JP2002119780A - Embroidery data processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] By setting underlay sewing data as attribute data of underlay sewing in association with a block, position data of a needle drop point is set in the block after the block is enlarged or reduced. Also, an embroidery data processing device capable of creating underlay sewing data optimal for a block based on underlay sewing attribute data is provided. When running data exists before data of blocks A, B and C (S1: Y)
ES), it is determined whether or not the running data existing before each of the blocks A to C is included in the area of any of the blocks A to C (S2), and the running data is determined to be in the blocks A to C. Is included in the area of any of the blocks (S2: YES), it is stored in the RAM 25 as attribute data of underlay sewing of the included block in correspondence with the block.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to embroidery data which can be used to create a block representing the contour of an embroidery pattern from contour points which are extracted based on needle drop point position data in a series of embroidery data and constitute the contour of the embroidery pattern. Regarding processing equipment,
The underlay sewing data is determined from the needle drop point position data existing before the block, and the underlay sewing data is stored as attribute data of the underlay sewing in association with the block, so that the block can be enlarged / The present invention relates to an embroidery data processing device capable of creating optimal underlay sewing data for a block based on underlay sewing attribute data even when developing needle drop point position data in the block after the reduction. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 70, embroidery data capable of extracting block data representing an outline of an embroidery pattern corresponding to the embroidery data from embroidery data (for example, one-needle data) including position data of a needle drop point. Processing devices have been proposed.

In such an embroidery data processing apparatus, block data representing the outline of an embroidery pattern is extracted from the embroidery data,
After performing a conversion process such as enlarging / reducing the block data, the needle drop point position data is developed so as to have a predetermined thread density in a block specified by the block data after the conversion process.

Thus, when the interval between the needle drop points corresponding to the embroidery data is directly expanded, the interval between the needle drop points is widened and the yarn density is reduced, so that the cloth is not transparent between the embroidery threads. It is possible to solve the problem that the thread density becomes too high and the sewing becomes difficult when the interval between the needle drop points is reduced as it is.

[0005]

By the way, underlay sewing may be performed prior to embroidery sewing in order to prevent shrinkage of a fabric to be embroidered or to make an embroidery pattern look three-dimensional. Underlay sewing data for executing such underlay sewing is generally created continuously with data for executing an embroidery pattern in a series of embroidery data. That is, in a series of embroidery data, data for performing underlay sewing and data for executing an embroidery pattern are created in a mixed manner, and data to be sewn first in a predetermined embroidery area is underprinted. Only the embroidery pattern data becomes sewing data, and what is sewn later in the same embroidery area where underlay sewing is performed is only embroidery pattern data.

Here, the data for executing the embroidery pattern is often formed by stitches formed between the contour lines of the embroidery pattern in a zigzag manner. Creating a block representing an embroidery pattern can be done relatively easily, but the underlay sewing data is usually created arbitrarily by the operator at first, so there is usually no regularity and the block is created. It is generally difficult to do.

Therefore, when embroidery data in which data for executing an embroidery pattern and data for executing underlay sewing are mixed is converted into a block, the data representing the embroidery pattern is converted into block data. On the other hand, underlay sewing data is converted to running data without being converted to block data.

Further, when the embroidery data including the converted block data and running data is enlarged or reduced, both data are directly enlarged or reduced according to the enlargement or reduction ratio.

At this time, for example, after the block is reduced, the position data of the needle drop point in the reduced block can be accurately developed in accordance with the reduction ratio, but the underlay sewing data converted into the running data can be obtained. Since the data becomes very dense data, there is a problem in sewing. In addition, after the block is enlarged, the position data of the needle drop point in the enlarged block can be accurately developed according to the enlargement ratio, but the underlay data converted to the running data has the opposite density. Since the data is coarse, there is a problem in sewing as described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. In this invention, underlay sewing data is determined from position data of a needle drop point existing before a block, and the underlay sewing data is determined. Is stored as attribute data of underlay sewing in association with the block,
Embroidery data processing that can create the optimal underlay sewing data for a block based on the underlay attribute data, even when the needle drop point position data is expanded within the block after the block is enlarged or reduced. It is intended to provide a device.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an embroidery data processing apparatus which forms an outline of an embroidery pattern corresponding to embroidery data based on needle drop point position data included in the embroidery data. An embroidery data processing apparatus having extraction means for extracting a contour point to be extracted and block creation means for creating a block representing an outline of an embroidery pattern from the contour points extracted via the extraction means. It is determined whether or not the position data of the needle drop point existing before the position data of the needle drop point that specifies the contour point of the block created in the above is included in the area defined by the contour point of the block. When the determining means determines that the position data of the needle drop point is included in the area, the position data of the needle drop point is paired with the block. Characterized by comprising a storage means for storing the attribute data of underlying stitch sewing to.

In the embroidery data processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the needle drop point existing before the needle drop point position data for specifying the contour point of the block created by the block creating means via the judging means. Is determined to be included in the area defined by the outline points of the block, and it is determined that the position data of the needle drop point is included in the area defined by the outline points of the block. In this case, the needle drop point position data is stored in the storage means as underlay sewing attribute data corresponding to the block.
Then, when the position data of the needle drop point is developed in the converted block after performing the conversion of the enlargement or reduction of the block, the attribute of the underlay sewing stored in the storage means corresponding to the block is stored. With reference to the data, a desired thread density and underlay sewing pattern are selected to create underlay sewing data.

Thus, even when the position data of the needle drop point is developed in the block after the block is enlarged or reduced, the underlay sewing data optimum for the block is created based on the underlay sewing attribute data. Becomes possible.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the embroidery data processing apparatus of the first aspect, the underlay stitching attribute data is stored in the storage means in association with each of the blocks. It is characterized by. Claim 2
In the embroidery data creating apparatus, since the underlay sewing attribute data is stored in the storage means in association with each block, the position data of the needle drop point is developed in the block after each block is enlarged or reduced. Also in this case, it is possible to create optimal underlay sewing data for each block.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium in which a program for causing a computer system to function as the respective means of the embroidery data processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect is recorded and can be read by a computer. It is characterized by.

According to the recording medium of the third aspect,
A function for realizing each unit of the embroidery data processing device according to claim 1 or 2 can be provided as a program executed by a computer system. In the case of such a program, for example, a semiconductor memory, hard disk, floppy disk, data card (IC card,
Magnetic cards, etc.), optical disks (CD-ROM, DVD)
Etc.), a magneto-optical disk (MD or the like), a phase-change disk, a magnetic tape, or another recording medium that can be read by a computer, and loaded into a computer system as needed to start up. In addition, R
The program may be recorded in an OM or a backup RAM, and the ROM or the backup RAM may be incorporated in a computer and used.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embroidery data processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail based on an embodiment embodying the present invention with reference to the drawings. First, a personal computer constituting the embroidery data processing device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of a personal computer.

In FIG. 1, a personal computer 1
Is a CRT 1 in addition to the personal computer main body 11.
3, a keyboard 15 and a mouse 17. The personal computer main body 11 includes a CPU 2
1, ROM 23 and RAM 25 are mainly configured,
In addition, a communication interface 27 for communicating with the embroidery sewing machine and other data processing devices, an input / output port 29 for transmitting and receiving data to and from the CRT 13, the keyboard 15, and the mouse 17, and a floppy disk driver 31 as a storage medium And CPU21, ROM
The RAM 23, the communication interface 27, the input / output port 29, and the floppy disk driver 31 are connected via a bus 33 so that data can be transmitted and received.

Subsequently, contour points of the embroidery pattern are extracted from a series of embroidery data, and block data of a block representing the contour of the embroidery pattern is created from each of the extracted contour points. The process of detecting underlay stitching data from FIG.

The contour points forming the contour of the embroidery pattern corresponding to the embroidery data are extracted based on the position data of the needle drop points included in the embroidery data, and the contour of the embroidery pattern is extracted from the contour points thus extracted. The process of creating the block to be represented is exactly the same as the process described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-137470, so the detailed processing content is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-137470. The description is omitted.

Here, after the embroidery data stored in the floppy disk mounted on the floppy disk driver 31 is read, and the above-described outline point extraction processing and block creation processing are performed on the embroidery data, RA
It is assumed that the data stored in M25 is configured as shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a part of the embroidery data stored in the RAM 25 after the block creation processing.

In FIG. 2, at the end of the block creation processing, the number of stitches of the embroidery data and the type of the data are stored in the RAM 25 in association with each other.
1-1) Up to the hands are stored as running data.
In addition, block A is used from the n1st needle to the (n2-1) th needle.
, The satin data of the block B is from the n2-th needle to the (n3-1) th needle, and the satin data of the block B is from the n3-th needle to (n4-th).
1) Up to the hands are stored as the satin data of the block C.

Here, the running data is data recognized as running data because there is no regularity that can be extracted as a block when the block creation processing is performed, and the position of the needle drop point is determined. It is represented as a straight line or curve connecting the data continuously. The satin data is data that forms a stitch in a zigzag manner between contour lines without having a needle drop point between the contour lines of each block.

The running data and block data stored in the RAM 25 are schematically shown as an example in FIG.
It is expressed as shown below. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing running data and block data. The running data and the block data are displayed on the CRT 13.

In FIG. 3, the running data is indicated by a dotted line, and the running data is a point P at the lower left corner of the block C from the start point P1 (corresponding to the needle drop point of the first needle).
2, running data H2 from point P2 in block C to point P3 in the upper right corner of block C, running data H3 in block B from point P3 to point P4 in the lower right corner of block B, and , The running data H4 from the point P4 in the block A to the point P5 in the upper right corner of the block A is included.

In the area defined by the block A, a zigzag shape is formed so as to connect the outlines of the block A from the point P5 to the point P6 at the upper left corner of the block A continuously from the running data H4. Stitch data (not shown)
Is formed. In an area defined by the block B, stitch data (not shown) is formed in a zigzag manner from the point P6 to the point P3 at the upper left corner of the block B so as to connect the outlines of the block B. In the area defined by the block C, a point P7 from the point P3 to the upper left corner of the block C
, Stitch data (not shown) is formed in a zigzag manner so as to connect each outline of the block C.

Here, as is clear from the correspondence relationship with FIG. 2, the running data H1 to H4 are formed as a continuous series of running data, and the first needle which is the starting point of the series of running data. Corresponds to the start point P1 of the running data H1, and the (n1-1) th needle, which is the end point of a series of running data, is a point P5 at which the running data H4 ends.
Corresponds to the point immediately before. Also, the n1 st needle which is the start point of the block A corresponds to the point P5, and the (n) st needle which is the end point
2-1) The needle corresponds to the point immediately before point 6. Further, the n2th needle which is the start point of the block B corresponds to the point P6, and the (n3-1) th needle which is the end point corresponds to the point immediately before the point P3. Also, the n3rd needle which is the start point of the block C corresponds to the point P3, and the (n4-1) th needle which is the end point is the point P3.
7 corresponds to the point immediately before.

Next, a process for detecting underlay sewing data from the embroidery data stored in the RAM 25 by performing the block creation process as described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the underlay sewing data detection processing program.

In FIG. 4, first, in step (hereinafter abbreviated as S) 1, it is determined whether or not running data exists before the data of blocks A, B and C. If such running data does not exist (S
1: NO), there is no data to be used as the underlay sewing data, and thus the underlay sewing data detection processing ends. On the other hand, when the running data exists before the data of the blocks A to C (S1: YES),
Move to S2.

In S2, it is determined whether the running data existing before each of the blocks A to C is included in the area of any one of the blocks A to C. This determination is made based on whether or not the position data (coordinate data) of the needle drop point constituting the running data is within the coordinate data area that partitions the blocks A to C. If the running data is not included in the area of any of the blocks A to C (S2: NO), the running data cannot be used as underlay sewing data for any of the blocks, so that the normal running data cannot be used. After being handled as data and stored in the RAM 25 as normal running data in S3, the detection process is terminated. On the other hand, when the running data is included in the area of any one of the blocks A to C (S2:
In the case of YES), the running data is stored in the RAM 25 as attribute data of underlay sewing of the block including the block in the RAM 25 in S4. After that, the detection process ends.

The above-described detection processing will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 in order to facilitate understanding.
In the data examples shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, since the running data H1 to H4 corresponding to the first to (n1-1) th hands exist before the blocks A to C, the determination in S1 is performed. Becomes "YES".

Next, in the series of running data, first, for the running data H4, it is determined whether the position data (coordinate data) of the needle drop point is included in the area of any of the blocks by going back one stitch at a time. Is determined. At this time, the running data H
Since the position data of each needle drop point of No. 4 is included in the area of the block A, the determination in S2 is “YES”,
Therefore, the underlay sewing attribute data is stored in the RAM 25 corresponding to the block A based on the running data H4 in S4.

Subsequently, in the same manner as described above, it is determined whether or not the position data (coordinate data) of the needle drop point is included in the area of any of the blocks with respect to the running data H3 for each stitch. Is done. At this time, the running data H3
Since the position data of each needle drop point is included in the area of the block B, the determination in S2 is "YES", and therefore, in S4, the block B is determined based on the running data H3.
, The underlay sewing attribute data is stored in the RAM 25.

Similarly, it is determined whether or not the position data (coordinate data) of the needle drop point is included in the area of any of the blocks with respect to the running data H2 for each stitch. At this time, since the position data of each needle drop point of the running data H2 is included in the area of the block C, the determination in S2 is “YES”. The underlay sewing attribute data is stored in the RAM 25.

Subsequently, the same processing is performed on the running data H1, but since the running data H1 is not included in any of the blocks A to C, the determination in S2 is “NO”, and H1 is stored as it is as normal running data in the RAM 25 (S
3).

RAM 2 after performing the above detection processing
5 is schematically shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, since the running data H1 of the series of running data is ordinary running data, the underlay sewing attribute is not attached thereto. On the other hand, the running data H2 to H4 have the blocks C, Block B and block A have an underlay sewing attribute.

Thereafter, the operator performs the conversion of the enlargement or reduction of each of the blocks A to C on the CRT 13,
The needle drop point position data is developed in the converted block. The running data H2 to H4 are arbitrarily created by the operator, and the blocks A to C
Is not necessarily the optimal underlay sewing data for the user, the run data H2 to H4 retain only the underlay sewing attribute data when the operator enlarges or reduces each of the blocks A to C. It is erased from the RAM 25 in the state.

Then, when the operator enlarges / reduces the blocks A to C, it is displayed that the blocks A to C are accompanied by the underlay sewing attribute.
With reference to this, a desired thread density and underlay sewing pattern are selected by the keyboard 15 or the like. Thus, even when the position data of the needle drop point is developed in the blocks after the blocks A to C are enlarged / reduced, the optimal underlay sewing data for each of the blocks A to C is based on the underlay sewing attribute data. Can be created. still,
Underlay sewing data can be created by using the creation method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-76675.

As described above, in the embroidery data processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, when the running data exists before the data of the blocks A, B and C (S1: YES), each of the blocks A to C is executed. It is determined whether or not the running data existing before the above is included in the area of any one of the blocks A to C (S2).
If the running data is included in the area of any one of the blocks A to C (S2: YES), the data is stored in the RAM 25 as attribute data of underlay sewing of the block in which the running data is included, corresponding to the block. Therefore, even when the operator expands / reduces each of the blocks A to C and then develops the position data of the needle drop point in the block, the operator can set each of the blocks A to C based on the attribute data of the underlay sewing. It is possible to create optimal underlay sewing data for the blocks A to C.

Since the attribute data of the underlay sewing is stored in the RAM 25 corresponding to each of the blocks A to C, after enlarging / reducing each of the blocks A to C, a needle drop point is set in the block. Even when developing the position data, it is possible to create the optimal underlay sewing data for each block.

The above embodiment does not limit the gist of the present invention, and it is needless to say that various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0042]

As described above, in the embroidery data processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the position data of the needle drop point for specifying the contour point of the block created by the block creating means is determined via the judging means. It is determined whether the position data of the existing needle drop point is included in the area defined by the contour point of the block, and the position data of the needle drop point is included in the area defined by the contour point of the block. If it is determined that the position of the needle drop point is detected, the data of the position of the needle drop point is stored in the storage means as attribute data of the underlay sewing corresponding to the block. Then, when the position data of the needle drop point is developed in the converted block after performing the conversion of the enlargement or reduction of the block, the attribute of the underlay sewing stored in the storage means corresponding to the block is stored. With reference to the data, a desired thread density and underlay sewing pattern are selected to create underlay sewing data.

In this way, even when the position data of the needle drop point is developed in the block after the block is enlarged or reduced, the underlay sewing data optimum for the block can be created based on the underlay sewing attribute data. Becomes possible.

In the embroidery data processing device according to the second aspect, the underlay stitching attribute data is stored in the storage means in association with each block. Even when developing the needle drop point position data, it is possible to create optimal underlay sewing data for each block.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the embroidery data processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, wherein a function for realizing each means is provided as a program executed by a computer system. it can. In the case of such a program, for example, semiconductor memory, hard disk, floppy disk, data card (IC card, magnetic card, etc.), optical disk (CD-ROM, DVD
Etc.), a magneto-optical disk (MD or the like), a phase-change disk, a magnetic tape, or another recording medium that can be read by a computer, and loaded into a computer system as needed to start up.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a configuration of a personal computer constituting an embroidery data processing device.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a part of embroidery data stored in a RAM after a block creation process.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing running data and block data.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an underlay sewing data detection processing program.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a storage state of a RAM after performing underlay sewing data detection processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Personal computer 11 Personal computer main body 13 CRT 15 Keyboard 21 CPU 23 ROM 25 RAM H1 to H4 Running data A to C Block data

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An extracting means for extracting outline points constituting an outline of an embroidery pattern corresponding to embroidery data based on needle drop point position data included in the embroidery data, and an outline point extracted via the extracting means. An embroidery data processing apparatus having a block creating means for creating a block representing an outline of an embroidery pattern from the position data of a needle drop point for specifying a contour point of a block created via the block creating means. Judgment means for judging whether or not the position data of the existing needle drop point is included in an area defined by the outline points of the block; and the judgment means includes the position data of the needle drop point in the area. Storage means for storing the position data of the needle drop point as attribute data of underlay sewing corresponding to the block when it is determined that the needle drop point has been performed. Embroidery data processing device. 2. The embroidery data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the underlay sewing attribute data is stored in a storage unit in association with each of the blocks. 3. A recording medium wherein a program for causing a computer system to function as each of the means of the embroidery data processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 is recorded and readable by a computer.