JP2019162332A - Nail print device, finger kind determination method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a nail print device, a finger kind determination method and a program capable of easily and correctly determining a kind of a finger corresponding to a nail which is a printing object, and printing a nail design according to a kind of a finger, to the nail.SOLUTION: A nail print device comprises: a printing part 40 for performing printing to a surface of a nail T; a finger mount 65 on which a finger for print U1 corresponding to the nail T being the printing object, is mounted; a finger mount part 66 on which fingers not for print U2 which are fingers of a hand on a same side of the finger for print U1 and other than the finger for print U1 are mounted; a contact sensor 67 for detecting fingers not for print U2 mounted on the finger mount part 66; and a finger kind determination part 812 for determining a finger kind of the finger for print U1 mounted on the finger mount 65, based on the detection result of the contact sensor 67.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a nail print apparatus, a finger type determination method, and a program.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing apparatus (nail printing apparatus) that performs nail design printing on a fingernail or the like is known.
In such an apparatus, the print position / print range cannot be specified unless the nail area to be printed (hereinafter referred to as “nail area”) is accurately detected.
For this reason, in order to detect the nail region, a camera that captures a finger image in the printing apparatus and that extracts the nail region by performing image processing on the finger image captured by this camera has been proposed ( For example, see Patent Document 1).
Thus, the image | photograph of the finger | toe containing a nail | claw is image | photographed, By extracting a nail | claw area | region from this image, the area | region which should be printed can be pinpointed correctly.

Also, for the nail design, a different design is printed according to the type of finger (finger type, that is, which finger on the left or right hand). Some designs are in two series. There is also a demand that the user selects a different nail design for each fingernail and prints the design in a desired arrangement even if not specified.
In this case, it is necessary not only to specify the nail region, but also to specify the finger type of which finger of the right or left hand the fingernail is. Was specified.

Special table 2003-534083 gazette

However, it is troublesome for the user to manually input a finger type, and there is a possibility that a design different from an image that should have been printed by mistaken registration is erroneously printed.
In this regard, it is also conceivable to determine the finger type from an image obtained by photographing the nail to be printed and its finger with a camera or the like provided for extracting the nail region.
However, since the shapes of the nails and fingers are all similar, there is a problem that it is difficult to accurately determine what kind of finger it is when only the nails that are to be printed and their fingers are viewed. .

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and determines the finger type of the finger corresponding to the nail to be printed easily and accurately, and prints the nail design corresponding to the finger type on the nail. It is an advantage to provide a nail print device, a finger type determination method, and a program that can be used.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the nail printing apparatus of the present invention provides:
A printing section for printing on the surface of the nail;
A finger rest on which a printing finger corresponding to a nail to be printed is placed;
A finger placement unit for placing a non-printing finger other than the printing finger and a finger on the same side as the printing finger;
A detection unit for detecting the non-printing finger placed on the finger placement unit;
A finger type determination unit for determining a finger type of the printing finger placed on the finger table based on a detection result by the detection unit;
It is characterized by having.

  According to the present invention, the finger type corresponding to the nail to be printed can be determined easily and accurately, and a nail design corresponding to the finger type can be printed on the nail.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an overall configuration of a nail print apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a principal part perspective view which shows the internal structure of the nail print apparatus of FIG. It is a principal part block diagram which showed the control structure of the nail print apparatus in this embodiment. It is a top view which shows the state in which only the printing finger was mounted on the upper surface board. It is a top view which shows the state by which the printing finger and the three non-printing fingers were placed in the left side on an upper surface board. It is a top view which shows the state by which the printing finger and two non-printing fingers were placed on the left side, and one non-printing finger on the right side on an upper surface board. It is a top view which shows the state by which the printing finger and one non-printing finger were mounted on the left side, and two non-printing fingers on the right side on an upper surface board. It is a top view which shows the state by which the printing finger and the three non-printing fingers were mounted on the right side on an upper surface board. It is a figure which shows the example of the matching table memorize | stored in the finger type information storage area which concerns on this embodiment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a printing process of the nail print apparatus according to the present embodiment.

An embodiment of a nail printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The embodiments described below are given various technically preferable limitations for carrying out the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.
In the following embodiments, a nail print device in which a printing device prints a fingernail of a hand as a printing target will be described as an example. However, the printing target of the printing device in the present invention is limited to a fingernail of a hand. For example, a toe nail or the like may be printed.

[Configuration of nail print device]
As shown in FIG. 1, a nail printing apparatus 1 that is a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an apparatus housing (hereinafter simply referred to as “housing”) 21 formed in a substantially box shape.
An operation unit 22 is installed on the upper surface (top plate) of the casing 21.
The operation unit 22 is an input unit on which a user performs various inputs.
The operation unit 22 includes operation buttons for performing various inputs such as a power switch button for turning on the power of the nail printing apparatus 1 and a stop switch button for stopping the operation.
In the present embodiment, the user can select a nail design to be printed on the nail T by operating the operation unit 22.
In the present embodiment, the nail designs that can be selected by the user are not only those that are prepared as a single design regardless of the finger type, but also the nail T that is the object to be printed. In response, different nail designs are assigned in advance, and one set consists of 5 hands, or a set of 10 hands.
In the case of a set of series with five hands, the same nail design is prepared for the same type of finger (for example, index finger) for both the right hand and the left hand. In addition, when different nail designs are prepared depending on the left and right hands, ten types of nail designs for ten left and right fingers are prepared as one set.
In particular, when the user selects a nail design prepared regardless of the finger type, the user may select one nail design as a common nail design for all nails T to be printed, The user may arbitrarily specify a different nail design for each finger type.

The operation unit 22 includes two print start buttons (that is, a right start button 22a and a left start button 22b).
The nail print apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to place either one of the left and right hands into the apparatus and perform printing on any finger of the hand.
The left outer surface of the housing 21 is provided with a right finger print start button (right start button 22a) for instructing to start printing on the print finger U1 when the hand having the print finger U1 is the right hand. The right outer surface of the housing 21 is provided with a left finger print start button (left start button 22b) for instructing to start printing on the print finger U1 when the hand having the print finger U1 is the left hand. Yes.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a right start button 22a is disposed at the left end of the upper surface (top plate) of the casing 21, and a left start button 22b is disposed at the right end.
By arranging the right start button 22a and the left start button 22b at such positions, when the right hand is set in the apparatus, the right start button 22a is operated with the left hand, and the left hand is set in the apparatus. In this case, the left start button 22b is operated with the right hand, and the buttons can be operated with a rational operation in terms of the structure of the human body without the two hands colliding or crossing each other. As a result, it is possible to easily perform the operation without imposing a burden on the body, and it is possible to naturally operate the correct button by avoiding an unreasonable operation, and it is possible to avoid an erroneous operation.

The positions where the right start button 22a and the left start button 22b are arranged are not limited to the illustrated example.
The right start button 22a and the left start button 22b naturally operate the print start button for the print target with the hand that does not include the print finger U1 while the print finger U1 corresponding to the print target nail T is set. It is only necessary that the print start button for instructing the start of printing on the hand not including the print finger U1 is at a position where it is difficult to press on the human body structure.
For example, in the present embodiment, the case where the right start button 22a and the left start button 22b are respectively arranged on the left and right end portions of the upper surface (top plate) of the casing 21 is illustrated. The left start button 22 b may be disposed on the right side surface of the housing 21.

A display unit 23 is installed on the upper surface (top plate) of the housing 21.
The display unit 23 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic electroluminescence display, or other flat displays.
In the present embodiment, for example, various instructions and messages are appropriately displayed on the display unit 23.
Note that a touch panel for performing various inputs may be integrally formed on the surface of the display unit 23. In this case, the touch panel functions as the operation unit 22.

Further, on the front side of the housing 21 (front side in FIG. 1), a finger insertion opening 28 that is an opening for inserting a finger when printing by the nail printing apparatus 1 is formed.
Inside the finger insertion slot 28 is a finger receiving portion 60 that receives a finger inserted during printing.
In the present embodiment, as will be described later, all fingers of one hand (that is, five fingers on the right hand or five fingers on the left hand) including the printing finger U1 (see FIGS. 4 to 8 and the like) are inserted into the apparatus from the finger insertion opening 28. The finger insertion port 28 is formed to have a size that does not interfere when the right or left five fingers or the five left hand fingers are inserted into or removed from the inside or outside of the apparatus.
Here, the printing finger U <b> 1 is a finger corresponding to the nail T to be printed by the printing unit 40.
In the present embodiment, a finger other than the printing finger U1 and on the same side as the printing finger U1 is set as a non-printing finger U2 (see FIGS. 5 to 8 and the like). For example, when printing is performed on the nail of the middle finger of the right hand, the middle finger of the right hand is the printing finger U1, and the fingers other than the middle finger of the right hand (that is, the thumb, index finger, ring finger, little finger) are the non-printing fingers U2.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the main part showing the internal configuration of the nail print apparatus 1 with the casing 21 removed from the nail print apparatus 1 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, inside the housing 21, a printing unit 40 that prints on the nail T of the printing finger U <b> 1, a photographing unit 50 that acquires an image of the printing finger U <b> 1 including the nail T, and a base 63 And are provided.

  The printing unit 40 moves the printing head 41 that is the printing unit body, the unit support member 42 that supports the printing head 41, and the printing head 41 in the X direction (the X direction in FIG. 1 and the like, the left and right direction of the nail printing apparatus 1). X-direction moving stage 45, X-direction moving motor 46, and Y-direction moving stage 47 for moving the print head 41 in the Y direction (Y direction in FIG. 1 and the like, the front-rear direction of the nail printing apparatus 1), Y-direction movement A motor 48 and the like are provided. In this embodiment, a head moving mechanism 49 (see FIG. 3) that moves the print head 41 is configured by the X-direction moving motor 46, the Y-direction moving motor 48, and the like.

The print head 41 of this embodiment is an ink jet head that performs printing by an ink jet method.
The print head 41 is, for example, an ink cartridge (not shown) corresponding to yellow (Y; YELLOW), magenta (M; MAGENTA), and cyan (C; CYAN) ink, and a print target (surface of the nail T) in each ink cartridge. This is an ink cartridge integrated head in which an ink discharge portion (not shown) provided on an opposing surface (in this embodiment, the lower surface in FIGS. 1 and 2) is integrally formed. The ink ejection unit includes a nozzle array including a plurality of nozzles that eject ink of each color, and the print head 41 atomizes the ink and prints the surface to be printed (the nail T) from the ink ejection unit. Ink is directly sprayed on the printer to perform printing. The print head 41 is not limited to the one that ejects the three colors of ink. You may provide the ink cartridge and ink discharge part which store another ink.

The unit support member 42 is fixed to an X-direction moving unit 451 attached to the X-direction moving stage 45. The X-direction moving unit 451 is moved in the X direction along a guide (not shown) on the X-direction moving stage 45 by driving the X-direction moving motor 46, and is thereby attached to the unit support member 42. The print head 41 is moved in the X direction (the X direction in FIG. 2, the left and right direction of the nail printing apparatus 1).
The X direction moving stage 45 is fixed to the Y direction moving portion 471 of the Y direction moving stage 47. The Y-direction moving unit 471 is moved in the Y-direction along a guide (not shown) on the Y-direction moving stage 47 by driving the Y-direction moving motor 48, and is thereby attached to the unit support member 42. The print head 41 is moved in the Y direction (the Y direction in FIG. 2, the front-rear direction of the nail printing apparatus 1).

  The print head 41, the X direction moving motor 46, and the Y direction moving motor 48 in the printing unit 40 are connected to a print control unit 815 (see FIG. 3) of the control device 80 described later, and are controlled by the print control unit 815.

The photographing unit 50 includes an imaging device 51 and an illumination device 52.
The photographing unit 50 is mounted on a finger placement table 65 described later, and the illumination device 52 illuminates the nail T of the printing finger U1 exposed from the window 65a. The imaging device 51 captures the printing finger U1 to obtain a nail image (an image of the finger including the nail image) that is an image of the nail T of the printing finger U1.
In the present embodiment, the imaging substrate 53 is fixed to the unit support member 42 that supports the print head 41, and the imaging device 51 and the illumination device 52 that constitute the imaging unit 50 are mounted on the imaging substrate 53. The photographing unit 50 is movable in the XY directions by moving the unit support member 42 by the head moving mechanism 49.
Note that the imaging device 51 and the illumination device 52 are not limited to the example shown here, as long as they are placed at positions that can be opposed to the nail T of the printing finger U1 placed on the finger placement table 65.
For example, the photographing unit 50 may be fixedly disposed on the inside of the top surface of the housing 21.

The imaging device 51 is a small camera configured to include, for example, a solid-state imaging device having about 2 million pixels or more, a lens, and the like.
The imaging device 51 captures the nail T and obtains a nail image (an image of the nail T including the printing finger U1). Based on the nail image, the nail information detection unit 813 described below uses the contour of the nail T (nail Nail information such as the shape of T), the curved shape of the nail T (the curvature of the nail T), and the vertical position of the nail T is detected.

The illumination device 52 is an illumination lamp such as a white LED.
In the illumination device 52, for example, two illumination devices 52 are arranged so that the imaging device 51 is sandwiched between the front side and the back side of the imaging device 51. The illumination device 52 illuminates the imaging range below the imaging device 51 by irradiating light downward. In addition, the number of the illuminating devices 52 and the arrangement thereof are not particularly limited.

The photographing unit 50 is connected to a photographing control unit 811 (see FIG. 3) of the control device 80 described later, and is controlled by the photographing control unit 811.
Note that image data of an image photographed by the photographing unit 50 may be stored in the storage unit 82 described later.

The base 63 has an upper surface plate 61 that forms an XY plane facing the ink ejection portion of the print head 41, and a pair of support portions 62 that support the upper surface plate 61 at a predetermined height position.
The base 63 is disposed on the back side of the finger insertion opening 28 and on the finger receiving portion 60, and the inside of the finger receiving portion 60 is partitioned vertically by an upper surface plate 61.
A finger placement table 65 on which the printing finger U1 corresponding to the nail T to be printed is placed is provided on the upper side of the upper surface plate 61 and substantially in the center in the X direction. Further, a predetermined region of the upper surface plate 61 other than the installation position of the finger placement table 65 is a finger placement portion 66 for placing the non-printing finger U2.
In the present embodiment, the back side of the apparatus on the top plate 61 is a standby area where the print head 41 stands by when not printing, and is a part other than the installation position of the finger placement table 65 on the top plate 61 and the back side of the apparatus. A region excluding (a region indicated by an alternate long and short dash line in FIGS. 4 to 8) is the finger placement portion 66 (see FIGS. 4 to 8). The finger placement portion 66 is provided with a contact sensor 67 over almost the entire area.
The contact sensor 67 functions as a detection unit that detects the non-printing finger U2 placed on the finger placement unit 66. In the present embodiment, the contact sensor 67 as a detection unit detects the position and number of non-printing fingers U2 placed on the finger placement unit 66.

The positions where the finger placement table 65 and the finger placement unit 66 are provided are not limited to those illustrated here. The contact sensor 67 as a detection unit may be provided in a range in which the position and the number of the non-printing fingers U2 placed on the upper surface plate 61 can be detected, and the finger placement on which the contact sensor 67 is provided. The part 66 may be wider or narrower than the illustrated example.
Moreover, the detection part should just be what can detect the non-printing finger U2 currently mounted in the finger mounting part 66, and is not limited to the contact sensor 67. FIG. For example, a light receiving sensor that detects the non-printing finger U2 by detecting when the light is blocked by placing the non-printing finger U2 on the finger placement unit 66 may be used.

The control device 80 is installed on, for example, a board (not shown) disposed on the lower surface side of the top surface of the housing 21.
FIG. 3 is a principal block diagram showing a control configuration in the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 80 includes a control unit 81 configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like (both not shown). And a storage unit 82 constituted by the computer.

The storage unit 82 stores various programs and various data for operating the nail printing apparatus 1. In particular, in the present embodiment, the printing finger U1 other than the printing finger U1 is connected to the computer of the nail printing apparatus 1 that performs printing on the surface of the fingernail T placed on the finger placing table 65 on which the printing finger U1 is placed. Detecting means for detecting the non-printing finger U2 placed on the finger placement unit 66 for placing the non-printing finger U2 that is a finger on the same side as the finger on the finger placement table 65 based on the detected result A program for executing a function as finger type determination means for determining the finger type of the printing finger U1 placed thereon is provided.
Specifically, the ROM of the storage unit 82 includes a finger type determination program for determining the finger type of the printing finger U1, the shape of the nail T, the contour of the nail T, the width of the nail T, the nail T from the nail image. Various programs such as a nail information detection program for detecting various nail information such as an area, a print data generation program for generating print data, and a print program for performing print processing are stored. By executing the program by the control device 80, each unit of the nail print apparatus 1 is controlled in an integrated manner.
In the present embodiment, the storage unit 82 includes a nail design storage area 821 for storing nail design image data printed on the nail T, and information for determining the finger type of the printing finger U1 by the finger type determination unit 812. Finger type information storage area 822 (see FIG. 9) in which nail information is stored, and nail information storage area in which nail information (contour of nail T, inclination angle of nail T, etc.) detected by nail information detection unit 813 is stored 823 and the like are provided.
Note that the information stored in the storage unit 82 is not limited thereto, and for example, a nail image of the nail T of the user's printing finger U1 acquired by the imaging unit 50 may be stored.

  When viewed functionally, the control unit 81 includes an imaging control unit 811, a finger type determination unit 812, a nail information detection unit 813, a print data generation unit 814, a print control unit 815, a display control unit 816, and the like. The functions of the imaging control unit 811, finger type determination unit 812, nail information detection unit 813, print data generation unit 814, print control unit 815, display control unit 816, etc. are the CPU of the control unit 81 and the ROM of the storage unit 82. This is realized by cooperating with the program stored in.

The imaging control unit 811 controls the imaging device 51 and the illumination device 52 of the imaging unit 50, and the imaging device 51 causes the finger image including the image of the nail T of the printing finger U1 placed on the finger placement table 65 (hereinafter “ "Nail image").
The image data of the nail image acquired by the imaging unit 50 may be stored in the storage unit 82.

The finger type determination unit 812 determines the finger type of the printing finger U1 placed on the finger placement table 65 based on the detection result detected by the contact sensor 67 serving as a detection unit.
In the present embodiment, specifically, the finger type of the printing finger U1 is determined as follows.
That is, the finger type determination unit 812 detects at least one of the position and the number of the non-printing fingers U2 placed on the finger placement unit 66 from the detection result by the contact sensor 67.
The position of the non-printing finger U2 is a position on the XY plane (XY coordinate value or the like) of the non-printing finger U2 placed on the finger placing table 65. For example, it is placed on either the right side or the left side of the finger placing table 65. Is it? Note that the “position and number of non-printing fingers U2” mentioned here includes the absence of the non-printing fingers U2 placed on the finger placing portion 66 (zero number, see FIG. 4).
In the present embodiment, the finger type determination unit 812 detects both the position and the number of the non-printing fingers U <b> 2 from the detection result by the contact sensor 67. Furthermore, the finger type determination unit 812 refers to the finger type information stored in the finger type information storage area 822, and takes into account the operation signal when either the right start button 22a or the left start button 22b is operated. The finger type of the printing finger U1 is determined.

4 to 8 are schematic plan views showing an example in which a printing finger and a non-printing finger are placed on the upper surface plate. FIG. 9 is stored in the finger type information storage area 822 in advance. It is the figure which showed typically an example of the finger type information.
Because of the structure of the human hand, it is difficult to place both the thumb and other fingers on the upper surface plate 61 within the range where the contact sensor 67 is disposed. When the thumb is placed on the finger placement table 65 as the printing finger U1, the other four fingers are placed on the lower side of the upper surface plate 61, and any finger other than the thumb is placed on the finger placement table 65 as the printing finger U1. Description will be made on the assumption that the thumb is placed on the lower side of the upper surface plate 61 when placed.
The placement pattern of the non-printing finger U2 detected by the contact sensor 67 includes a state where no finger is placed on the upper surface plate 61 other than the printing finger U1 (the contact sensor 67 detects no finger). If not, 0 fingers on the left side and 0 on the right side (see FIG. 4), a state in which three fingers are placed only on the left side of the finger placing table 65 on the finger placing portion 66 on the top plate 61 (see FIG. 5). In the state where two fingers are placed on the left side of the finger placing table 65 on the finger placing unit 66 and one finger is placed on the right side (see FIG. 6), 1 is placed on the left side of the finger placing table 65 on the finger placing unit 66. A state in which two fingers are placed on the right side of the book (see FIG. 7), and a state in which three fingers are placed only on the right side of the finger placing base 65 on the finger placement unit 66 (see FIG. 8). )

For example, when the middle finger of the right hand is set on the finger placement table 65 as the printing finger U1, and when the ring finger of the left hand is set on the finger placement table 65 as the printing finger U1, the placement of the non-printing finger U2 is In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, one finger is placed on the left side of the finger placing table 65 and two fingers are placed on the right side. Thus, it is difficult to determine whether the printing finger U1 is the middle finger of the right hand or the ring finger of the left hand only by the placement position and the number of the non-printing fingers U2 placed on the left and right of the printing finger U1.
For this reason, the finger type determination unit 812 of the present embodiment refers to the finger type information (see FIG. 9) stored in the finger type information storage area 822, and can determine from the detection result by the contact sensor 67. The placement position and the number of the print fingers U2 are determined, and the finger type of the print finger U1 is determined in consideration of whether the finger having the print finger U1 is the right hand finger or the left hand finger. Whether the hand having the print finger U1 is the right hand or the left hand is determined based on an operation signal from the operation unit 22 indicating which of the right start button 22a and the left start button 22b is operated.
For example, in the example of FIG. 7 described above, when the right start button 22a is operated, the finger type determination unit 812 determines that the left ring finger is set on the finger placement base 65 as the print finger U1. When the left start button 22b is operated, the finger type determination unit 812 determines that the middle finger of the right hand is set on the finger placement base 65 as the print finger U1.

The nail information detection unit 813 detects nail information about the nail T of the printing finger U1 based on the image of the nail T of the printing finger U1 taken by the imaging device 51.
Here, the nail information includes, for example, the contour of the nail T (nail shape, XY coordinates of the horizontal position of the nail T, etc.), the height of the nail T (the vertical position of the nail T, hereinafter “the vertical position of the nail T”). Or the “position of the nail T”), the inclination angle of the surface of the nail T with respect to the XY plane (inclination angle of the nail T, nail curvature), and the like.
The method by which the nail information detection unit 813 detects the nail information from the image is not particularly limited, and various methods can be used.

The print data generation unit 814 generates data for printing applied to the nail T of the printing finger U1 by the print head 41 based on the nail information detected by the nail information detection unit 813.
When a nail design in which a different design is assigned to each finger type is selected as the nail design to be printed, the print data generation unit 814 selects the finger type determined by the finger type determination unit 812. Print data is generated based on the corresponding nail design image data.
Specifically, the print data generation unit 814 reads nail design image data corresponding to the finger type determined by the finger type determination unit 812 from the nail design storage area 821. Then, the print data generation unit 814 adjusts the image data of the nail design based on the shape of the nail T detected by the nail information detection unit 813 to match the shape of the nail T by enlarging, reducing, cutting out, or the like. Process.
Further, the print data generation unit 814 appropriately performs curved surface correction or the like on the image data according to the nail information detected by the nail information detection unit 813.
As a result, nail design print data to be printed by the print head 41 is generated.
In the present embodiment, the print data generation unit 814 functions as an acquisition unit that acquires print image data corresponding to each finger type. When a different design is assigned to each finger type, the print data generation unit 814 acquires print image data having a nail design that is different for each finger type.

  The printing control unit 815 outputs a control signal to the printing unit 40 based on the printing data generated by the printing data generation unit 814, and performs printing according to the printing data on the nail T. The control unit controls the 40 X-direction movement motors 46, the Y-direction movement motor 48, the print head 41, and the like.

  The display control unit 816 controls the display unit 23 to display various display screens on the display unit 23. In the present embodiment, the display control unit 816 displays, for example, a nail design selection screen, a thumbnail image for design confirmation, a nail image obtained by photographing the printing finger U1, various instruction screens, an operation screen, and the like on the display unit 23. It is supposed to be displayed.

[Operation of nail print device]
Next, the operation of the nail print apparatus 1 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
When a nail design is printed on the nail T using the nail printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the user first selects a nail design desired to be printed on the nail T by an input operation from the operation unit 22 or the like. Accordingly, an operation signal is sent to the control device 80, and a desired nail design is selected as a design to be printed on the nail T (step S1).
In the following, when the user selects a nail design so that different nail designs are printed on the left and right ten fingers (for example, when ten types of designs are individually selected for each finger type, An example will be described in which a series design or the like in which different designs are assigned to the left and right ten finger nails T in advance as a set is selected.

After the nail design or the like to be drawn is selected, the user inserts a hand including the printing finger U1 into the finger receiving unit 60 of the apparatus, and the finger corresponding to the nail T to be drawn (printing finger U1) The finger other than the thumb U2 is placed on the finger placement portion 66 on the upper surface plate 61, and the thumb is retracted below the upper surface plate 61. . When the thumb becomes the printing finger U1, the user places the thumb on the finger placing base 65 and retracts the other fingers (non-printing finger U2, four fingers from the index finger to the little finger) below the top plate 61.
The non-printing finger U <b> 2 placed on the finger placement unit 66 is detected by the contact sensor 67, and the detection result is sent to the control device 80.
After setting the printing finger U1 and the non-printing finger U2, the user operates the right start button 22a or the left start button 22b with the hand opposite to the hand inserted in the apparatus.
For example, when the left index finger is placed on the finger placement table 65 as the printing finger U1, as shown in FIG. 5, the middle finger, ring finger, and little finger of the left hand are placed on the finger placement unit 66 as non-printing fingers U2. Placed. The thumb of the left hand is retracted under the top plate 61. Then, the left start button 22b disposed on the right side of the apparatus is operated with the right hand outside the apparatus. When the left start button 22b is operated, an operation signal to that effect is sent to the control device 80.

The finger type determination unit 812 of the control unit 81 determines which one of the right start button 22a and the left start button 22b has been operated (step S2).
In addition, the finger type determination unit 812 grasps the position and the number of non-printing fingers U2 from the detection result by the contact sensor 67 sent to the control device 80 (step S3).
Then, the finger type determination unit 812 reads the finger type information from the finger type information storage area 822, and compares the type of the start buttons 22a and 22b operated by the user with the position and number of the non-printing fingers U2 with the finger type information. (Step S4).
For example, when the left start button 22b is operated and three non-printing fingers U2 are placed on the left side and zero on the right side of the finger placing table 65, the finger type determination unit 812 displays the finger type information shown in FIG. Of the left finger print start button operation items, the left three items and the right zero items are referred to.
Then, the finger type determination unit 812 determines that the finger type of the printing finger U1 placed on the finger placement base 65 is the left ring finger in light of the finger type information (step S5).

When the right start button 22a or the left start button 22b is operated, the photographing control unit 811 first controls the imaging device 51 and the illumination device 52 of the photographing unit 50 to start the finger operation table 65 before starting the printing operation. The printing finger U1 placed on the camera is photographed by the imaging device 51, and a nail image (image of the printing finger U1 including the nail T) is acquired (step S6).
When the nail image is acquired, the nail information detection unit 813 detects the contour shape that is the outer shape of the nail T based on the nail image. The nail information detection unit 813 detects the curved shape of the nail T and other nail information based on the nail image (step S7).
Next, the print data generation unit 814 determines the nail design selected by the user based on the finger type of the print finger U1 and the nail information detected by the nail information detection unit 813, which is the determination result by the finger type determination unit 812. Data for printing (print data for nail design) for printing on the nail T is generated (step S8).
When the print data is generated, the print control unit 815 outputs the print data to the print unit 40 and operates the head moving mechanism 49 to appropriately move the print head 41 while performing print processing based on the print data. (Step S9).

The controller 81 determines whether or not printing has been completed for all finger nails T scheduled to be printed (step S10), and if it is determined that printing has been completed (step S10; YES). The printing process ends.
On the other hand, if there is a finger nail T that has not yet been printed (step S10; NO), the user places the next finger on the finger rest 65 and operates the right start button 22a or the left start button 22b. And the control part 81 returns to step S2, and repeats a process.

Note that when the nail design selected by the user is printed in common on the left and right ten fingers, the finger type of the print finger U1 may not be determined.
For this reason, for example, when the nail design selected in step S1 is set to be printed in common on the left and right ten fingers, the processing from step S2 to step S5 is omitted and printing is performed from the operation button 22. When a start instruction is input, the processing in step S6 and subsequent steps may be performed.

[Effect of nail print device]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the nail printing apparatus 1 includes the finger placement table 65 on which the printing finger U1 corresponding to the nail T to be printed is placed, and the printing finger U1 other than the printing finger U1. A finger placement unit 66 for placing a non-printing finger U2 which is a finger on the same side as U1, and a contact sensor 67 as a detection unit for detecting the non-printing finger U2 is provided on the finger placement unit 66. It is placed. Then, the finger type determination unit 812 determines the finger type of the printing finger U1 placed on the finger placement table 65 based on the detection result detected by the contact sensor 67.
For this reason, it is not necessary to input which finger the user has set as the printing finger U1, and it is possible to save the user's trouble, and even when a different nail design is set for each finger type, the desired setting is achieved. Can be printed on each fingernail T.
In addition, it is possible to avoid a possibility that a nail design different from that originally intended to be printed due to a user's input mistake or the like is erroneously printed on the nail T.
Furthermore, the finger type determination unit 812 of the present embodiment determines the finger type of the printing finger U1 based on the non-printing finger U2 placed on the left and right of the printing finger U1 itself. Human fingers and nails all have similar shapes, and high-precision detection means and determination techniques are required to determine the finger type based on these shapes. In this regard, as in the present embodiment, by determining the finger type of the printing finger U1 in consideration of the positional relationship with a plurality of fingers, the finger is placed there by a simple and inexpensive detection means such as the contact sensor 67. It is possible to accurately determine the finger type of the printing finger U1 only by detecting whether or not there is.

The finger type determination unit 812 determines the finger type of the printing finger U1 placed on the finger placement table 65 based on at least one of the position and the number of non-printing fingers U2.
As described above, the finger type determination unit 812 of the present embodiment determines the finger type of the printing finger U1 from the position and number of the non-printing fingers U2 placed on the left and right of the printing finger U1.
For this reason, even when a different nail design is printed for each finger type, there is no need to provide a configuration for performing high-precision finger type recognition on the printing finger U1 itself, and simple and inexpensive detection means such as the contact sensor 67 are used. It becomes possible to accurately determine the finger type of the printing finger U1.
Thereby, apparatus cost can be suppressed low.

In the present embodiment, the right start button 22a, which is a print start button for instructing the start of printing on the print finger U1 when the hand having the print finger U1 is the right hand, is provided on the left outer surface of the apparatus housing. The left start button 22b, which is a print start button for instructing the start of printing on the print finger U1 when the hand having the print finger U1 is the left hand, is provided on the right outer surface of the apparatus housing.
For this reason, when inputting a print start instruction, the hand operating the button and the hand set in the apparatus do not interfere with each other and do not cross each other. Button operation can be performed. This makes it easier to operate without straining the body, and it will naturally operate the correct button by avoiding excessive movements. It is also possible to avoid erroneous operations such as typing.

[Modification of Nail Printing Device]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the present embodiment, a right start button 22a and a left start button 22b are provided, and depending on which one of them is operated, the hand inserted in the apparatus is identified as the left or right, and the printing finger U1 However, the method for identifying whether the hand inserted in the device is left or right is not limited to this.

For example, when the contact sensor 67 serving as the detection unit can detect the length, thickness, orientation, and the like of the non-printing finger U2 placed on the finger placement unit 66 to some extent accurately, the detection result It may be possible to specify whether the printing finger U1 is the finger on the left or right hand based only on this.
For example, when the thumb is the printing finger U1, only the printing finger U1 (thumb) placed on the finger placing table 65 is placed on the upper surface plate 61. However, even in this case, the direction and angle of the printing finger U1 (thumb) are obtained by detecting the detection part up to the base of the thumb resting on the finger placement unit 66 and protruding from the finger placement table 65. If possible, it is also possible to determine which is the left or right hand thumb.
In this case, the contact sensor 67 is preferably installed in a wide range so that it can be detected as widely as possible from the vicinity of the base of the non-printing finger U2 to the tip portion.
In addition, the detection unit detects a state in which the user has previously placed 10 fingers on his / her left and right hands on the finger rest 65 and stores the detection result in the storage unit or the like in association with each finger type of the user. You may keep it. By storing and registering the detection result in this way, pattern matching with the registered detection result can be performed from the second time. Thereby, characteristics such as the length and bending of each finger unique to the user can also be used for finger type determination, and the finger type can be determined more accurately only from the detection result by the detection unit.
Thus, if the finger type of the print finger U1 can be determined only by detection by the detection unit, there is no need to provide two operation buttons, the right start button 22a and the left start button 22b.

Further, for example, a hand including the printing finger U1 is inserted into the apparatus, the printing finger U1 is set on the finger placement base 65, and then the part provided with the detection unit is touched with any of the fingers inserted into the apparatus. By tapping or tapping, it may be possible to input a left or right hand of the hand inserted in the apparatus, a print operation start instruction, or the like.
For example, if the front side of the upper surface plate 61 is tapped (touched) from the predetermined position, the right hand is tapped (touched) and the left hand is printed by the left hand finger U1, or the right side of the upper surface plate 61 from the finger placement table 65 is tapped ( The hand type may be input according to the tap (touch) position so that the right hand is tapped (touch) and the left hand print finger U1 is tapped (touched).
In this case, for example, when inserting a hand into the apparatus (in the finger receiving unit 60), a predetermined position is tapped (touched), and the left or right hand is input.

Further, after setting the print finger U1 on the finger placement table 65, a predetermined tap (touch) operation may be performed to input a print start instruction.
In such a configuration, various operations can be performed by a tap (touch) operation in the apparatus (in the finger receiving unit 60), and a print start button (right start button 22a, left start button 22b), etc. The operation button 22 may not be provided, and the apparatus configuration can be further simplified.
In addition, when using a detection part (for example, contact sensor 67 in this embodiment) as a means to detect the operation input by a user, when inserting a hand in a device, when setting a finger, etc., touch (touch) ) It is preferable that the tap (touch) position for performing various input instructions is set to a position where the finger is not inadvertently tapped (touched) so that erroneous input is not performed by performing the operation.
In addition, in order to avoid an erroneous input, for example, an input operation is performed when three consecutive tap (touch) operations are performed, and a condition for treating the tap (touch) operation as an input operation may be used. Good.

In the present embodiment, the case where the nail design storage area 821 for storing nail design image data is provided in the storage unit 82 of the nail print apparatus 1 is illustrated. However, the nail design image data is stored in the nail print apparatus 1. It is not limited to the case where it is preserve | saved in the memory | storage part 82.
For example, nail design image data may be stored in a server device or the like that can be connected via a network line or the like, and the nail design image data may be referred to by accessing the server device or the like.
In this way, it is possible to select a design to be printed from among more nail designs.

In the present embodiment, the print head 41 of the nail print apparatus 1 includes the inkjet print head 41, but the configuration of the print head 41 is not limited to this.
For example, a pen holder that holds a pen for printing with a pen tip attached to the surface of the nail T may be provided, and printing may be performed using the pen. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which comprises both the inkjet-type print head like this embodiment, and the pen holder holding the pen for printing, and performs printing using several printing means.

  Further, the nail printing apparatus 1 may be provided with a drying unit including a heater and a fan for drying ink after printing.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the nail T of the printing finger U1 is placed on the finger placement table 65 and shooting or printing processing is performed is illustrated. However, the target that can be printed in the nail printing apparatus 1 is the nail of the printing finger U1. It is not limited to T.
For example, a nail-like shape such as a nail chip that is used by being attached to the nail T can be a “nail” that can be printed by the nail printing apparatus 1.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes the scope of the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof. .
The invention described in the scope of claims attached to the application of this application will be added below. The item numbers of the claims described in the appendix are as set forth in the claims attached to the application of this application.
[Appendix]
<Claim 1>
A printing section for printing on the surface of the nail;
A finger rest on which a printing finger corresponding to a nail to be printed is placed;
A finger placement unit for placing a non-printing finger other than the printing finger and a finger on the same side as the printing finger;
A detection unit for detecting the non-printing finger placed on the finger placement unit;
A finger type determination unit for determining a finger type of the printing finger placed on the finger table based on a detection result by the detection unit;
A nail printing device comprising:
<Claim 2>
The finger type determination unit determines the finger type of the printing finger placed on the finger placement table based on at least one of the position and number of the non-printing fingers from the detection result of the detection unit. The nail printing apparatus described in 1.
<Claim 3>
An acquisition unit for acquiring image data for printing corresponding to each of the finger types;
A control unit that controls to perform printing by the printing unit based on the image data for printing corresponding to the finger type determined to be placed on the finger placement table by the finger type determination unit;
The nail printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:
<Claim 4>
The acquisition unit acquires the print image data of a nail design to which a different design is assigned for each finger type,
The nail according to claim 3, wherein the control unit controls the printing unit to perform printing based on the printing image data of the nail design corresponding to the finger type determined by the finger type determining unit. Printing device.
<Claim 5>
A first print start instruction unit for instructing start of printing on the print finger when the hand having the print finger is a right hand;
A second print start instruction unit for instructing start of printing on the print finger when the hand having the print finger is a left hand;
Further comprising
The finger type determination unit is mounted on the finger placement table based on the detection result by the detection unit and whether the first print start instruction unit or the second print start instruction unit is instructed to start printing. The nail printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a finger type of the printing finger placed thereon is determined.
<Claim 6>
A printing finger type determination method for a nail printing apparatus that performs printing on the surface of a fingernail placed on a finger placement table on which a printing finger is placed,
Detecting the non-printing finger placed on a finger placement unit for placing a non-printing finger that is a finger on the same side as the printing finger other than the printing finger,
Determining the finger type of the printing finger placed on the finger placement base based on the detected result detected;
A finger type determination method characterized by the above.
<Claim 7>
To the computer of the nail printing device that performs printing on the surface of the fingernail placed on the finger placement table on which the printing finger is placed,
Detecting means for detecting the non-printing finger placed on a finger placement portion for placing a non-printing finger which is a finger on the same side as the printing finger other than the printing finger;
Finger type determination means for determining a finger type of the printing finger placed on the finger placement table based on the detected result;
Program to execute functions as

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Nail printing apparatus 40 Printing part 50 Image | photographing part 61 Upper surface board 65 Finger placement stand 66 Finger mounting part 67 Contact sensor 81 Control part 82 Storage part 812 Finger type determination part 822 Finger type information storage area T Nail U1 Printing finger U2 Non-printing finger

Claims (7)

A printing section for printing on the surface of the nail;
A finger rest on which a printing finger corresponding to a nail to be printed is placed;
A finger placement unit for placing a non-printing finger other than the printing finger and a finger on the same side as the printing finger;
A detection unit for detecting the non-printing finger placed on the finger placement unit;
A finger type determination unit for determining a finger type of the printing finger placed on the finger table based on a detection result by the detection unit;
A nail printing device comprising:   The finger type determination unit determines the finger type of the printing finger placed on the finger placement table based on at least one of the position and number of the non-printing fingers from the detection result of the detection unit. The nail printing apparatus described in 1. An acquisition unit for acquiring image data for printing corresponding to each of the finger types;
A control unit that controls to perform printing by the printing unit based on the image data for printing corresponding to the finger type determined to be placed on the finger placement table by the finger type determination unit;
The nail printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: The acquisition unit acquires the print image data of a nail design to which a different design is assigned for each finger type,
The nail according to claim 3, wherein the control unit controls the printing unit to perform printing based on the printing image data of the nail design corresponding to the finger type determined by the finger type determining unit. Printing device. A first print start instruction unit for instructing start of printing on the print finger when the hand having the print finger is a right hand;
A second print start instruction unit for instructing start of printing on the print finger when the hand having the print finger is a left hand;
Further comprising
The finger type determination unit is mounted on the finger placement table based on the detection result by the detection unit and whether the first print start instruction unit or the second print start instruction unit is instructed to start printing. The nail printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a finger type of the printing finger placed thereon is determined. A printing finger type determination method for a nail printing apparatus that performs printing on the surface of a fingernail placed on a finger placement table on which a printing finger is placed,
Detecting the non-printing finger placed on a finger placement unit for placing a non-printing finger that is a finger on the same side as the printing finger other than the printing finger,
Determining the finger type of the printing finger placed on the finger placement base based on the detected result detected;
A finger type determination method characterized by the above. To the computer of the nail printing device that performs printing on the surface of the fingernail placed on the finger placement table on which the printing finger is placed,
Detecting means for detecting the non-printing finger placed on a finger placement portion for placing a non-printing finger which is a finger on the same side as the printing finger other than the printing finger;
Finger type determination means for determining a finger type of the printing finger placed on the finger placement table based on the detected result;
Program to execute functions as

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