JP2012080238A - Image processing system, image processing device and image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem in which a black color pixel by color mixture of toner as multiple color materials formed in an area where a ground tint pattern is not formed has color different from a black color pixel by black color toner.SOLUTION: An image processing device which transmits ground tint pattern data 91 of black color and color image data 81 includes: a ground tint pattern position information extracting part 62 which extracts an area in which the ground tint pattern data 91 is formed; a data extracting part 63 which extracts black color data 84 which is present in the color image data 81 in the formed area of the ground tint pattern data 91; a determination part 65 which determines the extracted black color data 84 as black color data in the area 84a; and a color conversion part 64 which converts the black color data in the area 84a into color mixture of toner as multiple color materials in yellow color, magenta color, and cyan color.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing system, an image processing apparatus, and an image processing method, and more particularly to image processing when forming a tint block pattern on a color image.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image processing system, an image processing apparatus, and an image processing method, a technique for forming a tint block pattern such as Anoto (registered trademark) or GridInput (registered trademark) on a color image is known.

  In the GridOpen (registered trademark) standard, the light source on the reading side of the tint block pattern is defined as infrared light. When a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is formed on a color image by using a color printer, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern is formed with black toner that absorbs infrared light, and the color image is reflected in yellow, magenta, In addition, it was necessary to form a mixed color of cyan toner.

  In the conventional image forming method, both a black image in the background pattern area and a black image outside the background pattern area are formed by mixing a plurality of colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan toners. It was.

  Patent Document 1 describes an Anoto (registered trademark) printing technique for reproducing on a recording medium a color approximate to the color of an image displayed on a display.

JP 2009-099129 A

  However, in the conventional image processing system, image processing apparatus, and image processing method, both the black image in the background pattern area and the black image outside the background pattern area are formed by mixing a plurality of colors of toner. For this reason, there is a problem that the color may be different from that of the black pixel using the black toner.

  The image processing apparatus of the present invention is an image processing apparatus that transmits specific pattern data and image data including a black specific pattern, and an area extraction unit that extracts a specific pattern formation area in which the specific pattern is formed; An extraction determination unit that extracts black data existing in the image data in the specific pattern formation region and determines it as in-region black data, and a color conversion unit that converts the in-region black data into a mixed color of a plurality of color materials It is characterized by having.

  The image processing system of the present invention combines the print data from the image processing apparatus and the received specific pattern data and the image data, and forms an image on a recording medium using black toner and the plurality of colors of toner. And a device.

  The image processing method of the present invention is an image processing method for printing specific pattern data including a black specific pattern with black toner, and printing the image data with black toner and a plurality of colors of toner. Is extracted, black data existing in the image data in the specific pattern formation region is extracted as black data in the region, and the black data in the region is used as the color material of the plurality of colors. It is characterized in that it is converted into a color mixture by.

  According to the image processing system, the image processing apparatus, and the image processing method of the present invention, the black data existing in the image data in the formation area of the specific pattern data is determined to be the black data in the area, and a plurality of black data in the area are determined. Conversion is performed to form a mixed color of color materials. This has the effect of limiting the black color difference portion of the image to the black data in the specific pattern data forming area and minimizing the black color difference area.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image processing system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the printing unit in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a tint block pattern printed matter according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the PC according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of printer data processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the printing operation of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the tint block pattern position in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a printed matter of the tint block pattern in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the PC according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the position of the extension region in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the tint block pattern reading unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image processing system in Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image data composition unit in Embodiment 3 of the present invention. FIG. 15 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image processing system in Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

  Modes for carrying out the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in light of the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are only for explanation and do not limit the scope of the present invention.

(Configuration of Example 1)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image processing system in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The image processing system according to the first embodiment includes a computer (hereinafter referred to as “PC”) 50 as an image processing apparatus and a printer 70 as an image forming apparatus. The PC 50 and the printer 70 are communicably connected via a printer cable, a network cable, or the like.

  The PC 50 includes an application 51, a PC storage unit 52, a data transmission unit 56, and a printer driver 60.

  The application 51 is drawing software developed exclusively for printing using GridInput (registered trademark). The application 51 generates color image data 81 and a tint block pattern data 91 as data for forming a tint block pattern 90 shown in FIG. 3 to be described later, and transmits it to the PC storage unit 52.

  The color image data 81 includes pixel values of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, and represents a color image 80 shown in FIG. 3 (described later) formed on a recording medium (for example, recording paper) 100 by the printer 70. It is data. The color image data 81 is obtained by converting image data including pixel values of red, green, and blue (RGB) displayed on the display by the application 51.

  The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data 91, which is specific pattern data, is data of black pixels forming a copy-forgery-inhibited pattern 90 shown in FIG. The tint block pattern 90 is composed of a set of fine black dots of several tens of microns, and is printed over a color image 80 shown in FIG. 3 to be described later.

  The PC storage unit 52 is a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and stores data formed on the recording paper 100 shown in FIG. The PC storage unit 52 includes a tint block pattern data storage unit 53 and a color image data storage unit 54. The tint block pattern data storage unit 53 has tint block pattern data 91 and tint block pattern formation position information 92. The color image data storage unit 54 includes color image data 81 and color conversion position information 82. The color image data 81 is composed of pixel values of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. The color image data 81 has black data 84. The black data 84 includes in-region black data 84a and out-of-region black data 84b.

  The tint block pattern data 91 is image data composed of black pixel values. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern formation position information 92, which is a specific pattern formation area, indicates information on the position at which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern 90 is formed. The tint block pattern formation position information 92 is extracted from the tint block pattern data 91 by the tint block pattern position information extracting unit 62.

  The color conversion position information 82 indicates the position of the in-region black data 84a that the color image data storage unit 54 has. The in-region black data 84a at the position indicated by the color conversion position information 82 is not black (containing carbon black) toner as a color material, but cyan, yellow, and magenta not containing carbon black as a pigment. This is an area to be converted so as to be formed by a mixed color of toners as color materials including a plurality of colors.

  The printer driver 60 includes a print job generation unit 61, a tint block pattern position information extraction unit 62, a data extraction unit 63, a color conversion unit 64, and a determination unit 65.

  The print job generation unit 61 operates in response to a print job generation request from the application 51. The print job generation unit 61 generates a print job having color image data 81 and tint block pattern data 91. When the processing of the printer driver 60 is completed, the print job generation unit 61 transmits the generated print job to the printer 70.

  A tint block pattern position information extracting unit 62 serving as an area extracting unit extracts tint block pattern forming position information 92 that is information on a position at which the tint block pattern 90 is formed from the tint block pattern data 91. The tint block pattern formation position information 92 indicates position information as a specific pattern formation area.

  The data extraction unit 63 extracts the black data 84 of the color image data 81 in the formation area of the tint block pattern 90 extracted by the tint block pattern position information extraction unit 62.

  The color conversion unit 64 converts the in-region black data 84a so as to be formed not by black toner but by a mixed color of a plurality of toners including cyan, magenta, and yellow. Here, the black data 84 before being converted by the color converter 64 is configured such that the black pixels 83 are formed of black toner.

  The determination unit 65 determines whether or not the black data 84 is included in the area indicated by the tint block pattern formation position information 92. The black data 84 in the area of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern formation position information 92 is defined as the in-area black data 84a. The black data 84 outside the area of the tint block pattern formation position information 92 is referred to as out-of-area black data 84b.

  The data extraction unit 63 and the determination unit 65, which are extraction determination units, extract the black data 84 existing in the color image data 81 in the region indicated by the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern formation position information 92 and determine that the black data 84a is in the region.

  The printer 70 includes a data receiving unit 71, a printer storage unit 72, a print data processing unit 77, a print control unit 78, and a printing unit 79. One of the data reception units 71 is connected to the data transmission unit 56 of the PC 50 so as to be communicable. The other of the data receiving unit 71 is connected to the printer storage unit 72.

  The printer storage unit 72 is a RAM, HDD, or the like, and includes a tint block pattern data storage unit 73 and a color image data storage unit 74.

  The tint block pattern data storage unit 73 stores the tint block pattern data 91 transmitted from the PC 50. The color image data storage unit 74 stores color image data 81 composed of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black pixel values transmitted from the PC 50.

  The print data processing unit 77 calculates the cyan toner amount, the magenta toner amount, the yellow toner amount, and the black toner amount based on the color image data 81 of the color image data storage unit 74 of the printer storage unit 72. calculate. The print data processing unit 77 calculates the amount of black toner based on the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data 91 in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data storage unit 73. The print data processing unit 77 adds the toner amount data of each color based on the color image data 81 and the black toner amount data based on the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data 91 and outputs the result to the print control unit 78.

  The print control unit 78 controls the printing unit 79 to convert the toner amount of each color input from the print data processing unit 77 into the exposure amount of each color LED (Light Emitting Diode) head 25 shown in FIG. .

  The printing unit 79 performs printing on the recording paper 100 based on the exposure amount control information of the LED heads 25 for each color shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the printing unit in FIG. 1.
The printing unit 79 is a tandem printer, and includes a paper feeding unit 11 that supplies the recording paper 100, an image forming unit 20 that forms a toner image on the recording paper 100, and a fixing that fixes the toner image on the recording paper 100. The apparatus 40 and a paper discharge unit for discharging the recording paper 100 are provided. The printing unit 79 further includes a motor (not shown) for rotating the rollers, a clutch for turning on / off the power transmission to the rollers to the paper feed conveyance path 101A and the discharge conveyance path 101B, and charging of the image forming unit 22. A high voltage power supply (not shown) that supplies a high voltage of 200 V to 5000 V to the roller 24 and the transfer roller 21 and the like, and a low voltage power supply (not shown) that supplies 5 V DC and 24 V DC to a circuit and a motor are provided.

  The paper feed unit 11 separates and takes out the paper cassette 110 mounted below the printing unit 79, the recording paper 100 stored in the paper cassette 110, and the recording paper 100 one by one from the paper cassette 110. A hopping roller 12, a paper feed roller 13 a and a retard roller 13 b, a paper feed sensor 14, a pair of registration rollers 15 a and 15 b, and a writing position sensor 16.

  The paper cassette 110 is a cassette that accommodates a plurality of recording papers 100 and is attached to the lower part of the printing unit 79 so as to be removable. The recording paper 100 as a recording medium is high-quality paper, recycled paper, glossy paper, matte paper, or an OHP (OverHead Projector) film having a predetermined size for recording a monochrome or color image.

  The hopping roller 12 rotates while being pressed against the recording paper 100, and a paper feeding roller 13a and a retard roller 13b are disposed on the downstream side of the paper feeding conveyance path 101A so as to face each other with the recording paper 100 interposed therebetween. A paper feed sensor 14 is provided on the downstream side.

  The registration rollers 15a and 15b are disposed to face the downstream side of the paper feed conveyance path 101A of the paper feed sensor 14 so as to sandwich the recording paper 100, and a writing position sensor 16 is provided on the downstream side thereof. The registration roller 15a is driven by a registration motor (not shown).

  The image forming unit 20 includes four image forming units 22 (= 22-1 to 22-4) arranged in the order of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan from the right side of the figure, and these image forming units. 22, transfer rollers 21 (= 21-1 to 21-4) respectively disposed below 22, rollers 31 and 32, and a conveyance belt 30 stretched around the rollers 31 and 32. Yes. Each image forming unit 22 corresponding to four colors, black, yellow, magenta, and cyan, includes a photosensitive drum 23 that carries an electrostatic latent image based on image information, and a charging roller 24 that charges the photosensitive drum 23. An LED head 25 that irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 23 with light corresponding to image information, a developing roller 26 that develops the electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 23 with toner, and supplies the toner to the developing roller 26. A toner supply roller 27, a separable toner cartridge 29, a toner regulating member (not shown), and a cleaning device 28 that scrapes off the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 23. The conveyance belt 30 is a transfer body that conveys the recording paper 100 and transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 23 to the recording paper 100. The photosensitive drum 23 and the transfer roller 21 are in contact with each other through the conveyance belt 30.

  The photosensitive drum 23 includes a photosensitive layer made of a photoconductive layer and a charge transport layer on a conductive base layer made of aluminum or the like. The photosensitive drum 23 has a cylindrical shape and is rotatably supported. The photosensitive drum 23 is disposed so that the charging roller 24, the transfer roller 21, and the developing roller 26 are in contact with each other, and the cleaning device 28 is in contact with the photosensitive drum 23. The photosensitive drum 23 functions as an image carrier that carries a toner image by accumulating electric charges on the surface, and rotates in the clockwise direction in the figure. Hereinafter, the configuration of the image forming unit 22 will be described in the order of the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 23.

  The charging roller 24 has a conductive metal shaft covered with a semiconductive rubber such as silicone and has a cylindrical shape. The charging roller 24 is rotatably supported by being pressed against the photosensitive drum 23. The charging roller 24 is charged by a high-voltage power source (not shown), rotates while being pressed against the photoconductor drum 23, thereby applying a predetermined voltage to the photoconductor drum 23, and thus storing the charge uniformly on the surface.

  The LED head 25 includes an LED array chip, a lens array, and an LED driving element, and is disposed above the photosensitive drum 23. The LED head 25 irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 23 with light corresponding to image information, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 23.

  The toner supply roller 27 is made by covering a metal shaft having conductivity with rubber, and has a cylindrical shape. The toner supply roller 27 is disposed so as to contact the developing roller 26. The toner supply roller 27 is charged by a high voltage power source (not shown) and presses the developing roller 26 to supply toner to the developing roller 26.

  The developing roller 26 is made by coating a conductive metal shaft with a semiconductive urethane rubber material or the like, and has a cylindrical shape. The developing roller 26 is disposed so as to come into contact with the toner supply roller 27 and the photosensitive drum 23, and a tip portion of a toner regulating member (not shown) is in contact therewith. The developing roller 26 is charged by a high voltage power source (not shown), and is supplied with toner by being in pressure contact with the toner supply roller 27.

  A toner regulating member (not shown) is made of stainless steel or the like, has a plate shape, and is arranged so that the tip portion contacts the surface of the developing roller 26. A toner regulating member (not shown) scrapes off the toner exceeding a certain amount on the surface of the developing roller 26, thereby regulating the thickness of the toner formed on the surface of the developing roller 26 to be always uniform.

  The cleaning device 28 is made of a rubber material or the like, and is arranged so that the tip portion contacts the surface of the photosensitive drum 23. After the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 23 is transferred to the recording paper 100, the cleaning device 28 scrapes off the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 23 and cleans it.

  The fixing device 40 that is a fixing unit includes a fixing roller 41, a pressure roller 42, a temperature detection sensor 43 that is a temperature measuring unit, and heaters 44 that are a plurality of heat sources. A heater 44 typified by a halogen lamp is disposed inside the fixing roller 41. A temperature detection sensor 43 composed of a thermistor is disposed upstream of the fixing roller 41 in the conveyance direction of the recording paper 100, and detects the surface temperature of the fixing roller 41.

  The paper discharge unit includes fixing conveyance rollers 45a and 45b and discharge rollers 46a and 46b. The fixing conveyance rollers 45a and 45b and the discharge rollers 46a and 46b are arranged to face each other so as to sandwich the recording paper 100 on the downstream side of the discharge conveyance path 101B of the fixing device 40, and are respectively arranged by motors (not shown). Driven. A medium stacking unit 47 is disposed in the conveyance direction of the recording paper 100 by the discharge rollers 46a and 46b, and the discharged recording paper 100 is stacked.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a tint block pattern printed matter according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The printed paper 100P has a plurality of copy-forgery-inhibited pattern patterns 90 (= 90-1 to 90-3) and an in-region black pixel 83a-1 that is a black pixel formed in the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern 90-1 region. And an in-region black pixel 83a-2 which is a black pixel formed in the region of the tint block pattern 90-2, and an in-region black which is a black pixel formed in the region of the tint block pattern 90-3 The pixel 83a-3 and the out-of-region black pixels 83b (= 83b-1, 83b-2) formed outside the region of the tint block pattern 90 (= 90-1 to 90-3), respectively.

  The in-region black pixel 83a-1 is a restaurant icon figure by a knife and fork on the left side of the center of the printed paper 100P. The in-region black pixel 83a-2 is a character string “-ABCD-” formed in black. The in-region black pixel 83a-3 is a character string "----------------" formed in black.

  The color image 80 in the area of the background pattern 90-1 has the in-area black pixel 83a-1, and is formed so as to overlap the background pattern 90-1. Here, in the color image 80 in the area of the tint block pattern 90-1, a black pixel is formed in the in-area black pixel 83a-1. Of the color image 80 in the region, the portion excluding the in-region black pixel 83a-1 is formed of pixels that are not black.

  The tint block pattern 90-1 formed on the left side of the central portion of the printed paper 100P has URL (Uniform Resource Locator) information of a coded restaurant home page. Further, the tint block pattern 90-1 is formed by superimposing a restaurant icon figure by a knife and a fork composed of black pixels 83a-1 in the region.

  The tint block pattern 90-2 formed on the upper right side of the center of the printed paper 100P has information on the encoded character string “-ABCD-”. Furthermore, the tint block pattern 90-2 is formed by superimposing a character string “-ABCD-” including the in-region black pixels 83a-2.

  The tint block pattern 90-3 formed on the upper right side of the center of the printed paper 100P encodes character string information of “---------------”. Further, the tint block pattern 90-3 is formed by superimposing a character string "---------------" composed of the in-region black pixels 83a-3.

  The out-of-region black pixel 83b-1 is a character string “-Aiueo-” formed in black at the upper center of the printed paper 100P. The out-of-region black pixel 83b-2 is a character string “−1−” formed in black on the lower right side of the printed paper 100P.

  The tint block pattern 90 (= 90-1 to 90-3), which is a black specific pattern, is printed in accordance with the GridOpen (registered trademark) standard. The tint block pattern 90 (= 90-1 to 90-3), which is a black specific pattern, is a set of points that are formed so as to overlap the color image 80 and are regularly arranged so as to indicate predetermined information. The information indicated by the tint block pattern 90 (= 90-1 to 90-3) is often related to the color image 80. Each point forming the tint block pattern 90 (= 90-1 to 90-3) is formed with a minute size of about 60 to 80 μm in diameter, which is difficult to identify visually. The minimum unit of a set of regularly arranged points is about 2 mm square.

  The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern 90 (= 90-1 to 90-3) can indicate information desired by the user, such as voice information or URL information on the Web. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern information respectively indicated by the plurality of copy-forgery-inhibited pattern patterns 90 (= 90-1 to 90-3) can be read by a dedicated pen built in the scanner shown in FIG.

  The tint block pattern 90 (= 90-1 to 90-3) and the color image 80 are overlapped and formed by the color printer 70, and the tint block pattern 90 (= 90-1 to 90-3) absorbs infrared light. It is formed of a black toner containing carbon black. The in-region black pixels 83a (= 83a-1 to 83a-3) included in the color image 80 are formed of yellow, magenta, and cyan toners.

  According to the first embodiment, the in-region black pixel 83 a included in the color image 80 in the region of the tint block pattern 90 is obtained by forming the in-region black data 84 a on the recording paper 100. The in-region black data 84a is converted into a mixed color of toner as a color material of a plurality of colors, and is formed by yellow, magenta, and cyan toners. The out-of-region black pixel 83 b included in the color image 80 outside the region of the tint block pattern 90 is obtained by forming the out-of-region black data 84 b on the recording paper 100. The out-of-region black data 84b is formed by black (containing carbon black) toner as a color material without being converted into a mixed color of toners as color materials of a plurality of colors.

  The in-region black pixels 83a (= 83a-1 to 83a-3) included in the region of the tint block pattern 90 (= 90-1 to 90-3) shown in FIG. 84a-1 to 84a-3). The in-region black data 84a (= 84a-1 to 84a-3) is converted into a mixed color of toners as color materials of a plurality of colors that transmit infrared rays, and is formed by, for example, yellow, magenta, and cyan toners. The

  Out-of-region black pixels 83b (= 83b-1, 83b-2) included in the color image 80 outside the region of the tint block pattern 90 correspond to out-of-region black data 84b (= 84b-1, 84b-2). . The out-of-area black data 84b (= 84b-1, 84b-2) is obtained by using black (containing carbon black) toner as a color material without being converted into a mixed color of toners as color materials of a plurality of colors. It is formed.

(Operation of Example 1)
The operation of the printing unit 79 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  The recording paper 100 is transported from the upstream side to the downstream side along the paper feed transport path 101A and the discharge transport path 101B. The sheet cassette 110 is the most upstream side, and the discharge rollers 46a and 46b are the most downstream side.

  The printing unit 79 is connected to a PC 50 that is a host device through a cable or wirelessly. When the print data is transferred from the PC 50 and a printing instruction is received, a pick-up motor (not shown) rotates the hopping roller 12 to separate a plurality of recording sheets 100 one by one and to the downstream side of the paper feed conveyance path 101A. send. Four image forming units 22 (= 22-1 to 22-4) are arranged in the order of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan from the right side of the figure. Each of these image forming units 22 (= 22-1 to 22-4) starts rotating the rollers almost simultaneously with the start of paper feeding, and this photosensitive member until the recording paper 100 reaches the photosensitive drum 23. The drum 23 is rotated one or more times.

  When a motor (not shown) rotates the paper feed roller 13a, the retard roller 13b in contact with the paper feed roller 13a is rotated. The recording paper 100 conveyed from the hopping roller 12 is nipped and conveyed between the paper supply roller 13a and the retard roller 13b, and the paper supply sensor 14 is turned on. After that, the recording paper 100 is conveyed to the registration rollers 15a and 15b on the downstream side of the paper feeding conveyance path 101A, and then the writing position sensor 16 is turned on. After a certain period of time after the writing position sensor 16 is turned on, the LED head 25 of each of the black, yellow, magenta, and cyan image forming units 22 starts exposure, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to each color. Are formed on the photosensitive drum 23.

  The recording paper 100 is transported to the transport belt 30 on the downstream side of the paper feed transport path 101A. When the roller 31 rotates, the conveyance belt 30 stretched around the rollers 31 and 32 is driven. The recording paper 100 is sequentially conveyed to the image forming units 22 arranged in the order of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan by driving the conveyance belt 30.

  The photosensitive drums 23 of the four image forming units 22 of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan rotate in the clockwise direction, and the surface is first uniformly charged by the charging roller 24. The uniformly charged photosensitive drum 23 is irradiated with light based on image information received from the PC 50, which is a host device, by the LED head 25 to form an electrostatic latent image. The photosensitive drum 23 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed develops the toner image by the toner supply roller 27 and the developing roller 26. The photosensitive drum 23 having developed the toner image sandwiches and conveys the conveyance belt 30 and the recording paper 100 together with the transfer roller 21. Further, the photosensitive drum 23 draws the toner on the photosensitive drum 23 toward the recording paper 100 by the voltage of +1000 V to +3000 V applied to the transfer roller 21, and transfers the toner image to the recording paper 100. The recording paper 100 onto which the toner image has been transferred is sent to the fixing device 40 to fix the toner image. The toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 23 is scraped off by the cleaning device 28 and prepared for the formation of a new toner image.

  The recording paper 100 on which the toner images of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan are transferred is nipped and conveyed in the nip region formed by the fixing roller 41 and the pressure roller 42 in the fixing device 40. In the recording paper 100, the heat of the fixing roller 41 and the pressure by the urging force of the pressure roller 42 are applied in the nip region, and the toner image is fixed by melting the toner.

  The recording paper 100 on which the toner image is fixed is conveyed by the rotation of the fixing conveyance rollers 45 a and 45 b and the discharge rollers 46 a and 46 b and is discharged to the medium stacking unit 47.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the PC according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
When the process starts, in step S11, the application 51 generates color print image data according to an instruction from the operator. The color print image data is generated by pixel data composed of red, green, and blue.

  In step S12, the application 51 generates the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data 91 according to an instruction from the operator.

  In step S13, the print job generation unit 61 of the printer driver 60 converts the color print image data and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data 91 into data in a page description language format (hereinafter referred to as “PDL format”) that can be interpreted by the printer 70. Convert. The print job generation unit 61 converts the color print image data into color image data 81 expressed by all black, yellow, magenta, and cyan toners.

  In step S <b> 14, the color image data 81 converted into the PDL format and the tint block pattern data 91 are stored in the PC storage unit 52.

  In step S <b> 15, the tint block pattern position information extraction unit 62 reads the tint block pattern formation position information 92 stored in the PC storage unit 52.

  In step S <b> 16, the data extraction unit 63 extracts the black data 84 before conversion for forming the black pixels 83 of the color image data 81 corresponding to the area of the tint block pattern formation position information 92.

  In step S17, the determination unit 65 determines whether or not the color image data 81 extracted in step S16 has black data 84. If not, the determination unit 65 performs processing in step S19.

  In step S18, when the black data 84 is included, the determination unit 65 sets the black data 84 as the in-region black data 84a. The determination unit 65 stores the position information of the in-region black data 84 a as the color conversion position information 82 in the PC storage unit 52.

  In step S <b> 19, the color conversion unit 64 converts the in-region black data 84 a at the position indicated by the color conversion position information 82 into a mixed color of toner as a color material of a plurality of colors. If there is no position information indicated by the color conversion position information 82, the color conversion unit 64 does not convert the black data 84 into a mixed color of toner as a color material of a plurality of colors. At this time, the black data 84 is all set as out-of-region black data 84b expressed by black toner (containing carbon black) as a color material. Further, the color conversion unit 64 sets the tint block pattern data 91 so as to be expressed by black (containing carbon black) toner as a color material.

  In step S20, the printer driver 60 overwrites the original color image data 81 with the in-region black data 84a corresponding to the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern formation position information 92 converted into a mixed color of toner as a plurality of color materials. .

  In step S21, the data transmission unit 56 transmits the color image data 81 and the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data 91 to the printer 70, and ends the process of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of printer data processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
When the process starts, in step S31, the data receiving unit 71 receives the tint block pattern data 91 and the color image data 81 from the PC 50. The data receiving unit 71 stores the tint block pattern data 91 in the tint block pattern data storage unit 73 of the printer storage unit 72. The data receiving unit 71 stores the color image data 81 in the color image data storage unit 74.

  In step S32, the print data processing unit 77 combines the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data 91 and the color image data 81 to generate print image data.

  In step S33, the print data processing unit 77 converts the cyan, magenta, yellow, and black pixel values included in the print image data into cyan, magenta, yellow, and black toner amounts. To do.

  In step S34, the print data processing unit 77 outputs the toner amount of each color to the printing unit 79, and ends the process of FIG.

  By this processing, the tint block pattern data 91 is formed with black (containing carbon black) toner as a color material. In the color image data 81, the in-region black data 84a, which is the region in which the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data 91 is formed, is a color mixture of toner (process black) as a plurality of color materials of yellow, magenta, and cyan toners. Formed with. The out-of-region black data 84b, which is outside the region where the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data 91 is formed, is formed with black (containing carbon black) toner as a color material.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the printing operation of the printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
When the process starts, the printing unit 79 receives the toner amount of each color from the print data processing unit 77 in step S41.

  In step S42, the printing unit 79 converts the toner amount of each color received in the process of step S41 into exposure data of each color of an LED head driver (not shown).

  In step S43, the printing unit 79 adjusts the amount of light emitted by each color LED head 25 based on the exposure data converted in step S42.

  In step S44, the photosensitive drum 23 (= 23-1 to 23-4) comes into contact with the charging roller 24 (= 24-1 to 24-4), respectively. The charging roller 24 (= 24-1 to 24-4) is such that the surface potential of the black, yellow, magenta, and cyan photosensitive drums 23 (= 23-1 to 23-4) is uniform. In addition, a negative charge is applied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 23.

  In step S45, the LED light emitted from the LED head 25 (= 25-1 to 25-4) is irradiated onto the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 23 (= 23-1 to 23-4). Unlike the portion where the LED light is not irradiated, the portion where the LED light is irradiated forms an electrostatic latent image having a weak positive charge.

  In step S46, the developing rollers 26 (= 26-1 to 26-4) are brought into pressure contact with the photosensitive drums 23 (= 23-1 to 23-4), respectively, so that the toner adheres to the electrostatic latent image portion. Visualize the electrostatic latent image. The toner on the developing roller 26 is negatively charged, and the electrostatic latent image forming portion on the photosensitive drum 23 is positively charged. For this reason, the toner adheres only to the portion where the electrostatic latent image is formed.

  In step S 47, the recording paper 100 accumulated in the paper cassette 110 is taken into the printing unit 79 via the hopping roller 12. Next, the recording paper 100 is synchronized with the rotating photosensitive drums 23 (= 23-1 to 23-4) after passing through the paper feed conveyance path 101A and the registration rollers 15a and 15b. A transfer roller 21 (= 21-1 to 21-4) disposed on the opposite side of the photosensitive drum 23 across the recording paper 100 is applied with a positive charge having a polarity opposite to that of the toner. The toner on the photosensitive drum 23 (= 23-1 to 23-4) is transferred to the recording paper 100 by the positive charge of the transfer roller 21 (= 21-1 to 21-4).

  In step S <b> 48, the fixing device 40 performs heat fixing of the recording paper 100. The toner image transferred onto the recording paper 100 passes through the nip region formed by the fixing roller 41 and the pressure roller 42 and is fixed to the recording paper 100 by heat and pressure. After the fixing, the recording paper 100 passes through the fixing transport rollers 45a and 45b, passes through the discharge transport path 101B as the printed paper 100P, and is discharged to the outside of the printer 70 through the discharge rollers 46a and 46b.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the tint block pattern position in the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 shows the tint block pattern formation position information 92 stored in the PC storage unit 52. The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern pattern formation position information 92 has coordinate values indicating areas of a plurality of copy-forgery-inhibited pattern patterns 90 (= 90-4, 90-5).

  The coordinates shown in FIG. 7 indicate the position of a predetermined location on the recording paper 100 by XY coordinates, and the direction from the left end to the right end of the recording paper 100 in the main scanning direction is the positive direction of the X coordinate. It is. The direction from the front end to the rear end in the sub-scanning direction is the positive direction of the Y coordinate. The coordinates of the left end in the main scanning direction and the leading end in the sub scanning direction are defined as (0, 0).

  The coordinate value of the tint block pattern formation position information 92 indicates the coordinates of each vertex when the square tint block pattern 90 is formed. The coordinates of the vertices are shown side by side in the counterclockwise order from the point near the left end in the main scanning direction.

  The coordinate values indicating the area of the tint block pattern 90-4 are (Xt1, Yt1), (Xt1, Yb1), (Xb1, Yb1), (Xb1, Yt1). The coordinate values indicating the area of the tint block pattern 90-5 are (Xt2, Yt2), (Xt2, Yb2), (Xb2, Yb2), (Xb2, Yt2).

  The copy-forgery-inhibited pattern formation position information 92 includes coordinate values (Xt1, Yt1), (Xt1, Yb1), (Xb1, Yb1), (Xb1, Yt1) and coordinate values (Xt2, Yt2), (Xt2, Yb2), (Xb2). , Yb2), (Xb2, Yt2). The tint block pattern formation position information 92 is stored in the tint block pattern data storage unit 53.

  Based on the background pattern formation position information 92, the background pattern formation area of the background pattern 90-4 is an area connecting four points (Xt1, Yt1), (Xt1, Yb1), (Xb1, Yb1), and (Xb1, Yt1). It becomes. The same applies to the tint block pattern 90-5. In the determination of whether the black data 84 is inside or outside the area, the determination unit 65 determines whether the area is inside or outside the formation area of the tint block pattern 90 (= 90-4, 90-5).

(Effect of Example 1)
According to the image processing system, the image processing apparatus, and the image processing method of the first embodiment, a plurality of color toners are obtained from the in-region black data 84a that is the black data 84 of the color image data 81 in the region of the tint block pattern data 91. The in-region black pixel 83a is formed with a mixed color of Out-of-region black pixels 83b are formed with black (containing carbon black) toner as a color material from out-of-region black data 84b which is black data 84 of color image data 81 outside the region where the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data 91 is formed. . As a result, the black color difference portion of the color image 80 is limited to the in-region black pixels 83a in the region where the tint block pattern data 91 is formed, and the black color difference region is minimized. effective.

  Furthermore, there is an effect that consumption of expensive yellow, magenta, and cyan toners is suppressed as compared with black toner.

(Configuration of Example 2)
FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image processing system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Elements common to those in FIG. 1 illustrating the first embodiment are denoted by common reference numerals.

  The PC 50A according to the second embodiment includes an application 51 similar to the PC 50 according to the first embodiment except that the PC 50A according to the second embodiment includes a printer driver 60A different from the PC 50 according to the first embodiment and a PC storage unit 52A.

  The printer driver 60A according to the second embodiment is the same as the configuration of the PC 50 according to the first embodiment except that the printer driver 60A according to the second embodiment includes an edge portion 66 in addition to the printer driver 60 according to the first embodiment. The border 66, which is an extension region extractor, performs borders that extend vertically and horizontally by a predetermined number of pixels with respect to the region indicated by the tint block pattern 90 extracted by the tint block pattern position information extractor 62. The bordered area and the area of the tint block pattern 90 form an extended area 95.

  The data extraction unit 63 and the determination unit 65, which are extraction determination units, extract the black data 84 existing in the color image data 81 in the expansion region 95 and determine that the black data 84a is black data in the expansion region. To do. The color conversion unit 64 converts the in-region black data 84a, which is the black data in the extension region, into a mixed color of toner as color materials of a plurality of colors.

  The PC storage unit 52A according to the second embodiment has the same configuration as that of the PC storage unit 52 according to the first embodiment, except that the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data storage unit 53A is different from the PC storage unit 52 according to the first embodiment. The tint block pattern data storage unit 53A of the second embodiment is the same as the configuration of the tint block pattern data storage unit 53 of the first embodiment, except that it includes the extended area information 96.

  The extended area information 96 according to the second embodiment stores coordinate information of a plurality of extended areas 95. The extended area 95 includes an area of the tint block pattern 90 of the first embodiment and a tint block pattern border area 93 obtained by bordering the tint block pattern 90. In the case where printing is performed at 600 dpi, the tint block pattern border area 93 according to the second embodiment is expanded by 100 dots, which is a predetermined number of pixels, from the boundary line of the tint block pattern 90 in the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction. . The intra-area black data 84 a according to the second embodiment is black data 84 existing in the color image data 81 in the extended area 95.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a printed matter of the tint block pattern according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Elements common to the elements in FIG. 3 illustrating the first embodiment are denoted by common reference numerals.

  In addition to the printed paper 100P of the first embodiment, the printed paper 100Pa of the second embodiment includes a plurality of expanded papers that are bordered by areas of a plurality of tint block patterns 90 (= 90-1 to 90-3). The extended region 95 (= 95-1 to 95-3).

  In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the black data 84 included in the color image data 81 in the tint block pattern 90 (= 90-1 to 90-3) is a color mixture of toners as color materials of a plurality of colors. And is formed on the recording paper 100 using yellow, magenta, and cyan toners. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the black data 84 included in the color image data 81 in the extended area 95 (= 95-1 to 95-3) is also converted into a mixed color of toner as a color material of a plurality of colors. It is formed using magenta and cyan toners. The black data 84 of the color image data 81 that is not included in the extended area 95 (= 95-1 to 95-3) is not converted into a mixed color of toner as a color material of a plurality of colors, and is black as a color material. It is formed on the recording paper 100 using toner (containing carbon black).

(Operation of Example 2)
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the PC according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Elements common to the elements in FIG. 4 showing the first embodiment are denoted by common reference numerals.

  After the processing is started, the processing in steps S11 to S15 is the same as the processing in steps S11 to S15 in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  In step S15A, the border unit 66 borders the background pattern formation position information 92 read out in the process of step S15 so as to extend up and down and right and left by a predetermined number of pixels, and coordinates indicating the bordered region. The value is calculated as extended area information 96.

  In step S <b> 16 </ b> A, the data extraction unit 63 extracts the color image data 81 corresponding to the area of the extended area information 96.

  Then, the process of step S17 to S21 is performed similarly to the process of step S16 to S21 of Example 1 shown in FIG. 4, and the process of FIG. 10 is complete | finished.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating the position of the extension region in the second embodiment of the present invention. Elements common to the elements in FIG. 7 illustrating the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  FIG. 11 shows extended area information 96 stored in the PC storage unit 52 as in the first embodiment. The extended area information 96 of the second embodiment has coordinate values indicating extended areas 95 (= 95-4, 95-5) obtained by extending the areas of the tint block pattern 90 (= 90-4, 90-5). ing.

  The coordinates shown in FIG. 11 indicate the positions of predetermined locations on the recording paper 100 in the XY coordinates, similarly to the coordinates shown in FIG.

  The coordinate value indicating the extended area 95 indicates the coordinates of each vertex of the rectangular extended area 95. The coordinates of each vertex are shown as being arranged in the counterclockwise order from the point near the left end in the main scanning direction.

  The coordinate values indicating the area of the extended area 95-4 are (Xt1-150, Yt1-150), (Xt1-150, Yb1 + 150), (Xb1 + 150, Yb1 + 150), (Xb1 + 150, Yt1-150). The extension area 95-4 extends the area of the tint block pattern 90-4, which is a specific pattern formation area, vertically and horizontally by a predetermined number of pixels of 150 dots.

  The coordinate values indicating the extended area 95-5 are (Xt2-150, Yt2-150), (Xt2-150, Yb2 + 150), (Xb2 + 150, Yb2 + 150), (Xb2 + 150, Yt2-150). The extension area 95-5 extends the area of the tint block pattern 90-5, which is a specific pattern formation area, vertically and horizontally by a predetermined number of pixels of 150 dots.

  The extended area information 96 includes coordinate values (Xt1-150, Yt1-150), (Xt1-150, Yb1 + 150), (Xb1 + 150, Yb1 + 150), (Xb1 + 150, Yt1-150) and coordinate values (Xt2-150, Yt2-150). ), (Xt2-150, Yb2 + 150), (Xb2 + 150, Yb2 + 150), (Xb2 + 150, Yt2-150). The extended area information 96 is stored in the tint block pattern data storage unit 53A.

  According to the extension area information 96, the extension area 95-4 has four points (Xt1-150, Yt1-150), (Xt1-150, Yb1 + 150), (Xb1 + 150, Yb1 + 150), and (Xb1 + 150, Yt1-150). It becomes a connected area. The same applies to the area of the extension area 95-5. Whether the area of the black data 84 is inside or outside the area is determined depending on whether the area is inside or outside the extended area 95 (= 95-4, 95-5).

  When the extension area 95-4 including the background pattern 90-4 and the extension area 95-5 including the background pattern 90-5 are formed at the positions in FIG. 11, the background pattern data 91 is stored in the background pattern data storage unit 53A. At the same time, extended area information 96 is stored.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the tint block pattern reading unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
The PC 120 has an application 121 related to reading of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern 90, and a reading unit 130 is connected by a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable or the like.

  The reading unit 130 connected to the PC 120 reads the tint block pattern 90 by irradiating the printed paper 100P with infrared light. The application 121 in the PC 120 recognizes the background pattern information from the background pattern 90 and performs a predetermined operation based on the recognized background pattern information. For example, the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern information of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern 90-1 shown in FIG.

  Further, the reading unit 130 has a spherical shape like a pen tip, and for the convenience of moving the reading unit 130, the angle between the reading unit 130 and the printed paper 100P is always 90 ° ( At this time, the scanner tilt is set to 0 °. The scanner tilt varies depending on the usage of the user, and the scanner tilt may be about 45 ° (in this case, the angle between the reading unit 130 and the printed paper 100P is about 45 °).

  The reading unit 130 simultaneously reads the tint block pattern 90 in the imaging range M. In order to ensure reading accuracy, it is preferable that the width of the extended region 95 in the second embodiment is larger than the imaging range M. Therefore, the width of the extended region 95 of the second embodiment is 1.5 to 2.0 times the imaging range M.

  The border area in the second embodiment is an area extended by 6.35 to 8.47 mm outside the area of the tint block pattern 90. The imaging range M of the pen-type reading unit 130 which is a GridOnput (registered trademark) pen is a circle having a diameter of 4 mm when the scanner tilt is 0 °. The imaging range M when the scanner tilt is 45 ° expands to 1.4 to 1.5 times that when the scanner tilt is 0 °. Therefore, if the edge is about 1.5 to 2.0 times the diameter of 4 mm of the imaging range M when the scanner tilt is 0 °, the phenomenon of difficulty in reading can be avoided and the width of the edge can be minimized. Because. This corresponds to an expansion of 150 to 200 dots at a printing density of 600 dpi (dot per inch).

  In the second embodiment, the holding angle of the pen-shaped reading unit 130 is assumed to be 0 ° to 45 °, the maximum inclination angle of the scanner inclination is assumed to be 45 °, and the width of the extended region is determined. This is because 50% or more of the users holding the pen have confirmed through experiments that the pen is held at 0 ° to 45 °.

  Furthermore, when the reading unit 130 that is a pen type is used, if the user is in a posture to normally hold the pen, 90% or more of the users will hold the pen within a scanner tilt range of 0 ° to 70 °. This was confirmed by experiments. In consideration of these, the width of the extended area 95 outside the area of the tint block pattern 90 is preferably about 3.0 times the imaging range M of the reading unit 130. Thus, when the width of the extended area is determined according to the assumed gripping posture of the user's pen, the width of the extended area is preferably set to 1.0 to 3.0 times the imaging range M.

(Effect of Example 2)
According to the image processing system, the image processing apparatus, and the image processing method of the second embodiment, the area where the black data 84 is converted into the mixed color of toner as a color material of a plurality of colors is changed from the area of the background pattern 90 to the background pattern. This is an extended area 95 including a tint block pattern border area 93 bordering 90. Regardless of the inside / outside of the tint block pattern 90, the black data 84 near the inside / outside of the region is uniformly converted into a mixed color of toner as a color material of a plurality of colors, so that the reading unit 130 becomes difficult to read the tint block pattern 90. There is an effect that can be avoided.

(Configuration of Example 3)
FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an image processing system in Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  The PC 50B of the third embodiment has the same configuration as the PC 50 of the first embodiment except that it includes a printer driver 60B different from the PC 50 of the first embodiment and a PC storage unit 52B.

  The printer driver 60B according to the third embodiment has the same configuration as the printer driver 60 according to the first embodiment except that the printer driver 60B according to the third embodiment includes an image data synthesis unit 67 in addition to the printer driver 60 according to the first embodiment. The image data synthesizing unit 67 synthesizes the tint block pattern data 91 and the color image data 81 to generate synthesized data 85.

  The PC storage unit 52B according to the third embodiment has the same configuration as the PC storage unit 52 according to the first embodiment except that the PC data storage unit 55 is different from the PC storage unit 52 according to the first embodiment. . The synthesized data storage unit 55 of the third embodiment stores the synthesized data 85 synthesized by the image data synthesizing unit 67 described above.

  The printer 70B according to the third embodiment is the same as the printer 70 according to the first embodiment except that a printer storage unit 72B and a print data processing unit 77B that are different from the printer 70 according to the first embodiment are provided. The printer storage unit 72B has a composite data storage unit 75. The combined data 85 stored in the combined data storage unit 55 is transferred to the combined data storage unit 75 via the data transmission unit 56 and the data reception unit 71. Further, the composite data 85 stored in the composite data storage unit 75 is sent to the printing unit 79 via the print data processing unit 77B and the print control unit 78, and is formed on the recording paper 100.

(Operation of Example 3)
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image data composition unit in Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

  In the third embodiment, the image data synthesis section provided on the PC 50 side is the same as the processing for synthesizing the tint block pattern data 91 and the color image data 81 performed in the print data processing section 77 shown in FIG. 1 in the first embodiment. 67.

  When the processing starts, in step S51, the image data composition unit 67 synthesizes the color image data 81 formed on the recording paper 100 and the tint block pattern data 91, and synthesizes cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Data 85 is generated.

  In step S52, the image data composition unit 67 determines whether the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data storage unit 53 has the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data 91. If there is no copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data 91, the processing in FIG.

  In step S53, the image data synthesis unit 67 determines whether there is black data in the synthesis data 85 corresponding to the area of the tint block pattern formation position information 92. If there is no black data, the process of FIG. .

  In step S <b> 54, the image data composition unit 67 determines whether or not the black data forms the tint block pattern 90. If the black data forms the tint block pattern 90, the processing in FIG. 14 is terminated.

  In step S55, the black data is converted into process black data composed of a mixture of toners as color materials of a plurality of colors, and the processing in FIG. 14 is terminated. The processing of FIG. 14 is repeated for each dot in the entire area of the composite data 85.

(Effect of Example 3)
According to the image processing system, the image processing apparatus, and the image processing method of the third embodiment, the color image data 81 and the background pattern data 91 are combined with the color image data 81 and the background pattern data 91 on the PC 50B side. Even when a normal printer 70B having no composite function is used, the in-region black data 84a of the color image data 81 in the region of the tint block pattern formation position information 92 is used as a plurality of color materials. The portion of the color image 80 where the black color difference is generated is limited to the in-region black pixels 83a in the region where the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data 91 is formed. This has the effect of minimizing the area where the color difference occurs.

(Configuration of Example 4)
FIG. 15 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image processing system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Elements common to the elements in FIG. 1 illustrating the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  The PC 50C of the fourth embodiment has the same configuration as the PC 50 of the first embodiment, except that it includes a printer driver 60C that is different from the PC 50 of the first embodiment.

The printer driver 60C of the fourth embodiment is the same as the configuration of the PC 50 of the first embodiment except that it includes a correction unit 68 in addition to the printer driver 60 of the first embodiment.
The printer 70 of the fourth embodiment has the same configuration as the printer 70 of the first embodiment.

(Operation of Example 4)
In the image data to be printed out according to the first embodiment described above, in the area of the tint block pattern data 91, the in-area black data 84a of the color image data 81 is formed by being converted into a mixed color of toner as a color material of a plurality of colors. Is done. Outside the area of the tint block pattern data 91, the out-of-area black data 84 b of the color image data 81 is formed using black (containing carbon black) toner as a color material as it is. Therefore, there is a possibility that a black color difference occurs between the in-region black pixel 83a in the region of the background pattern 90 and the out-of-region black pixel 83b outside the region of the background pattern 90.

  In order to solve this problem, the correction unit 68 according to the fourth embodiment adds the out-of-region black data 84b outside the region of the tint block pattern data 91 to the process black composed of a mixture of toners of a plurality of colors as a color material. A black toner (containing carbon black) is formed with a predetermined concentration. This predetermined density is determined in consideration of the difference between the color of black (containing carbon black) toner and the color of process black due to the mixture of yellow, magenta, and cyan toners. By this processing, the difference in color between the in-region black pixels 83a in the region of the background pattern 90 and the out-of-region black pixels 83b outside the region of the background pattern 90 can be alleviated.

  The correcting unit 68 calculates the printing ratio of pixels printed with black (containing carbon black) toner in the area of the tint block pattern data 91.

  Further, the correction unit 68 converts the out-of-region black data 84b outside the region of the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern data 91 into a mixed color of toner as a color material of a plurality of colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan. Further, it corresponds to the printing ratio of pixels printed with black toner in the tint block pattern data 91 area, and the color of black (containing carbon black) toner as a color material and as color materials of a plurality of colors The black toner is overlaid at a predetermined density in consideration of the color difference from the process black due to the color mixture of the toner. The correction unit 68 converts the black data 84 that has not been converted into the color mixture of the toners as the color materials of the plurality of colors by the color conversion unit 64 into the color mixture of the toners as the color materials of the multiple colors and superimposes black at a predetermined density. .

  By performing the correction of the fourth embodiment, the difference between the black color of the area including the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image and the black color of the area not including the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is alleviated. The difference in the color of the black pixel 83 can be reduced.

(Effect of Example 4)
According to the image processing system, the image processing apparatus, and the image processing method of the fourth embodiment, the difference between the black color of the area including the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image and the black color of the area not including the copy-forgery-inhibited pattern image is reduced. That is, it is possible to reduce the difference in color between images formed on one sheet of paper.

(Modification)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various usage forms and modifications are possible. For example, the following forms (a) to (e) are available as usage forms and modifications.

(A) In the first to fourth embodiments, the example in which the ground pattern 90 based on GridInput (registered trademark) is used as the specific pattern has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any specific pattern may be used as long as it is printed over the color image 80 and generated in black. For example, Anoto (registered trademark) which is one of the tint block patterns 90 may be used.

(B) In the first to fourth embodiments, the example applied to the tandem printer is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to an image processing system using a printing method such as a laser printer, an inkjet printer, or a dot matrix printer.

(C) In the first to fourth embodiments, examples of mixed colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan toners have been described as the mixed colors of toners as color materials of a plurality of colors. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other color configurations may be used. For example, in addition to yellow, magenta, and cyan colors, the present invention can also be applied to mixed colors of light cyan and light magenta toners.

(D) The border area in Example 2 was an area extended by 6.35 to 8.47 mm outside the area of the tint block pattern 90. The imaging range M of the pen-type reading unit 130 which is a GridOnput (registered trademark) pen is a circle having a diameter of 4 mm when the scanner tilt is 0 °. The imaging range M when the scanner tilt is 45 ° expands to 1.4 to 1.5 times that when the scanner tilt is 0 °. Therefore, if the edge is about 1.5 to 2.0 times the diameter of 4 mm of the imaging range M when the scanner tilt is 0 °, the phenomenon of difficulty in reading can be avoided and the width of the edge can be minimized. Because. This corresponds to an expansion of 150 to 200 dots at a printing density of 600 dpi (dot per inch). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the assumed imaging range of the reading unit 130 or the scanner tilt changes, the width of the border area may be set to another value. If the print density is other than 600 dpi, the number of pixels in the width of the border area may be adjusted according to the print density.

(E) In the first to fourth embodiments, an example in which the area of the tint block pattern data 91 is a square has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a triangle, a circle, an indeterminate shape, or the like.

50, 50A, 50B, 50C PC
51 Application 52, 52A, 52B PC storage unit 53, 53A Background pattern data storage unit 54 Color image data storage unit 56 Data transmission unit 60, 60A, 60B, 60C Printer driver 61 Print job generation unit 62 Background pattern pattern position information extraction unit 63 Data extraction section 64 Color conversion section 65 Determination section 66 Border section 67 Image data composition section 68 Correction section 70, 70B Printer 71 Data reception section 72, 72B Printer storage section 73 Background pattern data storage section 74 Color image data storage sections 77, 77B Print data processing unit 78 Print control unit 79 Printing unit 80 Color image 81 Color image data 82 Color conversion position information 83 Black pixel 83a In-region black pixel 83b Out-of-region black pixel 84 Black data 84a In-region black data 84b Out-of-region black data 85 Composite data 0 background pattern 91 background pattern data 92 background pattern forming position information 93 background pattern border region 95 expansion region 96 extended area information 100 recording sheet 100P, 100 Pa printed sheet 101A feeding conveyance path 101B discharge conveyance path 110 paper cassette 120 PC
121 Application 130 Reading unit

Claims (20)

An image processing apparatus that transmits specific pattern data and image data including a black specific pattern,
An area extracting unit for extracting a specific pattern forming area in which the specific pattern is formed;
An extraction determination unit that extracts black data existing in the image data in the specific pattern formation region and determines black data in the region;
A color conversion unit that converts the black data in the region into a mixed color of a plurality of color materials;
An image processing apparatus comprising: The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 further includes:
An extended area extraction unit that extracts an extended area obtained by extending the specific pattern forming area vertically and horizontally by a predetermined number of pixels;
The extraction determination unit extracts black data present in the image data in the extended region to determine black data in the extended region;
The image processing apparatus, wherein the color conversion unit converts the black data in the extension area into a mixed color using the color materials of the plurality of colors.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined number of pixels is 1.0 to 3.0 times an imaging range of a reading unit that reads the specific pattern. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising:
A correction unit that converts black data that has not been converted into a mixed color by the color materials of the plurality of colors by the color conversion unit into a mixed color by the color materials of the plurality of colors and overlaps black at a predetermined density;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined density is a black pixel printing ratio of the specific pattern data in the specific pattern formation region.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data is data representing a color image.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific pattern is a tint block pattern.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color materials of the plurality of colors are yellow, magenta, and cyan toners. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
An image forming apparatus that synthesizes print data from the received specific pattern data and the image data, and prints the print data on a recording medium with black toner and toner that is the color material of the plurality of colors;
An image processing system comprising:   The image processing system according to claim 8, wherein the image forming apparatus includes a print data processing unit that generates the print data by combining the image data and the specific pattern data. An image processing apparatus for transmitting composite data obtained by combining image data and specific pattern data representing a black specific pattern,
An area extracting unit for extracting a specific pattern forming area in which the specific pattern is formed;
An extraction determination unit that extracts black data existing in the image data in the specific pattern formation region and determines black data in the region;
A color conversion unit that converts the black data in the region into a mixed color of a plurality of color materials;
An image data synthesis unit that synthesizes the image data and the specific pattern data to generate the synthesized data;
An image processing apparatus comprising: The image processing apparatus according to claim 10 further includes:
An extended area extracting unit that extracts position information of an extended area obtained by extending the specific pattern forming area vertically and horizontally by a predetermined number of pixels;
The extraction determination unit determines black data existing in the image data in the extension area as black data in the extension area,
The image processing apparatus, wherein the color conversion unit converts the black data in the extension area into a mixed color using the color materials of the plurality of colors.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined number of pixels is 1.0 to 3.0 times an imaging range of a reading unit that reads the specific pattern. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 12, further comprising:
A correction unit that converts black data that has not been converted into a mixed color by the color materials of the plurality of colors by the color conversion unit into a mixed color by the color materials of the plurality of colors and overlaps black at a predetermined density;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined density is a black pixel printing ratio of the specific pattern data in the specific pattern formation region.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the image data is data representing a color image.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the specific pattern is a tint block pattern.   16. The image processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of color materials are yellow, magenta, and cyan toners. An image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 16,
An image forming apparatus that prints the received composite data on a recording medium with black toner and toner that is the plurality of color materials;
An image processing system comprising: An image processing method for printing specific pattern data including a black specific pattern with black toner, and printing image data with black toner and toner that is a color material of a plurality of colors,
Extracting a specific pattern formation region in which the specific pattern is formed;
Extract black data present in the image data in the specific pattern formation region to obtain black data in the region,
An image processing method comprising: converting the in-region black data into a mixed color of the plurality of color materials. The image processing method according to claim 18, further comprising:
Extracting an extended area that extends the specific pattern forming area vertically and horizontally by a predetermined number of pixels,
Extract black data present in the image data in the extended area to obtain black data in the extended area,
An image processing method comprising converting the black data in the extension area into a mixed color of the color materials of the plurality of colors.   22. The image processing method according to claim 20, wherein the plurality of color materials are yellow, magenta, and cyan toners.

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