JPH04156879A - Embroidery data creation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To generate different pattern in a pattern contour via one embroidery by providing an overlap pattern data memory means storing multiple pattern data prescribing the contours of multiple patterns to be buried with seams of a sewing machine and a needle drop position data generating means. CONSTITUTION:A memory device 84 is connected to a control device 70, and the pattern data prescribing the specified pattern are read from the external memory device 84 and stored in a pattern data area 114. All seams connecting two points on the outside contour are determined, intersections between the seams and the contour prescribing the pattern of the overlapped portion are calculated, then needle drop positions are set. When embroidery is performed based on the needle drop position data thus generated, a sewing needle 24 is dropped on four contour line elements AB, BC, CD, DA of a rhombic pattern 130, and the rhombic pattern 130 is formed by the collection of needle drop points in the pattern 86 buried with seams.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an embroidery data creation device, and particularly to a technique for forming a pattern inside a pattern.

Conventional techniques When filling a pattern with embroidery stitches, the stitches are generally formed by connecting two points on the outline defining the pattern. In this case, the stitches may connect two points on the contour line with one stitch or with multiple stitches. The latter includes, for example, tatami stitching. When performing tatami stitching, a predetermined number of needle drop positions are set at equal intervals between two points on the outline.
A tatami-like pattern is formed within the contour line in which the needle drop positions are lined up in a straight line along the embroidery progress direction.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention When two points on a contour line are connected with a single stitch, only a pattern defined by the contour line is formed, but if another pattern is to be formed within the contour line, the pattern is It is necessary to divide the pattern into an area of another pattern formed within that pattern and the remaining area, and perform embroidery separately for each area. In the case of tatami sewing, a pattern is formed within the outline, but only a fixed pattern can be obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus capable of creating embroidery data that can arbitrarily form another pattern within a circle that defines a pattern in one embroidery process.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the embroidery data creation device of the present invention has the following features: (a) At least a portion of the embroidery data creation device overlaps and should be filled with sewing machine stitches. Overlapping pattern data storage means 1 for storing a plurality of pattern data defining the outlines of a plurality of patterns; Two needle drop positions are set on the outer contour, and a needle drop position is set at each intersection of the seam line that connects these two needle drop positions and the portion located within the outer contour of each of the above contours. The gist of the present invention is to include a needle drop position data generating means 2 for generating needle drop position data.

Operation and Effects of the Invention When embroidery is performed according to the embroidery data created by the embroidery data creation device of the present invention, the sewing needle falls on the portion located within the outer contour of each outline of the plurality of patterns, and the stitches are separated there. This creates a pattern. The divisions between the seams are clearly visible, the divisions between the seams are used as outlines, and the pattern defined by the outlines of the overlapping patterns is formed within the pattern defined by the outer outline. By embroidering different patterns can be formed within the outline of the pattern.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be explained in detail based on an open view.

In No. 20, 10 is a sewing machine table, and on this sewing machine table 10 there is a head 12 and a sewing machine frame 14.
is provided. The sewing machine frame I4 includes a pedestal section 16 rising from the bed 12, and an upper arm 18 extending cantilevered from the upper end of the pedestal section 16 and substantially parallel to the head 12. This sewing machine frame 14 has a needle bar 22.
is attached to be movable in the vertical direction by a needle bar stand (not shown), and a sewing needle 24 is fixed to the lower end thereof.

The needle bar 22 is connected to a sewing machine motor 26 (third
(see figure), and the needle bar 22 and sewing needle 24 are caused to reciprocate up and down by the drive of the sewing machine motor 26. An opening is formed in the upper surface of the bed 12. Although this opening is closed by the throat plate 30, a needle hole 38 is formed in the throat plate 30, and the needle 24 enters the lower part of the throat plate 30 through this needle hole 38, and cooperates with a shuttle (not shown). to form a seam.

Also, sewing machine table 10. An embroidery frame 42 is mounted on the bed 12 so as to be movable in the X-axis direction, which is the left-right direction of the sewing machine, and in the Y-axis direction, which is the front-rear direction. The embroidery frame 42 has an annular outer frame 44 and an inner frame 46 fitted inside the outer frame 44, and these frames 44 and 46 hold the work cloth. A slide portion 48 is formed on the outer frame 44 and extends in the X-axis direction, and is slidably fitted into a pair of guide pipes 50 provided on the sewing machine table 10 in the Y-axis direction. Both ends of these guide vibes 50 are supported by support stands 52 and 54. − side support stand 52
is the feed screw 56. It is adapted to be moved in the X-axis direction by an X-axis feed motor 58, and the other support stand 5
4 is spaced apart from the upper surface of the sewing machine table 10. These slide portions 48. A pair of endless wires 60 are engaged with the support bases 52.54, and the wires 60 are connected to the rotation transmission shaft 62.54. The slide portion 48 is moved in the Y-axis direction by being moved by the Y-axis feed motor 64 . The embroidery frame 42 can be moved to any position in the horizontal plane by the movement of the support base 52 in the X-axis direction and the movement of the slide portion 48 in the Y-axis direction.
Embroidery is applied to the work cloth by the vertical movement of step 4.

This sewing machine is controlled by a control device 70.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 70 includes a CPU 72, R
OM74. The main body is a computer including a RAM 76, a bus 78, and the like. An input interface 80 is connected to the bus 78, and a keyboard 82. An external storage device 84 is connected.

The keyboard 82 is used to input the embroidery pattern to be applied to the work cloth, the pattern to be formed inside the pattern, thread density, etc., and includes keys for specifying embroidery patterns such as alpha vent, numbers, symbols, and kana, as well as data. Various keys necessary for inputting are provided. Further, the external storage device 84 stores data regarding patterns to be embroidered. In this example, the pattern is a pattern in which curved lines are returned to straight lines, and pattern 8 shown in FIG.
As shown in 6, it is made up of rectangular or triangular blocks lined up in a row, and pattern data is created for each block. The pattern data includes coordinate data of the apexes of the blocks. Embroidery is performed by alternately connecting two of the four or three contour line elements that define a quadrilateral or triangle and filling the inside of the contour line elements with stitches. If the block is a triangle, one of the three vertices is considered to be two vertices overlapping, and like a quadrilateral, one of the three vertices is 4
It is treated as if there are vertices. Number data is attached to each of these four pieces of coordinate data. The two vertices that define one of the two contour elements connected to each other by a seam are numbered 1 and 3, and the two vertices that define the other outline element are numbered 2. In this case, numbers 1 and 2 are located on one side of the embroidery progress direction (the direction in which the pattern is filled with stitches), and numbers 3 and 4 are Number data is attached so that the is located on the other side.

The pattern 86 consists of three square blocks 81 to B3, and number data is attached to the apex of each block as shown in FIG. 7. The arrow indicates the direction of embroidery progress. In addition, in the case of a triangle, the number data is 2 at one point of the three vertices, such as triangle 88 shown in FIG.
Individualized.

An output interface 100 is also connected to the lotus 78, and a motor drive circuit 104 is connected to the output interface 100.
, 106 , 108 and the sewing machine motor 26 . X-axis feed motor 58. A Y-axis feed motor 64 and a display device 112 are connected. A display device 112 displays comments and input data that support data input.

The shape of the pattern to be embroidered is displayed on the screen. The RAM 76 also includes a pattern data area 114. as shown in FIG. Internal contour data area 116. Stitch data area 118. Needle drop position data area 120
A counter 122 and the like are provided together with the working memory. Furthermore, the ROM 74 stores a needle drop position setting routine shown in a flowchart in FIG.

This needle drop position setting routine is a routine for creating embroidery data that can form another pattern inside a pattern.Hereinafter, setting of the needle drop position will be explained based on this flowchart.

When the creation of pattern data is instructed, first step Sl (
Hereinafter, it will be abbreviated as Sl. The same goes for other steps.

), a message instructing the designation of the pattern to be filled with embroidery stitches is displayed on the display device 112, and in B2 it is determined whether the designation has been completed. 82 is repeatedly executed until the specified end data is input, and when the specified pattern is completed, the pattern specified in B3 (here, pattern 8) is executed.
6 is specified) is read from the external storage device 84 and stored in the pattern data uria 114. Next, at B4, a message is displayed on the display device 112 instructing input of the outline of another pattern to be formed within the pattern 86. Now, pattern 86
If a diamond-shaped pattern 130 is to be formed within the diamond-shaped pattern 130 as shown in FIG. In this example,
The outline of the pattern 86 is the outermost outline of the pattern to be embroidered, and the outline of the diamond pattern 130 is the outline located within the outer outline. Regarding the diamond pattern 130, the coordinates of the four vertices A, B, C, and D are the blocks B1, B2, . As in the case of B3, number data is attached and input, and in B5, the data is sequentially stored in the internal contour data area 116. At B6, it is determined whether or not the input has been completed, and steps 84 to S6 are repeatedly executed until the input is completed. When the input is completed, S7 is executed and the thread density is set to pattern data area 11.
Loaded from 4. Thread density is the number of stitches formed in the pattern, and is expressed by the number of needle drop positions per unit length. In this embodiment, the thread density is set for the center line of the pattern 86, is input when the pattern 86 is designated, and is stored in the pattern data area 114.

After reading, S8 is executed, and stitch data is created for the designated pattern 86 and stored in the stitch data area 11B. When creating stitch data, first, each block Bl, B2 . A center line is determined for each B3, and a needle drop position on the center line is determined. The center line is found by connecting the midpoints of the contour line whose ends are the vertices No. 1 and 2, and the contour line whose ends are the vertices No. 3 and 4, and the center line is determined based on the thread density. The number of needle drop positions on the line is determined. Then, the contour line whose both ends are the vertices No. 1 and 3, and the contour line whose both ends are the vertices No. 2 and 4 are divided by the number of needle drop positions found for the center line, and the needle drop Position P.

Pz, Ps...and Q, ,Q2. Q3...
is calculated. After the calculation, the needle drop positions calculated for each of the two outline elements are alternately paired in pairs to form stitch data, and are stored in the stitch data area 118.

In the case of pattern 86, as shown in FIG. 9, the embroidery start position is set to S, which is the first vertex of block B1,
This point S is connected to the first needle drop position Q1 determined on the outline element defined by the second and fourth vertices of block B1 to form the first stitch 11. S and Ql are paired and stored in the stitch data area 118. Also, the next stitch to be formed is the stitch connecting needle drop positions Q1 and P! It is 2. Furthermore, the total number of stitches (number of paired needle drop positions) N formed in the pattern 86 is determined, and the stitch data area 118
is stored in

After the stitch data is obtained in this way, S9 is executed, and the count number C of the counter 122 is set to 1. Then, in SIO, the stitch data corresponding to the count number C,
That is, the stitch data for the number connecting point S and point Q is read from the stitch data area 118. The first address of the stitch data area 118 where stitch data is stored is known, and multiple pieces of stitch data are each stored using the same amount of storage area, and new stitch data is read out. In this case, the address is automatically incremented by the storage area of one stitch data, and the next stitch data is read out. In Sll, the stitches defined by this read stitch data and the diamond pattern 13
It is determined whether or not there is an intersection with the four contour line elements AB, BC, CD, and DA of 0. Four outline elements are set based on the four vertex coordinates stored for the diamond pattern 130, and it is determined whether or not there is an intersection. It is created by connecting number data No. 1 and No. 2, No. 2 and No. 3, No. 3 and No. 4, and No. 4 and No. 1, respectively. stitch! , there is no intersection, so 31
1 becomes NO, the point S and the point Q1 are stored in the needle drop position data area 120 in 312, and the count (+IC) of the counter 122 is increased by 1 in 313, and in S13, C is the total stitch data number N. It is determined whether or not the intersection with the diamond pattern 130 has been determined for the stitches defined by all the stitch data, depending on whether the stitch size is larger than the stitch data.Since stitch 11 is the first stitch, S14 becomes No, and execution of the routine returns to SIO.

In SIO, the second stored stitch data is read out, and in Sll, the second stitch data defined by needle drop positions Q+ and P+ is read out. 2 and 4 of 130 rhombus patterns
It is determined whether there is an intersection with the contour line element of the book, but it is a seam! 2 also has no intersection, so 311 is No, and S1
2, the needle drop position is the needle drop position data area 120
is stored in At this time, among the two needle drop positions that define the stitch 12, the stitch j2. The needle drop position IQ, which is common to the needle drop position that defines the needle drop position, is not stored, and the needle drop position
, only are stored. As shown in FIG. 10, stitch i3 defined by needle drop positions P, , Q2 and needle drop positions Q2 . Stitch defined by Pz! ! , 4 do not intersect with the diamond pattern 130, but the stitch l defined by the needle drop position Pg, Q:l intersects at the intersections m, , m2. Therefore, S11 becomes YES, and one needle drop position IQ 3 and the intersection ml that define stitch p5 are determined in S15.

m2 is stored in the needle drop position data area 120. At this time, ml and mz+Q3 are stored in order from the needle drop position closest to the needle drop position P2 in the direction intersecting the embroidery progress direction. Next stitch! , also has an intersection, and 311 is Y
The needle drop position and the intersection point are stored in the needle drop position data area 120 in step 315. If it is determined whether or not there is an intersection point for all the stitches created for the pattern 86, the result in S14 becomes YES, and the execution of the routine ends.

If embroidery is performed based on the needle drop position data created in this way, as shown in FIG.
Book outline elements AB, BC, CD.

The sewing needle 24 falls on the DA, and a diamond pattern 130 is formed by a collection of needle drop points within the pattern 86 filled with stitches.

As is clear from the above explanation, in this example,
External storage device 84. The pattern data area 114 and the internal loop line data area 116 constitute the overlapping pattern data storage means 1, and the portion of the ROM 74 that stores S8 to S15 and the portion of the CPLI 72 and the RAM 76 that execute these steps constitute the needle drop position data creation means. It constitutes 2.

In the above embodiment, the coordinates of the vertices of the diamond pattern 130 formed inside the pattern 86 are inputted by the operator, but similarly to the pattern 86, the coordinates of the vertices are stored in advance in the external storage device 84. If the pattern is stored in the pattern 86, the diamond pattern 130 and the position within the pattern 86 may be specified in S4. In this case, the determination in 311 is based on the coordinates A, B, C, and D of the vertices stored for the diamond pattern 130 and the pattern 86.
This is done based on location data within.

In the above embodiment, there is one diamond pattern 130 within the pattern 86.
Although it was designed to be formed individually, it is also possible to form two or more, and as shown in FIG. You can also do that. In this case, as in the case of the above embodiment, the coordinates of the four vertices defining each of the diamond patterns 136 and 138 are inputted with numbers, and the four contour lines formed by these vertices are input. What is necessary is to find the intersection between the blank and the stitches filling the pattern 134 and create needle drop position data.

The pattern formed within the pattern is the diamond pattern 130.
Not limited to closed figures such as 136 and 138, but also straight lines 142,1 formed within a pattern 140 as shown in FIG.
44 or a curved line.

Furthermore, in the above embodiments, a case has been described in which a pattern includes all other patterns, but as shown in FIGS. , it is also possible to represent the overlapping portion as a pattern.

In this case, stitches are created by alternately connecting two needle drop positions on the outer contour based on the outer contour consisting of a set of the outermost portions of the contours of the two patterns 146 and 148. Data is created, and needle drop position data is created by finding the intersection between a stitch defined by the stitch data and a contour line element defining an overlapping portion of the pattern 146, 148. When inputting the coordinates of the pattern 148, the operator enters three coordinates b+, bs, b6 that define the part of the pattern 148 that is included in the pattern 146, and coordinates b2 . b3. b,,b6. b6 and input them separately. The stitch data is a point "I + az + 83" that defines the pattern 146.

am, as+ ah, at+ a8 and pattern 14
Of the points defining 8, ,b,,b,,b,.

The intersection points of the stitches defined by these stitch data and the contours iab, b, and s, b6 that define the overlapping portion are determined, and the intersection points are determined at the time of seam formation. Needle drop position data is created so that the sewing needle 24 falls, thereby forming a stitch as shown in FIG. 15.

Note that the intersection between the outline of the pattern 146 and the outline of the pattern 148 and the portion of the pattern 148 that is included in the pattern 146 may be automatically determined without input from the operator.

In addition, the pattern 148 forms a pattern together with the pattern 146, and stitch data is created, but the pattern 148
A portion not included in the pattern 146 may be embroidered as a different pattern from the pattern 146. In this case, pattern 1
48 is the point bs, bz.

ba, b3. As the pattern defined by b6, pattern 1
Separately from 46, stitch data is created. In this case, like the pattern 146, the pattern 148 has two blocks (point b
1. bz, the first block defined by b- and point b2. If the first block is divided into two blocks (second block defined by ba and bi) and stored in the external storage area 84, the first block is partially included in the pattern 146, so the first block is divided into 9. b2. The block is changed to a block defined by ba, tz, and stitch data is created for that block and the second block, respectively.

In addition, the pattern 150.15 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17
2, the pattern 146 in FIGS. 14 and 15,
By setting the needle drop position data in the same manner as in the case of No. 148, the overlapping portion can be represented as a pattern. In this case, the pattern 150 is previously divided into a plurality of blocks and stored in the external storage device 84;
If it is necessary to modify the block division by overlapping with 2, the block is divided again to form stitch data.

Furthermore, the number of patterns that overlap each other is not limited to two, but may be three, such as patterns 160, 162, and 164 shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. As in the case of the patterns 146 and 148 in the figure, for the pattern consisting of a set of outline elements located at the outermost position among the outlines of the three patterns 160, 162° 164, two points on the outline are connected. Stitch data is created, and needle drop position data is created by finding the intersections between each of these seams and outline elements that define overlapping parts of the pattern.

Furthermore, four or more patterns may be overlapped.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the needle drop position is set by finding all the stitches that connect two points on the outer contour, and then calculating the intersection between each stitch and the contour that defines the pattern of the overlapping part. However, it may also be set at the same time when determining the stitches.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the case where patterns with straight outlines are superimposed is explained as an example, but the pattern may be defined by an outline consisting of a curved line such as an arc, or an outline including a curved line. The pattern may be defined by a line, and the pattern can be formed by finding the intersection between the outer contour line and the inner contour line, as in the above embodiments.

In addition, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the claims.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually showing the configuration of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embroidery data creation device, which is an embodiment of the present invention, together with an embroidery sewing machine. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a control device that controls the embroidery sewing machine. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of a RAM of a computer that constitutes the main body of the control device. FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a needle drop position setting routine stored in the ROM of the computer. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a triangle for which embroidery data is created by the embroidery data creation device. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a pattern for which needle drop position data is created based on the needle drop position setting routine, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the pattern and another pattern formed inside. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating creation of stitch data for the pattern of FIG. 7. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the case where the needle drop position is set for the pattern shown in FIG. 7 based on the needle drop position setting routine described above. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the stitches formed in the pattern of FIG. 7. FIGS. 12 and 13 are diagrams each showing another pattern in which the needle drop position is set by the needle drop position setting routine described above. FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 are diagrams showing another aspect of needle drop position setting. FIGS. 16 and 17 are diagrams showing still another aspect of setting the needle drop position. FIGS. 18 and 19 are diagrams showing still another aspect of setting the needle drop position. 70: Control device 86: Pattern 114: Pattern data area 116:
Internal ring needle line data area 118: Stitch data area 120: Needle drop position data area 130: Diamond pattern 134: Pattern 136.13
8: Diamond pattern 140: Pattern 142.144: Straight line 146.1
48,150,152,160°162.164: Pattern

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Overlapping pattern data storage means for storing a plurality of pattern data that overlap at least in part and define the contours of a plurality of patterns to be filled with sewing machine stitches; and based on the plurality of pattern data. , two needle drop positions are set on an outer contour consisting of a set of outermost portions of the contours of the plurality of patterns, and a seam line connecting these two needle drop positions and each of the contours are set. 1. An embroidery data creation device comprising needle drop position data creation means for setting a needle drop position at each intersection with a portion located within the outer contour of the embroidery data.