JP2012066591A - Printing colorimetry control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that it has been difficult for a user to perform the colorimetry of the existing printed matter prepared arbitrarily using a printer with a colorimetry section.SOLUTION: A printing colorimetry control device in which an image can be printed to a print medium based on predetermined image data, and the colorimetry is possible about the image printed on the print medium, includes: a print medium setter to arrange the print medium on which a colorimetric object image is printed on a predetermined paper set position; a determiner which decides a position at time of carrying out the colorimetry of the colorimetric object image to a colorimetry section based on the printing position on the print medium of the colorimetric object image; a conveyor which makes the print medium convey from the paper set position based on the position which has been decided; and a colorimetry controller which acquires the colorimetry value of the colorimetric object image by making the colorimetry section perform the colorimetry based on the position which has been decided.

Description

  The present invention relates to a print color measurement control device, a color measurement control method, and a color measurement control program.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a printer device that includes a colorimetric function unit that measures the color of a sheet used for printing, and measures the color of the sheet by the colorimetric function unit prior to a printing operation (Patent Document 1). .

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-287407

An image printed on a sheet by a printer or a printer can be a colorimetric object for various purposes such as printer calibration. However, until now, when measuring the color of such a printed image with the colorimetric unit, the user sets the paper at the specified position of the colorimetric unit so that the colorimetric unit can measure the target image at an accurate position, etc. Therefore, the color measurement work of the printed image is complicated and difficult.
In particular, when a printed image already printed on paper is supplied to a printer that also has a colorimetric function unit as described above, there is a technique for measuring the color accurately and easily, including image alignment. I didn't.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is capable of realizing a series of processes from feeding an existing print image to colorimetry accurately and reducing the burden on the user as much as possible. An object is to provide a color control device, a colorimetry control method, and a colorimetry control program.

  In order to achieve the above object, the printing colorimetry control device according to the present invention can print an image on a printing medium based on predetermined image data, and can measure a color printed on the printing medium. Since the printing colorimetry control device has both a printing function and a colorimetry function, it is possible to measure the color of the printed image as it is. However, there is a demand not only to continuously perform the printing process and the color measurement process in this way, but also to measure the color of an existing printed matter using the color measurement function of the print color measurement control device. Therefore, the print medium setting unit arranges the print medium on which the color measurement target image is printed at a predetermined sheet setting position. The paper set position is secured at a predetermined position of the printing colorimetry control device. The paper setting position may be, for example, a position where the user can directly place the print medium from the outside of the apparatus, or a predetermined distance from the position when the user places the print medium from the outside of the apparatus. It may be the position of the destination that has been transported only. Next, the determining unit determines a position when the colorimetric measurement unit measures the colorimetric object image based on the printing position of the colorimetric object image on the print medium. Then, the transport unit transports the print medium from the paper setting position based on the determined position, and the color measurement control unit causes the color measurement unit to perform color measurement based on the determined position. Get the colorimetric value of the color target image.

  That is, according to the present invention, when a print medium on which a color measurement target image has been printed is supplied to the paper set position, the position when the color measurement target image is measured is automatically calculated. Based on the determined position, conveyance of the print medium from the paper setting position and color measurement by the color measurement unit are executed. Accordingly, a series of operations from setting the printed matter to obtaining a colorimetric result for a printed matter arbitrarily prepared by the user can be accurately performed using the printing colorimetry control device without any deviation in the colorimetric position. Can be performed.

As a more specific configuration example, the print colorimetry control device inputs information that directly or indirectly indicates a print position of at least the colorimetry target image on the print medium via a predetermined input screen. Position information acquisition means may be provided. The position information acquisition unit provides information indicating the input print position to the determination unit. With this configuration, the determination unit can easily acquire the print position of the color measurement target image on the print medium.
In the input screen, in addition to the information indicating the print position of the color measurement target image, various information such as the size of the print medium on which the color measurement target image is printed and the type of the color measurement target image can be input. Good. Further, at a predetermined position on the input screen, the range of the print medium and the color measurement target image on the print medium may be displayed in graphic form based on various input information.

  As a further configuration, the print medium setting means detects the height and / or width of the print medium. The size of the print medium can be determined by detecting the vertical and horizontal widths of the print medium arranged at the paper set position. Then, the position information acquisition means limits the display contents and / or input contents on the input screen based on the information detected by the print medium setting means. For example, the position information acquisition unit recognizes the range of the print position that can be input based on the size of the print medium found from the detected information, and there is an impossible print position that exceeds the size of the print medium. When it is input, a warning is given and the above-mentioned impossible input value is not accepted. Further, the size of the print medium input on the input screen is limited or the size of the print medium displayed on the input screen is made one based on the detected vertical width and horizontal width information of the print medium. It may be fixed.

  Here, it is also conceivable that the print medium arranged at the paper setting position is slightly inclined with respect to the normal arrangement direction. If the position of the color measurement unit is determined while ignoring the inclination, a shift may occur between the position of the color measurement target image and the position of the color measurement unit when performing color measurement. Therefore, the print medium setting unit detects the inclination of the print medium, and the determination unit determines the position at which the color measurement is performed when the color measurement unit determines the position at which the color measurement target image is measured. Correction is performed based on the detected inclination. With such a configuration, even if the print medium arranged at the paper setting position is slightly inclined, the position of the colorimetric unit and the colorimetric object image can be matched almost accurately in consideration of the influence of the inclination.

  The print colorimetry control device may include an instruction unit that can output predetermined instruction information and the printing apparatus that executes processing according to the instruction information input from the instruction unit. The instruction means outputs various instruction information for operating the printing apparatus, including information on the printing position of the color measurement target image on the printing medium, to the printing apparatus. Here, the instruction unit outputs an exclusive start instruction for starting exclusive use of the printing apparatus to the printing apparatus, and outputs an exclusive release instruction for releasing the exclusive use at a predetermined timing after outputting the exclusive start instruction. Output to. On the other hand, in a period from when the exclusive start instruction is received until a predetermined exclusive release instruction is received, the printing apparatus sets the print medium set according to only the output from the instruction apparatus that is the output source of the exclusive start instruction. The means, the determining means, the conveying means, and the color measuring unit are operated.

  According to the above configuration, even when the printing apparatus is connected to an instruction output source such as a PC or application software other than the instruction means, the instruction means is used in a period from the output of the exclusive start instruction to the output of the exclusive release instruction. Can monopolize printing equipment. Therefore, if the print medium setting unit, the determination unit, the transport unit, and the color measurement unit of the printing apparatus are operated between the exclusive start instruction and the exclusive release instruction, interruption from other instruction output sources is permitted. Without using the printing apparatus, it is possible to continuously execute the processing from feeding the printing medium on which the color measurement target image is printed to obtaining the color measurement result.

  Further, the print color measurement control device compares the color measurement value of the color measurement target image acquired by the color measurement unit with a reference color value of the color measurement target image provided in advance, and based on the comparison result, the color measurement target image It may be possible to provide a judging means for judging whether or not the color is normal. By making this determination, if the ideal color (reference color value) and the colorimetric value deviate to some extent, repair the printing device used for printing the colorimetric object image, It is possible to perform various measures for obtaining an ideal print result, such as reprinting the color measurement target image after correcting the image data. On the other hand, if the ideal color and the colorimetric value substantially match, it can be confirmed that the colorimetric object image is printed in the ideal color.

  Up to now, the technical idea according to the present invention has been described in the category of a printing colorimetry control device. However, the invention of the method including processing steps corresponding to the respective units included in the apparatus and the respective units included in the apparatus are described. It goes without saying that the invention of a program that causes hardware to execute corresponding functions can also be grasped. Furthermore, when the printing colorimetry control device is configured by the instruction unit and the printing device as described above, each of the instruction unit and the printing device can be grasped as one invention. Furthermore, the print color measurement control device may integrally include a printing unit that performs printing and a color measurement unit that performs color measurement.

1 is a schematic block diagram of a computer and a printer. FIG. The figure which shows the command system etc. between software. The flowchart which shows the process which a computer performs based on APL. 6 is a flowchart showing a part of processing executed by a printer control IC. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing executed by a printer in response to an exclusive command. The figure which showed an example of the existing printed matter. 5 is a flowchart showing details of a colorimetric instruction and colorimetric value acquisition process. The figure which shows an example of an application screen. The figure explaining the conveyance distance of a printing paper, and the movement distance of a color measurement part. 6 is a flowchart showing processing executed by a colorimetry control IC. 6 is a flowchart showing command reception processing of a printer. The figure which showed the other example of the existing printed matter. The flowchart which shows the process which a computer performs based on APL. The figure which shows the other example of an application screen. The figure which shows the synthesized image after authentication result printing. The figure which showed a mode that the inclination of a printing paper was detected in a paper setting position. The figure which showed the relative positional relationship of a patch row and the movement position of a color detection part.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following order.
(1) Schematic configuration of embodiment of the present invention (2) Color measurement processing of existing printed matter (3) Correction of color measurement position (4) Exclusive use of printer (5) Other examples (6) Summary

(1) Schematic Configuration of Embodiment of the Present Invention FIG. 1 shows a computer 10 and a printer 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the printing colorimetry control device referred to in the claims may refer to a system including the computer 10 and the printer 20, or may refer to the printer 20 alone.
In the computer 10, the CPU 11 which is the center of the arithmetic processing controls the entire computer 10 via the system bus 10a. A ROM 12, a RAM 13, and various interfaces (I / F) 17 a to 17 c are connected to the bus 10 a, and a hard disk (HD) 14 is connected via a hard disk drive (HDDRV) 15. The HD 14 stores an operating system (OS), an application program (APL) 14a, and the like, which are appropriately transferred to the RAM 13 by the CPU 11 and executed. A display 18a for displaying an image corresponding to the data based on predetermined image data is connected to the I / F 17a, a keyboard 18b and a mouse 18c are connected to the I / F 17b, and a serial I, for example, is connected to the printer I / F 17c. The printer 20 is connected via the / F cable.

  The printer 20 is a printing device controlled by the computer 10. In the present embodiment, the printer 20 has not only a printing function for printing paper but also a colorimetric function for measuring colors of printed matter. That is, the printer 20 is a printer with a colorimetric unit. In the printer 20, a communication I / F 24, a printer control IC 25, a colorimetry control IC 26 and the like are connected via a bus 32. The printer control IC 25 includes a CPU 21, ROM 22, and RAM 23, and the color measurement control IC 26 includes an I / F 26e, a CPU 26f, a ROM 26g, and a RAM 26h. The communication I / F 24 (specific interface) is connected to the printer I / F 17c, and the computer 10 and the printer 20 realize bidirectional communication via the printer I / F 17c and the communication I / F 24. The communication I / F 24 can receive raster data for each ink type transmitted from the computer 10.

  In the printer control IC 25, the CPU 21 executes processing according to predetermined software (printer controller) stored in the ROM 22. The printer control IC 25 is an IC that mainly executes various kinds of control for printing processing, and controls each part by connecting to each part of the print head 25a, the head driving unit 25b, the carriage mechanism 25c, and the paper feed mechanism 25d. The print head 25a includes a plurality of ink cartridges respectively corresponding to a plurality of ink types and a plurality of nozzle rows provided corresponding to the respective ink types, and the ink filled in the ink cartridges is used as ink droplets from the nozzle rows. By discharging, an image is formed on the printing paper. The printer control IC 25 outputs applied voltage data corresponding to the raster data to the head drive unit 25b. The head drive unit 25b generates and outputs an applied voltage pattern (drive waveform) to the piezo elements built in each nozzle row of the print head 25a from the applied voltage data, and outputs ink droplets (dots) for each ink type to the print head 25a. ).

The carriage mechanism 25c is a drive device that is controlled by the printer control IC 25 to reciprocate a carriage (not shown) along a guide rail (not shown) included in the printer 20. A print head 25a is mounted on the carriage, and the print head 25a reciprocates (scans) along the guide rail. The paper feed mechanism 25d is controlled by the printer control IC 25 so that a print paper is fed in one direction (paper feed direction) substantially orthogonal to the reciprocating direction of the carriage (main scanning direction) by a paper feed roller (not shown). Transport at a speed of.
The printer 20 may be a printer that forms a print image by another mechanism such as a thermal type or a sublimation type, or a line head type printer.

In the color measurement control IC 26, the CPU 26f executes processing according to predetermined software (color measurement controller) stored in the ROM 26g. The color measurement control IC 26 is an IC that mainly executes various controls for color measurement processing, and is connected to each part of the color measurement unit 26a, the color measurement unit moving mechanism 26b, the pressing plate driving mechanism 26c, and the dryer 26d. Control each part. The color measurement unit 26a directs the color detection unit to the color measurement object, thereby making it possible to use a plurality of color measurement units based on the L ^* a ^* b ^* color system (hereinafter, “ ^* ” is omitted) defined by the International Lighting Commission (CIE). Can be obtained as colorimetric values, and the colorimetric values acquired by the colorimetric unit 26a are output to the computer 10. The Lab color space is a device-independent uniform color space. Of course, the color space for color measurement may be a CIE-defined L ^* u ^* v ^* color space, a CIE-defined XYZ color space, an RGB color space, or the like.

  The color measurement unit moving mechanism 26b is a drive device that is controlled by the color measurement control IC 26 to reciprocate the color measurement unit 26a along a pressing plate described later. The pressing plate driving mechanism 26c is a driving device for pressing the printing paper against the pressing plate based on the control of the colorimetric control IC 26. The dryer 26d is disposed in the vicinity of the color measurement unit 26a, performs a process of sending warm air to the print paper based on the control of the color measurement control IC 26, and forcibly dries the image on the print paper. That is, according to the printer 20, it is possible to perform a series of processes such as printing an image on a printing sheet, drying, and colorimetry with one unit.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the printer 20 from the side.
The printer 20 can store printing paper M (roll paper) in the vicinity of the top of the main body 29, and the printing paper M is substantially along a slope 29a formed on the front side of the main body 29 in the paper feeding direction in the figure. Transport to. A casing 27 is installed at a predetermined position of the slope 29a. A print head 25 a is accommodated in the casing 27. The print head 25a moves along a guide rail (not shown) in a direction perpendicular to the surface of FIG. 2 (the main scanning direction). A cutter 25a1 is attached to the print head 25a, and the cutter 25a1 reciprocates together with the print head 25a. In the present embodiment, instead of the roll paper, the printing paper N (cut sheet paper) that is cut one by one is inserted between the casing 27 and the inclined surface 29a from the paper feeding direction shown in FIG. It is also possible to transport the printing paper N in the paper feeding direction substantially along the slope 29a.

  A colorimetric drying unit 28 is installed at a predetermined position on the inclined surface 29 a and downstream of the casing 27 in the paper feeding direction. The colorimetric drying unit 28 is a part that accommodates the colorimetric unit 26a and the dryer 26d therein, and is attached so as to be parallel to the casing 27 at a predetermined position of the slope 29a. In the present embodiment, the colorimetric drying unit 28 accommodates the color measurement unit 26a on the upstream side in the paper feeding direction, and accommodates the dryer 26d on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction from the color measurement unit 26a. When the printing paper M (N) is conveyed, it passes below the casing 27 and the colorimetric drying unit 28, respectively. The color measuring unit 26a faces the color detecting unit 26a1 toward the inclined surface 29a, and is stopped at the initial position in the color measuring drying unit 28 in the standby state. A white tile for calibrating the color measurement unit 26a is placed under the color detection unit 26a1 at the initial position. In the present embodiment, the left end of the left and right sides of the colorimetric drying unit 28 when facing the paper feeding direction (downstream side) is set as the initial position of the colorimetric unit 26a.

  The color measuring unit 26a can be reciprocated in the main scanning direction by the color measuring unit moving mechanism 26b. A pressing plate (not shown) is installed between the height at which the color measurement unit 26a moves and the slope 29a. The presser plate waits at a position separated from the inclined surface 29a by a predetermined distance, and is driven by the presser plate driving mechanism 26c at a predetermined timing, so that the printing paper M (( Press N) from above to prevent it from moving. A long hole is formed in the pressing plate so as to penetrate along the main scanning direction, and the color measurement unit 26a moved by the color measurement unit moving mechanism 26b moves the color detection unit 26a1 through the long hole to the slope 29a. The color of the image printed on the printing paper M (N) can be measured by making it relative to the upper printing paper M (N). Note that the surface of the printer 20 that conveys the printing paper M (N) may be a horizontal surface instead of the slope as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 3 shows an instruction system between software in the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the computer 10 can instruct the printer 20 to print an image or measure color according to the APL 14a (instruction means). In this case, all the instructions (proprietary command, print command, colorimetry command, drying command, chart definition command, etc., which will be described later) are all sent to the printer control IC 25 to be processed by the printer controller. In the printer controller, processing corresponding to the received command and control of each part of the print head 25a, head drive unit 25b, carriage mechanism 25c, and paper feed mechanism 25d are executed, and a command to be passed to the colorimetry controller is received. In this case, the command is transmitted to the colorimetry control IC 26. In the color measurement controller, processing corresponding to a command received by the color measurement control IC 26 via the I / F 26e and control of each part of the color measurement unit 26a, the color measurement unit moving mechanism 26b, the pressing plate driving mechanism 26c, and the dryer 26d. Execute. The color measurement value acquired by the color measurement unit 26a is transmitted to the printer controller by the color measurement controller, and is transmitted to the APL 14a by the printer controller.

(2) Color measurement processing of existing printed matter As described above, the print color measurement control device is a device suitable for executing each processing such as image printing, drying, and color measurement. In addition, it is also possible to measure the color of an existing printed matter using a color measurement function. The existing printed matter mentioned here is a printed matter that has already been printed by the printer 20, a printer separate from the printer 20, a printing machine that is a reference machine for color reproduction, and the like. (Cut sheet).
Hereinafter, color measurement processing of an existing printed matter will be described as one example of processing that can be executed using the configuration of the print color measurement control device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing contents executed by the computer 10 based on the APL 14a.
In step S (hereinafter, description of steps is omitted) 100, the computer 10 accepts selection of a mode of processing to be executed. For example, a screen for selecting a predetermined mode is displayed on the display 18a in accordance with a user operation, and selection of one mode among a plurality of modes is accepted via the screen for mode selection. Modes that can be selected in S100 include a mode in which image printing, drying, and colorimetry are continuously executed, a mode in which image printing and drying are successively executed, and a mode in which colorimetry of existing printed matter is executed ( There is an existing print colorimetric mode). In the present embodiment, the existing printed color measurement mode is selected in S100.

In S <b> 110, the computer 10 transmits an exclusive start command to the printer 20. The exclusive start command is a kind of the exclusive command, and is a command for informing that the APL 14a starts exclusive use of the printer 20 for a series of job (JOB) processing in the mode selected in S100. As will be described in detail later, after receiving the exclusive start command, the printer 20 executes only processing based on the instruction of the APL 14a unless an exclusive release command (a kind of exclusive command) is received.
Next, before describing the processing of S120, a part of the processing on the printer 20 side that has received the command transmission will be described.

FIG. 5 shows a part of processing executed by the printer control IC 25 of the printer 20 based on the printer controller.
Commands transmitted from the computer 10 to the printer 20 are input to the printer 20 via the communication I / F 24 and all are input to the printer control IC 25 to be processed by the printer controller. When the printer control IC 25 receives a command from the computer 10 (S200), in S205, the type of the received command is determined, and the subsequent processing is branched according to the determined type of command. When the existing printed colorimetry mode is selected in S100, the computer 10 transmits any of the exclusive command, the chart definition command, and the colorimetry command. For this reason, in the figure, branches corresponding to commands other than these three commands (print command and dry command) are omitted.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the printer 20 that has received the exclusive command from the computer 10 (APL 14a).
In S300, the printer 20 determines whether the received exclusive command is an exclusive start command, an exclusive release command, or a JOB information request command, and branches the process according to the determined command type.
When the exclusive start command is received, in step S305, the printer 20 stores the I / F name (or ID etc. for uniquely identifying the I / F) that received the exclusive start command in a specific storage area. Although illustration of I / Fs other than the communication I / F 24 used for communication with the computer 10 (APL 14a) is omitted in FIG. 1, the printer 20 outputs an external instruction other than the APL 14a in addition to the communication I / F 24. It is assumed that various I / Fs corresponding to communication with the source (PC or program) are provided. The printer 20 assigns a number to each I / F in advance and uses this number as the I / F name. Since the exclusive start command received in S200 is received via the communication I / F 24, the printer 20 stores the number n assigned in advance to the communication I / F 24 as a I / F name in a specific storage area.

  Note that the interface provided in the printer 20 refers to a means or a communication format that is interposed between the two for each one-to-one relationship between the instruction output source for the printer 20 and the printer 20 and realizes communication between the two. Accordingly, not only a hardware I / F such as a USB connector for connecting the PC to the printer 20 but also a software I / F used for data exchange between the program on the instruction output source side and the program on the printer 20 side is included. When communicating with a plurality of PCs and programs via one connector corresponding to the TCP / IP format provided in the printer 20, the IP address and port assigned to each instruction output source are also included in the concept of I / F.

In S310, the printer 20 stores the attribute information included in the exclusive start command in a predetermined storage area. The attribute information here refers to the JOB name assigned to a series of JOBs that the APL 14a is going to request from the printer 20, the type of mode selected in S100, the user name, and the PC host name. Etc. The APL 14a includes the attribute information in the exclusive start command and notifies the printer 20 of it.
In S315, the printer 20 determines whether or not the received exclusive start command is a command for instructing an existing printed color measurement mode. In this case, the determination is made based on whether or not the information relating to the mode type included in the attribute information indicates the existing printed color measurement mode.
If the exclusive start command indicates the existing printed material color measurement mode, the printer 20 waits until the printing paper is fed to a predetermined position (first set position) (S320), and is fed in S325. If it is determined that the process has been performed, the process proceeds to S330 and subsequent steps.

  During the standby, the printer 20 can transmit a paper feed prompt display request for requesting a screen display prompting paper feed to the computer 10 via the communication I / F 24. When the computer 10 receives the paper feed prompting display request, the computer 10 displays on the display 18a, for example, “Please set the colorimetric printout” and feeds the existing printout to the printer 20 to the user. Remind you. Of course, such a prompt may be performed not only by display on the display 18a but also by voice, or may be performed on the display of the printer 20 when the printer 20 itself has a display for display.

  The user inserts an existing printed material prepared in advance as a colorimetric object between the casing 27 and the inclined surface 29a from the feeding direction of the printing paper N shown in FIG. The leading position of the inserted paper stops at a certain fixed position (first setting position) between the casing 27 and the slope 29a. The printer 20 includes a sensor that detects the presence or absence of a sheet at the first set position. If the sensor detects a sheet, the printer 20 determines “Yes” in S325. In S330, the printer 20 detects the paper width of the existing printed matter. The printer 20 includes sensors that detect the widths of the paper fed to the first set position in the vertical direction (paper feeding direction) and the horizontal direction (main scanning direction). Detect the width. However, the detection of the paper width of the existing printed matter may be performed in a state in which the paper is fed to the second set position, which will be described later, in addition to the state in which the paper is fed to the first set position. May be performed at a predetermined timing during the conveyance of the sheet from to the second set position. Alternatively, only one of the vertical and horizontal widths may be detected.

  In S335, by driving the paper feed mechanism 25d, the printer 20 conveys the existing printed matter so that the leading position of the paper reaches a predetermined standby position (second set position). It is free to set the second set position. After conveying the existing printed matter to the second set position, the printer 20 waits for the next command to be transmitted. In this sense, the second set position corresponds to the paper set position referred to in the claims. However, the conveyance process in S335 is not essential, and the first set position itself where the user sets the existing printed matter may be set as the standby position of the sheet immediately before the color measurement process. In this case, the first set position corresponds to the paper set position referred to in the claims.

As described above, when the exclusive start command is received, the printer 20 executes at least the processes of S305 and 310, and when the exclusive start command is a command for instructing the existing printed color measurement mode, the printer 20 further executes S320 to 335. Execute the process. It can be said that the printer 20 includes a print medium setting unit in that the processes of S320 to 335 are realized.
If the received exclusive command is an exclusive release command or a JOB information request command, the printer 20 proceeds to the process of S340 or S350, which will be described later.

FIG. 7 shows an example of an existing printed material that is a colorimetric object in this embodiment.
This figure shows a chart image printed by the printer 20 in advance. The chart image is an image composed of a chart area in which a plurality of color patches P are arranged in each of the main scanning direction and the paper feed direction and a print stabilization area surrounding the chart area. The chart image is printed on the printing paper N. Yes. Such existing printed matter is acquired in advance before the processing of FIG. That is, the computer 10 transmits a print command including print data (raster data) representing a chart image and a dry command to the printer 20. Then, the printer 20 prints the chart image on the printing paper M (roll paper) according to the print command, and then dries the chart image after printing according to the time designated by the drying command. The paper portion on which the chart image is printed is cut off from the printing paper M by a cutter 25a1 provided on the print head 25a. The printing paper M can be cut by reciprocating the printing head 25a (cutter 25a1) after the cutter 25a1 protrudes in the direction of the slope 29a to the position where the cutting edge of the cutter 25a1 reaches the printing paper M. As a result, a chart image printed on the printing paper N (cut sheet paper) is obtained. The cutter 25a1 is housed in a predetermined portion of the print head 25a when not in use, and has a mechanism that is exposed to the outside only when the paper is cut. Of course, the chart image may be printed by a printer separate from the printer 20 or by the printing machine.

Returning to the description of FIG.
In S <b> 120, the computer 10 instructs the printer 20 to measure the color of the existing printed material, and acquires the colorimetric value of the existing printed material measured by the printer 20 in accordance with the colorimetric instruction. The color measurement instruction referred to here basically means processing for generating and transmitting a chart definition command and a color measurement command.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing details of S120.
In S400, the computer 10 generates chart definition information about the existing printed matter (chart image) set at the paper setting position. The chart definition information is information that defines the print position of the color measurement target image on the printing paper. In the present embodiment, the computer 10 displays a predetermined input screen (application screen) on the display 18a, and inputs information such as the position of a chart image (chart region) as a color measurement target image via the application screen. As a result, the chart definition information is generated. It can be said that the computer 10 provides a position information acquisition unit as a part of its function in that the process of S400 is executed.

FIG. 9 shows an example of the application screen.
On the application screen 18a1, the printer to be used, the paper size, the paper feeding method, the necessity of automatic cutting (cutting the paper by the cutter 25a1), the margins at the top, bottom, left and right edges of the paper, the type of chart image, the position of the chart area ( A display for selecting or setting various information such as xP, yP). The user selects or sets these various information by operating the keyboard 18b or the like. For example, in the case of each margin at the top, bottom, left, and right ends (see FIG. 7), the user inputs the value of each margin that was set when the chart image was printed in the past. Further, the position (xP, yP) of the chart area means the position of the start point PS of the chart area within the image area of the chart image. Referring to FIG. 7, xP is the difference in the main scanning direction between the start point GP of the image area of the chart image and the start point PS, and yP is the paper feed direction between the start point GP and the start point PS. Is the difference in The position (xP, yP) of the chart area is also set when the user has printed a chart image in the past, and thus the set value is input. The start point PS of the chart area is the edge point of the chart area, which is the leftmost point at the top when facing the paper feed direction, and the start point GP of the image area of the chart image is the image area of the chart image This is the point at the top left edge when facing the paper feed direction. Further, in the following, when the paper origin is referred to, it is a point at the top left edge when facing the paper feeding direction, which is a point of the edge of the paper.

However, when various settings necessary for printing the chart image, such as the margin value and the chart area position (xP, yP), have been performed in the past using the computer 10, the above-described user Instead of the input by, various setting values held by the computer 10 may be reflected in each display of the application screen 18a1.
The vertical and horizontal sizes (hP, wP) of the patches constituting the chart image, the number of patches per line in the chart area (nP), and the number of patch lines in the chart area (mL) are defined in advance for each type of chart image. Therefore, it is automatically determined when the type of chart image is selected. On the application screen 18a1, as shown in FIG. 9, a preview display 18a11 showing a print paper range (paper size) and a chart image arranged therein is performed based on the above information.

  As described above, when the existing printed matter is fed to the printer 20, the vertical and horizontal widths of the paper are detected by the printer 20. Therefore, when displaying the application screen 18a1, the computer 10 can input the detected width values from the printer 20 and specify the paper size based on the input width values. If the paper size of the existing printed material is specified, the computer 10 can execute a warning display when the user selects a paper size different from the actual paper size of the existing printed material on the application screen 18a1, or on the screen. The display of the paper size can be limited to the specified paper size so that other paper sizes cannot be selected. Furthermore, a warning can be issued even if the input value such as the position (xP, yP) of the chart area is a value that is not possible, such as a value outside the range of the specified paper size.

  Based on the information obtained through the application screen 18a1 as described above or the information set at the time of printing the chart image, the computer 10 determines the position (xS, yS) of the top patch of the chart area with reference to the paper origin. ) And the position (xE, yE) of the final patch in the chart area, the vertical and horizontal sizes (hP, wP) of the patch, the number of patches per line (nP), the number of patch lines (mL), etc. Generate chart definition information. The position (xS, yS) of the head patch can be defined by the top margin, the left margin, and the position (xP, yP) of the chart area. That is, the sum of the left margin and xP is xS, and the sum of the upper margin and yP is yS. The position (xE, yE) of the final patch is calculated using the position (xS, yS) of the head patch, the vertical and horizontal sizes (hP, wP), the number of patches (nP), and the number of rows (mL) as appropriate. xE is the sum of xS and wP × nP, and yE is the sum of ys and hP × mL. However, the computer 10 does not calculate the position (xS, yS) of the top patch based on the top margin, the left margin, and the position (xP, yP) of the chart area, but gives the user (xS, yS). An input field for directly inputting the value may be provided on the application screen 18a1, and a numerical value input via the input field may be recognized as (xS, yS). This is because the user can actually measure (xS, yS) of the chart image.

Returning to the description of FIG.
In S410, the computer 10 generates a chart definition command including the generated chart definition information, and transmits the chart definition command to the printer 20 via the printer I / F 17c.
In S420, the computer 10 generates a color measurement command and transmits it to the printer 20 via the printer I / F 17c. The color measurement command conveys the paper set at the paper setting position so that the color measurement target portion is under the movement path of the color measurement unit 26a, and the color measurement unit 26a measures the color measurement target portion. To the printer 20. The color measurement command includes various conditions for causing the color measurement unit 26a to perform color measurement, for example, the output format of the color measurement result (Lab / xyz / spectrum, etc.), and the opposite of the color measurement unit 26a across the printing paper. Information specifying the color of the slope 29a located on the side (referred to as background color; white or black) and the viewing angle (2 degrees or 10 degrees) of the color detector 26a1 are included. The computer 10 sets the colorimetric conditions using values preset in the APL 14a or based on user input operations.

In S430, the computer 10 monitors the transmission of colorimetric values from the printer 20. That is, after transmitting the color measurement command, the computer 10 waits for the color measurement value of the chart image to be sent from the printer 20.
In S440, the computer 10 determines whether or not the colorimetric values for all the patches constituting the chart area of the chart image have been received, and if it is determined that all the reception has been completed, in S450, each received patch is received. Are stored in HD14.

Next, processing on the printer 20 side that has received the chart definition command and the colorimetry command transmitted by the computer 10 will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, all commands transmitted from the computer 10 to the printer 20 are input to the printer control IC 25 via the communication I / F 24 and are processed by the printer controller.
When receiving the chart definition command, the printer control IC 25 extracts the chart definition information from the chart definition command in S210 through S200 and 205, and stores the extracted chart definition information in a predetermined storage area. Since the chart definition information is information necessary for color measurement processing described later, the computer 10 transmits the chart definition command prior to transmission of the color measurement command, and the printer 20 acquires the chart definition information. .

When receiving the color measurement command, the printer control IC 25 reads the chart definition information in S215 through S200 and 205.
Next, in S220, one of the patch rows constituting the chart area of the chart image is set as a color measurement target row. First, the first line (the line closest to the paper origin) is set as a colorimetric target line.
In step S225, the printer control IC 25 determines the transport distance D1 of the printing paper N, which is necessary for causing the colorimetry unit 26a to measure the color measurement target row on the printing paper N set at the paper setting position, as chart definition information. Based on the above.

FIG. 10 shows the positional relationship between the printing paper N set at the paper setting position and the colorimetric drying unit 28 and the like. In the figure, the colorimetric range MR by the colorimetric drying unit 28 is displayed. The color measurement range MR is a range that can be measured when the color measurement unit 26a is moved in the main scanning direction, and the color measurement unit 26a can perform color measurement of a patch for one line by one movement in the main scanning direction. is there. The printer control IC 25 calculates the transport distance D1 by the equation (1).
D1 = dHM− (yH−yS) + hP / 2 (1)
dHM is the distance between the print head 25a and the color detection unit 26a1 of the color measurement unit 26a in the paper feed direction. In the product design of the printer 20, dHM is a fixed value, and the printer 20 has dHM in advance in a predetermined storage area as data.

yH is the distance in the paper feed direction between the head position of the paper sheet placed at the paper set position and the print head 25a. Since the leading position of the sheet placed at the sheet setting position is also determined, yH is a fixed value, and the printer 20 has yH as data in a predetermined storage area in advance. The yH is a kind of medium position information.
yS is the distance in the paper feed direction between the paper origin and the first patch in the chart area, and hP is the vertical length (paper feed direction) of the patches constituting the chart area, both of which are included in the chart definition information It is prescribed.

In S230, the printer control IC 25 transports the printing paper N in the paper feeding direction from the paper setting position by the calculated transport distance D1. That is, the printer control IC 25 issues an instruction to the paper feed mechanism 25d to execute paper feed corresponding to the transport distance D1. As a result of the carrying process, the printing paper N is measured in a state in which the center position of the patch constituting the color measurement target row at that time coincides with the position of the color detection unit 26a1 of the color measurement unit 26a in the paper feed direction. It will be located under the color drying unit 28.
In step S235, the printer control IC 25 transmits a color measurement command to the color measurement control IC 26. In this case, the printer control IC 25 transmits a color measurement command together with the chart definition information. As a result, it is possible to perform processing corresponding to the color measurement command on the color measurement control IC 26 side.

In step S240, the printer control IC 25 receives the color measurement value transmitted from the color measurement control IC 26, and in step S245, stores the received color measurement value in a predetermined storage area.
In S250, the printer control IC 25 determines whether or not the colorimetric values have been stored for all the patch rows constituting the chart area of the chart image. If there is an unprocessed patch row, the process returns to S220. One color target row is updated and set, and the processing up to S245 is repeated. The number of rows of patches, mL, is defined in the chart definition information. Since the color measurement for the second and subsequent rows of the chart area only needs to convey the sheet by the vertical length of the patch, when the color measurement target line is the second and subsequent lines of the chart area, the conveyance distance D1 = hP is set. To do. On the other hand, when the storage of the colorimetric values for all rows is completed, the printer control IC 25 transmits the colorimetric values of all the patches constituting the chart area of the chart image to the computer 10 via the communication I / F 24. (S255).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the color measurement control IC 26 in response to a command transmitted from the printer control IC 25.
The color measurement control IC 26 is responsible for controlling not only the color measurement unit 26a but also the dryer 26d. Therefore, depending on the selected mode, a forced drying command (a type of drying command, a command for instructing to dry the printed matter by driving the dryer 26d) transmitted from the printer 10 may be used. It may be received via the control IC 25. However, a drying command is not transmitted from the computer 10 in a situation where the existing printed color measurement mode is selected as in the present embodiment. Therefore, in FIG. 11, only the process executed according to the color measurement command among the processes executed by the color measurement control IC 26 is shown, and the process executed according to the forced drying command is omitted.

In S500, the colorimetry control IC 26 instructs the presser plate drive mechanism 26c to lower the presser plate and press the printing paper N under the colorimetric drying unit 28.
In step S505, the color measurement control IC 26 causes the color measurement unit 26a to execute calibration. In the present embodiment, a white tile as a complete white plate is installed at a position facing the color detection unit 26a1 of the color measurement unit 26a that stands by at the initial position, and when starting the color measurement process, the color measurement unit 26a is first started. Let the white tile measure color. The color measurement unit 26a compares the color measurement result of the white tile with a reference value of the color measurement result of the white tile previously provided as data to obtain a difference between the two values, and based on the difference, the color measurement unit 26a generates a correction value for the color measurement result. Thereafter, the color measurement unit 26a corrects the color measurement value acquired by the color measurement with the correction value, and then outputs it to the color measurement control IC 26.

In S510, the color measurement control IC 26 calculates the movement distance of the color measurement unit 26a based on the chart definition information and the like. The movement distance here refers to the movement distance D2 from the initial position of the color measurement unit 26a to the color measurement start position (the center of the first patch) of the chart area and the movement necessary for measuring the color of one line of patches. This means the distance D3. The movement distance D2 is calculated by the equation (2).
D2 = xS + x0-dxM + wP / 2 (2)
As shown in FIG. 10, x0 represents the distance in the main scanning direction from the mechanical origin of the printer 20 to the paper origin. The printer 20 predetermines a specific position of the machine body as a mechanical origin. For example, when the printing paper N is set at the paper setting position, the printer 20 detects the paper origin by a predetermined sensor, calculates the distance x0 in the main scanning direction from the mechanical origin to the paper origin, and stores the predetermined memory. Save as data in the area. The distance x0 is a kind of medium position information.

dxM represents a distance when the main scanning forward direction from the mechanical origin to the initial position of the color measurement unit 26a (color detection unit 26a1) is positive. Since the mounting position of the colorimetric drying unit 28 is determined by the design of the printer 20, the distance between the mechanical origin and the initial position of the colorimetric unit 26a is also a fixed value. The printer 20 has dxM as a fixed value as data. In the example of FIG. 10, since the initial position of the color detection unit 26a1 is at a minus position from the mechanical origin, dxM is a negative value. xS is the distance in the main scanning direction between the paper origin and the first patch in the chart area, and wP is the length of the patch constituting the chart area (in the main scanning direction), both of which are included in the chart definition information. It is prescribed.
On the other hand, the movement distance D3 is expressed by equation (3).
D3 = xE−xS (3)
Can be calculated.

  In addition, about each said formula used in this embodiment, as long as the meaning of a calculation result is the same, you may use another formula instead. In addition, as described above, the transport distance of the printing paper N and the movement distance of the color measurement unit 26a are calculated based on the chart definition information that defines the print position of the color measurement target image on the print medium. It can be said that the printer 20 includes a determining unit described in the claims.

In step S515, the color measurement control IC 26 instructs the color measurement unit moving mechanism 26b to move the color measurement unit 26a from the initial position toward the main scanning forward direction by the movement distance D2.
In S520, the color measurement control IC 26 transmits a start command instructing the color measurement unit 26a to start color measurement, and causes the color measurement unit 26a to start color measurement for one line in the chart area. At the same time, the color measuring unit moving mechanism 26b is instructed to move the color measuring unit 26a in the main scanning forward direction by the moving distance D3. The start command includes various conditions for color measurement specified by the color measurement command (color measurement result output format (Lab), the background color of the printing paper M, the viewing angle of the color detection unit 26a1, the measurement And other conditions are also instructed to the colorimetric unit 26a. The color measurement cycle is the time during which the color measurement unit 26a passes one patch width wP by the color measurement unit moving mechanism 26b, and is calculated from the moving speed of the color measurement unit 26a and the patch width wP.

In S525, the color measurement unit 26a sequentially acquires the color measurement values at the specified color measurement cycle. Since the color measurement unit 26a moves at a constant speed by the color measurement unit moving mechanism 26b, by performing color measurement according to the color measurement cycle, the position of each patch constituting the chart area for one line and the color measurement value are measured. The timing matches one-on-one, and the colorimetric value of each patch can be obtained.
In S530, the color measurement control IC 26 determines whether or not the color measurement unit 26a has measured all the patches for one line. This determination can be made, for example, by receiving a signal notifying that the movement of the color measurement unit 26a by the moving distance D3 is completed from the color measurement unit moving mechanism 26b. If it is determined that the color measurement unit 26a has measured all the patches for one line, the color measurement control IC 26 causes the color measurement unit 26a to output the color measurement value, and stores it in a predetermined recording area. Save (S535).

In S540, the color measurement control IC 26 issues an instruction to the color measurement unit moving mechanism 26b to move the color measurement unit 26a to the initial position. In S545, the color measurement control IC 26 issues an instruction to the press plate driving mechanism 26c to raise the press plate. In step S550, the color measurement control IC 26 transmits the color measurement values of all the patches for one row in the saved chart area to the printer control IC 25. As described above, on the printer control IC 25 side, the colorimetric value of the authentication chart transmitted from the colorimetric control IC 26 is received in S240. As described above, the printing paper N is conveyed based on the conveyance distance D1, and the color measurement unit 26a is moved based on the movement distances D2 and D3, and the color measurement unit 26a executes color measurement. 20 can be said to be provided with a conveying means and a colorimetric control means.
As described above, when the computer 10 acquires the colorimetric values of all the patches of the chart image as the existing printed material, in S130 (see FIG. 4), the exclusive release command is transmitted to the printer 20 to measure the existing printed material colorimetric. The processing related to the mode is terminated.

(3) Correction of colorimetric position Here, it is ideal that the existing printed material fed to the printer 20 is correctly oriented in the paper feeding direction when it is arranged at the paper setting position. Further, it may be arranged with a slight inclination with respect to the paper feeding direction. When such an inclination occurs, the printing paper N is transported according to the transporting distance D1 calculated by the above equation (1), and the color measurement unit 26a is moved in the main scanning direction on the transported printing paper N. However, there may be a situation in which the color measurement unit 26a does not accurately pass over each patch constituting the color measurement target row. Therefore, the printer 20 may detect the inclination of the printing paper N at the paper setting position and correct the positional relationship between the color measurement unit 26a and the printing paper N according to the degree of the inclination.

FIG. 17 shows a state in which the inclination of the printing paper N is detected at the paper setting position.
In the figure, the paper set position is indicated by the position of a two-dot chain line perpendicular to the paper feed direction. When the inclination of the printing paper N is 0, the straight line at the leading edge (paper leading edge) of the printing paper N matches the two-point difference line. However, when there is an inclination, one of the right end and the left end of the front end of the printing paper N is positioned upstream of the two-dot chain line in the paper feeding direction. Note that the state in which neither the right end nor the left end of the leading edge of the printing paper N has reached the two-dot chain line corresponds to waiting in S320 in FIG. 6 or transporting in S335. In the present embodiment, the printer 20 uses a predetermined paper detection sensor to measure the distance between the paper setting position in the paper feeding direction and the leading edge of the printing paper N at two locations on the paper setting position. The figure shows a case where the distance from the leading edge of the printing paper N is measured at two locations separated by a predetermined distance (W) on the two-dot chain line, and the paper feed direction is directed out of the two locations. The distance measured at the left side when the paper is placed is DL, and the distance measured at the right side when the paper feed direction is turned is shown as DR. The timing for measuring DL and DR is appropriate after S325 or after S335 in FIG.

In the present embodiment, the transport distance D1 calculated according to the above equation (1) is corrected according to the difference between the DL and DR (S255).
Specifically, the printer 20 first obtains a difference ΔD between DL and DR. Next, based on the ratio of W: ΔD and the length (wP × nP) of the patch row in the chart area in the main scanning direction, a deviation amount ΔP between the right end and the left end of one patch row is obtained. In the figure, one patch row (first patch row) is illustrated. As shown in the figure, the shift amount ΔP is a shift in the paper feed direction between the left end position and the right end position of one patch row. If the inclination of the printing paper N is 0, the shift amount ΔP is also 0. Here, assuming that the inclination of the printing paper N is very small,
W: ΔD≈ (wP × nP): ΔP (4)
The relationship holds. Therefore, the deviation amount ΔP is obtained according to the relational expression (4).
Next, the printer 20 sets a value (ΔP / 2) obtained by dividing the deviation amount ΔP by 2 as a correction amount for the transport distance D1 calculated according to the above equation (1), and the magnitude relationship between the DL and DR. Accordingly, the transport distance D1 is corrected by the correction amount ΔP / 2.

  FIG. 18A shows the relative positional relationship between the first row of the chart area and the color detection unit 26a1 when DL <DR. When DL <DR, the printing paper N is conveyed under the color measurement unit 26a in a state where the right end when viewed in the paper feeding direction is slightly retracted from the left end. According to the above equation (1), the printing paper N is conveyed to a position where the color detection unit 26a1 passes over the center position of the leftmost patch (first patch) in the first row. Accordingly, when the printing paper N is tilted as shown in FIG. 4A, if the transport distance of the printing paper N is determined only according to the above equation (1), the movement path of the color detection unit 26a1 is as shown in FIG. ) Line L1. In such a movement path, as the color detection unit 26a1 moves to the right side of the sheet, the position of the patch to be measured gradually shifts to the upstream side in the paper feed direction when viewed from the color detection unit 26a1, and each patch is detected. Cannot be measured accurately. Therefore, when DL <DR, the correction amount ΔP / 2 is added to the transport distance D1 calculated according to the above equation (1) to obtain a new transport distance D1 ′. That is, the transport distance of the printing paper N is increased by ΔP / 2. In S230, the printer 20 transports the printing paper N from the paper setting position in the paper feeding direction according to the transport distance D1 ′. As a result, the color detection unit 26a1 passes through substantially the middle between the center position of the first patch and the center position of the rightmost patch (see the line L2), and each patch constituting one row is appropriately set. Color measurement is possible.

On the other hand, FIG. 18B shows the relative positional relationship between the first row of the chart area and the color detection unit 26a1 when DL> DR. In this case, the printing paper N is conveyed under the color measurement unit 26a in a state where the left end when viewed in the paper feeding direction is slightly retracted from the right end. As shown in FIG. 4B, when the printing paper N is inclined and the transport distance of the printing paper N is determined according to only the above equation (1), the movement path of the color detection unit 26a1 is as shown in FIG. It looks like line L3. In such a movement path, as the color detection unit 26a1 moves to the right side of the sheet, the position of the patch to be measured gradually shifts to the downstream side in the paper feed direction when viewed from the color detection unit 26a1, and each patch is detected. Cannot be measured accurately. Therefore, if DL> DR, the correction amount ΔP / 2 is subtracted from the conveyance distance D1 calculated according to the above equation (1) to obtain a new conveyance distance D1 ″. In S230, the printer 20 performs conveyance. The printing paper N is conveyed in the paper feeding direction from the paper setting position according to the distance D1 ″. As a result, the movement path of the color detection unit 26a1 is a path that passes through substantially the middle between the center position of the first patch and the center position of the rightmost patch (see the line L4), and each of the patches constituting one line is Appropriate color measurement can be performed.
18 (a) and 18 (b), for the sake of convenience, the movement position of the color detection unit 26a1 is drawn while being shifted in the paper feed direction, but in reality, the position of the color detection unit 26a1 in the paper feed direction is constant. The position of the patch changes in the paper feed direction.

The above-described correction of the transport amount of the printing paper N based on the inclination of the printing paper N is merely an example. For example, it is possible to perform finer correction such as changing the transport amount of the printing paper N for each movement position of the color detection unit 26a1 in the main scanning direction.
If the inclination of the printing paper N is too large, it is difficult to accurately measure all the patches in each row even if the conveyance distance is corrected as described above. Therefore, if the difference ΔD between the obtained DL and DR is larger than a predetermined threshold value, the printer 20 notifies the computer 10 of the fact and displays a warning display or warning that the printing paper N is tilted. Audio output or the like may be executed by the computer 10. Alternatively, when the printer 20 itself has a display for display, the warning may be displayed on the display of the printer 20 itself.

(4) Exclusive Use of Printer Next, the control of the printer by the exclusive command will be described with reference to FIG.
If the received exclusive command is an exclusive release command, the printer 20 deletes the I / F name stored in the specific storage area in S305 (S340). After the erasure, the printer 20 receives a command (dedicated start command received from the exclusive start command to the exclusive release command via the I / F (communication I / F 24) related to the deleted I / F name. JOB information describing the contents of the process executed in response to (including) is stored in a predetermined storage area (S345). For example, when the existing printed material colorimetry mode is selected, the JOB information is the time required from the feeding of the existing printed material to the completion of the colorimetry, the number of sheets of the measured color, the ink usage amount, the authentication result (The contents of the authentication result will be described later). The JOB information may be stored in association with the JOB name stored in S310.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the contents of command reception processing on the printer 20 side for external transmission. This command reception process is a process executed in S200 of FIG.
The printer 20 always determines whether or not the I / F name is stored in the specific storage area (S900), and if it is stored, the I / F name corresponding to the stored I / F name is stored. / F is designated as a reception I / F (S970), and a command is received only from the designated I / F (S980). That is, after receiving the exclusive start command from one of the instruction output sources, the printer 20 saves the I / F name that received the exclusive start command and uses the I / F related to this save only from the outside. Receive. Such I / F limitation continues unless an exclusive release command is received via the I / F related to the storage and the I / F name is deleted from the specific storage area.

  As described above, the APL 14a can monopolize the printer 20 without fail during the period from the transmission of the exclusive start command to the printer 20 (S110) to the transmission of the exclusive release command (S130). Accordingly, all processes from feeding the existing printed matter as a colorimetric object to the printer 20 to completing the colorimetry are continuously executed without allowing interruption from other instruction output sources connected to the printer 20. Is possible.

  When “No” is determined in S900, that is, in a situation where no exclusive start command is received from any instruction output source, the printer 20 can receive commands from any I / F in the order of arrival. Specifically, the printer 20 sets the target I / F of the status check to the I / F with the number 1 (S910), checks the status of the set I / F (S920), and receives data from the outside. Is determined to be received (Yes in S930), the receiving I / F is designated as the receiving I / F (S960), and the external I / F is designated via the designated I / F. Accepts commands from. On the other hand, if “No” in the determination in S930, it is determined whether the status check has been completed for all the I / Fs starting from No. 1 (S940). After incrementing the setting of the F number by 1 (S950), the process returns to S920, and when checking is completed (Yes in S940), the process returns to S910, and the state starts from the I / F with the number 1 Repeat the check.

Returning to the description of FIG. When the printer 20 receives the JOB information request command, in S350, the printer 20 transmits the JOB information requested by the request command to the request source. The job information request command specifies the job name of the requested job information. On the printer 20 side, the job information stored in the storage area in association with the job name specified by the received job information request command is extracted, and the extracted job information is transmitted to the computer 10. As a result, on the computer 10 side, it is possible to acquire JOB information about a certain existing printed matter.
In addition, after the APL 14a transmits the exclusive start command, an error may occur in the computer 10 or the APL 14a due to various factors, and the APL 14a may not transmit the exclusive release command to the printer 20. Therefore, after receiving the exclusive start command, when a predetermined time (for example, a time set as a sufficient time for finishing the color measurement for the existing printed matter) has passed, the printer 20 sends a reset signal itself. It may be generated. When the reset signal is generated, the printer 20 considers that the situation is the same as when the exclusive release command is received, and deletes the I / F name stored in the specific storage area. In addition to or instead of the determination based on the passage of the predetermined time, the printer 20 generates the reset signal when the user performs a predetermined operation after receiving the exclusive start command and generates the specific storage area. It is also possible to delete the I / F name stored in. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the printer 20 from being unduly used exclusively by one instruction output source. Further, the exclusive state of the printer 20 by the APL 14a can be easily solved at a timing desired by the user.

(5) Other Embodiments The existing printed matter that is measured by the printer 20 is not limited to the chart image as shown in FIG.
FIG. 13 shows another example of the existing printed matter. This existing printed matter is an image (synthesized image) obtained by synthesizing an arbitrary image (referred to as an image to be authenticated) and a chart (referred to as an authentication chart) in which a plurality of color patches P are arranged one sheet of printing paper N. The composite image is printed by the printer 20 before the processing of FIG.
A case where the printing paper N on which the composite image is printed instead of the chart image shown in FIG. In the composite image, the authentication chart is the color measurement target image.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the processing contents executed by the computer 10 based on the APL 14a. The processing of S600, 610, and 680 is the same as S100, 110, and 130 in FIG. The details of the processing executed in S620 are basically the same as the processing shown in FIG. However, in the other embodiment, in S400, chart definition information that defines the printing position and the like of the authentication chart on the printing paper is generated.
Even in this case, the computer 10 displays a predetermined input screen (application screen 18a2) as shown in FIG. 15 on the display 18a, and the printer to be used and the number of pages (paper fed to the printer 20) via the screen. ), Paper size, paper feeding method, margins at the top, bottom, left, and right edges of the paper, the type of authentication chart, and the position (xP, yP) of the authentication chart. For example, in the case of each margin at the top, bottom, left, and right ends (see FIG. 13), the user inputs the value of each margin that was set when the composite image was printed in the past. The position (xP, yP) of the authentication chart area means the position of the start point PS of the authentication chart in the image area of the composite image. Referring to FIG. 13, xP is the difference in the main scanning direction between the starting point GP and the starting point PS of the image area of the composite image, and yP is the paper feeding direction between the starting point GP and the starting point PS. It is a difference. Since the user has also set the position (xP, yP) of the authentication chart in the past when printing the composite image, the user inputs such a set value. On the application screen 18a2, as shown in FIG. 15, a preview display 18a21 showing a print paper range (paper size) and at least an authentication chart among the composite images arranged therein is performed based on the above information.

  Of course, when various settings necessary for printing a composite image, such as the margin value and the authentication chart position (xP, yP), have been made in the past using the computer 10, they are not input by the user. Various setting values held by the computer 10 may be reflected on each display of the application screen 18a2. Because the vertical and horizontal sizes (hP, wP) of the patches constituting the authentication chart, the number of patches per line in the chart area (nP), and the number of patch lines (mL) are defined in advance for each type of authentication chart, It is automatically determined once the type of authentication chart is selected.

  Based on the information obtained through the application screen 18a2 as described above or the information set when the composite image is printed, the computer 10 determines the position (xS, yS) of the first patch of the authentication chart with the paper origin as a reference. ) And the position (xE, yE) of the final patch of the authentication chart, the vertical and horizontal sizes (hP, wP) of the patch, the number of patches per line (nP), the number of patch lines (mL), etc. Chart definition information is generated as described above. However, the computer 10 does not calculate the position (xS, yS) of the top patch based on the top margin, the left margin, and the position (xP, yP) of the authentication chart, but instead gives the user (xS, yS). An input field for directly inputting a value may be provided on the screen, and a numerical value input via the input field may be recognized as (xS, yS). This is because the user can actually measure (xS, yS) of the authentication chart.

  The computer 10 transmits the chart definition command including the chart definition information generated as described above and the color measurement command to the printer 20 (S400 to S420 in FIG. 8). The printer 20 that has received the chart definition command and the color measurement command measures the color of the authentication chart in the composite image printed on the printing paper N, and transmits the color measurement value of the patch of the authentication chart to the computer 10. As a result, the computer 10 can acquire the colorimetric values of all the patches constituting the authentication chart in one composite image (S450).

Furthermore, the computer 10 can perform the following authentication process using the acquired colorimetric values.
In S630, the computer 10 calculates a color difference ΔE from the reference color value (Lab value) 14f for each colorimetric value of each patch in the authentication chart acquired from the printer 20 in S620, and for each calculated patch. The average value of the color differences ΔE (average color difference ΔEav) is calculated. Since the computer 10 stores in advance the ideal color value for each patch constituting the authentication chart in the HD 14 as data called the reference color value 14f, the computer 10 reads the reference color value 14f from the HD 14 and measures the corresponding patch. Contrast with color value.
The reference color value 14f is data obtained by measuring the authentication chart printed by the printer with the printer 20.

  In S640, the computer 10 evaluates the color difference ΔE and the color difference ΔEav for each calculated patch to determine whether the authentication target image in the composite image is printed with an ideal color. Specifically, it is determined whether the maximum value (maximum color difference ΔEmax) among the color differences ΔE of each patch is equal to or smaller than a predetermined target value (color difference), and the average color difference ΔEav is equal to or smaller than a predetermined target value (color difference). Judge. As a target value used for comparison with the maximum color difference ΔEmax, for example, a numerical value such as color difference ΔE = 8.0 can be considered, and as a target value used for comparison with the average color difference ΔEav, for example, a numerical value such as color difference ΔE = 3.0. Can be considered. If both the maximum color difference ΔEmax and the average color difference ΔEav are less than or equal to the target value, the color of the authentication target image printed together with the authentication chart is regarded as normal, and the process proceeds to S650. On the other hand, if one or both of the maximum color difference ΔEmax and the average color difference ΔEav exceed the target value, the color of the authentication target image is regarded as abnormal and the process proceeds to S660. For calculating the color difference ΔE, any of CIE 1976, CIE 1994, CIE 2000 color difference formulas, etc. may be used.

In S650, the computer 10 instructs the printer 20 to print an authentication result indicating that the print result is normal at a predetermined position in the image area of the composite image.
Upon receiving the authentication result print instruction, the printer 20 controls the paper feed mechanism 25d so that the predetermined position in the image area of the composite image on which the authentication result is to be printed matches the position of the print head 25a. The printing paper N is conveyed in the direction opposite to the paper feeding direction (referred to as back feed). After such back feed, the printer 20 puts an authentication result (such as “authenticated average ΔE = XX maximum ΔE = XXX”) at a predetermined position in the image area of the composite image. Color difference ΔEav and maximum color difference ΔEmax).

FIG. 16 shows an example of the authentication result printed by the printer 20 in response to the print instruction in S650.
On the other hand, in S660, the computer 10 instructs the printer 20 to print an authentication result indicating that the print result is abnormal at a predetermined position in the image area of the composite image. For example, the computer 10 causes the printer 20 to print the authentication result “Unauthenticated average ΔE = OO maximum ΔE = OO”. In S670, the computer 10 determines whether printing of authentication results for all the pages set on the application screen 18a2 is finished. If there are unprocessed pages, the computer 10 returns to S620 and performs colorimetry again. The command is transmitted to the printer 20. Note that it is not necessary to transmit the chart definition command in the second and subsequent S620s. As described above, according to the process of FIG. 14, the computer 10 acquires the colorimetric value of the patch of the authentication chart printed on the printing paper N together with the authentication target image, and the authentication process based on the acquired colorimetric value. The printing process of the authentication result on the printing paper N can be performed continuously while exclusively using the printer 20 for a plurality of printing papers N. It can be said that the computer 10 is provided with the judging means described in the claims in that the processing of S630 to 660 can be executed.

  The computer 10 re-combines the composite image that has been determined that the color of the image to be authenticated is abnormal from the color measurement result of the authentication chart by controlling a printer (for example, the printer 20) that printed the composite image in the past. The image may be printed, the authentication chart of the composite image after the printing may be measured by the printer 20, and the color measurement result of the authentication chart may be evaluated again. Such processing can be repeated until a valid authentication result is obtained. Further, when the computer 10 has printed a composite image again in the past, the computer 10 instructs and executes a predetermined recovery operation such as a nozzle cleaning process of the print head before the print. Also good.

(6) Summary As described above, according to the present embodiment, an existing print is fed to the printer 20 having the colorimetry function, and a chart definition command and a command are sent to the printer 20 by an application that issues various instructions to the printer 20. When the color measurement command is output, the printer 20 automatically calculates the transport distance of the print paper using information such as the position of the color measurement target image on the print paper defined in the chart definition command, and the calculated distance. Accordingly, the printing paper is conveyed to the color measurement unit 26a, and the moving distance of the color measurement unit 26a is calculated based on information such as the position of the color measurement target image defined in the chart definition command. The color measurement process is executed while moving the color measurement unit 26a according to the moved distance. In other words, the user can automatically obtain a colorimetric value of the existing printed matter by the printer 20 simply by feeding an arbitrary existing printed matter to the printer 20 and inputting on a predetermined application screen. Further, during the series of operations from paper feeding to colorimetric value acquisition, since the APL 14a of the computer 10 occupies the printer 20, the above-described series of operations is interrupted by interruptions from other instruction output sources. There is nothing.

  In addition to the printed matter printed by the printer 20, any one of the colorimetric objects can be measured by the single printer 20, such as a printer separate from the printer 20 or a printed matter printed by a printing machine serving as a reference machine for color reproduction. It became so. As a result, when evaluating print results based on colorimetric values obtained from each existing printed material, there is no need to take into account subtle shifts in colorimetry results due to differences in color measurement means that existed in the past. The reliability of various evaluations for the color of each existing printed matter including the authentication process is improved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Computer, 14a ... APL, 14f ... Standard color value, 17a, 17b, 17c ... I / F, 18a1, 18a2 ... Application screen, 20 ... Printer, 24 ... Communication I / F, 25 ... Printer control IC, 25a ... Print head, 25a1 ... cutter, 25b ... head drive unit, 25c ... carriage mechanism, 25d ... paper feed mechanism, 26 ... colorimetric control IC, 26a ... colorimetric unit, 26b ... colorimetric unit moving mechanism, 26c ... presser plate drive Mechanism, 26d ... dryer, 26a1 ... color detection unit, 28 ... colorimetric drying unit

The present invention relates to a print color measurement control equipment.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is capable of realizing a series of processes from feeding an existing print image to colorimetry accurately and reducing the burden on the user as much as possible. and to provide a color control equipment.

Claims (8)

A printing colorimetry control device capable of printing an image on a printing medium based on predetermined image data and capable of measuring a color printed on the printing medium,
Print medium setting means for arranging a print medium on which a colorimetric object image is printed at a predetermined paper set position;
Determining means for determining a position when the colorimetric measurement unit measures the colorimetric object image based on a printing position of the colorimetric object image on a print medium;
Transport means for transporting the print medium from the paper set position based on the determined position;
A printing colorimetric control device comprising: a colorimetric control unit that acquires a colorimetric value of a colorimetric object image by causing the colorimetric unit to perform colorimetry based on the determined position.   2. The position information acquiring means for inputting at least information indicating a print position of the color measurement target image on a print medium directly or indirectly through a predetermined input screen. Printing colorimetry control device.   The print medium setting unit detects both or one of the vertical width and the horizontal width of the print medium, and the position information acquisition unit is configured to display the display content on the input screen based on the information detected by the print medium setting unit and Alternatively, the printing colorimetry control device according to claim 2, wherein input contents are limited.   The print medium setting unit detects the inclination of the print medium, and the determining unit determines the position when the colorimetric measurement unit measures the colorimetric target image when the colorimetric image is measured. The printing colorimetric control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein correction is performed based on the detected inclination. Instruction means capable of outputting predetermined instruction information for operating the printing apparatus, including information on the printing position of the colorimetric object image, and the printing apparatus for executing processing according to the instruction information input from the instruction means And consist of
The instructing means outputs an exclusive start instruction for starting exclusive use of the printing apparatus to the printing apparatus, and an exclusive release instruction for releasing the exclusive use at a predetermined timing after outputting the exclusive start instruction to the printing apparatus. Output,
In the period from when the exclusive start instruction is received until when a predetermined exclusive release instruction is received, the printing apparatus and the print medium setting means according to only the output from the instruction means that is the output source of the exclusive start instruction The printing colorimetric control device according to claim 1, wherein the determining unit, the conveying unit, and the colorimetric unit are operated.   The colorimetric value of the colorimetric object image acquired by the colorimetric unit is compared with the reference color value of the colorimetric object image prepared in advance, and the color of the colorimetric object image is normal based on the comparison result. 6. The printing colorimetry control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a determination unit that determines whether or not the color measurement is performed. A colorimetry control method using an apparatus capable of printing an image on a print medium based on predetermined image data and capable of measuring a color printed on the print medium,
A print medium setting step of placing a print medium on which a colorimetric object image is printed at a predetermined paper set position;
A determination step of determining a position when the colorimetric unit performs colorimetry on the colorimetric object image based on a printing position of the colorimetric object image on a print medium;
A transporting step of transporting the print medium from the paper set position based on the determined position;
A colorimetry control method comprising: a colorimetry control step of acquiring a colorimetric value of a colorimetry target image by causing the colorimetry unit to perform colorimetry based on the determined position. A program that enables an apparatus that can print an image on a print medium based on predetermined image data and that can perform colorimetry on the image printed on the print medium,
A print medium setting function for placing a print medium on which a color measurement target image is printed at a predetermined paper set position;
A determination function for determining a position when the colorimetric unit performs colorimetry on the colorimetric object image based on a printing position of the colorimetric object image on a print medium;
A transport function for transporting the print medium from the paper set position based on the determined position;
A colorimetry control program for causing a colorimetry control function to acquire a colorimetric value of a colorimetry target image by causing the colorimetry unit to perform colorimetry based on the determined position.