JP2004117745A - Color image forming apparatus and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To rapidly adjust a color balance even in the case printing possible conditions are not satisfied, that is, in the case necessary consumables are insufficiently loaded or not loaded, or in the case a fixing device does not reach a printing possible temperature, and to adjust the color balance with high accuracy. <P>SOLUTION: As to the color image forming method and the color image forming apparatus for adjusting the color balance by a test pattern, the apparatus is provided with a paper feeding means for feeding a transfer material on which a chromaticity detecting test pattern is preliminarily transferred and fixed, a test pattern detecting means (26) for detecting light reflected by the test pattern in the case the color balance adjustment is required, and a color balance adjusting means for adjusting the color balance on the basis of the detection value of the detected test pattern. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus and a method therefor, and more particularly, to a color image forming apparatus that controls chromaticity such as color balance adjustment for maintaining a proper color image density and providing stable high image quality, and Regarding the method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, color image forming apparatuses such as color printers and color copiers and their methods have been required to have high quality output images. In particular, the gradation of the density and its stability greatly affect the judgment of the quality of an image made by a human.
[0003]
However, in the color image forming apparatus and the method thereof, the density of the obtained image fluctuates when there is a change in the environment or a change in each unit due to long-time use. In particular, in the case of an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus and its method, a slight change in the environment causes a change in density, which may cause a loss of color balance. Therefore, it is necessary to always maintain a constant density, that is, a gradation characteristic. Therefore, for each color toner, there are several types of process conditions such as exposure amount and development bias according to the absolute humidity, and gradation correction methods and means such as a look-up table (LUT), and measured by a temperature and humidity sensor. Based on the absolute humidity, the process condition at that time and the optimum value of the gradation correction are selected.
[0004]
Further, a process gray patch (hereinafter, referred to as a process patch) obtained by mixing a gray patch (hereinafter, referred to as a gray patch) only with black (K) and cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) on a transfer material is used. By forming a test pattern by forming, and by comparing the colors of both patches after fixing, a mixture ratio of CMY in which the process patch becomes achromatic is output, and a color image forming is performed using a sensor which detects a change in color density. Apparatus and methods are contemplated.
[0005]
In the color image forming apparatus and the color image forming method, the detected result is converted into a color matching table or an RGB signal for converting an exposure amount to the image forming unit, a process condition, and an RGB signal of the image processing unit into a color reproduction range of the color image forming apparatus. Of the final output image formed on the transfer material is controlled by feeding it back to a color separation table for converting CMYK signals into a CMYK signal, a calibration table for correcting density-gradation characteristics, and the like.
[0006]
It is possible to detect the output image of the color image forming apparatus with an image reading device or a chromaticity meter / densitometer external to the apparatus and perform the same control. Is excellent in that control is completed inside a printer or the like. This color sensor uses, for example, three or more light sources having different emission spectra such as red (R), green (G), and blue (B) as light emitting elements. As another method, a light emitting element using a light source emitting white (W) light is used, and three or more kinds of red (R), green (G), blue (B) and the like having different spectral transmittances are formed on the light receiving element. And three or more different outputs such as RGB output can be obtained.
[0007]
As described above, the known color image forming apparatus and method can detect the color density and optimize the color balance.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional technology, since the chromaticity of the test pattern is detected after the test pattern is transferred and fixed, the chromaticity detecting operation cannot be performed unless the color image forming apparatus is in a printable state. .
[0009]
In other words, consumables such as photoreceptor, developer, developing unit, and transfer material necessary for printing operation are unnecessary for chromaticity detection operation, but one of these consumables is insufficient or not mounted. In the case of, the chromaticity detection operation cannot be executed.
[0010]
Further, although the fact that the fixing device has reached the printable temperature is not necessary for the chromaticity detection operation, the chromaticity detection operation cannot be executed if the fixation device has not reached the printable temperature.
[0011]
In addition, since the transport speed of the test pattern in the chromaticity detection operation is normally set to a high speed, similarly to the transport speed of the transfer material in the printing operation, the speed in the sub-scanning direction is limited by the response of the color sensor and the like. Cannot be reduced, and the number of patches in one page cannot be increased. As a result, there is a problem that a large amount of a transfer material for printing the test pattern is consumed, and a high-precision color balance adjustment cannot be realized due to the limitation of the number of patches.
[0012]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a color image forming apparatus and method capable of quickly performing color balance adjustment and performing high-accuracy color balance adjustment. To provide.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such an object, the invention according to claim 1 provides a latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to each color image information on a photoreceptor, and a developer of different colors. A plurality of developing means for applying an electrostatic latent image to a body, a transferring means for transferring a visible image developed by the developing means onto a transfer material, and an unfixed image transferred onto the transfer material by the transferring means A sheet feeding unit for feeding a test pattern fixed on a transfer material in advance, a test pattern detecting unit for detecting reflected light of the test pattern, and a test pattern. Color balance adjustment means for adjusting the color balance based on the detection value of the test pattern by the detection means.
[0014]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the color image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, even if the printable condition is not satisfied, the test pattern is fed and the test pattern is detected by the test pattern detecting unit. And adjusting the color balance based on the detected value of the test pattern.
[0015]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the color image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, even if any of the consumables necessary for image formation is insufficient or not mounted, the test pattern can be fed. The method is characterized in that the test pattern is detected by the test pattern detecting means and the color balance is adjusted based on the detected value of the test pattern.
[0016]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the color image forming apparatus according to the third aspect, the consumables required for image formation include any of a photoconductor, a developer, a developing unit, and a transfer material. It is characterized by the following.
[0017]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the color image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein a test pattern feeding path from a position at which test pattern feeding is started to a test pattern detecting unit is provided. In a color image forming apparatus that does not include a fixing unit, even if the fixing unit does not reach a printable temperature, the test pattern is fed, the test pattern is detected by the test pattern detection unit, and the test pattern is detected. The color balance is adjusted based on the value.
[0018]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the color image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, an image forming method uses an electrophotographic method.
[0019]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the color image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the test pattern detection unit outputs a detection value by comparing a gray patch and a process patch by a color sensor. It is characterized by doing.
[0020]
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the color image forming apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the color sensor has at least three types of light sources.
[0021]
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the color image forming apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the color sensor has one type of light source and at least three types of filters having different spectral transmittances, and at least three types of color filters. The output is performed.
[0022]
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the color image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the test pattern transport speed for chromaticity detection in the test pattern detecting unit is set to the transfer transport speed in the transfer unit. It is characterized in that it is set to be slower than that.
[0023]
According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, a latent image forming step (301) for forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to each color image information on the photoconductor is performed by applying different color developers to the photoconductor. A plurality of developing steps (302) for developing the electrostatic latent image, a transferring step (303) for transferring a visible image developed in the developing step onto a transfer material, and an unfixed image transferred on the transfer material in the transferring step In a color image forming method including a fixing step (304) for fixing an image, a paper feeding step (401) for feeding a test pattern fixed in advance on a transfer material and a detection for detecting reflected light of the test pattern Step (402) and an adjusting step (403) of performing color balance adjustment based on the detected value of the detected test pattern.
[0024]
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the color image forming method according to the eleventh aspect, the test pattern transport speed for chromaticity detection in the detection step is lower than the transfer transport speed in the transfer step. It is characterized by setting.
[0025]
Further, the invention described in claim 13 is a program, wherein the program causes a computer to execute each step described in claim 11 or 12.
[0026]
Further, the invention according to claim 14 is a computer-readable recording medium, characterized by recording a program for executing each step according to claim 11 or 12.
[0027]
With the above configuration, even if the printable condition is not satisfied, the test pattern prepared in advance is fed and the color balance is adjusted based on the chromaticity detection result of the color sensor, thereby achieving the color balance. Balance adjustment is completed promptly.
[0028]
Further, in a color image forming apparatus in which the test pattern feeding path does not include the fixing device from the position where the test pattern is fed to the color sensor, even if the fixing device does not reach the printable temperature, By feeding and transporting the prepared test pattern and performing color balance adjustment based on the chromaticity detection result of the color sensor, the color balance adjustment is quickly completed.
[0029]
Also, by setting the test pattern transport speed in the chromaticity detection sequence to be slower than the transport speed in the print sequence by setting the normal pattern and the chromaticity detection of the test pattern as separate sequences, Patch size can be minimized.
[0030]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram for explaining an embodiment of the color image forming apparatus of the present invention.
The color image forming apparatus of the present invention forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum by exposure based on image data in an image forming unit for each color, and then develops the electrostatic latent image into a visible image. Thereafter, the color visible image is transferred and fixed to the transfer material 1 fed from the paper feeding unit. Alternatively, the visible images of the respective colors on the photosensitive drum are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 12, and the visible images transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 12 are collectively transferred to the transfer material 1 and then fixed. That is, a latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to each color image information on a photoconductor, a plurality of developing means for applying a developer of a different color to the photoconductor to develop the electrostatic latent image, and developing Fixing means for fixing the unfixed image developed by the means and transferred onto the transfer material.
[0031]
In the image forming unit, the photosensitive drums 5 (5Y: yellow, 5M: magenta, 5C: cyan, 5K: black) are arranged in parallel for each station by the number of development colors. The code including M represents the color for magenta, the code including C represents the color for cyan, the code including K represents the color for black, and the colors for each color are collectively referred to as 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K. ), A charger 7 (7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K), a laser scanner 10 (10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K), a developing device 8 (8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K), a toner cartridge 11 (11Y, 11M, 11C, 11K), an intermediate transfer belt 12, a primary transfer roller 6 (6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K), a secondary transfer roller 9, a fixing device 13, and the like.
[0032]
The photosensitive drum 5 has a structure in which an organic photoconductive layer is applied to the outer periphery of an aluminum cylinder, and is rotated counterclockwise by a drive motor (not shown). The charger 7 includes a charging sleeve 7S (7YS, 7MS, 7CS, 7KS) for primary charging of the photosensitive drum 5.
[0033]
The photosensitive drum 5 is selectively exposed by the laser scanner 10 so that an electrostatic latent image based on the sequentially input image data is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 5. The developing device 8 includes a developing sleeve 8S (8YS, 8MS, 8CS, 8CK) for visualizing the above-described electrostatic latent image.
[0034]
The intermediate transfer belt 12 is an endless belt stretched by a driving roller 18a and driven rollers (18b and 18c), and rotates clockwise while abutting on the photosensitive drum 5. The primary transfer roller 6 sequentially and primarily transfers the toner images to the belt surface.
[0035]
The paper supply unit that supplies the transfer material 1 is configured by a paper supply cassette 2 or a paper supply tray 3, and the transfer material 1 is stored in these. The transfer material 1 is transported on a transport path 25 including the paper feed roller 4 and the transport roller 24 and reaches the position of the pre-registration sensor 19. The transfer material 1 is further conveyed by a certain amount, reaches the registration roller 23, forms a loop, and waits.
[0036]
When the visible image is primarily transferred onto the belt surface, the transfer material 1 on standby is transported again. When the secondary transfer roller 9 abuts on the intermediate transfer belt 12 and conveys the transfer material 1, the color visible images multiplex-transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 12 are collectively transferred onto the transfer material. Transcribed. During the secondary transfer, the secondary transfer roller 9 abuts on the intermediate transfer belt 12 as shown by the solid line, but separates to the position shown by the dotted line after the completion of the secondary transfer.
[0037]
The cleaner container 21 cleans the intermediate transfer belt 12 with a built-in cleaning blade, and stores the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 12 without being transferred after the secondary transfer as waste toner.
[0038]
The fixing device 13 fixes the toner image secondary-transferred onto the transfer material 1 while transporting the transfer material 1. The fixing device 13 presses the transfer material 1 against the fixing roller 14 by heating the toner. And a pressure roller 15 for causing the pressure to flow. The fixing roller 14 and the pressure roller 15 are formed in a hollow shape, and have heaters 16 and 17 therein, respectively.
[0039]
After fixing the toner, the transfer material 1 is further conveyed to the position of the discharge flapper 41 after the fixing discharge sensor 20 detects that the transfer material 1 has been normally discharged from the fixing device 13. The paper discharge flapper 41 is driven by a solenoid, a clutch, or the like, and is fixed at a position indicated by a solid line or a dotted line in FIG. When the transfer material 1 is discharged to a discharge unit (not shown) by a discharge roller (not shown), the discharge flapper 41 is set to a position indicated by a dotted line, thereby completing a normal printing operation.
[0040]
Next, the configuration of the test pattern detection unit that detects the chromaticity of the test pattern will be described. In the color image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the color sensor 26 is disposed inside the duplex unit 40 toward the surface on which the image of the transfer material 1 is transferred, and the test is performed by transferring and fixing the image on the transfer material 1. Detects the chromaticity of the pattern. It goes without saying that the color sensor 26 may be arranged outside the duplex unit 40 as long as the color sensor 26 is arranged toward the surface of the transfer material 1 on which the image is to be transferred.
[0041]
The color sensor 26 uses three types of light sources that emit red (R), green (G), and blue (B) as light-emitting elements (not shown) in order to detect chromaticity, or uses white (W). And three types of filters having different spectral transmittances of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) are used on the light receiving element.
[0042]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a test pattern for detecting the density or chromaticity formed on the transfer material. The test pattern 30 is constituted by gray tone patches. Gray is a very important color in achieving color balance as the center of the color reproduction range. That is, the test pattern 30 includes a gray patch 31 of only black (K) and a process patch 32 in which yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) are mixed. These patches 31a and 32a, 31b and 32b, and 31c are arranged such that a gray patch 31 of only black (K) having the same or closest chromaticity and a process patch 32 form a pair in a standard color image forming apparatus. 32c are arranged. The chromaticity of these patches is detected by the color sensor 26.
[0043]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the color image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. First, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to each color image information is formed on a photoconductor (301), and a developer of a different color is applied to the photoconductor to develop the electrostatic latent image (302). Thereafter, the developed visible image is transferred onto a transfer material (303), and the transferred unfixed image is fixed (304).
[0044]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a color balance adjustment method in the color image forming apparatus of the present invention. After feeding the test pattern (401), the test pattern is irradiated with predetermined light to detect reflected light (402). The color balance is adjusted based on the detection value thus obtained (403).
[0045]
Next, an operation in which the color image forming apparatus of FIG. 1 detects the chromaticity of the test pattern that has been transferred and fixed onto the transfer material in advance by the color sensor 26 will be described.
[0046]
First, the user accommodates the test pattern in the double-sided unit 40 in a direction that can be detected by the color sensor 26, and operates a chromaticity detection operation (color balance operation) on the color image forming apparatus of FIG. Adjustment).
[0047]
The color image forming apparatus that has received the instruction rotates the transport roller 45 so that the transfer material 1 is transported leftward in FIG. 1, and drives and fixes the double-sided flapper 43 to the dotted line position in FIG. The transport roller 44 is rotated such that the transport roller 44 is transported downward in FIG. The transfer material 1 that has passed the transport rollers 44 reaches the position of the color sensor 26, and the color sensor 26 detects the chromaticity of the test pattern formed on the image forming surface of the transfer material 1. After detecting the chromaticity, the transport roller 44 rotates so as to transport the transfer material 1 in the upward direction in FIG. 1, and the transfer material 1 is stored again inside the duplex unit 40. In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the transfer material 1 after the chromaticity detection is stored again in the double-sided unit 40 has been described. However, a new conveyance roller is provided around the paper discharge flapper 41, and a paper discharge unit (not shown) is provided. It may be configured to discharge.
[0048]
When the color image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 detects the chromaticity of a test pattern that has been transferred and fixed on a transfer material in advance, consumables such as a photoconductor, a developer, a developing unit, and a transfer material are unnecessary. Even if any of these consumables is missing or not mounted, the test pattern can be fed, the chromaticity of the test pattern can be detected by the color sensor 26, and the color balance can be adjusted based on the detection result. And
[0049]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
The second embodiment relates to a color image forming apparatus in which a fixing device is not included in a test pattern conveyance path from a position where the feeding of a test pattern is started to a color sensor. In this case, the color image forming apparatus according to the present invention feeds and conveys a test pattern prepared in advance even if the fixing device has not reached the printable temperature, and performs color transfer based on the chromaticity detection result of the color sensor. Perform balance adjustment. In other words, when detecting the chromaticity of the test pattern that has been transferred and fixed on the transfer material in advance, it is not necessary that the fixing device has reached the printable temperature. Also, by feeding the test pattern and detecting the chromaticity of the test pattern by the color sensor 26, the color balance can be adjusted based on the detection result.
[0050]
Of course, even when the fixing device has reached the printable temperature, the color balance adjustment based on the detection result can be executed by feeding the test pattern and detecting the chromaticity of the test pattern by the color sensor 26 described above.
[0051]
Therefore, a configuration is possible in which a series of steps of feeding the test pattern, detecting the chromaticity of the test pattern by the color sensor 26, and adjusting the color balance based on the detection result, does not include the step of determining the temperature of the fixing device. .
[0052]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the third embodiment of the present invention, the test pattern transport speed for chromaticity detection in the test pattern detection unit is set to be lower than the test pattern transport speed during transfer in the transfer unit.
[0053]
The operation of detecting the chromaticity by the color sensor 26 with respect to the test pattern which has been transferred and fixed on the transfer material in advance will be described with reference to FIG.
[0054]
First, the transfer material 1 is accommodated in the duplex unit 40 in a direction in which the color pattern 26 can detect the test pattern. By rotating the transport roller 45, the stored transfer material 1 is transported leftward in FIG. 1, and the double-sided flapper 43 is driven and fixed at a position indicated by a dotted line in FIG. Further, the transport roller 44 is rotated to transport the transfer material 1 downward in FIG. At this time, the transport rollers 44 and 45 are driven such that the speed at which the test paper is transported through the color sensor unit is lower than the paper transport speed during normal printing. The transfer material 1 that has passed the transport rollers 44 reaches the position of the color sensor 26, and the chromaticity of the test pattern is detected by the color sensor 26. If the transfer speed of the transfer material 1 at the position of the color sensor 26 is low, the chromaticity can be reliably detected even if the patch size in the sub-scanning direction is reduced.
[0055]
After detecting the chromaticity, the color image forming apparatus rotates the transport roller 44 so that the transfer material 1 is transported in the upward direction in FIG. 1, and stores the transfer material 1 in the duplex unit 40 again. At this time, the transport rollers 44 and 45 are driven such that the transport speed is higher than the transport speed during the chromaticity detection described above. In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the transfer material 1 after the chromaticity detection is stored again in the duplex unit 40 has been described. However, a transport roller is newly provided around the discharge flapper 41 and discharged to a discharge unit (not shown). It can also be configured to be.
[0056]
According to the above-described configuration, the area occupied by the patches on the test paper can be reduced by reducing the patch size in the sub-scanning direction, and conversely, the number of patches in one page of the test paper can be increased. .
[0057]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, even when printing is not possible, a test pattern prepared in advance is fed and color adjustment is performed based on the chromaticity detection result of the color sensor. In the meantime, the color balance adjustment can be completed while the necessary consumables are being prepared, and the time until the apparatus is used can be shortened.
[0058]
In a color image forming apparatus that does not include a fixing device in the test pattern transport path from the position where the test pattern is fed to the color sensor, even if the fixing device does not reach the printable temperature, it is prepared in advance. The color balance adjustment based on the result of chromaticity detection by the color sensor is performed by feeding and conveying the test pattern, and the color balance adjustment can be completed immediately after the power of the color image forming apparatus is turned on. This has the effect of shortening the time until use.
[0059]
Furthermore, by setting the test pattern conveyance speed for chromaticity detection in the test pattern detection means to be lower than the conveyance speed for normal printing, the patch size in the sub-scanning direction can be reduced to reduce the test pattern. It is possible to reduce the consumption of the transfer material for printing. Conversely, the number of patches on one page of the test paper can be increased, and more precise color balance adjustment can be performed with the increase in the number of patches.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram for explaining an embodiment of a color image forming apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a test pattern for detecting density or chromaticity formed on a transfer material.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the color image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a color balance adjusting method in the color image forming apparatus of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 1 transfer material 2 paper feed cassette 3 paper feed tray 4 paper feed rollers 5, 5Y, 5M, 5C, 5K photosensitive drums 6, 6Y, 6M, 6C, 6K Primary transfer rollers 7, 7Y, 7M, 7C, 7K Charger 7S , 7YS, 7MS, 7CS, 7KS Charger sleeve 8, 8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K Developing device 8S, 8YS, 8MS, 8CS, 8KS Developing device sleeve 9 Secondary transfer rollers 10, 10Y, 10M, 10C, 10K Laser scanner 11, 11Y, 11M, 11C, 11K Toner cartridge 12 Intermediate transfer belt 13 Fixing unit 14 Fixing roller 15 Pressure roller 16, 17 Heater 18a Driving roller 18b, 18c Followed roller 19 Pre-registration sensor 20 Fixing discharge sensor 21 Cleaner container 23 Registration rollers 24, 44, 45 Transport roller 25 Transport path 26 Color sensor 40 Both Surface unit 41 Paper discharge flapper 42 Transport roller (pair)
43 Double-sided flapper

Claims (14)

Latent image forming means for forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to each color image information on the photoreceptor, and a plurality of developing means for applying a different color developer to the photoreceptor to develop the electrostatic latent image A color image forming apparatus including: a transfer unit that transfers a visible image developed by the developing unit onto a transfer material; and a fixing unit that fixes an unfixed image transferred onto the transfer material by the transfer unit.
Paper feeding means for feeding a test pattern fixed on the transfer material in advance,
Test pattern detection means for detecting reflected light of the test pattern;
Color balance adjustment means for performing color balance adjustment based on the detected value of the test pattern by the test pattern detection means,
A color image forming apparatus comprising: Even if the printable condition is not satisfied, feeding of the test pattern, detection of the test pattern by the test pattern detecting means, and color balance adjustment based on the detected value of the test pattern are performed. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1. Even if any of the consumables necessary for image formation is insufficient or not mounted, the test pattern is fed, the test pattern is detected by the test pattern detection unit, and the test pattern is detected based on the detected value. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color balance is adjusted by performing the adjustment. 4. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the consumables required for the image formation include any of a photoconductor, a developer, a developing unit, and a transfer material. 5. In a color image forming apparatus that does not include the fixing unit in a test pattern conveyance path from a position where the feeding of the test pattern is started to the test pattern detecting unit, the fixing unit reaches a printable temperature. 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: performing feeding of the test pattern, detecting the test pattern by the test pattern detecting unit, and adjusting a color balance based on a detected value of the test pattern. A color image forming apparatus according to any one of the above. 6. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming method uses an electrophotographic method. 7. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the test pattern detection unit outputs a detection value by comparing a gray patch and a process patch by a color sensor. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the color sensor has at least three types of light sources. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the color sensor has at least three types of filters having different spectral transmittances from one type of light source, and performs at least three types of output. 10. The color image according to claim 1, wherein a test pattern transport speed for chromaticity detection in the test pattern detection unit is set to be lower than a transfer transport speed in the transfer unit. Forming equipment. A latent image forming step of forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to each color image information on a photoconductor, and a plurality of developing steps of applying a different color developer to the photoconductor to develop the electrostatic latent image, A color image forming method comprising: a transfer step of transferring a visible image developed by the development step onto a transfer material; and a fixing step of fixing an unfixed image transferred onto the transfer material by the transfer step.
A paper feeding step of feeding a test pattern fixed in advance on the transfer material,
A detecting step of detecting reflected light of the test pattern;
Adjusting the color balance based on the detected value of the test pattern. 12. The color image forming method according to claim 11, wherein a test pattern transport speed for chromaticity detection in the detection step is set to be lower than a transfer transport speed in the transfer step. A program for executing each step according to claim 11 using a computer. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for executing each step according to claim 11 or 12 is recorded.

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