Embroidery data creating device

Details Embroidery data creating device Embroidery data creating device

1998-03-17

2001-03-13

Sheikh, Ayaz R. (Department: 2781)

Data processing: generic control systems or specific application

Specific application, apparatus or process

Product assembly or manufacturing

C700S138000, C700S136000, C700S137000, C112S102500, C112S155000, 36

Reexamination Certificate

active

06202001

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an embroidery data creating device for creating embroidery data to be used in embroidery sewing machines.
Conventionally, embroidery sewing machines are desired to embroider various stitch patterns, and various embroidery data creating devices therefor have been developed. Such embroidery data creating devices may create data representative of an embroidery whose stitching pattern changes in a direction where an embroidering operation proceeds.
When the embroidery data creating devices as described above create the embroidery data, for example, an area to be embroidered is divided into a plurality of embroidery blocks. The embroidery block is, for example, defined by two borders (main borders) extending in a direction in which embroidering operation proceeds and two borders (auxiliary borders) perpendicular to the main borders.
In order to assign stitches to the embroidery blocks, each of the main borders of the embroidery block is divided evenly, and by connecting divided points of both the main borders alternately.
In such an embroidery data creating device, for example, if a satin stitch and a Tatami stitch are assigned alternately, the stitch pattern changes along a direction where the embroidering operation proceeds as shown in FIG.
1
. If the main borders are divided not evenly but a density of divided points are varied, the stitch pattern changes, in the direction where the embroidering operation proceeds, as shown in FIG.
2
.
In the conventional embroidery data creating devices, when the embroidery data representing the stitch patterns as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2
are to be created, an operator must divide the area into blocks, and further assign the stitch patterns (e.g., the satin stitch, Tatami stitch, and the like) to every block. Thus, in the conventional embroidery data creating device, it is troublesome to create the embroidery data if the embroidery consists of a repetitive patterns in the direction where the embroidering operation proceeds.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved embroidery date creating device with which the embroidery data representing repetitive patterns can be created easily.
For the object, according to the invention, there is provided an embroidery data creating device for creating embroidery stitch data representative of cyclically repeated embroidery patterns to be formed on an embroidery area, which comprises a first memory, which stores data related to the embroidery area, the embroidery area including at least one embroidery block; a second memory, which stores reference pattern data indicative of a unit pattern of the cyclically repeated embroidery patterns; and a data generating device, which creates the embroidery stitch data for the embroidery area stored in the first memory in accordance with the reference pattern stored in the second memory.
In particular, the data generating device generates the embroidery stitch data by arranging the reference pattern data repeatedly within the embroidery area.
With this constitution, the embroidery stitch data representing the cyclically repeated patterns can be created by repeatedly arranging the reference pattern. Accordingly, data creating operation can be made easier, and less troublesome.
Optionally, the at least one embroidery block comprises a block defined by a pair of line segments extending in a direction where an embroidery operation is to proceed, and another pair of line segments connecting the ends of the pair of line segments extending in a direction where an embroidery operation is to proceed, and wherein the pair of line segments extending in a direction where an embroidery operation is to proceed are straight line segments.
Optionally or alternatively, the pair of line segments may have curved portions.
Further optionally or alternatively, the embroidery area is an annular shaped area.
It is preferable that the reference pattern data may represent a pattern including a plurality of different stitching methods.
In this case, the plurality of different stitching methods may include a Tatami stitch and/or a satin stitch.
Further optionally, the reference pattern data may represent a pattern within which a density of thread segments is varied and/or a pattern including a plurality of kinds of Tatami stitches.
In particular, the plurality of kinds of Tatami stitches may include Tatami stitches having different stitching pitches.
Alternatively, the plurality of kinds of Tatami stitches may include Tatami stitches having different stitch point shifting ratios.
Optionally or alternatively, the at least one embroidery block may comprise a first embroidery block and a second embroidery block, and the data generating device may arrange a plurality of the reference patterns one by one in the first and second embroidery blocks. In this case, if only a portion of the reference pattern is used as a lastly arranged reference pattern in the first embroidery block, the remainder of the reference pattern is used as a firstly arranged reference pattern in the second embroidery block.
Still optionally, the embroidery data creating device may be provided with a removable memory device for storing the embroidery stitch data generated by the data generating device.
Further optionally, the removable memory device can be coupled to an embroidery sewing machine, and the embroidery stitch data stored in the removable memory device can be supplied to the embroidery sewing machine when it is coupled thereto. In this case, the embroidery sewing machine may embroider in accordance with the embroidery stitch data stored in the removable memory device.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided an embroidery data creating device for creating embroidery stitch data for an embroidery area consisting of at least one embroidery block, which may include means for dividing each of the at least one embroidery block into at least one sub-block having a predetermined width in a direction where the at least one embroidery block is divided; and means for developing each of the at least one sub-block into embroidery stitch data with reference to reference pattern data indicative of an embroidery pattern including a plurality of portions having different characteristics.
According to further aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer accessible memory medium for an embroidery data creating device for creating embroidery stitch data representative of cyclically repeated embroidery patterns to be formed on an embroidery area, the memory medium containing a program to be executed by the embroidery data creating device. The program includes steps of storing data related to the embroidery area, the embroidery area including at least one embroidery block; storing reference pattern data indicative of a unit pattern of the cyclically repeated embroidery patterns; and generating the embroidery stitch data for the embroidery area in accordance with the reference pattern data.
Optionally, the embroidery stitch data may be generated by arranging the reference pattern data repeatedly within the embroidery area.
Further optionally, the at least one embroidery block may include a block defined by a first pair of line segments extending in a direction where an embroidery operation is to proceed, and a second pair of line segments connecting the ends of the first pair of line segments. In this case, the first pair of line segments may be straight line segments. Alternatively or optionally, the first pair of line segments may have curved portions.


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patent: 5957068 (1999-09-01), Mizuno
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