Print control device, print device, print control method, and program

Abstract

To perform excellent printing even when a nail is curved in a length direction.SOLUTION: A control device (print control device) 10 includes a control section 11 which functions as: acquisition means for acquiring at least a photographed image of a nail T from a lateral direction; calculation means for calculating heights at a plurality of positions of the nail T in a length direction from the acquired image; identification means for identifying a position interfering with printing based on the calculated heights; and correction means for performing correction corresponding to the calculated heights in performing printing with respect to the identified position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a print control device, a printing device, a print control method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, printing devices (nail print devices) that print designs on nails or the like are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In such a printing device, in order to perform printing according to the shape of the nail, the curvature shape in the width direction of the nail may be detected and printing control may be performed according to the degree of curvature in the width direction. [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, nail shapes vary from person to person, and there are cases where nails are curved not only in the width direction but also in the length direction (for example, so-called hooked nails and curved nails). Conventionally, there has been no printing control that takes into account the curvature of the nails in the longitudinal direction, making it difficult to obtain good printing results when the nails are curved in the longitudinal direction.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has an advantage of providing a print control device, a printing device, a print control method, and a program that can perform good printing even when the nail is curved in the longitudinal direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, one aspect of the print control device according to the present invention is to An acquisition means for acquiring an image of at least the nail from a lateral direction; A calculation means for calculating heights of a plurality of points in a length direction of the nail from the acquired image; A determination unit that determines a location that is interfering with printing based on the calculated height; a correction means for performing a correction according to the calculated height when printing is performed on the identified portion; The present invention is characterized by the following. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to perform good printing even when the nails are curved in the longitudinal direction. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a main part of a printing device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of a control configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of a claw as viewed from above. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a plan view showing an example of a claw as viewed from the side. [Diagram 5] 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of the height position of the nail surface in FIG. 4 in relation to a reference line. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a side view of a so-called eagle claw, showing an example of the claw as seen from the side. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a side view of a claw showing an example of a so-called curved claw as viewed from the side. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a side view of a nail showing an example of a nail having a large surface undulation as viewed from the side. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a side view of a nail showing an example of a state in which a nail tip is placed over a nail with a decorative part placed thereon, as viewed from the side. [Figure 10] 4 is a flowchart illustrating a print control process in the present embodiment. [Figure 11]FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an image of the print result when printing is performed on a nail that is relatively flat in the length direction of the nail. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an image of the print result when printing on a nail that is greatly curved at the tip end in the length direction of the nail. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] An embodiment of a print control device, a printing device, a print control method, and a program according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following embodiment, the print control device will be described as an example in which the print control device is a control device 10 (see FIG. 2) of a printing device 1 that prints nail designs on fingernails T or the like as described below. 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.

[0010] [composition] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the main part of a printing device according to the present embodiment, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the main control configuration of the printing device. In the following embodiments, up / down, left / right, and front / rear refer to the directions shown in Fig. 1. Additionally, the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction refer to the directions shown in each figure. In this embodiment, the X direction is the width direction (horizontal direction) of the printing device 1, the Y direction is the depth direction of the printing device 1, and the Z direction is the height direction.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the printing device 1 has a housing 2 formed in a substantially box shape. The housing 2 has an opening 21 on the front side (the front side of the printing device 1, the near side in the Y direction in FIG. 1) approximately in the center in the left-right direction of the device (the X direction in FIG. 1). The opening 21 is an insertion port through which a finger U (see FIG. 3, etc.) corresponding to the nail T to be printed is inserted into the device, and is formed in a size that does not interfere with inserting and removing the finger U. Furthermore, on the top surface (top board) of the housing 2, an operation unit 22, a display unit 23, etc. are provided. The shape and arrangement of each part of the housing 2 are not limited to the illustrated example, and can be set as appropriate.

[0012] The operation unit 22 is used by the user to input various information. The operation unit 22 is, for example, an operation button (power switch button) for turning the power of the printing device 1 on and off. When the operation unit 22 is operated, an operation signal corresponding to the operation is output to a control unit 11 of the control device 10 described below, and the control unit 11 performs control according to the operation signal, causing each unit of the printing device 1 to operate. In addition, when the printing device 1 is linked to an external device such as various terminal devices (e.g., a smartphone) not shown, each part of the printing device 1 may operate in accordance with an operation signal input from an operation part of the external device instead of the operation unit 22.

[0013] Furthermore, on the top surface (top board) of the housing 2, a display unit 23 is provided. The display unit 23 is configured with, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic electroluminescence display, or another flat display. A touch panel for performing various inputs may be integrally configured on the surface of the display unit 23. In this case, the touch panel functions as the operation unit 22.

[0014] The housing 2 accommodates an apparatus main body (not shown) provided with a placement unit 3, a printing mechanism 4, an imaging unit 5 (see FIG. 2), and the like. The placement portion 3 is disposed at a position corresponding to the inside of the opening 21 so as to be able to receive a finger U inserted through the opening 21. The lower surface of the placement portion 3 is a portion that receives the pad of the finger U, and may be provided with a cushion member made of a flexible material such as resin. When a finger U is inserted into the housing 2 through the opening 21 and placed on the placement portion 3, the nail T is held in a position suitable for printing by a print head 41 described below.

[0015] When the finger U is inserted to the back side (rear side of the device) of the placement unit 3, the nail T of the finger U and the fingertip around the nail T are exposed from a window portion (not shown). In this state, imaging by the camera 51 of the imaging unit 5 described below and printing operation by the print head 41 of the printing mechanism 4 become possible. Thus, in this embodiment, the finger U is inserted from the tip side into the depth direction (Y direction) of the printing device 1, and the length direction of the nail T (for example, the length direction L in Figure 4) is along the depth direction (Y direction) of the printing device 1.

[0016] Although not shown in the drawings, in this embodiment, an optical means is provided near the window portion of the placement unit 3 for allowing the camera 51 of the imaging unit 5, which will be described later, to acquire an image of the nail T from the side (side image). The optical means is, for example, a mirror or a prism, and is arranged in an orientation that allows the camera 51 arranged on the upper part of the printing device 1 to acquire an image of the nail T viewed from the side. This allows one camera 51 to capture both an image of the nail T viewed from above (the "top image" of the nail T) and an image of the nail T viewed from the side (the "side image" of the nail T). In addition to the camera 51 arranged on the top of the printing device 1, a camera may be provided that captures an image of the nail T from the side, and the camera arranged in the side direction may capture a "side image" from the side of the nail T. In this case, since the camera 51 is only required to capture an "upper surface image" of the nail T, there is no need to provide an optical means such as a mirror.

[0017] 2, the printing mechanism 4 includes a print head 41, an X-direction movement motor 45, and a Y-direction movement motor 47. The print head 41 is a printing means that performs printing on the nail T.

[0018] The print head 41 of this embodiment is an inkjet head that uses an inkjet system in which the surface facing the surface to be printed (for example, the surface of a nail T) is an ink ejection surface (neither of which is shown) equipped with a plurality of nozzle openings for ejecting ink, and prints by forming the ink into fine droplets and spraying the ink from the ink ejection surface directly onto the surface of the print target, such as the nail T. The configuration of the print head 41 is not particularly limited, but for example, it is a cartridge-integrated head in which an ejection mechanism such as the ink ejection surface is integrated with an ink cartridge (neither of which is shown) that stores ink. The print head 41 is capable of ejecting ink (color ink for design printing) for printing nail designs (hereinafter also simply referred to as "designs"), such as cyan (C; CYAN), magenta (M; MAGENTA), and yellow (Y; YELLOW). The printing device 1 may be provided with a base head as the print head 41, capable of ejecting base ink, such as white, as paint for forming the base. The type of ink provided in the print head 41 is not limited to this.

[0019] The X-direction movement motor 45 is a motor for moving the print head 41 in the left-right direction (X direction) of the device, and the Y-direction movement motor 47 is a motor for moving the print head 41 in the front-rear direction (Y direction) of the device. The X-direction movement motor 45 and the Y-direction movement motor 47 are, for example, stepping motors, and constitute a head movement mechanism for moving the print head 41. The operations of the print head 41, the X-direction movement motor 45, and the Y-direction movement motor 47 that constitute the print mechanism 4 are controlled by a control unit 11, which will be described later.

[0020] In the printing device 1 of the embodiment, the left-right direction (X direction) of the device in which the print head 41 moves in the width direction W of the nail T is the main scanning direction, and the front-to-back direction (Y direction) of the device in which the print head 41 moves in the length direction L of the nail T is the sub-scanning direction. The print head 41 moves in the X direction (main scanning direction) by driving the X direction movement motor 45, printing one line the width of the ink ejection surface, and then moves a predetermined amount in the Y direction (sub-scanning direction) by driving the Y direction movement motor 47, and then moves again in the X direction (main scanning direction) to print the next line. This operation is repeated to print on the surface of the printing target, such as a nail T. In this embodiment, the control unit 11, which will be described later, adjusts the amount of movement of the print head 41 in the sub-scanning direction (Y direction in this embodiment). Specific control details will be described later.

[0021] In addition, on the inside of the upper surface (top plate) of the housing 2, at a position corresponding to above the nail T of the finger U placed on the placement section 3, an imaging section 5 is provided which can capture an image (nail image) of the nail T (finger U including the nail T) exposed from the window section of the placement section 3. The imaging unit 5 only needs to be disposed at a position where it can image the nail T of the finger U placed on the placement unit 3, and the specific placement thereof is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, the imaging unit 5 can obtain an image (top image) of the nail T from above, and by providing an optical means as described above, it is possible to obtain an image (side image) of the nail T from at least a lateral direction via the optical means. The nail image (top image and side image) and other images obtained by the imaging unit 5 are sent to the control device 10 and acquired by the control unit 11.

[0022] The imaging unit 5 includes a camera 51, which is a compact camera or the like equipped with a solid-state imaging element such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) type or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) type having 2 million or more pixels, a lens, etc., and a light source 52, which is an LED or the like that illuminates the subject to be imaged (see FIG. 2).

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, the printing device 1 includes a communication unit 25, a control device 10, and the like in addition to the printing mechanism 4 and the imaging unit 5 described above. The communication unit 25 is configured to enable transmission and reception of information between the printing device 1 and various external devices. The external devices are, for example, various terminal devices such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal. The communication between the printing device 1 and the external device is performed, for example, by wireless LAN or the like. However, the communication between the printing device 1 and the external device is not limited to this, and may be by any method. For example, it may be a method using a network line such as the Internet, or a method using wireless communication based on a short-range wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Wi-Fi. This communication is not limited to wireless, and may be configured to enable transmission and reception of various data between the two devices via a wired connection. The communication unit 25 is equipped with an antenna chip or the like that corresponds to the communication method of the external device with which the communication is to be performed.

[0024] The control device 10 installed in the printing device 1 is a computer equipped with a control unit 11 having a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) not shown, and a memory unit 12 having a ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory) (neither shown). The ROM or the like of the storage unit 12 is provided with a program storage area 121 that stores various programs for operating the printing device 1. The storage unit 12 also stores various data necessary for various arithmetic processing and the like. In this embodiment, the storage unit 12 also stores design data for a nail design (design D in FIG. 9 and the like).

[0025] In this embodiment, the control device 10 comprehensively controls the operations of each part of the printing device 1 by the control unit 11 expanding various programs stored in a program storage area 121 such as a ROM into a working area of ​​a RAM and executing them. The control unit 11 cooperates with a program (for example, a print control processing program) to realize various functions for the printer 1 to perform print control processing and the like.

[0026] First, the control unit 11 controls the camera 51 and the light source 52 of the imaging unit 5 to capture an image of the finger U including the nail T placed on the placement unit 3, and to obtain a nail image (an image of the fingertip including the area of ​​the nail T, see FIG. 3, etc.). As described above, in this embodiment, the camera 51 captures, as the nail image, an upper surface image of the nail T captured from above, and an image (side image) of the nail T viewed from the side. As described above, the side image of the nail T viewed from the side is captured via optical means such as a mirror.

[0027] The captured nail image is sent from the imaging unit 5 to the control device 10 and acquired by the control unit 11. The control unit 11 of this embodiment detects the nail contour that defines the area of ​​the nail T based on the nail image (particularly the top surface image), and sets the area inside the nail contour (nail area) as the target area for printing. There is no particular limitation on the method by which the control unit 11 detects the nail contour. For example, the control unit 11 performs various image analyses on the nail image to detect the brightness difference between the nail T and other parts (such as the skin of the finger U) and detects the nail contour that defines the area of ​​the nail T.

[0028] When the nail area (the area inside the nail contour) is extracted from the nail image, the control unit 11 appropriately enlarges or reduces the design data of the nail design (design D in Figures 11 and 12) selected by the user, adjusts the position, etc., to fit it to the nail area, and generates print data for the design to be printed on the nail T.

[0029] The control unit 11 also obtains information on the degree of curvature (degree of curvature) in the width direction W (see FIG. 3) of the nail T based on the nail image (top image or side image). FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of a top image of the nail T. The control unit 11 then performs widthwise curvature correction to enlarge or reduce the print image (design) according to the degree of curvature in the width direction W of the nail T, or to adjust the print density (shade). The print density (shade) is adjusted by adjusting the amount of ink discharged per unit area from the print head 41 of the print mechanism 4. Specifically, the control unit 11 derives a correction value in the width direction W of the nail T that corrects the print data so that there is no difference in print density between the center and the ends by discharging more ink at both end portions of the nail T that are lower than the center portion of the nail T in the width direction W, which is a relatively flat portion.

[0030] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control unit 11 acquires information regarding the degree of curvature (degree of bending) in the length direction L (see FIG. 3) of the nail T based on the nail image (particularly the side image). Specifically, the control unit 11 first calculates the heights of multiple points (referred to as "calculation points P" in FIG. 5 and the like) in the length direction L of the nail T from the acquired image (nail image, particularly the side image). Then, the control unit 11 identifies "points that will interfere with printing" based on the calculated heights.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of a nail image (a side image of a nail T) captured by a camera and acquired by a control unit. 4, the control unit 11 sets a virtual reference line ("reference line R" shown by a dashed line in FIG. 4) indicating a reference in the height direction Z of the nail T in the side image of the nail T. The reference value of the ink ejection amount ejected from the print head 41 is set to the ejection amount at the height position of the reference line R. In the illustrated example, the reference line R is set approximately horizontally from the base of the nail T in the image to the tip of the nail.

[0032] The reference line R is set approximately horizontally so as to serve as a reference for the height direction Z regardless of the shape of the nail T. For example, Fig. 6 shows an example of a so-called eagle nail in which the tip of the nail T in the length direction L is curved significantly downward, and Fig. 7 shows an example of a curved nail in which the center of the nail T in the length direction L is low and the tip is curved upward. Fig. 8 shows an example of a nail T with severe undulations in which the nail T rises and falls at multiple points in the length direction L. In both of the illustrated examples, a reference line R is set almost horizontally from the base of the nail T in the image to the tip of the nail.

[0033] It is arbitrary where the reference line R is set. For example, the reference line R may be set almost horizontally from the tip of the nail to the base of the nail T, or may be set at the middle of the height direction Z of the nail T. Regardless of where the reference line R is set, the control unit 11 sets the ink ejection amount at the height position of the reference line R as the reference value of the ejection amount. The control unit 11 then sets calculation points P at multiple locations in the length direction L of the nail T, and calculates the amount of deviation α (see FIG. 5) of the height position (position in the height direction Z) of the surface of the nail T, which is the surface to be printed, from the reference line R, at each calculation point P. Furthermore, the control unit 11 adjusts the amount of ink ejected from the print head 41 depending on how much the height position of the surface of the nail T is deviated from the reference line R.

[0034] For example, Figure 9 shows an example of a side image of a nail T, etc., in which decorative parts S such as glitter and rhinestones are placed on a user's nail T, and a nail tip F is placed on top of that to cover the entire nail T. The object to be printed by the printing device 1 of the embodiment is not limited to the nail T, but may be, for example, a nail tip F as shown in Fig. 9. In this case, the surface of the nail tip F is the surface to be printed. In this case, in the illustrated example, the reference line R is set almost horizontally from the base of the nail T in the image to the tip of the nail. When the surface of the nail tip F, rather than the nail T, is the surface to be printed, the calculation points P are also set on the surface of the nail tip F, and the deviation amount α of each calculation point P with respect to the reference line R is calculated.

[0035] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged view of the height position of the nail surface in FIG. 4 in relation to a reference line. As shown in Figure 5, regardless of where the reference line R is set, anything above the reference line R is marked "+" and anything below the reference line R is marked "-", and the degree to which the height position of the surface of the nail T is separated (deviation) from the reference line R is calculated. In the illustrated example, it can be seen that the height position of the surface of the nail T is significantly lower than the reference line R on the toe side, as indicated by the arrow.

[0036] Then, the control unit 11 identifies "areas on the nail T that interfere with printing" (referred to as "areas Arn that interfere with printing" in FIG. 12) on the basis of the deviation amount α (the distance from the reference line R in the height direction Z) calculated for each calculation point P. Here, the "portion Arn that interferes with printing" is a portion where the deviation amount α calculated for the calculation point P exceeds a predetermined threshold value. As described above, the reference value of the amount of ink ejected from the print head 41 is set so as to achieve an appropriate print density when printing at the height position of the reference line R. For this reason, if the height position of the surface of the nail T is too far away from the reference line R, it becomes impossible to achieve the original print density. Note that the specific threshold value for determining whether or not a point corresponds to a "point Arn that interferes with printing" is a matter that is set appropriately.

[0037] When the control unit 11 identifies the "area Arn that interferes with printing," it performs correction according to the calculated deviation amount α (the distance from the reference line R in the height direction Z) when printing on the identified area. As a correction performed by the control unit 11 in the length direction L of the nail T, first, it is considered that the data of the print image at the specified location is corrected when generating the print data (correction performed as a data correction means). This correction as a data correction means performs at least one of expanding or contracting the print image (enlarging or reducing the design) and adjusting the print density (shading). The adjustment of the print density (shading) is performed by adjusting the amount of ink ejected per unit area from the print head 41 of the print mechanism 4, etc.

[0038] In the portion where the nail T is greatly curved, the actual area of ​​the nail T is larger than the apparent area, or the printable area is smaller than the actual area. For this reason, the control unit 11 adjusts the print image appropriately by stretching (enlarging or reducing the design) so that the design does not become stretched or too crowded. Also, for example, in a portion where the nail T is almost vertically depressed, the actual area is larger than the apparent area, and the color will be lighter or faded than other portions unless the ink ejection amount is increased. For this reason, the control unit 11 appropriately adjusts the ink ejection amount (ink ejection amount per unit area) to derive a correction value in the length direction L of the nail T that corrects the print data so that there is no difference in print density between the portion that is not curved or has a small degree of curve and the portion that is greatly curved.

[0039] In addition, the control unit 11 adjusts the amount of movement of the print head 41 of the printing mechanism 4, which prints on the nail T, in the sub-scanning direction (Y direction in this embodiment), which is the length direction L of the nail T, perpendicular to the main scanning direction (X direction in this embodiment), which is the width direction W of the nail T (correction performed as a movement amount adjustment means). As described above, unlike the main scanning direction (X direction in this embodiment) in which printing is performed continuously one line at a time, the sub-scanning direction (Y direction in this embodiment) is the direction in which the print head 41 is moved toward the depth of the device (Y direction) in order to print the next line after one line has been printed in the main scanning direction. Even if correction values ​​are set for the printing data, such as adjusting the expansion / contraction of the printed image in the length direction L of the nail T or the amount of ink ejected per unit area, unless the movement amount of the print head 41 is adjusted, it is not possible to achieve printing operation that reflects the correction values ​​in the print head 41.

[0040] For this reason, in areas where corrections such as expanding or contracting the print image or adjusting the amount of ink ejected per unit area are necessary (i.e., "areas Arn that will interfere with printing"), the control unit 11 controls the operation of the Y-direction movement motor 47 to make the amount of movement in the Y direction smaller (finer) than when printing areas that do not require correction, depending on the calculated deviation amount α (distance from the reference line R in the height direction Z), and controls the movement operation of the print head 41 in the Y direction so that the print head 41 can achieve printing operation that reflects the set correction value in the print data.

[0041] Furthermore, when the control unit 11 corrects the print data in the nail width direction W and the nail length direction L, it controls each part of the printing mechanism 4 to execute printing according to the corrected print data. Specifically, the control unit 11 controls the print head 41 based on the print data to eject ink as appropriate, and also operates the X-direction movement motor 45 and the Y-direction movement motor 47 as appropriate to move the print head 41 in the X and Y directions as appropriate. As a result, the design D (see FIGS. 11 and 12) is printed on the nail T based on the print data (corrected print data).

[0042] [Effect] Next, the operation of the printing apparatus and print control processing of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a control process related to the printing operation of the printing device in this embodiment.

[0043] 10, when performing printing processing by the printer 1, the control unit 11 first controls the display unit 23 to display a message or the like on a display screen (not shown) of the display unit 23, urging the user to set the finger U corresponding to the nail T to which the design D (nail design) is to be applied on the placement unit 3 of the printer 1 (step S1). At this time, it is preferable that the nail T of the finger U set on the placement unit 3 has a base of white or the like and an ink receiving layer (preprint coat) formed in advance. The base or the like may be formed by hand painting by the user or the like, or may be printed by the printer 1, and either may be used.

[0044] When the finger U is set on the placement section 3, the control section 11 operates the camera 51 of the imaging section 5 to capture an image of the finger U including the nail T with the camera 51, and obtains nail images (top and side images of the nail T including the finger U) from the imaging section 5 (step S2). When the nail image is acquired, the control unit 11 extracts a nail region from the nail image (particularly the top view image) (step S3). Then, the control unit 11 fits a design D desired by the user into the extracted nail region and generates print data. In addition, when the degree of curvature in the width direction W of the nail T (width direction curvature) is known, curvature correction is appropriately performed to adjust the enlargement or reduction of the printed image (design) and the amount of ink ejected per unit area according to the degree of curvature (setting the correction value for curvature correction in the width direction W of the nail T).

[0045] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the control unit 11 sets a reference line R on the nail image (side image) that serves as a reference for the position in the height direction Z, and sets a plurality of points ("calculation points P" in Figs. 4 and 5) along the length direction L of the nail T from which the position in the height direction Z of the nail T is obtained (step S4). Where and how many calculation points P are set is determined appropriately. Note that the greater the number of calculation points P, the more accurately the height position of the nail T can be grasped.

[0046] When the calculation points P are set, the control unit 11 calculates the deviation amount α (see FIG. 5) of each calculation point P in the height direction Z from the reference line R (step S5). In the example shown in FIG. 5, the deviation amount α is small from the base side to the center in the length direction L of the nail T, but at the tip side of the length direction L of the nail T, the deviation amount α becomes larger toward the tip side (in FIG. 5, deviation amount α1<deviation amount α2).

[0047] When the deviation amount α in the height direction Z from the reference line R is calculated for each calculation point P, the control unit 11 further judges whether or not there is a location where the deviation amount α is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold (step S6). Note that the threshold in this case is appropriately set. Then, if there is a location where the deviation amount α is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold (step S6; YES), the control unit 11 identifies the location where the deviation amount α is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold as a "location Arn that interferes with printing" (step S7).

[0048] If it is determined that there is a "printing interference area Arn", the control unit 11 corrects the data to be printed on the "printing interference area Arn" based on the deviation amount α in the height direction Z (step S8). That is, if there is a large deviation from the reference line R, the print data is corrected so as to adjust the print image appropriately in accordance with the deviation amount α, or to make the amount of ink ejected on the "printing interference area Arn" larger than the amount ejected on other areas (reference value of the ejection amount), for example.

[0049] Furthermore, in the "area Arn that interferes with printing," the amount of movement of the print head 41 in the sub-scanning direction (Y direction) is adjusted based on the deviation amount α in the height direction Z, and the control unit 11 sets the adjustment amount of the movement amount of the print head 41 in accordance with the deviation amount α (step S9).

[0050] When the print data is subjected to curvature correction in the nail width direction W and the nail length direction L, the control unit 11 controls the printing operation of the printing mechanism 4 to print on the nail T according to the corrected print data (step S10). Specifically, the control unit 11 performs printing with an ink ejection amount etc. according to the set correction value, and controls the operation of the Y-direction movement motor 47 so that after printing one line in the main scanning direction, which is the device width direction (X direction), the print head 41 is moved in the sub-scanning direction, which is the device depth direction (Y direction), by an amount of movement adjusted based on the deviation amount α in the height direction Z of the nail T. If there is no location where the deviation amount α is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value (step S6; NO), the control unit 11 controls the printing operation of the printing mechanism 4 to print on the nail T according to the printing data that has been corrected for curvature in the nail width direction W. In this case, only the correction of the printing data, such as adjustment of the ink ejection amount according to the degree of curvature in the nail width direction W, is reflected in the printing operation.

[0051] As a result, even if there is a curvature or the like in the length direction L of the nail T that would affect the printing (see Figure 12), appropriate correction can be made to produce a high-resolution finished print, similar to the case of a nail T that does not have a significant curvature in the length direction L of the nail T (see Figure 11).

[0052] [effect] As described above, according to this embodiment, the control device (printing control device) 10 includes an acquisition means for acquiring an image of at least the nail T taken from the side, a calculation means for calculating the heights of multiple points in the longitudinal direction of the nail T from the acquired image, an identification means for identifying "points Arn that will interfere with printing" based on the calculated heights, and a control unit 11 that functions as a correction means for making corrections according to the calculated heights when printing on the identified points. As a result, even if the nail T is curved in the length direction L, correction can be performed according to the degree of curvature of the nail T, and a good printing finish can be achieved.

[0053] In this embodiment, the control unit 11 as a correction unit is a data correction unit that corrects the data of the print image at a portion identified as a "portion Arn that interferes with printing" when generating the print data. This allows appropriate correction even if the nail T is significantly curved in the length direction L.

[0054] That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, when the nail T is relatively flat in the length direction L and the deviation amount α from the reference line R is small overall, the design D can be printed neatly from the base of the nail T to the tip without being stretched or rubbed, even without performing any special curvature correction in the length direction L of the nail T. 12, for example, when the nail T is curved significantly in the length direction L, the print density changes and rubbing occurs between the part that is at the same height as the reference line R and the part that is significantly deviated from the reference line R (the "part Arn that interferes with printing" where the deviation amount α is equal to or greater than a threshold value). With the printing device 1 equipped with the control device 10 of this embodiment, even when printing on such a nail T, the design D can be printed beautifully over the entire nail T.

[0055] The control unit 11 as a correction means functions as a movement amount adjustment means that adjusts the movement amount of the print head 41, which is a printing means that prints on the nail T, in the sub-scanning direction (Y direction in this embodiment), which is the length direction L of the nail T perpendicular to the main scanning direction (X direction in this embodiment), which is the width direction W of the nail T. Even if correction values ​​such as the expansion / contraction of the print image in the length direction L of the nail T and the adjustment of the amount of ink ejected per unit area are set for the print data, the print head 41 cannot realize a printing operation that reflects the correction values ​​unless the movement amount of the print head 41 is adjusted. For this reason, in a portion where correction such as the expansion / contraction of the print image and the adjustment of the amount of ink ejected per unit area is required (i.e., the "portion Arn that interferes with printing"), the control unit 11 controls the operation of the Y-direction movement motor 47 to make the movement amount in the Y direction smaller (finer) than when printing a portion that does not require correction, according to the calculated amount of change in the height of the nail T. This allows the print head 41 to realize a printing operation that reflects the set correction values ​​in the print data.

[0056] The control unit 11 as a calculation means sets a reference line R in a height direction Z of the nail T, and calculates deviation amounts α of a plurality of height positions in a length direction L of the nail T from the reference line R. This makes it possible to objectively grasp the degree to which the nail T is curved in the height direction Z.

[0057] Then, the control unit 11 as a specifying unit specifies a portion where the deviation amount α exceeds a predetermined threshold as a "portion Arn that causes problems in printing." In the "areas Arn that interfere with printing," if printing is performed without correction, the image may become elongated or rubbed. In this embodiment, the control unit 11 can appropriately correct such areas where the printed image may become elongated, the print density may decrease, or rubbed, etc. will occur. This makes it possible to achieve high-definition printing even on nails T that are significantly curved in the length direction L.

[0058] The control unit 11, which functions as a data correction means, performs at least one of the following: expanding or contracting a print image, and adjusting the amount of ink ejected per unit area. This makes it possible to prevent the image from becoming stretched or smeared in areas with large curvature, thereby obtaining good printing results.

[0059] When the printing device 1 is equipped with a control device (printing control device) 10 and a print head 41 of a printing mechanism 4, which is a printing means for printing on the nail T, the printing device 1 alone can make appropriate corrections and perform printing that corresponds to the curved shape in the longitudinal direction L of the nail T.

[0060] [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.

[0061] For example, in the illustrated examples of the embodiment (FIGS. 4 and 5), the calculation points P are set almost uniformly along the length direction L of the nail T, but the method of setting the calculation points P is not limited to the example shown here. The calculation points P may be set at multiple locations more finely. It is preferable to adjust the set positions of the calculation points P so that the magnitude of the change amount per unit length is as uniform as possible. Therefore, when the calculation points P are set at more locations than in the illustrated example, the calculation points P may be thinned out in the portion where the deviation amount α is small or the amount of change per unit length is small, and the deviation amount α at the remaining calculation points P may be reflected when deriving the correction value.

[0062] Also, for example, the calculation points P may be set in two stages, and in the first stage, the calculation points P may be set almost uniformly at relatively wide intervals, and among them, the calculation points P may be set more finely in a portion where the deviation amount α is large, or in a portion where the amount of change per unit length is large, or in the vicinity thereof. That is, for example, in a case where the amount of change per unit length of 2 mm in the longitudinal direction L of the nail T is normally 0.5 mm or less, if there is a portion where the height changes by about 1 mm within 2 mm, the calculation points P may be set more finely in that portion and its vicinity to calculate the deviation amount α from the reference line R, and the calculation may be reflected when deriving the correction value.

[0063] In addition, in the embodiment, a finger U including a nail T is inserted from the front side of the device to the back side along the depth direction (Y direction) of the device, and the printing mechanism 4 performs printing in the main scanning direction to print one line at a time in the left-right direction (X direction) of the device, i.e., the width direction W of the nail T, and performs a sub-scan to move to the next line in the depth direction (Y direction) of the device, i.e., the length direction L of the nail T, but the main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction in the printing mechanism 4 are not limited to the example shown here.

[0064] For example, contrary to the embodiment, printing may be performed in the main scanning direction to print one line at a time in the length direction L of the nail T, and a sub-scan may be performed in the width direction W of the nail T to move to the next line. In this case, for the length direction L of the nail T, in which printing is performed in the main scanning direction, only the printing image (design) is enlarged or reduced (stretched) according to the degree of curvature and the printing density is corrected by adjusting the amount of ink ejected, while for the width direction W of the nail T, which is the sub-scanning direction, in addition to the printing image (design) being enlarged or reduced (stretched) according to the degree of curvature and the printing density being corrected by adjusting the amount of ink ejected, motor control is appropriately performed to adjust the amount of movement of the print head 41.

[0065] In addition, in the embodiment, an example is given of the control unit 11 of the printing device 1 functioning as an acquisition means, calculation means, identification means, correction means (data correction means and / or movement amount adjustment means), etc., and the printing device 1 completing the printing process by itself, but the functioning of the control unit 11 of the printing device 1 as an acquisition means, calculation means, identification means, correction means, etc. is not limited to this. For example, when the printing device 1 is linked to an external device (for example, a terminal device such as a smartphone), the control unit of the external device may function as an acquisition unit, a calculation unit, a specification unit, a correction unit, etc., as a printing control device. In this case, for example, a storage unit of the external device stores a nail print application program for linking with the printing device 1, a program for causing the printing device 1 to perform predetermined control processing, and various data.

[0066] Moreover, the camera that captures the image (side image) of the nail T from the side is not limited to the camera 51 of the imaging unit 5 of the printing device 1. For example, the image may be captured by a camera of an external device (for example, a terminal device such as a smartphone). In this case, the captured image is sent to the printing device 1 via the communication unit 25, etc., and acquired by the control unit 11. Note that, as described above, when the control unit of the external device, etc., functions as an acquisition unit, a calculation unit, a specification unit, a correction unit, etc., an image captured by the camera of the external device may be acquired by the control unit of the external device. In this case, the control unit of the external device, etc., may further calculate the heights of multiple points in the length direction of the nail T from the acquired image, specify the "points Arn that interfere with printing" based on the calculated heights, and perform corrections according to the calculated heights when printing the specified points on the print data, etc.

[0067] In this way, when the control unit or the like of an external device such as a smartphone functions as an acquisition unit, a calculation unit, a specification unit, a correction unit, or the like, the control unit 11 on the printing device 1 side receives the calculation results, processing results, etc. calculated in the control unit or the like of the external device from the external device, and controls the operation of the printing mechanism 4, etc. based on the calculation results, processing results, etc. This reduces the load on the control unit 11 and memory unit 12 of the printing device 1, and makes it possible to simplify the control configuration of the printing device 1.

[0068] In this embodiment, the printing device 1 is configured to include an inkjet print head 41 as the print head 41, but the configuration of the print head 41 is not limited to this. For example, a syringe-type head, a pen-type head, or the like, having a configuration different from the inkjet print head 41 may be provided.

[0069] 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]

[0070] 1 Printing device 3. Placement section 4 Printing mechanism 41 Print Head 5. Imaging unit 51 Camera 52 Light source 10 Control device 11 Control unit (acquisition means, calculation means, identification means, correction means (data correction means and / or movement amount adjustment means)) 12 Storage section D Design (Nail Design) T-claw U finger

Claims

1. An acquisition means for acquiring an image of at least the nail from a lateral direction; A calculation means for calculating heights of a plurality of points in a length direction of the nail from the acquired image; A determination unit that determines a location that is interfering with printing based on the calculated height; a correction means for performing a correction according to the calculated height when printing is performed on the identified portion; A print control device comprising:

2. the correction means is a data correction means for correcting data of the print image at the specified location when generating print data; 2. The print control device according to claim 1.

3. the correction means is a movement amount adjustment means for adjusting a movement amount of a printing means for printing on the nail in a sub-scanning direction which is a length direction of the nail perpendicular to a main scanning direction which is a width direction of the nail, 2. The print control device according to claim 1.

4. the calculation means sets a reference line in a height direction of the nail, and calculates a deviation amount of a height position of the nail from the reference line at a plurality of points in a length direction of the nail; the identifying unit identifies a portion where the amount of deviation exceeds a predetermined threshold as a portion that may cause problems in printing; 2. The print control device according to claim 1.

5. the data correction means performs at least one of expanding / shrinking a print image and adjusting an amount of ink ejected per unit area; 3. The print control device according to claim 2.

6. A print control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A printing means for printing on the nails; A printing device comprising:

7. An acquisition step of acquiring an image of at least the nail from a lateral direction; A calculation step of calculating heights of a plurality of points in a length direction of the nail from the acquired image; a step of identifying a portion that interferes with printing based on the calculated height; a correction step of performing a correction according to the calculated height when printing on the identified portion; A printing control method comprising:

8. On the computer, An acquisition function for acquiring an image of at least the nail from a lateral direction; A calculation function for calculating heights of a plurality of points in a length direction of the nail from the acquired image; A function for identifying a location causing a printing defect based on the calculated height; a correction function for performing correction according to the calculated height when printing on the identified portion; A program for realizing the above.

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