JP2005189882A - Color image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To overcome the problem that position shifts in toner images of respective colors may possibly be beyond correction depending upon actual use conditions. <P>SOLUTION: The color image forming apparatus that performs control by detecting the position shifts among images of a plurality of colors to correct the position shift is equipped with an indication means 36 of allowing a user to freely indicate that the correction is made at a desired time and a correction control means 35 of performing the control in response to the indication from the indication means 36. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus such as a digital color copying machine or a digital color printer.

  In a digital color image forming apparatus having a plurality of photoconductors, a plurality of photoconductors are rotated to independently write an image on each photoconductor to form an electrostatic latent image. After uniformly charging with a writing device, each photosensitive member is scanned with a light beam through a writing lens by a writing device to perform image exposure, thereby writing an image on each photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image on each photoconductor is developed with each color developer by a plurality of developing devices to form each color toner image, and each color toner image is superimposed on transfer paper such as plain paper or an OHP sheet by the transfer device. A color image is formed by transferring them.

  In such a digital color image forming apparatus, the mechanical position accuracy of each photoconductor, the position accuracy of the writing device with respect to the photoconductor, the bending, tilt, magnification error of the scanning line (light beam) due to the variation of the writing lens, Due to the speed error of each photoconductor, writing position due to temperature rise of the entire machine, fluctuations in magnification, etc., the toner image of each color is likely to be misaligned, which results in uneven color and misregistration in the final color image. Appears, and is a factor that degrades image quality.

  Therefore, the conventional color image forming apparatus automatically performs control to obtain a good color image free of color unevenness and color misregistration by correcting the misregistration of each color toner image. Further, in order to correct the positional deviation of the toner images of the respective colors, for example, in the color image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2, a plurality of reflection types that detect the measurement pattern image of each color are used. Sensors are provided, and the positional deviation of each color toner image is detected based on the time difference between the output signals of these reflective sensors.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus described in Patent Document 3, the magnification in the main scanning direction is obtained by creating a measurement pattern of horizontal lines and diagonal lines on the transfer belt and measuring a difference in time for these to reach the reflective sensor. And the clock and writing position are corrected based on the measurement result. In the image forming apparatuses described in Patent Document 4 and Patent Document 5, after the output of the reflective sensor is binarized, the median value is obtained by calculation to reduce the influence on the line thickness.

JP-A 63-278074 JP-A 63-279270 JP-A 63-286864 JP-A 63-286866 JP-A 63-279273

  Since the conventional color image forming apparatus automatically performs control for correcting the positional deviation of the toner images of the respective colors, the time interval of the control for correcting the positional deviation of the toner images of the respective colors is set in advance. It has been decided. For this reason, there are cases where the positional deviation of the toner images of the respective colors cannot be corrected due to actual use conditions such as temperature and humidity conditions.

  The present invention can be freely performed when the user wants to correct the misregistration of the toner images of the respective colors, can always perform image formation with the image quality desired by the user, and performs unnecessary correction. It is an object of the present invention to provide a color image forming apparatus that can be omitted, improve user convenience, improve user work efficiency, and improve image quality.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 forms a color image by forming a plurality of color images and superimposing the plurality of color images, and detects a positional deviation of the plurality of color images. In a color image forming apparatus that performs control so that the misregistration is corrected, an instruction unit for freely instructing a user to perform the correction when the user wants to perform the correction, and an instruction from the instruction unit Correction control means for performing control, and can be freely performed when the user feels that correction of the positional deviation of the toner image of each color is desired, and image formation is always performed with the image quality desired by the user. It can be performed.

  The invention according to claim 2 forms a color image by forming a plurality of color images and superimposing the plurality of color images, and detects the displacement of the plurality of color images to correct the displacement. In a color image forming apparatus that performs such control, a manual correction control mode in which the user performs the control according to an instruction from an instruction means for instructing the user to freely perform the correction, and a correction timing is automatically generated to An automatic correction control mode for performing the control at a correction timing, and a selection means for a user to select either the manual correction control mode or the automatic correction control mode; and the manual correction control mode by the selection means Means for making the auto correction control mode the next time to execute the auto correction control mode longer than normal after the manual correction control mode is executed. Are as hereinbefore, it is possible to improve the convenience of the user can save the wasteful correction.

  The invention according to claim 3 forms a color image by forming a plurality of color images and superimposing the plurality of color images, and detects the position shift of the plurality of color images to correct the position shift. A color image forming apparatus that performs such control is provided with a display means for displaying that effect during the control, and the user is warned that color image formation cannot be performed until the control is completed by the display on the display means. The user convenience can be improved.

  The invention according to claim 4 forms a color image by forming a plurality of color images and superimposing the plurality of color images, and detects the displacement of the plurality of color images to correct the displacement. The color image forming apparatus that performs such control is provided with correction control interruption means for interrupting the control according to a user instruction during the control, and can reduce the downtime of the user. User efficiency.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the color image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the color image forming apparatus includes means for storing a correction amount of the positional deviation until immediately before the interruption, and shortens the next correction time. Can improve the user's business efficiency.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the color image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the invention, the correction amount of the misregistration until immediately before the interruption is discarded, so that more accurate correction can be performed and the image quality is improved. Can be improved.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the color image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the control is automatically performed after the job performed by the user after the interruption is completed, and the image quality and the convenience for the user are improved. Can be improved.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the color image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, further comprising selection means for selecting whether or not the user corrects the misalignment again after the job performed by the user after the interruption is completed. Therefore, the downtime of the machine can be reduced, and the user's work efficiency can be improved.

  As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of color images are formed, the plurality of color images are overlapped to form a color image, and a positional deviation of the plurality of color images is detected and the color image is detected. In a color image forming apparatus that performs control so that misregistration is corrected, an instruction unit for freely instructing a user to perform the correction when the user wants to perform the correction, and the control according to an instruction from the instruction unit Correction control means for performing image formation, so that the user can freely perform correction when the user wants to correct the misregistration of each color toner image, and always perform image formation with the image quality desired by the user. Can do.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, a color image is formed by forming a plurality of color images and superimposing the plurality of color images, and the positional deviation is corrected by detecting the positional deviation of the plurality of color images. In a color image forming apparatus that performs such control, a manual correction control mode in which the control is performed by an instruction from an instruction means for instructing the user to perform the correction freely, and a correction timing is automatically generated. An automatic correction control mode for performing the control at the correction timing, and a selection means for the user to select either the manual correction control mode or the automatic correction control mode, and the manual correction by the selection means Means for making the correction timing for executing the automatic correction control mode next time longer than normal after the execution of the manual correction control mode when the control mode is selected Because with a, it is possible to improve the convenience of the user can save the wasteful correction.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, a color image is formed by forming a plurality of color images and superimposing the plurality of color images, and the positional deviation is corrected by detecting the positional deviation of the plurality of color images. The color image forming apparatus that performs such control includes a display unit that displays the fact during the control, and the display of the display unit cannot perform color image formation until the control is completed. The user's convenience can be improved.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, a color image is formed by forming a plurality of color images and superimposing the plurality of color images, and the positional deviation is corrected by detecting the positional deviation of the plurality of color images. The color image forming apparatus that performs such control includes correction control interrupting means for interrupting the control according to a user instruction during the control, so that the downtime of the user can be reduced. User efficiency.

  According to the fifth aspect of the invention, in the color image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, since the means for storing the correction amount of the positional deviation until immediately before the interruption is provided, the next correction time is shortened. Can improve the user's business efficiency.

  According to the invention of claim 6, in the color image forming apparatus of claim 4, the correction amount of the misregistration until immediately before the interruption is discarded, so that more accurate correction can be performed and the image quality is improved. Can be improved.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the color image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the control is automatically performed after the job performed by the user after the interruption, so that the image quality and the convenience for the user are improved. Can be improved.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the color image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the selection means for selecting whether or not the user corrects the misalignment again after the job performed by the user after the interruption is completed. The machine downtime can be reduced, and the user's work efficiency can be improved.

  FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. The first embodiment is an embodiment of the invention according to claim 1 and is an embodiment of a digital color image forming apparatus comprising a digital color copying machine. This digital color image forming apparatus includes an image reading unit 1 that reads an original image by separating the original image into a plurality of colors, for example, red, green, and blue, and a circuit 2 that includes an image processing unit that performs predetermined processing on an image signal. And an image forming unit (image forming unit) 3 for forming a color image.

  The image reading unit 1 illuminates a document 5 placed on a document table 4 with a light source 6 and forms an image of the reflected light on a color sensor 11 through mirrors 7 to 9 and a lens 10. The original is scanned by moving the mirrors 7 to 9, and the color sensor 11 separates the image forming light into red, green, and blue and converts it into an image signal, thereby reading the original image.

  The image processing unit performs predetermined processing on the image signals of the respective colors from the color sensor 11 of the image reading unit 1 to obtain a plurality of recording colors such as black (hereinafter referred to as K), magenta (hereinafter referred to as M), yellow ( (Hereinafter referred to as Y) and cyan (hereinafter referred to as C) image signals of respective colors.

  The image forming unit 3 includes a plurality of image forming (image forming) process units 12 to 15 that form images of K, M, Y, and C colors. Each of the image forming process units 12 to 15 forms toner images of K, M, Y, and C colors on the image carriers 16 to 19 made of a photosensitive member, respectively, by an electrophotographic process. That is, each of the photoconductors 16 to 19 is, for example, a photoconductor drum, and is rotated by a rotation drive unit and uniformly charged by a charger (not shown), and then exposed to light by the optical writing units 20 to 23. An electrostatic latent image is formed.

  Each of the optical writing units 20 to 23 receives image signals of K, M, Y, and C colors from the image processing unit, converts the image signals of K, M, Y, and C colors into optical signals and converts the optical signals. By exposing the photoconductors 16 to 19, images of K, M, Y, and C colors are written on the photoconductors 16 to 19 to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent images on the photoconductors 16 to 19 are developed by the developing devices 24 to 27 with the developers of K, M, Y, and C, respectively, to become toner images of K, M, Y, and C.

  The paper feeding device 28 feeds the image forming paper to the registration roller 29, and the registration roller 29 sends the paper to the transfer belt 30 in accordance with the toner images on the photoconductors 16 to 19. The transfer belt 30 is driven to rotate around a plurality of rollers 31 and 32, and conveys the sheet sent from the registration roller 29. The sheet on the transfer belt 30 is formed by transferring a toner image of each color of K, M, Y, and C on the photoreceptors 16 to 19 by a transfer device (not shown) to form a full color image. The full color image is fixed and discharged to the paper discharge tray 34.

  FIG. 1 shows a circuit configuration of the first embodiment. The main control unit 35 as a control means is constituted by a CPU or the like, and the operation unit 36 has an LCD display unit 37 and a key operation unit 38 as display units. The temperature / humidity sensor 39 measures temperature and humidity as the environmental conditions of the first embodiment, and also includes a storage unit 40, a timer unit 41, and a color shift (deviation) detection unit 42.

  The digital color image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment can express a color image of a desired color when the transfer position for transferring each color toner image on the photoconductors 16 to 19 is shifted with respect to the paper on the transfer belt 30. It will disappear. Causes of transfer positions for transferring the color toner images on the photoconductors 16 to 19 with respect to the paper on the transfer belt 30 include variations in component tolerance, variations in assembly due to the manufacturing process, machine vibration, temperature rise, and the like. It is possible that the environment changes.

  Therefore, the main control unit 35 causes the image forming unit 3 to create a color misregistration detection pattern at a predetermined interval time, and the image forming unit 3 performs K, M, Color misregistration (positional misalignment) detection patterns for the respective colors Y and C are formed on the photoreceptors 16 to 19, respectively. In this case, in each of the image forming process units 12 to 15, the photoconductors 16 to 19 are uniformly charged by the charger, and the optical writing units 20 to 23 are input from the color misregistration detection pattern generation unit. By converting the color misregistration detection pattern signals of Y and C colors into optical signals and exposing the photoconductors 16 to 19 with the optical signals, the colors of K, M, Y, and C colors on the photoconductors 16 to 19, respectively. A misregistration detection pattern is written to form an electrostatic latent image of a color misregistration detection pattern for each of K, M, Y, and C colors.

  The electrostatic latent images on the photoconductors 16 to 19 are developed with developing agents for K, M, Y, and C colors by developing devices 24 to 27, respectively, and are used for color misregistration detection patterns (for K, M, Y, and C colors). Toner image), and is transferred by the transfer device so as not to overlap the end portion (region where the paper is not conveyed) on the transfer belt 30. As shown in FIG. 3, the color misregistration detection patterns 43K, 43M, 43Y, and 43C for the respective colors K, M, Y, and C on the transfer belt 30 are a transmission type that includes a light source 42a as a color misregistration detection unit 42 and a photodiode 42b. The position is read as it passes through the sensor.

  The transmissive sensor 42 may be a CCD sensor, a reflective sensor, or the like, and may be anything that can read the color misregistration detection patterns 43K, 43M, 43Y, and 43C. Since the main control unit 35 knows in advance the image formation timing and image formation position of the color misregistration detection patterns for the K, M, Y, and C colors, the main control unit 35 determines the K, M, Y, C For each color, the actual positions of the color misregistration detection patterns 43K, 43M, 43Y, 43C are compared with the positions of the color misregistration detection patterns known in advance, and the color misregistration detection patterns 43K, 43M, 43Y, 43C are compared. The amount of positional deviation in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction is determined, and control is performed so that the amount of positional deviation is eliminated, thereby correcting the amount of positional deviation.

  For example, the main control unit 35 determines the writing timing of the optical writing units 20 to 23 (the main scanning direction of the photoconductors 16 to 19) based on the positional deviation amount of the color misregistration detection patterns 43K, 43M, 43Y, and 43C for each color. The color misregistration detection patterns 43K, 43M, 43Y, and 43C are corrected in the main scanning direction by controlling the color misregistration detection patterns 43K, 43M, 43Y, and 43C for each color. By controlling the writing timing of the optical writing units 20 to 23 (writing start timing of the photoconductors 16 to 19 in the sub-scanning direction) by the amount of positional deviation in the scanning direction, the sub-registration of the color misregistration detection patterns 43K, 43M, 43Y, and 43C is controlled. Corrects misalignment in the scanning direction.

  When performing control for correcting such misalignment (misalignment correction control), the main control unit 35 manages an interval time (correction interval time) for performing the misalignment correction control with the timer unit 41. Position deviation correction control is performed at each determined correction interval time. In this case, the main control unit 35 predicts the use interval of the first embodiment based on the temperature / humidity detection signal from the temperature / humidity sensor 39, and predicts a correction interval time that is likely to require positional deviation correction control. The correction interval time is corrected based on The timer unit 41 is controlled by the main control unit 35 and measures the correction interval time.

  4 shows the operation unit 36, and FIG. 5 shows the LCD display unit 37. The operation unit 36 is provided with a start key 44 for starting an image forming operation and a misregistration correction start key 45 as an instruction means for the user to instruct the start of misregistration correction control.

  FIG. 6 shows a control flow of the main control unit 35 in the first embodiment. Usually, in the main routine, the main control unit 35 monitors the key of the operation unit 36 by an input signal from the operation unit 36, sets the preset correction interval time in the timer unit 41 as described above, and starts the operation. It is determined whether or not an interruption has been made by an input signal from the misalignment correction start key 45. If the main control unit 35 is not interrupted by an input signal from the misalignment correction start key 45, the misalignment correction is performed as described above if the timer unit 41 counts up the correction interval time (specified value). Take control.

  The main control unit 35 repeats the above-described operation to perform the positional deviation correction control at every correction interval time unless an interruption by an input signal from the positional deviation correction start key 45 is applied. When interrupted by an input signal from the misalignment correction start key 45, the main control unit 35 immediately moves to a routine for performing misalignment correction control and performs misalignment correction control. In response to this instruction, the LCD display unit 37 displays that the positional deviation correction control is being performed.

  The main control unit 35 sets a correction interval time that is likely to require positional deviation correction control in anticipation of the use environment of the first embodiment based on a temperature / humidity detection signal from the temperature / humidity sensor 39. If the first embodiment is used in an environment where the temperature is higher than the expected environment, the position of each color toner image will be considerably shifted.

  In addition, it is possible to perform misregistration correction control when the temperature inside the first embodiment reaches a predetermined temperature while monitoring the temperature, but even in that case, misregistration correction control is frequently performed. Therefore, there is a case where the position of each color toner image is inevitably generated and the user is concerned about this. Therefore, in this first embodiment, if the user wants to correct the misalignment of each color toner image by looking at the color image formed on the transfer paper, the misalignment correction start key 45 is pressed to correct the misalignment. Control can be started.

  By doing so, it is possible to freely start misregistration correction control when the user wants to correct misregistration of each color toner image, and it is possible to always form a color image with desired image quality. Become. The misalignment correction start key 45 is a key displayed on the LCD display unit 37, but a dedicated hard key may be prepared.

  As described above, the first embodiment is an embodiment of the invention according to claim 1, and forms a color image by forming a plurality of color images and superimposing the plurality of color images. As an instruction means for freely instructing the user to perform the correction when the user wants to perform the correction in a color image forming apparatus that performs control such that the positional deviation of the image is detected and corrected. Misregistration correction start key 45 and a main control unit 35 as a correction control means for performing the control in accordance with an instruction from the instructing means 45, the user wants to correct the misregistration of each color toner image. Can be freely performed when the user feels, and image formation can always be performed with the image quality desired by the user.

  FIG. 7 shows a control flow of the main control unit 35 in the second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is an embodiment of the invention according to claim 2. In the second embodiment, in the first embodiment, the main control unit 35 executes the control flow shown in FIG. 7 instead of the control flow shown in FIG. The user wants to create a timing at which the machine automatically performs misalignment correction control and automatically performs misalignment correction control at that timing, and the user himself wants to perform misalignment correction control. A manual correction control mode (user mode) for starting misregistration correction control at timing is selected in advance by the operation unit 35.

  Even in the user mode, the main control unit 35 not only performs misregistration correction control by pressing the misregistration correction start key 45 but also automatically creates a timing for performing misregistration correction control, and automatically positions at that timing. Deviation correction control is performed. This is because if the user forgets to press the misregistration correction start key 45, the misregistration correction control is not performed indefinitely. Therefore, when a color image is formed, the color misregistration becomes severe. This is to prevent this.

  However, when the position error correction control by pressing the position error correction start key 45 and the automatic position error correction control are combined, the machine automatically creates the position error correction control just before the timing of the position error correction control. The user may instruct the start of misalignment correction control by pressing the misalignment correction start key 45. In this case, after the user depresses the misregistration correction start key 45 and performs misregistration correction control, the misregistration of the toner images of the respective colors has not occurred so much as the misregistration correction control is performed. Misalignment correction control will be performed without permission.

  Therefore, in the second embodiment, in the user mode, the correction interval time at which the machine automatically performs the positional deviation correction control is set to a correction interval time longer than the correction interval time in the automatic mode. In this way, useless misalignment correction control operation can be omitted, and the downtime of the machine can be reduced and the user's business efficiency can be improved.

  In the main routine, as shown in FIG. 7, the main control unit 35 checks whether it is the user mode or the automatic mode based on the input signal from the operation unit 36, and if it is the automatic mode, it is preset as described above. The corrected interval time is set in the timer unit 41 and started. The main control unit 35 performs the positional deviation correction control as described above when the timer unit 41 measures the correction interval time (specified value) and counts up. The main control unit 35 repeats the operation as described above, and performs positional deviation correction control at every correction interval time.

  In the user mode, the main control unit 35 monitors the keys of the operation unit 36 by an input signal from the operation unit 36, and sets a correction interval time longer than the preset correction interval time in the timer unit 41 as described above. Then, it is determined whether or not an interrupt has been made by an input signal from the misalignment correction start key 45. If the main control unit 35 is not interrupted by an input signal from the misalignment correction start key 45, the misalignment correction is performed as described above if the timer unit 41 counts up the correction interval time (specified value). Take control.

  The main control unit 35 repeats the above-described operation to perform the positional deviation correction control at every correction interval time unless an interruption by an input signal from the positional deviation correction start key 45 is applied. When interrupted by an input signal from the misalignment correction start key 45, the main control unit 35 immediately moves to a routine for performing misalignment correction control and performs misalignment correction control. In response to this instruction, the LCD display unit 37 displays that the positional deviation correction control is being performed.

  As described above, this second embodiment is an embodiment of the invention according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of color images are formed and the plurality of color images are superimposed to form a color image, and the plurality of colors In a color image forming apparatus that performs control so as to detect a color image misregistration and correct the misregistration, a misregistration correction start as an instruction means for a user to instruct to perform the correction freely A manual correction control mode in which the control is performed in response to an instruction from the key 45; and an automatic correction control mode in which a correction timing is automatically generated and the control is performed at the correction timing. An operation unit 36 serving as a selection unit for selecting one of the correction control modes, and the manual correction control mode when the manual correction control mode is selected by the selection unit 36. Since the main control unit 35 is provided as a means for making the correction timing for executing the automatic correction control mode next time after the mode is executed longer than usual, useless correction can be omitted and user convenience can be eliminated. Can be improved.

  FIG. 8 shows an LCD display unit according to the third embodiment of the present invention. This third embodiment is an embodiment of the invention according to claim 3. During the misregistration correction control, the entire machine is functionally operated, so that a color image cannot be formed. At this time, if the user cannot know why the color image cannot be formed, the user does not know how to respond, and does not know how long the color image is formed. As a result, user convenience is reduced.

  Therefore, in the third embodiment, in the first embodiment, the main control unit 35 indicates that the position deviation correction control is being performed while the position deviation correction control is being performed. It is displayed on the predetermined display portion 46 of the display unit 37. As a result, the user can immediately determine what the third embodiment is doing now, immediately know how to respond to this, and consequently improve user convenience. Can do.

  In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, in the second embodiment, as in the third embodiment, the main control unit 35 performs the misalignment correction control during the misalignment correction control. The fact that it is in the middle is displayed on the predetermined display portion 46 of the LCD display unit 37.

  As described above, the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment are embodiments of the invention according to claim 3, and form a color image by forming a plurality of color images and superimposing the plurality of color images. The color image forming apparatus that performs control so as to detect the misregistration of the images of the plurality of colors and correct the misregistration includes a display means 46 for displaying the fact during the control. The display of the means 46 prompts the user that a color image cannot be formed until the control is completed, so that convenience for the user can be improved.

  FIG. 9 shows an LCD display unit in the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The fifth embodiment is an embodiment of the invention according to claim 4. In the above-described embodiment, basically, misregistration correction control is performed with priority over color image formation during misregistration correction control. This is because otherwise, if a color image is actually formed, the color image may be formed in a state where there is a positional deviation of each color toner image. However, since the misregistration correction control takes a relatively long time, even if the user wants a copy immediately, if the misregistration correction control is in progress, he must wait for a while.

  Accordingly, in the fifth embodiment, the correction interrupt key 47 is provided in the operation unit 36 in the third embodiment, and the main control unit 35 checks the input signal from the correction interrupt key 47 and the correction interrupt key 47 is When the button is pressed, the misregistration correction control is interrupted, and the copying is ready immediately. In this way, although the image quality is slightly reduced, copying can be performed with time priority, and the user's downtime can be reduced and the user's business efficiency can be improved.

  In the sixth embodiment of the present invention, the correction interrupt key 47 is provided in the operation unit 36 in the fourth embodiment as in the fifth embodiment, and the main control unit 35 receives an input signal from the correction interrupt key 47. If the check is interrupted and the correction interruption key 47 is pressed, the misregistration correction control is interrupted and the copy is ready immediately.

  As described above, the fifth embodiment and the sixth embodiment are embodiments of the invention according to claim 4 and form a color image by forming a plurality of color images and superimposing the plurality of color images. In a color image forming apparatus that performs control to detect misregistration of the images of the plurality of colors and correct the misregistration, correction that interrupts the control according to a user instruction during the control Since the correction control interruption means including the interruption key 47 and the main control unit 35 is provided, the downtime of the user can be reduced and the efficiency of the user's work can be improved.

  FIG. 10 shows a positional deviation correction control routine of the main control unit in the seventh embodiment of the present invention. In the seventh embodiment, in the fifth embodiment, the main control unit 35 monitors the key of the operation unit 36 based on the input signal from the operation unit 36, and when the correction interruption key 47 is pressed, When the misregistration correction control is interrupted due to an interruption by the input signal, the misregistration correction amount data of each color toner image until immediately before the interrupt is stored in the storage unit 40 and stored.

  The main control unit 35 performs normal misregistration correction control when there is no misregistration correction amount data of each color toner image stored in the storage unit 40 when an interrupt by an input signal from the correction interrupt key 47 cannot be applied. If there is data on the positional deviation correction amount of each color toner image stored in the storage unit 40, the positional deviation correction control is resumed from the point where this data was interrupted. Therefore, it is not necessary to perform the misalignment correction control (the amount up to the point where it was interrupted), and the time required for the misalignment correction control operation can be shortened by that amount, thereby reducing the machine downtime. This can reduce the efficiency of the user's business.

  In the eighth embodiment of the present invention, in the sixth embodiment, as in the seventh embodiment, the main control unit 35 executes a misregistration correction control routine shown in FIG. As described above, the seventh embodiment and the eighth embodiment are embodiments of the invention according to claim 5, and in the color image forming apparatus according to claim 4, the positional deviation up to immediately before the interruption is performed. Since the main control unit 35 and the storage unit 40 are provided as means for storing the correction amount, the next correction time can be shortened, the machine downtime can be reduced, and the user's work efficiency is improved. be able to.

  FIG. 11 shows a positional deviation correction control routine of the main control unit in the ninth embodiment of the present invention. In the fifth embodiment and the sixth embodiment, it is very effective when the misalignment correction control is performed immediately after the misalignment correction control is interrupted, but after the misalignment correction control is interrupted. When misregistration correction control is performed after a while, an error occurs in the misregistration correction amount of each color toner image before and after the interruption. This is because the positional deviation amount of each color toner image and the elapsed time (temperature rise time in the apparatus) are in a proportional relationship, and the positional deviation amount of each color toner image tends to increase with the passage of time.

  Therefore, in the ninth embodiment, when the misregistration correction control is interrupted, the misregistration correction amount data of each color toner image before the misregistration correction control is aborted, and at the next misregistration correction control, from the beginning. Misalignment correction control is performed. Thereby, the image quality can be further improved. That is, in the ninth embodiment, in the fifth embodiment, the main control unit 35 monitors the keys of the operation unit 36 by the input signal from the operation unit 36 and presses the correction interruption key 47 as shown in FIG. When the position error correction control is interrupted by an interruption by an input signal from the correction interruption key 47, the position error correction amount data of each color toner image until just before the interruption is discarded. In addition, the main control unit 35 performs the above-described normal misalignment correction control when no interruption by an input signal from the correction interruption key 47 is applied. In the tenth embodiment of the present invention, in the sixth embodiment, as in the ninth embodiment, the main control unit 35 executes a misregistration correction control routine shown in FIG.

  As described above, the ninth embodiment and the tenth embodiment are embodiments of the invention according to claim 6, and in the color image forming apparatus according to claim 4, the misalignment until just before the interruption is performed. Since the correction amount is discarded, more accurate correction can be performed and the image quality can be improved.

  FIG. 12 shows a positional deviation correction control routine of the main control unit in the eleventh embodiment of the present invention. In the fifth and sixth embodiments, when the misregistration correction control is interrupted and the user performs a job, the misalignment correction control should be determined to be necessary in the first place. . Therefore, in the eleventh embodiment, by performing the misalignment correction control automatically after the user has performed the job, the user is not bothered to press the misalignment correction start key 45, and the convenience of the user is eliminated. Can be improved.

  That is, in the eleventh embodiment, in the fifth embodiment, the main control unit 35 monitors the key of the operation unit 36 by the input signal from the operation unit 36 and presses the correction interruption key 47 as shown in FIG. When the position interruption correction control is interrupted (stopped) due to an interruption by the input signal from the correction interruption key 47, the position deviation correction control as described above is automatically performed after the user performs the job. In addition, the main control unit 35 performs the above-described normal misalignment correction control when no interruption by an input signal from the correction interruption key 47 is applied.

  In the twelfth embodiment of the present invention, in the sixth embodiment, as in the eleventh embodiment, the main control unit 35 executes the misalignment correction control routine shown in FIG.

  As described above, the eleventh embodiment and the twelfth embodiment are embodiments of the invention according to claim 7, and in the color image forming apparatus according to claim 4, the job performed by the user after the interruption ends. Since the control is automatically performed after the image quality is improved, image quality and user convenience can be improved.

  FIG. 13 shows a positional deviation correction control routine of the main control unit in the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention. In the eleventh embodiment and the twelfth embodiment, since the misalignment correction control is automatically performed after the job performed by the user after the misalignment correction control is interrupted, if the user performs further jobs. It may be inconvenient.

  Therefore, in the thirteenth embodiment, selection means for selecting whether or not the user performs the misalignment correction control again after the job performed by the user after the misalignment correction control is interrupted in the eleventh embodiment. It is provided on the operation unit 36, and the selection is left to the user. In this way, if the user finishes the job, the misregistration correction control can be started by pressing the misregistration correction start key 45 on the spot. If the user does not end the job, the user can preferentially process a new job without starting the misregistration correction control without pressing the misregistration correction start key 45.

  The user makes the selection again after the new job is completed, and repeats the above processing until there are no more jobs. The selection means may be a selection key displayed on the LCD display unit 37, or a hardware selection key such as a dedicated key.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the main control unit 35 monitors the keys of the operation unit 36 based on the input signal from the operation unit 36, and when the correction interruption key 47 is pressed, an interruption is performed by the input signal from the correction interruption key 47. When the misregistration correction control is interrupted (stopped), the input signal from the selection key is checked, and when the user presses the selection key after performing a job, the misregistration correction control as described above is performed. The main control unit 35 does not perform misalignment correction control unless the user presses the selection key. The main control unit 35 performs the normal misalignment correction control as described above when the interruption by the input signal from the correction interruption key 47 is not applied.

  In the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention, in the twelfth embodiment, as in the thirteenth embodiment, the main control unit 35 executes a misregistration correction control routine shown in FIG.

  Thus, the thirteenth and fourteenth embodiments are embodiments of the invention according to claim 8, and in the color image forming apparatus according to claim 4, the job performed by the user after the interruption ends. Since the operation unit 36 is provided as a selection unit for selecting whether or not to correct the misalignment again after that, the machine downtime can be reduced and the user's work efficiency can be improved. .

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be applied to, for example, a color image forming apparatus such as a digital color printer other than the above digital color image forming apparatus. The present invention can also be applied to a color image forming apparatus that forms a color image.

It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the 1st Embodiment. It is a side view which shows a part of said 1st Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the operation part of the said 1st Embodiment. It is a top view which shows the LCD display part of the 1st embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control flow of the main control part in the said 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control flow of the main control part in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the LCD display part in 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the LCD display part in 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the position shift correction control routine of the main control part in 7th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the position shift correction control routine of the main control part in 9th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the position shift correction control routine of the main control part in 11th Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the position shift correction control routine of the main control part in 13th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

35 Main control section 36 Operation section 45 Misalignment correction start key 46 Display means 47 Correction interruption key

Claims (8)

  Color image formation in which a multi-color image is formed, a color image is formed by superimposing the multi-color images, and the misregistration of the multi-color image is detected and the misalignment is corrected. The apparatus includes an instruction unit for freely instructing the user to perform the correction when the user wants to perform the correction, and a correction control unit for performing the control according to an instruction from the instruction unit. Color image forming apparatus.   Color image formation in which a multi-color image is formed, a color image is formed by superimposing the multi-color images, and the misregistration of the multi-color image is detected and the misalignment is corrected. In the apparatus, a manual correction control mode for performing the control according to an instruction from an instruction means for instructing the user to freely perform the correction, and an automatic for automatically generating a correction timing and performing the control at the correction timing. A selection means for a user to select either the manual correction control mode or the automatic correction control mode, and when the manual correction control mode is selected by the selection means, the manual And a means for making the correction timing for the next execution of the automatic correction control mode longer than normal after the execution of the correction control mode. Over the image forming apparatus.   Color image formation in which a multi-color image is formed, a color image is formed by superimposing the multi-color images, and the misregistration of the multi-color image is detected and the misalignment is corrected. The apparatus further comprises a display means for displaying that effect during the control, and the display means prompts the user that a color image cannot be formed until the control is completed. Image forming apparatus.   Color image formation in which a multi-color image is formed, a color image is formed by superimposing the multi-color images, and the misregistration of the multi-color image is detected and the misalignment is corrected. A color image forming apparatus, comprising: correction control interruption means for interrupting the control according to a user instruction during the control.   5. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising means for storing a correction amount of the positional deviation until immediately before the interruption.   5. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the correction amount of the positional deviation until just before the interruption is discarded.   5. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control is automatically performed after a job performed by a user after the interruption. 5. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising selection means for selecting whether or not the user corrects the misalignment again after a job performed by the user after the interruption is completed. Forming equipment.

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