To prevent the use of embroidery data related to a specified embroidery pattern such as a character pattern except the purpose of private use as much as possible.
When a power source switch is turned on, it is displayed on an LCD for a fixed time that embroidery can not be used for business or job and afterwards, an initial picture is displayed for selecting either an embroidery pattern group or practical sewing (S1). When a user selects any embroidery pattern (S2 and S3), it is judged whether the attribute of the selected embroidery pattern shows the character pattern or not (S4). When it shows the character pattern (S4; T), it is judged whether the number of times of sewing reaches the limit number of times or not (S6 and S7) and when it exceeds the limit number of times (Y), the selection of the embroidery pattern is disabled (S13). When the number of times of sewing is less than the limit number of times (S7; N), sewing operation is enabled and after the sewing operation is executed (S9), the number of times of sewing stored in a non-volatile memory is increased by '1' (S10).
HAYAKAWA AKIRA
OKUDA SEIJIRO
