Printing device and suction method for printing device

Abstract

To provide a printer and suction method which can suck a discharge part of a print head with a simple structure.SOLUTION: A printer 1 includes: a print head 41 as printing means which has a discharge part 411 for discharging a solution; closing means 61 which can form a closed space 615 with the discharge part 411 by abutting from a side opposite to the discharge part 411 so as to cover the discharge part 411; and deforming means 62 which is operated when the print head 41 moves during non-printing operation, and can deform the closing means 61 at least in a first state and in a second state in which a volume of the closed space 615 is more expanded than the first state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing device. 、 and Printing device Regarding the suction method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, printing devices (nail printers) that print designs on fingernails have been known. In the nail printer, the finger corresponding to the nail to be printed is placed on a finger rest, and printing is performed on the nail using, for example, an inkjet method.

[0003] When printing using the inkjet method, a liquid (ink, etc.) is ejected from the ejection section of the print head (the surface where the nozzle outlets are formed, the ejection surface) to perform printing, but as printing is repeated, the liquid (ink, etc.) and dust may adhere to the area around the nozzle outlets, causing the nozzles to become clogged. When the nozzles become clogged, problems such as the inability to eject ink, etc., occur, and there is a risk of print quality deterioration. In particular, when the liquid (ink, etc.) used for printing is a white or other base ink, and the liquid contains a solute with a high specific gravity, such as titanium oxide, the solute is likely to settle, easily causing nozzle clogging.

[0004] In this regard, for example, Patent Document 1 describes a printing device that is equipped with a suction cap, a pump, etc., and that by abutting the suction cap against the ejection surface of the print (recording) head, opening a valve to open the air communication port, and driving the pump, ink and other substances adhering around the nozzle ejection port, etc., are sucked up. With this configuration, ink and dust adhering to the nozzles of the recording (printing) head can be removed, and problems such as poor ejection can be eliminated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-232447 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, if a pump is provided to suck up ink, etc., the pump itself takes up space, and the device may become larger and more complex due to the need to secure a flow path, etc.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a printing apparatus that can perform suction on the ejection portions of a print head with a simple configuration. 、 and Printing device The object is to provide a suction method. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the printing device of the present invention comprises: a printing means having a discharge unit that discharges a liquid agent; a closing means that can form a closed space between the discharge portion and the closing means by contacting the discharge portion from a side facing the discharge portion so as to cover the discharge portion; a deformation means that operates when the printing means moves during a non-printing operation, and that can deform the closing means so that it is in at least a first state and a second state in which the volume of the closed space is expanded compared to the first state; a first base that is movable in accordance with the movement of the printing means; a second base that movably supports the first base and has a first guide portion; Equipped with 、 the blocking means is provided on the first base, The deformation means has one end side that is locked to the closing means and the other end side that is a first locking portion that is locked to the first guide portion, and as the first base moves from a first position, the first locking portion is guided by the first guide portion, thereby deforming the closing means at least between the first state and the second state. Ru, It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, the ejection portion of the print head can be sucked with a simple configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an external configuration of a main part of a printing device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main part of a schematic control configuration of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of a base of the printing device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view of a main part showing a schematic configuration of a suction mechanism and a printing mechanism in the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a side view of a main part showing a schematic configuration of a suction mechanism and a printing mechanism in the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a side view of a main part showing a schematic configuration of a suction mechanism and a printing mechanism in the embodiment. [Figure 7] 6 is a flowchart illustrating a suction operation and a print control process according to the present embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a side view of a main part showing a schematic configuration of a suction mechanism and a printing mechanism according to a modified example. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a side view of a main part showing a schematic configuration of a suction mechanism and a printing mechanism according to a modified example. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the configuration of a base of a printing device according to one modified example.

[0011] 1 to 7, a printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described. 、 and Printing device An embodiment of the suction method will now be described. It should be noted that the embodiments described below are subject to various limitations that are technically preferable for carrying out the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples. In the following embodiments, the printing device is described as an example of a nail printing device that prints on fingernails as a printing target, but the printing target of the printing device in the present invention is not limited to fingernails and may be, for example, toenails. Furthermore, the printing target may be something other than nails, such as the surface of nail tips or various accessories. Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example is given of the liquid ejected from the print head being ink, but the liquid may be any liquid that is likely to cause nozzle clogging or the like if various maintenance is not performed, and is not limited to the ink exemplified in the following embodiments.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the external configuration of the main parts of a printing device (nail printer) according to this embodiment, and 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. Also, the X direction, Y direction, and Z direction refer to the directions shown in Fig. 1.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the printing device 1 has a housing 2 formed in a substantially box shape. An operation unit 21 is provided on the top surface (top plate) of the housing 2. The operation unit 21 is used by the user to input various information. The operation unit 21 is composed of operation buttons for performing various inputs, such as a power switch button for turning the power of the printing device 1 on / off, a stop switch button for stopping operation, and a print start button for instructing the start of printing. When the operation unit 21 is operated, an operation signal corresponding to the operation is output to a control unit 91 (see FIG. 2) of the control device 90, and the control unit 91 performs control according to the operation signal to operate each part of the printing device 1. For example, if the operated operation unit 21 is a power switch button, the power of the printing device 1 is turned on / off in response to the button operation.

[0014] Furthermore, a display unit 22 is provided on the top surface (top panel) of the housing 2. The display unit 22 is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic electroluminescence display, or other flat display. The display unit 22 displays various items on the display screen in accordance with a display control signal from the control unit 91 (see FIG. 2). For example, the display screen can display a nail design input or selected by the user via the operation unit 21, etc., a nail image captured by the camera 51 (described later), a nail area (print area) detected from the nail image, a finished image in which a design is superimposed on the print area, and various other information screens, warning display screens, etc. Note that the content displayed on the display unit 22 is not limited to those exemplified here. A touch panel for various inputs may be integrally formed on the surface of the display unit 22. In this case, the touch panel functions as the operation unit 21.

[0015] A finger insertion slot 23, which is an opening for inserting a finger corresponding to the nail to be printed when printing with the printing device 1, is formed on the front side of the housing 2 (the front side in the Y direction in FIG. 1) and approximately in the center in the left-right direction of the device (the X direction in FIG. 1). Note that the position and size of the finger insertion slot 23 are not limited to the illustrated example. The housing 2 contains a device main body 10 equipped with a base 11, and a finger placement section 3 (described later) is provided on the base 11 of the device main body 10 at a position corresponding to the finger insertion opening 23, on which a finger (the finger corresponding to the nail to be printed) inserted through the finger insertion opening 23 is placed and held.

[0016] Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the configuration of the upper surface of the base. Note that Fig. 3 does not show a printing mechanism 4, an imaging unit 5, and the like, which are provided inside the device main body 10 and will be described later. As shown in FIG. 3, the finger rest portion 3 is disposed on the front portion of the upper surface of the base 11, approximately in the center in the left-right direction, as described above. A finger holder 31 is provided on the front side of the finger placement section 3 (the front side in the Y direction in Figs. 1 and 3) to regulate the height position of the upper surface of the finger placed on the finger placement section 3. Furthermore, the back side of the finger holder 31 on the finger placement section 3 (the rear side of the device in the Y direction in Figs. 1 and 3) is a window 32 that exposes the fingertip, including the nail, of the finger placed on the finger placement section 3. The print head 41 of the printing mechanism 4, which will be described later, prints on the surface of the nail exposed through the window portion 32 as the printing object, and the area around the window portion 32 where the nail is located is the printing operation area Ar1 where printing is performed by the printing mechanism 4 (print head 41).

[0017] The left rear portion of the top surface of the base 11 (that is, the left rear side in the Y direction in FIGS. 1 and 3) is a maintenance area Ar2 where maintenance of the print head 41 is carried out. The maintenance area Ar2 is provided with various maintenance mechanisms 7 that perform, for example, a purge process in which ink is forcibly ejected from the ejection ports of the nozzles formed in the ejection section (ink ejection surface) 411 of the print head 41, and air, impurities, and viscous ink in the ink flow paths inside the nozzles and the like are expelled to the outside along with the ink, and a wiping process in which the ejection surface 411 is wiped. Note that the configuration of the maintenance mechanisms 7 is not particularly limited.

[0018] Furthermore, the rear right side of the top surface of the base 11 (that is, the right side in the Y direction in FIGS. 1 and 3) is a standby area (home position) Ar3 where the print head 41 is positioned when not in printing operation. The standby area Ar3 is a position where the print head 41, which will be described later, is basically located when no printing operation is being performed (that is, when no printing operation is being performed in the printing operation area Ar1). In the waiting area Ar3, a suction mechanism 6 having a blocking means 61 is provided.

[0019] The blocking means 61 of the suction mechanism 6 is able to abut against the discharge part 411 from the side facing the discharge part 411 so as to cover the discharge part 411, thereby forming a blocked space 615 (see FIG. 5) between the discharge part 411 and itself. Here, "contact" may simply mean contact with discharge portion 411, or may mean covering it so as to seal it. Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which projections and recesses are provided around discharge portion 411, and projections and recesses of corresponding shapes are also provided on the blocking means 61 side, so that the projections and recesses fit together. In this embodiment, the blocking means 61 also serves as a cap member that covers the ejection portion 411 of the print head 41 to protect it from drying out or the like.

[0020] The arrangement of the maintenance area Ar2 and the standby area Ar3 on the base 11 is not limited to the illustrated example. The maintenance area Ar2 and the standby area Ar3 are preferably located at positions different from the printing area Ar1, but for example, the maintenance area Ar2 and the standby area Ar3 may be located in reverse. The detailed configuration of the suction mechanism 6 provided in the waiting area Ar3 will be described later.

[0021] The device body 10 also has a printing mechanism 4, a photographing unit 5 (see FIG. 2), and the like assembled therein. The printing mechanism 4 performs printing on nails, which are printing objects, and includes a print head 41 as a printing means, a movement mechanism 42 (see FIG. 2) for moving the print head 41 as needed, and the like. The configuration of the print head 41 is not particularly limited, but for example it may be an integrated cartridge type head in which a storage section (ink cartridge) for storing ink and a discharge section (not shown) are integrally formed. The specific configuration for discharging ink from the discharge section may be any type and is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, a discharge section (ink discharge section, discharge surface on which a nozzle opening, etc., not shown, is formed) 411 having a nozzle outlet (not shown) that discharges ink (liquid agent) is formed on the underside of the print head 41 (the surface facing the surface of the nail placed on the finger placement section 3). The print head 41 is an inkjet head that performs printing by spraying fine droplets of ink from the discharge section 411 onto the printing surface (the surface of the nail).

[0022] The ink stored in the print head 41 is ink of each color, such as cyan (C; CYAN), magenta (M; MAGENTA), and yellow (Y; YELLOW) (hereinafter referred to as "color ink"). Note that the ink ejected from the print head 41 is not limited to these, and the print head 41 may be capable of ejecting ink of other colors. Furthermore, the print head 41 is not limited to ejecting color ink, and may be, for example, ejecting a base liquid (base ink such as white) before printing a design. The printing device 1 may have one print head 41 or may be equipped with multiple print heads 41. Note that when multiple print heads 41 are provided, it is preferable to provide multiple suction mechanisms 6 (particularly blocking means 61) corresponding to the print heads 41.

[0023] When printing using the inkjet method, repeated printing can cause liquid (ink, etc.) and dust to adhere to the nozzle outlet, clogging the nozzle. When the nozzle becomes clogged, problems occur such as the inability to eject ink properly, resulting in a decline in print quality. For example, when the liquid (ink, etc.) used in printing is a white or other base ink and contains titanium oxide or the like, the solutes are particularly likely to settle and cause nozzle clogging, but even other colored inks are likely to cause nozzle clogging if they contain solutes with a high specific gravity.Furthermore, factors other than solute settling can also cause contamination of the ejection section 411, contamination of the nozzle, clogging, etc., resulting in ejection defects.

[0024] In such cases, it would be effective to perform maintenance in the maintenance area Ar2, but for example, performing a purge process that actively ejects ink would waste a lot of ink and increase consumption. Therefore, as a simpler nozzle refreshing method that consumes less ink, it is effective to use the suction mechanism 6 to suck ink from the nozzles and ejection parts 411.

[0025] In this embodiment, the print head 41 is held by a holder 421 (see Figure 4, etc.) and mounted on a carriage 422 (see Figure 4, etc.) that extends in the X direction, and is movable in the XY directions on the base 11. Specifically, the movement mechanism 42 that moves the print head 41 includes an X-direction movement mechanism that has an X-direction movement motor 45 and moves the print head 41 in the X direction within the carriage 422, and a Y-direction movement mechanism that has a Y-direction movement motor 47 and moves the carriage 422 carrying the print head 41 in the Y direction.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, the photographing unit 5 includes a camera 51 and a light source 52. The camera 51 and other components constituting the photographing unit 5 are attached, for example, to the inside of the top surface of the housing 2 or to a support member (not shown) erected on the device main body. The placement of the camera 51 and other components of the photographing unit 5 is not particularly limited, but for example, the camera 51 is placed above the fingernail placed on the finger placement unit 3 and exposed through the window 32, so that the finger including the nail can be photographed from above to obtain a nail image.

[0027] In this embodiment, the suction mechanism 6 provided in the waiting area Ar3 includes a blocking means 61 and a deformation means 62. The blocking means 61 has a bottom surface 611 and side surfaces 612 that rise from the periphery of the bottom surface 611. A rim (not shown in FIG. 4 etc.) may be formed on the upper end surface of the side surface 612. In this embodiment, the blocking means 61 also functions as a cap member that protects the ejection portion 411 of the print head 41 from drying out etc. when not performing printing. The closing means 61 is provided on a first base 63 described below, and a bottom surface 611 is placed on the first base 63. The bottom surface 611 may be partially fixed to the first base 63 by adhesive or the like. By fixing a part of the bottom surface 611 to the first base 63, it is possible to prevent the closing means 61 from shifting in position, etc.

[0028] The blocking means 61 is made of a flexible material that can be deformed to a certain extent, and various resin materials such as EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber), silicone, urethane resin, etc. are preferably used. Note that, since the blocking means 61 repeatedly comes into contact with the liquid agent (ink) or the like adhering to the discharge portion 411, it is preferable that the blocking means 61 be made of a material that is resistant to corrosion by the ink or the like and has excellent corrosion resistance. The blocking means 61 abuts against the lower surface (lower side shown in Figure 4, etc.) of the print head 41 so that the upper end of the side portion 612 covers the ejection portion 411 of the print head 41, and is capable of forming an enclosed space 615 (see Figure 5, etc.) surrounded by the bottom surface portion 611 and side portion 612 of the blocking means 61 and the ejection portion 411 of the print head 41.

[0029] The blocking means 61 can be transformed into at least a first state and a second state in which the volume of the blocked space 615 is expanded more than in the first state by the deformation means 62 described below, which operates when the printing means, such as the print head 41, moves during non-printing operation. Here, "non-printing operation" refers to a time when the printing means, such as the print head 41, is not performing a printing operation, and movement "non-printing operation" refers to movement within the standby area Ar3 and its surroundings. For example, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the "first state" of the blocking means 61 in this embodiment is a state in which a part of the bottom surface 611 (for example, approximately the center in the in-plane direction in the illustrated example) bulges convexly upward (upper side in Figure 4, etc.) of the blocking means 61 toward the inside of the blocked space 615.

[0030] Further, a through hole 613 is formed in the bottom surface portion 611, and the deformation means 62 is inserted into the through hole 613 from above (the upper side as shown in FIG. 4 etc.). As shown in FIG. 4 etc., the deformation means 62 has a shaft portion 621, and a locking head portion 622 having a diameter larger than the diameters of the shaft portion 621 and the through hole 613 is provided on one end side of the shaft portion 621. Further, on the other end side of the shaft portion 621, a first locking portion 623 which is a boss protruding laterally from the shaft portion 621 is provided.

[0031] The first base 63 on which the blocking means 61 is disposed has a main body 631 and a first abutment portion 632 provided at the rear end of the main body 631 (the end on the downstream side in the direction of travel Y1 (also simply referred to as the arrow direction Y1) of the print head 41 indicated by the white arrow in Figure 4 etc.). When the print head 41, which is the printing means, moves in the arrow direction Y1 indicated by the white arrow while abutting against the first abutment portion 632, the first base 63 is able to move in the arrow direction Y1 in conjunction with this movement.

[0032] The first base 63 is movably supported on the second base 64 . The second base 64 has a main body 641 and a second abutment portion 642 provided at the rear end of the main body 641 (the downstream end in the traveling direction Y1 of the print head 41 indicated by the white arrow in Figure 4, etc.). As will be described later, the second base 64 moves in the direction Y1 indicated by the white arrow while the printing head 41, which is the printing means, abuts against the second abutment portion 642, and is therefore capable of moving in the direction Y1 indicated by the white arrow in accordance with this movement.

[0033] Note that it is not necessary for the print head 41 itself to come into contact with the first abutment portion 632 or the second abutment portion 642; for example, the holder 421 or carriage 422 that holds the print head 41 may come into contact with the first abutment portion 632. However, the print head 41 comes into contact with the first abutment portion 632 after the print head 41 comes into contact with the second abutment portion 642 and moves in the direction of the arrow Y1, and the portion that abuts against the second abutment portion 642 is located downstream in the direction of the arrow Y1 from the portion that abuts against the first abutment portion 632. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 and other figures, the end 424 of the carriage 422 that protrudes downstream in the direction of the arrow Y1 beyond the print head 41 comes into contact with the second abutment portion 642, and then the rear end of the print head 41 comes into contact with the first abutment portion 632.

[0034] Further, in the second base 64, a member locking portion 641a is provided at the front end portion (the upstream end portion in the arrow direction Y1 indicated by the outline arrow in FIG. 4 and the like) of the main body portion 641. The first base 63 is connected to the second base via an elastic member 633, one end of which is locked to the member locking portion 641a and the other end of which is locked to the front end of the main body 631. The elastic member 633 is a member that expands and contracts along the movement direction of the print head 41, which is the printing means (the direction of travel of the print head 41 indicated by the white arrow in Figure 4, etc.), and is, for example, a coil spring (return spring) that extends along the movement direction. The elastic member 633 is not limited to the illustrated example, and any member that can expand and contract along the movement direction of the print head 41 can be used.

[0035] The elastic member 633 biases the first base 63 forward (upstream in the direction of the arrow Y1 indicated by the outline arrow in FIG. 4 etc.) relative to the second base 64. Due to the biasing force of this elastic member 633, the first base 63 is normally located at the front end of its movement range on the second base 64 (i.e., a position on the second base 64 near the left end in the Y direction (upstream side of the outline arrow Y1)). This position (i.e., the initial position before movement) is referred to as the "first position" of the first base. As the printing means, such as the print head 41, moves, the first base 63 moves from the "first position," causing the elastic member 633 to stretch, and when the force in the stretching direction (i.e., the force in the arrow direction Y1 applied to the first base 63 by the movement of the print head 41) is released, the restoring force of the elastic member 633 causes the first base 63 to return to the "first position."

[0036] In addition, a first guide portion 644 is formed on the second base 64 along the Y direction, and the first locking portion 623 is arranged within the first guide portion 644 so as to be slidable along the first guide portion 644. In addition, Figure 4 and other figures show an example in which the first guide portion 644 is an elongated hole, but the first guide portion 644 is not limited to an elongated hole and may be a groove portion that does not penetrate to the outside of the main body portion 641 of the second base 64.

[0037] In this embodiment, when the first base 63 moves, the first locking portion 623 is guided by the first guide portion 644 in accordance with this movement, and moves up and down along the shape of the first guide portion 644. For example, when the first base 63 moves from the "first position" in the direction of the arrow Y1 indicated by the white arrow in Figure 4, etc., the first engaging portion 623 moves along the first guide portion 644 and is positioned at a lower position (i.e., a position away from the ejection portion 411 of the print head 41, see Figure 6) than the position where it was positioned at the "first position" (see Figures 4 and 5).

[0038] When the first locking portion 623 side is pulled downward, the entire deformation means 62 moves downward, and the locking head 622, which cannot pass through the through-hole 613 of the blocking means 61, is locked to the edge of the through-hole 613, pulling the bottom surface 611 downward. This eliminates the convex bulge of the bottom surface 611, and the bottom surface 611 is deformed to a state that is approximately parallel to the upper surface of the first base 63, as shown in FIG. 6, for example.

[0039] In this way, when the convex bulge is eliminated and the bottom surface portion 611 becomes flat, the volume of the enclosed space 615 is expanded by the amount of the bulge that has disappeared, and the pressure inside the enclosed space 615 is reduced. This state after deformation is the second state of the closing means 61. When the bottom surface 611 of the closing means 61 is not pulled down by the deformation means 62, the bottom surface 611 of the closing means 61 is in a convex bulge state. In other words, when the deformation means 62 is no longer lowered, the closing means returns to a state in which the bottom surface 611 is in a convex bulge state (the state shown in Figures 4 and 5).

[0040] The second base 64 includes a main body 641 and an abutment member 642 at the rear of the main body 641 (downstream in the direction of travel of the print head 41 indicated by the white arrow in FIG. 4 and other figures). That is, when the abutting member 642 abuts against the print head 41 (or the holder 421 or carriage 422 that holds the print head 41), which is the printing means, it slides in the movement direction of the print head 41 etc. (the direction of travel of the print head 41 shown by the white arrow in Figure 4 etc.) as the print head 41 etc. moves.

[0041] An inclined surface 643 that rises from upstream to downstream in the direction of travel of the print head 41 (arrow direction Y1) is formed at the upper end of the abutment member 642, and when the print head 41 etc. abuts against it and the print head 41 moves in the arrow direction Y1, the abutment member 642 is gradually pressed downward in the Z-axis direction (negative direction) in accordance with the inclination of the inclined surface 643. This allows the abutment member 642 to move up and down relative to the main body part 641 of the second base 64. Although the abutment member 642 is provided integrally with the main body 641 of the second base 64, when moving in the vertical direction (direction along the Z axis), it moves up and down independently of the main body 641. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 and other figures, when the print head 41 moves in the movement direction (arrow direction Y1 indicated by the white arrow in FIG. 4 and other figures), the end 424 of the carriage 422 carrying the print head 41 abuts against the abutment member 642 and moves while pushing against the inclined surface 643. As a result, the second base 64 moves in the movement direction of the print head 41 and other print heads, and the abutment member 642 descends. The abutment member 642 is biased upward by an elastic member such as a coil spring (not shown). When the print head 41 and other print heads, which are printing means that press the abutment member 642 downward (negative direction) in the Z axis direction, no longer abut against the inclined surface 643 of the abutment member 642 (in other words, when the print head 41 and other print heads no longer interfere with the abutment member 642, or when the suction operation ends), the abutment member 642 is pushed upward by the biasing force of the elastic member and returns to its original height position (the height position shown in FIG. 4).

[0042] The second base 64 is supported on a third base 65 so as to be movable. A second locking portion 646 is provided at the lower end portion (lower portion in the Z-axis direction) of the main body portion 641 of the second base 64. A second guide portion 652 is formed along the Y direction on the main body portion 651 of the third base 65, and the second engaging portion 646 is engaged within the second guide portion 652 so as to be slidable along the second guide portion 652.

[0043] In this embodiment, when the second base 64 moves, the second locking portion 646 is guided by the second guide portion 652 in accordance with this movement, and moves up and down along the shape of the second guide portion 652. For example, when the second base 64 moves from its original position (the position shown in Figure 4) in the direction of the arrow Y1 indicated by the white arrow in Figure 4, etc., the second locking portion 646 moves along the first guide portion 652, and the main body portion 641 of the second base 64 is positioned at a higher position (i.e., a position closer to the ejection portion 411 of the print head 41, see Figure 5, etc.) than the original position (see Figure 4). As a result, the blocking means 61 also rises, and the upper end of the side portion 612 abuts against the lower surface (the lower side shown in Figure 4, etc.) of the print head 41 so as to cover the ejection portion 411 of the print head 41, forming a blocked space 615 surrounded by the bottom portion 611 and side portion 612 of the blocking means 61 and the ejection portion 411 of the print head 41 (see Figure 5, etc.).

[0044] Furthermore, in the third base 65, a member locking portion 651a is provided at the front end portion of the main body portion 651 (the upstream end portion in the direction Y1 indicated by the outline arrow in FIG. 4 and the like). The second base 64 is connected to the first base via an elastic member 645, one end of which is locked to the member locking portion 651a and the other end of which is locked to the front end of the main body 641. Similar to the aforementioned 633, the elastic member 645 is a member that expands and contracts along the movement direction of the print head 41, which is the printing means (the direction of travel of the print head 41 indicated by the white arrow in Figure 4, etc.), and is, for example, a coil spring (return spring) that extends along the movement direction. The elastic member 645 is not limited to the illustrated example, and any member that can expand and contract along the movement direction of the print head 41 can be used.

[0045] The elastic member 645 biases the second base 64 forward (upstream in the direction Y1 indicated by the outline arrow in FIG. 4 etc.) relative to the third base 65. Due to the biasing force of this elastic member 645, the second base 64 is normally positioned at the front end of its movement range on the third base 65 (i.e., toward the left end in the Y direction (upstream side of the outline arrow Y1) on the third base 65) (position shown in FIG. 4). As the printing means, such as the print head 41, moves, the second base 64 moves from this position, causing the elastic member 645 to stretch. When the force in the stretching direction (i.e., the force in the direction of the arrow Y1 applied to the second base 64 by the movement of the print head 41) is released, the restoring force of the elastic member 645 causes the second base 64 to return to its original position (the position shown in Figure 4). This also eliminates the state in which the side surface 612 of the blocking means 61 abuts against the ejection portion 411 of the print head 41 .

[0046] The control device 90 installed in the printing device 1 is a computer having a control unit 91 (see Figure 2) consisting of a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) not shown, and a memory unit 92 (see Figure 4) consisting of a ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. (neither shown). The control device 90 is mounted on a circuit board (not shown) or the like that is arranged on the inside (bottom side) of the top surface (top board) of the housing 2, for example.

[0047] The storage unit 92 stores various programs and data for operating the printing device 1, such as a print control program for performing print processing. The control unit 91 then expands the program stored in the memory unit 92, for example, into a working area of ​​RAM, and the program is executed by the control unit 91, thereby providing overall control of each part of the printing device 1. The storage unit 92 also stores various data relating to the nail contour and nail shape acquired by the control unit 91. The storage unit 92 may store data such as nail images acquired by the image capturing unit 5, as well as various other data.

[0048] From a functional perspective, the control unit 91 functions as a display control unit, a photography control unit, a nail information detection unit, a print data generation unit, and a print control unit. Note that the functions of the control unit 91 are not limited to those exemplified here. For example, the printing device 1 has a communication unit 25 for communicating with external devices such as various terminal devices, and the control unit 91 can control the operation of this communication unit 25 as a communication control unit and cause communication with the external devices. The functions of the display control means, the photography control means, the nail information detection means, the print data generation means, the print control means, the communication control means, etc. are realized by cooperation between the control unit 91 and the programs stored in the memory unit 92.

[0049] The control unit 91 as a display control means controls the display operation of the display unit 22 . Various displays are made on the display screen of the display unit 22 in accordance with a display instruction signal from the control unit 91. The control unit 91 as an imaging control means controls the imaging unit 5 (camera 51 and light source 52 of the imaging unit 5) to capture an image of the nail (finger including the nail) placed on the finger placement unit 3, thereby obtaining a nail image.

[0050] The control unit 91 as nail information detection means acquires information about the nail (referred to as "nail information") by analyzing the nail image acquired by having the imaging unit 5 take the image. Specifically, based on the nail image acquired by the photographing unit 5, nail information about the fingernail is detected. The nail information acquired by the control unit 91 as nail information detection means is, for example, a nail contour that separates the nail from other parts (skin of the finger, etc.) and defines the nail area. The nail information detected by the control unit 91 as nail information detection means is not limited to the nail contour. For example, it may include the inclination angle of the nail surface relative to the XY plane (nail inclination angle, nail curvature), etc. Furthermore, if the nail height (vertical position of the nail) can be obtained from the nail image captured by the camera 51, the nail height may also be included in the nail information.

[0051] The control unit 91 as a print data generating means generates print data by fitting a desired design to the nail contour as nail information acquired by the nail information detecting means. Specifically, the control unit 91 cuts out image data of the nail design selected by the user, and performs appropriate scaling, positioning adjustment, etc., and fits the image data within the nail contour detected from the nail image. In addition, when the nail curvature, etc. is acquired as the nail information detection means, the control unit 91 may perform appropriate curve correction on the print data based on the nail curvature, etc. When curve correction is performed, print data that better matches the shape of the nail can be generated.

[0052] The control unit 91 as a print control means controls each part of the printing mechanism 4 so that printing is performed on the nails in accordance with the generated print data. Specifically, the control unit 91 outputs a control signal to the printing mechanism 4 based on the printing data, and controls the X-direction movement motor 45, Y-direction movement motor 47, print head 41, etc. of the printing mechanism 4 so as to print on the nails in accordance with the printing data. In this embodiment, the control unit 91 moves the print head 41 to the standby area Ar3 during non-printing operations to put it into a standby state, and performs suction operation using the suction mechanism 6 arranged in the standby area Ar3.

[0053] Next, with reference to FIG. 7 and other figures, the operation and suction method of the printing apparatus including the suction mechanism of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a print control process including a suction operation in this embodiment. To print using the printer 1 in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 7, the power is turned on by operating the operation unit 21 (operation buttons) or the like, and the printer 1 is started (step S1). When printing is completed, the printer 1 ends its operation with the print head 41 moving to the standby area Ar3 and the blocking means 61 covering the discharge portion 411 (this is called the capping state). Therefore, when the power is turned on after the previous printing operation, the print head 41 is in the capping state (capped but not suctioned, for example, the state shown in Figure 5) in the standby area Ar3.

[0054] The control unit 91 determines whether or not to perform the suction operation (step S2). Whether or not to perform the suction operation is determined based on, for example, the time elapsed since the previous printing, the cumulative number of prints up to the present time, the type of ink being used, etc. Alternatively, the device may be set to always perform the suction operation when the power is turned on. When the suction operation is to be performed (step S2; YES), the movement mechanism 42 is operated to move the print head 41 further toward the back of the device from the state in which the discharge portion 411 is capped (for example, the state shown in FIG. 5) (for example, the state shown in FIG. 6, step S3). As a result, a portion of the print head 41, etc., located on the near side in the direction of arrow Y1 (upstream in the movement direction of the print head 41) of the end portion 424 of the carriage 422 that abuts against the abutting member 642 abuts against the first abutting portion 632, pushing the first base 63 in the direction of arrow Y1.

[0055] As a result, the first locking portion 623 of the deformation means 62 moves down so as to move away from the ejection portion 411, and the bottom surface portion 611 in the closing means 61 covering the ejection portion 411 moves down, expanding the volume of the closed space 615. As a result, the pressure in the closed space 615 is reduced and ink and the like adhering to the inside of the nozzles and the like is sucked out. The sucked ink and the like is discharged to the outside of the closing means 61 through the through-holes in the bottom surface portion 611. The discharged ink and the like dries (the solvent evaporates), but a member for receiving the discharged ink and the like may be provided to absorb it.

[0056] The control unit 91 determines whether the suction operation has been completed (step S4). The number of times the suction operation is to be performed may be set in advance. Whether the suction operation has been performed sufficiently may be determined based on, for example, the time elapsed since the previous printing, the cumulative number of prints up to the present time, the type of ink used, etc. If the suction operation is not complete (step S4; NO), the print head 41 is temporarily moved toward the front of the device (step S5). This raises the first locking portion 623 of the deformation means 62, and the bottom portion 611 inside the closing means 61 covering the ejection portion 411 returns to its protruding state, contracting the volume of the closed space 615 (the state shown in FIG. 5). Thereafter, the print head 41 is again moved toward the back of the device, lowering the bottom portion 611 inside the closing means 61, expanding the volume of the closed space 615 (for example, the state shown in FIG. 6, step S6). This again reduces the pressure in the closed space 615, and ink and other substances adhering to the inside of the nozzles and the like are sucked out.

[0057] Then, the process returns to step S4, and steps S5 and S6 are repeated until it is determined that the suction operation is completed. On the other hand, if it is determined that suction operation is not required when the power is turned on (step S2; NO) or if it is determined that suction operation has been completed (step S4; YES), the control unit 91 moves the print head 41 to the printing operation area Ar1 (step S7) and performs the printing process (step S8). The control unit 91 determines whether the printing process has been completed (step S9), and if it has not been completed (step S9; NO), the process returns to step S8 and repeats the process.

[0058] On the other hand, if the printing process is completed (step S9; YES), the control unit 91 determines whether or not to perform a further suction operation (step S10). If the suction operation is not performed (step S10; NO), the print head 41 is moved to the waiting area Ar3 (see Figure 4), and the blocking means 61 is brought into contact with the discharge portion 411 (i.e., the capping state, see Figure 5) (step S11), and the processing is terminated.

[0059] On the other hand, if the suction operation is to be performed (step S10; YES), the print head 41 is moved to the waiting area Ar3 (see Figure 4, step S12), the blocking means 61 is brought into contact with the discharge portion 411 (see Figure 5), and the print head 41 is moved to a position further back in the device than the position where the discharge portion 411 is capped (see Figure 6, step S13). As a result, the deformation means 62 moves downward, pulling down the bottom surface 611 inside the closing means 61, and expanding the volume of the closed space 615. This reduces the pressure inside the closed space 615, and ink adhering to the inside of the nozzles and the like is sucked out. Thereafter, the print head 41 is temporarily moved toward the front of the device (step S14). This causes the first locking portion 623 of the deformation means 62 to rise, and the bottom surface 611 inside the closing means 61 covering the ejection portion 411 returns to a state in which it protrudes inward, and the volume of the closed space 615 contracts (the state shown in FIG. 5).

[0060] The control unit 91 determines whether the suction operation is complete (step S15), and if the suction operation is not complete (step S15; NO), the process returns to step S13 and repeats. On the other hand, if the suction operation is complete (step S15; YES), the control unit 91 stops the print head 41 in the capped state (the state shown in FIG. 5) where the discharge portion 411 of the print head 41 is covered by the blocking means 61, and ends the series of processes.

[0061] This allows the movement of the print head 41 to reduce the pressure inside the closed space 615 that covers the ejection section 411, sucking up ink that has adhered to the area around the nozzles and the ejection section 411, and restoring (refreshing) it to a state without clogging.

[0062] As described above, according to this embodiment, the printing device 1 comprises a print head 41 as a printing means having an ejection section 411 that ejects a liquid agent (ink) onto a surface facing the nail, which is the printing object, during printing; a blocking means 61 that abuts against the ejection section 411 from the side facing the ejection section 411 to cover the ejection section 411 and is capable of forming a blocked space 615 between the ejection section 411; and a deformation means 62 that operates when the print head 41 moves during non-printing operations, and the deformation means 62 is configured to be able to deform the blocking means 61 between at least a first state and a second state in which the volume of the blocked space 615 is expanded more than in the first state. As a result, the movement of the print head 41 when not in printing operation can be used to reduce the pressure in the closed space 615 inside the closing means 61 that covers the discharge portions 411. Therefore, it is possible to perform the ink suction operation with a simple configuration and refresh the nozzles and discharge portions 411 without providing a separate mechanism such as a pump for suctioning ink from the nozzles and discharge portions 411 formed in the print head 41.

[0063] In addition, this embodiment further includes a first base 63 that is movable in accordance with the movement of the print head 41 as printing means, and a second base 64 that movably supports the first base 63, the blocking means 61 is provided on the first base 63, and the deformation means 62 has one end engaged with the blocking means 61 and the other end formed as a first locking portion 623 that is locked to a first guide portion 644 formed on the second base 64, and as the first base 63 moves from the first position, the first locking portion 623 operates by being guided by the first guide portion 644, thereby deforming the blocking means 61 at least between a first state and a second state. This allows the movement of the print head 41 to reduce the pressure in the closed space 615 within the closing means 61 covering the ejection portion 411, thereby allowing the ink or the like to be sucked out, without the need for a separate pump or the like.

[0064] In this embodiment, the first guide portion 644 guides the first locking portion 623 of the deformation means 62 so as to move away from the discharge portion 411 (for example, downward) as the print head 41 as the printing means moves. This makes it possible to reduce the pressure in the closed space 615 within the closing means 61 that covers the discharge portion 411 by utilizing the movement of the print head 41, without providing a separate pump or the like.

[0065] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first base 63 is connected to the second base 64 via an elastic member 633 that expands and contracts in the movement direction of the print head 41 as a printing means, and as the print head 41 moves, the first base 63 moves from the first position, causing the elastic member 633 to expand, and when the force in the expansion direction is released, the restoring force of the elastic member 633 causes the first base 63 to return to the first position. This eliminates the need for the user to manually move the first base 63 after the suction operation has been performed, and the first base 63 can be returned to the first position without the need to provide a separate power source or the like to move the first base 63.

[0066] In addition, in this embodiment, the second base 64 has an abutment member 642 that abuts against the printing means, such as the print head 41 or the carriage 422 on which the print head 41 is mounted, and slides in the direction of movement of the print head 41 as the print head 41 moves, and is assembled to the third base 65, and the second locking portion 646 provided on the second base 64 is guided along the second guide portion 652 provided on the third base 65, causing the second base 64 to rise above the height position in its initial state before the print head 41 abuts against the abutment member 642. This makes it possible to bring the blocking means 61 into contact with the discharge portion 411 by utilizing the movement of the print head 41, without providing a configuration for moving the print head 41 or the like up and down.

[0067] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and that various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0068] For example, in this embodiment, the moving mechanism 42 of the printing mechanism 4 includes a mechanism for moving the print head 41, which is the printing means, in the X and Y directions, but the configuration of the moving mechanism 42 is not limited to this. For example, the printing mechanism 4 may further include a movement mechanism that moves the print head 41, which is the printing means, in the vertical direction (that is, the Z-axis direction in FIG. 1, etc.).

[0069] The configuration for suctioning the nozzles and the ejection parts 411 (refreshing by suction) may be such that the ejection parts 411 of the print head 41 and the blocking means 61 can move relatively close to and away from each other. Therefore, in addition to the configuration of this embodiment in which the suction mechanism 6 moves in the vertical direction relative to the discharge section 411 (print head 41 having the discharge section 411), it is also possible to configure the discharge section 411 (print head 41 having the discharge section 411) to move in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction) relative to the suction mechanism 6.

[0070] For example, FIGS. 8 and 9 show an example in which the discharge part 411 side moves up and down, but the height of the suction mechanism 6a side does not change. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the blocking means 61, the deformation means 62, the first base 63, and the second base 64 constitute the suction mechanism 6a. Note that, except for not having a configuration for moving the blocking means 61 of the suction mechanism 6a in the vertical direction, it is the same as that of this embodiment shown in FIG. 4 and so on, and therefore the same members are given the same reference numerals and their description will be omitted.

[0071] This eliminates the need for a mechanism for pushing up the blocking means 61 to a position where it can contact the discharge portion 411 (such as the configuration provided on the third base 65 in this embodiment, see Figures 4 to 6), and the dimensions of the suction mechanism 6a in the Y direction can be made small and compact.

[0072] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example is given in which the cap member provided in the waiting area Ar3 for protecting the discharge portion 411 from drying, etc., is also used as the blocking means 61 of the suction mechanism 6 (see Figure 3), but the suction mechanism is not limited to this. 10, a suction area Ar4 may be provided between the maintenance area Ar2 and the standby area Ar3, and a suction mechanism 6b may be provided in the suction area Ar4. In this case, a cap member 8 for protecting the discharge part 411 is provided in the standby area Ar3.

[0073] In this case, there is no need to perform a suction operation in the waiting area Ar3, and only capping to protect the discharge part 411 needs to be performed, so that the capping operation can be performed with a simple configuration.

[0074] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example has been given of the printing device 1 being configured to be able to complete the printing process by itself, but the printing device 1 is not limited to the one shown here, and may be one that performs printing processes etc. in conjunction with various external devices, such as terminal devices such as smartphones. When the printing device 1 performs various processes in cooperation with an external device, for example, the process of detecting nail information from a nail image and the process of generating print data may be performed in the external device (for example, a terminal device such as a smartphone). In this case, when the camera 51 of the photographing unit 5 photographs the nail and acquires a nail image (an image of the nail including the finger), the nail image acquired by the photographing unit 5 is sent to the external device via the communication unit 25. Then, the control device of the external device may detect nail information and generate print data, and the generated print data may be sent to the printing device 1. In this case, the printing device 1 only needs to include the printing mechanism 4 and the suction mechanism 6, and the configuration of the printing device 1 can be simplified.

[0075] Furthermore, in this embodiment, an example has been given of a case where the printing device 1 is provided with an operation unit 21 and a display unit 22, but when the printing device 1 performs various processes in cooperation with an external device, the operation unit or display unit of the external device may perform various input operations or display various screens instead, in which case the printing device 1 does not need to be provided with an operation unit 21 or a display unit 22.

[0076] 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. The inventions described in the claims originally attached to this application are as follows. The claim numbers described in the appendix are the same as those of the claims originally attached to this application. [Note] <Claim 1> a printing means having a discharge unit that discharges a liquid agent; a closing means that can form a closed space between the discharge portion and the closing means by contacting the discharge portion from a side facing the discharge portion so as to cover the discharge portion; and a deformation means that operates when the printing means moves during a non-printing operation, and that can deform the closing means so that it is in at least a first state and a second state in which the volume of the closed space is expanded compared to the first state. A printing device characterized by: <Claim 2> a first base that is movable in accordance with the movement of the printing means; a second base that movably supports the first base and has a first guide portion; the blocking means is provided on the first base, the deformation means has one end side that is engaged with the closing means and the other end side that is a first locking portion that is engaged with the first guide portion, and the first locking portion is guided by the first guide portion as the first base moves from the first position, thereby deforming the closing means at least between the first state and the second state. 2. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein: <Claim 3> abutting member that abuts against a part of the printing means and moves the first base in accordance with the movement of the printing means; 3. The printing device according to claim 2, wherein: <Claim 4> the first guide portion guides the first engaging portion of the deformation means so as to move away from the discharge portion as the printing means moves; 4. The printing device according to claim 2 or 3. <Claim 5> the first base is connected to the second base via an elastic member that expands and contracts along the movement direction of the printing means, the first base moves from the first position in accordance with the movement of the printing means, causing the elastic member to expand, and when the force in the expanding direction is released, the first base returns to the first position due to the restoring force of the elastic member; 5. The printing device according to claim 2, wherein the printing device is a printer. <Claim 6> The printing device further includes a movement mechanism capable of moving the printing device in a direction in which the printing device abuts against the closing device. 6. The printing device according to claim 2, wherein the printing device is a printer. <Claim 7> a third base that movably supports the second base and has a second guide portion; the second base includes an abutting member that abuts against the printing means and moves in accordance with the movement of the printing means, and a second locking portion; the second engaging portion is guided along the second guide portion, and thereby the second base is raised above a height position before the printing means abuts against the abutment member. 7. The printing device according to claim 2, wherein the printing device is a printer. <Claim 8> the abutment member has an inclined surface that rises from the upstream side to the downstream side in the movement direction of the printing means, and moves in the movement direction as the printing means moves while abutting against the inclined surface, and is pressed down by the printing means in accordance with the inclination of the inclined surface; 8. The printing device according to claim 7, <Claim 9> a closing step of bringing a closing means into contact with a discharge portion that is provided in the printing means and discharges the liquid agent so as to cover the discharge portion, thereby forming a closed space between the discharge portion and the closing means; a closing member deformation step of deforming the closing means, which is in contact with the ejection portion so as to cover the ejection portion, into at least a first state and a second state in which the volume of the closed space is expanded more than in the first state by moving the printing means during a non-printing operation; A suction method comprising: [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 1 Printing device 4 Printing mechanism 41 Print head 42 Moving mechanism 411 Discharge part 6 Suction mechanism 61 Obstruction means 62 Transformation Methods 63 First Foundation 64 Second Foundation 65 The Third Foundation

Claims

1. a printing means having a discharge unit that discharges a liquid agent; a closing means that can form a closed space between the discharge portion and the closing means by contacting the discharge portion from a side facing the discharge portion so as to cover the discharge portion; a deformation means that operates when the printing means moves during a non-printing operation, and that can deform the closing means so that it is in at least a first state and a second state in which the volume of the closed space is expanded more than in the first state; a first base that is movable in accordance with the movement of the printing means; a second base that movably supports the first base and has a first guide portion; Equipped with the blocking means is provided on the first base, the deformation means has one end side that is engaged with the closing means and the other end side that is a first locking portion that is engaged with the first guide portion, and the first locking portion is guided by the first guide portion as the first base moves from the first position, thereby deforming the closing means at least between the first state and the second state; A printing device characterized by:

2. abutting member that abuts against a part of the printing means and moves the first base in accordance with the movement of the printing means; 2. The printing device according to claim 1.

3. the first guide portion guides the first engaging portion of the deformation portion so as to move away from the discharge portion as the printing portion moves; 3. The printing device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the first base is connected to the second base via an elastic member that expands and contracts along the movement direction of the printing means, the first base moves from the first position in accordance with the movement of the printing means, causing the elastic member to expand, and when the force in the expanding direction is released, the first base returns to the first position due to the restoring force of the elastic member; 4. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the printing device is a printer.

5. The printing device further includes a movement mechanism capable of moving the printing device in a direction in which the printing device abuts against the closing device.

5. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the printing device is a printer.

6. a third base that movably supports the second base and has a second guide portion; the second base includes an abutting member that abuts against the printing means and moves in accordance with the movement of the printing means, and a second locking portion; the second engaging portion is guided along the second guide portion, and thereby the second base is raised above a height position before the printing unit abuts against the abutment member.

6. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the printing device is a printer.

7. the abutment member has an inclined surface that rises from the upstream side to the downstream side in the movement direction of the printing means, and moves in the movement direction as the printing means moves while abutting against the inclined surface, and is pressed down by the printing means in accordance with the inclination of the inclined surface; 7. The printing device according to claim 6.

8. A suction method for a printing device comprising: a first base that is movable in accordance with the movement of a printing means; and a second base that movably supports the first base and has a first guide portion, wherein a blocking means is provided on the first base, and which is capable of suctioning the discharge portion of the printing means, a closing step of contacting the closing means so as to cover the ejection portion provided on the printing means and ejecting the liquid, thereby forming a closed space between the ejection portion and the closing means; a closing member deformation step in which the printing means is moved during a non-printing operation, and the closing means, which is in contact with the ejection portion so as to cover the ejection portion, is deformed by a deformation means into at least a first state and a second state in which the volume of the closed space is expanded more than in the first state; Including, The deformation means has one end side that is engaged with the blocking means and the other end side that is a first engaging portion that is engaged with the first guide portion, and as the first base moves from a first position, the first engaging portion is guided by the first guide portion, thereby deforming the blocking means at least into the first state and the second state.

Images