Electronic Pattern Controlled Or Programmed Patents (Class 112/102.5)
  • Publication number: 20120143717
    Abstract: Embroidery design transactional systems and methods are provided. In one embodiment, a method for conducting embroidery design transactions includes receiving an embroidery design inputted by a user of a communication device to form a user-customized embroidery design. The user is associated with a user account. The method includes saving the user-customized embroidery design on the communication device in response to receiving a save request from the user to save the user-customized embroidery design on the communication device. The method also includes initiating a monetary charge to the user account in response to saving the user-customized embroidery design on the communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Action Tapes, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Allen Gardner
  • Patent number: 8191491
    Abstract: A sewing machine that is capable of sewing an embroidery pattern on a work cloth held by an embroidery frame includes a display device that is capable of displaying at least one of an image and embroidery information, a detection device that detects an occurrence of a thread break, an image capture device that is capable of capturing an image of at least an area including a needle drop point, a display control device that displays an image captured by the image capture device and an operation key on the display device in a case where the detection device has detected the occurrence of the thread break, the operation key being to be used to transfer the embroidery frame by at least one stitch, and a sewing control device that causes the embroidery frame to be transferred based on a number of stitches specified by operation of the operation key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirokazu Hirose
  • Patent number: 8191492
    Abstract: A sewing machine that sews a work cloth being moved by a user includes a detection device that detects the work cloth, a movement calculation device that calculates movement data of the work cloth, a movement data storage device that stores the movement data, a movement data creation device that causes the detection device and the movement calculation device to respectively detect the work cloth and calculate the movement data for each stitch, and that stores the movement data into the movement data storage device, a line segment specification device that specifies a line segment based on the movement data, a determination device that determines whether a stitch to be formed next will overlap with an already formed stitch corresponding to the specified line segment, and an error control device that performs an error correction operation based on a determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirokazu Hirose, Yoshinori Nakamura, Akie Ukai, Masaki Shimizu, Yoshio Nishimura, Kazumi Sai, Satoru Makino
  • Patent number: 8186289
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes an embroidery frame moving device that moves an embroidery frame holding a work cloth, an image pickup device that picks up images of an upper surface of a bed portion of the sewing machine, a position information storage device that stores position information indicating predetermined positions to which the embroidery frame is to be moved, a partial image acquisition device that causes the embroidery frame moving device to move the embroidery frame to the respective predetermined positions indicated by the position information, causes the image pickup device to pick up images at the respective predetermined positions, and acquires the images picked up by the image pickup device as partial images, and a composite image generation device that generates a composite image by combining the partial images acquired by the partial image acquisition device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Tokura
  • Publication number: 20120116569
    Abstract: An embroidery data creation apparatus includes a first dividing portion that divides an entire area of an image into a first area and a second area based on one of frequency components and angle characteristics, a first data creation portion including a number of partitions setting portion, a second dividing portion that divides the first area into color areas, a representative angle computing portion that computes representative angles for the color areas, a first line segment arranging portion that arranges first line segments in each of the color areas, a first line segment color setting portion that sets first line segment colors, and a first line segment connecting portion that creates first data by connecting the first line segments, a second data creation portion that creates second data, and an embroidery data creation portion that creates embroidery data by combining the first data and the second data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenji YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20120111249
    Abstract: An embroidery data creation apparatus includes an outline data acquisition portion, a thread density data acquisition portion, a needle drop point setting portion that sets a plurality of first needle drop points, a plurality of second needle drop points, and a sewing order to alternately connect the plurality of first needle drop points and the plurality of second needle drop points using the stitches, a needle drop point change portion that, in a case where one of a value of a length ratio and a length difference is equal to or more than a specified threshold value, changes positions of some of the plurality of second needle drop points, respectively, to positions each of which will be covered by a stitch formed by connecting a first stitch end point and a second stitch end point, and an embroidery data creation portion that creates embroidery data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kiyokazu SEKINE
  • Patent number: 8146521
    Abstract: A sewing machine that enables a user to perform sewing while moving a piece of work cloth, the sewing machine including: a main shaft that drives a needle bar equipped with a sewing needle, a sewing machine motor that rotary-drives the main shaft, a detection device that detects an actual movement distance of the piece of work cloth, a target pitch storage device that stores a predetermined length as a target pitch, which is a target value of stitch pitches of the piece of work cloth, an agreement degree calculation device that calculates an agreement degree between the target pitch and a stitch pitch in actual sewing that is to be determined based on the actual movement distance of the piece of work cloth which is detected by the detection device; and a notification device that notifies of the agreement degree calculated by the agreement degree calculation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinori Nakamura, Hirokazu Hirose, Yoshio Nishimura, Akie Ukai, Satoru Makino, Masaki Shimizu, Kazumi Sai
  • Publication number: 20120048162
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes an image capture portion that captures an image of a sewing object that is held by an embroidery frame, a data acquisition portion that acquires embroidery data for sewing an embroidery pattern, an area setting portion that sets a sewing area that is an area within which the embroidery pattern can be sewn on the sewing object, a setting acquisition portion that acquires, as a reference setting, a setting of at least one of a position and an angle of the embroidery pattern in relation to a marker that is disposed on the sewing object, and an area specification portion that specifies an image capture object area for the image capture portion, based on conditions that include the sewing area, the embroidery data, and the reference setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masashi TOKURA
  • Publication number: 20120042816
    Abstract: A sewing machine comprises a transport portion that moves an embroidery frame, a contact detection portion that detects contact with the embroidery frame, a first position identification portion that identifies a first position, a second position identification portion that identifies a second position, a direction determination portion that determines a direction of a diagonal line of a virtual rectangle, a third position identification portion that identifies a third position, and an area setting portion that sets a sewable area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi HIRATA
  • Patent number: 8100071
    Abstract: A method and device applicable to a sewing machine which has a needle and a gripper with a horizontally positioned lower bobbin for executing a seam with stitches in a sewing material being sewn, for compensating a deficiency in a longitudinal shift of the needle during a stitch being caused by an arcuate movement of the needle when it shifts sideways in a stitch, wherein the method includes the material being advanced by a feeder a length yn in the longitudinal direction of the seam on the basis of the seam setting, and wherein the sewing machine has a control including an algorithm causing the feed motor to set the feeder, so that at each stitch which includes sideways shifts of the needle it advances the sewing material a correction length en in the longitudinal direction of the seam, thereby compensating a corresponding deficiency in the needle's longitudinal shift relative to the material during the stitch being caused by the needle's arcuate sideways movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: KSIN Luxembourg III, S. ar.l
    Inventors: Rolf Janeke, Fredrik Berglund, Lars Roos
  • Patent number: 8096248
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an embroidery data processing apparatus that processes embroidery data for sewing an embroidery to a work cloth and to make a cut by a boring knife. The embroidery data processing apparatus an embroidery data acquisition device that acquires the embroidery data, pieces of the embroidery data including at least thread color data specifying a color of an embroidery thread and needle drop point data specifying a sewing position where sewing is performed with the embroidery thread specified by the thread color data; a specification device that specifies, as data of a specified color, a predetermined thread color data piece of the thread color data in the acquired embroidery data, which is the embroidery data acquired; and a boring data setting device that sets a needle drop point data piece of the needle drop point data, corresponding to the specified color data specified as boring data that specifies a position for the cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Motoshi Kishi
  • Patent number: 8061286
    Abstract: A sewing machine that is capable of sewing an embroidery pattern on a work cloth includes a storage device that stores embroidery data to identify a shape of the embroidery pattern and reference line data to identify a pattern position and a pattern angle. The sewing machine also includes an imaging device that captures an image of the work cloth onto which a marker is affixed, and a detection device that detects a marker position and a marker angle based on information of the image captured by the imaging device. The sewing machine further includes a conversion device that converts the embroidery data based on the pattern position, the pattern angle, the marker position, and the marker angle. The sewing machine further includes a sewing control device that controls sewing of the embroidery pattern based on the embroidery data obtained after conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takashi Hirata, Masashi Tokura
  • Patent number: 8061284
    Abstract: The invention discloses an apparatus for easily stitching a stippling pattern, wherein the stippling pattern 20 is selected and the vertical and lateral lengths XY of an embroidering area 30 are designated. In response to the designation, a pattern number calculating device 4 is operated to calculate the number (integer) of the vertical and lateral lengths of the unit stippling pattern that may be arranged in the embroidering area 30 in alignment vertically and laterally, and then a magnification calculating device is operated to calculate the magnification of the unit stippling pattern respectively of the vertical and lateral lengths of the unit stippling pattern, the calculation being made on the basis of the calculated number of the vertical and lateral lengths of the unit stippling pattern and the size of the embroidering area 30 so that the size of whole pattern may be in accord with the size of the embroidering area 30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Janome Sewing Machine, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kongo, Hiromi Motoyama, Naoki Sugahara
  • Patent number: 8061285
    Abstract: The convex portions 25 are formed as arranged in contact or substantially in contact with the points A1˜A7 of first group respectively that are provided on the upper side limit line 76 and the concave portions 26 are formed as arranged with a predetermined space provided away from the points a1˜a7 of first group respectively that are provided on the lower side limit line 77. On the other hand, the concave portions 26 are formed as arranged with a predetermined space provided away from the points of second group respectively that are provided on the upper side limit line 76 and the convex portions 25 are formed as arranged in contact or substantially in contact with the points b1˜b4 of second group respectively that are provided on the lower side limit line 77.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Janome Sewing Machines Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Kongo, Hiromi Motoyama, Shinichi Kato
  • Patent number: 8051787
    Abstract: The microswitch 6 is turned on when the foldable Y arm 1 is in the operative position for embroidery stitching and is turned off when the Y arm 1 is not in the operative position, and the X-Y motor drive prohibition device 87 is responsive to the on-signal of the microswitch 6 to withdraw the prohibition of driving and to drive the X-and Y-drive motors 15, 46.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Janome Sewing Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuramoto Hidechika, Osanai Yasuhiro
  • Patent number: 8019459
    Abstract: A data processor that processes embroidery data for sewing an embroidery pattern on a workpiece cloth held by an embroidery frame attached to an embroiderable sewing machine, and printing data for printing an image pattern with a printer to be transferred onto the workpiece cloth through a thermal transfer sheet, the data processor including a printing data processor that includes reference-mark printing data for printing a reference mark with the printer on a back side of the thermal transfer sheet, the reference mark being used for positioning the workpiece cloth relative to the embroidery frame, and a print position specifier that specifies printing position of the image pattern relative to the reference mark, the image pattern being printed on a front side of the thermal transfer sheet; and an embroidery data processor that includes a sew position specifier that specifies sew position of the embroidery pattern relative to the reference mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Yamada
  • Publication number: 20110218665
    Abstract: An embroidery data generating apparatus that includes a pattern data acquisition device that acquires pattern data, an area identification device that identifies a base area in which a plurality of base stitches including a plurality of intersecting portions are to be formed, each of the intersecting portions being a portion at which two base stitches extending in different directions intersect, a first generating device that generates first sewing data to be used to sew the base stitches in the base area, a sewing data acquisition device that acquires second sewing data to be used to sew a pattern represented by the pattern data in an area including at least a part of the base area, and an embroidery data generating device that generates embroidery data including the first sewing data and the second sewing data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomotaka KATANO, Takashi HIRATA, Chiyo KOGA
  • Publication number: 20110203504
    Abstract: A multi-needle sewing machine includes a plurality of needle bars having lower ends to which needles are attached, respectively, a needle bar selecting unit selectively switching one of the needle bars to a needle location, a stitch number obtaining unit and an allotting unit. An embroidery pattern including a plurality of partial patterns is sewn by the use of needle threads of colors differing per partial pattern, while the needle bars are selectively switched. The stitch number obtaining unit obtains the number of stitches necessary for sewing the partial patterns for every partial pattern. The allotting unit allots the needle threads to the needle bars so that the needle bars are prevented from being one-sided in the number of stitches, based on the obtained number of stitches, in order that one of the needle bars to be used for the sewing of each partial pattern may be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiko NAGAI, Atsuya HAYAKAWA
  • Publication number: 20110202165
    Abstract: A sewing machine that includes a body, an embroidery frame moving mechanism, an image capture device, a specifying device, a determining device, a setting device, a positioning device, and an acquiring device. The image capture device is provided with a function to capture a plurality of images of the sewing object under a plurality of image capture conditions, respectively. The plurality of the image capture conditions correspond to different effective image capture ranges. The specifying device specifies, as a specific range, a range on the sewing object. The determining device determines a combination of a specific image capture condition and a positioning condition. The setting device sets the specific image capture condition as an actual image capture condition. The positioning device positions the embroidery frame in accordance with the positioning condition. The acquiring device acquires image data that corresponds to a specific effective image capture range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masashi TOKURA
  • Patent number: 7996103
    Abstract: An embroidery data generating apparatus for embroidering image data configured by multiplicity of pixels including a color difference calculator calculating a color difference between sewing thread color of the target segment and an underpass segment underlying the target segment; an angular difference sum calculator calculating an angular difference between the underpass segment and the target segment, the angular difference being measured at an intersecting pixel where the target segment and the underpass segment intersect; a third determiner determining whether or not to append the target segment to the sequence information based on the angular difference when the sum of the color difference is determined to be equal to or less than the first predetermined value; and a second segment appender that appends the target segment between the focus segment and the subsequent segment when determined by the third determiner to append the target segment to the sequence information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Yamada
  • Patent number: 7991500
    Abstract: A sewing order is determined in embroidering at least one embroidery element on a sewing material in a sewing machine, which has access to a memory for stitch data for the embroidery element and a processor for reading the stitch data and for maneuvering the sewing machine to execute stitches according to the stitch data. An embroidery element is composed of basic elements, through a formation of clusters of basic elements having the same characteristics. A level for each cluster is determined. The clusters are sorted with regards to their respective characteristics and sorting of the clusters into a sewing order based on characteristics and levels of the clusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: VSM Group AB
    Inventor: Lars Roos
  • Patent number: 7971543
    Abstract: A sewing machine includes a needle bar, a needle bar vertical movement mechanism, a sewing machine motor for driving the needle bar vertical movement mechanism as a drive source, an embroidery frame that holds a work cloth, and an embroidery frame movement mechanism that moves the embroidery frame. The sewing machine further includes a user-operated operation device with an operation member for outputting an output signal corresponding to an operation state of the operation member and a movement determination device that determines a movement direction and a movement distance of the embroidery frame based on the output signal outputted by the operation device. The sewing machine also includes an embroidery frame movement mechanism control device that drives the embroidery frame movement mechanism to move the embroidery frame according to the movement direction and the movement distance of the embroidery frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiko Nagai, Tsuneo Okuyama, Masashi Tokura
  • Publication number: 20110160894
    Abstract: An embroidery data generating apparatus includes a thread color acquisition device, a first line segment data generating device, an expanded data generating device, a second line segment data generating device, a color allocating device, a connecting line segment data generating device, and an embroidery data generating device. The thread color acquisition device acquires a plurality of available thread colors. The first line segment data generating device generates first line segment data. The expanded data generating device generates expanded data. The second line segment data generating device generates second line segment data. The color allocating device allocates an embroidery thread color to each piece of the second line segment data. The connecting line segment data generating device generates connecting line segment data. The embroidery data generating device generates embroidery data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenji YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20110146553
    Abstract: A sewing machine (1) has access to a memory (M) for stitch data and a processor (C) for reading said stitch data and for operating the sewing machine (1) to execute stitches according to stitch data, wherein the sewing machine (1) has a hoop (20) for framing a pattern of the sewing material (2), and for moving the framed pattern in a direction comprising a component of at least one of a first coordinate (x) and a second coordinate (y) and wherein further the processor (C) controls movements of the hoop (20) according to said direction in relation to the position of a needle (5) of the sewing machine and synchronously with the movement of the needle for executing stitches, wherein: —the stretched sewing material (2) is clamped to the hoop (20) for forming a framed pattern in the hoop, —the framed pattern of the sewing material (2) is scanned by means of a camera (10) mounted in the sewing machine (1) and directed towards the sewing material (2) for the purpose of taking pictures of part views of said framed pa
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Anders Wilhelmsson, Christian Bondesson, Anders Flygare, Björn Crona
  • Publication number: 20110120359
    Abstract: A controller is disclosed that is communicably connected to a plurality of sewing machines and that includes a display device displaying at least information pertaining to a sewing operation. The controller includes a display controller provided with a queue allocated to each of the plurality of sewing machines and displaying sew pattern data stored in each of the queues to the display device such that the sew pattern data is organized by the sewing machine associated therewith; a specifier specifying one or more sew pattern data from a source queue associated with one of the sewing machines displayed on the display device; a data modifier transferring or copying the One or more sew pattern data specified by the specifier to the destination queue associated with another sewing machine and a data transmitter transmitting the sew pattern data stored in the modified queues to the sewing machines associated therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kiyokazu SEKINE
  • Patent number: 7949421
    Abstract: A multi-needle type embroidery sewing machine and a computer-readable storage medium including a computer program for the multi-needle type embroidery sewing machine that may enable convenient selection and replacement of thread information. The multi-needle type embroidery sewing machine may include a plurality of needle bars, a needle bar thread information storage device, a needle bar selection device that enables the selection of a suite of needle bars selected from the plurality of needle bars, and a control device for changing needle bar thread information that corresponds to a needle bar in the selected suite of needle bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuya Hayakawa, Akira Kaiya
  • Publication number: 20110094424
    Abstract: An embroiderable sewing machine including an embroidery frame holding a workpiece cloth; an embroidery frame transfer mechanism horizontally transferring the embroidery frame; a display device capable displaying an image of an embroidery pattern to be sewn; a zoom rate specifier that specifies a zoom rate for enlarging/shrinking the embroidery pattern image; an input section that receives inputs of instructions for moving a location of the embroidery pattern within an embroiderable area defined by the embroidery frame, the instructions including a movement direction and a movement amount; a movement amount modifier modifying the movement amount inputted by the input section for the embroidery pattern image based on the zoom rate specified by the zoom rate specifier; and a display controller that transfers the embroidery pattern image based on the movement amount modified by the movement amount modifier in response to the input from the input section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masashi TOKURA
  • Publication number: 20110088604
    Abstract: A embroidery data processing device includes an area defining portion that defines a sewable area on the work cloth, a computation portion that computes a first characteristic quantity that specifies a size of the sewable area, a comparison portion that compares the first characteristic quantity to at least one characteristic quantity for at least one embroidery pattern that can be sewn based on the embroidery data, the at least one characteristic quantity being stored in a storage portion and specifying a size of the at least one embroidery pattern, an extraction portion that, in a case where a comparison indicates that at least one sewable pattern exists, extracts the at least one sewable pattern, the at least one sewable pattern being at least one embroidery pattern that fits within the sewable area, a notification portion that notifies a user about the at least one sewable pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotsugu TAKAHATA, Harumi KATO, Noriharu TASHIRO, Tsuneo OKUYAMA
  • Patent number: 7930057
    Abstract: When a user specifies, as an embroidery sewing condition, an embroidery pattern that can be sewn with thread spools set for needle bars, embroidery data on an embroidery pattern and needle bar thread information on a thread set for a needle bar are read and stored in a RAM. Embroidery thread information included in embroidery data is read out in a sequential order, and embroidery thread information and specified thread information are compared with each other. An embroidery pattern having embroidery data of which all of the embroidery thread information is coincident with the specified thread information is extracted as an embroidery pattern that satisfies the embroidery sewing condition. The extracted embroidery pattern is then displayed on a liquid crystal display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuya Hayakawa, Masayuki Hori
  • Patent number: 7908985
    Abstract: A sewing machine capable of sewing an embroidery pattern based on embroidery data including at least thread color data and needle drop point data. The sewing machine includes a reader that reads out thread information stored in an RFID tag embedded in each of a plurality of thread spools, a selection device that selects the embroidery pattern, a thread color-and-amount acquisition device that acquires a necessary thread color and a necessary thread amount from the embroidery data of a selected pattern. The sewing machine also includes a comparison device that compares a read out thread amount with the necessary thread amount, a determination device that determines whether sewing the selected pattern is possible based on a comparison result by the comparison device, and an indication device that indicates a determination result by the determination device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsuneo Okuyama
  • Publication number: 20110048299
    Abstract: A sewing machine that is included in a sewing system includes a transfer device, a sewing device, an image capture device, a condition acquisition device, a data acquisition device, a computation device, a correction device, and a sewing control device. The data acquisition device acquires pattern data based on a pattern condition acquired by the condition acquisition device. The computation device computes, as a positioning condition, at least one of a reference position and a reference angle of at least one marker in relation to the carriage based on image data generated by the image capture device. The correction device sets a position and an angle of the partial pattern in relation to the carriage and corrects the pattern data. The sewing control device performs sewing of the partial pattern by controlling the transfer device and the sewing device in accordance with the corrected pattern data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masashi TOKURA
  • Publication number: 20110048300
    Abstract: A sewing machine that is included in a sewing system includes a transfer device, a sewing device, an image capture device, a communication device, a data computation device, a first control device, a marker data acquisition device, a sewing condition acquisition device, a condition computation device, a correction device, and a sewing control device. The data computation device computes first marker data, and the first control device transmits the first marker data, through the communication device, to another sewing machine. The marker data acquisition device acquires, as second marker data, the first marker data. The sewing condition acquisition device acquires a sewing condition, and the pattern data acquisition device acquires pattern data. The condition computation device computes a correction condition. The correction device corrects the pattern data. The sewing control device performs the sewing in accordance with the corrected pattern data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masashi TOKURA
  • Patent number: 7854207
    Abstract: A printing and embroidering system having a positional data appending system that is adapted to append positional data indicating positions of a first image and a second image with respect to each other to first image data representing the first image to be formed by one of printing and embroidering and second image data representing the second image to be formed by the other one of printing and embroidering, a first image forming unit with a first fabric holding member, which is adapted to form the first image based on the first image data on a fabric being held by the first fabric holding member, and a second image forming unit with a second fabric holding member, which is adapted to form the second image based on the fabric being held by the second fabric holding member, wherein the first image forming unit is provided with a mark forming system, which is adapted to form a predetermined mark represented by the positional data on the fabric, and wherein the second image forming system is provided with a mis
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakazu Kuki, Motoshi Kishi, Hirokazu Nakashima
  • Publication number: 20100313803
    Abstract: A sewing system that forms an embroidery pattern on the workpiece cloth by co-operating a sewing mechanism and a transfer mechanism using a count of thread colors determined by a count of thread color data found to match thread color data by a verifier. By removing a storage device attached to one of the plurality of multi-needle sewing machines and attaching the removed storage device to other one or more multi-needle sewing machines, unsewn portions of the embroidery pattern at each of the other one or more multi-needle sewing machines are sewn by reading the progress information by a data reader, verifying whether or not the thread color data contained in the progress information read by the data reader matches thread spool color data of other one or more multi-needle sewing machines, and executing a sewing operation based on the verification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tsuneo Okuyama
  • Publication number: 20100294185
    Abstract: A stitcher is provided that includes a needle to stitch a workpiece, a motor to operate the needle, and a stitch regulator in communication with and capable of controlling a speed of the motor. A controller is in communication with the stitch regulator. The stitcher also includes at least one accelerometer in communication with the controller to determine an acceleration of the stitcher with respect to the workpiece. A signal representing the acceleration of the stitcher with respect to the workpiece is utilized to adjust the operation of the needle as necessary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Theodore J. Stokes, Matthew Paul Sherman, Kenneth Mark Eubanks, Paul Truman Statler, Joseph W. Bauman
  • Patent number: 7840304
    Abstract: An embroidery data processing apparatus and an embroidery data processing program that creates embroidery data usable by an embroidery sewing machine to sew an embroidery pattern that includes a plurality of partial patterns. The embroidery data processing apparatus and program store a maximum sewing region; set a plurality of unit embroidery regions; and modify a size of each of the plurality of unit regions based on the size of the maximum sewing region and a position and a size of each of the plurality of partial patterns contained within the plurality of unit embroidery regions. The embroidery data processing apparatus and program create the embroidery data of a part or a whole of the embroidery pattern being contained within the modified plurality of unit embroidery regions and output the embroidery data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7836837
    Abstract: An embroidery data processing apparatus includes a main data loading device that loads main data, which is original data of a principal pattern, and a main data disposition device that disposes in an embroidery sewing region the main data loaded by the main data loading device. The apparatus also includes a sub-data loading device that loads sub-data, which is original data of one or more patterns other than the principal pattern, and a sub-data disposition determination device that determines a position and a size of the sub-data loaded by the sub-data loading device, in accordance with a position and a size of the main data disposed by the main data disposition device. The apparatus further includes an embroidery sewing data generating device that generates embroidery sewing data based on the main data disposed by the main data disposition device and the sub-data determined by the sub-data disposition determination device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kentaro Torii
  • Patent number: 7822501
    Abstract: An embroidery data creation apparatus for adjusting the density of needle drop points, and a computer readable recording medium having an embroidery data creation program recorded therein which includes instructions for adjusting the density of needle drop points. The embroidery data creation apparatus may include a device for judging whether a needle drop point is a turning point, a device for determining a reference point, a device for determining whether a turning point is within a predetermined area from the reference point, and a device for changing a coordinate of the turning point, deleting the turning point, or maintaining of a coordinate of the turning point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriharu Tashiro
  • Patent number: 7814851
    Abstract: A sewing data creation apparatus for creating sewing data required for sewing by a sewing machine may include a unit pattern storage device to store pattern data of a unit pattern of a predetermined design. The apparatus may further include a pattern disposition device that determines a position of the unit pattern stored in the unit pattern storage device on a stitch path, the stitch path including a curve-like portion. Also, the apparatus may include a sewing data creation device that creates the sewing data for forming stitches on the stitch path and stitches of the unit pattern at the position determined by the pattern disposition device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriharu Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20100242818
    Abstract: A sewing machine that is capable of sewing an embroidery pattern on a work cloth held by an embroidery frame includes a display device that is capable of displaying at least one of an image and embroidery information, a detection device that detects an occurrence of a thread break, an image capture device that is capable of capturing an image of at least an area including a needle drop point, a display control device that displays an image captured by the image capture device and an operation key on the display device in a case where the detection device has detected the occurrence of the thread break, the operation key being to be used to transfer the embroidery frame by at least one stitch, and a sewing control device that causes the embroidery frame to be transferred based on a number of stitches specified by operation of the operation key.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirokazu Hirose
  • Publication number: 20100242817
    Abstract: A sewing machine that is capable of sewing an embroidery pattern includes a transfer device that transfers the embroidery frame, a storage device that stores embroidery data, a first selection device that selects first embroidery data, a first control device that performs sewing of the first pattern, an image capture device that captures an image, a first detection device that detects at least one of a marker position and a marker angle based on information for a first image, a second detection device that detects at least one of the marker position and the marker angle based on information for a second image, a difference computation device that computes at least one of a position difference and an angle difference, a second selection device that selects second embroidery data, a conversion device that converts coordinate data, and a second control device that performs sewing of the second pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masashi Tokura
  • Publication number: 20100236461
    Abstract: A punch data generating device that generates punch data used in an embroiderable sewing machine for punch engraving a pattern on a workpiece by attaching a punch needle that punch engraves a surface of the workpiece in dot-by-dot strokes on a needle bar of the embroiderable sewing machine and moving the punch needle up and down while transferring the workpiece in two predetermined directions by a transfer mechanism. The punch data generating device includes a data generator that generates the punch data so that when punch engraving a plurality of patterns, the patterns are sequentially punch engraved one by one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiko KAWAGUCHI, Masahiko NAGAI, Tomoyasu NIIZEKI, Noboru MIZUNO, Masashi TOKURA, Shinichi NISHIDA
  • Publication number: 20100236463
    Abstract: A multi-needle sewing machine includes a plurality of needle bars to each bottom end of which a needle can be attached, a needle bar case in which the plurality of needle bars are disposed in a line and that supports the plurality of the needle bars movably in an up-and-down direction, a needle bar case moving device that, by moving the needle bar case, moves one of the plurality of the needle bars to an image capture position, the image capture position being a position that is located directly above a needle drop position that is a sewing position, and an image capture device that is provided in a position that is lined up with the plurality of the needle bars, that is positioned in the image capture position by the needle bar case moving device's moving of the needle bar case, and that captures an image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya Fujihara, Masashi Tokura
  • Publication number: 20100236460
    Abstract: A multi-needle sewing machine including a plurality of needle bars including a specific needle bar allowing detachable attachment of a punch needle that punch engraves a surface of a punch workpiece in dot-by-dot strokes; a transfer mechanism that allows detachable attachment of a punch workpiece holder a detector that detects the attachment of the punch workpiece holder on the transfer mechanism; and a controller that when the attachment of the punch workpiece holder is detected by the detector, executes a punch engraving operation on the punch workpiece with the punch needle by selecting the specific needle bar and by controlling a needle-bar selector/driver mechanism and the transfer mechanism based on punch engraving pattern data which is pre-stored or given by external components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiko KAWAGUCHI, Masahiko NAGAI, Tomoyasu NIIZEKI, Noboru MIZUNO, Masashi TOKURA, Shinichi NISHIDA
  • Publication number: 20100228383
    Abstract: The embroidery data generating apparatus includes a data acquisition device that acquires target data and reference data from a plurality of image data, a feature point extraction device that respectively extracts a feature point from the target data and the reference data, a displacement vector identification device that identifies a displacement vector based on the feature point of the target data and the feature point of the reference data, a parameter setting device that sets embroidery parameters based on the displacement vector, and an embroidery data generating device that refers to the embroidery parameters and generates embroidery data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shoichi Taguchi
  • Patent number: 7789029
    Abstract: A sewing data creation apparatus for creating sewing data used for sewing by a sewing machine, the apparatus may include a profile line network creation device that creates a profile line network. The apparatus may further include a starting point-and-ending point determination device that determines a starting point and an ending point of the stitch path. Further, a path creation device that creates the stitch path, a movement determination device that determines whether a partial path may be moved, a movement device that moves the partial path, an adjustment device that adjusts the stitch path by causing the movement device to move the partial path until there is no more partial path determined to be moved by the movement determination device and a sewing data creation device that creates the sewing data used to form stitches on the stitch path adjusted by the adjustment device may also be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noriharu Tashiro
  • Publication number: 20100206204
    Abstract: An embroidery stitcher including an embroidery frame that holds a workpiece cloth and that is provided with a sewable area for sewing the held workpiece cloth; a transparent display device that has a display area that provides visibility behind thereof and that is capable of displaying embroidery pattern information of at least an embroidery pattern to be sewn; and an attachment mechanism that allows detachable attachment of the display device at a position that renders the display area and the sewable area to at least partially overlap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Aki Shimizu, Atsuya Hayakawa, Masayuki Hori, Satoru Makino
  • Patent number: 7762202
    Abstract: An embroidery sewing system includes an embroidery data processing apparatus and a sewing apparatus. The embroidery data processing apparatus generates and processes embroidery data used to sew an embroidery pattern on a work cloth. The embroidery data processing apparatus includes an embroidery data generation device that generates embroidery data including pattern data for specifying a color and a shape of the embroidery pattern, and a data writing device that writes the embroidery data into an RFID tag attached to the work cloth. The sewing apparatus includes a sewing device that sews the embroidery pattern based on the embroidery data, a data reading device that reads out the embroidery data written into the RFID tag by the data writing device, and a control device that controls the sewing device based on the embroidery data read out from the RFID tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Motoshi Kishi, Shoichi Taguchi, Yoshio Sugiura, Masayuki Iwata, Hiroyuki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20100147202
    Abstract: An embroidery frame transfer device including an embroidery frame holding a workpiece cloth; a carriage supporting the embroidery frame by detachable attachment; a Y-direction transfer mechanism having a first and second ends that moves the carriage in a first direction represented as a Y-direction; an X-direction transfer mechanism that supports the first end from below and that transfers the Y-direction transfer mechanism in a second direction represented as an X-direction orthogonal to the Y-direction; a cover element containing the X-direction transfer mechanism and having an upper surface situated below the Y-direction transfer mechanism; a support structure provided at the second end and that is placed in contact with the upper surface of the cover element to support the Y-direction transfer mechanism; and an elastic element pressing the support structure against the cover element such that the support structure maintains contact with the upper surface of the cover element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuaki Matsumoto, Yasuhiro Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20100139538
    Abstract: An embroidery data providing apparatus includes a model information acquisition device that acquires model information, a size storage device that stores the model information and at least one embroiderable size in association with one another, a size acquisition device that acquires the at least one embroiderable size that corresponds to the acquired model information, a pattern information acquisition device that acquires target pattern information relating to a target pattern, an embroidery data output device that outputs as output data at least one of embroidery data of the target pattern and data for generating the embroidery data, a size determination device that determines whether the target pattern will fit within the acquired at least one embroiderable size, and a restriction device that, in a case where it is determined that the target pattern will not fit, restricts at least one of outputting of the output data and pre-output processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noriharu Tashiro