Patent Publication Number: US-2007113765-A1

Title: Sewing machine

Description:
The present invention claims foreign priority from Japanese patent application no. 2005-334597 filed on Nov. 18, 2005, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a sewing machine which supports creating pieces for a patchwork.  
      When carrying out a patchwork, a pattern to be created is designed, and shapes, sizes and colors of cloth pieces referred to as pieces which constitute the pattern are determined. These pieces are joined to each other, thereby forming the designed pattern. In recent years, there has been developed an apparatus which edits and creates a pattern of a patchwork by using a computer (see, e.g., JP-A-8-134765).  
      Before carrying out the patchwork, it is necessary to create a piece to be a material. For this reason, an operator uses a chalk to draw a line on a cloth and cuts the cloth along the line, thereby creating a piece.  
      However, the number of pieces to constitute a pattern of the patchwork is enormous and a great deal of time and labor is required for creating each of the pieces by drawing a line on a cloth.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      Therefore, the present invention has been made in order to solve the problem, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a sewing machine which supports an operator in creating pieces so that a large number of pieces can be easily created in a short time.  
      According to a first aspect of the invention, A sewing machine includes: a needle; a needle driving section which vertically drives the needle; a cloth holding section which holds a cloth; a moving section which moves the cloth holding section along a plane; a storage section which stores cutting line data representing an outline of a piece and region data representing a sewing enabling region through the cloth holding section; an array calculating section which arranges a plurality of outlines of the piece in the sewing enabling region based on the cutting line data and the region data that are stored in the storage section, and obtains array data representing each arrangement position of the outlines of the piece and each rotating angles of the outlines of the piece in respective arrangement positions; and a control section which controls the moving section and the needle driving section in accordance with the array data obtained by the array calculating section and the cutting line data stored in the storage section. The moving section and the needle driving section form a cutting line of a seam on the cloth such that at least a part of one or more outlines of the piece according to the cutting line data are arranged along the cutting line of the seam in accordance with the array data.  
      Therefore, when the operator cuts the cloth along the cutting line, it is possible to create a plurality of pieces. More specifically, it is possible to save troubles for drawing a line on the cloth for each of the outlines of the pieces. Consequently, the operator can easily create the pieces in a short time.  
      According to a second aspect of the invention, the sewing machine may further include a selecting section which selects a type of the piece from a plurality of types of pieces, wherein the storage section stores the cutting line data on respective types of pieces, and the array calculating section obtains the array data based on the cutting line data corresponding to the type of the piece selected by the selecting section.  
      Therefore, when the control means controls the needle driving means and the moving means in accordance with the cutting line data and the array data, the seam to be formed on the cloth is set in a state in which the outlines of the selected piece are arranged in accordance with the array data. Accordingly, it is possible to create pieces of various outlines by the selection of the selecting means.  
      According to a third aspect of the invention, the sewing machine may further include a setting section which sets a number of pieces, wherein the control section controls the moving section and the needle driving section in accordance with the arrangement positions and the rotating angles of the outlines of set number of pieces set by the setting section, from the array data obtained by the array calculating section. Therefore, the seam to be formed on the cloth is brought into a state in which the outlines of set number of pieces set by the setting means are arranged in accordance with the array data. Accordingly, it is possible to set the number of pieces to be created.  
      According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the sewing machine may further include a display section, on which the plurality of outlines of the piece arranged in the sewing enabling region are displayed in accordance with the array data.  
      According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the sewing machine may further include a touch panel, from which the type of the piece to be selected by the selecting section is input.  
      According to a sixth aspect of the invention, a whole outline of the piece is arranged along the cutting line of the seam.  
      According to a seventh aspect of the invention, the sewing machine may further include an embroidery frame sensor, wherein the cloth holding section includes an embroidery frame, the embroidery frame sensor detects a type of the embroidery frame, and the array calculating section arranges the plurality of outlines of the piece in the sewing enabling region based on the region data that corresponds to the type of the embroidery frame detected by the embroidery frame sensor. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The advantages, nature, and various additional features of the invention will appear more fully upon consideration of the exemplary embodiments. The exemplary embodiments are set forth in the following drawings.  
       FIG. 1  is a front view showing an embroidery sewing machine according to a first embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a structure of the embroidery sewing machine;  
       FIG. 3  is a diagram for explaining array data on an equilateral triangular piece;  
       FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing a processing to be carried out by a microcomputer provided in the embroidery sewing machine;  
       FIG. 5  is a view showing a selecting screen to be displayed on an operation panel provided in the embroidery sewing machine;  
       FIGS. 6A  to  6 D are views for explaining an algorithm for arranging a plurality of pieces;  
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  are views showing layout screens to be displayed on the operation panel;  
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  are views showing cutting lines to be sewn by the embroidery sewing machine;  
       FIGS. 9A and 9B  are views showing states in which a cloth is cut along the cutting line sewn by the embroidery sewing machine;  
       FIG. 10  is a flowchart showing a processing to be carried out by a microcomputer provided in an embroidery sewing machine according to a second embodiment to which the invention is applied; and  
       FIG. 11  is a view showing an input screen to be displayed on an operation panel of the embroidery sewing machine according to the second embodiment. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
      Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be explained with reference to the drawings, the following exemplary embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention.  
     Embodiment 1  
      (Structure of Embroidery Sewing Machine)  
      As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an embroidery sewing machine  1  has a bed portion  11  positioned in a lower part, a drum portion  12  provided upward from one end of the bed portion  11 , and an arm portion  13  extending along the bed portion  11  from an upper part of the drum portion  12 .  
      Moreover, the embroidery sewing machine  1  includes a needle  14  supported to be vertically movable below a sewing machine head portion  13   a  (a left end in  FIG. 1 ) to be a tip side of the arm portion  13 , a needle driving mechanism  15  provided in a lower part of the sewing machine head portion  13   a  of the arm portion  13  and serving to support the needle  14  and to vertically drive the needle  14 , a cloth presser  16  supported on the needle driving mechanism  15  together with the needle  14  and moved vertically together with the needle  14  in an embroidery sewing operation, an embroidery frame  17  disposed below the needle  14  and serving to hold a cloth in a stretching state along a perpendicular plane with respect to the needle  14 , a frame moving mechanism  18  provided in an opposed position to the bed portion  11  and serving to drive the embroidery frame  17  along a perpendicular plane to the needle  14 , and an operation panel  5  for inputting an instruction and setting related to an operation of the embroidery sewing machine  1  and displaying necessary information for the instruction and a current state.  
      The sewing machine head portion  13   a  on a left end of the arm portion  13  shown in  FIG. 1  includes a starting/stop switch for starting/stopping a sewing operation (which will be hereinafter referred to as an S/S switch)  20 , a reverse stitch switch  21  for inputting an instruction to carry out a reverse sewing operation, a thread cutting switch  22  for inputting an instruction for cutting a thread after the sewing operation, and a slide volume  23  for regulating a speed of the sewing operation which are arranged in order from a bottom.  
      Moreover, the embroidery sewing machine  1  comprises a microcomputer  6  serving to control the needle driving mechanism  15 , the frame moving mechanism  18  and the operation panel  5  and to input a signal from the operation panel  5 , the S/S switch  20 , the reverse stitch switch  21 , the thread cutting switch  22 , and the slide volume  23 , and a storage portion  63  for storing a program and data which can be read by the microcomputer  6 .  
      Assuming that a direction in which the needle  14  carries out a vertical motion is set to be a Z-axis direction, a direction in which the embroidery frame  17  is moved in a transverse direction in  FIG. 1  by means of the frame moving mechanism  18  (one of two perpendicular directions to each other) is set to be an X-axis direction, and a direction in which the embroidery frame  17  is moved in a longitudinal direction in  FIG. 1  by means of the frame moving mechanism  18  (the other of the two perpendicular directions to each other) is set to be a Y-axis direction, the following description will be given.  
      (Needle Driving Mechanism)  
      The needle driving mechanism  15  includes a sewing machine motor  24  to be a driving source (which is shown in  FIG. 2 ) and a crank mechanism for converting a rotating output of the sewing machine motor  24  into a vertical motion of the needle  14 . A timing for operating/stopping the sewing machine motor  24  is controlled by the microcomputer  6 , and furthermore, a rotating speed of the sewing machine motor  24  is controlled by the microcomputer  6  so that a cycle of the vertical motion of the needle  14  is controlled. Moreover, the microcomputer  6  serves to control the rotating speed of the sewing machine motor  24  in accordance with setting of the slide volume  23 .  
      (Embroidery Frame)  
      The embroidery frame  17  to be cloth holding means is constituted by an outer frame taking an almost rectangular shape and an inner frame forming an almost rectangle and capable of being fitted in the outer frame in the same manner. A cloth is interposed between the inner frame and the outer frame in a stretching state over the inner frame, and a plane region taking an almost rectangular shape in the cloth is formed on an inside of the frame and serves as a sewing enabling region. Moreover, embroidery frames having three sizes, that is, large, middle and small sizes can be selectively attached. The sewing enabling region is determined every size of the embroidery frame and the embroidery frame  17  shown in the drawing has a maximum size.  
      (Frame Moving Mechanism)  
      The frame moving mechanism  18  to be moving means includes a carriage  25  supported to be reciprocable in the X-axis direction over an upper surface of the bed portion  11 , an X-axis motor  26  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) for driving the carriage  25  in the X-axis direction, an embroidery frame attaching portion  27  supported on the carriage  25  so as to be reciprocable in the Y-axis direction, and a Y-axis motor  28  (see  FIG. 2 ) for driving the embroidery frame  17  in the Y-axis direction through the embroidery frame attaching portion  27 . Moreover, the frame moving mechanism  18  is provided to freely convert a rotating output of the X-axis motor  26  into a power in a direct moving direction of the carriage  25 , and furthermore, is provided to freely convert a rotating output of the Y-axis motor  28  into a power in a direct moving direction of the embroidery frame attaching portion  27 . Accordingly, the frame moving mechanism  18  freely moves the embroidery frame  17  along an X-Y plane (an orthogonal plane to the needle  14 ) by a cooperation of the movement of the carriage  25  and that of the embroidery frame attaching portion  27 . A certain position on the X-Y plane over which the embroidery frame  17  is moved is represented by an X-Y coordinate system determined by X and Y axes which are orthogonal to each other.  
      Moreover, both the X-axis motor  26  and the Y-axis motor  28  are stepping motors and can control a rotating angle for driving on a very small angle unit. A timing for operating/stopping each of the motors  26  and  28  is controlled by the microcomputer  6 . Furthermore, a rotating speed of each of the motors  26  and  28  is controlled by the microcomputer  6 . More specifically, the rotating angle of each of the motors  26  and  28  per vertical motion of the needle  14  is controlled by the microcomputer  6 . Consequently, the embroidery frame  17  is moved in each axial direction and a relative needle location of the needle  14  is determined.  
      In addition, the embroidery frame attaching portion  27  is provided with an embroidery frame sensor  29  (shown in  FIG. 2 ). The embroidery frame sensor  29  detects a size (type) of the embroidery frame attached to the embroidery frame attaching portion  27 . In the case in which the embroidery frame  17  having the maximum size is attached to the embroidery frame attaching portion  27 , a signal indicative of the maximum size is output from the embroidery frame sensor  29  to the microcomputer  6 . In the case in which the embroidery frame having the middle size is attached to the embroidery frame attaching portion  27 , a signal indicative of the middle size is output from the embroidery frame sensor  29  to the microcomputer  6 . In the case in which the embroidery frame having the minimum size is attached to the embroidery frame attaching portion  27 , a signal indicative of the minimum size is output from the embroidery frame sensor  29  to the microcomputer  6 .  
      (Operation Panel)  
      As shown in  FIG. 2 , the operation panel  5  includes a liquid crystal display  51  for carrying out a display in accordance with a display signal of the microcomputer  6  and a touch panel  52  to be a transparent pressure-sensitive switch provided in a superposition on a display surface of the liquid crystal display  51 . In the case in which a finger of an operator touches the surface of the touch panel  52 , a contact position thereof is detected by the touch panel  52  so that the touch panel  52  outputs, to the microcomputer  6 , an operation signal corresponding to the contact position. The liquid crystal display  51  displays various switches (icons) in an operating screen in accordance with the display signal of the microcomputer  6 . Accordingly, the microcomputer  6  recognizes which position is touched upon receipt of the output of the touch panel  52 , and furthermore, collates whether such operation input corresponds to any of the switches displayed on the liquid crystal display  51 . As a result, which operation is being carried out by the operator is recognized.  
      (Storage Portion)  
      The storage portion  63  has a magnetic storage medium, an optical storage medium or a semiconductor memory, and a program and data are prestored in the magnetic storage medium, the optical storage medium or the semiconductor memory. The program stored in the storage portion  63  is stored in a configuration of a program code which can be read by the microcomputer  6  and an operation in accordance with the program code is successively executed under a control of the microcomputer  6 .  
      The data to be stored in the storage portion  63  include cutting line data and sewing data which correspond to respective types of pieces. One cutting line data and one sewing data correspond to one type of pieces. The type of pieces includes a piece having a shape of an equilateral triangle, a piece having a square shape, a piece having a rectangular shape, a piece having a shape of a parallelogram, a piece having a shape of a right triangle, and a piece having a shape of a rectangular equilateral triangle. All of the types have outlines forming closed curves. The cutting line data defines the outline of the piece corresponding to the cutting line data by a u-v coordinate system of u and v axes which are orthogonal to each other. The cutting line data includes a sewing start position in the u-v coordinate system and a data string in which the amounts of movement per respective stitches are arranged corresponding to the number of needle locations. The amount of a movement per stitch is expressed in a moving amount Δu in a u direction and a moving amount Δv in a v direction in the u-v coordinate system. Moreover, the sewing data is data for moving the embroidery frame  17  in the X-Y directions every stitch during a sewing mode in which the cutting line data is not used, in order to form a seam on the inside of the outline of the piece along the outline.  
      When the microcomputer  6  controls the sewing machine motor  24 , the X-axis motor  26  and the Y-axis motor  28  in accordance with the cutting line data, a cutting line (a seam) of the outline of the piece corresponding to the cutting line data is formed on a cloth.  
      Moreover, the data to be stored in the storage portion  63  includes region data which correspond to respective types of the embroidery frame. The region data represent a sewing enabling region of the embroidery frame corresponding to the region data.  
      (Microcomputer)  
      The microcomputer  6  is a control device including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and an RAM (Random Access memory). The microcomputer  6  carries out a processing in accordance with the program stored in the storage portion  63 , controls the needle driving mechanism  15 , the frame moving mechanism  18  and the operation panel  5 . Further, signals from the operation panel  5 , the S/S switch  20 , the reverse stitch switch  21 , the thread cutting switch  22  and the slide volume  23  are input to the microcomputer  6 .  
      The microcomputer  6  functions as follows in accordance with the program stored in the storage portion  63 . In other words, the microcomputer  6  functions as selecting means for displaying plural types of pieces on the liquid crystal display  51  of the operation panel  5  and selecting one of the plural types of pieces in response to an operation signal input from the touch panel  52  of the operation panel  5 . Moreover, the microcomputer  6  functions as means for recognizing the size of the embroidery frame attached to the embroidery frame attaching portion  27  based on a signal input from the embroidery frame sensor  29 . Moreover, the microcomputer  6  functions as reading means for reading cutting line data corresponding to the piece of the selected type from the storage portion  63  and reading region data corresponding to an embroidery frame having the recognized size.  
      Moreover, the microcomputer  6  functions as array calculating means for arranging the outline of the piece in the sewing enabling region based on the cutting line data and the region data which are thus read and obtaining array data indicative of an arrangement position of each piece and a rotating angle in the arrangement position. The array data represent the arrangement position of each piece in the X-Y coordinate system and the rotating angle of the piece in the arrangement position. The arrangement position is expressed in the X-Y coordinate system determined by the X and Y axes and the rotating angle is expressed in a matrix M of a linear transformation in which the piece is rotated by the rotating angle. Accordingly, a reference point of the piece (a predetermined point expressed in the u-v coordinate system (for example, an origin of the u-v coordinate system, a sewing start position, or a center of gravity)) can be disposed in the X-Y coordinate system depending on the arrangement position of the array data and moving amounts ΔX and ΔY per stitch in the X-Y coordinate system are calculated by an inner product of the matrix M and the moving amounts Δu and Δv. For example, in case of the piece taking the shape of an equilateral triangle, if an X-Y coordinate of a reference point P 1  of an equilateral triangular piece  201  is set to be (0, 0) and a rotating angle thereof is set to be zero degree as shown in  FIG. 3 , an X-Y coordinate of a reference point P 2  of an equilateral triangular piece  202  is (X2, Y2) and a rotating angle is 180 degrees, an X-Y coordinate of a reference point P 3  of an equilateral triangular piece  203  is (X3, Y3) and a rotating angle is zero degree, an X-Y coordinate of a reference point P 4  of an equilateral triangular piece  204  is (X4, Y4) and a rotating angle is 180 degrees, an X-Y coordinate of a reference point P 5  of an equilateral triangular piece  205  is (X5, Y5) and a rotating angle is zero degree, and an X-Y coordinate of a reference point P 6  of an equilateral triangular piece  206  is (X6, Y6) and a rotating angle is 180 degrees.  
      The arrangement position of each piece may be represented by an absolute position (X, Y) in the X-Y coordinate system and may be represented by a difference (ΔX, ΔY) from the arrangement position of an adjacent piece. In the case in which the arrangement position of each piece is represented by a relative position based on the difference, the arrangement position of at least one piece is represented by an absolute position.  
      Moreover, the microcomputer  6  functions as display control means for carrying out a display on the liquid crystal display  51  in order to arrange the selected type of pieces in accordance with the array data which are obtained. Moreover, the microcomputer  6  functions as control means for controlling the sewing machine motor  24 , the X-axis motor  26  and the Y-axis motor  28  in accordance with the cutting line data which are read and the array data which are obtained.  
      (Operation of Embroidery Sewing Machine)  
      Next, description will be given to an operation of the embroidery sewing machine  1 .  
      An operator sets a cloth onto the embroidery frame. When the operator starts the broidery sewing machine  1 , the microcomputer  6  reads the program stored in the storage portion  63  and carries out a processing as shown in a flowchart of  FIG. 4  in accordance with the program.  
      First of all, the microcomputer  6  outputs a display signal to the liquid crystal display  51  and the liquid crystal display  51  carries out a display operation in accordance with the display signal so that icons for plural types of pieces are displayed on the liquid crystal display  51  (Step S 1 ). For example, as shown in  FIG. 5 , there are displayed, on the liquid crystal display  51 , an icon  91  for an equilateral triangular piece, an icon  92  for a square piece, an icon  93  for a rectangular piece, an icon  94  for a piece taking a shape of a parallelogram, an icon  95  for a right triangular piece, and an icon  96  for a rectangular equilateral triangular piece.  
      When the operator determines one of the plural types of pieces which are displayed and touches the surface of the touch panel  52  over the piece of the type which is determined by the operator, a contact position is detected by the touch panel  52  and an operation signal corresponding to the contact position is output from the touch panel  52  to the microcomputer  6 . In response to the operation signal, one of the plural types of pieces is selected by the microcomputer  6  (Step S 2 ).  
      Next, the size of the embroidery frame is detected by the embroidery frame sensor  29  and a signal indicative of the size of the embroidery frame is output to the microcomputer  6 , and the microcomputer  6  recognizes the size of the embroidery frame (Step S 3 ).  
      Then, the microcomputer  6  reads, from the storage portion  63 , cutting line data corresponding to the piece of the type which is selected, and furthermore, reads region data corresponding to the embroidery frame having the size which is detected (Step S 4 ).  
      Thereafter, the microcomputer  6  arranges an outline (cutting line) of the piece in the sewing enabling region based on the cutting line data and the region data and obtains array data representing the arrangement position of each piece and a rotating angle in the arrangement position (Step S 5 ). For example, in the case in which the operator determines the icon  92  for a square piece at the Step S 2 , the microcomputer  6  disposes a first square piece  82  on a left upper part in a sewing enabling region  81  as shown in  FIG. 6A , and second and succeeding square pieces  82  are arranged to come in contact with each other without a clearance as shown in  FIG. 6B . The piece has a peculiar size. Therefore, the microcomputer  6  calculates a quotient (an integer part) obtained by dividing a length in a transverse direction of the sewing enabling region  81  by a length in a transverse direction of the square piece  82  and arranges the square pieces  82  rightward corresponding to the number of the square pieces  82  which can be disposed in a rightward direction (the integer part of the quotient which is calculated). As shown in  FIG. 6C , the microcomputer  6  arranges the square piece  82  up to a right end in the sewing enabling region  81 . Then, the same square piece  82  is also arranged for a next row. Such a processing is repeated so that the square piece  82  is arranged in the sewing enabling region  81  as shown in  FIG. 6D . Thereafter, the microcomputer  6  obtains array data representing the arrangement positions and rotating angles of the respective square pieces  82 .  
      Subsequently, the microcomputer  6  displays, on the liquid crystal display  51 , a screen in which the selected type of pieces are arranged in accordance with the array data (Step S 6 ). For example, in the case in which the operator determines the icon  92  for a square piece at the Step S 2 , a plurality of square pieces  102  is displayed on the liquid crystal display  51  in a state in which they are arranged in a sewing enabling region  103  as shown in  FIG. 7A . In the case in which the operator determines the icon  96  for a rectangular equilateral triangular piece at the Step S 2 , a plurality of rectangular equilateral triangular pieces  106  is displayed on the liquid crystal display  51  in a state in which they are arranged in the sewing enabling region  103  as shown in  FIG. 7B .  
      Next, the microcomputer  6  operates the sewing machine motor  24 , the X-axis motor  26  and the Y-axis motor  28  and controls the sewing machine motor  24 , the X-axis motor  26  and the Y-axis motor  28  in accordance with the cutting line data which are read and the array data which are obtained (Step S 7 ). Consequently, the needle  14  carries out a vertical motion, the embroidery frame  17  is moved along the X-Y plane, a cutting line (a seam) to be the outline of the piece is sequentially formed on a cloth every piece, and the cutting line is provided in a state in which the outline of the piece in accordance with the cutting line data is arranged in accordance with the array data. For example, in the case in which the operator determines the icon  92  for a square piece at the Step S 2 , a cutting line  112  in a state in which a plurality of square pieces is arranged is sewn onto a cloth  110  in the embroidery frame  17  as shown in  FIG. 8A . In the case in which the operator determines the icon  96  for a rectangular equilateral triangular piece at the Step S 2 , a cutting line  116  in a state in which a plurality of triangular pieces is arranged is sewn onto the cloth  110  in the embroidery frame  17  as shown in  FIG. 8B .  
      After the cutting line is formed on the cloth by the embroidery sewing machine  1 , the operator removes the cloth from the embroidery frame  17 . Then, the operator can create a plurality of pieces by cutting the cloth along the cutting line of the cloth. For example, when the cloth  110  shown in  FIG. 8A  is cut, a plurality of square pieces  122  can be created as shown in  FIG. 9A . When the cloth  110  shown in  FIG. 8B  is cut, a plurality of triangular pieces  126  can be created as shown in  FIG. 9B .  
      After creating the pieces as described above, one side of a piece and one side of another piece are overlapped with each other and are sewn together, and such work is repeated so that a cloth piece having a desirable size is made.  
      As described above, according to the first embodiment, the cutting line in the state in which the outlines of the pieces are arranged is formed on the cloth by the embroidery sewing machine  1 . Therefore, it is possible to eliminate a great deal of time and labor required for drawing a line on the cloth along each of the outlines of the pieces. By cutting the cloth along the cutting line, consequently, the operator can easily create a plurality of pieces in a short time.  
      Moreover, the operator can determine an optional type of pieces through the display screen at the Step S 1 , and the microcomputer  6  selects the type determined by the operator and reads the cutting line data corresponding to the piece of the selected type from the storage portion  63 . Therefore, the cutting line of the seam formed on the cloth is set into a state in which the outlines of the selected pieces are arranged in accordance with the array data. Accordingly, the operator can create an optional type of pieces.  
     Embodiment 2  
      Next, description will be given to an embroidery sewing machine according to a second embodiment of the invention. Referring to the embroidery sewing machine according to the second embodiment, the same portions as those in the embroidery sewing machine  1  according to the first embodiment have the same reference numerals and only different portions will be described.  
      A microcomputer  6  functions as follows depending on a program stored in a storage portion  63 . In other words, the microcomputer  6  functions as selecting means for displaying plural types of pieces on a liquid crystal display  51  of an operation panel  5  and selecting one of the plural types of pieces in response to an operation signal input from a touch panel  52  of the operation panel  5 . Moreover, the microcomputer  6  functions as means for recognizing a size of an embroidery frame attached to an embroidery frame attaching portion  27  in response to a signal input from an embroidery frame sensor  29 . Furthermore, the microcomputer  6  functions as reading means for reading cutting line data corresponding to the piece of the selected type from the storage portion  63  and reading region data corresponding to an embroidery frame having the recognized size. In addition, the microcomputer  6  functions as array calculating means for arranging an outline of the piece in a sewing enabling region based on the cutting line data and the region data which are thus read and obtaining array data indicative of an arrangement position of each piece and a rotating angle in the arrangement position. Furthermore, the microcomputer  6  functions as setting means for displaying an input screen for a numerical value (a natural number) on the liquid crystal display  51  of the operation panel  5  and setting the number of pieces in response to an operation signal input from the operation panel  5 . In addition, the microcomputer  6  functions as display control means for carrying out a display on the liquid crystal display  51  in order to arrange the selected type of pieces in accordance with the positions and rotating angles of the number of pieces which is set in the array data which are obtained. Moreover, the microcomputer  6  functions as control means for controlling a sewing machine motor  24 , an X-axis motor  26  and a Y-axis motor  28  in accordance with the positions and rotating angles of the number of pieces which is set in the array data which are obtained and the cutting line data which are read.  
      Description will be given to an operation of the embroidery sewing machine according to the second embodiment.  
      An operator sets a cloth onto an embroidery frame  17 . When the operator starts an embroidery sewing machine  1 , the microcomputer  6  reads the program stored in the storage portion  63  and carries out a processing as shown in a flowchart of  FIG. 10  in accordance with the program.  
      First of all, the microcomputer  6  outputs a display signal to the liquid crystal display  51  so that icons for plural types of pieces are displayed on the liquid crystal display  51  (Step SA 1 ). When the operator touches the surface of the touch panel  52  over the piece of the type which is determined by the operator, an operation signal corresponding to a contact position is output from the touch panel  52  to the microcomputer  6  and one of the plural types of pieces is selected by the microcomputer  6  in response to the operation signal (Step SA 2 ). Next, the size of the embroidery frame is detected by the embroidery frame sensor  29  and the microcomputer  6  recognizes the size of the embroidery frame in response to the signal of the embroidery frame sensor  29  (Step SA 3 ). Next, the microcomputer  6  reads, from the storage portion  63 , the cutting line data corresponding to the piece of the type which is selected, and furthermore, reads region data corresponding to the embroidery frame having the size which is detected (Step SA 4 ). Then, the microcomputer  6  arranges an outline of the piece in the sewing enabling region based on the cutting line data and the region data and obtains array data representing an arrangement position of each piece and a rotating angle in the arrangement position (Step SA 5 ). The processings of the Steps SA 1 , SA 2 , SA 3 , SA 4  and SA 5  are the same as those of the Steps S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , S 4  and S 5  in the first embodiment, respectively.  
      Subsequently, the microcomputer  6  outputs a display signal to the liquid crystal display  51  and the liquid crystal display  51  carries out a display operation in accordance with the display signal so that an input screen for inputting the number of pieces is displayed on the liquid crystal display  51  (Step SA 6 ). When the operator inputs the number of the pieces through the touch panel  52 , then, an operation signal corresponding to a contact position is output from the touch panel  52  to the microcomputer  6  and the number of the pieces is set by the microcomputer  6  in response to the operation signal (Step SA 7 ).  
      The processings of the Steps SA 6  and SA 7  will be specifically described. At the Step SA 6 , a screen shown in  FIG. 11  is displayed on the liquid crystal display  51 . In the screen of  FIG. 11 , a piece number display portion  151 , a plus icon  152 , a minus icon  153  and a determination icon  154  are displayed on the liquid crystal display  51  by the microcomputer  6 . The microcomputer  6  causes the piece number display portion  151  to display a numerical value (a natural number). Every time the touch panel  52  is touched in the display portion of the plus icon  152 , the microcomputer  6  gradually increases the numerical value of the piece number display portion  151  by one. Every time the touch panel  52  is touched in the display portion of the minus icon  153 , the microcomputer  6  gradually decreases the numerical value of the piece number display portion  151  by one. When the touch panel  52  is touched in the display portion of the determination icon  154 , the microcomputer  6  sets, as the number of the pieces, the numerical value displayed on the piece number display portion  151  (Step SA 7 ).  
      Next, the microcomputer  6  displays, on the liquid crystal display  51 , a screen in which the selected type of pieces are arranged in accordance with the array data (Step SA 8 ). At the Step SA 8 , the microcomputer  6  displays, on the liquid crystal display  51 , a screen in which the number of pieces which is set at the Step SA 7  in the obtained array data are arranged.  
      Next, the microcomputer  6  operates the sewing machine motor  24 , the X-axis motor  26  and the Y-axis motor  28  and controls the sewing machine motor  24 , the X-axis motor  26  and the Y-axis motor  28  in accordance with the cutting line data which are read and the array data which are obtained (Step SA 9 ). Consequently, a needle  14  carries out a vertical motion, the embroidery frame  17  is moved along an X-Y plane, a cutting line (a seam) to be the outline of the piece is sequentially formed on a cloth every piece corresponding to the set number, and the cutting line is provided in a state in which the outline of the piece in accordance with the cutting line data is arranged in accordance with the array data. After the cutting line is formed on the cloth by the sewing machine  1 , the operator removes the cloth from the embroidery frame  17 . Then, the operator can create a plurality of pieces by cutting the cloth along the cutting line of the cloth.  
      Also in the second embodiment, the cutting line in the state in which the outlines of the pieces are arranged is sewn onto the cloth by the embroidery sewing machine  1 . Therefore, it is possible to eliminate a great deal of time and labor required for drawing a line on the cloth along each of the outlines of the pieces and to easily create a plurality of pieces in a short time.  
      Moreover, the operator can optionally determine the number of the pieces through the input screen in the Step SA 6 , and the cutting line created by the embroidery sewing machine serves to arrange the outlines of the determined number of pieces. Accordingly, the operator can create the optional number of pieces.  
      In the above-described exemplary embodiments, the operator touches the touch panel  52 , thereby inputting the number of the pieces and the type of the pieces. However, it is also possible to input the number and type of the pieces by using other input devices (for example, a keyboard and a mouse) in place of the touch panel  52 .  
      Moreover, it is also possible to sew a part of the outline of the piece (for example, four apexes in case of a square piece) without sewing the whole outline of the piece as a cutting line. In other words, the cutting line data may represent a part of the outlines of the pieces.  
      While there has been described in connection with the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made therein without departing from the present invention. It is aimed, therefore, to cover in the appended claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.