JP2016093943A - Image forming system, image forming method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming system that appropriately corrects the position of an image to be formed on the basis of a fed sheet and a feeding unit.SOLUTION: The system determines correction information for correcting the position of an image to be formed on a print sheet in association with each type of print sheets and each of a plurality of feeding trays. Upon feeding of a print sheet from any of the feeding trays and formation of an image on the print sheet, the system corrects the position of the image to be formed on the basis of the correction information determined in association with the type of the fed print sheet and the feeding tray that fed the print sheet.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a program for forming an image on printing paper.

  When printing is performed by a printer, the inclination of the printing position of the image or the printing position of the front and back images during double-sided printing may be shifted due to several factors. The factors that cause the deviation are mainly classified into two. The first factor is a change due to the characteristics of the paper. In an electrophotographic printer, a sheet on which developed and transferred toner is placed is passed through a fixing device to fix an image on the sheet. When the sheet passes through the high-temperature fixing device, the sheet expands and contracts, and the printing position of the front and back images may be shifted. The degree of expansion / contraction of the paper varies depending on the basis weight, surface property, size, etc. of the paper. The second factor is due to the structure of the paper feed unit (tray) in which the paper is stored and the transport unit. Depending on the structure of the paper feed unit that feeds the paper and the transport unit that is transported during printing, the cueing timing of the printing position may be shifted or the paper may be tilted. When there are a plurality of paper feeding units in the printer, the deviation and inclination differ between the paper feeding units.

  A method is known in which an adjustment value for adjusting the printing position is held in the system to correct the positional deviation with respect to the deviation of the printing position of the image. In Patent Document 1, an adjustment value for print position adjustment is set by a user for a paper feed unit. The positional deviation can be corrected by printing according to the adjustment value.

JP 2009-012256 A

  However, as described above, there are mainly two factors in the printing position shift. Therefore, if paper is loaded in a paper feeding unit different from the paper feeding unit used when setting the adjustment value for the paper, the paper feeding unit causes Cannot be corrected appropriately. Even in the configuration in which the adjustment value is held in the paper feeding unit, if a paper different from the paper used when setting the adjustment value is mounted, the positional deviation due to the paper cannot be corrected appropriately.

  An object of the present invention is to solve such conventional problems. In view of the above-described points, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a program for appropriately correcting an image forming position on a printing paper fed from a paper feeding unit.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is an image forming apparatus including a plurality of paper feed stages, and each of the plurality of paper feed stages is provided on a print sheet for each type of print paper. A setting unit that sets correction information for correcting an image forming position, an image forming unit that feeds printing paper from one of the plurality of paper feed stages, and forms an image on the printing paper; When an image is formed by the image forming unit, the image forming position is determined based on the correction information set by the setting unit with respect to the type of the fed printing paper and the paper feed stage to which the printing paper is fed. And a correcting means for correcting.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately correct the image forming position on the printing paper fed from the paper feeding unit.

1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming system. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a figure which shows the registration screen used for registration of paper information. It is a figure which shows the database of paper information. It is a figure which shows the edit screen for editing paper attribute information. It is a figure which shows the paper setting screen used for the paper setting to a paper feed stage. It is another figure which shows the paper setting screen used for the paper setting to a paper feed stage. It is a figure which shows the screen used for the determination of an image position adjustment value. It is a figure which shows the other screen used for determination of an image position adjustment value. It is a figure which shows the confirmation page for image position adjustment. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a paper setting process for a paper feed stage. It is another figure which shows the paper setting screen used for the paper setting to a paper feed stage. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure for creating a paper list. It is a figure which shows a warning screen.

    Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the present invention according to the claims, and all combinations of features described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the solution means of the present invention. . The same constituent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming system 10. In the image forming system 10, an image forming apparatus 100 and a client PC 102 are connected via a network 101 such as a LAN so that they can communicate with each other. In the image forming system 10, a printer that performs image formation (printing) on a recording medium such as printing paper is used as the image forming apparatus 100. However, the image forming apparatus 100 may be not only a printing function but also a multi-function peripheral (MFP) equipped with all or some of a plurality of functions such as copying, scanning, and FAX. In the image forming system 10, a job generated by a user instruction is transmitted from the printer driver in the client PC 102 to the image forming apparatus 100 via the network 101. The image forming apparatus 100 performs an image forming process on a print sheet based on the received job. Here, the job is a job for executing a printing function, and corresponds to, for example, a print job or a copy job.

  The image forming apparatus 100 can perform image forming processing on printing paper by various recording (printing) methods, and for example, performs image forming processing by an ink jet recording method or an electrophotographic method. Further, the image forming apparatus 100 may perform image forming processing according to a user operation received on the operation unit of the image forming apparatus 100 instead of receiving a job from the client PC 102. In the image forming system 10, the network 101 may be a wired network or a wireless network. When a wireless network is used, for example, the client PC 102 is a mobile terminal. Further, in the configuration of FIG. 1, another device may be configured depending on the form of the network 101. For example, when the network 101 is a wireless network, an access point may be configured. The wireless network also includes so-called near field communication that has a very short communication distance of several centimeters. In FIG. 1, a plurality of client PCs 102 may be configured on the network 101.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a controller unit 200 including a CPU 201, a scanner unit 202, an external interface (I / F) 203, an operation unit 204, a compression / decompression unit 205, a ROM 206, a RAM 207, a hard disk (HDD) 208, and a print unit 209. .

  The CPU 201 controls the operation of each unit (such as each engine) of the image forming apparatus 100 to realize an executable function of the image forming apparatus 100. The scanner unit 202 includes a reading unit including a light source and an image sensor, and optically reads a document placed on a document table while scanning to generate image data. An external I / F 203 connects the network 101 and the image forming apparatus 100 and enables communication with apparatuses on the network 101.

  The operation unit 204 includes a display unit such as an LCD display and an operation reception unit provided with hardware keys and the like. The display unit displays various user interface screens related to function settings of the image forming apparatus 100, job processing statuses, and the like. The operation reception unit includes a key for receiving various instructions from the user, an LED for indicating a power supply state such as a power button, a job processing status, and a power saving mode. In some cases, a software key displayed on the display unit accepts an instruction from the user.

  The compression / decompression unit 205 compresses data to be subjected to image formation processing acquired via the network 101 or a USB memory into data such as JPEG, JBIG, MMR, and MH, and decompresses (decompresses) the compressed data. ) The ROM 206 and the HDD 208 store basic programs and control programs necessary for the operation of the image forming apparatus 100, setting values, tables, and the like. For example, the CPU 201 reads out a program stored in the ROM 206 or the HDD 208 to the RAM 207 and executes it, thereby realizing the operation of the present embodiment.

  The print unit 209 includes an image forming unit 210, a CPU 211, a paper feed unit 212, and a paper discharge unit 213. The CPU 211 controls the operation of the printing unit 209 in cooperation with the CPU 201 or independently. The paper feed unit 212 includes at least two or more paper feed stages (tray). The paper feed stage holds printing paper that is fed to the image forming unit 210 including an electrostatic drum, an inkjet recording head, and the like. In this embodiment, it is assumed that four paper feed stages are provided. The paper feed stage includes a so-called manual feed tray.

  The image forming unit 210 is a print engine, and performs an image forming process on printing paper by an electrophotographic recording method or an inkjet recording method. The image forming unit 210 includes a laser exposure unit and a photosensitive drum in the case of an electrophotographic recording method, and includes a serial type / line type recording head and a carriage that discharge ink droplets in the case of an ink jet recording method.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a software configuration of the image forming apparatus 100. Each module in FIG. 3 is stored as a program in the ROM 206, read out to the RAM 207 by the CPU 201 or 211, and executed. The network control unit 301 transmits / receives data to / from apparatuses on the network 101 such as the client PC 102 via the external I / F 203 and the network 101. A user interface (UI) control unit 302 generates display data to be displayed on the operation unit 204 and performs display processing on the display unit. The display data includes, for example, data for various user interface screens to be described later.

  The paper information storage unit 303 is a database, for example, and is configured in the HDD 208. The CPU 201 stores the paper information registered by the paper information registration unit 304 in the paper information storage unit 303. Further, the CPU 201 reads sheet information from the sheet information storage unit 303 as necessary. The paper information is attribute information representing the characteristics of the printing paper, and includes, for example, information on size, rigidity, and surface property. The paper information stored in the paper information storage unit 303 includes paper information created and preinstalled by the printer manufacturer, and paper information newly created and added by the user.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of paper information stored in the paper information storage unit 303. The paper information database in FIG. 5 is configured in the ROM 206 or HDD 208. The CPU 201 stores the paper attribute information registered by the paper information registration unit 304 in the paper information database 501. The paper information database 501 holds image position adjustment values for the number of paper feed stages provided in the paper feed unit 212 for the paper information of each row. For example, in FIG. 5, image position adjustment values corresponding to the trays 1 to 4 are held for each piece of paper information. The image position adjustment value is a value for correcting the image formation position on the printing paper. Although details will be described later, as shown in FIG. 5, for each sheet information, information indicating whether or not the image formation position has already been adjusted (whether or not the image formation position has been set) is displayed for each sheet feed stage. Retained. In FIG. 5, the paper information is classified based on the paper attribute information of basis weight, size, surface property, and color, but other paper attribute information may be used.

  A paper information registration unit 304 registers paper information used in the printing function of the image forming apparatus 100. When paper information is received by a user operation on the setting screen displayed on the operation unit 204 by the UI control unit 302, the paper information registration unit 304 stores the received paper information in the paper information storage unit 303. The stored paper information is displayed on the setting screen on the operation unit 204 by the UI control unit 302.

  A paper feed stage paper setting unit 305 sets paper information used in the printing function of the image forming apparatus 100 to the paper feed stage. The paper feed tray paper setting unit 305 receives the paper information to be set in the paper feed tray by the user operation on the setting screen displayed on the operation unit 204 by the UI control unit 302, and the received paper information is stored in the paper information storage unit 303. To store. The stored paper information is displayed on the setting screen on the operation unit 204 by the UI control unit 302.

  When printing is performed, the CPU 201 controls the printing operation in the image forming unit 210 based on the paper information set in the paper feed stage. For example, the CPU 201 controls the printing operation such as lowering the paper conveyance speed and raising the fixing temperature when the paper has a larger basis weight.

  The image adjustment value determination unit 306 determines an image position adjustment value for correcting the image formation position during printing. The image adjustment value determination unit 306 stores the determined image position adjustment value in the paper information storage unit 303 as one piece of paper attribute information. The image position adjustment value determination process by the image adjustment value determination unit 306 will be described later.

  The image position adjustment unit 307 corrects the image formation position of the image data on the printing paper based on the image position adjustment value determined by the image adjustment value determination unit 306. The image position adjustment unit 307 corrects the image forming position using the image position adjustment value determined by the image adjustment value determination unit 306 and set in the paper feed stage by the paper feed stage paper setting unit 305. As the correction of the image forming position, for example, when the image data is processed in the controller unit 200, the rendering position of the image data is adjusted based on the image position adjustment value. Further, for example, operation timing control (registration position adjustment, etc.) of each device (such as a conveyance roller) performed by the image forming unit 210 is performed based on the image position adjustment value.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a registration screen used for registration of paper information by the paper information registration unit 304. The paper information registration screen 401 is generated by the UI control unit 302 when a user issues a paper information registration instruction from a menu on a basic screen (not shown) displayed when the image forming apparatus 100 is started. It is displayed on the operation unit 204. The UI control unit 302 displays information on the paper information database 501 stored in the paper information storage unit 303 on the operation unit 204. In FIG. 4, the paper name is displayed among the paper information, but other paper attribute information may be displayed as long as the information can identify the type of each paper. Further, the UI control unit 302 displays an edit button 403 for editing the sheet attribute information for each sheet information (sheet name). When the edit button 403 corresponding to the paper information selected by the user is pressed, the UI control unit 302 displays the paper attribute information editing screen 601 in FIG. 6 on the operation unit 204.

  A new creation button 404 is a button for newly creating paper information and storing it in the paper information storage unit 303. When a new creation button 404 is pressed by the user, the CPU 201 creates new paper information based on the information received via the editing screen 601 in FIG. 6 and stores the created paper information in the paper information storage unit 303. To do. In addition, the UI control unit 302 displays the stored paper information as a paper information list 402. The delete button 405 is a button for deleting the paper information selected by the user. When the user presses the delete button 405 while paper information is selected on the paper information list 402, the CPU 201 deletes the selected paper information from the paper information storage unit 303. Further, the UI control unit 302 deletes the selected paper information from the paper information list 402. When an OK button 406 is pressed by the user, the UI control unit 302 closes the paper information registration screen 401 and returns to the display of the basic screen.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of an editing screen for editing the paper attribute information. A sheet attribute information editing screen 601 is generated by the UI control unit 302 and displayed on the operation unit 204. When the user presses an arbitrary edit button 403 on the paper information registration screen 401, the UI control unit 302 selects the paper based on the paper information stored in the paper information storage unit 303 for the selected paper information. The attribute information editing screen 601 is displayed.

  Here, the information of each item 602 displayed is used for the printing operation of the image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. 6, for example, information representing paper characteristics such as paper name, basis weight, size, surface property, color, and image position adjustment is displayed. There is an edit button 604 for each item, and when the user presses the edit button 604, the UI control unit 302 displays a screen (not shown) for accepting editing of each item. When an editing operation is accepted on the displayed screen, the screen returns to the paper attribute information editing screen 601 and the content corresponding to the accepted editing operation is displayed in the area 603. The screen that accepts editing of each item is not a separate screen, and may be realized, for example, in a form in which a plurality of setting candidates are displayed with radio buttons or the like.

  When the user presses an OK button 605, the paper information registration unit 304 stores the received paper information in the paper information storage unit 303. Also, the UI control unit 302 displays the sheet attribute information on the edit screen 601 based on the stored sheet information. The operation related to the image position adjustment displayed as the item 602 will be described later. When the user presses an OK button 605, the UI control unit 302 closes the paper attribute information editing screen 601 and displays a paper information registration screen 401.

  7 and 8 are diagrams illustrating an example of a paper setting screen used for paper setting to the paper feed stage by the paper feed stage paper setting unit 305. FIG. The paper setting screen 701 is generated by the UI control unit 302 when a user issues a paper setting instruction to the paper feed stage from a menu on a basic screen (not shown) displayed when the image forming apparatus 100 is started. Are displayed on the operation unit 204.

  The UI control unit 302 displays a list of paper feed stages 702 together with the paper information set for each of a plurality of paper feed stages held by the paper feed unit 212 of the image forming apparatus 100. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, icon information of the remaining amount of paper, identification number information of the paper feed stage, and paper size information are displayed. Also, the paper name, basis weight information, and the like may be displayed together. When the user presses the setting button 703 in a state where an arbitrary paper feed stage 702 is selected, the UI control unit 302 displays a paper information selection screen 801 in FIG. In the paper information selection screen 801 of FIG. 8, the user can select and specify paper information for the paper feed stage.

  The paper feed tray paper setting unit 305 stores the paper information selected by the user in the paper information storage unit 303 in the RAM 207 or the HDD 208 in association with the paper feed tray information. Also, the UI control unit 302 displays the stored paper information as a paper feed stage 702. When the user presses an OK button 704, the UI control unit 302 closes the paper setting screen 701 and returns to the display of the basic screen.

  A paper information selection screen 801 in FIG. 8A is generated by the UI control unit 302 and displayed on the operation unit 204. The UI control unit 302 displays a list 802 of paper information that can be set for the selected paper feed stage 702 based on the paper information database 501 stored in the paper information storage unit 303. In FIG. 8A, registered paper names, basis weights, and sizes are displayed, but other paper attribute information such as surface properties and colors may be displayed. For example, as shown in FIG. 8B, image position adjustment information 805 (whether or not adjustment has been made) is further displayed. When the user presses the OK button 804 in a state where one piece of paper information to be set in the paper feed stage is selected from the list 807, the CPU 201 displays the selected paper information according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Stored in 303. Then, the UI control unit 302 closes the paper information selection screen 801 or 806 and displays the paper setting screen 701. When the user presses a cancel button 803, the UI control unit 302 closes the paper information selection screen 801 or 806 and displays the paper setting screen 701.

  As described above, in this embodiment, based on the information in the paper information database 501 shown in FIG. 5, the paper information registration screens in FIGS. 4 and 6 and the paper settings for the paper feed stages in FIGS. Is displayed.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of paper setting processing for a paper feed stage by the paper feed stage paper setting unit 305. Each process of FIG. 12 is implement | achieved, for example, when CPU201 reads the program memorize | stored in ROM206 to RAM207.

  First, when a user issues a paper setting instruction to the paper feed stage from a menu on a basic screen (not shown) displayed when the image forming apparatus 100 is activated, in S1201, the CPU 201 displays the paper setting screen 701 on the operation unit. 204.

  In step S <b> 1202, the CPU 201 accepts a selection of a paper feed stage 702 for paper setting by the user on the paper setting screen 701. In step S <b> 1203, the CPU 201 displays a paper information selection screen 801 or 806 for the paper feed stage selected in step S <b> 1202 on the operation unit 204. In step S1204, the CPU 201 accepts selection of paper information by the user on the paper information selection screen 801 or 806.

  In step S <b> 1205, the CPU 201 determines whether the setting content of the image position adjustment information 805 is “adjusted” or “unadjusted” for the selected paper information. If it is determined that “adjusted”, the process proceeds to S1206. If it is determined that “not adjusted”, the process proceeds to S1207.

  In step S1206, the CPU 201 acquires image position adjustment information that has already been adjusted on the image position adjustment screen 1001 in FIG. On the other hand, in step S1207, the CPU 201 acquires a predetermined initial value for the image position adjustment information. In step S <b> 1208, the CPU 201 stores the paper position information including the image position adjustment information or the initial value acquired in step S <b> 1206 or S <b> 1207 and the paper feed stage information in association with each other in the paper information storage unit 303. After the process of S1208, the process of FIG.

  9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating an example of a screen used for determining image position adjustment information by the image adjustment value determination unit 306. FIG. An image position adjustment information screen 901 is generated by the UI control unit 302 and displayed on the operation unit 204. When the user presses an edit button 604 for an image position adjustment item on the edit screen 601 for paper attribute information, the UI control unit 302 displays the image position adjustment information screen 901 on the operation unit 204. On the image position adjustment information screen 901, the UI control unit 302 displays the adjustment status of the image position adjustment information corresponding to each tray, that is, whether or not the currently selected paper information has been adjusted. The CPU 201 refers to the paper information stored in the paper information storage unit 303 to determine whether or not an image position adjustment value exists for each paper feed stage provided in the paper feed unit 212, and determines the content. Displayed as the adjustment status 903. By displaying “adjusted” or “not adjusted” in the adjustment status 903, the user can easily recognize in which paper feed stage the image position adjustment value is set. When the user presses an adjustment execution button 904 for a desired paper feed stage, the UI control unit 302 displays an image position adjustment screen 1001 on the operation unit 204. When the user presses an OK button 905, the UI control unit 302 closes the image position adjustment information screen 901 and displays a paper attribute information editing screen 601.

  An image position adjustment screen 1001 is generated by the UI control unit 402 and displayed on the operation unit 204. FIG. 10 shows a case where the tray 4 is selected by the user as a paper feed stage for adjusting the image position. The CPU 201 receives an image position adjustment value by a user operation as correction information for correcting the vertical and horizontal formation positions of an image printed on a sheet. An item 1002 is an item for correcting the tip registration position, and the UI control unit 302 displays the correction amount of each of the front and back surfaces as an image position adjustment value 1003 or 1004. An item 1005 is an item for correcting the left end registration position, and the UI control unit 302 displays the correction amounts of the front and back surfaces as image position adjustment values 1006 or 1007, respectively. When the image position adjustment screen 1001 is displayed, the value initially displayed in the image position adjustment values 1003, 1004, 1006, and 1007 may be a predetermined initial value (for example, “0.0”). .

  The UI control unit 302 accepts a change in one of the image position adjustment values 1003, 1004, 1006, and 1007 by the operation of the button 1008 by the user. When the + button or the − button is pressed in a state where an arbitrary place to change the value is selected by the user, the UI control unit 302 adds 0.1 to the value of the selected item, or Display minus 0.1. In FIG. 10, the unit of the correction amount is displayed as mm, the correction interval is 0.1, and the initial value is 0.0. However, other units such as the number of pixels, the correction interval, and the initial value may be displayed.

  When the user presses the button 1009, the UI control unit 302 resets the image position adjustment values 1003, 1004, 1006, and 1007 to initial values. When the user presses a cancel button 1011, the UI control unit 302 closes the image position adjustment screen 1001 and displays a paper attribute information editing screen 601. When the user presses an OK button 1012, the image adjustment value determination unit 306 stores the received image position adjustment values 1003, 1004, 1006, and 1007 in the paper information storage unit 303. Then, the UI control unit 302 closes the image position adjustment screen 1001 and displays a paper attribute information editing screen 601.

  An image position adjustment method will be described. In this embodiment, the CPU 201 performs test printing of a confirmation page for image position adjustment according to a user instruction. The user views the confirmation page that has been test-printed and inputs an image position adjustment value on the image position adjustment screen 1001.

  When the confirmation page print button 1010 is pressed by the user, the CPU 201 controls the print unit 209 to print the confirmation page. The CPU 201 controls the printing unit 209 to print from the paper feed stage (in this example, the tray 4) selected on the image position adjustment information screen 901. At this time, it may be determined whether the paper loaded in the corresponding paper feed stage set by the paper feed stage paper setting unit 305 matches the paper information. When it is determined that they do not match (in this example, when PAPER1 is not mounted on the tray 4), a warning screen may be displayed to notify the user and prompt the user to replace the paper. .

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a confirmation page for image position adjustment. On both the front surface 1101 and the back surface 1102, auxiliary lines for measuring or predicting image position deviation due to printing and a printing direction are printed. When the confirmation page is printed, there may be a deviation in the image formation position due to the type of printing paper and the structure of the paper feed stage. The user predicts the current displacement direction and amount based on the auxiliary lines on the confirmation pages 1101 and 1102, and determines and inputs the image position adjustment values 1003, 1004, 1006, and 1007 using the button 1008. When the confirmation page print button 1010 is pressed again by the user, the confirmation pages 1101 and 1102 reflecting the input image position adjustment values 1003, 1004, 1006, and 1007 are test printed again.

  In the above, confirmation pages 1101 and 1102 are printed, and the image position adjustment value determined by the user using the button 1008 is received. However, other methods may be used. For example, the scanner unit 202 of the image forming apparatus 100 or a spectral sensor (not shown) that measures a spectral value after fixing is used to optically read the confirmation pages 1101 and 1102 and obtain an image position adjustment value that can correct misalignment. You may make it acquire.

  When the OK button 1012 is pressed and the received image position adjustment values 1003, 1004, 1006, and 1007 are stored in the paper information storage unit 303, the image position adjustment values are fixed. Thereafter, for example, when a print job is received from the PC 102 and printing is performed, the CPU 201 displays the image position adjustment value from the HDD 208 corresponding to the type of print paper specified by the job and the paper feed stage, and the paper information of the HDD 208. Obtained from the table 501. Then, the CPU 201 or 211 executes the correction of the image forming position by adjusting the rendering position of the image data, controlling the operation timing of the conveying roller, based on the acquired image position adjustment value. As a result, even when different types of printing paper are mounted on a specific paper feed stage, it is possible to appropriately correct the deviation of the image forming position due to the printing paper. Further, even when a specific type of printing paper is loaded in a different paper feed stage, it is possible to appropriately correct the shift in the image forming position due to the paper feed stage.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the CPU 201 holds image position adjustment information corresponding to a plurality of paper feed stages in the paper information storage unit 303 for each piece of paper information. Then, the image position adjustment information corresponding to the paper feed stage in which the paper is set is acquired, and the image forming position at the time of printing is corrected based on the image position adjustment information. With such a configuration, correction information of the image forming position corresponding to the paper feed stage is appropriately acquired based on both the paper type and the paper feed stage, and the image forming position is appropriately corrected during printing. Can do.

  FIGS. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating another example of a paper setting screen used for paper setting to the paper feed stage by the paper feed stage paper setting unit 305. The basic configuration of the screens of FIGS. 13A and 13B is the same as FIG. When displaying the paper information selection screen 1301, the UI control unit 302 displays a list 1302 based on the paper information database 501 stored in the paper information storage unit 303. As illustrated in FIG. 13A, the CPU 201 determines, based on the sheet information stored in the sheet information storage unit 303, only the sheet information in which the image position adjustment information of the setting target sheet feed stage is “adjusted”. Is displayed on the list 1302.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for creating the list 1302. The processing in FIG. 14 is realized, for example, when the CPU 201 reads a program stored in the ROM 206 into the RAM 207 and executes it. Before executing the processing of FIG. 14, a creation list storage area for displaying the list 1302 is secured in a storage area such as a RAM.

  When the setting button 703 is pressed while the paper feed stage 702 is selected by the user on the paper setting screen 701, the processing in FIG. 14 is started. In step S1401, the CPU 201 acquires the selected paper feed stage information. In step S1402, the CPU 201 selects one piece of paper information from the paper information database 501 stored in the paper information storage unit 303 as a target for this processing. For example, the selection order of the paper information may be selected according to the arrangement order in the paper information database 501. In step S1403, the CPU 201 determines whether the image position adjustment information corresponding to the selected paper feed stage is “adjusted” among the image position adjustment information of the paper information selected in step S1402. If it is determined that adjustment has been performed, the process proceeds to S1404. If it is determined that adjustment has not been performed, the process proceeds to S1405.

  In step S1404, the CPU 201 stores this sheet information in a creation list storage area for displaying the list 1302, and the process advances to step S1405. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1403 that the adjustment has not been made, the process advances to step S1405, and the CPU 201 determines whether or not the processing in FIG. 14 has been performed for all the paper information held in the paper information database 501. If it is determined that the processing of FIG. 14 has been performed for all the paper information, the process proceeds to S1406. If it is determined that the processing of FIG. 14 has not been performed for all the paper information, the processing from S1402 is performed. repeat.

  In step S <b> 1406, the CPU 201 displays the paper information in the creation list storage area as a list 1302. After the process of S1406, the process of FIG.

  In FIGS. 13A and 14, the screen that displays only “adjusted” paper information for image position adjustment has been described. However, if the user can easily recognize whether or not the paper information has been adjusted when the paper information is selected, the display information may be realized in another display format. For example, as shown in the paper information selection screen 1304 in FIG. 13B, the “unadjusted” paper information may be grayed out (selection operation by the user is limited) and the list 1303 may be displayed. In addition, “adjusted” paper information may be displayed at the top of the list, and “unadjusted” paper information may be displayed at the bottom of the list.

  In FIG. 13B, the CPU 201 preferentially displays the “adjusted” paper information on the paper information selection screen, thereby facilitating determination when the user selects the paper information. It is possible to prevent selection of “unadjusted” paper information.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of the warning screen 1501. A warning screen 1501 is generated by the UI control unit 302 and displayed on the operation unit 204. The UI control unit 302 displays a warning screen 1501 on the paper information selection screen 806 when the user selects paper information whose image position adjustment is “not adjusted”.

  If paper information whose image position adjustment information is “unadjusted” is selected in the paper feed stage to be set, there is a possibility that the image print position may be shifted, so a warning screen 1501 warns the user. Do. The UI control unit 302 displays a plurality of paper feed stage information stored in the paper information storage unit 303 and image position adjustment information 805 for the paper information selected on the paper information selection screen 806 in the list 1502.

  When the user presses a button 1503, the CPU 201 closes the warning screen 1501 and displays the image position adjustment screen 1001 in order to perform image position adjustment for the paper feed stage selected before the warning screen 1501 is displayed. indicate. When the user presses a button 1504, the CPU 201 closes the warning screen 1501 and displays a paper information selection screen 801 or 806.

  As described above, when the user selects the paper information whose image adjustment position information 805 is “unadjusted”, the CPU 201 warns that the selected paper information is not adjusted in the paper feed stage to be set. To do. As a result, it is possible to prevent printing from being performed without adjusting the image formation position. Further, by simultaneously displaying information on the adjustment status of other paper feed stages on the warning screen, the user can easily select another “adjusted” paper feed stage.

[Other Examples]
The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or apparatus read and execute the program This process can be realized. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

  200 Controller: 201, 211 CPU: 206 ROM: 207 RAM

Claims (12)

An image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed stages,
Setting means for setting correction information for correcting the image formation position on the printing paper for each of the plurality of paper feed stages for each type of printing paper;
Image forming means for feeding printing paper from any of the plurality of paper feeding stages and forming an image on the printing paper;
When forming an image by the image forming unit, image formation is performed based on the type of the fed printing paper and the correction information set by the setting unit for the paper feed stage to which the printing paper is fed. Correction means for correcting the position;
An image forming apparatus comprising: Display means for displaying a setting screen for setting the correction information for each of the plurality of paper feed stages for each type of printing paper;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets the correction information for each of the plurality of paper feed stages received on the setting screen for each of the plurality of paper feed stages.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the setting screen includes a list display as to whether or not the correction information has been set for each of the plurality of paper feed stages.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a test printing unit that performs test printing by reflecting the correction information received on the setting screen. Second display means for displaying a second setting screen for setting the type of printing paper for each of the plurality of paper feed stages;
The second setting screen includes a list display of print paper types that can be set in the paper feed stage designated on the second setting screen,
The list of types of printing paper includes an indication as to whether or not the correction information has been set for the designated paper feed stage.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus.   The second display means preferentially displays the type of printing paper for which the correction information has been set in the list of types of printing paper with respect to the type of printing paper for which the correction information has not been set. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5. An accepting unit that accepts a selection of a print paper type from a user in the list of print paper types;
The type of printing paper received by the receiving means is a notification means for notifying the user that the setting has not been made when the correction information has not been set for the paper feed stage designated on the second setting screen. ,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:   A third display means for displaying a setting screen for setting the correction information for the paper feed stage when the correction information has not been set for the paper feed stage designated on the second setting screen; The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising: Storage means for storing, in association with each type of printing paper, information on the printing paper and correction information set by the setting means for each of the plurality of paper feed stages;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the setting screen and the second setting screen are displayed based on information stored in the storage unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction information is a value for controlling a registration position at the time of printing. An image forming method executed in an image forming apparatus having a plurality of paper feed stages,
A setting step for setting correction information for correcting the image formation position on the printing paper for each of the plurality of paper feed stages for each type of printing paper;
An image forming step of feeding printing paper from any of the plurality of paper feeding stages and forming an image on the printing paper;
When forming an image in the image forming step, image formation is performed based on the type of the printing paper fed and the correction information set in the setting step for the paper feed stage where the printing paper is fed. A correction process for correcting the position;
An image forming method comprising:   The program for functioning a computer as each means of the image forming apparatus of any one of Claims 1 thru | or 10.

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