US20150366317A1

US20150366317A1 - Drawing apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20150366317A1
Application number: US14/625,463
Authority: US
Inventors: Hiroyasu Bitoh
Original assignee: Casio Computer Co Ltd
Current assignee: Casio Computer Co Ltd
Priority date: 2013-12-20
Filing date: 2015-02-18
Publication date: 2015-12-24
Also published as: JP2015134150A; JP6277887B2

Abstract

A drawing apparatus includes a mounting section having a mounting surface for mounting thereon a drawing target object having a drawing target surface, a carriage for attaching thereto a drawing tool having a tip portion at one end, and a drawing tool pressing mechanism for bringing the tip portion of the drawing tool attached to the carriage into contact with the drawing target surface of the drawing target object mounted on the mounting surface.

The carriage includes a fitting member to be fitted with the tip portion of the drawing tool, and configured to be movable with the drawing tool having the fitted tip portion, and a biasing member biasing the fitting member in a direction away from the mounting surface.

The drawing tool pressing mechanism presses the drawing tool with the tip portion fitted with the fitting member in a direction where the tip portion approaches the mounting surface, and brings the tip portion into contact with the drawing target surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application Nos. 2013-263762, filed on Dec. 20, 2013, and 2014-131329, filed on Jun. 26, 2014, and the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drawing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A nail printing apparatus is conventionally known which prints design images such as colors and patterns on the surfaces of nails of a person by an inkjet method.
However, the diameter of a nozzle hole of an inkjet print head is small. Therefore, there are restrictions such as that an ink having a color material with a large particle size and an ink having a high viscosity cannot be used. Hence, there is a limit to printable nail designs.
In order to deal with this, there is a plotter drawing apparatus that includes a drawing unit on which a drawing tool such as a pen is attached, and causes a tip portion of the pen to come into contact with paper to draw. Such a drawing apparatus is described in, for example, JP 7-266789 A. The use of the plotter drawing apparatus as a drawing apparatus that performs nail printing with high color saturation, using various inks is conceivable.
Here, a nail being a print target object of the nail printing apparatus has a curved shape whose ends and center portion are different in height. A print target surface being the surface of the nail changes relatively largely in the up and down direction (height direction) by approximately 10 mm at the maximum.
Hence, if the plotter drawing apparatus is used as the nail printing apparatus, it is necessary to apply appropriate pressure on a tip portion of a drawing tool such as a pen and relatively largely and flexibly move the tip portion up and down, following changes in the height direction of the surface of the nail.
However, the known plotter printing apparatus is configured assuming to draw on a flat surface such as paper. Hence, it does not have a structure that can apply appropriate pressure on the tip portion of the drawing tool such as a pen and cause the tip portion to excellently follow relatively large changes in the up and down direction (height direction) of the drawing target surface.
Furthermore, in the plotter printing apparatus, it is necessary to control the shift of the axis of the pen of when the drawing tool is largely moved up and down in order to draw with fine detail while largely moving the drawing tool up and down. However, in the known plotter drawing apparatus, this point is not considered, either. Hence, it is difficult in the configuration of the known plotter drawing apparatus to smoothly and beautifully perform nail printing on the surface of the nail.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has an advantage that can provide a drawing apparatus that can follow changes in the height direction of a drawing target surface and control the shift of the axis of a pen to perform nail printing with fine detail, in a case of drawing on nails in the plotter method.
There is provided a drawing apparatus including: a mounting section including a mounting surface configured to mount thereon a drawing target object having a drawing target surface; a carriage including a fitting member configured to be fitted with a tip portion of a drawing tool having the tip portion on one end side, and be movable together with the drawing tool whose tip portion is fitted therein, and a biasing member biasing the fitting member in a first direction away from the mounting surface; and a drawing tool pressing mechanism configured to press the drawing tool whose tip portion is fitted in the fitting member in a second direction where the tip portion approaches the mounting surface with a larger force than a biasing force of the biasing member, and bring the tip portion into contact with the drawing target surface of the drawing target object mounted on the mounting surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a front view of a nail printing apparatus in a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side view in section illustrating an internal configuration by sectioning a part of the nail printing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a top view of a drawing head in the first embodiment, FIG. 3B is a front view of the drawing head of FIG. 3A when viewed from an arrow b direction, and FIG. 3C is a side view of the drawing head of FIG. 3A when viewed from an arrow c direction;

FIG. 4A is a side view that enlarges a part of a pen carriage in a state where auxiliary shaft members are not being pressed, FIG. 4B is a side view that enlarges a part of the pen carriage in a state where the auxiliary shaft members are being pressed, FIG. 4C is a bottom view of the pen carriage of FIG. 4A when viewed from the undersurface side, and FIG. 4D is a plan view that enlarges a part of a first plate-like member;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a pen;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are side views of a slide pin, a coil spring, and a pin attachment member, and FIG. 6A is a side view illustrating a state where the slide pin is not being pressed, and FIG. 6B is a side view illustrating a state where the slide pin is being pressed;

FIG. 7A is a side view that enlarges the pen carriage at the time of non-drawing and a pen supported by the pen carriage, and FIG. 7B is a side view that enlarges the pen carriage in a state where the pen is being pressed down, and the pen supported by the pen carriage;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the pen carriage in a drawing state where a finger is placed in a finger fixing section and the pen supported by the pen carriage;

FIG. 9 is a main part block diagram illustrating a control configuration of the nail printing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 10A is a top view of a drawing head in a second embodiment, FIG. 10B is a front view of the drawing head of FIG. 1 OA when viewed from an arrow b direction, and FIG. 10C is a side view of the drawing head of FIG. 10A when viewed from an arrow c direction;

FIG. 11A is a top view of a pen in a third embodiment, FIG. 11B is a side view of the pen of FIG. 11A, FIG. 11C is a side view of a nib fitting member into which the pen of FIG. 11A is fitted, and auxiliary shaft members, and FIG. 11D is a bottom view of the nib fitting member and the auxiliary shaft members of FIG. 11C when viewed from an arrow d direction;

FIG. 12A is a side view that enlarges a part of a pen carriage in a state where the auxiliary shaft members are not being pressed in the third embodiment, FIG. 12B is a side view that enlarges a part of the pen carriage in a state where the auxiliary shaft members are being pressed in the third embodiment, and FIG. 12C is a bottom view of the pen carriage of FIG. 12A when viewed from an arrow c direction;

FIG. 13A is a top view of a drawing head in a fourth embodiment, and FIG. 13B is a side view of the drawing head of FIG. 13A;

FIG. 14A is a side view of a pen in a state where auxiliary shaft members are not being pressed in the fourth embodiment, FIG. 14B is a side view of the pen in a state where the auxiliary shaft members are being pressed in the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 14C is a bottom view of the pen and the nib fitting member of FIG. 14A when viewed from an arrow c direction; and

FIG. 15A is a top view of a drawing head in a fifth embodiment, and FIG. 15B is a side view of the drawing head of FIG. 15A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of a drawing apparatus and a drawing control method for the drawing apparatus according to the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
Various limitations, which are technically preferable, are added to the embodiments described below to carry out the present invention. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited by the following embodiments and illustrated examples.
In the following embodiments, a drawing apparatus is assumed to draw with a finger of the hand as a drawing target object, and the surface of the nail of the finger of the hand as a drawing target surface. However, the drawing target object of the present invention is not limited to a finger of the hand, and the drawing target surface is not limited to the surface of the nail of the finger of the hand. For example, a toe of the foot may be set as the drawing target object, and the surface of the nail of the toe of the foot as the drawing target surface.

First Embodiment

A first embodiment of the nail printing apparatus (drawing apparatus) according to the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the internal configuration of a nail printing apparatus 1.
FIG. 2 is a side view in section illustrating the internal configuration by sectioning a part of the nail printing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the nail printing apparatus (drawing apparatus) 1 in the embodiment is a plotter printing apparatus where a drawing head 70 includes a pen 71 that draws on a nail T of a print finger U1.
The nail printing apparatus 1 includes a case main body 2 and an apparatus main body 10 housed in the case main body 2.
A pen replacement purpose cover unit 23 configured to be openable and closable for replacing the pen (drawing tool) 71 of a drawing unit 7 described below is provided at one end of an upper part of a side surface of the case main body 2.
The pen replacement purpose cover unit 23 is pivotable on, for example, a hinge from the closed state to the open state, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
Furthermore, a medium insertion/removal port 24 where a drawing medium (not illustrated) to be mounted on a pen break-in section 61 described below can be replaced is formed at a position on one side surface of the case main body 2 (a left side surface in FIG. 1 in the embodiment), the position corresponding to the pen break-in section 61.
An operating unit 25 (refer to FIG. 9) is placed on a top surface (top) of the case main body 2.
The operating unit 25 is an input unit that allows a user to perform various input operations.
Unillustrated operation buttons for performing various input operations, such as a power switch button to turn on the power to the nail printing apparatus 1, a stop switch button to stop the operation, a design selection button to select a design image to be drawn on the nail T, and a drawing start button to instruct the start of drawing, are placed on the operating unit 25.
A display unit 26 is placed in a substantially center portion of the top surface (top) of the case main body 2.
The display unit 26 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD: Liquid Crystal Display), an organic electroluminescence display, or any other flat display.
In the embodiment, for example, a nail image (a finger image including an image of the nail T) obtained by photographing the print finger U1, an image of the outline and the like of the nail T included in the nail image, a design selection screen for selecting a design image to be drawn on the nail T, a thumbnail image for a design check, and an instruction screen for displaying various instructions are displayed on the display unit 26, as appropriate.
A touch panel may be integrally formed on the surface of the display unit 26. In this case, it is configured in such a manner as to be able to perform various input operations by touch operations of touching the surface of the display unit 26 with, for example, an unillustrated stylus pen or fingertip, the stylus pen being a rod-like writing instrument with a pointing tip and writing by being pressed against the surface of the touch panel.
The apparatus main body 10 includes a lower machine casing 11 formed into a substantially box shape and placed in a lower part inside the case main body 2, and an upper machine casing 12 placed in an upper part inside the case main body 2 above the lower machine casing 11.
First, the lower machine casing 11 is described.
The lower machine casing 11 includes a back plate 111, a bottom plate 112, a pair of left and right side plates 113 a and 113 b, an X-direction moving stage housing section 114, a Y-direction moving stage housing section 115, and a dividing wall 116.
Lower ends of the side plates 113 a and 113 b are coupled directly to both of left and right ends of the bottom plate 112. The side plates 113 a and 113 b are provided in a standing manner with respect to the bottom plate 112.
A lower part of the back plate 111 is formed in such a manner as to be recessed toward the front (frontward in a finger insertion direction) in two stages. A lower end of the back plate 111 is coupled to a front end of the bottom plate 112. The back plate 111 partitions an area surrounded by the bottom plate 112 and the side plates 113 a and 113 b into front and back spaces.
The space formed behind the recessed back plate 111 serves as the X-direction moving stage housing section 114 and the Y-direction moving stage housing section 115 (refer to FIG. 2). An X-direction moving stage 45 of the drawing unit 7 is housed in the X-direction moving stage housing section 114 when the drawing unit 7 has moved to the front (frontward in the finger insertion direction).
A Y-direction moving stage 47 of the drawing unit 7 is placed in the Y-direction moving stage housing section 115.
The dividing wall 116 is provided inside the lower machine casing 11 in such a manner as to partition the front space in the lower machine casing 11 (the frontward space in the finger insertion direction surrounded by the back plate 111, the bottom plate 112, and the side plates 113 a and 113 b) into upper and lower spaces.
The dividing wall 116 is provided substantially horizontally. Both of left and right ends of the dividing wall 116 are coupled directly to the side plates 113 a and 113 b, respectively. A back end of the dividing wall 116 is coupled to the back plate 111.
The lower machine casing 11 is integrally provided with a finger fixing section 30 (refer to FIG. 2).
The finger fixing section 30 includes a finger receiving section 31 that receives a finger corresponding to the nail T on which drawing is performed (hereinafter referred to as the “print finger U1”), and a finger withdrawal section 32 that allows the fingers but the print finger U1 (hereinafter referred to as the “non-print fingers U2”) to withdraw.
The finger receiving section 31 is placed in a substantially central portion in the width direction of the lower machine casing 11 above the dividing wall 116.
The space partitioned by the dividing wall 116 as the lower side of the lower machine casing 11 forms the finger withdrawal section 32.
For example, if drawing is performed on the nail T of the ring finger, the ring finger as the print finger U1 is inserted into the finger receiving section 31, and the other four fingers (the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and little finger) being the non-print fingers U2 are inserted into the finger withdrawal section 32, as illustrated in FIG. 8.
The finger receiving section 31 opens toward the front surface side of the lower machine casing 11 (frontward in the print finger insertion direction). A lower side of the finger receiving section 31 is partitioned by a finger mounting section 116 a forming a part of the dividing wall 116, both sides thereof by a divider 31 a, and a back side thereof by a divider 31 c (refer to FIG. 8). The finger mounting section 116 a is for mounting a finger of the nail T on which drawing is performed (the print finger U1 and the drawing target object) on an X-Y plane.
An upper side of the finger receiving section 31 is partitioned by a ceiling section 31 d.
A window 31 e for exposing the nail T of the print finger U1, which has been inserted into the finger receiving section 31, is formed in the ceiling section 31 d (refer to FIG. 8).
Front walls 31 f (refer to FIG. 1) that block the front surface side of the lower machine casing 11 are provided in a standing manner on a top surface of the dividing wall 116 at both ends on the front surface side of the lower machine casing 11.
A pair of guide walls 31 g (refer to FIG. 1) that narrows from one ends of the front walls 31 f, which are closer to the central portion, toward the finger receiving section 31 and guides the print finger U1 into the finger receiving section 31 is provided in a standing manner on the top surface of the dividing wall 116.
The user can sandwich the dividing wall 116 between the print finger U1 inserted into the finger receiving section 31 and the non-print fingers U2 inserted into the finger withdrawal section 32. Hence, the print finger U1 inserted into the finger receiving section 31 is stably fixed.
In the embodiment, a protrusion 116 b protruding downward is formed at a front end of the dividing wall 116.
The protrusion 116 b is a taper portion whose thickness gradually decreases toward the front side and gradually increases toward the back side. The protrusion 116 b may have a structure that is thick as a whole as compared to a recess on a back side of the dividing wall 116. In this manner, the protrusion 116 b is formed at the front end of the dividing wall 116. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 8, when the non-print fingers U2 have been inserted into the finger withdrawal section 32, a space is secured between the nail T of the already drawn finger and the dividing wall 116 so that it is possible to prevent the ink from attaching to the apparatus side and prevent the design drawn on the nail T from being smudged and marred, due to the contact of the nail T with an undersurface of the dividing wall 116.
The pen break-in section 61 that allows the pen 71 described below to break in is provided on a top surface of the lower machine casing 11 on a side of the finger receiving section 31 (a position corresponding to the medium insertion/removal port 24 of the case main body 2, and on the left side in FIG. 1 in the embodiment) within a drawable area of the drawing head 70 described below.
The pen break-in section 61 is formed by recessing a part of the top surface of the lower machine casing 11, and is preferably provided in such a manner as that the height of the pen break-in section 61 is made substantially the same as that of the nail T of when the print finger U1 is inserted into the finger receiving section 31.
The pen break-in section 61 is a flat plate-like part, and is configured in such a manner as that an unillustrated drawn medium inserted from the above-mentioned medium insertion/removal port 24 of the case main body 2 is mounted thereon.
The drawn medium to be mounted on the pen break-in section 61 is required to enable a nib (tip portion) 713 to break in and is, for example, a slip of paper.
In order to prevent the start of drawing from becoming patchy due to reasons such as the dry nib 713 and insufficient deposition of ink, the pen break-in section 61 lowers the pen 71 on the drawn medium, draws a predetermined shape such as “o” or “∞”, causes the nib 713 to break in, and makes the state of the nib 713 excellent before starting drawing on the nail T with image data.
The predetermined shape to be drawn upon breaking in is not specially limited. However, simple shapes such as “o” and “∞” are preferable to prevent a waste of ink. In breaking in, it is preferable to shift the shape drawing position bit by bit within an area of the pen break-in section 61 for every break-in.
When drawing has been performed on the substantially entire surface of the drawn medium, a display screen that prompts the replacement of the drawn medium, such as “Please replace the paper,” is configured to be displayed on the display unit 26.
In this case, the user removes the drawn medium from the medium insertion/removal port 24 to replace it with a new one. Accordingly, it enters a state where break-in can be performed on the new drawn medium.
For example, if the drawn medium is a roll of paper, when the drawing space is used up, the drawn medium is unreeled from the roll of paper to enable break-in on a new drawing surface.
The drawing unit 7 is formed including, for example, the drawing head 70 having the drawing purpose pen 71, a unit supporting member 44 that supports the drawing head 70, the X-direction moving stage 45 for moving the drawing head 70 in the X direction (the X direction in FIG. 1, and the left and right direction of the nail printing apparatus 1), an X-direction movement motor 46, the Y-direction moving stage 47 for moving the drawing head 70 in the Y direction (the Y direction in FIG. 2, and the front and back direction of the nail printing apparatus 1), and a Y-direction movement motor 48.
FIG. 3A is a top view of the drawing head 70.
FIG. 3B is a front view of the drawing head 70 of FIG. 3A when viewed from an arrow b direction.
FIG. 3C is a side view of the drawing head 70 of FIG. 3A when viewed from an arrow c direction.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3A to 3C, in the embodiment, the drawing head 70 includes a rotary pen carriage 72 that can hold a plurality of pens 71, a carriage rotating mechanism 73 for rotating the pen carriage 72, and a pen pressing mechanism 74 for moving up and down the pen 71 held by the pen carriage 72.
An upper end of the unit supporting member 44 is a beam portion 441 jutting out toward the front side of the nail printing apparatus 1 (the left side in FIG. 2) in a substantially L shape. The drawing head 70 is provided to the beam portion 441.
The pen carriage 72 of the embodiment includes three plate-like members 721 to 723 (in other words, the first plate-like member 721, the second plate-like member 722, and the third plate-like member 723), nib fitting members 720, a rotating shaft 724, auxiliary shaft members 725, coil springs 726, pen-specific cylindrical members 761, and a rotating shaft-specific cylindrical member 762.
The three plate-like members 721 to 723 (the first plate-like member 721, the second plate-like member 722, and the third plate-like member 723) are disc-shaped members formed in substantially the same size, and are stacked in the order of the first plate-like member 721, the second plate-like member 722, and the third plate-like member 723 from the bottom.
Teeth to mesh with a gear 733 of the carriage rotating mechanism 73 are formed on an outer peripheral surface of the third plate-like member 723 placed at the top. The third plate-like member 723 functions as a gear.
A reference indicator 728 for indicating a reference position of the rotation of the pen carriage 72 is provided at a predetermined position (for example, a position corresponding to a predetermined pen-specific cylindrical member 761) on an outer peripheral surface of the second plate-like member 722.
The reference indicator 728 is a reflective cloth, a reflective sheet, or the like that can be read by, for example, a photoreflector, and is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the second plate-like member 722 by affixation or the like in the embodiment.
The pen carriage 72 includes eight pen-specific cylindrical members 761 that open upward and downward and respectively hold the pens 71, the eight pen-specific cylindrical members 761 being placed along the periphery of the pen carriage 72.
FIG. 4A is a main part side view enlarging and illustrating a part of the pen carriage 72, and illustrates a non-drawing state where the pen 71 is up.
FIG. 4B is a main part side view illustrating a drawable state where the pen 71 of FIG. 4A is down.
FIG. 4C is a bottom view of the pen carriage 72 of FIG. 4A when viewed from the undersurface side.
FIG. 4D is a partially enlarged view of the first plate-like member 721, which illustrates a state where the nib fitting member 720 has been removed from the first plate-like member 721 of FIG. 4C.
As illustrated in FIGS. 4A to 4D, in the embodiment, through holes (only a through hole 721 a of the first plate-like member 721 is illustrated in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4D) corresponding to the positions where the pen-specific cylindrical members 761 are placed are respectively formed in the three plate-like members 721 to 723. The pen-specific cylindrical member 761 is inserted through the through holes, and is provided penetrating the three plate-like members 721 to 723.
The number of the pen-specific cylindrical members 761 provided to the pen carriage 72 is not specially limited. It may be more than or less than eight.
As the number of the pen-specific cylindrical members 761 included is increased, more pens 71 can be held simultaneously. Accordingly, it becomes possible to draw a complicated nail design using various inks.
Not all the pen-specific cylindrical members 761 are required to hold the pen 71.
FIGS. 3A and 3C illustrate an example where four pen-specific cylindrical members 761 out of eight hold the pens 71.
Through holes for an auxiliary shaft through which the auxiliary shaft members 725 are inserted (only a through hole 721 b of the first plate-like member 721 is illustrated in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4D) are formed on both sides of the through holes for a pen in the first plate-like member 721 and the second plate-like member 722.
The nib fitting members 720 are respectively placed on an undersurface of the first plate-like member 721 in such a manner as to block undersurfaces of the pen-specific cylindrical members 761.
The nib fitting member 720 is a fitting member for fixing a tip portion side of a pen shaft portion 711 of the pen 71 being a drawing tool.
The nib fitting member 720 is provided with the auxiliary shaft members 725 that are fixed in parallel with the pen shaft portion 711 of the pen 71 and move up and down together with the pen 71, and the coil springs 726 as auxiliary shaft biasing members that bias the auxiliary shaft members 725 upward in a state where an external force is not applied.
Specifically, in the embodiment, the substantially central portion of the nib fitting member 720 is provided with a through hole 720 a into which a fitting portion 712 of the pen 71, which is described below, is inserted and the fitting portion 712 is fitted. Recesses 720 b into which the auxiliary shaft members 725 are fitted are provided on both sides of the through hole 720 a.
The auxiliary shaft member 725 is inserted through the through holes for an auxiliary shaft in the first plate-like member 721 and the second plate-like member 722. A lower end portion of the auxiliary shaft member 725 is fitted in the recess 720 b of the nib fitting member 720.
Consequently, the auxiliary shaft member 725 is fixed to the nib fitting member 720 in parallel with the pen shaft portion 711 of the pen 71.
An E ring 727 jutting outward is provided in the vicinity of an upper end of the auxiliary shaft member 725.
The outer diameter of the E ring 727 is formed larger than the inner diameter of the through hole for an auxiliary shaft in the second plate-like member 722.
The coil spring 726 is wound around the outer periphery of the pen 71 between the E ring 727 and a top surface of the second plate-like member 722.
The coil spring 726 as the auxiliary shaft biasing member biases the auxiliary shaft member 725 upward in the state where the external force is not applied.
In the embodiment, the coil spring 726 as the auxiliary shaft biasing member is an elastic member that is placed on the outer periphery of the pen 71 and is compressed when the pen 71 is pressed downward by the external force, and has a restoring force that attempts to return to the original state against the external force.
One end side of the coil spring 726 is in contact with an undersurface of the E ring 727. The other end side is in contact with the top surface of the second plate-like member 722.
The coil spring 726 holds the position of the pen 71 at a position where the nib 713 is not in contact with the nail T in a non-drawing state. In other words, as described above, the auxiliary shaft member 725 is biased upward (upward in FIGS. 4A and 4B) by the coil spring 726 and held at a position where the upper end of the auxiliary shaft member 725 is in contact with an undersurface of the third plate-like member 723 in the state where the external force is not applied.
In this state, the nib 713 is located near the undersurface of the first plate-like member 721. It is configured in such a manner as that the nib 713 does not come into contact with the nail T even if the pen carriage moves above the finger receiving section 31.
Through holes (only a through hole 721 c of the first plate-like member 721 is illustrated in FIG. 4D) are formed in substantially central portions of the three plate-like members 721 to 723.
The rotating shaft-specific cylindrical member 762 is inserted through the through holes in the central portions. The rotating shaft-specific cylindrical member 762 is provided penetrating the three plate-like members 721 to 723.
The rotating shaft 724 suspended from the beam portion 441 is inserted through the rotating shaft-specific cylindrical member 762. The pen carriage 72 is configured to be rotatable substantially horizontally around the rotating shaft 724.
Washers are provided to the rotating shaft 724 in such a manner as to sandwich the top and bottom of the pen carriage 72. It is preferable that a retaining E ring or the like be provided at a lower end of the rotating shaft 724. Consequently, the pen carriage 72 can rotate more smoothly around the rotating shaft 724.
FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the appearance of the pen 71 held by such a pen-specific cylindrical member 761 as illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3C in the embodiment.
The pen 71 is a drawing tool that sets the surface of the nail T as the drawing target surface, brings its tip portion into contact with the surface of the nail T being the drawing target surface, and draws thereon.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the pen 71 as the drawing tool is provided with the nib 713 on the tip portion side (lower side of FIG. 5) of the rod-like pen shaft portion 711.
In the embodiment, the fitting portion 712 having a smaller diameter than that of the pen shaft portion 711 is provided on the tip portion side of the pen shaft portion 711.
The fitting portion 712 is a part to be fitted into the through hole 720 a of the nib fitting member 720. The fitting portion 712 is fitted into the through hole 720 a so that the nib 713 is mated excellently. Accordingly, a shake and the like of the nib 713 become hard to occur.
A rod-like protrusion 714 is provided on top of the pen shaft portion 711.
The protrusion 714 is a part to be pressed by a slide pin 77 described below.
The protrusion 714 also functions as a holding portion to be held between fingers or the like when the user removes the pen 71 upon the replacement and the like of the pen 71.
In the embodiment, the case where a tip portion of the protrusion 714 is hemispherical is illustrated. However, the shape of the tip portion of the protrusion 714 is simply required to be a shape that can stably apply pressure by a pressing surface 747 a, and gives a user an easy hold. The shape of the tip portion of the protrusion 714 is not limited to the illustrated example.
The tip portion of the protrusion 714 may have, for example, a spherical shape or a flat plate shape.
The inside of the pen shaft portion 711 is an ink storage portion for storing various inks.
Various inks can be applied as the inks to be stored in the pen shaft portion 711.
The viscosity of ink, the particle diameter (particle size) of a color material, and the like are not specially limited. For example, gold and silver lame inks, white ink, UV curing inks and gel polishes, undercoats, top coats, and nail polishes can also be used.
In the embodiment, the pen 71 is a pen having the ballpoint pen nib 713 through which the ink stored in the pen shaft portion 711 seeps by, for example, pressing the nib 713 against the surface of the nail T to enable drawing.
The pen 71 is not limited to the ballpoint pen.
It may be, for example, a marker pen that impregnates a felt tip with ink to draw, and a brush pen that impregnates a bundle of bristles with ink to draw.
Various sizes can be prepared for the nib 713.
The pens 71 held by the pen carriage 72 may be pens all having the nibs 713 of the same type, or pens having the nibs 713 of different types.
The pen 71 is held only by being inserted through the pen-specific cylindrical member 761 of the pen carriage 72 from above. Hence, it can be easily replaced by methods such as opening the pen replacement purpose cover unit 23 provided to the case main body 2 to hold the protrusion 714 with, for example, a hand or tweezers.
Consequently, the user can realize a wide range of nail designs by appropriately replacing the pen 71 to be attached to the pen carriage 72 with the pen 71 with a different color, a different type of nib 713, and a different type of ink in accordance with the nail design that the user desires to draw.
As illustrated in FIG. 3C, the carriage rotating mechanism 73 includes a step motor 731, and the gear 733 connected to the step motor 731 via the rotating shaft 732 to mesh with the teeth formed on the outer peripheral surface of the third plate-like member 723.
In the embodiment, the rotating shaft 732 is rotated by the drive of the step motor 731. When the gear 733 attached to the rotating shaft 732 is rotated, the third plate-like member 723 as the gear meshing with the gear 733 is rotated. Consequently, it is configured to rotate the pen carriage 72 leftward and rightward.
The carriage rotating mechanism 73 includes an indicator reading portion 734 for reading the reference indicator 728 of the pen carriage 72. The indicator reading portion 734 includes a photoreflector or the like that can read the reference indicator 728 including, for example, a reflective cloth or reflective sheet. The indicator reading portion 734 is configured to output a read result to a drawing control unit 815 whenever reading the reference indicator 728.
The pen pressing mechanism 74 includes an elastically deformable press side elastic member, and is configured to press downward the pen 71 being a drawing tool attached to the pen carriage 72.
In the embodiment, the pen pressing mechanism 74 includes a solenoid 740 having a coil portion 741 and a plunger 742, a pin 743 attached to a movable end side of the plunger 742 of the solenoid 740, a flat spring lift lever 744 coupled at one end to the plunger 742 via the pin 743, a flat spring 746 attached to the other end of the flat spring lift lever 744, the slide pin 77, and a coil spring 78 placed on an outer periphery of the slide pin 77.
The solenoid 740 of the embodiment is a pull-type solenoid that pulls the plunger 742 to the coil portion 741 side (the right side in FIG. 7A and the like) by the energization of the coil portion 741 and protrudes the plunger 742 to the original position by stopping the energization.
The solenoid 740 is required to reciprocate linearly, and is not limited to the pull type but may be configured to be a push type.
A supporting member 442 is provided in a standing manner on the beam portion 441. A supporting shaft 745 is provided to the supporting member 442, extending in a direction orthogonal to the movement direction of the plunger 742.
As illustrated in FIG. 3C, the flat spring lift lever 744 has a substantially L shape in side view. The supporting shaft 745 is inserted through a cross section portion of the L shape of the flat spring lift lever 744. The flat spring lift lever 744 can pivot on the supporting shaft 745.
A long hole 744 a is formed in the flat spring lift lever 744 on a connection side to the plunger 742. The pin 743 attached to the plunger 742 is fitted in the long hole 744 a.
The flat spring 746 is fixed on the other end side of the flat spring lift lever 744.
The flat spring 746 is a press side elastic member that can come into contact with a head of the slide pin 77 and press downward the slide pin 77 and the pen 71 with which the slide pin 77 subsequently comes into contact, and also that can bend and deform when being pressed upward by the slide pin 77 and the pen 71.
The flat spring 746 of the embodiment is a flat plate-like spring, and is placed in such a manner as that its free end side is located above the slide pin 77.
The flat spring 746 has a sufficiently wide width for the slide pin 77 and is configured to come into line or surface contact with the head of the slide pin 77.
If the flat spring 746 is configured to come into point contact with the slide pin 77, the flat spring 746 may deviate from the slide pin 77. Hence, it is configured in such a manner as that the flat spring 746 comes into line or surface contact with the slide pin 77 in order to enable the flat spring 746 to stably and securely press the slide pin 77.
Consequently, the flat spring 746 does not deviate from the slide pin 77 and can stably press the pen 71, which has been brought into contact with the slide pin 77, down in the vertical direction.
A general spring material can be used as the material forming the flat spring 746. For example, “SUS”, “spring steel”, “phosphor bronze”, and “beryllium copper” can be applied. For example, “SUS301-H”, “SUS304”, and “SUS316” can be used as “SUS”.
The material forming the flat spring 746 is not limited to those illustrated herein. The pressing force by the flat spring 746 is related to the bending amount of the spring and the length of the flat spring 746 (in other words, a distance from a base end (a fixed end to the flat spring lift lever 744) to the free end that acts on a press target). If the length of the flat spring 746 is short, even if a softer material is used, a sufficient pressing force can be obtained. If the length of the flat spring 746 is long, a sufficient pressing force cannot be obtained unless a harder material is used.
The pressing force can be adjusted by the spring constant decided by the material used to form the flat spring 746 and the shape (length, width, and the like) of the flat spring 746. The pressing force is set in accordance with an arrangement space and the like of the flat spring 746, as appropriate.
FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a state where the slide pin 77 is up. FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a state where the slide pin 77 is down.
As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the slide pin 77 can move in the up and down direction and is configured in such a manner as that a lower end of the slide pin 77 can come into contact with the top of the pen 71 in a state where the slide pin 77 is down.
Specifically, in the embodiment, the slide pin 77 includes a pin shaft portion 771, a pin head 772 that is provided to an upper end of the pin shaft portion 771, has a larger diameter than that of the pin shaft portion 771, and juts outward of the pin shaft portion 771, and a flange portion 773 that is provided to a lower end surface of the pin shaft portion 771, has a larger diameter than that of the pin shaft portion 771, and juts outward of the pin shaft portion 771. A lower end surface of the flange portion 773 is provided with a pressing portion 774 that can come into contact with the top of the pen 71.
In the embodiment, the pressing portion 774 is formed in a conical concave shape to receive the protrusion 714 of the pen 71.
The shape of the pressing portion 774 is required to be able to stably receive an upper end of the protrusion 714, and is not limited to the concave shape.
For example, the pressing portion 774 may be formed into a convex shape, and a concave portion that receives the pressing portion 774 may be formed at the upper end of the protrusion 714.
The coil spring 78 is a pin side elastic member that is placed on the outer periphery of the pin shaft portion 771 of the slide pin 77 between the pin head 772 and a pin attachment member 79, is compressed when the slide pin 77 is pressed downward by the external force, and has a restoring force that attempts to return to the original state against the external force.
The pin side elastic member is not limited to a coil spring. As long as it is an elastic member that is compressed when the slide pin 77 is pressed downward by the external force and has a restoring force that attempts to return to the original state against the external force.
The slide pin 77 and the coil spring 78 are attached by the pin attachment member 79 onto the beam portion 441.
In other words, a shaft insertion hole 791 through which the pin shaft portion 771 is inserted is formed in the pin attachment member 79.
The shaft insertion hole 791 is formed in such a manner as that the inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the pin shaft portion 771 and is smaller than the outer diameters of the pin head 772 and the flange portion 773, and is configured in such a manner as to prevent the pin shaft portion 771 inserted through the shaft insertion hole 791 from coming off.
The coil spring 78 provided on the outer periphery of the pin shaft portion 771 is stopped on one end side in contact with a top surface of the pin attachment member 79, and is stopped on the other end side bumping into an undersurface of the pin head 772. When the slide pin 77 is pressed downward by the external force, the coil spring 78 is compressed between the top surface of the pin attachment member 79 and the undersurface of the pin head 772.
Screw-specific holes 792 are formed in the pin attachment member 79. Screws are inserted through the screw-specific holes 792 to screw and fix the pin attachment member 79 onto the beam portion 441. Accordingly, the slide pin 77 having the pin shaft portion 771 inserted through the shaft insertion hole 791, and the coil spring 78 provided on the outer periphery of the pin shaft portion 771 are attached on the beam portion 441.
In the embodiment, the press side elastic member includes the flat spring 746 and the coil spring 78 being the pin side elastic member.
FIG. 7A illustrates a state where the solenoid 740 of the pen pressing mechanism 74 is not being operated at the time of non-drawing.
FIG. 7B illustrates a state where the solenoid 740 of the pen pressing mechanism 74 is being operated at the time of drawing.
At the time of non-drawing, the coil portion 741 of the solenoid 740 is not energized. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 7A, the plunger 742 is in a state of protruding toward the front side of the nail printing apparatus 1 (the left side in FIG. 2). Accordingly, the pressing surface 747 a of the flat spring 746 does not come into contact with the protrusion 714 of the pen 71.
In this manner, in the state where the external force (the pressing force by the flat spring 746) is not applied, the pen 71 is pressed upward (upward in FIGS. 4A and 4B) by the biasing forces of the coil springs 726. The nib 713 is held at a height that does not come into contact with the surface of the nail T being the drawing target surface.
In contrast, at the time of drawing, the coil portion 741 of the solenoid 740 is energized to enter a state where the plunger 742 is pulled toward the back side of the nail printing apparatus 1 (the right side in FIG. 2) as illustrated in FIG. 7B.
Consequently, the flat spring lift lever 744 having one end into which the pin 743 of the plunger 742 is fitted pivots on the supporting shaft 745. The flat spring 746 attached to the flat spring lift lever 744 is inclined downward. The free end side of the flat spring 746 comes into contact with the pin head 772 of the slide pin 77 to press the slide pin 77 downward.
Consequently, the pressing portion 774 of the slide pin 77 comes into contact with the upper end of the protrusion 714 to press the protrusion 714 downward.
In the embodiment, the spring constant of the flat spring 746 is configured to be larger than the spring constants of the coil spring 726, which is the auxiliary shaft biasing member, and the coil spring 78. Hence, in a state where the nail T is not placed below the pen 71 as in FIG. 7B, the flat spring 746 can press the pen 71 down to the lowest point only by being slightly bent.
FIG. 8 illustrates a state where the solenoid 740 of the pen pressing mechanism 74 is operated with the print finger U1 inserted into the finger receiving section 31 and the nib 713 is in contact with the nail T.
In this case, as in FIG. 7B, the coil portion 741 of the solenoid 740 is energized to enter a state where the plunger 742 is pulled toward the back side of the nail printing apparatus 1 (the right side in FIG. 2). The flat spring lift lever 744 having one end through which the pin 743 of the plunger 742 is inserted pivots on the supporting shaft 745.
Consequently, the flat spring 746 attached to the flat spring lift lever 744 is inclined downward. The free end side of the flat spring 746 comes into contact with the pin head 772 of the slide pin 77 to press the slide pin 77 downward.
Consequently, the pressing portion 774 of the slide pin 77 comes into contact with the upper end of the auxiliary shaft members 725 and presses the protrusion 714 downward.
When the auxiliary shaft members 725 are pressed down, the pen 71 coupled to the auxiliary shaft members 725 by the nib fitting member 720 is also pressed downward so that the nib 713 comes into contact with the surface of the nail T.
When the nib 713 touches the nail T and the pen 71 is pressed up in accordance with the curved shape of the nail T, the auxiliary shaft members 725 are also pressed up following it.
The flat spring 746 bends and deforms (elastically deforms) by being pressed by the auxiliary shaft members 725. Accordingly, the pen 71 follows the height of the nail T while maintaining appropriate instrument pressure.
The spring constant of the flat spring 746 is not so large. The spring constant is set to a value with the magnitude that does not cause pain and the like on the nail T when the pressing force (external force) by the flat spring 746 is applied on the nail T.
Here, the flat spring 746 is appropriately bent to absorb impact caused by the up and down movements of the pen 71 and also drawing can be beautifully performed with appropriate instrument pressure applied on the nib 713.
The unit supporting member 44 is fixed to an X-direction moving unit 451 attached to the X-direction moving stage 45.
The X-direction moving unit 451 is configured to move on the X-direction moving stage 45 in the X direction along an unillustrated guide with the drive of the X-direction movement motor 46.
Consequently, the drawing head 70 attached to the unit supporting member 44 can move in the X direction (the X direction in FIG. 1 and the left and right direction of the nail printing apparatus 1).
The X-direction moving stage 45 is fixed to a Y-direction moving unit 471 of the Y-direction moving stage 47.
The Y-direction moving unit 471 is configured to move on the Y-direction moving stage 47 in the Y direction along an unillustrated guide with the drive of the Y-direction movement motor 48.
Consequently, the drawing head 70 attached to the unit supporting member 44 can move in the Y direction (the Y direction in FIG. 2 and the front and back direction of the nail printing apparatus 1).
In the embodiment, the X-direction moving stage 45 and the Y-direction moving stage 47 are configured to combine the X-direction movement motor 46, the Y-direction movement motor 48, and unillustrated ball screws and guides.
In the embodiment, the X-direction movement motor 46, the Y-direction movement motor 48, and the like form a head drive unit 49 as an X-Y drive unit that drives, in the X and Y directions, the drawing head 70 including the pen 71 to draw on the nail T.
The solenoid 740 of the pen pressing mechanism 74 for moving the pen 71 up and down, the step motor 731 for rotating the pen carriage 72, the X-direction movement motor 46, and the Y-direction movement motor 48 in the drawing unit 7 are connected to the drawing control unit 815 (refer to FIG. 9) of a control apparatus 80 described below and configured to be controlled by the drawing control unit 815.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a photographing unit 50 is provided to the upper machine casing 12.
In other words, a base plate 13 is installed on the upper machine casing 12. Two cameras 51 as imaging apparatuses of the photographing unit 50 are installed on an undersurface of the central portion of the base plate 13.
The camera 51 is preferably a small camera formed including a solid state image sensor having, for example, approximately two million pixels or more, a lens, and the like.
The camera 51 photographs the nail T of the print finger U1 inserted into the finger receiving section 31, and obtains a nail image (a finger image including an image of the nail T) being an image of the nail T of the print finger U1.
In the embodiment, the two cameras 51 are provided in substantially parallel with the width direction of the nail T of the print finger U1 inserted into the finger receiving section 31.
One of the two cameras 51 is provided facing an underside of the finger receiving section 31, and photographs the nail T from directly above.
The other camera 51 is placed at a slight inclination from the underside of the finger receiving section 31, and photographs the nail T from an obliquely upward direction.
Illumination lamps (lighting devices) 52 such as white LEDs are installed on the base plate 13 in such a manner as to surround the cameras 51. The illumination lamps 52 light up the nail T of the print finger U1 upon photographing with the cameras 51. The photographing unit 50 is formed including the cameras 51 and the illumination lamps 52.
The photographing unit 50 is connected to a photographing control unit 811 (refer to FIG. 9) of the control apparatus 80 described below and configured to be controlled by the photographing control unit 811.
Image data of the images photographed by the photographing unit 50 is stored in a nail image storage area 821 of a storage unit 82 described below.
In the embodiment, the two cameras 51 as the imaging apparatuses can photograph the nail T from at least two different positions/angles, and at least two nail images are acquired.
A nail information detection unit 812 described below detects nail information such as the outline of the nail T (the shape of the nail T), the curved shape of the nail T, and the vertical position, based on these nail images.
The nail information detection unit 812 is configured to be able to detect the angle of inclination of the surface of the nail T (hereinafter referred to as the “inclination angle of the nail T” or “nail curvature”) from the X-Y plane based on these nail images.
In other words, for example, an image of the nail T from directly above and an image of the nail T from the obliquely upward direction are captured and accordingly not only the outline of the nail T but also the inclination angle of the surface of the nail T can be detected correctly.
The content of the nail information detected by the nail information detection unit 812 is not limited to those illustrated herein by example. Only a part (for example, the outline of the nail T) of the above items may be detected as the nail information. Alternatively, other items other than the above items may be detected as the nail information.
The control apparatus 80 is installed on, for example, the base plate 13 placed on the upper machine casing 12.
FIG. 9 is a main part block diagram illustrating a control configuration in the embodiment.
As illustrated in FIG. 9, the control apparatus 80 is a computer including a control unit 81 having an illustrated central processing unit (CPU), and a storage unit 82 having a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), and the like (any of which are not illustrated).
Various programs for operating the nail printing apparatus 1, various pieces of data, and the like are stored in the storage unit 82.
Specifically, various programs such as a nail information detection program for detecting, from the nail images, the nail information such as the shape of the nail T and the outline of the nail T, a drawing data generation program for generating drawing data, and a drawing program for performing a drawing process are stored in the ROM of the storage unit 82. These programs are executed by the control apparatus 80 to perform overall control of each unit of the nail printing apparatus 1.
In the embodiment, the storage unit 82 is provided with the nail image storage area 821 where nail images of the nail T of the print finger U1 of the user acquired by the photographing unit 50 are stored, a nail information storage area 822 where the nail information (the outline of the nail T, the inclination angle of the nail T, and the like) detected by the nail information detection unit 812 is stored, and a nail design storage area 823 where image data of a nail design to be drawn on the nail T is stored.
In terms of the functions, the control unit 81 includes the photographing control unit 811, the nail information detection unit 812, a drawing data generation unit 813, a display control unit 814, and the drawing control unit 815. The functions as the photographing control unit 811, the nail information detection unit 812, the drawing data generation unit 813, the display control unit 814, the drawing control unit 815, and the like are achieved in cooperation with the CPU of the control unit 81 and the programs stored in the ROM of the storage unit 82.
The photographing control unit 811 controls the cameras 51 and the illumination lamps 52 of the photographing unit 50 and photographs images of a finger including images of the nail T of the print finger U1 inserted into the finger receiving section 31 (hereinafter referred to as the “nail images”) with the cameras 51.
In the embodiment, the photographing control unit 511 causes the two cameras 51 to acquire at least two nail images from different positions/angles (for example, from directly above the nail T and from the obliquely upward direction of the nail T).
Image data of the nail images acquired by the photographing unit 50 may be stored in the storage unit 82.
The nail information detection unit 812 detects the nail information on the nail T of the print finger U1 based on the images of the nail T of the print finger U1 inserted into the finger receiving section 31, the images having been photographed by the cameras 51.
Here, the nail information is, for example, the outline of the nail T (the nail shape and the horizontal position of the nail T), the height of the nail T (the position of the nail T in the vertical direction, hereinafter referred to as the “vertical position of the nail T” or also simply referred to as the “position of the nail T”), and the inclination angle of the surface of the nail T (the inclination angle of the nail T or the nail curvature) from the X-Y plane.
Specifically, the nail information detection unit 812 detects the outline (shape and size) and position of the nail T from the nail images of the nail T of the print finger U1 acquired by the cameras 51, and acquires the outline as information expressed in the x and y coordinates or the like.
The nail information detection unit 812 detects, for example, the outline (shape) of the nail T from, for example, the nail images of the nail T of the print finger U1 acquired by the cameras 51 based on differences in, for example, color between the nail T and the other finger parts.
The method where the nail information detection unit 812 detects the outline (shape) of the nail T is not specially limited, and is not limited to those cited herein.
The nail information detection unit 812 detects the inclination angle of the nail T (the nail curvature) based on at least two nail images photographed by the two cameras 51.
The nail information detection unit 812 detects the inclination angle of the nail T (the nail curvature) of the user from, for example, differences in position, shape, and the like appearing in the two nail images photographed by the two cameras 51 from the different positions/angles (for example, from directly above the nail T and from the obliquely upward direction of the nail T).
The method where the nail information detection unit 812 detects the inclination angle of the nail T (the nail curvature) is not specially limited, and is not limited to those cited herein.
The drawing data generation unit 813 generates data for drawing to be drawn on the nail T of the print finger U1 with the drawing head 70 based on the nail information detected by the nail information detection unit 812.
Specifically, the drawing data generation unit 813 performs an adjustment process by enlargement, size reduction, segmentation, and the like on the image data of a nail design based on the shape and the like of the nail T detected by the nail information detection unit 812, and generates data for drawing on the nail T.
In the embodiment, the drawing data generation unit 813 adjusts the image data of the nail design to the shape of the nail T in accordance with the nail information detected by the nail information detection unit 812, and makes a curved surface correction and the like, as appropriate.
Consequently, the data for drawing of the nail design is generated.
The display control unit 814 controls the display unit 26 to display various display screens on the display unit 26. In the embodiment, the display control unit 814 is configured to cause the display unit 26 to display, for example, a nail design selection screen, a thumbnail image for a design check, nail images acquired by photographing the print finger U1, and various instruction screens.
The drawing control unit 815 is a control unit that outputs a control signal to the drawing unit 7 based on the drawing data generated by the drawing data generation unit 813, and controls the solenoid 740 of the pen pressing mechanism 74, the step motor 731, the X-direction movement motor 46, and the Y-direction movement motor 48 in the drawing unit 7 in such a manner as to draw on the nail T in accordance with the drawing data.
In the embodiment, the drawing control unit 815 controls the operation of the solenoid 740 in such a manner as to not operate the solenoid 740 at the time of non-drawing, and energize the coil portion 741 of the solenoid 740 and pull the plunger 742 frontward at the time of drawing.
Consequently, at the time of non-drawing, the flat spring 746 does not press down the pin head 772 of the slide pin 77. The auxiliary shaft members 725 are biased upward by the coil springs 726. The pen 71 enters a state where the nib 713 has been lifted to the position of not coming into contact with the nail T.
On the other hand, at the time of drawing, the flat spring 746 presses down the pin head 772 of the slide pin 77. The pen 71 is pressed down against the biasing forces of the coil springs 726 to enter a state where the nib 713 has been lowered to a position of coming into contact with the nail T.
In this manner, the drawing control unit 815 controls the operation of the solenoid 740 to lift the pen 71 up and down, as appropriate. Accordingly, the nib 713 follows the height of the nail T and moves up and down while maintaining appropriate instrument pressure so that a desired nail design can be drawn on the surface of the nail T being the drawing target.
Next, the operation and usage of the nail printing apparatus 1 in the embodiment are described.
When the nail printing apparatus 1 performs drawing, the user first turns on the power switch and starts the control apparatus 80.
The display control unit 814 causes the display unit 26 to display the design selection screen. The user operates the operation button and the like of the operating unit 25, and selects a desired nail design from a plurality of nail designs displayed on the design selection screen. Accordingly, a selection instruction signal is output from the operating unit 25 to select the nail design to be drawn on the nail T.
When the nail design has been selected, the control unit 81 causes the display unit 26 to display an instruction screen to prompt the setting of a pen 71 necessary to draw the selected nail design in a predetermined pen carriage 72 of the drawing head 70.
For example, when a red ink and a gold lame ink are required, an instruction on which ink pen 71 should be mounted in the pen carriage 72 is provided on the display unit 26.
The user follows the instruction displayed on the display screen and sets a predetermined type of pen 71 in a predetermined pen carriage 72.
The user may set a different pen 71 from the instruction on purpose, and realize a nail design with a favorite color and texture.
The control unit 81 may be configured to be able to read which type of pen 71 is set in the pen carriage 72 with a barcode or the like. In this case, it may be configured in such a manner as that nail designs that can be drawn with the pen 71 set in the pen carriage 72 are displayed on the design selection screen of the display unit 26, and the user is allowed to select a nail design from them.
Next, after inserting the print finger U1 into the finger receiving section 31, inserting the non-print fingers U2 into the finger withdrawal section 32, and fixing the print finger U1, the user operates a drawing switch.
For example, if the ring finger of the left hand is inserted as the print finger U1 into the finger receiving section 31, the other fingers are inserted as the non-print fingers U2 into the finger withdrawal section 32.
When an instruction is input from the drawing switch, the photographing control unit 811 first controls the photographing unit 50 before starting a drawing operation, and photographs the print finger U1 with the two cameras 51 while lighting up the print finger U1 with the illumination lamps 52. Consequently, the photographing control unit 811 acquires at least two images of the nail T (nail images) of the print finger U1 inserted into the finger receiving section 31.
Next, the nail information detection unit 812 detects the nail information such as the outline of the nail T (the nail shape) and the inclination angle of the nail T (the nail curvature) based on the nail images.
When the nail information detection unit 812 detects the outline of the nail T (the nail shape) and the inclination angle of the nail T (the nail curvature), the drawing data generation unit 813 performs the adjustment process to the nail T on the image data of the nail design.
The drawing data generation unit 813 makes a curved surface correction on the image data of the nail design based on the nail information.
Consequently, drawing data is generated.
The drawing control unit 815 moves the drawing unit 7 to the pen break-in section 61 before the start of drawing on the nail T, drives the solenoid 740 of the pen pressing mechanism 74 of the pen carriage 72 holding the pen 71, presses the pen 71 down with the flat spring 746, and brings the pen 71 into a drawable state.
Breaking-in of drawing a predetermined shape such as “o” or “∞” is then performed on the drawn medium.
Breaking-in may be performed for only the pen 71 necessary to draw the selected nail design or may be performed for all the pens 71.
When the drawing data has been generated and break-in is complete, the drawing control unit 815 outputs a control signal to the drawing unit 7 based on the drawing data, and causes the drawing head 70 to draw based on the drawing data.
Specifically, first, the drawing control unit 815 grasps the amount of rotation of the pen carriage 72 from the read result of the reference indicator 728 by the indicator reading portion 734, and controls the drive of the step motor 731 in accordance with the amount of rotation of the pen carriage 72. The pen carriage 72 is rotated until the pen 71 necessary for drawing moves to a position where the pen pressing mechanism 74 is provided.
Furthermore, the drawing head 70 is moved in the X-Y direction, as appropriate, and is moved to the drawing position. The pen pressing mechanism 74 is operated to press the auxiliary shaft members 725 downward with the flat spring 746.
Consequently, the pen 71 is pressed downward to press the nib 713 of the pen 71 against the surface of the nail T.
At this point in time, the nib 713 is biased downward by the flat spring 746 with an appropriate pressing force. Drawing is performed on the surface of the nail T while the nib 713 is moving up and down following the shape of the surface of the nail T.
If drawing is performed on the nails T of a plurality of fingers, after the drawing process is finished for the nail T of one finger, the finger of the already drawn nail T is pulled out from the finger receiving section 31. A finger of the nail T on which drawing is performed next is inserted as the print finger U1 into the finger receiving section 31. Nail images of the nail T are acquired. The above processes are repeated.
If the pen 71 is replaced, the drawing control unit 815 moves the drawing head 70 to a position corresponding to the pen replacement purpose cover unit 23.
The user opens the pen replacement purpose cover unit 23 in this state. Accordingly, it becomes possible to pull out and replace the pen 71.
As described above, the nail printing apparatus 1 of the embodiment is provided on a side of the pen carriage 72 with the nib fitting members 720 into which the tip portion sides (the fitting portions 712) of the pen shaft portions 711 of the pens 71 are fitted. The nib fitting member 720 is provided with the auxiliary shaft members 725 that are fixed in parallel with the pen shaft portion 711 and move up and down together with the pen 71, and the coil springs 726 as the auxiliary shaft biasing members that bias the auxiliary shaft members 725 upward in the state where the external force is not applied. The downward external force is applied to the auxiliary shaft members 725 via the flat spring 746 being the press side elastic member of the pen pressing mechanism 74.
Consequently, when the pen pressing mechanism 74 applies the downward external force to the protrusion 714 of the upper part of the pen via the slide pin 77, the pen 71 is pressed down. The nib fitting member 720 joined to the fitting portion 712 of the pen 71 is pressed down. Accordingly, the auxiliary shaft members 725 are also lowered so that the coil springs 726 are compressed. Hence, the nib 713 comes into contact with the surface of the nail T while maintaining appropriate instrument pressure, and it enters a state where drawing can be performed on the surface of the nail T.
When the nib 713 touches the nail T to lift the pen 71, the flat spring 746 bends and deforms and also the nib fitting member 720 in contact with the nib 713, and the auxiliary shaft members 725 are lifted upward by the restoring forces of the coil springs 726.
Consequently, even if the height of the nail T being the drawing target surface changes, the nib 713 follows the shape of the nail T and smoothly moves up and down. At the same time, the fitting portion 712 is fixed to the nib fitting member 720. The flat spring 746 absorbs the impact caused by the up and down movements of the pen 71. The wobble and shake of the nib 713 in the X-Y direction can be suppressed.
Consequently, it makes it possible to relatively largely move the pen 71 up and down following the shape of the nail T while the wobble and shake of the nib 713 of when the pen 71 is relatively largely moved up and down can be suppressed and a highly colorful nail print can be performed.
Here, the pen 71 has a simple configuration where the nib 713 is simply provided to the pen shaft portion 711. Hence, the pen 71 can be formed relatively narrow.
Consequently, as illustrated in FIG. 3A and the like, it is possible to make the diameter of the pen-specific cylindrical member 761 that holds the pen 71 small. Accordingly, the pen carriage 72 can be configured to hold many pens 71.
Furthermore, the pen carriage 72 itself can be minimized, and by extension the downsizing of the entire nail printing apparatus 1 can also be achieved.
Furthermore, as described above, the configuration of the pen 71 can be simplified. Accordingly, the pen 71 being a consumable can be manufactured relatively easily and at low cost.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the nail printing apparatus according to the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 10A to 10C.
The embodiment is different only in the configuration of the pen pressing mechanism from the first embodiment. Accordingly, different points from the first embodiment are mainly described below.
FIG. 10A is a top view of the drawing head 70.
FIG. 10B is a front view of the drawing head 70 of FIG. 10A when viewed from an arrow b direction.
FIG. 10C is a side view of the drawing head 70 of FIG. 10A when viewed from an arrow c direction.
As illustrated in FIGS. 10A to 10C, in the embodiment, the pen pressing mechanism 74 includes the solenoid 740 having a similar configuration to that of the first embodiment, the flat spring lift lever 744 connected on one end side to the solenoid 740 via the pin 743, and a flat spring 747 attached to the other end side of the flat spring lift lever 744.
The flat spring 747 is the press side elastic member in the embodiment.
The flat spring 747 bends at two points on the free end side and is formed in a substantially angular U shape in side view.
A lower surface of the flat spring 747 bent into an angular U shape serves as the pressing surface 747 a that presses the upper end of the protrusion 714 of the pen 71.
The pressing surface 747 a is configured in such a manner as to come into contact with the upper end of the protrusion 714 of the pen 71 and be able to press the auxiliary shaft members 725.
The pressing surface 747 a of the flat spring 747 comes into line or surface contact with the protrusion 714 of the pen 71. Accordingly, the flat spring 747 is configured to be able to stably press down in the vertical direction the protrusion 714 of the pen 71, and the pen 71, which moves up and down in conjunction with the protrusion 714.
The shape of the flat spring 747 is not limited to the one illustrated herein by example.
For example, the flat spring 747 on the free end side may not have an angular U shape but may have a U shape or the like. The free end side of the flat spring 747 may be bent like a crank.
In any shape, it is preferable that the part (the pressing surface 747 a in the embodiment) of the flat spring 747, which comes into contact with the protrusion 714 of the pen 71, be a “line or surface.”
In other words, if the flat spring 747 is configured to come into point contact with the protrusion 714 of the pen 71, the flat spring 747 may deviate from the protrusion 714 of the pen 71. Hence, in order to enable the flat spring 747 to stably and securely press the auxiliary shaft members 725, the width of the flat spring 747 is made sufficiently wide and is configured to come into line or surface contact with the protrusion 714 of the pen 71.
With the above configuration, in the embodiment, the coil portion 741 of the solenoid 740 is not energized at the time of non-drawing. Accordingly, the plunger 742 is in a state of protruding toward the front side of the nail printing apparatus 1 (the left side in FIG. 2) so that the flat spring 747 does not press the upper end of the protrusion 714 of the pen 71.
In this manner, in the state where the external force (the pressing force by the flat spring 747) is not applied, the auxiliary shaft members 725 are pressed upward by the biasing forces of the coil springs 726. The pen 71, which moves up and down in conjunction with the auxiliary shaft members 725, is also moved upward. The nib 713 is held at the height that does not come into contact with the surface of the nail T being the drawing target surface.
In contrast, the coil portion 741 of the solenoid 740 is energized at the time of drawing. Accordingly, the plunger 742 enters a state of being pulled toward the back side of the nail printing apparatus 1 (the right side in FIG. 2).
Consequently, the flat spring lift lever 744 having one end into which the pin 743 of the plunger 742 is fitted pivots on the supporting shaft 745. The flat spring 747 attached to the flat spring lift lever 744 is inclined downward. The free end side of the flat spring 747 presses down the upper end of the protrusion 714 of the pen 71. The pen 71 is pressed downward. The nib 713 comes into contact with the surface of the nail T being the drawing target surface.
Also in the case of the embodiment, the spring constant of the flat spring 747 is larger than the spring constant of the coil spring 726 being the auxiliary shaft biasing member. Hence, in the state where the nail T is not placed below the pen 71, the flat spring 747 can press the pen 71 down to the lowest point only by being slightly bent.
If the solenoid 740 of the pen pressing mechanism 74 is operated in the state where the print finger U1 is inserted into the finger receiving section 31, the coil portion 741 of the solenoid 740 is energized. Accordingly, the plunger 742 enters a state of being pulled toward the back side of the nail printing apparatus 1 (the right side in FIG. 2). The flat spring lift lever 744 having one end into which the pin 743 of the plunger 742 is fitted pivots on the supporting shaft 745.
Consequently, the flat spring 747 attached to the flat spring lift lever 744 is inclined downward. The free end side presses down the upper end of the protrusion 714 of the pen 71 to press the auxiliary shaft members 725 downward. The pen 71 is pressed downward. Accordingly, the nib 713 comes into contact with the surface of the nail T.
The nib 713 then touches the nail T to press the pen 71 up. Accordingly, the flat spring 747 is pressed by the protrusion 714 of the pen 71 and bends and deforms (elastically deforms).
Consequently, the pen 71 follows the height of the nail T, maintaining appropriate instrument pressure.
The spring constant of the flat spring 747 is not so large. The spring constant is set to a value with the magnitude that does not cause pain and the like on the nail T when the pressing force (external force) by the flat spring 747 is applied on the nail T.
Here, the flat spring 747 is appropriately bent to absorb the impact caused by the up and down movements of the pen 71 and also drawing can be beautifully performed with appropriate instrument pressure applied on the nib 713.
The other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment. Accordingly, their descriptions are omitted.
Next, the operation of the nail printing apparatus 1 in the embodiment is described.
First, as in the first embodiment, the selection of a nail design, the detection of the nail information, and the like are performed before the start of the drawing operation.
Upon drawing, specifically, the drawing control unit 815 first grasps the amount of rotation of the pen carriage 72 from the read result of the reference indicator 728 by the indicator reading portion 734. The drive of the step motor 731 is controlled in accordance with the amount of rotation of the pen carriage 72. The pen carriage 72 is rotated until a pen 71 necessary for drawing moves to the position where the pen pressing mechanism 74 is provided.
Furthermore, the drawing head 70 is moved in the X-Y direction, as appropriate, and moved to the drawing position. The pen pressing mechanism 74 is operated so that the flat spring 747 presses the protrusion 714 of the pen 71 downward. Consequently, the pen 71 is pressed downward. The nib 713 of the pen 71 is pressed against the surface of the nail T.
At this point in time, the nib 713 is biased downward by the flat spring 747 with an appropriate pressing force. The nib 713 draws on the surface of the nail T while moving up and down following the shape of the surface of the nail T.
The other points are similar to those of the first embodiment. Accordingly, their descriptions are omitted.
As described above, according to the embodiment, similar effects to the first embodiment can be obtained. The following effects can also be obtained.
In other words, in the embodiment, the press side elastic member of the pen pressing mechanism 74 includes only the flat spring 747.
Hence, the configuration of the pen pressing mechanism 74 can be further simplified. Accordingly, the number of parts and the number of man-hours can be reduced so that the action cost can be reduced.
Furthermore, a reduction in size and weight of the entire apparatus can also be achieved.

Third Embodiment

Next, a third embodiment of the nail printing apparatus according to the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 11A to 11D and 12A to 12C.
The embodiment is different only in the configurations of the pen and the nib fitting member from the first and second embodiments. Accordingly, different points from the first and second embodiments are mainly described below.
FIG. 11A is a top view of a pen in the embodiment.
FIG. 11B is a side view of the pen of FIG. 11A.
FIG. 11C is a side view of a nib fitting member into which the pen of FIG. 11A is fitted and auxiliary shaft members.
FIG. 11D is a bottom view of the nib fitting member and the auxiliary shaft members of FIG. 11C when viewed from an arrow d direction.
FIG. 12A is a side view that enlarges a part of a pen carriage in a state where the auxiliary shaft members are not being pressed in the embodiment.
FIG. 12B is a side view that enlarges a part of the pen carriage in a state where the auxiliary shaft members are being pressed in the embodiment.
FIG. 12C is a bottom view of the pen carriage of FIG. 12A when viewed from an arrow c direction.
As illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B, a pen 750 (drawing tool) of the embodiment includes a pen shaft portion 751 and a nib 753 as in the first embodiment.
A tip portion of the pen 750 is provided with a threaded portion 752 having a smaller diameter than that of the pen shaft portion 751 and an external thread formed on the outer peripheral surface, and a tapered portion 754 gradually reducing in diameter from the pen shaft portion 751 side toward the threaded portion 752.
The external thread provided to the threaded portion 752 may be a single start thread, a double start thread, a triple start thread, or the like.
If the external thread provided to the threaded portion 752 is a double start thread or a triple start thread, the number of revolutions to screw down the thread is less than the case of a single start thread, which is preferable.
In the embodiment, the threaded portion 752 and the tapered portion 754 are integrally provided. The entire configuration is like a flat head screw.
The pen 750 includes a rod-like protrusion 755 at the top of the pen shaft portion 751.
In the embodiment, the protrusion 755 has a quadratic prism shape being a substantially rectangle in top view, as illustrated in FIG. 11A.
In the embodiment, as described below, the user rotates the pen 750 axially to screw down the pen 750. Accordingly, the pen 750 is fitted into a nib fitting member 700. The protrusion 755 functions as a holding portion to be held between the fingers or the like when the user rotates the pen.
Since the protrusion 755 is shaped into a quadratic prism, it is possible to hold the protrusion 755 more firmly than the case where the protrusion 755 is cylindrical, and fix the pen 750 securely and easily.
The shape and the like of the protrusion 755 are required to be one that is easy to hold and can securely apply power upon the rotation of the pen 750, and are not limited to the illustrated examples.
As illustrated in FIGS. 11C and 11D, the nib fitting member 700 of the embodiment is provided with fixing portions 703 in which the auxiliary shaft members 725 are fitted as in the first embodiment. The fixing portion 703 may be a through hole or a blind recess.
In the embodiment, the nib fitting member 700 includes a through hole 701 having an internal thread to be fitted with the external thread of the threaded portion 752 of the pen 750, the internal thread being formed on the inner peripheral surface, and a taper receiving portion 702 at a position corresponding to the through hole 701 on a surface on the tip portion insertion side of the nib fitting member 700, the taper receiving portion 702 being formed into a bowl for receiving the tapered portion 754.
Here, in the above description, the thread of the threaded portion 752 is an external thread, and the thread of the through hole 701 is an internal thread. However, the thread of the threaded portion 752 may be an internal thread, and the thread of the through hole 701 may be an external thread.
The other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment and the like. Accordingly, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same members and their descriptions are omitted.
In the embodiment, when replacing and newly attaching the pen 750, the user inserts the nib 753 into the through hole 701 of the nib fitting member 700, and rotates the pen 750 with a hold of the protrusion 755 between fingers or the like. Accordingly, the external thread of the threaded portion 752 is threadedly engaged with the internal thread of the through hole 701.
At this point in time, with the progress of screwing the thread, the tapered portion 754 comes into intimate contact with the taper receiving portion 702. Consequently, the pen 750 is fitted into the nib fitting member 700 in a no-wobble state and fixed therein.
Also when the pen 750 moves up and down at the time of drawing, as illustrated in FIGS. 12A to 12C, the threaded portion 752 of the pen 750 is screwed into the through hole 701 of the nib fitting member 700. The state where the tapered portion 754 is in intimate contact with the taper receiving portion 702 is maintained. Hence, the nib 753 does not wobble or shake.
At the time of drawing, the auxiliary shaft members 725 provided in parallel with the pen 750 move up and down together with the nib fitting member 700 and the pen 750 fixed to the nib fitting member 700. Hence, the movement of the pen 750 can be stabilized. Accordingly, the pen 750 can be smoothly moved up and down.
The other points are similar to those of the first embodiment. Accordingly, their descriptions are omitted.
As described above, according to the embodiment, similar effects to the first embodiment and the like can be obtained. The following effects can also be obtained.
In other words, in the embodiment, the threaded portion 752 provided to the tip portion of the pen 750 is screwed into the through hole 701 of the nib fitting member 700. Accordingly, the nib 753 can be more securely fixed to the nib fitting member 700.
Furthermore, the part continuous with the threaded portion 752 is the tapered portion 754. The tapered portion 754 is received by the taper receiving portion 702 provided on the nib fitting member 700 side.
Hence, when the threaded portion 752 is screwed into the through hole 701, a wobble can be more securely suppressed. Also when setting the pen 750, even if the user does not make a precise position adjustment and set the pen 750 above the nib fitting member 700, the user places the pen 750 down in the taper receiving portion 702 and rotates the pen 750 so that the nib 753 is automatically guided to a central portion of the through hole 701 and positioned and fixed at the right position.
Hence, the pen 750 can be set easily. At the same time, the nib 753 can also be perfectly fixed with no play. Consequently, a shake of the nib 753 is prevented excellently. Delicate, fine nail arts such as “lace” and “flower” can be stably done without fail.

Fourth Embodiment

Next, a fourth embodiment of the nail printing apparatus according to the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 13A, 13B and 14A to 14C.
The embodiment is different in the configuration of the pen carriage of a print head from the first embodiment and the like. Accordingly, different points from the first embodiment and the like are mainly described below.
As illustrated in FIGS. 13A and 13B, a drawing head 70 a holds four pens 750 in the embodiment. The pens 750 are respectively held by the pen-specific cylindrical members 761 similar to those of the first embodiment and the like.
Four plate-like members 730 having a through hole through which the pen 750 is inserted are attached to the beam portion 441 of the embodiment. The pen-specific cylindrical members 761 are respectively attached to the plate-like members 730.
The nib fitting member 700 having a similar configuration to that of the third embodiment is provided below each pen-specific cylindrical member 761. The pen 750 and the auxiliary shaft members 725 are fixed to the nib fitting member 700.
In other words, the pen 750 includes the threaded portion 752 and the tapered portion 754. The nib fitting member 700 includes the through hole 701 into which the threaded portion 752 is screwed, and the taper receiving portion 702 that receives the tapered portion 754. It is configured to be able to suppress a wobble more securely by screwing the threaded portion 752 into the through hole 701.
The auxiliary shaft member 725 of the embodiment includes a protruding member 729 protruding in a direction away from the axial center of the pen 750 being the drawing tool.
The beam portion 441 is provided with four plate-like members 730 and four supporting plates 443 respectively corresponding to the pen-specific cylindrical members 761. Each supporting plate 443 is provided with a solenoid 780 and a supporting shaft 781.
An arm member 782 that swings in response to the operation of the solenoid 780 is coupled to each solenoid 780 and supporting shaft 781. A flat spring 765 is attached to a free end of the arm member 782.
As illustrated in FIGS. 13A, 13B, and 14A to 14C, the flat spring 765 includes a through hole 765 a through which the pen 750 and the auxiliary shaft members 725 are inserted, and also engaging portions 765 b that can come into contact with the protruding members 729.
In the embodiment, it is configured in such a manner as that when the solenoid 780 is turned on/off to swing the arm member 782, the flat spring 765 also moves up and down. The solenoid 780 functions as a flat spring moving mechanism that, in a state where the protruding members 729 are in contact with the engaging portions 765 b of the flat spring 765, moves the flat spring 765 to a first position to apply, to the auxiliary shaft members 725 and the pen 750, the external force in a direction where the tip portion of the pen 750 approaches the surface of the nail T being the drawing target surface, or a second position where the engaging portions 765 b of the flat spring 765 do not come into contact with the protruding members 729.
The other configurations are similar to those of the third embodiment and the like. Accordingly, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same members and their descriptions are omitted.
In the embodiment, when the solenoid 780 is OFF state, the free end side of the arm member 782 is lift up as illustrated by a solid line in FIG. 13B. The flat spring 765 attached to the free end is also lifted up, and located at the second position where the protruding members 729 do not come into contact with the engaging portions 765 b. In this state, as illustrated in FIG. 14A, the nib 753 is lifted up and enters a non-drawing state of not coming into contact with the nail T.
When the solenoid 780 is energized to be turned on, the arm member is pulled as illustrated by a dot and dash line in FIG. 13B to rotate with the supporting shaft 781 as the pivot. The flat spring provided on the free end side of the arm member is pressed downward.
At this point in time, the engaging portions 765 b of the flat spring 765 touch the protruding members 729. The flat spring presses the auxiliary shaft members 725 and the pen 750 downward in a state where the protruding members 729 are in contact with the engaging portions 765 b. The flat spring is located at the first position of applying, to the auxiliary shaft members 725 and the pen 750, the external force in the direction where the tip portion of the pen 750 approaches the surface of the nail T being the drawing target surface (in other words, the downward external force in the embodiment).
In this manner, even if the flat spring 765 moves up and down by the turning-on/off of the solenoid 780, the pen 750 is securely fixed by placing the tapered portion 754 in the taper receiving portion 702 and screwing the threaded portion 752 into the through hole 701. Therefore, the pen 750 will not wobble and can draw following the height of the nail.
The other points are similar to those of the first embodiment and the like. Accordingly, their descriptions are omitted.
As described above, according to the embodiment, similar effects to the first embodiment and the like can be obtained. The following effects can also be obtained.
In other words, in the embodiment, the combination of the solenoid 780 and the flat spring 765 enables the pen 750 to move up and down. Drawing with the pen 750 can be achieved with a simple and inexpensive configuration.
Also in this case, the threaded portion 752 provided to the tip portion of the pen 750 is screwed into the through hole 701 of the nib fitting member 700. Accordingly, the nib 753 can be securely fixed to the nib fitting member 700. It becomes possible to prevent a shake of the nib 753 and draw a delicate, fine nail art stably without fail.
The mechanism that moves the flat spring 765 up and down is not limited to the one illustrated in the embodiment.
For example, a stepping motor may be used instead of the solenoid 780. In this case, it is preferable to include a micro switch for detecting the speed of the stepping motor and controlling the movement of the motor.

Fifth Embodiment

Next, a fifth embodiment of the nail printing apparatus according to the present invention is described with reference to FIGS. 15A and 15B.
The embodiment is different in the configuration of the drawing head from the first embodiment and the like. Accordingly, different points from the first embodiment and the like are mainly described below.
As illustrated in FIGS. 15A and 15B, in the embodiment, a drawing head 70 b includes an inkjet print head 90 that ejects ink reduced into smaller droplets onto the surface of the nail T being the drawing target surface, and draws, in addition to the pen-specific cylindrical member 761 as a carriage that holds the pen 750 as the drawing tool to draw with its tip portion in contact with the surface of the nail T being the drawing target surface.
FIGS. 15A and 15B illustrate the configuration including one pen 750. However, the number of the pens 750 provided to the drawing head 70 b is not specially limited.
The print head 90 is supported by a carriage 91. The pen 750 of the embodiment, the solenoid 780 for moving the pen 750 up and down, and the like are attached to the carriage 91 of the print head 90.
In the embodiment, the pen-specific cylindrical member 761 as the carriage that holds the pen 750 being the drawing tool, and the print head 90 can be moved simultaneously by a head drive unit. The head drive unit functions as a moving mechanism that moves the pen 750 and the print head 90 simultaneously.
The configuration where the print head 90 ejects ink is not specially limited. For example, a bubble jet (registered trademark) or thermal inkjet head can be applied.
The other configurations are similar to those of the third embodiment and the like. Accordingly, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same members and their descriptions are omitted.
In the embodiment, the solenoid 780 is operated to bring the nib 753 of the pen 750 into contact with the nail T. The pen 750 is used to apply, for example, a base coat and a background color to the nail T. Ink is then ejected from the inkjet print head 90 to draw a fine pattern and the like.
The other points are similar to those of the first embodiment and the like. Accordingly, their descriptions are omitted.
As described above, according to the embodiment, similar effects to the third embodiment and the like can be obtained. The following effects can also be obtained.
In other words, in the embodiment, both the pen 750 and the inkjet print head 90 are included.
Hence, the pen 750 is used to draw for, for example, an ink with a high viscosity that is difficult to eject in the inkjet method, and a base coat ink. Delicate patterns and the like are drawn with the inkjet print head 90. They are used by making use of their features so that a range of nail print variations that can be drawn by the nail printing apparatus can be widened.
The moving mechanism that moves the pen 750 and the print head 90 simultaneously is included. Accordingly, drawing by use of both the pen 750 and the print head 90 can be achieved without making the configuration complicated.
Up to this point the embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. Needless to say, various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.
For example, in the embodiments, it is configured in such a manner as that the coil spring 726 is provided as the auxiliary shaft biasing member to the outer periphery of the auxiliary shaft member 725. However, the auxiliary shaft biasing member is not limited to the coil spring.
The auxiliary shaft biasing member is required to be an elastic member that is placed on the outer periphery of the auxiliary shaft member 725, is compressed when the auxiliary shaft member 725 is pressed downward by the external force, and has a restoring force that attempts to return to the original state against the external force. The auxiliary shaft biasing member may include, for example, rubber.
The auxiliary shaft biasing member is required to be one that can bias the auxiliary shaft member 725 upward when the external force is not applied, and is not limited to the elastic member such as the coil spring 726. For example, a mechanism that uses hydraulic pressure or air pressure may be applied as the auxiliary shaft biasing member.
In the first embodiment, the configuration including the flat spring 746 and the slide pin 77 as the press side elastic member provided to the pen pressing mechanism 74 is illustrated by example. In the second embodiment, the configuration including the flat spring 747 is illustrated by example. However, the press side elastic member provided to the pen pressing mechanism 74 is not limited to them.
For example, the pen pressing mechanism 74 may include a solenoid having a plunger that moves linearly in the up and down direction. The upper end of the auxiliary shaft member 725 may be pressed by a lower end of the plunger.
In this case, a press side elastic member (for example, a coil spring) that can deform elastically when being pressed upward by the auxiliary shaft member 725 is placed on the outer periphery or the like of the plunger.
The embodiments illustrate the case where the nail printing apparatus 1 includes the pen carriage 72 that can attach eight pens 71. However, the number of the pens 71 to be held by the nail printing apparatus 1 is not limited to eight. A pen carriage that can attach, for example, 10 or more pens 71 may be included. As the number of attachable pens 71 is increased, it becomes possible to draw a more complicated nail design using many colors.
The pen carriage may be configured to be not able to hold a plurality of pens simultaneously but be able to attach only one pen 71. In this case, there is no need to rotate the pen carriage. There is no need to include the carriage rotating mechanism 73 having the step motor 731 and the like, the reference indicator 728 of the pen carriage 72, and the indicator reading portion 734 for reading the reference indicator 728. Hence, the configuration of the apparatus can be further simplified. A reduction in size and weight of the apparatus can be achieved.
A mechanism that automatically replaces the pen 71 to be attached to the pen carriage 72 may be mounted. In this case, for example, a plurality of pens is held in a waiting space, and a pen is selected automatically from there to be attached to the pen carriage 72. With such a configuration, the number of pens 71 that can be held by the apparatus can also be increased.
It may be a system where the user replaces the pen 71 to be attached to the pen carriage 72 manually if necessary, as appropriate.
In the embodiment, the configuration using a solenoid as the pen pressing mechanism that moves the pen 71 up and down is illustrated by example. However, the configuration of the pen pressing mechanism is not limited to this. For example, it may include a step motor, a DC motor, a motor, or a ball screw.
The embodiments illustrate the example of forming the X-direction moving stage 45 and the Y-direction moving stage 47, which are for moving the drawing head 70, with a combination of the X-direction movement motor 46 and the Y-direction movement motor 48, which are step motors, and unillustrated ball screws and guides. However, the configuration for moving the drawing head 70 is not limited to this.
The X-direction movement motor 46 and the Y-direction movement motor 48 are required to be able to freely move the drawing head 70 back, front, left, and right. The X-direction movement motor 46 and the Y-direction movement motor 48 may be, for example, configured using a mechanism including a shaft, a guide, and a wire, which are used in a known inexpensive printer or the like, or may be configured using a servo motor or the like.
The embodiments illustrate the example of using the step motor 731 as the drive means of the carriage rotating mechanism 73 that rotates the pen carriage 72 of the drawing head 70. However, the configuration of the carriage rotating mechanism 73 is not limited to this.
For example, the carriage rotating mechanism that rotates the pen carriage of the drawing head may include a ratchet mechanism and a solenoid.
In the embodiment, one that draws with ink is illustrated as the pen. However, the pen to be attached to the drawing head is not limited to a pen that draws with ink.
For example, a pen storing colorless or colored transparent liquid glue is attached to the drawing head. A predetermined pattern is drawn (applied) with the liquid glue using the attached pen. Powder lame and the like are then sprinkled or rhinestones and the like are affixed before the liquid glue dries. Accordingly, a more gorgeous nail design can also be realized.
It may also be configured in such a manner as that a pen storing liquid or the like with flavor is attached to the drawing head to draw with the pen so that scented nail printing can be enjoyed.
In the embodiment, the case of using a drawn medium being a slip of paper for pen break-in is illustrated. The drawn medium is not limited to paper. The drawn medium may use a roll. In this case, a medium feeding mechanism is provided which unreels and winds the drawn medium automatically or manually. If the drawn medium is a roll, a medium attachment/detachment port for attaching/detaching the rolled drawn medium is provided instead of the medium insertion/removal port 24.
In the embodiment, the case is taken as an example, where the drawing data generation unit 813 adjusts the image data of a nail design to the shape of the nail T and also makes a curved surface correction on the image data of the nail design to generate the image data. However, the generation of the drawing data with the drawing data generation unit 813 is not an essential component of the present invention. For example, the drawing data may not be generated separately, and the drawing control unit 815 may perform drawing control in such a manner as that the image data of the nail design is converted by an LUT (Lookup Table) or the like, as appropriate while being output to the drawing head and drawing is performed in accordance with the nail shape.
In the embodiment, the case is taken as an example, where the shape of the nail T is detected as the nail information and drawing data is generated based on the nail information. However, the detection of the nail shape is not an essential component of the present invention. For example, as in the case of drawing a one-point pattern in the middle of the nail T, if it is not essential in drawing to extract the outline of the nail T, there is no need to recognize the shape of the nail T correctly. Drawing can be performed without detecting the nail shape.
The imaging apparatus is not limited to the camera 51 that captures a still image, and may be one that can capture a moving image. In this case, a moving image is captured by a camera. An image of a top surface of the nail T is cut out from the captured moving image, as appropriate, which is used for the detection of the nail information.
In the embodiment, the case is taken as an example, where the nail image storage area 821, the nail information storage area 822, and the nail design storage area 823 are provided within the storage unit 82 of the control apparatus 80. However, it is not limited to the case where the nail image storage area 821, the nail information storage area 822, and the nail design storage area 823 are provided in the storage unit 82 of the control apparatus 80, and a storage unit may be provided separately.
In the embodiment, the nail printing apparatus 1 where fingers are inserted into the apparatus one by one and drawing is performed on the fingers sequentially is taken as an example. However, the present invention can also be applied to an apparatus that can continuously draw on a plurality of fingers without removing the fingers.
For example, the operating area of the pen is enlarged to make the drawable area larger. Accordingly, it also becomes possible to continuously draw on the nails of fingers in a state where a plurality of print fingers U1 is inserted simultaneously.
Some embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments, but includes the scope of the invention described in the claims, and an equivalent.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A drawing apparatus comprising:

a mounting section including a mounting surface configured to mount thereon a drawing target object having a drawing target surface;

a carriage including

a fitting member configured to be fitted with a tip portion of a drawing tool having the tip portion on one end side, and be movable together with the drawing tool whose tip portion is fitted therein, and

a biasing member biasing the fitting member in a first direction away from the mounting surface; and

a drawing tool pressing mechanism configured to press the drawing tool whose tip portion is fitted in the fitting member in a second direction where the tip portion approaches the mounting surface with a larger force than a biasing force of the biasing member, and bring the tip portion into contact with the drawing target surface of the drawing target object mounted on the mounting surface.

2. The drawing apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an auxiliary shaft member fixed at one end to the fitting member and configured to be movable together with the drawing tool whose tip portion is fitted in the fitting member.

3. The drawing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the biasing member is an elastic member placed on an outer periphery of the auxiliary shaft member and compressed upon the drawing tool being pressed by the drawing tool pressing mechanism in the first direction, the elastic member having a restoring force attempting to return to the original state against an external force.

4. The drawing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the drawing tool includes

a shaft portion having the tip portion on one end side, and

a fitting portion at the tip portion, the fitting portion having a diameter smaller than that of the shaft portion, and

the fitting member includes a through hole in which the fitting portion is mounted and fitted.

5. The drawing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the drawing tool includes, at the tip portion, a threaded portion having one of an external thread and an internal thread, and

the fitting member includes a through hole having an internal peripheral surface on which the other of an external thread and an internal thread to be fitted with the threaded portion is formed.

6. The drawing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

the threaded portion has a diameter smaller than that of the shaft portion,

the drawing tool includes a tapered portion at the tip portion, the tapered portion gradually reducing in diameter toward the threaded portion, and

the fitting member includes a taper receiving portion formed into a bowl shape configured to receive the tapered portion.

7. The drawing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the drawing tool pressing mechanism includes an elastically deformable press side elastic member configured to come into contact with the drawing tool and press the drawing tool in the second direction,

the press side elastic member is a flat spring, and

the flat spring elastically deforms upon pressing the drawing tool in the second direction, and bends and deforms upon the drawing tool being pressed up in accordance with the shape of the drawing target surface at the time of drawing.

8. The drawing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the drawing tool pressing mechanism further includes a flat spring moving mechanism connected to one end side of the flat spring and configured to selectively move the flat spring to a first position where the other end side of the flat spring comes into direct contact with the other end side of the drawing tool to press the drawing tool in the second direction, or a second position in no contact with the other end of the drawing tool.

9. The drawing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the drawing tool pressing mechanism further includes

a slide pin having one end and the other end, the other end being able to come into contact with the other end side of the drawing tool, the other end being biased by a pin elastic member in a direction away from the other end side of the drawing tool, and

a flat spring moving mechanism connected to one end side of the flat spring and configured to selectively move the flat spring to

a first position of bringing the other end side of the flat spring into contact with the one end of the slide pin, pressing the slide pin in a direction where the other end comes into contact with the other end side of the drawing tool, bringing the other end of the slide pin into contact with the other end side of the drawing tool, pressing the drawing tool in the second direction, and bringing the tip portion into contact with the drawing target surface, or

a second position of not pressing the slide pin.

10. The drawing apparatus according to claim 7, comprising

an auxiliary shaft member fixed at one end to the fitting member and configured to be movable together with the drawing tool whose tip portion is fitted in the fitting member, wherein

the auxiliary shaft member includes a protruding member protruding in a direction away from the axial center of the drawing tool,

the flat spring includes

a through hole through which the drawing tool and the auxiliary shaft member are inserted, and

an engaging portion being able to come into contact with the protruding member, and

the drawing tool pressing mechanism includes a flat spring moving mechanism configured to selectively move the flat spring to a first position where the engaging portion of the flat spring comes into contact with the protruding member to press the drawing tool via the auxiliary shaft member in the second direction, or a second position where the protruding member does not come into contact with the engaging portion of the flat spring.

11. The drawing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a print head configured to eject ink reduced into smaller droplets onto the drawing target surface, and draw.

12. The drawing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a moving mechanism configured to move the carriage and the print head simultaneously.