Abstract: An embroidery data generating device includes a line segment data generation device that generates a plurality of line segment data pieces based on image data, a distance calculation device that calculates a distance from an ending endpoint of one of a plurality of line segments to an endpoint of another of the plurality of line segments, an angle calculation device that calculates an angle formed by the one of the plurality of line segments and the other of the plurality of line segments, a connecting endpoint determination device that determines which of endpoints of the plurality of line segments is a connecting endpoint to be connected to the ending endpoint, a line segment connecting device that connects the plurality of line segments by connecting the ending endpoint and the connecting endpoint, and an embroidery data generation device that generates embroidery data for forming stitches following the plurality of line segments.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for placing an embroidery in the desired position on a sewing material for embroidering on a sewing machine which has a memory for embroidery elements and a processor for reading stitch data for a selected embroidery element and for manoeuvring the sewing machine to execute stitches associated with the selected embroidery element on the sewing material, in which pattern points are assigned to the embroidery element and registered in the processor, and in which fabric points are marked on the sewing material at points where corresponding pattern points are to be located when embroidering, the sewing machine processor automatically orienting and scaling executed patterns of the embroidery element on the sewing material.

Abstract: To provide an embroidery data creation apparatus, an embroidery data creation program, and a recording medium that records the embroidery data creation program, which create embroidery data for embroidery that is clear and sharp even when the tint or output size of an image is changed. The number of pixels necessary to create embroidery data is determined from thread density, size of the embroidery, and copied color data. Initial angle information is created from angle data and the angle information having necessary pixel configuration is re-computed from the initial angle information. Then, line segment data is created from the re-computed angle information, color data is created from the size adjusted color data and the line segment data, and the embroidery data is created from the line segment data and the color data.

Abstract: A software distribution system for sewing machine includes a server and a sewing machine. The server generates authentication key data dedicated for a sewing machine only upon initial transmission of medium identification data and sewing machine identification data from a terminal and stores the authentication key data in mapping with the medium identification data. If a valid medium identification data and an invalid sewing machine identification data are thereafter transmitted to the server, the stored data is not updated and the authentication key data is transmitted to the terminal.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a sewing device, an imaging device, a determination device, a sewing condition storage device, a reading device, and a control device. The sewing device includes a needle bar and a sewing machine motor. The imaging device captures an image of a work cloth on which a marker is disposed to identify information corresponding to actual sewing conditions. The determination device determines an appearance feature of the work cloth based on the image obtained by the imaging device. The sewing condition storage device stores the appearance feature and sewing condition information corresponding to the sewing conditions that are correlated with each other. The reading device reads the sewing condition information corresponding to the appearance feature from the sewing condition storage device. The control device identifies the actual sewing conditions based on the sewing condition information read out by the reading device, and controls the sewing device.

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.

Abstract: A printable embroidery machine includes a sewing machine body, a cloth holding frame holding a workpiece cloth, a frame drive unit which has a mounting part and to which the cloth holding frame is coupled so that the cloth holding frame is moved independently in two horizontal directions perpendicular to each other, and an ink-jet printer. The body or the printer is detachably attached to the mounting part of the frame drive unit separated from the body so that the workpiece cloth held on the cloth holding frame moved by the frame drive unit is printed by the printer. A predetermined sewing reference position of a sewing needle in attaching the body to the frame drive unit corresponds with a predetermined print reference position of a print head of the printer in a case where the printer is attached to the frame drive unit.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a bed portion, a pillar portion that is erected upward from the bed portion, an arm portion that extends horizontally from the pillar portion above the bed portion, a head that is provided at an end of the arm portion, a needle bar that is attached to the head and can reciprocate up and down, an image pickup device that can pick up an image of an upper surface of the bed portion, an image conversion device that generates a virtual image from a real image by viewpoint conversion, the virtual image being an image as viewed from an arbitrary viewpoint position, and the real image being an image picked up by the image pickup device, an image display device that displays an image, and an image display control device that displays the virtual image generated by the image conversion device on the image display device.

Abstract: A complex data processing device that processes embroidery data representing an embroidery pattern to be formed on fabric by a sewing machine capable of embroidering and print data representing print pattern to be printed on the fabric by a printer. The complex data processing device includes a data acquiring unit that acquires the embroidery data and the print data, an overlapped region detecting unit that detects an overlapped region at which an embroidery region represented by the embroidery data and a printing region represented by the print data overlap based on the embroidery data and the print data acquired by the data acquiring unit, and a data modifying unit that deletes data corresponding to the overlapped region detected by the overlapped region detecting unit from at least one of the embroidery data and the print data.

Abstract: A boring device that can be attached to and detached from a lower end of one of a plurality of needle bars provided on a multi-needle embroidery sewing machine, and includes a boring knife that makes a cut in a work cloth and a first engagement portion to be engaged with a second engagement portion provided on the one of a plurality of the needle bars. The second engagement portion restricts horizontal rotation of the boring device, and a horizontal position of the boring knife with respect to the one of the needle bars is determined when the first engagement portion is engaged with the second engagement portion.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an embroidered wallcovering includes the following steps. Using a gravure press or cylinder screen press with water soluble inks, print patterns are printed on a base material. In the mean time of printing, the base material is heat dried. Thread patterns, which is corresponding to the print patterns, are embroidered onto the base material. The embroidery is done by a machine. Therefore, it is ideal for mass production. The embroidered wallcovering manufactured by this method has advantages of printed wallcovering and embroidery, and overcomes their disadvantages. The embroidered wallcovering manufactured by this method is environment friendly, and add dimension and quality to the wallcovering, thereby meeting the most demanding wall finish requirements.

Abstract: Trace process (i.e. process for moving an embroidery frame from a desired start position on the basis of outline data of an embroidery pattern) is performed. It is detected, during the movement, whether the moving embroidery frame has reached a predetermined movement limit position. When detected, a protrusion amount, from the embroidery frame, of a remaining outline portion is calculated on the basis of a current position of the outline data and the remaining portion. On the basis of the calculated protrusion amount, the start position is reset by being positionally displaced so as to avoid occurrence of the protrusion. In this way, setting a start position such that the embroidery pattern does not protrude beyond a movable range of the embroidery frame can be performed in a short time.

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.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a needle, a holding frame having a stitchable area within which the needle is operable to perform stitching, storing means for storing sewing data on various embroidery patterns, indicating means for indicating, within the stitchable area, positions on the workpiece that is held by the holding frame, stitching region setting means for setting a stitching region in accordance with the positions indicated by the indicating means, embroidery pattern creating means for creating, in accordance with a position and a size of the stitching region, and based on the sewing data, embroidery pattern data on an embroidery pattern having a size that is fittable within the stitching region, and control means for controlling the needle and the holding frame to form the embroidery pattern on the workpiece within the stitching region in accordance with the embroidery pattern data.

Abstract: First calculation section calculates, on the basis of sewing data, a sewing-progressing direction angle for rotating a rotary cylinder to orient an embroidering material, guided by a guide lever of a zigzag sewing head, in a sewing-progressing direction. Second calculation section adds or subtracts a zigzag-swinging angle to or from the sewing-progressing direction angle to thereby calculate a target rotational angle of the rotary cylinder. Swinging mechanism may be provided for swinging the guide lever relative to the rotary cylinder, and a swinging amount corresponding to the swinging angle of the rotary cylinder may be added to a width of zigzag-swinging by the swinging mechanism. Alternatively, every swinging movement necessary for zigzagging the embroidering material may be set by the swinging angle without the guide lever being caused to swing relative to the rotary cylinder.

Abstract: An embroidery sewing machine includes an embroidery frame, a carriage transferring the embroidery frame, a drive unit moving the carriage, a sewing machine motor, a control unit controlling the drive unit and the motor so that an embroidery sewing mode is executed in which an embroidery pattern is sewn or a manual-feed sewing mode is executed in which a sewing operation is carried out with manual cloth feed while the carriage is moved to and held at a predetermined evacuative position, a foot controller, a connecting part connecting the foot controller to the control unit, and a mode switching unit which selectively switches between the embroidery sewing mode and the manual feed sewing mode. The mode switching unit switches to the embroidery sewing mode when the foot controller is non-connected to the connecting part, and to the manual-feed sewing mode when the foot controller is connected to the connecting part.

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.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes an embroidery frame which holds a cloth marked with a reference line and a reference point, a display portion which displays a virtual reference line, a virtual reference point, and an embroidery pattern having a size larger than the embroidery frame, means for displaying a sewing region corresponding to the embroidery frame on the display portion such that a section of the embroidery pattern, the virtual reference line and the virtual reference point are displayed inside the sewing region, means for acquiring position information of the reference point and another point on the reference line, sewing data correcting means for correcting sewing data on the embroidery pattern by interrelating the position information with the virtual reference line and the virtual reference point, and means for sewing the section of the embroidery pattern in accordance with the sewing data corrected by the sewing data correcting means.

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.

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.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes a needle bar, a sewing needle attached to the 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 determined by the movement determination device.

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.

Abstract: A sewing machine capable of embroidery sewing is configured to specify a type of embroidery frame by shooting an embroidery frame placed on an upper surface of the bed by a CCD or a CMOS image sensor disposed in an underside of an arm from an obliquely upward direction and obtaining an X-directional size and a Y-directional size of the embroidery frame, an embroiderable area size, and further a height-directional size of the embroidery frame by calculation based on image data shot by the image sensor.

Abstract: An embroidery unit (30) attachable to a sewing machine bed (1) of a sewing machine (M) capable of executing a normal mode executing sewing operation while vertically moving a feed dog (13) provided in the sewing machine bed (1) and an embroidery mode executing sewing operation while maintaining the feed dog (13) below a needle plate (1b) and provided with an embroidery frame feed mechanism moving an embroidery frame (33) holding a workpiece cloth provided with a mode switch unit (35) for selectively switching the feed dog (13) between the normal mode and the embroidery mode with the embroidery unit attached to the sewing machine bed (1); and a selection switch unit (50) switching status of the mode switch unit to embroidery mode in synchronization with a removing operation when removing the embroidery unit from the sewing machine bed (1).

Abstract: A method and the device for scaling or changing embroidery patterns (1) for sewing machines that allows a quick calculation of optimized stitching data. For one or more different change factors qj, data sets dj with optimized stitching data (xji,yji) are stored. A target data set z with stitching data changed according to a given change value v is determined by selecting one of the stored data sets dj and performing an extrapolation or an interpolation with the associated stitching data (xji,yji). For a pattern with several sub-patterns, these sub-patterns can be changed individually and combined to form a changed pattern.

Abstract: An embroidery data processing apparatus which may be used to attach an IC tag to a work cloth without impairing a design of the work cloth. The embroidery data processing apparatus may determine an IC tag area based on a size and shape of the IC tag, and may determine whether the IC tag area can be included in an embroidery area that is determined on the basis of embroidery data. If the IC tag area can be included in the embroidery area, the positions of the embroidery area and the IC tag area may be set in an embroiderable area of a sewing machine in such a manner that the IC tag area is positioned in the embroidery area.

Abstract: A work positioning device for a computer sewing machine includes an auxiliary table and a positioning arm having one end removably and turnably connected to the auxiliary table. The positioning arm has the opposite end provided with a positioning part and may be turned between an upper position where the positioning part is spaced from the upper surface of the auxiliary table and a lower position where the positioning part is in contact with the upper surface of the table, the positioning part having a reference mark provided for showing an initialized position for starting the pattern stitching operation when the embroidery frame is connected to the carriage.

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.

Abstract: An embroidery sewing machine with printing function (1) including a sewing machine body (2) having a bed (10), a foot (11), an arm (12), and capable of sewing a workpiece cloth (W) by a sewing unit (99); a cloth holding frame (3) holding the workpiece cloth (W) to be sewn; a frame drive unit (4) moving the cloth holding frame 3 independently in two mutually perpendicular directions in a horizontal plane; an ink-jet printer (5) having a print head (61) printing the workpiece cloth (W) held by the cloth holding frame (3); the embroidery sewing machine with printing function (1) characterized in that the frame drive unit (4) includes a first drive mechanism (45) that moves the cloth holding frame (3) in a first direction parallel with a lengthwise direction of the bed (10); and a second drive mechanism (30) that moves the cloth holding frame (3) in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and the print head (61) of the printer (5) includes nozzle arrays (61c to 61f) aligning a plurality of ink-jet

Abstract: A method and the device for displaying sewing processes to allow simulation of the formation of stitch patterns and embroidery patterns in sewing machines (1) and embroidery machines or in sewing simulators close to reality is provided. In the representation on the monitor (3) features, such as colors and the structure of the sewing material (2), are considered. By activating a simulation mode, the drive for the stitch formation unit can be disabled.

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.

Abstract: Disclosed is a stepped embroidery machine. The stepped embroidery machine includes a plurality of head units including heads, embroidery frames installed at lower portions of the heads is such a manner that the embroidery frames are movable in X-axis and Y-axis directions, X-axis drive units for moving the embroidery frames in an X-axis direction, and Y-axis drive units for moving the embroidery frames in a Y-axis direction, a control unit for controlling an operation of the head units, and a control panel used for inputting and displaying information related to embroidery work and embroidery. The head units are individually driven per each head unit and aligned in a stepped pattern while forming a predetermined step difference therebetween. Since the head units are individually driven, it is possible to individually perform embroidery work with respect to various workpieces.

Abstract: A sewing machine includes an embroidery frame moving device detachably attachable to a sewing machine body and a control device. An embroidery sewing operation is executable when the embroidery frame moving device is attached to the body, and a normal sewing operation is executable when the moving device is detached from the body. The control device controls the sewing machine in a first stage under only a normal sewing mode in which the normal sewing operation is executed. The first stage ends when a detector detects the embroidery frame moving device initially attached to the body. The control device further controls the sewing machine in a second stage under either the normal sewing mode or an embroidery sewing mode in which the embroidery sewing operation is executed. The second stage starts after the detector has detected the embroidery frame moving device attached to the body.

Abstract: The invention presents an embroidery data processing device and a computer program product capable of easily forming images of finished state of applique even if the fabric for applique is a pattern fabric. A selected fabric image of fabric for applique is displayed, and when the user manipulates the mouse, and moves the cursor to a desired position of the fabric image, and clicks by a specified number of times, the applique pattern preliminarily inputted through the image scanner is displayed at the position of the cursor (S101 to S103). When the user clicks the preview button by the mouse, only the fabric image within the applique pattern is extracted, and an applique image is displayed, and an applique sewing stitch image is overlaid and displayed on the applique image (S104 to S109).

Abstract: An embroidering device includes plural needles for embroidering plural patterns and an operating portion having a display. The patterns are embroidered by selectively actuating the needles in accordance with a command from the operating portion, the display of the operating portion indicates codes of the needles to be used for embroidering the patterns in sequence, and the code of the needle being in actuation is emphatically indicated on the display. Indication corresponding to temporary stop of the actuation can be indicated between the codes if the actuation needs to be temporarily stopped.

Abstract: A sewing machine of the present disclosure is provided with a sewing device capable of pattern sewing by controlling a needle swinging mechanism that swings a vertically reciprocating needle bar in a horizontal direction and a cloth feeding mechanism having a feed dog, a controller that controls the sewing device and a memory that stores sewing data supplied externally via a data transmitting network or a data storage media. The aforementioned controller determines whether or not the pattern to be sewn based on the sewing data loaded from the memory can be sewn by the sewing device and upon determining that sewing is not possible, the sewing data is modified to a pattern that can be sewn by the sewing device.

Abstract: A method of embroidering a pattern by means of a processor-controlled sewing machine, the method comprising the following steps: the fabric that is to be embroidered is placed in the required position in relation to a threaded needle on the sewing machine, a number of embroidery elements having pre-programmed embroideries are provided, each embroidery element is provided with a starting point and an end point for an embroidery on a corresponding physical embroidery element, a directional change associated with the end point is assigned to the embroidery element, in embroidering a sequence of physical embroidery elements by means of the sewing machine a succeeding physical embroidery element is rotated corresponding to the directional change in the preceding physical embroidery element, an embroidery having any desired number of physical embroidery elements in sequence is performed by the sewing machine according to the sequence of selected embroidery elements.

Abstract: A quilting machine (10, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600) is provided with a printing station (20, 125, 225, 325, 425, 525, 611, 626, 631) and a quilting station (44, 127, 227, 327, 427, 527, 627, 632), either on the same or a different production line. Ticking is preprinted with a plurality of different patterns, organized and coordinated by the computer so that a print head can scan the material and print different patterns of different panels (32). Identifying data (40) for matching the panels of a mattress product can be provided in data files and codes can be printed on the fabric. Panels can be matched and assembled into products based on the codes, and quilting, cutting, slitting and other operations can be controlled by printed codes and other data. The quilting and combining of the panels for assembly of a mattress product can be carried out manually or automatically using the data.

Abstract: The present invention provides an embroidering machine which is made up of a thread station at which a plurality of spools of different colored threads are installed; a frame on which a work-piece is carried in tension mode; an embroidery stitching mechanism having a plurality of needles to which the colored threads are routed, respectively, and stitching the work-piece with the colored thread routed to a selected needle; a color recognizing device for recognizing the color of each of the threads routed to the respective needles; data reading means for reading embroidering data relating to the embroidering pattern; a comparing device matching a color indication included in the embroidering data with the color of each of the threads which is recognized by the color recognizing device, the comparing device selecting one of the threads to which the thread of the matched color is routed for determining the selected needle; and a control device for controlling the selected needle of the embroidery stitching mechan

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus and program stored on a computer readable medium for processing embroidery data make stitch data subdivisions into which the stitch data was divided, according to the size of partitions, and add partition position information corresponding to the position of stitch data subdivision in the stitch data to the stitch data subdivisions. If the size of an embroidery pattern which is embroidered by the embroidery data is greater than a predetermined workable area of sewing within the embroidery frame, the embroidery data is divided into subdivisions and where the embroidery data subdivisions is positioned in the whole embroidery design can be identified.

Abstract: An embroidery data producing device includes an offset line producing device for producing data of an offset line obtained by offsetting an outline defining an embroidery area inside an embroidery area by a previously set offset width, based on data of the outline defining the embroidery area, a self-intersection or mutual intersection detecting device for detecting a self-intersection of the offset line produced by the offset line producing device or a mutual intersection of the offset line and the outline, and an offset line changing device for changing the offset line data produced by the offset line producing device upon detection of a self-intersection or mutual intersection by the self-intersection or mutual intersection detecting device so that the self-intersection or the mutual intersection is dissolved.

Abstract: An embroidery data producing device for use with an embroidery sewing machine sewing an embroidery pattern on work cloth using a needle thread and a bobbin thread is disclosed. The embroidery data producing device produces sewing data necessary for an embroidery sewing operation of the embroidery sewing machine. The embroidery data producing device includes an image data obtaining unit that obtains image data of an original image of an embroidery pattern, a dot pattern data producing unit that produces dot pattern data representative of the embroidery pattern by a dot pattern, based on the image data, and a sewing data producing unit that produces sewing data for obtaining needle drop points forming the embroidery pattern by a pattern of the needle thread appearing in the form of dot on a back of the work cloth by an embroidery sewing operation of the embroidery sewing machine, based on the dot pattern data.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for automatically generating embroidery designs from a scanned image. An embroidery data generating mechanism generates accurate embroidery designs. The embroidery data generating mechanism first reads an image data file, which contains bitmapping information generated from a software scanning tool, the information being related to an embroidery pattern that has been scanned. The scanned pattern is broken up into pixels, each pixel in the scanned image having a bitmap associated with the color of the pattern. Each unique color in the scanned pattern has its own unique bitmap. The embroidery generating mechanism also includes a segmentation mechanism and a chain-encoding mechanism which perform operations to enhance the quality of the bitmapped information and to separate regions of the scanned image into objects. A distance transform evaluation mechanism classifies each object as being either a thick object or a thin, predominantly regular object.

Abstract: An embroidery data producing device reads an image composed of a plurality of areas to produce embroidery data including sewing data for filling each area with stitches and underlying stitch sewing data for carrying out underlying stitch sewing for each of the areas. The embroidery data producing device includes a synthesized outline data producing unit which produces data of a synthesized outline defining an outline of a synthesized area formed by synthesizing a part or all of a plurality of the areas and an underlying stitch sewing data producing unit which produces data of underlying stitch sewing based on the synthesized outline data.

Abstract: An embroidering system includes a central control device and a plurality of embroidering machines. The plural embroidering machines are synchronously operated by a command from the central control device. The central control device individually adjusts embroidering speeds of the plural embroidering machines.

Abstract: In a frame movement command device for an embroidery machine, which device can control the movement of an embroidery frame based upon signals that are outputted from a frame drive means when a frame movement command switch is operated, the frame movement command switch includes a single operation portion that is operable to incline in a plurality of directions, and the frame drive means outputs signals in order to move the embroidery frame in directions that correspond to the inclined directions of the operation portion. According to this construction, by inclining the single operation portion of the frame movement command switch in the plurality of directions, the embroidery frame can move in directions that correspond to the inclined directions. Therefore, the operator can accurately operate the switch in order to move the embroidery frame toward a desired position, which depends only on the feeling of his or her fingertips touching the operation portion without viewing the frame movement command switch.

Abstract: An embroidery machine can simultaneously embroider sewing objects having various shapes, including a flat object, an object having a shape of a usual processed cloth, an object having a shape of a cap, etc. The embroidery machine comprises a plurality of sewing heads grouped into at least two working groups, and the embroidering frames, each of which is arranged for one of the working groups. The embroidering frames have structures either identical to each other or different from each other. Therefore, one conventional embroidery machine can simultaneously embroider more than one kind of sewing objects, including at least two of a flat sewing object, a tubular sewing object, and a cap-shaped sewing object.

Abstract: Type information on sewing machine types and identification information for specifying a sewing machine are stored in a control unit and computer of the sewing machine. A server transmits display data for displaying a pattern selection edit screen to the sewing machine side. At the sewing machine side, a pattern is selected while the pattern selection edit screen is being viewed, and an edit processing is instructed. The server edits an embroidery pattern ordered at the sewing machine side, based on the instruction supplied from the sewing machine side. The server transmits the display data and sewing pattern data to the sewing machine side. Incorporated patterns and non-incorporated patterns at the sewing machine side are displayed identifiably on a display at the sewing machine side. The server charges for the non-incorporated newly purchased patterns.

Abstract: A head control device and its control method for a multi-head embroidery machine having a plurality of heads are disclosed. The present invention provides a head control device and its control method for a multi-head embroidery machine having a plurality of heads. The head control device comprises a central control unit controlling a whole system, the central control unit outputs a control signal for controlling a drive state of the respective head in response to an operation of an operator, so that the plurality of heads are selectively driven, and a embroidery task is performed by the selected head; and at least one head control unit for controlling the drive state of the respective head in response to the control signal from the central control unit.

Abstract: A method and device for regulating the transport of material in a sewing or embroidery machine (1) that uses information from a position or movement sensor (33) located underneath the throat plate (21). The controls for the sewing machine (1) calculate deviations of the actual feeding increments of the article to be sewn from the corresponding target values from the periodically read sensor signals. With this information, the feeding increments are regulated in such a way that the deviations are cancelled out by averaging.