Abstract:
An apparatus for printing on the plant surface and the artificial plant surface, comprises a housing. A gripping device for holding the plant or artificial plant and a printing unit for printing on its surfaces are disposed in said housing. Said printing unit is connected to a computer which is external or integrated in the housing. The printing unit of the present invention is an ink jetting unit, which can print on the plant surface and the artificial plant surface, especially flower, artificial flower, leaves and the fruit. People can communicate information using these articles, which satisfied the demand.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a printer, in particular an apparatus for printing images on surfaces of plant or artificial plant. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    In life, plant or artificial plant, such as flower, artificial flower, red leaf and fruit, are mutually presented among people in order to express sentiments. Accompanying with people&#39;s more and more intense desire of fashion seeking and showing individuality, people wish to provide self-defined images onto those articles to express personal thinking and sentiments. 
         [0003]    Presently, printing is adopted as the way of providing images on plant surface or artificial plant surface. Although personal requirements can be met by this way, the printing possesses an insuperable deficiency, that&#39;s, the plate-making that is necessary to all kinds of printing is complicated in processing, time-wasting, and labor-wasting, which is a bottleneck that restricts development of the technology and prevents the technology from being popular and meeting the requirement of most people. For example, US patent application No. 20040031410 disclosed a method for printing image on flower by means of transfer printing. However, the method is too complicated in processing to be popularly and wildly utilized. Besides, the method is performed only by hand. 
         [0004]    Thus it can be seen that it is not a good choice to provide images onto the plant surface and the artificial plant surface through printing. 
         [0005]    Since printing and print are similar technologies, it is easily conceived to overcome the above deficiency by print. However, among the current types of prints, the applications of laser print and hot transfer print are limited because of the part high temperatures of the print heads and the pressures between the print heads and the mediums. They can not be used onto the delicate articles such as the above mentioned plant and artificial plant. On the contrary, ink jet print should be suitable. Actually, it was mentioned in the foregoing US patent application that ink jet print could be used for printing image on the flower, but only transfer print by hand without any corresponding apparatus. 
         [0006]    However, limited by the shapes of the plant and the artificial plant, obviously traditional ink jet print can not be used, for they can not enter the paper path as paper sheets. That&#39;s, specific structure and circuit of print should be used to print images on the surfaces of those articles. However, an apparatus with specific structure, which can be used to directly print image on the surfaces of plant and artificial plant, does not come into people&#39;s eyes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for printing clear, beautiful, flamboyant and elective image on surfaces of plant and artificial plant so that the plant may transfer more earnest and rich emotion and make more romantic feeling. 
         [0008]    The present invention comprises: a housing, a gripping device disposed in the housing for gripping the plant or artificial plant, a printing unit for printing on the surfaces of plant or artificial plant, a computer device outside connected with or integrated in the housing and connecting the printing unit. 
         [0009]    The printing unit comprises a printing bracket moving longitudinally relative to the gripping device; a printing head is provided on the printing bracket for moving widthwise relative to the printing bracket. One of the gripping device and the printing bracket is fixed on the housing; the other of them is connected with a bracket drive device connected with a computer device. For example, the gripping device is fixed on the housing, and the bracket drive device comprises a motor disposed on the housing; a sliding slot is provided on the printing bracket; the motor drives the printing bracket through a transmission device to slide longitudinally relative to the housing. The transmission device may be any one of the following structures: 
         [0010]    1. The transmission device comprises two belt pulleys which are provided on the housing and connected with each other through a belt which is fixed with the printing bracket on a position thereof The belt is a toothed belt, and the belt pulley is a belt pulley with teeth. 
         [0011]    2. The transmission device is gear-rack mechanism which comprises a gear driven by the motor and a rack disposed on the printing bracket, so that the motor drives the printing bracket through the gear-rack mechanism to slide longitudinally relative to the housing. 
         [0012]    3. The transmission device is screw-nut mechanism which comprises a screw disposed longitudinally on the housing and rotated under the drive of the motor, and a corresponding nut fixed on the printing bracket, so that the motor drives the printing bracket to slide longitudinally relative to the housing through the screw-nut mechanism. 
         [0013]    4. The transmission device is crank-slider mechanism which comprises a sliding slot provided on the housing, a corresponding slider provided or formed on the bottom of the printing bracket, and a crank driven by the motor, provided on the housing and connected with the printing bracket through a link rod, so that the motor drives the printing bracket to slide longitudinally relative to the housing through the crank-slider mechanism. 
         [0014]    The motor is connected with the transmission device through a speed reducer mechanism. Furthermore, a camera is disposed in the housing so as to provide accurate position of an article to be printed and print preview of the article to the computer device. The gripping device is disposed on the front part of the housing and comprises a supporting bracket, and a top cover hinged to the supporting bracket and having an opening for printing. A holding bracket is disposed at the middle portion of the supporting bracket; and the height of the holding bracket is adjustable. Money identifying and returning device is disposed in the housing and is connected with the computer device so as to identify the money provided by the user and return the change to the user. 
         [0015]    The computer device is integrated in the housing. A connecting interface for movable memorizer is disposed on the housing and is connected with the computer device so as to connect and read the movable memorizer provided by the user. The connecting interface for movable memorizer is a USB interface, IEEE1394 interface, IrDA infrared interface or RS-232/485 Serial Bus interface; and the movable memorizer is CF card, SM card, memory rod, movable hard disk, U-disk, CD-ROM, ZIP driver or any other movable data read and memory device. 
         [0016]    The computer device comprises a display module, memory module, input module, and printing module; wherein, a control unit is arranged to be connected with said modules through a bus. 
         [0017]    The control unit at least comprises a programmable logic-controlled integrated circuit and a peripheral matchable circuit; 
         [0018]    The memory module at least comprises an external memorizer and a connecting interface for the external memorizer; 
         [0019]    The input module is a touch screen or a set of panel micro switches. 
         [0020]    The programmable logic-controlled integrated circuit is a MCU single-chip microcomputer or a CPLD/EPGA complex programmable logic device. I/O ports of the programmable logic-controlled integrated circuit are connected with the corresponding ports of the display module, memory module, input module, communication module, account module and printing module through the bus. The programmable logic-controlled integrated circuit is connected with a communication module, account module and/or extended interfaces through the bus. 
         [0021]    The display module is a liquid crystal display. The communication module is a wired network card, a wireless network card, or a modem. The account module includes coin machine and control circuit thereof 
         [0022]    The printing unit is an ink jet printer. The apparatus of the present invention may be used to print images on surfaces of flower, artificial flower, leaf or fruit. 
         [0023]    The advantageous and beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: 
         [0024]    1. It can be used to print color images directly on surfaces of plant and artificial plant. 
         [0025]    2. The image may be updated on-line or self-defined according to the fashion at any moment. 
         [0026]    3. The operation is controlled in program through a micro camera such that the printing effect can be reviewed, the image can be zoomed and rotated. The printing procedure is display in real time and can be effectively controlled. 
         [0027]    4. The printing process may be finished in seconds. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCIRPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing whole structure of a first embodiment; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing inner structure of the first embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view showing structure of a gripping device of the first embodiment; 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view showing structure of another holding bracket; 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of the computer of the second embodiment; 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart of the operation of the second embodiment; 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  is a circuit diagram of the second embodiment; 
           [0035]      FIG. 8  is a top view of a third embodiment; 
           [0036]      FIG. 9  is a schematic view showing the structure of the holding bracket of the third embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     Embodiment 1 
       [0037]    The embodiment is for printing on the flower and the artificial flower. As shown in  FIG. 1 , it comprises a housing  10  which are comprised of a base  11  and a cover  12  hinged to the base  11 . Two horizontal guiding posts  13  parallel to each other are longitudinally fixed on the base  11 , and two corresponding guiding sleeves  22  are disposed on the bottom of the printing bracket  21 . A bracket motor  32  is fixed on the base  11 . The bracket motor  32  is associated with an active belt pulley  34  with gear teeth through a gear reducer  33 , and the active belt pulley  34  is associated with a driven belt pulley  36  through toothed belt  35  which is fixed on a position of the base  11 . The active belt pulley  34 , the belt  35  and the driven belt pulley  36  constitute a transmission mechanism  30 . Through the gear reducer  33  and the transmission mechanism  30 , the rotation of shaft of the bracket motor  32  drives the printing bracket  21  to slide along the guiding post  13 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0038]    A traverse guiding post  23  and a printing head motor  24  are horizontally disposed on the printing bracket  21 . A gear  25  is disposed on one end of main shaft of the printing head motor  24  and is coupled to a driven gear  27  through a belt  26  which is fixed with a printing head  28  on one position. The printing head  28  sleeves the guiding post  23  so as to form a sliding cooperation, as shown in  FIG. 2 . Through the belt  26 , the printing head motor  24  drives the printing head  28  to slide along the guiding post  23 . The printing bracket  21  and the elements disposed thereon constitute a printing unit  20 . 
         [0039]    A gripping device  40  for gripping flower is disposed on the base  11 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the gripping device  40  comprises a “U”-shaped supporting bracket  41 , to one side of which a top cover  43  is hinged through a first torsion spring  42 . The opening  46  on the center of the top surface of the top cover  43  forms a “dormer”. A locking hook  45  is hinged to the other side of the supporting bracket  41  through a second torsion spring  44 . A free end of the top cover  43  is tapered so as to constitute an impact lock mechanism together with the locking hook  45 . The first torsion spring  42  acts on the top cover  43  such that the top cover  43  tends to be opened, and the second torsion spring  44  acts on the locking hook  45  such that the locking hook  45  tends to be attached to the right side of the supporting bracket  41 . A holding bracket  51  is disposed on the bottom of the supporting bracket  41 , wherein, the lower part of the holding bracket  51  forms a slim rod  52 , the lower end of which passes through a corresponding through hole  53  on the bottom of the supporting bracket  41 . The through hole  53  has a diameter slightly larger than that of the slim rod  52 . The end of the slim rod  52  passed through the through hole  53  is provided with a stop ring  54  so as to prevent the slim rod  52  from escaping from the through hole  53 . The part of the slim rod  52  between the holding bracket  51  and the supporting bracket  41  is sleeved with a spring  55 . 
         [0040]    The specific shape of the holding bracket  51  can be designed depending on the shape of the flower. The holding bracket  51  in  FIG. 3  is suitable for flowers such as rose, tulip and peony. The holding bracket  51  in  FIG. 3  is also suitable for lily and anthurium. 
         [0041]    In practice, the lower part of the holding bracket  51  can be connected to the base  11  through adjustable blot, which is in the protection scope of the present patent application. 
         [0042]    A camera  80  connected with a computer through data lines is disposed immediately above the gripping device  40  of the housing  10 . 
         [0043]    In use, it is supposed that the top cover is closed at the initial state. At this time, the locking hook  45  tightly hooks the top cover  43  due to the act of the second torsion spring  44 . If the top cover  43  is required to be opened, it is just required that the locking hook  45  is softly turned by hand. In this way, the free end of the top cover  43  escapes from the locking hook  45  and automatically opens due to the act of the first torsion spring  42 . When the hand is removed from the locking hook  45 , the locking hook  45  restores. A flower is positioned on the holding bracket  51 , and then the top cover  43  is closed by hand. When the free end of the cover top  43  touches the locking hook  45 , the impact lock mechanism automatically locks. In this way, the flower is gripped between the top cover  43  and the holding bracket  51  and the holding bracket  51  is pressed downward for a distance. Due to the act of the spring  55 , the flower is gripped appropriately but not too tight to be damaged. Then, through a computer, the printing motor  32  is controlled to drive the printing bracket  21  to slide onto immediately above the flower, the display of the out computer displays stored images such that the user can select one or more images through the input device of the computer, then the selected images are oriented and adjusted; the computer controls the camera  80  to capture the video of the flower in the current position and shows the printing effect with the video and the selected image. In this state, the system receives an adjustment instruction from the user to adjust the position, dimension, posture and the color of the image, and decide whether to overlap the image to the template stored in its memory so as to add the image with specific lace and special effect or not according to the determination of the user. During this procedure, the arithmetic is pre-designed through the program by the system to ensure the effect obtained through overlapping the image to the video consistent with that of the finished flower. The adjustment is finished until the user is satisfied with the effect, at this time, the system processes the data of the video, the data of the selected images, the adjustment data and the printing data and transmits the processed results into the printing system; the printing system prints the images designed by the user onto the flower and stores the information of the images and the time at the system memory device. During the printing, the bracket motor  32  drives the printing bracket  21  to move horizontally and longitudinally, and the printing head motor  24  drives the printing head  28  to move along the guiding post  23  horizontally and widthwise, so as to print the images. 
         [0044]    The computer device  70  of the embodiment may be any computer currently available if only it is provided with the corresponding control program, which is in the protection scope of the present patent application. 
       Embodiment 2 
       [0045]    Compared with the embodiment 1, the computer device  70  of embodiment  2  is integrated in the housing  10 . Display device and input device are mounted on the surface of the housing  10 . The circuit diagram is as shown in  FIG. 5 . Display module, memory module, input module, communication module, account module and printing module are connected to the control unit through a bus. The control unit is comprised of at least a programmable logic-controlled integrated circuit and a peripheral matchable circuit. I/O ports of the programmable logic-controlled integrated circuit are connected with the corresponding ports of the display module, memory module, input module, communication module, account module and printing module through the bus. The memory module is comprised of at least an external memorizer and an external connecting interface for the external memorizer. The input module is a touch screen or a set of panel micro switches. The programmable logic-controlled integrated circuit is connected with extended interfaces through the bus. 
         [0046]    Wherein, the programmable logic-controlled integrated circuit is a single-chip microcomputer such as Microcomputer Unit (MCU), or a complex programmable logic device such as Complex Programmable Logic device (CPLD), or Field Programmable Gate Array (EPGA). 
         [0047]    The display module is a liquid crystal display. 
         [0048]    The connecting interface for the external memorizer may be a USB interface, IEEE1394 interface, IrDA infrared interface or RS-232/485 Serial Bus interface. The external memorizer may be CF card, SM card, memory rod, movable hard disk, U-disk, CD-ROM, ZIP driver or any other movable data read/write and memory device. 
         [0049]    The communication module may be a wired network card, a wireless network card, or a modem. 
         [0050]    The account module includes coin machine and the control circuit thereof 
         [0051]    In  FIG. 6 , the control unit functions to maintain the smooth operation of the whole system, receive the information input from the other module and the outside, and differently respond to the different information. 
         [0052]    Due to the arrangement of the connecting interface for the external memorizer, if the user dissatisfies with the pre-defined images or desires to design special images himself, he may insert an external memory device. The system may automatically detect the device and display the effective image files in the external memory device for the user&#39;s selection after zooming them in a proportion. 
         [0053]    The system may be connected with a money identifying and return system such that the whole system can achieve a self-service function. The account module receives the signal transmitted by the coin machine, and accounts the fees as the instruction sent by the program of the single-chip microcomputer. The system may identify the true and false, and the par value of the money inserted, and then transmits the data to the control unit where the value of the money and the time are recorded. When the user requests the change, the system calculates the money paid by the user and the change of the consume based on the management mode of the system, and then returns the change to the user through the money return system, and at the same time records the information of the amount of change and the dealing time. 
         [0054]    In  FIG. 7 , the I/O ports of the programmable logic-controlled integrated circuit X 15 , i.e., INT 1 , INT 0  are correspondingly connected with I/O ports of the other modules through pins CONIN, CONOUT, the P 1 . 3  pin of the programmable logic-controlled integrated circuit X 15  are correspondingly connected with ports of the other modules through isolating circuit U 2  and pin CONR, and the P 1 . 7  pin of the programmable logic-controlled integrated circuit X 15  are correspondingly connected with pins JIN, JOUT through drive circuit Q 1  and a relay, so as to control the operation state of the printing module. 
         [0055]    Since the functions of the interfaces of the single-chip microcomputer may be defined by programs, the detailed connection relationship among the circuit of the embodiment is to schematically explain the invention. The person skilled in the art may design a circuit with same function but different connection relationship. The detailed is omitted herewith for concise. 
         [0056]    Since the connection between the single-chip microcomputer and the liquid crystal display, the touch screen, the panel micro switch, the connecting interface for external memorizer, the wired network card, the wireless network card, the modem, the control circuit of the printer and the control circuit of the coin machine through bus (data bus, control bus, and/or address bus) are prior art, so the detailed is omitted herewith for concise. 
         [0057]    If the chip of the single-chip microcomputer is chosen as the integrated circuit X 15 , the chip may be selected from the PIC16C61 of PIC series of Microchip company, AT89C2051 series of Atmel company and 89 series of Philips. If the circuit chip of CPLD or EPGA is chosen, the 9536 chip of CPLD series of Xilinx company, the chip of Flex series of Altera company, or the chip of Atmel company with same function may be adopted. 
         [0058]    Since the programmable logic-controlled integrated circuit i.e., the single-chip microcomputer is adopted to achieve all kinds of control functions required for the printing, the whole bulk of the printer, the rate of fault are reduced, moreover, the cost of manufacture and the selling price of the whole apparatus, the management cost of the merchant and the expenditure of the consumer are all significantly reduced, while all the functions of the conventional apparatus are achieved. The desk-lization and micromation of the apparatus is achieved. It also creates new market and conveniences the upgrade and update of the apparatus. 
         [0059]    In the embodiment, the transmission mechanism for driving the printing bracket to move is different from that of embodiment 1. It is comprised of a gear driven by the motor and a rack disposed on the printing bracket. The gear and the rack constitute a gear-rack mechanism. Through the gear-rack mechanism, the motor drives the printing bracket to longitudinally slide relative to the housing. Other portions of embodiment 2 are the same as those of embodiment 1 
       Embodiment 3 
       [0060]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , compared with the embodiment 1, the transmission mechanism is comprised of a bracket motor  32  fixed on the base  11 . The bracket motor  32  is coupled to an active belt pulley  34 , and the active belt pulley  34  is coupled to a driven belt pulley  36  through a belt  35  which is fixed at the bottom of the left end of the printing bracket  21  on a position thereof At the same time, an aid belt pulley  37  and a second driven belt pulley  38  are disposed on the other end of the printing bracket  21 . The active belt pulley  34  is coupled to the second driven belt pulley  38  through a second belt  39  which surrounds the aid belt pulley  37 . The part of the second belt  39  between the aid belt pulley  37  and the second driven belt pulley  38  is parallel to the guiding post  13  and is fixed with one end of the printing bracket  21  on a corresponding position thereof. In use, the bracket motor  32  rotates, so that the active belt pulley  34  drives the two ends of the printing bracket  21  to slide along the gilding post  13  through the two belts. Compared with embodiment 1, the two ends of the printing bracket  21  are acted by force at the same time, so the balance property is better. 
         [0061]    The gripping device of the embodiment as shown in  FIG. 9  is comprised of a “V”-shaped supporting bracket  41 , on one side of which a top cover  43  is hinged. 
         [0062]    An opening  46  is provided on the center of the top surface of the top cover  43  so as to form a “dormer”. A locking structure such as a pin is adopted to lock the top cover  43  after it is closed. A cavity for receiving flower is provided on the top surface of the supporting bracket  41 , and a slot for receiving a scape of the flower is provided with on the front surface of the supporting bracket and the cavity. The supporting bracket  41  is provided with a mounting hole on the lower part thereof for being mounted on the housing. In use, the flower is disposed in the cavity and the scape is gripped in the slot so that the flower is kept stable, then the top cover  43  is closed and the flower is printed through the opening  46 . 
         [0063]    The gripping device can be driven to slide horizontally and longitudinal along the housing. In this way, the gripping device can be pulled out, and then pushed in after the flower is disposed into it. When the printing is finished, the gripping device may be pulled out to remove the flower. Such a mechanism is prior art, so the detailed description is omitted. However, such a mechanism is in the protection scope of the present patent application. 
         [0064]    The above mentioned embodiments disclose two optimal structures of the transmission mechanism. Actually, any other current structure that can be used falls in the protection scope of the present patent application, such as the three transmission mechanisms as follows: 1. The transmission mechanism is comprised of a screw disposed on the housing and rotated under the drive of the motor, and a corresponding nut fixed on the printing bracket. The screw and the nut constitute a screw-nut mechanism. Through the screw-nut mechanism, the motor drives the printing bracket to longitudinally slide relative to the housing. 2. A sliding slot is provided on the housing, a corresponding slider is provided or formed on the bottom of the printing bracket, and a crank driven by the motor is provided on the housing. The crank is connected with the printing bracket through a link rod so as to constitute a crank-slider mechanism. Through the crank-slider mechanism, the motor drives the printing bracket to longitudinally slide relative to the housing. 
         [0065]    In the above embodiments, the gripping device is fixed on the housing, and the printing bracket slides relative to the housing. In practice, the arrangement may be contrary to the above, that&#39;s, the printing bracket is fixed on the housing, and the gripping slides relative to the housing. Therefore, one of the gripping device and the printing bracket is fixed on the housing, and the other of them is connected with a drive device connected with the computer. These are all in the protection scope of the present patent application. 
         [0066]    Although flower is used for the explanation of the above embodiments, the article to be printed is not limited to the flower. The shape of the holding bracket can be designed as desire only if it suits to the article to be printed. In practice, the gripping device and/or the holding bracket therein can be designed as detachable such that they can be changed for printing different articles. 
         [0067]    It can be seen from the above, the present invention can be used for printing images (patterns or characters) on surfaces of plant and artificial plant, especially flower, artificial flower, leaf, fruit. In this way, the emotion can be transferred and the requirements can be met through those articles. 
         [0068]    As above, the description has been given for the preferred embodiments of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the above description. Those skilled in the art can surely make various modification and changes thereto based on the purport of the present invention described in the appended claims or disclosed herein. Such modifications and changes are surely included in the scope.