Abstract: A sewing machine capable of embroidering includes a sewing mechanism having a sewing needle, a frame moving mechanism that moves an embroidery frame based on embroidery data composed of a plurality of embroidery pattern sections, a thread trimming mechanism that executes a thread trim operation based on a thread trim instruction, a thread wiping mechanism that executes a thread wiping operation after the execution of the thread trim operation by the thread trimming mechanism, and a controlling unit that moves the embroidery frame by the frame moving mechanism to a sewing start position of the next embroidery pattern section based on the embroidery data after the thread trim operation by the thread trimming mechanism and before the execution of the thread wiping operation by the thread wiping mechanism.

Abstract: A sewing machine capable of embroidering includes a sewing mechanism having a sewing needle, a frame moving mechanism that moves an embroidery frame based on embroidery data composed of a plurality of embroidery pattern sections, a thread trimming mechanism that executes a thread trim operation based on a thread trim instruction, a thread wiping mechanism that executes a thread wiping operation after the execution of the thread trim operation by the thread trimming mechanism, and a controlling unit that moves the embroidery frame by the frame moving mechanism to a sewing start position of the next embroidery pattern section based on the embroidery data after the thread trim operation by the thread trimming mechanism and before the execution of the thread wiping operation by the thread wiping mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing embroidery data to control a sewing machine to form an embroidery on a work sheet, the apparatus including an image reader which reads, from an original having an original image including one or more outline-bounded regions each having one or more outlines and an inside area bounded by the outline(s), the original image so as to produce image data defining one or both of the outline(s) and the inside area of the outline-bounded region; a first device which produces, based on the image data, outline sewing data to form stitches along the outline of the outline-bounded region; and a second device which produces, based on the image data, area sewing data to form stitches filling the inside area of the outline-bounded region, the embroidery data including the outline sewing data and the area sewing data.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for producing embroidery data to control a sewing machine to form, on a work sheet, an embroidery by sequentially filling with stitches a plurality of closed areas separate from each other. The apparatus includes a memory which stores a plurality of sets of closed-area data each of which represents a corresponding one of the closed areas; and a producing device for producing, based on the sets of closed-area data, the embroidery data to control the sewing machine to embroider each of the closed areas by starting and ending at at least one of (a) a substantially same position and (b) respective positions adjacent to each other. The process includes the step of producing the embroidery data to control the sewing machine to embroider each of the closed areas by starting and ending at at least one of (a) a substantially same position and (b) respective positions adjacent to each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing embroidery data to control a sewing machine to form an embroidery on a work sheet, the apparatus including a determining device for determining, based on outline data representing an outline of an embroidery region, an area of the embroidery region bounded by the outline thereof and a length of the outline of the embroidery region, and determining a degree of roundness of the embroidery region based on the determined area and length, and a selecting device for selecting, based on the determined degree of roundness of the embroidery region, one of a plurality of different stitching manners in which the embroidery is to be formed in the embroidery region by the sewing machine according to the embroidery data.

Abstract: A stitch data producing system scans an original pattern by an image scanner to acquire image data and segments the original pattern into a plurality of embroidering regions and determines distances from the periphery of a set of pixels included in each embroidering region to each of the pixels, i.e., the depths of the pixels by a CPU. The stitch data producing system produces stitch data suitable for embroidering a comparatively large, substantially circular embroidering region when the sum of the distances is large and produces stitch data suitable for embroidering an elongate embroidering region when the sum of the distances is small. Thus, the stitch data producing system automatically produces stitch data for carrying out a stitching method, such as a satin stitching method, a fill stitching method, a running stitching method or such, suitable for embroidering each embroidering region.

Abstract: In a method for producing image data, an original image is defined by at least one outline-bounded region having at least one outline and an inside area bounded by the outline. The method includes the steps of reading, from an original having an initial original image including the outline of one or more outline-bounded regions, the initial original image by an image reader, so as to produce initial image data defining one or both of the outline of the region and the inside area of the region. Subsequently, the step of initially processing the initial original image of the original is performed by forming one or more readable images in the inside area of one or more current regions out of the one or more outline-bounded regions. A next step includes reading, by the image reader, the initially processed original image so as to produce initially processed image data defining the initially processed original image.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing embroidery data to control a sewing machine to form an embroidery on a work sheet, the apparatus including a dividing device for dividing, based on image data representing an original image including outline-bounded regions each bounded by one or more outlines thereof, the original image into the outline-bounded regions, and producing sets of outline data each set of which represents one or more outlines of a corresponding one of the regions; a display device for displaying, on a screen, a first and a second image based on first and second image data, respectively, the first image data including each set of outline data, so that the first image includes one or more outlines of a corresponding one outline-bounded region, the second image including a parameter table containing parameter items relating to the control of the sewing machine to form on the work sheet the embroidery corresponding to the original image; and a parameter specifying device which is operable by a user for spec

Abstract: An apparatus for producing embroidery data to control a sewing machine to form an embroidery on a work sheet, including a dividing device for dividing, based on image data representing a color image, the color image into a plurality of color areas each of which has a corresponding one of a plurality of different colors, and producing a plurality of sets of color-area data each of which represents a corresponding one of the color areas, a color-area specifying device which is operable by an operator for specifying one of the color areas as an embroidery-free area, and a producing device for producing, based on the sets of color-area data, the embroidery data to control the sewing machine to embroider the color areas except for the embroidery-free area.

Abstract: In a sewing machine, a visual display provides the operator not only a representation of how a stitch pattern will appear but also provides dimension data in both the fabric feed direction and in a cross-feed, transverse, direction. The dimensions are determined by using width data for the widest element of the pattern, or the portion of the width of the elements extending above and below a reference line and adding the greatest uppermost and greatest lowermost extensions, and a sum of the length data for each element of the pattern.

Abstract: In order to correct the asynchronous state of a feed pulse motor of a sewing machine used to reciprocate a feed for feeding a fabric to a sewing needle, a feed control apparatus is provided which switches the pulse motor to a predetermined excited state when the feed dog abuts a stopper on the downstream side of feed motion at the start up of sewing operation so as to locate the feed dog at a known reference position. Additionally, the feed control apparatus switches the pulse motor to another predetermined excited state when the feed dog abuts a stopper on the upstream side of the feed motion so as to locate the feed dog at a known position during consecutive sewing operation.