With an embroidery design connecting data generating apparatus, an image acquisition unit acquires an image of an embroidery frame mounting a cloth having a portion where an embroidery design has been sewn. A display unit displays the image of the cloth having such an embroidery-sewn portion acquired by the image acquisition unit and an image of an embroidery design to be sewn to the cloth. An embroidery design data editing unit edits the embroidery design image such that it is connected with the already-sewn embroidery design in a state in which the image of the cloth having the embroidery-sewn portion is displayed on the display unit. Such an arrangement prevents the occurrence of overlapping or gaps after embroidery designs are sewn even if accumulated shrinkage occurs in the sewing operation, or slight alignment errors occur in position or rotation when the cloth is mounted on the embroidery frame.

A sewing data generating apparatus acquires information with respect to an embroidery frame. The sewing data generating apparatus acquires an image including a base cloth mounting a sewing target and mounted on the embroidery frame, and analyzes a correspondence between acquired information with respect to the embroidery frame and the image of the embroidery frame thus acquired. The sewing data generating apparatus generates outline data for the sewing target based on the analysis result, and generates sewing data based on the outline data thus generated. The sewing data generating apparatus transmits the sewing data thus generated to a sewing machine. The sewing machine receives the sewing data from the sewing data generating apparatus. The sewing machine executes sewing for the outline of the sewing target according to the sewing data thus received. This allows an applique to be sewn at an accurate position without a need to prepare dedicated data.

A sewing data generating apparatus acquires information with respect to an embroidery frame. The sewing data generating apparatus acquires an image including a base cloth mounting a sewing target and mounted on the embroidery frame, and analyzes a correspondence between acquired information with respect to the embroidery frame and the image of the embroidery frame thus acquired. The sewing data generating apparatus generates outline data for the sewing target based on the analysis result, and generates sewing data based on the outline data thus generated. The sewing data generating apparatus transmits the sewing data thus generated to a sewing machine. The sewing machine receives the sewing data from the sewing data generating apparatus. The sewing machine executes sewing for the outline of the sewing target according to the sewing data thus received. This allows an applique to be sewn at an accurate position without a need to prepare dedicated data.

The present disclosure provides a method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for imaging. The method includes capturing, by a device, a plurality of images of a work piece and mapping, by the device, the plurality of images of the work piece to a digital representation of the work piece. The method further includes detecting, by the device, an outline of an existing design within the digital representation of the work piece, wherein the device comprises an image capture device operably connected to a sewing head having a reciprocating needle, the reciprocating needle defining a cycle path, the image capture device being adjacent to a portion of the cycle path.

The present disclosure provides a method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium for imaging. The method includes capturing, by a device, a plurality of images of a work piece and mapping, by the device, the plurality of images of the work piece to a digital representation of the work piece. The method further includes detecting, by the device, an outline of an existing design within the digital representation of the work piece, wherein the device comprises an image capture device operably connected to a sewing head having a reciprocating needle, the reciprocating needle defining a cycle path, the image capture device being adjacent to a portion of the cycle path.

Systems and methods for superimposing an image of a quilt pattern over an image of a quilt to preview what a completed quilt will look like before the quilt pattern is sewn onto the quilt. One method may include selecting an image of a quilt, inputting a first and a second quilt dimension into a controller, selecting a quilt pattern including a thread color to be used over at least a portion of the quilt, selecting the thread color, superimposing the quilt pattern over the at least a portion of the quilt, selectively altering the quilt pattern, and outputting a completed image displaying a final quilt pattern superimposed over the quilt and parameters for a quilting machine to sew the final quilt pattern onto the quilt.

Disclosed is a guiding apparatus for use with a machine to facilitate performing an action along a self-guided path on a substrate. The guiding apparatus may include a support member configured to be attached to at least a portion of the machine. Further, the guiding apparatus may include one or more of lighting units, optical sensors, controllers, and user interface components, mounted on the support member, configured to identify an object, obtain position of the object on a substrate and perform an action along a self-guided path in association with that object on the substrate.

Embodiments herein describe mapping user drawn lines into an embroidery machine file. For example, a user can use a stylus or her finger to draw an embroidery design on a touch screen of a user device (e.g., a smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc.). An embroidery application executing on the user device can convert the user movements into needle point paths. The application can then convert the needle point paths into the embroidery machine file.

A sewing machine detects a sewing status after a change, when the sewing status changes. When the sewing machine receives a status request requesting the sewing status, from an information terminal via a LAN, the sewing machine transmits, to the information terminal, sewing status information that accords with the detected sewing status. When the detected sewing status satisfies a predetermined condition, the sewing machine transmits a notification request, which includes identification information identifying the information terminal, to a server, in order to cause the server to transmit, to the information terminal, a notification command instructing a push notification in the information terminal.

A sewing machine detects a sewing status after a change, when the sewing status changes. When the sewing machine receives a status request requesting the sewing status, from an information terminal via a LAN, the sewing machine transmits, to the information terminal, sewing status information that accords with the detected sewing status. When the detected sewing status satisfies a predetermined condition, the sewing machine transmits a notification request, which includes identification information identifying the information terminal, to a server, in order to cause the server to transmit, to the information terminal, a notification command instructing a push notification in the information terminal.