Patent Abstract:
An apparatus includes a processor and a memory configured to store a plurality of cut length data items and a computer-readable instructions that instruct the apparatus to execute steps comprising acquiring pattern data, setting, as a plurality of first needle drop points, a plurality of points on the pattern line at predetermined intervals, setting a cut angle corresponding to each of the plurality of first needle drop points, determining a plurality of second needle drop points among the plurality of first needle drop points, consolidating, based on the plurality of cut length data items, at least some of the plurality of second needle drop points into at least one third needle drop point, identifying a cutting blade corresponding to each of a plurality of fourth needle drop points among the plurality of cutting blades based on the plurality of cut length data items, and generating cut data.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-023272, filed Feb. 6, 2012, the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to an apparatus that can generate data that may be used for forming a cut in a work cloth along a line that indicates a shape of a designated pattern, and to a non-transitory computer-readable medium. 
     A sewing machine is known in which a cutting blade, instead of a sewing needle, can be mounted on the lower end of a needle bar. The cutting blade is provided with a sharp cutting edge at its tip. The sewing machine may cause the cutting blade to move up and down by moving the needle bar up and down in the same manner as when performing sewing. By repeatedly inserting the cutting blade into a work cloth, the sewing machine may form a cut in the work cloth along a line that indicates a shape of a pattern. 
     A sewing machine is also known in which two cutting blades can be mounted on the lower ends of separate needle bars in a state in which the directions of the cutting edges at the tips are orthogonal to one another. One of the cutting blades may be attached to the needle bar in a state in which the direction of the cutting edge is orthogonal to a direction in which warp threads of the work cloth extend. The other one of the cutting blades may be attached to the needle bar in a state in which the direction of the cutting edge is orthogonal to a direction in which weft threads of the work cloth extend. The sewing machine may move the work cloth in specified directions, and move the cutting blades up and down by driving respective needle bars. The sewing machine may form a cut in the work cloth by sequentially cutting the warp and the weft threads. 
     SUMMARY 
     The length of the cut that is formed in the work cloth by the sewing machines described above is equal to the width of the cutting edge of the cutting blade. Therefore, in a case where a cutting blade with a large cutting edge width is used, the length of the cut that is formed in the work cloth is large. Accordingly, in a case where the sewing machine forms a straight-line cut in the work cloth by using a cutting blade with a large cutting edge width, it becomes possible to reduce the number of times that the cutting blade moves up and down. In other words, the time that is required in order to form the cut can be decreased. However, in a case where the sewing machine forms a curved-line cut in the work cloth by using a cutting blade with a large cutting edge width, a precise cut may not be formed along the curved line, depending on the degree of curvature of the curved line. In contrast, in a case where the sewing machine uses a cutting blade with a small cutting edge width, it is possible to form a precise cut along the curved line. However, in a case where the cutting width is small, the number of times that the cutting blade moves up and down becomes greater. Therefore, the time that is required in order to form the cut in the work cloth along the line that indicates the shape of the pattern may increase. 
     Various embodiments of the broad principles derived herein provide an apparatus that may generate cut data for cutting a curved line precisely, as well as for cutting a straight-line portion in a short time, and also provide a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores computer-readable instructions that cause an apparatus to generate the cut data. 
     Various embodiments provide an apparatus that includes a processor and a memory. The memory is configured to store a plurality of cut length data items and computer-readable instructions. The plurality of cut length data items indicate lengths of a plurality of cuts configured to be formed by a plurality of cutting blades. Each of the plurality of cutting blades is configured to be attachable to one of a plurality of needle bars of a sewing machine. The computer-readable instructions instruct the apparatus to execute steps including acquiring pattern data, wherein the pattern data represent a position of a point on a pattern line and the pattern line indicates a shape of a pattern to be cut along the pattern line, setting, as a plurality of first needle drop points, a plurality of points on the pattern line at predetermined intervals, wherein each of the plurality of first needle drop points is a position at which one of the plurality of cutting blades is to be inserted, setting a cut angle corresponding to each of the plurality of first needle drop points, wherein the cut angle is an angle that is determined based on a direction in which the pattern line extends at a position of each of the plurality of first needle drop points, determining a plurality of second needle drop points among the plurality of first needle drop points, wherein the second needle drop points are arranged consecutively along the pattern line, and the cut angles of the plurality of the second needle drop points are same, consolidating, based on the plurality of cut length data items, at least some of a plurality of second needle drop points into at least one third needle drop point, identifying a cutting blade corresponding to each of a plurality of fourth needle drop points among the plurality of cutting blades based on the plurality of cut length data items, wherein the plurality of fourth needle drop points include at least one first needle drop point which is unconsolidated among the plurality of first needle drop points and at least one third needle drop point which is consolidated, and generating cut data for the sewing machine, wherein the cut data are configured to cause the sewing machine to sequentially insert the identified cutting blades at the plurality of fourth needle drop points along the pattern line. 
     Embodiments also 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, wherein the pattern data represent a position of a point on a pattern line and the pattern line indicates a shape of a pattern to be cut along the pattern line, setting, as a plurality of first needle drop points, a plurality of points on the pattern line at predetermined intervals, wherein each of the plurality of first needle drop points is a position at which one of a plurality of cutting blades is to be inserted, setting a cut angle corresponding to each of the plurality of first needle drop points, wherein the cut angle is an angle that is determined based on a direction in which the pattern line extends at a position of each of the plurality of first needle drop points, determining a plurality of second needle drop points among the plurality of first needle drop points, wherein the second needle drop points are arranged consecutively along the pattern line, and the cut angles of the plurality of the second needle drop points are same, consolidating, based on a plurality of cut length data items, at least some of a plurality of second needle drop points into at least one third needle drop point, wherein the plurality of cut length data items indicate lengths of a plurality of cuts configured to be formed by the plurality of cutting blades, identifying a cutting blade corresponding to each of a plurality of fourth needle drop points among the plurality of cutting blades based on the plurality of cut length data items, wherein the plurality of fourth needle drop points include at least one first needle drop point which is unconsolidated among the plurality of first needle drop points and at least one third needle drop point which is consolidated, and generating cut data for the sewing machine, wherein the cut data are configured to cause the sewing machine to sequentially insert the identified cutting blades at the plurality of fourth needle drop points along the pattern line. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sewing machine; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial front view of a lower end portion of a needle bar case; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of a movement mechanism on which an embroidery frame is mounted; 
         FIG. 4  is an explanatory figure of a cutting blade data table; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the sewing machine; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart of first main processing; 
         FIG. 7  is an explanatory figure of a pattern; 
         FIG. 8  is an explanatory figure of a cutting blade data table in which cut lengths are listed; 
         FIG. 9  is an explanatory figure of needle drop points on a pattern line; 
         FIG. 10  is an explanatory figure of a cut data table; 
         FIG. 11  is an explanatory figure of a method for specifying a cut angle; 
         FIG. 12  is an explanatory figure of a cut data table in which cut angles have been registered; 
         FIG. 13  is an explanatory figure of a cut data table in which some of needle drop points have been consolidated; 
         FIG. 14  is an explanatory figure of the needle drop points on the pattern line after some of the needle drop points have been consolidated; 
         FIG. 15  is an explanatory figure of a cut data table in which needle bars have been registered; 
         FIG. 16  is an explanatory figure of a rearranged cut data table; 
         FIG. 17  is an exploded oblique view of a rotatable embroidery frame according to a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 18  is a plan view that shows the rotatable embroidery frame being held in the movement mechanism; 
         FIG. 19  is an explanatory figure of a cutting blade data table according to the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 20  is a flowchart of second main processing; 
         FIG. 21  is a figure in which cut lengths have been registered in the cutting blade data table that is shown in  FIG. 19 ; 
         FIG. 22  is an explanatory figure of a cut data table according to the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 23  is an explanatory figure of a cut data table in which the cut angles have been registered; 
         FIG. 24  is an explanatory figure of a cut data table in a state in which the needle drop point coordinates have been corrected; 
         FIG. 25  is an explanatory figure of a cut data table in which some of the needle drop points have been consolidated; 
         FIG. 26  is an explanatory figure of the needle drop points on the pattern line after some of the needle drop points have been consolidated; and 
         FIG. 27  is an explanatory figure of a cut data table in which data that indicate the needle bars have been registered. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment will be explained with reference to the drawings. A configuration of a multi-needle sewing machine (hereinafter simply referred to as the sewing machine)  1  according to the present embodiment will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 . The upper side, the lower side, the lower left side, the upper right side, the upper left side, and the lower right side in  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 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a body  20  of the sewing machine  1  includes a support portion  2 , a pillar  3 , and an arm  4 . The support portion  2  is a base portion that is formed in an inverted U shape in a plan view. A left-right pair of guide slots  25  that extend in the front-rear direction are provided in the top face of the support portion  2 . The pillar  3  extends upward from the rear end portion of the support portion  2 . The arm  4  extends toward the front from the upper end portion of the pillar  3 . A needle bar case  21  is attached to the front end of the arm  4  such that the needle bar case  21  can move in the left-right direction. Ten needle bars  7  (needle bars  71  to  80 ; refer to  FIG. 2 ) that extend in the up-down direction are disposed at equal intervals in the left-right direction inside the needle bar case  21 . One of the needle bars  7  that is in a sewing position may be moved in the up-down direction by a needle bar drive mechanism  32  (refer to  FIG. 5 ) that is provided inside the needle bar case  21 . One of a sewing needle  51  and a cutting blade  52  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) can be attached to the lower end of each of the needle bars  7 . That is, the needle bars  7  are configured to receive the cutting blades  52 . 
     In the example that is shown in  FIG. 2 , the sewing needles  51  (a sewing needle  511  and a sewing needle  512 ) are attached to the two of the ten needle bars  7  that are farthest to the left (the needle bar  79  and the needle bar  80 ). The sewing machine  1  may move the sewing needle  51  reciprocally up and down repeatedly by moving the needle bar  7  to which the sewing needle  51  is attached up and down. The sewing machine  1  can thus perform sewing on a work cloth  100  (refer to  FIG. 3 ). 
     The cutting blades  52  (cutting blades  521  to  528 ) can be attached to the eight of the ten needle bars  7  that are on the right side (the needle bars  71  to  78 ). Each of the cutting blades  52  has a cutting edge to form a cut in the work cloth  100  on its lower end. A shaft portion of the upper portion of the cutting blade  52  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) has a partially circular cylindrical shape with a flat surface on one side. A positional relationship between the direction of the cutting edge and the flat surface that is formed on the shaft portion is different for each of the cutting blades  521  to  528 . The cutting blade  52  can be attached to the needle bar  7  in a state in which the flat surface on the shaft portion faces toward the rear of the sewing machine  1 . Therefore, the plurality of cutting blades  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 the direction of the cutting edge when the cutting blade  52  forms a cut in the work cloth  100 . In other words, the direction of the cutting edge is the direction of the cut to be formed in the work cloth  100 . As will be described later, the direction in which the cut that is formed in the work cloth  100  extends, and the length of the cut, is set for each of the cutting blades  521  to  528 . The sewing machine  1  may move the cutting blade  52  reciprocally up and down repeatedly by moving the needle bar  7  to which the cutting blade  52  is attached up and down. The sewing machine  1  can thus form the cuts in the work cloth  100 . As described later, the sewing machine  1  may sequentially form the cuts in the work cloth  100  while switching the cutting blades  521  to  528 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an operation portion  6  is provided to the right of the central portion of the arm  4  in the front-rear direction. The operation portion  6  includes a liquid crystal display  15 , a touch panel  8 , and a start/stop switch  41 . For example an image including various types of items, such as commands, illustrations, a setting value, a message, and the like may be displayed on the liquid crystal display  15  based on image data. The touch panel  8  is provided on the front face of the liquid crystal display  15 . A user can perform a pressing operation on the touch panel  8 , using a finger or a touch pen. Hereinafter, this operation will be 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. Thus the sewing machine  1  may recognize the selected item. The user can select a pattern of cuts to be formed in the work cloth  100 , a cutting condition, a command to be executed, or the like, by performing a panel operation. The start/stop switch  41  is a switch for inputting commands that cause the sewing machine  1  to start and stop the sewing and the forming of the cuts. 
     A cylindrical cylinder bed  10  that extends toward the front from the lower end portion of the pillar  3  is provided below the arm  4 . A shuttle (not shown in the drawings) is provided inside the 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 rotationally drive the shuttle. A needle plate, 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. 
     A left-right pair of thread spool holders  12  are provided on the rear portion of an upper face of the arm  4 . Ten thread spools  13 , the same number as the number of the needle bars  7 , can be mounted on the pair of the thread spool holders  12 . Needle thread  38  may be supplied from the thread spools  13  mounted on the thread spool holders  12 . The needle thread  38  may be supplied via a thread guide  17 , a tensioner  18 , a thread take-up lever  39 , and the like to an eye (not shown in the drawings) of one of the sewing needles  51  that is attached to the lower end of the needle bars  7 . 
     A Y carriage  23  of a movement mechanism  11  (refer to  FIGS. 3 and 5 ) is provided below the arm  4 . Various types of embroidery frames  84  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) can be mounted on the movement mechanism  11 . That is, the sewing machine  1  is configured to receive the embroidery frame  84 . The embroidery frame  84  is configured to hold the work cloth  100 . The movement mechanism  11  may cause the embroidery frame  84  to move in the front-rear and left-right directions using an X axis motor  132  (refer to  FIG. 5 ) and a Y axis motor  134  (refer to  FIG. 5 ) as drive sources. 
     The embroidery frame  84  and the 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 left-right pair of coupling portions  89 . The outer frame  81  and the inner frame  82  of the embroidery frame  84  may clamp the work cloth  100 . Each of the coupling portions  89  is a plate-shaped member having a rectangular shape in a plan view and having a rectangular cut-out in the central portion. One of the coupling portions  89  is fixed to the right portion of the inner frame  82  by screws  86 . The other of the coupling portions  89  is fixed to the left portion of the inner frame  82  by screws  85 . 
     The 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 drive 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  90 , a right arm portion  97 , and a left arm portion  98 . The mounting portion  90  is a plate member having a rectangular shape in a plan view, and is longer in the left-right direction. The right arm portion  97  extends in the front-rear direction, and a rear end portion of the right arm portion  97  is fixed to the right end of the mounting portion  90 . The left arm portion  98  extends in the front-rear direction. The rear end portion of the left arm portion  98  is fixed to a left portion of the mounting portion  90  such that the position in the left-right direction with respect to the mounting portion  90  can be adjusted. The right arm portion  97  may be engaged with one of the coupling portions  89 , and the left arm portion  98  may be engaged with the other of the coupling portions  89 . 
     The X carriage  22  is a plate member, and is longer in the left-right direction. A part of the X carriage  22  projects forward from the front face of the Y carriage  23 . The mounting portion  90  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), and the linear movement mechanism may cause the X carriage  22  to move in the left-right direction (the X axis direction) using the X axis motor  132  as a drive source. 
     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 drive 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 the lower portions of the left and right ends of the Y carriage  23  and vertically pass through the guide slots  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 (the Y axis direction) along the guide slots  25  using the Y axis motor  134  as a drive 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 (the Y axis direction) in accordance with the movement of the movable members. In a state in which the embroidery frame  84  that holds the work cloth  100  is attached to the X carriage  22 , the work cloth  100  is disposed between the needle bars  7  and the needle plate  16  (refer to  FIG. 1 ). 
     The directions and the lengths of the cuts that may be formed in the work cloth  100  by the cutting blades  521  to  528  that are attached to the needle bars  71  to  78  will be explained with reference to a cutting blade data table  46  shown in  FIG. 4 . A cut direction is a direction in which a cut extends. A cut length is a length of a cut. The cutting blade data table  46  is stored in an EEPROM  64  (refer to  FIG. 5 ). The cut directions and the cut lengths that correspond to the cutting blades  521  to  528  that are respectively attached to the needle bars  71  to  78  are listed in the cutting blade data table  46  shown in  FIG. 4 . The cut directions and the cut lengths that are listed in the cutting blade data table  46  are data input by panel operations by the user. 
     The cut directions respectively correspond to the directions in which the cutting edges of the cutting blades  52  that are attached to the needle bars  7  extend. The cut lengths are the same as the cutting edge widths of the cutting blades  52 . For example, the cutting edge of the cutting blade  521  attached to the needle bar  71  extends in the left-right direction of the sewing machine  1  (refer to  FIG. 2 ). Therefore, the direction of the cut that is formed in the work cloth  100  by the cutting blade  521  is in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, the left-right direction of the sewing machine  1  corresponds to a cut direction of zero degrees. A direction from the left front toward the right rear corresponds to a cut direction of 45 degrees. The front-rear direction corresponds to a cut direction of 90 degrees. A direction from the right front toward the left rear corresponds to a cut direction of 135 degrees. The cut direction of zero degrees is listed in the cutting blade data table  46  in association with the cutting blade  521 . A cut length of 1.5 millimeters is also listed in association with the cutting blade  521 . 
     The cut length for each of the cutting blades  521  to  524  is 1.5 millimeters. The cut length for each of the cutting blades  525  to  528  is 3 millimeters, which is twice of 1.5 millimeters. The cut directions for the cutting blade  521  and the cutting blade  525  are the same at zero degrees. The cut directions for the cutting blade  522  and the cutting blade  526  are the same at 45 degrees. The cut directions for the cutting blade  523  and the cutting blade  527  are the same at 90 degrees. The cut directions for the cutting blade  524  and the cutting blade  528  are the same at 135 degrees. That is, the cutting blades  525  to  528  have respectively the same cut directions as the cutting blades  521  to  524  and have cut lengths that are twice as long. 
     An electrical configuration of the sewing machine  1  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 5 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the sewing machine  1  includes a sewing needle drive portion  120 , a sewn object drive portion  130 , the operation portion  6 , and a control portion  60 . 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 rotationally driving a drive shaft (not shown in the drawings), and cause the needle bar  7  to reciprocate up and down. 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 that is not shown in the drawings and thereby cause the needle bar case  21  to move in the left-right direction. 
     The sewn object 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 movement mechanism  11  and thereby cause the embroidery frame  84  (refer to  FIG. 3 ) to move in the left-right direction by driving the movement mechanism  11 . 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 movement mechanism  11  and thereby cause the embroidery frame  84  to move in the front-rear direction. 
     The operation portion  6  includes the touch panel  8 , a drive circuit  135 , the liquid crystal display  15 , and the start/stop switch  41 . The drive circuit  135  may drive the liquid crystal display  15  in accordance with a control signal from the control portion  60 . 
     The control portion  60  includes the CPU  61 , a ROM  62 , a RAM  63 , the EEPROM  64 , and an input/output interface (I/O)  66 , which are mutually connected by a signal line  65 . The sewing needle drive portion  120 , the sewn object drive portion  130 , and the operation portion  6  are each connected to the I/O  66 . 
     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 these are not shown in the drawings, the ROM  62  includes a plurality of storage areas that include the program storage area. Various programs for operating the sewing machine  1 , including a main program, may be stored in the program storage area. The main program is a program for performing first main processing that will be described later. The RAM  63  includes, as necessary, storage areas to store data such as operation results and the like processed by the CPU  61 . In addition to the cutting blade data table  46  (refer to  FIG. 4 ), various parameters for the sewing machine  1  to perform various processing may be stored in the EEPROM  64 . 
     The first main processing will be explained with reference to  FIG. 6 . In the first main processing, cut data (for example, data that are stored in a cut data table  47  that is shown in  FIG. 16 ) are generated. The cut data are control data that is necessary to cause the sewing machine  1  to perform operations to form cuts in the work cloth  100  along a line that indicates a shape of a pattern. A line that indicates a shape of a pattern will be hereinafter referred to as a pattern line. The sewing machine  1  may form the cuts in the work cloth  100  along the pattern line based on the generated cut data. 
     The first main processing that is shown in  FIG. 6  is performed in a case where the user inputs a command to start the first main processing. The command to start the first main processing may be input by a panel operation, for example. The program for performing the first main processing is stored in the ROM  62  (refer to  FIG. 5 ) and is performed by the CPU  61 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , first, the CPU  61  determines whether pattern data have been acquired (Step S 11 ). The pattern data are data for a pattern line along which cuts are to be formed. For example, the pattern data are data that represent a position of a given point on the pattern line with respect to the work cloth  100 , in a case where cuts are formed along the pattern line on the work cloth  100 . The pattern data may be vector data, for example. The user may input a shape of the pattern line by a panel operation. The CPU  61  may then acquire the data indicating the input pattern line as the pattern data. In a case where the pattern data have not been acquired (NO at Step S 11 ), the CPU  61  repeats the processing at Step S 11 . 
     In a case where a pattern line  101  for a ring-like pattern  102 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , has been input, the CPU  61  acquires the pattern data indicating the pattern line  101 . In a case where the pattern data for the pattern line  101  have been acquired (YES at Step S 11 ), the CPU  61  stores the acquired pattern data in the RAM  63  (Step S 12 ). 
     The CPU  61  may also acquire the pattern data by another method. For example, the user may input a plurality of points as the pattern line by a panel operation. The CPU  61  may acquire data representing line segments that connect the plurality of input points as the pattern data. The sewing machine  1  may be provided with a card slot not shown in the drawings, for example. The user may insert into the card slot a memory card in which the pattern data are stored. The CPU  61  may acquire the pattern data by reading out the pattern data stored in the memory card inserted into the card slot. 
     Next, the CPU  61  identifies a minimum cut length by referring to the cutting blade data table  46  (refer to  FIG. 4 ) (Step S 13 ). The minimum cut length is the shortest cut length among the cut lengths for the cutting blades  52  (the cutting blades  521  to  528 ) that are attached to the needle bars  7 . The CPU  61  identifies the minimum cut length as L that was identified at Step S 13  and stores the minimum cut length L in the cutting blade data table  46  (Step S 14 ). For the cutting blades  52  that are associated with cut lengths other than the minimum cut length, the CPU  61  computes multiples of the minimum cut length L. Based on the computed multiples, the CPU  61  stores the cut lengths that respectively correspond to the cutting blades  52  in the cutting blade data table  46  (Step S 15 ). 
     For example, in the case of the cutting blade data table  46  that is shown in  FIG. 4 , the needle bars  71  to  74  are each associated with the minimum cut length of 1.5 millimeters. Therefore, the CPU  61  identifies 1.5 millimeters as the minimum cut length (Step S 13 ) and identifies 1.5 millimeters as L (Step S 14 ). For the needle bars  75  to  78 , with which cut lengths other than the minimum cut length are associated, the CPU  61  computes multiples of the minimum cut length L. The CPU  61  registers the computation results in the cutting blade data table  46  (Step S 15 ). In this manner, the minimum cut length L is associated with each of the needle bars  71  to  74 , and the cut length 2L is associated with each of the needle bars  75  to  78  as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     The CPU  61  sets needle drop points consecutively at predetermined intervals along the pattern line  101  that is indicated by the pattern data stored in the RAM  63  (Step S 16 ). In the present embodiment, the predetermined interval is equal to the minimum cut length L. The positions (the coordinates) of the set needle drop points are stored in the cut data table  47  (refer to  FIG. 10  and the like) stored in the RAM  63 . For example, in a case where the pattern line  101  shown in  FIG. 7  has been input, the CPU  61  sets the needle drop points such that the needle drop points are arranged at the predetermined intervals along the pattern line  101 . In this case, needle drop points QX (X=1, 2, . . . 73) are set consecutively along the pattern line  101  as shown in  FIG. 9 . Note that QX is the number of the needle drop point. The numerical values for X are assigned consecutively to the set needle drop points along the pattern line  101 , such that the numerical value of a particular needle drop point on the pattern line  101  is taken as 1 (the point at the lower left in the example in  FIG. 9 ). Then the data for the (X, Y) coordinates for the set needle drop points Q 1  to Q 73  are registered in the cut data table  47 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . Note that, hereinafter, the coordinate data for the needle drop points QX are sometimes simply referred to as the needle drop points QX. At this time, cutting sequence numbers from 1 to 73 are also assigned consecutively to the needle drop points Q 1  to Q 73 . 
     The CPU  61  sets a cut angle for each of the needle drop points QX that was set by the processing at Step S 16  (Step S 17 ). The cut angle is an angle of a cut along the pattern line. More specifically, the cut angle is an angle that is set based on the direction in which the pattern line extends at each of the needle drop points. For example, in the processing at Step S 17 , among the cut directions that are stored in the cutting blade data table  46  for the plurality of cutting blades  521  to  528 , the cut direction that is the closest to the direction in which the pattern line  101  extends at the needle drop point QX is set as the cut angle. The setting process will hereinafter be described in detail. 
     The method for setting the cut angle will be explained in detail with reference to  FIG. 11 . First, as shown in  FIG. 11 , line segments  111 ,  112 ,  113  that respectively connect two adjacent needle drop points QX (Q 4  to Q 5 , Q 5  to Q 6 , and Q 6  to Q 7 ) are defined. Then, with the needle drop point Q 4  serving as a reference point, the positive direction of the X axis indicating zero degrees and the positive direction of the Y axis indicating 90 degrees, the CPU  61  identifies the angle that is formed between the line segment  111  and the X axis as the direction in which the line segment  111  extends. The CPU  61  identifies the directions in which the line segments  112 ,  113  extend in the same manner. Among the cut directions of zero degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees, and 135 degrees that are registered in the cutting blade data table  46  (refer to  FIG. 8 ), the cut direction that is the closest to the direction in which the line segment  111  extends is set as the cut angle of the line segment  111 . The CPU  61  sets the cut angles of the line segments  112  and  113  in the same manner. For example, the CPU  61  subtracts each of the cut directions that have been registered in the cutting blade data table  46  from the direction in which the line segment  111  extends. The CPU  61  then identifies, as the cut direction that is the closest to the line segment  111 , the cut direction for which the result of the subtraction is closest to zero. For example, in a case where it is determined that the direction in which the line segment  111  extends is closest to the cut direction of 90 degrees, the cut angle for each of the needle drop points Q 4  and Q 5  positioned at both ends of the line segment  111  is set to 90 degrees. In the same manner, in a case where it is determined that the direction in which the line segment  112  extends is closest to the cut direction of 90 degrees, the cut angle for each of the needle drop points Q 5  and Q 6  positioned at both ends of the line segment  112  is set to 90 degrees. In a case where it is determined that the direction in which the line segment  113  extends is closest to the cut direction of 45 degrees, the cut angle for each of the needle drop points Q 6  and Q 7  positioned at both ends of the line segment  113  is set to 45 degrees. 
     In a case where the cut angles are set for all of the needle drop points QX, the data for the cut angles are registered in the cut data table  47  shown in  FIG. 10 , and the cut angle column of the cut data table  47  is filled, as shown in  FIG. 12 . The directions in which the line segment  111  and the line segment  112  extend are both closest to the cut direction of 90 degrees (refer to  FIG. 11 ). Therefore, the CPU  61  sets the cut angle for the needle drop point Q 5 , which is at one end of each of the line segments  111  and  112 , to 90 degrees, as shown in  FIG. 12 . The direction in which the line segment  112  extends is closest to 90 degrees, and the direction in which the line segment  113  extends is closest to 45 degrees (refer to  FIG. 11 ). Therefore, for the cut angle of the needle drop point Q 6 , which is at one end of each of the line segments  112  and  113 , the CPU  61  sets the two cut angles to 90 degrees and 45 degrees. Note that in a case where two cut angles such as 90 degrees and 45 degrees are set for a single needle drop point QX, each of the two cutting blades  52  that have the corresponding cut directions forms one cut at the single needle drop point QX. Furthermore, for the needle drop point Q 1 , which is the first needle drop point, the cut angles are set based on the directions in which the line segment from Q 1  to Q 2  and the line segment from Q 73  (the final needle drop point) to Q 1  respectively extend. For the needle drop point Q 73 , which is the final needle drop point, the cut angles are set based on the directions in which the line segment from Q 72  to Q 73  and the line segment from Q 73  to Q 1  respectively extend. 
     Next, the CPU  61  sets a variable N to zero (Step S 18 ). The variable N is a variable that indicates the cutting sequence number in the cut data table  47  (refer to  FIG. 12 ). The CPU  61  sets a variable P to 1 (Step S 19 ). The variable P is a variable that the CPU  61  uses to count the number of the consecutive needle drop points QX for which the cut angles are the same. The CPU  61  increments the variable N by increasing the value of the variable N by 1 (Step S 20 ). By referring to the cut data table  47 , the CPU  61  determines whether data exist for the cutting sequence number that corresponds to the variable N (Step S 21 ). Note that a case in which the data do not exist for the cutting sequence number that corresponds to the variable N is a case in which the processing at Steps S 22  to S 27 , which is described later, has been performed for all of the needle drop points QX. 
     In a case where the data exist for the cutting sequence number that corresponds to the variable N (YES at Step S 21 ), the CPU  61  refers to the cut data table  47  and acquires the cut angle for the needle drop point QX with the cutting sequence number that corresponds to the variable N (Step S 22 ). The CPU  61  determines whether the cut angle for the needle drop point QX that was acquired by the processing at Step S 22  is the same as the cut angle for the needle drop point QX that corresponds to the variable N minus 1 (Step S 23 ). In other words, the CPU  61  determines whether the cut angles for the consecutive needle drop points QX are the same. In a case where the cut angles are the same (YES at Step S 23 ), the CPU  61  increments the variable P by increasing the value of the variable P by 1 (Step S 24 ). In this manner, the number of the consecutive needle drop points QX for which the cut angles are the same is counted. The CPU  61  returns the processing to the processing at Step S 20 . 
     In a case where the CPU  61  has determined that the cut angles are not the same (NO at Step S 23 ), the CPU  61  determines whether the variable P is 2 or more (Step S 25 ). In other words, the CPU  61  determines whether consecutive needle drop points QX exist for which the cut angles are the same. In a case where the successive cut angles are not the same and the variable P is 1 (NO at Step S 25 ), the CPU  61  advances the processing to the processing at Step S 27 , which will be described later. 
     In a case where the variable P is 2 or more (YES at Step S 25 ), the CPU  61 , based on the cut lengths that are stored in the cutting blade data table  46 , consolidates at least a part of the at least two consecutive needle drop points QX for which the cut angles are the same into a single needle drop point (Step S 26 ). In the explanation that follows, the needle drop point into which the other needle drop points have been consolidated by the processing at Step S 26  is referred to as the needle drop point QX′. Specifically, first, the cut angles for the consecutive needle drop points QX for which the cut angles are the same are identified. For example, in the cut data table  47  (refer to  FIG. 12 ), the cut angle 45 degrees is associated with each of the needle drop points Q 17  to Q 28 . Therefore, 45 degrees is identified as the consecutively identical cut angle. Next, the cutting blade data table  46  is referenced, and from among the cut lengths that are associated with the specified cut angle of 45 degrees, the cut length 2L is identified as the cut length for which the multiple is closest to the variable P while not exceeding the value of the variable P. The needle drop points Q 17  to Q 28  are set consecutively at intervals of the minimum cut length L. The CPU  61  consolidates two of the consecutive needle drop points QX that are each associated with the cut length L into the single needle drop point QX′, which is associated with the cut length 2L. The CPU  61  computes an intermediate point between the two needle drop points QX and then consolidates the two needle drop points QX into the single needle drop point QX′ at the computed intermediate point. For example, coordinates for Q 17  are (X 17 , Y 17 ), and coordinates for Q 18  are (X 18 , Y 18 ). Accordingly, the X coordinate for the intermediate point is {(X 17 +X 18 )/2}, and the Y coordinate for the intermediate point is {(Y 17 +Y 18 )/2}. Thus the two needle drop points Q 17 , Q 18  that are shown in  FIG. 12  are consolidated into a needle drop point Q 17 ′((X 17 +X 18 )/2, (Y 17 +Y 18 )/2), as shown in  FIG. 13 . Note that the cutting sequence numbers are changed in the order of the X values of the needle drop points QX and QX′. Some of the other needle drop points QX may also be consolidated in the same manner. 
       FIG. 14  is a figure that shows the needle drop points QX′ that have been consolidated by the processing at Step S 26 , and the unconsolidated needle drop points QX, on the pattern line  101 . In the present embodiment, the sets of two consecutive needle drop points QX for which the cut angles are the same are each consolidated into the needle drop points QX′. Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 14 , the total number of the needle drop points QX and the needle drop points QX′ is less than the number of the needle drop points before the processing at Step S 26  was performed (refer to  FIG. 9 ). 
     Next, based on the cut lengths and the cut directions stored in the cutting blade data table  46 , the CPU  61  sets for each of the needle drop points QX′, the needle drop points QX′ and QX, or the needle drop points QX, as the case may be, from among the plurality of needle bars  71  to  78 , one of the needle bars  7  to which one of the cutting blades  52  is attached. That is, the CPU  61  identifies for each of the needle drop points QX′, the needle drop points QX′ and QX, or the needle drop points QX, as the case may be, from among the plurality of needle bars  71  to  78 , one of the needle bars  7  to which one of the cutting blades  52  is attached. The CPU  61  registers the data that indicate the needle bars  7  that have been set in the cut data table  47  in association with the corresponding needle drop points QX and needle drop points QX′ (Step S 27 ). For example, the needle drop point Q 7  has not been consolidated by the processing at Step S 26  (the position (coordinates) has not been changed). The cut angle 45 degrees has been associated with the needle drop point Q 7  by the processing at Step S 17 . The needle drop point Q 7  is also a needle drop point for which the intervals between the needle drop point Q 7  and the adjacent needle drop points Q 6  and Q 8  have both been set to the same interval, the cut length L. Accordingly, the CPU  61  refers to the cutting blade data table  46  (refer to  FIG. 8 ) and sets the needle bar  72 , to which the cutting blade  522 , which is associated with the cut angle 45 degrees and the cut length L, has been attached. Then the data that indicate the needle bar  72  are registered in the cut data table  47  in association with the needle drop point Q 7 , as shown in  FIG. 15 . The needle drop point Q 17  and the needle drop point Q 18  have been consolidated into the needle drop point Q 17 ′ by the processing at Step S 26  (the position (coordinates) has been changed). The cut angle 45 degrees is associated with the needle drop point Q 17 ′. The needle drop point Q 17 ′ is the needle drop point QX′, generated by consolidating the two needle drop points Q 17  and Q 18 , for which the intervals are set to the cut length L, into a single needle drop point. Therefore, in a case where the cutting blade  52  is inserted at the needle drop point Q 17 ′, it is necessary for the cut length that is formed to be 2L. Accordingly, the CPU  61  refers to the cutting blade data table  46  (refer to  FIG. 8 ) and sets the needle bar  76 , to which the cutting blade  526 , which is associated with the cut angle 45 degrees and the cut length 2L, is attached. Then the data indicating the needle bar  76  are registered in the cut data table  47  in association with the needle drop point Q 17 ′, as shown in  FIG. 15 . After the CPU  61  has set one of the needle bars  7  to which one of the cutting blades  52  is attached in the processing at Step S 27 , the CPU  61  returns the processing to the processing at Step S 19 , and sets the variable P to 1. 
     In a case where the CPU  61  has performed the processing at Steps S 22  to S 27  for all of the needle drop points QX, the CPU  61  determines that the data do not exist for the cutting sequence number that corresponds to the variable N (NO at Step S 21 ). The CPU  61  changes the cutting order for the needle drop points QX and the needle drop points QX′ such that the same cutting blade  52  is to be used consecutively when the sewing machine  1  is operated (Step S 28 ). In the processing at Step S 28 , the data that are registered in the cut data table  47  are rearranged such that all of the data that are associated with the same needle bar  7  (the same cutting blade  52 ) are grouped together consecutively into a single series. For example, in  FIG. 15 , the needle bar  76  (the cutting blade  526 ) is associated with the needle drop points Q 17 ′ to Q 27 ′ and the needle drop points Q 47 ′ to Q 53 ′. Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 16 , the cutting order for the needle drop points is rearranged such that the needle drop points Q 17 ′ to Q 27 ′ and the needle drop points Q 47 ′ to Q 53 ′ are grouped together consecutively into a single series. The cutting order is rearranged in the same manner for the other needle bars  71 ,  72 ,  73 ,  74 ,  75 ,  77 ,  78 . Note, for example, the needle bar  71  and the needle bar  73  are associated with the needle drop point Q 1  (refer to  FIG. 15 ). In this case, the cutting order is rearranged such that the needle drop point Q 1  is associated separately with both the needle bar  71  and the needle bar  73 . Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 16 , for example, the needle drop point Q 1  is associated separately with both the needle bar  71  and the needle bar  73 . The cutting order is arranged for all of the needle drop points QX, QX′ such that the cutting blades  52  that are respectively attached to the needle bars  71 ,  72 ,  73 ,  74 ,  75 ,  76 ,  77 ,  78  are to be used in this order when the sewing machine  1  is operated. After the cutting order has been rearranged, the cutting sequence numbers are reassigned in order, starting from the beginning. The data that are registered in the cut data table  47  after being rearranged in this manner are referred to as the cut data. 
     The CPU  61  causes the sewing machine  1  to form the cuts along the pattern line  101  in accordance with the cut data (Step S 29 ). More specifically, the CPU  61  reads in order the data that correspond to the cutting sequence numbers in the cut data table  47  and moves the needle bar case  21  such that the needle bar  7  that is specified for the current cutting sequence number is disposed in the sewing position. By moving the embroidery frame  84 , the CPU  61  also changes the position in which the work cloth  100  is held in relation to the cutting blade  52 , such that the cutting blade  52  is disposed directly above the position that is specified by the coordinates of the needle drop point. The CPU  61  then moves the needle bar  7 , to the lower end of which the cutting blade  52  is attached, up and down. The cutting blade  52  thus moves reciprocally up and down, repeatedly piercing the work cloth  100  to cut the threads of the work cloth  100  along the pattern line  101 . The cut is thus formed in the work cloth  100  along the pattern line  101 . In a case where the CPU  61  has finished forming the cut using the needle bar  7  specified for the last cutting sequence number, the CPU  61  terminates the first main processing. 
     The CPU  61  performs the processing in the present embodiment as described above. The cut angles that are set at Step S 17  for the consecutive needle drop points QX along a straight-line portion of the pattern line  101  are all the same angle. In this case, at least some of the consecutive needle drop points QX that have the same cut angle are consolidated into the single needle drop point QX′, based on the cut lengths that are stored in the cutting blade data table  46  (Step S 26 ). The needle bar  7  to which is attached the cutting blade  52  that is to be inserted at the consolidated needle drop point QX′ is set from among the plurality of needle bars  71  to  78  and is registered in the cut data table  47  (Step S 27 ). Because some of needle drop points QX are consolidated into the single needle drop point QX′, the number of the needle drop points is reduced. Consequently, when the cuts are formed along the pattern line  101  by the processing at Step S 29 , the number of times that the needle bar  7  moves up and down in order to cut along the straight-line portion of the pattern line  101  is reduced. The sewing machine  1  can cut along the straight-line portion of the pattern line  101  in a shorter time, making it possible to cut the work cloth  100  more efficiently. 
     The cut angles for the consecutive needle drop points QX along a curved-line portion of the pattern line  101  are not the same angle. Therefore, the processing at Step S 26  is not performed, and none of the needle drop points QX are consolidated into the needle drop point QX′. The interval between two adjacent needle drop points QX that have not been consolidated is a predetermined interval (in the present embodiment, the minimum cut length L). Therefore, the interval between the two adjacent needle drop points QX that have not been consolidated is less than the interval between the consolidated needle drop point QX′ and the adjacent needle drop point QX. Then the needle bar  7  to which the cutting blade  52  is attached that is to be inserted at the needle drop point QX is set based on the cut length (Step S 27 ). In this case, the cutting blade  52  that is attached to the needle bar  7  that has been set is one of the cutting blades  521  to  524 , for which the cut length is L. In other words, the sewing machine  1  can specify, as the cutting blade  52  that is to be inserted at the needle drop point QX, one of the cutting blades  521  to  524  (cut length L), for which the cut length is shorter than the cut length for the cutting blades  525  to  528  (cut length 2L). Therefore, it is possible to form the cuts in the curved-line portion by using the cutting blades  521  to  524 , for which the cut length is shorter than the cut length for the cutting blades  525  to  528 . In this manner, the sewing machine  1  can generate the cut data for forming precise cuts along the curved-line portion of the pattern line  101 , as well as for cutting along the straight-line portion of the pattern line  101  in a shorter time. 
     Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the predetermined interval that is used in the setting of the needle drop points QX by the processing at Step S 16  is equal to the minimum cut length L. In this case, in a case where the cutting blades  52  to be inserted at the needle drop points QX are set by the processing at Step S 27  based on the cut length, the needle bars  7  to which the cutting blades  521  to  524  are attached can be set, having the minimum cut length L that is the same as the predetermined interval. Accordingly, the sewing machine  1  can form the cuts in the work cloth  100  using the cutting blades  521  to  524  with the cut length L, which is the same as the interval between the two adjacent needle drop points QX and thereby form precise cuts in the work cloth  100 . Note that the predetermined interval may also be other than the minimum cut length L. For example, in a case where a plurality of cutting blades having different cut lengths (for example, L, 2L, 3L) are attached to a plurality of needle bars  7 , respectively, the predetermined interval may be set to the same length as any one of the plurality of different cut lengths. In that case as well, the sewing machine  1  can form the cuts in the work cloth  100  using the cutting blades with the cut length that is the same as the interval between the two adjacent needle drop points QX and thereby form precise cuts in the work cloth  100  along the pattern line  101 . 
     In the present embodiment, the cut length is the same as the cutting edge width of the cutting blade  52 . Because the cut length and the cutting edge width are the same, the external appearance of the cutting blade  52  matches the cut length. Therefore, for example, in a case where the user registers the cut length in the cutting blade data table  46 , the user can register the cut length based on the external appearance of the cutting blade  52 . 
     In the present embodiment, the cut lengths of the plurality of cutting blades  52  are set to integer multiples of the minimum cut length L (in the present embodiment, L and 2L). The predetermined interval when the needle drop points QX are set by the processing at Step S 16  is the same as the minimum cut length L. Furthermore, in a case where at least some of the consecutive needle drop points QX for which the cut angles are the same are consolidated into the needle drop points QX′ by the processing at Step S 26 , the interval between two of the consolidated needle drop points QX′ that are adjacent to one another is an integer multiple of the minimum cut length L. In the processing at Step S 27 , for each of the needle drop points QX that were not consolidated by the processing at Step S 26 , one of the needle bars  71  to  74 , to which the cutting blades  521  to  524  that have the minimum cut length L are attached, is set as the needle bar  7  to which is attached the cutting blade  52  that is to be inserted at the needle drop point QX. In addition, one of the needle bars  75  to  78  that have cut lengths of 2L, which is an integer multiple of the minimum cut length L, is set as the needle bar  7  to which is attached the cutting blade  52  that is to be inserted at the consolidated needle drop point QX. The cut lengths of the cutting blades  52  correspond to the intervals between the pairs of adjacent needle drop points. Therefore, in a case where the CPU  61  sets the needle bars  7  in the processing at Step S 27 , the CPU  61  can set the needle bars  7  to which are attached the appropriate cutting blades  52  for inserting at the respective needle drop points QX, QX′. 
     In the present embodiment, in the processing at Step S 28 , the cutting order for the needle drop points QX and the needle drop points QX′ is changed such that cuts are formed consecutively by the same cutting blade  52 . When the sewing machine  1  switches the cutting blade  52 , stopping the rotation of the drive shaft motor  122  and moving the needle bar case  21  in the left-right direction are necessary. Therefore, in a case where the cutting blade  52  is switched frequently, the sewing machine  1  takes more time to finish forming the cuts along the pattern line  101  in the work cloth  100  than in a case where the same cutting blade  52  is used continuously. In the present embodiment, the cutting order for the needle drop points QX and the needle drop points QX′ is changed such that the same cutting blade  52  is used consecutively. Therefore, when the sewing machine  1  performs the cutting at Step S 29 , the cuts can be formed consecutively by the same cutting blade  52 . Therefore, the number of times that the cutting blade  52  is switched (the needle bar  7  is switched) is less than in a case where the cutting order is not changed. Accordingly, the time that the sewing machine  1  requires in order to form the cuts along the pattern line  101  can be shortened, and the cuts can be formed in the work cloth  100  more efficiently. 
     Next, a second embodiment will be explained. The second embodiment is an example in which a rotatable embroidery frame  9  is used as the embroidery frame. First, the embroidery frame  9  will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 17 and 18 . In the explanation that follows, the up-down direction in the  FIG. 17  is defined as the up-down direction of an outer frame  94 . As shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the embroidery frame  9  includes an inner frame  91 , a middle frame  92 , and the outer frame  94 , each of which has a circular frame shape. As shown in  FIG. 18 , the embroidery frame  9  is formed by disposing the middle frame  92  to the outside of the inner frame  91  in the radial direction and by disposing the outer frame  94  to the outside of the middle frame  92  in the radial direction. The embroidery frame  9  is configured to clamp the work cloth  100  between the inner frame  91  and the middle frame  92 . The middle frame  92  is configured to be rotatable in relation to the outer frame  94 . The inner frame  91  and the middle frame  92  are rotatable in relation to the outer frame  94  around an axis of rotation R shown in  FIG. 17 . Note that in the embroidery frame  9  of the present embodiment, the rotation axis R passes through the center of each circle formed by each of the inner frame  91 , the middle frame  92 , and the outer frame  94  (specifically, frame portions  911 ,  921 ,  941 , which will be described later). Hereinafter, the direction of the rotation axis R is simply referred to as an axial direction. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the inner frame  91  includes the circular frame portion  911 . The frame portion  911  has thicknesses in the axial direction and in the radial direction. The inner frame  91  includes an adjustment portion  915  that is configured to adjust the diameter of the inner frame  91 . The diameter of the inner frame can be adjusted according to the thickness of the work cloth  100  that is clamped between the inner frame  91  and the middle frame  92 . The adjustment portion  915  includes a parting portion  916 , a pair of screw mounting portions  917 , and an adjusting screw  918 . The parting portion  916  is a location where a portion in the circumferential direction of the frame portion  911  of the inner frame  91  is discontinuous through the axial direction. The pair of the screw mounting portions  917  are provided on upper portions on both sides of the parting portion  916  in the frame portion  911 . The pair of the screw mounting portions  917  project to the outside in the radial direction and are positioned opposite one another. The pair of the screw mounting portions  917  have holes  9171 ,  9172 , respectively, that respectively pass through the screw mounting portions  917  in a direction that is orthogonal to the faces of the screw mounting portions  917  that are opposite each other. Of the two holes  9171 ,  9172 , a nut (not shown in the drawings), in which a threaded hole is formed, is embedded in the one hole  9172  (the hole on the lower right side in  FIG. 17 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 17 , the adjusting screw  918  is a screw member that includes a head portion  9181  and a shaft portion  9183 . The head portion  9181  is a large-diameter component that the user may rotate by gripping the head portion  9181  with the fingers. The shaft portion  9183  is a small-diameter component that extends as a single piece from the head portion  9181 . A male threaded portion  9182  is formed from approximately the center of the axial direction of the shaft portion  9183  to the tip. A narrow groove  9184 , into which a retaining ring  9185  is fitted, is formed in the shaft portion  9183  in a location that is close to the head portion  9181 . The adjusting screw  918  may be mounted in the pair of the screw mounting portions  917  by passing the shaft portion  9183  through the hole  9171  and screwing the male threaded portion  9182  into the threaded hole in the nut that is embedded in the hole  9172 . In this state, the retaining ring  9185  may be fitted into the narrow groove  9184  of the shaft portion  9183 . The adjusting screw  918  is thus held such that the adjusting screw  918  can rotate in the screw mounting portion  917  on the side where the hole  9171  is located and cannot move in the axial direction. 
     In a case where the user grips the head portion  9181  with the fingers and rotates the adjusting screw  918 , the screw mounting portion  917  on the side where the hole  9172  is formed moves in the axial direction of the shaft portion  9183 , via the nut. The movement direction is determined by the rotation direction of the adjusting screw  918 . Thus the adjusting screw  918  can couple together the pair of the screw mounting portions  917  and can perform adjustment to increase or reduce the gap between the pair of the screw mounting portions  917 . By adjusting the gap between the pair of the screw mounting portions  917 , the diameter of the inner frame  91  can be adjusted in accordance with the thickness of the work cloth  100 . For example, by narrowing the gap between pair of the screw mounting portions  917 , the diameter of the inner frame  91  becomes smaller. As a result, the embroidery frame  9  can clamp the work cloth  100  having a greater thickness between the middle frame  92  and the inner frame  91 . Note that, for ease of explanation, the retaining ring  9185  has been omitted from  FIG. 18 . 
     A mark  110  is provided on an upper face of the inner frame  91 . As shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the middle frame  92  includes the circular frame portion  921 , which has an inside diameter that is larger than the outside diameter of the frame portion  911  of the inner frame  91 . The middle frame  92  can be removably attached to the inner frame  91  by removably attaching the frame portion  921  of the middle frame  92  on the outer side of the frame portion  911  of the inner frame  91  in the radial direction. A large gear  934  is formed on the outer circumferential side face of the lower portion of the frame portion  921  of the middle frame  92  and is a gear that is formed around the entire circumference of the frame portion  921 . The large gear  934  can mesh with a small gear  948  (described later; refer to  FIG. 18 ). 
     As shown in  FIG. 17 , a flange portion  929  that projects to the outside in the radial direction around the entire circumference of the frame portion  921  is provided in a central portion in the axial direction of the outer circumferential side face of the frame portion  921 , on the upper side of the large gear  934 . A support portion  936  that projects to the inside in the radial direction around the entire circumference of the frame portion  921  is provided on the inner circumferential side face of the lower end of the frame portion  921 . The support portion  936  is a component that supports a lower end face of the inner frame  91 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the outer frame  94  includes the circular frame portion  941 . A support portion  946  that projects to the inside in the radial direction around the entire circumference of the frame portion  941  is provided on the inner circumferential side face of the lower edge of the frame portion  941  (refer to  FIG. 17 ). The support portion  946  supports a lower end surface of the middle frame  92  and thus the frame portion  941  supports the middle frame  92 . 
     An attachment portion  942  and an attachment portion  950  are provided on the outer side of the frame portion  941  in the radial direction. The attachment portion  942  is configured to be detachably mounted on the right arm portion  97  of the movement mechanism  11 . The attachment portion  950  is configured to be detachably mounted on the left arm portion  98  of the movement mechanism  11 . A plate  951  that extends from the frame portion  941  to the attachment portion  950  is provided between the frame portion  941  and the attachment portion  950 . The plate  951  and the attachment portion  950  are joined by screws  952 . 
     A box-shaped housing portion  943  that joins the frame portion  941  and the attachment portion  942  is provided between the frame portion  941  and the attachment portion  942 . The housing portion  943  includes a projecting portion  954  that projects toward the outside in the radial direction of the frame portion  941  at the bottom end on the side of the attachment portion  942  of the housing portion  943 . The attachment portion  942  is disposed on the upper surface of the projecting portion  954 , and the attachment portion  942  and the housing portion  943  are joined by screws  953 . 
     A frame-side connector  944  is provided on one end (the end portion on the lower right side in  FIG. 17 ) of the projecting portion  954 . The frame-side connector  944  is a convex connector. As shown in  FIG. 18 , a sewing machine-side connector  352 , which is a concave connector to which the frame-side connector  944  can be coupled, is provided on the right arm portion  97  of the movement mechanism  11  of the sewing machine  1 . When the embroidery frame  9  is attached to the right arm portion  97  and the left arm portion  98  of the movement mechanism  11 , the frame-side connector  944  is coupled and electrically connected to the sewing machine-side connector  352 . The frame-side connector  944  is electrically connected to a motor  947  through a conductor wire  945 . The sewing machine-side connector  352  is connected to the CPU  61  through the I/O  66  (refer to  FIG. 5 ) and a drive circuit (not shown in the drawings) that drives the motor  947 . When the frame-side connector  944  is connected to the sewing machine-side connector  352 , the CPU  61  can control the motor  947 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 18 , the motor  947  is disposed in the housing portion  943 . The motor  947  is disposed in the housing portion  943  such that a rotating shaft of the motor  947  faces downward. The small gear  948 , which has a diameter that is smaller than that of the large gear  934  of the middle frame  92 , is fixed to the lower end of the rotating shaft of the motor  947 . The small gear  948  meshes with the large gear  934 . When the motor  947  is driven and the small gear  948  is rotated, the large gear  934  rotates. The middle frame  92  thus rotates in relation to the outer frame  94 . 
     A mode in which the inner frame  91 , the middle frame  92 , and the outer frame  94  are combined, and a mode in which the embroidery frame  9  is attached to the sewing machine  1  (the movement mechanism  11 ) will be explained. For example, the user may place the middle frame  92  on a work bench (not shown in the drawings) such that the large gear  934  is on the lower side. Then the user may place the work cloth  100  on the middle frame  92 . The user may insert the inner frame  91  into the inner side of the middle frame  92  while pressing the work cloth  100  downward with the bottom end of the inner frame  91 . The work cloth  100  may be thus clamped between the inner frame  91  and the middle frame  92 . At this time, the user may rotate the adjusting screw  918  as appropriate and adjust the diameter of the inner frame  91  in accordance with the thickness of the work cloth  100 . The face of the work cloth  100  on which the sewing will be performed may enter a state of being stretched taut on the inner side of the inner frame  91  at the bottom end of the inner frame  91 . In the explanation that follows, the frame that is formed by combining of the inner frame  91  and the middle frame  92  is referred to as an assembled unit  95  (refer to  FIG. 18 ). 
     Next, the user may place the assembled unit  95  into the outer frame  94  from the top side of the outer frame  94 . At this time, the user may place the assembled unit  95  in the frame portion  941  such that the large gear  934  and the small gear  948  mesh with each other. Thus the large gear  934  and the small gear  948  may be meshed with each other, and the middle frame  92  (the assembled unit  95 ) may be locked with the outer frame  94 . The inner frame  91 , the middle frame  92 , and the outer frame  94  can be thus combined to produce the completed form of the embroidery frame  9 . 
     The user may attach the completed form of the embroidery frame  9  to the sewing machine  1  by attaching the attachment portions  942 ,  950  of the embroidery frame  9  to the right arm portion  97  and the left arm portion  98  of the movement mechanism  11 . In the process, the sewing machine-side connector  352  that is provided in the right arm portion  97  and the frame-side connector  944  that is provided in the attachment portion  942  are connected electrically (refer to  FIG. 18 ). Thus the CPU  61  can control the drive circuits and control the motor  947  through the sewing machine-side connector  352 , the frame-side connector  944 , and the conductor wire  945 . By controlling the motor  947 , the CPU  61  can rotate and lock the middle frame  92  (the assembled unit  95 ) in relation to the outer frame  94 . 
     A cutting blade data table  48  shown in  FIG. 19  will be explained. The cut lengths that can be formed in the work cloth  100  by the cutting blades  52  ( 531  to  533 ) that, among the needle bars  71  to  78 , are attached to the needle bars  71  to  73  are registered in the cutting blade data table  48 . The registered cut lengths are values that the user has input by panel operations. In the second embodiment, the cutting blade  531 , with a cut length of 1.5 millimeters, is attached to the needle bar  71  of the sewing machine  1 . The cutting blade  532 , with a cut length of 3 millimeters, is attached to the needle bar  72 . The cutting blade  533 , with a cut length of 4.5 millimeters, is attached to the needle bar  73 . The cutting blades  52  are not attached to the needle bars  74  to  78 . As shown in  FIG. 19 , in the cutting blade data table  48 , the cut lengths of 1.5 millimeters, 3 millimeters, and 4.5 millimeters are associated with the needle bars  71  to  73 , respectively. In  FIG. 19 , a “−” indicates that data have not been registered in the cutting blade data table  48 . Note that the cut angles for the cutting blades  531  to  533  described above are all zero degrees. 
     Second main processing in the second embodiment will be explained with reference to  FIG. 20 . In the second main processing, processing steps that are the same as in the first main processing in the first embodiment are indicated by the same step numbers, and detailed explanations will be omitted. In the second main processing, in the same manner as in the first main processing, the CPU  61  determines whether the pattern data have been acquired (Step S 11 ). In a case where the pattern data have been acquired (YES at Step S 11 ), the CPU  61  stores the acquired pattern data in the RAM  63  (Step S 12 ). In the explanation that follows, the example in which the pattern data for the pattern line  101  shown in  FIG. 7  are acquired will be used, in the same manner as in the first embodiment. 
     The CPU  61  determines whether a minimum rotation angle has been input (Step S 31 ). The minimum rotation angle is input by the user through a panel operation, for example. The minimum rotation angle is the smallest rotation angle by which the embroidery frame  9  can rotate. In the present embodiment, the sewing machine  1  can control the rotation of the embroidery frame  9  as desired by using the motor  947 . Therefore, the minimum rotation angle is 1 degree. Note that, for example, in a case where a rotation angle of 45 degrees is input by the user as the minimum rotation angle, the minimum rotation angle is 45 degrees. 
     In a case where the minimum rotation angle has not been input (NO at Step S 31 ), the CPU  61  repeats the processing at Step S 31 . In a case where the minimum rotation angle has been input (YES at Step S 31 ), the CPU  61  stores the acquired minimum rotation angle in the RAM  63  (Step S 32 ). In the present embodiment, an example is used in which 1 degree has been input as the minimum rotation angle. 
     The CPU  61  identifies the minimum cut length in the same manner as in the first embodiment (Step S 13 ). The CPU  61  identifies the identified minimum cut length as the cut length L and stores the identified cut length L in the cutting blade data table  48  (Step S 14 ). The cut lengths that are associated with the needle bars  7  in the cutting blade data table  48  are computed as multiples of the minimum cut length L. Based on the computed multiples, the CPU  61  stores the cut lengths that are different from the minimum cut length L in the cutting blade data table  48  (Step S 15 ). In this manner, the cut lengths L, 2L, 3L are respectively associated with the needle bars  71 ,  72 ,  73 , as shown in  FIG. 21 . 
     The CPU  61  sets the needle drop points consecutively at the predetermined intervals (the minimum cut length L) along the pattern line  101  (Step S 16 ). Thus the needle drop points QX (X=1, 2, 3 . . . 73) shown in  FIG. 9  are set. In the second embodiment, the coordinates of the set needle drop points Q 1  to Q 73  are registered in a cut data table  49  (refer to  FIG. 22 ) and stored in the RAM  63 . 
     The CPU  61  sets the cut angle for each of the needle drop points QX that were set by the processing at Step S 16  (Step S 33 ). In the processing at Step S 33 , the rotation angle that is the closest to the direction in which the pattern line  101  extends at the needle drop point QX is selected from among the rotation angles to which the embroidery frame  9  can be rotated and set as the cut angle. In other words, the rotation angle of the embroidery frame  9  is set. Specifically, first, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the line segments  111 ,  112 ,  113  are defined that connect two adjacent needle drop points QX (Q 4  to Q 5 , Q 5  to Q 6 , and Q 6  to Q 7 ). In the present embodiment, the minimum rotation angle that was stored by the processing at Step S 32  is 1 degree. Therefore, the embroidery frame  9  can be rotated by 1 degree at a time. For example, in a case where the direction in which the line segment  111  extends is 88 degrees, the cut angles for the needle drop points Q 4 , Q 5  positioned at both ends of the line segment  111  are each set to 88 degrees. In the same manner, in a case where the direction in which the line segment  112  extends is 75 degrees, the cut angles for the needle drop points Q 5 , Q 6  positioned at both ends of the line segment  112  are each set to 75 degrees. In a case where the direction in which the line segment  113  extends is 62 degrees, the cut angles for the needle drop points Q 6 , Q 7  positioned at both ends of the line segment  113  are each set to 62 degrees. The cut angles are set in the same manner for all of the other needle drop points QX. The cut angles that have been set are registered in the cut data table  49 , as shown in  FIG. 23 . Note that in a case where the minimum rotation angle is 5 degrees and the direction in which a line segment extends in 13 degrees, for example, the cut angles for the needle drop points QX positioned at both ends of the line segment may be set to 15 degrees, which is the closest possible rotation angle to 13 degrees. 
     The CPU  61  sets (adjusts) the positions (the coordinates) of the needle drop points QX to match the cut angles (the rotation angles) (Step S 34 ). The coordinates of the needle drop points QX were set by the processing at Step S 16  (refer to  FIG. 23 ) without taking into account the fact that the embroidery frame  9  (the assembled unit  95 ) may be rotated. Therefore, in a case where the embroidery frame  9  is rotated, the coordinates of the needle drop points QX in the cut data table  49  and the actual positions of the needle drop points QX may be different. Therefore, at Step S 34 , the post-rotation coordinates of the needle drop points QX are set. The coordinates of the needle drop points QX in the cut data table  49  shown in  FIG. 23  are adjusted as shown in  FIG. 24  by the processing at Step S 34 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 23 , the cut angle (the rotation angle) for the needle drop point Q 17  (X 17 , Y 17 ) is 45 degrees. Therefore, the coordinates for the needle drop point Q 17  are set to (X 17  cos 45°−Y 17  sin 45°, X 17  sin 45°+Y 17  cos 45°), as shown in  FIG. 24 . Note that in a case where two cut angles are associated with one needle drop point, as 90 degrees and zero degrees are associated with the needle drop point Q 1 , the coordinates of the needle drop point Q 1  are set separately for each of the two cut angles (refer to  FIG. 24 ). 
     The CPU  61  performs the processing at Steps S 18  to S 27  in the same manner as in the first embodiment. In the processing at Step S 26 , at least a part of the consecutive needle drop points QX for which the cut angles are the same are consolidated into the single needle drop point QX′, based on the cut lengths that are registered in the cutting blade data table  48 . For example, in the cut data table  49  (refer to  FIG. 24 ), the cut angle 45 degrees is acquired for each of the needle drop points Q 17  to Q 28  (Step S 22 ). Next, the cutting blade data table  48  is referenced, and from among the cut lengths that are associated with the acquired cut angle of 45 degrees, the cut length 3L is identified as the cut length for which the multiple is closest to the variable P while not exceeding the value of the variable P. The needle drop points Q 17  to Q 28  are set consecutively at intervals of the minimum cut length L. Therefore, the CPU  61  consolidates three of the consecutive needle drop points QX that are associated with the cut length L into the single needle drop point QX′ with the cut length 3L. That is, the CPU  61  computes the intermediate point among the three needle drop points QX and then consolidates the three needle drop points QX into the one needle drop point QX′ at the computed intermediate point. The intermediate point among the three needle drop points QX is specifically the intermediate point between the needle drop point QX with the lowest number QX among the three needle drop points QX and the needle drop point QX with the highest number QX. 
     For example, in the case of the needle drop points Q 17  to Q 19 , the coordinates for the needle drop point Q 17  are (X 17  cos 45°−Y 17  sin 45°, X 17  sin 45°+Y 17  cos 45°), and the coordinates for the needle drop point Q 19  are (X 19  cos 45°−Y 19  sin 45°), X 19  sin 45°+Y 19  cos 45°). A needle drop point Q 17 ′ is computed as the intermediate point among the needle drop points Q 17  to Q 19 . Accordingly, the three needle drop points Q 17  to Q 19  shown in  FIG. 24  are consolidated into the needle drop point Q 17 ′, as shown in  FIG. 25 . For the needle drop point Q 17 ′, the X coordinate is {(X 17 +X 19 )cos 45°−(Y 17 +Y 19 )sin 45°}/2, and the Y coordinate is {(X 17 +X 19 )sin 45°+(Y 17 +Y 19 )cos 45°}/2. Note that, for example, in a case where two consecutive needle drop points QX with the same cut angle remain after three of the needle drop points QX have been consolidated into a single needle drop point QX′, the intermediate point between those remaining two needle drop points QX is computed. Based on the cut length 2L, the two adjacent needle drop points QX are consolidated into a needle drop point QX′ at the computed intermediate point. The cutting sequence number is changed in the order of the X values of the needle drop points QX and QX′. The other needle drop points QX are also consolidated into the needle drop points QX′ in the same manner. 
       FIG. 26  is a figure that shows the needle drop points QX′ that have been consolidated by the processing at Step S 26 , as well as the unconsolidated needle drop points QX, on the pattern line  101 . As shown in  FIG. 26 , the groups of three consecutive needle drop points QX and two consecutive needle drop points QX for which the cut angles are the same are each consolidated into the single needle drop points QX′. Therefore, the total number of the needle drop points QX and the needle drop points QX′ is less than the number of the needle drop points before the processing at Step S 26  was performed (refer to  FIG. 9 ). Note that in  FIG. 26 , the needle drop point Q 44 ′ and the needle drop point Q 72 ′ are needle drop points into each of which two of the needle drop points QX have been consolidated. 
     In the processing at Step S 27 , for each of the needle drop points QX′ that were consolidated and at the needle drop points QX that were not consolidated by the processing at Step S 26 , one of the needle bars  7  to which one of the cutting blades  52  is attached is set from among the plurality of needle bars  71  to  78  and is registered in the cut data table  47 . For example, the needle drop point Q 17 ′, which was consolidated (the position (coordinates) was changed) by the processing at Step S 26 , is the needle drop point QX′ into which the three needle drop points Q 17  to Q 19  were consolidated. That is, the three needle drop points corresponding to a cut length 3L as a whole was consolidated into the single needle drop point Q 17 ′. Accordingly, the cutting blade data table  48  (refer to  FIG. 21 ) is referenced, and the needle bar  73 , to which the cutting blade  533  with the cut length 3L is attached, is set for the needle drop point Q 17 ′. Then the needle bar  73  is registered in the cut data table  49  in association with the needle drop point Q 17 ′, as shown in  FIG. 27 . Note that each of the needle drop point Q 44 ′ and the needle drop point Q 72 ′ is the needle drop point QX′ into which two of the needle drop points QX were consolidated, although this is not shown in the drawings. Therefore, the needle bar  72 , to which the cutting blade  532  with the cut length 2L is attached, is registered in association with the needle drop point Q 44 ′ and the needle drop point Q 72 ′. 
     When the CPU  61  has performed the processing at Steps S 22  to S 27  for all of the needle drop points QX, the CPU  61  determines that the data do not exist for the cutting sequence number that corresponds to the variable N (NO at Step S 21 ) and, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, changes the cutting order for the needle drop points QX and the needle drop points QX′ such that the same cutting blade  52  is to be used consecutively when the sewing machine  1  is operated (Step S 28 ). The cut data table  49  after the cutting order changed is omitted from the drawings. In the same manner as in the first embodiment, the CPU  61  causes the sewing machine  1  to perform the forming of the cuts along the pattern line  101  in accordance with the cutting order in the cut data table  49  (Step S 29 ). In the second embodiment, the motor  947  is controlled, and the embroidery frame  9  (the assembled unit  95 ) is rotated to the cut angle (the rotation angle). The movement mechanism  11  is driven, and the embroidery frame  9  is moved such that the needle bar  7  (the cutting blade  52 ) is positioned directly above the position indicated by the coordinates of the needle drop point QX or QX′. Then, the work cloth  100  is pierced by the cutting blade  52  at the needle drop point QX or QX′, and the cut is formed in the work cloth  100 . In a case where the operating of the needle bar  7  that corresponds to the last cutting sequence number has been finished, the CPU  61  terminates the second main processing. 
     The processing in the second embodiment is performed as described above. In the present embodiment, the same effects as those achieved in the first embodiment can be produced using the rotatable embroidery frame  9 . 
     Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments that are described above, and various types of modifications can be made. For example, the cut data may be generated by an external device instead of by the sewing machine  1 . For example, a device such as a portable terminal, a personal computer, or the like, may be used as the external device. A CPU that is provided in the device may perform the processing that generates the cut data tables  47 ,  49  in the first main processing and the second main processing. In that case, the device may, for example, transmit the generated cut data tables  47 ,  49  to the sewing machine  1 , and the sewing machine  1  may perform the sewing. 
     It is also acceptable, for example, for the cut length not to be the same as the cutting edge width of the cutting blade  52 . For example, the user may attach a blade that has a V-shaped cutting edge to a tip of the needle bar. The sewing machine  1  may then cause the needle bar to move up and down such that the work cloth  100  is pierced up to the midpoint of the blade. In that case, the cut length that is formed in the work cloth  100  is shorter than the cutting edge width. The needle bar may also be structured such that the mounting position (the mounting height) of the cutting blade can be changed. In that case, the user can change the amount by which the cutting blade pierces the work cloth  100 . Therefore, the user can change the cut length, as desired. 
     It is also not necessary for the cutting order for the needle drop points QX and the needle drop points QX′ to be changed such that the same cutting blade  52  is consecutively used. For example, the sewing machine  1  may also form the cuts in the work cloth  100  using the cut data tables  47 ,  49  that are generated by the processing at Step S 27 , without performing any processing that is equivalent to the processing at Step S 28 . 
     The embroidery frame  9  (the assembled unit  95 ) in the second embodiment is configured to be rotated by the rotation of the motor  947 . However, same sort of processing as the second main processing may be performed with an embroidery frame that is rotated by hand of the user, for example. In that case, in a case where the CPU  61  of the sewing machine  1  performs the cutting processing in the processing at Step S 29  of the second main processing (refer to  FIG. 20 ), the angle to which the embroidery frame to be rotated may be displayed on the liquid crystal display  15 , prompting the user to perform the rotation operation. The sewing machine  1  may also be provided with a camera. The sewing machine  1  may use the camera to capture an image of the mark  110 , then detect the rotation angle of the embroidery frame  9  based on the position of the mark  110  in the captured image. Based on the detected rotation angle, the sewing machine  1  may then display the current rotation angle and the target rotation angle on the liquid crystal display  15 , thus prompting the user to perform the rotation operation for the embroidery frame  9 . 
     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