Nail Print Apparatus Using Pen-Type Drawing Tool
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional nail print apparatuses using inkjet systems face limitations in printing with inks having large particle diameters, such as gold, silver, and white ink, due to nozzle clogging and the inability to handle viscous inks, resulting in light, dull, and unthickened finishes, and require manual application of white base coats, leading to unevenness and uncoated areas.
Innovation Solution
A nail print apparatus with a drawing head that includes pens with tips capable of moving in three dimensions to accommodate the curved surface of nails, allowing for the use of various ink types, including those with large particle diameters, and enabling the application of designs without a white base coat, using a system that includes a drawing unit with a pen carriage and solenoids for precise ink application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If an inkjet type print head is used, then printing can be performed, but the nozzle becomes clogged with ink having large particle diameter and viscous ink cannot be ejected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the inkjet printing system with a pen-type drawing tool that uses capillary action and gravity to deliver ink. This mechanical substitution eliminates the nozzle clogging problem inherent in inkjet systems, allowing the use of viscous inks with large particle diameters such as gold, silver, and white inks that cannot be handled by conventional inkjet technology.
2Reliability
If only ink with small particle diameter is used, then the nozzle can function properly, but the color is light and dull without thickness feeling
Solution Approach 1:
By substituting the inkjet delivery mechanism with a pen-type system, the patent enables the use of inks with large particle diameters that provide rich, thick, and vibrant colors. The pen mechanism allows viscous inks with larger particles to be applied without clogging, achieving the desired color depth and thickness feeling that small-particle inks cannot provide.
3Adaptability or versatility
If white base coat is applied manually, then the nail design can be achieved, but the work becomes troublesome and the finish is uneven with uncoated areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the base coat application and design drawing functions into a single integrated pen-type device. This combination eliminates the need for separate manual base coat application, ensuring uniform coverage without uncoated areas while simplifying the overall operation to a single drawing process that completes both base coat and design elements.
4Device complexity
If the drawing tool tip is fixed, then the structure is simple, but the curved surface of the nail cannot be properly accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic movement capability to the pen-type drawing tool, allowing the tip to move in three dimensions to accommodate the curved nail surface. This dynamic adjustment enables precise contact with the nail surface regardless of curvature, improving surface coverage accuracy while maintaining relatively simple tool structure through controlled degrees of freedom.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus achieves varied and beautiful nail prints with thick, shiny finishes, similar to salon-quality designs, by allowing the use of diverse ink types and eliminating the need for manual base coat application, ensuring even coverage and preventing uncoated areas.
Implementation Method 1
a drawing head in which at least one drawing tool is set, the drawing tool having a tip portion that contacts with a surface of the drawing target and performs drawing on the surface of the drawing target
Data Source
AI summary
A nail print apparatus, including: a placement surface on which a drawing target is placed, the drawing target has a curved shape along a width direction of the drawing target; a drawing head in which at least one drawing tool is set, the drawing tool having a tip portion that contacts with a surface of the drawing target and performs drawing on the surface of the drawing target; and a head drive unit which moves the drawing head along the placement surface.