Patent Abstract:
An apparatus includes a processor and a memory configured to store computer-readable instructions that instruct the apparatus to execute steps comprising acquiring pattern data, identifying needle drop points on a pattern line, identifying, as a corresponding cutting needle for each of the plurality of needle drop points, one of cutting needles configured to be attachable to needle bars of a multi-needle sewing machine in a state in which directions of cutting edges are different from each other, storing needle drop point data and cutting needle data in association with each other in the memory, identifying an extending direction of fibers of the work cloth, replacing the cutting needle data in which an angle between the extending direction and the direction of the cutting edge does not satisfy a predetermined relationship, with other data indicating another cutting needle in which the angle satisfies the predetermined relationship, and generating cut data.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-245189, filed Nov. 9, 2011, the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to an apparatus that can generate data that may be used in a sewing machine in order to form cuts in a work cloth along a line indicating a shape of a specified pattern. 
         [0003]    A sewing machine is known in which a cutting needle can be attached to a lower end of a needle bar, instead of a sewing needle. The cutting needle is a rod-like member having a sharp cutting edge on its leading end. The sewing machine may cause the cutting needle to move up and down by moving the needle bar up and down, in the same manner as when performing sewing, and repeatedly insert the cutting needle into a work cloth. The sewing machine may cut warp threads and weft threads of the work cloth using the cutting needle, and thereby form cuts in the work cloth. The sewing machine may cause an embroidery frame that holds the work cloth to move in synchronization with the up-down movement of the needle bar. By doing this, the sewing machine can form cuts in the work cloth along a line indicating a shape of a specified pattern. 
         [0004]    A sewing machine is known in which two cutting needles can be attached to the lower ends of needle bars, respectively, in a state in which directions of cutting edges on the leading ends of the cutting needles are orthogonal to each other. One of the cutting needles may be attached to the needle bar in a state in which the direction of its cutting edge is orthogonal to a direction in which warp threads of a work cloth extend. The other cutting needle may be attached to the needle bar in a state in which the direction of its cutting edge is orthogonal to a direction in which weft threads of the work cloth extend. The sewing machine may cut the warp threads, using the one of the cutting needles. Then, the sewing machine may cut the weft threads, using the other of the cutting needles. By doing this, the sewing machine can form cuts in the work cloth. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    Depending on a specified pattern, there may be a section in which the direction of the cutting edge of the cutting needle is substantially parallel to the direction in which the warp threads or the weft threads extend. In that section, there is a possibility that the cutting needle cannot cut the warp threads or the weft threads. Accordingly, there may be a case in which the sewing machine cannot reliably form cuts in the work cloth along the line indicating the shape of the specified pattern. 
         [0006]    Various embodiments of the broad principles derived herein provide an apparatus that can generate cut data to cause a sewing machine to reliably form cuts in a work cloth along a line indicating a shape of a specified pattern, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions that cause an apparatus to generate the cut data. 
         [0007]    Various embodiments provide an apparatus that includes a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions. The computer-readable instructions instruct the apparatus to execute steps including acquiring pattern data, the pattern data being data representing a position of a point on a pattern line in a case where cuts are formed in a work cloth along the pattern line, which is a line indicating a shape of a pattern, identifying, as a plurality of needle drop points, a plurality of points on the pattern line, each of the plurality of needle drop points being a position at which a cutting needle is to be inserted into the work cloth in order to form a cut, identifying, as a corresponding cutting needle, one of a plurality of cutting needles configured to be attachable to a plurality of needle bars of a multi-needle sewing machine in a state in which directions of cutting edges of the plurality of cutting needles are different from each other, the identifying being performed for each of the plurality of needle drop points, based on a direction in which the pattern line extends at each of the plurality of needle drop points, storing needle drop point data and cutting needle data in association with each other in the memory, the needle drop point data being data indicating each of the plurality of needle drop points, and the cutting needle data being data indicating the cutting needle identified corresponding to each of the plurality of needle drop points, identifying an extending direction of fibers that form the work cloth, replacing the cutting needle data that is included in the cutting needle data stored in the memory and in which an angle between the extending direction and the direction of the cutting edge of the cutting needle indicated by the cutting needle data does not satisfy a predetermined relationship, with other data indicating another cutting needle which is among the plurality of cutting needles and in which the angle satisfies the predetermined relationship, and generating cut data based on the needle drop point data and the cutting needle data stored in the memory, the cut data being data for the multi-needle sewing machine to insert the corresponding cutting needle at each of the plurality of needle drop points along the pattern line. 
         [0008]    Embodiments also provide an apparatus that includes a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store computer-readable instructions. The computer-readable instructions instruct the apparatus to execute steps including acquiring pattern data, the pattern data being data representing a position of a point on a pattern line in a case where cuts are formed in a work cloth along the pattern line, which is a line indicating a shape of a pattern, identifying, as a plurality of needle drop points, a plurality of points on the pattern line, each of the plurality of needle drop points being a position at which a cutting needle is to be inserted into the work cloth in order to form a cut, identifying an extending direction of fibers that form the work cloth, identifying, among a plurality of cutting needles configured to be attachable to a plurality of needle bars of a multi-needle sewing machine in a state in which directions of cutting edges of the plurality of cutting needles are different from each other, a cutting needle in which an angle between the identified extending direction and the direction of the cutting edge satisfies a predetermined relationship, and generating cut data, the cut data being data for the multi-needle sewing machine to insert the identified cutting needle at each of the plurality of needle drop points on the pattern line. 
         [0009]    Embodiments further provide a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions. The computer-readable instructions instruct an apparatus to execute steps including acquiring pattern data, the pattern data being data representing a position of a point on a pattern line in a case where cuts are formed in a work cloth along the pattern line, which is a line indicating a shape of a pattern, identifying, as a plurality of needle drop points, a plurality of points on the pattern line, each of the plurality of needle drop points being a position at which a cutting needle is to be inserted into the work cloth in order to form a cut, identifying, as a corresponding cutting needle, one of a plurality of cutting needles configured to be attachable to a plurality of needle bars of a multi-needle sewing machine in a state in which directions of cutting edges of the plurality of cutting needles are different from each other, the identifying being performed for each of the plurality of needle drop points, based on a direction in which the pattern line extends at each of the plurality of needle drop points, storing needle drop point data and cutting needle data in association with each other in the memory, the needle drop point data being data indicating each of the plurality of needle drop points, and the cutting needle data being data indicating the cutting needle identified corresponding to each of the plurality of needle drop points, identifying an extending direction of fibers that form the work cloth, replacing the cutting needle data that is included in the cutting needle data stored in the memory and in which an angle between the extending direction and the direction of the cutting edge of the cutting needle indicated by the cutting needle data does not satisfy a predetermined relationship, with other data indicating another cutting needle which is among the plurality of cutting needles and in which the angle satisfies the predetermined relationship, and generating cut data based on the needle drop point data and the cutting needle data stored in the memory, the cut data being data for the multi-needle sewing machine to insert the corresponding cutting needle at each of the plurality of needle drop points along the pattern line. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Embodiments will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sewing machine; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a partial front view of a lower end portion of a needle bar case  21 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of an embroidery frame movement mechanism to which an embroidery frame is attached; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the sewing machine; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of main processing; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of acquisition processing; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart of needle determination processing; 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart of correction processing; 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is an explanatory diagram of a pattern; 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is an explanatory diagram of needle drop points set on a pattern line; 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is an explanatory diagram of a table; 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is an explanatory diagram of an identification method of a cutting needle; 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is an explanatory diagram of angle ranges; 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is an explanatory diagram of cuts formed at the needle drop points; 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is another explanatory diagram of the cuts formed at the needle drop points; 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  is a flowchart of main processing according to a modified example; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 17  is a diagram showing cuts formed in the main processing according to the modified example. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    Hereinafter, an embodiment will be explained with reference to the drawings. A configuration of a multi-needle sewing machine (hereinafter simply referred to as a sewing machine)  1  according to the embodiment will be explained with reference to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 . The upper side, the lower side, the lower left side, the upper right side, the upper left side and the lower right side of  FIG. 1  respectively correspond to the upper side, the lower side, the front side, the rear side, the left side and the right side of the sewing machine  1 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a main body  20  of the sewing machine  1  includes a support portion  2 , a pillar  3  and an arm portion  4 . The support portion  2  is a base portion that is formed in an inverted U-shape in a plan view. A pair of left and right guide grooves  25 , which extend in a front-rear direction, are provided in an upper surface of the support portion  2 . The pillar  3  extends upward from a rear end portion of the support portion  2 . The arm portion  4  extends to the front from an upper end portion of the pillar  3 . A needle bar case  21  is attached to the front end of the arm portion  4  such that the needle bar case  21  can move in a left-right direction. Ten needle bars  31  (refer to  FIG. 2 ), which extend in an up-down direction, are disposed inside the needle bar case  21  at an equal interval in the left-right direction. One of the ten needle bars  31  that is in a sewing position may be caused to slide in the up-down direction by a needle bar drive mechanism  32  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) that is provided inside the needle bar case  21 . One of a sewing needle  51  and a cutting needle  52  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) can be detachably attached to the lower end of each of the needle bars  31 . 
         [0030]    The sewing needles  51  and the cutting needles  52  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 2 . Note that, of the ten needle bars  31 , only the seven needle bars  31  on the right side are shown in  FIG. 2 . The sewing needles  51  can be attached to six of the ten needle bars  31 , more specifically, the fifth to tenth needle bars  31  from the right.  FIG. 2  shows a state in which the sewing needles  51  (sewing needles  511 ,  512  and  513 ) are attached to fifth to seventh needle bars  315 ,  316  and  317  from the right. The sewing machine  1  may slidingly move the needle bar  31 , to which the sewing needle  51  is attached, in the up-down direction and thereby cause the sewing needle  51  to repeatedly reciprocate in the up-down direction. By doing this, the sewing machine  1  can perform sewing on a work cloth  39  (refer to  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0031]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the cutting needles  52  (cutting needles  521 ,  522 ,  523  and  524 ) can be attached to four of the ten needle bars  31  on the right side (needle bars  311 ,  312 ,  313  and  314 ). Each of the cutting needles  52  has a cutting edge to form a cut in the work cloth  39  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) on its lower end. A shaft portion provided in an upper portion of the cutting needle  52  has a partially cylindrical shape, a side surface of which is a flat surface. A positional relationship between a cutting edge direction and the flat surface formed in the shaft portion varies for each of the cutting needles  521  to  524 . In a state in which the flat surface of the shaft portion of each of the cutting needles  52  faces the rear of the sewing machine  1 , each of the cutting needles  52  can be attached to one of the needle bars  31 . Therefore, the plurality of cutting needles  52  can be attached to the sewing machine  1  in a state in which directions of the cutting edges are different from each other. Note that, the direction of the cutting edge is a direction of the cutting edge when the cutting needle  52  forms a cut in the work cloth  39 . In other words, the direction of the cutting edge means a direction of the cut to be formed in the work cloth  39 . 
         [0032]    When the cutting needle  521  is attached to the sewing machine  1 , the direction of the cutting edge of the cutting needle  521  extends in a direction diagonally from the front left to the rear right. When the cutting needle  522  is attached to the sewing machine  1 , the direction of the cutting edge of the cutting needle  522  extends in the left-right direction. When the cutting needle  523  is attached to the sewing machine  1 , the direction of the cutting edge of the cutting needle  523  extends in a direction diagonally from the front right to the rear left. When the cutting needle  524  is attached to the sewing machine  1 , the direction of the cutting edge of the cutting needle  524  extends in the front-rear direction. The sewing machine  1  may slidingly move the needle bar  31 , to which the cutting needle  52  is attached, in the up-down direction and thereby cause the cutting needle  52  to repeatedly reciprocate in the up-down direction. By doing this, the sewing machine  1  can form cuts in the work cloth  39 . As will be described in detail later, the sewing machine  1  can sequentially form the cuts in the work cloth  39  while switching the cutting needles  521  to  524 . 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a cover  38  is provided on a lower portion of a right side surface of the needle bar case  21 . An image sensor  50  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) is provided inside the cover  38 . The image sensor  50  may be a known complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor. The image sensor  50  can capture an image of the work cloth  39  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) held by the embroidery frame  84 , and can output image data of the captured image. 
         [0034]    An operation portion  6  is provided on the right side of a central portion in the front-rear direction of the arm portion  4 . The operation portion  6  includes a liquid crystal display (hereinafter referred to as an LCD)  7 , a touch panel  8  and a start/stop switch  41 . For example, an image including various types of items, such as a command, an illustration, a setting value and a message etc., may be displayed on the LCD  7  based on image data. The touch panel  8  is provided on a front surface of the LCD  7 . A user can perform a pressing operation on the touch panel  8 , using a finger or a touch pen. This operation is hereinafter referred to as a panel operation. The touch panel  8  may detect a position pressed by the finger or the touch pen, and the sewing machine  1  (more specifically, a CPU  61  to be described later) may recognize the item that corresponds to the detected position. In this manner, the sewing machine  1  may recognize the selected item. The user can select a pattern, a cutting condition, a command to be executed, or the like, by performing a panel operation. The start/stop switch  41  is a switch that is used to input, to the sewing machine  1 , a command to start or stop sewing or forming of cuts. 
         [0035]    A cylinder-shaped cylinder bed  10 , which extends to the front from a lower end portion of the pillar  3 , is provided below the arm portion  4 . A shuttle (not shown in the drawings) is provided inside a front end portion of the cylinder bed  10 . The shuttle can house a bobbin (not shown in the drawings) on which a bobbin thread (not shown in the drawings) is wound. A shuttle drive mechanism (not shown in the drawings) is provided inside the cylinder bed  10 . The shuttle drive mechanism (not shown in the drawings) may rotatably drive the shuttle. A needle plate  16 , having a rectangular shape in a plan view, is provided in the upper face of the cylinder bed  10 . The needle plate  16  is provided with a needle hole  36  through which the sewing needle  51  can pass. 
         [0036]    A pair of left and right thread spool bases  12  are provided on a rear portion of an upper surface of the arm portion  4 . The number of the thread spools  13  that can be mounted on the pair of the thread spool bases  12  is ten, which is the same as the number of the needle bars  31 . A needle thread  15  may be supplied from one of the thread spools  13  mounted on the thread spool bases  12 . The needle thread  15  may be supplied, via a thread guide  17 , a tensioner  18 , a thread take-up lever  19  and the like, to an eye (not shown in the drawings) of each of the sewing needles  51  that are attached to the lower end of each of the needle bars  31 . 
         [0037]    A Y carriage  23  of an embroidery frame movement mechanism  11  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) is provided below the arm portion  4 . Various types of the embroidery frame  84  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) can be attached to the embroidery frame movement mechanism  11 . The embroidery frame  84  is configured to hold the work cloth  39 . The embroidery frame movement mechanism  11  may cause the embroidery frame  84  to move back and forth and left and right, using an X-axis motor  132  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) and a Y-axis motor  134  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) as driving sources. 
         [0038]    The embroidery frame  84  and the embroidery frame movement mechanism  11  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 3 . The embroidery frame  84  includes an outer frame  81 , an inner frame  82  and a pair of left and right coupling portions  89 . The outer frame  81  and the inner frame  82  of the embroidery frame  84  may clamp the work cloth  39 . The coupling portions  89  are plate members having a rectangular shape in a plan view, and their central portions are cut out in a rectangular shape. One of the coupling portions  89  is fixed to a right portion of the inner frame  82  by screws  95 . The other of the coupling portions  89  is fixed to a left portion of the inner frame  82  by screws  94 . 
         [0039]    The embroidery frame movement mechanism  11  includes a holder  24 , an X carriage  22 , an X-axis drive mechanism (not shown in the drawings), the Y carriage  23  and a Y-axis movement mechanism (not shown in the drawings). The holder  24  is configured to detachably support the embroidery frame  84 . The holder  24  includes a mounting portion  91 , a right arm portion  92  and a left arm portion  93 . The mounting portion  91  is a plate member having a rectangular shape in a plan view, and it is longer in the left-right direction. The right arm portion  92  extends in the front-rear direction, and a rear end portion of the right arm portion  92  is fixed to the right end of the mounting portion  91 . The left arm portion  93  extends in the front-rear direction. A rear end portion of the left arm portion  93  is fixed to a left portion of the mounting portion  91  such that the position in the left-right direction with respect to the mounting portion  91  can be adjusted. The right arm portion  92  may be engaged with the one of the coupling portions  89 . The left arm portion  93  may be engaged with the other of the coupling portions  89 . 
         [0040]    The X carriage  22  is a plate member and is longer in the left-right direction. A part of the X carriage  22  protrudes toward the front from the front face of the Y carriage  23 . The mounting portion  91  of the holder  24  may be attached to the X carriage  22 . The X-axis drive mechanism (not shown in the drawings) includes a linear movement mechanism (not shown in the drawings). The linear movement mechanism includes a timing pulley (not shown in the drawings) and a timing belt (not shown in the drawings). The linear movement mechanism may cause the X carriage  22  to move in the left-right direction (in the X-axis direction), using the X-axis motor  132  as a driving source. 
         [0041]    The Y carriage  23  is a box-shaped member that is longer in the left-right direction. The Y carriage  23  supports the X carriage  22  such that the X carriage  22  can move in the left-right direction. The Y-axis movement mechanism (not shown in the drawings) includes a pair of left and right movable members (not shown in the drawings) and a linear movement mechanism (not shown in the drawings). The movable members are connected to lower portions of the left and right ends of the Y carriage  23 , and vertically pass through the guide grooves  25  (refer to  FIG. 1 ). The linear movement mechanism includes a timing pulley (not shown in the drawings) and a timing belt (not shown in the drawings). The linear movement mechanism may cause the movable members to move in the front-rear direction (in the Y-axis direction) along the guide grooves  25 , using the Y-axis motor  134  as a driving source. The Y carriage  23  that is connected to the movable members, and the X carriage  22  that is supported by the Y carriage  23  may move in the front-rear direction (in the Y-axis direction) in accordance with movement of the movable members. In a state in which the embroidery frame  84  that holds the work cloth  39  is attached to the X carriage  22 , the work cloth  39  is disposed between the needle bars  31  and the needle plate  16  (refer to  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0042]    An electrical configuration of the sewing machine  1  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 4 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the sewing machine  1  includes a sewing needle drive portion  120 , a sewing target drive portion  130 , the operation portion  6 , a control portion  60  and the image sensor  50 . Hereinafter, the sewing needle drive portion  120 , the sewing target drive portion  130 , the operation portion  6  and the control portion  60  will be described in detail in order. 
         [0043]    The sewing needle drive portion  120  includes a drive circuit  121 , a drive shaft motor  122 , a drive circuit  123  and a needle bar case motor  45 . The drive circuit  121  may drive the drive shaft motor  122  in accordance with a control signal from the control portion  60 . The drive shaft motor  122  may drive the needle bar drive mechanism  32  by rotatably driving a drive shaft (not shown in the drawings), and causes the needle bar  31  to reciprocate in the up-down direction. The drive circuit  123  may drive the needle bar case motor  45  in accordance with a control signal from the control portion  60 . The needle bar case motor  45  may drive a movement mechanism not shown in the drawings and thereby causes the needle bar case  21  to move in the left-right direction. 
         [0044]    The sewing target drive portion  130  includes a drive circuit  131 , the X-axis motor  132 , a drive circuit  133  and the Y-axis motor  134 . The drive circuit  131  may drive the X-axis motor  132  in accordance with a control signal from the control portion  60 . The X-axis motor  132  may drive the embroidery frame movement mechanism  11  and thereby cause the embroidery frame  84  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) to move in the left-right direction. The drive circuit  133  may drive the Y-axis motor  134  in accordance with a control signal from the control portion  60 . The Y-axis motor  134  may drive the embroidery frame movement mechanism  11  and thereby cause the embroidery frame  84  to move in the front-rear direction. 
         [0045]    The operation portion  6  includes a drive circuit  135 , the LCD  7 , the touch panel  8  and the start/stop switch  41 . The drive circuit  135  may drive the LCD  7  in accordance with a control signal from the control portion  60 . 
         [0046]    The control portion  60  includes the CPU  61 , a ROM  62 , a RAM  63 , an EEPROM  64  and an input/output (I/O) interface  66 , and they are mutually connected by a signal line  65 . The sewing needle drive portion  120 , the sewing target drive portion  130 , the operation portion  6  and the image sensor  50  are respectively connected to the I/O interface  66 . Hereinafter, the CPU  61 , the ROM  62 , the RAM  63  and the EEPROM  64  will be described in detail. 
         [0047]    The CPU  61  is configured to perform main control of the sewing machine  1 . The CPU  61  may perform various operations and processing that relate to sewing, in accordance with various programs stored in a program storage area (not shown in the drawings) of the ROM  62 . Although not shown in the drawings, the ROM  62  includes a plurality of storage areas including the program storage area. Various programs to operate the sewing machine  1 , including a main program, may be stored in the program storage area. The main program is a program to perform main processing, which will be described later. The RAM  63  includes, as necessary, storage areas to store data such as operation results etc. processed by the CPU  61 . Various parameters for the sewing machine  1  to perform various types of processing may be stored in the EEPROM  64 . 
         [0048]    The main processing will be explained with reference to  FIG. 5  to  FIG. 8 . In the main processing, cut data is generated (step S 11  to step S 19 , which will be described later). The cut data is control data that is necessary to cause the sewing machine  1  to perform operations to form cuts in the work cloth  39  along a line (hereinafter referred to as a pattern line) that indicates a shape of a pattern. The sewing machine  1  is configured to move the embroidery frame  84  based on the generated cut data. As a result, the position of the work cloth  39  with respect to the cutting needle  52  may change. The sewing machine  1  may slidingly and vertically move the needle bar  31  to which the cutting needle  52  is attached. The sewing machine  1  may repeat the movement of the embroidery frame  84  and the vertical movement of the needle bar  31  based on the cut data, and thereby form cuts in the work cloth  39  along the pattern line (step S 25 , which will be described later). 
         [0049]    The main processing shown in  FIG. 5  is performed when the user inputs a command to start the main processing. The command to start the main processing may be input by a panel operation, for example. The program to perform the main processing is stored in the ROM  62  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) and is performed by the CPU  61 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , in the main processing, the CPU  61  first performs processing (acquisition processing, refer to  FIG. 6 ) to acquire an extending direction of fibers that form the work cloth  39  held by the embroidery frame  84  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) (step S 11 ). The work cloth  39  exemplified in the present embodiment is a woven fabric formed by warp threads and weft threads that are orthogonal to the warp threads. The extending direction of the fibers may refer to one or more of a direction in which the warp threads extend and a direction in which the weft threads extend. 
         [0050]    The acquisition processing will be explained with reference to  FIG. 6 . In the acquisition processing, the CPU  61  acquires the extending direction of the fibers that form the work cloth  39 , using one of the following two methods. The first method is a method that acquires the extending direction of the fibers by performing image processing on the image data of the captured image of the work cloth  39 . The second method is a method that acquires, as the extending direction of the fibers, a direction input by the user performing a panel operation. The CPU  61  displays, on the LCD  7  (refer to  FIG. 1 ), a screen that enables the user to select one of the methods. The user performs a panel operation to select one of the methods. 
         [0051]    The CPU  61  determines which method is selected, in accordance with a pressed position detected by the touch panel  8  (step S 22 ). In a case where the CPU  61  recognizes that the method is selected that acquires the extending direction by image processing (yes at step S 22 ), the CPU  61  controls the image sensor  50  such that the image sensor  50  starts image capture. The image sensor  50  captures an image of the work cloth  39  and outputs the captured image. The CPU  61  acquires the captured image output from the image sensor  50  (step S 23 ). The CPU  61  processes the captured image and thereby acquires the extending direction of the fibers that form the work cloth  39  (step S 25 ). The CPU  61  stores the acquired extending direction in the RAM  63 . The CPU  61  ends the acquisition processing and returns to the main processing (refer to  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0052]    Any known method can be used as a method to acquire the extending direction of the fibers by image processing. For example, the CPU  61  can use the following method. The CPU  61  performs binary processing on the captured image and thereafter performs a Fourier transform. The CPU  61  averages the Fourier coefficient amplitudes obtained by the Fourier transform, and identifies a line segment in the captured image. The CPU  61  can identify, as the extending direction of the fibers, a direction in which the identified line segment extends. Note that the above-described method is merely an example. The CPU  61  may perform image processing by another method and acquire the extending direction of the fibers. 
         [0053]    In a case where the CPU  61  recognizes that the method is selected in which the direction input by a panel operation is identified as the extending direction (no at step S 22 ), the CPU  61  displays on the LCD  7  a screen on which the extending direction of the fibers can be input. The user inputs a direction by a panel operation. The CPU  61  acquires the input direction as the extending direction of the fibers (step S 27 ). The CPU  61  stores, in the RAM  63 , the acquired extending direction. The CPU  61  ends the acquisition processing and returns to the main processing (refer to  FIG. 5 ). 
         [0054]    For example, the following method can be used as a specific method that allows the user to input the extending direction of the fibers. For example, the CPU  61  displays on the LCD  7  the captured image of the work cloth  39  acquired from the image sensor  50 . The CPU  61  displays on the LCD  7  a plurality of arrows that are oriented in different directions, together with the captured image. The user refers to the captured image of the work cloth  39  and selects, via the touch panel  8 , one of the arrows that is oriented in a direction closest to the extending direction of the fibers, that is, the direction in which either the warp threads or the weft threads that form the work cloth  39  extend. The CPU  61  acquires, as the extending direction of the fibers, the direction of the arrow selected by the user. Alternatively, for example, on the displayed captured image of the work cloth  39 , the user may input a line segment along the direction in which either the warp threads or the weft threads extend, using a touch pen. The CPU  61  may then acquire, as the extending direction of the fibers, the direction of the line segment input by the user. Further, for example, the CPU  61  may display on the LCD  7  a window on which the extending direction of the fibers can be input as an angle. The user may directly input the angle via the touch panel  8 . The CPU  61  may acquire the input angle information, as the extending direction of the fibers. Note that the above-described methods are merely examples. The CPU  61  may display the screen on the LCD  7  so that the user can input the extending direction by another method. 
         [0055]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , after the extending direction of the fibers is acquired by the acquisition processing (step S 11 ), the CPU  61  acquires pattern data (step S 13 ). Specifically, the user inputs a pattern line by a panel operation. The pattern data is data that can specify a position of a given point on the pattern line with respect to the work cloth  39 , in a case where cuts are formed along the pattern line on the work cloth  39 . The pattern data may be, for example, vector data. For example, in a case where a pattern line  103  of a heart-shaped pattern  101  shown in  FIG. 9  is input, the CPU  61  acquires pattern data that represents the pattern line  103  and stores the acquired pattern data in the RAM  63 . 
         [0056]    The CPU  61  may acquire the pattern data by another method. For example, the user may input a plurality of points as a pattern line by a panel operation. The CPU  61  may acquire data representing line segments that connect the plurality of specified points as the pattern data. Further, for example, the sewing machine  1  may be provided with a card slot not shown in the drawings. The user may insert a memory card, on which the pattern data is stored, into the card slot. The CPU  61  may acquire the pattern data by reading out the pattern data stored on the memory card inserted into the card slot. 
         [0057]    The CPU  61  identifies, as needle drop points, points on the pattern line indicated by the pattern data stored in the RAM  63  (step S 15 ). For example, in the case of the pattern  101  shown in  FIG. 9 , the CPU  61  identifies the needle drop points such that the needle drop points are arranged at an equal interval on the pattern line  103 . In this case, needle drop points P(i) (i=0 . . . 74) are identified on the pattern line  103 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . Note that the numeric values i are assigned to the identified needle drop points in order along the pattern line  103 , where the numeric value of a particular needle drop point on the pattern line  103  is taken as 0. The data indicating positions of the identified needle drop points P(i) is stored in the table  141  provided in the RAM  63 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . Note that hereinafter the data that indicates the position of the needle drop point P(i) stored in the table  141  is also simply referred to as the needle drop point P(i). 
         [0058]    The CPU  61  may identify the needle drop point using another method. For example, the CPU  61  may display a pattern line represented by the acquired pattern data on the LCD  7 . The user may select and input a given point by a panel operation on the pattern line displayed on the LCD  7 . The CPU  61  may identify the point input by the user as the needle drop point. 
         [0059]    The CPU  61  performs processing (needle determination processing, refer to  FIG. 7 ) that identifies one of the cutting needles  521  to  524  for each of the needle drop points identified at step S 15 , as the cutting needle  52  that is to be inserted at each of the needle drop points (step S 17 ). The needle determination processing will be explained with reference to  FIG. 7 . In the needle determination processing, first, the CPU  61  performs initialization by substituting 0 for a variable i that is stored in the RAM  63  (step S 31 ). The CPU  61  compares the variable i with a total number of the needle drop points P(i) identified at step S 15  (refer to  FIG. 5 ), and determines whether or not the variable i is less than the total number of the needle drop points P(i) (step S 33 ). When the variable i is repeatedly updated at step S 43  (to be described later) and the variable i is equal to or more than the total number of the needle drop points P(i) (no at step S 33 ), it means that the cutting needles  52  corresponding to all the needle drop points P(i) have been identified. In this case, the CPU  61  ends the needle determination processing and returns to the main processing (refer to  FIG. 5 ). When the variable i is less than the total number of the needle drop points P(i) (yes at step S 33 ), the CPU  61  identifies tangent lines Q(i)(j) (j=0, 1) of the pattern line at the needle drop point P(i) in the following manner (step S 35 ). Note that, strictly speaking, Q(i)(j) is a line segment indicating a direction in which the pattern line extends at the needle drop point P(i), and is not the actual tangent line of the pattern line at the needle drop point P(i). However, in the present embodiment, in order to simplify the explanation, Q(i)(j) is referred to as the tangent line. 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , an identification method of the tangent lines at the needle drop point P( 8 ), which is one of the needle drop points P(i), will be specifically explained using an example. First, based on the data that indicates the positions of the needle drop points P( 7 ), P( 8 ) and P( 9 ), the CPU  61  defines line segments  111  and  112  that respectively connect the adjacent two needle drop points P( 8 ) and P( 7 ) and the adjacent two needle drop points P( 8 ) and P( 9 ). The CPU  61  identifies the defined line segments  111  and  112  as a tangent line Q( 8 )( 0 ) and a tangent line Q( 8 )( 1 ) at the needle drop point P( 8 ). Thus, two tangent lines are identified for the single needle drop point P( 8 ). Data indicating angles of the identified tangent lines Q( 8 )(j) (j=0, 1) is associated with the needle drop point P( 8 ) and stored in the table  141 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . Hereinafter, the data indicating the angle of the tangent line Q(i)(j) stored in the table  141  is also simply referred to as the tangent line Q(i)(j). 
         [0061]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , after the tangent lines Q(i)(j) corresponding to the needle drop point P(i) are identified at step S 35 , the CPU  61  performs initialization by substituting 0 for a variable j that is stored in the RAM  63  (step S 37 ). The CPU  61  determines whether or not, of the two tangent lines Q(i)(j) corresponding to the needle drop point P(i), the tangent line Q(i)(j) for which processing (step S 45  to step S 57 , which will be described later) to identify the cutting needle  52  is not completed remains in the table  141  (step S 41 ). In a case where the tangent line Q(i)(j) for which the identification of the cutting needle  52  is not completed remains in the table  141  (no at step S 41 ), the CPU  61  performs the processing from step S 45  to step S 57  based on the tangent line Q(i)(j) for which the identification of the cutting needle  52  is not completed, and identifies the cutting needle  52  that corresponds to the needle drop point P(i), in the following manner. 
         [0062]    An overview of an identification method of the cutting needle  52  will be explained.  FIG. 13  shows angle ranges  161 ,  162 ,  163  and  164  that are respectively associated, in advance, with the cutting needles  521 ,  522 ,  523  and  524  (refer to  FIG. 2 ). In  FIG. 13 , arrows  151 ,  152 ,  153  and  154  respectively show directions of the cutting edges when the cutting needles  521 ,  522 ,  523  and  524  are viewed in a plan view. 
         [0063]    Sections located between a straight line  155  and a straight line  156  indicate the angle ranges  161 . The straight line  155  is a straight line that equally divides an acute angle between the arrows  154  and  151 . The straight line  156  is a straight line that equally divides an acute angle between the arrows  151  and  152 . Sections located between the straight line  156  and a straight line  157  indicate the angle ranges  162 . The straight line  157  is a straight line that equally divides an acute angle between the arrows  152  and  153 . Sections located between the straight line  157  and a straight line  158  indicate the angle ranges  163 . The straight line  158  is a straight line that equally divides an acute angle between the arrows  153  and  154 . Sections located between the straight line  158  and the straight line  155  indicate the angle ranges  164 . 
         [0064]    The angle ranges  161  indicate a range from 22.5° to 67.5° and a range from 202.5° to 247.5°. The angle ranges  162  indicate a range from 337.5° to 22.5° and a range from 157.5° to 202.5°. The angle ranges  163  indicate a range from 112.5° to 157.5° and a range from 292.5° to 337.5°. The angle ranges  164  indicate a range from 67.5° to 112.5° and a range from 247.5° to 292.5°. The angle ranges  161 ,  162 ,  163  and  164  are respectively associated with the cutting needles  521 ,  522 ,  523  and  524 . The CPU  61  identifies which of the angle ranges  161 ,  162 ,  163  and  164  the extending direction of the tangent line Q(i)(j) is included in, and thereby identifies the cutting needle  52  corresponding to the needle drop point P(i). Details are as follows. 
         [0065]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , in a case where the extending direction of the tangent line Q(i)(j) identified at step S 35  is included in the angle ranges  161  (yes at step S 45 ), the CPU  61  identifies the cutting needle  521  that corresponds to the angle ranges  161 , as a cutting needle R(i)(j) that corresponds to the needle drop point P(i) (step S 47 ). The CPU  61  associates the data indicating the cutting needle R(i)(j) (the cutting needle  521 ) with the needle drop point P(i) and stores the data in the table  141  (refer to  FIG. 11 ) (step S 47 ). The CPU  61  proceeds to processing at step S 59 . 
         [0066]    In a case where the extending direction of the tangent line Q(i)(j) identified at step S 35  is included in the angle ranges  162  (no at step S 45 , yes at step S 49 ), the CPU  61  identifies the cutting needle  522  that corresponds to the angle ranges  162 , as the cutting needle R(i)(j) that corresponds to the needle drop point P(i) (step S 51 ). The CPU  61  associates the data indicating the cutting needle R(i)(j) (the cutting needle  522 ) with the needle drop point P(i) and stores the data in the table  141  (refer to  FIG. 11 ) (step S 51 ). The CPU  61  proceeds to the processing at step S 59 . 
         [0067]    In a case where the extending direction of the tangent line Q(i)(j) identified at step S 35  is included in the angle ranges  163  (no at step S 49 , yes at step S 53 ), the CPU  61  identifies the cutting needle  523  that corresponds to the angle ranges  163 , as the cutting needle R(i)(j) that corresponds to the needle drop point P(i) (step S 55 ). The CPU  61  associates the data indicating the cutting needle R(i)(j) (the cutting needle  523 ) with the needle drop point P(i) and stores the data in the table  141  (refer to  FIG. 11 ) (step S 55 ). The CPU  61  proceeds to the processing at step S 59 . 
         [0068]    In a case where the extending direction of the tangent line Q(i)(j) identified at step S 35  is included in the angle ranges  164  (no at step S 53 ), the CPU  61  identifies the cutting needle  524  that corresponds to the angle ranges  164 , as the cutting needle R(i)(j) that corresponds to the needle drop point P(i) (step S 57 ). The CPU  61  associates the data indicating the cutting needle R(i)(j) (the cutting needle  524 ) with the needle drop point P(i) and stores the data in the table  141  (refer to  FIG. 11 ) (step S 57 ). The CPU  61  proceeds to the processing at step S 59 . Note that, hereinafter, the data indicating the cutting needle R(i)(j) that is stored in the table  141  as described above is also simply referred to as the cutting needle R(i)(j). 
         [0069]    The direction of the cutting edge of the cutting needle  52  identified for each of the needle drop points as described above may favorably approximate the direction of the tangent line of the pattern line at each of the needle drop points. Therefore, when the sewing machine  1  forms cuts by piercing the identified cutting needle  52  into the work cloth  39 , cuts having a good appearance can be formed along the pattern line. Further, the CPU  61  identifies the cutting needle  52  based on the direction in which the line segment that connects adjacent two needle drop points extends. Therefore, complicated processing to calculate the actual tangent line of the pattern line at each of the needle drop points is not required. Thus, the CPU  61  can easily and accurately identify the cutting needle  52  that is to be inserted at each of the needle drop points. 
         [0070]    Next, the CPU  61  performs processing (correction processing, refer to  FIG. 8 ) to correct the cutting needles R(i)(j) stored in the table  141  (step S 59 ). In the correction processing, in order to reliably cut the warp threads and the weft threads of the work cloth  39  using the cutting needle  52 , the CPU  61  corrects the cutting needles R(i)(j) each identified at one of step  47 , step S 51 , step S 55  and step S 57 , if necessary, based on the extending directions of the warp threads and the well threads identified at step S 11  (refer to  FIG. 5 ). A reason why the correction is necessary is as follows. 
         [0071]    For example, as shown in  FIG. 14 , the cutting needle  524  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) is selected as cutting needles R( 9 )(j) to R( 13 )(j) that correspond to the needle drop points P( 9 ) to P( 13 ). The extending direction of warp threads  116  of the work cloth  39  is substantially the same as the front-rear direction of the sewing machine  1 , and approximates the direction of the cutting edge of the cutting needle  524 . In this case, since the extending direction of well threads  117  is orthogonal to the extending direction of the warp threads  116 , the direction in which the cutting edge of the cutting needle  524  extends intersects with the extending direction of the well threads  117 . 
         [0072]    When the cutting needle  524  is inserted at the needle drop point P( 9 ), well threads  117 A and  117 B that intersect with the cutting needle  524  are cut. When the cutting needle  524  is inserted at the needle drop point P( 10 ), the well thread  117 B and a well thread  117 C that intersect with the cutting needle  524  are cut. When the cutting needle  524  is inserted at the needle drop point P( 11 ), a well thread  117 D that intersects with the cutting needle  524  is cut. As a result, the well threads  117  of the work cloth  39  can reliably be cut. 
         [0073]    In contrast to this, the needle drop points P( 9 ) and P( 13 ) are arranged between warp threads  116 B and  116 C and the needle drop points P( 10 ), P( 11 ) and P( 12 ) are arranged between a warp thread  116 A and the warp thread  116 B. Therefore, when the cutting needle  524  is inserted at the needle drop points P( 9 ) to P( 13 ), the cutting needle  524  and the warp thread  116 B do not intersect with each other. As a result, the warp thread  116 B is not cut. For that reason, when the cutting needles  52  are sequentially inserted into the work cloth  39  along the pattern line  103 , the warp thread  116 B remains uncut. Therefore, a heart-shaped section (refer to  FIG. 10 ) surrounded by the pattern line  103  cannot be cut off from the work cloth  39 . To address this, the present embodiment makes it possible to reliably cut the warp thread  116 B by correcting the cutting needle  524  that is to be inserted at the needle drop points P( 9 ) to P( 13 ). 
         [0074]    The correction processing will be explained with reference to  FIG. 8 . In the correction processing, first, the CPU  61  determines whether or not to perform correction of the cutting needle R(i)(j) by determining whether or not the direction of the cutting edge of each of the cutting needles  52  identified at step S 45  to step S 57  (refer to  FIG. 7 ) substantially matches the extending direction of the warp threads  116  or the weft threads  117  (refer to  FIG. 14 ) of the work cloth  39  (step S 71 ). A specific method for the determination is as follows. 
         [0075]    The CPU  61  calculates an absolute value of a difference between an angle that indicates the extending direction of the warp threads  116  and an angle that indicates the direction of the cutting edge of the cutting needle  52 . Further, the CPU  61  calculates an absolute value of a difference between an angle that indicates the extending direction of the weft threads  117  and an angle that indicates the direction of the cutting edge of the cutting needle  52 . The CPU  61  compares the calculated two absolute values with a predetermined threshold value. In a case where the smaller value of the two absolute values is smaller than the predetermined threshold value (for example, 5°), the CPU  61  determines that the correction of the cutting needle R(i)(j) is to be performed (yes at step S 71 ). This is because, in this case, an amount of the angle difference between the direction in which the cutting edge of the cutting needle  52  extends and the extending direction of the warp threads  116  or the weft threads  117  is small, and there is a high possibility that the warp threads  116  or the weft threads  117  cannot be cut. On the other hand, in a case where the smaller value of the two absolute values is equal to or larger than the predetermined threshold value, the CPU  61  determines that the correction of the cutting needle R(i)(j) is not to be performed (no at step S 71 ). This is because, in this case, the angle difference between the direction of the cutting edge of the cutting needle  52  and each of the extending directions of the warp threads  116  and the weft threads  117  is large, and there is a high possibility that the cutting needle  52  can reliably cut the warp threads  116  and the weft threads  117 . 
         [0076]    In a case where the CPU  61  determines that the correction of the cutting needle R(i)(j) is not to be performed (no at step S 71 ), the CPU  61  ends the correction processing and returns to the needle determination processing (refer to  FIG. 7 ). In a case where the CPU  61  determines that the correction of the cutting needle R(i)(j) is to be performed (yes at step S 71 ), the CPU  61  determines whether or not the cutting needle R(i−1)(j) has already been identified (step S 73 ). The cutting needle R(i−1)(j) corresponds to a needle drop point P(i−1) immediately preceding the needle drop point P(i), among two other needle drop points P(i−1) and P(i+1) adjacent to the needle drop point P(i). In a case where the correction processing has already been performed for the needle drop point P(i−1) and the cutting needle R(i−1)(j) corresponding to the needle drop point P(i−1) has been identified (yes at step S 73 ), the cutting edge of the cutting needle R(i−1)(j) is oriented in a direction in which the warp threads  116  and the weft threads  117  of the work cloth  39  can be reliably cut. The CPU  61  corrects the cutting needle R(i)(j) by replacing the cutting needle R(i)(j) stored in the table  141  with the cutting needle R(i−1)(j) (step S 75 ). The CPU  61  ends the correction processing and returns to the needle determination processing (refer to  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0077]    In a case where the cutting needle R(i−1)(j) corresponding to the needle drop point P(i−1) that is immediately preceding the needle drop point P(i) has not been identified (no at step S 73 ), the CPU  61  determines whether or not the cutting needle R(i+1)(j) has already been identified (step S 77 ). The cutting needle R(i+1)(j) corresponds to the needle drop point P(i+1) immediately after the needle drop point P(i). In a case where the cutting needle R(i+1)(j) corresponding to the needle drop point P(i+1) has already been identified (yes at step S 77 ), the cutting edge of the cutting needle R(i+1)(j) is oriented in a direction in which the warp threads  116  and the weft threads  117  of the work cloth  39  can be reliably cut. The CPU  61  corrects the cutting needle R(i)(j) by replacing the cutting needle R(i)(j) stored in the table  141  with the cutting needle R(i+1)(j) (step S 79 ). The CPU  61  ends the correction processing and returns to the needle determination processing (refer to  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0078]    For example, when the variable i is 0, it is determined that the cutting needle R( 74 )(j) corresponding to the needle drop point P( 74 ) (refer to  FIG. 10 ) that is immediately preceding the needle drop point P( 0 ) has not been identified (no at step S 73 ). However, if part of the processing that identifies the cutting needle  52  based on the same pattern has been performed, there are cases in which the cutting needle R( 1 )(j) corresponding to the needle drop point P( 1 ) immediately after the needle drop point P( 0 ) has already been identified and stored in the table  141  (yes at step S 77 ). In this type of case, the cutting needle R( 0 )(j) corresponding to the needle drop point P( 0 ) is replaced with the cutting needle R( 1 )(j) that has already been stored in the table  141 . 
         [0079]    In a case where the cutting needle R(i+1)(j) corresponding to the needle drop point P(i+1) immediately after the needle drop point P(i) has not yet been identified (no at step S 77 ), the CPU  61  selects, from among the cutting needles  521  to  524 , the cutting needle  52  that can reliably cut the warp threads  116  and the weft threads  117  of the work cloth  39  (step S 81 ). The CPU  61  selects the cutting needle  52  so that the smaller value of the above-described two absolute values is equal to or more than the predetermined threshold value (for example, 5°). The CPU  61  corrects the cutting needle R(i)(j) by replacing the cutting needle R(i)(j) corresponding to the needle drop point P(i) that is stored in the table  141  with data indicating the selected cutting needle  52  (step S 83 ). The CPU  61  ends the correction processing and returns to the needle determination processing (refer to  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0080]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , after the correction processing (step S 59 ), the CPU  61  adds 1 to the variable j and updates the variable j (step S 61 ). The CPU  61  returns to the processing at step S 41 . 
         [0081]    After the cutting needles R(i)(j) corresponding to the needle drop points P(i) are all identified as described above (yes at step S 41 ), the CPU  61  determines whether or not the cutting needle R(i)( 0 ) and the cutting needle R(i)( 1 ) that correspond to the same needle drop point P(i) match each other. In a case where the cutting needle R(i)( 0 ) and the cutting needle R(i)( 1 ) match each other, the CPU  61  deletes the cutting needle R(i)( 1 ) from the table  141  and leaves the cutting needle R(i)( 0 ) only (step S 42 ). This can inhibit the same cutting needle  52  from being inserted at the one needle drop point P(i) a plurality of times. The CPU  61  updates the variable i by adding 1 to the variable i (step S 43 ), and returns to the processing at step S 33 . 
         [0082]    By performing the above processing, the CPU  61  can generate the cut data with which the cutting needle  52  that can reliably cut the warp threads  116  and the weft threads  117  is used, instead of using the cutting needle  52  that may not cut the warp threads  116  or the weft threads  117  of the work cloth  39 . Further, the CPU  61  can easily identify, as the cutting needle  52  to be used instead, the cutting needle  52  corresponding to the needle drop point P(i−1) immediately preceding the needle drop point P(i) or corresponding to the needle drop point P(i+1) immediately after the needle drop point P(i). Further, the same cutting needle  52  tends to be used continuously. Accordingly, when the sewing machine  1  operates based on the cut data generated based on the table  141 , frequent switching of the cutting needle  52  can be inhibited. The sewing machine  1  can shorten the time required until the sewing machine  1  completes the forming of all the cuts in the work cloth  39  along the pattern line of the specified pattern. 
         [0083]    As the needle determination processing is performed as described above, the cutting needle  52  is identified for each of the needle drop points, and the table  141  is generated. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the CPU  61  then generates the cut data that is necessary to insert the cutting needles R(i)(j) stored in the table  141  at the corresponding needle drop points P(i) in order (step S 19 ). Based on the generated cut data, the CPU  61  drives the sewing needle drive portion  120  and the sewing target drive portion  130 , and thereby sequentially inserts the cutting needles  52  into the work cloth  39  held by the embroidery frame  84 . Thus, the sewing machine  1  forms the cuts in the work cloth  39  along the pattern line (step S 21 ). The CPU  61  ends the main processing. 
         [0084]    A specific example in which the cutting needles R(i)(j) corresponding to the needle drop points P(i) are sequentially determined will be explained with reference to  FIG. 15 . The cutting needle  523  is selected as the cutting needle R( 8 )(j) corresponding to the needle drop point P( 8 ) (yes at step S 53 , step S 55  (refer to  FIG. 7 )). An angle difference between the direction of the cutting edge of the cutting needle  523  and the extending direction of the warp threads  116 , and an angle difference between the direction of the cutting edge of the cutting needle  523  and the extending direction of the weft threads  117  are large. Therefore, the cutting needle  523  is not corrected (no at step S 71  (refer to  FIG. 8 )). 
         [0085]    Next, the cutting needle  524  is selected as the cutting needle R( 9 )(j) corresponding to the needle drop point P( 9 ) (no at step S 53 , step S 57  (refer to  FIG. 7 )). An angle difference between the direction of the cutting edge of the cutting needle  524  and the extending direction of the warp threads  116  of the work cloth  39  is small. Therefore, the CPU  61  needs to correct the cutting needle  524  to another one of the cutting needles  52  (yes at step S 71  (refer to  FIG. 8 )). The cutting needle  523  corresponding to the needle drop point P( 8 ) that is immediately preceding the needle drop point P( 9 ) has been identified (yes at step S 73  (refer to  FIG. 8 )). Therefore, the cutting needle  524  corresponding to the needle drop point P( 9 ) is corrected to the cutting needle  523  corresponding to the immediately preceding needle drop point P( 8 ) (step S 75 ). Next, the cutting needle  524  is selected as the cutting needle R( 10 )(j) corresponding to the needle drop point P( 10 ) (no at step S 53 , step S 57  (refer to  FIG. 7 )). The CPU  61  needs to correct the cutting needle  524  to another one of the cutting needles  52  (yes at step S 71  (refer to  FIG. 8 )). The cutting needle  52  corresponding to the needle drop point P( 9 ) that is immediately preceding the needle drop point P( 10 ) has been corrected to the cutting needle  523  (yes at step S 73  (refer to  FIG. 8 )). Therefore, the cutting needle  524  corresponding to the needle drop point P( 10 ) is corrected to the cutting needle  523  corresponding to the immediately preceding needle drop point P( 9 ) (step S 75 ). Similar processing is also performed for the needle drop points P( 11 ) to P( 13 ). 
         [0086]    The cutting needle  521  is selected as the cutting needle R( 18 )(j) corresponding to the needle drop point P( 18 ) (yes at step S 45 , step S 47  (refer to  FIG. 7 )). An angle difference between the direction of the cutting edge of the cutting needle  521  and the extending direction of the warp threads  116 , and an angle difference between the direction of the cutting edge of the cutting needle  521  and the extending direction of the weft threads  117  are large. Therefore, the cutting needle  521  is not corrected (no at step S 71  (refer to  FIG. 8 )). The cutting needle  522  is selected as the cutting needle R( 19 )(j) corresponding to the needle drop point P( 19 ) (yes at step S 49 , step S 51  (refer to  FIG. 7 )). An angle difference between the direction of the cutting edge of the cutting needle  522  and the extending direction of the weft threads  117  of the work cloth  39  is small. Therefore, the CPU  61  needs to correct the cutting needle  522  to another one of the cutting needles  52  (yes at step S 71  (refer to  FIG. 8 )). The cutting needle  521  corresponding to the needle drop point P( 18 ) that is immediately preceding the needle drop point P( 19 ) has been identified (yes at step S 73  (refer to  FIG. 8 )). Therefore, the cutting needle  522  corresponding to the needle drop point P( 19 ) is corrected to the cutting needle  521  corresponding to the immediately preceding needle drop point P( 18 ) (step S 75 ). Similar processing is also performed for the needle drop points P( 20 ) and P( 21 ). Further, the correction processing is also performed in the same manner for each of the cutting needles  52  corresponding to the needle drop points P( 32 ) to P( 35 ), the needle drop points P( 42 ) to P( 47 ), and the needle drop points P( 61 ) to P( 67 ). 
         [0087]    The cut data is generated based on the table  141  generated as described above. The sewing machine  1  operates based on the generated cut data, and repeatedly inserts the cutting needle  52  into the work cloth  39 . As a result, the cuts are formed in the work cloth  39  along the pattern line  103  as shown in  FIG. 15 . The cutting needle  523  corresponding to the needle drop points P( 10 ) to P( 13 ) and P( 42 ) to P( 47 ), and the cutting needle  521  corresponding to the needle drop points P( 61 ) to P( 67 ) can reliably cut the warp threads  116  of the work cloth  39 . Further, the cutting needle  521  corresponding to the needle drop points P( 19 ) to P( 21 ) and P( 33 ) to P( 35 ) can reliably cut the weft threads  117  of the work cloth  39 . 
         [0088]    As explained above, the sewing machine  1  identifies the cutting needle  52  that is to be inserted at each of the needle drop points P(i), based on the direction of the tangent line of the pattern line (more specifically, the direction in which the pattern line extends at the needle drop point). Therefore, the sewing machine  1  can form smooth cuts in the work cloth  39  along the pattern line, by piercing the identified cutting needle  52  into the work cloth  39  at each of the needle drop points P(i). Further, among the identified cutting needles  52 , the sewing machine  1  replaces the cutting needle  52  that may not be able to cut the warp threads  116  or the weft threads  117  that form the work cloth  39 , with the cutting needle  52  that can cut the warp threads  116  and the weft threads  117 . Consequently, the sewing machine  1  can reliably cut the warp threads  116  and the weft threads  117  of the work cloth  39 . Thus, the sewing machine  1  can form the cuts in the work cloth  39  along the pattern line of the specified pattern. 
         [0089]    Note that the above-described embodiment can be modified in various ways. For example, instead of identifying the cutting needle separately for each of the needle drop points, the CPU  61  may identify only one cutting needle  52  that corresponds to all the needle drop points, based on the extending direction of the fibers (one or more of the extending direction of the warp threads  116  and the extending direction of the weft threads  117 ). The sewing machine  1  may form the cuts in the work cloth  39  along the pattern line, by piercing the identified cutting needle  52  at all the needle drop points. Hereinafter, a modified example of the present invention will be explained. 
         [0090]    Main processing according to the modified example of the present invention will be explained with reference to  FIG. 16 . Hereinafter, explanation of the same processing as that of the main processing according to the above-described embodiment will be simplified. In the main processing according to the modified example, first, the CPU  61  performs the processing (the acquisition processing, refer to  FIG. 6 ) that acquires the extending directions of the warp threads  116  and the weft threads  117  of the work cloth  39  held by the embroidery frame  84  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) (step S 91 ). Next, pattern data of the pattern input by the user is acquired (step S 93 ). The CPU  61  stores the acquired pattern data in the RAM  63  (step S 93 ). Next, the CPU  61  identifies, as needle drop points, given points on the pattern line indicated by the pattern data stored in the RAM  63  (step S 95 ). The CPU  61  stores coordinate data that indicates positions of the identified needle drop points in the table  141  (refer to  FIG. 11 ) (step S 95 ). The processing from step S 91  to step S 95  is the same as the processing at step S 11  to step S 15  of the main processing (refer to  FIG. 5 ) according to the above-described embodiment. 
         [0091]    The CPU  61  selects, from among the cutting needles  521  to  524 , the cutting needle  52  that can reliably cut the warp threads  116  and the weft threads  117  of the work cloth  39 . The CPU  61  calculates an absolute value of a difference between an angle that indicates the extending direction of the warp threads  116  and an angle that indicates the direction of the cutting edge of the selected cutting needle  52 . Further, the CPU  61  calculates an absolute value of a difference between an angle that indicates the extending direction of the weft threads  117  and an angle that indicates the direction of the cutting edge of the selected cutting needle  52 . The cutting needle  52  is selected such that the smaller value of the two absolute values is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value (for example, 5°). In a case where the CPU  61  selects the cutting needle  521  (yes at step S 97 ), the CPU  61  identifies the cutting needle  521  as the cutting needle  52  that corresponds to all the needle drop points P(i) (step S 99 ). The CPU  61  associates the data indicating the cutting needle  521  with all the needle drop points P(i) and stores the data in the table  141  (step S 99 ). Then, the CPU  61  proceeds to processing at step S 111 . 
         [0092]    In a case where the CPU  61  selects the cutting needle  522  (no at step S 97 , yes at step S 101 ), the CPU  61  identifies the cutting needle  522  as the cutting needle  52  that corresponds to all the needle drop points P(i) (step S 103 ). The CPU  61  associates the data indicating the cutting needle  522  with all the needle drop points P(i) and stores the data in the table  141  (step S 103 ). Then, the CPU  61  proceeds to the processing at step S 111 . 
         [0093]    In a case where the CPU  61  selects the cutting needle  523  (no at step S 101 , yes at step S 105 ), the CPU  61  identifies the cutting needle  523  as the cutting needle  52  that corresponds to all the needle drop points P(i) (step S 107 ). The CPU  61  associates the data indicating the cutting needle  523  with all the needle drop points P(i) and stores the data in the table  141  (step S 107 ). Then, the CPU  61  proceeds to the processing at step S 111 . 
         [0094]    In a case where the CPU  61  selects the cutting needle  524  (no at step S 105 ), the CPU  61  identifies the cutting needle  524  as the cutting needle  52  that corresponds to all the needle drop points P(i) (step S 109 ). The CPU  61  associates the data indicating the cutting needle  524  with all the needle drop points P(i) and stores the data in the table  141  (step S 109 ). Then, the CPU  61  proceeds to the processing at step S 111 . 
         [0095]    After the table  141  is generated as described above, the CPU  61  generates cut data that is necessary to insert the cutting needle stored in the table  141  at the corresponding needle drop points P(i) in order (step S 111 ). The CPU  61  drives the sewing needle drive portion  120  and the sewing target drive portion  130  based on the generated cut data, and thereby sequentially inserts the cutting needle  52  into the work cloth  39  held by the embroidery frame  84 . By doing this, the sewing machine  1  forms the cuts in the work cloth  39  along the pattern line (step S 113 ). The CPU  61  ends the main processing. 
         [0096]      FIG. 17  shows an example of the cuts that are formed in the work cloth  39  along the pattern line  103  in a case where the cut data is generated based on the table  141  generated in the main processing of the modified example and the sewing machine  1  operates based on the generated cut data. In this example, the cutting needle  521  is inserted at all the needle drop points P(i). Since the angle difference between the direction of the cutting edge of the cutting needle  521  and each of the extending directions of the warp threads  116  and the weft threads  117  of the work cloth  39  is large, the cutting needle  521  can reliably cut both the warp threads  116  and the weft threads  117 . Thus, the sewing machine  1  can reliably cut the warp threads  116  and the weft threads  117  of the work cloth  39  and can form the cuts in the work cloth  39  along the pattern line  103 . 
         [0097]    As described above, in the modified example, the sewing machine  1  uses only the cutting needle  521  to form the cuts in the work cloth  39 . Therefore, the processing in which the CPU  61  determines the cutting needle  52  for each of the needle drop points is not required. Therefore, the sewing machine  1  can easily determine the cutting needle  52 . The sewing machine  1  needs not switch the cutting needle  521  to another one of the cutting needles  52  during operation, and it is thus possible to save the time required to switch the cutting needle  521  to another one of the cutting needles  52 . Thus, the sewing machine  1  can shorten the time for the sewing machine  1  to complete the forming of all the cuts in the work cloth  39  along the pattern line of the specified pattern. 
         [0098]    The cut data may be generated not by the sewing machine  1  but by an external device. For example, a known personal computer may be used as the external device. For example, the cut data generated by a CPU of the personal computer as the external device may be stored on a memory card. The sewing machine  1  may be provided with a card slot not shown in the drawings, and when the memory card is inserted into the card slot, the sewing machine  1  may read and acquire the cut data stored on the memory card. The sewing machine  1  may form the cuts in the work cloth  39  by driving the sewing needle drive portion  120  and the sewing target drive portion  130  based on the acquired cut data. 
         [0099]    The number of the cutting needles  52  that can be attached to the sewing machine  1  is not limited to four as in the above-described embodiment, and it may be a number other than four. At step S 17  of the main processing shown in  FIG. 5 , the cutting needle may be identified by another method. For example, the CPU  61  may calculate an actual tangent line of the pattern line at the needle drop point P(i), and may identify the cutting needle  52  based on an angle of the calculated tangent line. The method for determining whether or not to replace the cutting needle  52  with another one of the cutting needles  52  is not limited to the above-described method. For example, data indicating an associated relationship between the direction of the cutting edge of the cutting needle  52  and another one of the cutting needles  52  may be generated based on the extending direction of the fibers that form the work cloth  39 , and the generated data may be stored in the EEPROM  64 . The sewing machine  1  may replace the identified cutting needle  52  with another one of the cutting needles  52  based on the stored data indicating the associated relationship. 
         [0100]    The apparatus and methods described above with reference to the various embodiments are merely examples. It goes without saying that they are not confined to the depicted embodiments. While various features have been described in conjunction with the examples outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, and/or improvements of those features and/or examples may be possible. Accordingly, the examples, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative. Various changes may be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the underlying principles.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3