JP3839712B2 - Color image forming apparatus and color image forming method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus and a color image forming method capable of efficiently using ink stored in each ink tank.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, ink-jet color image forming apparatuses have an increased number of ink tanks for each color, so that most colors can be reproduced, and the reproducibility of formed images is improved. .
[0003]
However, many of the ink jet type color image forming apparatuses use an integrated ink tank in which three or more ink tanks for storing different color inks are integrally formed. In this ink tank, when one of the stored ink colors is exhausted, even if another color ink is present, the whole ink tank including the other color ink is replaced. There was a need.
[0004]
In such a case, it is necessary to discard the ink that can still be used, and the cost is low because the ink is wasted. In addition, the image forming process is forced to be interrupted, and the work efficiency is reduced. There were also inconveniences. Recently, there are ink jet printers that employ ink tanks in which the ink tanks for each color are independent from each other. However, because there is still no ink for any one color, the image forming process has to be interrupted. Inconveniences in terms of work efficiency such as
[0005]
Therefore, as one of the prior arts for solving the above inconvenience, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-329337 discloses that one of the inks stored in the ink tanks of a plurality of colors is out of ink. In such a case, a print recording apparatus and a print recording method are disclosed in which the image data of the color ink that has run out of ink is reproduced using a usable ink other than the color that has run out of ink. Yes.
[0006]
According to this configuration, even when the ink of one color is out of ink in the integrated ink tank, it is possible to use the ink of the other color until the end of the ink, thereby improving the economics of the ink. ing. Further, even when the ink runs out during the image forming process, the image forming process can be continuously performed without interruption, so that the work efficiency is improved. Therefore, it has been said that this configuration can eliminate the disadvantages in economic efficiency and work efficiency.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional configuration including the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-329337, when the ink out of each color ink is not grasped in advance, when forming a plurality of images for the same image data. In some cases, the ink runs out after several images are formed, so that the image formed before and after the ink runs out is different.
[0008]
In addition, after the ink runs out completely for each color, the ink of the color that can be used at that time is substituted, so it is not easy to actually reproduce an image similar to the original image data.
[0009]
An object of the present invention is to provide a color image forming apparatus and a color image forming method capable of providing the economical efficiency of ink and improving the working efficiency and image reproducibility.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has the following configuration.
[0011]
(1) In an ink-jet color image forming apparatus that stores different colors of ink in each ink tank and forms an image by ejecting ink of each color based on predetermined image data.
Remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of ink in each ink tank, and each ink to be used in the image forming process related to the image data based on the ink consumption information including the image data and the number of formed images Necessary amount detecting means for detecting the amount, corrected image data for each ink color in the image data based on detection results by the remaining amount detecting means and the necessary amount detecting means, and the image to be used And an ink use amount adjusting means for adjusting the value of each ink amount.
[0012]
In this configuration, the remaining amount detecting unit detects the remaining amount of ink in each ink tank in the color image forming apparatus, and the necessary amount detecting unit is necessary when performing a predetermined number of image forming processes for predetermined image data. The amount of ink of each color to be detected, and the ink use amount adjusting means determines whether or not there is an ink of a color that may cause ink shortage in the image forming process. In the case where there is an ink of a color that may cause cutting, for example, correction image data that reduces the consumption of the ink is created, and the usage amount of the ink of each color is adjusted.
[0013]
For this reason, it is prevented that ink runs out during the image forming process for a plurality of sheets of the same image data, so that inconveniences such as different images formed before and after the occurrence of ink running are prevented. . In addition, since the corrected image data is created before the ink of any color is completely exhausted, other inks except for the ink that has run out of ink after the ink of a predetermined color has completely run out of ink. The reproducibility of the image formed is improved as compared with the case where the image is formed using the corrected image data for the color ink.
[0014]
(2) An image display means for displaying an image formed based on the corrected image data is provided.
[0015]
In this configuration, when there is an ink of a color that may cause the ink to run out in the image forming process for the predetermined image data, the paper is actually used by the corrected image data created by the ink usage amount adjusting unit. Since what kind of image is formed is displayed in advance on the image display means, the image actually created based on the corrected image data differs from the original image to the extent that it exceeds the allowable range of the user. Is checked before printing.
[0016]
(3) The ink use amount adjusting unit is configured to determine a use amount of ink of a color determined to be insufficient in an image forming process related to the image data based on detection results by the remaining amount detection unit and the necessary amount detection unit. Reduced or not using ink of that color.
[0017]
In this configuration, by generating corrected image data, for example, ink ejected from an ink tank containing only a remaining amount of ink that is less than the amount of ink to be used when printing a predetermined number of predetermined image data. Therefore, the ink tank is prevented from running out of ink during the printing process. Further, for example, in an image forming apparatus equipped with ink tanks of six or more colors, when ink other than the ink discharged from the ink tank can be mixed to reproduce the color of the ink, the ink from the ink tank Thus, ink that has a small remaining amount is saved.
[0018]
(4) A transmission / reception means for allowing the image data to be transmitted / received to / from a predetermined information processing apparatus is provided.
[0019]
In this configuration, since the transmission / reception means enables communication between the image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, it is possible to perform high-level control using a variety of software, for example, in the adjustment of ink usage. In addition, since the number of devices to be provided on the image forming apparatus side is reduced, the configuration of the image forming apparatus is simplified, and the size and cost can be reduced.
[0020]
(5) Ink usage amount for accepting an input operation related to adjustment of the usage amount of each ink within the range of usable amount of each ink determined based on detection results by the remaining amount detection means and the required amount detection means A setting means is provided.
[0021]
In this configuration, the corrected image data created by the ink use amount adjusting means is further arbitrarily corrected within a predetermined range by the user, so that the image in the image forming state desired by the user is formed. Since the corrected image data is adjusted, paper and ink are prevented from being wasted.
[0022]
(6) Ink-jet color image forming apparatus that includes a plurality of ink tanks, stores inks of different colors in each ink tank, and performs image formation by discharging ink of each color based on the supplied image data A color image forming method applied to
A remaining amount detecting step for detecting the remaining amount of ink in each ink tank;
A necessary amount detection step of detecting the amount of each of the inks to be used in the image forming process related to the image data based on the ink consumption information including the image data and the number of formed images;
Based on the detection results in the remaining amount detecting step and the necessary amount detecting step , the corrected image related to the image data is reduced so that the amount of ink used for the color determined to be insufficient in the image forming process related to the image data is reduced. An ink usage adjustment step of creating data and adjusting the value of the amount of each ink to be used;
An ink usage amount setting step for receiving an input operation related to adjustment of the usage amount of each ink within a range of the usable amount of each ink determined based on detection results in the remaining amount detection step and the necessary amount detection step; ,
Image display means for displaying an image according to the value of the amount of each ink after adjustment;
It is characterized by including.
[0023]
In this configuration, the remaining amount of ink in each ink tank of the ink-jet color image forming apparatus is detected in the remaining amount detecting step, and a predetermined number of image forming processes for predetermined image data in the necessary amount detecting step. The amount of ink of each color required when performing the process is detected, and further, in the ink use amount adjustment step, it is determined whether there is an ink of a color that may cause ink shortage in the image forming process. If there is a color ink that may cause ink shortage, for example, corrected image data that reduces the ink consumption is created and the amount of ink used is adjusted. Is done.
[0024]
For this reason, the occurrence of running out of ink or the like during the image forming process for a plurality of sheets of the same image data is prevented, so that inconveniences such as different images formed before and after the occurrence of running out of ink or the like are prevented. Is done. Further, since the corrected image data is created before the ink of any color is completely exhausted, the ink other than the ink that has run out of ink after the ink of the predetermined color has run out of ink. The reproducibility of the image formed is improved as compared with the case where the corrected image data is used.
[0025]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a color image forming apparatus and a color image forming method of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0026]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the image forming apparatus 1 includes a CPU 15, a memory 16, an ink usage amount setting unit 11, a remaining amount detection unit 12, a necessary amount detection unit 13, an ink usage amount adjustment unit 14, and a driver 17 (17a, 17b). ), An image display means 18, an ink carriage 19 on which the integrated ink tank 5 is mounted, and an interface section 20a as a transmission / reception means.
[0027]
The ink usage amount setting unit 11 is configured by an operation panel or the like, and finely adjusts the corrected image data displayed on the image display unit 18 within a predetermined range, or the correction displayed on the image display unit 18. This is used for input for selecting arbitrary corrected image data from variations of image data.
[0028]
The remaining amount detecting means 12 is configured by a sensor or the like for detecting the amount of ink stored in each ink tank of the integrated ink tank 5. In this embodiment, a method of physically detecting with an optical sensor is adopted. However, in addition to this detection method, a method of directly detecting an ink remaining amount by electrically detecting a change in inductance with a magnetic circuit. Alternatively, a method of counting the number of print dots and subtracting the value converted into the used ink amount from the initial ink amount and detecting it indirectly may be used.
[0029]
The necessary amount detection means 13 determines the amount of ink of each color necessary for printing the set number of image data according to the component of each color and the number of prints in the image data to be printed stored in the memory 16. To detect.
[0030]
The ink use amount adjusting unit 14 is configured to print at least one of the ink amounts of the respective colors detected by the remaining amount detecting unit 12 for the set number of image data to be printed detected by the necessary amount detecting unit 13. When the amount of ink is less than the required amount, corrected image data is created by correcting each color component of the image data.
[0031]
The memory 16 is composed of a ROM area 4 and a RAM area 3. In this embodiment, the memory 16 mainly serves to store image data to be printed. The RAM area 3 is used when storing the image data. In FIG. 2, predetermined image data is divided into cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) components and stored.
[0032]
The image display means 18 is a liquid crystal display or the like, and displays a predetermined image for the user. In the present embodiment, the ink usage amount setting means 11 and the image display means 18 are provided separately. For example, the ink usage amount setting means can be realized by using a pen tablet type liquid crystal display as the image display means 18. 11 and the image display means 18 can be configured integrally.
[0033]
The ink carriage 19 has a three-color integrated ink tank 5 and scans in the main scanning direction to form a predetermined image on a sheet based on the image data. The integrated ink tank 5 mounted on the ink carriage 19 is not particularly limited to the three-color integrated type, and it is possible to mount six-color or seven-color multi-color ink tanks. An independent ink tank having a configuration in which the ink tanks are independent from each other may be mounted.
[0034]
The driver 17a and the driver 17b serve to drive the image display means 18 and the ink carriage 19, respectively. The interface unit 20a is an interface for transmitting and receiving predetermined data between the image forming apparatus 1 and the information processing apparatus 2 such as a personal computer. Then, the CPU 15 controls the above-described components in an integrated manner.
[0035]
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the image forming process of the present invention.
[0036]
When the image forming apparatus 1 receives predetermined image data from the information processing apparatus 2 or the like, the CPU 15 stores the image data in the RAM area of the memory 16 for each component of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). 3 (s101). When the image data to be printed is stored, the CPU 15 causes the required amount detection means 13 to set the amount of ink required for printing the image data, that is, the ink consumption amount to cyan (C), magenta (M), and Detection is performed for each color of yellow (Y) (s102). At this time, the number of prints and the print mode set by the user are taken into consideration.
[0037]
At the same time, the CPU 15 causes the remaining amount detecting means 12 to detect the remaining amount of ink in the ink tank for each color of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) (s103).
[0038]
Thereafter, the CPU 15 compares the detection result of the remaining amount detection unit 12 with the detection result of the necessary amount detection unit 13 to determine whether there is ink that may cause ink shortage in printing related to the image data. (S104).
[0039]
If it is determined in this determination (s104) that no ink runs out in any of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), the driver 17b for driving the ink carriage 19 is controlled. Then, a predetermined printing process is performed (s105).
[0040]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step s104 whether there is ink that may run out of ink, it is determined that at least one color has run out of ink. The user is inquired about whether to create data (s106).
[0041]
At this time, if the user does not want to replace with the corrected image data, such as when strict reproducibility of the image data is required, the image forming process is terminated as it is. On the other hand, when the user desires to create corrected image data, for example, when strict reproducibility of the image data is not required, the CPU 15 causes the ink use amount adjusting unit 14 to create corrected image data (s107). .
[0042]
Here, FIG. 3 shows an example of ink use amount adjustment data held by the ink use amount adjusting means 14. As shown in the figure, when a command from the CPU 15 is input, the ink use amount adjusting unit 14 corrects image data relating to ink of a color causing the ink out of the original image data, and the image data In the printing process, the amount of ink used for each color is adjusted so that the ink does not run out. Specifically, if a predetermined number of original image data shown in FIG. 3A is printed, if cyan ink runs out of ink, use cyan ink by reducing the cyan component in the original image data. The amount is reduced to prevent the ink from running out of the cyan ink during the printing operation.
[0043]
Here, since the created corrected image data may have a slightly different image image compared to the original image data, the CPU 15 causes the image display means 18 to display the image image of the corrected image data, (S108) The user is inquired whether the corrected image data is acceptable (s109).
[0044]
Here, when the difference between the image image based on the corrected image data and the original image image is within an allowable range for the user, and the user agrees with the content of the corrected image data, the CPU 15 moves the ink carriage 19. The driver 17b to be driven is controlled to perform a predetermined printing process for the corrected image data (s105).
[0045]
On the other hand, when the user desires further correction of the corrected image data, the user can adjust the ink usage amount manually by using the ink usage amount setting means 11. At this time, the CPU 15 causes the image display means 18 to display the image image, the remaining ink amount, and the ink usage amount as shown in FIG. 3C (s110).
[0046]
The user can set an arbitrary ink usage amount within the range of the allowable ink usage amount for each color ink. Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the user can confirm an image corresponding to the ink usage amount in real time (s111).
[0047]
When corrected image data for generating an image in an image forming state desired by the user is generated in this way, the CPU 15 prepares for the printing process for the corrected image data (s112), and before printing. An image image of the correction data is displayed on the image display means, and after obtaining the final confirmation of the user, the driver 17b that drives the ink carriage 19 is controlled to perform a predetermined print process for the correction image data. (S105).
[0048]
In this embodiment, when the user is not satisfied with the image formed by the corrected image data initially created by the ink use amount adjusting unit 14, the user manually operates using the ink use amount setting unit 11. The corrected image data is created, but the ink use amount adjusting unit 14 creates a variation of the corrected image data in advance and presents the image image formed by the variation of the corrected image data to the user. It is also possible to select one of the variations of the corrected image data.
[0049]
At this time, as one of the variations of the corrected image data, as shown in FIG. 3D, the ink usage amounts of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) were reduced at the same rate. It is preferable to include corrected image data. This is because according to the corrected image data, it is possible to form a highly reproducible image image that differs from the original image image only in density.
[0050]
Further, the configuration of any one of the ink usage amount setting unit 11, the remaining amount detection unit 12, the necessary amount detection unit 13, the ink usage amount adjustment unit 14, and the image display unit 18 is configured as the image forming apparatus 1 and the interface unit. 20 (20a, 20b) can be provided in the information processing apparatus 2 connected thereto, or the information processing apparatus 2 can perform processing similar to any of the above processing using software. As a result, the configuration of the image forming apparatus is simplified, and the image forming apparatus 1 can be made compact and inexpensive.
[0051]
In this embodiment, the three-color integrated ink tank 5 is used. In particular, by using the color image forming method of the present invention for such an integrated ink tank, it is possible to improve the economical efficiency and work efficiency of the ink. Improvements can be made. Even when the ink tank is used for a stand-alone ink tank, it is not necessary to replace the ink tank in the middle of the printing operation, so that the work efficiency can be improved. Furthermore, even when the color image forming method of the present invention is applied to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that can replenish the developer in the developer container, Since it is not necessary to replace the developer container, the working efficiency can be improved.
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
[0053]
(1) The remaining amount detecting unit detects the remaining amount of ink in each ink tank in the color image forming apparatus, and the necessary amount detecting unit is required when performing a predetermined number of image forming processes for predetermined image data. In addition, the ink use amount adjusting means determines whether or not there is an ink of a color that may cause the ink to run out in the image forming process. If there is a color ink that may be generated, for example, correction image data that reduces the consumption of the ink is created and the amount of ink used for each color is adjusted. As a result, it is possible to prevent the ink from running out in the middle of the image forming process for a plurality of sheets, thus preventing the inconvenience that the images formed before and after the ink running out are different. It can be. In addition, since the corrected image data is created before the ink of any color is completely exhausted, other inks except for the ink that has run out of ink after the ink of a predetermined color has completely run out of ink. The reproducibility of the image formed can be improved as compared with the case where the image is formed using the corrected image data for the color ink.
[0054]
(2) An image display means for displaying an image formed based on the corrected image data is provided.
[0055]
In this configuration, when there is an ink of a color that may cause the ink to run out in the image forming process for the predetermined image data, the paper is actually used by the corrected image data created by the ink usage amount adjusting unit. Since what kind of image is formed is displayed in advance on the image display means, the image actually created based on the corrected image data differs from the original image to the extent that it exceeds the allowable range of the user. It can be confirmed before printing.
[0056]
(3) By generating corrected image data, for example, the amount of ink ejected from an ink tank that contains only a remaining amount of ink that is less than the amount of ink to be used when printing a predetermined number of predetermined image data Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ink tank from running out of ink during the printing process. Further, for example, in an image forming apparatus equipped with ink tanks of six or more colors, when ink other than the ink discharged from the ink tank can be mixed to reproduce the color of the ink, the ink from the ink tank Thus, it is possible to save ink having a small remaining amount.
[0057]
(4) Since the transmission / reception means enables communication between the image forming apparatus and an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer, for example, it is possible to perform high-level control using a variety of software in adjusting the ink usage amount. Since the number of devices to be provided on the image forming apparatus side is reduced, the configuration of the image forming apparatus is simplified, and the size and cost can be reduced.
[0058]
(5) Since the corrected image data created by the ink usage amount adjusting means is further arbitrarily corrected within a predetermined range by the user, the corrected image is formed so that an image in an image forming state desired by the user is formed. Since data can be adjusted, paper and ink can be prevented from being wasted.
[0059]
(6) In the remaining amount detecting step, the remaining amount of ink in each ink tank of the ink jet type color image forming apparatus is detected, and in the necessary amount detecting step, a predetermined number of image forming processes are performed for predetermined image data. The amount of ink of each color required at the time is detected, and further, in the ink usage adjustment step, it is determined whether or not there is an ink of a color that may cause the ink to run out in the image forming process. In the case where there is an ink of a color that may cause the ink to run out, for example, by adjusting the amount of ink used by creating corrected image data that reduces the amount of ink consumed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of running out of ink in the middle of a plurality of image forming processes for the same image data, and before and after the occurrence of running out of ink. Can image Oite formed to prevent the inconvenience different occurs. Further, since the corrected image data is created before the ink of any color is completely exhausted, the ink other than the ink that has run out of ink after the ink of the predetermined color has run out of ink. The reproducibility of the image formed can be improved as compared with the case where the corrected image data is used.
[0060]
Therefore, it is possible to provide a color image forming apparatus and a color image forming method that can provide the economics of ink, and can achieve work efficiency and image reproducibility.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing image forming processing of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of ink use amount adjustment data according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1-image forming apparatus 2-information processing apparatus 5-integrated ink tank 11-ink usage amount setting means 12-remaining amount detection means 13-necessary amount detection means 14-ink usage amount adjustment means 15-CPU
16-memory 17 (17a, 17b) -driver 18-image display means 19-ink carriage 20 (20a, 20b) -interface unit

Claims (4)

In an inkjet color image forming apparatus that includes a plurality of ink tanks, stores inks of different colors in each ink tank, and performs image formation by discharging ink of each color based on supplied image data.
A remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of ink in each ink tank;
Necessary amount detecting means for detecting the amount of each of the inks to be used in the image forming process related to the image data based on the ink consumption information including the image data and the number of formed images;
Based on the detection results of the remaining amount detection unit and the necessary amount detection unit , the corrected image related to the image data is reduced so that the amount of ink used for the color determined to be insufficient in the image forming process related to the image data is reduced. Ink use amount adjusting means for generating data and adjusting the value of the amount of each ink to be used;
An ink usage amount setting means for receiving an input operation relating to adjustment of the usage amount of each ink within a range of the usable amount of each ink determined based on a detection result by the remaining amount detection means and the required amount detection means; ,
Image display means for displaying an image according to the value of the amount of each ink after adjustment;
A color image forming apparatus comprising: The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission / reception unit that allows the image data to be transmitted / received to / from a predetermined information processing apparatus. Inquiries to the user as to whether or not the correction image data needs to be created by the ink usage adjustment means, and further includes means for causing the ink usage adjustment means to create correction image data only when the user desires to create correction image data. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color image forming apparatus is a color image forming apparatus. Applied to an ink-jet color image forming apparatus that includes a plurality of ink tanks, stores inks of different colors in each ink tank, and discharges ink of each color based on supplied image data to form an image. A color image forming method comprising:
A remaining amount detecting step for detecting the remaining amount of ink in each ink tank;
A necessary amount detection step of detecting the amount of each of the inks to be used in the image forming process related to the image data based on the ink consumption information including the image data and the number of formed images;
Based on the detection results in the remaining amount detecting step and the necessary amount detecting step , the corrected image related to the image data is reduced so that the amount of ink used for the color determined to be insufficient in the image forming process related to the image data is reduced. An ink usage adjustment step of creating data and adjusting the value of the amount of each ink to be used;
An ink usage amount setting step for receiving an input operation related to adjustment of the usage amount of each ink within a range of the usable amount of each ink determined based on detection results in the remaining amount detection step and the necessary amount detection step; ,
Image display means for displaying an image according to the value of the amount of each ink after adjustment;
A color image forming method comprising:

Images