery types.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embroidery data editing device 7 and a sewing machine 8 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main control device 42 of the embroidery data editing device 7;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state where a window for calling embroidery data to be edited is displayed on a display device 52;

4 is an example of embroidery data displayed on a display device 52. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which embroidery data is divided into partial embroidery data.

6A and 6B are an explanatory diagram showing a method of activating an operation for deleting a minute stitch and a flowchart of a needle entry point deleting process activated by the operation.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of determining a deletion point when the partial embroidery data is a group of satin stitches.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of determining a deletion point when the partial embroidery data is a tatami stitch group.

[Explanation of symbols]

2: Satin stitch group 3: Running stitch group 7: Embroidery data editing device 8: Sewing machine 42: Main control device 46: Keyboard 48: Mouse 52: Display device 54: External storage device 66: Input / output port H: Icon K, L … Pitch M… Pull-down menu P _{1 to} P ₇ … Needle drop point

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3B150 AA15 AA21 CB04 CD04 CD09 CE04 GE28 GE29 GF02 GF03 LA05 LA59 LA72 LB03 MA02 MA07 NA05 NA55 NA64 NB19 QA02 QA06 QA07 QA08

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An embroidery data editing apparatus for editing embroidery data to be sewn by an embroidery sewing machine, wherein a minute stitch having a small pitch length with a high possibility of thread breakage during sewing is searched from the embroidery data. A stitch search means; and a stitch that, when the minute stitch is found by the minute stitch search means, is not noticeably changed even after deletion according to the position of at least one needle drop point before or after the minute stitch. The apparatus further comprises a deletion point determining means for determining at least one deletion point which is a drop point, and a needle drop point deletion means for deleting the deletion point determined by the needle drop point determination means from the embroidery data. Embroidery data editing device. 2. The embroidery data editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the embroidery data determining unit determines whether or not the embroidery data includes a plurality of embroidery types. Is determined to be composed of a plurality of embroidery types, the embroidery data dividing means for dividing the embroidery data for each embroidery of the same type; and the deletion point determining means, the partial embroidery data divided by the embroidery data dividing means. The embroidery data editing apparatus is characterized in that the deletion point is determined every time. 3. The embroidery data editing device according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of types of embroidery are: satin that sewes the embroidery area by sewing a part of the embroidery area that faces the contour of the embroidery area zigzag; At least, a tatami where a needle drop point is formed even between the opposing parts of the contour of the embroidery area compared to satin, and a run where a linear embroidery pattern is formed by the stitch itself without forming the embroidery area. An embroidery data editing device, characterized in that there are three types. 4. The embroidery data editing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the deletion point determination unit determines one of two needle drop points forming the minute stitch for the embroidery data classified as the satin. An embroidery data editing apparatus characterized in that a needle drop point adjacent to the needle drop point (the one where the minute stitch is not formed) is determined as a deletion point. 5. The embroidery data editing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said embroidery data dividing means further comprises a plurality of embroidery data dividing means for different types of embroidery even if the embroidery is of the same type. An embroidery data editing apparatus for dividing the embroidery data into partial embroidery data. 6. An embroidery data editing method for editing embroidery data to be sewn with an embroidery sewing machine, wherein a small stitch having a small pitch length, which is likely to cause thread breakage during sewing, is searched from the embroidery data. If the minute stitch is found, at least one needle drop point, which is a needle drop point in which the change in the sewing finish is inconspicuous even after the deletion, is determined according to the position of at least one needle drop point before or after the minute stitch. An embroidery data editing method, wherein one is determined and the deletion point is deleted from the embroidery data. 7. The embroidery data editing method according to claim 6, wherein prior to the determination of the deletion point, it is determined whether or not the embroidery data includes a plurality of embroidery types. The embroidery data editing method is characterized in that the embroidery data is divided for each embroidery of the same type, and the deletion point is determined for each of the divided partial embroidery data. 8. The embroidery data editing method according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of embroidery types are: satin that sewes the embroidery area by sewing the opposing parts of the contour of the embroidery area zigzag; Compared to satin, at least a tatami where a needle drop point is formed between opposing portions of the contour of the embroidery area, and a run where a stitch itself forms a linear embroidery pattern without forming an embroidery area. An embroidery data editing method characterized by three types. 9. The embroidery data editing method according to claim 8, wherein, for the embroidery data classified as satin, one of two needle drop points forming the minute stitch and a needle adjacent to the needle drop point. An embroidery data editing method, wherein a drop point (the one not forming the minute stitch) is determined as the deletion point. 10. The embroidery data editing method according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of divisions of the embroidery data are performed in accordance with a difference in pitch length, thread, etc., even for the same type of embroidery. An embroidery data editing method, wherein the embroidery data is edited by dividing the embroidery data into partial embroidery data. 11. A computer-readable recording medium in which a program for causing a computer system to function as each means of the embroidery data editing apparatus according to claim 1 is recorded.