US20080223273A1 - Sewing machine - Google Patents

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.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
• The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-063753 filed on Mar. 13, 2007, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
• The present invention relates to a sewing machine for sewing an embroidery pattern, which is larger than an embroidery frame for holding a cloth, by dividing the embroidery pattern in several sections and sewing the respective sections in several steps.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
• Related-art embroidery sewing machines have an embroidery frame (a holding frame) in which a cloth is set, and various embroidery patterns can be sewn onto the cloth. When sewing an embroidery pattern which is larger than the embroidery frame, there has been known a technique called “joining embroidering” (see, e.g., JP 11-047471 A). In the joining embroidering, the cloth is shifted and set onto the embroidery frame each time an embroidering within the embroidery frame is completed.
• In the joining embroidering, moreover, cross lines are previously marked on the cloth with a chalk pencil so that relative positions of a part of the embroidery pattern which has already been sewn and another embroidery pattern which is going to be sewn are not shifted from each other. More specifically, the cloth may be positioned and set with respect to the embroidery frame while using the cross lines as a reference, or the cross lines may be recognized by an embroidery sewing machine as a reference positioning a needle with respect to the cross lines on the cloth set in the embroidery frame.
• However, in order to recognize the cross lines in an related-art embroidery sewing machine disclosed in the JP 11-047471 A for example, it is necessary to position the needle with respect to four points on the cross lines, namely, two points on a vertical line and two points on a transverse line, and to input and store positions of the embroidery frame corresponding to the respective positions. Because a fine adjustment is required repetitively to accurately perform the positioning at the respective positions on the cross lines, it is onerous for an operator so that a working efficiency is deteriorated.
• Moreover, because the cross lines marked with the chalk pencil is thicker than a tip of the needle, a positional error of the needle in thickness directions of the respective cross lines needs to be permitted. Thus, there has been a disadvantage that the positional error of the needle might become large as the number of the points to be positioned is increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• One or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a sewing machine in which a labor of an operator is reduced and sewing accuracy of a joining embroidering is improved.
• According to one or more exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a sewing machine includes an embroidery frame which holds a cloth on which a reference line and a reference point on the reference line are marked, a display portion which displays an embroidery pattern, which is to be sewn in a range larger than the embroidery frame, a virtual reference line, and a virtual reference point on the virtual reference line, such that the embroidery pattern is associated with or in relation to the virtual reference line and the virtual reference point which are references for a position and an angle upon embroidering the embroidery pattern on the cloth, display control means for displaying a sewing region, which corresponds 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, reference position information acquiring 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 in accordance with an arrangement of the cloth by interrelating the position information acquired by the reference position information acquiring means with the virtual reference line and the virtual reference point, and sewing control means for sewing the section of the embroidery pattern included in the sewing region onto the clot in accordance with the sewing data corrected by the sewing data correcting means.
• Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the drawings and the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sewing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a part of a configuration of the sewing machine;
• FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of an operation panel of the sewing machine;
• FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a process of sewing a large-sized embroidery pattern onto a cloth;
• FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a comparison between an embroidery frame and the large-sized embroidery pattern;
• FIG. 6 is a plan view showing an example of a display mode of the operation panel;
• FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a reference line and a reference point which are marked on the cloth;
• FIG. 8 is a plan view showing another display mode of the operation panel;
• FIG. 9 is a plan view showing another display mode of the operation panel;
• FIG. 10 is a plan view showing another display mode f the operation panel;
• FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing an example of a correction of sewing data; and
• FIG. 12 is a plan view showing another display mode of the operation panel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. The following exemplary embodiment does not limit the scope of the invention.
• A sewing machine according to the exemplary embodiment is an embroidery sewing machine M. The embroidery sewing machine M has anembroidery frame11 for holding a cloth (a workpiece) to be sewn. The embroidery sewing machine M is operable to form stitches on the cloth held in theembroidery frame11 in accordance with sewing data by relatively moving theembroidery frame11 with respect to aneedle8.
• In the following description, a Z-axis direction (or an up-and-down direction) is a direction along which theneedle8 vertically moves, an X-axis direction (a right-and-left direction) is a direction orthogonal to the Z-axis direction, and a Y-axis direction (a front-and-rear direction) is a direction orthogonal to the Z-axis direction and the X-axis direction.
• As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, The embroidery sewing machine M (hereinafter “sewing machine M”) includes asewing machine body1 and aframe moving mechanism13 provided on thesewing machine body1.
• As shown inFIG. 1, thesewing machine body1 includes a sewing machine frame2 having a C shape when seen from a side. The sewing machine frame2 includes anarm portion2aextending in the X-axis direction in an upper part of the sewing machine M, abed portion2bextending in the X-axis direction in a lower part of the sewing machine M, and avertical drum portion2ccoupling thearm portion2aand thebed portion2b.
• Thesewing machine body1 further includes a sewing machine driving mechanism provided in the sewing machine frame2. The sewing machine driving mechanism includes an upper shaft (not shown) and a lower shaft (not shown) which are rotatable and are extended in the X-axis direction. The upper shaft is provided in thearm portion2aand the lower shaft is provided in thebed portion2b.
• The upper shaft is coupled to a sewing machine motor5 (seeFIG. 2), and a rotating force is applied from thesewing machine motor5. The lower shaft is coupled to the upper shaft via a power transmitting mechanism (not shown). When the upper shaft is rotated, a power of the upper shaft is transmitted to the lower shaft through the power transmitting mechanism so that the lower shaft is rotated.
• Aneedle bar8ais coupled to a front end portion of the upper shaft. Theneedle bar8ais vertically movable in the Z-axis direction in accordance with the rotation of the upper shaft. Theneedle8 is exchangeably provided on a lower end of theneedle bar8a.Moreover, amiddle presser12 is provided on thesewing machine arm2ain order to prevent the cloth from being lifted up due the a vertical movement of theneedle8. Themiddle presser12 is vertically movable interlockingly with theneedle bar8a,and presses the cloth around theneedle8.
• A shuttle (not shown) is provided on a front end portion of the lower shaft. When the lower shaft is rotated together with the upper shaft, stitches are formed by a cooperation of theneedle8 and the shuttle.
• Because the coupling structures and movements of thesewing machine motor5, the upper shaft, theneedle bar8a,theneedle8, the lower shaft and the shuttle are similar to those in the related art sewing machines, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
• As shown inFIG. 1, theframe moving mechanism13 is disposed on thebed portion2b.Theframe moving mechanism13 includes acarriage13aand an attachingmember13bto which theembroidery frame11 is attached. Theembroidery frame11 and theneedle8 are disposed on thebed portion2b.
• Theembroidery frame11 is attached to theframe moving mechanism13 via the attachingmember13b.AnX-axis motor14 and a Y-axis motor15 (seeFIG. 2) are coupled to the attachingmember13b.In the exemplary embodiment, theX-axis motor14 and the Y-axis motor15 are pulse motors, and may be disposed inside thebed portion2bor inside thecarriage13a.
• Theembroidery frame11 is movable in the front-and-rear direction and in the right-and-left direction (i.e., in the X and Y directions) together with the cloth held therein in accordance with driving operations of theX-axis motor14 and the Y-axis motor15, thereby positioning the cloth with respect to theneedle8. By interlocking the movement of theembroidery frame11 with the operations of theneedle8 and the shuttle, stitches are formed on the cloth by theneedle8 in accordance with sewing data (e.g., sewing data on an embroidery pattern having a size larger than the embroidery frame11). The stitches corresponding to an embroidery pattern are formed on a portion of the cloth on an inner side of theembroidery frame11, i.e., inside a stitchable range of theembroidery frame11.
• In other words, the sewing machine M includes theembroidery frame11 having the inner side thereof being the stitchable range, and the embroidery pattern corresponding to the sewing data is formed on the cloth held within the stitchable range of theembroidery frame11.
• As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the sewing machine M further includeskey matrix16. Thekey matrix16 includes a start/stop switch16a,areverse stitching switch16b,athread cutting switch16cand aspeed regulating volume16d.
• Thekey matrix16 serves as an operation key for driving the sewing machine M to move theneedle bar8a(the needle8) and to operate theembroidery frame11. More specifically, signals are output to acontrol portion100 in response to operations of thekey matrix16, and thecontrol portion100 drives thesewing machine motor5 and others to drive the sewing machine M in accordance with the signals.
• The sewing machine M further includes anoperation panel20 from which an operator caries out various setting operations and inputting operations of various data with respect to the sewing machine M. Theoperation panel20 and thecontrol portion100 are coupled to each other via a line which is not shown.
• As shown inFIG. 2, theoperation panel20 includes a liquid crystal display panel22 (a display portion) and atouch panel21 disposed on a display panel of the liquid crystal display panel22 (on a front side of the display panel). Thetouch panel21 serves as a transparent touch switch. More specifically, when a key displayed on the liquidcrystal display panel22 is touched, thetouch panel21 detects a position of the touch on thetouch panel21. The detection may be an electromagnetic induction type, a magnetic strain type or a pressure sensitive type. Various data and instructions can be input in accordance with the position thus detected. For example, when a operation key displayed on theoperation panel20 is touched, the display mode of the liquidcrystal display panel22 may be switched to display various operation screens, operation keys, and various set data. A signal input by touching theoperation panel20 is output to thecontrol portion100. Accordingly, theoperation panel20 functions as an input portion and the display portion of the sewing machine M.
• As shown inFIG. 3, the liquidcrystal display panel22 has adisplay region22aon which the embroidery pattern is displayed.
• A group of operation keys to be displayed on theoperation panel20 includes an eight-direction key21a,an OK key21band a coordinate acquiring key.
• In addition to the group of operation keys, the liquidcrystal display panel22 of theoperation panel20 displays, on thedisplay area22a,various embroidery patterns, a virtual reference line Lv, a virtual reference point Pv, and a sewing region R corresponding to the stitchable range of theembroidery frame11. The virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv are used as references upon a sewing work. A layout image of the entire embroidery pattern, and a sectioned image of the embroidery pattern corresponding to the sewing region R are displayed on thedisplay area22a.
• As shown inFIG. 2, the sewing machine M further includes thecontrol portion100 to which thesewing machine motor5, theX-axis motor14, the Y-axis motor15, theoperation panel20 and thekey matrix16 are coupled.
• Thecontrol portion100 includes aCPU101 operable to executes various processings and controls in accordance with a control program with respect to thesewing machine motor5, theX-axis motor14, the Y-axis motor15, theoperation panel20 and the other actuators which are not shown, an ROM102 (a storing portion) in which programs for executing various processings and controls and data required for the various processings and controls are stored, anRAM103 which serves as a work area for various processings by storing various data therein, anEEPROM104 serving as another storing portion in which data can be newly written and from which data can be deleted, interfaces (not shown) via which theCPU101 is coupled to various devices, and motor drivers (not shown) for the respective motors.
• TheCPU101 is operable to control the operation processings of the respective portions of the sewing machine M in accordance with the various control programs for the embroidering stored in theROM102 and various sewing data stored in theEEPROM104 in response to the operation signals input from thekey matrix16 and various setting signals and data input from theoperation panel20, store a result of the processings in the work area in theRAM103, and further store, in theEEPROM104, the various data input from theoperation panel20 and the result of the processings stored in theRAM103 if necessary.
• TheCPU101 functions as control means for controlling the driving operations of the respective portions of the sewing machine M.
• The control programs and control data for the sewing machine M, and data on various sewing operations and display screen information are stored in theROM102.
• For example, sewing data for each of the embroidery patterns are previously stored in theROM102. The sewing data includes coordinates of points indicative of a shape of stitches (shape point data) and coordinates of stitch points which are calculated based on the shape points (stitch point data). In other words, coordinate data (coordinate points) on the stitch points in relation to positions of theneedle8 with respect to theembroidery frame11 are stored as sewing data. Moreover, moving amount data on moving amounts of theembroidery frame11 for relatively moving theembroidery frame11 with respect to theneedle8 are stored in theROM102 in order to sequentially locate theneedle8 at the positions according to the coordinate data.
• In addition, coordinate data on an origin point of theembroidery frame11, which is a base point in the movement of theembroidery frame11, is stored in theROM102. Based on the origin coordinates, theembroidery frame11 is moved and the coordinates of the stitch points are acquired.
• Furthermore, data on a function indicative of the virtual reference line Lv, which is used when the joining embroidering is selected, is stored in the ROM102 (e.g., data on cross lines to be a reference index).
• TheRAM103 includes various work memories and counters, and is used as the work area while processing the input data and during the sewing operation.
• Sewing data other than the data stored in theROM102, display screen information, and sewing data set by the operator from theoperation panel20, are stored in theEEPROM104.
• The sewing data to be stored in theEEPROM104 include sewing data on a composite embroidery pattern obtained by arranging and combining embroidery patterns stored in theROM102 with an optional layout.
• The sewing data to be stored in theEEPROM104 include shape point data and stitch point data (coordinate data and moving amount data) which are created by adjusting, in accordance with a layout and an enlargement/reduction of a size of a pattern, the shape point data and the stitch point data of the sewing data on the embroidery patterns stored in theROM102.
• Thecontrol portion100 processes operation signals input from an X-axis origin sensor (not shown) and a Y-axis origin sensor (not shown) which are provided in theX-axis motor14 and the Y-axis motor15 respectively, operation signals input from theswitches16ato16cand thevolume16dof thekey matrix16, various setting data input from theoperation panel20 and various data stored in theROM102 and theEEPROM104 in accordance with various control programs stored in theROM102, and executes a control of theoperation panel20, theX-axis motor14, the Y-axis motor15 and thesewing machine motor5.
• Upon executing a sewing, thecontrol portion100 carries out a processing of control means in which theCPU101 executes the control program to read the sewing data stored in theROM102 and/or theEEPROM104 to start the driving operation of thesewing machine motor5 and to drive theX-axis motor14 and the Y-axis motor15 in order to position theembroidery frame11 at stitch point of theneedle8 indicated by the sewing data. Thecontrol portion100 sequentially positions theembroidery frame11 at the respective stitch points in accordance with the coordinate data of the sewing data interlockingly with the rotation of thesewing machine motor5, and continuously carries out stitching of theneedle8 until the entire sewing work is completed. In this way, an embroidery pattern is formed on the cloth.
• Moreover, thecontrol portion100 executes a control for displaying, on thedisplay area22aof the liquidcrystal display panel22, an embroidery pattern having a larger range than theembroidery pattern11, in relation to the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv on the virtual reference line Lv which are used as references of a position and an angle when sewing the embroidery pattern onto the cloth.
• Further, thecontrol portion100 functions as display control means for displaying the sewing region R corresponding to theembroidery frame11 at an optional position on thedisplay area22asuch that a part of the embroidery pattern, the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv are included in the sewing region R.
• More specifically, the control portion100 (the display control means) executes a control for moving the sewing region R corresponding to the size (the stitchable range) of theembroidery frame11 to an optional position on thedisplay area22aof the liquidcrystal display panel22 and for displaying the sewing region R so as to surround a part of the embroidery pattern displayed on thedisplay area22a,the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv.
• Further, thecontrol portion100 functions as reference position information acquiring means for acquiring position information on positions of a reference point P and an optional point on a reference line L which are marked on the cloth held in theembroidery frame11.
• More specifically, the control portion100 (the reference position information acquiring means) executes a control for moving theembroidery frame11 in accordance with a touching operation of the eight-direction key21aof theoperation panel20 to relatively move theneedle8 with respect to theembroidery frame11, thereby positioning theneedle8 at the reference point P and the optional point on the reference line L on the cloth held in theembroidery frame11 respectively and acquiring the position information, e.g., coordinates of the two points.
• The control portion100 (the reference position information acquiring means) acquires a function of the reference line L on the cloth held in theembroidery frame11 by calculating a line connecting the reference point P and the optional point on the reference line L in accordance with the coordinate data of the two points.
• Moreover, thecontrol portion100 functions as sewing data correcting means for correcting sewing data on the embroidery pattern in accordance with a position of the cloth based on the position information acquired by the control portion100 (the reference position information acquiring means) by interrelating the position information with respect to the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv.
• More specifically, the control portion100 (the sewing data correcting means) executes a control for correcting the sewing data on the embroidery pattern such that a difference of positions (coordinates) between the reference point P and the virtual reference point Pv and a difference of inclinations between the reference line L and the virtual reference line Lv are compensated, whereby an embroidery to be actually sewn onto the cloth is formed at a desirable position and angle. In other words, the control portion100 (the sewing data correcting means) carries out a control of correcting a positional shift and a inclination shift of cross lines, an intersection point of which being the reference point P on the function of the reference line L acquired by the control portion100 (the reference position information acquiring means), with respect to the cross lines, an intersection point of which being the virtual reference point Pv on the virtual reference line Lv, so that the embroidery pattern, which is displayed on thedisplay area22aof theoperation panel20 with the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv being the references, is formed on the cloth held in theembroidery frame11.
• Further, thecontrol portion100 functions as the sewing control means for sewing a part of the embroidery pattern included in the sewing region R onto the cloth based on the sewing data corrected by the control portion100 (the sewing data correcting means).
• The control portion100 (the sewing control means) executes an operation for sewing each portion of the sectioned embroidery pattern such that the reference line L and the reference point P, which are marked on the cloth, correspond to the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv, which are included in the sewing region R, respectively, thereby combining and joining the sectioned embroidery patterns to form the entire embroidery pattern onto the cloth.
• With regard to the joining embroidering, the operation and processing for sewing a part of the embroidery pattern included in the sewing region R onto the cloth is similar to that in the related art. Therefore, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
• Next, the process to be carried out in the sewing machine M according to the exemplary embodiment when sewing an embroidery pattern, which is larger than the size of theembroidery frame11, onto the cloth will be described with reference to the flowchart ofFIG. 4.
• In the exemplary embodiment description will be given by taking, as an example, an operation for sewing an embroidery pattern which is four times larger than the stitchable range of theembroidery frame11 as shown inFIG. 5.
• First of all, sewing data on a heart-shaped pattern and sewing data on a smile-shaped pattern, which are stored in theROM102, are read respectively through a key operation of theoperation panel20 by the operator, and the respective embroidery patterns are arranged in a layout on thedisplay area22aof theoperation panel20 on which the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv are displayed, and a desirable large-sized embroidery pattern is created by combining the heart-shaped patterns and the smile-shaped patterns as shown inFIG. 6, and sewing data on the large-sized embroidery pattern thus created are stored in the EEPROM104 (Step S101).
• As shown inFIG. 7, the reference line L and the reference point P are marked, with a chalk pencil, on the cloth C on which the large-sized embroidery pattern is to be sewn. The operator marks the reference line L and the reference point P on the cloth C with the chalk pencil such that the reference line L and the reference point P corresponds to the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv, which are displayed on thedisplay area22ain relation to the large-sized embroidery pattern, respectively.
• As shown inFIG. 6, on thedisplay area22aof theoperation panel20, the virtual reference line Lv is displayed as a vertical line, and the virtual reference point Pv is displayed as an intersection point of the virtual reference line Lv and a transverse line perpendicular to the virtual reference line Lv. On the other hand, as shown inFIG. 7, a mark line forming an intersection point with the reference line L is marked on the cloth C to indicate the reference point P corresponding to the virtual reference point Pv.
• Subsequently, as shown inFIG. 8, the sewing region R corresponding to the stitchable range of theembroidery frame11 is displayed on thedisplay area22aand is moved through an operation from the eight-direction key21aof theoperation panel20 by the operator or an operation for designating thedisplay area22athrough a direct touch, and the OK key21bis touched at a desirable position in which the sewing region R includes a part of the large-sized embroidery pattern, and the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv, thereby designating and setting the sewing region R corresponding to a range in which the sewing machine M sews the embroidery (Step S102).
• When the OK key21bis touched, then, a range surrounded by the sewing region R (seeFIG. 8), that is, a part of the large-sized embroidery pattern, and the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv within the range are enlarged and displayed on theentire display region22aof theoperation panel20 as shown inFIG. 9.
• The virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv, which are displayed on thedisplay region22aof theoperation panel20, serves as indices to show which portion of the cloth C is to be held in theembroidery frame11.
• Subsequently, the operator attaches, to theembroidery frame11, the cloth C having the reference line L and the reference point P marked thereon, and holds the cloth C by referring to the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv displayed on thedisplay region22aof theoperation panel20 shown inFIG. 9. More specifically, thedisplay region22aof theoperation panel20 shown inFIG. 9 is a range surrounded by the sewing region R and corresponds to the stitchable range in theembroidery frame11. Therefore, it is preferable to attach the cloth C to theembroidery frame11 so as to dispose the reference line L and the reference point P with respect to theembroidery frame11 in way the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv are displayed on thedisplay region22a.
• After the clot C is attached to theembroidery frame11, the operator touches the OK key21bof theoperation panel20 shown inFIG. 9.
• When the OK key21bis touched by the operator, a referenceline designating key21cand a reference point designating key21d,which are coordinate acquiring keys functioning as a part of the reference position information acquiring means, are displayed on theoperation panel20 together with the eight-direction key21aand the OK key21bas shown inFIG. 10.
• Subsequently, the operator manipulates the eight-direction key21ato move theembroidery frame11, thereby relatively moving theneedle8 with respect to theembroidery frame11. Theneedle8 is positioned at optional point on the reference line L on the cloth C held in theembroidery frame11 and the referenceline designating key21cis touched to acquire coordinate data on the optional point on the reference line L. Subsequently, the operator manipulates the eight-direction key21ato move theembroidery frame11, thereby relatively moving theneedle8 with respect theembroidery frame11. Theneedle8 is then positioned at the reference point P on the cloth C held in theembroidery frame11 and the reference point designating key21dis touched to acquire coordinate data on the reference point P. The optional point on the reference line L and the reference point P are set to be different from each other.
• Then, thecontrol portion100 obtains a line connecting the reference point P and the optional point on the reference line L by calculating from the coordinate data on the two points which are acquired. Accordingly, a function of the reference line L on the cloth C, which is actually attached and held in theembroidery frame11, is acquired (Step S103).
• When the referenceline designating key21cand the reference point designating key21dare touched and the OK key21bis then touched by the operator, thecontrol portion100 carries out a correction processing in which the sewing data on the embroidery pattern, which is displayed on thedisplay area22aof theoperation panel20 with the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv being the references, is transformed into sewing data for an actual sewing onto the cloth C held in theembroidery frame11. More specifically, thecontrol portion100 transforms an arrangement of the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv such that the cross lines formed by the virtual reference line Lv and the transverse line passing through the virtual reference point Pv and perpendicularly intersecting the virtual reference line Lv is superposed on the cross lines formed by the function of the reference line L and a line perpendicularly intersecting the reference line L at the reference point P (Step S104).
• Data on the cross lines formed by the virtual reference line Lv and the transverse line passing through the virtual reference point Pv and perpendicularly intersecting the virtual reference line Lv (e.g., respective functions of the virtual reference line Lv and the intersecting transverse line) are previously stored in theROM102.
• For example, in a case in which the cross lines including the reference line L and the cross lines including the virtual reference line Lv are shifted from each other by an angle θ as shown inFIG. 11, there is carried out a correction processing of adjusting the coordinates of stitch points in the sewing data by a transformation of rotating and moving the sewing data on the embroidery pattern displayed on thedisplay area22aby the angle θ.
• In a case in which positions of the cross lines including the reference line L and the cross lines including the virtual reference line Lv are shifted from each other by a distance z, there is carried out a correction processing of adjusting the coordinates of the stitch points in the sewing data by a transformation of moving the sewing data on the embroidery pattern displayed on thedisplay area22aby the distance z in parallel. Moreover, it is also possible to carry out a correction processing of executing both a correction by the transformation of rotating and moving the sewing data by the angle θ and the correction the transformation of moving the sewing data by the distance z in parallel.
• When the correction processing of transforming (converting) the sewing data on the embroidery pattern is carried out by thecontrol portion100, an embroidery pattern corresponding to the corrected sewing data is displayed on thedisplay area22aof theoperation panel20. More specifically, as shown inFIG. 12, the embroidery pattern is displayed such that it is oriented in a direction in which a sewing is actually performed on the cloth C so as to correspond to a state in which the cloth C is held in theembroidery frame11, i.e., in a state in which the cloth C has a positional shift or a tilt with respect to theembroidery frame11 with the reference line L being the reference.
• When the start/stop switch16aof the sewing machine M is manipulated by the operator, there is executed a sewing operation for sewing the embroidery pattern displayed on thedisplay area22aof theoperation panel20 onto the cloth C held in the embroidery frame11 (Step S105). The embroidery patterns which can be sewn by the sewing machine M are displayed on thedisplay area22aof theoperation panel20 without their shapes being broken, e.g., two heart-shaped patterns and two smile-shaped patterns displayed on thedisplay area22ainFIG. 12 can be sewn.
• Moreover, thecontrol portion100 temporarily stores, in theRAM103, a part of the large-sized embroidery pattern which has already been sewn (e.g., the two heart-shaped patterns and the two smile-shaped patterns arranged in a left upper area of the large-sized embroidery pattern).
• Subsequently, thecontrol portion100 decides whether the entire large-sized embroidery pattern has been sewn or not (Step S106).
• If thecontrol portion100 decides that the entire large-sized embroidery pattern has not yet been sewn (Step S106; No), the processing returns to Step S102. Thus, the processing is continuously carried out to consecutively execute an operation for sewing the residual embroidery pattern. It is preferable that thecontrol portion100 display the portion of the large-sized embroidery pattern which has already been sewn and the rest of the large-sized embroidery pattern which has not yet been sewn on thedisplay area22aof theoperation panel20 so as to be distinguishable from each other so that the operator can easily designate the portion which has not yet been sewn with the sewing region R.
• With regard to the joining embroidering, the operation and processing for sewing, onto the cloth C, each portion of the embroidery pattern included in the sewing region R to form the entire embroidery pattern onto the cloth C is similar to that in the related art. Therefore, detailed description thereof will be omitted.
• If thecontrol portion100 decides that the entire large-sized embroidery pattern has been sewn (Step S106; Yes), the processing of sewing the large-sized embroidery pattern onto the cloth C is ended, and the operation of the sewing machine M is stopped.
• As described above, the sewing machine M is operable to perform a joining embroidering of the entire large-sized embroidery pattern onto the cloth C by repetitively executing of the pattern sewing operation corresponding to the region designated to divide the large-sized embroidery pattern by the sewing region R and by combining the sectioned embroidery patterns.
• When forming the large-sized embroidery pattern onto the cloth C with the sewing machine M, it is possible to accurately perform the joining embroidering with by dividing the large-sized embroidery pattern with the sewing region R and connecting the embroidery patterns thus sectioned.
• In other words, when the large-sized embroidery pattern displayed on thedisplay area22aof theoperation panel20 is to be sectioned into some portions to be sewn onto the cloth C while causing the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv, which are displayed in relation to the large-sized embroidery pattern, to correspond to the reference line L and the reference point P, which are marked on the cloth C held in theembroidery frame11 in the sewing machine M, it is possible to accurately perform the joining embroidering by sewing the embroideries in the some sectioned portions into proper positions of the cloth C and combining the embroideries in the sectioned portions to form the large-sized embroidery pattern onto the cloth C.
• Specifically, the operator only needs to position theneedle8 at two points to set the cross lines that are used when interrelating the virtual reference line Lv and the virtual reference point Pv in thedisplay area22awith respect to the reference line L and the reference point P which are marked on the cloth C held in theembroidery frame11, respectively. More specifically, the operator positions theneedle8 at the optional point on the reference line L on the cloth C held in theembroidery frame11 and at the reference point P on the cloth C to acquire the coordinate data on the two points, whereby the cross lines are set from the function of the reference line L and the function of the line perpendicularly intersecting the reference line L at the reference point P. Therefore, it is possible to decrease the number of the positioning works as compared with the related art technique, thereby relieving the complicated work.
• In the case in which the cross lines on the cloth is input by positioning the needle at four points on the cloth as in the related art, it is hard to set and input the cross lines such that the vertical line and the transverse line perpendicularly intersect each other (although the cross lines may be visually checked that they seem to be perpendicular to each other, it is difficult to input the cross lines that are accurately perpendicular to each other). However, according to the sewing machine M of the exemplary embodiment, it is possible to set the cross lines, in which the vertical line and the transverse line are accurately perpendicular to each other, by setting the function of the reference line L from the line connecting the two points at which theneedle8 are positioned and by further setting the function of the line perpendicularly intersecting the reference line L at the reference point P. Therefore, it is possible to form a more suitable joining embroidering.
• According to the sewing machine M described above, it is possible to reduce the labor of the operator and to enhance sewing accuracy of the joining embroidering.
• Although the embroidery pattern to be sewn has the size that is four times larger than the stitchable range of theembroidery frame11 in the exemplary embodiment, an embroidery pattern having any size can be sewn.
• Although the reference line L is marked the vertical direction on the cloth C in the exemplary embodiment, the reference line L may be marked in other directions. For example, if embroidery patterns are arranged in the vertical direction so that the reference line L in the vertical direction is difficult to recognize, the reference line L can be marked in a transverse direction. In such a case, the transverse line of thedisplay area22aserves as the virtual reference line Lv.
• While description has been made in connection with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes and modification may be made therein without departing from the present invention. It is aimed, therefore, to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications falling within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (6)

1. A sewing machine comprising:

an embroidery frame which holds a cloth on which a reference line and a reference point on the reference line are marked;

a display portion which displays an embroidery pattern, which is to be sewn in a range larger than the embroidery frame, a virtual reference line, and a virtual reference point on the virtual reference line, such that the embroidery pattern is associated with the virtual reference line and the virtual reference point which are references for a position and an angle upon embroidering the embroidery pattern on the cloth;

display control means for displaying a sewing region, which corresponds 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;

reference position information acquiring 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 in accordance with an arrangement of the cloth by interrelating the position information acquired by the reference position information acquiring means with the virtual reference line and the virtual reference point; and

sewing control means for sewing the section of the embroidery pattern included in the sewing region onto the cloth in accordance with the sewing data corrected by the sewing data correcting means.

2. The sewing machine according toclaim 1, wherein the sewing data correcting means corrects the sewing data on the embroidery pattern such that the virtual reference line and the virtual reference point, which are displayed on the display portion in association with the embroidery pattern, are transformed so as to be superposed on the reference line and the reference point in accordance with the position information acquired by the reference position information acquiring means.

3. The sewing machine according toclaim 1, wherein the sewing control means forms the other sections of the embroidery pattern such that all the sections of the embroidery patterns are combined to form the embroidery pattern on the cloth.

4. A sewing machine comprising:

an embroidery frame which holds a cloth on which a reference line and a reference point on the reference line are marked;

a display portion which displays an embroidery pattern, which is to be sewn in a range larger than the embroidery frame, a virtual reference line, and a virtual reference point on the virtual reference line, such that the embroidery pattern is in relation to the virtual reference line and the virtual reference point which are references for a position and an angle upon embroidering the embroidery pattern on the cloth;

display control means for displaying a sewing region, which corresponds 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;

reference position information acquiring 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 in accordance with an arrangement of the cloth by interrelating the position information acquired by the reference position information acquiring means with the virtual reference line and the virtual reference point; and

sewing control means for sewing the section of the embroidery pattern included in the sewing region onto the cloth in accordance with the sewing data corrected by the sewing data correcting means.

5. The sewing machine according toclaim 4, wherein the sewing data correcting means corrects the sewing data on the embroidery pattern such that the virtual reference line and the virtual reference point, which are displayed on the display portion in association with the embroidery pattern, are transformed so as to be superposed on the reference line and the reference point in accordance with the position information acquired by the reference position information acquiring means.

6. The sewing machine according toclaim 4, wherein the sewing control means forms the other sections of the embroidery pattern such that all the sections of the embroidery patterns are combined to form the embroidery pattern on the cloth.

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