JP2017128112A - Post-treatment agent application control device, image formation system, post-treatment agent application control method, and post-treatment agent application control program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the glossiness difference in a boundary between an application area and a non-application area of a post-treatment agent.SOLUTION: Control means 70 determines an application amount of a post-treatment agent to be applied to an image formed on a recording medium, determines the first glossiness being the glossiness of a non-image area when the post-treatment agent with the determined application amount is applied to the non-image area of the recording medium, compares the magnitude relation between a predetermined prescribed value and the glossiness difference between the determined first glossiness and the second glossiness being the glossiness of the non-image area of the recording medium before application of the post-treatment agent, and gradually changes the application amount of the post-treatment agent from the image area to the non-image area when the glossiness difference is larger than the prescribed value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

  The present invention relates to a post-processing agent application control apparatus, an image forming system, a post-processing agent application control method, and a post-processing agent application control program.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an image forming apparatus that is used for outputting digitized information or used for copying a document has become an indispensable device. Among such image forming apparatuses, there is known an image forming apparatus that applies a post-treatment agent to a printing surface of a printed material after printing.

  In such an image forming apparatus, in order to reduce the cost per page (CPP: Cost Per Page) and improve the drying property, it is necessary to reduce the amount of post-treatment agent applied. Thus, a technique for applying a post-processing agent only to the printing unit has been proposed and already known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  When the post-processing agent is applied only to the printing unit as in the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the printing unit is shifted from the printing unit depending on the printing accuracy, the post-processing agent application accuracy, and the conveyance accuracy of the recording medium. A post-treatment agent may be applied to the position. That is, the post-treatment agent may not be applied to the region where the post-treatment agent is desired to be applied. In order to prevent this, when using the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to apply the post-processing agent to a region wider than the printing portion in consideration of the accuracy.

  However, when the post-processing agent is applied to an area wider than the printing portion, the post-processing agent is also applied to a region other than the printing portion (hereinafter referred to as “non-printing region”). There is a gloss difference at the boundary between the non-printing area to which the agent is applied (hereinafter referred to as “application area”) and the non-printing area to which the post-treatment agent is not applied (hereinafter referred to as “non-application area”). There is a problem such as.

  The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object thereof is to reduce a gloss difference at the boundary between a post-treatment agent application region and a non-application region.

  In order to solve the above problems, an aspect of the present invention provides a post-treatment agent application control device that controls application of the post-treatment agent to the recording medium by a post-treatment agent application device that applies the post-treatment agent to the recording medium. A first post-processing agent application amount determining unit that determines an application amount of the post-processing agent to be applied to an image formed on the recording medium, and the determined post-treatment agent after the determined application amount is recorded in the recording medium. A first gloss level determining unit that determines a first gloss level that is a gloss level of the non-image area when applied to the non-image area of the medium; and the determined first gloss level and the post-processing A magnitude relationship comparison unit that compares the magnitude difference between the second glossiness, which is the glossiness of the non-image area of the recording medium before the agent is applied, and a predetermined value, When the difference in glossiness is larger than the predetermined value, the applied amount of the post-processing agent is set in the image area. A second post-treatment agent imparting amount determination unit changed in a stepwise manner toward the Luo non-image area, characterized in that it comprises a.

  According to the present invention, the difference in gloss at the boundary between the post-treatment agent application region and the non-application region can be reduced.

1 is an overall view (schematic side view) illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) is the schematic of the example of an arrangement structure of the droplet discharge head of the image formation means and post-processing liquid provision means which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (b) is a one part enlarged view of (a). . FIG. 2 is a bottom view and an enlarged view illustrating a case where a line-type head is used as an example of an image forming unit and a post-processing liquid discharge unit of the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. 1A is a conceptual diagram of an example of an image forming system in an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of a host device. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram explaining an example of the data management part of the control means in embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram explaining an example of the image output of the control means in embodiment of this invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the provision method of the post-processing liquid by the post-processing liquid provision means in embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining processing when the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention determines the amount of post-processing liquid applied. It is a figure which shows an example of the post-processing liquid application amount determination table in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the non-printing area glossiness determination table in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the other example of the non-printing area glossiness determination table in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the plain glossiness determination table in embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the provision area | region glossiness determination table in embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the function structure of the control means in the high-order apparatus in embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a control unit in the printer device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  An image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the image forming apparatus 100 includes four color ejection heads of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). An image forming apparatus to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to one provided with these ejection heads. That is, the image forming apparatus to which the present invention can be applied includes an ejection head corresponding to green (G), red (R), light cyan (LC), and / or other colors, or black (K). Including only a discharge head. In the following description, “K, C, M, Y” used as subscripts for the sign numbers will be used to indicate those corresponding to black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, respectively.

  In this embodiment, continuous paper wound in a roll shape (hereinafter referred to as “roll paper Md”) is used as the recording medium. However, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention can form an image. The medium is not limited to roll paper. That is, the recording medium on which the image forming apparatus according to the present invention can form an image may be a cut sheet. The recording medium on which an image can be formed using the image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes plain paper, fine paper, thin paper, cardboard, recording paper and roll paper, and an OHP sheet, a synthetic resin film, a metal It includes a thin film and other sheet-like ones that can form an image with ink or the like on a specific surface.

  Here, the roll paper is a continuous paper longer than a standard size. The roll paper includes continuous paper in which severable perforations are formed at predetermined intervals, and continuous paper in which perforations are not formed. When forming a form using continuous paper on which perforations are formed, one page of the form is formed by an area sandwiched between perforations.

(1. Configuration of the image forming apparatus 100)
As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a carry-in means 10, a pretreatment liquid applying means 20, a pretreatment liquid drying means 31, an image forming means 40, and a posttreatment agent. A post-treatment liquid application means 50 comprising an application device, a permeation means 55, a post-treatment liquid drying means 32, and a carry-out means 60 are provided. The carry-in means 10 carries the roll paper Md, which is a recording medium, into the image forming apparatus 100. The pretreatment liquid application unit 20 applies the pretreatment liquid to the carried roll paper Md. The pretreatment liquid application unit 20 is a pretreatment unit that executes application of the pretreatment liquid to the roll paper Md as preprocessing. The pretreatment liquid drying means 31 which is a kind of the drying means 30 dries the roll paper Md on which the pretreatment has been executed. The image forming unit 40 forms an image on the surface of the roll paper Md to which the pretreatment liquid is applied. The post-processing liquid application unit 50 applies a post-processing liquid, which is a kind of post-processing agent, to the roll paper Md on which an image is formed. The post-processing liquid application unit 50 is a post-processing unit that executes the application of the post-processing liquid to the roll paper Md as post-processing. The infiltration means 55 infiltrates the droplets on the roll paper Md. The post-processing liquid drying means 32, which is a kind of drying means 30, dries the ink and the post-processing liquid on the roll paper Md. The carry-out means 60 winds up the post-processed roll paper Md and carries it out of the image forming apparatus 100. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a control unit 70 that controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 as described later.

  Hereinafter, each configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be specifically described. Note that the image forming apparatus 100 does not include any one or more of a pretreatment liquid application unit 20, a drying unit 30 (pretreatment liquid drying unit 31 and posttreatment liquid drying unit 32), a permeation unit 55, and the like which will be described later. It can also be configured.

(2. Configuration of carry-in means 10)
The carry-in means 10 is means for conveying the roll paper Md to the pretreatment liquid applying means 20 and the like. The carry-in means 10 includes, for example, a paper feed unit 11 and a plurality of transport rollers 12. The carry-in means 10 uses the transport roller 12 and the like, and the roll paper Md wound around the paper feed roll of the paper feed unit 11 is held in the pretreatment liquid application means 20 disposed downstream in the transport direction of the roll paper Md. Move towards.

(3. Configuration of pretreatment liquid applying means 20)
The pretreatment liquid applying unit 20 is a unit that performs processing on the roll paper Md before an image is formed. The pretreatment liquid application unit 20 is a unit that performs pretreatment using the pretreatment liquid on the surface of the roll paper Md carried in by the carry-in unit 10.

  Here, the pretreatment in the present embodiment is a treatment for uniformly applying a pretreatment liquid having a function of aggregating ink to the surface of the roll paper Md. By this preprocessing, the image forming apparatus 100 can effectively aggregate ink on the surface of the roll paper Md even when an image is formed on the roll paper Md other than the inkjet-type dedicated paper.

(4. Configuration of pretreatment liquid drying means 31)
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a pretreatment liquid drying unit 31 that dries roll paper Md that has been pretreated by the pretreatment liquid application unit 20, and a roll that has been postprocessed by the posttreatment liquid application unit 50. A drying means 30 comprising post-processing liquid drying means 32 for drying the paper Md is provided. The drying means 30 is means for drying the roll paper Md by evaporating moisture, which is a solvent of the pretreatment liquid, by heating the roll paper Md.

  The pretreatment liquid drying means 31 includes a plurality of heat rollers. For example, each of these heat rollers is heated to 80 to 100 ° C., and is disposed so as to contact the back surface of the roll paper Md. A hot air heater may be added to the pretreatment liquid drying means 31.

(5. Configuration of image forming means 40)
The image forming unit 40 is a unit that forms an image on the roll paper Md. The image forming unit 40 forms an image on the surface of the roll paper Md by ejecting ink onto the roll paper Md dried by the pretreatment liquid drying unit 31.

  An example of the outer shape of the image forming unit 40 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 2A is a schematic plan view showing an example of the entire configuration of the image forming unit 40 of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2B is an enlarged plan view showing an example of a black (K) ejection head 40 </ b> K which is one of the main parts of the image forming unit 40.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the image forming unit 40 includes a full line type head. This full-line type head has four ejection heads 40K, 40C, 40M corresponding to black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) from the upstream side in the transport direction Xm of the roll paper Md. And 40Y are arranged.

  In this embodiment, the black (K) ejection head 40K includes four head units 40K-1, 40K-2, 40K-3, and 40K-4 in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction Xm of the roll paper Md. Arranged in a staggered pattern. As a result, the image forming unit 40 can form an image over the entire width direction of the image forming area of the roll paper Md. In other words, the image forming unit 40 forms an image using the entire region in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the roll paper Md as a printing area.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the head unit 40K-1 includes a plurality of nozzles 40N on the nozzle surface (the outer surface of the nozzle plate 43 in FIG. 3A described later). Here, the plurality of nozzles 40N are ejection openings for ink that is liquid, and are portions that are also called print nozzles. The nozzles 40N constitute a nozzle row in which a plurality are arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction of the head unit 40K-1. The head unit 40K-1 is a single-pass inkjet method having nozzle rows in the main scanning direction. The head unit 40K-1 may include a plurality of nozzle rows.

  Here, a detailed configuration of the ejection head 40K included in the image forming unit 40 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3A, the ejection head 40K includes a flow path plate 41 that forms a path for ejected ink, and a vibration plate 42 that is joined to the lower surface of the flow path plate 41 (inner direction of the ejection head 40K). And a nozzle plate 43 joined to the upper surface of the flow path plate 41 (in the outer direction of the ejection head 40K), and a frame member 44 that holds the peripheral edge of the vibration plate 42. Further, the ejection head 40K has a pressure generating means 45 that is an actuator means for deforming the diaphragm 42.

  The discharge head 40K according to the present embodiment stacks the flow path plate 41, the vibration plate 42, and the nozzle plate 43, thereby forming the nozzle communication path 40R and the liquid chamber 40F, which are flow paths communicating with the nozzle 40N. Forming. Further, the ejection head 40K is further laminated with a frame member 44 to form an ink inlet 40S for supplying ink to the liquid chamber 40F, a common liquid chamber 40L for supplying ink to the liquid chamber 40F, and the like. .

  Further, the frame member 44 is formed with an accommodating portion for accommodating the pressure generating means 45, a recess serving as the common liquid chamber 40L, and an ink supply port 40IN for supplying ink to the common liquid chamber 40L from the outside of the ejection head. Yes.

  The pressure generating means 45 includes a piezoelectric element 45P that is an electromechanical conversion element, a base substrate 45B to which the piezoelectric element 45P is bonded and fixed, and a support portion disposed in a gap between adjacent piezoelectric elements 45P. The pressure generating means 45 includes an FPC cable 45C for connecting the piezoelectric element 45P to the drive circuit.

  FIG. 3B is an enlarged view of a part of the piezoelectric element 45P. As shown in FIG. 3B, the piezoelectric element 45P is a stacked piezoelectric element (PZT) in which piezoelectric materials 45Pp and internal electrodes 45Pe are alternately stacked. The internal electrode 45Pe has a plurality of individual electrodes 45Pei and a plurality of common electrodes 45Pec. The internal electrodes 45Pe are configured by alternately connecting individual electrodes 45Pei or common electrodes 45Pec to the end face of the piezoelectric material 45Pp.

  Hereinafter, an operation of the ejection head 40K ejecting ink from the nozzle 40N (pull-pushing operation) will be specifically described.

  In the ejection head 40K, first, the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element 45P constituting the pressure generating means 45 is lowered from the reference potential, and the piezoelectric element 45P is reduced in the stacking direction. The piezoelectric element 45P is contracted to cause the diaphragm 42 to bend and deform. Due to the bending deformation of the vibration plate 42, the volume of the liquid chamber 40F of the ejection head 40K is expanded. In other words, the volume of the liquid chamber 40F is expanded by lowering the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element 45P from the reference potential. By this series of operations, ink is caused to flow from the common liquid chamber 40L into the liquid chamber 40F in the ejection head 40K.

  Next, by increasing the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element 45P of the ejection head 40K above the reference potential, the piezoelectric element 45P is extended in the stacking direction. The diaphragm 42 is deformed in the direction of the nozzle 40N by the extension of the piezoelectric element 45P. Due to the deformation of the vibration plate 42, the volume of the liquid chamber 40F of the ejection head 40K is reduced. In other words, the volume of the liquid chamber 40F is contracted by raising the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element 45P above the reference potential. By this series of operations, pressure is applied to the ink in the liquid chamber 40F in the ejection head 40K. The ink is ejected from the nozzles 40N by the pressure applied to the ink by the ejection head 40K.

  Thereafter, the ejection head 40K returns the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element 45P to the reference potential. As a result, the diaphragm 42 returns to the initial position and is restored. At this time, since the liquid chamber 40F expands in the ejection head 40K, the internal pressure of the liquid chamber 40F is reduced, and ink is filled and replenished from the common liquid chamber 40L to the liquid chamber 40F. Next, after the vibration of the meniscus surface of the nozzle 40N is attenuated and stabilized, the ejection head 40K shifts to an operation for ejecting the next ink. The ejection head 40K repeats the above operation.

  As described above, the ejection head 40K uses the pressure generating means 45 to bend and deform the diaphragm 42 to change the volume of the liquid chamber 40F, thereby changing the pressure acting on the ink in the liquid chamber 40F. Ink is ejected from 40N.

  The driving method of the ejection head 40K to which the present invention can be applied is not limited to the above example (pull-push). For example, the ejection head 40K may be driven by striking or pushing by controlling the voltage (driving waveform) applied to the piezoelectric element 45P. Further, the pressure generating means 45 is a thermal type that generates heat bubbles by heating ink in the liquid chamber 40F using a heating resistor, or a vibration plate and an electrode that are opposed to each other on the wall surface of the liquid chamber 40F. An electrostatic type that deforms the diaphragm by an electrostatic force generated between the electrode and the electrode may be used. The other ejection heads 40C, 40M, and 40Y have the same configuration as that of the black (K) ejection head 40K. Therefore, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment uses the image forming unit 40 (the four discharge heads 40K, 40C, 40M, and 40Y) to carry out the entire roll of the roll paper Md by one transport operation. A black-and-white or full-color image is formed.

(6. Configuration of post-treatment liquid applying means)
The post-processing liquid application unit 50 is a unit that performs processing on the roll paper Md after the image is formed. The post-processing liquid application unit 50 is a unit that performs post-processing using the post-processing liquid on the surface of the roll paper Md on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 40. As shown in FIG. 2A, the post-processing liquid application unit 50 is disposed downstream of the image forming unit 40 in the transport direction Xm of the roll paper Md. In the post-processing liquid application unit 50, similarly to the image forming unit 40, the ejection heads 50H are arranged in a staggered manner in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction Xm of the roll paper Md.

  The post-treatment liquid application unit 50 controls the discharge amount of the post-treatment liquid by controlling the drive waveform input to the ejection head 50H. In other words, in other words, the image forming unit 40 forms an image using the entire region in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the roll paper Md as a printing region. Can discharge the post-treatment liquid over the entire width direction of the image forming area of the roll paper Md using the discharge head 50H. In other words, the post-processing liquid application unit 50 applies the post-processing liquid to the printing area that is the entire region in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the roll paper Md. Note that the configuration of the ejection head 50H includes the same configuration as the ejection head 40K of the image forming unit 40 described with reference to FIGS. Therefore, the detailed configuration of the ejection head 50H will be described by appropriately replacing the configuration of the ejection head 40K, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  Note that the post-processing in the present embodiment is processing for discharging and depositing post-processing liquid in the printing area of the roll paper Md. By this post-processing, it is possible to prevent the ink from peeling off due to the surface of the roll paper Md on which an image is formed being rubbed against another object (for example, another surface of the roll paper Md). That is, post-processing can improve scratch resistance and scratch resistance in a printed image. Furthermore, post-processing can improve the glossiness of the printed surface, storage stability, and the like. The storage stability referred to in the present embodiment includes water resistance, light resistance, gas resistance, and the like.

(7. Configuration of penetration means 55)
The permeating means 55 is a means for permeating the solvent in the ink into the roll paper Md. In the permeation means 55, the time for the solvent to permeate is gained by increasing the transport distance of the roll paper Md. Furthermore, the roll paper Md and ink are heated by the heating means 56 shown in FIG. 1 while setting the atmospheric temperature inside the infiltration means 55 and the temperature at which the moisture does not evaporate from 30 ° C. to 100 ° C. As a result, the viscosity is lowered in the state of the aqueous solution containing the high boiling point solvent in the ink, and the permeation rate is accelerated.

(8. Configuration of post-processing liquid drying means 32)
As shown in FIG. 1, the post-processing liquid drying unit 32 includes a plurality of heat rollers. For example, each of these heat rollers is heated to 80 to 100 ° C., and is disposed so as to contact the back surface of the roll paper Md. A hot air heater may be added to the post-processing liquid drying means 32 as well. The post-processing liquid drying unit 32 is a unit that evaporates water that is a solvent of the ink and the post-processing liquid, and dries the roll paper Md.

(9. Configuration of carry-out means 60)
The carry-out means 60 is a means for carrying out the roll paper Md on which an image is formed. As shown in FIG. 1, the carry-out means 60 includes a storage unit 61 and a plurality of transport rollers 62. The carry-out means 60 winds and stores the roll paper Md on which the image is formed on the storage roll of the storage unit 61 using the transport roller 62 or the like.

  Note that when the roll paper Md is wound around the storage roll of the storage unit 61, the pressure acting on the roll paper Md is increased, and there is a high possibility that another image is transferred to the back surface of the roll paper Md. In this case, in order to prevent the transfer of the image to the back surface of the roll paper Md, a drying unit for further drying the roll paper Md immediately before winding may be provided.

(10. Configuration of control means 70)
The control unit 70 has a configuration equivalent to a computer, and controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 by executing a program stored in the storage unit in the arithmetic processing unit. In this embodiment, the control unit 70 instructs each component of the image forming apparatus 100 to operate, and controls the operation. The control means 70 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  Note that the image forming apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention can also be used for production printing as a printing system. Here, production printing is a type of image forming system, and can efficiently print images and the like on a large amount of image forming media in a short time by efficiently managing jobs and print data. It is. Specifically, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of devices, for example, a RIP (Raster Image Processor) device and a printer. The RIP device is a device that controls the printing order of print data and converts the print data into raster image data. The printer is a control device that controls a printing operation based on the converted raster image data. is there.

  In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can construct a workflow system that performs management from creation of print data to distribution of printed matter. That is, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can increase the printing speed by separating the devices such as the RIP device and the printer and distributing the processing in a system with a long processing time such as the workflow. To do.

  FIG. 4A is a conceptual diagram of an example of an image forming system in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a schematic configuration diagram of an example of a host device.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, in the image forming system according to the embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 70 of the image forming apparatus 100 includes a host apparatus (RIP apparatus, DFE, Digital Front End) 71 that performs RIP processing and the like. It can be distributed to the printer devices 72 that perform printing processing and the like. Here, the host device 71 and the printer device 72 are connected by a plurality of data lines 70LD and control lines 70LC. The data line 70LD is a data bus used when print image data is transmitted from the host apparatus 71 to the printer apparatus 72. The control line 70LC is a control bus for communicating print information data between the host device 71 and the printer controller 72C included in the printer device 72.

<High-level device 71>
A host apparatus 71 corresponding to a part of the control unit 70 of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention print job data (from a host apparatus that instructs the image forming apparatus 100 to perform print processing) ( A device that performs RIP processing based on job data and print data. That is, the host device 71 according to the present embodiment creates print image data corresponding to each color based on the print job data. The print image data according to the present embodiment includes “image data related to post-processing” related to the discharge of the post-processing liquid discharged by the post-processing liquid applying unit 50.

  Further, the upper level apparatus 71 according to the present embodiment creates control information data for controlling the printing operation based on the print job data, the host apparatus information, and the like. Here, the control information data includes, as printing conditions, printing form, printing type, paper supply / discharge information, printing surface order, printing paper size, data size of printing image data, resolution, paper type information, gradation, color information. And data on the number of pages to be printed. Further, the control information data according to the present embodiment includes post-processing liquid control data related to the discharge of the post-processing liquid discharged from the post-processing liquid applying unit 50.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, in this embodiment, the host device 71 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 71a, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 71b, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 71c, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive). 71d. The host device 71 includes an external I / F 71e, a control information I / F 71f, and an image data I / F 71g. Furthermore, the host device 71 includes a bus 71h that connects the CPU 71a and the like, so that the host device 71 can transmit and receive the CPU 71a and the like to each other via the bus 71h.

  The CPU 71a controls the overall operation of the host device 71. The CPU 71a realizes a function of controlling the operation of the host device 71 using a control program stored in the ROM 71b and / or the HDD 71d, a post-treatment agent application control program, or the like. Note that functional blocks implemented in the host device 71 will be described later.

  The ROM 71b, RAM 71c, and HDD 71d are storage means for storing data and the like. A control program for controlling the CPU 71a is stored in advance in the ROM 71b and / or the HDD 71d. The RAM 71c is used as a work memory for the CPU 71a.

  The external I / F 71e controls communication with a host device or the like that is an external device of the image forming apparatus 100. The control information I / F 71f controls communication of control information data. The image data I / F 71g controls communication of print image data.

<Printer 72>
FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and mainly represents functional blocks of the printer device 72 constituting the image forming apparatus 100. The control unit 70 of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can be configured by functional blocks provided in the printer device 72. The printer device 72 is a device that controls the operation of forming an image on a recording medium based on print image data and control information data input from the host device 71. The printer device 72 includes a printer controller 72C and a printer engine 72E.

  The printer controller 72C controls the operation of the printer engine 72E. The printer controller 72C transmits and receives control information data and the like to and from the host device 71 via the control line 70LC. Further, the printer controller 72C transmits / receives control information data and the like to / from the printer engine 72E via the control line 72LC. Further, the printer controller 72C controls the printer engine 72E based on the control information data, and executes printing according to the control information data including the type of recording medium, the printing speed, the volume of droplets to be ejected, and the like. Can do.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the printer controller 72C has a CPU 72Cp and a print control unit 72Cc. In addition, the printer controller 72C connects the CPU 72Cp and the print control unit 72Cc via a bus 72Cb so that they can transmit and receive each other. Here, the bus 72Cb is connected to the control line 70LC via the communication I / F.

  The CPU 72Cp controls the operation of the entire printer device 72 using a control program stored in the ROM 71b (FIG. 4B). The print control unit 72Cc transmits and receives commands and status information to and from the printer engine 72E based on the control information data transmitted from the host device 71. The print control unit 72Cc controls the operation of the printer engine 72E. .

  The printer engine 72E is a device that controls the operation of forming an image on a recording medium based on print image data input from the host device 71 and control information data input from the printer controller 72C. The printer engine 72E controls the post-processing operation based on the print image data and post-processing ejection pattern data input from the host apparatus 71 and the control information data and post-processing control data input from the printer controller 72C. Device.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the printer engine 72E is connected to a plurality of data lines 70LD (70LDY, 70LD-C, 70LD-M, 70LD-K, and 70LD-P). The printer engine 72E receives print image data from the host device 71 via a plurality of data lines 70LD. Thus, the printer engine 72E can perform the printing operation and post-processing operation for each color based on the received print image data.

  The printer engine 72E has a plurality of data management units 72EC, 72EM, 72EY, 72EK, and 72EP. The printer engine 72E includes an image output unit (for example, a head module) 72Ei to which print image data and the like are input from the data management unit 72EC and the like, and a conveyance control unit 72Ec that controls conveyance of the recording medium. Further, in this embodiment, the printer engine 72E includes a post-processing liquid output unit 72Ep to which image data related to post-processing is input from a data management unit (post-processing control unit) 72EP.

  The printer engine 72E may further include or be connected to a post-processing drying control unit, a pre-processing liquid application control unit, a pre-processing post-drying control unit, a permeation control unit 73, a pre-winding drying control unit, and the like. .

  Here, the configuration of the data management unit 72EP related to post-processing will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the data management unit 72EP includes a logic circuit 72EPl and a memory 72EPm. The logic circuit 72EPl is connected to the host device 71 through the data line 70LD-P. The logic circuit 72EPl is connected to the print control unit 72Cc of the printer controller 72C via the control line 72LP.

  Based on the control signal output from the print control unit 72Cc, the logic circuit 72EPl stores image data related to post-processing output from the host device 71 in the memory 72EPm.

  The memory 72EPm stores the print image data output from the host device 71 based on the control signal output from the print control unit 72Cc.

  Further, the logic circuit 72ECl provided in the data management unit 72EC reads the print image data Ic corresponding to cyan (C) from the memory 72ECm based on the control signal output from the print control unit 72Cc, and sends it to the image output unit 72Ei. Output.

  Furthermore, the logic circuit 72EPl receives from the print control unit (control unit) 72Cc, which is a control unit of the entire image forming system, the resolution of the image to be created, the droplet configuration (the type of recording medium, the total amount regulation value of ink, the printing speed, etc.). Receives information (hereinafter referred to as “operation parameter information”), such as binary values of large droplets, non-droplet droplets, four values of large droplets, medium droplets, small droplets, non-droplet droplets, etc.

  Note that the recommended value for the total ink amount is determined by the type of recording medium, the printing speed, and the resolution of the image to be created. For this reason, the logic circuit 72EPl does not need to receive from the print control unit (control means) 72Cc when the recommended value is set for the total ink amount regulation value, and creates the type of recording medium, the printing speed, and the like. The recommended value may be determined from the resolution of the image.

  Based on the information received from the host device 71 (or the print control unit Cc), the logic circuit 72EPl applies a droplet ejection amount (droplet ejection density) per unit area of the post-treatment liquid (hereinafter referred to as “amount of post-treatment liquid applied”). ”).

  The logic circuit 72EPl outputs a drive waveform corresponding to the post-processing liquid discharge pattern Ip, which is a specific discharge pattern corresponding to the applied amount of the post-processing liquid determined as described above, to the post-processing liquid output unit 72Ep, or Temporarily, the post-processing liquid discharge pattern Ip is stored in the memory 72EPm, and is output to the post-processing liquid output unit 72Ep according to the control signal.

  Here, the data management unit 72EP may use a hardware logic circuit configured by a combination of logic circuits and the like.

  The configuration of the image output unit 72Ei will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the image output unit 72Ei, which is a head module that ejects ink liquid, includes an output control unit 72Eic and the ejection heads 40C, 40M, 40Y, and 40K. The output control unit 72Eic outputs a print image pattern based on the print image data corresponding to each color to the ejection heads 40C, 40M, 40Y and 40K corresponding to each color. Thereby, the output control unit 72Eic can control the operation of the ejection head 40C and the like based on the print image data.

  Specifically, the drive waveforms corresponding to the image formation patterns (Ic, Im, Iy, Ik) created by the logic circuits of the data management units 72EC, 72EM, 72EY, 72EK are controlled by the transport control unit 72Ec. Then, it is applied to the piezoelectric element 45P which is the pressure generating means of the ejection heads 40C, 40M, 40Y and 40K. When the drive waveform is applied, the piezoelectric element 45P expands and contracts. The expansion / contraction force acts on the ink in the nozzle communication path 40R from the piezoelectric element 45P via the vibration plate 42, and a pressure change is generated in the nozzle communication path 40R, whereby ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle 40N. Thus, the output control unit 72Eic can control the operation of the ejection head 40C and the like based on the print image data Ic to Ik.

  The output control unit 72Eic individually controls the plurality of ejection heads 40C and the like. Further, the output control unit 72Eic may simultaneously control the plurality of ejection heads 40C and the like using the input print image data (for example, Ic in FIG. 5). Furthermore, the output control unit 72Eic may control the ejection head 40C and the like based on a control signal input from the control unit 70. The output control unit 72Eic may control the ejection head 40C and the like based on, for example, a user operation input.

  Similarly to FIG. 7, the post-processing liquid output unit 72Ep that is a head module that discharges the post-processing liquid includes an output control unit and a discharge head 50H. The output control unit outputs the post-processing liquid discharge pattern Ip to the discharge head 50H (see FIG. 2). Specifically, a drive waveform created by the logic circuit 72ECl of the data management unit 72EP and corresponding to the post-processing liquid discharge pattern Ip is applied to the piezoelectric element 45P of the discharge head 50H while the timing is controlled by the output control unit. An ink droplet is ejected from the nozzle 50N due to a pressure change generated in the nozzle communication path 40R via the vibration plate. The output control unit can control the operation of the ejection head 50H based on the post-processing liquid ejection pattern Ip.

  As described above, the printer device 72 can control the image formation of each color independently of each other. Further, the printer device 72 may change the configuration of the printer engine 72E according to the number of colors of print image data (C, M, Y and K, or only K colors, etc.) or the number of ejection heads.

  Returning to FIG. The printer device 72 uses the permeation control unit 73 and the post-treatment liquid drying control unit connected to the print control unit 72Cc, and uses the type of recording medium, the amount of ink and post-treatment liquid applied, and the drying means 30 and the permeation liquid. The means 55 is controlled.

  Further, the printer device 72 appropriately controls the preprocessing operation of the preprocessing control unit and the preprocessing drying control unit connected to the print control unit 72Cc according to the type of the recording medium and the image data.

(11. Control of post-processing liquid discharge pattern)
Next, an operation when the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment forms an image will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation when the image forming apparatus 100 forms an image. Each unit in the image forming apparatus 100 performs an image forming operation according to the following steps.

  The control unit 70 included in the image forming apparatus 100 starts image formation and printing based on print job data, operation parameter information, and the like input from the outside (S801). As already described, the control means 70 included in the image forming apparatus 100 can be configured by distributing functions such as the host apparatus 71 and the printer apparatus 72. In the following description, it is assumed that the control unit 70 in the image forming apparatus 100 is realized by the print control unit 72Cc included in the printer device 72. Therefore, following step S801, the control unit 70 of the image forming apparatus 100 stores the input print job data, operation parameter information, and the like in storage units (ROM 71b, RAM 71c, HDD 71d, etc.) that are higher than the control unit 70. (Set) (S802).

  The image forming apparatus 100 uses the control unit 70 to generate print image data, control information data, and the like based on the contents stored in the ROM 71b, the RAM 71c, and the HDD 71d as storage units (S803).

  The image forming apparatus 100 uses the control unit 70 to determine the application amount of the pretreatment liquid and the drying strength of the pretreatment liquid in S808 based on the generated control information data (S804).

  The image forming apparatus 100 determines the application amount of the post-processing liquid and the drying strength of the post-processing liquid in S812 based on the set operation parameter information using the control unit 70 (S805). That is, in this embodiment, the control means 70 functions as a post-treatment agent application control device. Note that the image forming apparatus 100 may be configured to perform the processing of S805 using the host apparatus 71. That is, the host device 71 may be configured to function alone as a post-treatment agent application control device. Further, the image forming apparatus 100 may be configured to perform the processing of S805 using the printer device 72. That is, the printer device 72 may be configured to function alone as a post-treatment agent application control device. The determination method of the application amount of the post-processing liquid in S805 is one of the gist according to the present embodiment. A method for determining the amount of post-treatment liquid applied in S805 will be described later with reference to FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 100 uses the carry-in means 10 to start carrying (conveying) the recording medium to the pretreatment liquid applying means 20 or the like (S806). Note that the image forming apparatus 100 may perform S806 immediately after the start of image formation in S801.

  The image forming apparatus 100 performs pre-processing using the pre-processing liquid application unit 20 and applies the pre-processing liquid (S807). Here, the pretreatment liquid drying means 31 applies the pretreatment liquid based on the application amount of the pretreatment liquid determined in S804.

  The image forming apparatus 100 uses the pretreatment liquid drying unit 31 to dry the recording medium (S808). Here, the pretreatment liquid drying means 31 dries the recording medium based on the pretreatment liquid dry strength determined in S804.

  The image forming apparatus 100 uses the image forming unit 40 to form an image on the surface of the recording medium based on the print image data generated in S803 (S809).

  Here, the image forming unit 40 can form an image by further using the type of the recording medium and the resolution of the image to be formed. Further, the image forming unit 40 can control the operation of forming an image by controlling the driving voltage applied to the piezoelectric element.

  The image forming apparatus 100 uses the post-processing liquid applying unit 50 to perform post-processing on the recording medium (S810). Here, the post-treatment liquid application unit 50 applies the post-treatment liquid based on the application amount of the post-treatment liquid determined in S805.

  The image forming apparatus 100 causes the ink and the post-treatment liquid to permeate the recording medium using the permeation unit 55 (S811).

  The image forming apparatus 100 uses the post-processing liquid drying unit 32 to dry the recording medium (S812). Here, the post-processing liquid drying means 32 dries the recording medium based on the drying strength determined in S805.

  The recording medium is unloaded using the unloading means 60 (S813). Thereafter, the image forming apparatus 100 ends the operation for forming an image.

(12. Post-treatment liquid application method by post-treatment liquid application means)
Next, a method for applying the post-treatment liquid by the post-treatment liquid application unit 50 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b). FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams for explaining a method for applying the post-treatment liquid by the post-treatment liquid application unit 50 according to the present embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the post-processing liquid application unit 50 is configured to apply a post-processing agent to the printed surface of the printed material after printing in order to improve the fixability (scratch resistance) of the printing unit. At this time, in the present embodiment, the post-processing liquid application unit 50 is configured to apply the post-processing liquid only to the printing unit. This is because it is necessary to reduce the application amount of the post-treatment liquid in order to reduce the cost per page (CPP: Cost Per Page) and to improve the drying property.

  When the post-processing liquid is applied only to the printing unit, the post-processing liquid may be applied to a position shifted from the printing unit depending on the printing accuracy, the post-processing liquid application accuracy, and the recording medium conveyance accuracy. Therefore, the post-processing liquid application unit 50 according to the present embodiment applies the post-processing liquid to an area wider than the printing unit (image area) in consideration of the accuracy.

  However, when the post-processing liquid is applied to an area wider than the printing unit, the post-processing liquid is also applied to a part of the non-printing area that is an area other than the printing part (non-image area). An area that is a part of the non-printing area and to which the post-processing liquid is applied is referred to as an “applying area”. The glossiness of the application area is different from the glossiness of the non-application area, which is a non-printing area to which no post-treatment liquid is applied. That is, there is a difference in glossiness at the boundary between the applied area and the non-applied area.

  Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment performs the following when the difference in glossiness at the boundary between the application region and the non-application region exceeds the maximum glossiness difference (predetermined value: X) allowed as quality. The post-treatment liquid application amount is determined. The glossiness in the present invention is an index representing the degree of regular reflection of light on the surface of an object. The glossiness in the present invention may be measured directly or indirectly using some glossiness meter or the like, or may be calculated from the measurement results using any glossiness meter. For example, a discrete value may be acquired using a gloss meter and calculated using a function therefrom. It is desirable to use a gloss meter that conforms to the ISO standard or JIS standard, but this is not a limitation. The glossiness difference in the present invention refers to the difference in glossiness.

  That is, in such a case, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, has a difference in glossiness at the boundary between adjacent application areas and an adjacent application area. The application amount of the post-processing liquid is changed stepwise from the application region to the non-application region so that the difference in glossiness at the boundary with the non-application region is equal to or less than the maximum glossiness difference. Note that the stepwise change in the application amount of the post-treatment liquid means that the application amount of the post-treatment liquid is reduced or increased compared to adjacent application regions. A specific method for determining the amount of post-treatment liquid applied will be described with reference to FIG.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment reduces the difference in glossiness at the boundary between the post-treatment liquid application area and the non-application area while reducing the application amount of the post-treatment liquid. It becomes possible to make it.

  In the following, the application area to which the same amount of post-treatment liquid as the printing unit is applied is referred to as application area 1. The application area 1 is an area that is wider than the printing unit in consideration of the application accuracy of the post-processing liquid and to which the post-processing liquid is applied. In addition, as described with reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B, the areas where the application amount of the post-treatment liquid is changed in stages from the application area 1 to the non-application area are “application area 2” and “application”. It is written as “region 3”, and the assigned region is represented by a number.

(13. Method for determining amount of post-treatment liquid applied)
A process (post-treatment agent application control method) when the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment determines the application amount of the post-treatment liquid will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining processing when the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment determines the application amount of the post-processing liquid.

  When the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment determines the application amount of the post-processing liquid, first, the control unit 70 determines the type of the recording medium, the resolution of the image to be created, the printing speed, the total amount regulation value of the ink, the drop The configuration and ink type are set (S1001 to S1006). These setting contents may be user settings or may be set in advance.

  The control means 70 refers to the post-treatment liquid application amount determination table, the type of recording medium set in S1001 to S1006, the resolution of the image to be created, the printing speed, the total amount regulation value of ink, the droplet configuration, and the type of ink. Thus, the post-treatment liquid application amount a required for ensuring the scratch resistance of the printing portion is determined (S1007). That is, in this embodiment, the control means 70 functions as a first post-treatment agent application amount determination unit.

  Here, the post-treatment liquid application amount determination table will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a post-treatment liquid application amount determination table according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the post-processing liquid application amount determination table according to the present embodiment is based on the type of recording medium, the resolution of the image to be created, the total amount regulation value of ink, the droplet configuration, and the type of ink. It is a table for determining the application amount of the post-processing liquid required in order to ensure property (abrasion resistance). This post-treatment liquid application amount determination table is stored in advance in storage means (ROM 71b, RAM 71c, HDD 71d, etc.).

  Then, the control means 70 refers to the non-print area glossiness determination table corresponding to the type of recording medium set in S1001, and determines the amount of post-processing liquid applied from the post-processing liquid application amount a determined in S1007. However, the glossiness A when it is applied to the non-printing area of the type of recording medium set in S1001 is determined (S1008). That is, in the present embodiment, the control means 70 functions as the first glossiness determination unit, and determines the glossiness: A as the first glossiness.

  Here, the non-print area glossiness determination table will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a non-print area glossiness determination table according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the non-print area glossiness determination table according to the present embodiment exists for each type of recording medium, and the amount of post-treatment liquid applied to the non-print area of the corresponding type of recording medium It is a table for determining the glossiness when the amount of post-treatment liquid is applied. This non-print area glossiness determination table is stored in advance in storage means (ROM 71b, RAM 71c, HDD 71d, etc.). It should be noted that the non-print area glossiness determination table may be stored not as a table but as a function having the applied amount of post-processing liquid as a variable, as shown in FIG.

  Then, the control means 70 refers to the prime glossiness determination table and determines the prime glossiness P of the type of recording medium set in S1001 (S1009). The raw glossiness is the glossiness of the recording medium itself. That is, in the present embodiment, the control means 70 functions as the second glossiness determination unit, and determines the original glossiness: P as the second glossiness.

  Here, the raw glossiness determination table will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a raw glossiness determination table according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the raw glossiness determination table according to the present embodiment is a table for determining the raw glossiness of a recording medium of that type from the type of the recording medium. This raw glossiness determination table is stored in advance in storage means (ROM 71b, RAM 71c, HDD 71d, etc.).

  Then, the control means 70 determines whether the difference between the glossiness A of the non-printing area determined in S1008 and the raw glossiness P determined in S1009 exceeds the maximum glossiness difference X that is allowed as a quality. It is determined whether or not | A−P |> X is satisfied (S1010). That is, in this embodiment, the control means 70 functions as a magnitude relation comparison unit.

  Then, if it is determined in the determination process in S1010 that | AP |> X is not satisfied (S1010 / NO), the control means 70 ends the post-treatment liquid application amount determination process.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in the determination process in S1010 that | A−P |> X is satisfied (S1010 / YES), the control unit 70 refers to the applied area glossiness determination table and determines the non-print area determined in S1008. Glossiness: A and the original glossiness determined in S1009: P, the difference in glossiness at the boundary between adjacent application areas and the difference in glossiness at the boundary between adjacent application areas and non-application areas are maximum. Glossiness difference: The glossiness after the applied region 2 is determined so as to be X or less (S1011). That is, in the present embodiment, the control unit 70 functions as a third glossiness determination unit, and determines the glossiness after the application area 2 as the third glossiness.

  Here, the applied area glossiness determination table will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the applied area glossiness determination table according to the present embodiment. FIG. 15 shows an example in which the maximum glossiness difference: X = 10.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the application area glossiness determination table includes a difference in glossiness at the boundary between adjacent application areas and an adjacent application area based on the glossiness A of the non-printing area and the original glossiness P. 4 is a table for determining the glossiness after the application area 2 so that the difference in glossiness at the boundary between the non-applied area and the non-applied area is the maximum glossiness difference: X or less.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the control unit 70 according to the present embodiment increases the difference between the prime glossiness of the recording medium and the glossiness of the non-printing area from the imparting area to the non-given area. The application amount of the treatment liquid is reduced or the number of stages to be increased is increased.

  With this configuration, the control unit 70 according to the present embodiment is configured such that the difference between the glossiness of the recording medium and the glossiness of the non-printing area is larger than twice the maximum glossiness difference: X ( | A−P |> 2X), the difference in glossiness at the boundary between adjacent application regions and the difference in glossiness at the boundary between adjacent application regions and non-application regions are the maximum glossiness difference: X or less It becomes possible.

  In order to reduce the cost per page, it is desirable that the amount of the post-treatment liquid applied after the application region 2 is as small as possible. Therefore, in the application area glossiness determination table, it is desirable that the application amount of the post-treatment liquid after the application area 2 is set to be as small as possible.

  Then, the control means 70 refers to the non-print area glossiness determination table (FIG. 12) corresponding to the type of recording medium set in S1001, and uses the glossiness determined in S1011 to post-process the liquid after the application area 2. Is determined (S1012). That is, in this embodiment, the control means 70 functions as a second post-treatment agent application amount determining unit.

  By the post-processing liquid determination process as described above, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment determines the application amount of the post-processing liquid.

  In the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the maximum glossiness difference: X, and the distance between the application area N (N is a natural number) and the application area N + 1 can be set by the user.

  As described above, the post-treatment liquid application unit 50 according to the present embodiment has a gloss at the boundary between adjacent application areas when the gloss difference at the boundary between the application area and the non-application area exceeds the maximum gloss difference. Reduce the application amount of the post-treatment liquid step by step from the application region to the non-application region so that the difference in gloss and the difference in glossiness at the boundary between the adjacent application region and the non-application region is equal to or less than the maximum glossiness difference. Alternatively, it is configured to increase.

  With this configuration, the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment reduces the difference in glossiness at the boundary between the post-treatment liquid application area and the non-application area while reducing the application amount of the post-treatment liquid. It becomes possible to make it.

  In this embodiment, the inkjet image forming apparatus that applies the post-processing liquid to the recording medium has been described. However, the present invention applies a post-processing toner that is a kind of post-processing agent to the recording medium. The present invention can be similarly applied to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

(14. Functional configuration of control means 70)
Next, the functional configuration of the control unit 70 provided in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. As already described, the control means 70 according to the present embodiment can be distributed to the host device 71 and the printer device 72 (see FIGS. 4 to 7). Each of the host device 71 and the printer device 72 includes an arithmetic processing unit. The functional block of the control means 70 demonstrated below is implement | achieved by this arithmetic processing means and the post-processing agent provision control program which concerns on this invention.

<High-level device 71>
FIG. 16 is a functional block diagram showing a functional configuration when the function of the control means 70 according to the present embodiment is realized in the CPU 71a which is a calculation means provided in the host device 71. As shown in FIG. 16, the host apparatus 71 includes a first post-treatment agent application amount determination unit 711, a first glossiness determination unit 712, a second glossiness determination unit 713, a magnitude relation comparison unit 714, a third Glossiness determining unit 715 and second post-treatment agent application amount determining unit 716.

  The first post-treatment agent application amount determination unit 711 sets the type of recording medium, the resolution of the image to be created, the printing speed, the total amount regulation value of ink, the droplet configuration, and the type of ink set or preset by the user Therefore, the application amount of the post-processing liquid: a required for ensuring the scratch resistance of the printing portion is determined.

  The first glossiness determination unit 712 refers to a non-print area glossiness determination table corresponding to the type of the recording medium set by the user or preset, and the first posttreatment agent application amount determination unit From the applied amount of the post-processing liquid determined by 711: a, the glossiness: A when the post-processing liquid of that amount is applied to the non-printing area of the set type of recording medium is determined. “Glossiness: A” determined here is the first glossiness.

  The second glossiness determination unit 713 refers to the prime glossiness determination table to determine the prime glossiness P of the type of recording medium set by the user or preset. The raw glossiness is the glossiness of the recording medium itself.

  The magnitude relation comparison unit 714 determines the difference between the glossiness A of the non-printing area determined by the first glossiness determination unit 712 and the prime glossiness P determined by the second glossiness determination unit 713. Compare As a result of this comparison, it is determined whether or not the maximum glossiness difference allowable as quality: X is exceeded, that is, whether or not | A−P |> X is satisfied.

  When the third glossiness determination unit 715 determines that | A−P |> X is satisfied as a result of the comparison in the magnitude relation comparison unit 714, the third glossiness determination unit 715 refers to the applied region glossiness determination table and refers to the non-print region. Glossiness: A and raw glossiness: P, the difference in glossiness at the boundary between adjacent application regions and the difference in glossiness at the boundary between adjacent application regions and non-application regions are the maximum glossiness difference: The glossiness after the application region 2 is determined so as to be X or less.

  The second post-treatment agent application amount determination unit 716 refers to the non-print area glossiness determination table (FIG. 12) corresponding to the type of the recording medium set by the user or set in advance, and determines the third glossiness. The application amount of the post-treatment liquid after the application region 2 is determined from the glossiness determined by the degree determination unit 715.

  According to the control means 70 according to the present embodiment having the above functional configuration, the difference in glossiness at the boundary between the post-treatment liquid application region and the non-application region is reduced while the post-treatment liquid application amount is reduced. Can do.

<Printer 72>
FIG. 17 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration when the function of the control unit 70 according to the present embodiment is realized in the CPU 72Cp that is a calculation unit included in the printer device 72. As shown in FIG. 17, the printer device 72 includes a first post-treatment agent application amount determination unit 721, a first glossiness determination unit 722, a second glossiness determination unit 723, a magnitude relation comparison unit 724, and a third. Glossiness determining unit 725 and second post-treatment agent application amount determining unit 726.

  The first post-treatment agent application amount determination unit 721 is set by the user or preset, the type of the recording medium, the resolution of the image to be created, the printing speed, the total ink amount regulation value, the droplet configuration, and the ink type. Therefore, the application amount of the post-processing liquid: a required for ensuring the scratch resistance of the printing portion is determined.

  The first glossiness determination unit 722 refers to the non-print area glossiness determination table corresponding to the type of recording medium set by the user or preset, and the first posttreatment agent application amount determination unit From the applied amount of the post-processing liquid determined by 721: a, the glossiness A when the post-processing liquid of that amount is applied to the non-printing area of the set type recording medium is determined. “Glossiness: A” determined here is the first glossiness.

  The second glossiness determination unit 723 refers to the prime glossiness determination table to determine the prime glossiness P of the type of recording medium set by the user or preset. The raw glossiness is the glossiness of the recording medium itself.

  The magnitude relation comparison unit 724 determines the difference between the glossiness A of the non-printing area determined by the first glossiness determination unit 722 and the primary glossiness P determined by the second glossiness determination unit 723. Compare As a result of this comparison, it is determined whether or not the maximum glossiness difference allowable as quality: X is exceeded, that is, whether or not | A−P |> X is satisfied.

  When the third glossiness determination unit 725 determines that | A−P |> X is satisfied as a result of the comparison in the magnitude relation comparison unit 724, the third glossiness determination unit 725 refers to the application region glossiness determination table and refers to the non-print region. Glossiness: A and raw glossiness: P, the difference in glossiness at the boundary between adjacent application regions and the difference in glossiness at the boundary between adjacent application regions and non-application regions are the maximum glossiness difference: The glossiness after the application region 2 is determined so as to be X or less.

  The second post-treatment agent application amount determining unit 726 refers to the non-print area glossiness determination table (FIG. 12) corresponding to the type of the recording medium set by the user or set in advance, and determines the third glossiness. The application amount of the post-treatment liquid after application region 2 is determined from the glossiness determined by the degree determination unit 725.

  According to the control means 70 according to the present embodiment having the above functional configuration, the difference in glossiness at the boundary between the post-treatment liquid application region and the non-application region is reduced while the post-treatment liquid application amount is reduced. Can do.

100 Image forming apparatus 1000 Image forming system (recording apparatus)
40 Image forming means (image forming apparatus)
40 Ink ink (image)
50 Post-treatment liquid application means (post-treatment liquid application device)
50H Discharge means (Discharge head)
50L Post-treatment liquid 71 Host device (calculation means)
72EPl Logic circuit (control means)
72 EIC output control unit 72 EPm memory unit (storage unit)
Md roll paper (recording medium)
Ip Post-treatment liquid discharge pattern (discharge pattern)
711 First post-treatment agent application amount determination unit 712 First glossiness determination unit 713 Second glossiness determination unit 714 Size relationship comparison unit 715 Third glossiness determination unit 716 Second post-treatment agent application amount determination Part 721 first post-treatment agent application amount determination unit 722 first glossiness determination unit 723 second glossiness determination unit 724 magnitude relation comparison unit 725 third glossiness determination unit 726 second posttreatment agent application amount Decision part

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-176997

Claims (9)

A post-treatment agent application control device that controls application of the post-treatment agent to the recording medium by a post-treatment agent application device that applies the post-treatment agent to the recording medium,
A first post-treatment agent application amount determination unit that determines an application amount of the post-processing agent applied to an image formed on the recording medium;
A first glossiness determination unit that determines a first glossiness that is a glossiness of the non-image area when the determined post-treatment amount of the post-treatment agent is applied to the non-image area of the recording medium;
Gloss difference between the determined first gloss and the second gloss which is the gloss of the non-image area of the recording medium before the post-treatment agent is applied, and a predetermined value A magnitude comparison section that compares the magnitude relationship with
A second post-treatment agent application amount determination unit that changes the post-treatment agent application amount in a stepwise manner from an image region to a non-image region when the gloss level difference is greater than the predetermined value;
A post-treatment agent application control device comprising:   The second post-treatment agent application amount determining unit, when the difference in glossiness is larger than the predetermined value, the difference in glossiness from the first glossiness and the glossiness from the second glossiness The post-processing agent application control device according to claim 1, wherein an application amount of the post-processing agent to the non-image area is determined so that a difference is equal to or less than the predetermined value. When the difference in glossiness is greater than the predetermined value, the difference between the first glossiness and the difference between the second glossiness and the second glossiness is equal to or less than the predetermined value. A third glossiness determining unit for determining the third glossiness;
The second post-treatment agent application amount determination unit is configured so that the glossiness of the non-image area when the post-processing agent is applied to the non-image area is the determined third glossiness. The post-processing agent application control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an application amount of the post-processing agent to the non-image area is determined.   The second post-treatment agent application amount determination unit increases the number of steps of changing the application amount of the post-treatment agent from the image area toward the non-image area as the glossiness difference is larger. The post-treatment agent application control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The first post-processing agent application amount determining unit determines the application amount of the post-processing agent to be applied to the image based on control information when operating the post-processing agent application device. Item 5. The post-treatment agent application control device according to any one of Items 1 to 4.   The post-treatment agent application control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a second glossiness determination unit that determines the second glossiness. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium;
A post-treatment agent application device for applying a post-treatment agent to the recording medium;
The post-processing agent application control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which controls the application of the post-processing agent to the recording medium by the post-processing agent application device;
An image forming system comprising: A post-treatment agent application control method for controlling the application of the post-treatment agent to the recording medium by a post-treatment agent application device that applies the post-treatment agent to the recording medium,
Determining the amount of the post-treatment agent to be applied to the image formed on the recording medium;
Determining a first glossiness which is a glossiness of the non-image area when the determined post-treatment agent is applied to the non-image area of the recording medium;
Determining a second glossiness that is a glossiness of a non-image area of the recording medium before the post-treatment agent is applied;
Gloss difference between the determined first gloss and the second gloss which is the gloss of the non-image area of the recording medium before the post-treatment agent is applied, and a predetermined value Compare the magnitude relationship with
When the difference in glossiness is larger than the predetermined value, the post-processing agent application control method is characterized in that the post-processing agent application amount is changed stepwise from an image area to a non-image area. In a computer that controls a post-treatment agent application device that applies a post-treatment agent to a recording medium,
Determining an application amount of the post-processing agent to be applied to an image formed on the recording medium;
Determining a first glossiness that is a glossiness of the non-image area when the determined post-treatment amount of the post-treatment agent is applied to the non-image area of the recording medium;
Gloss difference between the determined first gloss and the second gloss which is the gloss of the non-image area of the recording medium before the post-treatment agent is applied, and a predetermined value Comparing the magnitude relationship with
When the gloss difference is larger than the predetermined value, the step of changing the application amount of the post-processing agent stepwise from the image area to the non-image area;
A post-treatment agent application control program characterized in that