Abstract: A method of recognizing an embroidery outline and applying a stitch group. In the first step, the angle of rows of stitches is determined based on the coordinate sequence of the stitches. The left and right boundary points are then determined to be those stitches that exist along the ends of these rows and from the vertex of an angle change in the stitching. The lines between these left and right points are then used to determine the outline by expanding the lines into rectangles. A statistical analysis is then performed along the rectangle edges and a curve smoothing algorithm is used the render the final shape.

Abstract: In a sewing machine having a display, a data reading device reads sewing data of partial patterns which, when combined, form an entire pattern and attaching position data representing a predetermined attaching position of the work cloth holder to the moving device corresponding to each partial pattern, a display controller also displays attaching position information, representing each attaching position corresponding to each partial pattern based on the attaching position data read by the data reading device, on the display.

Abstract: In the sewing machine, a sewing device forms an embroidery pattern on a work cloth in cooperation with a moving mechanism. A display switching device switches the display between a first display mode and a second display mode. Therefore, the sewing machine can selectively display the size value representing a size of the embroidery pattern or the position value representing a position of the embroidery pattern on the work cloth using the display as desired. Further the display is necessary to secure a space for displaying both the size value and the position value at once. Accordingly, the sewing machine display can be downsized without sacrificing the convenience of the display.

Abstract: An embroidery system having an embroidery machine for automatically stitching embroidery stitch patterns on a garment and a machine controller for selectably controlling the operation of the embroidery machine in response to user provided selections, the improvement involves the use of a Windows CE based graphical user interface, such as a PDA, which is located between the user and the machine controller to provide user selections through the graphical user interface for directing the machine controller. The embroidery system has an associated embroidery functionality and the graphical user interface has a defined system architecture which may selectably enhance the embroidery system functionality by selectably adding software modules to the graphical user interface, such as to control the creation of embroidery lettering, to provide maintenance monitoring either locally or over the Internet, or to enable communication with the embroidery machine over a network.

Abstract: In a sewing machine, a reading device reads embroidery or pattern data provided from outside of the apparatus and writes the read data into a memory, and a cancel device cancels the reading of the data during the reading of the data. Therefore, even if the reading of the data is mistakenly started, the reading process can be canceled when an operator notices the mistake. Thus, as the operator does not need to wait until the reading is completed, the operability and workability can be greatly improved.

Abstract: Disclosed is an embroidery data creating device for creating embroidery stitch data representative of cyclically repeated embroidery patterns to be formed on an embroidery area. The embroidery data creating device includes a first memory in which data related to the embroidery area is stored. The embroidery area has at least one embroidery block. Further, the embroidery data creating device is provided with a second memory in which reference pattern data indicative of a unit pattern of the cyclically repeated embroidery patterns is stored. A data generating device which is also included in the embroidery data creating device, creates the embroidery stitch data for the embroidery area stored in the first memory in accordance with the reference pattern stored in the second memory. In particular, the data generating device generates the embroidery stitch data by arranging the reference pattern data repeatedly within the embroidery area.

Abstract: Native code for a CNC stitching machine is generated by generating a geometry model of a preform; generating tool paths from the geometry model, the tool paths including stitching instructions for making stitches; and generating additional instructions indicating thickness values. The thickness values are obtained from a lookup table. When the stitching machine runs the native code, it accesses a lookup table to determine a thread tension value corresponding to the thickness value. The stitching machine accesses another lookup table to determine a thread path geometry value corresponding to the thickness value.

Abstract: An embroidery data processor includes: a thinning unit that reduces thickness of lines in image data to produce thin-line image data including at least one thin-line outline defining a bounded region corresponding to a region of the embroidery pattern; a thin-line following unit that follows the at least one thin-line outline to search for branch lines connected to the at least one thin-line outline and extending into the bounded region; and a branch deleting unit that deletes any branch lines discovered by the thin-line following unit.

Abstract: In a sewing machine, a CPU reads a color display data of an embroidery pattern selected by a user from a ROM and generates a subtractive color data by subtracting colors included in the color display data. The CPU then writes the subtractive color data into a non-volatile storing medium, such as a flash memory. Therefore, the non-volatile storing medium can store more pattern data of the embroidery patterns, compared with the case where it stores the color display data whose data amount is large. That is, the storage capacity of the non-volatile storing medium can be smaller, so that the manufacturing costs can be reduced.

Abstract: The method for manufacturing jacquard with colored image is disclosed, wherein the basic color printing theory in the printing technical is employed in the weaving of jacquard so that jacquard also has image with different gray levels by the same basic colors. Meanwhile, because of the increase number of the gray levels and the range, jacquard having the effect of colored photograph may be manufactured.

Abstract: A sewing machine that can set the sewing conditions for each stitch pattern and can store the set sewing conditions in a non-volatile memory in correspondence with each stitch pattern. The sewing conditions previously set for a certain stitch pattern can be used when the same stitch pattern is selected later.

Abstract: A correction apparatus is designed to correct sewing data used on a sewing machine that forms an embroidery pattern on a cap by moving a needle bar upward and downward and a frame holding the cap in the X- and Y-axis directions. In the correction apparatus for correcting sewing data, the correction apparatus first reads sewing data as an original data, then finds the coordinates of a stitch point for each stitch from the read original data. The correction apparatus corrects the X coordinate of the stitch point based on a correction value that varies according to the Y coordinate, to create an execution data different from that in the original data. The correction value is calculated using the coordinate data of the Y-axis direction as a variable and a correction parameter that can be changed as a constant.

Abstract: A sewing machine calculates a standard sewing speed N to the Pth stitch, and a position of the Pth stitch. When the Pth stitch point is in a first area within a work holder, the sewing speed is determined to be N rpm. In a second area, it is determined to be N-100 rpm. In a third area, it is determined to be N-200 rpm. The distance from the first area to the connecting part of a work holder driving mechanism is the shortest. The distance for the second area is the next. The distance for the third area is the longest. Therefore, the larger the damping by the movement of the work holder is, the slower the sewing speed is set to. The sewing speed for each stitch created by the stitch formation mechanism can be set as fast as possible so that the damping is substantially settled. Thus, the quality of sewing can be secured and the entire sewing speed can be increased, thereby reducing the sewing time.

Abstract: An embroidery stitch data producing device with selective designation confirming functions is disclosed, wherein embroidery stitch data are produced from the image data obtained from an original image for defining the outlines and the blocks enclosed by the outlines with stitch conditions including stitch types and thread colors being designated. The outlines and the blocks so designated are classified and memorized.

Abstract: A computer is operated to generate stitch data relating to an embroidery design. In the method of the invention, parameters of elements of the design are entered in the memory of the computer, said parameters being standard parameters for embroidering the design on a first type of material. First stitch data is then created in the memory of the computer for embroidering the design on the first type of material. Modified stitch data is then created in the memory of the computer for embroidering the design on a second type of material. The first stitch data or the modified stitch data, depending upon whether the design is to be embroidered onto the first type of material or onto the second type of material, is then written onto a storage medium.

Abstract: A high-functional computer sewing machine can be obtained at a low cost. The inventive computer sewing machine comprises a data signal input/output part and a control part. The data signal input/output part transmits/receives a data signal to/from an externally set data input/output unit by data communication through any of a transmission line, radio and light. The control part controls the operation of a sewing machine body on the basis of the data signal from the data input/output unit received by the data signal input/output part. Thus, when using a commercially available game machine or the like as the data input/output unit, no data input/output unit dedicated to the sewing machine need be separately purchased while the sewing machine body need not be provided with a high-priced liquid crystal touch panel for inputting data.

Abstract: When rotating processing of an embroidery pattern is called, an embroidery data processing device first determines whether a right turn key is operated. When the right turn key is operated, a current rotational angle is increased by a predetermined number of degrees. By contrast, when a left turn key is operated, the current rotational angle is reduced by a predetermined number of degrees. Further, display of a mask indicating sizes in the X and Y directions of the embroidery pattern is changed based on the instructed rotational angle. When the rotational angle is finally determined, the embroidery pattern is rotationally converted and the mask data is formed based on the embroidery data after the conversion. Therefore, when the embroidery pattern is rotated, a range for arranging the rotated embroidery pattern in a sewing area is not narrowed.

Abstract: A multi-head embroidery machine includes a plurality of embroidery machines each of which includes thread cutting means, sewing means, thread breakage detecting means, needle bar jumping means and a cloth holder frame, a sewing motor for driving the sewing means of the embroidery machines in common, a frame holder for holding the cloth holder frames of the embroidery machines in common, cloth feeding means for moving the frame holder, stop control means for stopping the sewing motor to interrupt a sewing operation of the sewing means, step-back control means for stepping back via the cloth feeding means the frame holder to an actual or estimated position of occurrence of a thread breakage, re-sewing control means for executing a re-sewing operation approximately to a sewing interruption position in the embroidery machine in which thread breakage has occurred, while the cloth feeding means is being operated, thread-cutting command means for commanding to cut at least one of a needle thread and a bobbin thread

Abstract: A flash memory provided inside of a sewing machine stores display data in English only, a first language such as the language relating to operations for sewing and pattern selection and appearing on a display on the sewing machine. When a floppy disk exclusively for language changing, which stores display data developed for a plurality of other languages, such as Japanese, German, and French, is inserted into a floppy disk drive, and a language key, such as the Japanese language key, is pressed, the display data in Japanese only is read from the floppy disk, information currently stored in the flash memory is deleted, and then the read display data in Japanese is written into the flash memory. Therefore, according to the invention, the flash memory has a capacity enough to store display data for only one language, and can rewrite the language data of the display data to a desired language, which permits miniaturization of the flash memory and cost reduction.

Abstract: An embroidery stitch data producing device is disclosed, which is superior in its operating efficiency and is effectively operated to produce the stitch data for forming the stitches of an image to be embroidered, wherein the device is adapted to designate the parts of the image in accordance with the embroidering conditions including thread colors and other elements and being optionally determined. The designated parts of the image may be divided into a plurality of groups in dependence upon the determined embroidering conditions, and each of the groups are dealt with as a single unit. The stitch data are produced for each of the units in accordance with the determined embroidering conditions.

Abstract: When a stitch data compensation device detects that a control code which indicates a movement of a work cloth is added to the current and next stitch data, it corrects an X-direction movement amount and a Y-direction movement amount for the current stitch data according to an angle between a stitch to be formed based on the current stitch data and a consecutive stitch to be formed based on the next stitch data. When sewing is made on a sewing machine using the stitch data corrected by the stitch data compensation device, the shrinkage of the work cloth that would occur due to each stitch sewn thereinto can be prevented, which will result in preventing an uneven finished pattern, such as a gap in a satin pattern, a jagged fill pattern, and stitches to be made on the return when the sewing direction is reversed deviating from the ones already made on the go when running stitching is selected, assuring fine stitches will be formed on the work cloth.

Abstract: A module (1) is removably and replaceably provided on a sewing machine for domestic use and includes an electronic memory unit (4) for storing of specific stitch patterns selectable to control drive arrangements included in the sewing machine. The memory unit (4) is insertable behind a transparent front (3) provided on the sewing machine and having a touch control keyboard (31). The side of the memory unit (4) which, when inserted, is turned outwards to be visible through the keyboard (31) of the front has preprinted pattern illustrations. Each of these pattern illustrations correspond to a touch key on the front keyboard.