JP2007052177A - Glossy image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system with which a print can be output having glossiness corresponding to and suitable for each of a graphic area, a text area and an entry area for notes, etc. in one print. <P>SOLUTION: The glossy image forming system has an image input means, an editing means and an image output means which forms an image on a recording medium according to editing by the editing means and outputs the image as a print. The editing means sets at least one of a high gloss area, a medium gloss area having a gloss lower than high gloss and a low gloss area having a gloss lower than medium gloss, in one print, according to an input instruction. The image output means performs prescribed gloss processing of the corresponding area of the recording medium, according to the gloss set by the editing means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides a glossy image forming system capable of outputting a print (hard copy) in which a desired area is given a good glossiness and a non-glossy area where it is not desirable to have a glossiness for writing notes or the like. About.

  In various printers such as electrophotographic printers and ink jet printers, it is possible to improve the image quality (high quality) by adding gloss to the prints to be formed or using a glossy recording medium (image receiving medium). A print having an image quality (quality) corresponding to a so-called photographic print has been made.

  Here, in terms of image quality and quality, the print preferably has gloss. On the other hand, in an area where character information such as a sentence such as an explanatory text is recorded, it is difficult to read the character due to reflection of light caused by glossiness, which causes observer's eye fatigue.

  In order to solve such problems, Patent Document 1 discloses that in one print (printed material), an image is divided into a character area and a graphic area (image area), and for example, toners having different glossiness are used. An image forming apparatus is disclosed in which an image is formed to create a print in which a character area has an appropriate gloss and a graphic area has a high gloss.

JP-A-7-129039

  According to such an image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, in a print in which graphics and text are mixed, it is possible to output a graphic with gloss and a character with low gloss. It is possible to create a print that is beautiful and easy to read, can reduce the fatigue of the reader's eyes, and has both characteristics corresponding to the image.

However, there are various uses for printing. For example, there are cases where it is desired to write information or comments about an image on a print. However, it is difficult to fill in a general-purpose writing instrument such as a pencil, a ballpoint pen, and a sign pen on a print that has been subjected to gloss processing for the purpose of obtaining image quality corresponding to a photographic print.
That is, not only the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, but also a printer (image forming apparatus) that creates high-quality prints by imparting glossiness, imparts appropriate glossiness to graphics and text. Thus, a high-quality image can be formed, but it is not possible to create a print in consideration of the convenience of the user, such as entering a memo or comment by the user after the print output.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and in accordance with a graphic area or a text area being printed, and an entry area such as a memo, an arbitrary area is appropriately set according to each. To provide an image forming system capable of creating a print that can be made glossy (including non-glossy), and that can suitably write notes and comments in addition to graphic image quality and text visibility. is there.

  In order to achieve the above object, a glossy image forming system according to the present invention includes an image input unit for inputting image data, an editing unit, and an image formed on a recording medium in accordance with editing by the editing unit. And an image output means for outputting, in response to an input instruction, the editing means, during printing of one sheet, a high-gloss area, a medium-gloss area that is lower than the high-gloss area, and the At least one low-gloss area having a lower gloss than the medium gloss is set, and the image output means performs a predetermined gloss process on the corresponding area of the recording medium in accordance with the gloss set by the editing means. A glossy image forming system is provided.

In such a glossy image forming system of the present invention, the input instruction indicates a write-inhibited area, and the editing unit sets an area other than the instructed write-inhibited area as the low-gloss area. Preferably, the input instruction indicates a writing area, and the editing means preferably sets the instructed writing area as the low-gloss area, or the editing means prohibits writing. There are a write prohibited area setting mode for designating an area and a write area setting mode for designating a write area, and any one of these can be selected. It is preferable that the area is a low gloss area, and in the writing area setting mode, the instructed writing area is a low gloss area.
Further, it is preferable that the editing means further has a gloss level selecting means for setting the gloss level to at least one of arbitrary and stepwise in the setting of the medium gloss and the high gloss.

  According to the present invention having the above configuration, in one print (hard copy), an area such as a graphic where image quality is given the highest priority, an area such as a sentence where image quality and visibility are both desired, a pencil, a ballpoint pen, etc. Corresponding to areas such as memos that are desired to be written easily and suitably with general-purpose writing instruments, it is possible to arbitrarily set areas on a single print to give each area the optimum glossiness. In addition to the image quality, it is possible to create a print that is convenient for the user.

  Hereinafter, the glossy image forming system of the present invention will be described in detail based on the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a conceptual diagram of an example of the glossy image forming system of the present invention.
A glossy image forming system 10 (hereinafter, system 10) shown in FIG. 1 acquires image data, performs a predetermined editing process on the image data, and then forms an image corresponding to the editing on a recording medium. The data is output as a print (hard copy), and basically includes an image input device 12, an editing device 14, an image output device 16, an operation unit 18, and a display device 20.

The image input device 12 (hereinafter referred to as the input device 12) acquires an image (image data) and supplies it to the editing device 14.
In the system 10 of the present invention, the input device 12 is not particularly limited, and various image acquisition means can be used. Examples include reading devices for various storage media such as CD (-R), smart media, and memory sticks (may be compatible with multiple media), image reading devices that photoelectrically read images such as photographic films and prints, Examples include an image processing unit that acquires image processing such as image synthesis, an image processing unit that performs layout of a plurality of images, a communication terminal that acquires various information such as an image from a communication network such as the Internet, and the like.
The system 10 may include a plurality of these image acquisition means.

The operation means 18 is used by a user (operator) to input various operations and instructions such as various operations, area selection and glossiness selection, which will be described later, and is used in a computer such as a mouse, a keyboard, and a touch panel. Known operation means. The display device 20 is also a known display (monitor) such as an LCD or CRT.
In the illustrated system 10, as an example, various operation instructions are input by a GUI (Graphical User Interface) using the display by the display device 20 and the operation means 18. Information (instruction information) of various instructions input by the operation unit 18 is sent to the editing device 14.

  The editing device 14 receives an image acquired by the image input device 12 and performs a predetermined editing process on the image in accordance with instruction information from the operation means 18. For example, a computer or a workstation is used. Configured.

In the system 10 of the illustrated example, a single print has a high glossiness, a high-gloss area that suitably corresponds to a graphic area or the like where image quality is the highest priority, a gloss area lower than the high glossiness, and a text area As described above, a medium glossy area that is suitable for areas where both image quality and visibility are desired, and a low glossiness that is suitable for writing on general-purpose writing instruments such as pencils and ballpoint pens. A glossy region can be formed.
In response to an input instruction by the user using the operation unit 18 or the like, the editing device 14 applies a high-gloss region and a medium-gloss region having a lower gloss level than the high-gloss region to the image supplied from the image input device 12. , And a low-gloss area having a lower glossiness than the medium glossiness, and the glossiness data, which is the glossy information for each glossy area and the glossiness information for each glossy area, and the image ( Image data) is supplied to the image output device 16 (exposure control unit 32).

In the present invention, the glossiness of high gloss, medium gloss, and low gloss is not particularly limited, and the high gloss area is the highest gloss and the medium gloss area is high gloss in one print. It is sufficient that the glossiness is lower than that of the area No. 1, and the low glossiness area is lower in glossiness than the medium glossiness area.
If the above conditions are satisfied, the glossiness may be arbitrarily selected for each of high gloss, medium gloss and low gloss. Alternatively, different glossiness levels may be set in advance so that the glossiness can be selected. Further, any one of glossiness selection and stepwise glossiness selection may be selected.
Such arbitrary and / or stepwise glossiness selection may be performed in accordance with, for example, density selection methods used in various image processing apparatuses, digital photo printers, image processing software, and the like. That's fine.

  As is generally known, the glossiness of high gloss is about 60 to 80%, the glossiness of medium gloss is about 40 to 60%, and the glossiness of low gloss is 40% or less. Each is preferred.

  In the editing apparatus 14 of the system 10, various methods using a GUI or the like can be used for such selection / setting of areas and selection / setting of gloss for each area.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 2, the image supplied from the image input device 12 is displayed in the area of the display device 20, and high gloss, medium gloss, and no gloss (low gloss) at predetermined positions on the display screen. And a “cancel” button and a “decision” button. Further, preferably, the user is prompted to select gloss by display, audio output, or the like.
When one of high gloss, medium gloss, and no gloss is selected by the user (high gloss is selected in the illustrated example), the editing device 14 then selects “gloss area” in the drawing. Like “Please”, the display device 20 displays a display for prompting selection of the area.

There are no particular limitations on the region selection method, and various methods used in various image processing software, image editing software, and the like can be used. For example, a method that uses a rectangle whose diagonal is two points selected by the mouse (selection of points or selection by dragging) as a selection area, and a circle passing through these two points with the distance between the two points as a selection area A method in which an ellipse having the two points as a focus is selected, a method in which an ellipse having the two points as a short axis (or long axis) is selected, and three or more points selected by a mouse or the like. Examples include a method in which the connected area is a selected area, and a method in which an arbitrary area drawn by dragging the mouse is used as a selected area. Two or more of these methods may be set and selectable.
In FIG. 2, as indicated by a dotted line in the figure, a rectangular area is selected with two points selected by dragging with the mouse as diagonals.

  As described above, since high gloss is selected in FIG. 2, the editing device 14 changes the rectangular area to high gloss according to the selection of the selected rectangular area and the gloss level. Set as area.

In the same manner, the area is selected with the medium gloss button selected and the non-gloss button selected. In response to this, the editing device 14 sets a medium glossy region and a low glossy region. Of course, the area for each gloss is not limited to a single area, and may be a plurality of areas. Further, it is not necessary to select / set the gloss for all the three types of gloss, and only one or two of the three glosses may be selected.
When selection of all desired glosses and areas is completed, the user presses the “OK” button. In response to this, the editing device 14 uses the gloss information on the positions of all set gloss areas (information on the positions of the gloss areas in the image (or during printing)) and the gloss information of the gloss areas. As the degree data, it is supplied to an image output device 16 (exposure control unit 32) described later.

  In this way, any area of the image can be set to high gloss, medium gloss, and low gloss, so that high gloss is given to the area where the image quality, such as graphics, is most important in a single print. Appropriate glossiness is given to areas where the balance between visibility and image quality is important, such as text, and in areas that allow aggressive writing such as areas that allow writing and memo fields, It is possible to easily write with a general-purpose writing instrument such as a pencil without imparting unnecessary gloss.

If there is a region that is not selected as the glossy region in the image, the editing apparatus 14 sets this region as a low-gloss region. Therefore, only the “high gloss” and “medium gloss” buttons are displayed without displaying the “non-glossy (low gloss)” button, and the glossy area is selected in response to pressing the “decision” button. The area that did not exist may be automatically set as a low-gloss area.
In addition, when the “Cancel” button is pressed prior to pressing the “Enter” button, the set gloss area is canceled. This cancellation may be performed by pressing the “Cancel” button once to cancel all the gloss areas that have been set, or only the gloss areas selected by clicking or other means. It may be possible to select whether to cancel the area or to cancel the selected glossy area.

In the above example, the gloss is selected first, and then the region is selected.However, the present invention is not limited to this, and after selecting the region, the gloss is selected. As described above, each gloss region may be set.
This is the same in other examples.

As described above, various methods can be used as the method for selecting an area.
For example, by drawing with the mouse dragged, as shown by the oblique lines in FIG. 3, an arbitrary area not constrained by the shape is selected / set as a gloss area, and high gloss, medium gloss, and no gloss ( It is also possible to select / set any gloss of (low gloss). Even in this case, one or more images may be displayed on the display device 20.
In this way, by making an arbitrary area of a single print high gloss or medium gloss, when creating a catalog or a restaurant menu, etc. A desired gloss can be suitably imparted to an arbitrary area where it is desired to read an explanation or the like, and a high-quality print can be created.

Further, in the system 10 of the present invention, by selecting the glossy region and the glossy as described above, it is not limited to setting the high glossy region, the middle glossy region, and the low glossy region, but the selection and writing of the region. Depending on the selection of whether or not it is possible, a high gloss region, a medium gloss region, and a low gloss region may be set.
As an example, the configuration has a write-protected area setting mode for setting a write-protected area and an entry field setting mode (write area setting mode) for setting a memo area (write area), and one of them can be selected. Is done. For example, the mode is selected by displaying a mode selection instruction button or the like for instructing mode selection on the display device 20. When this button is pressed, a mode selection button or the like for selecting any mode is displayed. A known method using a GUI or the like, such as a method for prompting any selection, may be used.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a display screen in the write prohibited area setting mode.
As in the previous example, the image supplied from the image input device 12 is displayed on the display device 20 even in the write-protected area setting mode. In addition, a “write protected area determination” button and a “write prohibited area release” button are displayed at predetermined positions of the display device 20.

Further, a display prompting the user to select a write-protected area is displayed at a predetermined position of the display device 20, such as “Please set a write-protected area”.
Various methods can be used to select the write-protected area as in the previous example. FIG. 4 shows an example in which the write-protected area is selected as a rectangle whose diagonals are two points selected by dragging with the mouse, as shown by a dotted line in the figure, as in the example shown in FIG.

In response to the selection of this area, the editing device 14 sets the selected write-protected area as a high-gloss or medium-gloss area.
In the write prohibited area setting mode, the write prohibited area may be a standard high gloss area or a standard medium gloss area. Further, it is possible to select / set in advance (or after selecting an area) whether all or individual write-inhibited areas are to be high-gloss areas or medium-gloss areas. Further, it may be possible to select / set between a high-gloss area and a middle-gloss area in the selected write-protected area. Furthermore, any of these methods may be selected.

When the user selects all desired write-protected areas, the user presses a “write-protected area determination” button. In response to this, the editing apparatus 14 sets an area other than the selected write-protected area as a low-gloss area. Further, the editing device 14 supplies the set information on the position of each glossy region and the gloss information on each glossy region to the image output device 16 (exposure control unit 32) as glossiness data.
When the “write protected area release” button is pressed before the “write protected area determination” button is pressed, the high / medium gloss area set according to the selection of the write protected area is canceled. In the same manner as in the previous example, this cancellation may be made so that the entire area or the selected area can be selected from all the set areas or only the selected area.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a display screen in the memo entry column setting mode (writing area setting mode).
As in the previous example, the image supplied from the image input device 12 is displayed on the display device 20 also in the memo entry field setting mode. In addition, an “entry field determination” button and an “entry field deletion” button are displayed at predetermined positions on the display device 20.

Further, a display prompting selection of an entry field is displayed at a predetermined position of the display device 20 as “Please set an area for entering notes”.
Various methods can be used to select the entry field as in the previous example. FIG. 5 shows an example in which the entry field is selected with a rectangle whose diagonal is two points selected by dragging with the mouse, as indicated by a dotted line in the figure, as in the previous case.

  In response to the selection of the entry field, the editing device 14 sets the selected entry field area as a low-gloss area.

When all the desired entry fields are selected, the user presses the “entry field determination” button. In response to this, the editing device 14 sets an area other than the selected entry field as a high-gloss or medium-gloss area. In the memo entry field setting mode, the area other than the selected entry field may be high gloss or medium gloss as standard, as with the write prohibit area in the previous write protection area setting mode. It may be possible to select / set whether to use gloss or select an area and select / set high gloss or medium gloss for each area.
When all the areas and gloss are set, the editing device 14 uses the set information on the position of each gloss area and the gloss information on each gloss area as image data output device 16 (exposure control unit 32) described later as glossiness data. ).

  If the “Delete entry field” button is pressed before the “Entry field determination” button is pressed, the low-gloss area set according to the selection of the entry field is canceled. As in the previous example, the cancellation may be made by selecting either the entire area or only the selected area, and canceling all the areas or canceling the selected area. is there.

  By having such a write-inhibit mode and a memo entry field setting mode, for example, when creating a printed matter including a photo or text such as a catalog, it is better to have gloss such as a photo or explanatory text by editing the image It is preferable in terms of quality, and it is difficult to write by giving gloss to an area where the observer does not want to write, etc., so that writing can be prevented and writing can be prevented and writing is permitted. Without giving unnecessary gloss to the area, it is possible to output a print that can be easily written with a general-purpose writing instrument such as a pencil or a ballpoint pen.

The system 10 of the present invention has a write-inhibited area setting mode and a memo entry field setting mode, and is not limited to making any one selectable, and has only one area setting means. Also good.
Further, the system 10 of the present invention may have only such an area setting mode, does not have the area setting mode, and performs only the selection / setting of the glossy area and the gloss illustrated in FIGS. Alternatively, both of them may be selected.

In the system 10, it is preferable to display an image on the display device 10 so that the high gloss, medium gloss, and low gloss regions can be recognized in any glossy region and glossy selection / setting method.
As an example, for each gloss area of high gloss, medium gloss, and low gloss, a unique color or shading (can be hatched or screened) is set, and the set gloss area is displayed in a corresponding color. And a method of applying a mesh corresponding to the set glossy area is exemplified. Further, if the image is always colored or shaded in the glossy area, the visibility and the confirmation of the image on the display device 20 are lowered. For example, the pointer is pointed by the operation of the mouse of the operation means 18. Only the area may be displayed with a color or mesh corresponding to the set gloss.

Note that the editing of the image by the editing device 14 is not limited to such setting of the area and glossiness, and various editing processes may be performed.
For example, generation of an image (image data) corresponding to one print by a layout of a plurality of images acquired from the image input machine 12 (automatic arrangement of a plurality of images and / or arrangement according to an input instruction by the operation means 18), Selection of a print format having a set image layout, generation of an image corresponding to one print using this print format, etc. are performed. Selection / setting may be performed.
In addition to such image editing, the editing device 14 performs various image processing such as image enlargement / reduction (electronic scaling processing), gradation correction, color / density correction, sharpness processing, and the like. There may be.

As described above, the editing device 14 receives the image data (output image data) supplied from the image input device and the gloss level data (position information of each gloss region and gloss information of each gloss region). Are associated with each other and supplied to the image output device 16.
The image output device 16 records an image corresponding to the image data on the recording sheet A (recording medium), and performs glossing processing corresponding to the glossiness data on the recording sheet A on which the image is recorded.

The image output device 16 records an image on a recording sheet A (image receiving medium) by an electrophotographic method to create a print P, and basically includes a recording sheet supply unit 28, an image forming unit 30, exposure. A control unit 32 and a print discharge unit 34 are included.
In the image output device 16, even if these parts and parts are not particularly illustrated or labeled, if necessary, the conveying means for the recording sheet A such as a pair of conveying rollers and a guide member. And various members disposed in a known printer, such as a sensor for detecting jamming or recording sheet A.

The recording sheet supply unit 28 (hereinafter referred to as the supply unit 28) is a part that supplies the cut sheet-like recording sheet A to the image forming unit 30.
In the illustrated example, the supply unit 28 includes a loading unit for a magazine 40 that accommodates a recording sheet roll formed by winding a long recording sheet A, and a loading unit (two for a cassette 42 that accommodates a cut sheet-like recording sheet A). ).
The recording sheet A is not particularly limited, and any of various recording sheets used in an electrophotographic printer can be used.

A drawer roller pair 46 and a cutter 48 are disposed downstream of the magazine 40 loaded in the loading section (downstream in the conveyance direction of the recording sheet A).
The drawing roller pair 46 is a roller pair that pulls out the recording sheet A from the recording sheet roll accommodated in the magazine 40. The cutter 48 is a known sheet-like material cutting means such as a guillotine cutter.

The drawing of the recording sheet A from the recording sheet roll by the drawing roller pair 46 is stopped when the length of the recording sheet A downstream from the cutter 48 becomes a predetermined length. Next, the cutter 48 cuts the recording sheet A into a recording sheet A having a predetermined size cut sheet, and supplies the recording sheet A to a predetermined conveying means.
The recording sheet A accommodated in the cassette 42 is pulled out by known means used in various printers and is supplied to a predetermined conveying means.

The recording sheet A cut to a predetermined size by the cutter 48 and the recording sheet A drawn from the cassette 42 are conveyed to the image forming unit 30 by a pair of conveying rollers.
A back printer 50 is disposed in the middle of the conveyance path of the recording sheet A from the supply unit 28 to the image forming unit 30, and a predetermined back such as a frame number is provided on the back surface (non-image recording surface) of the recording sheet A. Record the print (back print). The back printer 50 is not particularly limited, and various printers used as a back printer in a photographic printer or the like such as a dot impact printer or a thermal printer using an ink ribbon can be used.

  The image forming unit 30 and the exposure control unit 32 record an image on the recording sheet A by electrophotography. The image forming unit 30 includes an exposure unit 54, a toner image forming unit 62, a transfer unit 64, and a fixing roller pair 80.

The exposure control unit 32 uses the image data and glossiness data supplied from the editing device 14 as image data corresponding to image exposure (drawing) in the exposure unit 54 (ROS 54a) of the image forming unit 30 (hereinafter referred to as drawing data). ) To the image forming unit 30.
In other words, the exposure control unit 32 performs necessary processing on the image data supplied from the editing device 14 to perform C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and B (black) by electrophotography. The drawing data of each color toner image.
Further, the exposure control unit 32 applies high gloss to the high gloss area of the image in accordance with the gloss data (position information of each gloss area and gloss information of each gloss area) supplied from the editing device 14. A predetermined amount (toner amount per unit area) set corresponding to the transparent toner is uniformly adhered, and a predetermined amount (corresponding to the middle gloss) is set in the middle gloss region of the image. The drawing data by the transparent toner is generated so that the transparent toner having a smaller amount than the high gloss) is uniformly attached, and the transparent toner is not attached to the low gloss region. In other words, a solid image of transparent toner having a predetermined density (predetermined toner amount) corresponding to high gloss is formed in the high gloss area, and a transparent toner having a predetermined density corresponding to medium gloss is formed in the medium gloss area. Drawing data with transparent toner is generated so as to form a solid image, and so that a solid toner solid image is not formed in a low-gloss area (hereinafter, a solid toner solid image is referred to as a “transparent toner image”). To do). The amount of toner in each glossy region may be determined as appropriate according to the transparent toner to be used and the like so that the target gloss can be obtained.

  When the exposure control unit 32 generates the drawing data of the C, M, Y, and K toner images corresponding to the drawing of one print and the drawing data of the transparent toner image in this way, each drawing data Is supplied to the exposure unit 54 (ROS 54a) of the image forming unit 30.

In the present invention, the low-gloss area is not limited to not forming a transparent toner image. The low-gloss area is not limited to an intermediate-gloss area that does not give unnecessary gloss to the low-gloss area. A small amount of a transparent toner image may be formed.
In addition, since a higher gloss amount can be obtained when the amount of the transparent toner is larger, as described above, when the gloss level is set arbitrarily or stepwise in each gloss region, the amount of the transparent toner is accordingly set. The density of the solid image of the transparent toner may be adjusted.

As described above, the image forming unit 30 includes the exposure unit 54, the toner image forming unit 62, the transfer unit 64, and the fixing roller pair 80.
The exposure unit 54 includes a light beam E (recording light) light source that exposes the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 56 of the toner image forming unit 62, an optical deflector, an fθ lens, an optical path changing mirror, a light beam adjusting lens, and the like. This is a known light beam scanning optical system having a ROS 54a having a mirror and a mirror 54b.
That is, the exposure unit 54 applies the light beam E modulated according to the drawing data (recorded image) supplied from the exposure control unit 32 in the rotation axis direction of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 56 (rotation of the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 56). Is deflected and emitted in the main scanning direction that coincides with the direction (= direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording sheet A), is reflected by the mirror 54b, enters the predetermined exposure position, and enters the electrophotographic photosensitive drum 56. A latent image corresponding to the drawing of each toner image is recorded.

  The toner image forming unit 62 is a known toner image forming unit by electrophotography, and includes the above-described electrophotographic photosensitive drum 56 (hereinafter referred to as the photosensitive drum 56), charging unit 58, cleaning unit 60, and toner supply. Means 62a is provided.

The photosensitive drum 56 is a known electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and rotates in the direction of arrow a (the direction opposite to the conveyance direction of the recording sheet A) with the rotation axis coinciding with the main scanning direction. As described above, since the light beam E from the ROS 54a is deflected in the main scanning direction, the photosensitive drum 56 is two-dimensionally scanned and exposed by the light beam E modulated according to the drawing data.
The toner supply means 62a includes a C-toner supply unit 62C, an M-toner supply unit 62M, a Y-toner supply unit 62Y, a B-toner supply unit 62B, and a transparent (T) toner on a drum-shaped main body that can rotate in the direction of arrow b. The five toner supply parts of the supply part 62T are provided at intervals of a rotation angle of 72 °. The transparent toner is a colorless and transparent toner for imparting gloss to the print. For example, a transparent toner described in JP-A-2005-49530 or the like is a known transparent used for imparting gloss. Various toners are available.

  The transfer unit 64 presses the transfer belt 66 against the photosensitive drum 56 from the inside, a transfer belt 66 that is an endless belt that partially contacts the photosensitive drum 56, three rollers 68 that stretch the transfer belt 66, and the inside. A pressing roller 70, a transfer roller 72, and a belt conveyor 168 are included. The transfer belt 66 is an intermediate transfer member for toner images, and rotates in the direction of arrow c (the same direction as the conveyance direction of the recording sheet A). Further, the transfer roller 72 is movable to a position where the transfer belt 66 (recording sheet A) is sandwiched together with one of the rollers 68 and a position where the transfer roller 66 is separated from the transfer belt 66.

The photosensitive drum 56 is uniformly charged in the main scanning direction by the charging means 58 while rotating in the direction of arrow a in the figure, and two-dimensionally by the light beam E modulated according to the drawing data as described above. Scanning exposure is performed to form an electrostatic latent image. Next, the electrostatic latent image is developed by a toner supply unit, for example, a Y toner supply unit 62Y, located at the development position of the toner supply unit 62a (a position facing the photoconductive drum 56), and is applied to the surface of the photoconductive drum 56. A Y toner image is formed.
Further, the transfer belt 66 that is partly in contact with the photosensitive drum 56 and pressed by the pressing roller 70 rotates in the direction of arrow c in synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 56. Therefore, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 56 developed by the toner supply means 62a is transferred to the transfer belt 66 at this contact portion (pressing portion by the pressing roller 70). The remaining toner is removed by the cleaning unit 60 in the region where the transfer of the toner image onto the transfer belt 66 of the photosensitive drum 56 is completed.

In the illustrated example, such toner image formation and transfer to the transfer belt 66 are performed by supplying four toners of a Y toner supply unit 62Y, an M toner supply unit 62M, a C toner supply unit 62C, and a B toner supply unit 62B. The operation is performed by sequentially operating the units, and finally the T toner supply unit 62T is operated.
For example, after the Y toner image is transferred to the transfer belt 66 as described above, the drum-like main body of the toner supply means 62a is rotated 72 ° in the direction of the arrow b to bring the M toner supply portion 62M to the development position. Positioned and aligned with the Y toner image on the transfer belt 66, similarly, a latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 56 to form an M toner image, which is then transferred to the transfer belt 66. Thereafter, similarly, the C toner image is transferred to the transfer belt, and the B toner image is transferred to the transfer belt. When the four color toner images are transferred to the transfer belt 66, finally, similarly, the T toner supply unit 62T is positioned at the development position, and the latent image is transferred to the photosensitive drum 56 in accordance with the drawing data of the transparent toner image. Then, a transparent toner image is formed, aligned with the four color images, and transferred to the transfer belt 66.
During this time, the transfer roller 72 is separated from the transfer belt 66.

  Accordingly, in the illustrated example, toner images of Y, M, C, and B are formed on the surface of the transfer belt 66 by being aligned, that is, a four-color (full) color image is formed, and a high color image is formed thereon. A transparent toner image (a solid image of a transparent toner having a predetermined density (= attachment amount)) corresponding to each of the glossy region and the medium glossy region is formed.

On the other hand, a predetermined size cut sheet-like recording sheet A is supplied from the supply unit 28 and waits at a pair of registration rollers 52 immediately upstream of the transfer roller 72, for example.
When a color image is formed on the transfer belt 66, the recording sheet A formed by the registration roller pair 52 is synchronized with the rotation of the transfer belt 66 so that the recording sheet A and the color image formed on the transfer belt 66 are aligned. The conveyance of A is started, the transfer roller 72 is pressed against the transfer belt 66 (roller 68), and the recording sheet A is nipped and conveyed between the transfer belt 66 and the transfer roller 72. By this nipping and conveying, the four color toner images formed on the surface of the transfer belt 66 and the transparent toner image are transferred to the recording sheet A, and a color image and a transparent toner image are formed on the surface of the recording sheet A. The

The recording sheet A on which the image is formed is conveyed to the fixing roller pair 80 by the belt conveyor 74.
The fixing roller pair 80 is a conveyance roller pair in which at least one is a heating roller. Note that the fixing roller pair 80 may be in a sandwiched state and a sandwiched open state by moving the roller on the image forming surface side up and down as necessary.
The fixing roller pair 80 heats / heats the toner image by sandwiching and transporting the recording sheet A on which the image is transferred and formed on the transfer unit 64 in the same manner as in fixing of image formation by a normal electrophotographic system. Press to fix. The fixing also fixes the transparent toner image, and gives the print glossiness corresponding to the amount of the transparent toner attached (the density of the transparent toner image).

In the system 10 of the present invention, the image recording method is not limited to the electrophotography as shown in the illustrated example, and any known image recording method can be used.
As an example, various printers such as a printer using a photosensitive photothermographic material that has a thermal development step and transfers and forms an image on an image receiving medium in the presence of an image forming solvent such as water, an ink jet printer, and a thermal printer using a thermal head. An image recording method implemented by a known printer (printing means) can be used.

In the illustrated example, a transparent toner image is formed on the surface of the print so that any area of the print has high gloss, medium gloss, and low gloss. However, in the present invention, gloss is imparted to each gloss area. The processing for doing this is not limited to the method using transparent toner, and various glossing processing methods used in print creation can be used.
For example, a transparent ink that gives glossiness to a print is used, and an ink jet is used to apply a predetermined amount of transparent ink to a high-gloss area and a medium-gloss area (or even a low-gloss area) according to each gloss. A predetermined glossiness may be imparted to each glossy region by forming a solid image (that is, a solid image of transparent ink having a predetermined density).
Moreover, as a method for the gloss imparting process using the transparent toner, the method disclosed in the aforementioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-49530 can also be suitably used.

The print on which the color image and the transparent toner image are formed by the image forming unit 30 is then discharged to the print discharge unit 34.
In the illustrated example, the print discharge unit 34 is a sorter having a plurality of bins (shelves) 98 that rotate in the direction of arrow d. The prints on which the color image and the transparent toner image are formed are sorted into the respective bins 98 and discharged.

  The glossy image forming system of the present invention has been described in detail above, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various improvements and modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course.

It is a conceptual diagram of an example of the glossy image forming system of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram of an example of a glossy area selection screen in the glossy image forming system of the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram of another example of a glossy area selection screen in the glossy image forming system of the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram of another example of a glossy area selection screen in the glossy image forming system of the present invention. It is a conceptual diagram of another example of a glossy area selection screen in the glossy image forming system of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 (Glossy image formation) System 12 Image input hand machine 14 Editing apparatus 16 Image output apparatus 18 Operation means 20 Display apparatus 28 (Recording sheet)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 Image formation part 32 Exposure control part 34 Print discharge part 40 Magazine 42 Cassette 46 Pull-out roller pair 48 Cutter 50 Back printer 52 Registration roller pair 54 Exposure part 56 (Electrophotography) Photosensitive drum 58 Charging means 60 Cleaning means 62 Toner image formation Section 64 Transfer section 66 Transfer belt 68 Roller 70 Press roller 72 Transfer roller 74 Belt conveyor 80 Fixing roller

Claims (5)

Image input means for inputting image data, editing means, and image output means for forming an image on a recording medium and outputting it as a print in response to editing by the editing means,
In response to an input instruction, the editing unit is configured to print a high-gloss area, a medium-gloss area having a lower gloss than the high-gloss, and a low-gloss having a lower gloss than the middle gloss during one print. Set at least one of the areas
The gloss image forming system, wherein the image output unit performs a predetermined gloss process on a corresponding area of the recording medium in accordance with the gloss set by the editing unit.   The gloss image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the input instruction indicates a write prohibited area, and the editing unit sets an area other than the designated write prohibited area as the low gloss area.   The gloss image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the input instruction indicates a writing area, and the editing unit sets the instructed writing area as the low-gloss area. The editing means has a write prohibited area setting mode for instructing a write prohibited area, and a write area setting mode for instructing a write area, and either one can be selected,
2. The glossy image formation according to claim 1, wherein, in the write prohibited area setting mode, a non-instructed write prohibited area is a low gloss area, and in the write area setting mode, the instructed write area is a low gloss area. system.   The gloss image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the editing unit further includes a gloss level selecting unit that sets the gloss level to at least one of arbitrary and stepwise in the setting of the medium gloss and the high gloss. system.

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