JP2018124348A - Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible, when reading an image formed on a transfer medium, to perform a maintenance operation on an image reading part even during execution of a job.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus comprises: an image forming part that performs image formation on a transfer medium on the basis of image data; and a control part that controls the image formation by managing a job, acquires a result of reading of the transfer medium after the image formation performed by the image reading part to perform predetermined processing, and can control a maintenance operation on the image reading part. The control part determines whether setting for reading performed by the image reading part is included in the job, and when the setting for reading is not included in the job, switches to a maintenance operation job parallel mode in which the maintenance operation can be executed in parallel with the output of the job to enable execution of the job.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a program for acquiring an image reading result of a transfer medium after image formation and performing a predetermined process.

  In an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, or a multifunction device, an image is output to a transfer medium based on image data included in a job in accordance with set image forming conditions (image forming position, color, density, etc.). The The image forming conditions may change temporarily or gradually with the operation of the image forming apparatus. For this reason, quality is maintained by various adjustment operations. Specifically, an additional image such as a patch image or a registration mark is output to a transfer medium every predetermined time when the image forming apparatus is operated or every predetermined number of printed sheets, and a patch of the output image is detected by a color density sensor or the like. It is determined whether the image is properly formed. If there is a shift in image quality, etc., the image formation is adjusted by correcting tone, density unevenness, maximum density, position of each color, density shift, etc. by feedback.

  Further, there is a case where printing is performed on a sheet larger than the output image, and unnecessary portions are cut to generate a final output product. In such paper, patches and registration marks are output outside the frame of the original image (cutting allowance, etc.), the patches and registration marks are read by an inline sensor, and image quality correction (hereinafter, real-time adjustment) is performed in real time. It has been. In real-time adjustment, an adjustment image such as a gradation patch is printed on each page in a margin area, and the adjustment image is read by an inline sensor to calculate an adjustment value. Then, it is possible to stabilize the image quality of the output image by feeding back the adjustment value to the image being printed and applying it.

  On the other hand, an image reading unit that reads an image reads an image while conveying a sheet, and thus dust and paper dust are likely to adhere to the image reading unit. If dust or paper dust adheres to the image reading unit, even if there is no abnormality in the printed image, an image due to dust or paper dust is included in the scanned image, and analysis is performed based on this scanned image. It is determined that there is an abnormality in the image. Furthermore, in the image reading unit, characteristics such as light emission and light reception may change due to changes over time and environmental (temperature) conditions. If the image forming unit is corrected based on the reading result in this state, the correction result may vary, and as a result, the stability of the quality of the printed matter may be affected.

For this reason, the image reading unit performs calibration (calibration), corrects the reading result, and performs a maintenance operation to periodically clean the image reading unit, thereby achieving accuracy of image reading.
Maintenance operations are normally performed in a job idle state where jobs are not being executed, but for jobs that print over a long period of time, the reading accuracy changes during job execution, maintaining the quality of the output. May not be able to plan. For this reason, in Patent Document 1, it is possible to maintain the quality of a print result even when printing a large amount of originals by executing automatic calibration at regular intervals during execution of a job.

JP 2014-219504 A

  However, according to the method of Patent Document 1, if a maintenance operation is required during job execution, the job must be stopped. For this reason, in consideration of productivity, the current situation is that maintenance operations are performed during job idle. Therefore, when the job is continuously executed, the maintenance operation cannot be performed for a long time, so the image reading unit cannot read the image accurately, or the job must be stopped halfway. There are challenges.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a program capable of performing a maintenance operation even during execution of a job. .

Among the image forming apparatuses of the present invention, the first form is:
An image forming unit that forms an image on a transfer medium based on the image data;
The job is managed to control the image formation, and further, a read result obtained by reading the transfer medium after the image formation by the image reading unit is acquired and a predetermined process is performed, and a maintenance operation for the image reading unit is controlled. A control unit capable of
The control unit determines whether or not the job is set to be read by the image reading unit, and if the reading is not set, a maintenance operation job parallel mode capable of executing a maintenance operation in parallel with job output. Thus, the job can be executed.

  According to another aspect of the invention of the image forming apparatus, in another embodiment, when the job is set to be read by the image reading unit, the maintenance operation job is stopped by temporarily stopping the output of the job and executing the maintenance operation. The mode is characterized in that the job can be executed.

  In another aspect of the invention of the image forming apparatus according to another aspect, the control unit determines whether or not the job is set to be read by determining all pages of the job or page units. To do.

  The invention of an image forming apparatus of another form is characterized in that, in another form, the control unit sets the mode in units of pages when determining whether reading is set in units of pages of the job. To do.

  In another form of the invention of the image forming apparatus according to another aspect, in the case where there are a plurality of the image reading units according to at least the medium surface of the transfer medium, the control unit performs the image reading unit for each medium surface of the transfer medium. It is characterized in that it is determined whether or not reading is set by.

  In another form of the invention of the image forming apparatus according to another aspect, in the case where the controller forms an image on one side of the transfer medium, the image reading unit reads the image by inverting the front and back of the transfer medium when reading the image. The image reading unit on the medium surface side is determined to be not set for reading, and the image reading unit on the medium surface side is set as a target of the maintenance operation job parallel mode.

  According to another aspect of the invention of the image forming apparatus, in another aspect, whether or not the job needs to be read is determined by a user designation for the job or / and a setting at the time of job creation.

  In another form of the invention of the image forming apparatus according to another aspect, in the case where the control unit uses a predetermined transfer medium different from the transfer medium used by execution of the job, the image reading is performed on the predetermined transfer medium. This is characterized in that the setting of reading by the scanning unit is not performed.

  In another form of the invention of the image forming apparatus according to another aspect, the predetermined transfer medium is a cleaning transfer medium after JAM elimination, a maximum density check chart, a patch or the like on one side, and color adjustment or the like. Or the transfer medium at the time of job idling.

  According to another aspect of the invention of the image forming apparatus, in another aspect, the maintenance operation is an adjustment process or / and a cleaning process of the image reading unit.

  According to another aspect of the invention of the image forming apparatus, in another aspect, in the maintenance operation job parallel mode, the maintenance operation is executed automatically or according to a user instruction.

  According to another aspect of the invention of the image forming apparatus, in another aspect, in the maintenance operation job parallel mode, a maintenance operation is executed based on a preset schedule.

  According to another aspect of the invention of the image forming apparatus, in another aspect, the schedule has a different schedule depending on a content of a maintenance operation.

  According to another aspect of the invention of the image forming apparatus, in another aspect, the control unit makes a maintenance operation start time different depending on whether the maintenance operation job parallel mode is set.

  In another aspect of the invention of the image forming apparatus according to another aspect, the control unit performs a maintenance operation before executing the job according to a predetermined condition.

  According to another aspect of the invention of the image forming apparatus, in another aspect, the predetermined condition is that a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous maintenance operation, the maintenance operation does not have a job parallel mode during the job, and the maintenance operation during the job. Even if it has a job parallel mode, a certain time elapses from the previous maintenance operation before the maintenance operation execution timing.

  In another aspect of the invention of the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the predetermined processing is image formation adjustment.

  An image forming apparatus according to another aspect is characterized in that, in another aspect, the image forming adjustment is performed in real time for execution of a job.

  In another aspect of the invention of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, the image forming apparatus includes the image reading unit and a maintenance unit that performs a maintenance operation on the image reading unit.

Of the image forming method of the present invention, the first form is:
An image forming method for forming an image on a transfer medium based on image data of a job,
Obtaining a reading result obtained by reading the transfer medium after image formation by an image reading unit and performing a predetermined process;
Controlling maintenance operation for the image reading unit,
Before the image formation, it is determined whether or not the job is set to be read by the image reading unit. If the reading is not set, the maintenance operation can be executed in parallel with the job output. And setting the mode to enable execution of the job.

Of the programs of the present invention, the first form is:
A program executed by a computer for controlling an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit that forms an image on a transfer medium based on image data,
Obtaining a reading result obtained by reading the transfer medium after image formation by an image reading unit and performing a predetermined process;
Controlling maintenance operation for the image reading unit,
Before the image formation, it is determined whether or not the job is set to be read by the image reading unit. If the reading is not set, the maintenance operation can be executed in parallel with the job output. It is characterized by having a step of setting a mode and enabling execution of a job.

  According to the present invention, when an image reading unit performs image reading of a transfer medium after image formation, there is an effect that maintenance of the image reading unit can be appropriately performed while suppressing a decrease in productivity.

1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Similarly, it is a figure which shows the outline of the image forming apparatus of a modification. Similarly, it is a figure which shows the control block of an image forming apparatus. Similarly, it is a flowchart showing a basic reading procedure. In another embodiment, it is a flowchart which shows the procedure which performs maintenance operation | movement with a predetermined schedule. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for reading a single-sided printing paper while switching the image reading unit in an apparatus having a double-sided image reading unit in another embodiment. Furthermore, it is a flowchart which shows the procedure which performs maintenance operation | movement before execution of a job in another Example. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation screen for setting whether or not image reading is necessary for a job in the embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, in another embodiment, it is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen for setting whether or not image reading is necessary for a job by a printer driver or the like.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a mechanical outline of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.
The image forming apparatus 1 includes an apparatus main body 10 and a reading device 20.
The reading device 20 is connected to the subsequent stage of the device main body 10, and can convey and communicate paper between the device main body 10 and the reading device 20, and image formation is performed on the paper in the device main body 10. The paper on which is formed is conveyed to the reading device 20, and the reading device 20 reads an image on the paper. A reversing device 30 is connected to the subsequent stage of the reading device 20 so that the paper can be reversed and discharged or conveyed to a downstream device.

In this embodiment, the apparatus main body 10, the reading apparatus 20, and the reversing apparatus 30 are illustrated as apparatuses included in the image forming apparatus 1. However, the configuration of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is limited to these combinations. The image forming apparatus 1 may be configured by only the apparatus main body 10 without including a reading apparatus, or may be further connected to another apparatus. For example, a large-capacity paper feeder may be connected to the front stage of the apparatus main body 10, and a post-processing apparatus may be connected to the rear stage side of the reading apparatus 20.
When the reading device is provided outside the image forming apparatus, the reading device may be mechanically off-line in addition to the image on-line mechanical reading device. In the mechanical off-line, the image forming apparatus and the reading apparatus can be electrically connected. In the following description, the reading device 20 is appropriately referred to as an ICCU (Image Calibration Control Unit).

  The apparatus main body 10 has an operation display unit 106 at the top of the housing. The operation display unit 106 includes an LCD having a touch panel. The operation display unit 106 can accept an operation input by the user and display information, and the display unit and the input unit are integrated. Note that the display unit and the input unit may be separated.

A paper feed tray 210 is provided inside the housing of the apparatus main body 10, and paper for image formation is stored in the paper feed tray 210. Note that the paper feed tray can be composed of a plurality of stages. The paper corresponds to the transfer medium of the present invention. In the present invention, the material of the transfer medium is not limited to paper, but may be made of cloth or plastic. In addition, although not shown, a long sheet or the like may be supplied from outside the housing by a manual feed tray or the like.
In the housing, a conveyance path 215 is connected to the paper feed tray 210, and the paper supplied from the paper feed tray 210 is conveyed by a conveyance roller 209 or the like.

An image forming unit 109 is provided in the middle of the conveyance path 215.
The image forming unit 109 includes a photoreceptor 208 for each color (in this embodiment, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black), a transfer roller 205, an intermediate transfer belt 207, and a fixing device 206. Are provided with a charger, an LD, a developing unit, etc. (not shown).
The intermediate transfer belt 207 is disposed so as to be in contact with the photoconductor 208 for each color, and a transfer roller 205 is disposed at a position opposite to the intermediate transfer belt 207 with the conveyance path 215 interposed therebetween. The fixing device 206 is disposed near the conveyance path 215 on the downstream side of the transfer roller 205.

  In the image forming unit 109, a latent image is formed on the photoconductor 208 of each color by LD based on an additional image such as job data or patch data, and a toner image is formed by a developing unit (not shown). The toner image formed on the photosensitive member 208 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 207, and the image on the intermediate transfer belt 207 is transferred to a sheet conveyed on the conveyance path 215 by the transfer roller 205. The image transferred to the paper is fixed on the paper by the pressurization and heat by the fixing device 206.

In the conveyance path 215, the reverse conveyance path 215 </ b> A is branched on the downstream side of the fixing device 206. The branched reverse conveyance path 215 </ b> A includes a reversing unit 211, and the reverse conveyance path 215 </ b> A merges with the conveyance path 215 on the upstream side of the image forming unit 109.
When an image is formed on one side of a sheet, the sheet is conveyed to the reading device 20 on the downstream side without being sent to the reversing unit 211 and the reversing conveyance path 215A.
In the case of forming images on both sides of the sheet, after forming an image on one side of the sheet, the sheet is sent to the reverse conveyance path 215A and further conveyed to the reversing unit 211. The sheet sent to the reversing unit 211 is conveyed downstream of the reversing conveyance path 215A with the trailing edge as the leading edge. The sheet is circulated to the conveyance path 215 with the front and back sides of the sheet reversed, and an image is formed on the back side of the sheet by the image forming unit 109. The paper reversing mechanism of the present invention is configured by the above configuration.
The downstream end of the conveyance path 215 is connected to the conveyance path 228 of the reading device 20.

The reading device 20 has a conveyance path 228 connected to the conveyance path 215 on the upstream side, and the downstream side of the conveyance path 228 is connected to the reversing device 30.
In the reading device 20, the line sensor 202 and the counter plate 203 are arranged in this order along the conveyance path 228, on the lower surface side of the conveyance path, along the paper conveyance direction, and opposed to the line sensor 202 on the upper surface side of the conveyance path. The counter plate 204 is disposed at a position where the line sensor 201 is disposed, and the line sensor 201 is disposed at a position facing the counter plate 203.

  The line sensor 201 and the line sensor 202 can be configured by a CCD sensor or the like, and can read an image on a sheet. The line sensor 201 reads an image on the upper surface of the paper, and the line sensor 202 reads an image on the lower surface of the paper. The line sensors 201 and 202 have a length in the width direction at which the sheet can be read at least within the width of the sheet. The line sensors 201 and 202 correspond to the image reading unit of the present invention. Although not shown, the line sensors 201 and 202 have an instrument for cleaning attached paper dust and the like. The cleaning method is not particularly limited as the present invention, and examples include cleaning with a brush, cleaning with gas injection or vibration, and the like. Paper dust or the like attached to the line sensor can be removed by any of these methods, and a plurality of cleaning functions may be provided.

The line sensors 201 and 202 acquire image data by receiving reflected light of emitted light.
The counter plates 203 and 204 are rotatable, and have a calibration surface and a background surface on different rotation surfaces. When reading a sheet, the background surface is opposed to a line sensor that emits and receives light. When performing, the calibration surface is made to face the line sensor that emits and receives light.

The line sensor 201 reads the upper surface side of the paper, and the line sensor 202 reads the lower surface side of the paper.
Only one of the line sensors 201 and 202 may be used, or the reading operation may be performed by switching the operation at an appropriate time. In addition, the upper and lower surfaces of the same sheet may be read at the same time. The reading results of the line sensors 201 and 202 are transmitted to a control unit described later.

Note that the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes two line sensors and can simultaneously read the upper and lower surfaces of the sheet. However, the image forming apparatus 1 may include only one line sensor. In this case, a paper reversing mechanism may be provided in the reading device 20 so that one line sensor can read images on both sides of the paper.
An image forming apparatus 1A having only one line sensor will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about the structure similar to the said structure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and description is abbreviate | omitted or simplified.

In the image forming apparatus 1 </ b> A of this example, a reading device 20 </ b> A is connected to the subsequent stage of the apparatus main body 10.
The reading device 20 </ b> A has a conveyance path 228 connected to the conveyance path 215 on the upstream side, and the downstream side of the conveyance path 228 is connected to the reversing device 30.
In the reading device 20A, a line sensor 201A is arranged on the upper surface side of the conveyance path along the conveyance path 228, and a counter plate 203A is arranged on the lower surface side of the conveyance path at a position facing the line sensor 201A.
The line sensor 201A can be constituted by a CCD sensor or the like, and can read an image on a sheet. The line sensor 201A reads an image on the upper surface of the sheet. The line sensor 201A has a length in the width direction at which the sheet can be read at least within the width of the sheet. The line sensor 201A corresponds to the image reading unit of the present invention.

The line sensor 201A receives the reflected light of the emitted light and acquires image data.
The counter plate 203A is rotatable and has a calibration surface and a background surface on different rotation surfaces. When the paper is read, the background surface is opposed to a line sensor that emits and receives light. The calibration surface is made to face the line sensor that emits and receives light.

In the conveyance path 228, the reverse conveyance path 228A is branched on the downstream side of the line sensor 201A. The branched reverse conveyance path 228A includes a reversing unit 229, and the reverse conveyance path 228A merges with the conveyance path 228 on the upstream side of the line sensor 201A.
When an image is formed on one side of the sheet, the sheet is conveyed with the image positioned on the upper surface, the image is read by the line sensor 201A, and is conveyed to the downstream side as it is.

  When images are formed on both sides of the sheet, the sheet conveyed from the apparatus main body 10 is conveyed and the image on the upper surface side is read by the line sensor 201A. The paper on which the image has been read is transported from the transport path 228 to the reverse transport path 228A, further transported to the reversing unit 229, and the rear end side of the paper sent to the reversing unit 229 is changed to the leading end so that the reverse transport path 228A. To the downstream side. The sheet is circulated to the conveyance path 228 in a state where the front and back sides of the sheet are reversed, and an image on the back side of the sheet positioned on the upper surface side is read by the line sensor 201A. Thereafter, the sheet is conveyed to the reversing device 30 via the conveyance path 228. According to the above procedure, both sides of the paper can be read by one line sensor.

Next, functional blocks of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
The image forming apparatus 1 includes a line sensor control unit 101, an operation display unit 106, an image adjustment unit 107, a print control unit 108, an image forming unit 109, a paper transport unit 110, line sensors 201 and 202, and counter plates 203 and 204. doing.
A line sensor control unit 101, an operation display unit 106, an image adjustment unit 107, an image forming unit 109, and a paper transport unit 110 are connected to the print control unit 108 and can be controlled by the print control unit 108. Line sensors 201 and 202 and opposing plates 203 and 204 are connected to the sensor control unit 101, and can be controlled by the line sensor control unit 101, respectively.
The image forming apparatus 1A has the same functional configuration except that the line sensors 201 and 202 and the opposing plates 203 and 204 are changed to the line sensor 201A and the opposing plate 203A.

The print control unit 108 includes a CPU and a storage unit such as a ROM, a RAM, and a nonvolatile memory. The ROM stores programs executed by the CPU, and the non-volatile memory has predetermined parameters that do not perform operation parameters of the image forming apparatus, control parameters for performing front / back position adjustment and image quality adjustment, and image reading settings. Sheet settings, schedule settings for performing maintenance operations, start timing, predetermined condition settings for executing maintenance operations before starting a job, real-time adjustment settings, and the like are stored in a readable and writable manner.
Further, the print control unit 100 includes a memory for temporarily storing the reading result and performing analysis for adjustment.

  An image forming unit 109 is controllably connected to the print control unit 108. The print control unit 108 reads out image data from the storage unit and controls the image forming unit 109 to form an image on a sheet and perform image position adjustment, image quality adjustment, and the like as necessary.

  Further, an image adjustment unit 107 is connected to the print control unit 108. The image adjustment unit 107 can perform image formation adjustment and image quality adjustment based on the reading results of the images read by the line sensors 201 and 202. The image adjustment unit 107 can be configured by a CPU, ROM, RAM, or the like.

  A paper transport unit 110 is connected to the print control unit 108. The paper transport unit 110 transports paper fed from the paper feed tray 210. The paper transport unit 110 includes a transport path 215, a reverse transport path 215A, a transport path 228, a transport roller 209, and the like.

  A line sensor control unit 101 is connected to the print control unit 108. The line sensor control unit 101 is controllably connected to the line sensors 201 and 202 and the opposing plates 203 and 204. The line sensor control unit 101 reads the paper by controlling the operations of the line sensors 201 and 202 and the counter plates 203 and 204, and receives and acquires image data and detection results acquired by the reading as reading results. Moreover, adjustment of the line sensors 201 and 202 and control of cleaning are also possible.

The print control unit 108 functions as the control unit of the present invention, and the hardware in the configuration corresponds to a computer that executes the program of the present invention.
Further, in the reading device, for example, the line sensor control unit 101 as described above may make the reading result of the transfer medium limited to one or two or more predetermined areas, and may be used. In this case, the same control may be performed by a reading device outside the image forming apparatus. In this case, the program executed by the line sensor control unit or the like is executed by a computer in the hardware of the line sensor control unit, and is included in the scope of the present invention.

  Further, an operation display unit 106 is connected to the print control unit 108 so as to be controllable. The operation display unit 106 can accept various settings, and can set whether to read in a job for each job or each page of a job.

Further, the image forming apparatus can be used by being connected to an external device through a network, a cable, or the like.
The external device 3 includes an external device control unit 300 and an external device operation unit 410. The external device control unit 300 controls the entire external device 3, and includes a CPU, a program that operates on the CPU, a storage unit that stores operation parameters, and the like.
In the external device 3, when the image-type back device is used as a printer, a job in which job information is created by the external device 3 using a printer driver or the like can be transmitted to the image forming apparatus for printing. The job information can include the necessity of reading.

Further, the external device 4 can perform operation control including maintenance operation of the image reading device, and can be used as an information processing device. In this case, the program executed by using the hardware of the external device control unit 300 as a computer corresponds to the program of the present invention.
Note that the program of the present invention used in an image forming apparatus, an image reading apparatus, an external apparatus, or the like may be stored in a portable storage unit or the like and distributed and moved.

Example in which image reading by ICCU is required: A normal job will be described.
Since normal jobs require analysis of burrs and color misregistration, image data is read with each page ICCU on every page, and correction values are generated from the read image and fed back to the next page, as with conventional ICCU control. It is desirable to apply. Further, if a read-unnecessary page is set by the user setting or the like, only that page can be operated in the maintenance operation job parallel mode.

A basic procedure for performing the reading operation of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The following procedure is executed under the control of the control unit.
Prior to the start, the control unit analyzes the job. The number of jobs is n, and the initial value of N indicating the number of jobs is 1.
As the procedure starts, processing is repeated from 1 to n sheets according to the number of pages of the job (steps S1 to S7). First, it is determined whether or not there is a reading flag by ICCU (image reading apparatus, the same applies hereinafter) in the page (step S2). If there is a reading flag on the page (step S2, Y), the maintenance operation is set to the maintenance operation job stop mode, and the image data is read by the ICCU (step S3). A reading result is acquired, and correction values such as an image density, an image position, and a color misregistration correction amount are generated based on the reading result (step S4), and image correction is performed on the next page or a page in time for correction by feedback. (Step S5). Next, the process proceeds to step S7, and if the number of pages has not reached n, the process returns to step S1, and 1 is added to N, and the same processing is continued for the next page. If the number of pages has reached n, the procedure is terminated.

If there is no ICCU reading flag in the corresponding page (step S2, N), the maintenance operation is set to the maintenance operation job parallel mode, and the ICCU can be adjusted and cleaned (step S6).
The adjustment / cleaning may be performed automatically or may be performed in the case of a predetermined schedule. Further, adjustment and cleaning may be performed on different schedules, and further, adjustment may be performed automatically and cleaning may be performed according to the schedule. Furthermore, adjustment and cleaning may be executed in accordance with an instruction from the user. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S7. In step S7, if the number of pages has not reached n, the process returns to step S1, 1 is added to N, and the same processing is continued for the next page. If the number of pages has reached n, the procedure is terminated.

In the above example, in the maintenance operation job parallel mode, it has been described that the maintenance operation is not performed during the job. However, if the ICCU adjustment / cleaning timing comes during the job, the job is stopped before the image is read by the ICCU. May be performed.
Below, a control procedure is demonstrated based on the flowchart of FIG. The following procedure is executed under the control of the control unit.
Prior to the start, the control unit analyzes the job, confirms whether the job needs to be read, and sets a flag for each job or page. The number of jobs is n, and the initial value of N indicating the number of jobs is 1.

As the procedure starts, processing is repeated from 1 to n sheets according to the number of pages of the job (steps S10 to S18). First, it is determined whether there is a reading flag by the ICCU in the page (step S11). If there is a reading flag on the page (step S11, Y), the maintenance operation is set to the maintenance operation job stop mode, and it is determined whether it is the ICCU adjustment / cleaning timing (step S12). If it is not the adjustment / cleaning timing (step S12, N), the image data is read by the ICCU (step S14).
When it is time to adjust / clean the ICCU (step S12, Y), the job is stopped and the ICCU is adjusted / cleaned (step S13). In addition, when the timings of cleaning and adjustment differ, it implements according to each timing.
After the ICCU adjustment / cleaning (step S13), the image data is read by the ICCU (step S14).

  After reading the image data (step S14), the reading result is acquired, and the image density, image position, color misregistration correction amount, etc. are generated based on the reading result (step S15), and the next page or correction is in time for feedback. Image correction is performed on the page (step S16). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S18. If the number of pages N has not reached n, the process returns to step S10, 1 is added to N, and the same processing is continued for the next page.

In step S11, if the ICCU read flag is not present on the corresponding page (step S11, N), the maintenance operation is set to the maintenance operation job parallel mode, and the ICCU can be adjusted and cleaned. (Step S17)
The adjustment / cleaning may be performed automatically or may be performed in the case of a predetermined schedule. Further, adjustment and cleaning may be performed according to different schedules, and further, adjustment may be performed automatically and cleaning may be performed according to the schedule. Further, it may be executed in accordance with an instruction from the user.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S18. If the number of pages has not reached n in step S18, the process returns to step S10, 1 is added to N, and the same processing is continued for the next page.

Next, an example in which image reading with ICCU is unnecessary: a case of cleaning paper passing and the like will be described.
Since it is not necessary to check whether printing has been performed correctly when cleaning paper is passed, it is not necessary to perform image reading with the ICCU. That is, in the flowchart of FIG. Therefore, the sheet is operated in the maintenance operation parallel mode, and the ICCU can be adjusted and cleaned during the job. However, if the adjustment / cleaning is not completed in the adjustment mode, the job may be stopped until the adjustment / cleaning is completed. Other examples that do not require the ICCU to read an image include a maximum density confirmation chart, a back surface when a patch or the like is mounted on one side, color adjustment, etc., job idle, JAM processing, and other adjustments.

Next, an example in which ICCU adjustment / cleaning is performed without stopping a job by using a sheet reversing mechanism will be described.
When a double-sided ICCU is installed, when reading a sheet printed on only one side, the other side ICCU does not need to read an image. Therefore, the ICCU can always be adjusted and cleaned for the image reading unit on the other side. Even if the adjustment timing of ICCU is reached using the above characteristics, in the case of single-sided printing, the paper is reversed at an appropriate time (reversal using the in-machine double-sided printing mechanism, or reversal by a reversing device, etc.) ) By using the ICCU on the back side, it is possible to adjust and clean the ICCU on the side that needs to be adjusted and cleaned without stopping the job. Note that the paper reversal timing may be every sheet or may be performed every preset number of sheets. If the schedule differs between adjustment and cleaning, the inversion time may be determined in consideration of each.

Next, the procedure of the above operation will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The following procedure is executed under the control of the control unit.
Prior to the start, the control unit analyzes the job. The number of jobs is n, and the initial value of N indicating the number of jobs is 1.
As the procedure starts, processing is repeated from 1 to n sheets according to the number of pages of the job (steps S20 to S32). First, it is determined whether there is a reading flag by ICCU in the page (step S21). If there is a reading flag on the page (step S21, Y), the maintenance operation is set to the maintenance operation job stop mode, and it is determined whether it is the ICCU adjustment / cleaning timing (step 22).

When it is the adjustment / cleaning timing (step S22, Y), it is determined whether the printing is simplex printing (step S23). If it is not single-sided printing (step S23, N), that is, if it is double-sided printing, the job is stopped, ICCU adjustment / cleaning is performed (step S24), and image data is read by the ICCU (step S28).
When the ICCU adjustment / cleaning timing is not reached in step S22 (step S22, N), the process proceeds to step S28, and the image data is read by the ICCU.

In the case of single-sided printing in step S23 (step S23, Y), the paper is reversed before image reading (step S26), and adjustment / cleaning is performed using a line sensor that does not perform image reading in ICCU (step S27). ), The image data is read by the ICCU (step S28). In step S27, the adjustment / cleaning maintenance operation can be performed without stopping the job. The sheet may not be reversed at all times, and the sheet may be reversed at an appropriate timing as described above.
After reading the image in step S28, the reading result is acquired, and correction values such as image density, image position, and color misregistration correction amount are generated based on the reading result (step S29), and the next page or correction is in time for feedback. Image correction is performed on the page (step S30). Next, the process proceeds to step S32, and if the number of pages has not reached n, the process returns to step S20, 1 is added to N, and the same process is continued for the next page. If the number of pages has reached n, the process ends.

If there is no ICCU reading flag in step S21 (step S21, N), the maintenance operation is set to the maintenance operation job parallel mode, and the ICCU can be adjusted and cleaned (step S31).
The adjustment / cleaning may be performed automatically or may be performed in the case of a predetermined schedule. Further, adjustment and cleaning may be performed according to different schedules, and further, adjustment may be performed automatically and cleaning may be performed according to the schedule. Further, it may be executed in accordance with an instruction from the user.
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S32. If the number of pages has not reached n in step S32, the process returns to step S20, 1 is added to N, and the same processing is continued for the next page. If the number of pages has reached n, the procedure is terminated.

  In this embodiment, in an apparatus capable of reading images on both sides, it is possible to switch the image reading unit to be used and perform a maintenance operation without stopping the job in each image reading unit.

Next, an example in which the ICCU adjustment / cleaning timing is changed depending on the presence / absence of the adjustment mode included in the job will be described.
The timing for adjusting and cleaning the ICCU includes, for example, when JOB starts, for a certain period of time (eg, every 1 hour), when the ICCU door is closed. Focusing on adjustment / cleaning at the start of JOB If adjustment mode exists in JOB and it can be predicted that a certain time will not elapse from the previous adjustment / cleaning timing before printing the corresponding page, adjustment / cleaning will be performed before JOB starts Even if not, it can be determined that the reading accuracy of the ICCU does not deteriorate. Therefore, when the above conditions are satisfied, job execution can be started without adjusting or cleaning the ICCU before job execution.

Below, the procedure of the said operation | movement is demonstrated based on the flowchart of FIG. The following procedure is executed under the control of the control unit.
As the procedure starts, a job is received (step S40), and the received job is analyzed (step S41).
In the job analysis, a certain time has elapsed since the previous maintenance operation, the job does not have the maintenance operation job parallel mode, or the job has the maintenance operation job parallel mode before the maintenance operation execution timing It is determined whether one of the following conditions is satisfied after a certain period of time from the maintenance operation. If the condition is satisfied, the ICCU is adjusted and cleaned (step S42), and the process is repeated from 1 to n according to the number of pages of the job (steps S43 to S51). The number of jobs is n, and the initial value of N indicating the number of jobs is 1.

First, it is determined whether there is a reading flag by ICCU in the page (step S44). If there is a reading flag on the page (step S44, Y), the operation is set to the maintenance operation job stop mode, and it is determined whether it is the ICCU adjustment / cleaning timing (step 45). If it is not the adjustment / cleaning timing (step S45, N), the image data is read by the ICCU (step S47).
When it is time to adjust / clean the ICCU (step S45, Y), the job is stopped and the ICCU is adjusted / cleaned (step S46). In addition, when the timings of cleaning and adjustment differ, it implements according to each timing.
After the ICCU adjustment / cleaning (step S46), the image data is read by the ICCU (step S47).

After reading the image data (step S47), the reading result is acquired, and the image density, image position, color misregistration correction amount, etc. are generated based on the reading result (step S48). The image correction is performed on the image (step S49). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S51. If the number of pages has not reached n, the process returns to step S43, 1 is added to N, and the same process is continued for the next page. If the number of pages has reached n, the procedure is terminated.
In step S44, if there is no ICCU reading flag on the corresponding page (step S44, N), the maintenance operation is set to the maintenance operation job parallel mode, and the ICCU can be adjusted and cleaned (step S50).
The adjustment / cleaning may be performed automatically or may be performed in the case of a predetermined schedule. Further, adjustment and cleaning may be performed according to different schedules, and further, adjustment may be performed automatically and cleaning may be performed according to the schedule. Further, it may be executed in accordance with an instruction from the user.
Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S51. If the number of pages has not reached n in step S51, the process returns to step S43, 1 is added to N, and the same processing is continued for the next page. If n has been reached, the procedure is terminated.

Next, an ICCU reading flag setting method will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 8 illustrates an example of setting on the panel of the operation display unit.
FIG. 8 shows a setting screen 1400 displayed on the operation display unit.
The setting screen relates to individual setting change of a job, and an ICCU reading setting button 1410 is provided on the screen so that it can be pressed. When the button is pressed, a “required” button 1411 and an “unnecessary” button 1412 are displayed so that they can be selected and pressed.

When either the “necessary” button 1411 or the “unnecessary” button 1412 is pressed and the OK button 1420 is pressed, the set content is confirmed, and when the cancel button 1421 is pressed, the content set for the current display is canceled. The It should be noted that any one is selected by default, and the default setting is maintained when no setting is made.
ICCU reading can be used, for example, for setting PI insertion sheets on this operation screen. Also, what is applied to the entire job, or pages may be specified so that necessary or unnecessary settings can be made. In that case, if necessary and unnecessary are set by default for all pages, only necessary pages can be set differently.

FIG. 9 shows a part of a setting screen when setting with the printer driver, and shows an ICCU reading setting screen 1500. On the reading setting screen 1500, a radio button group 1501 having three buttons is displayed so as to be alternatively selectable. The upper radio button reads all pages, and the lower radio button does not read all pages. The lowermost radio button is set so that reading is not performed by specifying a page, and other pages are set to be read. On the contrary, the page to be read may be specified by specifying the page, and the others may be set not to read. On the right side of the radio button, a page input field 1502 for inputting a designated page is provided. The page number can be input using a numeric keypad not shown. In the page designation, a single page or a plurality of pages may be designated.
The contents set on the operation panel and printer driver are included as job information in the job, and are used for control and the like by being referred to during printing.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on the said embodiment, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the content of the said description, and unless it deviates from the scope of the present invention, it is suitable for the said embodiment. It can be changed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 1A Image forming apparatus 10 Apparatus main body 20 Reading apparatus 101 Line sensor control part 106 Operation display part 107 Image quality adjustment part 108 Print control part 109 Image forming part 110 Paper conveyance part 201 Line sensor 201A Line sensor 202 Line sensor

Claims (21)

An image forming unit that forms an image on a transfer medium based on the image data;
The job is managed to control the image formation, and further, a read result obtained by reading the transfer medium after the image formation by the image reading unit is acquired and a predetermined process is performed, and a maintenance operation for the image reading unit is controlled. A control unit capable of
The control unit determines whether or not the job is set to be read by the image reading unit, and if the reading is not set, a maintenance operation job parallel mode capable of executing a maintenance operation in parallel with job output. An image forming apparatus that enables execution of the job.   When the job is set to be read by an image reading unit, the output of the job is temporarily stopped, and a maintenance operation job stop mode for executing a maintenance operation is set to enable execution of the job. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit determines whether the job is set to be read, the control unit determines the entire page or the page unit of the job.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the control unit sets a mode for each page when determining whether reading is set for each page of a job.   When there are a plurality of image reading units according to at least the medium surface of the transfer medium, the control unit determines whether reading by the image reading unit is set for each medium surface of the transfer medium. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   When the image is formed on one side of the transfer medium, the control unit reverses the front and back of the transfer medium during image reading, switches the image reading unit that performs image reading, and sets the reading of the medium surface that does not perform image reading. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein it is determined that the image is not printed, and the image reading unit on the medium surface side is set as a maintenance operation target.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein whether or not the job needs to be read is determined by a user designation for the job and / or a setting at the time of job creation.   2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the predetermined transfer medium different from the transfer medium used by executing the job is used, the image reading unit does not set the reading for the predetermined transfer medium. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The predetermined transfer medium is any of a cleaning transfer medium after JAM elimination, a maximum density confirmation chart, a transfer medium back surface when a patch or the like is mounted on one side, and a transfer medium at job idle. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance operation is an adjustment process or / and a cleaning process of the image reading unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the maintenance operation job parallel mode, a maintenance operation is executed automatically or according to a user instruction.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the maintenance operation job parallel mode, a maintenance operation is executed based on a preset schedule.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the schedule has a different schedule depending on a content of a maintenance operation.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit changes a maintenance operation start time according to whether the maintenance operation job parallel mode is set.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs a maintenance operation before executing the job according to a predetermined condition.   The predetermined condition is that a certain period of time has elapsed since the previous maintenance operation, the job does not have the maintenance operation job parallel mode, and even if the job has the maintenance operation job parallel mode, the maintenance operation execution timing 16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a fixed time elapses from the previous maintenance operation.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined processing is image formation adjustment.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the image forming adjustment is performed in real time with respect to execution of a job.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: the image reading unit; and an instrument that performs a maintenance operation on the image reading unit. An image forming method for forming an image on a transfer medium based on image data of a job,
Obtaining a reading result obtained by reading the transfer medium after image formation by an image reading unit and performing a predetermined process;
Controlling maintenance operation for the image reading unit,
Before the image formation, it is determined whether or not the job is set to be read by the image reading unit. If the reading is not set, the maintenance operation can be executed in parallel with the job output. And setting the mode to enable execution of a job. A program executed by a computer for controlling an image forming apparatus having an image forming unit that forms an image on a transfer medium based on image data,
Obtaining a reading result obtained by reading the transfer medium after image formation by an image reading unit and performing a predetermined process;
Controlling maintenance operation for the image reading unit,
Before the image formation, it is determined whether or not the job is set to be read by the image reading unit. If the reading is not set, the maintenance operation can be executed in parallel with the job output. A program characterized by having a step for setting a mode and enabling execution of a job.

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