JP2021030636A - Image formation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

To accelerate printing using invisible consumption materials.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus comprises: a printing data analysis unit which specifies a first printing region for a normal consumption material in a recording medium printed with a first printing content by using the visible normal consumption material and the invisible first special consumption material on the basis of the printing data, a second printing region for the first special consumption material in the recording medium and a color tone of the recording medium; a printing content generation unit which generates a second printing content using the invisible second special consumption material different from the first special consumption material when detecting a condition that information printed on the recording medium by using the first special consumption material becomes visible on the basis of the first printing region, the second printing region and the color tone; and an image formation unit which prints the first printing content by using the normal consumption material and the first special consumption material and prints the second printing content by using the second special consumption material.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

Conventionally, for example, there is a technique for printing on paper using invisible IR (Infrared Rays) toner. When the paper is white, there is a problem that the printed contents printed by the IR toner can be seen.

Therefore, it is disclosed that a region to be invisible in a paper printed using IR toner is detected by using light, and printing is performed on the detected region with another IR toner (Patent Document). 1).

However, the conventional method has a problem that printing takes a long time.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to speed up printing using an invisible consumable material.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention prints the first print content using the normal visible consumable material and the invisible first special consumable material based on the print data. Print data that specifies a first print area related to the normal consumable material in the recorded medium, a second print area related to the first special consumable material in the recorded medium, and a hue of the recorded medium. Based on the analysis unit, the first print area, the second print area, and the hue, the condition that the information printed on the recording medium is visible using the first special consumable material is detected. In this case, a print content generation unit that generates a second print content using an invisible second special consumer material different from the first special consumer material, the normal consumer material, and the first special product. It is characterized by including an image forming unit for printing the first print content using the same consumable material and printing the second print content using the second special consumable material.

According to the present invention, there is an effect that printing using an invisible consumable material can be speeded up.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of a detailed hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the invisible operation in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a first print area on paper according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a first print area and a second print area in the first print content printed on paper according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of the first print area and the second print area in the first print content printed on the paper according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a first print area, a second print area, and a third print area printed on white paper according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the invisible operation in the application example of the embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the image forming apparatus will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of the image forming system 1 according to the embodiment. The image forming system 1 includes a host PC 100 and a printer 101 which is an example of an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus is, for example, an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral / Product / Printer). The printer 101 has a controller 910, an operation panel 940, and an engine control unit 930. The controller 910 is connected to the host PC 100 via the network I / F950. The controller 910 is connected to the operation panel 940 via the operation panel I / F 106. The controller 910 is connected to the engine control unit 930 via the engine I / F 107.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of a detailed hardware configuration of the image forming apparatus 101. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 101 includes a controller 910, a short-range communication circuit 920, an engine control unit 930, an operation panel 940, and a network I / F 950.

Of these, the controller 910 is a CPU 901, a system memory (MEM-P) 902, a north bridge (NB) 903, a south bridge (SB) 904, an ASIC (Application Special Integrated Circuit) 906, and a storage unit, which are the main parts of the computer. It has a local memory (MEM-C) 907, an HDD controller 908, and a storage unit HD909, and has a configuration in which the NB 903 and the ASIC 906 are connected by an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) bus 921.

Of these, the CPU 901 is a control unit that controls the entire image forming apparatus 101. The NB903 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 901, the MEM-P902, the SB904, and the AGP bus 921, and includes a memory controller that controls reading and writing to the MEM-P902, a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) master, and an AGP target. Has.

The MEM-P902 includes a ROM 902a that is a memory for storing programs and data that realizes each function of the controller 910, and a RAM 902b that is used as a memory for developing programs and data and for drawing in memory printing. The program stored in the RAM 902b is provided as a file in an installable format or an executable format by recording it on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD, or flash memory. It may be configured as follows.

Further, the program stored in the RAM 902b may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by downloading the program via the network. Further, the program stored in the RAM 902b may be configured to be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

The SB904 is a bridge for connecting the NB903 to a PCI device and peripheral devices. The ASIC 906 is an IC (Integrated Circuit) for image processing applications having hardware elements for image processing, and has a role of a bridge connecting the AGP bus 921, the PCI bus 922, the HDD controller 908, and the MEM-C907, respectively. This ASIC906 is a PCI target and an AGP master, an arbiter (ARB) that forms the core of the ASIC906, a memory controller that controls the MEM-C907, and a plurality of DMACs (Direct Memory Access Controllers) that rotate image data by hardware logic and the like. , And a PCI unit that transfers data between the scanner unit 931 and the printer unit 932 via the PCI bus 922. A USB (Universal Bus) interface or an IEEE 1394 (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394) interface may be connected to the ASIC 906.

The MEM-C907 is a local memory used as a copy image buffer and a code buffer. The HD909 is a storage for accumulating image data, accumulating font data used at the time of printing, and accumulating forms. The HD909 controls reading or writing of data to the HD909 according to the control of the CPU 901. The AGP bus 921 is a bus interface for a graphics accelerator card proposed for speeding up graphic processing, and the graphics accelerator card can be speeded up by directly accessing the MEM-P902 with high throughput. ..

Further, the short-range communication circuit 920 includes a short-range communication circuit 920a. The short-range communication circuit 920 is a communication circuit such as NFC or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

Further, the engine control unit 930 is composed of a scanner unit 931 and a printer unit 932. Further, the operation panel 940 displays the current setting value, the selection screen, and the like, and displays the panel display unit 940a such as a touch panel that accepts the input from the operator, and the setting value of the condition related to image formation such as the density setting condition. It is provided with an operation panel 940b including a numeric keypad for receiving and a start key for receiving a copy start instruction. The controller 910 controls the entire image printing device 9, and controls, for example, drawing, communication, input from the operation panel 940, and the like. The scanner unit 931 or the printer unit 932 includes an image processing portion such as error diffusion and gamma conversion.

The printer unit 932 forms an image by an electrophotographic method. Further, the printer unit 932 can form an image with IR (Infrared Rays / infrared) toner (special consumer material) in addition to image formation with normal toner (normal consumer material) of Y, M, C, and K. Is.

The IR toner is a toner that has absorbency in the wavelength region of infrared light including near-infrared light (about 850 nm) and has little absorption in the wavelength region of visible light (about 400 to 700 nm). That is, the absorbency of the visible light wavelength region is less than the absorbency of the infrared light wavelength region. Such IR toner is transparent to visible light (invisible) and becomes readable when irradiated with infrared light. What is printed with IR toner is invisible to the human eye and can be read by a dedicated reading device. That is, what is printed with IR toner cannot be copied with a normal MFP 101 or the like.

The printer unit 932 is not limited to the one that forms an image by the electrophotographic method as described above, but may be one that forms an image by an inkjet method, or a dot impact method using an ink ribbon. It may form an image. For example, when an image is formed by an inkjet method, in addition to image formation using ordinary ink (ordinary consumer material), it has absorbency in the wavelength region of infrared light (about 850 nm) including near infrared light. It is also possible to form an image with IR (Infrared Rays / infrared) ink (special consumption material) that absorbs less in the wavelength region of visible light (about 400 to 700 nm). Further, when an image is formed by a dot impact method using an ink ribbon, in addition to image formation by a normal ink ribbon (normal consumer material), a wavelength region of infrared light including near infrared light (around 850 nm). It is also possible to form an image with an IR (Infrared Rays / infrared) ink ribbon (special consumer material) that has absorbency in) and absorbs little in the wavelength region of visible light (about 400 to 700 nm).

Further, in the present embodiment, printing using IR toner / IR ink / IR ink ribbon as a special consumable material has been described, but the present invention is not limited to these, and black light is used as a special consumable material in a dark place. It can also be applied to printing using UV (Ultraviolet Rays) toner / UV ink / UV ink ribbon that emits light when hit.

The image forming apparatus 101 can sequentially switch and select the document box function, the copy function, the printer function, and the facsimile function by the application switching key on the operation panel 940. When the document box function is selected, the document box mode is set, when the copy function is selected, the copy mode is set, when the printer function is selected, the printer mode is set, and when the facsimile mode is selected, the facsimile mode is set.

Further, the network I / F950 is an interface for performing data communication using a communication network. The short-range communication circuit 920 and the network I / F 950 are electrically connected to the ASIC 906 via the PCI bus 922.

The host PC 100 transmits print data to the printer 101, and the print data is, for example, information about printing using visible toner corresponding to normal visible consumables and invisible first special consumables. It has information about printing with the corresponding first invisible toner.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 101. As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus 101 includes a print data analysis unit 90, an image forming unit 91, an invisible image determination unit 93, and a print content generation unit 95. The image forming unit 91 receives print data from the host PC 100 through the network I / F950. The image forming unit 91 transmits print data to the invisible image determination unit 93.

By analyzing the print data, the print data analysis unit 90 analyzes the print data to perform normal consumption on the recording medium on which the first print content is printed using the visible normal consumption material and the invisible first special consumption material. The first print area for the material, the second print area for the first special consumable material in the recording medium, and the hue of the recording medium are specified. The print data analysis unit 90 determines whether the paper P set in the printer unit 932 is blank paper or colored (non-white) paper based on the print data. The processing contents of the print data analysis unit 90 will be described later.

The invisible image determination unit 93 determines whether or not the print data is printed as an invisible image. When it is determined that at least a part of the print data is printed as an invisible image, the invisible image determination unit 93 outputs the determination result to the image forming unit 91. When it is determined that at least a part of the print data is not printed as an invisible image, the invisible image determination unit 93 outputs the result (hereinafter referred to as a non-printable instruction) to the print content generation unit 95. The details of the processing by the invisible image determination unit 93 will be described later.

The print content generation unit 95 can visualize the information printed on the recording medium (paper) using the first special consumable material based on the first print area, the second print area, and the hue of the recording medium. When a condition (hereinafter referred to as a visible condition) is detected, a second print content using an invisible second special consumer material different from the first special consumer material is generated. In other words, the print content generation unit 95 generates the second print content in response to the non-printable instruction by the invisible image determination unit 93. The processing content by the print content generation unit 95 and the above-mentioned visibility conditions will be described in detail later.

The image forming unit 91 prints the first print content using the normal consumable material and the first special consumable material, and is different from the first special consumable material in the second special second type. The second print content is printed using the consumable material. The first print content corresponds to the print data. Hereinafter, in order to make the explanation concrete, the visible normal consuming material will be described as a normal toner (visible toner), and the invisible first special consuming material will be described as a first invisible toner (first IR toner). , The invisible second special consumable material will be described as the second invisible toner (second IR toner). The image forming apparatus 101 has a configuration capable of printing a normal toner, a first invisible toner, and a second invisible toner. The first invisible toner and the second invisible toner have different reacting frequencies. For example, when the first invisible toner is the first IR toner and the second invisible toner is the second IR toner, the first IR toner and the second IR toner are in the range of 800 nm to 1 mm, which is the wavelength region of infrared light. Of these, the reacting wavelengths are different.

Hereinafter, according to the embodiment, operations related to analysis by the print data analysis unit 90, determination by the invisible image determination unit 93, setting of the second print content by the print content generation unit 95, and printing by the image forming unit 91 (hereinafter, non-existence). (Called visualization operation) will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the invisible operation in the image forming apparatus 101 according to the embodiment.

(Invisible operation)
(Step S401)
The controller 910 receives print data from the host PC 100 as the first print content. The print data analysis unit 90 analyzes the print data, and the normal toner is printed on a recording medium (hereinafter, referred to as paper) on which the first print content is printed using the normal toner and the first invisible toner. One print area and a second print area on which the first invisible toner is printed on the paper are specified. For example, the print data analysis unit 90 uses the drawing area information in the print data, that is, the coordinate information related to printing using normal toner and the coordinate information related to printing using the first invisible toner, to use the first print area and the second print. Identify the area.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the first print area NTPA on the paper P. The print content shown in FIG. 5 corresponds to, for example, the original image printed together with the management information by the first invisible toner. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a first print area NTPA and a second print area S1PA in the first print content printed on the paper P. In FIG. 6, the second print area S1PA is superimposed on the first print area NTPA. As shown in FIG. 6, when a two-dimensional barcode image is superimposed on the first print area NTPA printed with normal toner using the first invisible toner, the human eye discriminates the two-dimensional barcode image. You can't. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another example of the first print area NTPA and the second print area S1PA in the first print content printed on the paper P. FIG. 7 shows that the first print area NTPA and the second print area S1PA do not overlap. When a two-dimensional barcode image is printed on the white area of the paper P with the first invisible toner in the layout as shown in FIG. 7, if you look closely, you can see the two-dimensional barcode image with the first invisible toner. May be visible.

(Step S402)
The print data analysis unit 90 identifies whether the paper P set in the printer unit 932 is blank paper or colored (non-white) paper based on the print data. Next, the invisible image determination unit 93 determines whether or not the hue of the paper (recording medium) P on which the first print content is printed is white. When the hue of the paper P is white (Yes in step S402), the process of step S403 is executed. Yes in step S402 corresponds to, for example, that the hue of the paper P in FIGS. 5 to 7 is white.

Further, when the hue of the paper P is non-white, that is, the paper P is colored paper (No in step S402), the process of step S405 is executed. No. in step S402 corresponds to, for example, that the hue of the paper P in FIGS. 5 to 7 is non-white. In other words, when the determined paper P is colored paper, the print content by the first invisible toner cannot be determined by the human eye, so the process of step S405 is executed. In this step S402, the visible condition that the information printed on the recording medium (paper) using the first special consumable material (first invisible toner) is visible is the first printing on the recording medium (paper). The background of the content is white. That is, in this step S402, the invisible image determination unit 93 determines whether or not the visible condition has been detected.

(Step S403)
The invisible image determination unit 93 determines whether or not the entire print area of the first invisible toner is superimposed on the print area of the normal toner. That is, the invisible image determination unit 93 determines whether or not the entire second print area is superimposed on the first print area based on the coordinate information of the first print area and the coordinate information of the second print area. When the entire second print area is superimposed on the first print area (Yes in step S403), the process of step S405 is executed. Yes of this step S403 corresponds to, for example, that the positional relationship between the first print area and the second print area on the white paper P is as shown in FIG.

If the entire second print area is not superimposed on the first print area (No in step S403), the process of step S404 is executed. No. in this step S403 corresponds to, for example, that the positional relationship between the first print area and the second print area on the white paper P is as shown in FIG. 7. The No. in step S403 is not limited to the positional relationship shown in FIG. 7, and includes, for example, a case where a part of the second print area is superimposed on the first print area on the white paper P. In this step S403, the visible conditions for making the information printed on the recording medium (paper) using the first special consumable material (first invisible toner) visible are the first print area and the second print area. It has to include the overlapping state of.

(Step S404)
The print content generation unit 95 generates the print content of the second invisible toner. That is, when the print content generation unit 95 detects a visible condition in which the information printed on the paper P is visible using the first invisible toner based on the first print area and the second print area, the second print content generation unit 95 is used. Generate a second print content using invisible toner. Specifically, the print content generation unit 95 uses the information in the print data to provide information on the area where the second invisible toner is printed (hereinafter referred to as the third print area) (hereinafter referred to as the print area information). To create. The third print area is, for example, an area including a second print area printed with the first invisible toner, and includes an area of the second print area. The print content generation unit 95 outputs the print area information printed by the second type of second invisible toner to the image forming unit 91.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a first print area NTPA, a second print area S1PA, and a third print area S2PA printed on white paper P. As shown in FIG. 8, the print area information is information regarding the coordinates of the third print area S2PA set to include the second print area S1PA.

(Step S405)
The image forming unit 91 prints the first print content using the normal consumable material and the first special consumable material, and prints the second print content using the second special consumable material. At this time, the image forming unit 91 functions as, for example, a printer unit 932. Specifically, the printer unit 932 prints the original image on the first print area NTPA using normal toner. The printer unit 932 prints the management information on the second print area S1PA using the first invisible toner. The printer unit 932 prints the second invisible toner on the third print area S1PA. By step S405, the invisibility operation ends.

In the image forming apparatus 101 according to the embodiment, the recording medium on which the first print content is printed using the visible normal consumable material and the invisible first special consumable material based on the print data. The first print area for a normal consumable material, the second print area for the first special consumable material in the recording medium, and the hue of the recording medium are specified, and the first print area, the second print area, and the cover are specified. When the condition that the information printed on the recording medium is visible is detected by using the first special consumer material based on the hue of the recording medium, the invisible first material different from the first special consumer material is detected. The second print content using the special consumer material of 2 is generated, the first print content is printed using the normal consumer material and the first special consumer material, and the second special consumer material is used. The second print content is printed using. The conditions are that the background of the first print content on the recording medium is white and that the first print area and the second print area do not overlap.

Specifically, by analyzing the print data, the normal toner drawing area (first print area), the first invisible toner drawing area (second print area), and the hue of the paper P included in the print data. And identify. Based on the specified first print area, second print area, and hue of the paper P, a visible condition in which the information printed by the first invisible toner becomes visible is detected before printing. In response to the detection of the visible condition, the drawing area (third print area) by the second invisible toner is determined before printing. Then, printing is executed using the determined third print area together with the print data.

From the above, according to the image forming apparatus 101 according to the embodiment, by analyzing the print data, the presence / absence of printing using the second type of second invisible toner and the area to be printed with the second invisible toner Can be determined before printing. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 101 according to the embodiment, it is not necessary to physically detect the region to be invisible on the paper P printed using the IR toner, so that an invisible consumable material is used. Printing can be speeded up.

(Application example)
Even if the print areas of the normal toner and the first invisible toner overlap, if the color of the normal toner is light, the print contents of the first invisible toner may be discernible to the human eye. Therefore, in this application example, in the latter part of step S403 of the flowchart of FIG. 4, it is determined whether or not the color of the normal toner exceeds or does not exceed the threshold value in the overlapping area where the first print area and the second print area overlap. By adding it, it is possible to prevent such a case.

That is, in this application example, when the entire second print area is superimposed on the first print area as the subsequent process of step S403, the hue of the normal toner in the superimposed area where the first print area and the second print area are overlapped. The purpose is to determine whether or not the second invisible toner is used by using the information of. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the invisible operation in the application example. In FIG. 9, for the same processing as in FIG. 4, the same step number as in FIG. 4 is assigned, and the processing in step S901 different from that in FIG. 4 will be described.

The invisible image determination unit 93 sets the first print area and the second print area as a condition that the information printed on the recording medium (paper) using the first special consumable material (first invisible toner) is visible. Further use is information on the hue of the usual consumer material in the overlapping region where and overlap.

(Invisible operation)
If Yes is determined in step S403, the process according to step S901 is executed.

(Step S901)
The print data analysis unit 90 identifies the hue value N of the normal toner in the superimposed region by analyzing the print data. Next, the invisible image determination unit 93 determines whether or not the value N of the specified hue is equal to or less than the threshold value. The threshold value is stored in the storage unit in advance. The threshold value may be set based on the hue density of the normal toner for printing the original image. When the hue value N of the normal toner in the overlapping region is equal to or less than the threshold value (Yes in step S901), the process of step S404 is executed. When the hue value N of the normal toner in the overlapping region exceeds the threshold value (No in step S901), the process of step S405 is executed. By step S405, the invisibility operation in this application example ends.

In the image forming apparatus 101 according to the application example of the embodiment, the first print area and the second print area are set as a condition that the information printed on the recording medium using the first special consumable material is visible. Information on the hue of ordinary consumable materials in overlapping overlapping regions is used. Thereby, when the value N of the normal hue in the overlapping region is equal to or less than the threshold value, the print content of the second invisible toner, that is, the third print region can be determined before printing. Therefore, even if the hue of the normal toner in the superimposed region is light, it is possible to prevent the printed content of the first invisible toner from being discerned by the human eye, and the paper printed using the IR toner. Since it is not necessary to physically detect the region to be invisible in P, printing using an invisible consumer material can be speeded up.

Printing with IR toner (first invisible toner) is used for anti-counterfeiting and original certification by printing invisible information on, for example, distribution labels, ID cards, confidential documents, etc. of parts. I'm assuming. In addition, with the current printing technology using IR toner, it is not completely transparent, so when printed on a white background, additional information can be seen faintly, and it is only possible to know that something is being printed. That is, since the printed matter with IR toner becomes almost transparent, there is an advantage that the printed matter can be printed anywhere regardless of the layout of the printed matter. However, since it is easy to see when printed on a white background as described above, it is possible to prevent faint visibility by printing the second invisible toner on the information printed by the first invisible toner. In the present embodiment, the "invisible" includes both a state in which the image is completely invisible and a state in which the image is faintly visible as described above but the printed matter cannot be visually recognized.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, based on the drawing area information in the print data, whether or not to print with a second special consumable material such as a second invisible toner, and whether or not to print with the second invisible toner are used. By making it possible to set the print content, it is possible to add management information and the like that are not intended to be exposed to the public, and to obtain a print result including highly confidential additional information that is visualized only when, for example, infrared irradiation is performed.

Each function of the embodiment described above can be realized by one or more processing circuits. Here, the "processing circuit" in the present specification is a processor programmed to execute each function by software such as a processor implemented by an electronic circuit, or a processor designed to execute each function described above. It shall include devices such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), and a conventional circuit module.

90 Print data analysis unit 91 Image formation unit 93 Invisible image judgment unit 95 Print content generation unit 100 Host PC
101 Image forming device 106 Operation panel I / F
107 Engine I / F
901 CPU
902 system memory (MEM-P)
902a ROM
902b RAM
903 Northbridge (NB)
904 Southbridge (SB)
906 ASIC
907 Local memory (MEM-C)
908 HDD controller 909 HD
920 Short-range communication circuit 920a Short-range communication circuit 921 AGP bus 922 PCI bus 930 Engine control unit 931 Scanner unit 932 Printer unit 940 Operation panel 940a Panel display unit 940b Operation panel 950 Network I / F

JP-A-2009-015208

Claims (3)

Based on the print data, in the recording medium on which the first print content is printed using the visible normal consumable material and the invisible first special consumable material, the first print area related to the normal consumable material and the first print area. A printing data analysis unit that specifies a second printing area related to the first special consumable material in the recording medium and a hue of the recording medium.
When the condition that the information printed on the recording medium is visible is detected by using the first special consumable material based on the first print area, the second print area, and the hue, the first print area, the second print area, and the hue are detected. A print content generator that generates a second print content using an invisible second special consumer material that is different from the first special consumer material,
An image forming unit that prints the first printed content using the normal consumable material and the first special consumable material, and prints the second print content using the second special consumable material. When,
An image forming apparatus comprising. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the condition is that the hue is white and the first print area and the second print area do not overlap. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the condition includes information on the hue of the ordinary consumable material in the overlapping area where the first printing area and the second printing area overlap.

Images