Method of manicure

Abstract

The application discloses a manicure construction method, and relates to the technical field of manicure. The method comprises the following steps: performing three-dimensional scanning on a nail to obtain three-dimensional information of the nail; planning a curved motion path of a dispensing needle head according to the three-dimensional information; extruding manicure glue to the dispensing needle head; driving the dispensing needle head to move along the curved path on the surface of the nail; and making the manicure glue flow out and directly coat on the surface of the nail to form a manicure glue layer during the moving process. The method further comprises the steps of multiple coating, edge processing, consumable identification and closed-loop control. During the coating process, three-dimensional information after coating is obtained by scanning again, and the information before coating is compared and analyzed to determine whether the coating effect meets the standard. If the coating effect does not meet the standard, the coating path and glue output parameters are adjusted in real time for re-coating. The application realizes automatic coating of manicure glue, and the manicure effect is three-dimensional and full. Moreover, the coating effect can be adjusted in real time according to the feedback.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of nail art equipment technology, and in particular to a nail art application method. Background Technology

[0002] Nail art is a craft that decorates and beautifies nails, also known as nail design. Nail art is very popular among female consumers and has become an important branch of the modern beauty industry. With the improvement of people's living standards and the increasing pursuit of beauty, the nail art industry has experienced rapid development in recent years, with the market size continuously expanding, and nail art consumption gradually shifting from high-end beauty salons to the mass consumer market.

[0003] Current machine-based nail art methods primarily utilize inkjet printing technology. This method uses a printhead to spray ink onto the nail surface to create patterns. Because inkjet printing uses ink, the thickness of a single print is only a few micrometers, making it difficult to achieve a three-dimensional and full-bodied nail art effect.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide a three-dimensional nail art application method. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a nail art application method that makes nail art more three-dimensional.

[0006] To address the aforementioned technical problems, embodiments of the present invention provide a nail art application method, comprising the following steps: Perform a 3D scan on the nail to obtain its 3D information; The motion path of the dispensing needle is planned based on the three-dimensional information, and the motion path is a curved path; The nail gel is extruded and delivered to the dispensing needle; According to the planned motion path, the dispensing needle is driven to move along the curved path on the nail surface; During the movement of the dispensing needle, the nail polish flows out from the dispensing needle and is directly applied to the nail surface to form a nail polish layer on the nail surface.

[0007] In one embodiment, the curved path is a spiral path or a concentric circle path; And / or, the curved path starts from the center region of the nail and gradually extends outward to the edge region of the nail; And / or, the nail gel is contained in a container, and the nail gel is delivered from the container to the dispensing needle by squeezing the container; And / or, the dispensing needle selectively dispenses glue during at least one period of the movement and does not dispense glue during at least another period of the movement, only moving to move the applied nail polish.

[0008] In one embodiment, the nail application method further includes multiple coating steps: after the first coating is applied to the nail surface, uneven areas are touched up at least once.

[0009] In one embodiment, during the touch-up application, the dispensing needle does not dispense any glue; instead, the already applied nail polish is moved to even out the nail polish.

[0010] In one embodiment, the nail art application method further includes an edge treatment step: in the nail edge area, the dispensing needle does not dispense adhesive, and the dispensing needle is driven to move from the inside of the nail towards the nail edge, thereby bringing the nail art adhesive from the center area of ​​the nail to the nail edge; And / or, in the step of extruding and delivering the nail gel to the dispensing needle, the nail gel is extruded and delivered to the dispensing needle by air pressure or mechanical pressure. And / or, by applying a layer of nail gel with a thickness greater than 0.1 mm to the nail surface in one go.

[0011] In one embodiment, the nail art application method further includes a consumable identification step: reading consumable information stored on an electronic tag on the consumable, and determining the extrusion parameters and / or curing parameters of the dispensing needle based on the consumable information.

[0012] In one embodiment, the consumable information includes at least one of the following: Information on the material properties of nail gel, including viscosity, color, curing spectrum, production date or shelf life, and any one or more of these. Consumable usage status information, including usage time, cumulative usage time, number of uses, number of uses remaining, remaining adhesive amount, first use time or last use time, any one or more of these. And / or, the extrusion parameters include extrusion pressure and / or extrusion speed; the curing parameters include curing time and / or curing energy; And / or, based on the consumable information, determine whether the consumable needs to be replaced; when it is determined that the consumable needs to be replaced, issue a replacement prompt or prevent the nail art procedure.

[0013] In one embodiment, the step of performing a three-dimensional scan of the nail involves scanning the nail with a laser line scanner to obtain the three-dimensional information of the nail.

[0014] In one embodiment, the step of scanning fingernails with the laser line scanning camera includes: Projecting laser beams onto the nail surface; The nail images are continuously captured during the movement of the laser line; A three-dimensional model of the nail is reconstructed based on the captured images using triangulation.

[0015] In one embodiment, the nail art application method further includes a curing step: after the nail is coated, the nail art gel coated on the nail surface is cured.

[0016] In one embodiment, the curing step involves curing the nail gel with ultraviolet light, and adjusting the curing time and / or curing energy according to the material properties of the nail gel.

[0017] In one embodiment, the nail application method further includes a closed-loop control step: during the coating process, the nail surface is scanned again to obtain the three-dimensional information of the nail after coating, and the three-dimensional information obtained by the second scan is compared and analyzed with the three-dimensional information before coating to determine whether the coating effect meets the expected standard. If the expected standard is not met, the coating path and glue dispensing parameters are adjusted in real time for recoating.

[0018] In one embodiment, in the closed-loop control step, the rescan is a real-time scan or an on-demand scan, and the adjustment includes at least one of the following: increasing the dwell time of the dispensing needle in the insufficiently coated area, increasing the extrusion pressure, adjusting the movement trajectory of the edge processing step, increasing the number of times the dispensing needle moves from the inside of the nail to the edge, and controlling the dispensing needle not to dispense glue in areas with excessive glue and pushing the excess glue to other areas.

[0019] In one embodiment, the method for determining whether the coating effect meets the expected standard includes: comparing the three-dimensional point cloud data of the nail after coating with the original three-dimensional point cloud data of the nail before coating, and calculating the coating thickness of each point on the nail surface; comparing the coating thickness of each point with a preset target thickness threshold; determining that the coating thickness is insufficient when the coating thickness is less than the minimum value of the target thickness threshold; determining that the coating is excessive when the coating thickness is greater than the maximum value of the target thickness threshold; and determining that the coating is qualified when the coating thickness is within the range of the target thickness threshold.

[0020] In one embodiment, the method for determining whether the coating effect meets the expected standard further includes: calculating the standard deviation or coefficient of variation of the coating thickness on the entire nail surface; when the standard deviation or coefficient of variation of the coating thickness exceeds a preset uniformity threshold, it is determined that the coating effect is uneven and requires homogenization treatment or recoating.

[0021] In one embodiment, the method for determining whether the coating effect meets the expected standard further includes edge area specific analysis: identifying the edge contour of the nail, checking whether the area near the edge contour is completely covered by nail polish, and determining that the edge coating is incomplete and edge processing is required when there are blank areas on the edge contour that are not covered by nail polish or when the coating thickness of the edge area is lower than that of the center area of ​​the nail.

[0022] In one embodiment, the method for determining whether the coating effect meets the expected standard further includes: comparing the curvature information of the coated nail surface with the curvature information of the target nail model to determine whether the three-dimensional pattern is formed; if it does not meet the requirements, local touch-up coating is performed.

[0023] The nail art application method described above in this embodiment of the invention has the following beneficial effects: First, the embodiments of the present invention use an extrusion delivery method to continuously supply nail gel to the dispensing needle. Compared with the method of repeatedly dipping the brush, this method achieves continuous glue supply and on-demand application, which greatly improves the application efficiency. The amount of glue extruded each time is controllable, avoiding the problem of uneven glue amount when manually dipping the brush.

[0024] Secondly, in this embodiment of the invention, the adhesive is applied from the center of the nail outwards via a curved path (spiral or concentric circle), allowing the adhesive to spread evenly on the oval nail. This avoids the unevenness and wavy feel caused by straight, repetitive application. A nail glue layer with a thickness greater than 0.1 mm can be formed with a single application, achieving a three-dimensional and full nail effect.

[0025] Third, the embodiments of the present invention achieve zero-consumable touch-up by selectively dispensing glue during touch-up and edge treatment, without dispensing glue during touch-up or edge treatment, but only by moving the needle to carry the glue; through the edge treatment process, the glue is carried to the edge from the inside to the outside, effectively avoiding the problem of glue overflow at the edge, while ensuring that the nail edge is also covered with glue.

[0026] Fourth, the embodiments of the present invention achieve intelligent management of consumables through electronic tag identification and adaptive parameter adjustment, eliminating the need for manual parameter setting.

[0027] Fifth, the embodiments of the present invention form a complete closed-loop control loop through closed-loop control steps, including scanning, coating, re-scanning, comparison and analysis, adjustment and touch-up coating. In view of the characteristics of the different shapes and large individual differences of live nails, it realizes adaptive and precise control, which can detect and correct coating defects in time, and greatly improve the accuracy and consistency of nail art construction.

[0028] In summary, this invention represents a fundamental transformation in coating methods, from dipping and applying to continuous extrusion; an intelligent upgrade in control methods, from open-loop control to closed-loop control; and a quality improvement in nail art effects, from flat, thin layers to three-dimensional, full finishes. It has broad application prospects. Attached Figure Description

[0029] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.

[0030] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 100. Nail art machine; 111. Laser; 120. Material hopper; 121. Mounting through hole; 130. Glue pushing mechanism; 131. Push rod; 132. Glue pushing drive component; 1321. Glue pushing screw; 1322. Glue pushing motor; 1323. Glue pushing guide column; 133. First rod segment; 134. Second rod segment; 135. Connecting rod segment; 1341. Glue pushing guide hole; 1342. Glue pushing threaded hole; 140. Walking mechanism; 141. Frame; 1411. Glue-pushing connecting plate (guide posts are connected to this glue-pushing connecting plate); 1412. Frame connecting plate (connected to the third guide shaft); 142. Walking device; 143. First guide shaft; 144. First module; 145. First drive component; 1451. First motor; 1452. First belt; 1453. First pulley; 1454. First belt connecting plate; 146. Second guide shaft; 147. Second module; 148. Second drive component; 149. Third guide shaft; 150. Third drive component; 151. Third motor; 152. Third belt; 153. Third pulley; 154. Third belt connecting plate; 160. Material changing device; 161. Material changing base; 162. Material changing drive component; 1621. Material changing motor; 1622. Material changing screw; 1623. Material changing guide rod; 163. Material changing base plate; 164. Material changing connecting seat; 165. Material changing guide hole; 170. Glue-pushing guide seat; 171. Glue-pushing guide hole; 172. Guide slope; 173. Reset part; 174. Limiting part; 175. Guide post; 180. Nail base; 191. Mounting base; 192. Fixing plate; 193. Elastic sheet; 195. Curing light source; 196. Condensing lens; 197. Bracket; 210. Dispensing pen; 211. Container; 212. Container body; 213. Piston; 214. Insertion tube; 215. Connecting tube; 220. Dispensing needle; 221. Axial through hole; 222. Axial limiting protrusion; 230. Elastic element; 231. Elastic hose; 232. Connector; 233. Connecting through hole; 240. Limiting element; 241. Cavity; 242. Axial guide hole; 243. Limiting flange; 250. Pen cap; 251. Pen cap body; 2511. Pen cap flange; 252. Scraper; 253. Waste bin; 2531. Waste receiving cavity; 254. Spring-loaded component; 255. Limiting component; 256. Cap cover; 310. Housing; 311. Material changing port; 312. Operating port; 313. Screen; 320. Nail gel; 330. Controller; 400. Fingernails; Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the nail machine in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the nail machine behind the hidden housing and nail holder in the embodiments of this application; Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Enlarged view of point a in the middle; Figure 4 yes Figure 2 Enlarged view of point b in the middle; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the push rod structure in the embodiment of this application; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the glue-pushing mechanism and other parts in the embodiments of this application; Figure 7 This is a frontal structural diagram of the material changing device and other parts in the embodiments of this application; Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure on the back of the material changing device in the embodiments of this application; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the nail holder and curing light source in an embodiment of this application; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the curing light source and the focusing lens in the embodiments of this application; Figure 11 This is a structural schematic diagram of the walking mechanism and other parts in the embodiments of this application; Figure 12 This is a structural schematic diagram of the walking mechanism portion of the embodiment of this application; Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the dispensing pen in the embodiments of this application; Figure 14 This is a top view of the dispensing pen in an embodiment of this application; Figure 15 yes Figure 14 Sectional view at point AA; Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the dispensing pen after hiding the container in an embodiment of this application; Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the elastic element and the dispensing needle in the embodiments of this application; Figure 18 This is a bottom view of the elastic element and dispensing needle in the embodiments of this application; Figure 19 yes Figure 18 Sectional view at point BB; Figure 20 This is a schematic diagram of the pen cap structure in an embodiment of this application; Figure 21This is a cross-sectional view of the pen cap along the axial direction in an embodiment of this application; Figure 22 This is a structural schematic diagram of one application method of nail gel in the embodiments of this application; Figure 23 This is a structural schematic diagram of another application method of nail gel (nail edge) in the embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0031] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, those skilled in the art will understand that many technical details have been presented in the various embodiments of the present invention to enable the reader to better understand this application. However, the technical solutions claimed in this application can be implemented even without these technical details and various changes and modifications based on the following embodiments.

[0032] In the following description, certain specific details are set forth for the purpose of illustrating various disclosed embodiments in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various disclosed embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specific details. In other instances, well-known apparatuses, structures, and techniques associated with this application may not have been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.

[0033] Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims, the word “comprising” and its variations, such as “including” and “having”, shall be understood to have an open, inclusive meaning, that is, to be interpreted as “including, but not limited to”.

[0034] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings to provide a clearer understanding of the purpose, features, and advantages of the present invention. It should be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but are merely illustrative of the essential spirit of the technical solution of the present invention.

[0035] Throughout this specification, references to "an embodiment" or "an embodiment" indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Therefore, the appearance of "in an embodiment" or "an embodiment" in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be combined in any manner in one or more embodiments.

[0036] The singular forms “a” and “the” used in this specification and the appended claims include plural references unless otherwise expressly stated herein. It should be noted that the term “or” is generally used to mean “and / or” unless otherwise expressly stated herein.

[0037] In the following description, in order to clearly demonstrate the structure and working method of the present invention, a number of directional terms will be used. However, terms such as "front", "back", "left", "right", "outside", "inside", "outward", "inward", "up", and "down" should be understood as convenient terms and not as limiting terms.

[0038] Embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0039] First implementation method: Nail art machine The first embodiment of this invention relates to a nail art machine. The core of this embodiment is that the nail art machine includes a 3D scanning module, a material hopper, a glue-dispensing mechanism, a walking mechanism, and a controller. The controller, based on the 3D information of the nail obtained by the 3D scanning module, controls the walking mechanism to move the material hopper and the glue-dispensing mechanism to the target position, and controls the glue-dispensing mechanism to extrude nail art gel 320 to the corresponding position on the nail. This technical solution achieves automated and precise application of nail art gel 320, solving the technical problems of traditional nail art's reliance on manual labor and low efficiency.

[0040] The following is a detailed description of the implementation details of the nail machine in this embodiment. The following content is only for the convenience of understanding and is not necessary for implementing this solution.

[0041] The nail art machine 100 in this embodiment is as follows: Figure 1 As shown, to facilitate the description of the movement direction of the walking mechanism, this embodiment defines a spatial rectangular coordinate system. The X direction is horizontal (i.e., the left-right direction of the nail machine), the Y direction is horizontal (i.e., the front-back direction of the nail machine), and the Z direction is vertical (i.e., the up-down direction of the nail machine). The X, Y, and Z directions are orthogonal to each other, forming a spatial rectangular coordinate system. The walking mechanism 140 drives the material bin 120 and the glue-pushing mechanism 130 to move in these three orthogonal directions, thereby achieving three-dimensional spatial positioning and trajectory following of the nail 400 surface.

[0042] Specifically, the traveling mechanism 140 moves the dispensing needle along the width (left-right) of the nail via X-direction movement to accommodate nails of different widths; it moves the dispensing needle along the length (front-back) of the nail via Y-direction movement to accommodate nails of different lengths; and it moves the dispensing needle vertically via Z-direction movement to adapt to changes in nail height and curvature, while also providing elastic stretching and cushioning when the dispensing needle contacts the nail. Through the coordinated movement in the X, Y, and Z directions, the dispensing needle can follow the three-dimensional curvature of the nail in spatial movement, ensuring that the nail gel 320 is evenly and completely applied to every part of the nail surface, especially the highly curved nail edge area.

[0043] It should be noted that the term "orthogonal" in the embodiments of this application should be understood as substantially orthogonal. Considering the unavoidable manufacturing tolerances and assembly errors during machining and assembly, the included angles between the X, Y, and Z directions are allowed to have a certain range of deviations, such as 90°±5° or 90°±10°, as long as motion decoupling and spatial positioning in the three directions can be achieved. In actual manufacturing, as long as the moving parts can move along the X, Y, and Z directions and achieve spatial positioning, even if the included angles between the motion directions are not absolute 90 degrees, the technical objective of this invention can still be achieved, and these deviations also fall within the protection scope of this application.

[0044] The nail art machine 100 in this embodiment is as follows: Figure 1 As shown, the system specifically includes a housing 310, with an operation port 312 at the bottom. A screen 313, preferably a touchscreen display, is also mounted on the housing 310 to receive user touch operation commands and display nail art information, operation instructions, and nail art effect previews. A 3D scanning module, a material hopper 120, a glue-pushing mechanism 130, a walking mechanism 140, and a controller 330 are all housed within the housing 310. A nail holder 180 is located within the housing 310, positioned relative to the operation port 312, for inserting and securing the nail 400.

[0045] like Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the 3D scanning module is fixed to the frame 141 of the walking mechanism 140 and can move synchronously with the frame 141 in the X, Y, and Z directions. In one embodiment, the 3D scanning module is a laser line scanning camera, including a laser 111 and a camera. The laser 111 is used to project laser lines onto the surface of the nail 400, and the camera is used to continuously capture images as the laser lines move. The controller 330 reconstructs the 3D model of the nail 400 based on the captured images using triangulation.

[0046] It should be noted that the settings of the laser 111 and the camera can be adjusted according to actual needs. This application provides the following exemplary settings, but is not limited to them.

[0047] In one embodiment, the laser 111 and the camera can be fixed together on the frame 141 of the walking mechanism 140, meaning both can move synchronously with the frame 141 in the X, Y, and Z directions. With this configuration, the relative position between the laser 111 and the camera remains constant, which simplifies the triangulation calculation model because the baseline distance and angle between the laser 111 and the camera are fixed values, eliminating the need for dynamic calibration during movement. Furthermore, due to their synchronous movement, the laser 111 and the camera can follow the walking mechanism 140 to different positions above the nail 400 for scanning, thereby acquiring more complete three-dimensional information.

[0048] In another embodiment, the laser 111 is fixed to the frame 141 of the walking mechanism 140 and can move synchronously with the frame 141 in the X, Y, and Z directions; while the camera is fixed to the housing 310 or the bracket 197 of the nail machine 100, maintaining a fixed position. With this setup, the laser 111 projects laser lines to different positions on the surface of the nail 400 during movement, and the camera captures images of the laser lines from a fixed angle. The advantage of this method is that the camera does not need to move, reducing moving parts and control complexity. Furthermore, because the camera's position is fixed, its field of view can be pre-calibrated, which helps improve measurement accuracy.

[0049] In another embodiment, the camera is fixed to the frame 141 of the walking mechanism 140 and can move synchronously with the frame 141 in the X, Y, and Z directions; while the laser 111 is fixed to the housing 310 or the bracket 197 of the nail machine 100, and its position remains fixed. With this arrangement, the camera can move with the walking mechanism 140 to different positions to capture images of the nail 400, thereby obtaining multi-angle visual information, which is beneficial to improving the accuracy and completeness of the 3D reconstruction.

[0050] Regardless of the configuration method used, as long as the laser 111 projects laser lines onto the surface of the nail 400, the camera can capture the light stripe image formed by the laser lines on the surface of the nail 400, and the controller 330 can calculate the three-dimensional information of the nail 400 based on the captured image, the technical objective of this invention can be achieved. All the above-mentioned configuration methods are equivalent substitutions for the technical concept described in this application and should fall within the protection scope of this application.

[0051] It should be noted that the 3D scanning module is not limited to the aforementioned laser line scanning camera; other types of 3D measurement devices can also be used, as long as they can acquire the 3D information of the fingernail 400. This application provides the following exemplary alternatives, but is not limited to them.

[0052] In an alternative embodiment, the 3D scanning module can employ a binocular stereo vision camera. The binocular stereo vision camera includes two cameras spaced a certain distance apart, simultaneously capturing images of the fingernail 400 from two different angles by simulating the principle of human stereoscopic vision. The controller 330 calculates the spatial coordinates of a point based on the parallax of corresponding points in the images captured by the two cameras using triangulation. Binocular stereo vision cameras have advantages such as simple structure, low cost, and no need for an active light source, making them suitable for use in well-lit environments.

[0053] In another alternative embodiment, the 3D scanning module can employ a structured light 3D scanner. The structured light 3D scanner includes a projector and a camera. The projector projects an coded structured light pattern (such as Gray code stripes, sinusoidal stripes, or random speckle patterns) onto the surface of the nail 400. The camera captures the deformed image of the structured light pattern on the surface of the nail 400. The controller 330 calculates the 3D information of the nail 400 surface based on the amount of deformation of the pattern. The structured light 3D scanner has the advantages of high measurement speed and high accuracy, making it suitable for nail art procedures where high measurement speed is required.

[0054] Regardless of which of the above alternative solutions is adopted, as long as the three-dimensional information of the nail 400 can be obtained, providing a data foundation for subsequent path planning and coating control, the technical objective of this invention can be achieved. The manufacturer of the nail machine 100 can select a suitable type of three-dimensional scanning module based on specific application needs, cost budget, accuracy requirements, and construction speed requirements. All the above-mentioned alternative solutions are equivalent substitutions to the technical concept described in this application and should fall within the protection scope of this application.

[0055] like Figure 2 , Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, the traveling mechanism 140 includes a frame 141 and a traveling device 142. The frame 141 is used to support the 3D scanning module, the material bin 120, and the adhesive pushing mechanism 130. The traveling device 142 is used to drive the frame 141 to move along the X, Y, and Z directions, thereby realizing the positioning of the material bin 120 and the 3D scanning module in space.

[0056] like Figure 2 and Figure 7As shown, the hopper 120 has a mounting through hole 121 arranged along the height direction (i.e., the Z direction). In this embodiment, the consumable can be a dispensing pen 210. The mounting through hole 121 extends through the hopper 120 along the Z direction, and its shape and size match the outer contour of the dispensing pen 210 for detachable installation. Specifically, the dispensing pen 210 can be inserted into the mounting through hole 121 from top to bottom or from bottom to top, enabling quick installation and replacement. When the dispensing pen 210 is installed in the mounting through hole 121, the dispensing needle 220 of the dispensing pen 210 extends from the lower end of the mounting through hole 121 to contact the nail 400 for nail art application; the piston 213 of the dispensing pen 210 protrudes from the upper end of the mounting through hole so that the push rod 131 of the dispensing mechanism 130 can hold and push the piston 213 to squeeze out the nail art gel 320 in the container 210 of the dispensing pen 210.

[0057] The hopper design with the mounting through-hole 121 has the following advantages: First, the mounting through-hole 121 is positioned along the height direction, ensuring that the installation direction of the dispensing pen 210 is consistent with the movement direction (Z direction) of the push rod 131. This facilitates the docking of the push rod 131 and the piston 213, avoiding transmission deviations or jamming caused by inconsistent directions. Second, the mounting through-hole 121 provides positioning and guidance for the dispensing pen 210, ensuring that its axis coincides with the axis of the push rod 131 after installation, guaranteeing coaxial transmission of thrust and accuracy of dispensing direction. Third, the engaging fit between the mounting through-hole 121 and the dispensing pen 210 enables quick assembly and disassembly. Users can replace the pen simply by inserting or removing it from the mounting through-hole 121 without any tools, greatly improving material replacement efficiency and user experience. Fourth, the mounting through-hole 121 has a simple structure, low manufacturing cost, and is easy to mass-produce.

[0058] Since the walking mechanism 142 drives the frame 141 to move along the X, Y, and Z directions, it enables the positioning of the material container 120 and the 3D scanning module in space. The positioning accuracy of the material container 120 directly determines the positioning accuracy of the dispensing nozzle of the glue pen 210. When the walking mechanism 140 drives the material container 120 to the target position, since the glue pushing mechanism 130 and the glue dispensing needle 220 of the glue pen 210 are both fixed on the material container 120 or maintain a definite relative positional relationship with the material container 120, the positioning of the material container 120 means the positioning of the glue pushing mechanism 130 and the glue dispensing needle 220, and thus the positioning of the dispensing nozzle. In other words, by controlling the position of the material container 120 through the walking mechanism 140, the spatial position of the dispensing nozzle is indirectly controlled, ensuring that the nail gel 320 can be accurately extruded to the corresponding position on the nail.

[0059] The following describes the specific structure of the adhesive pushing mechanism 130, such as... Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the glue-pushing mechanism 130 is mounted on the frame 141 of the traveling mechanism 140, and includes a push rod 131 and a glue-pushing drive component 132. The push rod 131 moves along the Z direction to expel nail glue 320 from the glue dispensing pen 210 in the hopper 120 from the glue outlet; the glue-pushing drive component 132 is mounted on the traveling mechanism 140 to drive the push rod 131 to move along the Z direction.

[0060] To facilitate the description of the positional relationships of the components, the orientation of the frame 141 is first defined. For example... Figure 2 As shown, taking the nail art machine 100 in its normal working state as a baseline, the side of the nail art machine 100 facing the operator is defined as the front, and the side of the nail art machine 100 facing away from the operator is defined as the back. Based on the above definitions, as follows... Figure 2 As shown, the adhesive pushing drive 132 is located on the back of the frame 141, i.e., the side away from the user; the material bin 120 is located on the front of the frame 141, i.e., the side closer to the user. Thus, the adhesive pushing drive 132 and the material bin 120 are staggered along the Y direction (i.e., the front-to-back direction), and are located on opposite sides of the frame 141, spatially separated from each other.

[0061] The purpose of this layout is to avoid structural interference between the glue-pushing drive unit 132 and the material bin 120. The glue-pushing drive unit 132 includes components such as the glue-pushing motor 1322 and the glue-pushing screw 1321, and its overall size is relatively large; the material bin 120 is used to install the glue-dispensing pen 210, which also requires a certain amount of space. If both are placed on the same side of the frame 141, a large safety distance must be reserved to avoid collisions, which would increase the horizontal dimension of the frame 141, which is not conducive to the miniaturization of the nail art machine 100, and would also increase the load and moment of inertia of the walking mechanism 140. By arranging the glue-pushing drive unit 132 and the material bin 120 on opposite sides of the frame 141, they are spatially staggered and do not interfere with each other, thus making the frame 141 more compact while ensuring functional integrity and effectively reducing the overall size of the machine.

[0062] The push rod 131 employs a three-section structure to achieve cross-sectional power transmission. For example... Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 6As shown, the push rod 131 specifically includes a first rod segment 133, a second rod segment 134, and a connecting rod segment 135. The first rod segment 133 is positioned along the Z-direction and located on the front of the frame 141, used for downward movement to extrude nail polish 320 from the dispensing pen 210. The second rod segment 134 is located on the back of the frame 141 and connected to the output end of the dispensing drive component 132. The connecting rod segment 135 is fixedly connected to both the first rod segment 133 and the second rod segment 134, and passes through the frame 141, transmitting the driving force generated by the dispensing drive component 132 from the back of the frame 141 to the front. This three-section structural design achieves both cross-sectional power transmission and ensures the smoothness and precision of the transmission path.

[0063] The second rod section 134 has two glue-pushing guide holes 1341 and a glue-pushing threaded hole 1342. The glue-pushing drive component 132 includes a glue-pushing motor 1322, a glue-pushing screw 1321, and glue-pushing guide posts 1323. There are two glue-pushing guide posts 1323, which are arranged opposite to each other on both sides of the glue-pushing screw. The glue-pushing motor 1322 and the two glue-pushing guide posts 1323 are directly or indirectly fixed to the frame 141.

[0064] Two glue-pushing guide posts 1323 are respectively inserted into two glue-pushing guide holes 1341, guiding the Z-direction movement of the push rod 131 to ensure that the push rod 131 moves in a straight line and prevents deviation. The glue-pushing screw 1321 is threadedly connected to the glue-pushing threaded hole 1342. The glue-pushing motor 1322 drives the glue-pushing screw 1321 to rotate, and the rotational motion is converted into linear motion through the screw-nut transmission pair, thereby driving the push rod 131 to move precisely in the Z-direction. Through this structure, the glue-pushing drive component 132 can precisely control the stroke of the push rod 131, and thus precisely control the distance by which the push rod 131 pushes the piston 213, achieving precise control of the glue dispensing amount.

[0065] like Figure 2 , Figures 6 to 8 As shown, the nail art machine 100 also includes a material changing device 160. The material changing device 160 is used to drive the material bin 120 to move between the material changing position and the working position, so as to realize the automatic material changing function of the dispensing pen 210.

[0066] A material changing port 311 is provided on the housing 310, located on one side of the housing 310, corresponding to the position of the material hopper 120. The material changing position is located outside the housing 310, that is, the position where the material hopper 120 extends out of the housing 310 from the material changing port 311; the working position is located inside the housing 310, that is, the position where the material hopper 120 is used for nail art operations inside the nail art machine 100. When it is necessary to replace the dispensing pen 210, the material changing device 160 drives the material hopper 120 to move from the working position to the material changing position. At this time, the material hopper 120 extends out of the housing 310 from the material changing port 311, allowing the user to easily remove the old dispensing pen 210 and install the new dispensing pen 210. After the replacement is completed, the material changing device 160 drives the material hopper 120 to retract from the material changing position to the working position, and the material hopper 120 retracts back into the housing 310 through the material changing port 311, allowing the dispensing pen 210 to enter the nail art machine 100 for nail art operations. This structure enables quick and convenient replacement of the dispensing pen 210 without opening the housing 310 or using any tools, greatly improving material replacement efficiency and user experience.

[0067] The material changing device 160 includes a material changing base 161 and a material changing drive 162, wherein, for example Figure 8 As shown, the material changing base 161 includes a material changing base plate 163 and a material changing connecting seat 164. The material hopper 120 is fixed to the material changing base 161. The material changing drive unit 162 is directly or indirectly disposed on the frame 141 of the traveling mechanism 140, and is used to drive the material changing base 161 to reciprocate along a preset material changing direction, causing the material hopper 120 to move between the material changing position and the working position. The material changing base 161 is located on the front of the frame 141 for easy user operation.

[0068] The material changing drive unit 162 includes a material changing motor 1621 and a material changing screw 1622, as well as two material changing guide rods 1623. In this embodiment, the material changing screw 1622 and each material changing guide rod 1623 are arranged along the X direction. The two material changing guide rods 1623 are arranged in parallel to guide the movement of the material changing base 161, ensuring that the material changing base 161 moves linearly along the X direction and preventing deviation. The material changing base 161 includes a material changing base plate 163 and a material changing connecting seat 164. The material changing base plate 163 is arranged relative to the frame 141, and the material bin 120 is fixed on the material changing base plate 163. The material changing connecting seat 164 is fixedly connected to the material changing base plate 163, and the material changing connecting seat 164 is provided with a material changing guide hole 165, each material changing guide hole 165 slidingly engaging with the corresponding material changing guide rod 1623.

[0069] The working principle of the material changing device 160 is as follows: Under normal nail art operation conditions, the material hopper 120 is located in the working position, that is, the material hopper 120 is located inside the housing 310. When it is necessary to replace the dispensing pen 210, the controller 330 sends a command to the material changing motor 1621. The material changing motor 1621 drives the material changing screw 1622 to rotate. The material changing screw 1622 drives the material changing base 161 to move along the material changing guide rod 1623 in the direction outside the housing 310 (i.e., the positive X direction). The material hopper 120 then moves from the working position to the material changing position and extends out of the housing 310 through the material changing port 311. The user takes out the old dispensing pen 210 and inserts the new dispensing pen 210 into the mounting through hole of the material hopper 120. After the replacement is completed, the controller 330 issues another command, the material changing motor 1621 rotates in the opposite direction, driving the material changing base 161 to move along the material changing guide rod 1623 towards the inside of the housing 310 (i.e., the opposite direction of the X direction), the material bin 120 is retracted from the material changing position to the working position, and retracts into the inside of the housing 310 through the material changing port 311, and the new glue pen 210 enters the nail art machine 100, ready to perform nail art operations.

[0070] This structure enables quick and convenient replacement of the dispensing pen 210 without opening the housing 310 or using any tools, greatly improving material replacement efficiency and user experience. Simultaneously, the material replacement port 311 allows the material hopper 120 to extend and retract from it. The sliding fit between the material replacement guide rod 1623 and the material replacement guide hole 165 ensures the linearity and stability of the material hopper 120's movement, preventing vibrations and interference between the material hopper 120 and the housing 310, thus guaranteeing the smoothness and reliability of the material replacement process.

[0071] Furthermore, as can be seen from the above structural description, the material changing device 160 and the adhesive pushing drive 132 do not interfere with each other spatially. Specifically, the material changing device 160 drives the hopper 120 to move along the X direction (i.e., horizontally), causing the hopper 120 to extend from the working position through the material changing port 311 to the material changing position outside the housing 310, or to retract from the material changing position through the material changing port 311 back to the working position inside the housing 310. The adhesive pushing drive 132 and the hopper 120 are respectively located on the back and front of the frame 141, and are staggered along the Y direction (i.e., front-to-back direction). Since the material changing movement is along the X direction, and the adhesive pushing drive 132 and the hopper 120 are staggered along the Y direction, they are located in different spatial positions. During material changing, the X-direction movement of the hopper 120 will not come into contact or collide with the adhesive pushing drive 132. This design allows the material changing device 160 and the glue pushing mechanism 130 to move independently in their respective spatial dimensions without interfering with each other, ensuring the smoothness of the material changing process and the stability of the glue pushing mechanism, while also making the overall structure more compact and reasonable.

[0072] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 7As shown, the nail art machine 100 also includes a glue-applying guide seat 170, which is disposed above the material hopper 120 and has a glue-applying guide hole 171 extending along the Z direction. The first segment 133 of the push rod 131 slidably passes through the glue-applying guide hole 171. The glue-applying guide seat 170 is movably mounted on the frame 141 of the traveling mechanism 140, and the lower surface of the glue-applying guide seat 170 facing the moving direction of the material hopper 120 is configured as a guide slope 172. The nail art machine 100 also includes a reset member 173, which abuts against the glue-applying guide seat 170 and applies a downward resisting force to the glue-applying guide seat 170. A limiting part 174 is provided below the glue-applying guide seat 170, and the lower surface of the glue-applying guide seat 170 abuts against the limiting part 174. Specifically, the limiting part 174 may be a protrusion located on the frame 141.

[0073] When the hopper 120 moves from the material changing position to the working position, the hopper 120 pushes the dispensing guide seat 170 upward via the guide ramp 172, causing the dispensing guide seat 170 to disengage from the limiting part 174. When the hopper 120 moves to the working position, the reset member 173 pushes the dispensing guide seat 170 downward and abuts against the limiting part 174. Through this structure, when the hopper 120 carries the dispensing device into the working position, the dispensing guide seat 170 automatically rises to make way, and after the hopper is in place, it automatically descends to abut against the hopper 120, ensuring accurate docking between the push rod 131 and the dispensing pen 210.

[0074] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 7 As shown, the nail art machine 100 also includes at least one guide post 175. The guide post 175 is fixed to the glue-applying connecting plate 1411 of the frame 141 and is arranged along the Z direction (i.e., the vertical direction). The glue-applying guide seat 170 is slidably fitted onto the guide post 175. The guide post 175 is used to restrict the movement direction of the glue-applying guide seat 170, so that the glue-applying guide seat 170 can only move up and down along the Z direction, and cannot translate in the X or Y direction. Through this guiding structure, the linearity and directional accuracy of the movement of the glue-applying guide seat 170 are ensured, and the glue-applying guide seat 170 is prevented from deviating or shaking during movement.

[0075] The reset element 173 is sleeved on the guide post 175. In this embodiment, the reset element 173 is a spring, with one end abutting against the adhesive pushing connecting plate 1411 and the other end abutting against the adhesive pushing guide seat 170, used to apply a downward elastic holding force to the adhesive pushing guide seat 170. When the hopper 120 moves from the material changing position to the working position, the hopper 120 pushes the adhesive pushing guide seat 170 upward through the guide inclined surface 172. At this time, the reset element 173 is compressed, generating a downward abutment against the adhesive pushing guide seat 170, so that the adhesive pushing guide seat 170 is pressed tightly against the hopper 120, ensuring the precise positioning and reliable docking of the push rod 131 and the dispensing pen 210. Through the cooperation of the guide post 175 and the reset element 173, the adhesive pushing guide seat 170 can always maintain horizontal stability during the up and down movement in the Z direction, and will not deviate due to external forces.

[0076] like Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, the nail art machine 100 also includes a curing light source 195, which is used to cure the nail gel 320 applied to the nail 400. Specifically, a support 197 is provided above the walking mechanism 140, and two curing light sources 195 are mounted on the support 197. The two curing light sources 195 are arranged along the X direction (i.e., horizontally). The curing light sources 195 are located directly above the nail base 180 and can illuminate the nail 400 located on the nail base 180 downwards.

[0077] A condenser lens 196 is positioned in front of the curing light source 195. The condenser lens 196 is an optical element used to converge the scattered light emitted by the curing light source 195 into a more focused beam, focusing the light onto the surface of the nail 400. The condenser lens 196 is typically made of a transparent optical material (such as glass or optical plastic) with a curved surface structure. When light passes through the lens, it is refracted, thereby changing the direction of light propagation and converging the light rays that originally diverged in various directions towards the focal point.

[0078] By setting the focusing lens 196, the light emitted by the curing light source 195 can be effectively focused onto the surface of the nail 400, which has the following beneficial effects: First, the focused light energy is more concentrated, improving the curing efficiency of gel nail polish 320 and shortening the curing time. Second, because the light is focused on the nail surface 400, the amount of radiation received by areas outside the nail (such as the skin on the fingers) is greatly reduced, effectively preventing the hands from being tanned or burned by ultraviolet light, improving the safety of the nail process and the user experience. Third, the focused light direction is more controllable, reducing light scattering loss, improving light energy utilization, and lowering the power consumption of the curing light source 195.

[0079] In one embodiment, the curing light source 195 is a UV-LED lamp that emits ultraviolet light to cure the UV-curable nail gel 320. UV-LED lamps have advantages such as small size, long lifespan, low heat generation, and fast start-up speed, making them suitable for use in small devices such as nail art machines 100. The two curing light sources 195 are arranged along the X-direction, providing uniform irradiation across the width of the nail 400, ensuring that the nail gel 320 is fully cured in all areas of the nail 400.

[0080] In another embodiment, the curing light source 195 can also be other types of ultraviolet light sources, such as ultraviolet mercury lamps or ultraviolet xenon lamps, as long as they can emit ultraviolet light with a wavelength suitable for curing the nail gel 320. In one embodiment, the tilt angle of the two curing light sources 195 can be adjusted according to the position of the nail base 180 and the size of the nail 400 to ensure that the two beams of light accurately converge on the surface of the nail 400 and form a uniform light spot. The specific shape and curvature of the focusing lens 196 can be optimized according to the type of curing light source 195, the emission angle, and the size and position of the nail 400 to obtain the best focusing effect.

[0081] like Figure 2 , Figure 4 As shown, the nail art machine 100 also includes a mounting base 191, on which a traveling mechanism 140 is mounted; a fixing member 192 is mounted on the mounting base 191 for fixing the cap 250 of the glue application pen 210. Specifically, as... Figures 2 to 4 As shown, the fastener 192 includes a fixed plate 193 and two elastic pieces 194. The fixed plate 193 is fixed on the mounting base 191, and the two elastic pieces 194 are fixedly connected to the fixed plate 193 and open in the direction of movement of the hopper 120 to elastically hold the pen cap 250 of the consumable.

[0082] When the material container 120, carrying the dispensing device, moves to the fixing member 192, the fixing member 192 secures the pen cap 250. The traveling mechanism 140 drives the material container 120 and the dispensing pen 210 upwards (i.e., upwards along the Z direction), causing the dispensing pen 210 to separate from the pen cap 250, exposing the dispensing nozzle of the dispensing pen 210 for nail art operations. When the nail art operation is completed, the traveling mechanism 140 drives the material container 120 and the dispensing pen 210 back to the fixing member 192, causing the dispensing pen 210 to be inserted into the pen cap 250 to cover the dispensing nozzle. This automatic cap removal and cap putting mechanism achieves automatic protection of the dispensing needle, avoiding needle contamination and damage.

[0083] Additionally, an electronic tag can be attached to the top of the dispensing pen 210. This electronic tag stores information about the nail gel 320 within the dispensing pen 210, including material properties and / or consumable status information. Material properties may include the nail gel 320's viscosity, color, curing spectrum, production date, and shelf life. Consumable status information may include usage time, cumulative usage time, number of uses, remaining uses, remaining amount of gel, first use date, and last use date. The electronic tag can be an RFID tag or a near-field communication (NFC) tag, offering advantages such as contactless reading, large storage capacity, and long lifespan.

[0084] The nail art machine 100 is also equipped with a reading module for reading information stored in electronic tags. In one embodiment, the reading module can be implemented using a camera in a 3D scanning module. The camera can obtain consumable information by photographing the QR code or barcode on the electronic tag, or by recognizing the information printed on the electronic tag through image recognition technology, without the need for additional hardware, thus reducing costs. In another embodiment, the nail art machine 100 can be equipped with a separate reading module, which is a non-contact reader (such as an RFID reader or a near-field communication reader), located inside or near the material hopper 120. For example, the reading module can be located on the side wall of the mounting through hole 121 of the material hopper 120, or at the bottom of the material hopper 120. When the material hopper 120 moves from the material changing position to the working position carrying the dispensing pen 210, the electronic tag on the top of the dispensing pen 210 is exactly within the reading range of the reading module. The reading module automatically reads the information stored in the electronic tag, without manual operation by the user or additional alignment, making it very convenient to use.

[0085] The controller 330 is connected to the reading module and determines the extrusion parameters of the dispensing mechanism 130 and / or the curing parameters of the curing light source 195 based on the read information. Specifically, the extrusion parameters include the extrusion pressure and / or extrusion speed of the push rod 131, and the curing parameters include the curing time and / or curing energy of the curing light source 195.

[0086] For example, when the reading module detects a high viscosity value for the nail gel 320, the controller 330 automatically increases the extrusion pressure of the push rod 131 to ensure that the nail gel 320 can be smoothly extruded from the dispensing needle 220, avoiding poor dispensing due to excessive viscosity. When the detected viscosity value is low, the controller 330 appropriately reduces the extrusion pressure to prevent the glue from flowing out too quickly and causing uneven application. When the curing spectrum information of the nail gel 320 is read, the controller 330 automatically adjusts parameters such as the curing time of the curing light source 195 to match the curing characteristics of the nail gel 320, ensuring the curing effect.

[0087] The controller 330 can also determine whether consumables need to be replaced based on their status information. For example, when it detects that the remaining glue is insufficient to complete a full nail art job, the controller 330 will issue a prompt via screen 313, reminding the user to prepare to replace the consumables. When it detects that the number of uses or the cumulative usage time has exceeded a preset threshold, the controller 330 will determine that the consumables are nearing the end of their lifespan and will issue a replacement prompt or stop the nail art process to avoid poor nail art results due to aging consumables or insufficient glue.

[0088] Through this intelligent management, the nail art machine 100 achieves plug-and-play functionality and automatic parameter matching. Users only need to load the glue pen 210 into the material hopper 120, and the nail art machine 100 automatically identifies the consumable information and adjusts the corresponding parameters, eliminating the need for users to manually set any parameters, greatly reducing the operational threshold and improving the user experience.

[0089] The following describes the specific structure of the walking device 142, such as... Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, the traveling device 142 is used to drive the frame 141 to move in the X, Y, and Z directions, thereby achieving precise positioning of the hopper 120 and the glue pushing mechanism 130 in space. The traveling device 142 adopts a three-level guide shaft structure, corresponding to the movement in the Y, Z, and X directions respectively. The levels are superimposed on each other to form a three-dimensional spatial motion system.

[0090] First-order motion (Y-direction motion) The traveling device 142 includes a first guide shaft 143 arranged along the Y direction. The first guide shaft 143 is fixed to the mounting base 191, and its axis is parallel to the Y direction (i.e., the front-to-back direction). A first module 144 is movably disposed on the first guide shaft 143, and a first driving member 145 is used to drive the first module 144 to reciprocate along the first guide shaft 143 in the Y direction. In one embodiment, the first driving member 145 includes a first motor 1451, a first belt 1452, two first pulleys 1453, and a first belt connecting plate 1454. The first motor 1451 is fixed to the mounting base 191, and one first pulley 1453 is mounted on its output shaft. The other first pulley 1453 is also fixed to the mounting base 191. The two first pulleys 1453 are separated from each other along the Y direction. The first belt 1452 is sleeved on the two first pulleys 1453. One end of the first belt connecting plate 1454 is fixedly connected to the first belt 1452, and the other end is fixedly connected to the first module 144. When the first motor 1451 drives the first pulley 1453 to rotate, the first belt 1452 drives the first belt connecting plate 1454 to move, thereby driving the first module 144 to move in the Y direction along the first guide shaft 143. Through this structure, precise displacement control of the walking device 142 in the Y direction is achieved.

[0091] Second-order motion (Z-direction motion) A second guide shaft 146, positioned along the Z-direction, is fixedly mounted on the first module 144. The axial direction of the second guide shaft 146 is parallel to the Z-direction (i.e., the vertical direction). A second module 147 is movably mounted on the second guide shaft 146, and a second drive member 148 drives the second module 147 to reciprocate along the second guide shaft 146 in the Z-direction. The second drive member 148 can employ a transmission structure similar to that of the first drive member 145, for example, including a second motor, a second belt, a second pulley, and a second belt connecting plate. The motor drives the pulley to rotate, which in turn moves the belt connecting plate, thereby driving the second module 147 to move up and down along the second guide shaft 146. This structure enables precise displacement control of the walking device 142 in the Z-direction.

[0092] In another embodiment, the second drive component 148 is a lead screw motor (i.e., a combination of a servo motor and a ball screw). The lead screw motor includes a servo motor and a ball screw, with the output shaft of the servo motor connected to the ball screw. A lead screw nut that mates with the ball screw is fixed on the second module 147. When the servo motor drives the ball screw to rotate, the rotational motion is converted into linear motion through the lead screw nut, causing the second module 147 to move up and down along the second guide shaft 146. The lead screw motor has advantages such as high transmission accuracy, large load capacity, and self-locking capability, making it suitable for lifting scenarios with high requirements for positioning accuracy and stability.

[0093] In one embodiment, the second drive component 148 is a linear motor. A linear motor is a drive device that directly converts electrical energy into linear motion mechanical energy without any intermediate transmission mechanism. The linear motor consists of a primary and a secondary component. When energized, an electromagnetic thrust is generated between the primary and secondary components, directly driving the second module 147 to move linearly along the second guide shaft 146. Linear motors have advantages such as simple structure, fast response speed, high positioning accuracy, and smooth movement, making them particularly suitable for lifting motion scenarios requiring frequent starts and stops and precise positioning.

[0094] Through any of the above driving methods, the second module 147 can move precisely up and down along the second guide shaft 146 under the drive of the second driving member 148, thereby realizing the displacement control of the walking device 142 in the Z direction.

[0095] Third-level motion (X-direction motion) A third guide shaft 149, positioned along the X-direction, is fixedly mounted on the second module 147. The axial direction of the third guide shaft 149 is parallel to the X-direction (i.e., horizontal). A frame 141 is movably mounted on the third guide shaft 149, and a third drive member 150 drives the frame 141 to reciprocate along the third guide shaft 149 in the X-direction. In one embodiment, the third drive member 150 includes a third motor, a third belt, two third pulleys, and a third belt connecting plate. The two third pulleys are positioned away from each other along the X-direction. The third motor is fixed to the second module, and a third pulley is mounted on its output shaft. The third belt 152 is sleeved on the two third pulleys 153, and one end of the third belt connecting plate 154 is fixedly connected to the third belt 152, while the other end is fixedly connected to the frame 141. When the third motor 151 drives one of the third pulleys 153 to rotate, the third belt 152 drives the third belt connecting plate 154 to move, thereby driving the frame 141 to move along the third guide shaft 149 in the X-direction. This structure enables precise displacement control of the walking device 142 in the X direction.

[0096] Coordination of three levels of motion Through the aforementioned three-stage guide shaft structure, the traveling mechanism 140 achieves motion control of the frame 141 in the X, Y, and Z directions. Specifically, the first stage of motion control controls the position of the frame 141 in the Y direction (front-to-back direction), the second stage controls the height of the frame 141 in the Z direction (vertical direction), and the third stage controls the position of the frame 141 in the X direction (horizontal direction). These three stages of motion superimpose and work collaboratively, enabling the 3D scanning module, material hopper 120, and adhesive pushing mechanism 130, fixed to the frame 141, to be precisely positioned above the nail 400, achieving three-dimensional spatial positioning and trajectory following of the nail 400 surface.

[0097] Since the three-stage guide shafts correspond to three mutually orthogonal motion directions, the motion in each direction is decoupled and will not interfere with each other. The controller 330 can control the motion parameters (such as displacement, motion speed, acceleration, etc.) in each direction, thereby achieving precise planning and control of the motion trajectory of the frame 141. This ensures that the dispensing needle 220 can accurately follow the three-dimensional curved surface of the nail 400 in spatial movement, ensuring that the nail gel 320 can be evenly and completely coated on every part of the nail 400 surface, especially the high-curvature nail edge area.

[0098] It should be noted that the above-described walking mechanism 140, which uses three-stage guide axes to achieve movement in the X, Y, and Z directions, is an exemplary embodiment of this application. Those skilled in the art should understand that the walking mechanism 140 can also be replaced by other multi-axis motion mechanisms, as long as they can achieve precise positioning of the frame 141 in the X, Y, and Z directions.

[0099] For example, the following alternatives can be used for the walking mechanism 140: Option 1: Six-DOF industrial robot The walking mechanism 140 can be replaced by a six-degree-of-freedom industrial robot (such as a six-axis articulated robot). A six-degree-of-freedom industrial robot typically includes a base, turntable, upper arm, forearm, wrist, and end effector. Through the coordinated movement of its six rotary joints, it can achieve precise positioning of the end effector in any position and orientation in space. Mounting the frame 141 onto the end effector of the six-degree-of-freedom industrial robot also enables the movement of the 3D scanning module, the material bin 120, and the glue-pushing mechanism 130 in the X, Y, and Z directions. Six-degree-of-freedom industrial robots offer advantages such as flexible movement and a large reachable space, making them particularly suitable for nail art application scenarios requiring complex trajectories.

[0100] Option 2: Gantry-type three-axis motion platform The traveling mechanism 140 can be replaced by a gantry-type three-axis motion platform. A gantry-type three-axis motion platform typically includes a crossbeam, columns, and a base. The end effector moves in three directions via the crossbeam in the X-direction, the guide rails in the Y-direction, and the lifting mechanism in the Z-direction. Gantry-type motion platforms offer advantages such as high structural rigidity and good motion stability, making them suitable for nail art installations requiring high positioning accuracy.

[0101] Option 3: Parallel three-axis motion platform (Delta robot) The walking mechanism 140 can be replaced by a parallel three-axis motion platform (such as a Delta robot). A Delta robot typically consists of a fixed platform, three parallel motion arms, and a moving platform. Through the coordinated extension and retraction of the three motion arms, the moving platform is driven to move rapidly in the X, Y, and Z directions. Delta robots have the advantages of high movement speed, large acceleration, and high positioning accuracy, making them suitable for nail art application scenarios that require rapid movement.

[0102] Option 4: Linear motor driven three-axis motion platform The walking mechanism 140 can be replaced by a three-axis motion platform driven by a linear motor. Unlike the belt-driven drive method mentioned above, the linear motor-driven motion platform integrates the motor directly onto the motion axis, directly driving the moving parts through electromagnetic force, eliminating the need for an intermediate transmission mechanism. Linear motor drives offer advantages such as fast response speed, high positioning accuracy, and smooth movement, making them suitable for nail art application scenarios with high requirements for movement speed and precision.

[0103] Option 5: Screw-driven three-axis motion platform The walking mechanism 140 can be replaced by a screw-driven three-axis motion platform. Unlike the belt-driven drive method mentioned above, the screw-driven motion platform uses a servo motor to drive the ball screw to rotate, converting the rotational motion into linear motion through the screw nut. Screw drive has the advantages of high transmission accuracy, large load capacity, and smooth movement, making it suitable for nail art application scenarios with high requirements for positioning accuracy and stability.

[0104] All the above alternative solutions can achieve precise positioning of the frame 141 in the X, Y, and Z directions. Those skilled in the art can select a suitable motion mechanism based on specific application requirements, cost budget, and accuracy requirements. All the above alternative solutions are equivalent substitutions to the technical concept described in this application and should fall within the protection scope of this application.

[0105] Second implementation method: Adhesive pen The second embodiment of the present invention relates to a dispensing pen 210. The core of this embodiment is that the dispensing pen 210 is used for nail art and includes a container 211 and a dispensing needle 220. The dispensing needle 220 has an axial through-hole 221 communicating with the container 211. Nail art gel 320 in the container 211 is squeezed and then dispensed through the axial through-hole 221 onto the nail surface 400. This technical solution achieves continuous dispensing of nail art gel 320 without the need for dipping, greatly improving application efficiency.

[0106] The implementation details of the dispensing pen 210 in this embodiment will be explained in detail below.

[0107] like Figures 13 to 19 As shown, the dispensing pen 210 includes a container 211 and a dispensing needle 220. The container 211 is used to hold the nail gel 320. Specifically, as... Figure 15 As shown, container 211 includes container body 212 and piston 213. Container body 212 is a hollow cylinder with an internal cavity for containing nail polish 320. Piston 213 is slidably disposed within container body 212, with its outer wall sealingly engaged with the inner wall of container body 212. When subjected to external pressure, piston 213 moves axially along container body 212, thereby squeezing the nail polish 320 within container body 212 and causing it to flow out of the cavity.

[0108] The dispensing needle 220 has an axial through-hole 221 that extends through the entire dispensing needle 220 along its axial direction. The rear end of the axial through-hole 221 communicates with the interior of the container 211, and the front end is the dispensing port. The nail gel 320 in the container 211 is squeezed and enters from the rear end of the axial through-hole 221, and is then discharged from the dispensing port at the front end to the surface of the nail 400.

[0109] In one embodiment, the dispensing needle 220 is elastically extendable and retractable along its axial direction. When the dispensing needle 220 comes into contact with and is pressed against the nail 400, it can elastically retract, preventing scratching the nail polish 320 on the nail 400 and also preventing pain to the fingers. The dispensing needle 220 can automatically return to its original position after the external force is removed, providing excellent self-protection. This structure solves the problems of rigid needles scratching the nail surface and soft needles deforming and becoming misaligned.

[0110] In one embodiment, the dispensing needle 220 is made of a flexible material, such as silicone, rubber, or thermoplastic elastomer. Silicone material has good flexibility and resilience, preventing scratches when in contact with the nail 400 while ensuring smooth glue flow. Unlike a brush, the dispensing needle 220 will not skew or deform under force; its overall structure is stable, maintaining a predetermined angle between its axis and the normal direction of the nail 400 surface, ensuring the uniformity and consistency of the nail gel 320 coating on the nail 400 surface.

[0111] The dispensing pen 210 also includes an elastic element 230 connected to the dispensing needle 220. The elastic element 230 is used to elastically deform when the dispensing needle 220 is compressed, allowing the dispensing needle 220 to move, and to restore its deformation after the external force is removed, thereby resetting the dispensing needle 220. In one embodiment, the elastic element 230 includes a flexible tube 231. The flexible tube 231 is made of a flexible material, such as silicone, rubber, or polyurethane, and has good elasticity and corrosion resistance. One end of the flexible tube 231 is connected to the container 211, and the other end is connected to the dispensing needle 220. When the dispensing needle 220 is compressed, the flexible tube 231 compresses, allowing the dispensing needle 220 to retract axially; when the external force is removed, the flexible tube 231 returns to its original shape due to its own elasticity, causing the dispensing needle 220 to extend and reset. The expansion and contraction of the dispensing needle 220 is achieved by the deformation of the elastic hose 231, while keeping the internal glue channel unobstructed. The smooth dispensing of glue is not affected during the expansion and contraction process, which solves the problem of glue dispensing or leakage at the expansion and contraction joint.

[0112] It should be noted that using a flexible tube 231 as the elastic element 230 has significant advantages over traditional springs. The flexible tube 231 has a hollow structure, forming an internal glue channel connecting the container 211 and the dispensing needle 220. Nail glue 320 can flow directly through the flexible tube 231 without the need for a separate glue pipeline, resulting in a more compact structure. In contrast, if a spring is used as the elastic element, a separate glue pipeline needs to be installed externally or internally, leading to a complex structure and larger space requirements. Furthermore, the flexible tube 231 is integrally molded, eliminating seams and other potential leakage points, while the combination of a spring and glue pipeline has multiple connection points, making glue leakage a common problem. Therefore, using the flexible tube 231 as the elastic element 230 is an effective solution for ensuring continuous internal glue supply while maintaining elasticity and flexibility, solving the problem of glue leakage at expansion joints.

[0113] like Figures 14 to 17 As shown, the elastic element 230 also includes a connector 232. The connector 232 is tubular or cylindrical, and has a connecting through hole 233 inside. The connecting through hole 233 extends along the axial direction of the connector 232, with one end connected to the elastic tube 231 and the other end detachably and sealingly connected to the container 211. One end of the connector 232 is threaded or snap-fitted to the container 211. The nail polish 320 in the container 211 is delivered to the dispensing needle 220 through the connecting through hole 233 and the elastic tube 231.

[0114] The dispensing pen 210 also includes a limiting member 240. The limiting member 240 is sleeve-shaped and fits over the dispensing needle 220 and the elastic tube 231. The limiting member 240 has a cavity 241 and an axial guide hole 242 sequentially formed along its axial direction. The cavity 241 is located at the upper part of the limiting member 240, and its inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the elastic tube 231, providing space for the elastic tube 231 to bend and deform. The axial guide hole 242 is located at the lower part of the limiting member 240, and its inner diameter matches the outer diameter of the dispensing needle 220. At least a portion of the dispensing needle 220 is slidably disposed within the axial guide hole 242. The axial guide hole 242 guides the movement direction of the dispensing needle 220, ensuring that the dispensing needle 220 always moves along the axial direction during extension and retraction, and does not experience radial offset. At least a portion of the flexible hose 231 is located within the cavity 241, and the flexible hose 231 is capable of bending deformation within the cavity 241.

[0115] In one embodiment, the limiting member 240 is also sleeved on the outside of the connector 232 and detachably connected to the connector 232. Specifically, the connector 232 is threadedly connected to the limiting member 240 for easy disassembly and maintenance. When it is necessary to replace the flexible hose 231 or the dispensing needle 220, the internal components can be easily removed by simply unscrewing the limiting member 240 from the connector 232.

[0116] In one embodiment, the limiting member 240 further has a limiting flange 243 extending in a direction away from the axis of the limiting member 240. The limiting flange 243 is annular or block-shaped, protruding from the outer surface of the limiting member 240, and is used to engage with the material container 120 of the nail machine 100. When the dispensing pen 210 is installed in the material container 120, the limiting flange 243 engages with the slot or hook in the material container 120 to fix the dispensing pen 210 in a predetermined position in the material container 120, ensuring the precise docking of the dispensing needle 220 and the push rod 131.

[0117] In one embodiment, an axial limiting protrusion 222 is provided on the outer wall of the dispensing needle 220. The axial limiting protrusion 222 is annular and located in the middle or upper part of the dispensing needle 220, and its outer diameter is larger than the inner diameter of the axial guide hole 242. The axial limiting protrusion 222 is used to limit the maximum length of the dispensing needle 220 extending downward, preventing the dispensing needle 220 from over-extending under the elastic force of the elastic tube 231 and disengaging from the axial guide hole 242.

[0118] Third implementation method: pen cap The third embodiment of the present invention relates to a pen cap 250. The core of this embodiment is that the pen cap 250 and the aforementioned dispensing pen 210 together constitute a dispensing device, i.e., the consumable in the first embodiment. Of course, the consumable may also consist only of the dispensing pen 210, without including the pen cap 250.

[0119] The pen cap 250 is detachably fitted onto the front end of the dispensing pen 210 to prevent the nail polish 320 inside the dispensing needle 220 from leaking or dripping, and to clean the outer wall of the needle when the dispensing needle 220 is inserted or withdrawn. This technical solution effectively prevents the nail polish 320 from leaking from the dispensing needle 220 and contaminating the equipment or environment when not in use, while maintaining the cleanliness of the dispensing needle 220.

[0120] The implementation details of the pen cap 250 in this embodiment will be explained in detail below.

[0121] like Figure 20 and Figure 21 As shown, the pen cap 250 is detachably fitted onto the front end of the dispensing pen 210. The main function of the pen cap 250 is to prevent nail polish 320 from leaking and dripping from the dispensing needle 220, and to clean the outer wall of the dispensing needle 220 when it is inserted or withdrawn. The pen cap 250 includes a pen cap body 251, a scraper 252, a waste container 253, a spring-loaded component 254, and a limiting component 255.

[0122] The pen cap body 251 is cylindrical or barrel-shaped, and its inner diameter matches the outer diameter of the front end of the dispensing pen 210. It can be detachably fitted onto the front end of the dispensing pen 210. The pen cap body 251 is used to accommodate the waste container 253 and the glue scraper 252, and to fix the entire pen cap 250 onto the dispensing pen 210.

[0123] The scraper 252 is fixed inside the pen cap body 251. The scraper 252 is sheet-shaped or ring-shaped, with a through hole in its center for the dispensing needle 220 to pass through. The diameter of the through hole is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the dispensing needle 220. The scraper 252 can be made of fluffy sponge to ensure good contact with the dispensing needle 220 without affecting the passage of the tip of the dispensing pen 210. When the dispensing needle 220 passes through the scraper 252, the scraper 252 adheres tightly to the outer wall of the dispensing needle 220, scraping off the residual adhesive adhering to the outer wall of the dispensing needle 220, keeping the outer wall of the dispensing needle 220 clean, and preventing residual adhesive from hardening on the needle surface and clogging the dispensing nozzle or affecting the next use.

[0124] The upper end of the cap body 251 is provided with a pen cap flange 2511. The pen cap flange 2511 extends radially inward along the cap 256. The pen cap flange 2511 is located above the scraper 252 and is used to block the scraper 252 to prevent the scraper 252 from coming out of the pen cap body 251.

[0125] The waste container 253 is located inside the pen cap body 251 and below the scraper 252. The waste container 253 is used to receive and collect nail polish 320 that drips or is scraped off from the dispensing needle 220. The waste container 253 has a waste receiving cavity 2531, the shape of which is adapted to the shape of the dispensing needle 220, for example, it is conical or cylindrical, with its inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the dispensing needle 220. When the dispensing needle 220 is inserted into the waste receiving cavity 2531, a clearance fit is formed between the outer wall of the dispensing needle 220 and the inner wall of the waste receiving cavity 2531. This clearance is used to accommodate the nail polish 320 that naturally drips or is scraped off by the dispensing needle 220. The bottom of the waste collection chamber 2531 is a closed structure, preventing the nail gel 320 from leaking out of the pen cap 250. This effectively prevents the nail gel 320 from dripping and contaminating the equipment, work surface, or environment. When the amount of nail gel 320 collected in the waste collection chamber 2531 reaches a certain level, the user can replace the pen cap 250 or remove the waste collection chamber 253 for cleaning.

[0126] A spring-loaded spring 254 is disposed at the bottom of the waste bin 253 and abuts against the waste bin 253. The spring-loaded spring 254 applies an upward elastic force to the waste bin 253, ensuring that the waste bin 253 is in its upper limit position when no external force is applied, thus maintaining the correct relative position between the waste receiving cavity 2531 and the dispensing needle 220. In one embodiment, the spring-loaded spring 254 is a spring (such as a compression spring or spring sheet). When the waste bin 253 is pressed downward by the dispensing needle 220, the spring-loaded spring 254 is compressed, storing elastic potential energy; when the dispensing needle 220 is pulled upward, the spring-loaded spring 254 releases the elastic potential energy, pushing the waste bin 253 upward to reset, so that the waste bin 253 can still be in the correct position when the dispensing needle 220 is inserted next time.

[0127] A limiting member 255 is disposed inside the pen cap body 251 and located above the waste container 253. The limiting member 255 is used to limit the highest position of the waste container 253 from moving upward, preventing the waste container 253 from moving excessively upward under the push of the spring member 254 and thus deviating from the predetermined position or impacting the scraper member 252. The limiting member 255 may be a ring, a protrusion, or a step formed on the inner wall of the pen cap body 251.

[0128] The waste container 253 is movably disposed within the pen cap body 251. Specifically, the waste container 253 can move up and down within the pen cap body 251 along the Z direction (i.e., the axial direction of the dispensing needle 220) under the combined action of the spring-loaded component 254 and the dispensing needle 220. When the dispensing needle 220 is inserted downward into the waste receiving cavity 2531 of the waste container 253, the dispensing needle 220 pushes the waste container 253 downward, compressing the spring-loaded component 254; when the dispensing needle 220 is pulled upward, the spring-loaded component 254 pushes the waste container 253 upward to reset until it is locked by the limiting component 255. This movable design prevents the dispensing needle 220 from being damaged by rigid impact when inserted into the waste receiving cavity 2531, while ensuring that the waste container 253 always maintains the correct mating position with the dispensing needle 220.

[0129] In one embodiment, the pen cap 250 may further include a cap cover 256, in which case the cap cover body 251 is cylindrical. The cap cover 256 is detachably or snap-fitted onto the bottom end (i.e., the front end) of the pen cap body 251 to close the bottom opening of the pen cap body 251. The main function of the cap cover 256 is as follows: First, the cap 256 is detachably installed at the bottom of the pen cap body 251. When it is necessary to assemble or replace the internal parts of the pen cap 250 (such as the glue scraper 252, waste bin 253, and spring-loaded part 254), the cap 256 can be removed to easily install or remove the parts from the bottom without disassembling from the top, which greatly simplifies the assembly process and maintenance operation.

[0130] Secondly, the cap 256 abuts against the spring 254, with the lower end of the spring 254 abutting against the inner wall of the cap 256 and the upper end of the spring 254 abutting against the bottom of the waste bin 253. The cap 256 provides a stable support surface for the spring 254, ensuring that the spring 254 can be compressed and rebound normally when the waste bin 253 moves up and down. Specifically, when the waste bin 253 is pressed down by the dispensing needle 220, the waste bin 253 compresses the spring 254, and the lower end of the spring 254 remains fixed because it abuts against the cap 256, allowing the spring 254 to effectively store elastic potential energy; when the dispensing needle 220 is pulled up, the spring 254 releases its elastic potential energy, pushing the waste bin 253 to return to its original position.

[0131] In one embodiment, the cap 256 and the pen cap body 251 can be detachably connected by means of snap-fit ​​connection, threaded connection or interference fit, so that users can disassemble, clean or replace internal parts.

[0132] Fourth implementation method: dispensing device The fourth embodiment of the present invention relates to a dispensing device. The dispensing device includes the pen cap 250 of the third embodiment and the dispensing pen 210 of the second embodiment. The pen cap 250 is detachably fitted onto the front end of the dispensing pen 210 and is mainly used to prevent nail polish 320 from leaking and dripping from the dispensing needle 220, and to clean the outer wall of the needle when the dispensing needle 220 is inserted or withdrawn.

[0133] The following section, in conjunction with the working relationship between the dispensing pen 210 and the pen cap 250, details the working principle of the dispensing device in preventing glue leakage and cleaning the needle tip.

[0134] When the dispensing pen 210 is not in use or needs to be stored, the pen cap 250 is fitted onto the front end of the dispensing pen 210. At this time, when the dispensing needle 220 passes through the scraper 252, the scraper 252 adheres tightly to the outer wall of the dispensing needle 220, scraping away any residual glue on the outer wall of the dispensing needle 220. The glue outlet of the dispensing needle 220 is located inside the waste receiving cavity 2531, and the bottom of the waste receiving cavity 2531 is sealed. Even if there is residual glue dripping naturally from the dispensing needle 220, the glue will be collected in the waste receiving cavity 2531 and will not flow out of the pen cap 250 and contaminate the outside. This structure fundamentally solves the problem of residual glue dripping from the dispensing needle 220 when it is not in use.

[0135] When the dispensing pen 210 needs to be inserted into the nail art machine 100 for nail art operations, the pen cap 250 is first installed together with the dispensing pen 210 into the material container 120. The material container 120, carrying the dispensing device, moves to the fixing member 192, where the elastic piece 193 of the fixing member 192 holds the pen cap body 251 of the pen cap 250. Then, the traveling mechanism 140 drives the material container 120 and the dispensing pen 210 upwards, separating the dispensing pen 210 from the pen cap 250. During the separation process, the dispensing needle 220 passes upwards through the scraper 252, which again scrapes away the residual glue on the outer wall of the dispensing needle 220, keeping the outer wall of the dispensing needle 220 clean. After the dispensing needle 220 is completely pulled out, the outer wall of the dispensing needle 220 is cleaned by the scraper 252, preventing glue from being carried out of the waste material container 253 and preventing residual glue from being brought into the equipment.

[0136] In the initial stage of operation, push rod 131 pushes piston 213 of dispensing pen 210 to perform a pre-extrusion operation. At this time, dispensing needle 220 is still inside pen cap 250, and travel mechanism 140 keeps dispensing needle 220 in waste receiving chamber 2531 of waste bin 253. Push rod 131 pushes piston 213, squeezing nail polish 320 in dispensing pen 210 forward. The pre-extruded nail polish 320 flows out from the dispensing nozzle of dispensing needle 220 and flows directly into waste receiving chamber 2531 for collection. The pre-extrusion operation fills the axial through hole 221 of dispensing needle 220 with glue, removes any air that may be present inside, and ensures that the glue flows smoothly, guaranteeing continuous and stable glue dispensing during subsequent nail art operations.

[0137] After pre-extrusion of adhesive, the traveling mechanism 140 moves the hopper 120 and the dispensing pen 210 upwards, causing the dispensing needle 220 to be pulled out of the waste material receiving cavity 2531. During the pulling process, the dispensing needle 220 passes through the scraper 252, which removes any residual adhesive that may be adhering to the side wall of the dispensing needle 220, ensuring that the side wall of the dispensing needle 220 is free of adhesive and does not affect the subsequent bonding effect.

[0138] The pre-extruded glue is completely collected by the waste receiving chamber 2531, preventing it from dripping into the equipment or onto the work surface. After pre-extrusion, the dispensing needle 220 remains clean and the dispensing nozzle is unobstructed, at which point the nail art machine 100 can begin the formal nail art application operation.

[0139] After the nail art operation is completed, the material container 120, carrying the dispensing pen 210, moves to the fixing member 192, allowing the dispensing pen 210 to be inserted into the pen cap 250. The dispensing needle 220 passes downward through the scraper 252 and enters the waste material receiving cavity 2531. The scraper 252 removes any residual glue that may have adhered to the dispensing needle 220 during the operation. After the dispensing needle 220 is fully inserted, its outlet is located within the waste material receiving cavity 2531. Even if there is any residual glue dripping from the dispensing needle 220, it will be collected by the waste material receiving cavity 2531.

[0140] When the nail gel 320 in the dispensing pen 210 has been used up and the user needs to replace it with a new dispensing pen 210, the procedure is as follows: First, the traveling mechanism 140 drives the material hopper 120 and the dispensing pen 210 to continue moving towards the material changing position (outside the housing 310). Since the dispensing pen 210 is already inserted into the pen cap 250, and the two elastic plates 194 are open outwards in the X direction, when the material hopper 120 moves the dispensing pen 210 outwards, the pen cap 250 is pulled outwards by the dispensing pen 210. Under a sufficiently large pulling force, the pen cap 250 overcomes the holding force of the two elastic plates 194 and is pulled out along with the dispensing pen 210. When the material hopper 120 moves to the material changing position (outside the housing 310), the entire dispensing device (the combination of the dispensing pen 210 and the pen cap 250) extends from the material changing port 311 to the outside of the housing 310.

[0141] At this point, the user can remove the dispensing device from the material hopper 120. Then, the user takes out a new dispensing pen 210 and a new pen cap 250, inserts the new dispensing pen 210 into the new pen cap 250 to assemble a new dispensing device, and then loads the new dispensing device into the material hopper 120. The material changing device 160 drives the material hopper 120 to move from the material changing position to the working position, repeating the above automatic cap removal and pre-extrusion process, allowing the nail art work to continue.

[0142] If the nail glue 320 in the dispensing pen 210 is not yet used up, and the user wishes to temporarily store it without replacing the consumables, the moving mechanism 140 only needs to move the cartridge 120 and the dispensing pen 210 to the fixing part 192, so that the dispensing pen 210 is inserted into the pen cap 250, without needing to remove the pen cap 250 from the housing 310. At this time, the glue outlet of the dispensing needle 220 is covered by the pen cap 250, preventing the glue from drying or leaking. For the next use, the moving mechanism 140 again moves the cartridge 120 and the dispensing pen 210, separating the dispensing pen 210 from the pen cap 250.

[0143] Through this structural design, the elastic piece 194 of the fastener 192 achieves selective holding of the pen cap 250: when the cap needs to be removed (before nail art), the elastic piece 194 holds the pen cap 250, separating the dispensing pen 210 from the pen cap 250; when the consumable needs to be replaced (when the glue in the dispensing pen 210 is used up), the user only needs to insert the dispensing pen 210 into the pen cap 250 and pull it outwards to overcome the holding force of the elastic piece 194 and bring the pen cap 250 out of the housing together; when the glue in the dispensing pen 210 is not used up, the pen cap 250 can be left inside the housing, and the cap can be removed directly for the next use.

[0144] Through the above structure, the pen cap 250 achieves three core functions: First, the waste receiving cavity 2531 of the waste bin 253 collects the nail glue 320 that naturally drips or is pre-extruded from the dispensing needle 220, effectively preventing glue leakage and contamination of equipment, work surfaces, or the environment; Second, the scraper 252 scrapes away residual glue from the outer wall of the dispensing needle 220 when it is inserted and withdrawn, keeping the dispensing needle 220 clean and preventing residual glue from clogging the dispensing outlet or affecting the dispensing effect in the next use; Third, the cooperation of the spring-loaded component 254 and the limiting component 255 allows the waste bin 253 to move up and down, ensuring that the dispensing needle 220 does not experience rigid collisions when inserted, while ensuring that the waste bin 253 is always in the correct working position.

[0145] Fourth implementation method: Nail art application method The fourth embodiment of this invention relates to a nail art application method. The core of this embodiment lies in obtaining three-dimensional information of the nail 400 through a three-dimensional scan, planning a curved path based on this information, and driving the dispensing needle 220 to move along the curved path on the surface of the nail 400. During the movement, nail art gel 320 is selectively dispensed and applied to the surface of the nail 400. This technical solution achieves automated and precise application of nail art gel 320, solving the technical problems of traditional nail art methods that rely on manual labor, are inefficient, and have unstable results.

[0146] The following is a detailed explanation of the implementation details of the nail art application method in this embodiment. The following content is only for the convenience of understanding and is not necessary for implementing this solution.

[0147] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, the nail art application method of this embodiment first uses a 3D scanning module to perform a 3D scan on the nail 400 to obtain its 3D information. In one embodiment, the 3D scanning module is a laser line scanning camera, including a laser and a camera. The laser projects laser lines onto the surface of the nail 400, and the camera continuously captures images of the nail as the laser lines move. The controller 330 reconstructs the 3D model of the nail 400 based on the captured images using triangulation. Through this scanning method, information such as the contour shape, curvature, and height of the nail 400 can be obtained, providing a data foundation for subsequent path planning. By using a laser line scanning camera instead of expensive 3D structured light, low-cost 3D measurement is achieved, solving the technical problem of high cost of 3D structured light in existing technologies.

[0148] The basic operation of the laser line scanning camera 110 in forming three-dimensional information of the fingernail 400 is as follows: The laser 111 in the three-dimensional scanning module projects a thin laser line onto the surface of the fingernail 400, forming a bright light stripe on the surface. Because the surface of the fingernail 400 has an undulating three-dimensional shape, the light stripe will exhibit corresponding bending deformation in the camera's field of view—the light stripe bends upwards at protrusions and downwards at depressions. The camera captures an image of the light stripe from a direction at a certain angle to the laser 111. The controller 330 calculates the spatial coordinates of each point on the light stripe using triangulation based on the amount of deformation of the light stripe in the image. Specifically, for any point on the light stripe, a triangle is formed between the laser 111, the point, and the camera. Knowing the baseline distance and angle between the laser 111 and the camera, and the pixel position of the point in the camera image, the height of the point relative to the reference plane can be calculated using trigonometric functions. Then, the walking mechanism 140 drives the laser line scanning camera to move step by step along the length (Y direction) of the nail 400, projecting a laser line and capturing an image for each step. By stitching together all the scanned laser line images, the three-dimensional coordinates of all points on the surface of the nail 400 can be obtained, thereby reconstructing a complete three-dimensional model. This scanning method replaces expensive 3D structured light, achieving low-cost three-dimensional measurement and solving the technical problem of high cost of existing 3D structured light technologies.

[0149] In one embodiment, the 3D scanning module can be fixed on the frame 141 of the walking mechanism 140 and can move synchronously with the frame 141 in the X, Y, and Z directions, thereby scanning the nail 400 from different angles and obtaining more complete 3D information.

[0150] Then, the controller 330 plans the motion path of the dispensing needle 220 based on the acquired three-dimensional information of the nail 400. This motion path is a curved path. Figure 22As shown, in one embodiment, the curved path is a spiral path or a concentric circle path, and it gradually expands outward from the center area of ​​the nail to the edge area of ​​the nail. The spiral path causes the dispensing needle 220 to move continuously and uninterruptedly outward from the center of the nail, and the glue spreads outward naturally; the concentric circle path causes the dispensing needle 220 to cover the nail surface in circles, and the amount of glue dispensed can be independently controlled in each circle.

[0151] Next, the nail gel 320 is extruded and delivered to the dispensing needle 220. In one embodiment, the nail gel 320 is contained in a container 211, and the piston 213 extrudes the container 211 to deliver the nail gel 320 to the dispensing needle 220. The delivery of the nail gel 320 can be achieved by pneumatic or mechanical pressure. Unlike the method of repeatedly dipping a brush, the dispensing needle 220 in this method is connected to the container 211, realizing a continuous glue supply and no-dipping application method. The amount of glue extruded each time is precisely controlled by the controller 330, avoiding the problem of uneven glue application when manually dipping, and greatly improving the application efficiency.

[0152] Then, according to the planned movement path, the dispensing needle 220 is driven to move along a curved path on the surface of the nail 400. During the movement of the dispensing needle 220, nail polish 320 is selectively dispensed from the dispensing needle 220 and directly applied to the surface of the nail 400 to form a layer of nail polish 320 on the surface of the nail 400. Specifically, the dispensing needle 220 selectively dispenses polish during at least one period of the movement, and does not dispense polish during at least another period of the movement, only moving to move the already applied nail polish 320. For example, as... Figure 22 As shown, during the normal application phase, the dispensing needle 220 dispenses gel; during the touch-up and even application phase, the dispensing needle 220 dispenses no gel, but only moves to even out the already applied nail polish 320; during the edge treatment phase, as... Figure 23 As shown, the glue is not dispensed directly; instead, it moves from the inside out, carrying the glue to the edge. This selective glue dispensing mechanism allows for flexible control of the glue, especially enabling zero-material touch-ups and effectively saving nail gel 320.

[0153] Thanks to its extrusion gel dispensing mechanism, this method can create 320 layers of gel nail polish with a thickness greater than 0.1 mm on the nail surface in a single application. Compared to inkjet printing technology, where each layer is only a few micrometers thick, this method achieves a truly physical, three-dimensional nail art effect, giving the finished nail polish a three-dimensional feel and fullness, comparable to the effect of a thick, hand-applied coat.

[0154] The nail art application method of this embodiment also includes multiple coating steps. After the first coating is applied to the nail surface, uneven areas are touched up at least once. During the touch-up, the dispensing needle 220 does not dispense any gel; instead, the already coated nail art gel 320 is moved to even out the gel by simply moving the dispensing needle 220.

[0155] The nail art application method of this embodiment also includes an edge treatment step. In the nail edge area, such as... Figure 23 As shown, the dispensing needle 220 does not dispense glue. Instead, it moves from the inside of the nail towards the edge, carrying the nail polish 320 from the center of the nail to the edge. Specifically, after applying glue to the center of the nail, a layer of nail polish of a certain thickness has formed, while the edge area is not yet covered. At this point, the dispensing needle 220 moves to the junction of the center and edge areas, and then moves in a direction from the inside of the nail towards the edge (i.e., from the center outwards), without dispensing glue. Utilizing the contact force between the sidewall of the dispensing needle 220 and the nail surface, it pushes the nail polish 320 from the center towards the edge, gradually spreading the glue to the edge. This edge treatment method effectively avoids the problem of excessive glue overflow caused by directly applying glue to the edge, while using the glue from the center to cover the edge, saving glue and ensuring complete coverage of the edge area. As needed, the dispensing needle 220 can move back and forth multiple times in the edge area to ensure that the glue fully covers the nail edge. In this way, the nail edge area can naturally form a glue boundary that conforms to the nail contour, without glue overflow or insufficient glue. This edge treatment process effectively avoids the problem of excessive glue overflow caused by direct glue application, while ensuring that the nail edge is also covered with glue, resulting in a more complete coating.

[0156] The nail art application method of this embodiment also includes a consumable identification step. The consumable information stored on the electronic tag on the consumable is read, and the extrusion parameters and / or curing parameters of the dispensing needle 220 are determined based on this information. The consumable information includes material characteristic information of the nail gel 320, such as viscosity, color, curing spectrum, production date, and shelf life; it also includes consumable usage status information, such as usage time, cumulative usage duration, number of uses, remaining uses, remaining gel quantity, first use time, and last use time. Extrusion parameters include extrusion pressure and extrusion speed, and curing parameters include curing time. Based on the consumable information, it can also be determined whether the consumable needs to be replaced. When replacement is determined, a replacement prompt is issued or the nail art application is stopped. This intelligent management achieves plug-and-play functionality and automatic parameter matching. For example, when the glue viscosity is high, the controller 330 automatically increases the extrusion pressure; when the glue is nearing its expiration date, a replacement prompt is issued; when the remaining gel quantity is insufficient, the user is reminded to prepare new consumables, greatly reducing the user's operational threshold.

[0157] Finally, the nail art application method of this embodiment also includes a curing step. After the nail 400 is coated, the nail gel 320 coated on the surface of the nail 400 is cured. In one embodiment, the nail gel 320 is cured by ultraviolet light irradiation, and parameters such as curing time are adjusted according to the material properties of the nail gel 320. Because a focusing lens 196 is used to focus ultraviolet light onto the surface of the nail 400, it avoids irradiating areas outside the nail, thus preventing the hands from getting tanned.

[0158] The following is a detailed analysis of the working steps and principles of the nail art application method described in this embodiment.

[0159] During operation, the user first inserts their finger into the operating port 312 of the nail art machine 100 and places it on the nail holder 180 for fixation. The controller 330 initiates the nail art process. The 3D scanning module performs a 3D scan of the nail 400 to acquire its 3D information, including its outline shape, curvature, and height. Based on the 3D information of the nail 400, the controller 330 plans the curved motion path of the dispensing needle 220, such as a spiral or concentric circle path, expanding outward from the center of the nail.

[0160] Then, the glue-pushing drive 132 drives the push rod 131 to move downwards. The push rod 131 pushes the piston 213 of the glue-dispensing pen 210, squeezing the nail gel 320 in the container 211. The nail gel 320 flows sequentially through the insertion tube 214, the connecting through hole 233 of the connector 232, the elastic tube 231, and the axial through hole 221 of the glue-dispensing needle 220, and is finally output from the glue outlet of the glue-dispensing needle 220. Because the glue-dispensing needle 220 is connected to the container 211, continuous glue supply is achieved, eliminating the need for repeated dipping like a brush, greatly improving construction efficiency.

[0161] While the push rod 131 drives the dispensing needle 220 to dispense adhesive, the traveling mechanism 140 drives the dispensing needle 220 to move across the nail 400 surface according to a planned curved path. The dispensing needle 220 moves outward from the center of the nail along a spiral or concentric circle path, selectively dispensing adhesive during the process to evenly coat the nail gel 320 onto the nail 400 surface. Due to the curved path, the adhesive can spread naturally and evenly on the oval nail. For areas with uneven application, the dispensing needle 220 applies more adhesive, without dispensing adhesive during this process; it only moves the needle to even out the already applied adhesive. Similarly, for the nail edge area, the dispensing needle 220 does not dispense adhesive, but moves from the inside of the nail outward, carrying the adhesive from the center area to the edge. Figure 23 As shown, avoid excess adhesive at the edges.

[0162] With a single coat, Gel 320 can form a layer thicker than 0.1 mm on the nail surface, achieving a three-dimensional and full nail effect, which is in stark contrast to the few micrometers of thickness achieved by inkjet printing technology.

[0163] After coating, the curing light source 195 focuses ultraviolet light onto the nail 400 surface through the condenser lens 196 to cure the nail gel 320. Because of the condenser lens 196, the ultraviolet light only shines on the nail area, preventing the hands from getting tanned.

[0164] Throughout the application process, the controller 330 also reads the consumable information stored on the electronic tag on the dispensing pen 210 via the reading module. This includes material characteristics such as the viscosity, color, and curing spectrum of the nail gel 320, as well as usage status information such as the usage time and remaining uses. Based on this information, the controller 330 automatically adjusts the extrusion pressure and speed of the push rod 131, and the curing time and curing energy of the curing light source 195, achieving adaptive parameter adjustment. When it is determined that the consumable needs to be replaced, the controller 330 issues a replacement prompt or stops the application.

[0165] It should be noted that the nail art application method in this embodiment also includes a closed-loop control step. Specifically, the controller 330 does not simply complete the entire path planning based on the three-dimensional information obtained from a single scan, but rather forms a closed-loop control loop of scanning, planning, execution, re-scanning, and adjustment during the nail art operation.

[0166] The specific methods for determining whether the coating effect meets the expected standards are as follows: The 3D scanning module re-scans the surface of the coated nail 400 to acquire 3D point cloud data of the coated nail 400. The controller 330 compares the coated 3D point cloud data with the original 3D point cloud data of the nail 400 before coating to calculate the coating thickness at each point on the surface of the nail 400. Specifically, for each spatial coordinate point on the surface of the nail 400, the controller 330 calculates the difference between the height value of the point after coating and the height value of the point before coating; this difference is the coating thickness at that point.

[0167] The controller 330 compares the calculated coating thickness at each point with a preset target thickness threshold. The preset target thickness threshold can be a range, such as 0.1 mm to 0.2 mm. When the coating thickness at a point is less than the minimum value of the target thickness threshold, the controller 330 determines that the coating thickness at that point is insufficient; when the coating thickness at a point is greater than the maximum value of the target thickness threshold, the controller 330 determines that the coating thickness at that point is excessive; when the coating thickness is within the target thickness threshold range, the controller 330 determines that the coating thickness at that point is acceptable.

[0168] In addition, the controller 330 can also calculate the uniformity index of the coating thickness, such as calculating the standard deviation or coefficient of variation of the coating thickness on the entire nail 400 surface. When the standard deviation of the coating thickness exceeds the preset uniformity threshold, even if the coating thickness at each point is within the target range, the controller 330 will determine that the coating effect is uneven and that recoating or homogenization treatment is required.

[0169] For the edge area of ​​the nail 400, the controller 330 can also perform specific analysis. Specifically, the controller 330 identifies the edge contour of the nail 400 and checks whether the area near the edge contour is completely covered by the nail polish 320. If there are blank areas on the edge contour that are not covered by the nail polish 320, or if the coating thickness of the edge area is significantly lower than that of the center area of ​​the nail, the controller 330 determines that the edge coating is incomplete and requires an edge processing step.

[0170] The controller 330 can also compare the curvature information of the coated nail surface 400 with the curvature information of the target nail model. For example, for nail art that needs to form a specific three-dimensional pattern, the target nail model has pre-set coating thickness requirements for different areas. The controller 330 determines whether the three-dimensional pattern has been formed by comparing the actual coating thickness with the thickness required by the target model. If the requirements are not met, local touch-up coating is performed.

[0171] If the coating effect is not detected to meet the expected standard, the controller 330 adjusts the coating path and glue dispensing parameters in real time to recoat uneven areas. For example, when the coating thickness in the center area of ​​the nail 400 is insufficient, the controller 330 increases the dwell time of the dispensing needle 220 or increases the extrusion pressure in that area; when the glue coverage in the edge area is incomplete, the controller 330 adjusts the movement trajectory of the edge processing step and increases the number of times the dispensing needle 220 moves from the inside of the nail to the edge; when too much glue is detected in a certain area, the controller 330 can control the dispensing needle 220 to not dispense glue in that area, but only push the excess glue to other areas by moving it.

[0172] The aforementioned rescanning can be real-time, meaning the 3D scanning module scans synchronously as the walking mechanism 140 moves the dispensing needle 220; or it can be on-demand scanning, for example, pausing coating after completing one layer, performing a complete scan analysis, adjusting subsequent coating parameters based on the analysis results, and then continuing the work. Both methods have their advantages, and those skilled in the art can choose the appropriate scanning method based on actual accuracy requirements and construction efficiency needs.

[0173] Through this closed-loop control process, the nail art application method forms a complete closed-loop control loop encompassing scanning, coating, re-scanning, comparative analysis, adjustment, and touch-up coating. Compared to open-loop control (which applies adhesive according to a preset trajectory and cannot be adjusted in real time based on the actual coating effect), the closed-loop control in this implementation method achieves adaptive and precise control, taking into account the diverse shapes and significant individual differences of live nails. It can promptly detect and correct coating defects, greatly improving the accuracy and consistency of nail art application.

[0174] In addition, it should be noted that the nail art application method of this embodiment can be implemented in conjunction with the aforementioned nail art machine 100, dispensing pen 210 and pen cap 250, etc. However, this method is not limited to a specific device structure. Any device that can realize three-dimensional scanning, curved path planning and dispensing needle extrusion coating can be used to implement this method.

[0175] In summary, the nail machine, glue pen, pen cap, and nail application method provided in the above embodiments of the present invention have the following technical effects.

[0176] In terms of automated and intelligent construction, this embodiment of the invention uses a three-dimensional scanning module 110 to scan the nail 400 and obtain its three-dimensional information (including the nail's outline shape, curvature, height, etc.). The controller 330 plans the movement path of the walking mechanism 140 based on this three-dimensional information, controls the walking mechanism 140 to drive the material bin 120 and the glue pushing mechanism 130 to the target position, and controls the glue pushing mechanism 130 to extrude the nail gel 320 to the corresponding position on the nail 400. The entire coating process does not require manual intervention, realizing automated and intelligent coating of the nail gel 320.

[0177] Regarding continuous glue supply and efficient application, this invention employs a glue-pushing mechanism 130 to continuously extrude nail polish 320 from the nozzle. Compared to the existing technology where the brush needs to be repeatedly dipped in nail polish, this invention eliminates the need for repeated dipping. The nail polish 320 is directly delivered from the dispensing pen 210 to the dispensing needle 220 and extruded onto the nail surface 400 via the glue-pushing mechanism 130, achieving continuous glue supply and an on-demand application method. This fundamental technological innovation significantly improves application efficiency, reducing the time to complete a pair of manicures from 1-2 hours using traditional manual methods to 10-20 minutes. The amount of glue extruded each time is precisely controlled by the controller 330, avoiding the problem of uneven glue distribution during manual dipping. Furthermore, since dipping is unnecessary, there is no need for additional dipping containers or platforms, simplifying the equipment structure and reducing manufacturing costs.

[0178] Regarding 3D nail art and a full texture, this embodiment of the invention uses a glue-pushing mechanism 130 to extrude nail gel 320 from the glue outlet. Compared with inkjet printing or spraying methods, the glue-pushing method can deliver nail gel 320 with a higher viscosity, forming a nail gel 320 layer with physical thickness in a single coat, with a single coat thickness exceeding 0.1 mm. Compared with inkjet printing technology where the single layer thickness is only a few micrometers, this invention ensures that the coated nail art product has a three-dimensional feel and fullness, achieving a truly three-dimensional nail art effect with physical thickness. This solves the technical problem of some nail art printing devices lacking three-dimensionality and producing poor nail art effects due to the thin ink of inkjet printing.

[0179] Regarding surface following and precise edge coating, this embodiment of the invention acquires the three-dimensional information of the nail 400 through a three-dimensional scanning module 110. The controller 330 adjusts the motion trajectory and dispensing parameters of the glue-pushing mechanism 130 in real time based on the curvature information of the nail 400. The walking mechanism 140 drives the material bin 120 and the glue-pushing mechanism 130 to move in the mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z directions, enabling the dispensing needle 220 to follow the three-dimensional curved surface of the nail 400 in a spatial following motion. Especially in areas with high curvature, such as the edges of the nail 400, the glue-pushing mechanism 130 can precisely control the amount of glue dispensed and the coating position, solving the technical problem of color fading and poor edge coloring caused by the spray angle at high curvature edges in inkjet printing technology.

[0180] Regarding low cost and ease of manufacturing, embodiments of the present invention employ a glue-pushing mechanism 130 instead of an expensive UV printhead or inkjet printhead. The glue-pushing mechanism 130 has a simple structure, low manufacturing difficulty, and low cost. Specifically, the core components of the glue-pushing mechanism 130 are the push rod 131 and the glue-pushing drive component 132 (including a glue-pushing motor 1322 and a glue-pushing lead screw 1321). These industrial components have low procurement costs and stable supply. Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention can also use a laser line scanning camera instead of expensive 3D structured light, further reducing the overall cost of the device.

[0181] Regarding flexible contact and nail-free application, the dispensing needle 220 of this invention is made of flexible materials such as silicone, rubber, or thermoplastic elastomers, possessing excellent flexibility and resilience. When the dispensing needle 220 comes into contact with the nail 400, it can undergo elastic deformation, preventing scratches or discomfort. Simultaneously, the dispensing needle 220 has an axial through-hole 221 inside, allowing for smooth glue flow. Unlike a brush, the dispensing needle 220, driven by the traveling mechanism 140, maintains a stable coating angle and position when moving along a planned path, preventing skewness or deformation due to force, thus ensuring uniform and consistent coating. This design simultaneously achieves the dual technical effects of flexible contact (nails-free) and stable coating (no skewness), solving the dilemma of traditional soft needles being prone to skewness and hard needles being prone to scratching.

[0182] Regarding elasticity and self-protection, the dispensing needle 220 of this embodiment can elastically extend and retract along its axial direction. When the dispensing needle 220 comes into contact with the nail 400 and is compressed, it can elastically retract, preventing scratching the nail polish 320 on the nail 400 and also preventing pain to the fingers. When the external force is removed, the dispensing needle 220 automatically resets due to the elasticity of the flexible tube 231. It should be noted that the use of the flexible tube 231 as the elastic element 230 in this invention has advantages over traditional springs. The flexible tube 231 has a hollow structure, and its interior directly forms a glue channel connecting the container 211 and the dispensing needle 220. The nail polish 320 can flow through the interior of the flexible tube 231 without the need for a separate glue pipeline, resulting in a more compact structure. If a spring is used as the elastic element, a separate glue pipeline needs to be set outside or inside the spring, resulting in a complex structure and a large space occupation. In addition, there are multiple connection points in the combination structure of the spring and the glue pipeline, which can easily lead to glue leakage. Therefore, using the flexible hose 231 as the elastic element 230 is the preferred solution to achieve continuous internal glue supply while ensuring the elastic expansion and contraction function.

[0183] Meanwhile, the limiting component 240 is sleeved on the outside of the dispensing needle 220 and the elastic tube 231. A cavity 241 and an axial guide hole 242 are sequentially formed along its axial direction. The axial guide hole 242 guides the movement direction of the dispensing needle 220, restricts its radial displacement, and ensures that the dispensing needle 220 always moves along the axial direction during extension and retraction, preventing bending, skewing, or radial displacement due to force. At least a portion of the elastic tube 231 is located within the cavity 241, which provides space for bending and deformation, allowing it to expand radially without restriction during compression, further ensuring smooth extension and retraction. This design simultaneously achieves the triple technical effects of flexible contact without damaging nails, elastic extension and self-resetting, and continuous internal glue supply without leakage, solving the technical problems of complex structure, easy leakage, and easy clogging caused by the separation of the traditional elastic component and glue pipeline.

[0184] Regarding the curved path and uniform spreading, the movement path in this embodiment of the invention is a spiral path or a concentric circle path, gradually expanding outward from the center area of ​​the nail to the edge area of ​​the nail. The spiral path causes the dispensing needle 220 to move continuously and uninterruptedly outward from the center of the nail, and the glue spreads outward naturally; the concentric circle path causes the dispensing needle 220 to cover the nail surface in circles, and the amount of glue dispensed can be independently controlled in each circle.

[0185] Regarding intelligent consumable management and parameter self-adaptation, this embodiment of the invention sets an electronic tag 340 on the top of the dispensing pen 210 to store relevant information about the nail gel 320 inside the dispensing pen 210, including material characteristic information (such as viscosity, color, curing spectrum, production date, and shelf life) and consumable usage status information (such as usage time, cumulative usage time, number of uses, remaining uses, remaining gel quantity, first use time, and last use time). The nail machine 100 reads the information from the electronic tag 340 through a reading module (camera 112 or a separate reading module). The controller 330 automatically determines the extrusion parameters (extrusion pressure and extrusion speed) of the dispensing mechanism 130 and the curing parameters (curing time and curing energy) of the curing light source 195 based on the read information. For example, when the read viscosity value is high, the controller 330 automatically increases the extrusion pressure; when the read curing spectrum information is available, it automatically adjusts the wavelength and curing energy of the curing light source 195. Simultaneously, the controller 330 can also determine whether the consumable needs to be replaced based on the consumable status information. This intelligent management system enables plug-and-play functionality and automatic parameter matching. Users simply need to load the dispensing pen 210 into the material hopper 120, and the nail machine 100 will automatically identify the consumable information and adjust the corresponding parameters. Users do not need to manually set any parameters, which greatly reduces the operating threshold and improves the user experience.

[0186] Regarding automatic cap removal and cap application and leak prevention, this embodiment of the invention provides a fixing member 192 on the mounting base 191 of the nail machine 100, including a fixing plate 193 and two elastic pieces 194 that open outwards in the X direction, for elastically holding the cap 250 of the dispensing pen 210. When the material container 120 carrying the dispensing device moves to the fixing member 192, the fixing member 192 fixes the cap 250, and the traveling mechanism 140 drives the material container 120 and the dispensing pen 210 upwards, separating the dispensing pen 210 from the cap 250; when the nail art operation is completed, the traveling mechanism 140 drives the material container 120 and the dispensing pen 210 to move back to the fixing member 192, so that the dispensing pen 210 is inserted into the cap 250. This automatic cap removal and cap application mechanism achieves automatic protection of the dispensing needle 220, avoiding needle contamination and damage. The pen cap 250 has a waste container 253 inside, the shape of which is adapted to the shape of the dispensing needle 220 to collect naturally dripped or pre-extruded nail gel 320. A scraper 252 is located inside the pen cap body 251, and scrapes away residual gel by adhering to its outer wall when the dispensing needle 220 passes through. Through the waste container 253's collection function and the scraper 252's cleaning function, nail gel 320 leakage and contamination of equipment, work surfaces, or the environment are effectively prevented, while keeping the dispensing needle 220 clean and preventing residual gel from clogging the dispensing nozzle or affecting the dispensing effect in the next use.

[0187] In terms of compact layout and space optimization, this embodiment of the invention effectively avoids structural interference between the two by placing the adhesive pushing drive 132 on the back of the frame 141 and the material bin 120 on the front of the frame 141, with the two staggered along the Y direction. The push rod 131 adopts a three-segment structure (first segment 133, second segment 134, and connecting segment 135), realizing the cross-transmission of power. This layout design allows the frame 141 to be designed more compactly in the horizontal direction, reducing the overall size of the machine, reducing the load and moment of inertia of the walking mechanism 140, and improving the motion response speed and positioning accuracy. At the same time, the material changing device 160 drives the material bin 120 to move along the X direction, and is located in a different dimension in space from the adhesive pushing drive 132. The two do not interfere with each other, ensuring the smoothness of the material changing process and the stability of the adhesive pushing mechanism, making the overall structure more compact and reasonable.

[0188] In terms of convenient material replacement and improved user experience, this invention achieves automatic material replacement of the dispensing pen 210 by driving the material hopper 120 to move between the material replacement position and the working position through the material replacement device 160. When the dispensing pen 210 needs to be replaced, the material replacement device 160 drives the material hopper 120 to move from the working position to the material replacement position. The material hopper 120 extends from the material replacement port 311 to the outside of the housing 310, allowing the user to easily remove the old dispensing pen 210 and install the new one. After replacement, the material replacement device 160 drives the material hopper 120 back from the material replacement position to the working position. The material replacement screw 1622 and each material replacement guide rod 1623 are all arranged along the X direction. The two material replacement guide rods 1623 are arranged in parallel, providing guidance for the movement of the material replacement base 161, ensuring its linear movement along the X direction and preventing deviation. The design of the material changing port 311 allows the material hopper 120 to extend and retract precisely, avoiding interference with the housing 310 and ensuring a smooth and reliable material changing process. Users can easily replace the dispensing pen 210 without opening the housing 310, making operation simple and quick, greatly improving material changing efficiency and user experience.

[0189] In terms of precision motion control and automatic reset, the walking device 142 of this invention adopts a three-level guide shaft structure, corresponding to the movement in the Y, Z, and X directions respectively. Each level is superimposed to form a three-dimensional spatial motion system. The three levels of motion are superimposed and work together. The controller 330 can control the motion parameters in each direction, realize the precise planning and control of the motion trajectory of the frame 141, and ensure that the dispensing needle 220 can accurately follow the three-dimensional curved surface of the nail 400 in spatial movement. The dispensing guide seat 170 is set above the material bin 120 and has a dispensing guide hole 171 that runs through the Z direction. The first segment 133 of the push rod 131 is slidably inserted in it. The dispensing guide seat 170 is movably set on the frame 141, and its lower surface is provided with a guide slope 172. The reset member 173 (spring) abuts against the dispensing guide seat 170. When the hopper 120 moves from the material changing position to the working position, the guide ramp 172 pushes the dispensing guide seat 170 upward to disengage it from the limiting part 174. When the hopper 120 moves to the working position, the reset member 173 pushes the dispensing guide seat 170 downward and abuts against the limiting part 174, ensuring the precise positioning and reliable docking of the push rod 131 and the dispensing pen 210. The guide column 175 is fixed to the dispensing connecting plate 1411 of the frame 141. The dispensing guide seat 170 is slidably sleeved on the guide column 175, restricting its movement to only the Z direction and preventing translation in the X or Y direction, thus ensuring the linearity and directional accuracy of the movement.

[0190] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but it should be understood that, if necessary, aspects of the embodiments can be modified to utilize aspects, features, and concepts from various patents, applications, and publications to provide other embodiments.

[0191] In light of the detailed description above, these and other changes can be made to the embodiments. Generally, the terminology used in the claims should not be considered limited to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and claims, but should be understood to include all possible embodiments together with the full scope of equivalents enjoyed by these claims.

[0192] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, but it should be understood that, if necessary, aspects of the embodiments can be modified to utilize aspects, features, and concepts from various patents, applications, and publications to provide other embodiments.

[0193] In light of the detailed description above, these and other changes can be made to the embodiments. Generally, the terminology used in the claims should not be considered limited to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and claims, but should be understood to include all possible embodiments together with the full scope of equivalents enjoyed by these claims.

[0194] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above embodiments are specific embodiments for implementing the present invention, and in practical applications, various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A nail art application method, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Perform a 3D scan on the nail to obtain its 3D information; The motion path of the dispensing needle is planned based on the three-dimensional information, and the motion path is a curved path; The nail gel is extruded and delivered to the dispensing needle; According to the planned motion path, the dispensing needle is driven to move along the curved path on the nail surface; During the movement of the dispensing needle, the nail polish flows out from the dispensing needle and is directly applied to the nail surface to form a nail polish layer on the nail surface.

2. The nail art application method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The curved path is a spiral path or a concentric circle path; And / or, the curved path starts from the center region of the nail and gradually extends outward to the edge region of the nail; And / or, the nail gel is contained in a container, and the nail gel is delivered from the container to the dispensing needle by squeezing the container; And / or, the dispensing needle selectively dispenses glue during at least one period of the movement and does not dispense glue during at least another period of the movement, only moving to move the applied nail polish.

3. The nail art application method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The nail art application method also includes multiple coating steps: after the first coating is applied to the nail surface, uneven areas are touched up at least once.

4. The nail art application method according to claim 3, characterized in that, During the touch-up application, the dispensing needle does not dispense any glue; instead, it moves to spread the already applied nail polish, thus making the nail polish more even.

5. The nail art application method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The nail art application method also includes an edge treatment step: in the nail edge area, the dispensing needle does not dispense glue, and drives the dispensing needle to move from the inside of the nail towards the nail edge, bringing the nail art glue from the center of the nail to the nail edge; And / or, in the step of extruding and delivering the nail gel to the dispensing needle, the nail gel is extruded and delivered to the dispensing needle by air pressure or mechanical pressure. And / or, by applying a layer of nail gel with a thickness greater than 0.1 mm to the nail surface in one go.

6. The nail art application method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The nail art application method also includes a consumable identification step: reading the consumable information stored on the electronic tag on the consumable, and determining the extrusion parameters and / or curing parameters of the dispensing needle based on the consumable information.

7. The nail art application method according to claim 6, characterized in that, The consumable information includes at least one of the following: Information on the material properties of nail gel, including viscosity, color, curing spectrum, production date or shelf life, and any one or more of these. Consumable usage status information, including usage time, cumulative usage time, number of uses, number of uses remaining, remaining adhesive amount, first use time or last use time, any one or more of these. And / or, the extrusion parameters include extrusion pressure and / or extrusion speed; the curing parameters include curing time and / or curing energy; And / or, based on the consumable information, determine whether the consumable needs to be replaced; when it is determined that the consumable needs to be replaced, issue a replacement prompt or prevent the nail art procedure.

8. The nail art application method according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the step of performing a three-dimensional scan of the nail, the nail is scanned using a laser line scanning camera to obtain the three-dimensional information of the nail.

9. The nail art application method according to claim 8, characterized in that, The steps of scanning fingernails with the laser line scanning camera include: Projecting laser beams onto the nail surface; The nail images are continuously captured during the movement of the laser line; A three-dimensional model of the nail is reconstructed based on the captured images using triangulation.

10. The nail art application method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The nail art application method also includes a curing step: after the nail is coated, the nail gel coated on the nail surface is cured.

11. The nail art application method according to claim 10, characterized in that, In the curing step, the nail gel is cured by ultraviolet light irradiation, and the curing time and / or curing energy are adjusted according to the material properties of the nail gel.

12. The nail art application method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The nail art application method also includes a closed-loop control step: during the coating process, the nail surface is scanned again to obtain the three-dimensional information of the nail after coating. The three-dimensional information obtained by the second scan is compared and analyzed with the three-dimensional information before coating to determine whether the coating effect meets the expected standard. If the expected standard is not met, the coating path and glue dispensing parameters are adjusted in real time for touch-up coating.

13. The nail art application method according to claim 12, characterized in that, In the closed-loop control steps, the rescanning is either real-time scanning or on-demand scanning, and the adjustment includes at least one of the following: increasing the dwell time of the dispensing needle in the insufficiently coated area, increasing the extrusion pressure, adjusting the movement trajectory of the edge processing step, increasing the number of times the dispensing needle moves from the inside of the nail to the edge, and controlling the dispensing needle not to dispense glue in areas with excessive glue and pushing the excess glue to other areas.

14. The nail art application method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The method for determining whether the coating effect meets the expected standard includes: comparing the three-dimensional point cloud data of the nail after coating with the original three-dimensional point cloud data of the nail before coating, and calculating the coating thickness of each point on the nail surface; comparing the coating thickness of each point with a preset target thickness threshold; when the coating thickness is less than the minimum value of the target thickness threshold, it is determined that the coating thickness is insufficient; when the coating thickness is greater than the maximum value of the target thickness threshold, it is determined that the coating is excessive; when the coating thickness is within the range of the target thickness threshold, it is determined that the coating is qualified.

15. The nail art application method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The method for determining whether the coating effect meets the expected standard also includes: calculating the standard deviation or coefficient of variation of the coating thickness on the entire nail surface; when the standard deviation or coefficient of variation of the coating thickness exceeds the preset uniformity threshold, it is determined that the coating effect is uneven and needs to be uniformized or recoated.

16. The nail art application method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The method for determining whether the coating effect meets the expected standard also includes edge area special analysis: identifying the edge contour of the nail, checking whether the area near the edge contour is completely covered by nail polish, and when there are blank areas on the edge contour that are not covered by nail polish or the coating thickness of the edge area is lower than the coating thickness of the center area of ​​the nail, it is determined that the edge coating is incomplete and edge treatment is required.

17. The nail art application method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The method for determining whether the coating effect meets the expected standard also includes: comparing the curvature information of the coated nail surface with the curvature information of the target nail model to determine whether the three-dimensional pattern is formed; if it does not meet the requirements, local touch-up coating is performed.

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