JP2006203708A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor capable of outputting image data to be outputted to a paper sheet, in which background is already printed, with tone as it is. <P>SOLUTION: A background information input mode is selected on a control panel 111 and background information of the output paper sheet, in which the background is already printed, is inputted by using a scanner part 107. A background information processing part 109 stores read background data of the output paper sheet in a RAM 103. In addition, the image data to be outputted is read and developed on an image memory. The background data, the image data, ink color compensation data and color compensated image data are generated and the color compensated image data is developed on the image memory 105. Thus, the image is printed out on the basis of the color compensated image data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly, to an inkjet image processing apparatus that performs printing on background paper.

  In an image output device such as a printer, image output is usually performed on white paper. Therefore, the color of the portion (non-printing portion) that becomes the base of the output paper is naturally white. Also, ink application control is performed on the assumption that an image is output on white paper.

  In such an image processing apparatus, in recent years, from the viewpoint of improving discrimination of printed matter, improvement in assertiveness, etc., the paper base is set to a color other than white, or a background image is included to print an image. There is an increasing demand for image output in which the base color is changed.

  The followings have been proposed as techniques relating to an image processing apparatus that can meet such a demand.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-133620 proposes an image forming apparatus that outputs an image while printing a desired background color on white paper. Specifically, a selection unit that selects a background color or a print color of image information to be printed, a synthesis unit that synthesizes the image information converted into the selected print color on the selected background color, And a technique for printing the image data synthesized by the synthesizing means.

Patent Document 2 proposes a document processing apparatus that prints a document on a paper on which background printing has been performed. Specifically, the character color set by the setting unit includes a reading unit that reads the background of the background printed paper, and a setting unit that selects and sets the character color of the document to be printed with respect to the background color. Accordingly, a technique for printing on the background-printed paper has been proposed.
JP 2001-016472 A JP-A-10-173949

  However, the above technique has the following problems.

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, since it is necessary to print a background image, a large amount of developer such as ink and toner is consumed. Further, since it is necessary to perform full-surface printing, it takes a long time to output an image. In particular, in the case of an ink jet image processing apparatus, since ink is applied to the entire surface of the output paper, the paper contains a lot of moisture and is deformed.

  For this reason, a method of performing print output on a paper on which background printing has been performed, such as the technique described in Patent Document 2, is preferable. However, in normal print control, an originally intended image is obtained when printing is performed on white paper. The print settings are made, and when an image is output on colored paper with this print setting, the color of the output image is different, and the image intended by the user cannot be obtained. In this regard, the technique described in Patent Document 2 does not present any solution. In addition, since white cannot be expressed with a combination of developers made of CMYK, this is expressed by using the ground color of the paper when expressing white on white paper, but this method is used for colored paper. It cannot be used, and white expression cannot be performed. Regarding this point as well, the technique described in Patent Document 2 does not present any solution.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and is an image processing apparatus that outputs an image to a background-printed paper, in which the image data to be output is printed on the background with the same color It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus that can output to an image.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first storage means for storing the background information of the background-printed paper, the second storage means for storing the image data to be output, and the color correction information which is ink color correction information Non-volatile storage means for storing image, image output means for outputting an image using a plurality of inks including white ink, the background information stored in the first storage means, and the second storage means Data creation means for creating color correction image data from the image data stored in the image data and the color correction information and storing the data in the second storage means, and the image output means comprises the color An image processing apparatus that outputs an image based on corrected image data.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the white ink of the plurality of inks is used to express white on the background printed paper.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the image processing apparatus includes a color display unit, and displays the color correction image data on the color display unit. .

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the image processing device is connected to an external terminal having a color display, and the color correction image data is stored in the external image. It displays on the said color display of a terminal, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the image processing apparatus further includes a reading unit that reads an image, and the background printed paper is read by the reading unit. The background information is acquired by reading.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the image processing apparatus further includes management tag reading means for reading a management tag, and the background printed paper is provided on the background printed paper. The background information is acquired by reading the provided paper management tag by the management tag reading means.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the image processing apparatus is connected to a server terminal via a network and is provided on the background printed sheet. The background information is acquired from the server based on the identification number read from the paper management tag.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the seventh aspect of the present invention, the ink cartridge that holds the ink has an ink management tag, and the image processing apparatus is configured to replace the ink cartridge or the background printed paper. Each time, an identification number of the ink and the background printed paper is acquired from the paper management tag and the ink management tag, and based on the acquired identification number, the combination of the ink and the background printed paper is adapted. The color correction information to be acquired is acquired from the server, and the acquired color correction information is stored in the nonvolatile storage means.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the management tag is an IC tag, and the management tag reading means is an RFID reader. .

  According to the present invention, color correction image data is created using ink color correction information stored in advance in an image processing apparatus, background data of a background-printed paper, and image data of an image to be output, Since the image is output based on the color-corrected image data, it is possible to output the image data scheduled to be output on the background-printed paper as it is. In addition, it is possible to perform white expression on the paper on which the background has been printed.

  First, with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the configuration of the inkjet image processing apparatus of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a printing apparatus of an inkjet image processing apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the inkjet image processing apparatus.

  The image processing apparatus 1 includes a carriage 13 that is movable in the main scanning direction of the image processing apparatus 1, a recording head 14 that is an ink jet head provided on the carriage 13, and a sub tank 12 that supplies ink to the recording head 14. The printing apparatus 2 includes an ink cartridge 15 that is a main tank that supplies ink to the sub tank 12.

  The carriage 13 is fitted into the main guide rod 11 so as to be slidable in the main scanning direction. The carriage 13 is fixed to a timing belt 20 stretched on a driving pulley 18 and a driven pulley 19 that are rotationally driven by a main scanning motor 17. With this configuration, the moving scanning of the carriage 13 in the main scanning direction is controlled by the main scanning motor 17.

  The carriage 13 is mounted with a recording head 14 composed of an inkjet head that ejects ink droplets of each color of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) with the lower side in the ejection direction. ing. An image is formed by ejecting the ink droplets onto the output paper 3.

  Further, on the upper side of the carriage 13, sub tanks 12 for the respective colors for supplying the inks of the respective colors to the recording head 14 are provided. Each sub tank 12 and the ink cartridge (main tank) 15 are connected via an ink supply tube 16, whereby ink is supplied from the ink cartridge 15.

  The inkjet head used as the recording head 14 may be a piezo-type method in which ink is ejected from an ejection port by compressing a part of the ink flow path using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezoelectric element, or heat generation. There is a bubble type system in which bubbles are generated by film boiling by a resistor and ink is ejected by pressurizing the ink. However, the image processing apparatus according to this embodiment can correspond to any system.

  Further, the image processing apparatus 1 includes, as a paper feed port, a paper feed cassette 4 that stacks and feeds output paper 3 and a manual feed tray 5 that feeds the output paper 3 manually. Further, in order to convey the output paper 3 to the printing apparatus 2, a paper feed roller 21, a friction pad 22, a guide member 23, a conveyance roller 24, a conveyance roller 25, a leading end roller 26, and an electrostatic conveyance belt 29 and a charging charger 30.

  The paper feed roller 21 and the friction pad 22 separate and feed the paper 3 from the paper feed cassette 4. The guide member 23 guides the conveyance of the output paper 3. The transport roller 24 drives the electrostatic transport belt 29. The transport roller 24 is rotationally driven by a sub-scanning motor 27. The conveyance roller 25 and the leading end roller 26 define the output angle of the output paper 3.

  The charging charger 30 charges the electrostatic conveyance belt 29. The electrostatic conveyance belt 29 conveys the output paper 3 to the lower side of the recording head 14 of the printing apparatus 2. At this time, by being charged by the charging charger 30, the conveyed output paper 3 is adsorbed and plays a role of keeping the paper surface and the head surface in parallel.

  On the downstream side of the electrostatic conveyance belt 29 in the sheet conveyance direction, a sheet discharge roller 33 for sending the output sheet 3 to the sheet discharge tray 6 is provided, and the output sheet 3 on which an image is formed in the printing apparatus 2 is discharged. The paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 6 by the rollers 33.

  A subsystem (reliability maintenance / recovery mechanism) 37 that maintains and recovers the reliability of the recording head 14 is provided on the right end side in the movement direction of the carriage 13. While the image processing apparatus 1 is on standby for printing, the carriage 13 is moved to the subsystem 37 side, and the recording head 14 is capped by capping means or the like.

  FIG. 3 shows a state where the recording head 14 mounted on the carriage 13 is capped when the printing operation of the image processing apparatus 1 is stopped. Two recording heads 14a and 14b are mounted on the carriage 13, and the recording heads 14a and 14b are each provided with two nozzle rows 44a to 44d. Ink is ejected from the nozzle rows 44a to 44d.

  A paper detection sensor 47 is provided on the side surface of the carriage 13. The paper detection sensor 47 has a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and detects the presence or absence of the output paper 3 using these.

  When the printing operation is stopped, the recording head 14 a of the carriage 13 is covered with a cap 41, and the recording head 14 b is covered with a suction cap 42. Thereby, the head surfaces of the recording heads 14a and 14b are moisturized, and the occurrence of ink clogging in the nozzle rows 44a to 44d is suppressed.

  FIG. 4 shows a state in which the carriage 13 has moved in the main scanning forward direction during the printing operation of the image processing apparatus 1. In this state, the ink ejected from the nozzle rows 44a to 44d of the recording heads 14a and 14b adheres to the output paper 3 on the electrostatic conveyance belt 29, and an image is formed. During this printing operation, the cap 41 and the suction / cap 42 move to a position lower than the position of the cap when the printing operation is stopped, so that the carriage 13 can be driven in the main scanning direction.

  Next, the internal configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The image processing apparatus 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103, an NVRAM (Nonvolatile RAM) 104, an image memory 105, and a printer / plotter unit. 106, a scanner unit 107, an operation unit 108, a background information processing unit 109, and an external communication I / F 110.

  The CPU 101 is a central processing unit that controls the entire apparatus, executes programs, and the like. A ROM 102 is a read-only memory, and stores a program for causing the image processing apparatus to be executed. A RAM 103 is a readable / writable memory and stores various data. The NVRAM 104 is a nonvolatile memory and holds device information of the image processing apparatus 1. The image memory 105 is a storage area in which image data is expanded when an image is output. The printer / plotter unit 106 prints out image information and image data input to the image processing apparatus 1. The scanner unit 107 reads a document. The operation unit 108 accepts an operation input from the outside of the image processing apparatus 1. The operation unit 108 is connected to an input device such as the control panel 111. The background information processing unit 109 performs information processing when an image is formed on output paper on which a background and images are printed. The external communication I / F 110 is an interface for connecting the image processing apparatus 1 to an external apparatus, and inputs / outputs image data, inputs / outputs, control data, and the like.

  Next, printing control on the background-printed output paper in the image processing apparatus of the present embodiment will be described. In the following description, “background printed output paper” refers to an output paper on which a background or an image is printed.

  In normal printing control, it is assumed that the output paper is a white paper, and is set so that an originally intended image can be obtained when printing is performed on a white paper. Therefore, an intended image may not be obtained when printing control for white paper is performed on a colored paper such as an output paper on which background printing has been performed. For example, when a yellow graphic is output, a yellow graphic is formed on a white output paper, but when this is output on a blue output paper, a greenish graphic is formed. In this case, the finished state of the printed matter when printing on the output paper on which the background has been printed is different from the desired one.

  Therefore, in the image processing apparatus of the present embodiment, the background information processing unit 109 performs information processing when forming an image on a background-printed output sheet and color correction when outputting the image, thereby avoiding the above inconvenience. . This will be specifically described below.

  When printing on a background printed output paper, it is necessary to first read the background printed output paper. Therefore, the background information input mode is selected on the control panel 111, and the background information of the background printed output paper is input using the scanner unit 107. The background information processing unit 109 divides background data of the read background-printed output paper into small cell units as shown in FIG. 6 and stores the color information of the background data in the RAM 103 for each cell unit.

  When outputting an image, first, background printed output paper is set in the paper feed cassette 4 or the manual feed tray 5. Further, the image data to be output is read, divided into cell units at the same level as the cell unit division of the background printed output paper, and developed on the image memory 105.

  Next, from the color information of the background data on the RAM 103 and the image data scheduled to be output on the image memory 105, an image having the same color as the image data scheduled to be output can be obtained at any ink color / ink ratio. It is determined for each cell unit based on the ink color correction data whether it can be developed on the background printed output paper, and color corrected image data is created. Then, the color corrected image data is developed on the image memory 105. An image is printed out based on the color-corrected image data.

  Specifically, if the background data A-1 cell is X color and the image data A-1 cell is Y color and Y color is to be formed on the background printed output paper, the Y color on the X color Is set in the A-1 cell of the color-corrected image data. By performing this color correction processing on all cells, color corrected image data is configured. Ink color correction data such that the Y color is formed when the Z color ink is ejected onto the X color is stored in the NVRAM 104.

  By configuring and controlling in this way, it becomes possible to bring the finished state of the printed matter closer to the image data desired to be output in the printed matter when the output paper having the background printed is used.

  In the image output by the ink jet method, a subtractive color mixing method that expresses various colors by using a combination of C, M, Y, and K ink colors is usually used. In this subtractive color mixing method, white is used. It is not possible to express When expressing white on white output paper, white is expressed by using the background color of the paper without ejecting ink, but the background color of the paper is not white on the background printed output paper. For this reason, it is difficult to express white.

  Therefore, it is preferable to be configured to eject white (W) ink in addition to the C, M, Y, and K inks. Specifically, the recording head 14 for white ink, the sub tank 12, and the ink cartridge 15 are provided so that the white ink can be ejected onto the output paper 3.

  By configuring in this way, it is possible to develop white on the background printed output paper, so that the finished state of the printed matter when the background printed output paper is used can be converted into image data desired to be output. It becomes possible to do.

  Further, when an image is formed on a background-printed output sheet, the result of the image output is set as “print preview”, and the color display on the image processing apparatus 1 or the color display of an external apparatus connected to the image processing apparatus May be displayed. With this configuration, it is possible to know the finished state of the printed matter without actually performing printing. In addition, since it is not necessary to perform test printing that is performed until an image intended by the user is obtained, wasteful use of ink and output paper can be suppressed.

  Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which an RFID reader 121 is further provided in the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

  RFID is Radio Frequency Identification, which is an automatic recognition system that reads and writes individual information stored in a medium called an IC tag by wireless communication.

  In the image processing apparatus of the present embodiment, the background data of the background printed output paper is input using the RFID. Specifically, the background data of the background printed output paper is input by causing the RFID reader 121 to read the IC tag 122 attached to the paper bundle of the background printed paper every time the background printed output paper is set. .

  By controlling as described above, it is not necessary to scan the background-printed output paper in order to capture the background data of the background-printed output paper. In addition, since the background data input is not an analog input by scanning but a digital input by electrical data, the background data of the output paper with the background printed can be input more accurately.

  In the above embodiment, depending on the type of printed background, the amount of background data may be too large to fit in the IC tag 122. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the image processing apparatus 1 is connected to a maker (development company) server 131 via a network 130, and a sheet is printed from the IC tag 122 by the RFID reader 121 every time a background printed output sheet is set. May be acquired, and background data may be acquired from the server 131 based on the serial number. By controlling in this way, a large amount of background data can be acquired digitally.

  Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the second image processing apparatus, the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an ink cartridge 15 that is a main tank provided with an IC tag 123, and the image processing apparatus 1 and a manufacturer (development company) via a network 130. The server 131 is connected.

  The CPU 101 of the image processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment reads the IC tag 123 provided in the ink cartridge 15 with the RFID reader 121 every time the ink cartridge 12 is replaced, and acquires product data of ink (ink cartridge). This is stored in the NVRAM 104. Further, every time the background printed output paper is set, the serial number of the background printed output paper is acquired from the IC tag of the background printed output paper, and is stored in the NVRAM 104. In this way, the material information is stored in the NVRAM 104 every time the ink and background printed output paper is replaced.

  Then, the ink product data and the serial number of the output paper are transmitted to the server 131 each time the ink cartridge 15 is replaced or the background printed output paper is set. The server 131 selects the optimal ink color correction data based on the ink product data and the serial number of the output paper, and transmits it. The CPU 101 of the image processing apparatus 1 updates the ink color correction data stored in the NVRAM 104 based on the sent ink color correction data.

  By controlling in this way, even if the material of ink or paper changes as technology advances, the optimum ink color correction data corresponding to this material change can be acquired for each printing operation. It is possible to output an image with desired image quality.

  Note that the image processing apparatuses of the above-described three embodiments can be applied not only to the background-printed output paper but also to recycled paper.

It is a figure which shows the schematic perspective view of the printing apparatus of an inkjet type image processing apparatus. It is a figure which shows side surface sectional drawing of an inkjet type image processing apparatus. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state where a recording head mounted on a carriage is capped. It is a figure which shows the state which the carriage moved to the main scanning positive direction. It is a figure which shows the internal structure of the image processing apparatus of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows what divided | segmented background data into the cell unit. It is a figure which shows the image processing apparatus provided with the RFID reader. It is a figure for demonstrating the image processing apparatus which acquires background data from a server. It is a figure for demonstrating the image processing apparatus which performs the automatic update of ink color correction data.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing apparatus 2 Printing apparatus 13 Carriage 14 Recording head (a, b)
15 Ink cartridge 101 CPU
103 RAM
104 NVRAM
109 Background Information Processing Unit 121 RFID Reader 122 IC Tag 131 Server

Claims (9)

First storage means for storing background information of the background printed paper;
Second storage means for storing image data to be output;
Non-volatile storage means for storing color correction information that is ink color correction information;
Image output means for outputting an image using a plurality of inks including white ink;
Color corrected image data is created from the background information stored in the first storage means, the image data stored in the second storage means, and the color correction information, and the second storage is performed. Data creating means to be stored in the means,
The image processing apparatus, wherein the image output means outputs an image based on the color correction image data.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the white ink of the plurality of inks is used to express white on the background-printed paper. The image processing apparatus has a color display unit,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color correction image data is displayed on the color display unit. The image processing apparatus is connected to an external terminal having a color display,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color correction image data is displayed on the color display of the external terminal. The image processing apparatus further includes reading means for reading an image,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the background information is acquired by reading the background-printed paper by the reading unit. The image processing apparatus further includes management tag reading means for reading a management tag,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the background information is acquired by reading a paper management tag provided on the background-printed paper by the management tag reading unit. The image processing apparatus is connected to a server terminal via a network,
The background information is acquired from the server based on an identification number read from the paper management tag provided on the background printed paper. Image processing device. The ink cartridge holding the ink has an ink management tag,
The image processing apparatus includes:
Each time the ink cartridge or the background printed paper is replaced, an identification number of the ink and the background printed paper is acquired from the paper management tag and the ink management tag.
Based on the acquired identification number, the color correction information suitable for the combination of the ink and the background printed paper is acquired from the server,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the acquired color correction information is stored in the nonvolatile storage unit. The management tag is an IC tag,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the management tag reading unit is an RFID reader.

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