DRAWING APPARATUS AND DRAWING METHOD FOR DRAWING APPARATUS

• US 20170071314A1
• Filed: 09/16/2016
• Published: 03/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Casio Computer Company Limited
• Inventors: IRIE, Tamotsu
• Granted Patent: US 9,894,979 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2029/005 Printing or stamping devices for applying images or ornaments to nails
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 29/22 Finger-supports
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/00222 Controlling the convection means
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/00224 comprising movable shutters, e.g. for redirection of an air flow
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/01 Ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/407 for marking on special material
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/004 Nozzle assemblies; Air knives; Air distributors; Blow boxes F26B3/082, F26B13/104, F26B13/108, F26B21/006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/10 Temperature; Pressure F26B23/026 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 21/12 Velocity of flow; Quantity of flow , e.g. by varying fan speed, by modifying cross flow area F26B21/004 takes precedence; changing air flow pattern F26B21/022
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 3/04 the gas or vapour circulating over or surrounding the materials or objects to be dried F26B3/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 9/003 Small self-contained devices, e.g. portable
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 9/06 in stationary drums or chambers

Abstract

A drawing apparatus and a drawing method for a drawing apparatus whereby only an amount of drying necessary to dry the ink can be efficiently performed, and both high-definition drawing and expedited drawing processing can be realized.

The drawing apparatus includes a drawing unit 40 that performs a drawing on a surface of a nail T by applying ink to the surface of the nail T, and a fan 92; a drying unit 90 that performs a drying operation for drying the ink applied to the surface of the nail T; a drying condition determination portion 813 that determines a drying condition for the drying unit 90; and a drying control portion 814 that controls the drying operation of the drying unit 90 in accordance with a determination by the drying condition determination portion 813.

Claims

1. A drawing apparatus comprising:

a drawing unit that performs a drawing on at least one nail of a finger or toe by applying a liquid material to the nail;

a dryer that performs a drying operation for drying the liquid material that has been applied to the nail; and

a processor that determines a drying condition for the dryer and controls the drying operation of the dryer in accordance with the determination of the drying condition.

2. The drawing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the processor determines the drying condition in accordance with an application range where the liquid material is to be applied to the drawing object.

3. The drawing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the processor determines the drying condition in accordance with an amount of the liquid material that is to be applied to the drawing object.

4. The drawing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the drawing unit comprises an ink jet drawing portion that discharges and lands the liquid material on the nail; and

the processor determines the drying condition in accordance with a distribution state of effective dots where discharging of the liquid material from the ink jet drawing portion is to be performed.

5. The drawing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the processor determines the drying condition in accordance with an area of the nail.

6. The drawing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the processor determines the drying condition in accordance with an ease of drying based on a type of the liquid material.

7. The drawing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the dryer comprises a fan, and a wind direction adjusting unit that adjusts a direction of wind generated by the fan; and

the processor controls the wind direction adjusting unit so as to change a range across which the wind generated by the fan is spread, in accordance with the drying condition.

8. The drawing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the dryer comprises a fan; and

the processor controls the fan provided in the dryer so as to change time of the drying operation by the dryer, in accordance with the drying condition.

9. The drawing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the dryer further comprises a heater; and

the processor controls the heater so as to change a temperature at a time of the drying operation by the dryer, in accordance with the drying condition.

10. The drawing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the dryer comprises a fan; and

the processor controls the fan provided in the dryer so as to change an air flow at a time of the drying operation by the dryer, in accordance with the drying condition.

11. A drawing method for a drawing apparatus, the drawing apparatus comprising:

a drawing unit that performs a drawing on at least one nail of a finger or toe by applying a liquid material to the nail; and

a dryer that performs a drying operation for drying the liquid material applied to the nail;

the drawing method comprising;

determining a drying condition for the dryer before drawing by the drawing unit; and

controlling the drying operation of the dryer in accordance with the determination of the drying condition.

12. The drawing method for a drawing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

the drying condition is determined in accordance with an application range where the liquid material is to be applied to the nail.

13. The drawing method for a drawing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

the drying condition is determined in accordance with an amount of the liquid material that is to be applied to the nail.

14. The drawing method for a drawing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

the drawing unit comprises an ink jet drawing portion that discharges and lands the liquid material on the nail; and

the drying condition is determined in accordance with a distribution state of effective dots where the liquid material from the ink jet drawing portion has been discharged

15. The drawing method for a drawing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

the drying condition is determined in accordance with an area of the nail.

16. The drawing method for a drawing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

the drying condition is determined in accordance with an ease of drying based on a type of the liquid material.

17. The drawing method for a drawing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

the dryer comprises a fan, and a wind direction adjusting unit that adjusts a direction of wind generated by the fan; and

the wind direction adjusting unit is controlled so as to change a range across which the wind generated by the fan is spread, in accordance with the drying condition.

18. The drawing method for a drawing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

the dryer comprises a fan; and

the fan provided in the dryer is controlled so as to change time of the drying operation by the dryer, in accordance with the drying condition.

19. The drawing method for a drawing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

the dryer further comprises a heater; and

the heater is controlled so as to change a temperature at a time of the drying operation by the dryer, in accordance with the drying condition.

20. The drawing method for a drawing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein:

the dryer comprises a fan; and

the fan provided in the dryer is controlled so as to change an air flow at a time of the drying operation by the dryer, in accordance with the drying condition.