SEWING DATA EDITING DEVICE, SEWING DATA EDITING PROGRAM, AND SEWING MACHINE

Abstract

To provide a sewing data edition device, a sewing data edition program, and a sewing machine that are configured to generate sewing data that enables strap members at corners of a pattern to be sewn on an object to be sewn with a higher possibility than that of the prior art when performing couching using a sewing machine.SOLUTION: A sewing data edition device for editing sewing data for couching using a sewing machine comprises the steps of: acquiring coordinate data indicating the position of each of a plurality of dots along a predetermined pattern and detecting corner parts having an angle lower than a predetermined angle in the predetermined pattern based on the coordinate data of each of the plurality of dots (S35); and editing the sewing data using edition conditions different for a plurality of first needle location points corresponding to the corner parts in the predetermined pattern and a plurality of second needle location points corresponding to non-corner parts that not have been detected as corners, based on the coordinate data of each of the plurality of dots and the detection result of a corner detection unit (S37, S39, S40).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sewing data editing device, a sewing data editing program, and a sewing machine. [Background technology]

[0002] There is known a sewing data editing device that generates sewing data for couching, a process in which a pattern is drawn on a sewn material by sewing a string-like member such as wool, decorative thread, or ribbon to the sewn material using a sewing machine (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The sewing data editing device generates sewing data for normal embroidery and sewing data for couching from image data representing a pattern. cormorant The sewing data editing device receives input of the thickness and type of the string-like member, and generates decorative stitch data of a stitch pitch and stitch width corresponding to the input results. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-233435 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When couching is performed on a sewing machine using the sewing data generated by the above-mentioned conventional sewing data editing device, the string-like member may not be sewn onto the sewing material at the corners of the pattern.

[0005] The present invention provides a sewing data editing device, a sewing data editing program, and a sewing machine that are configured to generate sewing data that increases the likelihood, when couching is performed using a sewing machine, that a string-like member is sewn onto a workpiece at the corners of a pattern more than conventionally. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A sewing data editing device according to a first aspect of the present invention is a sewing data editing device that edits sewing data for using a sewing machine to perform couching by directly sewing a string-like member to a sewn material by forming a plurality of stitches that penetrate a string-like member and a sewn material along a predetermined pattern, the sewing data editing device includes an acquisition unit that acquires coordinate data indicating the positions of each of a plurality of points along the predetermined pattern, a corner detection unit that detects corners in the predetermined pattern that are smaller than a predetermined angle based on the coordinate data of each of the plurality of points, and an editing unit that edits the sewing data using different editing conditions for a plurality of first needle drop points corresponding to the corners and a plurality of second needle drop points corresponding to non-corner portions not detected as corners, based on the coordinate data of each of the plurality of points and the detection result of the corner detection unit. The sewing data editing device of the first aspect can edit the sewing data using different conditions for the corners and the non-corner portions in the pattern. According to the sewing data editing device, by appropriately setting the editing conditions, the user can obtain a couching pattern that is less likely to peel off from the sewn material at the corners and that looks good, compared to when the editing conditions are the same for the corners and non-corner parts of a specified pattern.

[0007] A sewing data editing program according to a second aspect of the present invention includes instructions for operating a computer of the sewing data editing device of the first aspect. When executed by the computer of the sewing data editing device, the sewing data editing program of the second aspect provides the same effects as the sewing data editing device of the first aspect.

[0008] A sewing machine according to a third aspect of the present invention includes a movement mechanism configured to move a sewing object in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a needle bar mechanism having a needle bar to which a sewing needle can be attached at a lower end and driving the needle bar back and forth in an up and down direction, the sewing data editing device of the first aspect, and a sewing control unit that drives the movement mechanism and the needle bar mechanism according to the sewing data edited by the sewing data editing device to perform couching. The sewing machine of the third aspect can edit sewing data using different conditions for corners and non-corner parts of a pattern, and can perform couching based on the edited sewing data. With the sewing machine, a user can set the editing conditions appropriately to obtain a couching pattern in which the string-like member is less likely to come off the sewing object at the corners and which looks good, compared to when the editing conditions are the same for the corners and non-corner parts of the pattern. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a sewing machine 1 to which a presser foot device 2 and a moving mechanism 40 are attached. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the sewing machine 1. FIG. [Figure 4] 13 is a flowchart of a main process. [Diagram 5] 1 is an explanatory diagram of a table 87 and screens 100, 110, and 120 referenced in the main processing. [Figure 6] 5 is a flowchart of a sewing data editing process that is executed in the main process of FIG. 4. [Figure 7] 7 is an explanatory diagram of a process in which the sewing data E1 of the pattern J is edited in the sewing data editing process of FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 7 is a flowchart of a first editing process that is executed in the sewing data editing process of FIG. 6. [Figure 9] 7 is a flowchart of a second editing process that is executed in the sewing data editing process of FIG. 6. [Figure 10] 7 is a flowchart of a third editing process that is executed in the sewing data editing process of FIG. 6. [Figure 11] 7 is an explanatory diagram of a process in which sewing data E2 of a modified pattern F is edited in the sewing data editing process of FIG. 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A physical configuration of a sewing machine 1 equipped with a presser foot unit 2 and a movement mechanism 40 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The up-down direction, lower right side, upper left side, lower left side, and upper right side of Fig. 1 respectively correspond to the up-down direction, front, rear, left side, and right side of the sewing machine 1 equipped with the presser foot unit 2 and the movement mechanism 40. The longitudinal direction of the bed 11 and the arm 13 corresponds to the left-right direction of the sewing machine 1. The side on which the pillar 12 is arranged corresponds to the right side. The extension direction of the pillar 12 corresponds to the up-down direction of the sewing machine 1.

[0011] As shown in Fig. 1, the sewing machine 1 includes a bed 11, a pillar 12, an arm 13, and a head 14. The bed 11 is a base of the sewing machine 1 that extends in the left-right direction. The pillar 12 stands upright from the right end of the bed 11. The arm 13 faces the bed 11 and extends leftward from the upper end of the pillar 12. The head 14 is a portion that connects to the left tip of the arm 13.

[0012] The sewing machine 1 includes, within the bed portion 11, a feed dog 57, a feed mechanism 58, a shuttle mechanism 56, and the like, as shown in FIG. 3. During normal sewing other than embroidery sewing, the feed dog 57 is driven by the feed mechanism 58 to move the workpiece a predetermined distance. The shuttle mechanism 56 entangles an upper thread (not shown) with a lower thread (not shown) below the needle plate 17 provided on the upper surface of the bed portion 11. The shuttle mechanism 56, together with the sewing machine motor 48, the main shaft 49, and the needle bar mechanism 55 described below, constitute a sewing portion 70 that forms stitches on the workpiece.

[0013] An LCD 15 is provided on the front of the pillar 12. The LCD 15 displays an image including various items such as commands, illustrations, settings, and messages. A touch panel 26 capable of detecting a pressed position is provided on the front side of the LCD 15. When a user presses the touch panel 26 with a finger or a stylus pen (not shown), the touch panel 26 detects the pressed position. A control unit 80 (see FIG. 3) of the sewing machine 1 recognizes the item selected in the image based on the detected pressed position. The pillar 12 includes a sewing machine motor 48 therein.

[0014] An openable cover 16 is provided on the upper part of the arm 13. FIG. 1 shows the cover 16 in an open state. A thread storage section 18 is provided below the cover 16 when the cover 16 is closed (i.e., inside the arm 13). The thread storage section 18 can store a thread spool 20 around which an upper thread is wound. The thread stand 10 can be removably attached to the cover 16 in an open state. The thread stand 10 can hold two thread spools and can guide the upper thread supplied from each thread spool toward the sewing needle 7 of the sewing machine 1. When sewing a couching pattern, the thread stand 10 can guide a string-like member C such as wool and decorative string from a supply source (not shown) of the string-like member C toward the presser foot 2. The supply source of the string-like member C is, for example, a roll around which the string-like member C is wound, and is disposed to the right of the thread storage section 18 of the cover 16 in an open state, or in the vicinity of the sewing machine 1. A main shaft 49 (see FIG. 3) extending in the left-right direction is provided inside the arm portion 13. The main shaft 49 is rotated by a sewing machine motor 48. Various switches including a start / stop switch 29 are provided on the lower left front surface of the arm portion 13. The start / stop switch 29 is used to start or stop the operation of the sewing machine 1, i.e., to input a command to start or stop sewing.

[0015] The head 14 is provided with a needle bar 6, a needle bar mechanism 55 (see FIG. 3), a presser bar 8, and an image capture unit 69 (see FIG. 3). The needle bar 6 extends in the vertical direction. A sewing needle 7 is removably attached to the lower end of the needle bar 6. The needle bar mechanism 55 drives the needle bar 6 to reciprocate in the vertical direction by the rotation of the main shaft 49. The presser bar 8 extends in the vertical direction behind the needle bar 6. A presser device 2 is removably attached to the lower end of the presser bar 8. The presser device 2 intermittently presses down the sewing object in synchronization with the vertical movement of the needle bar 6 during embroidery sewing using the embroidery frame 50. The presser device 2 will be described in detail later. The image capture unit 69 is provided inside the head 14. The image capture unit 69 is arranged so as to be able to capture a predetermined image capture range including the area below the needle bar 6, and is able to generate image data capturing the image capture range. The image capturing unit 69 is, for example, a well-known CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor. The coordinate system of the image represented by the image data generated by the image capturing unit 69 (hereinafter also referred to as the "image coordinate system") and the coordinate system of the entire space (hereinafter also referred to as the "world coordinate system") are stored in a flash memory 84 (see FIG. 3 The world coordinate system and the embroidery coordinate system are associated in advance by parameters stored in the memory 84. The sewing machine 1 can therefore execute a process for generating a composite image in which the stitch formation positions represented by the coordinates of the embroidery coordinate system and the sewn workpiece are superimposed on the image data generated by the photographing unit 69. When the cover 16 is in the open state, the guide member 30 is removably attached to the left of the head 14. The guide member 30 extends in the vertical direction and can guide the string-like member C towards the presser foot device 2.

[0016] The moving mechanism 40 is removably attached to the bed 11 of the sewing machine 1. The moving mechanism 40 includes a main body 41, a carriage 42, and a holder. The main body 41 includes an X-moving mechanism 37 and an X-motor 36 as shown in FIG. 3. The X-moving mechanism 37 moves the carriage 42 in the left-right direction (X direction). The X-motor 36 drives the X-moving mechanism 37. The carriage 42 is movable in the left-right direction relative to the main body 41. The carriage 42 includes a Y-moving mechanism 39 and a Y-motor 38 as shown in FIG. 3. The Y-moving mechanism 39 moves the holder in the front-rear direction (Y direction). The Y-motor 38 drives the Y-moving mechanism 39. The holder is supported to the right of the carriage 42 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction relative to the carriage 42. An embroidery frame 50 that holds a sheet-like sewing material (e.g., a workpiece cloth) is removably attached to the holder. The embroidery frame 50 includes a first frame 51 and a second frame 52, and the workpiece can be clamped between the first frame 51 and the second frame 52. When performing embroidery sewing using the embroidery frame 50, the movement mechanism 40 can move the embroidery frame 50, which is attached to the holder of the carriage 42, to a position indicated by a unique XY coordinate system (embroidery coordinate system). In the embroidery coordinate system, for example, the right, left, rear, and front of the sewing machine 1 are the X plus direction, the X minus direction, the Y plus direction, and the Y minus direction, respectively.

[0017] The presser foot device 2 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The presser foot device 2 is a metal presser foot device used when sewing a couching pattern using an embroidery frame 50 attached to a moving mechanism 40. The presser foot device 2 includes an attachment body 3, an adjustment member 4, and a presser body 5. The presser foot device 2 further includes a suppression body 9, and a rotation stopper member (not shown).

[0018] The mounting body 3 includes a mounting portion 31, support portions 32 and 33, a guide 21, and a shaft 47. The mounting portion 31 is attached to a presser bar 8 that extends in the vertical direction and is included in the sewing machine 1. The mounting portion 31 extends in the vertical direction and has recesses 34 and 35. The recess 34 is a portion recessed leftward from the right end of the mounting portion 31. The recess 34 extends to the upper end of the mounting portion 31. The recess 35 is a portion recessed rearward from the front end in the vicinity of the approximate center of the mounting portion 31 in the vertical direction. The recess 35 communicates with the recess 34. With the presser bar 8 placed in the recess 34, the presser device 2 is removably attached to the presser bar 8 by threading a screw 67 (see FIG. 1) that extends in the left-right direction and is inserted through the recess 35 into a screw hole provided in the presser bar 8. The support portion 32 is a rectangular parallelepiped that extends in the front-rear direction behind the mounting portion 31. The support portion 32 supports the guide 21 with the lower end of the guide 21 inserted into a hole recessed downward from the upper end of the support portion 32 .

[0019] The guide 21 can guide the string-like member C from the left side into the insertion hole 60 of the presser body 5 described later. The guide 21 is a member obtained by bending a rod-shaped metal member, and includes an attachment portion 22, a support portion 23, and a loop portion 24. The attachment portion 22 extends in the vertical direction. The lower end of the attachment portion 22 is supported by the support portion 32. The support portion 23 is a portion that extends in the horizontal direction. The loop portion 24 is a portion that is bent in a circular shape counterclockwise from the right end of the loop portion 24 in a plan view. The other end 25 of the loop portion 24 is located above the support portion 23 in the vertical direction. The loop portion 24 is located slightly to the left and rear of the insertion hole 60. When sewing a couching pattern, the string-like member C is inserted into the hole surrounded by the loop portion 24. In a plan view, the length in the front-to-rear direction between the center of the circle enclosed by the loop portion 24 and the center of the insertion hole 60 of the presser body 5 is smaller than the length in the left-to-right direction between the center of the circle enclosed by the loop portion 24 and the center of the insertion hole 60 of the presser body 5. The shaft 47 is a rod-shaped member extending in the left-to-right direction intersecting with the front-to-rear direction.

[0020] The adjustment member 4 screws into the right end side of the shaft 47. The adjustment member 4 changes the relative position between the shaft 47 of the mounting body 3 and the adjustment member 4 in the left-right direction in accordance with the rotation of the adjustment member 4, while maintaining the relative position between the pressing body 5 and the adjustment member 4 at the same position in the left-right direction. The adjustment member 4 has a first wall portion 44, a second wall portion 45, and an engagement portion 46. The adjustment member 4 engages with the suppression body 9 described below between the first wall portion 44 and the second wall portion 45. The engagement portion 46 is provided at the right end of the adjustment member 4. The engagement portion 46 is located on the right side of the second wall portion 45, and has a groove that engages with a jig for rotating the adjustment member 4.

[0021] The presser body 5 is configured to move left and right along the shaft 47 relative to the mounting body 3 in response to rotation of the adjustment member 4. The presser body 5 has an attachment portion 65 and a presser portion 59. The attachment portion 65 is a portion where the presser body 5 is attached to the mounting body 3. The attachment portion 65 has a left wall 53, a right wall 54, and a rear wall. The left wall 53 and the right wall 54 have insertion portions that penetrate in the left and right directions and through which the shaft 47 is inserted. When the shaft 47 is inserted through the insertion portions of the left wall 53 and the right wall 54, the support portion 33 of the mounting body 3 is disposed between the left wall 53 and the right wall 54.

[0022] The presser portion 59 extends forward from the lower front of the mounting portion 65. The presser portion 59 has an insertion hole 60. The insertion hole 60 is a through hole that is circular in plan view and is provided at the front end of the presser portion 59. The sewing needle 7 attached to the lower end of the needle bar 6 and the string-like member C passing through the loop portion 24 of the guide 21 are inserted into the insertion hole 60. The position of the insertion hole 60 in the left-right direction relative to the presser bar 8 (mounting body 3) can be adjusted by the adjustment member 4. The suppression body 9 abuts against the adjustment member 4 to suppress the rotation of the adjustment member 4. The suppression body 9 engages with the adjustment member 4 between the first wall portion 44 and the second wall portion 45. The suppression body 9 is fixed to the presser body 5 by a screw 62. In other words, the adjustment member 4 is rotatably fixed to the presser body 5 via the suppression body 9. The rotation stop member is connected to the mounting body 3 and restricts the rotation of the pressing body 5 about the shaft 47. The rotation stop member is a pin that extends in the front-rear direction and is connected to the mounting body 3 from the rear.

[0023] The electrical configuration of the sewing machine 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. The control unit 80 of the sewing machine 1 includes a CPU 81, a ROM 82, a RAM 83, a flash memory 84, an input / output interface (I / O) 85, and drive circuits 91 to 95. The CPU 81 is connected to the ROM 82, the RAM 83, the flash memory 84, and the input / output I / O 85 via a bus 86.

[0024] The CPU 81 is responsible for main control of the sewing machine 1, and executes various calculations and processes related to sewing in accordance with various programs stored in the ROM 82. The ROM 82 has a plurality of storage areas including a program storage area, not shown. The program storage area stores various programs for operating the sewing machine 1 (for example, a program for executing the main process described below). The RAM 83 is provided with a storage area for storing the results of calculations performed by the CPU 81. The flash memory 84 stores various parameters for the sewing machine 1 to execute various processes. The input / output I / O 85 is connected to the drive circuits 91 to 95, the touch panel 26, the start / stop switch 29, and the photographing unit 69.

[0025] The sewing machine motor 48 is connected to the drive circuit 91. The drive circuit 91 drives the sewing machine motor 48 according to a control signal from the CPU 81. As the sewing machine motor 48 is driven, the needle bar mechanism 55 is driven via the main shaft 49 of the sewing machine 1, and the needle bar 6 moves up and down. The feed amount adjustment motor 28 is connected to the drive circuit 92. The drive circuit 93 drives the liquid crystal display (LCD) 15 according to a control signal from the CPU 81 to display an image on the LCD 15. The X motor 36 is connected to the drive circuit 94. The Y motor 38 is connected to the drive circuit 95. The drive circuits 94 and 95 drive the X motor 36 and the Y motor 38, respectively, according to a control signal from the CPU 81. As the X motor 36 and the Y motor 38 are driven, the embroidery frame 50 attached to the movement mechanism 40 moves in the left-right direction (X direction) and the front-back direction (Y direction) by the amount of movement according to the control signal.

[0026] An example of the operation for sewing a couching pattern with a sewing machine 1 equipped with a presser foot unit 2 and a moving mechanism 40 will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3. The user loads the upper thread and the lower thread on the sewing machine 1 in the same manner as for normal embroidery sewing. The user loads the embroidery frame 50 holding the sewing object to the moving mechanism 40. The user attaches the presser foot unit 2 to the presser bar 8. The user rotates the adjustment member 4 in the left-right direction using a jig to adjust the left-right position of the insertion hole 60 relative to the presser bar 8. The user hooks the string-like member C around the thread stand unit 10, the guide member 30, and the loop portion 24, and passes it through the insertion hole 60 from above. After selecting sewing data for sewing a couching pattern, the user selects the start / stop switch 29 to input a command to start sewing. In response to receiving an instruction to start sewing, the control unit 80 of the sewing machine 1 drives the moving mechanism 40 and the sewing unit 70 in accordance with the sewing data, and sews the string-like member C into the material to be sewn to form a couching pattern on the material to be sewn.

[0027] 4 to 10, the main processing executed when couching is performed using the sewing machine 1 will be described using specific examples 1 and 2 in which a star-shaped pattern J is sewn. In the main processing, the sewing data is edited based on the coordinate data of the sewing data selected by the user or the coordinate data of the figure designated by the user, and a process is executed in which a pattern is sewn on a sewing object held in the embroidery frame 50 based on the edited sewing data. Specific example 1 is an example in which the user operates the touch panel 26 to specify the positions of the vertices of the pattern J, and specific example 2 is an example in which the user operates the touch panel 26 to specify the sewing data of the pattern J from among a plurality of sewing data stored in the flash memory 84. The main processing is started when the user inputs an instruction to start the processing. When the control unit 80 detects an instruction to start the processing, it reads out a program for executing the main processing stored in the program storage area of ​​the ROM 82 into the RAM 83. The control unit 80 executes the following steps according to the instructions included in the program read out into the RAM 83. Various parameters necessary for executing the main processing are stored in the flash memory 84. Various data obtained in the course of the main processing are appropriately stored in the RAM 83. 5 and 7 correspond to the X and Y directions in the embroidery coordinate system. When the main process starts, the embroidery frame 50 that holds the sewing workpiece is attached to the movement mechanism 40.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 80 judges whether a coordinate designation instruction has been detected based on the output of the touch panel 26 (S1). When the user designates the shape of the pattern to be formed by couching, the user operates the touch panel 26 to input a coordinate designation instruction. When the coordinate designation instruction has not been detected (S1: NO), the control unit 80 judges whether a sewing data designation instruction has been acquired (S7). When the user selects sewing data to be used for couching from among the sewing data stored in the sewing machine 1, the user operates the touch panel 26 to input a sewing data designation instruction. When the sewing data designation instruction has not been detected (S7: NO), the control unit 80 judges whether a sewing condition setting instruction has been detected (S11). When the user designates the sewing conditions for couching, the user operates the touch panel 26 to input a sewing condition setting instruction. When the sewing condition setting instruction has not been detected (S11: NO), the control unit 80 performs the process of S20 described later.

[0029] When a sewing condition setting instruction is detected (S11: YES), the control unit 80 refers to the table 87 and displays a screen 100 used for setting the sewing conditions on the LCD 15 (S12). The table 87 stores the type, thickness, softness, and second interval K2 of the string-like member C used for couching in association with each other. The method for evaluating the softness of the string-like member C may be determined in advance, and is expressed, for example, by an evaluation value using an integer. The screen 100 includes columns 101 to 105 and a key 106. The sewing machine 1 of this example can set the type of the string-like member C, the first interval K1, the corner editing method, whether or not to change the second interval, and the second interval K2 as sewing conditions when couching. The column 101 displays the type of the string-like member C. The type of the string-like member C is classified according to the material, thickness, softness, etc. of the string-like member C. The material of the string-like member C is, for example, wool, ribbon, decorative cord, etc. The softness is an evaluation value expressed, for example, as an integer. Column 102 displays the feed amount when sewing a non-corner portion, which is a portion other than a corner, as a first interval K1. The sewing machine 1 of this example detects an acute angle portion of the pattern as a corner portion. The range of the corner portion may be appropriately set in consideration of the type of the string-like member C, etc., and the corner portion of this example is a portion of several stitches adjacent to the acute angle corner.

[0030] The field 103 displays a corner editing method that is set to edit the sewing data using different editing conditions for a plurality of first needle points corresponding to a corner and a plurality of second needle points corresponding to a non-corner that is not detected as a corner. The needle points are points indicated by the sewing data where the sewing needle 7 is to be inserted into the sewing object. The sewing machine 1 of this embodiment is capable of selecting any one of the first editing method, the second editing method, and the third editing method as the corner editing method. The first editing method is a method of editing the sewing data so that the interval between two first needle points that are sewn one after the other among the plurality of first needle points becomes a second interval K2 that is shorter than the first interval K1 of the non-corner. The second editing method is a method of editing the sewing data so that one or more needle points are set inside a triangle that connects a target point that is a corner and two points adjacent to the target point, and the sewing data forms a plurality of stitches that are separated from the target point. The third editing method is a method of editing the sewing data so that the sewing order of two points adjacent to the target point that is a corner is swapped among the plurality of points.

[0031] Column 104 sets whether or not to change the feed amount for corners and non-corner portions. If the feed amount for corners is to be smaller than the feed amount for non-corner portions, sewing machine 1 sets second spacing change to ON, and if the feed amount for corners is to be the same as the feed amount for non-corner portions, second spacing change is set to OFF. Column 105 displays the feed amount when sewing corners as second spacing K2 when second spacing change is ON. Key 106 inputs an instruction to confirm the change.

[0032] The control unit 80 judges whether the sewing conditions have been input based on whether the selection of the key 106 has been detected (S13). After the user appropriately sets the sewing conditions in the fields 101 to 105, the user selects the key 106 via the touch panel 26. If the selection of the key 106 is not detected (S13: NO), the control unit 80 waits until the key 106 is selected. If the selection of the key 106 is detected (S13: YES), the control unit 80 stores each of the sewing conditions in the fields 101 to 105 in the flash memory 84 and sets the sewing conditions (S14). The control unit 80 performs the process of S20 described later.

[0033] In the first specific example, a coordinate designation instruction is detected (S1: YES), and the control unit 80 displays a screen 110 on the LCD 15 for designating the positions of the vertices of the pattern J (S2). The screen 110 includes a field 111 and keys 112 and 113. The field 111 displays a pattern J in which the points designated by the user through the operation of the touch panel 26 are connected in the order of input. The key 112 inputs an instruction to add a point to the field 111. The key 113 inputs an instruction to end the process of adding a point to the field 111. After designating the position of the point through the operation of the touch panel 26, the user repeats the operation of selecting the key 112 multiple times, and then selects the key 113. The control unit 80 judges whether the user has detected an operation of selecting the key 112 after designating the position of the point based on the output of the touch panel 26 (S3). If an operation of selecting the key 112 after designating the position of the point is detected (S3: YES), the control unit 80 acquires the coordinates of the detected point, and stores the coordinates of the point and the acquisition order (S4). By repeating S4 multiple times, the control unit 80 acquires the coordinate data of each of the multiple points arbitrarily designated on the LCD 15 by the user via the touch panel 26. If the operation of selecting the key 112 is not detected after the position of the point is designated (S3: NO), or after S4, the control unit 80 judges whether the selection of the key 113 is detected (S5). If the selection of the key 113 is not detected (S5: NO), the control unit 80 returns the process to S3. If the selection of the key 113 is detected (S5: YES), based on the coordinate data of the multiple points acquired in the process of S4, sewing data for running stitching a figure formed by connecting the multiple points with straight lines in the order of acquisition is generated with a predetermined feed amount, and the generated sewing data is acquired (S6). The sewing data includes coordinate data expressed in the embroidery coordinate system of each of the multiple needle drop points.

[0034] In the second specific example, a sewing data designation instruction is detected (S7: YES), and the control unit 80 displays a screen 120 for designating sewing data on the LCD 15 (S8). The screen 120 includes fields 121, 122, and a key 123. The field 121 displays images of a plurality of patterns. The image of each pattern is displayed based on, for example, sewing data stored in the flash memory 84. The field 122 displays an image of one pattern selected from the plurality of patterns displayed in the field 121. The key 123 inputs an instruction to confirm the selection of the pattern displayed in the field 122. The user selects one pattern from the plurality of patterns displayed in the field 121 using the touch panel 26, and then selects the key 123. The control unit 80 judges whether the selection of the key 123 has been detected (S9). The control unit 80 waits until the selection of the key 123 is detected (S9: NO). When the selection of the key 123 is detected (S9: YES), the control unit 80 refers to the flash memory 84 and acquires the sewing data of the pattern J displayed in the field 122 (S10). For ease of explanation, a case will be described in which the sewing data of the specific example 1 generated in S6 and the sewing data of the specific example 2 acquired in S10 are the same sewing data E1. As shown in FIG. 7, the sewing data E1 includes coordinate data indicating the positions of the needle drop points of the running stitches. Each of the multiple needle drop points is arranged at a first interval K1 along the pattern J. When couching is performed using the sewing data, the stitches formed according to the sewing data are formed at approximately the center in the width direction of the string-like member C.

[0035] After S6 or S10, the control unit 80 performs a sewing data editing process (S15). The sewing data editing process is a process for editing the sewing data using different editing conditions for a plurality of first needle points corresponding to corners and a plurality of second needle points corresponding to non-corner parts not detected as corners in the pattern J, based on the coordinate data of each of the plurality of needle points included in the sewing data and the detection result of the corners. The control unit 80 edits the sewing data acquired in S6 or S10 based on the coordinate data of each of the plurality of needle points and the detection result of the corners.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 80 sets 0 to a variable N for reading out the coordinate data included in the sewing data in the sewing order (S31). The control unit 80 acquires a first vector V1 (S32). The first vector V1 is a vector that points from the Nth needle point PN in the sewing order to the (N+1)th needle point P(N+1). As shown in part J1 of FIG. 7, when the variable N is 0, a first vector V1 that points from the 0th needle point P0 to the 1st needle point P1 is acquired. The control unit 80 acquires a second vector V2 (S33). The second vector V2 is a vector that points from the (N-1)th needle point P(N-1) to the Nth needle point PN. When the variable N is 0, and the coordinates (X0, Y0) of the needle drop point P0 when the variable N is 0 match the coordinates (XE, YE) of the needle drop point PE when the variable N is the last number E of the sewing order, a second vector V2 pointing from the (E-1)-th needle drop point P (E-1) to the 0th (Eth) needle drop point P0 (point PE) is obtained. If the coordinates (X0, Y0) of point P0 do not match the coordinates (XE, YE) of point PE, the second vector V2 is not obtained, and the process of S41 may be executed following the process of S33.

[0037] The control unit 80 calculates the angle between the first vector V1 acquired in S32 and the second vector V2 acquired in S33 (S34), and determines whether the calculated angle is smaller than a threshold value (S35). S35 is a process for detecting corners in the pattern J that are smaller than a threshold value (predetermined angle) based on the coordinate data of each of the multiple points. The threshold value may be set in advance, and in this example, the threshold value is smaller than 90 degrees. In other words, in the case where the angle between the first vector V1 and the second vector V2 in the pattern J is an acute angle, the control unit 80 in this example detects the part as a corner.

[0038] When the variable N is 0, it is determined that the angle calculated in S34 is smaller than the threshold value (S35: YES), and the control unit 80 refers to the flash memory 84 and determines whether the first editing process is set as the corner editing method (S36). If the first editing process is set as the corner editing method (S36: YES), the control unit 80 performs the first editing process (S37). In the first editing process, the control unit 80 edits the sewing data based on the coordinate data of each of the multiple needle points and the corner detection result in S35, so that the interval between two first needle points that are adjacent in the sewing order among the multiple first needle points in the pattern J becomes a second interval K2 that is shorter than the first interval K1.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 80 refers to the sewing conditions stored in the flash memory 84 and judges whether the string-like member C is soft based on the type of the string-like member C (S51). The method of judging whether the string-like member C is soft may be set appropriately. When the softness of the string-like member C is set by an evaluation value, for example, the control unit 80 may judge that the string-like member C is soft when the evaluation value is greater than a threshold value. When the string-like member C is soft (S51: YES), the control unit 80 sets the second interval K2 to a first distance (S52). When the string-like member C is not soft (S51: NO), the control unit 80 sets the second interval K2 to a second distance longer than the first distance (S53). The first and second distances may be set according to the first interval K1, or may be set to a predetermined value regardless of the first interval K1. In the sewing machine 1 of this example, when the first interval K1 is 2 mm, the first distance is set to, for example, 0.5 mm, which is 1 / 4 of the first interval K1, and the second distance is set to, for example, 1 mm, which is half of the first interval K1.

[0040] After S52 or S53, the control unit 80 adds one or more needle drop points Q1 at the second interval K2 set in S52 or S53 to the part corresponding to the first vector V1 acquired in S32 (S54). The second In two intervals K2 One or moreNeedle point Q2 is added (S55). In part J3 of Fig. 7, points P0, Q1, P1, P(E-1), Q2, and PE are examples of the first needle points corresponding to the corner portion, and points P2, P3, P(E-3), and P(E-2) are examples of the second needle points corresponding to the non-corner portion. The control unit 80 then ends the first editing process, and returns the process to the sewing data editing process of Fig. 6.

[0041] When the second editing process is set as the corner editing method (S36: NO, S38: YES), the control unit 80 performs the second editing process (S39). In the second editing process, the control unit 80 sets one or more needle points inside a triangle connecting a focus point PN, which is a corner, and two points P(N+1) and P(N-1) adjacent to the focus point PN, based on the coordinate data of each of the multiple points and the corner detection result in S35, and edits the sewing data to form multiple stitches separated from the focus point PN.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 80 refers to the sewing conditions stored in the flash memory 84 and determines whether the second interval change is set to ON (S61). If the second interval change is set to ON (S61: YES), the control unit 80 edits the sewing data based on the coordinate data of each of the multiple points and the corner detection result in S35 so that the interval between two first needle points that are adjacent in the sewing order among the multiple first needle points in the pattern J becomes a second interval K2 that is shorter than the first interval K1. Specifically, the control unit 80 determines whether the string-like member C is soft based on the type of the string-like member C, as in the process of S51 (S62). If the string-like member C is soft (S62: YES), the control unit 80 sets the second interval K2 to a first distance (S64). If the string-like member C is not soft (S62: NO), the control unit 80 sets the second interval K2 to a second distance that is longer than the first distance (S65). When the second interval change is set to OFF (S61: NO), the control unit 80 sets the second interval K2 to the first interval K1 (S63).

[0043] After any of S63 to S65, the control unit 80 sets a reference point K based on the attention point PN (S66). The control unit 80 sets the Nth needle point as the attention point PN, and sets the line segment connecting two points adjacent to the attention point PN, i.e., the (N+1)th needle point P(N+1) and the (N-1)th needle point P(N-1), as the line segment L. The control unit 80 sets, among the points on the line segment that passes through the attention point PN and is perpendicular to the line segment L, a point on the opposite side of the line segment L from the point PN and a predetermined distance (for example, 2 mm) from the point PN as the reference point K. The predetermined distance may be determined appropriately, and may be a constant value regardless of the first interval K1, or may be a value according to the first interval K1. As shown in part J4 of FIG. 7, when the variable N is 0, and the needle drop point P0 when the variable N is 0 and the last needle drop point PE in the sewing order have the same coordinates, the line segment L is a line segment connecting point P(E-1) and point P1.

[0044] The control unit 80 sets a Bezier curve B based on the reference point K, needle drop point P(N+1), and needle drop point P(N-1) set in S66 (S67). The method of setting the Bezier curve B is well known, so a description thereof will be omitted. The control unit 80 deletes the Nth needle drop point PN from the sewing data (S68), and adds needle drop points at the second interval K2 set in any of S63 to S65 on the Bezier curve B set in S67 (S69). By the processing of S68 and S69, one or more needle drop points are set inside the triangle connecting the attention point PN and the two points P(N+1) and P(N-1) adjacent to the attention point PN, and the sewing data is edited to form a plurality of stitches separated from the attention point PN. As shown in part J6 of FIG. 7, when the variable N is 0, Q11 to Q13 are set, and the sewing data is edited to form a plurality of stitches separated from the attention point. The angles formed by the line segment connecting point Q11 and point P1, the line segment connecting point P(E-1) and point Q12, and the line segment connecting point Q12 and point Q13 are all greater than the angle of the target point PN calculated in S34. In portion J6 of Fig. 7, point P1, points Q11 to Q13, and point P(E-1) are examples of a plurality of first needle points corresponding to a corner portion, and points P2, P3, point P(E-3), and point P(E-2) are examples of a plurality of second needle points corresponding to a non-corner portion. The control unit 80 then ends the second editing process, and returns the process to the sewing data editing process of Fig. 6.

[0045] When the third editing process is set as the corner editing method (S36: NO, S38: NO), the control unit 80 performs the third editing process (S40). In the third editing process, the control unit 80 edits the sewing data by switching the sewing order of two points P(N+1) and P(N-1) adjacent to the target point PN, which is the corner, among the multiple needle drop points, based on the coordinate data of each of the multiple points and the corner detection result in S35.

[0046] As shown in Fig. 10, the control unit 80 refers to the sewing conditions stored in the flash memory 84 and determines whether the second interval change is set to ON (S71). If the second interval change is set to OFF (S71: NO), the control unit 80 switches the sewing order of the needle point P(N+1) and the needle point P(N-1) (S78). As shown in part J5 of Fig. 7, the sewing order is switched by the process of S78 so that the points P0, P(E-1), and P2 are sewn in this order on the start point P0 side of the pattern J, and the points (E-2), P1, and PE are sewn in this order on the end point PE side of the pattern J. In part J5 of Fig. 7, the points P0, P(E-1), P1, and PE are examples of the first needle points corresponding to the corners, and the points P2, P3, P(E-3), and P(E-2) are examples of the second needle points corresponding to the non-corner parts.

[0047] When the second interval change is set to ON (S71: YES), the control unit 80 edits the sewing data based on the coordinate data of each of the multiple points and the detection result of the corner in S35 so that the interval between two first needle points that are adjacent in the sewing order among the multiple first needle points in the pattern J becomes a second interval K2 shorter than the first interval K1. Specifically, the control unit 80 judges whether the string-like member C is soft based on the type of the string-like member C as in the process of S51 (S72). If the string-like member C is soft (S72: YES), the control unit 80 sets the second interval K2 to the first distance (S73). The first distances in S52, S64, and S73 may be different from each other or may be the same as each other. If the string-like member C is not soft (S72: NO), the control unit 80 sets the second interval K2 to a second distance longer than the first distance (S74). The second distances in S53, S65, and S74 may be different from each other or may be the same as each other.

[0048] After S73 or S74, the control unit 80 switches the sewing order of needle point P(N+1) and needle point P(N-1) in the same manner as in S78 (S75). The control unit 80 adds needle points at the second interval K2 set in S73 or S74 to the portion corresponding to the first vector V1 acquired in S32 (S76). The control unit 80 adds needle points at the second interval K2 set in S73 or S74 to the portion corresponding to the second vector V2 acquired in S33 (S77). The control unit 80 then ends the third editing process, and returns the process to the sewing data editing process of FIG. 6.

[0049] When the variable N is M, as shown in part J2 of FIG. 7, it is determined that the angle between the first vector V1 directed from the point PM to the point P(M+1) and the second vector V2 directed from the point P(M-1) to the point PM is not smaller than the threshold value (S35: NO), and the control unit 80 executes the process of S41 described below. After any of S37, S39, and S40, the control unit 80 updates the variable N (S41). For example, the control unit 80 adds a predetermined number (for example, 1) to the variable N to increment the variable N by the predetermined number. The control unit 80 determines whether the variable N is smaller than the number E of the last sewing sequence (S42). If the variable N is smaller than the number E (S42: YES), the control unit 80 returns the process to S32. If the variable N is not smaller than E (S42: NO), the control unit 80 ends the sewing data editing process and returns to the process of S32. figure Return to the main process in step 4.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 4, after S15, the control unit 80 photographs the sewing object (S16). Specifically, the control unit 80 controls the moving mechanism 40 to move the moving mechanism 40 to the photographing position. The photographing position is, for example, a position where the center of the planned formation position of the pattern J represented by the sewing data edited in S15 is the center of the photographing range of the photographing unit 69. The control unit 80 acquires image data output from the photographing unit 69 (S16). The control unit 80 displays on the LCD 15 an image showing the plurality of stitches represented by the sewing data edited in S15 superimposed on the photographed image showing the sewing object photographed by the photographing unit 69 (S17). The user refers to the LCD 15 to check the finished image of the pattern J.

[0051] Based on the detection result of the start / stop switch 29, the control unit 80 determines whether a sewing instruction to start sewing based on the sewing data edited in S15 has been detected (S18). The control unit 80 waits until a sewing instruction is detected (S18: NO). If a sewing instruction is detected (S18: YES), the control unit 80 drives the movement mechanism 40 and the needle bar mechanism 55 according to the sewing data edited by the sewing data editing device to perform couching (S19). In S19, a stitch is formed approximately at the center of the width direction of the string-like member C according to the sewing data.

[0052] The control unit 80 judges whether an instruction to end the main process has been detected (S20). When the user wishes to end the process of couching using the sewing machine 1, the user inputs an end instruction using the touch panel 26. If an instruction to end has not been detected (S20: NO), the control unit 80 returns the process to S1. If an instruction to end has been detected (S20: YES), the control unit 80 ends the main process. In addition to the case where an instruction to end by the user is detected in the process of S20, the control unit 80 also makes a positive judgment and ends the main process when sewing based on the sewing data is completed. In the above main process, in both cases of specific examples 1 and 2, the coordinate data representing the five acute corners of the pattern J among the sewing data acquired in S6 or S10 is edited by an editing method according to the set corner editing method, and the corner editing method is not applied to the coordinate data representing the non-corner parts, and the sewing data acquired in S6 or S10 remains as it is.

[0053] In the above embodiment, the sewing machine 1 is an example of the sewing data editing device and sewing machine of the present invention. The control unit 80 that executes the processes of S4, S6, and S10 is an example of the acquisition unit of the present invention. The control unit 80 that executes the process of S35 is an example of the corner detection unit of the present invention, and the control unit 80 that executes the processes of S15, S37, S39, and S40 is an example of the editing unit of the present invention. The control unit 80 that executes the processes of S51, S62, and S72 is an example of the determination unit of the present invention. The control unit 80 that executes the processes of S52, S53, S64, S65, S73, and S74 is an example of the setting unit of the present invention. The moving mechanism 40, the needle bar mechanism 55, the LCD 15, the touch panel 26, and the photographing unit 69 are examples of the moving mechanism, the needle bar mechanism, the display unit, the input unit, and the photographing unit of the present invention, respectively. The control unit 80 that executes the process of S19 is an example of the sewing control unit of the present invention. The control unit 80 that executes the process of S17 is an example of the display control unit of the present invention.

[0054] The sewing machine 1 of the above embodiment has a function as a sewing data editing device that edits sewing data for couching the string-like member C directly onto the sewn material by forming a plurality of stitches that penetrate the string-like member C and the sewn material along the pattern J. The control unit 80 of the sewing machine 1 acquires coordinate data indicating the positions of a plurality of points along the pattern J (S4, S10). The control unit 80 detects corners in the pattern J that are smaller than a predetermined angle based on the coordinate data of each of the plurality of points (S35). Based on the coordinate data of each of the plurality of points and the corner detection result in S35, the control unit 80 edits sewing data using different editing conditions for a plurality of first needle drop points corresponding to the corners of the pattern J and a plurality of second needle drop points corresponding to the non-corner parts not detected as corners (S37, S39, S40). The sewing machine 1 can edit sewing data using different conditions for the corners and non-corner parts of the pattern J. With the sewing machine 1, the user can set the editing conditions appropriately, thereby making it possible to obtain a couching pattern that is less likely to peel off from the sewn material at the corners and that looks good, compared to when the editing conditions are the same for the corners and non-corner parts of the pattern J.

[0055] The predetermined angle (threshold) for detecting a corner is smaller than 90 degrees. Therefore, the sewing machine 1 can detect as a corner a portion in the pattern J that has an acute angle, and can edit the sewing data using different editing conditions for the corner and non-corner portions of the pattern J. The sewing machine 1 can detect as a corner only an acute angle portion where it is assumed that the string-like member C is likely to peel off from the sewing object.

[0056] The control unit 80 acquires coordinate data of each of the multiple points arranged at a first interval K1 along the pattern J (S6, S10). In the first editing process, the control unit 80 edits the sewing data based on the coordinate data of each of the multiple points and the detection result of the corner in S35 so that the interval between two first needle points that are adjacent in the sewing order among the multiple first needle points in the pattern J becomes a second interval K2 shorter than the first interval K1 (S37). Therefore, the sewing machine 1 can sew the string-like member C to the sewn material more reliably at the corner by a relatively simple process of locally increasing the number of stitches along the pattern J at the corner compared to a case where the number of stitches is not locally increased at the corner. In the specific examples 1 and 2, the stitch formed by the sewing data is a running stitch that passes through the center of the string-like member C in the width direction. Therefore, when the sewing machine 1 sews the string-like member C to the sewn material, the stitch is less likely to protrude from the width of the string-like member C.

[0057] The control unit 80 acquires coordinate data for each of a plurality of points arranged at a first interval K1 along the pattern J (S6, S10). Based on the coordinate data for each of the plurality of points and the corner detection result in S35, the control unit 80 sets one or more needle points within a triangle connecting a focus point that is a corner of the plurality of needle points and two points (adjacent points) adjacent to the focus point, and edits the data into sewing data that forms a plurality of stitches spaced apart from the focus point (S39). Specifically, the control unit 80 moves the focus point a predetermined distance to the outside area of ​​the pattern J, and sets a Bezier curve B based on the focus point after the movement and the two adjacent points. The control unit 80 sets one or more needle points on the Bezier curve B. Therefore, the sewing machine 1 can make the angle of the corner larger than before editing, while preventing the number of stitches from increasing locally at the corner. Therefore, when the string-like member C is made of a relatively soft material such as wool, the string-like member C can be sewn more reliably to the item being sewn at the corner while maintaining the fluffiness of the material.

[0058] The control unit 80 acquires coordinate data for each of a plurality of points arranged at a first interval K1 along the pattern J. Based on the coordinate data for each of the plurality of points and the corner detection result in S35, the control unit 80 edits the sewing data by switching the sewing order of two points among the plurality of points adjacent to the target point that is the corner (S40). Therefore, since the sewing machine 1 can prevent the number of stitches from increasing locally at the corner, when the string-like member C is made of a relatively soft material such as wool, the string-like member C can be more reliably sewn to the sewn material at the corner while maintaining the fluffiness of the material.

[0059] The control unit 80 edits the sewing data based on the coordinate data of each of the multiple points and the detection result of the corner in S35 so that the interval between two first needle points that are adjacent in the sewing order among the multiple first needle points in the pattern J becomes a second interval K2 that is shorter than the first interval K1 (S68, S69, S76, S77). By locally increasing the number of stitches along the pattern J at the corner of the pattern J, the sewing machine 1 can sew the string-like member C to the workpiece more reliably at the corner compared to when the number of stitches is the same between the corner and non-corner portions.

[0060] The control unit 80 specifies the type of the string-like member C (S51, S62, S72). The control unit 80 sets the second interval K2 according to the specified type (S52, S53, S64, S65, S73, S74). The control unit 80 edits the sewing data so that the interval between the two first needle points in the pattern J becomes the second interval K2 set in any one of S52, S53, S64, S65, S73, S74 based on the coordinate data of each of the multiple points and the detection result in S35 (S54, S55, S69, S76, S77). The sewing machine 1 can change the second interval K2 according to the type of the string-like member C. Compared to a case where the second interval K2 is constant regardless of the type of the string-like member C, the sewing machine 1 can edit the sewing data to form stitches that take into account the material, thickness, softness, etc. of the string-like member C.

[0061] The sewing machine 1 includes an LCD 15 and a touch panel 26, and the control unit 80 acquires coordinate data of each of a plurality of points arbitrarily designated by the user on the LCD 15 via the touch panel 26 (S4). The sewing machine 1 can edit the sewing data based on the plurality of points designated by the user via the touch panel 26. The sewing machine 1 can improve the convenience for the user when editing the sewing data.

[0062] The control unit 80 acquires sewing data including coordinate data (S10), and edits the sewing data acquired in S10 based on the coordinate data of each of the multiple points and the corner detection result in S35 (S37, S39, S40). Therefore, the control unit 80 can edit the sewing data by using the sewing data that has already been generated.

[0063] The sewing machine 1 includes a moving mechanism 40 configured to move the sewing material in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a needle bar mechanism 55 having a needle bar 6 to which a sewing needle 7 can be attached at its lower end and driving the needle bar 6 to reciprocate up and down. The control unit 80 drives the moving mechanism 40 and the needle bar mechanism 55 in accordance with the sewing data edited in S15 to perform couching (S19). Therefore, the sewing machine 1 can edit the sewing data using different conditions for the corners and non-corner parts of the pattern J, and can perform couching based on the edited sewing data. According to the sewing machine 1, by appropriately setting the editing conditions, the string-like member C is less likely to come off the sewing material at the corners and a couching pattern that looks good can be obtained, compared to when the editing conditions are the same for the corners and non-corner parts of the pattern J.

[0064] The sewing machine 1 includes a photographing unit 69 that photographs the workpiece, and an LCD 15, and the control unit 80 displays an image of the stitches indicated by the sewing data on the LCD 15, superimposed on the photographed image of the workpiece photographed by the photographing unit 69 (S17). Therefore, the sewing machine 1 can display an image of the stitches formed according to the sewing data, superimposed on the photographed image of the workpiece, so that the user can easily check the image of the finished couching pattern.

[0065] The sewing data editing device, the sewing data editing program, and the sewing machine of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the following modifications may be made as appropriate.

[0066] (A) The configuration of the sewing machine 1 to which the embroidery frame 50 can be attached may be changed as appropriate. The sewing machine 1 may be an industrial sewing machine or a multi-needle sewing machine. The moving mechanism 40 may be capable of moving the holder (embroidery frame) in the left-right direction and the front-back direction relative to the needle bar 6. The moving mechanism 40 may be formed integrally with the sewing machine 1. The shape and size of the embroidery frame 50 may be changed as appropriate, and may be, for example, circular, elliptical, or the like. The process of editing the sewing data may be executed by a general-purpose device such as a PC, or a dedicated device. The configuration of the presser foot device 2 may be changed as appropriate, and for example, the presser foot device 2 may not be capable of adjusting the left-right position of the insertion hole 60 relative to the presser bar 8. The guide 21 may be provided in the sewing machine 1, not in the presser foot device 2. The present invention can be realized in various aspects, and may be realized as, for example, a non-transitory computer-readable medium, a sewing system, or the like.

[0067] (B) A program including instructions for executing the main process of Fig. 4 may be stored in a storage device of the sewing machine 1 before the control unit 80 executes the program. Therefore, the method and route for acquiring the program, and the device that stores the program may each be changed as appropriate. The program executed by the control unit 80 may be received from another device via a cable or wireless communication and stored in a storage device such as a flash memory. The other device may include, for example, a PC and a server connected via a network.

[0068] (C) Each step of the main processing of the sewing machine 1 is not limited to being executed by the control unit 80, and some or all of the steps may be executed by other electronic devices (e.g., ASIC). Each step of the main processing may be distributed among multiple electronic devices (e.g., multiple CPUs). The order of each step of the main processing may be changed, steps may be omitted, or steps may be added, as necessary. The scope of the present disclosure also includes a mode in which an operating system (OS) running on the sewing machine 1 performs some or all of the main processing based on instructions from the control unit 80. For example, the following modifications may be made to the main processing as appropriate.

[0069] The sewing machine 1 may be unable to set the corner editing method, or may automatically set the corner editing method according to the shape of the pattern, etc. The type of corner editing method that can be set by the sewing machine 1 may be changed as appropriate, and an editing method other than the first to third editing methods may be applied. An editing method other than the first to third editing methods may be, for example, a method of changing the type of practical pattern between corners and non-corners, such as sewing corners with a zigzag stitch and sewing non-corners with a running stitch. In the first editing process, the control unit 80 may perform a process of adding needle drop points only to either the portion corresponding to the first vector V1 or the portion corresponding to the second vector V2.

[0070] The control unit 80 may acquire the coordinate data of each of the plurality of needle drop points arranged at the second interval K2 along the predetermined pattern in S6 or S10, and may change the interval of the needle drop points of the non-corner part from the second interval K2 to the first interval K1 when the non-corner part is not determined to be a corner part in S35, so that the interval of the second needle drop points in the non-corner part is wider than the interval of the first needle drop points in the corner part. The control unit 80 may directly generate sewing data that satisfies the editing conditions without first generating sewing data based on a figure represented by points specified by the user. In this case, the control unit 80 may, for example, read out the coordinate data of points on the pattern instead of the coordinate data of the needle drop points in the main process, perform a process of detecting corners, and appropriately perform a process of editing the interval and arrangement of the points, and then generate the sewing data. The control unit 80 may set the value of the second interval K2 to a constant value regardless of the type of the string-like member C.

[0071] In the above embodiment, the stitches for couching may be zigzag stitches, practical patterns, etc., in addition to running stitches. An example will be described in which the above main process is applied to sewing data for forming stitches in which an arrow-shaped motif M shown in part F2 of FIG. 11 is arranged along a pattern F. As shown in FIG. 11, the motif M of the modified example includes four stitches D1 to D4 in the sewing order. The motif M has a length of 2 to 15 mm in a direction along the shape of the couching pattern (extension direction of stitch D1), for example. The stitch D1 extends from point 71 to point 72 and is the main stitch with the longest length among the stitches D1 to D4. The motif M is line-symmetrical with respect to the stitch D1. The stitch D2 extends from point 72 to point 73. The stitch D3 extends from point 73 to point 74. The stitch D3 is a sub-stitch that is shorter than the stitch D1 and extends in a direction intersecting the stitch D1. The length of stitch D3 is the second longest among the lengths of stitches D1 to D4, after stitch D1. The length of stitch D3 is smaller than the thickness of the string-like member C. Stitch D3 intersects stitch D1 at right angles on the side closer to the center of stitch D1 than the position of end point 72 of stitch D1. The center of stitch D3 is on stitch D1. Stitch D4 extends from point 74 to point 75. The end point 72 of stitch D1 is in the same position as the end point 75 of stitch D4. The last needle point 75 of one motif M becomes the first needle point 71 of the motif M that follows the one motif M in the sewing order.

[0072] In S6 or S10 of the main process for the pattern F of the modified example, sewing data E2 shown in FIG. 11 is acquired. As shown in FIG. 11, the sewing data E2 is expressed in the absolute coordinate system of the moving mechanism 40 in the X and Y directions. The sewing data E2 represents a pattern F in which a plurality of motifs M including motifs M1 and M2 are continuously arranged in a clockwise direction in a plan view along ten sides H1 to H10 of the star-shaped pattern F. The stitches D1 of the motifs M are arranged on the sides H1 to H10. Six motifs M are continuously arranged on each of the sides H1 to H10. The sizes of the motifs M are the same. The sewing start point U0 of the pattern F is arranged, for example, at the left end of the side H1. The pattern F is continuously sewn in a clockwise direction in a plan view from the sewing start point U0.

[0073] 6 for the modified pattern F, the variable N in S31 may be used to read out the motif M in sewing order. As shown in part F1 of Fig. 11, a vector extending from the start point to the end point of the stitch D1 of the Nth motif MN is obtained as a first vector V11 in S32, and a vector extending from the start point to the end point of the stitch D1 of the (N-1)th motif M(N-1) is obtained as a second vector V12 in S33. When the variable N is 0 and the start point and end point of the pattern F are at the same coordinates, the (N-1)th motif M(N-1) is set to be the last motif MR in the sewing order. At this time, if it is determined that the angle calculated in S34 is smaller than the threshold value (S35) and the first editing process is set for the angle editing process (S36: YES), the control unit 80 may add needle drop points W1 and W2 at a second interval K2 according to the type of string-like material C on stitches D2 and D4 of the (N-1)th motif MR, as shown in part F3 of Figure 11, and edit the sewing data so that the motif MR is sewn in the order of point U (E-4), point U (E-3), point W1, point U (E-2), point (E-1), point W2, and point UE (S37). When the second editing process is set for the angle editing process (S36: NO, S38: YES), the control unit 80 may edit the sewing data by shortening the longitudinal lengths of the Nth (0th) motif M0 and the (N-1)th (Rth) motif MR by a predetermined distance, deleting points UE and U0 from point U (E-3) so as to connect the starting point of motif M0 and the end point of motif MR, and setting points W11 to W16, as shown in part F4 of Figure 11. When the third edit process is set for the angle edit process (S36: NO, S38: NO), the control unit 80 may add needle drop points W21 and W22 to the midpoints of stitches D2 and D4 of the (N-1)th motif MR, and edit the sewing data so that the motif MR is sewn in the order of point U (E-4), point U (E-3), point W21, point U (E-1), point (E-2), point W22, and point UE (S40), as shown in part F5 of Fig. 11. The above modified examples may be combined as appropriate as long as there are no contradictions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 1: sewing machine, 6: needle bar, 15: LCD, 26: touch panel, 40: movement mechanism, 55: needle bar mechanism, 69: photographing unit, 80: control unit, 81: CPU, 84: flash memory

Claims

1. A sewing data editing device for editing sewing data for couching a string-like member directly onto a sewing object by forming a plurality of stitches that penetrate the string-like member and the sewing object along a predetermined pattern, comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires coordinate data indicating the positions of each of a plurality of points along the predetermined pattern; a corner detection unit that detects a corner in the predetermined pattern that is smaller than a predetermined angle based on the coordinate data of each of the plurality of points; an editing unit that edits the sewing data using different editing conditions for a plurality of first needle points corresponding to the corners and a plurality of second needle points corresponding to non-corner portions not detected as corners in the predetermined pattern based on the coordinate data of each of the plurality of points and the detection result of the corner detection unit; Equipped with The predetermined angle is less than 90 degrees, The plurality of first needle drop points include a vertex that is a corner of the corner portion, and two needle drop points that are before and after the vertex in the sewing order, a sewing data editing device that edits the sewing data so that a distance between the vertex and the first needle point which is earlier in the sewing order than the vertex, and a distance between the vertex and the first needle point which is later in the sewing order than the vertex, become a second distance which is shorter than a first distance between any two of the second needle points which are closer to each other in the sewing order than the first distance between the vertex and the first needle point which is later in the sewing order than the second needle point.

2. the acquiring unit acquires the coordinate data of each of the plurality of points arranged at the first intervals along the predetermined pattern; 2. The sewing data editing device according to claim 1, wherein the editing unit edits the sewing data by setting a plurality of points among the plurality of points that correspond to the non-corner portions as the plurality of second needle drop points based on the coordinate data of each of the plurality of points and the detection result of the corner detection unit.

3. A sewing data editing device for editing sewing data for couching a string-like member directly onto a sewn material by forming a plurality of stitches that penetrate the string-like member and the sewn material along a predetermined pattern using a sewing machine, comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires coordinate data indicating the positions of each of a plurality of points along the predetermined pattern; a corner detection unit that detects a corner in the predetermined pattern that is smaller than a predetermined angle based on the coordinate data of each of the plurality of points; an editing unit that edits the sewing data using different editing conditions for a plurality of first needle points corresponding to the corners and a plurality of second needle points corresponding to non-corner portions not detected as corners in the predetermined pattern based on the coordinate data of each of the plurality of points and the detection result of the corner detection unit; Equipped with The editing unit sets one or more needle drop points inside a triangle connecting a target point that is a corner of the plurality of points and two points adjacent to the target point based on the coordinate data of each of the plurality of points and the detection results of the corner detection unit, and edits the sewing data to form the plurality of stitches separated from the target point.

4. A sewing data editing device for editing sewing data for couching a string-like member directly onto a sewn material by forming a plurality of stitches that penetrate the string-like member and the sewn material along a predetermined pattern using a sewing machine, comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires coordinate data indicating the positions of each of a plurality of points along the predetermined pattern; a corner detection unit that detects a corner in the predetermined pattern that is smaller than a predetermined angle based on the coordinate data of each of the plurality of points; an editing unit that edits the sewing data using different editing conditions for a plurality of first needle points corresponding to the corners and a plurality of second needle points corresponding to non-corner portions not detected as corners in the predetermined pattern based on the coordinate data of each of the plurality of points and the detection result of the corner detection unit; Equipped with The editing unit edits the sewing data by switching the sewing order of two points adjacent to the target point that is the corner among the plurality of points based on the coordinate data of each of the plurality of points and the detection result of the corner detection unit.

5. A sewing data editing device as described in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the specified angle is smaller than 90 degrees.

6. The acquisition unit acquires the coordinate data of each of the plurality of points arranged at a first interval along the predetermined pattern, 6. The sewing data editing device according to claim 3, wherein the editing unit edits the sewing data so that a plurality of points among the plurality of points that correspond to the non-corner portions are set as the plurality of second needle drop points based on the coordinate data of each of the plurality of points and the detection result of the corner detection unit, and a distance between two of the first needle drop points that are successively sewn in a different order among the plurality of first needle drop points in the specified pattern becomes a second distance that is shorter than the first distance.

7. An identification unit that identifies the type of the string-like member; a setting unit that sets the second interval in accordance with the type identified by the identification unit; Further comprising: The sewing data editing device according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 6, characterized in that the editing unit edits the sewing data based on the coordinate data of each of the plurality of points and the detection result of the corner detection unit so that the interval between the two first needle drop points in the specified pattern becomes the second interval set by the setting unit.

8. A display unit; Input section and Further comprising:

8. The sewing data editing device according to claim 1, wherein the acquisition unit acquires the coordinate data of each of the plurality of points arbitrarily designated on the display unit by a user via the input unit.

9. The acquisition unit acquires the sewing data including the coordinate data, The sewing data editing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the editing unit edits the sewing data acquired by the acquisition unit based on the coordinate data of each of the plurality of points and the detection result of the corner detection unit.

10. 10. A sewing data editing program including instructions for operating a computer of the sewing data editing device according to claim 1.

11. a moving mechanism configured to move the sewing material in a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a needle bar mechanism having a needle bar at a lower end to which a sewing needle can be attached, the needle bar being driven to reciprocate in an up and down direction; A sewing data editing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, a sewing control unit that drives the movement mechanism and the needle bar mechanism in accordance with the sewing data edited by the sewing data editing device to perform couching; A sewing machine comprising:

12. An imaging unit that images the sewing object; A display unit; a display control unit that displays, on the display unit, an image representing the plurality of stitches indicated by the sewing data superimposed on a photographed image representing the sewing object photographed by the photographing unit; 12. The sewing machine of claim 11 further comprising:

Images