JP5821374B2 - Image forming apparatus and image forming program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a white fluorescent toner that absorbs ultraviolet rays and emits white light, and an image forming apparatus that forms an image using a color toner.

  Conventionally, when a color fluorescent image is formed on a recording medium, red (R), green (G), and blue (B) fluorescent toners are used. These fluorescent toners emit light of R color, G color, and B color, respectively, when irradiated with ultraviolet rays. In Patent Document 1, an image of a desired fluorescent color is obtained by using these R, G, and B fluorescent toners and cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) color toners. A forming technique is disclosed.

  However, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, in order to form a fluorescent color image, development including each of R color, G color, and B color fluorescent toner and C color, M color, and Y color toners is performed. A device is required. As a result, the image forming apparatus needs to have a total of six developing devices, and there is a problem that many parts are consumed.

In order to solve the above-described problems, an image is formed using a white fluorescent toner that absorbs ultraviolet rays and emits white light and one or more of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black toners. A color toner adhesion amount determining unit for determining an adhesion amount of the color toner to be adhered to form an image based on image information; and a white fluorescent toner adhesion unit for adhering the white fluorescent toner to a recording medium. When the white phosphor in the not in contact with the recording medium surface of said deposited by the toner attachment means white white fluorescent toner layer formed by the fluorescent toner, the adhesion amount of which is determined by the color toner adhesion amount determination means a color toner attachment means for attaching the color toner was determined by the color toner adhesion amount determination means, a predetermined color of the color toner of the color toner White fluorescent toner adhesion amount determining means for determining the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount to be adhered to the recording medium based on the adhesion amount of the white fluorescent toner, and the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount determination means The amount is determined so as to increase as the adhesion amount increases and decrease as the adhesion amount decreases according to the adhesion amount of the predetermined color toner, and the white fluorescent toner adhesion means The white fluorescent toner of the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount determined by the fluorescent toner adhesion amount determining means is adhered .

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image for forming an image using a white fluorescent toner that absorbs ultraviolet rays and emits white light and one or more color toners of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. An image forming program executed by a forming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus determines a color toner adhesion amount determining step for determining an adhesion amount of the color toner to be adhered to form an image based on image information, and the white color A white fluorescent toner adhering step for adhering the fluorescent toner to the recording medium; and a surface of the white fluorescent toner layer formed by the white fluorescent toner adhering in the white fluorescent toner adhering step that is not in contact with the recording medium. a color toner adhesion step of adhering the color toner adhesion amount determined by the toner adhesion amount determination process, determined in the color toner adhesion amount determination step A white fluorescent toner adhesion amount determining step for determining a white fluorescent toner adhesion amount to be adhered to the recording medium based on the adhesion amount of a predetermined color toner of the color toners. The white fluorescent toner adhesion amount determining step increases the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount according to the adhesion amount of the predetermined color toner when the adhesion amount increases and decreases when the adhesion amount decreases. The white fluorescent toner adhesion step is characterized in that the white fluorescent toner of the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount determined by the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount determining means is adhered .

  According to the present invention, since the color toner is attached to the surface of the white fluorescent toner layer formed by the white fluorescent toner attached to the recording medium that is not in contact with the recording medium, the fluorescent light of R color, G color, and B color is used. There is no need to use toner, and a desired fluorescent image can be formed with a small number of developing devices.

2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of a control unit of the image forming apparatus. FIG. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a cross section of a toner layer formed on a recording medium. It is a hardware block diagram of information processing apparatus. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of a control unit of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a figure which shows the relationship between color toner adhesion amount and white fluorescent toner adhesion amount. It is a functional lineblock diagram of an information processor. It is an example of the screen used as the interface for inputting fluorescence area information. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating fluorescence area | region information. It is a processing flow figure showing an outline of processing of an information processor. FIG. 6 is a process flow diagram illustrating an overview of processing of the image forming apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11.

<< Hardware Configuration of Embodiment >>
The hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment and the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 2 that transmits various types of information to the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. FIG. 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the control unit of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a cross section of the toner layer formed on the recording medium. FIG. 4 is a hardware configuration diagram of the information processing apparatus 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a control unit, a printer unit 12, a paper feeding unit 13, a scanner unit 14, and a paper discharge unit 15.

  First, the hardware configuration of the control unit of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The control unit includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103, an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 104, an HD (Hard Disk) 105, a network I / F (Interface). 106, an operation panel 107, and a bus line 108.

  The CPU 101 executes a program. The ROM 102 stores information on the system startup program. The RAM 103 is used as a work area where the CPU 101 executes a program. The HDD 104 controls reading or writing of various data with respect to the HD 105. The HD 105 is a storage device that stores data, and can be replaced with an external storage device such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory), a CD-R (Compact Disc Recordable), or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc). The network I / F 106 is for transmitting / receiving various information to / from an external device such as the information processing apparatus 2, and the operation panel 107 is for receiving an operation input from the user. The bus line 108 is for connecting the above parts.

  The program stored in the ROM 102 is configured so as to be recorded and provided on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, CD-R, or DVD as an installable or executable file. Also good.

  Here, referring back to FIG. 1, the hardware configuration of the printer unit 12 will be described.

  The printer unit 12 includes a cartridge 121, a photosensitive drum 122, a charging unit 123, a developing unit 124, an intermediate transfer belt 125, a secondary transfer roller 126, a fixing unit 127, and the like. The fixing unit 127 includes a pressure roller 1271, a fixing belt 1272, and the like.

  The cartridge 121 contains cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), black (K) color toner, and white fluorescent (WF) toner. Have five cartridges 121C, 121M, 121Y, 121K, and 121WF. In the following, an arbitrary cartridge among the cartridges 121C, 121M, 121Y, 121K, and 121WF is indicated as “cartridge 121”.

  The white fluorescent toner used in the present embodiment is colorless and transparent under normal illumination, and is a fluorescent toner that emits white light when irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Red (R), green (G), and blue (B ) Produced by mixing colored fluorescent toners.

  The surface of the photosensitive drum 122 is uniformly charged by the charging unit 123, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface based on image information received from the control unit. Further, the image is formed on the photosensitive drum 122 when the developing unit 124 attaches toner to the surface on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. The photoconductive drum 122 has five photoconductive drums 122C, 122M, 122Y, 122K, and 122WF corresponding to the types of toners of C color, M color, Y color, K color, and WF. In the following, an arbitrary photosensitive drum among the photosensitive drums 122C, 122M, 122Y, 122K, and 122WF is indicated as “photosensitive drum 122”.

  The charging unit 123 is based on the color toner adhesion amount determined by the color toner adhesion amount determination unit 112 and the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount determined by the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount determination unit 114 of the control unit, which will be described later. The surface of the photosensitive drum 122 is charged by applying a voltage in contact with 122. The charging unit 123 includes five charging units 123C, 123M, 123Y, 123K, and 123WF corresponding to the types of toners of C color, M color, Y color, K color, and WF. In the following, an arbitrary charging unit among the charging units 123C, 123M, 123Y, 123K, and 123WF is indicated as “charging unit 123”.

  The developing unit 124 forms an image on the surface of each photoconductive drum 122 by attaching the toner in the cartridge 121 to the photoconductive drum 122 charged by the charging unit 123. The developing unit 124 includes five developing units 124C, 124M, 124Y, 124K, and 124WF corresponding to the types of toners of C color, M color, Y color, K color, and WF. In the following, an arbitrary charging portion among the developing portions 124C, 124M, 124Y, 124K, and 124WF is indicated as “developing portion 124”.

  In this embodiment, since the fluorescent color is perceived by the human eye when irradiated with ultraviolet light, the image forming apparatus 1 attaches WF toner between the color toner and the recording medium as shown in FIG. Let For this purpose, the cartridge 121WF, the photosensitive drum 122WF, the charging unit 123WF, and the developing unit 124WF are arranged on the most downstream side with respect to the conveyance direction of the intermediate transfer belt.

  Here, since the fluorescent color is perceived by human eyes when irradiated with ultraviolet light, the image forming apparatus 1 attaches white fluorescent toner to the recording medium and the white fluorescent toner layer formed by the white fluorescent toner. The reason for attaching the color toner to the surface not in contact with the recording medium will be described. In the following description, it is assumed that a layer made of WF toner is formed in the lower layer on the recording medium and a layer made of C color toner is formed in the upper layer as shown in the cross section of FIG. When an image having such a toner layer cross section is irradiated with ultraviolet light, the ultraviolet light passes through the upper C color toner and enters the lower WF toner. When ultraviolet light is incident on a layer formed of WF toner, the WF toner emits white light. The emitted light is emitted in all directions, and the light emitted in the upper layer is transmitted and absorbed by the upper C color toner. As a result, the C color is perceived by the human eye. Furthermore, the light emission from the lower layer of the C color toner affects the human eye so that the C color appears to be emitted. In this way, a color that appears to emit light to the human eye by irradiating with ultraviolet illumination is called a fluorescent color.

  Here, it has been described that the layer of C color toner is formed. However, when the layer is formed of M color toner, it appears to human eyes that M color is emitted. Further, when the layer is formed of Y color toner, it seems that the Y color emits light to human eyes. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 forms a layer made of WF toner under a layer formed of color toner.

  The intermediate transfer belt 125 is conveyed while being in contact with the photosensitive drum 122, whereby an image is formed on the surface thereof. Further, after an image is formed on the surface, the image is transferred to a recording medium.

  The secondary transfer roller 126 transfers the image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 125 to the recording medium by sandwiching the recording medium conveyed from the paper feeding unit 13 described later between the intermediate transfer belt 125 and the image. The recording medium on which is formed is sent to the fixing unit 127.

  The fixing unit 127 fixes the image on the recording medium sent from the secondary transfer roller 126, and includes a pressure roller 1271, a fixing belt 1272, and the like. The pressure roller 1271 presses the recording medium between the fixing belt 1272 (described later) and applies heat to fix the image on the recording medium. The fixing belt 1272 fixes the image on the recording medium by pressing the recording medium with the pressure roller 1271.

  The printer unit 12 is an example of a color toner attaching unit and a white fluorescent toner attaching unit.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the sheet feeding unit 13 will be described.

  The paper feed unit 13 supplies a recording medium such as paper to the printer unit 12, and includes a paper feed tray 131, a paper feed roller 132, and a registration roller 133.

  The paper feed tray 131 accommodates a recording medium such as paper. The paper feed roller 132 takes out the recording medium stored in the paper feed tray 131 and inserts it into the registration roller 133. The registration roller 133 feeds the recording medium inserted by the paper feed roller 132 between the intermediate transfer belt 125 and the secondary transfer roller 126.

  The scanner unit 14 reads image information written on paper or the like, and includes a contact glass 141 and a reading sensor 142. The contact glass 141 is for placing a sheet on which an image is written. The reading sensor 142 reads image information written on a sheet placed on the contact glass 141.

  The paper discharge unit 15 discharges the recording medium on which an image has been formed by the printer unit 12 and stores the discharged recording medium.

  Next, the hardware configuration of the information processing apparatus 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The information processing apparatus 2 includes a CPU 201 that controls the operation of the entire information processing apparatus 2, a ROM 202 that stores an information processing program, a RAM 203 that is used as a work area for the CPU 201, an HD 204 that stores various data, and an HD 204 that is controlled by the CPU 201. Various information such as an HDD 205 that controls reading or writing of various data, a media drive 207 that controls reading or writing of data to a recording medium 206 such as a flash memory, and various information such as a cursor, menu, window, character, or image are displayed on the display. Display I / F 208, network I / F 209 for transmitting data using a communication network, keyboard having a plurality of keys for inputting characters, numerical values, various instructions, etc. A keyboard I / F 211 for controlling, a mouse I / F 212 for controlling a mouse for selecting and executing various instructions, selecting a processing target, moving a cursor, and the like, and a CD-ROM 213 as an example of a removable recording medium A CD-ROM drive 214 for controlling the reading or writing of data to and from the above, and a bus line 210 such as an address bus and a data bus for electrically connecting the above-described components as shown in FIG. ing.

  The information processing program is a file in an installable or executable format, and may be recorded and distributed on a computer-readable recording medium such as the recording medium 206 or CD-ROM 213. .

<< Functional Configuration of Embodiment >>
Subsequently, the functional configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a functional configuration diagram of the control unit of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the color toner adhesion amount and the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount. FIG. 7 is a functional configuration diagram of the information processing apparatus 2. FIG. 8 is an example of a screen serving as an interface for inputting fluorescent region information. FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram for explaining fluorescent region information.

<Functional configuration of image forming apparatus>
First, the functional configuration of the control unit of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit includes an image information receiving unit 111, a color toner adhesion amount determination unit 112, a fluorescent region information reception unit 113, a white fluorescent toner adhesion amount determination unit 114, and a toner amount storage unit 115. doing. The color toner adhesion amount determination unit 112 includes an image information conversion unit 1121 and an under color removal unit 1122. The image information reception unit 111, the color toner adhesion amount determination unit 112, the fluorescent region information reception unit 113, and the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount determination unit 114 are received from the CPU 101 according to a program stored in the ROM 102 illustrated in FIG. It is a function or means realized by operating according to a command. Further, the toner amount storage unit 115 is configured by the HD 105 shown in FIG.

  The image information receiving unit 111 receives image information transmitted from the information processing apparatus 2 via a communication network or the like. The image information is information representing an image to be formed on a recording medium such as paper, and is indicated using an electrical color separation image signal indicating each color of red (R), green (G), and blue (B). It is a thing. Hereinafter, image information indicated by using an electrical color separation image signal indicating each color of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) is referred to as RGB image information.

  The color toner adhesion amount determination unit 112 is based on the RGB image information received by the image information reception unit 111, and the color toner adhesion amounts Vc, Vm, Vy, Vk of the C, M, Y, and K toners. Is to determine. The color toner adhesion amount is a ratio of an area where the color toner is adhered to a predetermined area of the recording medium. When the color toner adhesion amount is 0%, no color toner adheres to the predetermined area, and when the color toner adhesion amount is 100%, the color toner adheres to all the predetermined area.

  An image information conversion unit 1121 included in the color toner adhesion amount determination unit 112 performs color space conversion processing and the like, thereby attaching RGB image information to each toner of C color, M color, and Y color within a unit area. The color toner adhesion amounts Vc0, Vm0, and Vy0 are converted. The under color removal unit 1122 included in the color toner adhesion amount determination unit 112 removes the under color for the C, M, and Y color toner adhesion amounts Vc0, Vm0, and Vy0 converted by the image information conversion unit 1121. (UCR: Under Color Removal) processing is performed. As described above, the processing is performed by the image information conversion unit 1121 and the under color removal unit 1122, so that the C, M, Y, and K color toner adhesion amounts Vc, Vm, and Vy are not changed. , Vk is determined. The color toner adhesion amount determination unit 112 is an example of a color toner adhesion amount determination unit.

  The fluorescent region information receiving unit 113 receives fluorescent region information representing a fluorescent region in an image that emits light by absorbing ultraviolet rays. The fluorescent region information receiving unit 113 receives fluorescent region information input from a predetermined interface provided by the user in the information processing apparatus 2 via a communication network or the like. The fluorescent region information receiving unit 113 is an example of a fluorescent region information receiving unit.

  The white fluorescent toner adhesion amount determination unit 114 determines the amount of white fluorescent toner adhesion to be adhered to the region represented by the region information received by the fluorescent region information reception unit 113. The amount of white fluorescent toner attached is the amount of white fluorescent toner attached to the recording medium per unit area, and is represented by a numerical value from 0% to 100%. The white fluorescent toner adhesion amount determination unit 114 is an example of a white fluorescent toner adhesion amount determination unit.

  The toner amount storage unit 115 attaches white fluorescent toner necessary for realizing a predetermined light emission luminance when forming an image using the color toner adhesion amount determined by the color toner adhesion amount determination unit 112. The amount is memorized. In this embodiment, as described above, the fluorescent white toner is attached to the lower layer on the recording medium, and the color toner is attached to the upper layer. At this time, as the amount of the upper layer color toner attached increases, the amount of ultraviolet light absorbed by the color toner increases, and the amount of ultraviolet light reaching the lower layer white fluorescent toner decreases. Therefore, in order to realize a predetermined light emission luminance, as shown in FIG. 6A, the toner amount storage unit 115 stores the color toner so that the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount increases as the C toner adhesion amount increases. The correspondence between the adhesion amount and the fluorescent toner adhesion amount is stored. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 6B, the toner amount storage unit 115 stores the color toner adhesion amount and the fluorescence toner adhesion amount so that the white fluorescence toner adhesion amount increases as the M color toner adhesion amount increases. I remember the correspondence. Further, as shown in FIG. 6 (3), the toner amount storage unit 115 sets the correspondence between the color toner adhesion amount and the fluorescent toner adhesion amount so that the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount increases as the Y color toner adhesion amount increases. I remember it.

<Functional configuration of information processing apparatus>
Next, the functional configuration of the information processing apparatus 2 will be described with reference to FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the information processing apparatus 2 includes a transmission unit 221, a display control unit 222, an operation input reception unit 223, an image information storage unit 224, and a fluorescence region information generation unit 225. The transmission unit 221, the display control unit 222, the operation input reception unit 223, and the fluorescent region information generation unit 225 are operated by instructions from the CPU 201 according to a program stored in the ROM 202 illustrated in FIG. A function or means to be realized. The image information storage unit 224 is configured by the HD 204 shown in FIG.

  The transmission unit 221 is realized by the network I / F 209 illustrated in FIG. 4 and transmits various types of information to the image forming apparatus 1 via the communication network. The display control unit 222 is realized by the display I / F 208 illustrated in FIG. 2, and performs control for displaying various information on the display device 23. The operation input accepting unit 223 is realized by the keyboard I / F 211 and the mouse I / F 212 shown in FIG. 4 and accepts various types of information input by the user using the keyboard and mouse.

  The image information storage unit 224 stores image information representing an image to be formed on a recording medium such as paper. Based on the information received by the operation input receiving unit 223, the fluorescent region information generating unit 225 generates fluorescent region information indicating a fluorescent region that emits light by ultraviolet irradiation.

  Here, an example of a screen 231 displayed on the display device 23 by the display control unit 222 for the user to input an operation will be described with reference to FIG. The screen 231 includes an area selection unit 232, a confirmation button 233, and the like. The region selection unit 232 displays an image represented by the RGB image information, and the user selects a fluorescent region in the image using a mouse or the like. In the following description, it is assumed that the letter A is selected and confirmed as the fluorescent region. The confirm button 233 is used to confirm that the selected region is a fluorescent region when the user selects the region with the region selection unit 232 and then presses it.

  Here, the fluorescence region information will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 shows a part of an image including a region in which the character A selected as the fluorescent region is described among the images shown in the region selection unit 232 of FIG. At this time, the fluorescence region information generation unit 225 creates information with a fluorescence flag of “1” or “0” for each portion b where one halftone dot is formed. Specifically, the fluorescence flag “1” is assigned to the part b1 in which the letter A selected as the fluorescence area is described, and the fluorescence flag “0” is assigned to the part b2 in which the letter A is not described. Information on the fluorescence flag assigned in association with each part in this way is referred to as fluorescence region information.

<< Processing and Operation of Embodiment >>
Subsequently, processing according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 10 is a process flow diagram illustrating an outline of the process of the information processing apparatus 2. FIG. 11 is a processing flowchart showing an outline of processing of the image forming apparatus 1.

  First, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the display control unit 222 of the information processing device 2 displays an image on the region selection unit 232 of the screen 212 of the display device 23 based on the RGB image information stored in the image information storage unit 224. Is displayed (step S11). The user selects a fluorescent region from the images displayed in the region selection unit 232 shown in FIG. 8 using a mouse, a keyboard, or the like, and presses the confirm button 233. In the present embodiment, the following processing will be described on the assumption that the letter A is selected as the fluorescent region as described above. When the confirmation button 233 is pressed by the user, the operation input receiving unit 223 receives information indicating an area in which the letter A, which is a fluorescent area selected by the user, is described (step S12).

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 9, the fluorescent region information generation unit 225 configures a region in which the letter A, which is the fluorescent region in the image, is described based on the information received by the operation input receiving unit 223. A fluorescence flag “1” indicating the fluorescence region is associated with each portion b1. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the fluorescent region information generation unit 225 indicates that the fluorescent region is not a fluorescent region with respect to each portion b2 constituting the region that is not the fluorescent region in the image, that is, the region where the letter A is not described. The flag “0” is associated. In this way, the fluorescent region information in which the fluorescent flag is associated with each part b in the image is generated (step S13). Then, the transmission unit 221 transmits the RGB image information stored in the image information storage unit 224 and the fluorescent region information of the RGB image information to the image forming apparatus 1 via a communication network or the like (step S14). .

  When the transmission unit 221 of the information processing apparatus 2 transmits RGB image information and fluorescent region information to the image forming apparatus 1, the image information receiving unit 111 of the image forming apparatus 1 performs information processing as shown in FIG. The RGB image information transmitted from the device 2 via the network is received (step S21).

  Next, the color toner adhesion amount determination unit 112, based on the RGB image information received by the image information reception unit 111, the C, M, Y, and K color toner adhesion amounts Vc, Vm, Vy, Vk is determined.

  Here, processing performed by the color toner adhesion amount determination unit 112 will be described. First, the image information conversion unit 1121 included in the color toner adhesion amount determination unit 112 converts the RGB image information received by the image information reception unit 111 into toner adhesion amounts of C, M, and Y colors. Specifically, the image information conversion unit 1121 performs processing such as shading correction, position shift correction, color space conversion, and gamma correction on the RGB image information, so that C color, M color, and Y color can be obtained. Each color toner adhesion amount is converted to Vc0, Vm0, and Vy0 (step S22). Then, the under color removal unit 1122 performs under color removal on the C, M, and Y color toner adhesion amounts Vc0, Vm0, and Vy0 calculated by the image information conversion unit 1121 (step S23). By performing these processes, toner adhesion amounts Vc, Vm, Vy, and Vk for C, M, Y, and K colors are determined.

  On the other hand, the fluorescence region information receiving unit 113 receives the fluorescence region information from the information processing device 2 via a communication network or the like (step S24). Subsequently, the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount determination unit 114 determines the WF toner adhesion amount Vwf to be adhered for each part constituting the fluorescent region indicated by the fluorescent region information received by the fluorescent region information reception unit 113 (step S25). .

  As described above, the greater the amount of color toner attached to the upper layer of the WF toner layer, the lower the emission luminance. In other words, when the same amount of WF toner is attached to all parts of the area represented by the fluorescent area information, the emission luminance varies for each part of the image depending on the color toner attachment amount determined by the color toner attachment amount determination unit 112. Occurs. Also, the greater the amount of WF toner attached, the higher the light emission luminance. Therefore, in order to make these emission luminances uniform, the image forming apparatus 1 attaches an amount of WF toner corresponding to the amount of adhering toner of each of the C, M, and Y colors as shown in FIG. .

  Therefore, the toner amount storage unit 115 stores the WF toner adhering amount in advance corresponding to the adhering amount per unit area of the color toner as shown in FIG. 6 so that the emission luminance is uniform in the entire fluorescent region. Keep it. Then, the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount determination unit 114 reads the WF toner adhesion amount corresponding to the color toner adhesion amount determined by the color toner adhesion amount determination unit 112 from the toner amount storage unit 115 and reads the read WF toner. Determine the amount of adhesion.

  For example, when the color toner adhesion amount determination unit 112 determines that the C color toner adhesion amount Vc is 60%, the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount determination unit 114 stores the correspondence shown in FIG. The WF toner adhesion amount Vwf is determined to be 45% with reference to the toner amount storage unit 115 being operated. In addition, when the color toner adhesion amount determination unit 112 determines that the M color toner adhesion amount Vm is 40%, the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount determination unit 114 stores the correspondence shown in FIG. Referring to the toner amount storage unit 115, the WF toner adhesion amount Vwf is determined to be 35%.

  As described above, the C, M, Y, and K color toner adhesion amounts Vc, Vm, Vy, and Vk are determined by the color toner adhesion amount determination unit 112 in steps S12 to S13, and the white color is determined in step S15. When the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount Vwf is determined by the fluorescent toner adhesion amount determination unit 114, the printer unit 12 performs a process of forming an image based on them.

  The process in which the printer unit 12 forms an image will be described in detail. First, the charging unit 123 contacts the photosensitive drum 122 and applies a voltage to charge the surface of the photosensitive drum 122. Then, laser light emitted from an exposure device (not shown) is applied to the C, M, Y, and K color toner adhesion amounts Vc, Vm, Vy, Vk, and the like determined by the color toner adhesion amount determination unit 112. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 122 based on the WF toner adhesion amount Vwf determined by the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount determination unit 114. When the electrostatic latent image is formed, the developing unit 124 causes the color toner and white fluorescent toner contained in each cartridge 121 to adhere to the surface of the photosensitive drum 122 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. Thus, a toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 122.

  Subsequently, the intermediate transfer belt 125 is conveyed while being in contact with the photosensitive drum 122. Then, the image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 122 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 125. After the toner image is primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 125, the surface of the photosensitive drum 122 is neutralized by a static eliminator. Further, the transfer residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 122 that has been neutralized is removed by a cleaner.

  On the other hand, the paper feed roller 132 takes out the paper stored in the paper feed tray 131 and inserts it into the registration roller 133. Then, the registration roller 133 feeds the inserted paper between the intermediate transfer belt 125 and the secondary transfer roller 126. The sheet fed between the intermediate transfer belt 125 and the secondary transfer roller 126 is sandwiched between the intermediate transfer belt 125 and the secondary transfer roller 126 and conveyed to transfer the image on the intermediate transfer belt 125. The Next, the pressure roller 1271 presses the paper against the fixing belt 1272 and applies heat to fix the image on the paper. Finally, the paper discharge unit 15 discharges the paper on which the image is fixed to the paper discharge tray.

<< Supplement of Embodiment >>
In the present embodiment, the image information receiving unit 111 receives RGB image information transmitted from the information processing apparatus 2 via the network in step S21. However, the reading sensor 142 of the scanner unit 14 is mounted on the contact glass 141. RGB image information acquired from a placed document sheet or the like may be received.

  In the present embodiment, the transmission unit 221 transmits the image information stored in the image information storage unit 224 of the information processing device 2, but the image information storage unit such as the image information generated by the information processing device 2 The transmission unit 221 may transmit image information that is not stored in the H.224.

  Further, the under color removal unit 1122 does not perform the under color removal process, and the adhesion amounts Vc, Vm, and Vy converted by the image information conversion unit 1121 may be determined as the color toner adhesion amounts that the image forming apparatus 1 attaches. .

  In the present embodiment, the fluorescent region information receiving unit 113 receives the fluorescent region information transmitted from the information processing apparatus 2. However, the fluorescent region input by the user from an input device such as a touch panel included in the image forming apparatus 1. Information may be accepted.

  In the present embodiment, the toner amount storage unit 115 stores the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount in advance, and the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount determination unit 114 reads it to determine it as the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount. The white fluorescent toner adhesion amount determination unit 114 may determine the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount by executing a predetermined calculation based on the color toner adhesion amount determined by the color toner adhesion amount determination unit 112.

  In the present embodiment, the information processing apparatus 2 transmits the fluorescent region information to the image forming apparatus 1, but the fluorescent region information is generated when the user operates the operation panel 107 included in the image forming apparatus 1. It may be.

<< Effects of Embodiment >>
According to the present embodiment, since the fluorescent color is formed by attaching the color toner on the white fluorescent toner attached to the recording medium, it is not necessary to use the fluorescent toners of R color, G color, and B color. There is an effect that a desired color fluorescent image can be formed with a small number of developing devices.

  Further, there is an effect that a complicated operation such as replacement of the cartridge containing the color toner with the cartridge containing the RGB fluorescent toner after the color toner image is formed becomes unnecessary.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount is determined based on the color toner adhesion amount, the emission luminance of the fluorescent color of the formed image can be made uniform.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since the white fluorescent toner is attached to the fluorescent region information, it is possible to form a fluorescent color only for the region desired by the user in the image.

1 Image forming apparatus 101 CPU
102 ROM
103 RAM
104 HDD
105 HD
106 Network I / F
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 107 Operation panel 108 Bus line 111 Image information reception part 112 Color toner adhesion amount determination part 1121 Image information conversion part 1122 Under color removal part 113 Fluorescence area information reception part 114 White fluorescent toner adhesion amount determination part 115 Toner amount storage part 12 Printer part 121 Cartridge 122 Photosensitive drum 123 Charging unit 124 Developing unit 125 Intermediate transfer belt 126 Secondary transfer roller 127 Fixing unit 1271 Pressure roller 1272 Fixing belt 13 Paper feed unit 131 Paper feed tray 132 Paper feed roller 133 Registration roller 14 Scanner unit 141 Contact glass 142 Reading sensor 15 Paper discharge unit 2 Information processing device 201 CPU
202 ROM
203 RAM
204 HD
205 HDD
206 Recording media 207 Media drive 208 Display I / F
209 Network I / F
210 Bus line 211 Keyboard I / F
212 Mouse I / F
213 CD-ROM
214 CD-ROM drive 221 Transmission unit 222 Display control unit 223 Operation input reception unit 224 Image information storage unit 225 Fluorescent region information generation unit 23 Display device 231 Screen 232 Region selection unit 233 Confirm button

JP 2007-17718 A

Claims (3)

An image forming apparatus that forms an image using a white fluorescent toner that absorbs ultraviolet rays and emits white light and one or more of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black toners,
A color toner adhesion amount determining means for determining an adhesion amount of the color toner to be adhered to form an image based on image information;
White fluorescent toner attaching means for attaching the white fluorescent toner to a recording medium;
The white fluorescent toner to the not in contact with the recording medium surface of the white phosphor toner layer formed by the white fluorescent toner that is attached by attachment means, the color toner adhesion amount is determined by the determining means and the deposition amount of the color A color toner attaching means for attaching toner;
A white fluorescent toner adhesion amount for determining a white fluorescent toner adhesion amount to be adhered to the recording medium based on the adhesion amount of a predetermined color toner of the color toners determined by the color toner adhesion amount determination means. Determining means, and
The white fluorescent toner adhesion amount determination means increases the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount according to the adhesion amount of the predetermined color toner when the adhesion amount increases and decreases when the adhesion amount decreases. To determine and
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the white fluorescent toner adhering unit adheres the white fluorescent toner of the white fluorescent toner adhering amount determined by the white fluorescent toner adhering amount determining unit . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
Fluorescent region information receiving means for receiving fluorescent region information representing a region that absorbs ultraviolet light and emits light in the image,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the white fluorescent toner attaching unit attaches the white fluorescent toner to a region represented by the fluorescent region information received by the fluorescent region information receiving unit . An image forming program executed by an image forming apparatus that forms an image using white fluorescent toner that absorbs ultraviolet rays and emits white light and one or more of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black toners. And
The image forming apparatus includes:
A color toner adhesion amount determination step for determining an adhesion amount of the color toner to be adhered to form an image based on image information;
A white fluorescent toner attaching step for attaching the white fluorescent toner to a recording medium;
The color of the adhesion amount determined by the color toner adhesion amount determination step on the surface of the white fluorescent toner layer formed by the white fluorescence toner adhered by the white fluorescence toner adhesion step that is not in contact with the recording medium. A color toner attaching process for attaching toner;
A white fluorescent toner adhesion amount for determining a white fluorescent toner adhesion amount to be adhered to the recording medium based on the adhesion amount of a predetermined color toner of the color toners determined in the color toner adhesion amount determination step. Making the computer execute the decision process;
The white fluorescent toner adhesion amount determining step increases the white fluorescent toner adhesion amount according to the adhesion amount of the predetermined color toner when the adhesion amount increases and decreases when the adhesion amount decreases. Decided on
In the image forming program, the white fluorescent toner attaching step attaches the white fluorescent toner of the white fluorescent toner attached amount determined by the white fluorescent toner attached amount determining means .

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