Printing device

Abstract

To provide a printing device capable of applying a liquid agent without going out of a printing target range, with a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A printing device 1 includes: a drawing member 40 being printing means that performs printing on a printing target surface such as a surface of a nail T; a trace unit 6 as an operation part that displaces a position of printing by the drawing member 40 being the printing means according to a manual operation by a user in conjunction with the drawing member 40 being the printing means; and a regulation part 10b that regulates an operation range of the trace unit 6 being the operation part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing device. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a printing device (nail printer) that prints a nail design by applying a liquid agent to fingernails or the like using an inkjet print head (see, for example, Patent Document 1, etc.). Using such a printing device, nail printing can be easily performed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2003-534083 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the printing device described in Patent Document 1 is equipped with a camera for recognizing the range of the nail or other object to be printed, and has a motor or the like for moving the print head to print within the recognized range of the print object, and is equipped with a printing unit or the like that performs the printing operation while moving the print head. This makes the device configuration complicated and the device costs tend to be high.

[0005] Therefore, as a method for more easily performing nail printing, it is conceivable that the user may manually apply the liquid agent to the nails without using a printing device. However, for users who are not familiar with nail treatment, it is difficult to apply the liquid only within the range of the printing target such as the nail, without going beyond the nail. In particular, applying the liquid to the nail of the finger of the dominant hand (e.g., the right hand) with the non-dominant hand (e.g., the left hand) without going beyond the nail requires advanced skill, and even for those who are familiar with the treatment, it is difficult to achieve a neat finish.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has an advantage of providing a printing device that has a simple configuration and is capable of applying liquid without going beyond the range of the nail, etc. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the printing device of the present invention comprises: A printing means for printing on a printing target surface; an operation unit that is linked with the printing means and displaces a printing position of the printing means in response to a manual operation by a user; A restricting portion that restricts a movement range of the operating portion; The present invention is characterized by comprising: Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to achieve the effect of applying a liquid agent with a simple configuration without the liquid agent going beyond the range of the nail or the like. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a main portion showing a schematic configuration of a printing device according to an embodiment when viewed from the front side. [Diagram 2] 1 is a perspective view of a main portion showing a schematic configuration of a printing device according to an embodiment when viewed from the rear side. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a top view illustrating a schematic configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part of the printing device taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a nail and a finger that are to be printed. [Figure 6] 6 is an image diagram showing an example of three-dimensional shape data of the fingertip portion including the nail shown in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a model created using three-dimensional shape data of a nail portion out of the data shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 8]11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the tip of the drawing member of the drawing unit is not in contact with the nail. FIG. [Figure 9] 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a tip of a drawing member of the drawing unit is in contact with a nail. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] [composition] An embodiment of a printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the embodiments described below are subject to various limitations that are technically preferable for implementing the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples. In the following embodiment, the printing device will be described as an example in which the printing target is a fingernail and the printing device prints on the surface of the nail as the printing target surface, but the printing target of the printing device in the present invention is not limited to fingernails, and may be, for example, the nail of a toe, etc. Furthermore, the printing target may be nail-like objects other than human nails, such as nail tips or the surfaces of various accessories.

[0011] Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are perspective views showing the external configuration of the main parts of a printing device according to an embodiment. Fig. 1 is a view of the printing device as seen from the front side, which is the side where a user is positioned during treatment, and Fig. 2 is a view of the printing device as seen from the back side. Fig. 3 is a top view showing a schematic configuration of the printing device according to an embodiment, and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts along line IV-IV in Fig. 3. In the following embodiments, the x-direction, y-direction, and z-direction refer to the directions shown in each drawing. In this embodiment, the x-direction is the width direction (horizontal direction) of the printing device 1, and the y-direction is the depth direction of the printing device 1. The z-direction is the height direction (up-down direction) of the printing device 1.

[0012] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a printing device 1 in this embodiment includes an exterior frame 2 to which each component of the device is assembled. A drawing unit 4 and a tracing unit 6 are provided within the exterior frame 2. The specific arrangement of the drawing unit 4 and the tracing unit 6 is not particularly limited, but in the illustrated example, when the printing device 1 is viewed from the front side, the drawing unit 4 is disposed on the left side and the tracing unit 6 is disposed on the right side.

[0013] A shaft 7 is provided over the entire exterior frame 2 in the x direction (apparatus width direction), and an interlocking holder 8 that is slidable along the axial direction of the shaft 7 is provided on the shaft 7. The drawing unit 4 and the tracing unit 6 are both attached to an interlocking holder 8. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, a connecting protrusion 47 protrudes from the rear side (the rear side of the device) of the drawing unit 4 (a drawing holder 41 described later in the illustrated example), and the connecting protrusion 47 is slidably attached to the interlocking holder 8. In addition, a connecting protrusion 67 protrudes from the rear side (the rear side of the device) of the tracing unit 6 (a unit main body 64 described later in the illustrated example), and the connecting protrusion 67 is slidably attached to the interlocking holder 8.

[0014] The connecting protrusion 47 of the drawing unit 4 and the connecting protrusion 67 of the tracing unit 6 both protrude to the rear side (rear side of the device) of the interlocking holder 8 and are fixed to the synchronization shaft 81 on the rear side (rear side of the device) of the interlocking holder 8. The synchronous shaft 81 is an axis parallel to the shaft 7 along the x direction. By fixing the connecting protrusion 47 and the connecting protrusion 67 to the synchronous shaft 81, the drawing unit 4 and the tracing unit 6 are linked and synchronized with each other while always maintaining a constant distance (spacing) in the x direction.

[0015] The drawing unit 4 includes a drawing holder 41 that holds a drawing member 40 . The drawing holder 41 is provided with a holding portion 42 which is a hole through which the drawing member 40 is inserted and which holds the drawing member 40 in a predetermined position. The drawing holder 41 is provided with an operating mechanism 5 for operating the drawing member 40 held by the holding portion 42 in the up and down direction (z direction).

[0016] The specific configuration of the operating mechanism 5 is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, a solenoid equipped with a driving part 51 that moves in the up and down direction (z direction). The lower part of the driving part 51 is attached to the support member 50, and is configured to move up and down at a predetermined position. In addition, a biasing member 51a such as a spring is attached to the driving part 51, which biases the driving part 51 upward relative to the support member 50. The biasing force of the biasing member 51a is small, and is such that it naturally descends due to the weight of the drawing member 40.

[0017] Here, the drawing member 40 attached to the drawing unit 4 will be described with reference to FIG. The drawing member 40 is a printing means that performs printing on the surface of the nail T, which is the surface to be printed. In this embodiment, the drawing member 40 has a liquid chamber 43 and an application part 44, as shown in FIG. The liquid chamber 43 is a storage section that stores various liquid agents such as ink to be applied to the nail T. The application section 44 is a tip portion of the drawing member 40, communicates with the inside of the liquid chamber 43, and applies the liquid agent stored in the liquid chamber 43 to the surface to be printed.

[0018] The liquid stored in the liquid chamber 43 is, for example, color ink for nail printing, base ink such as white ink, various coating agents (for example, undercoat agents, overcoat agents), etc. The liquid stored in the liquid chamber 43 of the drawing member 40 is not limited to those exemplified here. It is preferable that the drawing member 40 held in the drawing holder 41 is replaceable as appropriate depending on the user's purpose.

[0019] Further, on the outer side of the liquid chamber 43, a locking projection 431 that is locked to a driving component 51 of the operating mechanism 5 is provided. 4 and other drawings, the driving part 51 is provided with, for example, a flange-shaped mounting part 511, and the drawing member 40 is connected to the operating mechanism 5 by fixing the locking protrusion 431 to this mounting part 511. As a result, the driving part 51 moves up and down as appropriate, whereby the drawing member 40 moves up and down.

[0020] The applicator 44 is of a ballpoint pen type, for example, in which the tip is pressed against the surface (printing surface) of the nail T to be printed and the liquid agent is stored in the liquid chamber 43 and seeps out to draw. The applicator 44 is not limited to a ballpoint pen type. For example, it may be a felt pen type in which the liquid agent constantly seeps out of the felt-like applicator 44 to draw, or a brush pen type in which the liquid agent is soaked into bundled bristles to draw. In addition, various thicknesses of the applicator 44 can be prepared. For example, when applying a solid coating in which the liquid agent is applied over a wide area on the surface (printing surface) of the nail T, when drawing a delicate pattern with lines, when drawing a pattern such as a dot pattern, etc., by appropriately replacing the drawing member 40 according to the purpose, it is possible to respond to various drawings, and treatment with a high degree of freedom in design is possible.

[0021] In this way, when the type and shape of the applicator 44 can be freely selected, it becomes possible to use, for example, a drawing member 40 having a brush-type applicator 44 to print ink containing a color material with a large particle size (particle size), such as gold and silver glitter ink. In addition, since some applicator 44 can also handle highly viscous liquids, it may be possible to use liquids that are cured by specific light, such as UV-curable inks and inks for gel nails.

[0022] Within the exterior frame 2 and below the drawing unit 4, a finger rest 3 for holding a nail T of a finger U, which is a printing target, is provided in a position where drawing by the drawing member 40 is possible. The specific configuration of the finger rest 3 is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that the finger rest 3 has a recess formed therein that can stably hold the pad portion of the finger U, as shown in FIG. 4, for example.

[0023] The tracing unit 6 is an operation unit having an operator 61 that is manually operated by a user. As described above, the tracing unit 6 is linked to the drawing unit 4 including the drawing member 40 that is a printing means, and displaces the printing position (drawing position, position of the application unit 44) by the drawing member 40 that is a printing means in response to manual operation by the user.

[0024] In this embodiment, the trace unit 6 includes a pointer 62 that operates in response to a user's manual operation of an operator 61. Note that the object that operates in response to a user's manual operation is not limited to the pointer 62. The pointer 62 is a rod-shaped member having a pointed tip (tip portion 621 in FIG. 4) such as a stylus (see FIG. 4). As shown in FIG. 4 and other figures, the pointer 62 is attached to a unit body 64 while being held by a holder portion 63. The holder section 63 is connected to the operator 61, and when the operator 61 is operated by a user, the pointer 62 moves in response to the operation.

[0025] The operator 61 is also provided with a lowering switch section 61a for pressing down the drawing member 40. While the user is operating the lowering switch section 61a by, for example, pressing it, the operating mechanism 5 of the drawing unit 4 linked to the tracing unit 6 operates in a direction for pressing down the drawing member 40. That is, the driving part 51 of the operating mechanism 5 is pressed down against the biasing force of the biasing member 51a, and the drawing member 40 connected to the driving part 51 is lowered.

[0026] Inside the exterior frame 2, below the tracing unit 6, there is provided a model placement section 21 for holding the model 10. The model 10 is formed to resemble the outer shape of the surface of the nail T, which is the surface to be printed in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the model placement section 21 is a recess into which the model 10 (base section 10c of the model 10), for example, can be fitted. When the model 10 is set in the model placement section 21, the model 10 is placed in a position corresponding to the nail T of the finger U placed on the finger placement stand 3. The pointer 62 of the trace unit 6 , which is an operation section, operates to trace the surface of the model 10 held in the model placement section 21 .

[0027] Here, the model 10 placed in the model placement section 21 will be described. The model 10 is formed three-dimensionally using the data of the nail portion Mt from three-dimensional shape data (3D data) of the fingertip portion including the nail T of the finger U as shown in FIG. 5, which is composed of a finger portion Mu and a nail portion Mt as shown in FIG. 6. There is no particular limitation on the specific method of forming the model 10. For example, the model 10 is created using machining or a 3D modeling machine (various 3D printers) based on three-dimensional shape data (3D data) of the nail portion Mt. The shape of the nail portion Mt may be molded using silicone or the like, and the model 10 may be formed based on the mold.

[0028] 7, the model 10 has a nail model portion 10a that imitates the shape of the nail T to be printed on a plate-like base portion 10c, such as a rectangular shape. It is preferable that the nail model portion 10a reproduces the shape of the nail T, including the unevenness and curvature of the surface of the nail T, with high accuracy based on three-dimensional shape data (3D data) of the nail portion Mt.

[0029] The model 10 of this embodiment is further provided with a restricting portion 10b including a wall portion having a shape that matches the outline of the nail T so as to surround the outer periphery of the nail model portion 10a. The restricting portion 10b restricts the motion range (movement range) of the trace unit 6 serving as the operation portion, specifically, the motion range (movement range) of the pointer 62 in this embodiment, by coming into contact with, for example, the tip portion 621 of the pointer 62. The restricting portion 10b preferably has a height that the pointer 62 of the tracing unit 6 cannot get over even if it moves up and down a little.

[0030] Additionally, the printing device 1 includes a control device (not shown). The control device includes a control unit configured with a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and a storage unit configured with a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. (neither of which are shown). The control device appropriately controls the operation of each part of the device, for example, controlling the operation of the operating mechanism 5 when the operating mechanism 5 is operated by the user operating the operator 61 of the trace unit 6.

[0031] [Effect] Next, the operation of the printing device 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0032] When printing (application of liquid agent, etc.) is performed using the printer 1 of this embodiment, as a prerequisite for printing on the nail T, first, three-dimensional shape data (3D data) is obtained for the nail portion Mt of the finger U on which printing is to be performed, and a model 10 of the nail T is formed. The formation of the model 10 is planned to be performed outside the printer 1.

[0033] Once the model 10 is formed, the user sets the model 10 in the model placement section 21 provided on the exterior frame 2 of the printing device 1. In addition, the user causes a drawing member 40 corresponding to the design to be printed on the nail T to be held by the holding section 42 of the drawing holder 41 of the drawing unit 4, and connects the driving part 51 of the operating mechanism 5 and the drawing member 40. Furthermore, the finger U with the nail T corresponding to the model 10 set in the model placement section 21 is placed on the finger placement table 3.

[0034] The model 10 can be used repeatedly because the pointer 62 simply traces the surface, etc. Therefore, for example, if a user obtains three-dimensional shape data (3D data) of the nail portion Mt for the nails T of fingers U on which printing may be performed (for example, the nails T of ten fingers U on both hands) in advance and creates a model 10 for the nail T of each finger U, when the user wants to perform nail printing on the nail T using the printing device 1, the user can easily move to the printing operation by simply setting the model 10 corresponding to the nail T on which printing is to be performed in the model placement unit 21.

[0035] When the model 10 and the finger U (nail T of the finger U) are set in the predetermined positions, the user operates the operator 61 of the tracing unit 6 to move the pointer 62 so as to trace the surface of the model 10 held in the model placement section 21. The movement of the pointer 62 is linked to the movement of the drawing member 40 of the drawing unit 4, and the printing position (the position where the liquid agent is applied) by the drawing member 40 is displaced in response to the movement of the pointer 62.

[0036] Then, at a location where the user wants to press the application part 44 of the drawing member 40 against the surface of the nail T, which is the printing surface, to apply the liquid agent, the user presses the lowering switch part 61a of the operation part 61 as appropriate. While the lowering switch part 61a is pressed by the user, the driving part 51 of the operating mechanism 5 of the drawing unit 4, which is linked to the tracing unit 6, is pressed down against the biasing force of the biasing member 51a, and the drawing member 40 connected to the driving part 51 is lowered. As a result, the liquid agent is applied from the application part 44 at the tip of the drawing member 40, which is in contact with the surface of the nail T, according to the writing pressure. Also, when the user stops pressing the lowering switch part 61a, the driving part 51 is pushed up by the biasing force of the biasing member 51a, and the drawing member 40 is returned to its original state where the writing pressure is not actively applied to the drawing member 40. As a result, the drawing member 40 is in a state where the application part 44 does not contact the surface of the nail T, or even if it does, it only lightly traces the surface.

[0037] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a main part, which shows a schematic view of the drawing unit 4 when the user is not pressing the lowering switch portion 61a of the operator 61. As shown in FIG. In this case, the driving part 51 is pushed up by the biasing force of the biasing member 51a, and the application part 44 of the drawing member 40 is not in contact with the surface of the nail T (the state shown in FIG. 8), or if in contact, is in contact only by the weight of the drawing member 40. Since the movement of the pointer 62 is synchronized with the drawing member 40, in response to the pointer 62 tracing the surface of the nail model part 10a of the model 10, the drawing member 40 also moves to a position where the liquid agent is applied, following the shape of the surface of the nail T.

[0038] 9 is a cross-sectional view of a main part that shows a schematic view of the drawing unit 4 when the user presses the down switch portion 61a of the operation element 61. As shown in FIG. In this case, the driving part 51 is pressed against the biasing force of the biasing member 51a, and the drawing member 40 is pressed down toward the nail T. As a result, the application part 44 at the tip of the drawing member 40 is pressed against the surface (surface to be printed) of the nail T (state shown in FIG. 9), and in the case of a ballpoint pen type drawing member 40 in which the liquid agent is stored in the liquid chamber 43 by applying a writing pressure and the liquid agent seeps out from the application part 44 to draw, drawing is performed according to the user's operation. In the case of a brush pen type drawing member 40, the way in which the writing pressure is applied changes according to the force with which the user presses the lowering switch part 61a of the operating element 61, and the thickness of the drawn line, the amount of the liquid agent applied, etc. may be adjusted.

[0039] The pointer 62 operates (moves) in response to the user's operation of the operator 61, but the movement range of the pointer 62 is restricted to a range in which the tip 621 does not come into contact with the restricting portion 10b. In other words, when the tip 621 comes into contact with the restricting portion 10b, the user cannot move the pointer beyond the restricting portion 10b even if the user attempts to do so. The restricting portion 10b is, for example, a wall portion having a shape that matches the outline of the nail T. Therefore, the drawing member 40, which is synchronized with the movement of the pointer 62, cannot advance to the outside of the outline of the nail T, and the liquid agent is prevented from being applied beyond the outside of the nail T.

[0040] [effect] As described above, the printing device 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a drawing member 40 as a printing means for printing on the surface of the nail T, which is the surface to be printed, a tracing unit 6 as an operating part that works in conjunction with the drawing member 40 and displaces the printing position (position at which the liquid agent is applied) by the drawing member 40 in response to manual operation by the user, and a regulating part 10b that regulates the operating range of the tracing unit 6 as the operating part. When printing on the nail T using a normal printing device such as an inkjet printer, it is necessary to capture the outline shape of the nail T using a camera or the like. Also, in order to print within the outline of the nail T, it is necessary to have a drive motor or the like for appropriately moving the print head. For this reason, it is unavoidable that the device configuration becomes complicated. In this respect, with the printing device of this embodiment, the user can move the position of the drawing member 40 as desired simply by manually operating the tracing unit 6. Furthermore, since the movement range of the tracing unit 6 as an operating unit is restricted within the restricting portion 10b, printing (application of liquid agent) can be performed only within the range of the nail T without providing a camera or the like, and application of the liquid agent to areas extending beyond the nail T can be prevented. Furthermore, printing can be applied to the surface of the nail T simply by moving the trace unit 6, which serves as the operating part, within the restricting part 10b, so that the liquid can be applied relatively easily within the desired area even when operating with the non-dominant hand (e.g., the left hand).

[0041] Further, the trace unit 6 as an operation section in the embodiment has a pointer 62 that moves in response to manual operation by the user, and the restricting section 10b restricts the movement range of the pointer 62. As a result, by simply moving the pointer 62 within the restricting portion 10b, printing can be easily performed on the surface of the nail T. Therefore, even when operating with the non-dominant hand (e.g., the left hand), the liquid agent can be relatively easily applied within a desired area.

[0042] In the embodiment, the restricting portion 10b restricts the movement range of the pointer 62 by coming into contact with the tip portion 621 of the pointer 62. Therefore, the user can easily recognize whether or not the pointer 62 is within the range of movement, and it is possible to reliably prevent the pointer 62 from being moved outside the restricted range of movement. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the drawing member 40, which moves in conjunction with the movement of the pointer 62, from applying the liquid agent outside the range of the nail T.

[0043] In the embodiment, the surface to be printed is the surface of the user's nail T, the restricting portion 10b has a wall portion whose shape matches the outline of the nail T, and the pointer 62 is operable within a range surrounded by the wall portion. As a result, as long as the pointer 62 is operated within the range of the restricting portion 10b, which is the wall portion, the drawing member 40 linked to the pointer 62 will not go beyond the contour of the nail T. Therefore, even a user who is unfamiliar with nail printing can easily and effectively prevent the liquid agent from going beyond the nail T and adhering to the skin of the finger U.

[0044] In one embodiment, a model placement section 21 is provided that holds a model 10 that resembles the external shape of the surface to be printed, and a pointer 62 of the tracing unit 6, which is the operating section, operates to trace the surface of the model 10 held in the model placement section 21. When printing on the nail T using a normal printing device such as an inkjet printer, equipment and ingenuity are required, such as taking a picture of the unevenness and curved shape of the surface of the nail T with a camera and printing along that shape. In this respect, with the printing device of this embodiment, the pointer 62 traces the model 10, so that even on the surface of the nail T that has an unevenness or curved shape, a nail print that follows that shape can be easily applied.

[0045] [Variations] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0046] For example, in the present embodiment, an example has been given of the model 10 including the nail model portion 10a, which is a portion that resembles the external shape of the nail T, and the restricting portion 10b, which is a wall portion having a shape that matches the outline of the nail T, but the model 10 is not limited to this. For example, the device may have only a restricting portion 10b that restricts the range of movement of the pointer 62. Since the movement of the pointer 62 is linked to the movement of the drawing member 40, by restricting the movement of the pointer 62 to within the range of the restricting portion 10b, it is possible to prevent the liquid agent from being applied outside the range of the nail T.

[0047] Also, for example, the model 10 may have only the nail model portion 10a, which is a portion that resembles the external shape. In this case, the user needs to be aware of the movement range of the pointer 62 and move it only on the nail model portion 10a, but the drawing member 40 can follow the pointer 62 tracing regardless of how the surface shape of the nail T is curved, and printing (application of liquid agent) can be performed appropriately. Therefore, nail printing can be easily performed according to the shape even on the surface of the nail T that has unevenness or a curved shape.

[0048] Furthermore, the drawing unit 4 is not limited to the one equipped with the pen-type drawing member 40 as shown in the embodiment. For example, the drawing member as the printing means may be a type that ejects a liquid (ink, etc.) using an air compressor and a dispenser, etc. In this case, instead of the lowering switch portion 61a shown in the embodiment, the operator 61 is provided with a switch portion for turning on / off the discharge pressure to the dispenser by, for example, an air compressor. This makes it possible to apply the liquid in the same manner as when a pen-type drawing member is used.

[0049] In addition, in the present embodiment, the drawing member 40 of the drawing unit 4 moves in conjunction with the tracing unit 6 that is the operation section. However, the unit that moves in conjunction with the tracing unit 6 is not limited to the drawing unit 4 . In the printing device, printing (application of liquid agent) is performed by relatively moving the drawing member 40 and the surface of the nail T, which is the surface to be printed. Therefore, it is only necessary that the printing position of the drawing member 40, which is the printing means, on the surface to be printed is displaced in response to the movement of the pointer 62. For example, the position of the finger placement table 3 on which the finger U including the nail T is placed may be displaced in response to the movement of the pointer 62.

[0050] In addition, in this embodiment, a drawing unit 4 that prints (draws) on the printing surface and a tracing unit 6 that serves as an operating unit that displaces the printing position by the drawing member 40 as a printing means are provided within the same exterior frame body 2, and the two are connected by a synchronous shaft 81 to be physically linked together, but the drawing unit 4 and the tracing unit 6 are not limited to being provided within the same exterior frame body 2 and being physically linked together.

[0051] For example, the drawing unit 4 and the tracing unit 6 may be configured as independent devices, each of which includes a communication unit and communicates with each other, forming a printing system. In this case, the communication may be a wired system or a wireless system such as a wireless LAN. The wireless communication may be based on a short-range wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Wi-Fi. For example, position information (coordinate information, etc.) of the tip 621 of the pointer 62 in the tracing unit 6 is transmitted to the drawing unit 4 by communication, and is reflected in the printing position by the drawing member 40 of the drawing unit 4. By linking the drawing unit 4 and the tracing unit 6 by communication in this way, the printing position by the drawing member 40 (printing means) can be displaced according to the operation of the pointer 62 that operates according to the user's operation.

[0052] In this case, for example, when printing is performed on the nail T of a finger U of the left hand, the drawing unit 4 is arranged on the left side as viewed from the user performing the treatment, and the tracing unit 6 is arranged on the right side, as in the above embodiment, and the liquid agent is applied to the surface of the nail T. Conversely, when printing is performed on the nail T of a finger U of the right hand, the drawing unit 4 is arranged on the right side as viewed from the user performing the treatment, and the tracing unit 6 is arranged on the left side, as opposed to the above embodiment, and the user operates the operating element 61 with his left hand to apply the liquid agent to the surface of the nail T of the finger U of the right hand. In this way, the user can perform the treatment in a comfortable position regardless of whether the liquid agent is applied to the nail T of the finger U of the left or right hand.

[0053] Also, for example, the drawing unit 4 and the tracing unit 6 may be disposed at positions apart from each other. In this case, for example, the drawing unit 4 and the tracing unit 6 are provided with a communication unit capable of wireless communication, so that the drawing unit 4 and the tracing unit 6 can communicate with each other. The communication unit may be, for example, a network line such as the Internet. In this case, too, the position information (coordinate information, etc.) of the tip 621 of the pointer 62 in the tracing unit 6 is transmitted to the drawing unit 4 by communication, so that it is reflected in the printing position by the drawing member 40 of the drawing unit 4. In this case, too, by linking the drawing unit 4 and the tracing unit 6 by communication, the printing position by the drawing member 40 (printing means) can be displaced according to the operation of the pointer 62 that operates according to the user's operation. In this case, a third party such as a nail technician can operate the tracing unit 6 using a model 10 of the nail T of the user's finger U at a store or the like, and the user can receive nail printing treatment using the drawing unit 4 while at home.

[0054] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes the scope of the invention described in the claims and its equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 1 Printing device 2 Exterior frame 21 Model placement section 4 Drawing Units 40 Drawing member (printing means) 47 Connecting protrusion 5 Operating mechanism 51 Drive parts 6 Trace unit (operation unit) 61 Controls 62 Pointer 67 Connecting protrusion 7 Shaft 8 Interlocking holder 81 Synchronous shaft 10 Model 10a Claw model part 10b Regulatory Department T Claw (printing target) U finger

Claims

1. A printing means for printing on a printing target surface; an operation unit that is linked with the printing means and displaces a printing position of the printing means in response to a manual operation by a user; A restricting portion that restricts a movement range of the operating portion; Equipped with A printing device comprising:

2. the operation unit has a pointer that operates in response to a manual operation by a user, The restriction unit restricts a movement range of the pointer.

2. The printing device according to claim 1.

3. the restricting portion restricts a movement range of the pointer by coming into contact with a tip portion of the pointer; 3. The printing device according to claim 2.

4. the printing surface is a surface of a user's nail, The restriction portion has a wall portion having a shape that matches the contour of the nail, The pointer is operable within the range surrounded by the wall portion.

3. The printing device according to claim 2.

5. a model placement unit for holding a model resembling an outer shape of the printing target surface; The pointer of the operation unit operates to trace the surface of the model held in the model placement unit.

5. The printing device according to claim 2, wherein the first and second printing units are arranged in a first direction.

6. A printing means for printing on a printing target surface; A model placement unit that holds a model that resembles the outer shape of the surface to be printed; an operation unit having a pointer that moves in a manner of tracing the surface of the model in response to a manual operation by a user, the operation unit being linked to the printing means and displacing a printing position by the printing means in response to the operation of the pointer; Equipped with A printing device comprising:

Images