Embroidery sewing machine

Abstract

Pattern data of an embroidery pattern includes data of given points for defining plural positions associated with the embroidery pattern as reference positions for pre-movement of the embroidery frame and distance data that indicates respective distances between the respective given points and a predetermined starting point. Before embroidering or trace is started, any one of the given points is specified or selected, and the embroidery frame is moved to the reference position associated with the selected given point through manual operation of a switch. When the embroidering or the trace starts, the embroidery frame is automatically moved from the selected reference position to a position corresponding to the starting point of the embroidery pattern on the basis of the distance data between the specified given point and the starting point, and then the embroidering or the trace is started from the position corresponding to the starting point.

1 . An embroidery sewing machine which has at least either of a function of moving an embroidery frame, having an embroidering workpiece held thereon in a stretched-taut state, in accordance with pattern data of a given embroidery pattern to conduct embroidering of the embroidery pattern and a function of conducting a trace which moves the embroidery frame along an outer shape of the embroidery pattern, the embroidery sewing machine comprising:
 a memory unit that stores a set of the pattern data corresponding the given embroidery pattern, the set of the pattern data including data identifying a plurality of given points for use as reference positions for defining a layout of the embroidery pattern and distance data for defining respective distances between the respective given points and a predetermined starting point in the embroidery pattern;   an embroidery frame pre-movement section adapted to move the embroidery frame to a selected reference position associated with any one of the given points before the embroidering or the trace is started;   a specifying section adapted to specify any one of the given points as the selected reference position before the embroidering or the trace is started; and   a control section adapted to automatically move the embroidery frame from the selected reference position to a position corresponding to the predetermined starting point of the embroidery pattern on the basis of the distance data corresponding to the specified given point.   
     
     
         2 . The embroidery sewing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of given points are set at points of at least vertices of a quadrangle circumscribing the embroidery pattern and a center of the embroidery pattern. 
     
     
         3 . The embroidery sewing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein in a case of conducting the trace, the control section is further adapted to automatically move the embroidery frame to the position corresponding to the predetermined starting point of the embroidery pattern after completion of the trace. 
     
     
         4 . The embroidery sewing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the embroidery frame pre-movement section is adapted to move the embroidery frame to the selected reference position according to an operation of a human operator 
     
     
         5 . The embroidery sewing machine according to  claim 1 , which further comprises a display device for visually displaying a relationship between the plurality of given points and the embroidery pattern. 
     
     
         6 . A embroidery-start-position setting method for an embroidery sewing machine which has at least either of a function of moving an embroidery frame, having an embroidering workpiece held thereon in a stretched-taut state, in accordance with pattern data of an arbitrary embroidery pattern to conduct embroidering of the embroidery pattern and a function of conducting a trace which moves the embroidery frame along an outer shape of the embroidery pattern, the embroidery sewing machine comprising a memory unit that stores a set of the pattern data corresponding the given embroidery pattern, the set of the pattern data including data identifying a plurality of given points for use as reference positions for defining a layout of the embroidery pattern and distance data for defining respective distances between the respective given points and a predetermined starting point in the embroidery pattern, the method comprising the steps of:
 moving the embroidery frame to a selected reference position associated with any one of the given points before the embroidering or the trace is started;   specifying any one of the given points as the selected reference position before the embroidering or the trace is started; and   automatically moving the embroidery frame from the selected reference position to a position corresponding to the predetermined starting point of the embroidery pattern on the basis of the distance data corresponding to the specified given point.