JP2010082815A - Method, apparatus and system of image formation - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To correct well by a simple processing system color variation caused by a two-liquid reaction in an image forming apparatus in the case of image formation of a two-liquid reaction type using a processing liquid which insolubilizes or coagulates an ink, and to carry out image formation of a plurality of the number of sheets at a high speed. <P>SOLUTION: Preliminarily in step S1, a plurality of image data are formed by correcting color variation due to a difference in reaction speed of the ink at the time of image formation using an environmental condition possible as an environmental condition at the time of image formation as a parameter to the same original image data. In step S2, the plurality of image data are stored. Thereafter, the environmental condition is detected in step S3, and image data corresponding to the detected environmental condition is selected from the preliminarily stored plurality of image data in step S4. In steps S5 and S6, an image is formed to a recording medium on the basis of the selected image data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming method, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming system for forming an image using a processing liquid that insolubilizes or aggregates ink.

  2. Description of the Related Art There is known an ink jet recording type image forming apparatus that records an image on a recording medium by ejecting ink onto the recording medium from a plurality of nozzles formed on the ink jet head. In the ink jet recording method, noise during recording operation is low, running cost is low, and high-resolution and high-quality image recording is possible. Ink droplet ejection methods include a piezoelectric method using displacement of a piezoelectric element and a thermal method using thermal energy generated by a heating element.

  By the way, when only ink is ejected, if the environmental temperature is high, the viscosity of the ink decreases, so that the landed ink is likely to spread on the recording medium. Also, when the humidity is high, the moisture in the recording medium increases, so that the landed ink tends to spread on the recording medium.

In Patent Document 1, in an image forming apparatus that ejects only ink, an environmental condition acquisition unit that acquires environmental conditions (temperature and humidity) that affect the printing result on a print medium due to a decrease in ink viscosity; A color conversion process unit that generates color-converted data by performing color conversion processing according to the acquired environmental conditions on the given color image data, and the color conversion processing unit includes a plurality of environmental conditions A configuration having a plurality of reference color conversion tables indicating a plurality of reference color conversion processing conditions suitable for printing with the printer is disclosed.
JP 2005-212246 A

  If droplets are ejected continuously so that adjacent ink droplets overlap on the recording medium, these ink droplets coalesce due to their surface tension, making it impossible to form desired dots. There is. In the case of dots of the same color, the dot shape collapses, and in the case of dots between different colors, a problem of color mixing also occurs. Therefore, a processing liquid for insolubilizing or aggregating the ink is applied to the recording medium prior to the ink liquid, and the ink is reacted to improve the image quality. For example, when pigment particles are used as the coloring material, the treatment liquid has a function of aggregating the particles by neutralizing the Coulomb repulsive force of the pigment particles. Thereby, interference between droplet ejection dots is suppressed, and a sharp image can be recorded without density unevenness.

  However, if the ink insolubilization or aggregation reaction (hereinafter referred to as “two-component reaction”) varies due to changes in environmental conditions during image formation, etc., as a result, the diameter of the dots that have landed on the recording medium varies, resulting in temporal color changes. Appears as fluctuations or spatial color fluctuations (eg color irregularities).

  Further, business printers are required to create a large number of prints at high speed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when performing two-component reaction type image formation using a treatment liquid that insolubilizes or aggregates ink, the image forming apparatus side uses a color resulting from the two-component reaction. An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming method, an image forming apparatus, and an image forming system capable of satisfactorily correcting fluctuations with a simple processing system and capable of forming a plurality of images at high speed.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming method for forming an image on a recording medium by applying a treatment liquid that insolubilizes or aggregates the ink and the ink to the recording medium. The original image data is subjected to a correction process for correcting color fluctuations caused by fluctuations in the reaction speed of the ink at the time of image formation using environmental conditions that may occur at the time of image formation as parameters. An image data creation step to create, an image data save step to save the plurality of created image data, an environmental condition detection step to detect an environmental condition, and a plurality of the image data stored in advance, An image data selection step for selecting the image data corresponding to the detected environmental condition, and an image on the recording medium based on the selected image data An image forming step of forming, an image forming method, which comprises a.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming means for forming an image on a recording medium by applying a treatment liquid that insolubilizes or aggregates the ink and the ink to the recording medium, and the image A plurality of pieces of image data in which color fluctuations due to fluctuations in the reaction speed of ink at the time of image formation by the forming unit are corrected, and corresponding to environmental conditions that may be possible at the time of image formation by the image forming unit. Image data storage means for storing a plurality of the image data, environmental condition detection means for detecting environmental conditions, and the environmental condition detection means from among the plurality of image data stored in advance by the image data storage means From the image data selection means for selecting the image data corresponding to the environmental condition detected in the above, the image data selected by the image data selection means, the image To provide an image forming apparatus comprising: the output data generating means for generating output data to be supplied to the forming means.

  According to the present invention, when two-component reaction type image formation is performed using a processing solution that insolubilizes or aggregates ink, image data is selected on the image forming apparatus side based on environmental conditions, thereby forming two components. Color variation caused by reaction can be corrected well, and a plurality of images can be formed at high speed.

  In one aspect of the present invention, output data storage means for temporarily storing the output data created by the output data creation means, and fluctuations in the environmental conditions detected by the environmental condition detection means are An environmental variation determination unit that determines whether or not the image data selected by the image data selection unit is within an allowable range; and if the variation in the environmental condition is within the allowable range, the output data storage unit stores the variation. While the control is performed to supply the output data to the image forming unit, and the variation in the environmental condition is outside the allowable range, the image data selection unit outputs the image data corresponding to the current environmental condition. Control means for performing control to select and output the output data created by the output data creation means to the image forming means.

  According to this, even in a job for forming the same image on a large number of recording media, a uniform image can be formed by suitably correcting the color variation even when environmental conditions fluctuate during the job. Since the output data creation is omitted when the variation of the environmental conditions in the job is within the allowable range, it is possible to perform image formation at a higher speed while maintaining the color reproducibility of the entire job.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes a host device that supplies image data to the image forming apparatus, and the host apparatus uses, as a parameter, the same original image data as a parameter of the environmental conditions that may be present during image formation. The image data creating means for creating a plurality of the image data by performing correction processing for correcting in advance color variations caused by variations in the reaction speed of the ink during image formation is provided.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the image data creation means increases the density value for each color of the image data as the environmental temperature increases.

  In one aspect of the present invention, when the different color inks overlap each other on the recording medium, the image data creating unit is configured so that each of the colors of the image data has a color that is later in order to be applied to the recording medium. Decrease the density value for each.

  In one aspect of the present invention, when the different color inks overlap with each other on the recording medium, the image data creation unit is configured to change the environmental temperature as the color of the ink that is later applied to the recording medium. The ratio of the change amount of the density value for each color of the image data is increased.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the image data creation unit is configured to provide a region in which the amount of ink per unit area of ink previously applied to the recording medium is larger for each color of the image data. Decrease the density value.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the image data creating means is configured to increase the density for each color of the image data with respect to the amount of change in environmental temperature in a region where the amount of ink per unit area of ink applied to the recording medium is larger. Increase the ratio of the amount of change in value.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the image data creation means increases the density value for each color of the image data as the amount of processing liquid per unit area applied to the recording medium increases.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the image data creation unit is configured to change the density value of each color of the image data with respect to the variation amount of the environmental temperature as the amount of the processing liquid per unit area applied to the recording medium is smaller. Increase the ratio.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the image data creation unit corrects the density value for each color of the image data based on the type of the recording medium.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the host device compresses the image data and transmits the compressed image data to the image forming device, and the image forming device decompresses the received image data.

  According to this, the total amount of image data transmitted from the host device to the image forming apparatus can be reduced.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the host device includes reference image data corresponding to a reference temperature, difference image data corresponding to a difference between the reference temperature and another environment temperature, and the image data of the adjacent environment temperature. One of the difference image data consisting of the difference between them is created and transmitted to the image forming apparatus, and the image forming apparatus is configured to transmit the difference image data based on the reference image data and the difference image data. Generate output data.

  According to this, the total amount of image data transmitted from the host device to the image forming apparatus can be further reduced.

  According to the present invention, when a two-liquid reaction type image formation is performed using a processing liquid that insolubilizes or aggregates ink, the image forming apparatus side can satisfactorily perform color fluctuation caused by the two-liquid reaction with a simple processing system. Correction can be performed, and a plurality of images can be formed at high speed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Principle of the present invention)
The principle of the present invention will be described in the case where an image is formed on a recording medium by applying a treatment liquid and ink to the recording medium. Here, the treatment liquid is a liquid that causes a reaction (hereinafter also referred to as “two-liquid reaction”) in which the ink is insolubilized or aggregated.

  Here, for convenience of explanation, a case where three colors of ink are applied to a recording medium will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to such a case. Any number of inks may be used. The present invention can be applied even when only one color (for example, black) of ink is ejected. For convenience of explanation, a case where one kind of processing liquid is applied to a recording medium will be described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to such a case. Two or more kinds of treatment liquids may be applied. Moreover, the application | coating method of a process liquid is not specifically limited. For example, the treatment liquid may be applied by droplet ejection.

  For example, first, a treatment liquid that agglomerates ink is applied to a recording medium, then cyan (C) ink is ejected toward the recording medium as a first color, and then magenta (as a second color). M) ink is ejected toward the recording medium, and then yellow (Y) ink is ejected toward the recording medium as the third color, thereby forming an image on the recording medium. In this specification, image formation performed using two or more liquids including at least the treatment liquid and the ink is referred to as two-liquid reaction type image formation in this specification.

  FIG. 1A shows the variation of the dot diameter with respect to the environmental temperature variation for each color in the case of the lower layer network 40%. Reference numeral 911 denotes a primary color, reference numeral 912 denotes a secondary color, and reference numeral 913 denotes a dot diameter variation for the tertiary color. FIG. 1B shows the dot diameter variation with respect to the environmental temperature variation for each color in the case of the lower layer network 60%. Reference numeral 921 indicates the primary color, reference numeral 922 indicates the secondary color, and reference numeral 923 indicates the dot diameter variation for the tertiary color. The treatment liquid was applied on the recording medium with a uniform thickness, and then ink was ejected in the order of the primary color, the secondary color, and the tertiary color. The lower layer net% indicates the amount of ink (density) per unit area previously ejected.

  Since the two-component reaction is a chemical reaction, the higher the environmental temperature, the more the ink reaction is promoted, and the ink that has landed on the recording medium creates small dots. In addition, the influence of the chemical reaction change is greater than the change in ink viscosity due to environmental temperature fluctuations.

  In FIG. 1A, the line 912 is higher than the line 911 and has a larger inclination. Further, the line 913 is above the line 912 and has a larger inclination. In FIG. 1B, the line 922 is above the line 921 and has a larger inclination. Further, the line 923 is above the line 922 and has a larger inclination. As described above, the dot diameter variation characteristics differ depending on the order of primary, secondary, and tertiary droplet ejection. In the two-liquid reaction type image formation, the treatment liquid imparted to the recording medium is sufficiently supplied to the ink previously ejected, so that the two-liquid reaction proceeds, resulting in the formation of small dots. Is done. On the other hand, the ink that is subsequently ejected is processed after the processing liquid is consumed by the lower layer ink and the movement of the processing liquid is inhibited by the lower layer ink. This indicates that the liquid is not supplied sufficiently and the two-liquid reaction is delayed, resulting in the formation of large dots. The higher the color, the larger the dot diameter variation ratio | Δd / ΔT | (the absolute value of the temperature dependence coefficient of the dot diameter) due to the variation in the reaction speed of the ink accompanying the environmental temperature variation.

  FIG. 2A shows the change in dot diameter with respect to the change in halftone of the lower layer (first layer made of the primary color ink) for the secondary color ink (reference numeral 931). FIG. 2B shows the change in dot diameter with respect to the change in halftone percentage in the lower layer (the first layer made of the primary color ink and the second layer made of the secondary color ink) for the tertiary color ink. This is shown (reference numeral 941). The treatment liquid was applied on the recording medium with a uniform thickness, and then ink was ejected in the order of the primary color, the secondary color, and the tertiary color.

  In the two-component reaction type image formation, the consumption amount and the movement amount of the processing liquid differ depending on the ink amount (or image density) per unit area of the preceding droplet, and as a result, color variation occurs.

  Further, as indicated by the line 932 in FIG. 2A and the line 942 in FIG. 2B, the ratio of the dot diameter fluctuation amount to the environmental temperature fluctuation amount | Δd as the lower layer net% increases. / ΔT | (the absolute value of the temperature dependence coefficient of the dot diameter) increases.

  FIG. 3 shows the variation of the dot diameter with respect to the variation of the processing liquid amount per unit area. As shown in FIG. 3, the larger the amount of processing liquid per unit area, the smaller the dot diameter. The treatment liquid application amount varies depending on the type of the recording medium. For example, the amount of treatment liquid applied to mat-coated paper is larger than that of gloss-coated paper, and the dot diameter is reduced.

  As described above, in the two-component reaction type image formation, the color variation occurs due to the variation in the reaction speed of the ink. First, the larger the environmental temperature, the smaller the dot diameter. Second, the higher order color, that is, the color of the ink that is later in the order to be applied to the recording medium, has a larger dot diameter. Further, the ratio | Δd / ΔT | of the dot diameter fluctuation amount with respect to the environmental temperature fluctuation amount increases as the color becomes higher. Third, the dot diameter increases as the lower layer net% of the ink increases, that is, as the amount of ink per unit area previously applied on the recording medium increases. In addition, the ratio | Δd / ΔT | of the dot diameter fluctuation amount with respect to the fluctuation amount of the environmental temperature increases as the lower layer net% of the ink increases. Fourth, the larger the amount of treatment liquid per unit area given to the recording medium, the smaller the dot diameter. In addition, the smaller the amount of processing liquid per unit area, the larger the ratio | Δd / ΔT | of the dot diameter fluctuation amount to the environmental temperature fluctuation amount.

  Therefore, in the present invention, correction processing for correcting color fluctuations due to fluctuations in ink reaction speed at the time of image formation is previously performed on the same original image data, using environmental conditions that may be present during image formation as parameters. Apply. As a result, a plurality of types of image data respectively corresponding to a plurality of environmental condition values within a possible range at the time of image formation are created and stored.

  In the correction process, first, the density value for each color of the image data is increased as the environmental temperature increases. Second, when inks of different colors overlap on the recording medium, the density value for each color of the image data is made smaller as the color of the ink (higher order color) in the later order applied to the recording medium. Further, as the higher order color, the ratio of the change amount of the density value for each color of the image data to the change amount of the environmental temperature is increased. Thirdly, the density value for each color of the image data is reduced in the region where the amount of ink per unit area (lower layer mesh%) of the ink previously applied to the recording medium is large. In addition, as the lower layer% of the ink is larger, the ratio of the change amount of the density value for each color of the image data to the variation amount of the environmental temperature is increased. Fourthly, the density value for each color of the image data is increased as the amount of processing liquid per unit area applied to the recording medium is increased. Further, as the amount of the processing liquid per unit area applied to the recording medium is smaller, the ratio of the change amount of the density value for each color of the image data to the variation amount of the environmental temperature is increased. The density value for each color of the image data may be corrected based on the type of the recording medium.

  When an image formation instruction is input, an environmental condition is detected, image data corresponding to the detected environmental condition is selected from a plurality of types of image data stored in advance, and an image is input from the selected image data. Image data is formed by creating output data for drops.

In this specification, “color variation” includes both temporal color variation and spatial color variation. For example, when an image is formed on a plurality of recording media based on the same image data, the color changes between the recording media, or an image including a plurality of pixels having the same density value in the same image data The color change on the same recording medium.
(First embodiment)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an image forming system according to the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 4, an image forming system is configured including a host 1 (also referred to as a “host computer”) including a computer and a printer 10 as an image forming apparatus.

  In the case of a business printer, unlike a home printer, the department that produces image data (plate making department) and the department that forms an image on a recording medium (print department) often differ. For example, there is a plate making department in the center of the city, a printing department in the suburbs or regions, and the host 1 of the plate making department and the printer 10 of the printing department are connected via a high-speed communication line.

  In the present embodiment, the host 1 performs image data creation unit 2 that creates image data to be transmitted to the printer 10 (also referred to as “transmission image data”), and communication that transmits the transmission image data to the printer 10. The unit 4 is configured.

  In this example, the transmission image data is raster format image data. When the printer 10 is a four-color ink machine of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black), the transmission image data has density values (C, M, Y, K) for each color ( For example, it is composed of a set of pixels (dots) having 8-bit multi-gradation values.

The image data creation unit 2 performs image processing such as rasterization processing, color conversion processing, and gradation conversion processing, for example. In this example, the image data creation unit 2 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a RIP (Raster Image Processor). In the rasterizing process, data other than the raster format is converted into image data in the raster format. In the color conversion process, conversion between color coordinates (for example, RGB coordinates, CMYK coordinates, L ^* a ^* b ^* coordinates), and color conversion for correcting differences in color reproducibility between devices due to differences in the type of printer 10. Etc. In the gradation conversion process, for example, a process of converting the density value (multi-gradation value) of each color (for example, C, M, Y, K) according to the user's preference is performed.

  Further, the image data creation unit 2 of the host 1 uses a plurality of environmental condition values within a range that are possible environmental conditions at the time of image formation by the printer 10 as parameters for the same original image data. A correction process (for example, a color conversion process and a gradation conversion process) for correcting a color variation due to the difference in ink reaction speed is performed to create a plurality of types of transmission image data respectively corresponding to a plurality of environmental condition values.

  First, the image data creation unit 2 increases the density value (multi-tone value in this example) for each color of the image data as the environmental temperature increases. Second, when the different inks (for example, C and M, M and Y, and C and Y) overlap each other on the recording medium, the image data creation unit 2 applies the inks that are later in the order of droplet ejection onto the recording medium. For the color, the density value for each color of the image data is reduced. Further, the ratio | Δd / ΔT | of the density value change amount Δd of each color of the image data with respect to the environmental temperature change amount ΔT is increased for higher order colors. Third, the image data creation unit 2 determines the density value of the color of ink that has been ejected later in a region where the amount of ink per unit area (lower layer network%) of ink that has previously been ejected onto the recording medium is larger. Make it smaller. Further, the ratio | Δd / ΔT | of the density value change amount Δd for each color with respect to the environmental temperature change amount ΔT is increased as the lower layer% of the ink is larger. Fourth, the image data creation unit 2 increases the density value for each color of the image data as the amount of processing liquid per unit area applied to the recording medium increases. Further, as the amount of the treatment liquid per unit area applied to the recording medium is smaller, the ratio | Δd / ΔT | of the density value change amount Δd for each color with respect to the environmental temperature change amount ΔT is increased. The density value for each color of the image data may be corrected based on the type of the recording medium.

  In this embodiment, the printer 10 includes a communication unit 12, a data storage unit 14, an image data selection unit 16, an output data creation unit 18, a data cache 20, a head driver 22, a head 24, an environmental condition detection unit 26, an environmental variation. The determination unit 28 and the controller 30 are included.

  The communication unit 12 receives a plurality of types of image data transmitted from the host 1.

  The data storage unit 14 stores a plurality of types of image data received from the host 1. That is, a plurality of types of image data created from the same original image data are stored in the image data creation unit 2 of the host 1. The data storage unit 14 is configured by, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory).

  The image data selection unit 16 selects image data corresponding to an environmental condition detected by an environmental condition detection unit 26 described later from a plurality of types of image data stored in the data storage unit 14.

  The output data creation unit 18 uses the image data received by the communication unit 12 and the image data for droplet ejection (referred to as “output data”) to be given to the head driver 22 from the image data selected by the image data selection unit 16. ).

  The output data creation unit 18 of this example includes a γ correction unit 182, an unevenness correction unit 184, and a halftone processing unit 186. The γ correction unit 182 corrects gradation variations of the output machine (printer 10) due to differences in performance or deterioration of electronic circuit components. For example, gradation value correction is performed using a 1D-LUT (one-dimensional lookup table) for each color. The unevenness correction unit 184 corrects color unevenness on the recording medium by correcting the ejection performance variation of the head 24. For example, color unevenness correction is performed using a 1D-LUT for each nozzle of the head 24 (nozzle 51 in FIG. 17 described later). The halftone processing unit 186 performs halftoning processing for converting image data composed of multi-gradation values (for example, 8 bits) into image data having the number of gradations (for example, 2 bits) that can be ejected by the nozzles 51 of the head 24. For example, the halftoning process is executed using an error diffusion method or a threshold matrix method.

  The data cache 20 is composed of, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory), and temporarily stores output data created by the output data creation unit 18.

  The head driver 22 converts the output data into a drive signal to be given to the head 24.

  When the drive signal is given to the head 24, the head 24 ejects (discharges) the processing liquid and the ink toward the recording medium. As a result, an image is formed on the recording medium.

  The environmental condition detection unit 26 detects environmental conditions such as environmental temperature and environmental humidity. For example, it is composed of a temperature and humidity meter.

  The environmental variation determination unit 28 determines whether the environmental condition variation detected by the environmental condition detection unit 26 is within the allowable range of the image data selected by the image data selection unit 16.

  The controller 30 controls each part of the printer 10 in an integrated manner. The controller 30 controls the output data stored in the data cache 20 to be supplied to the head driver 22 when the environmental variation determination unit 28 determines that the environmental condition variation is within the allowable range of the selected image data. I do. On the other hand, the controller 30 responds to the current environmental condition by the image data selection unit 16 when the environmental variation determination unit 28 determines that the variation of the environmental condition is outside the allowable range of the selected image data. Control is performed by selecting image data and supplying the output data newly created by the output data creation unit 18 based on the selected image data to the head driver 22 via the data cache 20.

  In the printer 10 illustrated in FIG. 4, the head driver 22 and the head 24 constitute an image forming unit in the present invention. In the printer 10 of this example, the image data selection unit 16, the environment variation determination unit 28, and the controller 30 are configured by a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

  The position where the environmental condition detection unit 26 is disposed is not particularly limited, but is preferably near the position where the ink lands on the recording medium. For example, it is arranged in the vicinity of the surface layer of the rotating body that rotates opposite to the head 24 and is spaced from the rotating body. That is, the environmental condition detection unit 26 of this example is disposed in the vicinity of a position where the ink landed on the recording medium causes a two-liquid reaction (hereinafter referred to as “drawing position” or “reaction position”). The ambient temperature during image formation (hereinafter referred to as “drawing temperature”) is detected.

  For example, the drawing temperature is measured with a radiation thermometer. The temperature of the air around the drawing position may be measured with a temperature measuring device such as a thermocouple. The measured temperature at other parts in the housing of the printer 10 correlated with the drawing position or the measured temperature outside the housing of the printer 10 may be obtained by converting to the drawing temperature.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of an example of image forming processing in the image forming system shown in FIG. This processing is executed by the CPU constituting the host 1 and the CPU constituting the printer 10 according to a program.

  In step S1, the image data creation unit 2 of the host 1 uses the color conversion function on the host 1 side, and there is a possibility that the same original image data is an environmental condition when the printer 10 forms an image. Using each of a plurality of environmental conditions as a parameter, a correction process is performed to correct color variation due to a difference in ink reaction speed during image formation. As a result, a plurality of types of image data corresponding to a plurality of environmental conditions that may be possible environmental conditions at the time of image formation by the printer 10 are created.

  For example, it is assumed that the environmental temperature range in which the printer 10 is used is 20 to 30 ° C., the standard environmental temperature is 25 ° C., and the allowable variation range of the environmental temperature where no color change is visually recognized is 5 ° C. Also, a correction 4D-LUT (four-dimensional lookup table) is created in advance in half of the allowable variation range of the environmental temperature (2.5 ° C.). In this case, five types of 4D-LUTs corresponding to 20 ° C., 22.5 ° C., 25 ° C., 27.5 ° C., and 30 ° C. are created. Then, the image data creation unit 2 uses the five types of 4D-LUTs and uses the same original image data with parameters of 20 ° C., 22.5 ° C., 25 ° C., 27.5 ° C., and 30 ° C., respectively. From the above, five types of image data corresponding to environmental temperatures of 20 ° C., 22.5 ° C., 25 ° C., 27.5 ° C., and 30 ° C. are created.

  The reason why the step of the environmental temperature is made half (2.5 ° C) of the allowable temperature range (5 ° C) for visually recognizing the color change is to increase the color matching accuracy of the image against the environmental temperature fluctuation. Depending on the balance between high accuracy and processing load, the step of the environmental temperature may be determined as appropriate. For example, the step of the environmental temperature may be the same as the allowable temperature for visually recognizing the color change.

  In step 2, the communication unit 4 of the host 1 transmits a plurality of types of image data to the printer 10. A plurality of types of image data transmitted from the host 1 are received by the communication unit 12 of the printer 10 and stored by the data storage unit 14 of the printer 10.

  When an output instruction is given by the controller 30 of the printer 10 in step S3, the environmental condition detection unit 26 of the printer 10 detects environmental conditions such as environmental temperature and environmental humidity.

  In step S <b> 4, the image data selection unit 16 of the printer 10 corresponds to the current environmental condition detected by the environmental condition detection unit 26 from among a plurality of types of image data stored in the data storage unit 14. Image data is selected.

  As described above, when the environmental temperature increment is 2.5 ° C., the image data for 22.5 ° C. closest to 23 ° C. is selected when the environmental temperature at the time of output is 23 ° C. At this time, the image data selection unit 16 stores the environmental condition (22.5 ° C.) corresponding to the selected image data in the data cache 20 as the output data environmental condition.

  In step S5, the output data creation unit 18 of the printer 10 performs output data creation processing such as γ correction processing, unevenness correction processing, and halftone processing on the image data selected by the image data selection unit 16. The The output data is stored in the data cache 20.

  In step S 6, output data is given to the head driver 22, and a drive signal is given from the head driver 22 to the head 24. Thereby, after the treatment liquid is ejected from the head 24, ink of each color (for example, C, M, Y) is ejected sequentially toward the recording medium, and an image is formed on the recording medium.

  Many commercial printers form the same image on a plurality of recording media. In the case of such a print job, the image forming process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is performed.

  Steps S11 to S13 are the same as steps S1 to S3 in FIG.

  In step S14, it is determined whether the first image is formed or the second and subsequent images are formed. If the first image is formed, steps S15 to S17 are executed. These steps S15 to S17 are the same as steps S4 to S6 in FIG.

  If it is determined in step S14 that the second and subsequent images are formed, the process proceeds to step S21.

  In step S21, a difference between the current environmental condition and the output data environmental condition stored in the data cache 20 is calculated to determine environmental fluctuation.

  In step S22, it is determined whether or not the current image data is acceptable based on the determination result of the environmental change. If it is determined that the currently selected image data is acceptable, the process proceeds to step S17. If the image data needs to be changed, the process proceeds to step S15.

  In step S17, the created output data is acquired from the data cache 20, and image formation is performed.

  Of the plurality of types of image data stored in the data storage unit 14, when there is image data that is more suitable for the current environmental conditions than the currently selected image data, the image data is newly selected. (Step S15) Output data is newly created (Step S16), and image formation is performed (Step S17).

  For example, if the output data environmental condition is 22.5 ° C. and the environmental temperature has risen to 24.5 ° C., it is better to use image data corresponding to 25 ° C. than the currently selected image data. It is determined that an image close to color is formed, and image data for 25 ° C. is selected from the data storage unit 14. As a result, image data for 25 ° C. is input to the output data creation unit 18.

  If it is determined in step S18 that all the sheets have been completed, this process ends.

  Next, the host-side color conversion function will be described in detail.

  An example of color correction processing by the image data creation unit 2 of the host 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  7A is an input / output characteristic with respect to a density value of a primary color (for example, C), FIG. 7B is an input / output characteristic with respect to a density value of a secondary color (for example, M), and FIG. Input / output characteristics (color conversion characteristics) with respect to the density value of the tertiary color (for example, Y) are schematically shown.

  7A to 7C, reference numerals 800, 810, and 820 indicate input / output characteristics at a standard environmental temperature T0 (for example, 25 ° C.), and reference numerals 801, 811, and 821 indicate standard environmental temperatures T0 + 2.5 ° C. The reference numerals 802, 812, and 822 indicate the input / output characteristics at the standard environmental temperature T0 + 5.5 ° C.

  In order to facilitate understanding of the invention, the input / output characteristics are drawn in a straight line, but the input / output characteristics may be appropriately determined.

  As shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, the output value (OUT) increases as the environmental temperature increases. For example, in FIG. 7A, the output value (OUT) increases in the order of the line 800, the line 801, and the line 802. That is, the larger the environmental temperature, the larger the output density value.

  In addition, the output value (OUT) is smaller as the ink color (higher order color) is later in the droplet ejection order. For example, the output value (OUT) is large in the order of the line 800 in FIG. 7A, the line 810 in FIG. 7B, and the line 820 in FIG. 7C.

  In addition, the difference in the output value (OUT) between the adjacent environmental temperatures increases as the ink color (higher order color) is later in the droplet ejection order. For example, Δd1 in FIG. 7A, Δd2 in FIG. 7B, and Δd3 in FIG.

  By using the correction data having the input / output characteristics shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, the following color correction is executed.

  First, the larger the environmental temperature, the larger the density value (multi-tone value) for each color of the image data. Secondly, when different inks (for example, C and M, M and Y, and C and Y) overlap on the recording medium, the color of the ink (higher order color) that is later in the order of droplet ejection on the recording medium. The density value for each color of the image data is reduced. Thirdly, the ratio | Δd / ΔT | of the density value change amount Δd for each color of the image data with respect to the environmental temperature change amount ΔT (2.5 ° C. in this example) is increased for higher order colors.

  As described in the principle of the present invention, the density value for each color may be corrected based on the lower halftone network%. Further, the chromaticity change due to the dot diameter change depends on the application amount of the treatment liquid. The amount of the treatment liquid applied depends on the type of recording medium (for example, paper type). Therefore, it is preferable to create correction data for color correction as data depending on the amount of processing liquid per unit area or the type of recording medium, since the correction accuracy is improved.

  The host-side color conversion function uses, for example, a multi-dimensional lookup table that is normally used as a CMS (Color Management System) function. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when image data made up of CMYK signals is input, an image made up of C′M′Y′K ′ signals is obtained by using 4D-LUT and performing interpolation processing to compensate between the lattice points. Output data.

First, there is an aspect in which a color conversion table is created for each environmental condition. For example, as shown on the left side of FIG. 9, an image of a test pattern (standard environmental condition chart) is formed under standard environmental conditions (step S31), and the chromaticity of the formed image is measured (step S32). Based on the measurement result, a conversion table from CMYK signals to L ^* a ^* b ^* signals is created (step S33). On the other hand, as shown on the right side of FIG. 9, an image of a test pattern (chart for specific environmental conditions) is formed under each environmental condition (step S34), and the chromaticity of the formed image is measured (step S35). ) Based on the measurement result, a conversion table from the L ^* a ^* b ^* signal to the C′M′Y′K ′ signal is created (step S36). Then, based on the two conversion tables created in steps S33 and S36, a 4D-LUT for converting from the CMYK signal to the C′M′Y′K ′ signal is created (step S37). In this way, a 4D-LUT for each environmental condition is created.

  Second, as shown in FIG. 10, the difference between the standard condition color conversion LUT 851 corresponding to the standard environmental condition, and the standard condition color conversion LUT 851 and the non-standard condition color conversion LUT corresponding to each non-standard environmental condition is calculated. There is a mode of creating a difference color conversion LUT 852 for each environmental condition shown.

  In this way, once the difference color conversion LUT 852 is created for each non-standard environmental condition, it is possible to efficiently work on various target profiles.

  The image data creation unit 2 of the host 1 creates, for example, reference image data corresponding to standard (reference) environmental conditions and difference image data corresponding to non-standard environmental conditions. The difference image data includes a difference between the image data under the standard environmental condition and the image data under the non-standard environmental condition.

  Difference image data consisting of a difference between image data of adjacent environmental conditions (for example, a difference between 27.5 ° C. image data and 30 ° C. image data) may be created. Since there is generally little color difference between adjacent environmental conditions, the overall size of a set of a plurality of types of image data can be greatly reduced. Further, the data decompression process can be performed at high speed as a sum or difference calculation. For example, the original image can be about 6 bits with respect to 8 bits.

  In addition, although the case where CMYK system-CMYK system color conversion is performed in the host has been described as an example, the color coordinate system is not particularly limited in the present invention. For example, RGB system-CMYK system color conversion may be used.

Further, although the case where a 4D-LUT is used as the color conversion table has been described as an example, the color conversion method is not particularly limited in the present invention. Other color conversion tables (for example, 1D-LUT) may be used, and other color conversion methods (for example, matrix conversion) may be used.
(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an image forming system according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 11, the same parts as those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In FIG. 11, the host 1 includes a data compression unit 3. The data compression unit 3 of the host 1 compresses the image data created by the image data creation unit 2. The compressed image data is transmitted to the printer 10 by the communication unit 4 of the host 1.

  The printer 10 also includes a data decompression unit 17. The data decompression unit 17 of the printer 10 decompresses the image data selected by the image data selection unit 16 from the image data received by the communication unit 12 of the printer 10 and saved by the data storage unit 14.

  In this example, a data decompression unit 17 is provided between the image data selection unit 16 and the output data creation unit 18 to store a plurality of types of image data received from the host 1 in a compressed state, and the current environmental conditions. Since only the selected image data corresponding to is decompressed, the data capacity in the data storage unit 14 can be reduced.

  Various known data compression methods can be used as the data compression method.

  When the data capacity in the data storage unit 14 can be sufficiently increased, the data decompression unit 17 is provided between the communication unit 12 and the data storage unit 14 in order to maximize the output data creation processing accompanying the change in environmental conditions. The received image data may be stored in a decompressed (restored) state.

  In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, a plurality of types corresponding to a plurality of environmental condition values (temperature, humidity, etc.) within a possible range at the time of image formation in the image data creation unit 2 of the host 1. Although the example of creating the image data has been described as an example, the present invention is not particularly limited to such a case. The present invention can also be applied to the case where a plurality of types of image data are created by the printer 10. For example, when original image data is received from the host, the printer creates a plurality of types of image data respectively corresponding to a plurality of environmental condition values within a possible range at the time of image formation from the same original image data. When an output instruction is input, image data corresponding to the detected environmental condition is selected to form an image.

[Configuration example of image forming apparatus]
Next, an example of the printer 10 (image forming apparatus) described above will be described.

  FIG. 12 is an overall configuration diagram showing an example of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is applied. An ink jet recording apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 12 is a two-component reaction type image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium 114 using ink and a processing liquid.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 100 mainly includes a paper supply unit 102 that supplies a recording medium 114, a permeation suppression agent applying unit 104 that applies a permeation suppression agent to the recording medium 114, and a process that applies a treatment liquid to the recording medium 114. The liquid application unit 106, the ink droplet ejection unit 108 that ejects ink onto the recording medium 114, the fixing unit 110 that fixes the image formed on the recording medium 114, and the recording medium 114 on which the image is formed are conveyed. The paper discharge unit 112 is configured to be discharged.

  The paper feed unit 102 is provided with a paper feed stand 120 on which the recording media 114 are stacked. A feeder board 122 is connected in front of the paper feed tray 120 (left side in FIG. 12), and the recording media 114 loaded on the paper feed tray 120 are sent to the feeder board 122 one by one from the top. The recording medium 114 delivered to the feeder board 122 is transferred to the impression cylinder (permeation inhibitor agent drum) 126a of the permeation suppression agent applying unit 104 via the transfer cylinder 124a.

  Holding claw 115a, 115b (gripper) for holding the tip of the recording medium 114 is formed on the surface (circumferential surface) of the impression cylinder 126a. The recording medium 114 transferred from the transfer cylinder 124a to the impression cylinder 126a is The rotation direction of the impression cylinder 126a (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 12) in a state in which the tip is held by the holding claws 115a and 115b and in close contact with the surface of the impression cylinder 126a (that is, a state wound around the impression cylinder 126a). ). The same configuration is applied to other impression cylinders 126b to 126d described later. A member 116 is formed on the surface (circumferential surface) of the transfer drum 124a to transfer the tip of the recording medium 114 to the holding claws 115a and 115b of the pressure drum 126a. The same configuration is applied to other transfer cylinders 124b to 124d described later.

  In the permeation suppression agent applying unit 104, a sheet preheating unit 128 and a permeation suppression agent discharge are provided at positions facing the surface of the pressure drum 126a in order from the upstream side in the rotation direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 12) of the pressure drum 126a. A head 130 and a permeation suppression agent drying unit 132 are provided.

  Each of the paper preheating unit 128 and the permeation suppression agent drying unit 132 is provided with a hot air dryer capable of controlling temperature and air volume within a predetermined range. When the recording medium 114 held on the impression cylinder 126a passes through a position facing the paper preheating unit 128 and the permeation suppression agent drying unit 132, the air heated by the hot air dryer (hot air) is applied to the surface of the recording medium 114. It is configured to be sprayed toward.

  The permeation suppression agent discharge head 130 discharges a solution containing a permeation suppression agent (hereinafter also simply referred to as “permeation suppression agent”) to the recording medium 114 held on the pressure drum 126a. In this example, a droplet ejection method is applied as a means for applying a permeation inhibitor to the surface of the recording medium 114, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various methods such as a roller coating method and a spray method are applied. It is also possible to do.

  The permeation suppressor suppresses permeation of a solvent (and a solvophilic organic solvent) contained in a treatment liquid and an ink liquid described later into the recording medium 114. As the permeation inhibitor, a resin particle dispersed (or dissolved) in a solution is used. For example, an organic solvent or water is used as the solution of the penetration inhibitor. As the organic solvent for the penetration inhibitor, methyl ethyl ketone, petroleum, and the like are preferably used.

  The paper preheating unit 128 makes the temperature T1 of the recording medium 114 higher than the minimum film forming temperature Tf1 of the resin particles of the permeation suppression agent.

  Methods for adjusting the temperature T1 include a method of heating the recording medium 114 from the lower surface using a heating element such as a heater installed inside the impression cylinder 126a, and a method of heating the recording medium 114 by applying hot air to the upper surface thereof. In this example, a method of heating from the upper surface of the recording medium 114 using an infrared heater or the like is used. These methods may be combined.

  For the method of applying the penetration inhibitor, droplet ejection, spray coating, roller coating or the like is preferably used. In the case of droplet ejection, a permeation inhibitor can be selectively applied only to the ink droplet ejection location and its surroundings, which will be described later, which is preferable.

  Further, in the case of the recording medium 114 where curling is unlikely to occur, the application of the permeation inhibitor may be omitted.

  A treatment liquid application unit 106 is provided following the permeation suppression agent application unit 104. A transfer drum 124b is provided between the pressure drum (penetration inhibitor drum) 126a of the permeation suppression agent applying unit 104 and the pressure drum (processing liquid drum) 126b of the treatment liquid applying unit 106 so as to be in contact therewith. ing. As a result, the recording medium 114 held on the pressure drum 126a of the permeation suppression agent applying unit 104 is delivered to the pressure drum 126b of the treatment liquid application unit 106 via the transfer drum 124b after the permeation suppression agent is applied. .

  The processing liquid application unit 106 includes a sheet preheating unit 134 and a processing liquid discharge head 136 at positions facing the surface of the pressure drum 126b in order from the upstream side in the rotation direction of the pressure drum 126b (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 12). , And a processing liquid drying unit 138 are provided.

  Since the paper preheating unit 134 has the same configuration as that of the paper preheating unit 128 of the permeation suppression agent applying unit 104, the description thereof is omitted here. Of course, different configurations may be applied.

  The treatment liquid ejection head 136 ejects treatment liquid onto the recording medium 114 held by the pressure drum 126b, and each ink ejection head 140C, 140M, 140Y, 140K of the ink ejection unit 108 described later. The same configuration applies.

  The treatment liquid used in this example is a coloring material contained in the ink ejected from the ink ejection heads 140C, 140M, 140Y, and 140K disposed in the subsequent ink ejection section 108 toward the recording medium 114. Has an aggregating action.

  The processing liquid drying unit 138 is provided with a hot air dryer capable of controlling the temperature and the air volume within a predetermined range, and the recording medium 114 held on the impression cylinder 126 b faces the hot air dryer of the processing liquid drying unit 138. When passing through the position, air heated by a hot air dryer (hot air) is sprayed onto the processing liquid on the recording medium 114.

  The temperature and air volume of the hot air dryer are adjusted so that the processing liquid applied on the recording medium 114 is dried by the processing liquid discharge head 136 disposed on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the impression cylinder 126 b, and the solid is formed on the surface of the recording medium 114. Or a semi-solid solution aggregation treatment agent layer (thin film layer in which the treatment liquid is dried) is set to such a value.

  As in this example, it is preferable that the recording medium 114 be preheated by the paper preheating unit 134 before the treatment liquid is applied onto the recording medium 114. In this case, the heating energy required for drying the treatment liquid can be kept low, and energy saving can be achieved.

  An ink droplet ejection unit 108 is provided following the treatment liquid application unit 106. A transfer cylinder 124c is provided between the pressure drum (processing liquid drum) 126b of the processing liquid application unit 106 and the pressure cylinder 126c of the ink droplet ejection unit (drawing drum) 108 so as to be in contact with them. As a result, the recording medium 114 held on the pressure drum 126b of the treatment liquid application unit 106 is applied with the treatment liquid to form a solid or semi-solid aggregating treatment agent layer, and then via the transfer cylinder 124c. The ink is delivered to the pressure drum 126 c of the ink droplet ejection unit 108.

  The ink droplet ejecting section 108 corresponds to each of the four color inks of CMYK at positions facing the surface of the pressure drum 126c in order from the upstream side in the rotation direction (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 12) of the pressure drum 126c. Ink droplet ejection heads 140C, 140M, 140Y and 140K are provided side by side, and further, solvent drying units 142a and 142b are provided on the downstream side thereof.

  As each of the ink droplet ejection heads 140C, 140M, 140Y, and 140K, a recording head (liquid ejection head) that ejects a liquid is applied in the same manner as the processing liquid ejection head 136 described above. That is, each of the ink droplet ejection heads 140C, 140M, 140Y, and 140K ejects the corresponding color ink droplets toward the recording medium 114 held by the pressure drum 126c.

  The ink storage / loading unit (not shown) includes an ink tank that stores ink supplied to each of the ink droplet ejection heads 140C, 140M, 140Y, and 140K. Each ink tank communicates with a corresponding head via a required flow path, and supplies a corresponding ink to each ink droplet ejection head. The ink storage / loading unit includes notifying means (display means, warning sound generating means) for notifying when the remaining amount of liquid in the tank is low, and has a mechanism for preventing erroneous loading between colors. ing.

  Ink is supplied from each ink tank of the ink storage / loading unit to each ink droplet ejection head 140C, 140M, 140Y, 140K, and corresponds to each recording medium 114 from each 140C, 140M, 140Y, 140K according to the image signal. Color ink to be ejected.

  Each of the ink droplet ejection heads 140C, 140M, 140Y, and 140K has a length corresponding to the maximum width of the image forming area in the recording medium 114 held by the impression cylinder 126c, and the image forming area is disposed on the ink ejection surface. This is a full-line type head in which a plurality of nozzles for ink ejection (not shown in FIG. 12) are arranged over the entire width. The ink droplet ejection heads 140C, 140M, 140Y, and 140K are fixedly installed so as to extend in a direction orthogonal to the rotation direction of the impression cylinder 126c (conveying direction of the recording medium 114).

  According to the configuration in which a full line head having a nozzle row covering the entire width of the image forming area of the recording medium 114 is provided for each ink color, the recording medium 114 and each ink in the transport direction (sub-scanning direction) of the recording medium 114 The primary image can be recorded in the image forming area of the recording medium 114 by performing the relative movement of the droplet ejection heads 140C, 140M, 140Y, and 140K only once (that is, by one sub-scan). . As a result, printing can be performed at a higher speed than when a serial (shuttle) type head that reciprocates in the direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction) of the recording medium 114 is applied. Can be improved.

  The ink jet recording apparatus 100 of this example is capable of recording up to, for example, a recording medium (recording paper) having a maximum chrysanthemum half size. As the impression cylinder (drawing drum) 126c, for example, a drum having a diameter of 810 mm corresponding to a recording medium width of 720 mm. Is used. The ink ejection volumes of the ink ejection heads 140C, 140M, 140Y, and 140K are, for example, 2 pl, and the recording density is the main scanning direction (width direction of the recording medium 114) and the sub-scanning direction (conveyance direction of the recording medium 114). Both are 1200 dpi, for example.

  Further, in this example, the configuration of four colors of CMYK is illustrated, but the combination of ink colors and the number of colors is not limited to the present embodiment, and R (red), G (green), and B as necessary. (Blue) ink, light ink, dark ink, and special color ink may be added. For example, it is possible to add a head for ejecting light ink such as light cyan and light magenta, and the arrangement order of the color heads is not particularly limited.

  The solvent drying units 142a and 142b include hot air dryers that can control the temperature and the air volume within a predetermined range, like the paper preheating units 128 and 134, the permeation suppression agent drying unit 132, and the treatment liquid drying unit 138 described above. Composed. As will be described later, when ink droplets are ejected onto the solid or semi-solid aggregation processing agent layer formed on the surface of the recording medium 114, the ink aggregate (coloring material) is formed on the recording medium 114. And an ink solvent separated from the color material spreads to form a liquid layer in which the aggregation treatment agent is dissolved. In this way, the solvent component (liquid component) remaining on the recording medium 114 causes not only curling of the recording medium 114 but also image degradation. Therefore, in this example, after the corresponding color inks are ejected onto the recording medium 114 from the respective ink ejection heads 140C, 140M, 140Y, and 140K, the solvent components are dried by the hot air dryers of the solvent drying units 142a and 142b. Is evaporated and dried.

  A fixing unit 110 is provided following the ink ejection unit 108. A transfer drum 124d is provided between the pressure drum (drawing drum) 126c of the ink droplet ejection unit 108 and the pressure drum (fixing drum) 126d of the fixing unit 110 so as to be in contact therewith. As a result, the recording medium 114 held on the pressure drum 126c of the ink droplet ejection unit 108 is delivered to the pressure drum 126d of the fixing unit 110 via the transfer drum 124d after each color ink is applied.

  In the fixing unit 110, print detection is performed by reading the print result of the ink droplet ejection unit 108 at a position facing the surface of the pressure drum 126 d in order from the upstream side of the rotation direction of the pressure drum 126 d (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 12). A portion 144 and heating rollers 148a and 148b are provided.

  The print detection unit 144 includes an image sensor (line sensor or the like) for imaging a printing result of the ink droplet ejection unit 108 (a droplet ejection result of each ink droplet ejection head 140C, 140M, 140Y, 140K). It functions as a means for checking nozzle clogging and other ejection defects from the droplet ejection image read by.

  The heating rollers 148a and 148b are rollers capable of controlling the temperature within a predetermined range (for example, 100 ° C. to 180 ° C.), and heat the recording medium 114 sandwiched between the heating rollers 148a and 148b and the impression cylinder 126d. While pressing, the image formed on the recording medium 114 is fixed. The heating temperature of the heating rollers 148a and 148b is preferably set according to the glass transition temperature of the polymer fine particles contained in the treatment liquid or ink.

  Subsequent to the fixing unit 110, a paper discharge unit 112 is provided. The paper discharge unit 112 includes a paper discharge drum 150 that receives the recording medium 114 on which an image is fixed, a paper discharge tray 152 on which the recording medium 114 is loaded, and a sprocket and a paper discharge tray 152 provided on the paper discharge drum 150. And a paper discharge chain 154 provided with a plurality of paper discharge grippers.

[Head structure]
Next, the structure of the head will be described. Since the structures of the heads 130, 136, 140C, 140M, 140Y, and 140K are common, the heads are represented by the reference numeral 50 in the following.

  FIG. 13A is a plan perspective view showing an example of the structure of the head 50, and FIG. 13B is an enlarged view of a part thereof. 14 is a perspective plan view showing another example of the structure of the head 50, and FIG. 15 is a three-dimensional configuration of one-channel droplet discharge elements (ink chamber units corresponding to one nozzle 51) serving as recording element units. It is sectional drawing (sectional drawing in alignment with the AA in FIG. 13) which shows this.

  In order to increase the dot pitch printed on the recording medium 114, it is necessary to increase the nozzle pitch in the head 50. As shown in FIG. 13, the head 50 of this example includes a plurality of ink chamber units (droplet discharge elements) 53 including nozzles 51 serving as ink discharge ports and pressure chambers 52 corresponding to the nozzles 51. In this way, the nozzles are arranged in a matrix (two-dimensionally) and are thus projected (orthogonally projected) so as to be aligned along the head longitudinal direction (direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction). High density of the interval (projection nozzle pitch) is achieved.

  A mode in which nozzle rows having a length corresponding to the full width Wm of the recording medium 114 are configured in a direction (arrow M direction; main scanning direction) substantially orthogonal to the feeding direction (arrow S direction; sub-scanning direction) of the recording medium 114 is as follows. It is not limited to this example. For example, instead of the configuration of FIG. 13A, as shown in FIG. 14, a short head module 50 ′ in which a plurality of nozzles 51 are two-dimensionally arranged is arranged in a staggered manner and connected to form a recording medium. A line head having a nozzle row having a length corresponding to the entire width of 114 may be configured.

  The pressure chamber 52 provided corresponding to each nozzle 51 has a substantially square planar shape (see FIGS. 13A and 13B), and the nozzle 51 is located at one of the diagonal corners. An outlet for supplying ink (supply port) 54 is provided on the other side. The shape of the pressure chamber 52 is not limited to this example, and the planar shape may have various forms such as a quadrangle (rhombus, rectangle, etc.), a pentagon, a hexagon and other polygons, a circle, and an ellipse.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the head 50 has a structure in which a nozzle plate 51P, a flow path plate 52P, a diaphragm 56, and the like are laminated and joined.

  The nozzle plate 51P constitutes a nozzle surface (ink ejection surface) 50A of the head 50, and a plurality of nozzles 51 communicating with the pressure chambers 52 are two-dimensionally formed.

  The flow path plate 52 </ b> P constitutes a side wall portion of the pressure chamber 52 and forms a supply port 54 as a throttle portion (the most narrowed portion) of an individual supply path that guides ink from the common flow channel 55 to the pressure chamber 52. It is a forming member. For convenience of explanation, the flow path plate 52P has a structure in which one or a plurality of substrates are stacked, although the display is simplified in FIG.

  The diaphragm 56 constitutes one wall surface (upper surface in FIG. 15) of the pressure chamber 52 and is made of a conductive material such as stainless steel (SUS) or silicon (Si) with a nickel (Ni) conductive layer. It also serves as a common electrode for a plurality of actuators (here, piezoelectric elements) 58 arranged corresponding to the chamber 52. It is also possible to form the diaphragm with a non-conductive material such as resin. In this case, a common electrode layer made of a conductive material such as metal is formed on the surface of the diaphragm member.

  A piezoelectric body 59 is provided at a position corresponding to each pressure chamber 52 on the surface opposite to the pressure chamber 52 side of the diaphragm 56 (upper side in FIG. 15). An individual electrode 57 is formed on a surface opposite to the surface in contact with the diaphragm 56 that also serves as the same. A piezoelectric element that functions as the actuator 58 is configured by the individual electrode 57, the common electrode (in this example, also serving as the diaphragm 56) facing the individual electrode 57, and the piezoelectric body 59 interposed so as to be sandwiched between the electrodes. . For the piezoelectric body 59, a piezoelectric material such as lead zirconate titanate or barium titanate is preferably used.

  Each pressure chamber 52 communicates with a common flow channel 55 through a supply port 54. The common channel 55 communicates with an ink tank (not shown) as an ink supply source, and the ink supplied from the ink tank is distributed and supplied to each pressure chamber 52 via the common channel 55.

  By applying a drive voltage between the individual electrode 57 and the common electrode of the actuator 58, the actuator 58 is deformed to change the volume of the pressure chamber 52, and ink is ejected from the nozzles 51 due to the pressure change accompanying this. After the ink is ejected, when the displacement of the actuator 58 returns to its original state, new ink is refilled into the pressure chamber 52 from the common channel 55 through the supply port 54.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the ink chamber units 53 having the above-described structure are arranged in a fixed arrangement pattern along the row direction along the main scanning direction and the oblique column direction having a constant angle ψ that is not orthogonal to the main scanning direction. The high-density nozzle head of this example is realized by arranging a large number in a lattice pattern.

That is, by adopting a structure in which a plurality of ink chamber units 53 are arranged in the direction of the angle ψ at a uniform pitch d in the main scanning direction, the pitch P _N of the nozzles projected so as to align in the main scanning direction is d × cosψ next, the main scanning direction, substantially hence the nozzles 51 can be handled as the equivalent arranged linearly at a fixed pitch P _N. With such a configuration, it is possible to realize a high-density nozzle configuration in which, for example, 1200 nozzle rows (1200 nozzles / inch) are projected per inch so as to be aligned in the main scanning direction.

  When the nozzles are driven by a full line head having a nozzle row having a length corresponding to the entire printable width, (1) all the nozzles are driven simultaneously, (2) the nozzles are sequentially moved from one side to the other. (3) The nozzles are divided into blocks, and the nozzles are sequentially driven from one side to the other for each block, etc., and one line (1 in the width direction of the paper (direction perpendicular to the paper conveyance direction)) Driving a nozzle that prints a line of dots in a row or a line consisting of dots in a plurality of rows is defined as main scanning.

  In particular, when the nozzles 51 arranged in a matrix as shown in FIG. 16 are driven, the main scanning as described in the above (3) is preferable. That is, nozzles 51-11, 51-12, 51-13, 51-14, 51-15, 51-16 are made into one block (other nozzles 51-21,..., 51-26 are made into one block, The nozzles 51-31,..., 51-36 as one block,...), And the nozzles 51-11, 51-12,. One line is printed in the width direction of 114.

  On the other hand, by relatively moving the above-mentioned full line head and the paper, printing of one line (a line formed by one line of dots or a line composed of a plurality of lines) formed by the above-described main scanning is repeatedly performed. This is defined as sub-scanning.

  The direction indicated by one line (or the longitudinal direction of the belt-like region) recorded by the main scanning is referred to as a main scanning direction, and the direction in which the sub scanning is performed is referred to as a sub scanning direction. That is, in the present embodiment, the conveyance direction of the recording medium 114 is the sub-scanning direction, and the direction orthogonal to the recording medium 114 is the main scanning direction.

  In implementing the present invention, the nozzle arrangement structure is not limited to the illustrated example. In the present embodiment, a method of ejecting ink droplets by deformation of an actuator typified by a piezo element (piezoelectric element) is adopted, but in the practice of the present invention, the method of ejecting ink is not particularly limited, Instead of the piezo jet method, various methods such as a thermal jet method in which ink is heated by a heating element such as a heater to generate bubbles and ink droplets are ejected by the pressure can be applied.

[Configuration of liquid supply system]
FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of an ink supply system in the inkjet recording apparatus 100. Although an ink supply system will be described, a similar supply system may be provided in the case of ejecting a treatment liquid.

  The ink tank 60 is a base tank that supplies ink to the head 50. In the form of the ink tank 60, there are a system that replenishes ink from a replenishing port (not shown) and a cartridge system that replaces the entire tank when the remaining amount of ink is low. A cartridge system is suitable for changing the ink type according to the intended use. In this case, it is preferable that the ink type information is identified by a barcode or the like, and ejection control is performed according to the ink type.

  As shown in FIG. 17, a filter 62 is provided between the ink tank 60 and the head 50 in order to remove foreign substances and bubbles. The filter mesh size is preferably equal to or smaller than the nozzle diameter. Although not shown in FIG. 17, a configuration in which a sub tank is provided in the vicinity of the head 50 or integrally with the head 50 is also preferable. The sub-tank has a function of improving a damper effect and refill that prevents fluctuations in the internal pressure of the head.

  Further, the inkjet recording apparatus 100 is provided with a cap 64 as a means for preventing the nozzle 51 from drying or preventing an increase in ink viscosity near the nozzle, and a cleaning wiper 66 as a means for cleaning the nozzle surface 50A. . The maintenance unit (recovery means) including the cap 64 and the cleaning wiper 66 can be moved relative to the head 50 by a moving mechanism (not shown), and is moved from a predetermined retracted position to a maintenance position below the head 50 as necessary. Moved.

  The cap 64 is displaced up and down relatively with respect to the head 50 by an elevator mechanism (not shown). The cap 64 is lifted to a predetermined raised position when the power is turned off or during printing standby, and is brought into close contact with the head 50, thereby covering the nozzle surface 50A with the cap 64.

  The cleaning wiper 66 is made of an elastic member such as rubber, and can slide on the nozzle surface 50A (nozzle plate surface) of the head 50 by a wiper moving mechanism (not shown). When ink droplets or foreign matter adheres to the nozzle plate surface, the nozzle surface is wiped by sliding the cleaning wiper 66 on the nozzle plate.

  During printing or standby, when a specific nozzle is used less frequently and the ink viscosity in the vicinity of the nozzle increases, preliminary ejection (empty printing) is performed toward the cap 64 (also used as an ink receiver) to discharge the deteriorated ink. ) Is performed.

  If the head 50 is not ejected for a certain period of time, the ink solvent near the nozzles evaporates and the viscosity of the ink near the nozzles increases. Can no longer be discharged. Therefore, “preliminary discharge” is performed to operate the actuator 58 and discharge the ink in the vicinity of the nozzle whose viscosity has increased before the state becomes such a state (within the viscosity range in which ink can be discharged by the operation of the actuator 58). Is called.

  In addition, after the dirt on the surface of the nozzle plate is cleaned by a wiper such as the cleaning wiper 66 provided as a cleaning means for the nozzle surface 50A, in order to prevent foreign matters from entering the nozzle 51 by this wiper rubbing operation. Also, preliminary discharge is performed.

  On the other hand, if air bubbles are mixed in the nozzle 51 or the pressure chamber 52 or if the viscosity of the ink in the nozzle 51 exceeds a certain level, the ink cannot be ejected by the above-described idling. In such a case, the cap 64 as a suction means is brought into contact with the nozzle surface 50A of the head 50, and the ink (ink mixed with bubbles or thickened ink) in the pressure chamber 52 is sucked by the suction pump 67. Ink removed by the suction operation is sent to the collection tank 68. The ink collected in the collection tank 68 may be reused, or may be discarded if it cannot be reused.

  Since the above suction operation is performed on the entire ink in the pressure chamber 52, the amount of ink consumed is large. Therefore, when the increase in viscosity is small, it is preferable to perform recovery by preliminary ejection as much as possible. The above suction operation is also performed at the time of initial ink loading into the head 50 or at the start of use after a long stop. In addition, although the case where the treatment liquid is ejected has been described, the present invention is not particularly limited to such a case. The treatment liquid may be applied by a known application technique.

  The present invention is not limited to the examples described in the present specification and the examples illustrated in the drawings, and various design changes and improvements may be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

(A) and (B) are graphs showing the relationship between environmental temperature and dot diameter. (A) and (B) are graphs showing the relationship between the lower layer network% and the dot diameter. Graph showing the relationship between processing liquid volume and dot diameter 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an image forming system according to a first embodiment. The flowchart which shows the flow of an example of the image formation process in 1st Embodiment. The flowchart which shows the flow of the other example of the image formation process in 1st Embodiment. (A) to (C) are graphs used for explaining an example of correction data. Explanatory drawing used for explanation of color conversion using 4D-LUT as correction data The flowchart which shows the flow of an example of 4D-LUT creation processing Explanatory drawing used for explanation of color conversion using difference color conversion LUT Block diagram showing an example of an image forming system in a second embodiment Overall configuration diagram of an example of an inkjet recording apparatus (A) is a plan perspective view showing a structural example of the head, and (B) is an enlarged view thereof. Plane perspective view showing another structural example of the head Sectional drawing which follows the AA line in FIG. FIG. 13 is an enlarged view showing the nozzle arrangement of the head shown in FIG. Configuration diagram of liquid supply system

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Host, 2 ... Image data creation part, 3 ... Data compression part, 10 ... Printer, 14 ... Data storage part, 16 ... Image data selection part, 17 ... Data expansion part, 18 ... Output data creation part, 20 ... Data Cache, 22 ... Head driver, 24 ... Head, 26 ... Environmental condition detection unit, 28 ... Environmental change determination unit, 30 ... Controller

Claims (14)

An image forming method for forming an image on a recording medium by applying a treatment liquid that insolubilizes or aggregates the ink and the ink to the recording medium,
The same original image data is subjected to a correction process that preliminarily corrects color fluctuations caused by fluctuations in ink reaction speed during image formation, using environmental conditions that may occur during image formation as a parameter. An image data creation step for creating data;
An image data storage step for storing a plurality of the created image data;
An environmental condition detection step for detecting environmental conditions;
An image data selection step of selecting the image data corresponding to the detected environmental condition from the plurality of image data stored in advance;
An image forming step of forming an image on the recording medium based on the selected image data;
An image forming method comprising: An image forming means for forming an image on the recording medium by applying a treatment liquid that insolubilizes or aggregates the ink and the ink to the recording medium;
A plurality of pieces of image data in which color fluctuations due to fluctuations in the reaction speed of ink during image formation by the image forming unit are corrected in advance, and the environmental conditions that may be present during image formation by the image forming unit Image data storage means for storing a plurality of corresponding image data;
Environmental condition detection means for detecting environmental conditions;
Image data selection means for selecting the image data corresponding to the environmental condition detected by the environmental condition detection means from among the plurality of image data previously stored by the image data storage means;
Output data creation means for creating output data to be given to the image forming means from the image data selected by the image data selection means;
An image forming apparatus comprising: Output data storage means for temporarily storing the output data created by the output data creation means;
Environmental fluctuation determining means for determining whether the fluctuation of the environmental condition detected by the environmental condition detecting means is within an allowable range of the image data selected by the image data selecting means;
When the variation of the environmental condition is within the allowable range, the control is performed to give the output data stored in the output data storage unit to the image forming unit, while the variation of the environmental condition is outside the allowable range. A control unit that performs control to select the image data corresponding to the current environmental condition by the image data selection unit and to provide the output data generated by the output data generation unit to the image forming unit; ,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, and a host device that supplies image data to the image forming apparatus.
The host device performs a correction process on the same original image data, using the environmental conditions that may be present during image formation as parameters, for correcting color variations caused by variations in ink reaction speed during image formation in advance. Thus, an image forming system comprising image data creating means for creating a plurality of the image data.   The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the image data creating unit increases the density value for each color of the image data as the environmental temperature increases.   When the inks of different colors overlap each other on the recording medium, the image data creation unit decreases the density value for each color of the image data as the color of the ink having the later order applied to the recording medium. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the image forming system is an image forming system.   When the inks of different colors overlap each other on the recording medium, the image data creating unit is configured so that each of the colors of the image data with respect to the variation amount of the environmental temperature is the ink color in the order of being applied to the recording medium later. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the ratio of the amount of change in the density value is increased.   5. The image data creating means reduces the density value for each color of the image data in a region where the amount of ink per unit area of ink previously applied to the recording medium is large. 8. The image forming system according to claim 1.   The image data creation means sets the ratio of the amount of change in density value for each color of the image data to the amount of change in environmental temperature in a region where the amount of ink per unit area of ink previously applied to the recording medium is large. 9. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the image forming system is enlarged.   10. The image data generating unit according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein the density value for each color of the image data is increased as the amount of processing liquid per unit area applied to the recording medium is increased. The image forming system according to claim 1.   The image data creation means increases the ratio of the amount of change in density value for each color of the image data to the amount of change in environmental temperature as the amount of processing liquid per unit area applied to the recording medium decreases. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the image forming system is an image forming system.   12. The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the image data creating unit corrects the density value for each color of the image data based on a type of the recording medium. .   13. The host device according to claim 4, wherein the host device compresses the image data and transmits the compressed image data to the image forming device, and the image forming device decompresses the received image data. The image forming system described in 1. The host device includes reference image data corresponding to a reference temperature, difference image data corresponding to a difference between the reference temperature and another environment temperature, and a difference image including a difference between the image data of adjacent environment temperatures. Create difference image data of any one of the data and send it to the image forming apparatus,
The image forming system according to claim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus generates the output data based on the reference image data and the difference image data.

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