JP2015189181A - Electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible for a use to easily and correctly input a test pattern image formation result by way of a reception window.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus prints on a paper sheet each pattern component constituting a test pattern image on the basis of test pattern image data. Specifically, the image formation apparatus locates the positions of both side edges of the paper sheet using an optical sensor and prints on the paper sheet the pattern components contained in a region corresponding to the paper sheet, which are from a group of pattern components represented by the image data. On the other hand, the image formation apparatus displays a reception window for accepting the operation to input the information representing the formation state of each pattern component formed on the paper sheet. Specifically, the symbols of the undisplayed pattern components, namely the test patterns outside the paper sheet in the group of the pattern components, are grayed out in the reception window, so that the symbols of the pattern components within the paper sheets are indicated for input of the information of the formation states.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device used for an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a sheet by reciprocating a recording head that discharges ink droplets in the main scanning direction while conveying the sheet in the sub scanning direction. In this image forming apparatus, the image formed on the sheet by conveying the recording head in the first direction along the main scanning direction, and the image formed on the sheet by conveying the recording head in the second direction opposite to the first direction. If the positional deviation occurs between the two, the quality of the image formed on the sheet may be deteriorated. As a conventional apparatus, an apparatus having a function of forming a test pattern image on a sheet is known in order to suppress such a decrease in image quality.

  According to this image forming apparatus, for example, information indicating the formation state of the test pattern image on the sheet is obtained from the user through the reception screen, and based on this information, the control parameters for ink droplet discharge control are corrected, It is possible to suppress misalignment and to form a good quality image on a sheet.

  In addition, as an image forming apparatus for forming a test pattern image on a sheet, individual test pattern image data is stored for each sheet size, and the test pattern image data corresponding to the size of the sheet to be conveyed is used for the sheet. An image forming apparatus that forms a test pattern image is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-6-199017

  By the way, the image forming system forms a test pattern image based on the same image data on sheets of different sizes, and obtains information indicating the formation state of each pattern component constituting the test pattern image from the user through the reception screen. If so, there are the following problems. That is, when the test pattern image is formed in this way, depending on the sheet size, there are cases where some of the pattern components are not formed on the sheet.

  In this case, if the reception screen is a uniform screen regardless of the sheet size, the reception screen is configured to be able to receive information input operations for pattern elements that have no information to be input by the user. Become.

  In this case, when the user tries to input information indicating the formation state regarding one pattern constituent element formed on the sheet, the information indicating the formation state is changed to another pattern not formed on the sheet. There is a possibility that it will be entered as component information.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and allows a user to easily and accurately input information representing the formation state of each of the pattern components formed on sheets of different sizes through a reception screen. The purpose is to provide technology.

  The electronic apparatus of the present invention is an electronic apparatus for acquiring information representing a formation state of a pattern component formed on a sheet by the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus forms a pattern component on a sheet based on image data representing a test pattern image in which the pattern component is arranged. Specifically, on the basis of this image data, a pattern component located in an area corresponding to the sheet is formed in a group of pattern components included in the test pattern image for each of sheets of different sizes.

  On the other hand, the electronic device of the present invention includes a user interface and a control unit. The user interface is configured to be able to display a screen and to accept an input operation from the user. The control unit performs the following acquisition process and display control process.

  In the acquisition process, the control unit acquires size information of the sheet on which the pattern component is formed. In the display control process, the control unit displays on the user interface a reception screen for receiving an input operation of information representing the formation state based on the size information. Specifically, the control unit displays, as the reception screen, a pattern component formed in the sheet among a group of pattern components included in the test pattern image as an input target of information representing the formation state. Is displayed on the user interface.

  According to the electronic apparatus of the present invention, the pattern constituent pixels formed on the sheet among the group of pattern constituent elements included in the test pattern image are clearly specified as the input target of information representing the formation state. Therefore, the user can correctly and easily grasp the pattern constituent elements to which information representing the formation state is to be input through the reception screen. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to display a reception screen so that the user can easily and accurately input information representing the above-described formation state of each of the pattern components formed on sheets of different sizes.

  Specifically, for a group of pattern components included in the test pattern image, a symbol can be assigned to each of the pattern components. In this case, as the display control process, the control unit displays the symbols of the pattern components formed in the sheet among the group of pattern components, while displaying the symbols of the pattern components not formed in the sheet. It is possible to execute processing for displaying a reception screen having a configuration that is not displayed on the user interface.

  As another example, the control unit displays a reception screen that displays each of symbols corresponding to a group of pattern components included in the test pattern image and highlights the symbols of the pattern components formed in the sheet. Can be displayed. In this case, the reception screen may be configured to highlight the symbol of the pattern component formed in the sheet by graying out the symbol of the pattern component that is not formed in the sheet.

  In addition, the test pattern image may be an image in which symbols of pattern components are individually attached. If the symbol of the pattern component is displayed on the reception screen as described above, and the test pattern image is formed on the sheet so that the symbol is attached to the pattern component, the user can select each pattern component formed on the sheet and Thus, it is possible to clearly grasp the correspondence with each pattern component displayed as a symbol on the reception screen. Therefore, according to this invention, it can suppress that a user inputs the information showing the said formation state as information of an incorrect pattern component by incorrect input operation through a reception screen.

  The reception screen may be a screen in which the symbols of the pattern components displayed on the reception screen correspond to a group of geometrical arrangements of the pattern components in the test pattern image. According to this reception screen, the user can clearly grasp the correspondence between each pattern component formed on the sheet and each pattern component displayed as a symbol on the reception screen, and erroneous input operation Can be further suppressed.

  In addition, when the image forming apparatus includes a storage unit that stores control parameters for image formation for each of sheets of different sizes in a storage area corresponding to each size, the control unit of the electronic device is as follows. Can be configured. That is, the control unit is configured to store the control parameter corresponding to the formation state in the storage area corresponding to the sheet size indicated by the acquired size information based on the information indicating the formation state input by the input operation on the reception screen. Can be done.

  According to this electronic apparatus, control parameters suitable for the image forming apparatus can be written in the storage unit of the image forming apparatus based on the information representing the formation state obtained by the input operation on the reception screen. In addition, a high-quality image can be formed on the sheet.

  In addition, a system including an image forming unit capable of forming an image on a sheet and a user interface may be configured to execute first to third steps described below. The first step is a step of acquiring size information of a sheet on which an image forming unit forms an image. The second step is based on the image data representing the test pattern image and the size information, and is located in the image forming unit in a region corresponding to the size of the sheet indicated by the size information in the group of pattern constituent elements. This is a step of forming pattern components on a sheet.

  In the third step, as a reception screen for accepting an input operation of information indicating the formation state of the pattern component on the sheet, the pattern component formed on the sheet is formed from the group of pattern components. This is a step of causing the user interface to display a screen shown as an input target of information representing. According to the image forming system that executes these steps, the same effects as those of the above-described electronic apparatus can be obtained.

  The function corresponding to each step can be realized by a computer included in the system. A program for causing a computer to realize the function corresponding to each step can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a semiconductor memory, an optical disk, and a magnetic disk.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 6 is a top view illustrating a configuration of a paper transport mechanism. 3A is a configuration diagram around the corrugated structure forming body as viewed from the direction E in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is a configuration diagram around the discharge roller as viewed from the direction F in FIG. . 4A shows the trajectory of the ink droplet when the carriage is transported in the FWD direction by a broken line, and FIG. 4B shows the trajectory of the ink droplet when the carriage is transported in the RVS direction. It is a figure shown with a broken line. 5A is a diagram showing a test pattern image having a plurality of pattern constituent elements distributed and arranged on a sheet, and FIG. 5B is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the pattern constituent elements. (C) is a figure showing the detailed structure of the block image which a pattern component has. FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a control parameter group for each sheet size stored in the EEPROM, and FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating a configuration of test pattern image data. It is a flowchart showing the test pattern output process which a control unit performs. FIG. 8A is a diagram showing an example of the positional relationship between the pattern component and the paper according to the test pattern image data, and FIG. 8B shows the positional relationship between the pattern component and the paper in FIG. It is a figure which shows the pattern component formed in paper, when following the example shown to A). FIG. 9A is a diagram illustrating an example of a reception screen, and FIG. 9B is a diagram illustrating an example of a sub screen. It is a figure explaining the structure of the reception screen of a modification, and its switching display example.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. An image forming apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 is a so-called inkjet printer, and includes a paper transport unit 10, an image forming unit 50, a control unit 90, and a user interface 100.

  The paper transport unit 10 transports the paper Q supplied from the upstream of the paper transport path in the sub-scanning direction and discharges it to a paper discharge tray (not shown). The paper transport unit 10 includes a paper transport mechanism 20, a PF motor 41, a motor driver 43, an encoder 45, a signal processing circuit 47, and a registration sensor 49.

  The paper transport mechanism 20 operates by receiving power from the PF motor 41 that is a DC motor, and transports the paper Q in the sub-scanning direction. The PF motor 41 is driven by a motor driver 43. The motor driver 43 operates according to a control signal from the control unit 90 and drives the PF motor 41.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the paper transport mechanism 20 includes a pair of transport rollers 21, a platen 22, a plurality of corrugated structure forming bodies 24, a plurality of ribs 25, a pair of paper discharge rollers 27, and a spur roller 28. , 29. In FIG. 2, in order to easily illustrate the configuration of the paper transport mechanism 20, the carriage 60 disposed above the platen 22 and the elements mounted on the carriage 60 are indicated by broken lines, and the paper transported along the platen 22. Q is indicated by a one-dot chain line.

  The pair of transport rollers 21 are provided so as to face each other along the main scanning direction upstream of the image forming position where the image is formed on the paper Q by the recording head 61 in the sub scanning direction. In FIG. 2, only one transport roller 21 is illustrated, but it should be understood that the other transport roller 21 is disposed so as to overlap the illustrated transport roller 21. One of the pair of transport rollers 21 is driven by a PF motor 41, and the other transport roller 21 is driven to rotate by the driven transport roller 21. The pair of transport rollers 21 sandwich the paper Q supplied from upstream of the paper transport path by rotation, and transport the paper Q in the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction.

  The platen 22 is disposed so as to face the ink ejection surface of the recording head 61 downstream of the transport roller 21 in the sub-scanning direction. The paper Q that has passed through the transport roller 21 is transported along the upper surface of the platen 22 in the sub-scanning direction.

  The plurality of corrugated structure forming bodies 24 are arranged so as to face the upper surface of the upstream end of the platen 22 in the sub-scanning direction, and are arranged at substantially equal intervals along the main scanning direction. The paper Q transported from the transport roller 21 passes between the platen 22 and the corrugated structure forming body 24 and moves downstream in the sub-scanning direction. As shown in FIG. 3A, the corrugated structure forming body 24 presses the paper Q passing therethrough from above by the pressing surface 24A. On the other hand, the paper Q is supported from below by the platen 22.

  The plurality of ribs 25 are provided on the upper surface of the platen 22. These ribs 25 are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the main scanning direction in a state of being arranged in a region between the corrugated structure forming bodies 24 adjacent in the main scanning direction. Each of the ribs 25 extends from an upper end of the platen 22 in the sub-scanning direction toward the downstream side in a state of protruding from the upper surface of the platen 22 to above the pressing surface 24A of the corrugated structure forming body 24. The rib 25 pushes up the paper Q passing through this position to above the pressing surface 24A. In the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment, the paper Q is deformed in a wave shape in the main scanning direction by the corrugated structure forming bodies 24 and the ribs 25 that are alternately arranged in the main scanning direction.

  The pair of paper discharge rollers 27 are provided on the downstream side of the platen 22 in the sub scanning direction so as to face each other along the main scanning direction. Each of the paper discharge rollers 27 is configured such that roller components 27B having a diameter larger than that of the shaft 27A are arranged on the shaft 27A at substantially equal intervals. These roller components 27B are disposed at substantially the same position as the ribs 25 in the main scanning direction.

  Accordingly, the pair of paper discharge rollers 27 rotate by receiving power from the PF motor 41, and the portion of the paper Q conveyed from the upstream in the sub-scanning direction is located at the same position as the plurality of ribs 25 in the main scanning direction. The sheet is conveyed downstream in the sub-scanning direction. One of the paper discharge rollers 27 (the upper paper discharge roller 27) can be configured in a spur shape so that ink that has landed on the paper Q does not easily adhere.

  The spur roller 28 is provided at a position corresponding to the downstream side of the paper discharge roller 27 in the sub-scanning direction and above the passage region of the paper Q. The spur roller 28 has a configuration in which spurs 28B having a diameter larger than that of the shaft 28A are arranged on the shaft 28A at substantially equal intervals. The spur 28B is disposed at substantially the same position as the corrugated structure forming body 24 in the main scanning direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the spur roller 28 has the lower surface of the spur 28B positioned below the upper surface of the roller component 27B included in the paper discharge roller 27 positioned below the paper Q. Are arranged as follows.

  In addition, the spur roller 29 is provided at a position corresponding to the upper side of the passage region of the paper Q, downstream of the spur roller 28 in the sub-scanning direction. The spur roller 29 has a configuration in which spurs 29B having a diameter larger than that of the shaft 29A are arranged on the shaft 29A at substantially equal intervals. The spur 29B is disposed at substantially the same position as the spur 28B in the main scanning direction.

  Accordingly, the sheet Q is pushed down by the spurs 28B and 29B in a state of being sandwiched between the pair of paper discharge rollers 27 in a region downstream of the platen 22 in the sub scanning direction, and is deformed in a wave shape in the main scanning direction. In this state, the paper Q is further conveyed downstream in the sub-scanning direction.

  In addition, the encoder 45 is provided to indirectly detect the paper transport amount Z in the sub-scanning direction by the paper transport mechanism 20. The encoder 45 is constituted by, for example, a rotary encoder provided on the rotation shaft of the PF motor 41, and a pulse signal (A phase and B phase signal) generated every time the PF motor 41 rotates by a predetermined amount is signaled as an encoder signal. Input to the processing circuit 47. The rotation amount Y of the PF motor 41 corresponds to the paper transport amount Z. The signal processing circuit 47 detects the rotation amount Y and the rotation speed Vy of the PF motor 41 based on this encoder signal, and inputs the detected values of the rotation amount Y and the rotation speed Vy to the control unit 90.

  Further, the registration sensor 49 is provided at a position slightly away from the transport roller 21 upstream in the sub-scanning direction. In FIG. 2, the registration sensor 49 is provided, for example, on a line PR along the main scanning direction, and is used to detect the leading edge and the trailing edge of the paper Q passing through the line PR. The registration sensor 49 inputs a detection signal of the paper Q to the control unit 90. The control unit 90 calculates the distance Z1 from the line PR to the leading edge of the sheet and the distance Z2 from the line PR to the trailing edge of the sheet from the detected value of the rotation amount Y of the PF motor 41 input from the signal processing circuit 47 and the registration sensor 49. It detects based on the input detection signal.

  The image forming unit 50 conveys the carriage 60 in the main scanning direction in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 90, and causes the recording head 61 to eject ink droplets to form (print) an image on the paper Q on the platen 22. . As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 50 includes a carriage 60 on which a recording head 61 and an optical sensor 65 are mounted, a head drive circuit 70, a carriage transport mechanism 80, a CR motor 81, a motor driver 83, An encoder 85 and a signal processing circuit 87 are provided.

  The carriage 60 has an optical sensor 65 mounted upstream in the sub-scanning direction, and a recording head 61 mounted downstream thereof. The recording head 61 is a so-called inkjet head, and ejects ink droplets from a plurality of nozzles formed on the ink ejection surface facing the platen 22 in accordance with a drive signal from the head drive circuit 70. The head driving circuit 70 drives the recording head 61 in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 90 and causes the recording head 61 to eject ink droplets.

  The optical sensor 65 is also called a media sensor, and is used to specify the positions X1 and X2 of both side edges (left and right side edges) along the sub-scanning direction of the paper Q. The optical sensor 65 is controlled by the control unit 90, emits light from a light emitting unit (not shown) toward the platen 22, and detects a received light amount of incident light whose main component is reflected light by a light receiving unit (not shown). The detected value of the amount of received light is input to the control unit 90. Since the surface of the platen 22 is dark, the amount of received light shows a large value when the paper Q is below the optical sensor 65 and shows a small value when there is no paper Q below the optical sensor 65.

  The carriage transport mechanism 80 operates by receiving power from a CR motor 81 that is a DC motor, and transports the carriage 60 in the main scanning direction. The CR motor 81 is driven by a motor driver 83. The motor driver 83 operates in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 90 and drives the CR motor 81.

  When the CR motor 81 rotates in the first rotation direction, the carriage transport mechanism 80 moves the carriage 60 in the first direction (hereinafter referred to as “FWD direction”) along the main scanning direction, as shown in FIG. Express. On the other hand, when the CR motor 81 rotates in the second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction, the carriage transport mechanism 80 moves the carriage 60 along the main scanning direction as shown in FIG. It is conveyed in a second direction (hereinafter referred to as “RVS direction”) which is the opposite direction to the FWD direction. The carriage 60 reciprocates along the main scanning direction by the operation of the carriage transport mechanism 80 that switches the transport direction of the carriage 60 according to the rotation direction of the CR motor 81.

  The encoder 85 is a linear encoder including an encoder scale 85A and a sensor 85B. The encoder scale 85A is provided in the conveyance path of the carriage 60 in the main scanning direction, and is fixedly arranged with respect to the housing of the image forming apparatus 1. On the other hand, the sensor 85B is fixedly disposed on the carriage 60. That is, the encoder 85 reads the encoder scale 85A fixed to the housing by the sensor 85B that moves together with the carriage 60, so that each time the carriage 60 is transported by a predetermined amount, the pulse signal (A phase and B phase signal) is input to the signal processing circuit 87 as an encoder signal.

  The signal processing circuit 87 detects the position X and the speed Vx of the carriage 60 in the main scanning direction based on the encoder signal input from the encoder 85, and inputs the detected values of the position X and the speed Vx to the control unit 90. .

  In addition, the control unit 90 performs overall control of the entire image forming apparatus 1. The control unit 90 includes a CPU 91, a ROM 93, a RAM 95, an EEPROM 97, and an external interface 99. The external interface 99 realizes communication with the external device 3.

  The CPU 91 executes a process according to a program recorded in the ROM 93, and the RAM 95 is used as a work area when the process is executed. The EEPROM 97 is an electrically rewritable nonvolatile memory, and the EEPROM 97 stores various control parameters and setting parameters.

  The control unit 90 implements various functions necessary for the image forming apparatus 1 including control functions of the PF motor 41, the CR motor 81, and the recording head 61 by executing various processes by the CPU 91. The control unit 90 may be configured with a dedicated circuit for realizing various processes. That is, the control unit 90 can be configured to realize various functions by a combination of processing by software and processing by hardware.

  When the control unit 90 receives the image data to be printed from the external device 3 via the external interface 99, the control unit 90 and the paper transport unit 10 and the image so that an image based on the image data is appropriately formed on the paper Q. Control the forming unit 50.

  That is, the control unit 90 controls the PF motor 41 based on the detection values of the rotation amount Y and the rotation speed Vy input from the signal processing circuit 47 and the detection signal input from the registration sensor 49, so that the paper Q Is controlled in the sub-scanning direction. On the other hand, the control unit 90 controls the CR motor 81 and the recording head 61 based on the detected values of the position X and the speed Vx of the carriage 60 and the image data to be printed, which are input from the signal processing circuit 87. While controlling the carriage 60, the ink droplet ejection operation by the recording head 61 is controlled.

  Incidentally, the ink droplets ejected from the recording head 61 while the carriage 60 is transported do not land directly under the recording head 61 as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. For example, the ink droplets fall while having inertia in the main scanning direction due to the movement of the carriage 60 in the main scanning direction, and land at a point away from the ink droplet ejection point in the main scanning direction.

  The positional deviation between the ejection point and the landing point depends on the speed of the carriage 60 and the vertical distance D from the ink droplet ejection point to the paper Q. For this reason, in the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, while controlling the conveyance speed of the carriage 60, the ejection timing of the ink droplets is adjusted in accordance with the change in the peaks and valleys of the paper Q undulating in the main scanning direction by the corrugated structure. By adjusting, the landing point of the ink droplet is controlled, and an appropriate image is formed on the paper Q.

  However, in this embodiment, ink droplets are ejected while the carriage 60 is reciprocated to form an image on the paper Q. For this reason, unless the ink droplet ejection timing in the forward path and the backward path of the carriage 60 is adjusted accurately and appropriately, an image formed in the forward path of the carriage 60 and an image formed in the backward path of the carriage 60 adjacent thereto. Misalignment occurs in the main scanning direction, and the quality of the image formed on the paper Q deteriorates.

  For the purpose of avoiding such deterioration in quality, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment forms a test pattern image on the paper Q, and obtains information representing the formation state from the user through the user interface 100 (test Pattern output function). The image forming apparatus 1 corrects the control parameter for controlling the ejection timing of the ink droplets based on the information representing the formation state obtained by the test pattern output function.

  Depending on the test pattern output function, a test pattern image including a group of pattern components as shown in FIG. 5A and a group of symbols printed adjacent to each pattern component is formed on the paper Q. Is done. According to FIG. 5A, the symbol is an identification number of a pattern component.

  In FIG. 5A, each pattern component is shown by a simple rectangular image, but this rectangular image is merely a schematic representation of the formation position of the pattern component on the paper Q. Specifically, each pattern component is configured as an image including a plurality of block images and a block number printed adjacent to each block image, as shown in the broken line area of FIG. . That is, the rectangular image showing each pattern constituent element shown in FIG. 5A corresponds to the image shown in the broken line area of FIG.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5C, each block image is composed of an overlay of a first vertical stripe image and a second vertical stripe image. FIG. 5C conceptually shows in detail the configuration of the block images of block numbers 4, 5, and 6 shown in FIG.

  The first vertical stripe image is a vertical stripe image formed by causing the recording head 61 to eject ink droplets while the image forming apparatus 1 transports the carriage 60 in the FWD direction. In FIG. Indicated by multiple vertical stripes. The second vertical stripe image is a vertical stripe image formed by causing the recording head 61 to eject ink droplets while the image forming apparatus 1 transports the carriage 60 in the RVS direction. In FIG. It is shown by a plurality of vertical stripes. The first and second vertical stripe images are actually images in which the region of each vertical stripe is filled with ink droplets.

  As can be understood from FIG. 5C, the formation position of the second vertical stripe image with respect to the first vertical stripe image differs between the block images. In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 changes the ejection timing of the ink droplets with respect to the first vertical stripe image when forming the second vertical stripe image between the block images for each pattern constituent element. A block image is formed. Specifically, a block image having an intermediate block number “5” is formed at the standard ejection timing, and block images having smaller block numbers “1” to “4” are reduced in number. It is formed at a discharge timing earlier than the standard. Further, block images with block numbers “6” to “9” larger than the intermediate block number “5” are formed at a discharge timing later than the standard as the number increases.

  For each pattern constituent element, the block number of the block image that is most inconspicuous that the user visually discriminates among the block image group constituting the pattern constituent element is used as information indicating the formation state of the pattern constituent element. Obtained from the user via the user interface 100. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 determines a block image in which the ejection timing of the ink droplet is appropriate, and corrects the control parameter based on the determination result.

  According to the example shown in FIG. 5C, the block image with the block number 5 appears to the user's eyes as the most inconspicuous block image. This is because each of the vertical stripes constituting the second vertical stripe image is arranged between the vertical stripes constituting the first vertical stripe image, and the area corresponding to the block image is filled with almost no gap. In other words, the block image having a larger gap between the first vertical stripe image and the second vertical stripe image appears to the user's eyes as a block image in which the stripe is conspicuous.

  If the least conspicuous block image is the block image of the intermediate block number “5”, a standard value is set as the control parameter, and when the carriage 60 is transported in the RVS direction, Ink droplets are ejected at standard ejection timing. On the other hand, if the block number of the least noticeable block image is smaller than the intermediate block number “5” (specifically, the block numbers “1” to “4”), the carriage 60 is conveyed in the RVS direction. When the control parameter is adjusted so as to advance the ejection timing of the ink droplet when the block number of the block image is the least noticeable, the block number is larger than the intermediate block number “5” (specifically, “6” to For the block number “9”, the control parameter is adjusted so as to delay the ink droplet ejection timing when the carriage 60 is transported in the RVS direction.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, according to the present embodiment, a group of control parameters for each pattern component adjusted in this way is stored in the EEPROM 97 for each paper size. When the control unit 90 forms an image based on the image data provided from the external device 3 on the paper Q, the control unit 90 reads out a group of control parameters corresponding to the paper size to be fed, and uses the group of control parameters. By controlling the droplet discharge timing of the recording head 61, a high-quality image with little positional deviation is formed on the paper Q. The reason why the group of control parameters to be used is switched according to the paper size is that the deflection and deformation of the paper Q change according to the paper size, and appropriate control parameters change.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the image data representing the test pattern image (hereinafter referred to as “test pattern image data”) is a single common to all paper sizes that can be handled by the image forming apparatus 1. The test pattern image data is stored in the ROM 93. When forming a test pattern image on the paper Q, the image forming apparatus 1 converts the test pattern image data into print data corresponding to the paper size of the image formation target, so that An appropriate test pattern image is formed on the paper Q.

  Here, the configuration of the test pattern image data will be described. As can be understood from FIG. 6B, the test pattern image data of this embodiment includes common pattern image data and a plurality of symbol image data. As shown in FIG. 5A, in this embodiment, five columns of pattern components are formed on one sheet of paper Q, and symbols () are adjacent to the pattern components of each column. Pattern component identification number). The column of the pattern constituent elements referred to here is a column along the main scanning direction.

  The common pattern image data is image data representing one column of pattern components, and is used in common when forming the pattern components of each column. On the other hand, among the plurality of symbol image data, the i-th symbol image data (i is any one of 1 to 5) represents one column of symbols formed adjacent to the i-th column pattern component. Image data. According to FIG. 5A, the first symbol image data is image data in which images representing numbers 1 to 17 are arranged in accordance with the geometric arrangement of adjacent pattern components.

  That is, in this embodiment, for each column, an image set including a column of pattern components and a column of symbols adjacent thereto is formed using common pattern image data and one symbol image data corresponding to the column.

  The test pattern image data is configured as image data suitable for the maximum size paper Q that can be formed by the image forming apparatus 1 so that a test pattern image can be formed on the paper Q of various sizes. The That is, the test pattern image data is patterned at positions corresponding to the peaks and valleys of the paper Q over the entire range in the main scanning direction with respect to the maximum size paper Q on which image formation is possible in the image forming apparatus 1. It is configured as image data having a horizontal width in which components can be arranged.

  More specifically, the test pattern image data is configured to include data representing whether or not ink droplets are ejected at all points in the main scanning direction in which ink droplets can be ejected in the image forming apparatus 1. The When the test pattern image is formed on the paper Q having a size smaller than the maximum size paper Q, the control unit 90 processes the data indicating whether or not the ink droplets are discharged at each point included in the test pattern image data to obtain the paper size. Print data that conforms to

  Next, processing executed by the control unit 90 when an instruction to output a test pattern image is input from the user via the operation unit 101 will be described. The user interface 100 includes an operation unit 101 including an operation key or a touch panel that can accept an input operation from a user, and a display unit 105 including a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display that can display various types of information to the user. Prepare.

  When the output instruction is input, the control unit 90 starts the test pattern output process shown in FIG. After the start, the control unit 90 controls the PF motor 41 to cause the paper transport mechanism 20 to transport the paper Q downstream in the sub-scanning direction (S110). Specifically, the paper Q is transported to positions that can be specified by using the optical sensor 65 at both side edges (left and right side edges) along the sub-scanning direction of the paper Q.

  Thereafter, the control unit 90 controls the CR motor 81 to acquire the detected value of the received light amount from the optical sensor 65 while conveying the carriage 60 from end to end in the main scanning direction, and obtains this detected value. The data is temporarily stored in the RAM 95 in association with the position X of the carriage 60 at the time of detection. Based on the change in the amount of received light, the positions X1 and X2 in the main scanning direction of both side edges (left and right side edges) of the paper Q are specified (S120).

  After the specification, the control unit 90 controls the PF motor 41 and conveys the paper Q downstream in the sub-scanning direction until the leading edge position of the paper Q specified by the distance Z1 reaches a predetermined first forming position. Then, the sheet Q is stopped at the first formation position (S130).

  The i-th formation position (i is any one of 1 to 5) in this embodiment corresponds to the position where the i-th row image set is formed. The first formation position is determined in an area where the leading edge of the sheet is located upstream of the line P1 shown in FIG. 2 in the sub-scanning direction and the sheet Q is disposed below the recording head 61. The line P1 corresponds to a point where the paper Q enters between the pair of paper discharge rollers 27.

  Thereafter, the control unit 90 reads the first symbol image data and the common pattern image data necessary for printing the first row image set from the ROM 93 as the processing target data. The control unit 90 generates print data obtained by applying processing based on the positions X1 and X2 on both side edges of the paper Q to the processing target data. Then, by performing drive control of the recording head 61 (that is, ink droplet ejection control) based on the printing data and transport control of the carriage 60 via the CR motor 81, it corresponds to the first formation position. In the area of the paper Q, the image set of pattern components and symbols arranged in the paper among the first row of image sets represented by the test pattern image data is printed (S140).

  In S140, if the processing target data is not processed, and an image based on the processing target data is printed on the paper Q, areas in the processing target data corresponding to pattern constituent pixels and symbols that do not fit in the paper are determined. The printing data is generated by replacing the data with ink droplet ejection prohibition (in other words, data indicating that there is no ink droplet ejection).

  According to the example shown in FIG. 8A, the pattern elements having the identification numbers “1”, “2”, “16”, and “17” are not contained in the sheet for the image set in the first column. For this reason, the pattern constituent elements having the identification numbers “1”, “2”, “16”, and “17” and the areas corresponding to the symbols are replaced with data that prohibits the ejection of ink droplets, and the printing data is generated. .

  That is, the pattern constituent pixels and symbols that do not fit in the paper referred to here refer to pattern constituent pixels and symbols that are partly out of the paper. When the pattern component and the paper Q are in the positional relationship shown in FIG. 8A, as shown in FIG. 8B, the identification numbers “3” to “15” are associated with the first row image set. Pattern components and symbols are printed on the paper Q.

  Further, in S140, with respect to the pattern constituent pixels and symbols determined as the pattern constituent pixels and symbols that do not fit in the paper, the pattern constituent identification numbers are temporarily stored in the RAM 95 as the non-printing element identification numbers.

  When the processing in S140 is completed, the control unit 90 controls the PF motor 41 to convey the paper Q in the sub-scanning direction until the leading end position of the paper Q reaches a predetermined second formation position, and the second The paper Q is stopped at the formation position (S150). The second formation position is determined such that the leading edge of the sheet is located downstream of the spur roller 29 in the sub-scanning direction and upstream of the flap mechanism provided downstream of the spur roller 29 in the sub-scanning direction. The flap mechanism is a mechanism for guiding the paper Q to the U-turn path during duplex printing, and is disposed on, for example, the line P2 shown in FIG.

  Thereafter, the control unit 90 reads out the second symbol image data and common pattern image data necessary for printing the image set of the second column from the ROM 93 as processing target data, and performs the same processing as S140 on the processing target data. In addition, print data representing the image set in the second column that matches the layout of the paper Q is generated. That is, the printing data is generated by replacing the area in the processing target data corresponding to the pattern constituent pixels and symbols that do not fit in the paper with the data that prohibits the ejection of ink droplets.

  Then, by the ink droplet ejection control and the carriage 60 transport control based on the printing data, the second pattern image set represented by the test pattern image data is displayed in the area of the paper Q corresponding to the second formation position. Then, an image set of pattern components and symbols arranged in the paper is printed (S160). Also in S160, as in S140, the identification numbers of the pattern components that do not fit in the paper are temporarily stored in the RAM 95 as the identification numbers of the non-printing elements.

  When the processing in S160 is completed, the control unit 90 proceeds to S170 and controls the PF motor 41 to sub-scan the paper Q until the leading edge position of the paper Q reaches a predetermined third formation position. The paper Q is conveyed in the direction and stopped at the third forming position. The third forming position is set at a position where the leading edge of the sheet has passed through the flap mechanism downstream in the sub-scanning direction, but the trailing edge of the sheet is upstream of the conveying roller 21 in the sub-scanning direction.

  Thereafter, the control unit 90 reads out the third symbol image data and common pattern image data necessary for printing the image set of the third column from the ROM 93 as processing target data, and the processing target data is the same as in S140 and S160. By applying the processing, print data representing the image set of the third column that matches the layout of the paper Q is generated. Then, the third row image set is printed on the area of the paper Q corresponding to the third formation position by the ink droplet ejection control and the carriage 60 transport control based on the printing data (S180). Similarly to S140 and 160, the identification number of the pattern component that does not fit in the paper is temporarily stored in the RAM 95 as the identification number of the non-printing element.

  When the processing in S180 is completed, the control unit 90 controls the PF motor 41 to load the paper Q until the rear end position of the paper Q specified by the distance Z2 reaches a predetermined fourth formation position. The paper Q is conveyed in the scanning direction, and the paper Q is stopped at the fourth formation position (S190). The fourth formation position is determined such that the rear end of the sheet passes through the transport roller 21 and is positioned downstream of the transport roller 21 in the sub-scanning direction and upstream of the line P3. The line P3 corresponds to the upstream edge in the sub-scanning direction of the region where the paper Q is sandwiched so as to be pressed against the platen 22 by the corrugated structure forming body 24. Thereafter, the control unit 90 prints the fourth row of image sets on the area of the paper Q corresponding to the fourth formation position in the same procedure as S140, S160, and S180 (S200). Similarly to S140, 160, and 180, the identification number of the pattern component that does not fit in the paper is temporarily stored in the RAM 95 as the identification number of the non-printing element.

  When the process in S200 is completed, the control unit 90 controls the PF motor 41 to convey the paper Q in the sub-scanning direction until the rear end position of the paper Q reaches a predetermined fifth forming position, and 5. The paper Q is stopped at the forming position (S210). The fifth forming position is an area in which the rear end of the sheet is located downstream of the line P4 in the sub-scanning direction, the rear end of the sheet is upstream of the line P1 in the sub-scanning direction, and the sheet Q is positioned below the recording head 61. Determined within. Thereafter, the control unit 90 prints the image set of the fifth column on the area of the paper Q corresponding to the fifth forming position in the same procedure as S140, S160, S180, and S200 (S220). Similarly to S140, 160, 180, and 200, the identification number of the pattern component that does not fit in the paper is temporarily stored in the RAM 95 as the identification number of the non-printing element.

  When the process in S220 is completed, the control unit 90 causes the paper transport mechanism 20 to transport the paper Q to the paper discharge tray (S230). As a result, the user can visually recognize the paper Q on which the test pattern image is formed. Thereafter, the control unit 90 displays a reception screen on the display unit 105 (S240). The reception screen displayed here is a screen for receiving an input operation of information indicating the formation state of each pattern component formed on the paper Q (the block number of the least conspicuous block image).

  The reception screen has a configuration shown in FIG. 9A, for example. According to this example, the reception screen has a pattern configuration capable of receiving an input operation of information representing the formation state of the symbols of the pattern components printed on the paper Q among the pattern components indicated by the test pattern image data. Display as an element symbol. On the other hand, the reception screen displays in gray out the symbols of the pattern components that have not been printed on the paper Q. The example shown in FIG. 9A is an example of a reception screen when the pattern components shown in FIG. 8B are printed on the paper Q in accordance with the positional relationship shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 9A, the gray-out display area is conceptually represented by a hatched area. According to this reception screen, using the gray-out display technique, all of the pattern constituent elements printed on the paper among the pattern constituent elements are specified as input targets for the information indicating the formation state.

  When displaying the reception screen, the control unit 90 can determine the gray-out display area based on the identification number of the non-printing element stored in the RAM 95 in S140, S160, S180, S200, and S220. Then, image processing is performed on a standard reception screen in which symbols of all pattern constituent elements are arranged, thereby generating a gray-out display region.

  However, the gray-out display method is merely one method for clearly indicating each pattern component printed on the paper Q as an input target of information representing the formation state. Accordingly, the reception screen can be configured to selectively display the symbols of the pattern components printed on the paper Q without displaying the symbols of the pattern components not printed on the paper Q.

  In other words, as a configuration example of the reception screen, a configuration in which the hatching area illustrated in FIG. Further, the reception screen may be configured to highlight the pattern component symbols printed on the paper Q while displaying the symbols of all the pattern component elements using a method different from the grayout display.

  When the display of the reception screen is started, the control unit 90 waits until an operation on the reception screen is performed via the operation unit 101 (No in S250). When an operation is performed (Yes in S250), the following processing is executed (S260 to S350).

  Specifically, when a pattern component selection operation is performed (Yes in S260), the process proceeds to S270, and whether the selected pattern component is a non-printed element with a symbol displayed in the gray-out display area. to decide. When an affirmative determination is made in S270 (that is, Yes in S270, which indicates that the selected pattern component is a non-printing element), a message display or beep sound is output to the user via the display unit 105. Thus, the user is notified that the selection operation is invalid (S280). Thereafter, the process proceeds to S240 and waits until a new operation is performed on the reception screen.

  On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in S270 (that is, No in S270, which indicates that the selected pattern component is not a non-printing element), the most inconspicuous block in the selected pattern component A sub screen for accepting an input operation of an image block number is displayed on the display unit 105 (S290). According to the example shown in FIG. 9B, the sub-screen is configured as a screen that allows the user to select the block number of the block image that is least noticeable from all the block numbers through the operation unit 101. The sub-screen further shows the identification number (symbol) of the corresponding pattern component together with a message prompting the user to input the block number of the block image that is not conspicuous.

  Thereafter, the control unit 90 waits until one of the block numbers is input (selected) through the operation unit 101 (S300). When the block number is input, the control unit 90 stores the input block number in the RAM 95 together with the identification number of the pattern component. Temporarily store (S310). Then, it waits until new operation with respect to a reception screen is made.

  In addition, when the operation on the reception screen is not a pattern component selection operation (No in S260) and is an end operation (Yes in S320), the control unit 90 proceeds to S340. In S340, the width W of the paper Q is calculated from the positions X1 and X2 of the both side edges of the paper Q specified using the optical sensor 65. Further, the length L of the paper Q is calculated from the difference in the rotation amount Y of the PF motor 41 when the registration sensor 49 detects the leading edge and the trailing edge of the paper Q.

  For the paper size having the calculated length L and width W, the group of control parameters of the size stored in the EEPROM 97 are the identification number of the pattern component stored in S310 and the block number of the least conspicuous block image. Is updated to an appropriate value (S350), and the test pattern output process is terminated. If the process of S310 has not been executed so far when the end operation has been performed, there is no control parameter to be updated, and therefore the test pattern output process is substantially executed without executing the processes of S340 and S350. Can be terminated. In addition, when an operation other than the selection operation and the end operation is performed on the reception screen, the control unit 90 executes a process corresponding to the operation (S330), and proceeds to S240.

  When the operation unit 101 includes a touch panel on the screen of the display unit 105, the reception screen can be configured as a screen that can receive a touch operation on a symbol of each pattern component, for example. In this case, when a touch operation is performed on the symbol in the grayout display area, the control unit 90 proceeds to S280. On the other hand, when a touch operation is performed on a symbol that is not grayed out, the process proceeds to S290. And the touch operation with respect to one of the block numbers in a subscreen is received (S300). An image object for the end operation can be provided on the reception screen, and the control unit 90 can proceed to S340 when a touch operation is performed on the object.

  When the operation unit 101 includes a cursor key, a determination key, and the like, the reception screen can be configured to allow cursor operation. In this case, the control unit 90 moves the cursor to the symbol of each pattern component in accordance with the cursor operation through the operation unit 101. On the other hand, when the determination key is pressed, the control unit 90 can proceed to S290 on the assumption that the pattern component corresponding to the symbol on which the cursor is currently positioned is selected. Thereafter, a cursor operation and a determination key operation are accepted, and a selection operation for one of the block numbers for the sub screen is accepted. In addition, when the control unit 90 performs an operation of closing the reception screen by a key operation on the operation unit 101, the control unit 90 can proceed to S340. The control unit 90 may be configured to control the cursor movement so as not to move the cursor to the symbol of the pattern component displayed in gray out.

  As yet another example, when the operation unit 101 includes a numeric keypad and a determination key, the control unit 90 accepts a pattern component selection operation by a combination of a numeric input operation and a determination key input operation through the operation unit 101. Similarly, a block number selection operation for the sub-screen can be received by a combination of a numeric input operation and a determination key input operation.

  Although the image forming apparatus 1 of the present embodiment has been described above, in the present embodiment, the sheet Q moves in the sub-scanning direction while changing the bending and deformation according to the structure of the sheet conveyance path such as a corrugated structure. For this reason, a row of pattern components is formed at each of the first to fifth formation positions in the sub-scanning direction. Then, by correcting the control parameters based on the information indicating the formation state of the pattern constituent elements, in the process in which the paper Q passes over the platen 22, the discharge timing is adjusted in accordance with the shape of the peaks and valleys of the paper Q. Ink droplets can be ejected. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 that can form a high-quality image on the paper Q can be configured.

  In particular, in this embodiment, test pattern image data (symbol image data and common pattern image data) having a width in the main scanning direction corresponding to the maximum size paper Q that can be imaged in the image forming apparatus 1 is stored in the ROM 93. Then, this image data is converted into printing data corresponding to the width of the paper Q forming the test pattern image (both side edge positions X1, X2), and the ink droplet ejection operation based on the printing data is performed. The recording head 61 is executed.

  According to the present embodiment, this process forms a test pattern image satisfactorily on different sizes of paper Q based on a single test pattern image data. Therefore, it is not necessary to store the test pattern image data in the ROM 93 for each paper size, and the high-performance image forming apparatus 1 can be configured at a low cost while suppressing the storage capacity of the ROM 93.

  Further, when printing a test pattern image on a small-size paper Q, only a part of the pattern components represented by the test pattern image data is printed on the paper Q. However, as a reception screen, the arrangement of the pattern components on the paper Q The screen that conforms to was added.

  That is, according to the present embodiment, the identification of the pattern constituent elements corresponding to the non-printing elements based on the information on the side edge positions X1 and X2 of the paper Q as the size information of the paper Q obtained by using the optical sensor 65. A number is stored, and based on this information, a reception screen in which symbols of non-printing elements are grayed out is displayed.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to display the reception screen so that the user can easily and accurately input information representing the formation state of each of the plurality of pattern components through the reception screen. That is, according to the present embodiment, the reception screen can be displayed so that the user can easily grasp the pattern component to which the information indicating the formation state is input, and the user is not printed on the paper Q. It is possible to suppress erroneous input of information representing the above-described formation state of the pattern component printed on the paper Q to the pattern component.

  In particular, according to the present embodiment, individual symbols (identification numbers) are assigned to the pattern components, and symbols corresponding to the pattern components are printed on the paper Q together. On the other hand, on the reception screen, the symbols printed on the paper Q are arranged and displayed in accordance with the geometric arrangement of the symbols printed on the paper Q and the pattern components. Therefore, the user can easily and accurately grasp the correspondence between each pattern component formed on the paper Q and each pattern component displayed as a symbol on the reception screen based on the display.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, the control parameter group is stored for each paper size in the EEPROM 97, while the update of the control parameter group based on the information indicating the formation state is performed using the size information (paper). Based on the side edge positions X1 and X2), the control parameter group of the paper size corresponding to the paper on which the test pattern image is printed is performed. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the control parameter group can be appropriately updated for each paper size, and a high-quality image can be formed on the paper Q of each size.

[Modification]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can take various forms. In the test pattern output process of the above embodiment, symbols of all pattern components are displayed on one reception screen (S240), and an input operation of information indicating the formation state for these is received. An input screen for receiving a state may be provided for each pattern component.

  That is, the control unit 90 may be configured to switch and display the input screen for each pattern component as the reception screen. The modification shown in FIG. 10 is an example in which the input screen for each pattern component corresponding to the sub screen of the above embodiment is switched and displayed as the reception screen. In the case of this example, the control unit 90 causes the display unit 105 to display an input screen for each pattern component in such a manner that the input screen is switched in the order of the identification number of the pattern component in accordance with the page turning operation from the user via the operation unit 101. However, regarding the input screen of the pattern component corresponding to the non-printing element, the display of the input screen is skipped without displaying it on the display unit 105.

  According to the example shown in FIG. 10, from the identification numbers “16” to “19” that are not printed on the paper Q on the assumption that the pattern components are printed on the paper Q in the form according to FIG. The pattern component input screens having the identification numbers “14” to “21” are switched and displayed so as to skip the pattern component input screen.

  In addition, when the operation unit 101 includes a touch panel on the screen of the display unit 105, the reception screen can be configured as a screen that can receive only a touch operation of a printing element among symbols of each pattern component, for example. In other words, even if a touch operation is performed on a symbol in the gray-out display area, the control unit 90 can operate so as not to accept this touch operation at all. In this case, in the test pattern output process shown in FIG. 7, S270 and S280 can be omitted, and when an operation is performed (Yes in S250), the control unit 90 can move to S290. .

  In addition, the test pattern image data may be image data for one sheet of maximum size paper, that is, image data of an image size (vertical and horizontal size) corresponding to the paper Q. Symbols attached to pattern constituent elements do not have to be numbers, and letters and figures such as alphabets can be used instead of identification numbers. In addition, the present invention can be applied to an image forming apparatus that does not have a corrugated structure.

  In the above-described embodiment, the information indicating the formation state of the pattern component is acquired through the user interface 100 of the image forming apparatus 1. This information is acquired from the external device 3 (personal computer or the like) connected to the image forming apparatus 1. ). That is, the control unit of the external device 3 displays a reception screen through the user interface of the external device 3, receives an input operation from the user on the reception screen, and the image forming apparatus 1 is based on information obtained from the user. The control parameter group to be stored may be updated.

[Correspondence]
Finally, the correspondence between terms will be described. A combination of the control unit 90 and the user interface 100 included in the image forming apparatus 1 corresponds to an example of an electronic device, S120 executed by the control unit 90 corresponds to an example of an acquisition process, and S240 is an example of a display control process. Corresponding to The EEPROM 97 corresponds to an example of a storage unit.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 10 ... Paper conveyance unit, 20 ... Paper conveyance mechanism, 21 ... Conveyance roller, 22 ... Platen, 24 ... Corrugated structure formation body, 24A ... Pressing surface, 25 ... Rib, 27 ... Discharge roller, 27A ... shaft, 27B ... roller component, 28 ... spur roller, 28A ... shaft, 28B ... spur, 29 ... spur roller, 29A ... shaft, 29B ... spur, 41 ... motor, 43 ... motor driver, 45 ... encoder, 47 ... Signal processing circuit 49 ... registration sensor 50 ... image forming unit 60 ... carriage 61 ... recording head 65 ... optical sensor 70 ... head drive circuit 80 ... carriage transport mechanism 81 ... CR motor 83 ... motor driver 85 ... Encoder, 87 ... Signal processing circuit, 90 ... Control unit, 91 ... CPU, 93 ... ROM, 95 ... RAM, 97 ... EEP OM, 99 ... external interface, 100 ... user interface, 101 ... operation unit, 105 ... display unit, Q ... paper.

Claims (10)

Information representing the formation state of the pattern component formed on the sheet by the image forming apparatus that forms the pattern component on the sheet based on image data representing a test pattern image in which the pattern component is arranged An electronic device for obtaining
The image forming apparatus includes, based on the image data, for each of sheets having different sizes, the pattern constituent elements located in an area corresponding to the sheet in a group of pattern constituent elements included in the test pattern image. Is configured to form,
The electronic device is
A user interface capable of screen display and accepting an input operation from the user;
A control unit;
With
The control unit is
An acquisition process for acquiring size information of the sheet on which the pattern component is formed;
Based on the size information, as a reception screen for receiving an input operation of information representing the formation state, the pattern component formed in the sheet among the group of pattern components included in the test pattern image Display control processing for displaying on the user interface a screen shown as an input target of information indicating the formation state;
An electronic device characterized by A symbol is assigned to each of the pattern components for the group of the pattern components that the test pattern image has,
In the display control process, the pattern component that is not formed in the sheet while the symbol of the pattern component formed in the sheet is displayed as the reception screen in the group of the pattern components The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a screen configured to not display the symbol is displayed on the user interface. A symbol is assigned to each of the pattern components for the group of the pattern components that the test pattern image has,
In the display control process, each of the symbols corresponding to a group of the pattern constituent elements included in the test pattern image is displayed as the reception screen, and the symbols of the pattern constituent elements formed in the sheet The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein a screen for highlighting is displayed on the user interface. The reception screen is a screen that highlights the symbol of the pattern component formed in the sheet by graying out the symbol of the pattern component that is not formed in the sheet. The electronic device according to claim 3. The reception screen is a screen in which each symbol of the pattern component displayed on the reception screen corresponds to the geometric arrangement of the group of pattern components in the test pattern image. The electronic device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the electronic device is characterized in that The test pattern image represented by the image data is an image in which the symbols of the pattern constituent elements are individually attached to a group of the pattern constituent elements, and the sheet is formed on the sheet. The electronic device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the corresponding symbol is formed together for each of the pattern components. The electronic apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the electronic apparatus is configured integrally with the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus includes a storage unit that stores control parameters for image formation for each of the different size sheets in a storage area corresponding to the size,
The control unit of the electronic device uses the acquired size of the control parameter corresponding to the formation state based on information representing the formation state input by the input operation on the reception screen using the user interface. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is stored in the storage area corresponding to the size of the sheet indicated by the information. In the computer of the system comprising an image forming unit capable of forming an image on sheets of different sizes, a user interface capable of displaying a screen and accepting an input operation from a user, and a computer,
An acquisition process for acquiring size information of the sheet on which the image forming unit forms an image;
Based on the image data representing the test pattern image in which pattern components are arranged and the size information, the sheet indicated by the size information in the group of pattern components included in the test pattern image is displayed on the image forming unit. A test pattern forming process for forming the pattern constituent elements located in an area corresponding to the size of
As a reception screen for receiving an input operation of information indicating the formation state of the pattern component on the sheet, the pattern component formed on the sheet among the group of the pattern components included in the test pattern image. Display control processing for displaying on the user interface a screen shown as an input target of information indicating the formation state;
A program for running A method executed by a system including an image forming unit capable of forming an image on sheets of different sizes, and a user interface capable of displaying a screen and receiving an input operation from a user,
Obtaining size information of the sheet on which the image forming unit forms an image;
Based on the image data representing the test pattern image in which pattern components are arranged and the size information, the sheet indicated by the size information in the group of pattern components included in the test pattern image is displayed on the image forming unit. Forming the pattern component located in an area corresponding to the size of the sheet on the sheet;
As a reception screen for receiving an input operation of information indicating the formation state of the pattern component on the sheet, the pattern component formed on the sheet among the group of the pattern components included in the test pattern image. Displaying a screen displayed as an input target of information representing the formation state on the user interface;
A method comprising the steps of: