Programming device for an automatic sewing machine

Claim 2

A programming device for an automatic sewing machine, wherein a succession of stitches are formed by relative movements between a needle and a work holder according to a batch of sewing instructions corresponding to a desired profile registered via a pattern record medium, said programming device comprising: stitch pitch setting means for setting a pitch of said stitches; reading means for sequentially reading coordinate positions spaced along said profile at an interval longer than said pitch set by said setting means; first memory means for storing coordinate data of said coordinate positions read by said reading means; first control means for sequentially reading out said coordinate data from said first memory means such that the coordinate data of three consecutive ones of said coordinate positions are always available; second control means for preparing a series of sewing instructions to form the stitches which are located on a circular arc passing the three consecutive coordinate positions defined by said coordinate data thereof and equally spaced at the pitch set by said setting means; and second memory means for storing said sewing instructions prepared by said second control means.

Claim 3

A programming device according to claim 1, wherein said second control means prepares said series of sewing instructions to form the stitches which are equally spaced along a portion of said circular arc between a first two of said three consecutive coordinate positions.

Claim 4

A programming device for an automatic sewing machine wherein a succession of stitches defining an original line of stitch pattern are formed by relative movements between a needle and a work holder according to a batch of sewing instructions corresponding to a desired profile registered via a pattern record medium, said programming device comprising: stitch pitch setting means for setting a pitch of said stitches; reading means for sequentially reading coordinate positions spaced along said profile at an interval longer than said pitch set by said setting means; first memory means for storing, as a first group of coordinate data, the data of said coordinate positions read by said reading means; interval setting means for setting an interval of spacing at least one additional line of stitch pattern which is disposed in parallel to said original line of stitch pattern defined by said first group of coordinate data; first control means for preparing at least one other group of coordinate data defining coordinate positions on said additional line of stitch pattern, said first control means causing to store said at least one other group of coordinate data in said first memory means; second control means for sequentially reading out, from each of said first and at least one other groups of coordinate data, said coordinate data such that the data of three consecutive ones of said coordinate positions are always available; third control means for preparing a series of sewing instructions to form the stitches which are located on a circular arc passing the three consecutive coordinate positions defined by said coordinate data thereof of each of said first and at least one other groups and which are equally spaced at the pitch set by said setting means; and second memory means for storing said sewing instructions prepared by said third control means.

Claim 5

A programming device for an automatic sewing machine wherein a succession of stitches defining an original line of stitch pattern are formed by relative movements between a needle and a work holder according to a batch of sewing instructions corresponding to a desired profile registered via a pattern record medium, said programming device comprising: stitch pitch setting means for setting a pitch of said stitches; reading means for sequentially reading coordinate positions spaced along said profile at an interval longer than said pitch set by said setting means; first memory means for storing, as a first group of coordinate data, the data of said coordinate positions read by said reading means; interval setting means for setting an interval of spacing at least one additional line of stitch pattern which is disposed in parallel to said original line of stitch pattern defined by said first group of coordinate data; first control means for preparing at least one other group of coordinate data defining coordinate positions on said additional line of stitch pattern, said first control means causing to store said at least one other group of coordinate data in said first memory means; second control means for sequentially reading out, from each of said first and at least one other groups of coordinate data, said coordinate data such that the data of three consecutive ones of said coordinate positions are always available; third control means for preparing a series of sewing instructions to form the stitches which are located on a circular arc passing the three consecutive coordinate positions defined by said coordinate data thereof of each of said first and at least one other groups and which are equally spaced at the pitch set by said setting means; and second memory means for storing said sewing instructions prepared by said third control means.

Claim 6

A programming device according to claim 3, wherein said first control means includes: means for sequentially reading out, from said first memory means, said first group of coordinate data such that the data of three consecutive ones of said coordinate positions are always available; and means for preparing said at least one other group of coordinate data based on said coordinate data of said three consecutive positions and on said interval of spacing set by said interval setting means.

Claim 7

A programming device according to claim 3, wherein said at least one additional line of stitch pattern is plural in number, and said first control means repeats to prepare said coordinate data to define coordinate positions on the plural number of additional lines of stitch pattern.

Claim 8

A programming device according to claim 5, which further comprises means for setting the number of said additional lines of stitch pattern.

Claim 9

A programming device according to claim 3, wherein said third control means prepares said series of sewing instructions to form the stitches which are equally spaced along a portion of said circular arc between a first two of said three consecutive coordinate positions on each of said original and additional lines of stitch pattern.