JP2009163223A - Image forming apparatus and method of controlling the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus capable of more reliably detecting patches formed on a recording medium while suppressing an increase in the consumption of the recording media and toner. <P>SOLUTION: In the image forming apparatus which detects the density or color of each patch of a patch array fixed on recording medium that is conveyed and corrects an image formation condition based on the detection result, the patches are formed as the patch array so that the conveyance-direction length of each patch gradually increases in order of detection, and the conveyance-direction length of each patch gradually increases according to increasing of a detection position variation amount of a patch in order of detection. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material and a control method thereof.

  In recent years, an image forming apparatus that employs an electrophotographic system or an ink jet system such as a printer or a copying machine is required to have a high output image quality. In particular, the gradation of density and its stability are important factors that determine the quality of the output image. However, in the image forming apparatus, the density and chromaticity of the output image fluctuate due to a variation factor of each part of the apparatus due to a change in environment or long-term use. In particular, in the case of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, even a slight environmental change may cause a change in density and chromaticity, and the color balance may be lost. Therefore, a configuration for always maintaining a constant density is required. The chromaticity in this specification is a general term for information for quantitatively expressing colors, and may be expressed as “color information”, “color value”, or simply “color”. You may write it. In addition, as a parameter that quantitatively represents a color, L * a * b *, XYZ, or the like that is a general color system can be employed.

  Therefore, in the current image forming apparatus, a toner image for density detection (hereinafter referred to as a patch) is created on an intermediate transfer member or a photosensitive member as an image carrier with each color toner, and the unfixed toner patch of the unfixed toner patch is formed. The density is detected by a density sensor, and density control is performed based on the detection result. However, density control using a density sensor detects patches by forming patches on an intermediate transfer member or a photosensitive drum, and changes in the color balance of an image due to subsequent transfer to a recording material and fixing. Has no control. That is, these changes cannot be handled by density control using a density sensor.

  Patent Document 1 installs a sensor (hereinafter referred to as a color sensor) for detecting the density or chromaticity of a patch formed on a recording material, and corrects the density and chromaticity of a toner image based on the measurement result. An image forming apparatus that provides an image with excellent color reproducibility is proposed. This color sensor uses, for example, three or more light sources having different emission spectra such as red (R), green (G), and blue (B) as light emitting elements. Alternatively, a light source that emits white light (W) is used as the light emitting element, and three or more filters having different spectral transmittances such as red (R), green (G), and blue (B) are provided on the light receiving element. It is composed of what is formed. Thereby, in this color sensor, three or more different outputs such as RGB output can be obtained.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a patch array 1300 on a recording material used for color balance correction. The color sensor is configured to detect the patch row 1300 before the recording material is discharged out of the apparatus. In general, the color sensor starts detection from the timing when the recording material reaches the color sensor, and after detecting the head patch, the detection of each patch is performed by sequentially detecting the patch at every predetermined timing. It has gained.
JP 2003-107833 A

  However, in the above-described prior art, when detecting a patch at a predetermined timing due to operation variation of each component due to a change over time or an environmental change, a patch having a gradation different from the originally assumed gradation is detected. This can happen. When such a situation occurs, there is a problem that the accuracy of color balance correction is reduced. This variation in operation includes, for example, variations in the recording material conveyance speed caused by variations in the outer diameter of the recording material conveyance roller, environmental fluctuations, and the like. Further, it includes shrinkage of the recording material when the recording material passes through the fixing device, or expansion and contraction of the image until an image is formed on the recording material.

  It is necessary to determine the length of each patch used for color balance correction so as not to be affected by such operational variations. That is, it is necessary to set the length of the patch with a margin so that each patch can be reliably detected even if these variations exist. For example, in an image forming apparatus using a color sensor, when it is considered to improve the quality of an output image, it is necessary to increase the number of patches in order to improve the accuracy of color balance correction.

  However, due to an increase in the number of patches used for color balance correction, an increase in the conveyance direction length of the recording material, or an increase in the conveyance speed of the recording material, a toner image portion allowing for a margin at the leading and trailing ends of each patch This leads to wasted recording material and toner. In addition, since a certain time is required for the color sensor to detect one patch, it is necessary to make the length of the patch transport direction longer than a certain length. That is, when color balance correction is performed by increasing the number of patches, there are cases where not all patches can be formed on one recording material. Further, as the throughput of the image forming apparatus is improved, it is necessary to increase the length of one patch in the conveyance direction. Therefore, the number of patches per recording material is reduced, and more recording materials are used during color balance correction.・ Toner is consumed.

  Therefore, since the recording material on which patches for color balance correction are formed is an unnecessary recording material for the user, it is desirable to use less recording material and toner for color balance correction.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and in detecting a patch formed on a recording material, the patch is more reliably suppressed while suppressing an increase in the consumption amount of the recording material and toner. The purpose is to enable detection.

  The present invention can be realized as an image forming apparatus, for example. An image forming apparatus includes: a patch forming unit that forms a patch row including a plurality of patches that are toner images on a recording material; a fixing unit that fixes the patch row formed on the recording material to the recording material; and a conveyed recording material Patch detecting means for detecting the density or color of the patch array fixed to each patch, and correction means for correcting image forming conditions based on the detected density or color of the patch array, the patch forming means comprising: Based on the fact that the detection position fluctuation amount of the patch gradually increases in the order detected by the patch detection means, each patch is patched so that the length in the transport direction of each patch gradually increases in the order detected by the patch detection means. It is characterized by forming as a row.

  Further, the present invention can be realized as a control method for an image forming apparatus, for example. The control method includes a patch forming step for forming a patch row including a plurality of patches that are toner images on a recording material, a fixing step for fixing the patch row formed on the recording material to the recording material, and a recording material to be conveyed Executing a patch detection step for detecting the density or color of the fixed patch row for each patch by the patch detection means, and a correction step for correcting the image forming condition based on the detected density or color of the patch row; The patch forming step is based on the fact that the detection position fluctuation amount of the patch gradually increases in the order detected in the patch detection step, so that the transport direction length of each patch gradually increases in the order detected in the patch detection step. Each patch is formed as a patch row.

  For example, in the case of detecting a patch formed on a recording material, the present invention can detect the patch more reliably while suppressing an increase in consumption of the recording material and toner.

  An embodiment of the present invention is shown below. The individual embodiments described below will help to understand various concepts, such as superordinate concepts, intermediate concepts and subordinate concepts of the present invention. Further, the technical scope of the present invention is determined by the scope of the claims, and is not limited by the following individual embodiments.

<Overall configuration>
First, the configuration of the printer 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a printer 1 according to the present embodiment. Here, as an example of the image forming apparatus, a printer 1 that is a four-drum full-color image forming apparatus using an intermediate transfer belt among image forming apparatuses adopting an electrophotographic method will be described.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes an apparatus main body that is a main body of the printer 1. P (PY, PM, PC, PBk) indicates four color process cartridges of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk) that are detachably provided in the apparatus main body 2. Reference numeral 31 denotes an intermediate transfer belt unit having an intermediate transfer belt 30 as an intermediate transfer member. Reference numeral 25 denotes a fixing device as fixing means.

  The process cartridge P includes photosensitive drums 26Y, 26M, 26C, and 26Bk, a primary charger 50, laser exposure devices 28Y, 28M, 28C, and 28Bk, and a developing device 51, and is arranged in parallel along the intermediate transfer belt 30. The photosensitive drums 26Y, 26M, 26C, and 26Bk function as image carriers. The primary charger 50 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of each photosensitive drum 26 and uniformly charges the surface of each photosensitive drum 26. The laser exposure device 28 forms an electrostatic latent image by exposing the surface of the photosensitive drum 26. The developing device 51 develops the electrostatic latent image using yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners of corresponding colors.

  Further, a primary transfer roller 52 that forms a primary transfer portion together with the photosensitive drum 26 is disposed opposite to the position where the intermediate transfer belt 30 is sandwiched together with the photosensitive drum 26. On the other hand, the intermediate transfer belt unit 31 includes an intermediate transfer belt 30 and three rollers, a driving roller 100 that stretches the intermediate transfer belt 30, a tension roller 105, and a secondary transfer counter roller 108.

  Reference numeral 27 denotes a secondary transfer roller disposed at a position sandwiching the intermediate transfer belt 30 of the secondary transfer counter roller 108. Reference numeral 33 denotes a transfer transport unit that holds the secondary transfer roller 27. Reference numeral 3 denotes a feeding unit that feeds the recording material P to a secondary transfer unit configured by a contact portion between the secondary transfer roller 27 and the secondary transfer counter roller 108 with the intermediate transfer belt 30 interposed therebetween. The feeding unit 3 includes a cassette 20 containing a plurality of recording materials P, a feeding roller 21, a double feed preventing retard roller pair 22, a transport roller pair 23a, 23b, and a registration roller pair 24.

  The cassette 20 is provided with a rear end regulating plate 19 for regulating the rear end of the stacked recording materials P. The rear end regulating plate 19 moves according to the size of the recording material accommodated in the cassette 20 and detects the length of the recording material P in the transport direction by a rear end regulating plate position detecting unit (not shown). Hereinafter, detection of the length of the recording material P in the conveyance direction is referred to as “size detection”.

  Discharge roller pairs 61, 62, 63 are provided in the conveyance path on the downstream side of the fixing device 25, and a color sensor 90 that is an optical sensor is installed in the discharge conveyance path 60 between the discharge roller pairs 61, 62. Has been.

  The printer 1 is compatible with double-sided printing, and after the recording material on which image formation on the first side has been completed is discharged from the fixing device 25, the diverter 69 is switched to record on the reversing roller pair 70, 71 side. The material P is conveyed. Further, the printer 1 switches the diverter 72 when the rear end of the recording material exceeds the diverter 72 and simultaneously rotates the reverse roller 71 to guide the recording material P to the duplex conveying path 73. Then, by rotating the double-sided conveyance path roller pair 74, 75, 76 and re-feeding the recording material P, printing on the second side is enabled.

  Next, the control configuration of the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a control block of the printer 1 according to the present embodiment. Here, the control block related to the present invention will be mainly described. That is, the printer 1 according to the present invention may be configured to include other control blocks.

  The printer 1 includes an image processing control unit 11, an image formation control unit 12, an image formation unit 13, a size detection unit 14, a carry motor 15, and a color sensor unit 16. In addition, an external host device 10 such as a personal computer is connected to the printer 1 via a network. The printer 1 receives an image signal (RGB signal) from a document reading unit (not shown) separately provided in the external host device 10 and the apparatus main body.

  The image processing control unit 11 converts the received RGB signal into a CMYK signal, and after correcting gradation and density, generates an exposure signal for the laser exposure unit 28. The image forming control unit 12 controls the image forming operation, which will be described later, and controls the apparatus main body during color balance correction using the color sensor 90. The image formation control unit 12 includes a CPU 121 that controls processing by the image formation control unit 12, a ROM 122 that stores a program executed by the CPU 121, and a RAM 123 that stores various data and processing results used for each processing by the CPU 121. Is provided.

  The CPU 121 functions as a patch forming unit, a patch detecting unit, a correcting unit, a determining unit, and a changing unit. When functioning as a patch forming unit, the CPU 121 controls the image forming unit 13 to form a patch row including a plurality of patches that are toner images on a recording material. When functioning as a patch forming unit, the CPU 121 controls the color sensor 90 by the color sensor unit 16 to detect the density or chromaticity of the patch row fixed on the recording material by the fixing device 25 for each patch. To do. The chromaticity in the present specification is a general term for information for quantitatively expressing colors, and may be expressed as “color information”, “color value”, or simply “color”. You may do it. In addition, as a parameter that quantitatively represents a color, L * a * b *, XYZ, or the like that is a general color system can be employed.

  When functioning as a correction unit, the CPU 121 corrects image forming conditions when an image is formed on a recording material of the same type as the recording material on which the patch row is formed based on the detected density or chromaticity of the patch row. To do. Further, when functioning as a determination unit, the CPU 121 requires a recording material necessary for eliminating the expansion and contraction of the toner image at the patch detection position by the color sensor 90 or the variation in the moving speed of the recording material at the patch detection position. The length in the transport direction, which is the length of the patch corresponding to the transport direction, is determined. Here, the CPU 121 determines the transport direction length of the patch according to the formation position of each patch on the recording material. Further, when functioning as a changing unit, the CPU 121 changes the transport direction length of the patch according to the environment in which the image forming apparatus is set, such as temperature and humidity, the in-machine environment, the number of image formations, or the type of recording material.

  The image forming unit 13 shown in FIG. 2 includes the engines shown in FIG. 1 and is a block that collectively shows elements for forming an image on the recording material P. The size detection unit 14 detects the size of the recording material used by the user for image formation. Specifically, the size detection unit 14 detects the size of the recording material using the rear end regulating plate 19 described above. Based on the detection result of the size detection unit 14, the image formation control unit 12 determines how many recording materials are used to form the correction patch pattern when performing correction using the color sensor. The transport motor 15 transports the recording material P through the apparatus main body 2 at a predetermined timing according to an instruction from the image formation control unit 12. In the present embodiment, the recording material P is conveyed by a plurality of driving means (not shown). The color sensor unit 16 detects a patch on the recording material P using the color sensor 90.

<Image forming operation>
Here, an image forming operation of the printer 1 configured as described above will be described.

  When the image forming operation is started, the recording material P in the cassette 20 is first fed by the feeding roller 21 and then separated one by one by the retard roller pair 22, and then the conveying roller pair 23a, 23b, etc. Then, it is conveyed to the registration roller pair 24. Here, the registration roller pair 24 stops rotating, and the recording material P is abutted against the nip of the registration roller pair 24, whereby the skew of the recording material P is corrected. On the other hand, in parallel with the conveying operation of the recording material P, for example, in the yellow process cartridge PY, first, the surface of the photosensitive drum 26Y is uniformly negatively charged by the primary charger 50. Next, image exposure is performed by the laser exposure device 28Y, whereby an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the yellow image component of the document is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 26Y.

  Next, the formed electrostatic latent image is developed by using negatively charged yellow toner by the developing device 51 and visualized as a yellow toner image. Further, the yellow toner image is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 30 by the primary transfer roller 52. After the toner image has been transferred, the residual toner adhering to the surface of the photosensitive drum 26Y is removed by the cleaner 53, and used for the next image formation.

  In the other process cartridges PM, PC, and PBk, the above-described image forming operation is sequentially performed at a predetermined timing, and the respective color toner images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 26 are intermediate transfer belts in the respective primary transfer portions. The image is primarily transferred onto the image 30 sequentially.

  Next, the four-color toner images transferred superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 30 are moved to the secondary transfer portion as the intermediate transfer belt 30 rotates in the arrow direction. Further, the recording material P whose skew has been corrected by the registration roller pair 24 is conveyed in accordance with the timing at which the image on the intermediate transfer belt 30 reaches the secondary transfer portion.

  In the secondary transfer portion, the four color toner images on the intermediate transfer belt 30 are secondarily transferred onto the recording material P by the secondary transfer roller 27 in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 30 with the recording material P interposed therebetween. The recording material P onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 25, where the toner image is fixed by being heated and pressurized. Thereafter, the recording material P is discharged and stacked on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 2 by the discharge roller pairs 61, 62 and 63. In the intermediate transfer belt 30 that has finished the secondary transfer, residual toner remaining on the surface is removed by a belt cleaner (not shown).

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the color sensor 90 is installed in the discharge conveyance path 60 between the discharge roller pair 61 and 62 on the downstream side of the fixing device 25. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the discharge conveyance path 60 in the vicinity where the color sensor 90 according to the present embodiment is arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the color sensor 90 is disposed toward the image forming surface of the recording material P so as to detect the toner image fixed on the recording material P by the fixing device 25. The color sensor 90 emits light to the recording material P being conveyed, and outputs RGB signals by receiving reflected light from the recording material P or reflected light from a toner image formed on the recording material P. To do. That is, the color sensor 90 detects the RGB values of the patch pattern 82 after fixing formed on the recording material P. The color sensor 90 is configured to perform detection while the recording material P is conveyed before the recording material P is discharged out of the apparatus main body 2.

<Configuration of color sensor>
Next, the configuration of the color sensor 90 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the color sensor 90 according to the present embodiment.

  The color sensor 90 includes a white LED 91 and a charge storage sensor 92a with an RGB on-chip filter. The white LED 91 is arranged so that light is incident at an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the recording material P on which the patch after fixing is formed. On the other hand, the charge storage type sensor 92a is arranged to detect irregularly reflected light in the 0 degree direction. Reference numeral 92b denotes a light receiving portion of the charge storage type sensor 92a, which is a filter in which RGB is an independent pixel. The charge storage type sensor 92a may be a photodiode, for example. Further, several sets of RGB three pixels may be arranged. Alternatively, the incident angle may be 0 degree and the reflection angle may be 45 degrees. Furthermore, it may be composed of LEDs that emit RGB three colors and sensors without filters.

<Color balance correction>
Next, color balance correction will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a patch pattern 82 according to the present embodiment. Here, the patch pattern refers to a patch row in which a plurality of patches (toner images) are formed in substantially one row. The plurality of patches are generally toner images each having a different density (gradation). In the color balance correction according to the present embodiment, after such a patch pattern 82 is fixed on the recording material P, RGB values are detected using the color sensor 90 to control the gradation-density characteristics.

  The patch pattern 82 is a gray tone patch pattern that is the center of the color reproduction area and is a very important color in achieving color balance. Specifically, the patch pattern 82 includes a gray gradation patch 80 of black (Bk) and a process gray gradation patch 81 in which cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) are mixed. The Each patch is a pair of a gray gradation patch 80 and a CMY process gray gradation patch 81 with Bk having close chromaticity, such as 80a and 81a, 80b and 81b, and 80c and 81c, in a standard image forming apparatus. Formed side by side.

  In the color balance correction, the RGB values of these plural patches are detected using the color sensor 90. These detection results are fed back to the image processing control unit 11. The image processing control unit 11 generates color balance correction data by relatively comparing the RGB values of the Bk gray gradation patch 80 and the CMY process gray gradation patch 81. Specifically, the image processing control unit 11 calculates a mixing ratio of the CMY three colors of the process gray patch in which three colors of CMY that have substantially the same chromaticity as a gray patch of a certain gradation and calculates color balance correction data. Generate. The color balance correction data is used to control the density or chromaticity of the toner image. This makes it possible to form a toner image with an optimal color balance.

  This color balance correction is performed between normal printing operations. The execution timing is detected by detecting environmental fluctuations, the number of prints, and the like, and is executed at a preset timing, or is performed by a user's manual operation when the user desires execution.

  Next, the difference between the configuration of the patch pattern 82 employed in the present embodiment and its detection method will be described.

  Compared with the conventional patch pattern shown in FIG. 13, the patch pattern 82 shown in FIG. 5 has a length in the conveyance direction of the patch in accordance with the last patch from the first patch (first detected patch) in the conveyance direction. It is formed to become gradually longer. Further, the total length of all the patches in the transport direction is shorter than the total length of the conventional patches in the transport direction.

  In the case of the conventional printer, patch detection is started immediately before the recording material reaches the color sensor (light emission of the white LED is started), and the arrival of the leading edge of the recording material is determined from the change in the detected value. Detection data was obtained by sequentially detecting patches at each timing. On the other hand, in the patch detection in the present embodiment, after detecting the arrival of the leading edge of the recording material as in the prior art, the patches whose length in the transport direction gradually increases as they progress in the transport direction are sequentially detected at appropriate timing.

  Here, the reason why the length of the patch pattern 82 can be made shorter than before is described. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the expansion / contraction characteristics of the image formed on the recording material by the printer 1. In FIG. 6, the horizontal axis indicates the recording material conveyance direction position as a distance (mm) from the leading edge of the recording material, and the vertical axis indicates the amount of displacement (mm) from the ideal position of the image expansion / contraction, that is, the detection position variation of the patch. Indicates the amount. This detected position fluctuation amount is a relative shift amount with respect to the ideal patch detection position, but gradually increases as it goes to the rear end of the recording material. This is because the variation of the detection position is gradually accumulated. Note that the expansion and contraction here refers to the amount of deviation from the ideal position, as indicated by the vertical axis in FIG. 6, and does not indicate only the case where the length in the conveyance direction of the patch itself physically expands and contracts.

  The hatched area shown in FIG. 6 indicates a range in which the image on the recording material deviates from the ideal position. These deviations include variations in the outer diameter of the recording material conveyance roller, variations in the conveyance speed of the recording material due to environmental fluctuations, shrinkage of the recording material when the recording material passes through the fixing device 25, or on the recording material. It occurs due to various variations such as the influence of expansion and contraction of the image until the image is formed.

In the figure, β (x) represents the image expansion amount from the ideal position at the position x, and α (x) represents the image shrinkage amount from the ideal position at the position x. Note that the image expansion amount and the image shrinkage amount are expansion amounts when the length of the image itself (patch itself) is physically expanded or contracted, or even if the length of the image itself is not physically expanded or contracted. It may be the amount of deviation from the ideal position of the image due to variations in the moving speed of the recording material. In the present embodiment, from the result of actual measurement using the apparatus main body 2,
α (x) = β (x) = ax + b
It was decided to express as

  In the conventional patch pattern, since all the patch patterns are set to the same length in the conveyance direction, the patch pattern is formed by assuming the image shift amount that needs to be estimated in the last patch in all the patches. Therefore, there is a drawback that the patch closer to the tip of the recording material becomes longer than necessary. On the other hand, in this embodiment, it is possible to reduce wasteful toner consumption by forming a patch having an optimal length in the conveyance direction at each position.

  In this embodiment, when determining the transport direction length of each patch, the patch has a detection margin (margin) so that the inside of the patch can be reliably detected in consideration of the image expansion / contraction characteristics as shown in FIG. Set.

  In the following, a patch margin for maintaining the detection accuracy in the color sensor 90 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a margin expected in a patch. As in FIG. 6, the hatched area indicates a range where the image on the recording material deviates from the ideal position.

Here, as an example, a case where a color patch is detected three times by a color sensor will be described. x represents the distance from the leading edge of the recording material. d represents the detected spot diameter of the color sensor on the recording material. γ indicates the maximum distance that the patch moves while detecting the patch. In this case, the patch conveyance direction length PL is determined using the image expansion / contraction amounts α and β.
PL = α (x + γ) + β (x) + γ + d
Given in. In this way, a margin is provided on the leading end side of the patch when the image is expanded, and a margin is provided on the trailing end side of the patch when the image is contracted.

  Next, a method for determining the transport direction length of the patch pattern 82 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing in detail the transport direction length of each patch according to the present embodiment. As in FIG. 6, the hatched area indicates a range where the image on the recording material deviates from the ideal position.

L ₀ indicates the distance (mm) from the front end of the recording material to the front end of the first patch, and in this embodiment, L ₀ = 5. L ₁ and L ₂ indicate distances (mm) from the leading edge of the recording material to the patch detection start positions of the first and second patches, respectively. L ₁ + γ and L ₂ + γ indicate distances (mm) from the leading edge of the recording material to the patch detection end positions of the first and second patches, respectively. The margin expected for each patch is determined according to the description of FIG.

From FIG.
L ₁ = L ₀ + d / 2 + β (L ₁ )
Therefore,
L ₁ = (L ₀ + b + d / 2) / (1-a)
Here, when the patch detection start position of the nth patch (n ≧ 2) is L _n and the transport direction length is PL _n ,
_{L n = L n-1 +} γ + α (L n-1 + γ) + d + β (L n)
Therefore,
L _n = ((1 + a) (L _n-1 + γ) + 2b + d) / (1-a) (n ≧ 2)
PL _{n is} also PL _n = L _n + γ + α (L _n + γ) + d / 2
Can be calculated.

  9 and 10 show a summary of the configuration of the patch pattern in the present embodiment based on the above formula.

FIG. 9 is a table summarizing the parameters related to the formation of the patch pattern together with the conventional example. Item 1 indicates the image expansion / contraction error on the recording material at the patch detection position as a percentage (%) from the ideal value. Item 2 indicates the position error due to the speed fluctuation at the patch detection position as a percentage (%) from the ideal value. Item 3 indicates the maximum amount of deviation b (mm) between the recording material front end and the image front end. This deviation amount includes a detection error in the color sensor 90. Item 4 indicates the transport direction length (mm) of the recording material used for forming the patch pattern. Here, the case where the recording material of A3 is used is assumed as an example. Item 5 indicates a margin L ₀ (mm) at the leading end of the recording material. Item 6 indicates the margin (mm) of the trailing edge of the recording material. Item 7 indicates the length (mm) in the conveyance direction in the image formable area on the recording material. Item 8 indicates the front end side margin α (mm) that needs to be expected for one patch. Item 9 indicates a rear end side margin β (mm) that needs to be estimated for one patch. Item 10 indicates the maximum value (mm / s) of the recording material conveyance speed at the patch detection position. Item 11 indicates the detection spot diameter φd (mm) of the color sensor 90. Item 12 indicates the number of detections k (times) by the color sensor 90 of one patch. Item 13 indicates the time (s) required for one detection by the color sensor 90. Item 14 indicates the maximum distance γ (mm) traveled by the recording material during detection of one patch. Item 15 indicates the length (mm) in the conveyance direction of one patch. Item 16 indicates the number of patches to be formed on the recording material. Item 17 indicates the number of gradations n (gradation) of the patch. Item 18 indicates the length (mm) required to form a full patch (patch pattern).

  Here, the sum of the errors of item 1 and item 2 is the slope a (a = 0.018) in FIG. 6, and item 3 is the intercept b (b = 0.9) in FIG.

  In the conventional example, considering the image formation length of 410 mm on the recording material, the margin expected for all patches is α = β = ax + b = 0.018 × 410 mm + 0.9 = 8.28 mm. Further, the maximum distance γ traveled by the recording material during the detection of one patch of items 10, 12, 13 to 14 is calculated. From these, the length in the conveyance direction of one patch is 22.38 mm (= α + β + γ + d). Therefore, in the conventional example, 18 patches can be formed on the A3 sheet, and the total length in the transport direction of all patches (hereinafter referred to as all patch lengths) is 407.8 mm.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, although γ is the same, α and β are variable depending on the formation position of the patch on the recording material as shown in FIG. Here, parameters of each patch according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing parameters of the patch pattern according to the present embodiment. FIG. 10 shows the results of calculating the patch detection start position L _{n of the n-th} patch, the patch transport direction length PL _n , margins α and β expected in the patch, and the rear end position of the n-th patch using the above-described formulas.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when 18 patches are formed on the recording material as in the conventional example, the total patch length is 202.5 mm, which is about half that of the conventional 407.8 mm. That is, the amount of toner required for patch formation is halved.

  Therefore, while A3 size recording material is conventionally required for color balance correction control, this embodiment can be performed with A4 size recording material. For example, when a user intends to output an image using an A4 size recording material, conventionally, it is necessary to use two or more A4 size recording materials in order to perform color balance correction, or an A3 size recording material. It was necessary to set the recording material. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, color balance correction can be performed using only one A4 size recording material already set in the apparatus main body 2 for image formation. This means that in this embodiment, the toner consumption is reduced and the correction control time is also reduced as compared with the conventional case.

  In the conventional example, only 18 patches can be formed on the A3 sheet, but in the present embodiment, 28 patches are formed on the A3 sheet (image forming length 410 mm) from FIG. It becomes possible to do. That is, the number of patches can be increased without increasing the toner consumption compared to the conventional case, and the color balance correction accuracy can be improved.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of color balance correction control in the printer 1 according to the present embodiment. A program for executing color balance correction control is stored in the ROM 122 shown in FIG. 2 and is executed under the control of the CPU 121.

  First, in step S <b> 101, the CPU 121 forms a patch pattern 82 on the recording material P. This patch pattern is formed entirely on one recording material P or divided into a plurality of recording materials P depending on the transport direction length of the recording material P to be used. The CPU 121 may obtain the length in the conveyance direction of the recording material P from information from the size detection unit 14 provided in the cassette 20 described above. Further, the CPU 121 may be obtained from a user's input instruction from the external host device 10 or the like with respect to the recording material P set by the user in the manual paper feed unit or the like of the apparatus main body 2.

  In step S <b> 102, the CPU 121 detects the output V <b> 0 of the color sensor when there is no recording material P to be used in order to determine that the leading margin of the recording material has reached the detection range of the color sensor 90. Here, the output when the color sensor 90 detects a black counter plate (not shown) provided on the opposite side of the color sensor 90 is V0. Thereafter, the CPU 121 continues detection by the color sensor 90, and resets the time counter tc when the output from the color sensor 90 exceeds a threshold value for determining whether the recording material has reached. The time counter tc is used to measure a predetermined time from the timing when the leading edge of the recording material reaches the detection range of the color sensor 90 in order to determine the timing for executing patch detection. Here, the detection range of the color sensor 90 corresponds to the spot diameter of the color sensor 90.

  In step S103, the CPU 121 starts patch pattern detection after a predetermined time is measured by the time counter tc, and calculates the density or chromaticity of all patches. The patch detection process in step S103 will be described later with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

  In step S <b> 104, the CPU 121 calculates a color balance characteristic for correcting the image forming condition using the detected density or chromaticity of the patch. Subsequently, in step S105, the CPU 121 calculates a correction conversion table for color balance correction. This correction conversion table is a table for correcting image forming conditions by applying feedback to process conditions such as the exposure amount of a laser beam and a developing bias.

  Next, patch detection processing will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of patch detection processing according to the present embodiment. The process described below is details of the process in step S103 shown in FIG. This process is started after the recording material P on which the patch pattern is formed reaches the color sensor 90, and detects the density of all the patches constituting the patch pattern. Similar to the process in FIG. 11, the program for executing the patch detection process is stored in the ROM 122 shown in FIG. 2 and is executed under the control of the CPU 121.

First, in step S111, the CPU 121 resets the patch counter n indicating the patch number to “0”. The patch counter n takes a value from “0” to n ^max (the number of gradations of the patch), where n = 1 indicates the first patch and n = 2 indicates the second patch. In this step S111, “0” is cleared from V1 to Vn storing the density detection value of each patch.

  In step S112, the CPU 121 increments (+1) the patch counter n. Subsequently, in step S113, the CPU 121 resets the output holding counter m indicating the number of times the output of the color sensor 90 is held to “0”. The output holding counter m takes values from “0” to k (the number of detections in one patch), and in this embodiment, k = 3.

In step S114, the CPU 121 determines whether it is time to start detection of the nth patch. Here, it is determined whether or not it is the detection start timing based on whether or not the time counter tc exceeds the threshold value L _n / v. Here, v is a design value of the recording material conveyance speed at the patch detection position, and v = 200 mm / s. When determining that it is time to start detection, the CPU 121 shifts the process to S115. On the other hand, when it is determined that it is not the timing to start detection, the CPU 121 periodically repeats the determination in S114 until the timing to start detection.

  In step S115, the CPU 121 increments (+1) the value of the output holding counter m. Subsequently, in step 116, the CPU 121 sets the detection value (output value) of the color sensor 90 to the variable Am. This variable Am is secured in the RAM 123 as a work area.

  Further, in step S117, the CPU 121 determines whether or not the k detections necessary for calculating the density of one patch have been completed. If k detections have not been completed in one patch, the CPU 121 proceeds to step S115 to increment (+1) the value of the output holding counter m, and sets the next detection result in the variable Am. To do. In this way, the patch density is detected k times by the color sensor 90 at a predetermined sampling period, and the detected value is stored in A1 to Ak.

  Next, in step S <b> 118, the CPU 121 calculates an arithmetic average of the k detection values detected by the color sensor 90 to calculate the patch density Vn. In this embodiment, in step S118, a simple arithmetic average of three data is obtained and used as the patch density. In addition to this, the average of detected values excluding the maximum and minimum values by increasing the number of detections is used as the patch density. It is good.

  Finally, in step S119, the CPU 121 determines whether or not the detection of the density of all patches has been completed. If not completed, the CPU 121 shifts the process to step S112 and starts detecting the next patch. When the detection of the density of all the patches is thus completed, this process is terminated and the process of step S104 in FIG. 11 is executed.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment corresponds to the image printing accuracy (expansion / contraction characteristics, writing position deviation) at the patch detection position, or the characteristics of the patch moving speed at the patch detection position. Optimize the area and position of each patch constituting the patch pattern. Specifically, the image forming apparatus determines the length of the conveyance direction of the patch necessary for eliminating the expansion / contraction of the toner image at the patch detection position or the variation in the moving speed of the recording material at the patch detection position. This is determined according to the formation position on the recording material. As a result, the transport direction length of each patch for color balance correction can be configured with a minimum length. As a result, it is possible to reduce the consumption amount of the recording material and toner related to the color balance correction and to efficiently perform the color balance correction. Since the patch area on the recording material can be reduced, the number of patches can be increased. In this case, the color balance correction accuracy can be improved without increasing the toner consumption.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, the transport direction length of each patch may be set so as to gradually increase in the order in which it is detected. This eliminates the characteristic that the amount of expansion / contraction of the image of the toner image formed at the end of the toner image formed at the end is larger than that of the toner image formed at the start of the recording material conveyance direction. The optimal patch size can be realized at the position. Therefore, the toner consumption can be further reduced and the color balance control can be efficiently performed.

  Further, the length of each patch according to the present embodiment in the conveyance direction is determined based on the spot diameter of the color sensor 90, the maximum distance the patch moves during the detection process, and the toner image corresponding to the formation position of each patch on the recording material. The maximum amount of expansion and contraction may be included. As a result, the patch can be detected more accurately, and the toner consumption can be reduced without degrading the image quality of the image forming apparatus.

  Further, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment may count the number of image forming operations, and change the transport direction length of each patch when the number of times reaches a predetermined number. That is, when the image forming operation count exceeds a certain threshold value, the values of “a” and “b” in α (x) and β (x) described above may be changed. What value should be changed may be determined in advance at the design stage of the image forming apparatus. In this case, the CPU 121 of the image forming apparatus functions as a changing unit that changes the transport direction length of each patch according to the number of image forming operation counts. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the influence of image variations due to changes with time of each engine depending on the number of image forming operations.

  Further, the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment may determine the type of the recording material and change the transport direction length of each patch according to the determined type of the recording material. That is, the value of “a” and “b” in α (x) and β (x) described above can be changed for each type of recording material (plain paper, cardboard, glossy paper, etc.). That's fine. What value should be changed may be determined in advance at the design stage of the image forming apparatus. In this case, the CPU 121 of the image forming apparatus functions as a changing unit that changes the transport direction length of each patch according to the type of the recording material. Accordingly, accurate patch detection processing can be performed without being affected by different image forming characteristics for each type of recording material. Here, in order to determine the type of the recording material, the image forming apparatus may be provided with an optical sensor for determining the type of the recording material on the conveyance path of the recording material. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus may acquire the type of the recording material by an input from the user.

  The patch pattern for gradation-density characteristic control after fixing formed on the recording material is not limited to a gray patch pattern, but may be a C, M, Y, Bk monochrome gradation patch pattern. The effect is similar.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to patch detection on a recording material using a color sensor, and the effect of the present invention is also exhibited in detection of a density gradation control patch on an intermediate transfer member.

  Further, in this embodiment, an electrophotographic color image forming apparatus is taken up as an example of an image forming apparatus. However, in addition to this, density control of a monochrome image forming apparatus and density / chromaticity in an ink jet type image forming apparatus. The present invention can be applied to various image forming apparatuses such as correction.

<Other embodiments>
Below, the modification of embodiment mentioned above is demonstrated.

  In the embodiment described above, the image expansion / contraction characteristics on the recording material are set as shown in FIG. 6, but the margins α (x) and β (x) expected for the patch in FIG. 6 are in accordance with the actual image expansion / contraction characteristics. In other words, it may be a higher-order function or non-linear.

  Further, the printer 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a printing accuracy (writing position) on the recording material due to an increase in the temperature and / or humidity of the environment in which the apparatus main body 2 is placed and the temperature and / or humidity in the apparatus main body 2. It is known that the displacement of images and the degree of expansion / contraction of images will change. Therefore, by changing the margin shown in FIG. 6 by the environmental sensor that detects the temperature and humidity of the environment in which the apparatus main body 2 is placed, or the environmental sensor that detects the temperature and humidity in the apparatus main body 2, It is also possible to reduce the area of the patch pattern. In addition, as environmental information used as environment detection object, it is not limited to temperature or humidity, For example, you may make it employ | adopt the value which combined temperature and humidity. At this time, the CPU 121 functions as a changing unit that changes the transport direction length of each patch according to the detected environment information or changes the transport direction length of each patch according to the detected environment in the apparatus.

  For example, α (x) = b, β (x) = ax + b in a specific environment, and α (x) = ax + b, β (x) = b in other environments. It can be optimized further. Further, the value of “a” and the value of “b” may be appropriately changed according to the environment (temperature and / or humidity). Similarly, the effect of the invention can be further improved by changing the margin expected for the patch according to the difference in printing accuracy on the recording material due to the deterioration of the durability of the printer 1 or the difference in printing accuracy depending on the type of the recording material itself. Can do.

  Further, when the printer 1 supports double-sided printing, the color balance correction described in the present invention may be performed on the image on the second side. In this case, since the amount of shrinkage of the recording material after fixing differs between the first side and the second side, it is possible to optimize the patch patterns for the first side and the second side separately. That is, the values of “a” and “b” in α (x) and β (x) described above may be changed between the first side and the second side in duplex printing. What value should be changed may be determined in advance at the design stage of the image forming apparatus.

  Furthermore, when the image on the recording material tends to shift in the width direction as it advances in the conveyance direction, it is desirable to form a patch so as to eliminate the shift. For example, when the recording material is skewed at the patch detection position, the patch pattern can be optimized by gradually increasing the width of the patch constituting the patch pattern as the conveyance direction advances. it can.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a printer 1 according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the control block of the printer 1 which concerns on this embodiment. It is an enlarged view showing a discharge conveyance path 60 in the vicinity where a color sensor 90 according to the present embodiment is arranged. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the color sensor 90 which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the patch pattern 82 which concerns on this embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of expansion / contraction characteristics of an image formed on a recording material by a printer. It is a figure for demonstrating the margin estimated in a patch. It is a figure which shows the conveyance direction length of each patch which concerns on this embodiment in detail. It is the figure which put together the parameter regarding formation of a patch pattern with the prior art example. It is a figure which shows the parameter of the patch pattern which concerns on this embodiment. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control procedure of color balance correction control in the printer 1 according to the present embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the detection process of the patch which concerns on this embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the patch row | line 1300 on the recording material used for correction | amendment of a color balance.

Explanation of symbols

PY, PM, PC, PBk: process cartridge P: recording material 1: printer 2: apparatus main body 3: feeding unit 10: external host device 11: image processing control unit 12: image forming control unit 13: image forming unit 14: Size detection unit 15: conveyance motor 16: color sensor unit 19: rear end regulating plate 20: cassette 21: feeding roller 22: retard roller 23a, 23b: conveyance roller pair 24: registration roller pair 25: fixing devices 26Y, 26M, 26C, 26Bk: photosensitive drum 27: secondary transfer rollers 28Y, 28M, 28C, 28Bk: laser exposure device 30: intermediate transfer belt 31: intermediate transfer belt unit 33: transfer transport unit 50: primary charger 51: developing device 52 : Primary transfer roller 60: Discharge conveyance path 61, 62, 63: Discharge roller pair 69, 72: Diverter 70, 71: Reverse row Pair 73: two-sided conveyance path 74, 75, 76: two-sided conveying roller pair 90: Color sensor 91: White LED
92a: Charge accumulation type sensor with RGB on-chip filter 100: Driving roller 105: Tension roller 108: Secondary transfer counter roller

Claims (8)

Patch forming means for forming a patch row including a plurality of patches as toner images on a recording material;
Fixing means for fixing the patch row formed on the recording material to the recording material;
Patch detection means for detecting, for each patch, the density or color of the patch row fixed on the recording material being conveyed;
Correction means for correcting the image forming condition based on the detected density or color of the patch row,
The patch forming means gradually increases the length in the transport direction of each patch in the order detected by the patch detecting means based on the fact that the detection position fluctuation amount of the patch gradually increases in the order detected by the patch detecting means. Thus, the image forming apparatus is characterized in that each patch is formed as a patch row. The transport direction length of each patch is
The spot diameter of the optical sensor used by the patch detection means to detect the density or color of each patch, the distance that the patch moves while the patch detection means detects the density or color, and the recording material of each patch The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a toner image shift amount corresponding to the formation position of the toner image. An environment detecting means for detecting at least one of temperature and humidity of the environment in which the image forming apparatus is installed;
The patch forming means includes
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a changing unit that changes a length in a conveyance direction of each patch according to the detected environment information. A counter for counting the number of image forming operations of the image forming apparatus;
The patch forming means includes
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a changing unit configured to change a transport direction length of each patch when the number of times reaches a predetermined number. 5. A discriminating means for discriminating the type of recording material;
The patch forming means includes
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a changing unit configured to change a transport direction length of each patch according to the determined type of the recording material. The patch forming means includes
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a changing unit configured to change a conveyance direction length of each patch between the first surface and the second surface of the recording material when patches are formed on both surfaces of the recording material. The image forming apparatus described in the item.   The detected position fluctuation amount is determined by the patch detection unit according to the variation in the conveyance speed of the recording material, the shrinkage of the recording material when passing through the fixing device, or the expansion / contraction of the image until the image is formed on the recording material. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a variation amount of a detection position. A patch forming step of forming on the recording material a patch row including a plurality of patches that are toner images;
A fixing step of fixing the patch row formed on the recording material to the recording material;
A patch detection step of detecting the density or color of the patch row fixed to the recording material being conveyed by the patch detection means for each patch;
Performing a correction step of correcting the image forming condition based on the detected density or color of the patch row,
In the patch formation step, the patch detection position fluctuation amount gradually increases in the order detected in the patch detection step, and the transport direction length of each patch gradually increases in the order detected in the patch detection step. Thus, the control method of the image forming apparatus, wherein each patch is formed as a patch row.

Images