Patent Grant
8534209
This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-186563, filed Aug. 23, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to a sewing machine that moves an embroidery frame holding a work cloth and sews an embroidery pattern and to a computer program product that causes the sewing machine to sew the embroidery pattern.
Recently, sewing machines are known that can detect a size of an embroidery frame used when sewing. This type of sewing machine is provided with an embroidery machine, to which the embroidery frame is attached, that moves the embroidery frame in an X axis direction and a Y axis direction, and with a tiltable lever that detects the size of the embroidery frame. A shape of the embroidery frame is substantially a rectangular shape. In a state in which the tiltable lever has been caused to slide to a downward position, a position of a front portion of the embroidery frame is detected by driving the embroidery frame in the X axis direction until the front portion of the embroidery frame comes into contact with the tiltable lever. A position of a rear portion of the embroidery frame is detected by driving the embroidery frame in a negative direction of the X axis until the rear portion of the embroidery frame comes into contact with the tiltable lever. The size of the embroidery frame is determined based on the detected positions of the front portion and the rear portion of the embroidery frame.
When an area of the embroidery frame on which the embroidery pattern can be sewn (hereinafter referred to as a sewable area) is set, it is preferable to set the sewable area such that the embroidery frame does not come into contact with a presser foot during sewing. More specifically, it is preferable to take into account the size of the presser foot and to set the size of the sewable area to be slightly smaller than the size of the embroidery frame. When the shape of the embroidery frame is a substantially rectangular shape, normally, four locations of the corners of the rectangular shape (four corners) are formed in an arc. For that reason, when the roundness (angle R) of the corners is taken into account, it is preferable to set the sewable area to be even smaller.
In the above-described example of the sewing machine, a length of the embroidery frame in the front-rear direction is identified, based on the positions of the front portion and the rear portion of the substantially rectangular shaped embroidery frame. Similarly, if positions of a left portion and a right portion of the embroidery frame are detected, it is also possible to identify a length of the embroidery frame in the left-right direction. However, in the above-described example of the sewing machine, as it not possible to identify a size of the roundness (the angle R) of the corners of the substantially rectangular shaped embroidery frame, it is not possible to set the sewable area while taking into account the roundness (the angle R) of the corners. As a result, when sewing is performed using the substantially rectangular shaped embroidery frame that has arc-shaped corners, there are concerns that the presser foot may come into contact with the corners of the embroidery frame during sewing.
Various exemplary embodiments of the general principles herein provide a sewing machine and a computer program product that are capable of setting an appropriate sewable area even when sewing is performed using an embroidery frame that has arc-shaped corners.
The exemplary embodiments provide a sewing machine comprising a transport portion that moves an embroidery frame that holds a work cloth on which embroidery is sewn; a contact detection portion that is disposed on an inner peripheral side of the embroidery frame and that detects contact with the embroidery frame that is moved by the transport portion; a first position identification portion that causes the transport portion to move the embroidery frame in a first direction and that identifies a first position at which contact with the embroidery frame is detected by the contact detection portion; a second position identification portion that causes the transport portion to move the embroidery frame in a second direction and that identifies a second position at which contact with the embroidery frame is detected by the contact detection portion, the second direction orthogonally intersecting the first direction; a direction determination portion that determines a third direction that is a direction of a diagonal line of a first virtual rectangle, which is calculated from the first position identified by the first position identification portion and the second position identified by the second position identification portion; a third position identification portion that causes the transport portion to move the embroidery frame in the third direction determined by the direction determination portion, and that identifies a third position at which contact with the embroidery frame is detected by the contact detection portion; and an area setting portion that, based on a second virtual rectangle that is calculated from the third position identified by the third position identification portion, sets a sewable area that is an area on which an embroidery pattern can be sewn within the embroidery frame.
The exemplary embodiments also provide a computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a computer of a sewing machine which includes a transport portion that moves an embroidery frame that holds a work cloth on which embroidery is sewn, and a contact detection portion that is disposed on an inner peripheral side of the embroidery frame and that detects contact with the embroidery frame that is moved by the transport portion to execute the steps of: causing the transport portion to move the embroidery frame in a first direction and identifying a first position at which contact with the embroidery frame is detected by the contact detection portion; causing the transport portion to move the embroidery frame in a second direction and identifying a second position at which contact with the embroidery frame is detected by the contact detection portion, the second direction orthogonally intersecting the first direction; determining a third direction that is a direction of a diagonal line of a first virtual rectangle, which is calculated from the identified first position and the identified second position; causing the transport portion to move the embroidery frame in the determined third direction and identifying a third position at which contact with the embroidery frame is detected by the contact detection portion; and setting a sewable area based on a second virtual rectangle that is calculated from the identified third position, the sewable area being an area on which an embroidery pattern can be sewn within the embroidery frame.
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be explained with reference to the appended drawings. The drawings are used to explain technological features that the present disclosure can utilize and are merely explanatory examples.
A physical configuration of a sewing machine 1 will be explained with reference to
As shown in
An embroidery frame 34 that holds a work cloth 100 is disposed on top of the sewing machine bed 11. The embroidery frame 34 has a known structure in which the work cloth 100 is held by being clamped between an inner frame and an outer frame. An inner side area of the embroidery frame 34 is an area on which stitches of an embroidery pattern can be formed. As also shown in
An embroidery frame transport device 92 that moves the embroidery frame 34 has a known structure and a simple explanation will therefore be given here. The embroidery frame transport device 92 can be attached to and removed from the sewing machine bed 11. A carriage cover 35 is provided on an upper portion of the embroidery frame transport device 92 and extends in the front-rear direction. Inside the carriage cover 35 are provided a carriage (not shown in the figures) to which the embroidery frame 34 can be detachably attached, and a Y axis transport mechanism (not shown in the figures) that moves the carriage in the front-rear direction (Y direction). The Y axis transport mechanism is driven by a Y axis motor 84 (refer to
Inside a main body of the embroidery frame transport device 92 is provided an X axis transport mechanism (not shown in the figures) that moves the carriage, the Y axis transport mechanism and the carriage cover 35 in the left-right direction (X direction). The X axis transport mechanism is driven by an X axis motor 83 (refer to
In this way, by driving a needle bar 6 (refer to
A liquid crystal display 15, that has a vertical rectangular shape, is provided on a front surface of the pillar 12. Various commands, illustrations, setting values, messages and the like are displayed on the liquid crystal display 15. A touch panel 26, which is pressure operated by a user using a finger or a pen or the like, is provided on the liquid crystal display 15. Hereinafter, the pressure operation of the touch panel 26 is referred to as a “panel operation.” For example, by the panel operation, the user can select a command executed by the sewing machine 1, select an embroidery pattern to be sewn on the work cloth 100, or edit the embroidery pattern and so on.
A thread compartment 18, which is a recessed portion that houses a thread spool 20, is provided in a generally central portion inside the arm portion 13. The arm portion 13 is provided with an opening-and-closing cover 16 that opens and closes the upper portion side of the arm portion 13. The thread compartment 18 is opened or concealed in accordance with the opening and closing of the opening-and-closing cover 16. A thread spool pin 19 is provided on an interior wall surface of the thread compartment 18 on the side of the pillar 12, the thread spool pin 19 protruding towards the head portion 14. The thread spool 20 is mounted in the thread compartment 18 in a state in which the thread spool pin 19 is inserted into an insertion hole (not shown in the figures) of the thread spool 20.
An upper thread (not shown in the figures) that extends from the thread spool 20 is supplied to a stitching needle 7 (refer to
A plurality of operation switches 21 are provided on a lower portion of a front surface of the arm portion 13. The plurality of operation switches 21 include, for example, a sewing start-and-stop switch, a reverse stitch switch and a needle up-and-down switch. In addition, a speed controller 32 is provided in the center of the lower portion of the front surface of the arm portion 13. The speed controller 32 is an operation member for the user to adjust a rotation speed of the drive shaft.
The needle bar 6, the stitching needle 7, a presser bar 45 and a presser foot 47 will be explained with reference to
The probe 50 is provided with a tillable lever 51 and a main body 53. The tiltable lever 51 is a bar-shaped member that extends vertically downward from the main body 53. The tiltable lever 51 is supported by the main body 53 such that the tiltable lever 51 can tilt in response to external pressure from a circumferential direction. A contacting sphere 52 is provided on the bottom end of the tiltable lever 51. Although not shown in the figures, a retaining mechanism, which retains the tillable lever 51, and a detector, which detects the tilt of the tiltable lever 51, are provided on the main body 53. In a state in which an external pressure is not applied to the tiltable lever 51 or to the contacting sphere 52, the retaining mechanism holds the tiltable lever 51 in a vertically downwardly extending posture (a neutral posture). When external pressure is applied from a circumferential direction to the tillable lever 51 or to the contacting sphere 52, the tiltable lever 51 tilts in response to the external pressure. The detector detects that the tiltable lever 51 is tilted, and outputs a detection signal. When the external pressure is no longer applied, the tiltable lever 51 is returned to the neutral posture by the retaining mechanism.
In the present embodiment, when the user sets a sewable area, which will be explained later, the user moves the probe 50 from the upward position to the downward position. The downward position is a height position at which the contacting sphere 52 at the bottom end of the tiltable lever 51 can come into contact with inner walls (inner circumferential surfaces of the inner frame) of the embroidery frame 34. However, as the downward position is slightly above the work cloth 100, the contacting sphere 52 in the downward position does not come into contact with an upper surface of the work cloth 100. In the embroidery frame 34 shown in
An electrical configuration of the sewing machine 1 will be explained with reference to
Drive circuits 71, 72, 74, 75, 85 and 86 are electrically connected to the output interface 66. The drive circuit 71 drives the feed adjustment motor 78 that is a pulse motor. The drive circuit 72 drives the sewing machine motor 79. The drive circuit 74 drives a swinging motor 80, which is a pulse motor that drives the needle bar 6 in a swinging motion. It should be noted that the feed adjustment motor 78 and the swinging motor 80 are not driven when the embroidery pattern is being sewn. The drive circuit 75 drives the liquid crystal display 15. The drive circuits 85 and 86 respectively drive the X axis motor 83 and the Y axis motor 84 that move the embroidery frame 34.
Area setting processing performed by the sewing machine 1 will be explained with reference to
As shown in
When the offset values have been input (yes at step S1), the input offset values are stored in the EEPROM 64 (step S3). After performing step S3, or when the offset values have not been input (no at step S1), a determination is made as to whether an area setting key is on (step S5). The area setting key is a key to input a command that sets the sewable area of the embroidery frame 34. More specifically, when the user performs a panel operation to depress the area setting key displayed on the liquid crystal display 15, it is determined that the area setting key is on (yes at step S5).
Next, using the signal from the attachment sensor 59, a determination is made as to whether the embroidery frame 34 is attached to the carriage of the embroidery frame transport device 92 (step S7). When the embroidery frame 34 is not attached to the carriage (no at step S7), an error message indicating that the embroidery frame 34 is not attached is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15 (step S23). After performing step S23, the processing returns to step S1.
When the embroidery frame 34 is attached to the carriage of the embroidery frame transport device 92 (yes at step S7), based on an output signal of the position sensor 58, a determination is made as to whether the probe 50 is in the downward position (step S9). When the probe 50 is not in the downward position (no at step S9), an error message indicating that the probe 50 is not in the downward position is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15 (step S23). After performing step S23, the processing returns to step S1.
When the probe 50 is in the downward position (yes at step S9), frame origin point detection processing (step S11), Y coordinate detection processing (step S13), X coordinate detection processing (step S15), diagonal direction detection processing (step S17) and area calculation processing (step S19) are sequentially performed. Hereinafter, each of the processes will be explained individually in detail.
As shown in
After performing step S51, a determination is made as to whether a measurement is complete of a distance in the rearward direction from the initial origin point O1 of the embroidery frame 34 (step S53). When the distance in the rearward direction has not yet been measured (no at step S53), “front” is set as a movement direction of the embroidery frame 34 (step S55). In the sewing machine 1, the embroidery frame 34 moves in the front-rear and the left-right directions with respect to the probe 50, whose position in the front-rear and left-right directions is fixed. As a result, at step S55, in order to measure the rearward direction distance of the embroidery frame 34, settings are made to move the embroidery frame 34 in the frontward direction.
After performing step S55, the embroidery frame 34 is moved in the set direction by the embroidery frame transport device 92 (step S57). Then, a determination is made as to whether the probe 50 is on (step S59). More specifically, based on the detection signal output from the detector of the probe 50, a determination is made as to whether the tiltable lever 51 is tilted. When the tiltable lever 51 is tilted, it is determined that the probe 50 is on (yes at step S59).
In this case, the movement of the embroidery frame 34 is stopped, and a movement distance from the initial origin point O1 to the stop position is identified and stored in the RAM 63 (step S61). After that, the processing returns to step S51. On the other hand, when the probe 50 is off (no at step S59), the processing returns to step S57. Thus, the embroidery frame 34 is moved in the set direction until the probe 50 is on.
In the present embodiment, when “front” is set as the movement direction of the embroidery frame 34 (step S55), the embroidery frame 34 that is at the initial origin point O1 is moved in the frontward direction (step S57). As the embroidery frame 34 is moved in the frontward direction, a distance between the contacting sphere 52, which is disposed on the inner side of the embroidery frame 34, and the inner wall 343 (refer to
After performing step S51, when it is determined that the measurement is complete of the distance in the rearward direction from the initial origin point O1 (yes at step S53), a determination is made as to whether a measurement is complete of a distance in the frontward direction from the initial origin point O1 (step S63). When the distance in the frontward direction has not yet been measured (no at step S63), “rear” is set as the movement direction of the embroidery frame 34 (step S65). Following that, the above-described step S57 to step S61 are performed, and the processing returns to step S51.
In the present embodiment, when “rear” is set as the movement direction of the embroidery frame 34 (step S65), the embroidery frame 34 that is at the initial origin point O1 is moved in the rearward direction (step S57). As the embroidery frame 34 is moved in the rearward direction, the contacting sphere 52 comes into contact with the inner wall 344 (refer to
After performing step S51, when measurement is complete of both the distances in the rearward and frontward directions from the initial origin point O1 (yes at step S53 and yes at step S63), the processing returns to the frame origin point detection processing (refer to
As shown in
After performing step S75, the embroidery frame 34 is moved by the embroidery frame transport device 92 in the set direction (step S77). Then, a determination is made as to whether the probe 50 is on (step S79). When the probe 50 is on (yes at step S79), the movement distance from the initial origin point O1 to the stop position is stored (step S81). Following that, the processing returns to step S71. On the other hand, when the probe 50 is off (no at step S79), the processing returns to step S77.
In the present embodiment, when “left” is set as the movement direction of the embroidery frame 34 (step S75), the embroidery frame 34 that is at the initial origin point O1 is moved in the leftward direction (step S77). As the embroidery frame 34 is moved in the leftward direction, the contacting sphere 52 comes into contact with the right side inner wall 341 (refer to
After executing step S71, when the measurement of the distance in the rightward direction is complete (yes at step S73), a determination is made as to whether a measurement is complete of a distance in the leftward direction of the embroidery, frame 34 (step S83). When the distance in the leftward direction has not yet been measured (no at step S83), “right” is set as the movement direction of the embroidery frame 34 (step S85). Following that, the above-described step S77 to step S81 are performed, and the processing returns to step S71.
In the present embodiment, when “right” is set as the movement direction of the embroidery frame 34 (step S85), the embroidery frame 34 that is at the initial origin point O1 is moved in the rightward direction (step S77). As the embroidery frame 34 is moved in the rightward direction, the contacting sphere 52 comes into contact with the left side inner wall 342 (refer to
After performing step S71, when measurement is complete of both the distances in the leftward and rightward directions (yes at step S73 and yes at step S83), the processing returns to the frame origin point detection processing (refer to
As shown in
Q=(B1+B2)/2
After performing step S91, a center point P in the left-right direction of the embroidery frame 34 is calculated (step S93). The center point P is calculated in the following manner, based on the distances A1 and A2 stored in the RAM 63.
P=(A1+A2)/2
The center point Q calculated at step S91 and the center point P calculated at step S93 are set as coordinates (P, Q) of a frame origin point O2 (step S95). The frame origin point O2 is a center position in the front-rear direction (the Y direction) and the left-right direction (the X direction) of the embroidery frame 34 (refer to
As shown in
In the present embodiment, by the processing at step S105 to step S111, a distance Y1 (refer to
As shown in
In the present embodiment, by the processing at step S125 to step S131, a distance X1 (refer to
As shown in
The movement point is a vertex of a first virtual rectangle 200 (refer to
After performing step S147, the embroidery frame 34 is moved by the embroidery frame transport device 92 to the movement point stored in the RAM 63 (step S149). Then, a determination is made as to whether the probe 50 is on (step S151). When the probe 50 is on (yes at step S151), based on the movement distance from the frame origin point O2 to the stop position, one of sets of coordinates K1, K2, K3 and K4 corresponding to the counter value is set and stored in the RAM 63 (step S153). Following that, the counter value is incremented (step S155), and the processing returns to step S143. On the other hand, when the probe 50 is off (no at step S151), the processing returns to step S149, and the embroidery frame 34 is moved toward the movement point until the probe 50 is on.
In the present embodiment, immediately after starting the diagonal direction detection processing (step S17), the counter value is set to “0” (step S143, yes at step S145). In this case, the embroidery frame 34 is moved from the frame origin point O2 toward the coordinates J1 (X1, Y1), namely, the embroidery frame 34 is moved in the front left direction (yes at step S145; step S147 and step S149). When the contacting sphere 52 comes into contact with the inner wall 345 (refer to
After performing step S143, when the counter value is not “0” (no at step S145), a determination is made as to whether the counter value is “1” (step S157). When the counter value is “1” (yes at step S157), coordinates J2 (−X2, Y1) are set as the movement point stored in the RAM 63 (step S159). The X coordinate and the Y coordinate of the coordinates J2 are the minus value of the distance X2 and the distance Y1, respectively, which are stored in the RAM 63 (refer to
In the present embodiment, after the coordinates K1 (X3, Y3) have been set, the counter value is set to “1” (step S155). In this case, the embroidery frame 34 is moved from the frame origin point O2 toward the coordinates J2 (−X2, Y1). Namely, the embroidery frame 34 is moved in the front right direction (yes at step S157; step S159 and step S149). When the contacting sphere 52 comes into contact with the inner wall 346 (refer to
After performing step S143, when the counter value is neither “0” nor “1” (no at step S145 and no at step S157), a determination is made as to whether the counter value is “2” (step S161). When the counter value is “2” (yes at step S161), coordinates J3 (−X2, −Y2) are set as the movement point stored in the RAM 63 (step S163). The X coordinate and the Y coordinate of the coordinates J3 are the minus value of the distance X2 and the minus value of the distance Y2, respectively (refer to
In the present embodiment, after the coordinates K2 (X4, Y4) have been set, the counter value is set to “2” (step S155). In this case, the embroidery frame 34 is moved from the frame origin point O2 toward the coordinates J3 (−X2, −Y2). Namely, the embroidery frame 34 is moved in the rear right direction (yes at step S161; step S163 and step S149). When the contacting sphere 52 comes into contact with the inner wall 347 (refer to
After performing step S143, when the counter value is neither “0”, “1”, nor “2” (no at step S145; no at step S157 and no at step S161), a determination is made as to whether the counter value is “3” (step S165). When the counter value is “3” (yes at step S165), coordinates J4 (X1, −Y2) are set as the movement point stored in the RAM 63 (step S167). The X coordinate and the Y coordinate of the coordinates J4 are the distance X1 and the minus value of the distance Y2, respectively, which are stored in the RAM 63 (refer to
In the present embodiment, after the coordinates K3 (X5, Y5) have been set, the counter value is set to “3” (step S155). In this case, the embroidery frame 34 is moved from the frame origin point O2 toward the coordinates J4 (X1, −Y2). Namely, the embroidery frame 34 is moved in the rear left direction (yes at step S165; step S167 and step S149). When the contacting sphere 52 comes into contact with the inner wall 348 (refer to
After performing step S143, when the counter value is neither “0”, “1”, “2” nor “3” (no at step S145; no at step S157; no at step S161 and no at step S165), the processing returns to the area setting processing (
As shown in
The offset values (OX, OY) stored in the EEPROM 64 are acquired (step S173). Based on the coordinates K1 to K4 and the offset values (OX, OY), a size of the sewable area is calculated (step S175). Of the dimensions of the sewable area, a dimension T1 in the left-right direction is calculated in the following manner:
T1=|X3+OX|+|X6−OX|(Alternatively: T1=|X4+OX|+|X5−OX|)
Of the dimensions of the sewable area, a dimension T2 in the front-rear direction is calculated in the following manner:
T2=|Y3+OY|+|Y4−OY|(Alternatively: T2=|Y5−OY|+|Y6+OY|)
Based on the coordinates K1 to K4 and the offset values (OX, OY), coordinates H1, H2, H3 and H4, which are four vertices that form the sewable area, are calculated (step S177). Specifically, the coordinates H1 (X3+OX, Y3+OY) are calculated based on the coordinates K1 (X3, Y3) and the offset values (OX, OY). The coordinates H2 (X4−OX, Y4+OY) are calculated based on the coordinates K2 (X4, Y4) and the offset values (OX, OY). The coordinates H3 (X5−OX, Y5−OY) are calculated based on the coordinates K3 (X5, Y5) and the offset values (OX, OY). The coordinates H4 (X6−OX, Y6−OY) are calculated based on the coordinates K4 (X6, Y6) and the offset values (OX, OY).
A virtual rectangle that has the coordinates H1 to H4 as its vertices is set as the sewable area (step S179). The sewable area set at step S179 is associated with a type of the embroidery frame 34 and with component names etc. and is stored in the EEPROM 64. Following that, the processing returns to the area setting processing (
It is assumed, for example, that the user sets the offset values (−3 mm, −5 mm) (yes at step S1; step S3). In this case, as shown in
It should be noted that, when the user has not set the offset values (no at step S1), (0, 0) are acquired as the offset values (OX, OY) at step S173. In this case, the pre-correction sewable area 201 is set as the sewable area at step S179.
As shown in
In this type of case, an error message indicating that the embroidery pattern is not contained within the sewable area is displayed on the liquid crystal display 15 (step S23). Note that the user can cause the embroidery pattern to be contained within the sewable area by performing a panel operation to change the size and position of the embroidery pattern. When the embroidery pattern is contained within the sewable area (yes at step S21), or after performing step S23, the processing returns to step S1.
After the sewable area has been set by the above-described area setting processing (
As described above, according to the sewing machine 1 of the present embodiment, by moving the embroidery frame 34 in the front-rear direction, Y coordinates are identified at which the contacting sphere 52 of the tillable lever 51 of the probe 50 comes into contact with the embroidery frame 34. By moving the embroidery frame 34 in the left-right direction, X coordinates are identified at which the contacting sphere 52 of the tiltable lever 51 of the probe 50 comes into contact with the embroidery frame 34. Directions from the frame origin point O2 to the movement points (the coordinates J1 to J4) are determined. The determined directions are diagonal lines of a first virtual rectangle that is calculated from these X coordinates and Y coordinates. By moving the embroidery frame 34 from the frame origin point O2 toward each of the movement points, the coordinates K1 to K4 are identified at which the contacting sphere 52 of the tiltable lever 51 of the probe 50 comes into contact with the embroidery frame 34. A second virtual rectangle, which is calculated from the coordinates K1 to K4, is set as the sewable area.
In other words, the corners 34E to 34H of the embroidery frame 34 are detected by moving the embroidery frame 34 from the frame origin point O2 toward each of the movement points (the coordinates J1 to J4), and the sewable area is set based on the detected corners 34E to 34H. Thus, even when the corners 34E to 34H of the embroidery frame 34 are arc-shaped, it is possible to set an appropriate sewable area. In addition, as the size of the sewable area is scaled up or scaled down in accordance with the offset values (OX, OY), the sewable area can be optimized in accordance with the user's needs. Furthermore, as the user is notified as to whether the embroidery pattern is contained within the sewable area, the user can easily ascertain whether it is possible to sew the accurate embroidery pattern onto the work cloth 100.
It should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the sewable area of the embroidery frame 34 is calculated in the area setting processing (
In the above-described embodiment, an example is described in which the post-correction sewable area 202 is scaled down from the pre-correction sewable area 201 in accordance with the offset values (OX, OY). On the other hand, in accordance with a design of the embroidery pattern (a shape of an outer contour), the post-correction sewable area 202 may be scaled up from the pre-correction sewable area 201. In this case, the user may set positive values as the offset values (OX, OY). Further, in the above-described embodiment, the user sets the offset values of the sewable area for the two directions (the X direction and the Y direction), but the offset values may be set, respectively, for two or more directions. For example, the user may set the offset values for each of four directions, namely, the up, down, left and right directions.
In the above-described embodiment, a case is exemplified in which the sewable area is set for the substantially rectangular embroidery frame 34, but according to the present disclosure, the sewable area can be set for the embroidery frame having another shape. For example, even in a case such as an embroidery frame with a shape in which sections corresponding to long sides or short sides of a substantially rectangular shape are arc-shaped, or in a case in which an overall shape is substantially elliptical, it is possible to more accurately set the sewable area in a similar manner to that of the above-described embodiment.
The apparatus and methods described above with reference to the various embodiments are merely examples, It goes without saying that they are not confined to the depicted embodiments. While various features have been described in conjunction with the examples outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, and/or improvements of those features and/or examples may be possible. Accordingly, the examples, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative. Various changes may be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the underlying principles.
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| 2010-186563 | Aug 2010 | JP | national |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 20120042816 A1 | Feb 2012 | US |
