JP2008220670A - sewing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sewing machine reducing the labor of a worker and improving sewing accuracy of sequential embroidery. <P>SOLUTION: This sewing machine M acquires position information of two points, an optional point on a datum line L and a datum point P formed on a cloth C retained by an embroidery frame 11, corrects sewing data related to an embroidery pattern according to the position information so as to correspond the acquired position information with a reference axis Lv and a virtual datum point Pv which are associated with the embroidery pattern displayed on a display area, sews the respective parts of the embroidery pattern included in the embroidery area R based on the corrected sewing data so as to correspond the datum line L and the datum point P formed on the cloth C retained by the embroidery frame 11, with the reference axis Lv and the virtual datum point Pv surrounded with the sewing area R displayed on the display area 22a and included in the area, and sews the whole of the embroidery pattern by combining the divided embroidery patterns to the cloth C. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sewing machine.

Conventionally, an embroidery sewing machine that sews various embroidery patterns on a fabric set on an embroidery frame (holding frame) is known.
Then, the so-called “connecting embroidery” is performed by sewing an embroidery pattern larger than the size of the embroidery frame holding the fabric (for example, an embroidery pattern in which an embroidery range in which a plurality of patterns are combined is larger than the embroidery frame) in several times. Is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).

This “connecting embroidery” involves sewing a part of the embroidery pattern on the fabric set in the embroidery frame, then temporarily removing the fabric from the embroidery frame, shifting the fabric and setting it again in the embroidery frame, and sewing the embroidery pattern. By repeating, the entire desired embroidery pattern is sewn on the fabric.
Then, in order to prevent the relative position of the embroidery pattern to be sewn on the fabric re-set in the embroidery frame and the embroidery pattern that has already been sewn, a crosshair is drawn on the fabric in advance with a chaco pen, etc. Align the fabric with the embroidery frame with reference to the embroidery frame, or make the sewing machine recognize the reference crosshair by aligning the sewing needle with the crosshair of the fabric set in the embroidery frame Thus, it is possible to perform embroidery with a desired layout.
JP 11-47471 A

However, in the case of Patent Document 1, in order for the sewing machine to recognize the reference crosshair, the sewing needle is aligned with respect to a total of four points including any two points on the vertical line and two points on the horizontal line. Input must be made. Then, when moving the embroidery frame on which the fabric is set and moving the sewing needle up and down toward the crosshair of the fabric, the position of the sewing needle with respect to the crosshair is adjusted more accurately for each point. If the fine adjustment of these movements is repeatedly performed to perform accurate alignment, the alignment for the four points may be troublesome for the operator.
In addition, since the reference crosshair drawn using a chaco pen on the fabric is thicker than the needle tip of the sewing needle, the sewing needle is likely to be displaced in the width direction of the crosshair. Since errors related to needle alignment are likely to occur, there is a risk that the errors become larger as the number of points to be aligned increases.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a sewing machine that further reduces the labor of an operator and improves the stitching accuracy of stitching embroidery.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the invention described in claim 1 is a sewing machine that holds a reference line used as a reference when embroidering a desired embroidery pattern and a fabric provided with a reference point on the reference line. The embroidery frame to be displayed, the embroidery pattern larger than the embroidery frame, the virtual reference line used as a reference for the position and angle when the embroidery pattern is embroidered on the cloth, and the virtual reference point on the virtual reference line are displayed in association with each other. The display unit, a sewing region display means for displaying a sewing region corresponding to the embroidery frame on the display unit so as to include a part of the embroidery pattern, a virtual reference line, and a virtual reference point, and a cloth held on the embroidery frame. Corresponding reference position information acquisition means for acquiring position information of an arbitrary point on the reference line and two reference points, position information acquired by the reference position information acquisition means, and a virtual reference line and a virtual reference point Cloth based on location information Sewing data correcting means for correcting sewing data relating to the embroidery pattern according to the arrangement of the sewing machine, and sewing control means for sewing a part of the embroidery pattern included in the sewing area on the fabric based on the sewing data corrected by the sewing data correcting means And the sewing control means associates the reference line and the reference point applied to the fabric with the virtual reference line and the virtual reference point included in the sewing area by the sewing area display means. Each part is sewn, and the entire embroidery pattern is sewn on the fabric so as to synthesize the divided embroidery patterns.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the sewing machine, the position information of two points of an arbitrary point on the reference line applied to the fabric held by the embroidery frame and the reference point is acquired, and the acquired position information And the virtual reference line and the virtual reference point associated with the embroidery pattern displayed on the display unit, and the sewing data relating to the embroidery pattern is corrected according to the arrangement of the fabric based on the position information. it can.
In this sewing machine, a reference line and a reference point applied to the fabric held in the embroidery frame, and a virtual reference line and a virtual reference point included in the area surrounded by the sewing area displayed on the display unit And sew the entire embroidery pattern on the fabric so as to synthesize the divided embroidery patterns, based on the sewing data corrected for the sewing of each part of the embroidery pattern included in the embroidery area. Can do.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the sewing machine according to the first aspect, the sewing data correction means uses the virtual reference line and the virtual reference point that are displayed in association with the embroidery pattern on the display unit as reference position information acquisition means. The sewing data relating to the embroidery pattern is corrected so that the reference line and the reference point relating to the position information acquired by the above-mentioned conversion are performed.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the virtual reference line and the virtual reference point displayed in association with the embroidery pattern on the display unit of the sewing machine have the same effects as the first aspect of the invention. The sewing data relating to the embroidery pattern can be corrected so as to perform a superimposing conversion on the reference line and reference point relating to the acquired position information.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the sewing machine, the position information of two points of an arbitrary point on the reference line applied to the fabric held by the embroidery frame and the reference point is acquired, and the acquired position information And a virtual reference line and a virtual reference point associated with the embroidery pattern displayed on the display unit, and the sewing data relating to the embroidery pattern can be corrected according to the arrangement of the fabric based on the position information. it can. In the sewing machine, a reference line and a reference point applied to the fabric held in the embroidery frame, and a virtual reference line and a virtual reference point that are surrounded by the sewing area displayed on the display unit The entire embroidery pattern can be sewn on the fabric by combining the divided embroidery patterns and executing the sewing based on the corrected sewing data of each part of the embroidery pattern included in the embroidery area. it can.

That is, in this sewing machine, the virtual reference line and the virtual reference point associated with the embroidery pattern displayed on the display unit are associated with the reference line and the reference point applied to the fabric held in the embroidery frame. , When a large embroidery pattern is divided into several parts and sewed on the fabric, the embroidery of the several divided parts is sewn to an appropriate position on the fabric, and the embroidery of the divided parts is combined to create a large embroidery pattern Can be sewn to the fabric, and more accurate embroidery can be performed.
In particular, a reference index such as a crosshair used to associate the virtual reference line and the virtual reference point displayed on the display unit with the reference line and the reference point applied to the fabric held in the embroidery frame, Align the sewing needle to any two points on the reference line of the fabric held in the embroidery frame and the reference point on the reference line of the fabric. Setting can be performed by acquiring position information.

  Specifically, if coordinate data of two points, an arbitrary point on the reference line and a reference point on the reference line, is obtained, a function related to the reference line is obtained by calculating a connecting line connecting the two points can do. Since it is possible to set a crosshair from a function related to a reference line and a reference point, the number of alignment operations can be reduced compared to the conventional four-point alignment method.

Therefore, since this sewing machine can set the crosshair of the reference index by acquiring position information such as coordinate data of two points, the conventional four-point alignment method can be used. The number of alignment operations can be reduced, and the troublesome operation can be reduced.
Therefore, this sewing machine can be said to be a sewing machine that can further reduce the labor of the operator and improve the sewing accuracy of the connecting embroidery.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the virtual reference line and the virtual reference point displayed in association with the embroidery pattern on the display unit of the sewing machine are superposed on the reference line and the reference point related to the acquired position information. Since the sewing data relating to the embroidery pattern can be corrected so that the sewing data can be corrected, the sewing data can be corrected more easily and accurately.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the present embodiment, an embroidery sewing machine will be described as an example.
The embroidery sewing machine has an embroidery frame that holds a cloth that is a sewing object to be sewn, and the embroidery frame moves relative to the sewing needle, whereby predetermined sewing data is applied to the cloth held by the embroidery frame. The sewing machine forms a seam having a seam shape based on the sewing machine.
Here, the direction in which the sewing needle 8 described later moves up and down is defined as the Z-axis direction (vertical direction), and one direction orthogonal thereto is defined as the X-axis direction (left-right direction), both the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction. The direction perpendicular to the Y axis direction is defined as the Y-axis direction (front-rear direction).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the embroidery sewing machine M (hereinafter referred to as a sewing machine M) includes a sewing machine body 1, a frame moving mechanism 13 disposed in the sewing machine body 1, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sewing machine M includes a sewing machine frame 2 whose outer shape is substantially U-shaped in a side view. The sewing machine frame 2 includes a sewing machine arm portion 2a that extends above the sewing machine M and extends in the X-axis direction, a sewing machine bed portion 2b that extends below the sewing machine M and extends in the X-axis direction, a sewing machine arm portion 2a, and a sewing machine bed portion 2b. And a vertical body portion 2c for connecting the two.

The sewing machine M (sewing machine body 1) is provided with a sewing machine driving mechanism in the sewing machine frame 2, and has an upper shaft (not shown) and a lower shaft (not shown) that are rotatable and extend in the X-axis direction. The upper shaft (not shown) is arranged inside the sewing machine arm 2a, and the lower shaft (not shown) is arranged inside the sewing machine bed 2b.
The upper shaft (not shown) is connected to a sewing machine motor 5 (see FIG. 2), and rotational power is applied by the sewing machine motor 5. The lower shaft (not shown) is connected to the upper shaft via a power transmission mechanism (not shown), and when the upper shaft rotates, the power of the upper shaft moves to the lower shaft side through the power transmission mechanism (not shown). As a result, the lower shaft is rotated.
A needle bar 8a that moves up and down in the Z-axis direction by rotating the upper shaft is connected to the front end side of the upper shaft (not shown), and the sewing needle 8 can be replaced at the lower end of the needle bar 8a. Is provided. Further, in order to prevent the cloth from being lifted by the vertical movement of the sewing needle 8, the sewing machine arm 2a moves up and down in conjunction with the vertical movement of the needle bar 8a and presses the cloth around the sewing needle 8. A presser 12 is provided.
A hook (not shown) is provided at the front end of the lower shaft (not shown). When the lower shaft rotates together with the upper shaft, a seam is formed by the cooperation of the sewing needle 8 and the hook (not shown).
The connection configuration and operation of the sewing machine motor 5, the upper shaft (not shown), the needle bar 8a, the sewing needle 8, the lower shaft (not shown), the shuttle (not shown) and the like are the same as those conventionally known. It is not detailed here.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sewing machine bed 2b is provided with a frame moving mechanism 13 having a carriage 13a and an attachment member 13b, and embroidery as a cloth holding portion attached to the attachment member 13b. The frame 11 and the sewing needle 8 of the sewing machine arm 2a are arranged on the sewing machine bed 2b.
The embroidery frame 11 is attached to the frame moving mechanism 13 via an attachment member 13b. The attachment member 13b has an X-axis motor 14 and a Y-axis motor which are pulse motors disposed in the carriage 13a and the sewing machine bed 2b. 15 is connected as a frame driving unit (see FIG. 2).
The embroidery frame 11 holds the cloth, and moves the held cloth in the front / rear and left / right directions (XY directions) together with the embroidery frame 11 as the X-axis motor 14 and the Y-axis motor 15 are driven in the frame moving mechanism 13. The cloth is positioned with respect to the sewing needle 8. The movement of the embroidery frame 11 and the operation of the sewing needle 8 and the hook (not shown) are linked to each other, so that the cloth is based on predetermined sewing data (for example, sewing data relating to an embroidery pattern in a larger range than the embroidery frame 11). A stitch is formed by applying a needle drop. In particular, an embroidery stitch having a desired stitch shape is formed on a cloth held inside the embroidery frame 11 which is a predetermined sewing area in the embroidery frame 11.
That is, the sewing machine M has an embroidery frame 11 in which the inside of the frame is a sewable range (sewing area), and the embroidery corresponding to the sewing data is within the sewable range of the fabric held inside the embroidery frame 11. A needle drop for forming a pattern is applied to form an embroidery stitch having a desired stitch shape.

1 and 2, the sewing machine M includes a key matrix 16 having a start / stop switch 16a, a reverse stitching switch 16b, a thread trimming switch 16c, and a speed adjustment volume 16d.
The key matrix 16 has functions of operation keys for driving the sewing machine M to move the needle bar 8a (sewing needle 8) up and down and to operate the embroidery frame 11. That is, a signal output based on the operation of the key matrix 16 is output as an operation signal for various keys to the control unit 100 described later, and the control unit 100 drives the sewing machine motor 5 and the like according to the operation signal. The sewing machine M is configured to operate.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sewing machine M includes an operation panel 20 for an operator to perform various setting operations and various data input operations on the sewing machine. The operation panel 20 and the sewing machine M (control unit 100) are connected by a line (not shown).
As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 20 includes a liquid crystal panel 22 as a display unit, and a touch panel 21 as a transparent touch switch provided on the display screen of the liquid crystal panel 22 (front surface of the display screen). By touching an operation key or the like displayed on the liquid crystal panel 22, the touch panel 21 is touched by a position reading principle such as an electromagnetic induction type, a magnetostriction type, or a pressure sensitive type. It is possible to input various data and input operation instructions according to the detected position. For example, by performing a predetermined operation input by touching an operation key displayed on the operation panel 20 functioning as a display unit, the display screen on the liquid crystal panel 22 of the operation panel 20 is switched variously, and various operation screens are displayed. In addition, various operation keys, various setting data, and the like are displayed. In addition, a signal or the like input when the operation panel 20 is touched is output to the control unit 100 described later. Thus, the operation panel 20 has a function as an input unit or a display unit of the sewing machine.
The liquid crystal panel 22 has a display area 22a (see FIG. 3) for displaying an embroidery pattern.

The operation key group displayed on the operation panel 20 includes, for example, an eight-way key 21a, an OK key 21b, a coordinate acquisition key, and the like as shown in FIG.
The liquid crystal panel 22 of the operation panel 20 displays the operation key group, and various embroidery patterns, a virtual reference line Lv and a virtual reference point Pv used as a reference at the time of sewing, and a sewing range of the embroidery frame 11 in the display area 22a. The sewing area R corresponding to is displayed. In the display area 22a, for example, a layout image of the entire embroidery pattern, a divided image of the embroidery pattern corresponding to the sewing region R, and the like are displayed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sewing machine M has a control unit 100 connected to the sewing machine motor 5, the X-axis motor 14, the Y-axis motor 15, the operation panel 20, the key matrix 16, and the like.
The control unit 100 includes a CPU 101 that executes various processes and controls according to a predetermined control program for the sewing machine motor 5, the X-axis motor 14, the Y-axis motor 15, the operation panel 20, and other actuators (not shown). ROM 102 as a storage unit storing a program for executing control and various processes and data required for control, RAM 103 serving as a work area for various processes by storing various data, and writing of new data An EEPROM 104 that is a erasable storage unit, an interface (not shown) for connecting the CPU 101 to various devices, a pulse motor driver (not shown) for each motor, and the like are provided.

The CPU 101 stores various control programs for the embroidery sewing machine stored in the ROM 102 or the EEPROM 104 in accordance with operation signals input from the key matrix 16, various setting signals input from the operation panel 20, various data, and the like. The operation processing of each part of the sewing machine is centrally controlled according to the various sewing data being stored, and the processing results are stored in the work area in the RAM 103, and various data input by operating the operation panel 20 and the processing results stored in the RAM 103 are stored. Is stored in the EEPROM 104 as necessary.
The CPU 101 functions as a control unit that controls the driving of each unit constituting the sewing machine M.

The ROM 102 stores and stores a control program and control data for the sewing machine M, various sewing data, display screen information, and the like.
For example, in the ROM 102, various sewing data relating to the stitch shapes of a plurality of embroidery patterns for operating the needle bar 8a (the sewing needle 8) and the embroidery frame 11 in order to form various stitches on the sewing product are stored in advance. It is remembered. As the sewing data, the coordinates of the shape point indicating the stitch shape (shape point data) and the coordinates of the needle drop point calculated based on the shape point (needle drop point data) are the sewing needle 8 relative to the embroidery frame 11. It is stored as coordinate data (coordinate points) of the position where the needle drops associated with the position. Further, movement amount data relating to the movement amount when the embroidery frame 11 is moved relative to the sewing needle 8 so as to place the sewing needle 8 at the position of the coordinate data is stored.
Further, the ROM 102 stores the coordinate data of the origin relating to the embroidery frame 11 which is a base point when the embroidery frame 11 is moved. With this origin coordinate as a reference, it is possible to move the embroidery frame 11 and acquire the coordinates of the needle drop point.
Further, the ROM 102 stores data related to a function indicating the virtual reference line Lv (for example, data related to a cross line as a reference index).

  The RAM 103 is provided with various work memories, counters, and the like, and is used as a work area during processing of input data or during a sewing operation.

The EEPROM 104 stores a plurality of sewing data other than the data stored in the ROM 102, display screen information, sewing data set by the operator via the operation panel 20, and the like.
The sewing data stored in the EEPROM 104 is, for example, sewing data related to an embroidery pattern in which a plurality of embroidery patterns based on some sewing data stored in the ROM 102 are laid out and combined in a desired arrangement. The sewing data stored in the EEPROM 104 is obtained by adjusting the shape point data and needle drop point data in the sewing data related to the embroidery pattern stored in the ROM 102 in accordance with the layout arrangement, pattern size enlargement / reduction, and the like. Sewing data consisting of shape point data and needle entry point data (coordinate data, movement amount data) created in this manner.

  Such a control unit 100 is operated by an X-axis origin sensor (not shown) provided in the X-axis motor 14, a Y-axis origin sensor (not shown) provided in the Y-axis motor 15, and operations input from the key matrix 16. Signals, various setting data input from the operation panel 20, and various data stored in the ROM 102 and the EEPROM 104 are processed by various control programs for the embroidery sewing machine stored in the ROM 102, and each motor or operation panel 20 or Other actuator control is executed.

  When the sewing is executed, the control unit 100 reads the sewing data stored in the ROM 102 or the EEPROM 104 by the CPU 101 executing a predetermined control program, and the needle indicated by the sewing data when the sewing machine motor 5 starts to be driven. The X-axis motor 14 and the Y-axis motor 15 are driven so as to be in the fall position, and processing as control means for positioning the embroidery frame 11 on the sewing needle 8 (needle bar 8a) is executed. Then, the control unit 100 controls the embroidery frame 11 to be sequentially positioned at a plurality of needle drop positions based on the coordinate data set in the sewing data while synchronizing with the rotation of the sewing machine motor 5 and causes the sewing needle 8 to drop. Is continued until the sewing is completed, and a predetermined embroidery pattern is sewn and formed on the cloth.

The control unit 100 also includes an embroidery pattern in a larger range than the embroidery frame 11, a virtual reference line Lv used as a reference for the position and angle when the embroidery pattern is embroidered on the fabric, and a virtual reference point Pv on the virtual reference line. And control to display on the display area 22a of the liquid crystal panel 22 of the operation panel 20 is executed.
In addition, the control unit 100 displays a sewing area R corresponding to the embroidery frame 11 on the liquid crystal panel 22 of the operation panel 20 so as to include a part of the embroidery pattern, the virtual reference line Lv, and the virtual reference point Pv. It functions as a sewing area display means for displaying at an arbitrary position.
Specifically, the control unit 100 as the sewing area display means surrounds a part of the embroidery pattern displayed in the display area 22a of the liquid crystal panel 22 of the operation panel 20, the virtual reference line Lv, and the virtual reference point Pv. Then, the control is executed to move the sewing area R corresponding to the size (sewing area) of the embroidery frame 11 to a desired position in the display area 22a for display.

Further, the control unit 100 functions as a reference position information acquisition unit that acquires position information of two points, an arbitrary point on the reference line L applied to the fabric held by the embroidery frame 11 and the reference point P.
Specifically, the control unit 100 as the reference position information acquisition unit moves the embroidery frame 11 by an operation of pressing the eight-way key 21a of the operation panel 20 and moves the sewing needle 8 relatively. Thus, the sewing needle 8 is aligned with an arbitrary point on the reference line L applied to the fabric held by the embroidery frame 11 and the reference point P, and position information such as coordinates of the two points is obtained. Execute the acquired control.
Then, the control unit 100 as the reference position information acquisition means obtains a connecting line connecting the two points by calculation based on the coordinate data of the acquired arbitrary point on the reference line L and the reference point P. A function related to the reference line L applied to the fabric held in the frame 11 is acquired.

Further, the control unit 100 associates the position information acquired by the control unit 100 as the reference position information acquisition unit with the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv, and according to the arrangement of the fabric based on the position information. It functions as sewing data correction means for correcting the sewing data relating to the embroidery pattern.
Specifically, the control unit 100 serving as the sewing data correction unit cancels out a deviation in the position (coordinates) between the reference point P and the virtual reference point Pv and a deviation in the inclination between the reference line L and the virtual reference line Lv. Then, control for correcting the sewing data relating to the embroidery pattern is executed so that the embroidery stitches that are actually sewn on the fabric have the desired arrangement and angle. In other words, the control unit 100 as the sewing data correction unit includes a crosshair that intersects the position of the reference point P with respect to the function related to the reference line L acquired by the control unit 100 as the reference position information acquisition unit, and the virtual reference. The virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference are displayed in the display area 22a of the operation panel 20 (liquid crystal panel 22) so as to correct the positional deviation and the inclination deviation of the cross line with the virtual reference point Pv as an intersection with respect to the line Lv. A control process for correcting the embroidery pattern displayed on the basis of the point Pv to sewing data that can be sewn on the fabric held in the embroidery frame 11 is performed.

Further, the control unit 100 functions as a sewing control unit that sews a part of the embroidery pattern included in the sewing region R on the fabric based on the sewing data corrected by the control unit 100 as a sewing data correction unit.
The control unit 100 as the sewing control means includes a reference line L and a reference point P applied to the fabric, and a virtual reference line Lv included in the sewing area R by the control unit 100 as the sewing area display means. Each part of the embroidery pattern is sewn so as to correspond to the virtual reference point Pv, and the divided embroidery pattern is synthesized so as to sew the entire embroidery pattern on the fabric.
In connection with stitching embroidery, the operation and processing for sewing a part of the embroidery pattern included in the sewing region R onto the fabric is the same as that conventionally known, and therefore will not be described in detail here.

Next, the processing operation when applying an embroidery pattern larger than the size of the embroidery frame 11 to the fabric in the sewing machine M according to the present embodiment will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, an example of sewing an embroidery pattern in a range approximately four times larger than the sewable range in the embroidery frame 11 will be described.

First, the sewing data related to the heart-shaped pattern and the sewing data related to the smile-shaped pattern stored in the ROM 102 are read out by a predetermined key operation on the operation panel 20 by the operator, and as shown in FIG. A plurality of embroidery patterns are arranged side by side in the display area 22a of the operation panel 20 (liquid crystal panel 22) on which the reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv are displayed. A desired large embroidery pattern formed by combining the two is created, and sewing data relating to the created large embroidery pattern is stored in the EEPROM 104 (step S101).
Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the reference line L and the reference point P are drawn with a chaco pen on the fabric C to be subjected to the large embroidery pattern. It should be noted that the operator makes a reference so that the created large embroidery pattern corresponds to the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv in the display area 22a displayed in association with the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv. The line L and the reference point P are drawn on the fabric C with a chaco pen.
Here, a vertical virtual reference line Lv is displayed in the display area 22a of the operation panel 20, and an intersection of the virtual reference line Lv and a horizontal line perpendicular to the virtual reference line Lv is displayed as a virtual reference point Pv ( (See FIG. 6). In addition, a mark line that intersects the reference line L is provided on the fabric C so as to indicate the reference line L corresponding to the virtual reference line Lv and the reference point P corresponding to the virtual reference point Pv. (See FIG. 7).

Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the sewing region R corresponding to the sewable range in the embroidery frame 11 is displayed by the operator's operation of the eight-way key 21a on the operation panel 20 or the operation of directly touching the display area 22a. By pressing the OK key 21b at a desired position where the sewing area R is displayed and moved in the area 22a and includes a part of the large embroidery pattern, the virtual reference line Lv, and the virtual reference point Pv, the sewing machine R A sewing region R corresponding to the range where M is to be embroidered is designated and set (step S102).
When the OK key 21b is pressed, as shown in FIG. 9, the display area 22a of the operation panel 20 has a large embroidery pattern within the range surrounded by the sewing area R (see FIG. 6). , A virtual reference line Lv and a virtual reference point Pv in the range are displayed to be enlarged to fill the frame of the display area 22a.
Note that the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv displayed in the display area 22a of the operation panel 20 serve as indices indicating which part of the fabric C should be held with respect to the embroidery frame 11. .

Then, the operator refers to the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv displayed in the display area 22a of the operation panel 20 shown in FIG. 9, and the fabric C on which the reference line L and the reference point P are drawn. Is attached to the embroidery frame 11 and held. Specifically, the display area 22a of the operation panel 20 shown in FIG. 9 is an area surrounded by the sewing area R and corresponds to the sewing range in the embroidery frame 11, and is therefore displayed in the display area 22a. The cloth C may be attached to the embroidery frame 11 so that the reference line L and the reference point P are arranged with respect to the embroidery frame 11 so as to correspond to the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv.
Then, after attaching the fabric C to the embroidery frame 11, the operator presses the OK key 21b of the operation panel 20 shown in FIG.

Then, after the fabric C is attached to the embroidery frame 11, as the operator presses the OK key 21b, the operation panel 20 includes a part of the reference position information acquisition unit as shown in FIG. A reference line designation key 21c and a reference point designation key 21d, which are functioning coordinate acquisition keys, are displayed together with an eight-way key 21a and an OK key 21b.
Next, the operator operates the eight-way key 21 a to move the embroidery frame 11, and relatively moves the sewing needle 8, whereby the reference drawn on the fabric C held by the embroidery frame 11. By aligning the sewing needle 8 with respect to an arbitrary point on the line L and pressing the reference line designation key 21c, coordinate data regarding the arbitrary point on the reference line L is acquired. Subsequently, the operator operates the eight-way key 21 a to move the embroidery frame 11, and relatively moves the sewing needle 8, thereby drawing on the fabric C held by the embroidery frame 11. By aligning the sewing needle 8 with respect to the reference point P and pressing the reference point designation key 21d, coordinate data relating to the reference point P is acquired. Note that an arbitrary point on the reference line L and the reference point P are different points.
Then, based on the coordinate data of the two points, the arbitrary point on the reference line L and the reference point P, the control unit 100 obtains a connecting line connecting the two points by an operation or the like, so that the embroidery frame 11 is actually A function related to the reference line L drawn on the fabric C attached and held is acquired (step S103).

Next, when the operator depresses the OK key 21b after depressing the reference line designation key 21c and the reference point designation key 21d, the control unit 100 causes the acquired function regarding the reference line L, the reference line L, and The cross line formed by the vertical reference line and the reference vertical line passing through the reference point P overlaps with the cross line formed by the virtual reference line Lv and the horizontal line passing through the virtual reference point Pv and perpendicular to the virtual reference line Lv. Sewing data related to the embroidery pattern displayed on the basis of the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv in the display area 22a of the operation panel 20 by the correction process for converting the arrangement of the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv is displayed on the embroidery. Correction processing is performed to convert the cloth C held in the frame 11 into sewing data for sewing (step S104).
It should be noted that data relating to a cross line serving as a reference index formed by a virtual reference line Lv and a horizontal line passing through the virtual reference point Pv and perpendicular to the virtual reference line Lv (the virtual reference line Lv forming the cross line and each of the intersecting horizontal lines) Is stored and stored in the ROM 102 in advance.

Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, when the cross line related to the reference line L and the cross line related to the virtual reference line Lv are shifted by the angle θ, the sewing related to the embroidery pattern displayed in the display area 22a. Correction processing for adjusting the coordinates of the needle drop point in the sewing data is performed by correction by conversion that rotates the data by rotating the angle θ.
When the position of the cross line related to the reference line L and the cross line related to the virtual reference line Lv is shifted by the distance z, the correction is performed by conversion that translates the sewing data related to the embroidery pattern displayed in the display area 22a by the distance z. Thus, a correction process for adjusting the coordinates of the needle drop point in the sewing data may be performed. Further, a correction process may be performed in which both correction by conversion for moving the sewing data by the angle θ and correction by conversion for moving the sewing data by the distance z are performed.

When the control unit 100 performs correction processing for converting the sewing data related to the embroidery pattern, the display area 22a of the operation panel 20 displays the embroidery pattern related to the corrected sewing data as shown in FIG. Thus, the fabric C is actually applied to the fabric C according to the state of the fabric C held by the embroidery frame 11 (the state in which the fabric C is displaced or inclined with respect to the embroidery frame 11 when the reference line L is used as a reference). An embroidery pattern in the sewing direction is displayed.
Here, when the start / stop switch 16a of the sewing machine M is operated by the operator, sewing is executed in which the embroidery pattern displayed in the display area 22a of the operation panel 20 is sewn on the fabric C of the embroidery frame 11 ( Step S105). The embroidery pattern that can be sewn by the sewing machine M is a pattern that is displayed in the display area 22a of the operation panel 20 without any lack of the shape (for example, two heart shapes displayed in the display area 22a in FIG. 12). Pattern and two smiley patterns).
Further, the control unit 100 temporarily stores, in the RAM 103, an embroidery pattern portion that has been sewn in a large embroidery pattern (for example, two heart-shaped patterns and two smiley patterns in the upper left portion of the large embroidery pattern).

Next, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the sewing of the entire large embroidery pattern has been completed (step S106).
If the control unit 100 determines that the sewing of the entire large embroidery pattern has not been completed (step S106; No), the process returns to step S102, and the process is continued so that the remaining embroidery pattern is continuously sewn. At this time, the control unit 100 displays a pattern portion that has been sewn and a pattern portion that has not been sewn in the large embroidery pattern in the display area 22a of the operation panel 20 so as to be distinguishable. Therefore, it is preferable that the operator can easily designate a pattern portion that has not been sewn by the sewing region R.
In connection with stitching embroidery, the operation and processing for sewing each part of the embroidery pattern included in the sewing region R on the fabric C and sewing the entire embroidery pattern on the fabric C are the same as those conventionally known. Do not mention.

On the other hand, when the control unit 100 determines that the sewing of the entire large embroidery pattern has been completed (step S106; Yes), the process of applying the large embroidery pattern to the fabric C is terminated, and the sewing machine M stops operating.
As described above, the sewing machine M repeatedly executes sewing of a pattern corresponding to an area designated to divide a large embroidery pattern by the sewing area R, and synthesizes the divided embroidery patterns so as to synthesize a large embroidery pattern. It is possible to perform embroidery by stitching the entire pattern to the fabric C.

As described above, when the sewing machine M sews a large embroidery pattern on the cloth C, the large embroidery pattern can be divided by the sewing region R, and the stitched small embroidery pattern can be stitched together with high accuracy. .
That is, on the sewing machine M, the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv associated with the large embroidery pattern displayed in the display area 22a of the operation panel 20 and the reference drawn on the fabric C held by the embroidery frame 11 By associating the line L and the reference point P, when the large embroidery pattern is divided into several parts and sewn on the cloth C, the embroidery of the several divided parts is sewn at an appropriate position on the cloth C. Then, by combining the embroidery of the divided portions and sewing a large embroidery pattern on the fabric C, it is possible to perform the embroidery with improved sewing accuracy.

  In particular, the crosshairs used when associating the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv of the display area 22a with the reference line L and the reference point P drawn on the fabric C held in the embroidery frame 11 Is to align the sewing needle 8 with respect to an arbitrary point on the reference line L drawn on the fabric C held by the embroidery frame 11 and to the reference point P drawn on the fabric C. The two points are aligned by aligning the sewing needle 8 and the coordinate data of the two points is obtained, so that the function relating to the reference line L and the reference point P intersecting the reference line L perpendicularly are obtained. Since a cross line formed by a function related to a reference vertical line that passes through can be set, it is possible to reduce the number of alignment operations and reduce the troublesome operation compared to the conventional method.

  In addition, when inputting a cloth cross line by positioning the sewing needle with respect to four points on the cloth as in the prior art, it is difficult to set and input so that the vertical line and the horizontal line of the cross line intersect perpendicularly. Although it is a thing (it is difficult to input an accurate vertical even if it looks vertical), it is drawn on the fabric C held by the embroidery frame 11 like the sewing machine M according to the present invention. By aligning the sewing needle 8 with respect to an arbitrary point on the reference line L, and by aligning the sewing needle 8 with respect to the reference point P on the reference line L drawn on the cloth C If the method is to set a function of a reference line L that is a connecting line connecting the two points and set a function related to a reference vertical line passing through the reference point P and perpendicular to the reference line L, a vertical line and a horizontal line It is possible to set a crosshair that and are exactly orthogonal Since the cut, it is possible to perform more suitable tie embroidery.

  Therefore, it can be said that the sewing machine M according to the present invention is a sewing machine that can further reduce the labor of the operator and improve the sewing accuracy of the connecting embroidery.

  In the above embodiment, the sewing of the embroidery pattern in the range approximately four times larger than the sewable range in the embroidery frame 11 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the embroidery frame 11 is not limited thereto. The present invention can be applied to an embroidery pattern having an arbitrary size if embroidery having a size larger than the sewable range is performed.

  In the above embodiment, the reference line L is drawn in the vertical direction of the fabric C. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, there are many embroidery patterns arranged in the vertical direction, and the reference line L If it becomes difficult to confirm, a reference line may be drawn in the horizontal direction. In that case, the horizontal line of the display area 22a becomes a virtual reference line.

  In addition, it is needless to say that other specific detailed structures can be appropriately changed.

It is a perspective view which shows the sewing machine concerning this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the sewing machine concerning this invention. It is a top view which shows an example of the operation panel of the sewing machine concerning this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation at the time of sewing a big embroidery pattern on a cloth in the sewing machine concerning this invention. It is explanatory drawing which compares and shows an embroidery frame and a big embroidery pattern. It is a top view which shows the example of a display of the operation panel in this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the reference line drawn on cloth, and a reference point. It is a top view which shows the example of a display of the operation panel in this invention. It is a top view which shows the example of a display of the operation panel in this invention. It is a top view which shows the example of a display of the operation panel in this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the correction process of sewing data. It is a top view which shows the example of a display of the operation panel in this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sewing machine body 5 Sewing motor 8 Sewing needle 11 Embroidery frame 16 Key matrix 20 Operation panel 21 Touch panel 21a Eight direction key 21b OK key 21c Reference line specification key 21d Reference point specification key 22 Liquid crystal panel (display part)
22a Display area 100 control unit (sewing area display means, reference position information acquisition means, sewing data correction means, sewing control means)
M Embroidery sewing machine (sewing machine)
C Cloth L Reference line Lv Virtual reference line P Reference point Pv Virtual reference point R Sewing area

Claims (2)

An embroidery frame that holds a reference line that is used as a reference when embroidering a desired embroidery pattern and a fabric that is provided with a reference point on the reference line;
An embroidery pattern in a range larger than the embroidery frame, a virtual reference line used as a reference when the embroidery pattern is embroidered on the fabric, and a display unit that associates and displays a virtual reference point on the virtual reference line;
Sewing area display means for displaying a sewing area corresponding to the embroidery frame on the display unit so as to include a part of the embroidery pattern, the virtual reference line, and a virtual reference point;
Reference position information acquisition means for acquiring position information of an arbitrary point on the reference line applied to the fabric held in the embroidery frame and the reference point;
Sewing that correlates the position information acquired by the reference position information acquisition means with the virtual reference line and the virtual reference point, and corrects sewing data related to the embroidery pattern according to the arrangement of the fabric based on the position information. Data correction means;
Sewing control means for sewing a part of the embroidery pattern included in the sewing area on the fabric based on the sewing data corrected by the sewing data correction means;
With
The embroidery is such that the sewing control means associates the reference line and reference point applied to the fabric with the virtual reference line and virtual reference point included in the sewing area by the sewing area display means. A sewing machine characterized in that sewing of each part of a pattern is performed, and the entire embroidery pattern is sewn to the fabric so as to synthesize the divided embroidery patterns.   The sewing data correction unit is configured to display the virtual reference line and the virtual reference point displayed in association with the embroidery pattern on the display unit, and the reference line and the reference point related to the position information acquired by the reference position information acquisition unit. The sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein sewing data relating to the embroidery pattern is corrected so as to perform conversion to be superimposed on the sewing machine.

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