JP3874817B2 - Sewing machine capable of embroidery sewing based on stored pattern information - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a sewing machine capable of embroidery sewing based on stored pattern information.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A sewing machine provided with an embroidery sewing mechanism is configured to perform embroidery sewing based on pattern information (pattern data) stored in a normal memory. The memory storing the pattern data may be built in the sewing machine main body, or may be stored in an external storage medium such as a ROM card, and the external storage medium may be appropriately connected to the sewing machine main body for use. It is also common to use a combination of these.
When an external storage medium such as a ROM card is used, the user has the advantage that a user can purchase an arbitrary ROM card to obtain pattern data. Therefore, the basic pattern is stored in advance in the built-in memory. In addition, when other patterns are required, the user generally purchases a ROM card or the like separately.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the supply of pattern data using an external storage medium such as a ROM card requires an external storage medium for each pattern or for each of a plurality of predetermined patterns. In addition to the fact that it is difficult to determine whether a pattern has been input, there are disadvantages in that the external storage medium has to be inserted and removed when selecting a pattern or actually performing embroidery sewing.
An object of the present invention is to provide a sewing machine capable of embroidery sewing that can supply pattern data desired by a user without supplying an external storage medium each time.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is pre-stored with pattern information including information for forming a predetermined pattern and information for displaying the pattern, and stored in the pre-store means and validated. Display means for distinguishing and displaying a pattern that is not activated and a pattern that is not validated, and information for forming a pattern that is pre-stored and not validated is selected and validated. Means for obtaining, supplying, and validating information to form a predetermined pattern in order to obtain and supply the information to form a predetermined pattern in order to perform a combination with the existing pattern. And a sewing machine capable of embroidery sewing based on stored pattern information.
The storing means stores in advance pattern information corresponding to a plurality of patterns, and designates one or more pattern information to be validated by the means for giving the instruction, and embroidery sewing based on the stored pattern information. Further, the present invention solves the problem by using a sewing machine that can perform a plurality of pieces of pattern information including information for forming a predetermined pattern and information for displaying the pattern. In order to combine a group pre-stored means and information for forming a non-validated pattern stored in the pre-stored unit with a pattern selection or a valid pattern Means for obtaining and supplying, and means for validating information for forming a predetermined pattern in the means for validating and specifying a group to be validated And having The problem was solved by making the sewing machine capable of embroidery sewing based on the stored pattern information.
And display means for displaying a pattern based on the information for displaying the pattern;
Means for combining the information for displaying the pattern and displaying the combined pattern on the display means; and means for causing the embroidery sewing mechanism of the sewing machine body to execute the embroidery stitch of the combined pattern combined by the means. That solved the problem.
[0005]
【Example】
An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration.
In FIG. 1, a pattern data storage means 1 is connected to the sewing machine body in a built-in or removable manner, and all the pattern data to be supplied is stored therein. The pattern data is data representing a pattern such as a character, a symbol, or a figure, and this pattern data is composed of stitch formation data and display data for displaying the pattern on the display means 4.
In this embodiment, the pattern data is classified into pattern groups 1 to N, and a group identification code is assigned to each group. As this pattern group, for example, classification methods such as a character group, a flower pattern group, and an animal pattern group are common, but any other classification may be used. Further, pattern data may be simply stored in parallel without being classified into groups.
Each pattern data a to z is composed of stitch formation data and display data as described above, and a pattern identification code is attached to each pattern. The stitch formation data is data for driving the embroidery stitchable stitch forming mechanism 8 provided in the main body of the sewing machine. In this embodiment, the stitch formation data is constituted by a data group representing the coordinates of the stitches. As the stitch formation data, so-called vertex data that defines the vertices of the pattern can also be employed.
As the pattern data storage means 1, any storage means such as a semiconductor memory such as a ROM or RAM, an optical memory such as a CDROM, or a magnetic memory such as a floppy disk can be used. It is necessary to use a type that does not volatilize. The pattern data storage means 1 may be incorporated in the main body of the sewing machine, may be connected by a cable or the like as a separate body, and may be removable from the main body.
Further, it is desirable to use a writable storage device so that the pattern data stored at the time of sewing machine shipment can be further added, or to add a storage device storing new pattern data. When a CDROM or floppy disk is used, it is possible to easily add pattern data by supplying a new CDROM or floppy disk storing new pattern data.
[0006]
The pattern data stored in the pattern data storage unit 1 is not valid as it is, but is configured to be validated by the validation operation of the pattern data validation unit 3. The pattern data validation unit 3 is configured to validate predetermined pattern data in response to a group identification code instruction or a pattern identification code instruction from the validation instruction unit 2. In this embodiment, a group identification code is inputted from the validation instruction means 2, and the pattern data is validated by the pattern data validation means 3 on a group basis.
As the data validation method in the pattern data validation means 3, various configurations can be adopted. For example, a group or pattern identification code to be validated is stored, and the pattern data is extracted. At this time, the stored identification code may be collated and read. In the case where the pattern data storage means 1 is a writable memory, a check bit may be provided so that the validated data can be distinguished from other non-validated data. It is also possible to configure such that only the validated data is moved to another memory. It is also possible to adopt a method in which the pattern data validation means 3 is provided with a decoding function so that the pattern data to be validated is decoded and converted into pattern data usable by the display control means 5 or the sewing execution control means 6. It is. Furthermore, a method of automatically deleting pattern data that is not valid for a certain period can be employed.
In addition, as a method for designating and validating the pattern data in the validation instruction means 2, for example, a method of inputting an identification code from a keyboard or connecting and inputting a device for inputting the identification code can be adopted. is there. It is also possible to prepare an identification code providing medium such as a magnetic card for giving an identification code and make the activation instruction means 2 read it.
If the display data can be displayed on the display means 4 even if it is not validated, the user can visually recognize all the patterns stored in the storage means 1. In this case, it is desirable to distinguish the activated pattern and the unactivated pattern on the display according to color components or the like.
[0007]
The pattern data stored in the pattern data storage means 1 is selected by the pattern selection means 7 and supplied to the display control means 5 and the sewing execution control means 6. At that time, selection of data not validated by the pattern data validation means 3 is not accepted, and only the pattern data validated by the pattern data validation means 3 is supplied to the display control means 5 and the sewing execution control means 6. It has come to be.
The stitch execution control means 6 controls the stitch formation mechanism 8 based on the stitch formation data in the pattern data to form an embroidery stitch that forms the pattern.
Further, the display control means 5 displays the pattern selected based on the display data on the display means 4. The display means 4 is constituted by a liquid crystal display or a CRT.
[0008]
The display control means 5 controls the display means 4 to perform display based on the display data as described above, and by selecting a plurality of patterns by the pattern selection means 7, the patterns can be combined on the display. The operator can execute pattern selection and pattern combination while viewing the pattern displayed on the display means 4.
The display control means 5, the sewing execution control means 6, and the stitch formation mechanism 8 described above may be of a conventionally known configuration. For example, the display control means 5 may be configured to simply combine patterns, or may be configured to be able to adjust pattern spacing, positional relationship, size, and the like. Further, the sewing execution control means 6 may execute the sewing based on the stitch formation data expressed by the coordinate data of each stitch, or execute the sewing based on the so-called vertex data defining only the vertices of the pattern. The thing of the structure to be made may be sufficient.
[0009]
A user obtains a magnetic card or the like storing an identification code or an identification code by purchasing a required pattern or pattern group from a supplier, and inputs the identification code from the validation instruction means 2 to obtain a desired pattern or The pattern group can be validated by the pattern data validation means 3.
Once it is validated, the pattern data can be used freely.
[0010]
The stitch execution control means 6 inputs the stitch formation data of the pattern or pattern combination displayed on the display means 4 from the pattern data storage means 1 and controls the stitch formation mechanism 8 to select the selected pattern or combination. The embroidery sewing of the pattern is executed.
[0011]
An embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to an example of a specific circuit configuration in FIG.
The central processing unit 10 is mainly composed of a microcomputer, and fulfills the functions of the pattern data validation means 3, the display control means 5 and the sewing execution control means 6 along with the basic control of the sewing machine main body. ing.
[0012]
A pattern data validation key 23 is connected to the central processing unit 10. When the operator operates the pattern data validation key 23, the central processing unit 10 executes the pattern data validation mode. It has become.
In this embodiment, an effective identification code storage device 12 is provided, in which all the pattern data is stored. The pattern data is classified into pattern groups in the same manner as the structure of the pattern data storage means 1 of FIG. 1, and a plurality of pattern data is stored in each group. Each pattern data includes display data and stitch formation data. Each group and each pattern are given a group identification code and a pattern identification code, respectively, so that they can be specified in units of groups and patterns.
The central processing unit 10 is configured to store the identification code in the valid identification code storage device 12 when a group identification code is input from the pattern data validation key 23. Then, when a pattern is selected by the pattern selection key 20, it is determined whether or not the pattern belongs to an activation group corresponding to the group identification code stored in the effective identification code storage device 12, and does not belong to the activation group. In the case of a pattern, selection of the pattern is prohibited.
[0013]
As the pattern selection configuration, various configurations such as input of a pattern identification code, input of an address of a memory storing the pattern, or display of a large number of reduced patterns on the display device 13 and selection of a pattern on the touch panel are possible. It is possible to adopt.
In this embodiment, a pattern that has been validated and a pattern that has not been validated are color-coded and displayed on the display device 13 based on display data in the pattern data stored in the pattern data storage device 11. A pattern can be selected by inputting a pattern number or operating a touch panel while viewing the pattern display.
[0014]
The central processing unit 10 is provided with a combination designation key 21 so that patterns stored in the pattern data storage device 11 can be arbitrarily combined. The central processing unit 10 synthesizes display data based on the activated display data from the pattern data storage device 11 when a combination instruction is issued by the combination designation key 21, and displays it on the display device 13. It is configured.
[0015]
The display switching key 22 switches the display mode of the display device 13, and is a key for switching, for example, a pattern selection or pattern combination mode as described above and a mode for performing normal sewing.
[0016]
The central processing unit 10 controls the X-direction motor 31 and the Y-direction motor 32 via the motor drive circuit 30 and moves the embroidery frame 33 shown in FIG. 3 in the XY directions to execute embroidery sewing. Yes. Similarly, the needle 34 and a feed mechanism (not shown) are controlled to execute sewing. This sewing control is performed based on the start / stop command key 24.
The central processing unit 10 reads the stitch formation data of the pattern selected by the pattern selection key 20 or the combination selected by the operation of the combination designation key 21 from the pattern data storage device 11 as described above, and uses it as the stitch formation data. Based on this, the motor drive circuit 30 is controlled to execute embroidery sewing of the pattern. The stitch formation data from the pattern data storage device 11 may be temporarily stored in the temporary storage device 14 or may be used directly without being temporarily stored.
[0017]
FIG. 3 is an external view of the sewing machine main body A. The display device 13, the pattern selection key 20, the combination designation key 21, the display switching key 22, the pattern data enabling key 23, the start / stop command key 24, etc. are the arm of the machine frame. It is arranged on the top.
[0018]
The operation of pattern data validation will be described with reference to FIG.
When the pattern data validation key 23 is operated (step S1), the central processing unit 10 outputs an validation command and stores the input group identification code or pattern identification code in the valid identification code storage device 12 ( Step S2).
If the next group or pattern is to be validated, the process returns to step S1, and if the next registration is not to be performed, the pattern data validation key 23 is operated again to end the validation mode (step S3). .
[0019]
As described above, an identification code of a desired pattern or pattern group (or a magnetic card or the like storing the identification code) is acquired by purchase or the like, and the identification code is input from the pattern data validation key 23 and validated. Thereafter, the data of the pattern or pattern group can be freely used, and pattern selection and combination of patterns can be performed.
The pattern selection and combination operation will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the operation of a configuration for selecting a pattern by inputting a pattern identification code will be described.
When the pattern selection key 20 is operated (step S10), the valid identification code storage device 12 is checked to determine whether or not the selected pattern is an activated pattern. Ignoring and returning to the pattern selection key 20 operation waiting state in step S10 (step S11). If the pattern is validated, the selected pattern is displayed on the display device 13 (step S12), and the identification code (or stored head address, etc.) of the pattern is stored (step S13). . When the operator operates the combination designation key 21, the process returns to step S10 to select the next pattern, and the pattern identification code is stored in the same manner (step S14). If the combination designation key 21 is not operated for a predetermined time, the pattern selection mode is terminated.
A configuration in which all of the first activated patterns are displayed on the display device 13 and selected by a keyboard or a touch panel is also possible.
[0020]
As described above, according to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, pattern data is stored in the pattern data storage device 11 in advance, and a user obtains an identification code of a desired pattern or pattern group as necessary. By inputting a pattern or pattern group identification code from the data validation key 23, the pattern or pattern group can be validated, and the activated pattern can be used freely thereafter. Therefore, it is possible to provide pattern data according to the user's wish without supplying a ROM card or the like for each pattern or pattern group. If the pattern data enabling key 23 is writable or can be added, the pattern data can be added.
In addition, while maintaining the main body of the sewing machine with the same hardware configuration, it is possible to classify and price the sewing machine according to the number and type of patterns stored in advance, and to easily prepare a model lineup that meets various needs. There are advantages.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the sewing machine capable of embroidery sewing based on the stored pattern information according to the present invention stores in advance information for forming a predetermined pattern and information for displaying the pattern, Since it has a means for validating the information stored in the means for pre-stored and a means for giving an instruction for validating the information to the means for validating, it simply gives the validation instruction Thus, the pattern information can be supplied to the user.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention in more detail.
FIG. 3 is an external view showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a pattern data validation operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing pattern selection and combination operations according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: pattern data storage means, 2: validation instruction means, 3: pattern data validation means, 4: display means, 5: display control means, 6: sewing execution control means, 7: pattern selection means, 8: stitch formation Mechanism: 10: Central processing unit, 11: Pattern data storage device, 12: Effective identification code storage device, 13: Display device, 14: Temporary storage device, 20: Pattern selection key, 21: Combination designation key, 22: Display Switch key, 23: Pattern data validation key, 24: Start / stop command key, 30: Motor drive circuit, 31: X direction motor, 32: Y direction motor, 33: Embroidery frame, 34: Needle.

Claims (4)

Means for preliminarily storing pattern information including information for forming a predetermined pattern and information for displaying the pattern;
Display means for distinguishing and displaying a pattern that is stored and activated and stored in the pre-stored means;
The information for forming the pattern that is stored in the means for storing in advance and is not activated is acquired and supplied in order to perform combination with the pattern selection or the activated pattern. Means for
Means for giving an instruction to validate information for forming a predetermined pattern to the means for validating;
A sewing machine capable of embroidery stitching based on stored pattern information. The storing means stores in advance pattern information corresponding to a plurality of patterns,
Specify one or more pattern information to be validated by means for giving the instructions,
A sewing machine capable of embroidery sewing based on the stored pattern information according to claim 1. Means for previously storing a plurality of pieces of pattern information including information for forming a predetermined pattern and information for displaying the pattern in a group unit;
Information for forming a pattern that is stored in the means for storing in advance and is not validated is acquired and supplied in units of groups in order to perform combination with a pattern selection or a valid pattern; Means for activation,
A means for giving an instruction for validating information for forming a predetermined pattern and a designation of a group to be validated to the means for validating;
A sewing machine capable of embroidery stitching based on stored pattern information. Display means for displaying a pattern based on information for displaying the pattern;
Means for combining the information for displaying the pattern and displaying the combined pattern on the display means;
Means for causing the embroidery stitching mechanism of the sewing machine body to execute the embroidery stitch of the combination pattern combined by the means;
A sewing machine capable of embroidery sewing based on the stored pattern information according to any one of claims 1, 2, and 3 .

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