JP2008098855A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device efficiently performing correction without a scanner. <P>SOLUTION: A printer 1 searches a scanner connected to a communication network N, and displays information on the searched scanner 2 of a first type on a scanner search result screen 121 when the scanner 2 of a first type is searched. When a scanner used for correction is selected from the scanner search result screen 121, the printer 1 prints out a correction chart from an image output unit 104 and transmits a correction request to the selected scanner 2 of a first type. When correction data obtained from the read correction chart are transmitted from the selected scanner 2 of a first type to the printer 1, the printer 1 carries out selected correction processing on the basis of the received correction data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that performs various corrections using an external scanner connected to a communication network.

Conventionally, as a technique for correcting a print position or the like caused by a variation in mechanical error in an image forming apparatus such as a printer without a scanner, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for A technique is described in which an output image of a printer is read from a scanner connected to a personal computer, a correction value is calculated by the personal computer, and the correction value is transferred to the printer. In Patent Document 2, when a correction pattern is output from a printer, the printer ID is printed, and the printer is recognized by recognizing the ID when the correction pattern is read by a scanner connected to a communication network. A technique for specifying and transferring a correction value calculated by a scanner to the specified printer is described.
JP 7-125314 A JP 2005-94303 A

  However, in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, since it is impossible for the printer to know whether there is a scanner that can be used for correcting the printer, when the printer is corrected, the user must There is a problem in that it is necessary to check whether or not there is a usable scanner, and that correction cannot be performed efficiently.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to make it possible to efficiently execute corrections that require a scanner for an image forming apparatus without a scanner.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention described in claim 1
An image forming apparatus including an image output unit connected to a communication network and forming and outputting an image on a recording medium based on input image data,
Scanner search means for searching for a scanner connected to the communication network and acquiring scanner information related to the searched scanner;
Display means for displaying search results by the scanner search means;
A scanner selection means for selecting a scanner to be used for correction of the image output means from the scanners searched by the scanner search means;
Correction request transmission means for making a correction operation request to the scanner selected by the scanner selection means;
A correction chart output means for outputting a correction chart to be read by the scanner during a correction operation performed based on the correction operation request in the scanner selected by the scanner selection means;
Receiving means for receiving the data obtained by reading the correction chart by the scanner selected by the scanner selecting means;
Correction means for correcting the image output means based on data received from the scanner selected by the scanner selection means;
It is characterized by having.

The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1,
The scanner search means acquires information indicating whether the searched scanner is currently usable,
The display means displays, together with the search result, information indicating whether or not the searched scanner is currently usable.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2,
The searched scanner is a first type scanner that extracts correction data from image data obtained by reading the correction chart and transmits the correction data to the image forming apparatus, or Scanner determination means for determining whether or not the image data obtained by reading the correction chart is a second type of scanner that transmits the image data to the image forming apparatus;
Extracting means for extracting correction data from image data received from the second type scanner by the receiving means;
With
The display means displays the first type scanner as a search result when there is a scanner determined to be the first type scanner in the scanner searched by the scanner search means, and the first type If there is no scanner determined to be the second scanner and there is a scanner determined to be the second type scanner, the second type scanner is displayed as a search result,
The correction unit performs correction based on correction data received by the receiving unit when the selection unit selects the first type scanner, and the selection unit selects the second type scanner. In this case, the correction is performed based on the correction data extracted by the extraction means.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 3,
The correction unit includes a first correction unit that performs a first correction on the image output unit and a second correction unit that performs a second correction on the image output unit,
A correction type selection means for selecting whether the correction means performs the first correction or the second correction;
When the second correction is selected by the correction type selection unit, the display unit is a scanner searched by the scanner search unit, and the first type scanner is scanned by the scanner determination unit. Only the scanner determined to be is displayed as a search result by the scanner search means.

The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claim 4,
The image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
The image output means has a sensor for reading a toner image formed inside the image output means,
The first correction means corrects the reading characteristics of the sensor.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 4 or 5,
The second correction means corrects the magnification and position of the image output from the image output means.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the scanner connected to the communication network is searched and the search result is displayed, the user can check whether there is a scanner that can be used to correct the image output means. Thus, correction of an image forming apparatus that requires a scanner can be performed efficiently.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the information indicating whether or not the searched scanner is currently usable is displayed by the display means, the user can use it for the current correction among the searched scanners. It becomes possible to recognize the scanner.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the first type scanner having a function of extracting correction data from image data obtained by reading the correction chart is preferentially displayed as a search result. The first type scanner capable of extracting correction data can be preferentially selected as a scanner used for correction of the image forming apparatus.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, when performing the second correction, only the first type of scanner searched by the scanner search means is displayed as the search result. The user can select only the first type of scanner that can extract correction data as a scanner used for correction of the image forming apparatus. As a result, for example, when the second correction is a correction that requires high accuracy, and correction data cannot be extracted with high accuracy on the image forming apparatus side, correction is performed using the second type scanner. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the image quality from being deteriorated.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently perform correction of the sensor provided in the image output means and reading the toner image.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, when correcting the magnification and position of the image output from the image output means, only the first type scanner from which correction data can be extracted can be selected as the scanner for correction. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the image quality from being deteriorated by performing the correction with the second type scanner.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, the configuration will be described.

  FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, a printer 1 as an image forming apparatus is connected to a communication network N such as a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), or the Internet, and is connected to an external network connected to the communication network N. Data can be sent to and received from the device. A PC 4 is connected to the communication network N, and the printer 1 receives a print request and image data (RGB data) from the PC 4 and forms an image. Further, a first type scanner 2, a second type scanner 3 and the like are connected to the communication network N as necessary. The number of devices on the communication network N is not particularly limited.

  The first type scanner 2 is a scanner corresponding to the correction of the printer 1 and can extract correction data from image data obtained by reading a correction chart for correction of the printer 1. Further, the first type scanner 2 has a function of correcting distortion of the scanner of its own, and can measure the distance and position between two points in an image read with high accuracy. The second type scanner 3 is a scanner that acquires image data by reading a document, and is not provided with a correction data extraction function.

The configuration of each device shown in FIG. 1 will be described below.
FIG. 2 shows an example of the internal configuration of the printer 1 according to the present invention. The printer 1 is, for example, an electrophotographic color printer. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the printer 1 is a control unit 101, an operation display unit 102, an image processing unit 103, an image output unit 104, a sensor 105, a storage unit 106, and a transmission / reception unit. 107 and the like, and each part is connected by a bus 108.

  The control unit 101 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The CPU of the control unit 101 reads the system program and various processing programs stored in the ROM by operating the operation display unit 102 and develops them in the RAM, and centrally controls the operation of each part of the printer 1 according to the developed programs. . Further, the CPU executes various processes including a printer-side process (see FIG. 6) of a correction mode process to be described later according to the developed program.

  The operation display unit 102 is configured by an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), and displays various operation buttons, device status display, operation status of each function, and the like on the display screen according to instructions of a display signal input from the control unit 101. Do. The LCD display screen is covered with a pressure-sensitive (resistive film pressure) touch panel configured with transparent electrodes arranged in a grid, and the XY coordinates of the force point pressed with a finger or a touch pen are expressed as voltage values. The detected position signal is output to the control unit 101 as an operation signal. The operation display unit 102 includes various operation buttons such as a numeric button and a start button, and outputs an operation signal generated by the button operation to the control unit 101.

  In the present embodiment, the operation display unit 102 displays scanner search result screens 121 and 124 as display means.

  The image processing unit 103 converts the RGB data transmitted from the PC 4 via the transmission / reception unit 107 into XYZ data using the conversion curve stored in the first conversion curve storage unit 106c, and converts the XYZ data to YMCK data. Γ correction processing for correcting the tone characteristics of the image output unit 104 using the γ curve data of each color stored in the γ curve storage unit 106b for each color data of YMCK data. Image processing such as tone processing is performed and output to the image output unit 104. Further, the image processing unit 103, based on an instruction from the control unit 101, image data (YMCK data) for forming a correction chart (see FIG. 8) stored in the correction chart image storage unit 106a. Is output to the image output unit 104.

The image output unit 104 forms and outputs an image on a recording medium based on the YMCK image data output from the image processing unit 103 by an electrophotographic method.
FIG. 3 shows a main configuration of the image output unit 104. As shown in FIG. 3, the image output unit 104 exposes the photosensitive drums 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51K to a laser by exposing the photosensitive drums 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51K to the photosensitive drum based on the YMCK image data input from the image processing unit 103. A writing unit 40Y, 40M, 40C, 40K for writing a latent image of an image, a photoreceptor unit 50Y, 50M, 50C, 50K for forming a toner image of each color of Y, M, C, K, and a photoreceptor unit 50Y, An intermediate transfer belt 56 as an intermediate transfer member that conveys a toner image formed with 50M, 50C, and 50K to a recording medium, and a secondary transfer roller in synchronization with the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 56 with the recording medium. 59, a registration roller 58 conveyed to 59, a secondary transfer roller 59 for transferring a toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 56 to the recording medium, and a recording medium A fixing unit 60 that fixes the toner image, and is configured to include a discharge roller 61 for discharging the recording medium.

  FIG. 4 schematically shows a detailed configuration of the writing unit 40Y and the photosensitive drum 51Y. As shown in FIG. 4, the writing unit 40Y includes an LD drive substrate 41Y, a semiconductor laser light source 42Y, a cylinder lens 43Y, a polygon mirror 44Y, and an fθ lens 45Y. The LD drive substrate 41Y performs PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) modulation on the Y image data input from the image processing unit 103, and outputs a laser drive signal having a predetermined pulse width after modulation to the semiconductor laser light source 42Y. The semiconductor laser light source 42Y irradiates Y-color laser light based on the laser drive signal. The laser beam irradiated by the semiconductor laser light source 42Y is irradiated to the polygon mirror 44Y through the cylinder lens 43Y. The laser beam reflected by the polygon mirror 44Y is applied to the photosensitive drum 51Y through the fθ lens 45Y for optical path difference correction. The laser beam scans the surface of the photosensitive drum 51Y by the rotation of the polygon mirror 44Y. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the uniformly charged photoreceptor drum 51Y by scanning and exposing the laser light line by line in parallel with the rotation axis of the photoreceptor drum 51Y. The laser scanning direction by the semiconductor laser light source 42Y is referred to as a main scanning direction, and the direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction is referred to as a sub-scanning direction. If a plurality of semiconductor laser light sources 42Y are configured, it is possible to simultaneously scan and expose a plurality of lines according to the number of semiconductor laser light sources 42Y. The writing units 40M, 40C, and 40K have the same configuration.

  The photoreceptor unit 50Y includes a photoreceptor drum 51Y, a developing device 52Y, a charger 53Y, a cleaner 54Y, and a primary transfer roller 55Y. The same applies to the photoreceptor units 50M, 50C, and 50K.

  Here, image formation in the image output unit 104 will be described. First, in the photosensitive unit 50Y, the photosensitive drum 51Y rotates, the surface thereof is charged by the charger 53Y, and a latent image of the Y data image is formed on the charged portion by exposure of the laser light source of the writing unit 40Y. . Then, a yellow toner image is formed on the latent image portion by the developing device 52Y. The toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 56 by the pressure contact of the primary transfer roller 55Y (primary transfer). The toner image is a yellow image corresponding to the image data to be output. The toner that has not been transferred is removed by the cleaner 54Y.

  Similarly, for the photoconductor units 50M, 50C, and 50K, magenta toner images, cyan toner images, and black toner images are similarly formed and transferred. The intermediate transfer belt 56 is also rotated by the rotation of the roller 57, the primary transfer rollers 55Y, 55M, 55C, and 55K, and the secondary transfer roller 59, and the YMCK toner images are sequentially superimposed and transferred on the intermediate transfer belt 56. The In addition, the recording medium is conveyed one by one from one of the sheet feeding trays 66A to 66C by rotation of any of the sheet feeding rollers 68A to 68C, and is conveyed to the secondary transfer roller 59 by rotation of the registration roller 58.

  As the recording medium passes through the pressure contact portion of the secondary transfer roller 59, the YMCK toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 56 is transferred to the recording medium (secondary transfer). The recording medium on which the YMCK toner image is transferred passes through the fixing unit 60. By the pressurization and heating of the fixing unit 60, the YMCK toner image is fixed on the recording medium, and a color toner image is formed. The recording medium on which the image is formed is conveyed by a paper discharge roller 61 to a paper discharge tray 69 or the like.

  After the image is formed on the recording medium, the toner attached on the intermediate transfer belt 56 is removed by the belt cleaning 62. Further, a positive polarity current and a negative polarity current are alternately switched from a power source (not shown) to the secondary transfer roller 59 and allowed to flow for a predetermined time, whereby the toner attached to the secondary transfer roller 59 is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 56. After the transfer, the secondary transfer roller 59 is cleaned.

  The operation of each unit of the image output unit 104 described above is controlled according to various control signals output from the control unit 101.

  A sensor 105 in FIG. 2 is a printer γ sensor, which irradiates each patch of the correction chart (see FIG. 10) formed on the intermediate transfer belt 56 in the image output unit 104 and receives the reflected light. Then, the reflectance is output to the control unit 101 as an output value of the sensor (hereinafter referred to as a sensor value).

  The storage unit 106 is configured by a flash memory or the like, and a correction chart image storage unit 106 a that stores YMCK data for forming a correction chart image by the image output unit 104, and correction of gradation characteristics of the image output unit 104. Γ curve storage unit 106b for storing γ curve data for Y, M, C, and K for each color, and a first conversion curve storage unit 106c for storing conversion curves for converting RGB data to XYZ data A second conversion curve storage unit 106d that stores a conversion curve for converting the sensor value output from the sensor 105 into XYZ data, and an adjustment data storage unit 106e that stores various adjustment data. Yes.

  The transmission / reception unit 107 includes a modem, a LAN adapter, a router, and the like, and performs communication control with each device connected to the communication network N.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the internal configuration of the first type scanner 2 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the first type scanner 2 includes a control unit 201, an operation display unit 202, a scanner unit 203, an image processing unit 204, an image output unit 205, a sensor 206, a storage unit 207, a transmission / reception unit 208, and the like. Each part is connected by a bus 209.

  The control unit 201, the operation display unit 202, the image processing unit 204, the image output unit 205, the sensor 206, the storage unit 207, and the transmission / reception unit 208 of the first type scanner 2 are respectively the control unit 101 and the operation display of the printer 1 described above. The configuration is the same as that of the unit 102, the image processing unit 103, the image output unit 104, the sensor 105, the storage unit 106, and the transmission / reception unit 107. That is, the first type scanner 2 has a configuration in which the printer 1 includes the scanner unit 203.

The CPU of the control unit 201 executes various processes including a first-type scanner side process (see FIG. 6) of a correction mode process described later in cooperation with a program stored in the ROM.
Further, the control unit 201 performs distortion correction of the scanner unit 203 in cooperation with a program stored in the ROM in response to an instruction input from the operation display unit 202. The distortion correction of the scanner unit 203 can be performed by, for example, a method described in JP-A-2005-100058. That is, the scanner unit 203 reads and obtains a measurement document image composed of at least two parallel thin line images (a distance between the two parallel thin lines is designed with a predetermined value X) drawn diagonally prepared in advance. Based on the data for a plurality of lines of the image, the profile of the thin line is calculated, the peak position of the calculated profile is obtained, and the distance between the two points is measured based on the peak position. Then, a difference value between the predetermined value X of the measurement document image and the measurement value is calculated, and based on the difference value, scanner correction data for correcting the distortion of the scanner is obtained, and stored in the scanner correction data storage unit 207f. To do.

  The scanner unit 203 has an original tray, and an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) that conveys originals placed on the original tray one by one to an original reading position on the contact glass, and a scanner that reads the original conveyed on the contact glass And is configured. The scanner is composed of a light source, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), an A / D converter, and the like. The reflected light of the light scanned from the light source to the original is imaged and photoelectrically converted to convert the original image into R, G. , B signal, A / D conversion of the read image, and output to the image processing unit 204. Similar to the RGB data received via the transmission / reception unit 208, the image processing unit 204 performs image processing such as gamma correction processing and halftone processing on RGB data obtained by reading by the scanner unit 203.

  Other configurations of the first type scanner 2 are substantially the same as those described in the printer 1, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  The second type of scanner 3 is a scanner that can operate with the TWAIN protocol. The second type scanner 3 includes a light source, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), an A / D converter, and the like. Based on control from the printer 1 according to the TWAIN protocol, reflected light of light scanned from the light source to the document is scanned. The image of the original is imaged and subjected to photoelectric conversion, whereby the image of the original is read as R, G, B signals, the read image is A / D converted, and the image data is transmitted to the printer 1.

  The PC 4 has an input unit composed of a keyboard, a mouse and the like, a display unit composed of an LCD, a transmission / reception unit for connecting the PC 4 to the communication network N, and a memory storing image data (RGB data) to be printed. A terminal device such as a PC (Personal Computer) provided with a unit or the like. When the image data to be printed, print condition settings, and the like are input via the input unit, the PC 4 transmits a print request and image data to the printer 1 via the transmission / reception unit.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 6 shows correction mode processing executed by the control unit 101 of the printer 1. This processing is executed when a shift to the correction mode is instructed by a predetermined operation of the operation display unit 102 of the printer 1.

  First, the operation mode is shifted to the correction mode, and a correction instruction screen (not shown) is displayed on the operation display unit 102 (step S1). By shifting to the correction mode, a print request from an external device such as the PC 4 is not accepted. The correction instruction screen is a screen (correction type selection means) for displaying a list of correction types, selecting a correction type to be executed by the user from the list, and instructing execution of the correction. The types of correction include, for example, printer gamma sensor correction for correcting a change in reading characteristics of the sensor 105 with time, and horizontal (main scanning) direction / vertical (sub-scanning) direction of an image formed by the image output unit 104. Examples include position correction, horizontal magnification correction, vertical magnification correction, and the like.

  Here, the printer γ sensor correction is a correction (first correction) that enables the printer 1 to extract correction data from image data obtained by reading a correction chart. On the other hand, horizontal / vertical image position correction, horizontal magnification correction, and vertical magnification correction are corrected when the printer 1 extracts correction data from image data obtained by reading a correction chart. This is a correction (second correction) in which the accuracy of the above cannot be guaranteed. For example, in horizontal / vertical position correction, horizontal magnification correction, and vertical magnification correction of an image formed by the image output unit 104, correction data is obtained from image data obtained by reading a correction chart. When extracting, it is necessary to consider scanner distortion. However, when the correction data is extracted by the printer 1, the distortion on the scanner side cannot be taken into account, and the accuracy of the correction data cannot be guaranteed.

  When a correction type is selected from the correction instruction screen of the operation display unit 102 and execution of correction is instructed, information indicating the selected correction type is stored in the RAM (step S2), and a scanner search in the communication network N is performed. Is executed (step S3, scanner search means). In the scanner search, a database search request is made to each device connected to the communication network N via the transmission / reception unit 107 using a protocol such as LDAP / BMLinks, and the model information (product name, manufacturer name) of each device. Service information (printer, scanner, etc.) provided by the device is acquired, and a device having a scanner function connected to the communication network N is searched based on the service information among the acquired model information. , The scanner is searched. The acquired model information includes information indicating whether or not the scanner is currently usable (information indicating the current operation status of the scanner. For example, idling, scanning, and malfunctioning), and the TWAIN protocol. Information indicating whether or not operation is possible is included.

  Next, as a result of the scanner search in step S3, it is determined whether or not a scanner connected to the communication network N has been searched. If it is determined that the scanner has not been searched (step S4; NO), the process proceeds to step S41. The fact that the correction cannot be made is displayed on the operation display unit 102, and this processing is terminated. If it is determined that a scanner connected to the communication network N has been searched (step S4; YES), it is determined whether the searched scanner is the first type scanner 2 or the second type scanner 3. (Step S5, scanner determination means). Specifically, based on the model information acquired in step S3, a scanner having a specific manufacturer name and a specific product name is the first type scanner 2, and among the other scanners, a scanner that can operate according to the TWAIN protocol. Is determined to be the second type scanner 3. The product name and manufacturer name of the scanner corresponding to the first type scanner 2 are stored in the ROM of the control unit 101 in advance.

  As a result of the scanner determination, if it is determined that the first type scanner 2 exists on the communication network N (step S6; YES), the scanner display result screen 121 is displayed by the operation display unit 102 (step S7). FIG. 7 shows an example of the scanner search result screen 121. As shown in FIG. 7, the scanner search result screen 121 includes a scanner name 121a for each searched first type scanner 2 and a scanner status indicating whether or not the scanner of that scanner name is currently usable. Information 121b and a selection button 121c as scanner selection means for selecting the scanner as a scanner to be used for correction are displayed in association with each other. The user can recognize which scanner is currently usable by referring to the scanner status information 121b. When the selection button 121c is pressed, correction by the scanner corresponding to the pressed selection button 121c is started.

  When a scanner is selected from the scanner search result screen 121 (step 8; YES), YMCK data stored in the correction chart image storage unit 106a is read, and the correction chart is displayed on the recording medium by the image output unit 104. Is printed and output (step S9, correction chart output means).

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the correction chart output from the image output unit 104 in step S9. As shown in FIG. 8, the correction chart includes a plurality of (in this case, 10) patches of approximately the same size having a gradation difference of Y, M, C, and K, arranged in gradation in order of gradation. In consideration of unevenness of the photosensitive drum cycle, etc., a high gradation portion is shifted by 1 / n (here, n = 3) of the photosensitive drum, and a plurality of patterns (here, three) are used. Further, in consideration of unevenness in the main scanning direction, two sets of a plurality of patterns (here, three patterns) are arranged on the left and right. That is, the correction chart shown in FIG. 8 can measure six patches of the same color and the same gradation in six. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the correction chart is printed with a mark A indicating the upper end. The color of the mark A is a color that is not confused with the color of each patch to be measured, for example, a color with a hue angle of 100 ° to 240 °.

  When the correction chart is output, the correction request (correction operation request) selected in step S2 is transmitted to the first type scanner 2 selected in step S8 via the transmission / reception unit 107 ( Step S10, correction request transmission means).

  In the first type scanner 2, when a correction request is received via the transmission / reception unit 208 (step S11), a shortcut button 222a indicating the printer 1 that is the transmission source of the correction request and an interrupt for instructing a correction interrupt. The button 222b is displayed on the screen of the operation display unit 202 (step S12). FIG. 9 shows an example of the shortcut button 222a and the interrupt button 222b displayed on the screen of the operation display unit 202 in step S12. For example, the shortcut button 222a and the interrupt button 222b are pop-up displayed on the currently displayed screen as shown in FIG. Note that these may be displayed on another specific screen instead of the currently displayed screen, but they are not displayed on the service screen but on a screen that can be reached even during job execution. When correction requests are received from a plurality of printers 1, shortcut buttons 222a are displayed for the number of received requests. When the user presses the shortcut button 222a of the printer 1 to be corrected, the correction target printer 1 is selected, and when the interrupt button 222b is pressed, the correction mode is entered.

  When the shortcut button 222a of the printer 1 to be corrected is pressed by the operation of the operation display unit 202 and the interrupt button 222b is further pressed (step S13; YES), the operation mode is shifted to the correction mode (step S14). It is determined whether the scanner unit 203 is operating. If it is determined that the scanner unit 203 is in operation (operation of conveying an original from the ADF and reading the original) (step S15; YES), the scanner unit 203 is controlled and the operation of the scanner unit 203 is stopped ( In step S16), the process proceeds to step S17. If it is determined that the scanner unit 203 is not operating (step S15; NO), the process proceeds to step S17. Note that the image output unit 205 can operate even when the correction mode is entered.

  In step S <b> 17, an instruction to read the correction chart by pressing the start button of the operation display unit 202 is on standby. Here, in step S <b> 17, it is preferable to display such as “Please set a correction chart on the platen glass” on the display screen of the operation display unit 202. When the correction chart output in step S9 is set by the user on the platen glass of the scanner unit and a reading instruction is input by pressing the start button (step S17; YES), the scanner unit 203 performs correction. The chart is read and image data (RGB data) is acquired (step S18).

Next, a correction data extraction program corresponding to the correction type requested for correction is read from the ROM, and correction data extraction processing is performed from the acquired image data according to the read program (step S19).
In the correction data extraction process, first, the position of “mark A” indicating the upward direction shown in FIG. 8 and the position of each color patch in the correction chart are detected from the image data acquired by the scanner unit 203. If the “mark A” is not detected from within a predetermined area of the image data, it is determined that the orientation of the correction chart placed on the platen glass is incorrect, an error is determined, and an error signal is output. If each color patch is not detected from a predetermined position (for example, the correction chart is different or is placed obliquely), it is determined as an error and an error signal is output.

In the correction data extraction processing, when the mark A and each color patch are detected from predetermined positions, the following processing is executed according to the type of correction.
For example, when a printer γ sensor correction is requested from the printer 1, an average value of R, G, and B values is calculated for each detected patch of the same tone and the same gradation, and each average value is calculated as the first value. The conversion curve stored in the first conversion curve storage unit 207c is converted into XYZ data and output as correction data.
Further, when horizontal / vertical position correction is requested from the printer 1, the distance between two points in the main scanning direction determined in advance from the acquired image data, and two points in the sub scanning direction determined in advance. The distance between them is measured, each measured value is corrected based on the scanner correction data stored in the scanner correction data storage unit 207f, and the obtained corrected measured value is the position of the horizontal / vertical direction position in the printer 1. Output as correction data.
When a horizontal magnification correction is requested from the printer 1, the distance between two points in the main scanning direction determined in advance is measured from the acquired image data, and the measured value is stored in the scanner correction data storage unit 207f. Correction is performed based on the stored scanner correction data, and the obtained corrected measurement value is output as horizontal magnification correction data in the printer 1.
When a vertical magnification correction is requested from the printer 1, the distance between two points in the predetermined sub-scanning direction is measured from the acquired image data, and the measured value is stored in the scanner correction data storage unit 207f. Correction is performed based on the stored scanner correction data, and the obtained corrected measurement value is output as correction data for the vertical magnification in the printer 1.

  When an error signal is output from the correction data extraction process (step S20; YES), an error message such as “Check the correction chart orientation” or “The correction chart is incorrect” is displayed on the operation display unit 202. Is displayed (step S21), and the process returns to step S17. When the correction data is output from the correction data extraction process (step S20; NO), the transmission / reception unit 208 transmits the correction data to the printer 1 (step S22). Note that after the correction data is transmitted to the printer 1, it is preferable to display a reading completion message such as “Chart reading has been completed” on the display screen of the operation display unit 202.

  In the printer 1, when correction data is received by the transmission / reception unit 107 (step S23, receiving means), a correction processing program corresponding to the type of correction selected in step S2 is read from the ROM and read. In cooperation with the program, correction processing is executed based on the received correction data (step S24, correction means).

When the type of correction selected in step S2 is printer γ sensor correction, the following correction process is executed.
First, an image similar to the correction chart described above is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 56 of the image output unit 104, and each patch is read by the sensor 105.
FIG. 10 shows an example of forming a correction chart on the intermediate transfer belt 56 and reading the correction chart by the sensor 105. As shown in FIG. 10, the sensor 105 irradiates each patch of the correction chart formed on the intermediate transfer belt 56 according to the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 56, and detects the reflectance of the reflected light. And output to the control unit 101.
Next, when the detection value of each patch is output from the sensor 105, the sensor value obtained by reading the patch of each gradation for each color of Y, M, C, and K, and the first type scanner 2 are received. The regression calculation is performed with the values of the corresponding patches of the corrected data, sensor correction coefficients are calculated, and conversion curves (Y, M, C, K conversion curves for the respective colors obtained by the correction coefficients are obtained. ) Is stored in the second conversion curve storage unit 106d.

  In this step, a conversion curve for correcting the reading characteristic of the sensor 105 is acquired. However, the printer 1 stores the second conversion curve by the correction process at the time of startup or at a certain print interval. So-called calibration is performed using the conversion curve stored in the unit 106d.

When the type of correction selected in step S2 is horizontal / vertical position correction, horizontal correction is performed based on the measurement value of the distance in the main scanning direction among the correction data received from the first type scanner 2. The delay amount of the signal (H-Valid) indicating the effective image position in the direction is calculated and stored in the adjustment data storage unit 106e. Further, the delay amount of the signal (V-Valid) indicating the effective image position in the vertical direction is calculated based on the measured value of the distance in the sub-scanning direction of the received correction data, and is stored in the adjustment data storage unit 106e. The
Here, the signal (H-Valid) indicating the effective image position is a signal having a width corresponding to the width of the image in the main scanning direction, generated for each main scanning line, and indicating the effective image position in the vertical direction. A signal (V-Valid) shown is a signal having a width corresponding to the width of the image in the sub-scanning direction, generated every screen. When writing an image on the photoconductive drums 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51K, the LD drive substrates 41Y, 41M, 41C, and 41K are driven and an image is written in accordance with a signal indicating an effective image position output from the control unit 101. At this time, the adjustment data storage unit 106e is referred to by the control unit 101, and the delay amount of the signal (H-Valid) indicating the effective image position in the horizontal direction and / or the signal (V− When (Valid) is stored, it is possible to write an image at the corrected position by generating these signals by delaying by the delay amount.

When the type of correction selected in step S2 is horizontal magnification correction, the period of the pixel clock is calculated based on the measurement value in the main scanning direction of the correction data received from the first type scanner 2. And stored in the adjustment data storage unit 106e.
At the time of image writing to the photosensitive drums 51Y, 51M, 51C, and 51K, one pixel is written by the semiconductor laser light sources 42Y, 42M, 42C, and 42K emitting light in synchronization with the pixel clock output from the control unit 101. At this time, the adjustment data storage unit 106e is referred to by the control unit 101, and the cycle of the pixel clock is controlled with the stored cycle, thereby adjusting the width between pixels and adjusting the magnification in the main scanning direction. .

When the type of correction selected in step S2 is vertical magnification correction, the rotational speed of the intermediate transfer belt 56 is determined based on the measured value in the sub-scanning direction of the correction data received from the first type scanner 2. Is calculated and stored in the adjustment data storage unit 106e.
When the toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 57 to the recording medium, the adjustment data storage unit 106e is referred to by the control unit 101, and the rotation speed of the intermediate transfer belt 56 is controlled according to the stored rotation speed. The magnification in the sub-scanning direction of the toner image transferred to the toner image is adjusted.

  When the correction process is completed, the YMCK data stored in the correction chart image storage unit 106a is read, and the correction chart is printed on the recording medium by the image output unit 104 and output (step S25). Thereby, the user can confirm the correction content. Then, a correction completion result notification is displayed on the operation display unit 102 and is output to the first type scanner 2 via the transmission / reception unit 107 (step S26), and this processing ends. In the first type scanner 2, when the correction end result notification is received via the transmission / reception unit 208, the end result is displayed on the operation display unit 202 (step S27), and this process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S6 that the first type scanner 2 does not exist on the communication network N (step S6; NO), whether or not the type of correction selected in step S2 is printer gamma sensor correction. If it is determined that the printer γ sensor correction is not being performed (step S28; NO), the process proceeds to step S41 to indicate that the correction cannot be performed on the operation display unit 102 (step S41). finish. The corrections other than the printer γ correction are the horizontal / vertical direction correction, the horizontal magnification correction, and the vertical magnification correction described above, that is, the second correction. Since accuracy is important, it is not preferable to perform the processing with a general scanner other than the first type scanner 2 that has a scanner distortion correction function and can extract correction data in consideration of scanner distortion correction. Therefore, when the first type scanner 2 is not searched, the correction process is terminated.

  If it is determined in step S28 that the type of correction selected in step S2 is printer gamma sensor correction (step S28; YES), an appropriate model (that is, the first type of scanner 2) is displayed on the operation display unit 102. Is displayed and an inquiry screen 123 for inquiring whether or not to search for another scanner (that is, the second type scanner 3) is displayed, and an instruction not to search for the second type scanner 3 from the screen 123 is displayed. Is input (step S29; NO), the process proceeds to step S41, a message indicating that the correction cannot be made is displayed on the operation display unit 102 (step S41), and the process ends. When an instruction to search for the second type of scanner 3 is input from the inquiry screen 123 (step S29; YES), the operation display unit 102 is searched by the scanner search of step S3, and the second type is determined in the scanner determination of step S5. A scanner search result screen 124 that displays a list of scanners that have been determined to be the scanner is displayed (step S30).

  FIG. 11 shows an example of the inquiry screen 123. As shown in FIG. 11, the inquiry screen 123 includes a “search” button 123 a for instructing a search for the second type scanner 3, and canceling the correction without performing the search for the second type scanner 3. “Cancel” button 123b is displayed. When the “Search” button 123a is pressed from the screen 123, a scanner search result screen 124 is displayed. When the “Cancel” button 123b is pressed from the screen 123, this process ends.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of the scanner search result screen 124. As shown in FIG. 12, the scanner search result screen 124 includes a scanner name 124a of the searched second type scanner 3 and a selection button 124b as a scanner selection means for selecting the scanner as a scanner used for correction. Are displayed in association with each other. When any one of the selection buttons 124b is pressed, correction by the scanner corresponding to the pressed selection button 124b is started.

  When a scanner is selected from the scanner search result screen 124 (step 31; YES), YMCK data stored in the correction chart image storage unit 106a is read, and the correction chart is displayed on the recording medium by the image output unit 104. Is printed and output (step S32).

  When the correction chart output in step S32 by the user is set in the second type scanner 3, and when an instruction to read the correction chart by the second type scanner 3 is input from the operation display unit 102, according to this instruction, A correction operation request is output to the second type scanner 3 by the TWAIN protocol, and scanner control corresponding to the operation of the operation display unit 102 is performed (step S33). In the second type scanner 3, the correction chart is read in accordance with the control of the printer 1 (step S34), and the obtained image data is transmitted to the printer 1 (step S35).

  In the printer 1, when image data from the second type of scanner 3 is received via the transmission / reception unit 107 (step S36), a correction data extraction program corresponding to each type of correction is read from the ROM. According to the read program, correction data extraction processing is performed from the acquired image data (step S37, extraction means). Since the correction data extraction process is the same as that described in step S19, the description thereof is omitted.

  When the correction data is extracted, a correction processing program corresponding to the type of correction selected in step S2 is read from the ROM, and correction processing is executed based on the correction data according to the read program. (Step S38, correction means). Since the correction process is the same as that described in step S24, description thereof is omitted.

  When the correction process is completed, the YMCK data stored in the correction chart image storage unit 106a is read, and the correction chart is printed on the recording medium by the image output unit 104 and output (step S39). Thereby, the user can confirm the correction content. Then, a correction end result notification is displayed on the operation display unit 102 (step S40), and the process ends.

  As described above, according to the printer 1, when the shift to the correction mode is instructed and the correction type is selected, the scanner connected to the communication network N is searched, and the first type scanner 2 is selected. Is searched, a scanner search result screen 121 displaying information related to the searched first type scanner 2 is displayed on the operation display unit 102. When a scanner used for correction is selected on the scanner search result screen 121, a correction chart is printed out by the image output unit 104, and a correction request is transmitted to the selected first type scanner 2. When the correction data is received from the selected first type of scanner 2, the printer 1 executes the selected type of correction processing based on the received correction data.

  On the other hand, if the first type scanner 2 is not searched, it is determined whether or not the selected correction type is printer γ sensor correction. If the selected type is printer γ correction, the second type scanner 3 is searched. An inquiry screen 123 for inquiring whether or not to perform the operation is displayed on the operation display unit 102. When an instruction to search for the second type of scanner 3 is input from the screen, information on the searched second type of scanner 3 is displayed. A scanner search result screen 124 is displayed on the operation display unit 102. When a scanner to be used for correction is selected on the scanner search result screen 124, a correction chart is printed out by the image output unit 104, and the selected second type scanner 4 is controlled by the TWAIN protocol or the like. The chart is read and image data is acquired. When the image data is received from the second type scanner 3, the printer 1 extracts correction data from the received image data, and executes the selected type of correction processing based on the extracted image data. The

  Accordingly, since information related to the scanner connected to the communication network is displayed on the operation display unit 102 of the printer 1, the user can use it for correction of the image output unit 104 by referring to the operation display unit 102 of the printer 1. It is possible to know whether or not there is a possible scanner, and it is possible to efficiently perform correction of the printer 1 that requires the scanner. In addition, since the first type scanner 2 that can extract correction data on the scanner side is displayed with priority as a search result, the user can display the first type scanner that can extract correction data as an image forming apparatus. It is possible to preferentially select the scanner to be used for the correction.

  In addition, when performing corrections that require high accuracy such as image magnification correction and image position correction, only the first type of scanner 2 is displayed as a search result. When performing these corrections, The user can select only the first type scanner 2 capable of extracting correction data as a scanner used for correction of the printer 1. As a result, it is possible to prevent the image quality from being deteriorated because the correction is performed by using the second type scanner 3 when the correction data cannot be accurately extracted on the image forming apparatus side. It becomes possible.

  The description in the above embodiment is a preferred example of the printer 1 according to the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the image output unit 104 has been described as an example of a configuration in which a laser beam is scanned on a photosensitive drum by a polygon mirror as a writing unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A configuration using an Emitting Diode) element is also possible.

  Further, the type of correction in the above embodiment is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

  In addition, the detailed configuration and detailed operation of the printer 1 can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

It is a figure for demonstrating the whole structure of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the printer 1 in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the principal part structure of the image output part 104 of FIG. It is a figure which shows typically the detailed structure of the writing unit 40Y of FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a first type scanner 2 in FIG. 1. Correction mode processing (printer side processing) executed by the control unit 101 in FIG. 2, correction mode processing (first type scanner side processing) executed by the first type scanner 2 in response to a request from the printer 1, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing correction mode processing (second type scanner side processing) executed by the second type scanner 3 in accordance with control from the printer 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a scanner search result screen 121 displayed on the operation display unit 102 in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows an example of the chart for a correction | amendment output in the image output part 104 of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the shortcut button 222a and the interruption button 222b displayed on the screen of the operation display part 202 of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the reading of the chart for correction | amendment in the sensor 105 of FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the inquiry screen 123 displayed on the operation display part 102 of FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a scanner search result screen displayed on an operation display unit in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 101 Control part 102 Operation display part 103 Image processing part 104 Image output part 105 Sensor 106 Storage part 106a Correction | amendment chart image storage part 106b γ curve storage part 106c 1st conversion curve storage part 106d 2nd conversion curve storage part 106e Adjustment data storage unit 107 Transmission / reception unit 108 Bus 121 Scanner search result screen 123 Inquiry screen 124 Scanner search result screen 2 First type scanner 201 Control unit 202 Operation display unit 203 Scanner unit 204 Image processing unit 205 Image output unit 206 Sensor 207 Storage unit 207a Correction chart image storage unit 207b γ curve storage unit 207c First conversion curve storage unit 207d Second conversion curve storage unit 207e Adjustment data storage unit 207f Scanner correction data storage unit 208 Transmission / reception unit 209 Bus N Network

Claims (6)

An image forming apparatus including an image output unit connected to a communication network and forming and outputting an image on a recording medium based on input image data,
Scanner search means for searching for a scanner connected to the communication network and acquiring scanner information related to the searched scanner;
Display means for displaying search results by the scanner search means;
A scanner selection means for selecting a scanner to be used for correction of the image output means from the scanners searched by the scanner search means;
Correction request transmission means for making a correction operation request to the scanner selected by the scanner selection means;
A correction chart output means for outputting a correction chart to be read by the scanner during a correction operation performed based on the correction operation request in the scanner selected by the scanner selection means;
Receiving means for receiving the data obtained by reading the correction chart by the scanner selected by the scanner selecting means;
Correction means for correcting the image output means based on data received from the scanner selected by the scanner selection means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The scanner search means acquires information indicating whether the searched scanner is currently usable,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display unit displays, together with the search result, information indicating whether or not the searched scanner is currently usable. The searched scanner is a first type scanner that extracts correction data from image data obtained by reading the correction chart and transmits the correction data to the image forming apparatus, or Scanner determination means for determining whether or not the image data obtained by reading the correction chart is a second type of scanner that transmits the image data to the image forming apparatus;
Extracting means for extracting correction data from image data received from the second type scanner by the receiving means;
With
The display means displays the first type scanner as a search result when there is a scanner determined to be the first type scanner in the scanner searched by the scanner search means, and the first type If there is no scanner determined to be the second scanner and there is a scanner determined to be the second type scanner, the second type scanner is displayed as a search result,
The correction unit performs correction based on correction data received by the receiving unit when the selection unit selects the first type scanner, and the selection unit selects the second type scanner. 3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the correction is performed, the correction is performed based on the correction data extracted by the extraction unit. The correction unit includes a first correction unit that performs a first correction on the image output unit and a second correction unit that performs a second correction on the image output unit,
A correction type selection means for selecting whether the correction means performs the first correction or the second correction;
When the second correction is selected by the correction type selection unit, the display unit is a scanner searched by the scanner search unit, and the first type scanner is scanned by the scanner determination unit. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein only the scanner determined to be is displayed as a search result by the scanner search means. The image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus,
The image output means has a sensor for reading a toner image formed inside the image output means,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first correction unit corrects a reading characteristic of the sensor.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second correction unit corrects a magnification and a position of an image output from the image output unit.