Color switch setting data processing apparatus for multi-needle embroidery machine and sewing system employing the apparatus

A color switch setting data processing apparatus for a multi-needle embroidery machine, for processing color switch setting data to be used for an embroidery operation performed by the multi-needle embroidery machine, comprising:

• an input unit;
• a display unit including a display;
• a color switch setting data storage that stores a stitching sequence for forming a plurality of component color design parts of an embroidery design, and needle bar identifiers of needle bars to be used for the individual component color design parts, in correspondence with each other;
• a display controller that receives data regarding the stitching sequence and the needle bar identifiers from the color switch setting data storage, and that causes the display of the display unit to display the stitching sequence and the needle bar identifiers in correspondence with each other;
• an insertion instruction unit that is operated to provide an instruction to insert a needle bar identifier into any place in the stitching sequence displayed on the display;
• and
• an insertion data update unit that, if the instruction to insert a needle bar identifier is provided through the insertion instruction unit, rewrites needle bar identifier data in the color switch setting data storage by shifting the needle bar identifier data in the place of the insertion of the needle bar identifier instructed and subsequent places, by one place to a later side in the stitching sequence, and writes the needle bar identifier data inputted through the input unit into the place of the insertion instructed, into the color switch setting data storage.

A stitching system, comprising:

• a multi-needle embroidery machine;
• and
• a color switch setting data processing apparatus for the multi-needle embroidery machine, the color switch setting data processing apparatus including:
• an input unit;
• a display unit including a display;
• a color switch setting data storage that stores a stitching sequence for forming a plurality of component color design parts of an embroidery design, and needle bar identifiers of needle bars to be used for the individual component color design parts, in correspondence with each other;
• a display controller that receives data regarding the stitching sequence and the needle bar identifiers from the color switch setting data storage, and that causes the display of the display unit to display the stitching sequence and the needle bar identifiers in correspondence with each other;
• an insertion instruction unit that is operated to provide an instruction to insert a needle bar identifier into any place in the stitching sequence displayed on the display;
• and
• an insertion data update unit that, if the instruction to insert a needle bar identifier is provided through the insertion instruction unit, rewrites needle bar identifier data in the color switch setting data storage by shifting the needle bar identifier data in the place of the insertion of the needle bar identifier instructed and subsequent places, by one place to a later side in the stitching sequence, and writes the needle bar identifier data inputted through the input unit into the place of the insertion instructed, into the color switch setting data storage.

A data processing apparatus, including a display for creating a color stitch setting sequence for use by a multi-needle embroidery machine, the data processing apparatus comprising:

• means for inputting and storing in a recording medium a number of embroidery pattern segments to be sewn to create a finished embroidery pattern;
• means for inputting a sewing needle identifier for each segment of the embroidery pattern;
• means for controlling a display of the segments with associated sewing needle identifiers;
• means for correcting a sewing needle identifier incorrectly associated with a segment, the means for correcting including:
• means for at least one of inserting and deleting the needle identifier associated with the segment;
• and
• means for finalizing and storing in the recording medium sewing data for sewing the embroidery pattern to include the needle identifiers associated with the segments of the embroidery pattern.

A storage medium that stores a control program for use by a display to create a color stitch setting sequence for use by a multi-needle embroidery machine, the control program including instructions for:

• accessing a number of embroidery pattern segments to be sewn to create a finished embroidery pattern;
• inputting a sewing needle identifier for each segment of the embroidery pattern;
• controlling a display of the segments with associated sewing needle identifiers;
• and
• correcting a sewing needle identifier incorrectly associated with a segment, including inserting and deleting the sewing needle identifier associated with the segment and finalizing and storing sewing data for sewing the embroidery pattern, including the needle identifiers associated with the segments of the embroidery pattern.