JP5724634B2 - Nail printing apparatus and printing control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a nail printing apparatus and a printing control method.

The nail printing apparatus is a printing apparatus in which a printing finger, which is a nail finger to be printed, is placed on a placing table provided in the apparatus body and printed on a nail portion of the printing finger.
However, when the printing finger is simply placed on the mounting table, the hand is in an unstable state, so that the movement of the hand or arm is transmitted to the printing finger, and the printing finger may move. If the printing finger moves and the position is shifted during printing, the pattern or the like cannot be printed correctly on the nail portion, and a printing error occurs.

In addition, for example, when printing by an inkjet method, if the position (distance) between the print head of the printing means and the nail part is too far away, the ink will not land at the correct position and the pattern or the like cannot be printed precisely, and the reverse If the position (distance) is too close to the nail, the nail or finger and the print head come into contact with each other, which may cause the nail or finger to become dirty or the print head to be damaged.
For this reason, in the nail printing apparatus, it is necessary to position and fix the printing finger at an appropriate position so that both the fingernail and the print head are protected and the positional relationship (distance, etc.) enables precise printing. is there.

  Therefore, conventionally, in a nail printing apparatus, a printing finger is placed on a finger fixing place fixed to the apparatus so that the printing finger does not move, and the printing finger is fixed by a restraining tool such as a holder (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

JP 2000-194838 A

However, if printing is performed with a finger fixed by a restraining tool such as a holder during printing, the finger is pressed during printing, which is extremely uncomfortable for the user. Further, when printing on the nail portion, it is necessary to fix the restraining tool to the finger in advance and set it in the apparatus, so that it takes time to prepare for printing.
For this reason, particularly in a nail print apparatus that is used by female users as a part of fashion and appearance, there is a problem that printing cannot be performed easily and the user tends to avoid using the apparatus.
Further, when such a restraining tool is provided, there is a problem that the nail printing apparatus itself is also increased in size.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and is a nail printing apparatus capable of performing precise printing on a nail portion by setting a printing finger by a simple method without using a restraining tool. It is another object of the present invention to provide a printing control method.

In order to solve the problem, the nail printing apparatus according to claim 1,
A print finger placement means for placing a print finger that is a finger corresponding to the nail portion to be printed;
A printing means having a print head for printing on the nail portion of the printing finger placed on the printing finger placement means;
When the printing finger is placed on the printing finger placement unit, the finger detection signal is output when the printing finger is placed on the printing finger placement unit, and when the printing finger is separated from the printing finger placement unit. Finger placement detection means for outputting a finger non-detection signal;
Printing finger detection means for detecting the position of the printing finger placed on the printing finger placement means;
When the finger detecting signal is output from the finger placing置検detecting means, printing to perform printing on the nail portion by the printing means from the time the signal output or when the signal output of the finger detection signal after a predetermined time has elapsed When the finger placement detection unit outputs the finger non-detection signal during the printing operation, the printing operation is stopped and the printing finger detected by the printing finger detection unit is started. depending on the position, so moving the print head in a direction away from the printing finger, and print control means for controlling said printing means,
It is characterized by having.

According to the present invention, a finger detection signal indicating that the printing finger is placed on the printing finger placement means is output from the finger placement detection means provided in the printing finger placement means for placing the printing finger. Then, when the finger detection signal is output or after a predetermined time has elapsed since the signal output, the printing operation by the printing unit can be started with respect to the nail portion of the printing finger, and the finger placement detection unit can be started during the printing operation. When a finger non-detection signal indicating that the printing finger is separated from the printing finger placement unit is output, the printing unit stops the printing operation on the nail portion and the printing unit prints away from the printing finger. The head can be moved .
For this reason, even if the printing finger is not fixed with a restraint or the like, the printing finger is lifted up and remains in an unsuitable state for printing. It can be performed.

1 is a perspective view conceptually showing an embodiment of a nail print apparatus according to the present invention, and shows a state in which a lid is opened. It is the perspective view which showed notionally the apparatus main body of the nail print apparatus of FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a printing finger fixing unit of the nail printing apparatus in FIG. 1 and illustrates a fixing mode when a pinky finger is inserted from a forefinger as a printing finger into a printing finger insertion unit. It is a principal part perspective view which shows the state which mounted the little finger from the index finger as a printing finger on the printing finger mounting surface. It is a top view of the printing finger mounting surface shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the VI-VI line of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the front side of the nail print apparatus of FIG. It is a sectional side view of the nail print apparatus of FIG. It is a principal part block diagram which showed the control structure of the nail print apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state where one printing finger is placed on the printing finger placement surface shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state where one printing finger is placed on the printing finger placement surface shown in FIG. 5. 6 is a flowchart illustrating print control processing according to the first embodiment. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation stop process of FIG. 12 in the first embodiment. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a modification of the printing operation stop process of FIG. 13. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a modification of the printing operation stop process of FIG. 13. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a modification of the printing operation stop process of FIG. 13. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation restart process according to the second embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining the printing operation resumption process in 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining the printing operation resumption process in 2nd Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the modification of the printing finger | toe mounting surface 21a and the finger mounting detection means arrange | positioned at this. It is sectional drawing which follows the XXI-XXI line of FIG. It is a top view which shows the modification of the printing finger | toe mounting surface 21a and the finger mounting detection means arrange | positioned at this. It is sectional drawing which follows the XXIII-XXIII line | wire of FIG.

[First Embodiment]
First, a first embodiment of a nail printing apparatus and a printing control method according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the illustrated example.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of a nail print apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an internal configuration of the nail print apparatus.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the nail printing apparatus 1 includes a case body 2 and a lid body 4. The case body 2 and the lid body 4 are connected to each other via a hinge 3 provided at the rear end portion of the upper surface of the case body 2.

The case body 2 is formed in an oval shape in plan view. The case main body 2 is provided with an opening / closing plate 2c on the front side so as to be able to rise and fall. The opening / closing plate 2 c is connected to the case body 2 via a hinge (not shown) provided at the lower front end of the case body 2. The opening / closing plate 2 c is for opening and closing the front surface of the case body 2.
An operation unit 12 to be described later is installed on the top plate 2f of the case body 2, and a display unit 13 is set almost at the center of the top plate 2f.
Note that the shapes and configurations of the case body 2 and the lid body 4 are not limited to those illustrated here.

Further, the case main body 2 accommodates the apparatus main body 10 of the nail printing apparatus 1. The apparatus main body 10 includes a printing finger fixing unit 20 constituting a printing finger fixing unit shown in FIG. 2, a photographing unit 30 constituting a photographing unit, a printing unit 40 constituting a printing unit, and a control unit. The control part 50 (refer FIG. 7) which comprises is provided. The printing finger fixing unit 20, the photographing unit 30, the printing unit 40, and the control unit 50 are provided in the machine casing 11.
The machine casing 11 includes a lower machine casing 11a and an upper machine casing 11b. The lower machine casing 11a is formed in a box shape and installed below the inside of the case body 2, and the upper machine casing 11b is installed above the lower machine casing 11a and inside the case body 2.

The printing finger fixing unit 20 is provided on the lower machine casing 11 a in the machine casing 11. The printing finger fixing unit 20 is configured by the printing finger insertion unit 20a, the non-printing finger insertion unit 20b, and the gripping unit 20c provided in the lower machine casing 11a.
Here, the printing finger insertion part 20a is a finger insertion part for inserting a finger (hereinafter referred to as “printing finger”) U1 corresponding to the nail part T to be printed (see FIG. 3). The bottom surface (printing finger placement surface 21a) of the printing finger insertion unit 20a functions as a printing finger placement unit that places the printing finger U1. Photographing and printing of the printing finger U1 are performed in a state where the printing finger U1 is placed on the printing finger placement surface 21a of the printing finger insertion unit 20a as the printing finger placement means.
Further, the non-printing finger insertion unit 20b is a finger insertion unit for inserting a finger other than the printing finger (hereinafter referred to as “non-printing finger”) U2 (see FIG. 3).
The gripping portion 20c is a portion that can be sandwiched between the printing finger U1 inserted into the printing finger insertion portion 20a and the non-printing finger U2 inserted into the non-printing finger insertion portion 20b. In the present embodiment, the grip portion 20c is constituted by a partition wall 21 that partitions the printing finger insertion portion 20a and the non-printing finger insertion portion 20b.

  The upper surface of the partition wall 21 constitutes a flat printing finger placement surface 21a. A bulging portion 22 is formed at the finger insertion side end of the partition wall 21. The bulging portion 22 is a portion where the base U3 of the printing finger U1 and the non-printing finger U2 contacts when the printing finger U1 and the non-printing finger U2 are inserted deeply into the printing finger insertion portion 20a and the non-printing finger insertion portion 20b. Is formed. The bulging portion 22 can strongly hold the partition wall 21 (gripping portion 20c) between the printing finger U1 and the non-printing finger U2 in a state where the entire belly of the printing finger U1 is in contact with the printing finger placement surface 21a. Thus, the cross-section in the finger insertion direction X is circular so as to bulge downward from the lower surface of the partition wall 21. The shape of the bulging portion 22 is not limited to a circular cross section, and may be a non-circular shape such as an elliptical cross section or a polygonal shape.

For example, when four fingers (index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger) other than the thumb of the left hand are the print fingers U1, the user places four print fingers on the print finger insertion portion 20a as shown in FIG. U1 is inserted, and the thumb that is the non-printing finger U2 is inserted into the non-printing finger insertion portion 20b. In this case, when the user holds the gripping portion 20c between the printing finger U1 inserted into the printing finger insertion portion 20a and the non-printing finger U2 inserted into the non-printing finger insertion portion 20b, the printing finger U1 holds the gripping portion. It is fixed on 20c.
When only the thumb becomes the printing finger U1, the thumb (printing finger U1) is inserted into the printing finger insertion unit 20a, and the four fingers other than the thumb (non-printing finger U2) are inserted into the non-printing finger insertion unit. Insert into 20b. Also in this case, the printing finger U1 is fixed by the user holding the grip portion 20c between the printing finger U1 and the non-printing finger U2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which four fingers other than the left thumb (index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger) are placed as printing fingers U1 on the printing finger placement surface 21a. 5 is a plan view of the printing finger placement surface 21a shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, in the present embodiment, printing is performed on a print head 46, which will be described later, on the upper surface of the partition wall 21 constituting the print finger placement surface 21 a that is the print finger placement means. In the possible area 23, when the printing finger U1 is placed on the printing finger placement surface 21a, the finger detection signal is output by being pressed by the printing finger U1, and the finger non-detection signal is output when the printing finger U1 is separated. A push switch 24 is provided as a finger placement detection means for outputting. The finger detection signal and finger non-detection signal output from the push switch 24 are sent to a print control unit 53 (see FIG. 9) of the control unit 50 described later.
In the present embodiment, printing is performed by simultaneously inserting four fingers from the index finger to the little finger into the printing finger insertion portion 20a as the printing finger U1, or one or more of the ten fingers from the thumb to the little finger of both hands. Printing can be performed by inserting (for example, two thumbs of both hands) into the printing finger insertion portion 20a as the printing fingers U1. Four push switches 24 are provided on the print finger placement surface 21a at substantially equal intervals so as to be able to correspond to various patterns assumed in the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, in the present embodiment, each push switch 24 is disposed so as to be located within a range corresponding to the vicinity of the first joint from the tips of all the fingers that can be the printing fingers U <b> 1. Yes. The push switch 24 may be disposed at a position where the print finger U1 can be detected when the print finger U1 is placed on the print finger placement surface 21a and a finger detection signal can be output. The position where is provided is not limited to the illustrated example.

7 is a front sectional view of the nail printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a sectional side view of the nail printing apparatus 1.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the photographing unit 30 is provided in the upper machine casing 11 b in the machine casing 11.
That is, a camera 32 having about 2 million pixels or more with a built-in driver is installed on the lower surface of the central portion of the substrate 31 installed in the upper machine casing 11b. An illumination lamp 33 such as a white LED is installed on the substrate 31 so as to surround the camera 32. The photographing unit 30 includes the camera 32 and the illumination lamp 33.
The photographing unit 30 illuminates the printing finger U1 placed on the printing finger placement surface 21a, which is a printing finger placement unit, with the illumination lamp 33, photographs the printing finger U1 with the camera 32, and obtains a fingernail image. The photographing unit 30 is connected to a photographing control unit 51 of a control unit 50 described later, and is controlled by the photographing control unit 51.
In the present embodiment, the photographing unit 30 also functions as means for photographing the inside of the printing finger insertion unit 20a and detecting the number of printing fingers U1 inserted into the printing finger insertion unit 20a.
Information such as the number of fingernail images and printing fingers U1 captured and acquired by the imaging unit 30 is stored in a printing finger storage unit 54 described later.

The printing unit 40 is a printing unit that prints a color, a pattern, or the like on the nail portion T of the printing finger U1 placed on the printing finger placement surface 21a that is a printing finger placement unit. It is provided in the machine casing 11b.
That is, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, two guide rods 41 are installed in parallel on both side plates of the upper machine casing 11b. A main carriage 42 is slidably installed on the guide rod 41. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, two guide rods 44 are installed in parallel on the front wall 42a and the rear wall 42b of the main carriage 42. A sub carriage 45 is slidably installed on the guide rod 44. A print head 46 that performs printing on the nail portion T is mounted at the center of the lower surface of the sub-carriage 45.

In the present embodiment, the print head 46 is an inkjet print head that performs printing by atomizing ink and spraying it directly onto a print medium, and the print finger placement surface on which the print finger U1 is placed. A nozzle surface (not shown) provided with a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink is formed on the surface facing the surface. The nozzle surface may be provided on the entire surface of the print head 46 facing the print finger placement surface 21a, or may be provided in a range smaller than the area of the surface of the print head 46 facing the print finger placement surface 21a. It may be.
The recording method of the print head 46 is not limited to the ink jet method. The print head 46 according to the present embodiment is driven by a print control unit 53 (to be described later) controlling a head drive unit 461 formed of, for example, a piezoelectric element or the like via a head drive circuit 55, thereby forming fine droplets of ink. Is to be discharged. In addition, when a finger non-detection signal is output from the push switch 24 that is the finger placement detection unit, the print control unit 53 controls the head drive unit 461 via the head drive circuit 55, whereby the print head 46. Ink ejection from the ink is stopped.

  In this embodiment, when a finger non-detection signal is output from the push switch 24 that is the finger placement detection unit, the print head 46 drives the first motor 43 and the second motor 47 that are the head moving unit. Accordingly, the print finger U1 is moved in the direction away from the print finger U1 placed on the print finger placement surface 21a on the back side in the insertion direction X of the print finger U1.

The main carriage 42 is connected to the first motor 43 via a power transmission means (not shown), and is rotated along the guide rod 41 in the left-right direction (finger insertion direction X) along the guide rod 41 by forward and reverse rotation of the first motor 43. It is configured to move in the orthogonal Y direction). The sub-carriage 45 is connected to the second motor 47 via a power transmission means (not shown), and is moved forward and backward (finger insertion direction X) along the guide rod 44 by forward and reverse rotation of the second motor 47. Is configured to move.
The first motor 43 and the second motor 47 control the operation of the print control unit 53 via the head moving circuit 56, so that the print head 46 is inserted in the direction X perpendicular to the insertion direction X of the print finger U1. Head moving means for moving in the direction.
Further, the lower machine casing 11 a is provided with an ink cartridge 48 for supplying ink to the print head 46. The ink cartridge 48 is connected to the print head 46 via an ink supply pipe (not shown), and supplies ink to the print head 46 as appropriate. Note that an ink cartridge may be mounted on the print head 46 itself.

The printing unit 40 includes the guide rod 41, the main carriage 42, the first motor 43, the guide rod 44, the sub carriage 45, the print head 46, the second motor 47, the ink cartridge 48, and the like. The first motor 43, the print head 46, and the second motor 47 of the printing unit 40 are connected to a print control unit 53 of the control unit 50, which will be described later, and are controlled by the print control unit 53.
In the present embodiment, the movable range of the print head 46 is in and around the printable area 23 (see FIG. 5 and the like) of the nail printing apparatus 1, and printing on the print finger U1 is performed in this printable area 23. When the finger non-detection signal is output, as described above, the print head 46 moves and retreats from the printable area 23 to the back side in the finger insertion direction X.

The operation unit 12 is input means for the user to make various inputs.
For example, a power switch button for turning on the power of the nail printing apparatus 1, a stop switch button for stopping the operation, and other operation buttons 121 for performing various inputs are arranged on the operation unit 12.
When an input operation is performed from the operation unit 12, signals corresponding to various operations are output from the operation unit 12 and sent to the control unit 50. The control unit 50 controls each unit of the apparatus based on the signal output from the operation unit 12.

The display unit 13 is a display unit configured with, for example, a liquid crystal panel (a liquid crystal display (LCD)).
A touch panel may be integrally formed on the surface of the display unit 13. In this case, various inputs can be performed by touching the surface of the display unit 13 by a touch operation using a stylus pen or the like (not shown).

The display unit 13 displays, for example, a fingernail image obtained by photographing the printing finger U1, a nail part T therein, a nail design to be printed on the nail part T of the printing finger U1, a thumbnail image for design confirmation, and the like. It is like that.
In this embodiment, when the finger non-detection signal is output from the push switch 24 and the printing operation by the print head 46 is stopped, the fact that the printing is stopped is displayed on the display unit 13. The display unit 13 functions as a notification unit that notifies the user that printing on the nail portion T has been stopped. It should be noted that the notified content need not be only that printing is not possible. For example, a display that prompts the user to pull out the printing finger U1 from the printing finger insertion unit 20a may be displayed on the display unit 13.

Next, the control configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a principal block diagram showing a control configuration in the present embodiment.
The control unit 50 is mounted on, for example, a control board 31 disposed on the upper portion of the case body 2, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like (not shown). Computer. The storage means such as a ROM stores data such as nail design to be printed and various programs such as a printing program for performing printing processing, and the control unit 50 executes these programs to control each unit of the nail printing apparatus 1. It comes to control. In addition, the memory | storage means which memorize | stores a program etc. is not limited to ROM and RAM in the control part 50, A memory | storage means may be provided in addition.

An operation unit 12, a display unit 13, a photographing unit 30, a printing unit 40, and a printing finger storage unit 54 are connected to the control unit 50.
The print finger storage unit 54 stores the number of print fingers U1 placed on the print finger placement surface 21a, which is a print finger placement unit, and the type and / or position of the print finger U1 currently being printed. It is a finger storage means.

  The control unit 50 includes a photographing control unit 51, a display control unit 52, a print control unit 53, and the like when viewed functionally. The functions as the photographing control unit 51, the display control unit 52, the print control unit 53, and the like are realized by the cooperation of the CPU and a program stored in the ROM.

The display control unit 51 is a display control unit that controls the display unit 13 as a display unit.
In the present embodiment, the display control unit 51 controls the display unit 13 to display various displays on the display unit 13. In the present embodiment, the display control unit 51, for example, the design confirmation screen as described above, a screen for instructing insertion of the printing finger U1, a notification screen indicating that the printing operation has been stopped, and the printing operation have been stopped. At this time, various instruction screens such as an instruction screen prompting the user to pull out the printing finger U1 from the printing finger insertion unit 20a, a notification screen, and the like are displayed on the display unit 13.

When the printing finger U1 is inserted into the printing finger insertion unit 20a, the imaging control unit 52 controls the imaging unit 30 to acquire an image of the printing finger U1 including the nail portion T, and the image acquired by the imaging unit 30 Is stored in the print finger storage unit 54 or the like.
In the present embodiment, the imaging control unit 52 determines the number of printing fingers U1 placed on the printing finger placement surface 21a and the printing finger U1 that is currently printing from the image taken by the imaging unit 30. The type and / or position is extracted and stored in the print finger storage unit 54 or the like.

The print control unit 53 is a print control unit that controls the printing operation of the printing unit 40 so as to print the nail design on the nail portion T of the printing finger U1.
That is, when a finger detection signal is output from the push switch 24 serving as a finger placement detection unit, the print control unit 53 performs initial printing on the nail portion T when a signal is output or after a predetermined time elapses after the signal is output. The printing unit 40 is controlled so as to sequentially print from the position, and the printing operation is started.
Specifically, the head moving circuit 56 is controlled to drive the first motor 43 and the second motor 47 as the head moving means, and the print head 46 is appropriately moved in the finger insertion direction X and the direction Y orthogonal thereto. In addition to the movement, the head driving circuit 55 is controlled to operate the head driving unit 461 so that the print head 46 is driven to eject ink from the nozzles.
The initial printing position is a printing operation start position when printing is performed on the nail portion T of the printing finger U1 placed on the printing finger placement surface 21a. The initial print position is set in advance by default. For example, among the nail portions T of the print finger U1 placed on the print finger placement surface 21a, printing is set from the upper left end to the lower right end in order from the leftmost nail portion T. In this case, when four fingers from the forefinger of the left hand to the little finger are placed on the printing finger placement surface 21a, the upper left end of the little finger becomes the printing initial position.

Further, when a finger non-detection signal is output from the push switch 24 that is the finger placement detection means after the printing operation is started (that is, during the printing operation), the printing control unit 53 performs printing on the nail portion T by the printing unit 40. Stop operation.
Specifically, the print control unit 53 first controls the head drive unit 461 via the head drive circuit 55 to stop the ejection of ink from the print head 46. Further, as described above, the print control unit 53 determines the number of print fingers U1 placed on the print finger placement surface 21a stored in the print finger storage unit 54 and the print finger U1 currently being printed. According to the type and / or position, the print head U1 is moved (retracted) in the direction away from the print finger U1 in the insertion direction X of the print finger U1.
Note that the type and / or position of the printing finger U1 that is currently being printed refers to the time when the finger non-detection signal is output from the push switch 24 or the output of the finger non-detection signal to eject ink from the print head 46. It is the kind and / or position of the printing finger U1 at the time of stopping. The type and / or position of the printing finger U1 that is currently printing is ascertained by the print controller 53 monitoring the progress of printing by the print head 46 as needed. In this embodiment, among the print fingers U1 placed on the print finger placement surface 21a, printing is performed in order from the print finger U1 located at the left end, and the print head 46 prints what number of print fingers U1. Although an example in which the print control unit 53 monitors whether or not the print control unit 53 is monitoring at any time will be described, the print progress status monitored when the print control unit 53 determines the movement (retraction) destination of the print head 46 is not limited to this. For example, the print position by the print head 46 may be grasped as coordinates, and the print head 46 may be moved (retracted) depending on where in the printable area 23 the coordinates are located.

In the present embodiment, the print control unit 53 specifically determines the movement (retraction) destination of the print head 46 as follows.
That is, for example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the number of printing fingers U1 placed on the printing finger placement surface 21a stored in the printing finger storage unit 54 is four, and printing is currently being performed. When the type and / or position of the printing finger U1 is the middle finger of the left hand which is the second from the right as shown in FIG. 5 and is included in the second printable area 23b (that is, the print head 46 is When located in the second printable area 23b, which is the right half of the printable area 23 (shown by a solid line and a broken line in FIG. 5), the print control unit 53 moves the print head 46 in the finger insertion direction. It is moved (retracted) out of the printable area 23 on the right rear side of X (indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 5).
For example, as shown in FIG. 10, when the number of the print fingers U1 placed on the print finger placement surface 21a is one, the print control unit 53 moves the print head 46 in the finger insertion direction X. Are moved (retracted) out of the printable area 23 (indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 10).
When the number of printing fingers U1 is one as described above, it is further determined whether or not the position of the printing finger U1 currently being printed is included in the first printable area 23a. May be determined on the basis of the coordinate data of the location that was actually printed. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, when the print head 46 is actually printing on the right side of the center of the nail portion T of the print finger U1, the print head 46 can be printed on the right back side. When the print head 46 is moved (retracted) out of the area 23 and is on the left side of the center of the nail portion T, the print head 46 is moved (retracted) out of the printable area 23 on the left rear side. .
By moving the print head 46 in this way, it is possible to avoid the print head 46 that has stopped the printing operation from passing over the nail portion T of the print finger U1 as much as possible. Interference and contact can be prevented as much as possible.

Next, a printing control method by the nail printing apparatus 1 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13.
When printing is performed by the nail printing apparatus 1, the user first turns on the power switch to activate the control unit 50 and selects a nail design to be printed on the printing finger U1. The selected nail design is displayed on the display unit 13 as a thumbnail image for design confirmation. When this design is acceptable, the user confirms the nail design with a confirmation button (not shown).

  When the nail design is finalized, the display control unit 52 causes the display unit 13 to display an instruction for urging the user to place the print finger U1 on the print finger placement surface (step S1). That is, for example, characters such as “insert your finger to a predetermined position and place your finger on the print finger placement surface” are displayed on the display unit 13. The photographing control unit 51 controls the photographing unit 30 to photograph the inside of the printing finger insertion unit 20a (Step S2), and the control unit 50 enters the printing finger insertion unit 20a based on the video photographed by the photographing unit 30. It is detected how many printing fingers U1 are inserted (step S3). The number of detected printing fingers U1 is stored in the printing finger storage unit 54 (step S4).

The print control unit 53 always determines whether or not finger detection signals are output from the number of push switches 24 corresponding to the number of print fingers U1 stored in the print finger storage unit 54 (step S5), and the print finger U1. If it is determined that the finger detection signals are not output from the number of push switches 24 corresponding to the number (No in step S5), the determination in step S5 is performed until finger detection signals are output from all the push switches 24. repeat.
On the other hand, when it is determined that the finger detection signals are output from the number of push switches 24 corresponding to the number of the printing fingers U1 (step S5; YES), the printing unit 40 is controlled to output the signals or output the signals. After a predetermined time has elapsed from the time, a printing operation for sequentially performing printing from the initial printing position on the nail portion T is started (step S6). Specifically, for example, when the number of print fingers U1 stored in the print finger storage unit 54 is four, the print control unit 53 includes four push switches provided on the print finger placement surface 21a. When finger detection signals are output from all 24, printing is started. When there are a plurality of push switches 24, the signal output time is the time at which the finger detection signal is output the latest. The timing for starting printing may be determined in advance by default, or may be arbitrarily set by the user.

When the printing operation starts, the photographing control unit 51 controls the photographing unit 30 to photograph the printing finger U1 placed on the printing finger placement surface 21a as needed (step S7). The control unit 50 detects the type of the printing finger U1 currently being printed by the printing unit 40 and the position of the printing finger U1 during printing based on the video imaged by the imaging unit 30 (step S8). The detection result is stored in the print finger storage unit 54 (step S9). Note that the photographing of the printing finger U1 by the photographing unit 30 is not essential, and the process from step S7 to step S9 may be omitted.
The print controller 53 always determines whether or not a finger non-detection signal is output from any of the push switches 24 during the printing operation (step S10), and the finger non-detection signal is output from any of the push switches. If it is determined that the print operation has been performed (step S10; YES), the print control unit 53 performs a print operation stop process for stopping the print operation (step S11).

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the printing operation stop processing (step S11 in FIG. 12) in the present embodiment.
If the print control unit 53 determines that a finger non-detection signal is output from any of the push switches 24 during the printing operation (step S10 in FIG. 12; YES), first, as shown in FIG. Ink ejection from the print head 46 is stopped (step S21 in FIG. 13). Further, the print control unit 53 determines the number of print fingers U1 placed on the print finger placement surface 21a stored in the print finger storage unit 54, and the type and / or position of the print finger U1 that is currently being printed. Accordingly, the print head 46 is moved in the direction away from the print finger U1 in the insertion direction X of the print finger U1.

Specifically, the print control unit 53 determines whether or not the number of printing fingers U1 placed on the printing finger placement surface 21a is 1 (step S22), and the number of printing fingers U1 is 1. In the case (step S22; YES), the print head 46 is moved (retracted) out of the printable area 23 on the left back side (step S23). If the number of print fingers U1 is not 1 (step S22; NO), the print controller 53 further determines whether the number of print fingers U1 is 2 (step S24), and the number of print fingers U1 is 2. (Step S24; YES), it is further determined whether or not the printing finger U1 currently being printed is the right finger (step S25). If the printing finger U1 currently printing is not the right finger (step S25; NO), the print head 46 is moved (retracted) out of the printable area 23 on the left back side (step S23). . On the other hand, when the printing finger U1 that is currently printing is the right finger (step S25; YES), the print head 46 is moved (retracted) out of the printable area 23 on the right back side (step S26). ).
If the number of print fingers U1 is not 2 (step S24; NO), the print controller 53 further determines whether the number of print fingers U1 is 3 (step S27). If the number of printing fingers U1 is 3 (step S27; YES), it is further determined whether or not the printing finger U1 that is currently printing is the rightmost finger (step S28). If the printing finger U1 being printed is not the rightmost finger (step S28; NO), the print head 46 is moved (retracted) out of the printable area 23 on the left back side (step S23). . On the other hand, when the printing finger U1 during printing is the rightmost finger (step S28; YES), the print head 46 is moved (retracted) out of the printable area 23 on the right back side (step S26). .
If the number of printing fingers U1 is not three (step S27; NO), it is determined that the four fingers, which are the maximum number that can be printed in this embodiment, are the printing fingers U1. Then, the print control unit 53 further determines whether or not the printing finger U1 that is currently printing is the two fingers on the right side (step S29). When the print fingers U1 are not the two fingers on the right side (step S29; NO), the print head 46 is moved (retracted) out of the printable area 23 on the left back side (step S23). On the other hand, when the printing fingers U1 during printing are the two fingers on the right side (step S29; YES), the print head 46 is moved (retracted) out of the printable area 23 on the right back side (step S29). S26).
When the print head 46 is moved to the left back side (step S23) and when it is moved to the right back side (step S26), when the printing operation to the nail portion T is stopped, the display control unit 52 Then, the display unit is controlled to display on the display screen of the display unit that printing has been stopped (step S30), and the printing operation stopping process is ended, thereby completing a series of printing control (FIG. 12). reference).

  On the other hand, returning to FIG. 12, if it is determined that no finger non-detection signal is output from any of the push switches 24 (step S10; NO), the print controller 53 determines the nail T ( In the case where the printing process is simultaneously performed on the plurality of printing fingers U1, it is further determined whether or not printing has been completed for all the nail portions T) of the printing fingers U1 (step S12). When it is determined that printing has been completed for the nail portion T of the printing finger U1 (step S12; YES), the printing operation is terminated, and a series of printing control is terminated. In this case, a message indicating that the printing has been completed may be displayed on the display unit 13. On the other hand, when it is determined that printing has not been completed for the nail portion T of the printing finger U1 (step S12; NO), the process returns to step S6, and printing is performed for the nail portion T for which printing has not been completed. In addition, when performing a printing process simultaneously with respect to a plurality of printing fingers U1, such as four, for example, the above process is repeated for each printing finger U1, thereby performing the printing process for all printing fingers U1.

As described above, according to the nail print apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the printing unit 40 outputs a signal when a finger detection signal is output from the push switch 24 that is a finger placement detection unit under the control of the printing control unit. A printing operation for sequentially printing from the initial printing position to the nail portion T is started at the time of output or after a predetermined time has elapsed since the output of this signal, and a finger non-detection signal is output from the push switch 24 during the printing operation. Then, the ink ejection from the print head 46 is stopped. Further, the position of the printing finger U1 is detected based on the image acquired by the photographing unit 30 as the printing finger detection means and stored in the printing finger storage unit 54, and when the finger non-detection signal is output. The print finger is stored in the print finger storage unit 54 according to the number of print fingers U1 placed on the print finger placement surface 21a and the type and / or position of the print finger U1 currently being printed. The print head 46 is moved in the direction away from the printing finger U1 on the back side in the insertion direction X of U1. For this reason, when the printing finger U1 is lifted or the like, it is possible to prevent the printing from being continued at an inappropriate position and to avoid the interference between the print head 46 and the nail portion T as much as possible. It is possible to prevent the print head 46 from being damaged and the ink from adhering to the claw T. As a result, it is possible to perform precise printing on the nail portion T only by setting a printing finger by a simple method without using a restraining tool or the like.
Further, since printing is started when a finger detection signal is output from the push switch 24, printing is performed by hand, for example, when the thumbs of both hands are simultaneously inserted into the printing finger insertion portion 20a and printing is performed at one time. Even when the operation start instruction cannot be input, printing can be appropriately started with the printing finger U1 set.
Further, since the finger placement detection means is the push switch 24, the printing finger U1 can be detected simply and inexpensively.
In this embodiment, since four push switches 24 as finger placement detection means are provided, printing is not limited to one printing finger, and printing can be performed simultaneously on four printing fingers. It is. Even in this case, since printing is not started until finger detection signals are output from all the push switches 24, printing can be performed in a state where all the printing fingers U1 are appropriately set. During the printing operation, if any finger non-detection signal is output from one of the plurality of push switches 24, the printing is stopped, and thus printing is continued with the printing finger U1 that has lifted up. Can be prevented.
Further, since it is necessary to press the push switch 24 with the printing finger U1 so that the finger non-detection signal is not output during the printing operation, the printing finger U1 is continuously pressed onto the printing finger placement surface 21a. As a result, the printing finger U1 and the nail portion T can be reliably fixed.
In this embodiment, since the push switch 24 is arranged at a position corresponding to each printing finger U1, when placing the printing finger U1, it also serves as a guide for the placement place and gives the user a sense of security. be able to.

In the present embodiment, the printing control unit 53 is stored in the printing finger storage unit 54 as a printing operation stop process when a finger non-detection signal is output from the push switch 24 serving as a finger placement detection unit. Depending on the number of printing fingers U1 placed on the printing finger placement surface 21a and the type and / or position of the printing finger U1 that is currently being printed, printing is performed on the back side in the insertion direction X of the printing finger U1. Although the case where the print head 46 is moved in the direction away from the finger U1 has been described as an example, the method for determining the position to move the print head 46 is not limited to this.
For example, when the printing finger U1 placed on the printing finger placement surface 21a is photographed by the photographing unit 30 and a finger non-detection signal is output during the printing operation, as shown in FIG. 53, the ink ejection from the print head 46 is stopped (step S51), and the position of the print finger U1 currently being printed, that is, the print finger U1 currently being printed is determined based on the image obtained by the photographing unit 30. Then, it is determined whether or not it is within the first printable area 23a (step S52). If the print head 46 is in the first printable area 23a (step S52; YES), the print head 46 is moved (retracted) to the left rear side and out of the printable area 23 (step S53). On the other hand, if the print head 46 is not within the first printable area 23a (step S52; NO), the print head 46 is moved (retracted) out of the printable area 23 on the right back side (step S54). In any case, the fact that the printing operation is stopped is displayed on the display unit 13 (step S55), which is the same as in the above-described embodiment.
In this case, since it can be determined from the image photographed by the photographing unit 30, it is possible to more accurately grasp the position of the printing finger U1 currently being printed.

  When four fingers of the left hand or right hand are simultaneously inserted into the printing finger insertion unit 20a, and when the thumbs of both hands are simultaneously inserted into the printing finger insertion unit 20a, the print control unit 53 actually prints. Instead of determining whether or not the position of the printing finger U1 in the middle, that is, the printing finger U1 that is currently printing is in the first printable area 23a, the actual printing is performed based on the image obtained by the photographing unit 30. The position of the print head 46 may be determined based on the type of the print finger U1 being determined. Specifically, for example, when the four fingers of the left hand are simultaneously inserted into the printing finger insertion unit 20a and the printing finger U1 currently being printed is a little finger or a ring finger, the four fingers of the right hand are simultaneously When the printing finger U1 is inserted into the printing finger insertion unit 20a and the printing finger U1 currently being printed is the middle finger or index finger, the thumbs of both hands are simultaneously inserted into the printing finger insertion unit 20a and printing is actually performed. When the middle print finger U1 is the thumb of the left hand, the print head 46 is moved (retracted) to the left rear side and out of the printable area 23, and when other fingers are being printed, The print head 46 is moved (retracted) to the right rear side and out of the printable area 23.

  For example, when printing is performed by inserting the print fingers U1 one by one into the print finger insertion portion 20a (see, for example, FIG. 11), the print fingers U1 are placed on the print finger placement surface 21a during the printing operation. When the printing finger U1 is photographed by the photographing unit 30 and a finger non-detection signal is output, as shown in FIG. 15, the print control unit 53 stops ink ejection from the print head 46 (step S61). Based on the image obtained by the photographing unit 30, it may be determined whether or not the location currently being printed by the print head 46 is on the left side of the center of the nail portion T (step S 62). In this case, when the location currently being printed is on the left side of the center of the nail portion T (step S62; YES), the print head 46 is moved to the left rear side and out of the printable area 23. (Evacuate) (step S53). On the other hand, if the location currently being printed is not on the left side of the center of the nail portion T (step S62; NO), the print head 46 is moved (retracted) out of the printable area 23 on the right rear side. (Step S64). In any case, the fact that the printing operation is stopped is displayed on the display unit 13 (step S65), which is the same as in the above-described embodiment.

Further, in the present embodiment, as a printing operation stop process when a finger non-detection signal is output from the push switch 24 that is a finger placement detection unit, the print head 46 is located on the far side in the insertion direction X of the printing finger U1. In this example, the print head 46 is moved away from the print finger U1 placed on the print finger placement surface. However, it is not essential to move the print head 46 in the print operation stop process. When the detection signal is output, the print head 46 may be stopped on the spot.
In this case, when it is determined that a finger non-detection signal is output from any one of the push switches 24 and the printing operation stop process (step S11 in FIG. 12) is performed, as shown in FIG. First, the ink ejection from the print head 46 is stopped (step S71 in FIG. 16), and the movement of the print head 46 is stopped (step S72). Then, the display unit 13 is caused to display that printing has been stopped (step S73).

  Even in such a configuration, if the printing finger U1 is lifted up and any of the printing fingers U1 moves away from the push switch 24 on the printing finger placement surface 21a, printing is stopped and inappropriate. It is possible to prevent ink from being discharged from the print head 46 to the nail portion T in the state. For this reason, a printing finger can be set by a simple method without using a restraint, and precise printing on the nail portion T can be performed.

  Further, the retracted position of the print head 46 when the finger non-detection signal is output from the push switch 24 that is the finger placement detection means is not limited to the one illustrated here. For example, it may simply move from the position at the time when the finger non-detection signal is output to the back side in the insertion direction X of the printing finger U1.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the number of printing fingers U1 inserted into the printing finger insertion unit 20a is determined based on an image photographed by the photographing unit 30 is shown. However, the number of printing fingers U1 is grasped. The technique to do is not limited to this. For example, in the case where the operation unit 12 or the like is configured to register the print finger U1 that the user wants to print in advance, the number of print fingers U1 may be grasped based on the input information from the operation unit 12.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the nail print apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, the processing when a finger non-detection signal is output from a push switch that is a finger placement detection unit is different from that in the first embodiment. A different point from a form is demonstrated.

Since the mechanical configuration of the nail print apparatus in the present embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.
In the present embodiment, the photographing unit 30 is configured to photograph the printing situation even after the printing operation on the nail portion T is started, and a preprinted image acquisition unit that reads a preprinted image printed on the nail portion T. Function as.
The already printed image photographed by the photographing unit 30 is stored in the printing finger storage unit 54 and the like.

In the present embodiment, the nail printing apparatus includes a push switch 24 that is finger placement detection means, as in the first embodiment, and the printing finger U1 inserted into the printing finger insertion portion 20a is the printing finger placement surface 21a. When placed thereon, the push switch 24 is pushed by the printing finger U1, and a finger detection signal is output. Further, when the printing finger U1 is separated from the push switch 24 due to, for example, floating from the printing finger placement surface 21a, a finger non-detection signal is output from the push switch 24.
After the finger detection signal is output from the push switch 24, if the finger non-detection signal is output from the push switch 24 that is the finger placement detection means before the printing operation for the nail portion T is started, the print control unit 53 When the finger detection signal is output again from the push switch 24, printing from the initial printing position to the nail portion T is started.
Further, when the finger non-detection signal is output from the push switch 24 during the printing operation on the nail portion T, the print control unit 53 displays the already printed image when the finger detection signal is output from the push switch 24 again. A reprint position is determined based on an already printed image read by the photographing unit 30 as an acquisition unit, and reprinting is started from the reprint position based on print data when the printing operation to the nail portion T is stopped. It has become.

  Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, a printing control method by the nail printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

In the present embodiment, when a finger non-detection signal is output from the push switch 24, the print control unit 53 performs a print operation stop process (FIG. 12 and FIG. 12) by the same process as described in the first embodiment. (See FIG. 13). Thereafter, when the printing finger U1 is placed again on the printing finger placement surface 21a and the push switch 24 is pushed by the printing finger U1 and a finger detection signal is output, as shown in FIG. Performs a resumption process of the printing operation.
Specifically, the current printing status of the nail portion T of the printing finger U1 placed on the printing finger placement surface 21a is acquired based on the monitoring result of the print head 46 (step S81), and the nail portion is obtained. It is determined whether or not the printing operation for T has been started (step S82).
When it is determined that the printing operation on the nail portion T has not been started (step S82; NO), the print control unit 53 initializes the printing image data output to the head driving unit 461 of the print head 46. At the same time (step S83), the head moving circuit 56 is controlled to move the print head 46 so that the print head 46 is positioned at the printing initial position (step S84). Then, printing on the nail portion T is started again from the initial printing position (step S85).

On the other hand, when it is determined that the printing operation on the nail portion T has been started (step S82; YES), the print control unit 53 determines whether or not the printing on the nail portion T has been completed. (Step S86) When the printing is completed (Step S86; YES), the process is terminated. In this case, it may be displayed on the display unit 13 that printing has been completed.
On the other hand, when the printing is not completed (step S86; NO), the print control unit 53 is placed on the print finger placement surface 21a photographed by the photographing unit 30 as the already-printed image acquisition unit. An already printed image that is an image of the current nail portion T of the printing finger U1 is acquired (step S87). Then, the print control unit 53 acquires the position information of the image to be restarted based on the already-printed image (step S88), and acquires the position information of the print head 46 when the printing is restarted (step S88). Step S89).

Specifically, for example, when printing is performed with two scans for one nail portion T, a finger non-detection signal is output from the push switch 24 at the time when the first scan is completed as shown in FIG. When the printing operation is stopped, the image of the second scan for the nail portion T is acquired by the print control unit 53 as the position information of the image whose printing should be resumed. Further, the print start position of the second scan for the nail portion T is acquired by the print control unit 53 as position information of the print head 46 when printing is resumed.
In addition, for example, when printing is performed with two scans for one nail portion T, as shown in FIG. 19, a finger non-detection signal is output from the push switch 24 during the first scan, and the printing operation is performed. When the operation is stopped, the subsequent image of the nail portion T in the first scan is acquired by the print control unit 53 as the position information of the image whose printing should be resumed. Further, the position adjacent to the print operation stop position in the first scan for the nail portion T is acquired by the print control unit 53 as the position information of the print head 46 when printing is resumed.
When the nozzle surface 462 of the print head 46 is smaller than the surface of the print head 46 facing the nail portion T, the printing operation is performed so that no gap is left between the existing image when printing is resumed. The position adjacent to the stop position is determined by the size of the nozzle surface 462 as shown in FIG.

  When the position information of the image to be restarted and the position information of the print head 46 at the time of restarting printing are acquired, the print control unit 53 sends the image data to be restarted to the head drive unit 461 of the print head 46. In addition to outputting (step S90), the head moving circuit 56 is controlled to move the print head 46 so that the print head 46 is positioned at the position of the print head 46 when printing is resumed (step S91). And based on the data of the image which should restart printing, the printing to the nail | claw part T is started from the position which should restart printing (step S92).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, after the finger detection signal is output from the push switch 24, the finger non-detection signal is output from the push switch 24, and even when printing is temporarily stopped, the push switch is again performed. When a finger detection signal is output from 24, printing can be restarted appropriately according to the printing status at the time when printing is stopped.
Accordingly, it is possible to perform printing on the nail portion T without the trouble of redoing the print setting again. Further, since printing can be resumed by inserting the printing finger U1 into the printing finger insertion unit 20a and operating the push switch 24, the user pulls out the hand from the printing finger insertion unit 20a and operates the operation button for starting the printing operation. It is not necessary to perform such operations as to perform printing on the nail portion T easily and quickly.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment of the nail print apparatus according to the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the processing when a finger non-detection signal is output from a push switch that is a finger placement detection unit is different from that in the first embodiment. A different point from a form is demonstrated.

In the present embodiment, the nail printing apparatus includes a push switch 24 that is finger placement detection means, as in the first embodiment, and the printing finger U1 inserted into the printing finger insertion portion 20a is the printing finger placement surface 21a. When placed thereon, the push switch 24 is pushed by the printing finger U1, and a finger detection signal is output. Further, when the printing finger U1 is separated from the push switch 24 due to, for example, floating from the printing finger placement surface 21a, a finger non-detection signal is output from the push switch 24.
In the present embodiment, the finger detection signal and finger non-detection signal output from the push switch 24 directly control the operation of the head drive unit 461 of the print head 46 without passing through the control unit 50 (print control unit 53). Output to a head moving circuit 56 for controlling the operation of the head driving circuit 55, the first motor 43 for moving the print head 46, and the second motor 47, and a finger non-detection signal from the push switch 24. Is output, the drive of the print head 46 by the head drive unit 461 and / or the movement of the print head 46 by the first motor 43 and the second motor 47 are stopped.

In the present embodiment, when a finger detection signal is output from the push switch 24 and a printing operation is started, a printing operation flag is set in the printing control unit 53, a head driving signal for printing operation, printing The head movement signal for operation is output to the head drive circuit 55 and the head movement circuit 56. In addition, when the non-printing time during which the printing operation flag is not set is output due to a finger non-detection signal being output from the push switch 24, the print control unit 53 prints the head driving signal for this printing operation, printing A head driving signal at the time of non-printing that instructs an operation other than the printing operation different from the head movement signal for operation and a head movement signal at the time of non-printing are output to the head driving circuit 55 and the head moving circuit 56. .
In the present embodiment, when the finger non-detection signal is output from the push switch 24, the print head 46 is driven by the head drive unit 461 and / or the print head 46 is moved by the first motor 43 and the second motor 47. Even when printing is stopped, the head drive signal during non-printing and the head movement signal during non-printing that instructs operations other than printing operations that are output in a non-printing state where the printing operation flag is not set are push switches. Regardless of the finger non-detection signal from 24, the head drive circuit 55 and the head movement circuit 56 can be effectively output.
Therefore, the print control unit 53 outputs the head drive signal at the time of non-printing and the head movement signal at the time of non-printing to the head drive circuit 55 and the head movement circuit even when the finger detection signal is not output from the push switch 24. By outputting to 56, it is possible to perform maintenance operations such as movement of the print head for maintenance and idle ejection.

  Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

  Next, a printing control method by the nail printing apparatus in the present embodiment will be described.

In this embodiment, when a finger non-detection signal is output from the push switch 24, the finger non-detection signal is directly output to the head driving circuit 55 and the head moving circuit 56, and the print head 46 by the head driving unit 461 is output. And / or the movement of the print head 46 by the first motor 43 and the second motor 47 is immediately stopped.
The print control unit 53 outputs a finger non-detection signal from the push switch 24, and when it is not printing, the head driving signal for non-printing instructing an operation other than the printing operation and the head moving signal for non-printing are head-driven. It is possible to output to the circuit 55 and the head moving circuit 56. When the non-printing head driving signal and the non-printing head movement signal are output to the head driving circuit 55 and the head moving circuit 56, the head driving circuit 55 is output regardless of the output of the finger non-detection signal from the push switch 24. And the head moving circuit 56 can be controlled, and the print control unit 53 performs a maintenance operation such as movement of the print head 46 for maintenance or empty ink ejection as necessary.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a finger non-detection signal is output from the push switch 24, a signal is directly output to the head driving circuit 55 and the head moving circuit 56 without passing through the print control unit 53. Therefore, the movement of the print head 46 and the ink ejection can be stopped immediately.
For this reason, it is possible to more surely prevent interference between the print head and the nail portion T due to the lifting of the printing finger U1 or the like, and discharge of ink to the nail portion T in an inappropriate state.
Even in this case, the print control unit 53 can output the head driving signal at the time of non-printing and the head moving signal at the time of non-printing to instruct an operation other than the printing operation to the head driving circuit 55 and the head moving circuit 56. Since it is configured, even when a finger non-detection signal is output from the push switch 24, a maintenance operation such as moving the print head 46 over the moisture retaining cap or causing ink to be ejected empty is performed. Is possible.

Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be appropriately changed.
For example, in the present embodiment, an example in which four push switches 24 serving as finger placement detection units are provided corresponding to the four printing fingers U1 has been described. However, the number of push switches 24 is not limited thereto. .
For example, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, a plurality of push switches 26 may be arranged in the extending direction of the printing finger U <b> 1 corresponding to each printing finger U <b> 1. In this case, when the finger detection signal is output from all the push switches 26 corresponding to the printing finger U1 placed on the printing finger placement surface 21a, printing is started. When the finger non-detection signal is output, the printing is stopped.
With such a configuration, it is possible to accurately detect various movements of the print finger U1, and to reduce the concern that the print head 46 and the print finger U1 come into contact with or interfere with each other. .

Also, the finger placement detection means is not anything that can detect contact / separation of the printing finger U1 with respect to the printing finger placement surface 21a, as long as the contact is not fixed by ON / OFF like a seesaw switch, for example. It can be applied and is not limited to the push switch 24.
For example, as shown in FIG. 22 and FIG. 23, when the print finger U1 is placed on the print finger placement surface 21a at a position corresponding to each print finger U1, the finger detection signal is generated when the print finger U1 comes into contact. A surface sensor such as the contact sensor 27 that outputs and outputs a finger non-detection signal when the printing finger U1 is separated may be provided. The size and range of the contact sensor 27 are not particularly limited. In order to appropriately detect the contact / separation of the print finger U1 with respect to the print finger placement surface 21a, the contact sensor 27 corresponds to the vicinity of the first joint from the tip of the print finger U1. It is preferable to arrange so that it is located in the range.
In such a configuration, the contact / separation of the printing finger U1 with respect to the printing finger placement surface 21a can be detected by the surface, so that the print head 46 and the printing finger U1 can be more reliably prevented from contacting and interfering with each other. be able to.
Further, a configuration may be adopted in which a minute touch panel is installed on the print finger placement surface 21a as the finger placement detection means so that the position where the print finger U1 is placed can be confirmed while viewing the display screen. In this case, it is preferable to place an object of the size of rice grains on a small touch panel as a guide when placing the printing finger U1 because the place where the printing finger U1 is placed can be more easily understood.
In addition, a wide touch panel is provided on the print finger placement surface 21a, and the print finger placement surface of the print finger U1 is recognized by recognizing where the print finger U1 is placed (where the touch panel is pressed). You may make it detect the contact / separation to 21a. In this case, it is determined that the printing finger U1 has moved when the pressed location moves or is no longer pressed, and a finger non-detection signal is output.

  In the present embodiment, the nail printing apparatus is described as an example that can cope with both the case where a plurality of printing fingers U1 are printed simultaneously and the case where printing is performed only on one printing finger U1. The apparatus is not limited to this, and may be an apparatus that inserts printing fingers U1 one by one and performs printing.

  In this embodiment, the print finger storage unit 54 is provided in addition to the ROM and RAM of the control unit 50. However, the RAM or the like of the control unit 50 may function as a print finger storage unit.

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 finger placement unit that places a printing finger that is a finger corresponding to the nail portion to be printed, and a print head that performs printing on the nail portion of the printing finger placed on the printing finger placement unit In a nail printing apparatus comprising a printing means,
When the printing finger is placed on the printing finger placement unit, the finger detection signal is output when the printing finger is placed on the printing finger placement unit, and then when the placed printing finger is released. Finger placement detection means for outputting a finger non-detection signal;
When a finger detection signal is output from this finger placement detection means, a printing operation is started to print on the nail portion at the time of this signal output or after a predetermined time has elapsed from the time of this signal output. During this, when a finger non-detection signal is output from this finger placement detection means, a print control means for controlling the printing means to stop the printing operation on the nail part,
A nail printing apparatus comprising:
<Claim 2>
A plurality of the finger placement detection means are provided for one printing finger placed on the printing finger placement means,
When the finger detection signal is output from all the finger placement detection means provided in the print finger placement means, the print control means outputs the signal or after a predetermined time has elapsed since the signal output. A printing operation on the nail portion is started, and when a finger non-detection signal is output from at least one of these finger placement detection means during the printing operation, the printing operation on the nail portion is stopped. The nail printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit is controlled.
<Claim 3>
The finger placement detection means outputs a finger detection signal when pressed by the printing finger when the printing finger is placed on the printing finger placement means, and the printing finger is detected by the finger placement detection means. The nail print apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the nail print apparatus is a push switch that outputs a finger non-detection signal by moving away from the terminal.
<Claim 4>
The finger placement detection means outputs a finger detection signal when the printing finger comes into contact with the printing finger placement means when the printing finger is placed on the printing finger placement means, and the printing finger is output from the finger placement detection means. The nail print apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nail print apparatus is a contact sensor that outputs a finger non-detection signal when separated.
<Claim 5>
A print finger detecting means for detecting a position of the print finger placed on the print finger placing means;
When a finger non-detection signal is output from the finger placement detection unit, the print control unit is configured to move the print finger in the insertion direction in accordance with the position of the print finger detected by the print finger detection unit. 5. The nail printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print head is moved in a direction away from the printing finger. 6.
<Claim 6>
A plurality of printing fingers are simultaneously placed on the printing finger placement means, and printing on a plurality of nail portions is possible.
Printing finger storage means for storing the number of printing fingers placed on the printing finger placement means and the type and / or position of the printing finger currently being printed;
When a finger non-detection signal is output from the finger placement detection means, the print control means counts the number of print fingers placed on the print finger placement means stored in the print finger storage means. The print head is moved in a direction away from the print finger in the back side in the insertion direction of the print finger according to the type and / or position of the print finger currently being printed. The nail printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
<Claim 7>
If a finger non-detection signal is output from the finger placement detection means after the finger detection signal is output from the finger placement detection means and before the printing operation for the nail portion is started, the finger placement detection is performed. When the finger detection signal is output again from the means, the print control means is configured to start printing of the nail portion from the print initial position,
A pre-printed image acquisition means for reading a pre-printed image printed on the nail portion;
When a finger non-detection signal is output from the finger placement detection means after the start of a printing operation on the nail part, when the finger detection signal is output again from the finger placement detection means, the print control means Determining the reprint position based on the preprinted image read by the preprinted image acquisition means, and starting reprinting from the reprint position based on the print data when the printing operation to the nail portion is stopped. The nail print apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein
<Claim 8>
The finger detection signal / finger non-detection signal from the finger placement detection means is output to a head drive circuit that drives the print head and / or a head movement circuit that drives the print head,
5. The drive of the print head and / or the movement of the print head are stopped when a finger non-detection signal is output from the finger placement detection means. The nail printing apparatus according to item.
<Claim 9>
The printing control means is configured to drive the printing head by the head driving circuit and / or the head moving circuit other than the printing operation regardless of the finger non-detection signal from the finger placement detection means during non-printing. 9. The nail printing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a non-printing operation signal for enabling driving of the print head is output to the head driving circuit and / or the head moving circuit.
<Claim 10>
A printing finger placement unit that places a printing finger that is a finger corresponding to the nail portion to be printed, and a print head that performs printing on the nail portion of the printing finger placed on the printing finger placement unit In a printing control method used for a nail printing apparatus provided with a printing means,
A finger detection signal is output when the printing finger is placed on the printing finger placement means, and then a finger non-detection signal is output when the placed printing finger is released. A finger placement detection step to be controlled;
When a finger detection signal is output in this finger placement detection step, a printing operation for printing on the nail part is started after this signal is output or after a predetermined time has elapsed from the time of this signal output. During operation, when a finger non-detection signal is output in this finger placement detection step, a printing control step for controlling the printing unit so as to stop the printing operation on the nail part;
A printing control method comprising:

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Nail printing apparatus 2 Case main body 4 Cover body 12 Operation part 13 Display part 20a Printing finger insertion part 20b Non-printing finger insertion part 20c Grasp part (partition wall)
20 Printing finger fixing part 21a Printing finger mounting surface 23 Printable area 24 Push switch 30 Imaging part 32 Camera 33 Illumination lamp (LED)
40 Printing unit 46 Print head 50 Control unit 53 Print control unit 54 Printing finger storage unit X Finger insertion direction T Nail unit U1 Printing finger

Claims (9)

A print finger placement means for placing a print finger that is a finger corresponding to the nail portion to be printed;
A printing means having a print head for printing on the nail portion of the printing finger placed on the printing finger placement means;
When the printing finger is placed on the printing finger placement unit, the finger detection signal is output when the printing finger is placed on the printing finger placement unit, and when the printing finger is separated from the printing finger placement unit. Finger placement detection means for outputting a finger non-detection signal;
Printing finger detection means for detecting the position of the printing finger placed on the printing finger placement means;
When the finger detection signal is output from the finger placement detection means, printing is performed on the nail portion by the printing means when the signal of the finger detection signal is output or after a predetermined time has elapsed from the output of this signal. When the finger placement detection means outputs the finger non-detection signal during the printing operation, the printing operation is stopped and the printing finger detected by the printing finger detection means is started. depending on the position, in so that moving the print head in a direction away from the printing finger, and print control means for controlling said printing means,
A nail printing apparatus comprising: A plurality of the finger placement detection means are provided for one printing finger placed on the printing finger placement means,
When the finger detection signals are output from all the finger placement detection means provided in the print finger placement means, the print control means outputs a predetermined time from the time of the signal output or the time of the signal output. The printing unit is configured to start the printing operation later, and stop the printing operation when the finger non-detection signal is output from at least one of these finger placement detection units during the printing operation. The nail printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nail printing apparatus is controlled.   The finger placement detection unit outputs the finger detection signal when pressed by the printing finger when the printing finger is placed on the printing finger placement unit, and the printing finger detects the finger placement detection. The nail print apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the nail print apparatus is a push switch that outputs the finger non-detection signal by moving away from the means.   The finger placement detection means outputs the finger detection signal when the printing finger comes into contact with the printing finger placement means when the printing finger is placed on the printing finger placement means, and the printing finger is detected by the finger placement detection means. The nail print apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nail print apparatus is a contact sensor that outputs the finger non-detection signal by moving away from a finger. A plurality of the printing fingers are simultaneously placed on the printing finger placing means, and printing on a plurality of nail portions is possible.
Printing finger storage means for storing the number of printing fingers placed on the printing finger placement means and the type and / or position of the printing finger currently being printed;
When the finger non-detection signal is output from the finger placement detection means, the print control means is configured to output the print finger placed on the print finger placement means stored in the print finger storage means. The print head is moved in a direction away from the print finger in the back side in the insertion direction of the print finger according to the number and the type and / or position of the print finger currently being printed. The nail printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 . After the finger detection signal is output from the finger placement detection means, and before the printing operation for the nail portion is started, after the finger non-detection signal is output from the finger placement detection means, When the finger detection signal is output again from the position detection means, the print control means is configured to start printing of the nail portion from the initial printing position,
A pre-printed image acquisition means for reading a pre-printed image printed on the nail portion;
The print control means when the finger placement detection means outputs the finger detection signal again after the finger placement detection means is outputted after the finger placement detection means is outputted after the printing operation for the nail portion is started. Determines a reprint position based on the preprinted image read by the preprinted image acquisition means, and reprints from the reprint position based on the print data when the printing operation to the nail portion is stopped. The nail print apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the nail print apparatus is started. The finger detection signal / the finger non-detection signal from the finger placement detection means is output to a head drive circuit that drives the print head and / or a head movement circuit that drives the print head,
The drive of the print head and / or the movement of the print head are stopped when the finger non-detection signal is output from the finger placement detection means. The nail printing apparatus according to one item. The printing control means drives the printing head by the head driving circuit other than the printing operation and / or the head moving circuit regardless of the finger non-detection signal from the finger placement detection means during non-printing. The nail printing apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein a non-printing operation signal that enables driving of the print head is output to the head driving circuit and / or the head moving circuit. A printing finger placement unit that places a printing finger that is a finger corresponding to the nail portion to be printed, and a print head that performs printing on the nail portion of the printing finger placed on the printing finger placement unit In a printing control method used for a nail printing apparatus provided with a printing means,
A finger detection signal is output when the printing finger is placed on the printing finger placement means, and a finger non-detection signal is output when the printing finger leaves the printing finger placement means. A finger placement detection step to be controlled;
A print finger detecting step of detecting a position of the print finger placed on the print finger placing means;
When the finger detection signal is output in the finger placement detection step, printing is performed on the nail portion by the printing unit when the signal of the finger detection signal is output or after a predetermined time has elapsed since the signal output. When the finger non-detection signal is output in the finger placement detection step during the printing operation, the printing operation is stopped and the printing detected by the printing finger detection step is started. A printing control step for controlling the printing means to move the print head in a direction away from the printing finger in accordance with the position of the finger ;
A printing control method comprising:

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