Sewing Machine Embroidery Positioning via External Image Capture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sewing machines with image capture devices are complex and expensive, making it difficult to easily set the position and angle of stitches for embroidery patterns without complicating the machine's configuration.
Innovation Solution
A non-transitory computer-readable medium with instructions that allow a processor to capture images of reference and indicator marks on a sewing workpiece, compute positioning data, and output it, enabling the sewing machine to set the position and angle of embroidery patterns without requiring a complex configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a built-in image capture device is installed in the sewing machine to capture images of marks on the sewing workpiece, then the sewing machine can automatically set positions and angles for embroidery stitches, but the configuration becomes complex and the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a portable terminal (smartphone, tablet, or camera) as an intermediary device to capture images of marks on the sewing workpiece. This external image capture device communicates with the sewing machine via wireless or wired connection, allowing the sewing machine to obtain positioning information without having a built-in image capture device, thus simplifying its configuration while maintaining automatic positioning capability
Solution Approach 2:
The image capture function is extracted from the sewing machine and placed in a separate portable terminal. This separation allows the sewing machine to focus on its core sewing functions while the positioning and image processing functions are handled by the external device, reducing the overall system complexity
2Ease of operation
If a built-in image capture device is installed in the sewing machine to capture images of marks on the sewing workpiece, then the sewing machine can automatically set positions and angles for embroidery stitches, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a portable terminal as an intermediary to perform image capture and processing functions that would otherwise require expensive built-in sensors and processing units in the sewing machine. This approach leverages the existing capabilities of common portable devices, significantly reducing the sewing machine's manufacturing cost while maintaining automatic positioning functionality
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of equipping the sewing machine with its own image capture device, the system uses a copy or duplicate function available in portable terminals. The portable terminal captures the image and processes it, then transmits the results to the sewing machine, which executes the positioning based on this external input
Data Source
AI summary
A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a device including an image capture portion configured to create image data, cause the processor to perform the steps of causing the image capture portion to create the image data by causing the image capture portion to capture an image of a range including at least one reference mark and at least one indicator mark, computing positioning data based on the image data, and outputting the positioning data. The at least one reference mark is provided on an embroidery frame. The at least one indicator mark is positioned in an area inside the embroidery frame, on a sewing workpiece clamped in the embroidery frame. The positioning data are data that indicate at least one of a position and an angle of the at least one indicator mark in relation to the at least one reference mark.