Patent Publication Number: US-6336694-B1

Title: Nail art method and device

Description:
This application is the national phase under 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT International Application No. PCT/JP98/05538 which has an International filing date of Dec. 8, 1998, which designated the United States of America. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a method of, and an apparatus for, providing nail art by automatically drawing an object, such as a picture, on a nail surface. 
     BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY 
     Hitherto, the nail art has been a kind of art where an expert draws a nail art object, such as a picture, on a human nail surface, using manicure. It has been difficult for an amateur who is not a skilled expert, to draw a desired object, such as a picture, on a nail surface, using manicure. Even to a skilled person, it has been not easy to draw a nail art object, such as a nail art picture, on the nail of his/her right hand fingers in case of right-handed, or on the nail of his/her left hand fingers in case of left-handed. 
     A method and apparatus are described in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication (Kokai) H6-70810 (1994), where an object, such as a nail art picture, is printed on the surface of a thin sheet that is adherable to a human fingernail surface or the nail surface of an artificial nail, instead of drawing such nail art picture, directly on a human fingernail surface, and the printed sheet is then cut to a 2-D shape fit to the nail surface. 
     However, there has been need for printing a nail art picture directly on a human fingernail surface or the nail surface of an artificial nail, instead of adhering a piece of sheet with a nail art picture printed thereon, to a human fingernail surface or the nail surface of an artificial nail. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus therefor that enable to print a nail art work, such as a desired nail art picture on one&#39;s own fingernail surface by him/herself. These method and apparatus are also applicable to the nail surface of an artificial nail, as they are. 
     To attain the object, a method according to the present invention is provided comprising the steps of holding at least one nail surface on a finger holder; selecting one ore more printing patterns from printing patterns stored in control means; moving either one or both of printing means and the finger holder by means of moving means controlled by the control means; and, concurrently, printing the selected printing pattern on the one or more nail surfaces. 
     To apply this method, an apparatus according to the present invention is provided comprising control means, a finger holder, printing means under the control of the control means for printing a nail art picture on a nail surface held by the finger holder, and moving means under the control of the control means for moving either one or both of the printing means and the finger holder. The nail surface, which a printing pattern is printed on, is a human fingernail surface or the nail surface of an artificial nail. 
     As the control means, a computer may be used equipped with a CPU, an internal memory, interfaces, an external memory, and a keyboard. As the printing means, a nozzle unit of an ink jet printer may be used. The control means moves the finger holder and the nozzle unit relative to each other so that a selected printing pattern is printed on the nail surface. The nozzle unit moving mechanism of an ink jet printer may be used as a part of the moving means. 
     The nozzle unit may employ the nozzle unit of a color ink jet printer, equipped with four or more ink jet nozzles, of colors including the three primary colors and black, as it is. The nozzle unit jets color ink from the ink jet nozzles under the control of the computer. 
     It may be arranged that the control means stores various nail art pictures beforehand, the stored nail art pictures are printed on a sheet of paper beforehand, from which a desired nail art picture is enabled to select by key operations. 
     When the moving means moves the nozzle unit only, the finger holder holds the nail surface which the nail art work is applied to, in a predetermined position. The moving means, controlled based on a program stored in the control means, moves the nozzle unit from a starting position to a terminating position along a predetermined moving route. The control means jets color ink from the ink jet nozzles in a position on the moving route where the nail art picture is printed, based on a program, for printing the nail art picture, stored in the control means. 
     The control means may be connected to display means to display printing patterns on the screen of the display for selecting a printing pattern from the displayed printing patterns. 
     The control means may be connected to data input means, such as a video movie camera, an image scanner, and a digital still camera. Thereby, data, such as printing patterns, printing masks for limiting the printing areas of the printing patterns, and a nail surface image, may be inputted to the control means, where such data may be displayed on the screen of the display means, and edited separately or in combination, for the edited data to be selected and stored for printing. 
     Preferably, the control means may have the capability to extract only the nail contour from the nail image, and thereby form, edit, and store printing masks with either the inside or outside of the nail contour selectively defined as either printing or trimming areas of the printing masks; the capability to combine a plurality of printing masks; the capability to select, edit and store printing masks while referring, on the screen, the nail image to at least one printing mask stored beforehand; the capability to display, edit, on the screen, and store combined images formed by combining printing patterns onto printing masks; the capability to select, on the screen, printing patterns to be printed; the capability to display, edit, on the screen, and store combined images formed by combining printing patterns with other printing patterns; and the capability to edit and store images picked up by the data input means, as printing patterns. 
     Furthermore, the control means, image pickup means, display means, and printing means may be enabled to deal with a plurality of nail surface simultaneously. The control means may be equipped with a data correcting function for printing the printing patterns on a plurality of nail surfaces. 
     The ink jet printer or jetting means, such as a spray, other than the ink jet printer may be preferably arranged to jet either one or both of a preprinting processing solution for forming a layer allowing ink dispersion, on the nail surface, and a postprinting processing solution for forming a layer protecting the print, on the nail surface. 
     As described above, by applying the nail art method of the present invention by means of the nail art apparatus of the present invention, an excellent effect is exhibited that a user is enabled to print a desired nail art picture on his/her own fingernail surface or the nail surface of an artificial nail, by him/her-self. 
     The apparatus of the present invention equipped with image pickup means, display means, control means, and printing means, exhibits an excellent effect that a user is enabled to input, form, edit, and store, on the spot, an object to be drawn on the nail surface, such as a picture, and print the object, such as a picture, on his/her nail surface, accurately. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the movement of a nozzle unit relative to a nail surface, according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the control in a first embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a side view partly in section of the moving means shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is an inward side view along arrow lines IV—IV of FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing outward appearances of a second embodiment; 
     FIG.  6 . is a block diagram showing the control in a second embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the screen of a display exhibiting nail images; 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing the screen of a display exhibiting printing masks; 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the screen of a display exhibiting printing patterns; 
     FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the screen of a display exhibiting variations a printing mask; 
     FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing the screen of a display exhibiting printing patterns obtained by putting a printing mask on a nail surface; 
     FIG. 12 is a sectional side view of a finger holder pressing a finger against a finger back stopper; 
     FIG. 13 is a plan view of a finger holder holding both sides of a finger; 
     FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing jetting means for preprinting processing solution and postprinting processing solution; and 
     FIG. 15 is a schematic side view showing a driving mechanism for the jetting means. 
    
    
     BEST EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Hereunder, a first embodiment of the method and apparatus of the present invention is described, referring to the drawings attached hereto. FIG. 1 shows a moving route of a nozzle unit  1 , relative to a nail surface  2 . The nozzle unit  1  moves from a starting point S in the direction X rightward by a distance “a,” then in the direction Y upward by a distance “e,” next, in the direction X backward by a distance “a,” then in the direction Y upward by a distance “e.” These back and forth movements in the direction X and upward or forward movements in the direction Y are repeated, whereby the nozzle unit  1  moves along a predetermined moving route L until it reaches a terminating point T located in a position apart from the starting point S by a distance “b” in the direction Y. After reaching the terminating point T, the nozzle unit  1  returns to the starting point S in a straight line. One unit moving distance “e” in the direction Y is equal to the pitch in the direction Y of pixels formed on the nail surface by jetting color ink from a nozzle by means of a computer. The moving route L successively passes through all points corresponding to all pixels within a rectangular moving area A having a width “a” in the direction X and a width “b” in the direction Y. The width “a” in the direction X is greater than the lateral width of the nail surface  2  which nail art is applied to, and the width “b” in the direction Y is greater than the longitudinal width of the nail surface  2 . When the nail surface  2  is held in a predetermined position, the nail surface  2  falls within the moving area A, and the longitudinal centerline of the nail surface  2  coincides with the longitudinal centerline of the moving area A. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, in case only the nozzle unit  1  is moved, then, when the nail surface  2  is held in a predetermined position, a plurality of nozzles  5  of the nozzle unit  1  are positioned opposite to the nail surface  2 . A keyboard is operated to cause a computer  4  to execute a program for selecting one nail art picture from various nail art pictures stored in the computer  4  beforehand, and printing that nail art picture. When the program is executed, a moving means  3  for the nozzle unit  1  moves the nozzle unit  1  along the moving route L shown in FIG. 1, based on a control signal from the computer  4 . When the nozzle unit reaches a point on the moving route L corresponding to a pixel constituting the selected nail art picture, the computer  4  outputs a control signal to the nozzle unit  1  for causing to jet ink from an ink jet nozzle  5  of the color of that pixel. Based on the control signal from the computer  4 , the nozzle unit  1  jets ink from a nozzle  5  of the color specified, onto the nail surface  2 . When the nozzle unit  1  has moved from the starting point S to the terminating point T along the moving route L shown in FIG. 1, the printing of the nail art picture  7  selected for the nail surface  2  has been completed. 
     As described above, application of a desired nail art picture to a user&#39;s own nail surface is enabled, only by holding the nail surface of his/her own finger in a predetermined position corresponding to the moving area of the nozzle unit moved by means of the computer, and by inputting instructions to the computer to select and print the desired one of nail art pictures stored in the computer. 
     Although not shown, the finger may be placed on the finger holder moved by the computer, to move the nail surface in the direction Y of FIG. 1, where the nozzle unit is moved by the compute in the direction X of FIG. 1, to apply a nail art picture. Furthermore, the nozzle unit may be held stationary, where only the finger holder is moved both in the directions X and Y, to apply a nail art picture. 
     As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a finger holder  9  is fixed to a frame  8 . The finger holder has a fingernail tip stopper  10  for defining the position of a fingernail tip, and a finger back stopper  11  for butting a finger back against it. When placing a finger  20  on the finger holder  9 , butting the fingernail tip against the fingernail tip stopper  10 , and butting the back of the finer against the finger back stopper  11 , then, the nail surface  2  is held in a predetermined position. The finger holders may be made ready in many variations to fit various sizes of fingers, to enable to replace as required. A stationary frame  12  of a moving means  3  is fixed to the frame  8 . A longitudinal screw shaft  13  is supported by the stationary frame  12 , where the longitudinal screw shaft  13  is directly coupled to a pulse motor  14 . A longitudinal slider  15  is in screw engagement with the longitudinal screw shaft  13 . A lateral frame  16  is formed in one body with the longitudinal slider  15 , where a lateral screw shaft  17  is supported by the lateral frame. The lateral screw shaft  17  is directly coupled to a pulse motor  18 . A lateral slider  19  is in screw engagement with the lateral screw shaft  17 , where a nozzle unit  1  is fixed to the lateral slider  19 . 
     The nozzle unit  1  is equipped with a plurality of nozzles  5 , where color ink is jetted from the nozzles  5  under the control of a computer. The nozzles  5  are opposite to the nail surface  2  held by the finger holder  9 . The pulse motors  14  and  18  turn under the control of the computer. When the pulse motor  14  turns, the nozzle unit moves in the longitudinal direction. When the pulse motor  18  turns, the nozzle unit moves in the lateral direction. The moving distance of the nozzle unit by a one-pulse turning angle is a multiple of the longitudinal and lateral pitches of the printing pixels, respectively. The computer controls the turning of the pulse motors  14  and  18  so that the nozzle unit  1  moves along the moving route L shown in FIG.  1 . The program for printing one of the nail art pictures stored in the computer controls the nozzle unit  1  so that the nozzles jet ink of colors required for forming the one nail art picture when the nozzle unit  1  comes to a position on the moving route required for printing the one nail art picture. Under this control of the computer, when the nozzle unit  1  moves from the starting point S to the terminating point T along the moving route L, the nozzle unit  1  jets ink of colors constituting pixels of a nail art picture from the nozzles thereof at all the positions where all the pixels of the nail art picture are to be printed, respectively. Therefore, when the nozzle unit  1  moves from the starting point S to the terminating point T, and returns to the starting point S, the printing of the nail art picture for the nail surface  2  has been completed. 
     Not shown as an embodiment, both the nozzle unit and the finger holder may be arranged to move. In this case, a moving means for the finger holder and a moving means for the nozzle unit, both computer-controllable, may be provided, where the finger holder is moved back and forth for one time in the direction Y, or the longitudinal direction of the finger, while the nozzle unit is moved back and forth repeatedly in the direction X, or the lateral direction of the finger. Furthermore, another combination may be arranged where he nozzle unit is stationary and only the finger holder is moved both in the directions X and Y by a computer-controllable moving means for the finger holder. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, the apparatus according to a second embodiment is enclosed in a n enclosure  21 , where a display  22 , operating buttons  24 , a joy stick  25 , input keys  26 , and an insertion opening  27  for inserting a finger to apply nail art to, are provided on the front side of the enclosure  21 . 
     As shown in FIG. 6, a computer  4  is provided in the enclosure  21 , that has a memory required for conducting functions, such as image processing and printing control, where the display  22 , operating buttons  24 , a joy stick  25 , and input keys  26 , are connected to the computer  4 , respectively. In addition, video movie camera  28  for picking up objects, such as the finger tip and printing patterns, a serial ink jet printer  29 , and a moving means  3  for a nozzle unit  1 , are connected to the computer  4 , respectively. The nozzle unit  1  stores color ink having capability to print the printing patterns on a nail surface applied with the nail surface preprinting processing. The nozzle unit  1  also may be arranged to store and discharge a preprinting processing solution for forming a layer allowing ink dispersion, and a postprinting processing solution for forming a layer having water proofness and abrasion resistance. The preprinting processing solution is, for example, a hydrophilic resin solution with inorganic particles dispersed therein. The postprinting processing solution is, for example, a resin solution or emulsion. 
     The computer  4  has various interfaces for connecting external equipment. Various external equipment, such as a card reader  32  for a digital still camera  31 , an image scanner  33 , a keyboard  6 , and a disk drive  34  for a floppy disk  35 , may be connected to the interfaces  30 , as required. 
     Inside the enclosure  21 , a finger holder for holding in a predetermined position, and defining the position of, the fingertip of a hand inserted from the insertion opening  27 , and a moving means  3  for moving the nozzle unit  1  of the printer  29  relative to the fingertip nail surface fixed to the finger holder, are provided. The finger holder and the moving means  3  used here are similar to the finger holder and the moving means  3  employed in the first embodiment. 
     Application of nail art in the second embodiment is proceeded in a manner described below. 
     A hand is inserted from the insertion opening  27  of the enclosure  21 , with the fingertip of the hand then fixed to the finger holder, and the operating buttons are operated, whereby the computer  4  causes the video movie camera  28  to pick up the image of the fingertip nail surface, and displays this nail image and several different printing masks from many printing masks stored beforehand, on the screen  23  of the display  22 , as shown in FIG.  7 . These printing masks may be displayed in order of frequency or time of use. If required, the computer may be arranged to form a printing mask by extracting only the nail contour from a nail image. The input keys  26  shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are operated to select a printing mask considered most suitable for the nail image, from the printing masks displayed. 
     As shown in FIG. 8, the computer puts the selected printing mask on the nail image on the screen  23  of the display  22  in a predetermined position of the nail image, for example, a position where the center of the nail surface coincides with the center of the printing mask. In case the printing mask is not suitable, a printing mask considered more suitable is selected by operating the input keys. 
     As shown in FIG. 9, it may be arranged that several printing masks are designated as basic printing masks, and a basic printing mask selected is varied to numerous variations on the screen  23  by operating the joy stick  25  shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, the position for putting the printing mask may be moved in numerous directions with the moving range finely adjusted, by using the joy stick  25 . The printing mask may be finalized by operating the operating buttons  24  shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. These functions are all controlled by the computer. 
     As shown in FIG. 11, the computer may display a nail image with a printing mask put thereon, and several different printing patterns from many printing patterns stored beforehand, on the screen  23  of the display  22 . The printing patterns represent objects, such as pictures and characters, to be printed on the nail surface. The computer displays a combined image formed by putting the selected printing pattern on the printing mask on the screen  23  of the display  22  in a predetermined position of the printing mask, for example, a position where the center of the printing mask coincides with the center of the printing pattern. 
     In case the printing pattern is not suitable, a printing pattern considered more suitable is selected by operating the input keys. This printing pattern so selected may be edited by enlarging, reducing, rotating and/or color changing the selected printing pattern. The printing pattern may be finalized by operating the operating buttons. Also, a combined printing pattern may be displayed on the screen by combining a printing pattern with another printing pattern. The printing masks described above may be formed by combining different printing masks. For example, a first printing pattern may be defined inside a selected mask, where a heart-shaped mask is put within the first printing pattern to clear an area corresponding to the heart shape from the first printing pattern for putting a second printing pattern within the area cleared by the heart-shaped mask. The combined images of printing masks and printing patterns, and the combined images of different printing masks, as described above, may be all editable similarly to the case of printing patterns described above. These functions are all controlled by the computer. 
     These printing masks, printing patterns, combined images of printing patterns and printing masks, and combined images of different printing masks, finalized as described above, may be stored in the computer either without attaching a password, or with a password attached by inputting the password by means of the input keys. The printing masks, printing patterns, and combined images are not retrievable without inputting the respective passwords. 
     The computer  4 , shown in FIG. 6, while moving the nozzle unit  1  by driving the moving means  3  of the printer  29 , shown in FIG. 6, causes color ink to jet from the nozzle unit  1  onto the nail surface  2 , and thereby securely printing the finalized printing pattern on the nail surface  2 , to draw the nail art picture. Also, the computer  4  may be capable of causing a preprinting processing solution to be discharged from the nozzle unit  1  onto the nail surface  2  to form a layer allowing ink dispersion, and, after drawing the nail art picture, causing a postprinting processing solution to be discharged from the nozzle unit  1  onto the nail surface  2  to form a layer protecting the print. Thus, when a layer allowing ink dispersion and a layer protecting the print are formed on the nail surface, before and after printing the nail art picture, respectively, the color ink jetted is fixed on the nail surface securely. 
     The printing on the nail surface is implemented within a printing area made corresponding to the nail shape by introducing printing masks, whereby the area peripheral to the nail is not likely to be stained. 
     Various external equipment, such as a card reader  32  for a digital still camera  31 , an image scanner  33 , a keyboard  6 , and a disk drive  34  for a floppy disk  35 , may be connected to interfaces  30  of the computer  4 , thereby enabling to input data, such as hand-written designs, photographs, and characters, via such external equipment. The inputted data may be displayed on the screen  23  of the display  22  to be edited as printing patterns and stored. These functions are all controlled by the computer  4 . 
     Moreover, data, such as hand-written designs, photographs, and nail art pictures printed on nail surfaces, may be picked up as images by a video movie camera  28  or a digital still camera  31 , where these images may be displayed on the screen  23  of the display  22  to be edited as printing patterns and stored. Characters, such as letters and numerals, may be inputted as printing patterns, via the input keys in the form of text data. These functions are all controlled by the computer  4 . 
     Furthermore, it may be arranged that not just a single fingertip but all a plurality of fingertips inserted from the insertion opening are displayed, as images, on the screen of the display, where identical or different printing patterns may be simultaneously printed on the plurality of fingertips by controlling the video movie camera, display and printer from the computer. In this case, the computer has a data correcting function for correcting data, such as the printing positions, and the longitudinal and lateral dimensions of the printing patterns, according to the conditions of these fingertips, thereby enabling to print the most suitable printing patterns for the respective nail surfaces. 
     As shown in FIG. 12, the finger holder  9  may have a finger support  36 , not equipped with a fingernail tip stopper, movably provided, where the finger support  36  is pressed by means of a spring  37  or an electric actuator, toward a finger back stopper  11  having a cross-section of a U or L shape. With this arrangement, the back of the finger  20  placed on the finger support  36  is pressed against the finger back stopper  11  fixed to the finger holder  9 , thereby keeping the distance between the nozzle unit  1  and the nail surface  2  constant. 
     As shown in FIG. 13, the finger holder  9  may have a finger side holder unit  38  movably provided, for holding the finger  20  from both the right and left sides thereof with legs thereof astride the finger back stopper  11 , whereby the legs of the finger side holder unit  38  are pressed, by means of a spring  38  or an electric actuator, against the finger  20  held therebetween. By this, misalignment of the finger with the nozzle unit is prevented. 
     As shown in FIG. 14, a spray  40  for jetting a preprinting processing solution and a spray  41  for jetting a postprinting processing solution, onto the nail surface  2 , instead of the nozzle unit, may be provided. In this case, as shown in FIG. 15, the finger holder  9  may be provided swingably relative to the nozzle unit  1 . When the finger holder  9  swings, the nail surface  2  faces the sprays  40  and  41 , while the nail surface  2  faces the nozzle unit  1  when returns to the original position, as shown in chain lines. The sprays  40  and  41  are of a telescopic type, with the stationary side thereof attached to a portion of the frame  8 . The respective moving sides of the sprays  40  and  41  are attached to the respective movable frames  43  thereof, with their respective compression springs  44  placed between the portion of the frame  8  and the movable frames  43 . The movable frames  43  each respectively conduct a reciprocating motion by rotation of their respective cams  42  each containing a one-way clutch. Not shown, each cam is applied with rotational drive by a common, forward-reverse turning motor. The cam-rotating motor may be either controlled by a computer that operates the printing, or controlled directly with operating buttons separate from that computer.