JP2024063974A - Image Inspection System - Google Patents

Abstract

To change at least either one of a method for creating patches, a method for reading patches, or a method for correcting an image according to the type of a medium or the configuration of toner.SOLUTION: An image inspection systems 500A, 500B each comprise: a control unit 510 that controls image formation performed by an image forming unit based on a read image created by a reading unit 560 reading a medium on which patches are formed; and a determination control unit 590 that changes a determination method for determining the quality of an image formed on the medium based on the medium on which the patches are formed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present disclosure relates to image inspection systems, and more particularly to patch reading technology.

In the field of image forming devices, a technique is known in which a patch is printed on a medium and then various corrections are made to the print settings by reading the patch in order to maintain the print quality on the medium.

Image forming devices such as label printers that use rolled media print images on a variety of media, including not only regular white paper, but also colored separators (e.g., release paper), transparent films, gold and silver metallized films, and holographic paper. As a result, image forming devices may read patches printed on a wide variety of media or combinations of media (e.g., films and coating materials).

However, depending on the type of media or combination of media, the image forming device may not be able to accurately read the patches printed on the media. Therefore, there is a need for technology that can accurately read patches printed on a wide variety of media or combinations of media.

Regarding patch reading technology, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2011-073306 (Patent Document 1) discloses a method for obtaining an error in the amount of ink applied to a transparent print medium. This error obtaining method is as follows: "By applying white ink, black ink, and chromatic ink separately to a transparent print medium using a standard printing device and a target printing device, white patches, black patches, and chromatic patches are formed on the transparent print medium, the black patches and chromatic patches are measured with the transparent print medium placed against a white background, and the white patches are measured with the transparent print medium placed against a black background, and the error between the colorimetric values of the white ink, black ink, and chromatic ink formed by the standard printing device and the colorimetric values of the white ink, black ink, and chromatic ink formed by the target printing device is obtained as the error in the amount of the white ink, black ink, and chromatic ink applied" (see [Summary]).

JP 2011-073306 A

According to the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a possibility that accurate image correction cannot be performed in cases where different release papers are used for the same film, where a logo is printed on the release paper, where the shadow of the patch is cast on a white background, or where a white background and white ink (toner) are used. Therefore, there is a need for technology that changes at least one of the patch generation method, patch reading method, and image correction method depending on the type of medium.

The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned background, and in one aspect, the objective is to provide a technology that changes at least one of the patch generation method, patch reading method, or image correction method depending on the type of medium or the toner composition.

According to one embodiment, an image inspection system is provided. The image inspection system includes a control unit that controls image formation by an image forming unit based on a read image generated by reading a medium on which a patch is formed with a reading unit, and a judgment control unit that changes a judgment method for judging the quality of an image formed on the medium based on the medium on which the patch is formed.

In one aspect, the change in the judgment method includes at least one of changing the gradation range used for judgment, changing the image formation method of the image used for judgment, changing the judgment criteria, changing the patch used for judgment, and changing the number of measurements of the patch used for judgment.

In one aspect, the image inspection system includes an identification unit that acquires information about the medium based on the scanned image and identifies the medium.

In one aspect, the information about the medium includes at least one of information about the type and characteristics of the medium.

In one aspect, the image inspection system further includes an acquisition unit that acquires information regarding the type of medium.

In one aspect, the control unit identifies the medium based on the acquisition result of the acquisition unit.
In one aspect, the determination control unit changes the gradation range used for the determination based on the reading result of reading the medium.

In one aspect, modifying the patch used for the judgment includes forming the patch on a white background formed on the medium.

In one aspect, the determination control unit determines whether or not to form a white background based on the analysis results of the medium and the patch.

In one aspect, the judgment control unit detects noise present in the background including the medium, and changes the judgment criteria for judging the quality of the image formed on the medium based on the detection results.

In one aspect, the judgment criterion is a threshold value related to density unevenness. The judgment control unit changes the threshold value depending on the intensity of the noise.

In one aspect, the judgment criterion is a range for detecting noise. The judgment control unit changes the minimum size of the noise period or spatial frequency for detecting noise.

In one aspect, changing the patch used for the determination includes using a specific image contained in the user content as the patch.

In one aspect, the judgment control unit controls the contribution rate of a specific image to the judgment result depending on the validity of the specific image as a patch.

In one aspect, the determination control unit determines the state of the background area that the reading unit uses to read the medium, based on the results of reading an area of the medium where no image is formed by the image forming unit.

In one embodiment, it is possible to change at least one of the patch generation method, patch reading method, or image correction method depending on the type of medium.

The above and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 shows an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 shows an example of a configuration of an image scanner 110 according to the present embodiment. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a calibration plate 400 provided in an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of image inspection systems 500A and 500B according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a density unevenness measurement patch. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a tone measurement patch. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a real-time adjustment patch. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a first modified example of a density unevenness measurement patch. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a second modified example of the density unevenness measurement patch. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a third modified example of the density unevenness measurement patch. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an image of correction of density unevenness. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating modified examples of tone adjustment patches. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a gradation correction curve. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a first modified example of a real-time adjustment patch. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a second modified example of a real-time adjustment patch. 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating an example of timing when the image forming apparatus 100 uses each patch. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of adjustment of a gradation correction curve. 11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating an example of variations of color registration measurement patches. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating an example of a first problem in patch reading processing of the image forming apparatus 100. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of a second problem in the patch reading process of the image forming apparatus 100. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an example of a third problem in patch reading processing of the image forming apparatus 100. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an example of a fourth problem in patch reading processing of the image forming apparatus 100. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an example of a fifth problem in patch reading processing of the image forming apparatus 100. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a first solution method for solving at least one of the first to fifth problems in the patch reading process of the image forming apparatus 100. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a second solution method for solving at least one of the first to fifth problems in the patch reading process of the image forming apparatus 100. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a third solution method for solving at least one of the first to fifth problems in the patch reading process of the image forming apparatus 100. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a fourth solution method for solving at least one of the first to fifth problems in the patch reading process of the image forming apparatus 100. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a fifth solution method for solving at least one of the first to fifth problems in the patch reading process of the image forming apparatus 100. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a sixth solution method for solving at least one of the first to fifth problems in the patch reading process of the image forming apparatus 100. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a seventh solution method for solving at least one of the first to fifth problems in the patch reading process of the image forming apparatus 100. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an application example of an eighth solution method for solving at least one of the first to fifth problems in the patch reading process of the image forming apparatus 100. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a ninth solution method for solving at least one of the first to fifth problems in the patch reading process of the image forming apparatus 100. 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an example of a sixth problem in patch reading processing by the image forming apparatus 100 and a tenth solution method for solving the sixth problem. 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating an example of a seventh problem in patch reading processing by the image forming apparatus 100 and an eleventh solution method for solving the seventh problem. 13A to 13C are diagrams illustrating an example of an eighth problem in patch reading processing by the image forming apparatus 100 and a twelfth solution method for solving the problem. 1A and 1B are diagrams showing an example of a register mark design for a sheet-fed press (image forming apparatus 200). 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of processing performed by the image forming apparatus 100 when a white toner background is used for a patch. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating an example of a procedure for determining a screen ruling when a coating color toner is present; FIG. 2 illustrates a first example of a pre-patch. FIG. 13 illustrates a second example of a pre-patch. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of combination information of settings to be used. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of reading the register marks or selecting a design.

<A. Overview of the Technology Disclosed>
First, an overview of the technology disclosed herein will be described. The technology disclosed herein relates to a technology for correcting images during continuous printing and maintaining consistent print quality, regardless of the type of medium or toner, in an image forming apparatus capable of using a wide variety of media and toners.

The technology disclosed herein can also be applied to image forming apparatuses that use ink. Therefore, "toner" in the following description may be read as "ink." In addition, the technology disclosed herein will be described hereinafter using an image forming apparatus that uses rolled media as an example, but image forming apparatuses to which the technology disclosed herein can be applied are not limited to those that use rolled media. In some aspects, the technology disclosed herein can also be applied to image forming apparatuses that use cut media such as those used in offices (also called "sheet-fed machines").

In this specification, "medium" refers to anything on which an image is printed by an image forming device, and includes paper, film, colored separators (such as sticker backings), metallized film, holographic paper, any other print medium, or combinations of these.

The technology disclosed herein is particularly effective for image forming apparatuses 100 (see FIG. 1) that use roll-shaped media, such as production printers. Below, an overview of the technology disclosed herein will be explained using the image forming apparatus 100 as an example.

When the image forming device 100 continuously prints images on a medium, it prints images or figures called patches on the margins of the medium in order to correct image misalignment, color changes, etc. By reading the patches on the medium with a built-in image scanner, the image forming device 100 can change the printing parameters and correct image misalignment, color changes, etc.

The patch reading process of an image forming device 100 that uses roll-shaped media is more difficult than the patch reading process of an image forming device that uses normal white paper, mainly for the following four reasons:

The first reason is that the image forming device 100 uses a wide variety of media other than ordinary white paper, such as colored separators (such as sticker backings), various types of media on separators, various colored sticker media, transparent films, gold and silver metal-deposited films, holographic paper, etc. Depending on the medium, the light transmission characteristics and the ease with which patch shadows are formed vary. Therefore, the patch reading conditions and various threshold values may change depending on the medium.

The second reason is that the image forming device 100 uses a combination of multiple media, such as a sticker and its backing (colored separator). Furthermore, the combination of media may change. For example, the sticker may be the same, but the color of the backing may change. In this way, even if only one of the media combinations changes, the patch reading conditions change.

The third reason is that the image forming device 100 uses special toners (white toner, metallic color toner, fluorescent color toner, special color toner, clear toner, etc.) that serve as a base for forming an image on a medium such as a transparent film or dark colored paper, or as a coating material for finishing, in addition to the color-developing toners such as Y (Yellow), M (Magenta), C (Cyan), and K (Black). Reading patches of these special toners may require a different procedure than reading patches of color-developing toner.

The fourth reason is that the image forming apparatus 100 uses a roll-shaped medium, and therefore the image forming apparatus 100 can only read the patch on the medium after printing. A sheet-fed press has a function of separating the intermediate transfer belt from the secondary transfer roller. A sheet-fed press separates the intermediate transfer belt from the secondary transfer roller in the middle of continuous printing, so that the patch is not transferred onto the medium, and then prints the patch on the intermediate transfer belt. Then, the sheet-fed press can correct the printing conditions by acquiring and analyzing the image of the patch on the intermediate transfer belt using a toner image sensor (sometimes called a monocular sensor). However, unlike a sheet-fed press, the image forming apparatus 100 uses a roll-shaped medium, and therefore cannot separate the intermediate transfer belt from the secondary transfer roller in the middle of printing because it prints on a roll-shaped medium. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 needs to read the patch image on the medium after printing.

To solve the above problems, the image forming device 100 according to the present embodiment changes at least one of the patch generation method, patch reading method, and print image correction method based on the type of medium, the combination of media, the type of toner or ink used, or a combination of these. The functions provided by the image forming device 100 will be described in detail later.

<B. Image forming apparatus>
(a. Hardware Configuration)
Next, a hardware configuration of an image forming apparatus to which the technology of the present disclosure can be applied and an image scanner included in the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. The image forming apparatuses 100 and 200 are hardware for reading the images and patches printed on the medium 120. The image forming apparatuses 100 and 200 are hardware for reading the patches to be read by the image scanner, the patch reading process of the image scanner, or both, on the medium 120 or the toner ( In this way, the image forming apparatuses 100 and 200 can appropriately read the patches and adjust the print settings (correct the print image) for each of the various combinations of media and toner (ink). possible.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 100 is an image forming apparatus that uses a roll-shaped medium 120, such as a production printer.

The image forming device 100 mainly comprises a control unit 101, an operation display unit 102, a communication unit 103, an image forming unit 104, an intermediate transfer belt 105, a belt drive roller 106, a secondary transfer roller 107, a fixing unit 108, a toner image sensor 109, an image scanner 110, an image analysis unit 111, a paper feed unit 112, and a paper discharge unit 113.

The control unit 101 controls the entire image forming apparatus 100. For example, the control unit 101 may control the display processing of various settings on the operation display unit 102, the processing of commands input from the operation display unit 102, the printing processing by the image forming unit 104, etc. The control unit 101 may also execute some or all of the processing such as printing patches, analyzing patches, and changing print settings based on the results of the patch analysis. The control unit 101 may also execute some of the processing such as printing patches, analyzing patches, and changing print settings based on the results of the patch analysis by working together with other components (the image forming unit 104, the image scanner 110, etc.).

In one aspect, the control unit 101 may include a processor (not shown), a memory (not shown), and a storage (not shown). In this case, the processor executes or references various programs and data loaded into the memory. In one aspect, the processor may be configured with one or more CPUs (Central Processing Units), FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), at least one ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), or a combination of these.

The memory stores programs executed by the processor and data referenced by the processor. In some aspects, the memory may be realized by a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) or a static random access memory (SRAM), etc.

The storage may be a non-volatile memory, and may store programs executed by the processor and data referenced by the processor. In this case, the processor executes programs read from the storage to the memory, and references data read from the storage to the memory. In one aspect, the storage may be realized by a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a flash memory, or the like.

In other aspects, the control unit 101 may be realized as a SoC (System on Chip), a SoM (System on Module), a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) equipped with any electronic components, or a combination of these.

The operation display unit 102 includes a display unit such as a display, and an operation unit such as a touch panel and buttons. The touch panel may be incorporated in the display unit. The display unit may be a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, or any other display unit. The display unit may display a UI (User Interface) and various information based on instructions from the control unit 101. The operation unit may accept operation input from the user and output a signal of the operation input to the control unit 101.

The communication unit 103 is connected to other devices via a wired network or a wireless network. The communication unit 103 may receive a job from a user's terminal, for example. The communication unit 103 outputs a print job to the control unit 101. The control unit 101 executes the print process by controlling the image forming unit 104 based on the job. In one aspect, the communication unit 103 may be realized by a wired LAN (Local Area Network) port and a Wi-Fi (registered trademark) (Wireless Fidelity) module, etc. In another aspect, the communication unit 103 may send and receive data using a communication protocol such as TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol).

The image forming unit 104 forms a toner image or ink image on the intermediate transfer belt 105. The image forming apparatus 100 includes image forming units 104 for each of a plurality of colors. As an example, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an image forming unit 104 for Y (yellow), an image forming unit 104 for M (magenta), an image forming unit 104 for C (cyan), an image forming unit 104 for K (black (key plate)), and an image forming unit 104 for S (special toner). The image forming apparatus 100 may also include image forming units 104 for any color other than YMCKS. The toner type image forming unit 104 includes a photoconductor, a charging unit, an exposure unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit. The toner type image forming unit 104 transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductor to the intermediate transfer belt 105. The ink type image forming unit 104 includes an inkjet nozzle. The inkjet nozzle forms an image on the intermediate transfer belt 105.

The intermediate transfer belt 105 is a belt on which a toner image (or ink image) is formed by the image forming unit 104. The intermediate transfer belt 105 is driven by a belt drive roller 106. The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 105 is carried to the path of the printing medium 120, and is transferred to the medium 120 by the secondary transfer roller 107.

The fixing unit 108 nips the medium 120 with a pressure roller and a heating roller, and melts the toner image on the medium 120. The toner image is heated by the heating roller and melted, and is fixed to the medium 120.

The toner image sensor 109 reads the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 105 and outputs the reading result data to the control unit 101. The secondary transfer roller 107 is configured to be movable by a motor or the like. When the control unit 101 uses the toner image sensor 109, it moves the secondary transfer roller 107 to separate the intermediate transfer belt 105 from the medium 120. This causes the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 105 to pass in front of the toner image sensor 109. The control unit 101 can correct the toner image that has changed due to the influence of temperature, humidity, etc. by analyzing the reading result data obtained from the toner image sensor 109 and changing the print settings.

However, unlike a sheet-fed press, an image forming apparatus 100 that uses roll-type media cannot separate the intermediate transfer belt 105 from the medium 120 during printing. If the intermediate transfer belt 105 were to be separated from the medium 120 during printing, the printing on the medium 120 would be interrupted, which could cause problems in later processes. This would result in all printing having to be redone. For this reason, an image forming apparatus 100 that uses roll-type media can perform a correction process using an image scanner 110 to correct the image without interrupting printing (during continuous printing), thereby maintaining consistent print quality.

The image scanner 110 reads the surface of the medium 120 on which an image is printed, and outputs the read result data to the image analysis unit 111. The control unit 101 can correct misalignment of the print position, changes in the color of the image, etc. by changing the print settings based on the image analysis results obtained from the image analysis unit 111. The detailed configuration of the image scanner 110 will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

The image analysis unit 111 analyzes the read result data obtained from the image scanner 110. As an example, the image analysis unit 111 may analyze the misalignment of the print position of the image, changes in each color contained in the image on the medium 120, etc. The image analysis unit 111 outputs the analysis result to the control unit 101. In one aspect, the control unit 101 may have the function of the image analysis unit 111.

The paper feed unit 112 supplies the medium 120 toward the transport path of the medium 120. For example, the paper feed unit 112 may be a roller for setting the rolled medium 120. In this case, the paper feed unit 112 rotates to supply the medium 120 toward the transport path.

The paper discharge unit 113 is the location where the medium 120 is discharged. For example, the paper discharge unit 113 may be a roller for winding up the medium 120 on which an image is printed. In this case, the paper discharge unit 113 rotates in conjunction with the paper feed unit 112 to wind up the medium 120 on which an image is printed.

Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image forming apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment. Unlike image forming apparatus 100, image forming apparatus 200 prints an image on cut media 220. For example, image forming apparatus 200 is a sheet-fed machine such as an office MFP (Multifunction Peripheral). The technology disclosed herein is particularly effective for image forming apparatus 100 that uses rolled media 120, but can also be applied to sheet-fed machines such as image forming apparatus 200.

Image forming apparatus 200 has the same configuration as image forming apparatus 100, including a control unit 201, an operation display unit 202, a communication unit 203, an image forming unit 204, an intermediate transfer belt 205, a belt drive roller 206, a secondary transfer roller 207, a fixing unit 208, a toner image sensor 209, an image scanner 210, an image analysis unit 211, a paper feed unit 212, and a paper discharge unit 213. In addition, image forming apparatus 200 has the configuration of a sheet-fed machine, including a defective print discharge unit 214, an upstream image scanner 215, an upstream image analysis unit 216, a paper inversion unit 217, and a switching unit 218.

The defective print output section 214 is a location for outputting defectively printed media 220. For example, the defective print output section 214 may be an output tray.

The upstream image scanner 215 reads the surface of the medium 220 before the image is printed, and outputs the read result data to the upstream image analysis unit 216. In some aspects, the upstream image scanner 215 may have the same hardware configuration as the image scanner 210. The image forming device 200 may also include a sensor (not shown) in series with the upstream image scanner 215 that identifies the type of paper by measuring the physical properties of the medium 220 (paper thickness, weight, moisture content, smoothness of the paper surface, stiffness of the paper, etc.). In this case, the image forming device 200 may use information regarding the type of medium obtained by the sensor for various processes described below.

The upstream image analysis unit 216 analyzes the read result data acquired from the upstream image scanner 215. As an example, the upstream image analysis unit 216 may analyze the type of the medium 220. The upstream image analysis unit 216 outputs the analysis result to the control unit 201. The control unit 201 may change the print settings based on the analysis result (such as the type of the medium 220). In some aspects, the control unit 201 may have the function of the upstream image analysis unit 216.

The paper inversion unit 217 is a mechanism that inverts the medium 220 when performing double-sided printing. The control unit 201 can invert the medium 220 by controlling the motors or motor drivers provided in various locations of the paper inversion unit 217.

The switching unit 218 switches the paper feed source of the medium 220 to be printed. The paper feed unit 212 of the image forming device 200 has multiple paper feed racks. The paper feed unit 212 switches the paper feed rack that is the supply source of the medium 220.

Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the image scanner 110 according to this embodiment. Note that the image scanner 210 also has the same hardware configuration as the image scanner 110.

The main components of the image scanner 110 are an image sensor 301, a light 302, and a background plate 303. In addition to these components, the image scanner 110 also includes a transport unit that transports the medium 120 at a constant speed, a calibration plate 400 (see FIG. 4) for maintaining the reading characteristics of the image sensor 301 constant, and a control device that calibrates the image sensor 301. Note that the image sensor 301, the light 302, and the background plate 303 do not necessarily need to be configured as an integrated unit, and may be located apart from each other as long as they work together to achieve the function of the image scanner 110. For example, the image scanner 110 may include the image sensor 301 and the light 302, and may be separate from the background plate 303.

The image sensor 301 is disposed directly above the medium 120 (the transport path thereof) and reads the image printed on the medium 120. The image sensor 301 may be a line sensor (linear image sensor). In some aspects, the image sensor 301 may be a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) sensor, a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor, or a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor. For example, the line sensor (linear image sensor) may include a focusing configuration in which a reduction-type imaging lens is combined with these various sensors.

The medium 120 passes directly below the image sensor 301 at a constant speed. The image sensor 301 reads the image on the medium 120 at regular intervals. The image reading direction of the image sensor 301 is the main scanning direction, and the transport direction of the medium 120 perpendicular to this is the sub-scanning direction. In this case, the resolution of the read image in the main scanning direction is determined by the number of sensor elements of the image sensor 301. The resolution of the read image in the sub-scanning direction is determined by the value obtained by dividing the image reading interval of the image sensor 301 by the transport speed of the medium 120. As an example, if the paper transport speed drops due to the transfer process or fixing process, the amount of paper movement per image reading interval of the image sensor 301 becomes smaller, and the resolution of the read image in the sub-scanning direction becomes higher.

The light 302 illuminates the medium 120. In one aspect, the direction of light irradiation of the light 302 may be 45° with respect to the medium 120. This prevents the specular reflection component of the illumination light from being incident on the image sensor 301, and allows the chromaticity and density of the measurement target (the image printed on the medium 120) to be properly measured. The image scanner 110 may also include multiple lights 302. In another aspect, the light 302 may be an LED (Light Emitting Diode), a fluorescent tube, any other light source, or a combination of these.

The amount of light from light 302 is determined so that image sensor 301 can read the image on medium 120 and the amount of light is such that bright parts of the image on medium 120 do not become saturated. The amount of light from light 302 can be adjusted by controlling the illumination intensity, or the illumination time within the image reading period of one line, or both. Image scanner 110 can adjust the image reading characteristics of image sensor 301 by adjusting the amount of light from light 302, etc.

In one aspect, if the light 302 is a general white LED, the image scanner 110 can adjust the amount of light of the light 302 by uniformly adjusting the entire measurement color (white light itself). In another aspect, if the lighting elements of the light 302 are independent for each color of light (red, yellow, blue, etc.), the image scanner 110 can adjust the amount of light of the light 302 for each color of light.

In another aspect, when the image sensor 301 includes an image sensor for each color light, and each image sensor reads each color component of the image in chronological order, the image scanner 110 can adjust the amount of light for each color light by adjusting the emission intensity and time of the light 302 in accordance with the reading timing of each image sensor.

In another aspect, the image scanner 110 (or the image analysis unit 111) can adjust the image reading characteristics of the image sensor 301 by adjusting various parameters such as the gain before the analog signal output by the image sensor 301 is AD (Analog/Digital) converted and converted into a digital signal.

The background plate 303 reflects the light emitted from the light 302. The background plate 303 includes a white background plate 311 and a black background plate 312. The background plate 303 is provided at a position facing the image sensor across the path of the medium 120. The background plate 303 is configured to be movable by a drive device (not shown). By moving the background plate 303, the background during the image reading process by the image sensor 301 is switched to the white background plate 311 or the black background plate 312. The control unit 101 or the image analysis unit 111 can select the color of the background plate when the image sensor 301 reads the image according to the type of the medium 120 or the toner (ink). In some aspects, the control device of the image scanner 110 may have a function of selecting the color of the background plate when the image sensor 301 reads the image.

Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a calibration plate 400 provided in the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. The calibration plate 400 will be described in comparison with a calibration plate 410 of a sheet-fed press. The calibration plate is used to adjust the image reading characteristics of the image scanner and is composed of a white calibration plate and a black calibration plate. The image sensor needs to directly read the calibration plate. A sheet-fed press (such as the image forming apparatus 200) can interrupt printing even during printing to create a state in which there is no medium between the image scanner and the background plate. Therefore, a sheet-fed press can be equipped with, for example, a cylindrical calibration plate 410 having a background plate and a calibration plate, allowing the background plate and the calibration plate to be used interchangeably.

On the other hand, the image forming apparatus 100 using the roll-shaped medium 120 requires a mechanism different from that of a sheet-fed press because the medium 120 is not interrupted during printing. When calibrating the image scanner 110, the image sensor 301 needs to directly read the calibration plate, but this is because the medium 120 is not interrupted. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 has a calibration plate 400 in addition to the background plate 303. The calibration plate 400 has a white calibration plate 401 and a black calibration plate 402. During calibration, the image forming apparatus 100 moves the calibration plate 400 to directly below the image sensor 301, avoiding the background plate 303 and the medium 120 from directly below the image sensor 301. For example, the calibration plate 400 can be moved by a drive mechanism (not shown). In addition, the transport roller 420 of the medium 120 and the background plate 303 can also be moved by a drive mechanism (not shown).

The image scanner 110 uses the calibration plate 400 to calibrate the reading characteristics of the image scanner 110. Calibration of the reading characteristics of the image scanner 110 may include image gain by the image analysis unit 111, correction of unevenness in the amount of light of the image scanner itself (so-called shading correction), correction of analytical values, or adjustment of the amount of light of the light 302. The calibration plate 400 includes a white background plate and a black background plate. The background plate 303 may become dirty with paper powder or may be scratched by rubbing against transfer paper or the like due to repeated printing. For this reason, it is desirable to provide the calibration plate 400 separately from the background plate 303. In a certain situation, if the background plate 303 does not become significantly dirty even after repeated printing, the image scanner 110 may use the background plate 303 as the calibration plate 400. In this case, the image scanner 110 may include a cleaning unit for the background plate 303.

During calibration, the image scanner 110 reads the image of the white calibration plate 401 and the image of the black calibration plate 402. The image scanner 110 then adjusts the image reading characteristics of the image scanner 110 (image analysis unit 111) so that the reading gradation of the image of the white calibration plate 401 becomes a predetermined value. The image scanner 110 also adjusts the image reading characteristics of the image scanner 110 (image analysis unit 111) so that the reading gradation of the image of the black calibration plate 402 becomes a predetermined value. The reading gradation of an image is the signal value of the image information. For example, assume that there is a color image in which each of r (red light), g (green light), and b (blue light) is expressed by 8 bits. In this case, the brightness of the color image formed on the medium is expressed by gradation values of 0 to 255 (8 bits can express colors in 256 stages) for each r, g, and b. The image analysis unit 111 performs various analyses and/or corrections of print settings based on the change in the reading gradation. If the read gradation of the image deviates significantly from the predetermined range, there is a possibility that an error will occur in the results of the above analysis or correction. In addition, if the read gradation of the image deviates significantly from the predetermined range, there is a possibility that it will be impossible to identify the patch position, marker, registration mark, or patch position on the image when reading the various adjustment patches described below.

The read gradation of the image of the black calibration plate 402 often does not change significantly. Therefore, in some cases, the image scanner 110 may read only the image of the white calibration plate 401, and adjust the image reading characteristics of the image scanner 110 (image analysis unit 111) so that the read gradation of the image of the white calibration plate 401 becomes a predetermined value.

The image scanner 110 evaluates the variation in the read gradation for each position in the main scanning direction. If the variation in the read gradation is greater than a predetermined value, it determines that either the image sensor 301 or the calibration plate 400 is dirty or scratched. Based on the determination that either the image sensor 301 or the calibration plate 400 is dirty or scratched, the image scanner 110 cleans the lens of the image sensor 301, the protective glass window for protecting the lens from dirt such as paper powder, the calibration plate 400, or both, using a cleaning unit (not shown). If the variation in the read gradation is not improved even after cleaning the lens of the image sensor 301, the calibration plate 400, or both, once or multiple times, the image scanner 110 displays an error message on the operation display unit 102. In a certain aspect, the image scanner 110 may transmit an error message from the communication unit 103 to the operator's terminal.

The background plate 303 does not need to be cleaned, like the image sensor 301 and the calibration plate 400. This is because the background plate 303 is simply used as the background for the medium 120, and even if the background plate 303 is slightly dirty, it does not affect the image reading by the image sensor 301.

However, if the medium 120 is a transparent medium such as a transparent film, dirt on the background board 303 may appear in the image read by the image sensor 301. As a result, dirt on the background board 303 that appears in the image read by the image sensor 301 may affect the image inspection results.

The image scanner 110 reads the unprinted or blank areas of the medium 120 during printing, during adjustment mode, or during patch reading before printing. The image scanner 110 (image analysis unit 111) then analyzes the image of the unprinted or blank areas of the medium 120, and can determine whether or not there is dirt on the background plate 303 that would affect the image inspection.

If the background plate 303 is dirty enough to affect the image inspection, the image forming apparatus 100 may display a message on the operation display unit 102 urging the operator to clean the background plate 303. Note that the image forming apparatus 100 cannot interrupt the printing process. In a certain situation, therefore, in order to at least ensure that the printing process can be completed normally, the image forming apparatus 100 may display a message urging the operator to clean the background plate 303 when it detects dirt on the background plate 303 that does not affect the image inspection. In this way, the operator can clean the background plate 303 before the dirt on the background plate 303 affects the image inspection.

In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may be provided with a cleaning unit (not shown) for the background plate 303. In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may display on the operation display unit 102 a message urging the user to clean the background plate 303, as well as a message urging the user to check whether the medium 120 contains texture that may affect the image inspection (for example, a pattern printed on a sticker backing).

(b. Configuration of Image Inspection System)
The image forming apparatuses 100 and 200 include a configuration for realizing an image inspection system. The configuration of the image inspection system according to the present embodiment will be described below.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of image inspection systems 500A and 500B according to this embodiment. The configuration of image inspection systems 500A and 500B according to this embodiment (hereinafter, when image inspection systems 500A and 500B are collectively referred to as simply "image inspection system") will be described with reference to Figure 5.

When the image forming devices 100 and 200 are realized as a single device, the image inspection system according to this embodiment can also be realized as a single device, such as the image inspection system 500A.

When the image forming apparatus 100, 200 is realized as a system in which multiple devices are connected, the image inspection system according to this embodiment can also be realized as a system in which multiple devices are connected, as in the image inspection system 500B. The multiple devices constituting the image forming apparatus 100, 200 include, for example, a paper feeder 501, an image forming apparatus 502, and an inspection apparatus 503. The image forming apparatus 100, 200 may further include any device, such as a paper discharge device.

The image inspection system 500 includes a control unit 510, an image forming unit 520, an acquisition unit 530, a storage unit 540, a reading control unit 550, a reading unit 560, an identification unit 570, a notification unit 580, and a judgment control unit 590. In one aspect, some or all of the components of the image inspection system may be realized by the hardware of the image forming devices 100 and 200 executing a program. In another aspect, some or all of the components of the image inspection system may be hardware provided in the image forming devices 100 and 200.

The control unit 510 controls the entire image inspection system. The control unit 101 may also serve as the control unit 510 of the image inspection system. In one aspect, the control unit 510, in cooperation with other functional units, may execute image formation processing (patch printing processing, etc.), patch reading control, patch quality determination control, correction control of the patch reading results, and correction control in image formation.

The image forming unit 520 forms an image on the medium. The image forming unit 520 may include the image forming unit 104 and its peripheral circuits. The image forming unit 520 may print patches and user content on the medium based on instructions from the control unit 510.

The acquisition unit 530 acquires information about the medium, such as the type and characteristics of the medium. In one aspect, the acquisition unit 530 may include a touch panel and its peripheral circuitry. In another aspect, the acquisition unit 530 may include an image sensor that is upstream of the image forming unit 104. In another aspect, the acquisition unit 530 may include both a touch panel and its peripheral circuitry, and an image sensor. The acquisition unit 530 outputs the acquired information about the medium to at least one of the control unit 510, the reading control unit 550, and the determination control unit 590.

The memory unit 540 stores the user's usage history, patch printing settings for past printing, patch reading settings, settings for determining whether a patch is good or bad, settings for correction control of printing of user content based on the results of reading the patch, etc. These various settings can be associated with the user's ID (identifier) and stored in the memory unit 540.

The reading control unit 550 controls patch reading by the reading unit 560. In one aspect, the reading control unit 550 may control patch reading by the reading unit 560 based on the user's usage history stored in the memory unit 540. In another aspect, the reading control unit 550 may reflect information about the medium obtained from the acquisition unit 530 in part of the settings for controlling patch reading by the reading unit 560.

The reading unit 560 reads the patches and user content printed on the medium by the image forming unit 520. The reading unit 560 may include the image sensor 301 and its peripheral circuits.

The identification unit 570 identifies the type and characteristics of the medium. The identification unit 570 can identify the type and characteristics of the medium from an image obtained by an image sensor and/or a reading unit 560 (image sensor 301) located upstream of the image forming unit 104. In one aspect, the identification unit 570 may include an image sensor and/or a reading unit 560 (image sensor 301).

The notification unit 580 provides various notifications to the user. As an example, when the medium is replaced, the notification unit 580 may notify the user that the past settings will be reused when at least one of the patch print settings, patch read settings, patch pass/fail judgment settings, and correction control for printing user content based on the patch read results used in the previous printing is to be reused. As another example, when the medium is replaced, the notification unit 580 may notify the user that various settings will be changed or new settings will be used when at least one of the patch print settings, patch read settings, patch pass/fail judgment settings, and correction control for printing user content based on the patch read results used in the previous printing is to be changed. The notification unit 580 may also notify the user of any other errors, warnings, etc. In one aspect, the notification unit 580 may include a touch panel and its peripheral circuitry. In another aspect, the notification unit 580 may include a communication circuit. In this case, the notification unit 580 may send a notification to the user's terminal, etc.

The judgment control unit 590 judges whether the patch is good or bad. In one aspect, the judgment control unit 590 may judge whether the patch is good or bad by the reading unit 560 based on the user's usage history stored in the memory unit 540. In another aspect, the judgment control unit 590 may reflect information about the medium obtained from the acquisition unit 530 in part of the settings for the judgment of whether the patch is good or bad by the reading unit 560.

Note that the arrangement of each component shown in FIG. 5 is an example, and in one aspect, each functional unit may be distributed and arranged in any device. In another aspect, the control unit 510 may also serve as any or all of the image forming unit 520, the reading control unit 550, the identification unit 570, and the judgment control unit 590. Also, some or all of the reading control unit 550, the identification unit 570, and the judgment control unit 590 may be realized as a single functional unit separate from the control unit 510. Furthermore, in another aspect, each component shown in FIG. 5 may be realized as hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The various processes that follow may be interpreted as being executed by any of the functional units of the image inspection system.

C. Types of Patches
Next, there will be described main types of patches used in the image forming apparatus 100. There are mainly three types of patches: density unevenness measurement patches, gradation adjustment patches, and real-time adjustment patches.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of a density unevenness measurement patch. With reference to Figure 6, the density unevenness measurement patch printed on the medium 120 will be described using an example in which the image forming device 100 prints an image on white paper using YMCK toner (developing toner).

The density unevenness measurement patch is used to correct density unevenness in the main scanning direction (the direction perpendicular to the medium transport direction). The density unevenness measurement patch is an image printed with a uniform gradation in the main scanning direction of the medium. "Gradation" refers to the degree of lightness and darkness of a color.

Since the image forming device 100 uses a roll-shaped medium 120, it is not possible to print density unevenness measurement patches during the execution of a job, so the density unevenness measurement patches are printed on the medium 120 at a timing before the execution of the job.

The image forming device 100 prints images of each color with uniform gradation in the main scanning direction. For example, patch 601 is a Y (yellow) image with 100% gradation. Patch 602 is an M (magenta) image with 100% gradation. Patch 603 is a C (cyan) image with 100% gradation. Patch 604 is a K (black) image with 100% gradation. The image forming device 100 repeatedly prints images of each color with uniform gradation in the main scanning direction while switching the gradation, for example, 100%, 75%, 50%, 25%. The markers 605 are positioning indicators that indicate the start and end positions of the patches and identify the exact positions on the images of various patches, and are also called registration marks. In the example of FIG. 6, a white background board 311 is used as the background, but a black background board 312 may also be used as the background.

The image scanner 110 (image analysis unit 111) reads and analyzes the density unevenness measurement patch. The image scanner 110 determines whether the density of each color is uniform in the main scanning direction for each gradation. For example, the patch 601 must have a uniform density everywhere. The image scanner 110 (image analysis unit 111) determines whether the color difference at each location in the main scanning direction of each image is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold. For example, if the density of the right edge of the patch 601 is lower than the density of other parts, the image forming apparatus 100 can correct the image by changing the print settings (e.g., increasing the density of the right side of the medium 120 when printing a Y (yellow) image).

Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of a gradation measurement patch. With reference to Figure 7, the gradation measurement patch printed on the medium 120 will be described using an example in which the image forming device 100 prints an image on white paper using YMCK toner (developing toner).

The gradation adjustment patches are used to adjust the characteristics (density, hue, etc.) of each color at each gradation. For example, by analyzing the gradation adjustment patches, the image forming device 100 can detect a state in which the density of an image of Y (yellow) at 100% gradation is too low, or the density of an image of Y (yellow) at 50% gradation is too high, and can adjust the print settings (correct the printed image).

Since the image forming device 100 uses a roll-shaped medium 120, it is not possible to print gradation adjustment patches during the execution of a job, so the gradation adjustment patches are printed on the medium 120 before the job is executed.

The image forming apparatus 100 prints patches of multiple colors required for tone adjustment on the medium 120. In the example of FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus 100 prints patches while gradually switching the tone using each color of YMCK toner. For example, patch 701 is an arrangement of rectangles (patches) printed by gradually changing the tone of Y (yellow) toner. Patch 702 is an arrangement of rectangles (patches) printed by gradually changing the tone of M (magenta) toner. Patch 703 is an arrangement of rectangles (patches) printed by gradually changing the tone of C (cyan) toner. Patch 704 is an arrangement of rectangles (patches) printed by gradually changing the tone of K (black) toner. Patches 705 are printed near both ends of the medium 120, and are composed of dark color patches at the top and bottom so that they also serve as registration marks for the density unevenness measurement patches described above, but they may also be patches of a frequently used color such as black, or patches of any other toner.

The tone adjustment patch in FIG. 7 is an example, and examples of tone adjustment patches are not limited to this. In some aspects, the image forming apparatus 100 may change the number of patches or the layout of the patches as appropriate. For example, the image forming apparatus 100 may print randomly arranged tone adjustment patches 720 on the medium 120. By randomly arranging the patches of each color, the image forming apparatus 100 can average out density unevenness of each patch or the effects between adjacent patches.

In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may print only one set of gradation adjustment patches, or two or more sets arranged side by side, on the medium 120. By printing two or more sets of gradation adjustment patches arranged side by side on the medium 120, the image forming apparatus 100 can detect density unevenness that may occur in the transport direction of the medium 120, or average out the density unevenness, thereby reducing the effects of the density unevenness.

In other aspects, the shape of each patch may be rectangular, square, or any other shape. The size of each patch may vary. The patches may include not only patches of single color toner, but also mixed color patches.

Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of a real-time adjustment patch. With reference to Figure 8, the gradation measurement patch printed on the medium 120 will be described using an example in which the image forming device 100 prints an image on white paper using YMCK toner (developing toner). The real-time adjustment patch 800 includes a real-time gradation patch 810 and a color registration measurement patch 820.

The real-time gradation patch 810 is a patch for maintaining the characteristics of the image at the start of printing (for preventing changes in density of each color image during printing, etc.). When images are continuously printed on the roll-shaped medium 120, the color tone, etc. of the printed image may change. Therefore, the image forming device 100 prints the real-time gradation patch 810 on the medium 120 while the job is being executed, and analyzes the real-time gradation patch 810. Based on the analysis results, the image forming device 100 can adjust the print settings and correct the image (and maintain the characteristics of the image).

The color registration measurement patch 820 is a patch for measuring and correcting the misalignment of the printing positions of the colors, that is, the so-called color registration misalignment (sometimes called "color registration misalignment"), which is a factor in reducing the quality of color printing. When images are continuously printed on the roll-shaped medium 120, the medium 120 passes through the inside of the image forming apparatus 100 without interruption. The passage of the medium through the inside of the image forming apparatus is also called "paper passing". During the paper passing, for example, the fixing unit 108 may affect the environment, such as the temperature, in the image forming unit 104, which executes a series of processes such as exposure, development, and transfer. The temperature in the image forming unit 104 may also change due to the influence of the environment in which the image forming apparatus 100 is installed. If the temperature in the image forming unit 104 rises during the printing process due to these various factors, the belt drive roller 106 and the like may be deformed due to thermal expansion caused by the temperature rise. As a result, the distance traveled by the intermediate transfer belt 105 per rotation of the belt drive roller 106 changes, causing a shift in the printing position of each developing toner, and further causing a change in the color registration misalignment. Therefore, while the job is being executed, the image forming apparatus 100 prints a color registration measurement patch 820 on the medium 120 and analyzes the color registration measurement patch 820. Based on the analysis results, the image forming apparatus 100 can correct the color registration misalignment by, for example, fine-tuning the printing timing of each of the YMCKS toner images.

The image forming apparatus 100 may print various patches in the margins 851 of the medium 120 while printing the image 850 of the job. The patches printed in the margins 851 may be printed on a page-by-page basis. A page may be defined, for example, by the image of the job. In the example of FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus 100 prints a toner consumption patch 830 in the margins 851 of the first and third pages of the medium 120, and prints a real-time adjustment patch 800 on the second page of the medium 120.

The toner consumption patch 830 is a patch for consuming toner. If the toner in the image forming unit 104 is not used, it gradually deteriorates. Therefore, the image forming device 100 prints the toner consumption patch 830 on the medium 120 as necessary to use more than a certain amount of each color toner.

The real-time adjustment patch 800 can be printed, for example, between the periodic printing of the toner consumption patch 830. The image scanner 110 reads the section 840 that sufficiently includes the real-time adjustment patch 800.

The real-time gradation patch 810 includes a gradation image 811 of each toner and one or more markers 812 for detecting the start position, center position, end position, etc. of the real-time gradation patch 810.

Gradation image 811 includes a gradation image in which the gradation of each color is changed. In one aspect, gradation image 811 does not need to be a complete gradation, and may be an image in which the gradation is changed in stages. In another aspect, gradation image 811 may include a single-color gradation image, a special color gradation image, and a mixed-color gradation image. By analyzing gradation image 811, image forming apparatus 100 can detect changes in the characteristics of the printed image during continuous printing. Image forming apparatus 100 can maintain the characteristics of the image at the start of printing by adjusting print settings based on the detected changes in the characteristics of the printed image (preventing changes in the density of each color, etc.).

The image scanner 110 can determine the position of the gradation image 811 by detecting the markers 812. For example, the image scanner 110 can continuously acquire images of the surface of the medium 120 and analyze only the area surrounded by the markers 812.

The color registration measurement patch 820 includes upper and lower K rectangles that double as markers indicating the position of the color registration measurement patch 820, and rectangles of each of the colors Y, M, and C sandwiched between them. By analyzing changes in the positional relationship between the K rectangle and the Y, M, and C rectangles of the color registration measurement patch 820, the image forming apparatus 100 can detect changes in the printing positions of the Y, M, and C rectangles relative to the printing position of the K rectangle during continuous printing. The image forming apparatus 100 can correct the color registration misalignment by adjusting the printing positions of the Y, M, and C rectangles in a direction that offsets the changes.

<D. How to Use Patches>
Image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment can change the patches to be generated depending on the type of toner, the type of medium 120, or a combination of these. That is, image forming apparatus 100 can use a plurality of variations of patches to be generated depending on the type of toner, the type of medium 120, or a combination of these.

Below, we will explain what kind of patches image forming device 100 generates depending on the type of toner, the type of medium 120, or a combination of these, in the order of density unevenness measurement patch, gradation adjustment patch, and real-time adjustment patch. Note that image forming device 200 can also change the patches it generates depending on the type of toner, the type of medium 120, or a combination of these, in the same manner as image forming device 100.

(a. Density Unevenness Measurement Patch)
First, the variations of the density unevenness measurement patch will be described. The image forming apparatus 100 uses different variations of the density unevenness measurement patch mainly based on the color of the medium 120 and/or whether or not a base toner is used.

Figure 9 is a diagram showing a first modified example of a density unevenness measurement patch. In the example of Figure 9, the image forming apparatus 100 prints an image on a medium 120 that is a combination of a transparent film (or a sticker) and a colored release paper. When using such a transparent film, the image forming apparatus 100 may print a base toner (e.g., white toner or any other toner) on the transparent film before printing an image using a color-developing toner on the transparent film. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100 prints a base toner density unevenness measurement patch on the medium 120 in addition to the color-developing toner density unevenness measurement patch.

The base toner includes, for example, white toner. White toner can be used for printing two-tone images such as the background of an image using YMCK or other developer toners, or for printing characters. Therefore, the base toner density unevenness measurement patch does not need to include patches with a wide range of gradations like the developer toner density unevenness measurement patch. As an example, the base toner patch 910 may be composed of gradation patches with a narrow range such as 100%, 95%, 90%, and 80%. The registration marks 905 used when measuring the base toner density unevenness may be printed with developer toner on top of the base toner image as necessary.

When reading the base toner patch 910, the image forming device 100 may use the black background plate 312 as the background. For example, assume that the base toner patch 901 is a white toner patch. In this case, if the white background plate 311 is used as the background, the image forming device 100 (image scanner 110) may not be able to accurately read the density unevenness of the white base toner patch 910. Therefore, the image forming device 100 uses the black background plate 312 when reading a patch (such as a white toner patch) that may cause problems when reading using the white background plate 311.

In certain situations, the image forming apparatus 100 may use a white background plate 311 as the background when reading the base toner patch 910. For example, assume that the color of the base toner is other than white. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100 (image scanner 110) may be able to properly read the base toner patch 910 even if the white background plate 311 is used as the background. In such a case, the image forming apparatus 100 may use the white background plate 311. Note that the image forming apparatus 100 may also use a black background plate 312 if there is no problem with reading the patch 910.

In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 can measure the density unevenness of the base toner in the main scanning direction by printing a density unevenness measurement patch of the base toner on the medium 120 using the above procedure, even if the medium 120 is a combination of a transparent film (or sticker) and a transparent release paper.

In this way, when using a base toner, the image forming apparatus 100 prints a base toner density unevenness measurement patch in addition to the developer toner density unevenness measurement patch, and further switches the color of the background plate 303 according to the color of the base toner. In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can accurately measure the density unevenness of the base toner, which has properties different from those of the developer toner, and correct the density unevenness of the base toner in the main scanning direction. One example of a property that the base toner has that is different from that of the developer toner is that the change in image gradation or shade due to an increase or decrease in the toner used to form the image or base image may be reversed between the developer toner and the base toner. Another example of a property that the base toner has that is different from that of the developer toner is that the base toner only requires a narrow range of gradations. The base toner may also have other properties that are different from those of the developer toner.

10 is a diagram showing a second modified example of the density unevenness measurement patch. In the example of FIG. 10, similar to the example of FIG. 9, the image forming apparatus 100 prints an image on a medium 120 that is a combination of a transparent film (or a sticker) and a colored release paper. When using such a transparent film, the image forming apparatus 100 may print density unevenness measurement patches (patches 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004) of each developing toner on a base image 1010 made of the base toner. The patches 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004 may be the same as the patches 601, 602, 603, 604 in FIG. 6. In the example of FIG. 10, the image forming apparatus 100 may use either a white background plate 311 or a black background plate 312 to measure density unevenness in the main scanning direction of the developing toner.

In one aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 can measure the density unevenness in the main scanning direction of the developed toner by printing patches 1001, 1002, 1003, and 1004 of each developed toner on the base image 1010 of the base toner using the above procedure, even if the medium 120 is a combination of a transparent film (or sticker) and a transparent release paper.

In this way, when using a medium 120 that requires a base toner such as a transparent film, the image forming apparatus 100 prints density unevenness measurement patches for each developing toner on the base image 1010 made of the base toner. This allows the image forming apparatus 100 to solve problems that may occur when developing toner is directly printed on a transparent film. One example of a problem that may occur when developing toner is directly printed on a transparent film is that unevenness occurs on the surface of the white background board 311 or the black background board 312 due to dirt or deterioration over time when reading an image. This may cause an error in reading the image. Another example of a problem that may occur when developing toner is directly printed on a transparent film is that the tendency of print density unevenness of each developing toner differs between when there is a base toner and when there is no base toner. Due to each of these problems, errors may occur in density unevenness correction when developing toner is directly printed on a transparent film. By using density unevenness measurement patches such as those shown in FIG. 10, the image forming apparatus 100 can accurately measure the density unevenness of each developing toner on a medium 120 such as a transparent film, and correct the density unevenness of each developing toner in the main scanning direction.

Figure 11 is a diagram showing a third modified example of density unevenness measurement patches. In the example of Figure 11, unlike the examples of Figures 9 and 10, the image forming apparatus 100 prints an image on a medium 120 that is a combination of a transparent film (or sticker) and a transparent release paper. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100 prints density unevenness measurement patches (patches 1101, 1102, 1103, and 1104) for each developing toner on a base image 1110 formed by the base toner. Patches 1101, 1102, 1103, and 1104 may be the same as patches 601, 602, 603, and 604 in Figure 6.

When the medium 120 is a combination of a transparent film (or sticker) and a transparent release paper, white toner is used as the base toner. In addition, when density unevenness exists in the white toner base image 1110, the density unevenness of the base image 1110 may have a significant effect on the measurement results of the density unevenness measurement patch of the developed toner printed on the base image 1110. Therefore, when the image forming apparatus 100 prints white base toner on the transparent medium 120 and then prints the density unevenness measurement patch of the developed toner on top of that, it uses a white background plate 311. In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can suppress the effect of density unevenness of the base image 1110 on the measurement results of the density unevenness measurement patch of the developed toner.

In one aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may first use the black background plate 312 to determine whether or not there is unevenness in the base image 1110. In this case, if the image forming apparatus 100 determines that there is unevenness in the base image 1110, it may use the white background plate 311 to measure the density unevenness measurement patch of the developed toner. If not, it may use the black background plate 312 to measure the density unevenness measurement patch of the developed toner.

In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may first use the black background plate 312 to determine whether or not there is unevenness in the base image 1110, and correct the base image 1110 so that the density unevenness is eliminated. The image forming apparatus 100 may then use either the white background plate 311 or the black background plate 312 to measure the density unevenness measurement patch of the developed toner.

In addition, the density unevenness of the white toner is often small and unnoticeable on the white background board 311. Therefore, in another aspect, the image forming device 100 may use the white background board 311 to measure the density unevenness measurement patch of the color developing toner and correct the print settings of the color developing toner, and then measure the density unevenness of the base image 1110 and perform the print correction of the white toner.

Figure 12 is a diagram showing an example of how density unevenness is corrected. As an example, the image forming apparatus 100 can measure density unevenness in the main scanning direction of the base toner and the developer toner by measuring the density unevenness measurement patches shown in Figures 6, 9, 10, and 11.

Graph 1201 is an example of measured toner density unevenness. Graph 1201 shows that the measured toner does not have a constant density for each position in the main scanning direction (also called the "main scanning position"). It is desirable for graph 1201 to match target image density value 1202. However, according to actual measurement results, a density deviation 1203 exists between graph 1201 and target image density value 1202. Note that density deviation 1203 is found for each main scanning position.

The image forming apparatus 100 generates a correction graph 1211 for correcting the measured toner density unevenness based on the graph 1201 and the target value 1202. More specifically, the image forming apparatus 100 generates a correction value by inverting the density deviation 1203 for each main scanning position, and obtains the correction graph 1211 from the correction value. The image forming apparatus 100 suppresses density unevenness in the main scanning direction that occurs during printing by adding the value of the correction graph 1211 to the original image information. Graph 1221 shows an example of density unevenness in the main scanning direction after correction.

The values of the correction graph 1211 for each color are added to the original image information. For example, when four color developer toners, YMCK, are used for printing, the values of the correction graph 1211 for each of the four colors, YMCK, are added to the original image information.

In a certain aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may store the correction graph 1211 in a memory or storage as a lookup table. In this case, the correction graph 1211 may be expressed as a discrete value of the correction value. In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can appropriately measure the density unevenness of each toner and correct the print settings of each toner by using a variety of density unevenness measurement patches, even when a wide variety of printing conditions are different, such as the type of medium 120, the presence or absence of a base toner, whether the base toner is a white toner or not, the type of toner, whether a half-toning method for halftone expression is used, or the type of half-toning method. The half-toning method is a method of configuring the number of lines, angle, or screen of an AM screen by using the shape of a micropattern such as a circle, a rectangle, a line, or an FM screen, etc.

(b. Tone Adjustment Patch)
Next, variations of the gradation adjustment patch will be described. The image forming apparatus 100 uses different variations of the gradation adjustment patch mainly based on whether or not a base toner is used.

Figure 13 is a diagram showing a modified example of a gradation adjustment patch. In the example of Figure 13, the image forming device 100 uses one or more S-color toners as a developing toner in addition to basic toners such as YMCK. S-color (special color, additional color, or feature color) toners may include, for example, red, blue, and fluorescent magenta. S-color toners may be used as a single color or may be mixed with other toners to expand the color gamut. For example, metallic colors such as silver or gold may be used as S-color. In this case, metallic-tone images of various tones can be obtained by overlaying images of each developing toner on an image of S-color toner. S-color may also include a base toner such as white toner and a finishing toner (also called a coating material) such as clear toner.

When the image forming device 100 uses one or more S-color toners as the developing toners, the image forming device 100 also includes S-color patches in the gradation adjustment patches. More specifically, the image forming device 100 includes monochromatic gradation patches using S-color toner, monochromatic halftone patches, mixed-color patches including other basic colors, etc. in the gradation adjustment patches as necessary.

The first set of measurement patches in FIG. 13 are gradation adjustment patches of only YMCK. The second set of measurement patches are gradation adjustment patches with the addition of a metallic color (S color). More specifically, the second set of measurement patches are printed on top of a metallic color (e.g., metallic gold color, etc.) base image. That is, patches 1301, 1302, 1303, and 1304 of each color of YMCK are printed on top of the base image. In addition, because the base image itself is also to be printed, the second set of measurement patches also includes a patch area 1310 of only the base image.

Patch 1305 is a marker (register mark) for extracting the patch position. Register marks made of black toner are used on white paper, etc. However, if a patch made of black toner is printed on a metallic background image, the image scanner 110 may have difficulty recognizing the patch. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 prints patch 1305 by combining a metallic color with a color (such as cyan) that is easily recognized on a metallic color (e.g., metallic gold). In some cases, the color of the register mark patch may be selected to be complementary to the color of the background.

In a certain aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may change the gradation adjustment patch to be printed according to the characteristics of the S color developer toner. For example, when the S color developer toner is used as a special color (a color that frequently appears in an image and characterizes the image), even if a special color halftone is used, it is unlikely that the special color toner is superimposed with other developer toners to express a color. In such a case, the gradation adjustment patch may not include a mixture of the S color toner and other developer toners. On the other hand, the S color developer toner may be used for a mixture with other developer toners. In such a case, the gradation adjustment patch may include a mixture of the S color toner and other developer toners. In this way, the required patch configuration differs depending on the characteristics and usage method of the S color toner to be added. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 may change the patch configuration depending on the characteristics or usage method of the S color toner to be added. In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 may select the background board 303 and change the reading settings of the image scanner 110 according to the changed patch configuration.

In another aspect, the image forming device 100 may accept toner specification or tone adjustment patch settings from an operator in advance. This is because toner replenishment and mixing are not performed frequently, and the image forming device 100 can use settings that have been input once for a long period of time.

In another aspect, if there is a toner with an update history (such as a toner that has been replenished or replaced) since the previous patch printing, the image forming apparatus 100 may print and read a patch of the toner with the update history to evaluate its characteristics. For example, the image forming apparatus 100 may print and read a single-color patch of a solid toner and halftone of various gradations of the toner with the update history, and evaluate the characteristics of the toner with the update history from the change in the gradation that is read. If the change in the gradation that is read is large, the image forming apparatus 100 may evaluate the toner with the update history as a developing toner (and further, if the gamut is intermediate to the basic color, as a special color toner, and if the gamut is large, as an additional developing toner). If not (if the change in the gradation that is read is small), the toner with the update history may be evaluated as a coating material such as a clear toner. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus 100 may display information about the toner with the update history on the operation display unit 102 and allow the operator to select the characteristics of the toner with the update history.

In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may randomly place patches of base toner in the first and second sets of measurement patches. In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may place patches of base toner in the first and second sets of measurement patches in a predetermined order. In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can improve density unevenness in the gradation adjustment patches and reduce and level out interactions between adjacent patches.

In another aspect, the image forming device 100 may thin out some of the patches included in the gradation adjustment patch depending on the number of toners (number of colors) used for printing. When the number of toners used for printing increases, the number of patches included in the gradation adjustment patch also increases rapidly. Therefore, the image forming device 100 may thin out the number of gradations of some of the patch groups depending on the priority of each of the multiple patches, or may not print some of the patch groups. For example, the image forming device 100 may configure the number of gradations of the toner of the gradation adjustment patch to three levels of 100%, 80%, and 60%, with the number of gradations with low priority thinned out from the five levels of 100%, 80%, 60%, 40%, and 20%.

The image forming device 100 may set a priority for each patch (image) to be printed, such as a solid of basic color toner, a halftone of basic color toner, a solid of a developer toner, a mixed solid of basic color toners, or a mixed solid of a basic color toner and a developer toner other than the basic color toner. The image forming device 100 may also set a coefficient according to the priority for each patch.

The priority may also include information on the presence or absence of a coating material. For example, the image forming device 100 may set different priorities for each of the "combination of solid base color toner and coating material" and the "base color toner." Alternatively, the image forming device 100 may multiply, divide, add, or subtract a coefficient from the priority of each patch depending on the presence or absence of a coating material. Furthermore, the image forming device 100 may dynamically change the priority of each patch based on the printing history (with reference to the frequency of toner use, etc.).

In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may specify a toner (or a combination of toners) that provides the best identification of the registration marks based on the combination of the medium 120 and the toner, and use it when printing the patch. This is because the type of toner image that is preferable to use for the registration marks varies depending on the toner configuration, the characteristics of the medium 120, and the background plate 303. This is not limited to the rectangular registration marks shown in Figures 7 and 13, but also applies to the cross registration marks shown in Figures 6, 9 to 11, and the marker 812 shown in Figure 8. Therefore, in another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may specify a toner (or a combination of toners) that provides the best identification of the registration marks based on the combination of the medium 120 and the toner, and use it when printing the patch when printing the density unevenness measurement patch or the real-time adjustment patch.

In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may change the size, shape, number, etc. of the registration marks based on the type of medium 120 or toner. For example, registration marks printed on a base image of a metallic toner that reflects light and registration marks printed on a medium other than white paper may lack clarity. In such a case, the image forming apparatus 100 may increase the size of the registration marks (thicken the lines for cross marks), print the registration marks in a regular and repeated manner, or change the printing pattern of multiple registration marks so that they are easier for the image scanner 110 to read. In the example of FIG. 13, cyan patches are printed in five places on both sides of the gradation adjustment patch. One of them is twice the size. By arranging the registration marks in a distinctive manner in this way, the accuracy of reading the registration marks by the image scanner 110 can be improved.

The rectangular registration marks are also used to position the gradation adjustment patches. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 does not necessarily need to use the patch 705 of black toner without a base image in combination with the patch 1305 of base toner and cyan toner. The image forming apparatus 100 may use registration marks that include the most readable color or color combination based on the combination of the medium 120, toner type, and background plate 303. As an example, if the boundaries of the cyan and magenta patches printed on a metallic color base image are easy to identify, the image forming apparatus 100 may use the boundary lines of the printed cyan and magenta patches as registration marks.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a gradation correction curve. The image forming apparatus 100 obtains the measured image density of each patch by reading the gradation adjustment patch. Point 1401 is the image density for each gradation value of a certain toner. In the example of FIG. 14, there are six points 1401. That is, the image forming apparatus 100 obtains the image density of a certain toner at six gradation values. The image forming apparatus 100 generates a graph 1402 or an equation for the graph 1402 from a set of points 1401. Note that the image forming apparatus 100 obtains points 1401 and generates graphs 1402 or an equation for the graph 1402 for the number of toners included in the gradation adjustment patch. For example, if the number of toners included in the gradation adjustment patch is five, the image forming apparatus 100 generates five graphs 1402 or an equation for the graph 1402.

Graph 1403 is a graph of the target density, and shows the ideal correlation between the gradation value and image density for each toner. The image forming apparatus 100 suppresses uneven density for each gradation of each toner by bringing the graph 1402 closer to the graph 1403. More specifically, the image forming apparatus 100 generates a graph 1404 of a gradation correction curve from the graph 1402 or the equation of the graph 1402. The graph 1404 is, for example, an inversion of the graph 1402 from the perspective of the graph 1403. In reality, the graph 1404 can be expressed as a lookup table (including each point (discrete value) of the graph 1404). The image forming apparatus 100 can suppress uneven density for each gradation of each toner by correcting the print settings of each toner with the value of the lookup table. The image forming apparatus 100 generates lookup tables for the number of toners included in the gradation adjustment patch, and stores the lookup tables in a memory or storage. When printing is performed, the image forming device 100 retrieves the lookup table for each toner that was previously generated from the memory or storage, and reflects the value of the lookup table for each toner in the print settings for each toner.

(c. Real-time adjustment patch)
Next, a description will be given of variations of real-time adjustment patches. The image forming apparatus 100 uses different variations of real-time adjustment patches mainly based on whether or not a base toner and/or a coating material (clear toner, etc.) is used.

Figure 15 is a diagram showing a first modified example of a real-time adjustment patch. In the example of Figure 15, the image forming device 100 prints an image using developer toner on a base image 1501 using base toner.

In such a case, the image forming apparatus 100 may print the base image 1501 on the medium 120 so as to include all of the real-time gradation patch 810 and the color registration measurement patch 820. In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can read the real-time gradation patch 810 printed on the base image 1501. In other words, the image forming apparatus 100 can read the real-time gradation patch 810 printed under the same conditions as the user content. In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can appropriately measure the changes in gradation and color tone of each color contained in the user content and correct the print settings for each color.

In one aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may print the base image 1501 on the medium 120 so as to include the real-time gradation patch 810, avoiding the color resist measurement patch 820. In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can suppress the effect of noise, such as reflection from the metallic color base image 1501, on the color resist measurement patch 820. The image forming apparatus 100 can then read the real-time gradation patch 810 printed under the same conditions as the user content.

The image forming apparatus 100 may configure the real-time adjustment patch 800 to include both areas where the base image 1501 is printed and areas where it is not. In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can read the characteristics of the medium 120 itself and more accurately identify the color registration measurement patch 820 printed directly on the medium 120. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus 100 may obtain the characteristics of the medium 120 by reading the margins between patches.

In another aspect, when the image forming device 100 uses a coating material such as clear toner that adjusts the gloss level, the image forming device 100 may print a finishing image using the coating material on the medium 120 so as to include all of the real-time gradation patch 810 and the color resist measurement patch 820. In this way, the image forming device 100 can read the real-time gradation patch 810 printed under the same conditions as the user content, even when a coating material is used.

In another aspect, when the image forming apparatus 100 uses a coating material such as clear toner that adjusts the gloss level, the image forming apparatus 100 may print a finishing image using the coating material to include the real-time gradation patch 810, avoiding the color resist measurement patch 820. In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can suppress the effect of noise, such as reflections from a finishing image such as clear toner, on the color resist measurement patch 820. The image forming apparatus 100 can then read the real-time gradation patch 810 printed under the same conditions as the user content.

In another aspect, the image forming device 100 may appropriately change the colors that make up the real-time gradation patch (the colors of the gradation image 811). As an example, the gradation image 811 may include all or part of a reference color (e.g., YMCK), a mixture of the reference color (e.g., a secondary color, a tertiary color), and a spot color (a special color specified by the user).

As an example, when the toner to be added to the reference color toner is a visible color toner, the image forming device 100 may identify the hue of the toner to be added based on the results of reading the preliminary patch, and further determine a base color to replace the toner, and replace the patch configuration of the gradation image 811.

In addition, since it is convenient to be able to distinguish whether the color of the printed patch is a base color (a substitute base color) or a special color (the color of the toner to be added), the image forming apparatus 100 may use a plurality of patterns of the color registration measurement patch 820 to give the color registration measurement patch 820 information on the color contained in the gradation image 811 (whether or not a special color is included). For example, the added special color (e.g., a single color "red": R toner) and a patch color prepared in advance as a base color (e.g., a mixed color "red" obtained by overlapping M and Y, etc.) have similar tones, but are drawn in different ways. Therefore, the stability of the color tone drawing may differ between the added special color and the prepared patch color depending on the situation of the printing machine. Therefore, it is desirable for the image forming apparatus 100 to change the frequency of appearance of the added special color and the prepared patch color in the real-time adjustment patch according to the situation. By using different patterns of the multiple color registration measurement patches 820 as described above, the image forming apparatus 100 can determine whether the read patch is an added spot color or a prepared patch color and calculate the occurrence frequency of each color patch. The image forming apparatus 100 can improve the occurrence frequency of patches of less stable toner by changing the occurrence frequency of the added spot color and the prepared patch color based on the patch color determination result and the calculated occurrence frequency of each color patch.

Figure 16 is a diagram showing a second modified example of a real-time adjustment patch. In the example of Figure 16, the image forming device 100 is printing an image including a spot color on the medium 120.

Spot colors are colors that characterize user content. In label printers and the like, these spot colors can play an important role in the quality or commercial value of printed matter. For example, spot colors may be mixtures of reference colors such as YMCK, or dedicated spot color toners (such as fluorescent colors). Spot color images may also be printed on top of a metallic color base image. When spot colors are used in user content, in addition to maintaining the quality of the reference colors using the real-time adjustment patch 800, it is necessary to maintain the quality of these spot colors.

Therefore, the image forming device 100 uses an image of a spot color that appears frequently in the user content as a test image (a real-time adjustment patch for spot colors).

In the example of FIG. 16, spot colors P, G, and R appear repeatedly in the user content. The image forming apparatus 100 (image scanner 110) reads the repeatedly appearing spot colors P, G, and R. More specifically, the image forming apparatus 100 calculates the positions of the spot colors from the job information of the user content. As an example, the image forming apparatus 100 may calculate the position of each spot color as a relative position from the marker 812. In the example of FIG. 16, the image forming apparatus 100 calculates the relative position 1601 of each of the spot colors P, G, and R with respect to the marker 812.

The image forming apparatus 100 (image scanner 110) can detect density changes, etc., of each spot color by repeating the process of reading each spot color at the relative position 1601. The image forming apparatus 100 can correct the print settings of each spot color based on the detected density changes of each spot color.

Spot colors appear frequently in user content. Therefore, in one aspect, the image forming device 100 may read some of the spot color images in the user content (for example, by reading spot color images that appear at regular intervals) and perform correction processing of the print settings. The image forming device 100 may also read all of the spot color images in the user content and perform correction processing of the print settings.

As described above, by using the spot color image in the user content as the inspection image, the image forming device 100 can maintain the quality of the spot color image. Furthermore, the image forming device 100 can use the real-time adjustment patch 800 specifically for reading the basic colors. As a result, the image forming device 100 can read the real-time adjustment patch 800 of the basic colors with high frequency, and the quality of the image using the basic colors can be maintained at a high level. Alternatively, the image forming device 100 may replace some of the colors of the gradation image 811 with spot colors. For example, the image forming device 100 may delete less frequently used colors from the gradation image 811 and add spot colors to the gradation image 811 instead.

In one aspect, the image forming device 100 may display a warning message on the operation display unit 102 when the area of the spot color image in the user content is small and there is a possibility that the reading accuracy of the spot color image by the image scanner 110 may be affected.

In another aspect, when the area of the spot color image in the user content is small and there is a possibility that the reading accuracy of the spot color image by the image scanner 110 will be affected, the image forming device 100 may reduce the proportion of the involvement of the inspection image (spot color reading result) in the user content in the correction process of the print settings.

In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may change various settings of the image reading process of the image scanner 110 based on various conditions such as the characteristics of the medium 120, the base toner, and whether or not a coating material is used. The various settings may include, for example, changing the background plate 303 during the reading process of the image scanner 110, adjusting the exposure conditions of the image scanner 110, etc.

As an example, since the user content is a product delivered to a client, the image forming device 100 cannot overlay a background image on the user content to improve the reading accuracy of the image scanner 110. Therefore, when reading a spot color image included in the user content, the image forming device 100 may set the color and/or exposure conditions of the background board 303 during reading to match the user content.

In addition, when the image forming device 100 changes various settings for the image reading process of the image scanner 110 in accordance with the user content, the reading accuracy of the real-time adjustment patch 800 is assumed to have decreased. In such a case, the image forming device 100 may add a background image using white toner to the real-time adjustment patch 800. This allows the image forming device 100 to read the spot colors in the user content and the real-time adjustment patch 800 with high accuracy.

Figure 17 is a diagram showing an example of the timing at which the image forming device 100 uses each patch. The timing at which the image forming device 100 uses various patches will be described with reference to Figure 17. Additionally, the operation of the image forming device 100 when the medium 120 needs to be replenished or replaced will also be described.

The image forming device 100 alternates between stabilization processing (adjusting print settings, etc.) and printing processing. The printing processing may include executing a job multiple times.

Taking FIG. 17 as an example, first, the image forming apparatus 100 executes a stabilization process 1701. In the stabilization process 1701, the image forming apparatus 100 adjusts the settings of charging, exposure, and development executed by the image forming unit 104. The image forming apparatus 100 also executes various adjustments to maintain the characteristics of the potential control when transferring the developed toner image from the photoconductor to the intermediate transfer belt in a predetermined state. In addition, in the stabilization process 1701, the image forming apparatus 100 may execute printing and reading of density unevenness measurement patches as shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, or FIG. 11, and printing and reading of gradation adjustment patches as shown in FIG. 7 or FIG. 13. Based on the read information, the image forming apparatus 100 creates a first target value (a target value of the gradation value of the original, which corresponds to the graph 1404 of the gradation correction curve in FIG. 14, etc. Also, the target value of the gradation value of the original may be included in the print settings). Since the stabilization process 1701 is performed before the execution of the first print job, it can be said that the image forming apparatus 100 determines the initial target value (or print setting) in the stabilization process 1701. Note that the density unevenness measurement patch and the gradation adjustment patch can be created once or multiple times during the execution of the stabilization process.

Next, the image forming apparatus 100 executes a print process 1702. The print process 1702 includes a first print job, a second print job, and a third print job. The image forming apparatus 100 continues the print process 1702 until it detects a change in the environment (such as a change in temperature or humidity) of the image forming apparatus 100 (such as around the image forming unit 104) or finishes executing the print process on a predetermined amount of media 120 (i.e., printing of one job is completed). In the print process 1702, the image forming apparatus 100 executes printing and reading of real-time adjustment patches as shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 15, or FIG. 16. The image forming apparatus 100 corrects the target value based on the read information. The real-time adjustment patches can be created once or multiple times during the execution of the print job (often multiple times according to the length of the print job (number of pages, printed distance, etc.)).

Next, the image forming apparatus 100 executes a stabilization process 1703. In the stabilization process 1703, the image forming apparatus 100 prints and reads density unevenness measurement patches and prints and reads gradation adjustment patches again. The image forming apparatus 100 creates a new second target value based on the read information.

Next, the image forming apparatus 100 executes a print process 1704. The print process 1702 includes a fourth print job and a fifth print job. In the print process 1704, the image forming apparatus 100 prints and reads the real-time adjustment patch again. The image forming apparatus 100 corrects the target value based on the read information.

After the fifth print job is executed, the medium 120 runs out, so the operator sets a new medium 120 in the image forming device 100. At this time, the image forming device 100 determines whether or not to carry over the target value (second target value) used in the immediately previous print job to the print settings of the newly set medium 120.

More specifically, the image forming device 100 reads the characteristics of the medium 120 each time the medium 120 is set in the image forming device 100, and stores the characteristics of the medium in a memory or storage. Then, when the medium 120 is replenished or replaced, the image forming device 100 compares the characteristics of the medium 120 used until just before (the first medium in FIG. 17) with the characteristics of the medium 120 newly set in the image forming device 100 (the second medium in FIG. 17). If the characteristics of the first medium and the characteristics of the second medium are the same or the difference between them is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, the image forming device 100 determines that the first medium and the second medium are the same type of medium, and takes over the second target value. If not (if the first medium and the second medium are determined to be different types of media), the second target value is not taken over.

In one aspect, the image forming device 100 may store in memory or storage the characteristics and target values (tonal values of the original) of each medium 120 used in previous printing. In this case, the image forming device 100 compares the characteristics of the medium 120 newly set in the image forming device 100 with the characteristics of each medium 120 used in the past. In this way, if there is a target value for the medium 120 that matches or is similar to the new medium 120, the image forming device 100 can reuse it.

In another aspect, when the image forming apparatus 100 does not inherit the target value of the immediately previous print job, it sets a new target value. The new target value may be, for example, a target value (ideal target value) corresponding to the graph 1403.

In another aspect, the image forming device 100 may correct the inherited target value or the new target value while the print job is being executed. More specifically, the image forming device 100 may read the real-time adjustment patch while the print job is being executed, and correct the inherited target value or the new target value based on the result.

In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may create a composite target value by combining the target value of the new medium 120 with the target value of the medium 120 (old medium) used in the immediately preceding print job. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100 may use the composite target value to print an image on the new medium 120. In this way, the print result of the new medium 120 can be made closer to the print result of the old medium 120. For example, the image forming apparatus 100 may prevent changes in the printed image from occurring for each print lot.

In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may use the toner image sensor 109 to determine whether the medium 120 has been replaced with a different type of medium 120. Among the media 120 used by the image forming apparatus 100, there are different media 120 that show similar characteristics when read by the image scanner 110. For example, thick coated paper with high whiteness and paper with high whiteness, bulk, and many voids show similar characteristics when read by the image scanner 110. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 may recognize these as the same medium 120. However, when an image is printed, the image on the coated paper tends to be denser than the image on the paper with high whiteness, bulk, and many voids.

The image forming apparatus 100 then obtains density information of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt from the toner image sensor 109, and further obtains density information of the image on the medium 120 corresponding to that toner image from the image scanner 110. The image forming apparatus 100 then compares the density of the toner image with the density of the image. If there is a change in the relationship between the density of the toner image and the density of the image, the image forming apparatus 100 determines that the medium 120 has been replaced with a different type of medium. In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can determine that the old medium 120 and the new medium 120 are different media even if the medium 120 used immediately before (the old medium) and the new medium 120 show similar characteristics.

After replacing the medium 120, the image forming device 100 executes the print process 1705. The print process 1705 includes a fifth print job and a sixth print job. The image forming device 100 executes the print process using the inherited target values or the newly set target values.

Figure 18 is a diagram showing an example of adjusting the gradation correction curve. The image forming device 100 stores in memory or storage a lookup table of the gradation correction curve for each medium 120 used for printing in the past. The gradation correction curve (or its lookup table) is the target value described with reference to Figure 17.

For example, assume that the image forming device 100 has previously performed a print process using a first medium and a second medium. In this case, the image forming device 100 stores in memory or storage a lookup table of the gradation correction curve for the first medium (graph 1801) and a lookup table of the gradation correction curve for the second medium (graph 1802). Each of these graphs 1801 and 1802 corresponds to the first target value and the second target value, respectively, described with reference to FIG. 17.

When printing on a new medium 120, if the image forming apparatus 100 can carry over past target values (graphs 1801, 1802, etc.), it uses the past target values. If not, the image forming apparatus 100 can use, for example, a gradation correction curve (straight line) with a slope of 45 degrees (graph 1803) as the new target value. The image forming apparatus 100 can gradually correct the new target value by reading real-time adjustment patches while the print process is being executed (as in graphs 1804 and 1805).

In one aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may read a real-time adjustment patch to gradually correct the inherited target value. In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may combine (average, etc.) the new corrected target value (e.g., graph 1805) with the target value used in the immediately preceding print job. This allows the image forming apparatus 100 to prevent large differences in the printed image between previous and subsequent print jobs.

Figure 19 is a diagram showing an example of a variation of a color registration measurement patch. The image forming apparatus 100 prints a color registration measurement patch 1901 on the medium 120, and by analyzing the color registration measurement patch 1901, it is possible to detect printing misalignment (color registration misalignment) in the sub-scanning direction, as described with reference to Figure 8.

The image forming apparatus 100 prints a color resist measurement patch 1902 on the medium 120 and analyzes the color resist measurement patch 1902, thereby detecting color resist misalignment in the main scanning direction (which may occur, for example, due to a twist in the medium 120) in a similar manner to the color resist measurement patch 1901.

The image forming apparatus 100 prints color resist measurement patches 1903 (an example of a patch with black marks arranged vertically and horizontally) and 1904 (an example of a patch with a notch in the black mark to make it easier to identify the position horizontally in the figure) on the medium 120, and by analyzing the color resist measurement patches 1903 and 1904, it is possible to detect both color resist misalignment in the sub-scanning direction and the main scanning direction in a similar manner to the color resist measurement patch 1901.

In some aspects, the image forming apparatus 100 may use a combination of all or some of the color resist measurement patches 1901, 1902, 1903, and 1904.

<E. Patch reading settings and patch processing>
Various problems may occur in the patch reading process due to the type of medium 120, the type of toner, or a combination of these. Therefore, based on the type of medium 120, the type of toner, or a combination of these, the image forming apparatus 100 not only uses different patches, but also changes the patch reading settings and processes the patches to improve the patch reading accuracy.

First, referring to Figures 20 to 24, an example of a problem with the patch reading process that may occur due to the type of medium 120, the type of toner, or a combination of these will be described. Note that the combinations of medium 120 and toner shown in Figures 20 to 24 are just examples. Even combinations of medium 120 and toner other than those shown in Figures 20 to 24 may cause problems with the patch reading process, which will be described later.

The solutions shown in Figs. 25 to 35 can solve at least one of the problems shown in Figs. 20 to 24. Naturally, the solutions shown in Figs. 25 to 35 can also solve at least one of the similar problems caused by combinations of media 120 and toners not shown in Figs. 20 to 24.

Figure 20 is a diagram showing an example of a first problem in the patch reading process of the image forming device 100. The first problem relates to patch shadows and blurred edges (smearing) that can occur when a transparent film or similar medium 120 is used.

In the example of FIG. 20, the image sensor 301 reads a patch on a transparent film (medium 120) using a white background plate 311. In this case, light from the light 302 reaches the image sensor 301 via, for example, one of three optical paths 2001, 2002, or 2003.

In the optical path 2001, the light passes through the patch and the transparent film, is reflected by the white background plate 311, passes through the patch and the transparent film again, and reaches the image sensor 301.

In the optical path 2002, the light does not pass through the patch, passes through the transparent film, is reflected by the white background plate 311, passes through the patch and the transparent film, and reaches the image sensor 301.

In the optical path 2003, the light passes through the patch and the transparent film, is reflected by the white background plate 311, passes through the transparent film without passing through the patch, and reaches the image sensor 301.

The image sensor 301 reads each of the lights that have passed through any of the optical paths 2001, 2002, and 2003. In this case, noise such as shadows and/or blurred edges (smearing) occurs in the read image due to the light of each path. Image 2005 is a part of the read image read by the image sensor 301. At location 2010, the shadow of the patch is reflected on the transparent film. Also, streaks 2020 occur when dirt on the white background board 311 is reflected on the transparent film. Also, at location 2030, the shadow of an adjacent patch is reflected on the transparent film. Location 2040 is inside the patch and is not greatly affected by the shadow, etc. Also, the contrast between the patch and the medium 120 is too low at the periphery of the patch, the influence of the shadow, or other influences may cause the periphery of the patch to become blurred (smeared).

Figure 21 is a diagram showing an example of a second problem in the patch reading process of the image forming device 100. The second problem relates to inversion of the patch gradation and light reflection, etc., that can occur when using a medium 120 that has specular reflection characteristics such as a metal-deposited film.

Image 2115 is an image of the patch on the transparent film and blue release paper read by image sensor 301. If a similar patch is printed on metallized film, image sensor 301 will capture an image such as image 2105 that looks significantly different from the original patch (patch in image 2115). The reason for this will be explained below.

In the example of FIG. 21, the image sensor 301 reads a patch on a metal-deposited film (medium 120) using a white background plate 311. In this case, light from the light 302 reaches the image sensor 301 via, for example, one of three optical paths 2101, 2102, or 2103.

In the optical path 2101, the light is reflected by a patch on the metallized film that has a relatively high (dark) gradation and reaches the image sensor 301. More specifically, when light is irradiated onto a patch on the metallized film that has a relatively high (dark) gradation, the light is scattered by the surface of the patch or the patch drawing color material. Then, part of the scattered light reaches the image sensor 301. Therefore, the portion 2110 of the patch that is read via the light passing through the optical path 2101 has "inverse gradation characteristics" in which the darker the patch, the brighter the read gradation.

In the optical path 2102, the light is reflected by a patch on the metallized film that has a relatively small (light) gradation, or by an area where no patch is printed, and reaches the image sensor 301. Because the gradation of the patch is low, the light is specularly reflected by the surface of the metallized film and reflected in a direction opposite to the angle of incidence. Therefore, less light is directed toward the image sensor 301. As a result, the portion 2120 of the patch that is read via the light passing through the optical path 2102 appears as a dark image.

In the optical path 2103, the light is reflected from a patch on the metallized film that has a high gradation (dark) and reaches the image sensor 301. Because the patch has a high gradation, the light is easily absorbed by the patch. Therefore, the portion 2130 of the patch that is read through the light passing through the optical path 2103 becomes a dark image.

Figure 22 is a diagram showing an example of a third problem in the patch reading process of the image forming device 100. The third problem relates to light absorption by the black background plate 312, which may occur when a patch on a transparent film or similar medium 120 is read using the black background plate 312.

Image 2215 is an image of a patch on a transparent film and a blue release paper read by image sensor 301. If a similar patch is printed on a transparent film (or a transparent film and a transparent release paper) and an image is captured using black background plate 312, image sensor 301 will capture an image such as image 2205 that looks significantly different from the original patch (the patch in image 2215). The reason for this will be explained below.

In the example of FIG. 22, the image sensor 301 reads a patch on a transparent film using a black background plate 312. In this case, the light from the light 302 reaches the image sensor 301 through, for example, one of three optical paths 2201, 2202, or 2203.

In optical path 2201, part of the light is reflected by a patch on the transparent film that has a relatively high gradation (a relatively dark tone) and reaches image sensor 301. In optical path 2202, part of the light is reflected by a patch on the transparent film that has a relatively high gradation (a relatively dark tone) and reaches image sensor 301.

The darker the gradation of the patch on the transparent film, the greater the amount of light reflected by the patch and directed toward the image sensor 301. As a result, the darker the patch, the brighter the read gradation (also called "inverse gradation characteristics"). However, because the amount of reflected light is small due to the use of the black background plate 312, the read image is dark overall and there is less gradation change. Therefore, an image with a dark gradation is obtained from the portion 2210 of the patch read via light passing through optical path 2201 to the portion 2220 of the patch read via light passing through optical path 2202.

In the optical path 2203, the light is irradiated onto a patch on the transparent film that has a relatively small (light) gradation, or onto an area where no patch is printed. The light passes through the transparent film and is absorbed by the black background plate 312. Therefore, very little light reaches the image sensor 301. As a result, the portion 2230 of the patch that is read through the light passing through the optical path 2203 becomes a dark image.

As described above, when a patch on a transparent film is read using a white background plate 311, shadows from the background plate or adjacent patches become a problem, whereas when a patch on a transparent film is read using a black background plate 312, light absorption and inverse gradation characteristics by the black background plate 312 become a problem. The same problem occurs when color patches are printed on black paper.

Figure 23 is a diagram showing an example of a fourth problem in the patch reading process of the image forming device 100. The fourth problem is a problem that occurs when holographic paper is used, or a problem that arises from the order in which patches on a transparent film are read using the white background board 311, or any other problem.

Image 2300 is an image of the patch on the transparent film and the blue release paper read by image sensor 301. Image 2310 is an image of the patch on the holographic paper read by image sensor 301. Image 2320 is an image of the patch on the transparent film (or the transparent film and the transparent release paper) read by image sensor 301. The same patches as those on the transparent film and the blue release paper are printed on the holographic paper and the transparent film. However, image sensor 301 acquires images such as images 2310 and 2320 that differ to some extent in appearance from the original patch (the patch in image 2300). The reason for this will be explained below.

In areas where the gradation of the patch is light, the hologram paper reflects the light from the light 302 in various directions due to the diffraction effect. Therefore, the image read by the image sensor 301 may contain a hologram pattern 2311. The hologram pattern 2311 may become noise during image analysis.

Image 2320 obtained by reading patches on a transparent film using the white background board 311 tends to have lighter overall gradation (density) of the patches due to the influence of light wraparound or reflection, compared to image 2300 obtained by reading patches on a transparent film and blue release paper. Also, depending on the order in which the patches are read, the read image may differ due to, for example, differences in the amount of light from the two lights 302, overlapping of a gap between the medium 120 and the white background board 311, etc. The order in which the patches are read includes ascending order 2321 (reading dark patches first from light patches) and descending order 2322 (reading light patches first from dark patches).

In addition, transparent films and white patches on white release paper (not shown) reduce the contrast between the medium 120 and the patch, making them difficult to read with the image scanner 110.

Figure 24 is a diagram showing an example of a fifth problem in the patch reading process of the image forming device 100. The fifth problem is that when reading a color patch on black paper, the black paper absorbs light.

The color developing toners such as YMCK do not directly reflect the light of each color to express the color tone (although they may reflect some of it), but instead selectively absorb the light that passes through the image produced by each color developing toner to express the color tone. For example, an image of Y (yellow) selectively absorbs light other than yellow (i.e., blue light) and passes the yellow light. Therefore, when the image sensor 301 reads a color patch using light from the light 302, it is necessary to observe the light reflected by the medium 120 or background plate 303 behind the color patch. However, since black paper hardly reflects light, when a color patch is printed directly on black paper, the image sensor 301 cannot detect the reflected light from the color patch. As a result, the resulting read image is as shown in image 2401. There is actually a color patch at the position of image 2401, but since the image sensor 301 cannot detect the reflected light, it appears that there is nothing there.

The first way to solve this problem is to print a base image using white toner and then print color patches on top of the base image. In this way, the base image using white toner reflects light from light 302. At that time, the color patches selectively absorb the reflected light and allow only light of a specific color to pass through. As a result, the resulting scanned image looks like image 2402.

The second way to solve this problem is to brighten the scanned image by adjusting the gradation through image processing or to increase the brightness of the illumination light of light 302. This increases the amount of light reflected from the black paper, allowing image sensor 301 to acquire the color that passes through the color patch. For example, image 2401 with gradation adjustment through image processing becomes image 2403. Note that image 2403 contains noise, but by adjusting the illumination light, it is possible to reduce the noise more than by adjusting the gradation of the patch through image processing.

In another example, an image obtained by adjusting the gradation of image 2402 through image processing becomes image 2404. If the brightness of an image is increased when there is a white toner background, the gradation of the color patch may become saturated. In some aspects, the image forming apparatus 100 may adjust the light intensity or color tone of the lighting (e.g., the individual light intensity of each of RGB) depending on the patch drawing situation (presence or absence of a background, gradation value of the color patch, etc.). For example, in the present invention, the light intensity or color tone of the light 302 may be set depending on the background or toner composition of the patch when printing the pre-patch described below.

Figure 25 is a diagram showing an example of a first solution method for solving at least one of the first to fifth problems in the patch reading process of the image forming device 100. The first solution method can mainly suppress patch bleeding (outline blurring) and/or the effects of shadows (problems described with reference to Figure 20).

When comparing patch 2501 printed on white paper with patch 2511 printed on transparent film, patch 2511 may have a blurred edge 2513 due to the influence of the shadow of the white background board 311, the shadow of an adjacent patch, etc. When reading patch 2511, image forming apparatus 100 may provide a certain margin in the reading range of patch 2511 based on the type of medium so as not to be affected by the blurred edge. Also, image forming apparatus 100 may not provide a margin in the reading range of patch 2511 depending on the type of medium. In the example of FIG. 25, image forming apparatus 100 sets the reading range to area 2512 when reading patch 2511. By intentionally excluding the outer periphery of the patch from the reading range in this way, image forming apparatus 100 can suppress the influence of the shadow or bleeding of the patch on the analysis of the read image of the patch.

In one aspect, the image forming device 100 may adjust the reading margin. The reading setting 2520 is a setting for adjusting the reading margin of the patch depending on the degree of edge blur.

In another aspect, the image forming device 100 may fix the reading margin. The reading setting 2530 is a setting for always using a constant patch reading margin regardless of the size of the outline blur.

In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may detect blur and/or estimate the amount of blur from the edges of the markers 812 included in the real-time gradation patch 810. When using the reading setting 2520, the image forming apparatus 100 may adjust the reading margin of the patch based on the estimated amount of blur. When using the reading setting 2530, the image forming apparatus 100 may determine whether or not to use the reading margin of the patch based on the presence or absence of blur.

Furthermore, in another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may separately print a contour evaluation patch on the medium 120 and use the contour evaluation patch to detect blur and/or estimate the amount of blur. Based on the evaluation result of the contour evaluation patch, the image forming apparatus 100 may adjust the patch reading margin or determine whether to use the patch reading margin.

For example, when the medium is white paper, the patch drawing on the medium is stable, and there is a high possibility that sufficient reading accuracy can be obtained even with a smaller measurement area, and the size of the entire patch image including multiple patches does not change, so the margin adjustment method is suitable.

On the other hand, if the medium is a transparent film, the light that passes through the transparent film is reflected by the background plate, and then passes through the transparent film again before being read. This means that there is a possibility that the light may be affected by dirt on the background plate (noise), and it is therefore preferable to ensure that the reading area is at least a certain size, so a fixed reading range method is appropriate.

Figure 26 is a diagram showing an example of a second solution method for solving at least one of the first to fifth problems in the patch reading process of the image forming device 100. The second solution method is effective mainly when blurred edges or smearing occurs in the real-time gradation patch 810 (the problem described with reference to Figure 20).

As a method for suppressing the effect of blurred edges or smearing of the patch on the accuracy of patch reading, it is effective to provide a reading margin for the patch, as described with reference to FIG. 25. The reading range of the real-time gradation patch 810 to avoid the effect of blurred edges is, for example, area 2600. The width of area 2600 in the main scanning direction is set to be smaller than the width of the real-time gradation patch in the main scanning direction.

By providing a patch reading margin to the patch, the effect of blurred edges on patch reading can be suppressed to some extent, but another problem can arise. Providing a patch reading margin to the patch reduces the readable range of the patch, which may reduce the patch reading accuracy of the image sensor 301. For this reason, it is desirable for the image forming device 100 to be able to change the patch size as necessary.

However, since the width of the real-time gradation patch 810 in the main scanning direction corresponds to the printing margin, it is difficult to widen it. On the other hand, there is room for expanding the width of the real-time gradation patch 810 in the sub-scanning direction (the conveying direction of the medium 120). For example, the image forming apparatus 100 can expand the real-time gradation patch 810 in the sub-scanning direction like the real-time gradation patch 2610 based on the type of medium. When the real-time gradation patch 810 is expanded in the sub-scanning direction, the sub-scanning direction area of each patch composed of the gradation of each toner such as R, G, B, 3C, Y, M, C, and K is extended. This increases the patch reading range of each color toner by the image sensor 301. As a result, the patch reading accuracy by the image sensor 301 can be improved.

In one aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may also extend the marker 812 and the color resist measurement patch 820 in the sub-scanning direction.

In another aspect, if the real-time gradation patch 810 is extended in the sub-scanning direction such that the extended real-time gradation patch 2610 does not fit on one page, the extended real-time gradation patch 2610 may be divided into two or more patches (such as a patch for four colors R, G, B, and 3C, or a patch for four colors Y, M, C, and K).

In another aspect, the image forming device 100 may change the design of the patch to any shape as necessary to increase the patch reading range by the image sensor 301.

Furthermore, in another aspect, the image forming device 100 can set patch reading margins for any patch, not just the real-time gradation patch 810, and can appropriately expand the patch size and/or change the patch design. In this way, the image forming device 100 can increase the reading range of any patch by the image sensor 301 as much as possible, while suppressing the effect of patch outline blur on the patch reading accuracy.

Figure 27 is a diagram showing an example of a third solution method for solving at least one of the first to fifth problems in the patch reading process of the image forming device 100. The third solution method can mainly solve the problem that it is difficult to read a patch depending on the combination of the toner color, the type of medium 120, and the color of the background plate 303 (including, for example, the problem described with reference to Figure 20).

The image forming device 100 can improve the accuracy of reading the patch by appropriately switching the color of the background plate 303 depending on the color of the patch and the type of medium 120. An example of the selection criteria for the background plate 303 is shown below.

Read setting 2701 is a setting for reading a black patch on white paper using white background board 311. When reading a patch on white paper, image forming device 100 may use either white background board 311 or black background board 312. In some situations, image forming device 100 may read the patch using black background board 312 only when a patch is printed with white toner on white paper. Otherwise, image forming device 100 may always read the patch using white background board 311.

Read setting 2702 is a setting for reading a black patch on a transparent film using the black background plate 312. Read setting 2703 is a setting for reading a black patch on a transparent film using the white background plate 311. When reading a patch on a transparent film using the black background plate 312, it becomes difficult for the image forming device 100 to extract the contour of the patch. On the other hand, when reading a patch on a transparent film using the white background plate 311, the image forming device 100 can easily extract the contour of the patch. Therefore, when reading a patch of color-developing toner on a transparent film, the image forming device 100 uses the white background plate 311 (read setting 2703).

Some media 120 include release paper with a logo. In this case too, the selection of the color of the background plate 303 is important. As an example, the release paper of label paper may have the manufacturer's name, paper brand, etc. printed on it. Therefore, when reading a patch printed on a medium 120 that includes release paper with a logo, it is desirable for the image forming device 100 to switch the background plate 303 to a color that is less affected by the logo on the release paper.

Read setting 2704 is a setting for reading patches on transparent film and release paper with a logo using a white background board 311. Read setting 2705 is a setting for reading patches on transparent film and release paper with a logo using a black background board 312. Comparing read settings 2704 and 2705, read setting 2704 displays the logos more clearly, and these logos can become noise during patch analysis. Therefore, in such cases, the image forming apparatus 100 uses the black background board 312 (read setting 2705).

In addition, the logo printed on the release paper may be a white color, may be watermarked, or the release paper itself may have uneven whiteness. In such cases, it is preferable for the image forming device 100 to use a white background board 311.

In one aspect, the image forming device 100 may use each of the white background plate 311 and the black background plate 312 to read the portions of the medium 120 where no patches are printed, compare the magnitude of the noise, and then determine which background plate to use.

Figure 28 is a diagram showing an example of a fourth solution method for solving at least one of the first to fifth problems in the patch reading process of the image forming device 100. The fourth solution method can be used with a wide variety of media 120, such as transparent film, metallized film, holographic paper, a set of film and release paper with a logo, black paper, etc. (It is effective for problems 1 to 5).

The image forming device 100 prints a base image under the patch based on the type of toner, the type of medium 120, or a combination of these (for example, based on a combination that would make it difficult to read the patch if it were printed directly on the medium 120). An example of a reading setting when a base image is added to the toner is described below.

The reading setting 2800 is a setting for adding a white toner background 2801 and reading a patch using a white background plate 311. The reading setting 2810 is a setting for adding a white toner background 2811 and reading a patch using a black background plate 312.

When a white toner base is printed on the medium 120 as a background for a patch made with color-developing toner, the image forming device 100 can read the patch using either the white background board 311 or the black background board 312 (using either of the reading settings 2800 and 2810). However, when reading a patch made with white toner, the image forming device 100 uses the black background board 312.

In one aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may determine the type of medium (transparent film, metallized film, holographic paper, a set of film and release paper with a logo, black paper, etc.) from information input by an operator or from image information obtained from the image scanner 110, and print a base image using white toner (or toner of a different color) under the patch based on the determination result. The fourth solution can also be said to process the patch in that a base image is added to the patch.

Figure 29 is a diagram showing an example of a fifth solution method for solving at least one of the first to fifth problems in the patch reading process of the image forming device 100. The fifth solution method is effective when the contrast between the medium 120 and the patches is low (for the fourth problem described with reference to Figure 24).

When reading a patch on a transparent film, the color of the release paper has a significant effect on the accuracy of reading the patch. If the release paper is also transparent, the image forming device 100 can read a white patch on the transparent film without any problems by using the black background plate 312. However, if the color of the release paper is white or close to the color of the patch (low contrast between the medium 120 and the patch), the accuracy of reading the patch may decrease.

The image forming apparatus 100 then selects a specific color of light from the light source of the light 302 based on the type of toner, the type of medium 120, or a combination of these, and irradiates the patch with the selected light, thereby increasing the contrast between the medium 120 and the patch. When the light 302 is a full-color LED (Light Emitting Diode), the light 302 includes a red (R) LED element, a green (G) LED element, and a blue (B) LED element. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100 can irradiate the patch with light of a specific color by energizing the specific element.

As an example, when the release paper is blue as shown in FIG. 29, the image forming device 100 uses red light (R light) which maximizes the density difference between the white patch and the medium 120. Similarly, when the release paper is yellow, the image forming device 100 uses blue light (B light) which maximizes the density difference between the white patch and the medium 120.

In some situations, the image forming apparatus 100 may preferentially use green light (G light). More specifically, when the image scanner 110 is a line CCD (Charge Coupled Device), the reading accuracy of green light (G light), which is close to the human visual sensitivity, may be the highest. Therefore, when the contrast between the patch and the medium 120 when irradiated with red light (R light) is slightly greater than the contrast between the patch and the medium 120 when irradiated with green light (G light), the image forming apparatus 100 may select green light instead of red light.

Although it has been described that the color light (red, green, blue) can be selected by controlling the light emitted by light 302, the means for selecting the color light is not limited to this. In one aspect, if the image scanner is a color sensor having elements that are selectively sensitive to each color light (red, green, blue), the image forming device 100 may be configured to select each color information read by the image scanner, instead of being configured to be able to select the color light of light 302. In another aspect, if the image scanner is a monochrome sensor that is sensitive to all color lights, the image forming device 100 may be configured to insert color filters of each color in front of the image scanner to select the color light, instead of being configured to be able to select the color light of light 302.

Furthermore, the types of colored light are not limited to red, green, and blue. In some aspects, the image forming device 100 may be configured to select ultraviolet light, infrared light, or the like as the colored light. Ultraviolet light is effective for reading the fluorescence of colorants or substrates. Infrared light is effective for reading control numbers and the like made of infrared ink that are invisible to the naked eye but machine readable. Infrared light is also effective for reading infrared ink patches, which are essential for quality control of infrared ink and the like.

Figure 30 is a diagram showing an example of a sixth solution method for solving at least one of the first to fifth problems in the patch reading process of the image forming device 100. The sixth solution method is a method for recognizing the contour of a patch even when the contrast between the patch and the patch background is low.

Note that the "patch background" refers to a portion other than the patch, such as the medium 120 as viewed by the image scanner 110, or the base image on the medium 120. Note that the patch background also includes the color of the background plate 303 on the back side of the medium 120. Furthermore, including the previous description, the "contrast between the patch and the medium 120" in this specification also includes the meaning of "contrast between the patch and the patch background." Furthermore, including the previous description, the "medium 120, base, base image, etc." in this specification also includes the meaning of "patch background."

As a first example of the sixth solution, the image forming device 100 may read the patch using all RGB lights to increase the contrast between the patch and the patch background.

In one aspect, the image forming device 100 may adjust the brightness of each of the RGB lights to illuminate the patch with light of a color that increases the contrast between the patch and the patch background.

In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may acquire a read image when only R light is irradiated onto the patch, a read image when only G light is irradiated onto the patch, and a read image when only B light is irradiated onto the patch. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100 may determine the position of the patch by superimposing and analyzing each of the acquired images. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus 100 may determine the position of the patch by combining the analysis results of the individual images.

In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may obtain a read image when the patch is illuminated with light of any combination of RGB lights, and a read image when the patch is illuminated with light of another combination of RGB lights. The number of combinations of RGB lights may be any number equal to or greater than two. The brightness of each RGB light may be set individually. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100 may determine the position of the patch by superimposing and analyzing each of the acquired images. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus 100 may determine the position of the patch by combining the analysis results of the individual images.

As a second example of the sixth solution, the image forming apparatus 100 may repeatedly print patches of the same gradation on the medium 120. In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can obtain more patch images for determining the contours of the patches. By analyzing multiple identical patch images, the image forming apparatus 100 can determine the contours of the patches even when the contrast between the patches and the patch background is low.

When patches of the same gradation are repeatedly printed on the medium 120, the time required to measure the patches and the amount of patches printed increases. Therefore, in one aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may output a warning to the operation display unit 102 when repeatedly printing patches of the same gradation on the medium 120. The user can determine whether or not to repeatedly print patches of the same gradation on the medium 120 by looking at the warning message. The image forming apparatus 100 may repeatedly print patches of the same gradation on the medium 120 based on receiving an input of approval from the user from the operation display unit 102. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 100 does not repeatedly print patches of the same gradation on the medium 120 based on receiving an input of rejection from the user from the operation display unit 102.

As a third example of the sixth solution, the image forming device 100 may change the size or design of the patch. In this way, the image forming device 100 can obtain more images of the boundary between the patch and the patch background. As a result, the image forming device 100 can distinguish the contour of the patch even when the contrast between the patch and the patch background is low.

In one aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may analyze the loaded patch image and patch background image and determine the patch reading difficulty from the contrast value, etc. If the patch reading difficulty is less than a threshold, the image forming apparatus 100 may execute any one of the sixth solutions, or a combination thereof. If the patch reading difficulty is equal to or greater than a threshold, the image forming apparatus 100 may display on the operation display unit 102 that the patch cannot be read. By checking the display on the operation display unit 102, the user can take a solution such as changing the medium 120 or the patch image.

If there is no change in the patch design, or if insufficient contrast is found when reading the patch in adjustment mode, an error may occur in the correction result (correction amount or adjustment amount). The correction result (correction amount or adjustment amount) is, for example, the image density correction value for correcting density unevenness in FIG. 12, the various gradation correction values in FIG. 14 and FIG. 18, or the adjustment value for the color registration misalignment amount in FIG. 19.

To suppress the occurrence of such errors, the image forming apparatus 100 reduces the amount of correction made by the obtained correction value. As an example, suppose that the patch background contrast required to create an adjustment value is 100, but an actual contrast of only 50 is obtained. In this case, the adjustment value calculated from this (e.g., -30) is multiplied by 50/100 to obtain a value (-15) as the correction value (reducing the error). In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may display on the operation display unit 102 that there is a possibility that sufficient correction has not been made.

Figure 31 is a diagram showing an example of a seventh solution method for solving at least one of the first to fifth problems in the patch reading process of the image forming device 100. The seventh solution method is effective when reading a patch on a medium 120 that is prone to noise. Examples of a medium 120 that is prone to noise include a film with a release paper and a logo, holographic paper (image 2310 shown in Figure 23), etc.

The same logo is printed repeatedly at a constant cycle on the surface of the film with the logo-bearing release paper. The same hologram pattern is also printed repeatedly at a constant cycle on the surface of the hologram paper. In the seventh solution, the image forming apparatus 100 adjusts the size of the patch (length in the sub-scanning direction) so that it is n times these cycles (n is any number equal to or greater than 1, and is preferably equal to or greater than 2). In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can average the noise value of the patch background in the sub-scanning direction, thereby suppressing the effect of noise on patch reading.

In one aspect, when a repeating noise pattern such as a logo or hologram pattern on the release paper is confirmed, the image forming apparatus 100 may set the sampling interval of the density unevenness measurement patch to n times the repeat period of the noise pattern. For example, the image forming apparatus 100 may repeatedly read patches within n times the repeat period. In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can average the noise value of the patch background in the sub-scanning direction and suppress the effect of noise on patch reading.

In another aspect, when the signal change in the noise pattern is small, the image forming apparatus 100 may perform density unevenness correction setting only when the value of density unevenness obtained by analysis of the density unevenness measurement patch is greater than the value of the signal change in the noise pattern.

In another aspect, the image forming device 100 may repeatedly read the noise pattern of the patch background before the patch reading process, and may average the noise value of the patch background in advance based on the reading results.

Furthermore, in another aspect, since the repetition period differs for each type of medium 120, the image forming apparatus 100 may read the noise pattern of the patch background and average the noise value of the patch background for each type of medium 120. The image forming apparatus 100 may also store average values of the noise value for each type of medium 120 in memory or storage and reuse these average values. The image forming apparatus 100 may obtain the noise pattern of the medium 120 by not only reading the patch background but also performing frequency analysis on areas where no patches are printed.

Figure 32 is a diagram showing an application example of the eighth solution method for solving at least one of the first to fifth problems in the patch reading process of the image forming device 100. The eighth solution method is effective for media whose gradation values change significantly, such as metal-deposited film. Note that if the gradation values of the medium 120 change periodically or have other regularity, the image forming device 100 can read the patches of the medium 120 using either the seventh solution method or the eighth solution method.

Graph 3200 shows the gradation characteristics for each region of K (black) toner printed on a metal deposition film. Graph 3210 shows the gradation characteristics of K (black) toner printed on white paper. The horizontal axis shows the gradation values of the image original including user content or various patches. The vertical axis shows the gradation values of the patches read by the image sensor 301 (the higher the value, the higher the density, and the values are the opposite of the signal values read by an image scanner). It can be seen that while graph 3210 shows a monotonous increase, graph 3200 shows a curve that includes increases and decreases.

When the medium 120 is reflective, such as a metal-deposited film, the gradation value (read gradation value) read by the image scanner 110 changes due to the effect of light reflection depending on the reading location. This change is due to specular reflection on the medium 120, as shown in FIG. 21. The read gradation value may differ from the shading (gradation value) perceived by a person when viewing the medium directly or on a monitor. Due to this gradation change, the image forming device 100 may not be able to accurately read the shading of the toner image on the medium 120, which is reflective. In other words, the actually obtained read gradation value may differ from the shading (gradation value) perceived by a person when viewing the medium directly or on a monitor.

More specifically, the medium 120, which is easily reflective of light such as a metal deposition film, has a first gradation region 3201 where the increase and decrease in toner concentration and the change in the read gradation are reversed, a second gradation region 3202 where the increase and decrease in toner concentration do not lead to a change in gradation, and a third gradation region 3203 where the increase and decrease in toner concentration and the change in gradation coincide (do not reverse). The first gradation region 3201 is a gradation region where the read gradation is reversed (light and dark are in an inverse relationship) with respect to the shading of the original image. The second gradation region 3202 is a gradation region where the shading of the original image does not appear in the read gradation (changes in light and dark do not appear in the read gradation). The third gradation region 3203 is a gradation region where the shading of the original image and the shading of the read gradation coincide in a light and dark relationship. For example, even if the amount of change in toner concentration on the medium 120 is always constant, when the image forming device 100 reads and analyzes each patch of the first gradation range 3201, the second gradation range 3202, and the third gradation range 3203, different amounts of change in toner concentration may be observed and measured.

To solve this problem, the image forming device 100 determines the type of medium 120 and the type of patch based on the patch reading results by the image scanner 110. Next, if the medium 120 is a medium 120 that is easily reflective, such as a metal-deposited film, the image forming device 100 executes a patch reading process that is different from the usual one.

First, the image forming apparatus 100 prints a gradation patch on the medium 120 and reads and analyzes the gradation patch in order to determine the type of the medium 120 and the type of the patch. Then, based on the analysis result, it is determined whether or not a first gradation range 3201, a second gradation range 3202, and a third gradation range 3203 are present on the medium 120. As an example, the image forming apparatus 100 may detect a gradation change by reading and analyzing the gradation patches in a certain amount of continuity.

As an example, the image forming device 100 may analyze the gradation patch and detect that no gradation changes such as the first gradation range 3201, the second gradation range 3202, or the third gradation range 3203 are detected on the medium 120, and that the gradation patch has a monotonically increasing gradation characteristic. In this case, the image forming device 100 may determine that the medium 120 is white paper or light-colored paper, etc., and that the patch is a developed toner patch.

As another example, the image forming apparatus 100 may analyze the gradation patch and detect no gradation changes on the medium 120, such as the first gradation range 3201, the second gradation range 3202, or the third gradation range 3203, and may detect that the gradation patch has a monotonically decreasing gradation characteristic when the black background plate 312 is used. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100 may determine that the medium 120 is a medium 120 with low light reflection, and that the patch is a white toner patch.

As another example, suppose that the image forming apparatus 100 detects gradation changes such as a first gradation range 3201, a second gradation range 3202, and a third gradation range 3203 on the medium 120 by analyzing the gradation patch. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100 can determine that the medium 120 is a medium 120 that easily reflects light, such as a metal-deposited film, and that the patch is a color-developing toner patch.

Next, the image forming device 100 executes a patch reading process for the medium 120, which is highly reflective of light, such as a metal-deposited film.

More specifically, the image forming apparatus 100 cannot use the second gradation area 3202, which has no gradation sensitivity, as a patch reading area. Gradation sensitivity is the relationship between the shading of the original image and the shading of the read gradation, and is the ratio of the degree of light and dark of the read gradation to the degree of light and dark of the original image. When the light and dark of the read gradation appear greater, the gradation sensitivity is high. The second gradation area 3202 has no gradation sensitivity because the shading of the original image does not appear in the read gradation (changes in light and dark do not appear in the read gradation). The image forming apparatus 100 cannot use an area without gradation sensitivity as a patch reading area because the shading of the original image, i.e., changes in the amount of developer such as a toner image, do not appear in the read gradation (changes in light and dark do not appear in the read gradation).

Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 selects whether to use the adjustment value in the first gradation range 3201 by inverting it, or to obtain the adjustment value by limiting it to the third gradation range 3203. The adjustment value here is, for example, the image density correction value (or adjustment value) for correcting the density unevenness in FIG. 12, and also various gradation correction values (or adjustment values) in FIG. 14 and FIG. 18. By using the adjustment value in the first gradation range 3201 by inverting it, the image forming apparatus 100 can eliminate the characteristic that the read gradation is inverted (light and dark are in an inverse relationship) with respect to the shading of the original image, and can read the patch on the medium 120. Also, by obtaining the adjustment value by limiting it to the third gradation range 3203, the image forming apparatus 100 can use the gradation range in which the shading of the original image and the shading of the read gradation have the same light-dark relationship as they are, and can read the patch on the medium 120.

In one aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may accept tone correction setting input and process parameter setting input from the user via the operation display unit 102. As one example, the user may refer to the medium type setting information, etc. via the operation display unit 102, and confirm that the medium 120 has the first to third gradation ranges 3201 to 3203. As another example, when the medium 120 has the first to third gradation ranges 3201 to 3203, it may be difficult to set appropriate correction values or adjustment values for all gradation ranges. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 may configure the user interface of the operation display unit 102 so that the user cannot input tone correction settings.

In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may not use the first gradation range 3201 and the second gradation range 3202 for patch reading, but may use the third gradation range 3203 for patch reading. In that case, patch drawing in the first gradation range 3201 and the second gradation range 3202 may be omitted. This allows the image forming apparatus 100 to measure patches in a smaller area and adjust print settings based on the measurement results. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 100 can perform measurements with a larger or greater number of patches (related to the third gradation range 3203) in the area available for patch drawing. As a result, the image forming apparatus 100 can reduce the effects of various noises.

Figure 33 is a diagram showing an example of a ninth solution for solving at least one of the first to fifth problems in the patch reading process of the image forming device 100. The ninth solution has two ways of realizing it. These are described as the ninth solution (1) and the ninth solution (2), respectively. The ninth solution is effective when reading a patch on a white toner background. For example, to solve the first problem (reading a patch on a transparent film), the image forming device 100 can print a patch on a white toner background and further adjust the gradation using the ninth solution.

First, the ninth solution method (1) will be explained using the upper graph in Figure 33 as an example. The ninth solution method (1) reproduces the original gradation characteristics (graph 3301) from the read gradation characteristics. The horizontal axis indicates the gradation values of the image original including user content or various patches. The vertical axis indicates the gradation values of the patches read by the image sensor 301 (the higher the value, the higher the density. Note that in Figure 33, unlike Figure 32, there is no gradation range where the relationship between light and dark is reversed (a curve sloping downward to the right), so the read gradation values on the vertical axis are proportional (∝) to the density of the printed image.

The maximum density of an image is determined by the type of toner and medium 120. As an example, the maximum density of an image on a rough medium 120 is low, while the density of an image on a medium 120 such as coated paper is high. Also, when there is a white toner underlay on the medium 120, the maximum density of the image on the white toner underlay tends to be low. Graph 3301 shows the gradation characteristics of a patch printed on the medium 120. Graph 3302 shows the gradation characteristics of a patch printed on the white toner underlay on the medium 120. Compared to graph 3301, graph 3302 clearly shows a decrease in density across almost the entire horizontal axis.

For example, suppose that the image forming apparatus 100 prints a patch on a white toner base on the medium 120, while printing user content directly on the medium 120. In this case, the adjustment values of the print settings based on the patch measurement results are based on the analysis results of the patch on the white toner, and may not be suitable for adjusting or correcting the loss of gradation in the user content. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 performs the following process to obtain adjustment values of the print settings suitable for the user content based on the patch measurement results of the patch on the white toner. In this way, the print result of the user content (the density of the printed image, which is the numerical value on the vertical axis) can be estimated from the analysis results of the patch on the white toner. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 100 can correct the print settings of the user content printed directly on the medium 120 based on the analysis results of the patch on the white toner.

That is, the image forming apparatus 100 can reproduce the original gradation characteristics (graph 3301) from the gradation characteristics (graph 3302) obtained from the density of the patch printed on the white toner background. More specifically, the image forming apparatus 100 multiplies the measured density of the patch printed on the white toner background (graph 3302) by a coefficient. As a result, the shape of the graph 3301 is roughly close to the shape obtained by multiplying the graph 3302 by a certain coefficient and stretching it vertically, so the density of the patch printed on the white toner background (graph 3302) is corrected to the density of the patch printed directly on the medium 120 (graph 3301). Here, for example, the image forming apparatus 100 may store the above coefficient information, which is a value for correcting the degree of density reduction when white toner is used for each medium 120, in a memory or storage in advance.

Next, the ninth solution method (2) will be explained using the lower graph in Figure 33 as an example. The ninth solution method (2) corrects the gradation values of the user content to the intended gradation values based on the gradation characteristics read by the method shown in Figure 14. The image forming device 100 defines the gradation characteristics of all gradation values, including intermediate tones, using any of the three methods.

The first method is to reproduce the original (without white toner) gradation characteristics (graph 3301) on the medium 120. As a result, the density of the patch (graph 3302) printed on the white toner background is corrected to the density of the patch (graph 3301) printed directly on the medium 120. The image forming device 100 can obtain the adjustment value of the print setting suitable for the user content by adjusting (correcting) the print setting based on the original correction value (graph 3301). The first method cannot express the area 3310. Therefore, the original image with a gradation value smaller than point 3304, where the graph 3301 and the maximum density on the white toner background intersect, can be reproduced as intended, but the original image with a gradation value larger than point 3304 cannot reproduce the shading at all. The first method is particularly effective in printing processing in which the range of the graph 3301 is narrow and emphasis is placed on the print result with a gradation value smaller than point 3304.

The second method is to reproduce the original gradation characteristics (graph 3301) while matching the maximum density to the density of the patch on the white toner (creating graph 3303). The image forming device 100 may create graph 3302 (a density distribution in which the maximum density matches the density of the patch on the white toner while reproducing the original correction value (graph 3301)) by smoothly complementing the area between graph 3301 reproduced by the first method and point 3304, the highest point of graph 3302. The image forming device 100 can obtain print setting adjustment values suitable for user content that combine the characteristics of the first method and the characteristics of the third method described below by adjusting (correcting) the print settings based on graph 3302.

The third method is to use the gradation characteristics of a patch on white toner (graph 3302). By adjusting (correcting) the print settings based on graph 3302, the light and dark of the entire gradation range of the user content is smoothly reproduced in the print result, and more natural adjustment values of the print settings can be obtained. Note that the image forming device 100 may modify the adjustment values of the print settings so that they are close to the adjustment values (correction values) when graph 3301 is used.

In one aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may select the first method if the density of the patch printed on the white toner background does not decrease significantly compared to the density of the patch printed directly on the medium 120. The image forming apparatus 100 may also select the first or second method if the decrease in density is moderate. The image forming apparatus 100 may also select the third method if the decrease in density is significant.

In another aspect, when the image forming device 100 uses white toner as a base, the maximum density and density curves (graphs 3301 to 3303) also change. Therefore, the image forming device 100 may have target values for the correction values of the print settings for each of the first to third methods.

In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may be configured to be able to switch between the first method to the third method depending on the situation. For example, in order to maintain the average quality of the entire content, it may be necessary to use different target values depending on whether or not white toner is used. Furthermore, white toner may be used in large quantities or fragmentarily in user content. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 may switch between the first method to the third method based on whether or not paper and toner are used in the user content and the amount of paper and toner used. For example, the image forming apparatus 100 may use the second method or the third method when the job includes a certain amount or more of white images. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 100 may select one of the first method to the third method based on whether or not important content (part of the image) in the job includes a white image.

Figure 34 is a diagram showing an example of the sixth problem in the patch reading process of the image forming device 100 and a tenth solution method for solving the sixth problem. The sixth problem is that one job includes user content (image) with a background and user content (image) without a background.

As mentioned above, the color development and tone reproduction of YMCK color toners are affected by the presence or absence of a white toner base. This applies not only to patches, but also to user content.

Therefore, it is desirable for the image forming device 100 to change the correction values of the print settings (target values such as density) for user content that uses a white toner background and user content that does not use a white toner background.

However, when a single job contains both user content that uses a white toner background and user content that does not use a white toner background, two problems arise. The first problem is that the correction values (target values) for the user content that uses a white toner background and the correction values (target values) for the user content that does not use a white toner background must be created separately in some way. The second problem is that the correction values (target values) for the user content that uses a white toner background and the correction values (target values) for the user content that does not use a white toner background must be switched between during job execution.

To solve the first problem, the image forming device 100 may periodically switch between the real-time adjustment patch 3410 with a base and the real-time adjustment patch 3420 without a base, and measure these real-time adjustment patches 3410, 3420. In this way, the image forming device 100 can obtain the correction value (target value) for user content that uses a white toner base and the correction value (target value) for user content that does not use a white toner base.

In one aspect, the image forming device 100 may change the patch reading conditions (such as the color of the background plate 303) based on the presence or absence of a base.

In another aspect, the image forming device 100 may calculate a correction value (target value) for user content that uses a white toner background and a correction value (target value) for user content that does not use a white toner background, so that, for example, the gradation characteristics of the image at the beginning of the job (or the average of the read information within a certain time range from the beginning) are maintained.

In another aspect, the image forming device 100 may draw gradation patches in advance before executing a job, and calculate in advance the correction values (target values) for user content that uses a white toner background and the correction values (target values) for user content that does not use a white toner background.

In another aspect, the image forming device 100 may update each correction value calculated in advance at any time by measuring the real-time adjustment patches 3410 and 3420.

To solve the second problem, the image forming device 100, for example, determines whether or not a background is present for each pixel in an image included in a job, and based on the result of that determination, switches between using a correction value (target value) for user content that uses a white toner background and a correction value (target value) for user content that does not use a white toner background.

However, depending on the type of image forming device, it may not be possible to switch the correction value for each pixel in an image. For example, some image forming devices use image processing circuits implemented by ASICs, FPGAs, etc. In such cases, it is difficult to later add processing to switch the correction value for each pixel in an image to these image processing circuits.

In one aspect, the image forming device 100 may set color reproduction characteristics for each image object attribute (Image attribute, Text, Graphics attribute, etc.) when using an image processing circuit realized by an ASIC, FPGA, etc. The image forming device 100 may include a correction value switching setting in the setting of the color reproduction characteristics.

Figure 35 is a diagram showing an example of the seventh problem in the patch reading process of the image forming device 100 and an eleventh solution method for solving the seventh problem. The seventh problem is that there are cases in which it is not possible to switch between the correction value (target value) of user content that uses a white toner background and the correction value (target value) of user content that does not use a white toner background.

As described with reference to FIG. 34, when a job contains a mixture of images with and without a base, the image forming apparatus 100 can switch between the correction values for each. However, when there is a possibility that a halftone image of white toner used as a base may overlap with an image of another color developing toner, it is not desirable to switch the correction value for each pixel.

This is because the image forming device 100 cannot determine whether to apply the correction value (target value) of the user content that uses a white toner base or the correction value (target value) of the user content that does not use a white toner base to an image in which a white toner halftone image and an image of another color developing toner are overlapped.

In addition, when there is color registration misalignment or various smoothing processes are performed to smoothly draw image contours, the boundary line (or image contours) between an image with a background and an image without a background becomes unclear. This may cause the image forming device 100 to be unable to appropriately switch correction values for each pixel.

Therefore, the image forming device 100 calculates a single correction value by weighting and averaging the correction values (target values) of the user content that uses a white toner background and the correction values (target values) of the user content that does not use a white toner background. The image forming device 100 can then use the single correction value to adjust the image (print settings).

In one aspect, the image forming device 100 may determine the weighting based on the proportion of white images in the image included in the job.

In another aspect, the image forming device 100 may use only one of the correction values (target values) for user content that uses a white toner background and the correction values (target values) for user content that does not use a white toner background. In this case, the user may input to the image forming device 100 which correction value to use.

However, there may be a large discrepancy between the correction value (target value) for user content that uses a white toner background and the correction value (target value) for user content that does not use a white toner background. In this case, when the image forming device 100 uses a single correction value, it may not be able to properly correct either or both of the image with background and the image without background.

In one aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 determines whether the read result of the non-selected correction value or the correction value with the smaller weighting deviates from the target value by a certain amount or more in the above case. If the read result of the correction value deviates from the target value by a certain amount or more, the image forming apparatus 100 may output a warning to the operation display unit 102 or may automatically stop execution of the job. At that time, the image forming apparatus 100 may readjust the image formation process, readjust the characteristics of gradation or color reproduction that cannot be corrected by fine adjustment during real-time adjustment, and resume the job. This method is particularly effective in sheet-fed presses.

Note that, with reference to Figures 34 and 35, the solutions to the sixth and seventh problems have been described using a medium and base toner as an example, but application examples of the solutions to the sixth and seventh problems are not limited to this.

In some aspects, the image forming device 100 can use the solutions to the sixth and seventh problems even when using metallic toner or clear toner.

The image forming apparatus 100 may also use developers such as spot colors in addition to base colors such as YMCK. In this case, the spot colors are often used as "spot colors" without being mixed with other colors, or as "constituent colors" mixed with base colors to create mixed colors. Therefore, in some aspects, when the spot color is used as a "spot color," the image forming apparatus 100 may include a spot color patch in the real-time adjustment patch. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100 can create correction values for the spot color and correction values for the base colors, and apply them to each image.

In another aspect, when a spot color is used as a component color of a mixed color, the image forming device 100 may include a patch of the component color in the real-time adjustment patch. In this case, the image forming device 100 can create correction values for the component colors and correction values for the basic colors, and apply them to each image.

On the other hand, when spot colors are used as constituent colors of a mixed color, the gradation or density changes (subject to the various corrections and adjustments mentioned above) of each of the spot colors that make up the mixed color may change due to interactions caused by the color mixing. In such cases, it is possible to draw a real-time patch of the mixed color, measure the gradation changes, and make corrections.

However, depending on the configuration of the image forming device, it may not be possible to correct or adjust the interactions. For example, a certain image forming device may be configured to normally print with only basic colors, and to add an image forming mechanism for another color only when a special color is required. In this case, since the image forming mechanisms are physically separate, the certain image forming device can adjust the gradation of each color image, but cannot perform adjustments resulting from the combination of multiple colors that make up the mixed color.

Therefore, the image forming device 100 may be configured to measure (monitor) the change in gradation of the mixed colors, and if the change in gradation is caused by the interaction of the mixed colors, when the change in gradation exceeds a predetermined threshold, display a warning on the operation display unit 102, etc., and prompt the operator to stop printing or perform maintenance on the image forming device 100.

Figure 36 is a diagram showing an example of the eighth problem in the patch reading process of the image forming device 100 and a twelfth solution method for solving this problem. The eighth problem is that the user content may contain mixed colors consisting of spot colors (constituent colors) and base colors. When the user content contains mixed colors, the image forming device 100 can address this problem by changing the colors contained in the real-time gradation patch.

When a mixture of spot colors (constituent colors) and base colors is created, the combinations of spot colors (constituent colors) and base colors are often limited. For example, blue spot colors (constituent colors) are often mixed with magenta (M) or cyan (C). This is because blue spot colors (constituent colors) are often used to reduce the uneven color tone and graininess that occurs when mixing M and/or M and K, or to reproduce blue tones with saturation and brightness that cannot be reproduced by mixing colors. In other words, blue spot colors (constituent colors) are unlikely to be mixed with yellow (Y).

Therefore, when the image forming device 100 uses a blue spot color (constituent color), the real-time gradation patch includes a "mixture of the blue spot color (constituent color) and M or C" that is likely to be used in the user content, but does not include a "mixture of the blue spot color (constituent color) and Y" that is unlikely to be used in the user content. By doing this, the image forming device 100 can measure the gradation of the mixed color that is likely to be used within the limited space of the real-time gradation patch.

In one aspect, when toner is replaced, the image forming device 100 may redefine the color configuration to be included in the real-time gradation patch based on the possibility of a combination (color mixing) of the replaced toner.

In another aspect, when the toner is replaced, the image forming apparatus 100 may print a preliminary patch on the medium 120 and read the patch before executing a print job. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100 may determine the color tone of the read image and set two of the basic colors that have a hue relationship that sandwiches the color tone as the targets for color mixing. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus 100 may select a combination of multiple component colors and basic colors that is prepared in advance that is close to the color tone of the read image.

In another aspect, when the change in hue is greater than the change in brightness of the image on the medium 120, the image forming apparatus 100 may determine the change in color tone by detecting the change in hue from, for example, the ratio of the R and G signals, rather than the change in intensity of each of the RGB or their average values. Alternatively, when the image forming apparatus 100 cannot detect the change in hue of the image on the medium 120 using either method, it may print a base image on the medium 120 and read the image on top of that base image. In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can detect the change in color tone of the image by changing the reading method, even if the image reading characteristics differ due to factors such as the type of medium 120 and the brightness difference between the medium 120 and the background board 303.

In another aspect, the image forming device 100 may increase the number of times the image is read when the signal-to-noise ratio of the read image is small. In this way, the image forming device 100 can stably detect color changes and adjust print settings even when the read image has a large amount of noise (when the signal-to-noise ratio is small).

As described above, by using the twelfth solution, the image forming apparatus 100 can detect color tone changes for a wide variety of combinations of media 120 and toner configurations by appropriately changing the patch reading method or patch (adding a base, etc.) without having to read detailed chart designs in advance or set correction methods. As a result, the image forming apparatus 100 can stably judge the quality of images for a wide variety of combinations of media 120 and toner configurations.

Furthermore, in another aspect, the image forming device 100 may record patch reading settings and image quality judgment settings for each combination of medium 120 and toner, and store them in memory or storage. In this way, the image forming device 100 can reuse settings that were previously stored.

Figure 37 is a diagram showing an example of a registration mark design for a sheet-fed press (image forming apparatus 200). By using the registration marks shown in Figure 37, the image forming apparatus 200 can accurately read the positions of the various patches disclosed in this specification.

Unlike the image forming apparatus 100, which uses a roll of media 120, the image forming apparatus 200, which is a sheet-fed press, has an important function for adjusting the image position on the front and back sides of the media 220 cut to a fixed size.

Sheet-fed presses typically use a black background plate to detect the position of the edges of the media and also to detect the registration marks on the media. From the relative positions of the media edges and the registration marks, the sheet-fed press estimates the position of the image on the media and adjusts the printing position of the image.

The image forming device 200 provides multiple registration mark designs. The image forming device 200 can select a registration mark to be used from the multiple registration mark designs based on the type of the medium 220. The multiple registration mark designs include registration marks printed on the front side of the medium 220 and registration marks printed on the back side of the medium 220. These registration marks are designed so that they can be read by the image scanner 110 even if they overlap each other, as shown in FIG. 27. The image forming device 200 reads the registration marks printed on the front and back sides of the medium 220 using an image scanner 210 for the front side of the medium 220 and an image scanner 210 for the back side of the medium 220.

Normally, double-sided printing on transparent film is rare, but in order to reproduce deeper color tones and a clearer white background, for example, it may be necessary to create and print a set of image content on both sides of transparent film. In such cases, the registration marks shown in Figure 37 are effective.

For example, the image forming device 200 prints black (K) registration marks on both sides of a transparent film. The image forming device 200 can read the registration marks by using a white background board.

In addition, because the edges of transparent film are difficult to detect, the image forming apparatus 200 aligns the registration marks on the front and back so that they overlap. In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can align the positions of the images on the front and back of the medium 220. The image forming apparatus 200 can prevent the registration marks on the front and back from completely overlapping by using a registration mark design in which one side is thick and the other is thin, as shown in FIG. 37, for example. This allows the image forming apparatus 200 to determine whether the registration marks on the front and back are accurately overlapped. As a result, the image forming apparatus 200 can solve the problem of the front and back patches overlapping and not being able to be analyzed, even when printing on both sides of thin paper or transparent film that is easily see-through.

Figure 38 is a diagram showing an example of processing performed by the image forming device 100 when a white toner background is used for a patch. The image forming device 100 may use, for example, a combination of the processing described with reference to Figure 33 and the processing described below with reference to Figure 38.

White toner is generally used for printing white content or as a background (base) for clearly printing color images on transparent film. For example, the image forming device 100 may print a base image of a patch using white toner on a medium 120 on which the patch is difficult to read, such as a transparent film or a metal-deposited film.

The image forming device 100 prints a base image using white toner on a medium 120 such as a metal-deposited film, and reads the patch printed on the base image. The image forming device 100 may adjust the print settings to directly correct the gradation change of the read patch.

However, depending on the medium 120 or toner used, the presence or absence of a white toner base can significantly affect the tendency for changes in gradation characteristics or image formation characteristics to appear as density unevenness. For example, an image with uniform gradation printed on top of a white toner base image may have less density unevenness compared to an image with uniform gradation printed directly on the medium 120.

Such changes in density unevenness can occur due to interactions between the base toner and the developer toner during each process stage, including powder toner transfer, layer construction, and fixing. By measuring in advance the changes in density unevenness due to the presence or absence of a white toner base, the image forming apparatus 100 can convert the correction value obtained by analyzing the patch printed on the white toner base into the correction value when color printing is performed directly on the medium 120.

More specifically, the image forming apparatus 100 acquires information on the density unevenness of a patch with a white toner background image and a patch with no white toner background by pre-printing a patch, etc. Graph 3801 shows the density change (density unevenness) in the main scanning direction of a patch with no white toner background. Graph 3802 shows the density change (density unevenness) in the main scanning direction of a patch with a white toner background. Density range 3811 shows the range of density unevenness of a patch with no white toner background. Density range 3812 shows the range of density unevenness of a patch with a white toner background. In the example of FIG. 38, density range 3812 is 1/2 of density range 3811.

In this case, the image forming device 100 can double the correction value obtained by measuring the patch with white toner undercoat and use the resulting correction value as the correction value for user content without white toner.

In a certain situation, when the gradation characteristics of an image may change depending on whether or not there is a white toner background, the image forming device 100 may obtain in advance the gradation characteristics of an image with a white toner background and the gradation characteristics of an image without a white toner background by using a pre-printing patch or the like. For example, the gradation characteristics of an image with a white toner background are 1/1.2 times the gradation characteristics of an image without a white toner background. In this case, the image forming device 100 can use the correction value obtained by measuring the patch with a white toner background as a correction value (taking into account the change in gradation characteristics) for user content without white toner by dividing the correction value by 1.2.

In addition, there is a limit to the amount of toner that can be used in image formation. This limit is a limit to ensure the transferability or fixability of the toner image. This limit is also a limit to prevent the printed toner image from becoming too thick, which would cause unevenness on the printed surface or make it easy to peel off. Usually, the amount of white toner used as a base tends to be larger than other toners used in color images. Therefore, the image forming device 100 needs to limit the total toner amount used for an image when printing an image on a white toner base to be less than the total toner amount used for an image when printing an image directly on the medium 120. Therefore, in a certain aspect, the image forming device 100 may change the gradation value, design, size and/or arrangement of the patch so that the total toner amount of the patch on the white toner base is less than the total toner amount of the patch on the medium 120.

In addition, when paper and toner are used as the base, the total amount of toner (the sum of white toner and color toner) printed on the medium 120 increases, so it takes longer to transfer and fix the image, and the printing speed (the transport speed of the medium 120) may decrease. Therefore, in some aspects, the image forming device 100 may change the reading speed of the image scanner 110 when reading various patches.

The density or thickness of the drawing lines of the registration marks may also change depending on whether or not there is a white toner base. Furthermore, the outline of the white toner base creates a shadow on the background plate 303, and this shadow may become noise when the registration marks are read. Therefore, in one aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may change the thickness of the drawing lines of the registration marks based on whether or not there is a white toner base in order to suppress the effect of the white toner base on the registration marks. In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may change the template matching process used in the image processing for searching for registration marks from the read image (specifically, change the template) based on whether or not there is a white toner base. In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may change the detection threshold value, such as the density difference and/or the read image signal value difference, for identifying the drawing lines of the registration marks based on whether or not there is a white toner base.

In yet another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may be configured to suppress the occurrence of screen moiré (a condition in which the so-called "rosette pattern" becomes noticeable) when drawing patches. More specifically, the image forming apparatus 100 identifies a color combination that can be used as the mixed color based on the measurement results (hue discrimination results) of the special colors. The image forming apparatus 100 also selects a printable screen configuration based on the selected color combination. In one aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may store in storage settings of the mixed color and color combination, and settings of the color combination and the screen configuration that can be printed using the color combination. The image forming apparatus 100 may read these settings from the storage into memory and refer to them.

In this way, the image forming device 100 can eliminate the effects of screen moiré when reading patches by selecting a screen configuration that does not cause screen moiré based on the color combination when drawing patches. The image forming device 100 can also suppress the occurrence of screen moiré when drawing user content, achieving smooth image printing.

Figure 39 shows an example of the procedure for determining the screen ruling when a coating color toner is present. "Coating color toner" includes base toners such as white toner, and finishing toners such as clear toner. The base color and the color of the finishing material are sometimes called "coating colors."

In step S3910, the image forming apparatus 100 acquires basic color image information (e.g., multi-tone image information of colors expressed in 8 bits (0 to 255) or the like) via the communication unit 103. The image forming apparatus 100 also acquires special color image information (binary image information of coating color toners such as white toner and clear toner) via the communication unit 103. Coating color toners are often used as binary images such as base toners or finishing toners. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 can acquire information on the coating color toners as binary information from the print control device (sometimes called the "controller"). However, the binary information may be acquired as multi-tone image information, like the basic color image information (in this case, the binary information is expressed using only two tone values of the multi-tone, e.g., tone values 0 and 255).

In step S3920, the image forming apparatus 100 converts the binary image information into multi-tone values (for example, converts the binary image information into multi-tone values from 0 to 255). As described above, if the coating color toner information is acquired as multi-tone information, the conversion is not necessary. In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can express gradation using the coating color, and can perform correction processing such as density unevenness described below on the coating color. In some aspects, the image forming apparatus 100 may receive multi-tone image information of the coating color toner from the controller. The halftoning process used to generate a halftone (pseudo multi-tone image) image of the coating color toner generated in the image forming apparatus is sometimes called an "engine screen". The halftoning process used to generate a halftone (pseudo multi-tone image) image of the coating color toner generated by the controller or originally included in the document image is sometimes called a "controller screen".

It is desirable to design the engine screen and the controller screen so that they are unlikely to interfere with each other. As an example, if a combination of AM screens is used for the half-toning processes of the engine and controller, it is preferable that the line count of the controller screen be less than that of the engine screen (preferably less than half).

Whereas the controller image that has been subjected to controller screen processing is binary, the engine screen can use a more detailed control mechanism depending on the characteristics of the image formation mechanism. For example, in the case of scanning exposure of electrophotography using LD and polygon mirror, the exposure intensity or time for each pixel dot can be finely adjusted, and in the case of inkjet dots, the strength of the dots can be finely adjusted. Therefore, since the engine screen allows finer control than the controller screen, it is possible to design a high-definition screen (with a higher number of lines). Therefore, by setting the number of lines for the controller screen to be lower than that of the engine screen, it is possible to prevent image degradation such as unintended moire that occurs when the controller screen of the original image and the engine screen interfere with each other.

In one aspect, the image forming device 100 may determine the screen processing (image forming process) settings for the engine screen based on the controller screen settings that the operator sets for the "coating color."

In step S3930, the image forming apparatus 100 performs correction processing for uneven density of the base color image and the coating color image by the above-mentioned correction processing. As an example, the image forming apparatus 100 can detect and correct changes in the coating color toner by reading and analyzing a real-time gradation patch printed on the base toner or the finishing toner (coating color toner) with the image scanner 110. This allows the image forming apparatus 100 to maintain a constant quality of the coating color. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 100 can also print a coating color unevenness adjustment chart and correct the uneven density of the coating color toner by reading and analyzing it with the image scanner 110. In this correction, the image forming apparatus 100 can use gradation correction by the engine screen even when forming an image with the coating color toner.

In some aspects, the image scanner 110 may change the illumination light based on the characteristics of the coating color. The scanner reading conditions or illumination light may be switched appropriately. As an example, if the coating color is white toner, the image forming device 100 may use the illumination light used to read normal basic color toners when reading the coating color. As another example, if the coating color is fluorescent clear toner, the image forming device 100 may use a UV (Ultraviolet) light source for the illumination light.

In step S3940, the image forming apparatus 100 performs halftoning (pseudo halftone processing) on the base color and the coating color. The pseudo halftone processing may be performed in the same way for both the base color and the coating color. However, for example, assume that the AM screens for the base color and the coating color have the same line count and angle. In this case, in an image in which the base color and the coating color are superimposed, there is a possibility that interference between the screens may occur. For this reason, it is desirable that the halftoning (pseudo halftone processing) for the base color and the halftoning (pseudo halftone processing) for the coating color are designed differently from each other. As an example, the image forming apparatus 100 performs halftoning for the base color and the coating color using pseudo halftone processing 1 (design 1) for the base color and pseudo halftone processing 2 (design 2) for the coating color.

In step S3950, the image forming device 100 uses the image forming unit 104 to draw the basic color image and the pseudo multi-gradation image of the covering color created in step S3940.

In step S3960, the image forming device 100 transfers and fixes the base color image and the coating color image to the medium 120.

<F. Application Examples>
The image forming apparatus 100 may use an appropriate combination of the above-mentioned various patch generation methods, changes in patch reading settings, correction processing of printed images, etc. For example, the image forming apparatus 100 may execute a combination of generation of density unevenness correction patches, generation of gradation adjustment patches, image correction based on the results of reading these patches, and processing to prevent the occurrence of screen moire.

The image forming device 100 has functions for selecting various patch generation methods, changing patch reading settings, and correction processing for printed images (pre-patch printing function, function for allowing the user to select settings to be used, etc.). These functions will be described with reference to Figures 40 to 43. The image forming device 100 may use an appropriate combination of the methods shown in Figures 40 to 43.

Figure 40 is a diagram showing a first example of a pre-patch. As described above, when various inspections or adjustments are performed based on an image read by the image scanner 110, the patch to be printed and the method of adjusting (correcting) the print settings may change depending on the characteristics of the medium 120. Therefore, the image forming device 100 can print a pre-patch on the medium 120 and check the characteristics of the medium 120 before starting printing of the user content.

As an example, the image forming device 100 can print a pre-patch including patches 4001, 4002, and 4003 on the medium 120 and read the pre-patch.

Patch 4001 is a glue adhesion confirmation patch. Glue is used on medium 120, which is made of a label and a release paper. When such a medium 120 is used, the glue may protrude from between the label and the release paper and adhere to rollers inside image forming apparatus 100. This glue may further adhere to the surface of medium 120 and cause stains. Patch 4001 is a patch for determining whether such glue stains are present on medium 120. Since glue stains tend to occur at the edges of medium 120, image forming apparatus 100 prints patch 4001 on the edges of medium 120. If glue stains are present on medium 120, image forming apparatus 100 may change the reading range of the patch, for example, to suppress the effect of stains when reading the patch.

In one aspect, the image forming device 100 may read the patch 4001 using either or both of the white background plate 311 and the black background plate 312. In another aspect, the patch 4001 may be represented in halftone.

Patch 4002 is a gradation confirmation patch. Patch 4002 is used to confirm the reading characteristics of a patch printed on medium 120. Image forming apparatus 100 can confirm the reading characteristics of the patch on medium 120 based on the results of reading patch 4002. Image forming apparatus 100 can perform various settings, such as patch configuration during job execution or adjustment mode, light intensity setting in image scanner 110, and selection of a background board to be used, based on the reading characteristics of the patch on medium 120.

In one aspect, the image forming device 100 may read the patch 4002 using either or both of the white background plate 311 and the black background plate 312.

In other aspects, the image forming device 100 may print the patch 4002 directly on the medium 120, or may print the patch 4002 on a base such as white toner.

In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may print the patch 4002 directly on the medium 120, and then print the patch 4002 on a base such as white toner, and compare the reading characteristics of these two types of patches. Based on the comparison result, the image forming apparatus 100 may perform various settings such as the patch configuration during job execution or adjustment mode (e.g., whether or not to use a base for the patch), the light intensity setting for the image scanner 110, and the selection of the background board to be used.

Patch 4003 is a toneless patch for determining the characteristics of the paper itself. Based on the results of reading patch 4003, image forming apparatus 100 can perform various settings such as patch configuration during job execution or adjustment mode, light intensity setting for image scanner 110, and selection of background board to be used.

In one aspect, the image forming device 100 may read the patch 4003 using either or both of the white background plate 311 and the black background plate 312.

Note that the pre-patch configuration shown in FIG. 40 is an example, and the pre-patch configuration that can be printed by the image forming device 100 is not limited to this. In some aspects, the pre-patch may include any type of patch, and the design and placement of each patch may be set to any position. Furthermore, each patch may be read using both or either of the white background board 311 and the black background board 312.

Figure 41 is a diagram showing a second example of a pre-patch. It is preferable that the image forming apparatus 100 prints and reads the pre-patch each time a new medium 120 is loaded into the image forming apparatus 100. It is also preferable that the image forming apparatus 100 performs various settings, such as the patch configuration during job execution or adjustment mode, the light amount setting in the image scanner 110, and the selection of the background board to be used, based on the results of reading the pre-patch each time a new medium 120 is loaded into the image forming apparatus 100.

Therefore, each time a new medium 120 is loaded into the image forming device 100, the image forming device 100 prints a pre-patch 4102 on the medium 120 and reads the pre-patch 4102. The pre-patch 4102 is, for example, a pre-patch as shown in FIG. 40. States 4110, 4120, and 4130 show an example of the flow from printing to reading the pre-patch 4102.

In state 4110, the medium 120 has just been replaced, and the old medium 120 used in the previous job printing, etc., still remains below the image scanner 110. The medium 120 to be used in the next job is connected to the old medium 120 by the locking portion 4103. The locking portion 4103 may be, for example, any adhesive tape for locking. As an example, the locking portion 4103 may be a transparent tape, or a tape coated with a colored locking agent, such as a dark color or red, that is easily recognized by various primary color sensors. By using a colored tape, the locking portion 4103 is located in front of the printer main body 4101 (image forming unit 104 to fixing unit 108, etc.).

In state 4120, the medium 120 has been transported a short distance, and the engaging portion 4103 has passed the image forming portion, making it possible to form various images on the new medium 120. Therefore, the image forming device 100 prints the advance patch 4102 after 4103.

State 4130 is a state in which the advance patch 4102 has passed the image scanner 110, and the image forming apparatus 100 reads the advance patch 4102 as it passes the image scanner 110. Based on the results of reading the advance patch 4102, the image forming apparatus 100 also performs various settings such as the patch configuration during job execution or adjustment mode, the light intensity setting in the image scanner 110, and the selection of the background board to be used.

Figure 42 is a diagram showing an example of combination information of settings to be used. The image forming device 100 can change various settings such as patch configuration, patch reading settings, and print image correction settings. In other words, the image forming device 100 can use a combination of these various settings.

The image forming apparatus 100 may display a setting screen on the operation display unit 102 so that the operator can select a combination of these various settings. In another aspect, the image forming apparatus 100 may automatically determine a combination of various settings based on the results of execution of a pre-patch and/or a real-time gradation patch, etc.

The image forming apparatus 100 may store the combinations of various settings as a table 4200 in storage. The image forming apparatus 100 may also use the table 4200 to present the operator with options for settings to be used. In some aspects, the image forming apparatus 100 may store the combinations of various settings in any data format other than a table. As an example, the table 4200 includes a combination number item 4201, a background board color item 4202, a white underline presence/absence item 4203, a chart design item 4204, and a selection frequency item 4205.

The combination number item 4201 relates to a number for uniquely identifying a combination of various settings. In some aspects, the combination number may be expressed as any character string such as alphanumeric characters. The background board color item 4202 relates to whether a white background board 311 or a black background board 312 is used. The white underlay item 4203 relates to whether the patch is printed on a white toner base (with white underlay) or directly on the medium 120 (without white underlay). The chart design item 4204 relates to settings such as the placement, design, and size of the patch (chart). The selection frequency item 4205 relates to how many times the same record setting combination has been used. The larger the number in the selection frequency item 4205, the more frequently the record setting combination is used.

The image forming apparatus 100 may display the contents corresponding to the table 4200 (such as a selection display of the setting combination) on the operation display unit 102. The operator may select the setting combination based on information such as each setting combination information and selection frequency.

In one aspect, the image forming device 100 may display a frequently selected setting combination at the top. In another aspect, when a medium 120 that is being used for the first time or a setting combination that is being used for the first time is selected, the image forming device 100 may output a display on the operation display unit 102 to ask the operator whether there is a problem with the selected setting combination.

Figure 43 is a diagram showing an example of selecting a registration mark reading or design. The image forming device 100 may change the patch configuration and patch reading settings during job execution or adjustment mode, and may also change the registration mark reading settings and/or design, depending on the type of medium 120. Below, an example of changing the registration mark reading settings and design is described.

First, an example of the setting for reading the registration mark (first registration mark) on a transparent film will be described. When a transparent film is used, dirt may adhere to the background plate 303, and the dirt may appear in the read image as noise 4303. If such noise 4303 is present, the image forming apparatus 100 may fail to read the registration mark. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 searches for a registration mark line 4301 perpendicular to the transport direction of the medium 120, which is less susceptible to the influence of noise 4303. Next, the image forming apparatus 100 searches for a registration mark line 4302 that is perpendicular to the registration mark line 4301 (parallel to the transport direction of the medium 120). At that time, the image forming apparatus 100 limits the search range of the registration mark line 4302, and selects the image with the strongest characteristics (high density, etc.) from among the images detected within the limited range as the registration mark line 4302. For example, the image forming apparatus 100 may search for candidate images for the registration mark line 4302 only from within the area that overlaps with the registration mark line 4301.

In this way, by finding one of the registration marks (registration mark line 4301), the image forming apparatus 100 can limit the search range for the other registration mark line (registration mark line 4302) to a range in which the other registration mark line is definitely present. In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can determine the position of the registration mark while suppressing the effects of noise.

Next, an example of the settings for reading the registration marks (second registration marks) on the white underlay on the transparent film will be described. When reading the registration marks on the white underlay, a shadow 4304 may be generated on the contour of the white toner underlay image due to the white toner being reflected on the white background board 311. In this case, the image forming device 100 may mistakenly recognize the shadow 4304 as a registration mark. In such a case, the shadow 4304 is generated on the contour of the white toner underlay. Therefore, when using the white underlay, the image forming device 100 searches for the registration marks from the center of the white toner underlay area toward the outside. In this way, the image forming device 100 can find the registration mark lines 4301 and 4302 before the shadow 4304. In this way, the image forming device 100 can determine the position of the registration marks without being affected by the shadow 4304.

Next, a registration mark with a modified design (third registration mark) will be described. Stains (noise 4303) on the background plate 303 are often parallel to the transport direction of the medium 120. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 may print the registration marks at an angle to the registration marks lines 4301 and 4302. More specifically, the image forming apparatus 100 may print the registration marks at a slight angle to the transport direction of the medium 120. In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can easily distinguish between the inclined registration marks lines 4301 and 4302 and the noise 4303.

In one aspect, the image forming device 100 may use a combination of the printer's mark reading settings described with reference to FIG. 43 and printer's mark design changes.

<G. Example of patch formation and reading process by image forming device>
Next, we will explain variations in the process of changing the patch reading method, the process of changing the image quality judgment, the process of forming a patch on medium 120 depending on the type of medium 120, and the process of changing the control of image formation based on the patch reading results, which are performed by the image inspection system according to this embodiment.

(a. Changing the patch reading method)
The control unit 510 controls image formation by the image forming unit based on a read image generated by reading a medium on which a patch is formed by the reading unit 560. The reading control unit 550 also changes a patch reading method by the reading unit 560 based on the medium on which the patch is formed.

In one aspect, the change in the reading method may include at least one of the following: a change in the background portion used by the reading unit to read the medium, a change in the reading range in which the reading unit reads the medium, a change in the reading procedure for the image formed by the image forming unit, a change in the light source used to read the medium by the reading unit, a change in the control of the light source, and a change in the reading conditions in the reading unit. More specifically, as one example, the reading unit 560 may adjust the amount of light during reading, as shown in FIG. 24 or the like, depending on the type of medium. As another example, the reading unit 560 may adjust the reading range of the patch, as described with reference to FIG. 25 or the like, depending on the type of medium. As yet another example, the reading unit 560 may change the background plate (background portion) 303 depending on the type of medium.

In one aspect, the image inspection system may obtain information about the medium by the identification unit 570, and use the information about the medium to change the way the reading unit 560 reads the patch. As an example, the image inspection system may increase the amount of light when reading the patch based on the identification unit 570 determining that the medium is black paper. Based on the identification unit 570 determining that the medium is release paper with a logo, the image inspection system may use a color (such as black) that is less affected by the logo on the release paper as the color of the background board (background portion) 303.

In one aspect, the information about the medium may include at least one of information about the type and characteristics of the medium. The type of medium may include category information of the medium, a product model number of the medium, etc. The characteristics of the medium may include any characteristic information such as color, whether or not it is reflective, whether or not it is transparent, etc.

In one aspect, the image inspection system may acquire information regarding the type of medium by the acquisition unit 530. As an example, the image forming device 100 may acquire information regarding the type of medium based on input information from a user (medium selection information) or image information obtained by an image sensor before image formation.

In one aspect, the image inspection system may evaluate noise components contained in the scanned image and select a background portion in which the influence of the noise components is reduced. More specifically, the image inspection system may evaluate noise components contained in the scanned image based on the presence or absence of a logo, the color of the patch and the medium, etc., as described with reference to FIG. 27, etc., and select a white background board 311 or a black background board 312 so that the influence of the noise components is reduced.

In one aspect, the reading control unit 550 may further change the reading range in which the reading unit reads the medium based on the patch drawn on the medium. More specifically, the reading control unit 550 may adjust the reading range of the peripheral area of the patch based on the characteristics of the patch's outline. That is, as described with reference to FIG. 25 etc., the reading control unit may determine the readable range of the patch based on the patch background and the patch, and change (e.g., reduce) the reading range of the patch based on this determination. This allows the reading unit 560 to accurately read the patch, except for the outer peripheral surface of the patch where blurring may occur.

In one aspect, the reading control unit 550 can select the color light that maximizes the gradation difference between the patch and the background including the medium. That is, as shown in FIG. 24, for example, when the medium is black paper that hardly reflects light, the reading control unit 550 can increase the amount of light reflected from the black paper by increasing the brightness of the illumination light of the light 302.

In one aspect, the reading control unit 550 may refer to a user usage history storage unit (which may be included in the storage unit 540) when executing the patch reading settings. The reading control unit 550 may also determine the reading method based on the user's usage history. More specifically, the reading control unit 550 searches the user usage history storage unit based on the ID of the user who logged in to the image inspection system or the image forming apparatus 100. If the user's usage history is found, and the characteristics of the medium used in the previous printing process are the same as the characteristics of the medium used in the current printing process, the reading control unit 550 may use the previous patch reading settings. On the other hand, if the user's usage history is not found, the reading control unit 550 uses new patch reading settings. Similarly, if the characteristics of the medium used in the previous printing process are different from the characteristics of the medium used in the current printing process, the reading control unit 550 uses new patch reading settings.

In one aspect, the notification unit 580 may provide notification regarding the reading method. More specifically, the notification unit 580 may notify the user that the previous patch reading settings will be used. The notification unit 580 may also notify the user that new patch reading settings will be used. Furthermore, the notification unit 580 may notify the user that a user usage history was found, that a user usage history was not found, or that the characteristics of the medium used in the previous printing process are the same as or different from the characteristics of the medium used in the current printing process.

In a certain aspect, the reading control unit 550 may change the reading conditions of the reading unit based on using a specific image included in the user content as a patch. More specifically, as described with reference to FIG. 16 and the like, for example, the reading control unit 550 may change the background board 303 during the reading process of the image scanner 110, adjust the exposure conditions of the image scanner 110, etc., based on various conditions such as the characteristics of the medium 120, the base toner, and the use or non-use of a coating material. In addition, when the area of the spot color image in the user content is small and there is a possibility that the reading accuracy of the spot color image by the image scanner 110 is affected, the reading control unit 5500 may reduce the ratio of the involvement of the inspection image (spot color reading result) in the user content in the correction process of the print settings. Furthermore, when reading a spot color image included in the user content, the reading control unit 550 may set the color and/or exposure conditions of the background board 303 during reading to match the user content.

(b. Changing the Image Quality Judgment)
The control unit 510 controls image formation by the image forming unit based on a read image generated by reading the medium on which the patch is formed by the reading unit. The judgment control unit 590 can change a judgment method for judging the quality of the image formed on the medium based on the medium on which the patch is formed.

In a certain aspect, the judgment control unit 590 may change the judgment method by performing at least one of the following: changing the gradation range used for judgment, changing the image forming method of the image used for judgment, changing the judgment criteria, changing the patch used for judgment, and changing the number of measurements of the patch used for judgment. More specifically, as described with reference to FIG. 16 and the like, for example, the judgment control unit 590 may change the gradation range used for judgment by using a special color contained in the user content as a patch. In addition, the judgment control unit 590 may increase the number of times the image is read when the S/N ratio of the read image is small, for example. Furthermore, for example, when the medium is a medium that easily reflects light specularly, such as a metal deposition film, the judgment control unit 590 may exclude a gradation range in which an increase or decrease in toner concentration does not lead to a change in gradation (the second gradation range 3202 in FIG. 32) from the target of patch reading and pass/fail judgment.

In one aspect, the image inspection system may obtain information about the medium using the identification unit 570, and use the information about the medium to change the method by which the reading unit 560 determines whether the patch is good or bad.

In one aspect, the information about the medium may include at least one of information about the type and characteristics of the medium. The type of medium may include category information of the medium, a product model number of the medium, etc. The characteristics of the medium may include any characteristic information such as color, whether or not it is reflective, whether or not it is transparent, etc.

In one aspect, the image inspection system may acquire information regarding the type of medium by the acquisition unit 530. As an example, the image forming apparatus 100 may acquire information regarding the type of medium based on input information from a user (medium selection information) or image information obtained by an image sensor before image formation. In addition, the control unit 510 may identify the medium based on the acquisition results of the acquisition unit 530.

In one aspect, the judgment control unit 590 can change or select the gradation range used to judge the quality of the patch based on the results of reading the medium, as shown in FIG. 32, etc.

In one aspect, the judgment control unit 590 can change the patch used for judgment by forming a patch on a white background (white toner background) image formed on a medium, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, etc.

In one aspect, the judgment control unit 590 can determine whether or not to form a white background image based on the analysis results of the medium and patch obtained by the control unit 510, the reading control unit 550, the identification unit 570, etc.

In a certain aspect, the judgment control unit 590 may detect noise present in the background including the medium, and change the judgment criteria for judging the quality of the image formed on the medium based on the detection result. As shown in FIG. 31, for example, the judgment control unit 590 may average the noise value of the patch background in the sub-scanning direction to suppress the effect of noise in patch reading. The judgment control unit 590 may perform the concentration unevenness correction setting only when the concentration unevenness value obtained by analyzing the concentration unevenness measurement patch is greater than the signal change value of the noise pattern. The judgment control unit 590 may also repeatedly read the noise pattern of the patch background before the patch reading process, and average the noise value of the patch background in advance based on the reading result. The judgment control unit 590 may also use the average value of the noise value for each type of medium 120 stored in the storage (storage unit 540).

In one aspect, the judgment criterion may be a threshold value related to density unevenness. In this case, the judgment control unit 590 may change the threshold value for judging whether a patch is good or bad depending on the intensity of the noise.

As an example, referring to FIG. 9, the change of the threshold value for determining whether the patch is good or bad will be described. The patch shown in FIG. 9 is a chart for measuring and correcting the density unevenness of the toner image on the blue release paper. The patch is a patch that assumes that the blue release paper is plain and homogeneous. Therefore, if the blue release paper is a release paper with a pattern such as a logo as shown in FIG. 27, the determination control unit 590 may mistakenly recognize the pattern as density unevenness of the toner image. Furthermore, the blue release paper itself may have papermaking unevenness. The papermaking unevenness may also cause unevenness in the patch. The above-mentioned pattern or papermaking unevenness of the release paper itself is difficult to distinguish from unevenness in the patch. Therefore, the determination control unit 590 changes the threshold value so that these relatively fine unevennesses are not corrected. Then, the determination control unit 590 calculates the correction value by correcting only the density unevenness components that exceed the changed threshold value. The judgment control unit 590 does not correct unevenness below the threshold (such as the pattern of the release paper itself or unevenness in papermaking) (it sets a correction value such as 0, which effectively disables the correction process).

In one aspect, the judgment criterion may be a range for detecting noise. In this case, the judgment control unit 590 may change the minimum size of the noise period or spatial frequency for detecting noise. As shown in FIG. 31 etc., for example, the judgment control unit 590 may change the minimum size of the noise period or spatial frequency for detecting noise (patch reading size) according to the period of the detected noise.

In one aspect, the judgment control unit 590 may change the patch used for the pass/fail judgment by using a specific image included in the user content as a patch. As shown in FIG. 16, for example, the judgment control unit 590 may include a spot color image included in the user content in the patch.

In one aspect, the judgment control unit 590 may control the contribution rate of the specific image to the judgment result in accordance with the appropriateness of the specific image as a patch. As an example, as shown in FIG. 16, the judgment control unit 590 may control the contribution rate of the specific image to the judgment result in accordance with the proportion of spot color images included in the user content, etc.

In one aspect, the determination control unit 590 may determine the state of the background area used by the reading unit to read the medium based on the results of reading an area of the medium where no image is formed by the image forming unit. More specifically, the reading unit 560 reads the areas of the medium where no image is printed or the print margins during printing, during adjustment mode, during patch reading operation before printing, etc. Then, the determination control unit 590 may analyze the image of the areas of the medium where no image is printed or the print margins, and determine whether or not there is dirt on the background plate 303 that will affect the image inspection.

(c. Process of forming a patch on a medium according to the type of medium)
The control unit 510 controls image formation by the image forming unit 520 based on a read image generated by reading the medium on which the patch is formed by the reading unit. The control unit 510 also controls the image forming unit 520 to form a patch on the medium according to the medium. As an example, as shown in Fig. 24, when the medium is black paper, the control unit 510 may print a white background on the medium and print a patch on the white background.

In one aspect, the control unit 510 controls the image forming unit to form on the medium a patch corresponding to the medium, which may be a patch with a base image added, a patch with a changed design, or a specific image included in the user content. More specifically, as an example, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the control unit 510 may control the image forming unit to form on the medium a patch with a base image added. As another example, as shown in Figures 13, 15, 26, etc., the control unit 510 may control the image forming unit to form on the medium a patch with a changed design. As another example, as shown in Figure 16, etc., the control unit 510 may control the image forming unit to form on the medium a specific image included in the user content.

In one aspect, the image inspection system may obtain information about the medium by the identification unit 570, and use the information about the medium to control image formation by the image forming unit 520. As an example, as shown in FIG. 10, etc., when the medium is a combination of a transparent film and a colored release paper, the image inspection system may control the image forming unit to form a density unevenness measurement patch on a white background.

In one aspect, the information about the medium may include at least one of information about the type and characteristics of the medium. The type of medium may include category information of the medium, a product model number of the medium, etc. The characteristics of the medium may include any characteristic information such as color, whether or not it is reflective, whether or not it is transparent, etc.

In one aspect, the image inspection system may acquire information regarding the type of medium by the acquisition unit 530. As an example, the image forming device 100 may acquire information regarding the type of medium based on input information from a user (medium selection information) or image information obtained by an image sensor before image formation.

In one aspect, the control unit 510 may control the image forming unit to form a patch corresponding to the medium based on the results of reading the medium by the reading unit 560. As an example, as shown in FIG. 10 etc., the image inspection system may control the image forming unit to form a density unevenness measurement patch on a white background when the medium is a combination of a transparent film and a colored release paper.

In one aspect, the control unit 510 may control the image forming unit to add a white background to the patch when the reading result by the reading unit 560 has a characteristic in which the relationship between the increase/decrease in developer and the read gradation is partially inverted. As an example, as shown in Figures 21, 22, 23, etc., when the reading result is a reading result regarding a metal vapor deposition film, holographic paper, or transparent film, the relationship between the increase/decrease in developer and the read gradation may be partially inverted. In this case, the control unit 510 can prevent the occurrence of the phenomenon in which the relationship between the increase/decrease in developer and the read gradation is partially inverted by adding a white background to the patch.

In one aspect, the control unit 510 controls the image forming unit to add a white background to the patch based on determining that the reading results are not appropriate for analyzing the patch.

As an example, as shown in FIG. 27, if there is a pattern such as a logo on the back side of the release paper, this will affect the reading of the patch. As a result, for example, errors may occur in the measurement of density unevenness and gradation. Also, as shown in FIG. 20 to FIG. 24, if only the color-developing toner is printed on a medium that has characteristics such as a dark color, transparency, mirror reflection, or hologram, the measurement patch may not be read correctly. In such cases, the image forming apparatus 100 can more appropriately read the degree of shading of the color-developing toner image by adding a white base that has the characteristics of covering and concealing the surface of such media.

In one aspect, when forming a patch with a white background added to a medium, the control unit 510 may perform control regarding the addition of the white background differently than when adding a white background to user content. As an example, as shown in FIG. 33, etc., when user content is printed directly on the medium and the patch is printed on top of a white background, the control unit 510 may perform control differently than when adding a white background to user content.

In one aspect, the control unit 510 may control the image forming unit to form a patch on the medium corresponding to the repetition of a specific image when the background including the medium contains a specific image repeatedly based on the reading result.

For example, as shown in FIG. 31, the image forming apparatus 100 may change the rectangular patch size to N times (any integer multiple) the repeat period of a specific image such as a logo mark printed on the back side of the medium, and draw the patch. Also, for example, when multiple rectangular patches of the same size are lined up as shown in FIG. 7, the image forming apparatus 100 may set the patch size of each patch to N times the repeat period as described above. In this way, the image forming apparatus 100 can equalize the influence of the logo mark in the background of the medium when reading each patch, and correctly read the density unevenness and gradation changes of the measurement patch.

In one aspect, the control unit 510 may change the gradation range used to form the patch based on the reading results, determining that the medium has a characteristic in which the relationship between the increase or decrease in developer and the reading gradation is partially inverted.

For example, when a developer toner is printed on a glossy medium such as a deposition film as shown in FIG. 21, the density of the toner image may vary depending on the gradation value (gradation range) of the medium, as shown in parts 2110 to 2130. As a result, the reading results of the toner image in parts 2110 to 2130 change, as shown in FIG. 32. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 may, for example, limit the reading of the first gradation range 3201 and the third gradation range 3203, and use the limit to control gradation correction according to each gradation range. The change in the gradation range changes depending on the characteristics of the toner, which is the developer. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 may determine the gradation range to be limited from the result of the preliminary patch reading, as shown in FIG. 40, FIG. 41, etc. Alternatively, the image forming apparatus 100 may store in storage a setting that links the toner type and the gradation range to be limited in advance.

In one aspect, the control unit 510 may change the design of the patch based on the characteristics of the patch's outline based on the relationship between the patch and the background including the medium. As an example, as shown in FIG. 30, the change in design may include changing the size of the patch. The control unit 510 may also change the number of measurements of the patch or the size of the patch based on the difficulty of reading the patch based on the relationship between the patch and the background including the medium.

In one aspect, the image inspection system may further include a first notification unit (which may be included in the notification unit 580) that provides notification regarding the correction accuracy of the correction using the patch based on the result of the reading difficulty determination.

As mentioned above, patch reading that includes processing such as adding a white background, changing the patch size to an integer multiple of the logo mark, or limiting patch reading to a specific gradation range is more difficult than reading a patch on ordinary plain white paper, and may reduce the reliability of correction. Therefore, the image forming device 100 may notify the user whether or not to perform such special processing, and that the reliability of correction may be reduced.

In one aspect, the image inspection system may further include a user usage history storage unit (storage unit 540) that stores patches in association with users. The control unit 510 may also refer to the user usage history storage unit (storage unit 540) when controlling the formation of patches on a medium by the image forming unit 520. More specifically, the control unit 510 searches the user usage history storage unit based on the ID of a user who has logged into the image inspection system or the image forming device 100. If the user usage history is found, the reading control unit 550 may use the previous patch formation settings if the characteristics of the medium used in the previous printing process are the same as the characteristics of the medium used in the current printing process. On the other hand, if the user usage history is not found, the reading control unit 550 uses new patch formation settings.

In one aspect, the image inspection system may further include a second notification unit (which may be included in the notification unit 580) that notifies the user about the formation of the patch according to the user's usage history. For example, if the characteristics of the medium used in the current printing process are the same as the characteristics of the medium used in the previous printing process, the second notification unit may output a notification to the user to confirm whether or not to use the previous settings. On the other hand, if the second notification unit cannot find the user's usage history, it may output a notification to inform the user that new patch formation settings will be used.

In one aspect, the control unit 510 may control the formation of a patch on a medium based on the use of a specific image included in the user content as a patch, depending on the appropriateness of the specific image as a patch. As an example, as shown in FIG. 16, etc., the control unit 510 may replace some colors included in the real-time adjustment patch with colors (spot colors) included in the specific image.

(d. Changing process of image formation control based on patch reading result)
The image inspection system may control image formation by the image forming unit using the control unit 510 based on a read image generated by reading a medium on which a patch is formed using the reading unit 560. The control unit 510 may change the control of image formation by the image forming unit 520 based on the medium on which the patch is formed.

In one aspect, the change in control of image formation may include at least one of changing the correction parameters for correction using a patch, changing the correction method for correction using a patch, and changing the target value for correction using a patch. As an example, as shown in FIG. 17, etc., when the medium is replaced, the control unit 510 may detect whether or not the medium has been changed, take over the correction value (target value), and change the control of image formation by the image forming unit based on the taken-over correction value (target value). As another example, as shown in FIG. 38, etc., the control unit 510 may convert the correction value obtained by analyzing the patch printed on the white background into the correction value when color printing is performed directly on the medium by measuring in advance the change in density unevenness due to the presence or absence of a white background.

In one aspect, the image inspection system may use the identification unit 570 to obtain information about the medium based on the scanned image and identify the medium.

In one aspect, the information about the medium may include at least one of information about the type and characteristics of the medium. The type of medium may include category information of the medium, a product model number of the medium, etc. The characteristics of the medium may include any characteristic information such as color, whether or not it is reflective, whether or not it is transparent, etc.

In one aspect, the image inspection system may acquire information regarding the type of medium by the acquisition unit 530. As an example, the image forming apparatus 100 may acquire information regarding the type of medium based on input information from a user (medium selection information) or image information obtained by an image sensor before image formation. The control unit 510 may identify the medium based on the acquisition result of the acquisition unit 530.

In one aspect, changing the correction method may include changing the control of image formation by the image forming unit by switching between absolute tone correction, relative tone correction, and correction based on process parameters.

For example, as shown in FIG. 33, when the gradation characteristics of the medium are high, the appropriate correction control method differs depending on whether or not there is a white toner undercoat. The image forming apparatus 100 may switch corrections based on whether or not there is a white toner undercoat. In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 may select a more effective control method, such as selecting correction using process parameters that are particularly effective for media with gloss, as shown in FIG. 32.

In one aspect, when the image forming unit forms an image using a covering material, the control unit 510 can perform correction using a correction coefficient corresponding to the medium in the correction using the patch. As an example, as shown in FIG. 33, the image forming device 100 can reproduce the original gradation characteristics from the gradation characteristics obtained from the density of the patch printed on the white toner background by using the correction coefficient.

In one aspect, the control unit 510 may perform correction based on the results of reading a patch formed on the medium, based on the small gradation difference between the patch and the background including the medium.

As an example, the control unit 510 may change the number or size of the patches, as shown in FIG. 30, etc. Also, as shown in FIG. 29, etc., the control unit 510 may select the color light to be used for measurement or correction. Furthermore, when these processes are required, i.e., when the patch is difficult to read, the control unit 510 may notify the user of these situations.

In one aspect, the control unit 510 may switch between absolute tone correction, relative tone correction, and correction based on process parameters based on the results of reading the medium by the reading unit.

For example, as shown in FIG. 33, the appropriate control method differs depending on the gradation characteristics, maximum density, etc. of the medium or each patch on the medium. For example, the image forming apparatus 100 may select a more effective control method, such as correction using process parameters, which is particularly effective for media having characteristics in which the read gradation value changes as shown in FIG. 32. Also, as shown in FIGS. 40 and 41, the image forming apparatus 100 may select the above control method from the results of reading the preliminary patch, and may store in storage a setting that previously links the above control method to the toner type.

In one aspect, the control unit 510 may switch based on the reading results, based on the fact that the medium is one in which the relationship between the increase or decrease in developer and the reading gradation is partially reversed.

For example, the image forming apparatus 100 may select a more effective control method, such as correction using process parameters, which is particularly effective for media that have characteristics that cause the read gradation value to change, as shown in FIG. 32. Also, as shown in FIGS. 40 and 41, the image forming apparatus 100 may select the above control method from the results of reading the preliminary patch, and may store in storage settings that link the above control method to the toner type in advance.

In one aspect, the control unit 510 may generate correction parameters based on the results of reading the medium by the reading unit. For example, the image forming device 100 may select the above control method from the results of reading the preliminary patch, and may store in storage a setting that pre-links the above control method to the toner type.

In one aspect, the memory unit 540 may store color tone information of the medium based on the results of reading the medium by the reading unit 560. The control unit 510 may also store the color tone information of the medium in the memory unit 540 based on the read image, and acquire the color tone information of the medium to be used for the current printing before or when printing is performed. The control unit 510 may also refer to the memory unit 540 to acquire the color tone information of the medium used in the previous printing, and change the target of the gradation correction based on the fact that the characteristics of the color tone information of the medium to be used for the current printing are different from the characteristics of the color tone information of the medium used in the previous printing.

For example, the image forming device 100 can obtain color tone information by drawing the patch shown in FIG. 16, and by executing the control shown in FIG. 17 to FIG. 18 based on the obtained color tone information, control of image formation and correction that is well adapted to switching of printing media.

(e. Changing the patch reading method based on the presence or absence of a white background)
The image inspection system can control image formation by the image forming unit based on a read image generated by reading a medium on which a patch is formed by the reading unit using the control unit 510. Furthermore, the reading control unit 550 can change the method of reading the patch by the reading unit based on the image formed on the medium by the image forming unit.

In one aspect, the reading control unit 550 may change the method of reading the patch by the reading unit when the image formed on the medium by the image forming unit 520 includes a base image or a covering image (transparent toner, etc.).

In a certain aspect, the change in the reading method may include at least one of the following: a change in the background part used by the reading unit to read the medium, a change in the light source used by the reading unit to read the medium, a change in the control of the light source, a change in the transport speed of the medium when the reading unit reads, a change in the reading clock in the reading unit, a change in the read image generated by the reading unit, a change in the reading procedure of the image formed by the image forming unit, and a change in the reading range in which the reading unit reads the medium. More specifically, as an example, as shown in FIG. 24, etc., the reading control unit 550 may adjust the amount of light when reading depending on the type of medium. As another example, as shown in FIG. 25, etc., the reading control unit 550 may adjust the reading range of the patch depending on the type of medium. As yet another example, the reading control unit 550 may change the background plate (background part) 303 depending on the presence or absence of a white background. As shown in FIG. 29, etc., the reading control unit 550 may change the light source based on the presence or absence of a white background.

In one aspect, the reading control unit 550 may use a background portion including black based on the fact that the patch is an image formed on a white background, and may use a background portion including white when the patch is an image formed directly on the medium. In another aspect, the reading control unit 550 may use a background portion including white when reading an image of a color other than white contained in the patch based on the fact that the patch is an image formed on a white background. As an example, as shown in FIG. 11, the reading control unit 550 may select either a background portion including white or a background portion including black based on the presence or absence of a white background.

In one aspect, when the patch is an image formed on a white background, the reading control unit 550 may change the image reading procedure based on the background portion used to read the patch. For example, the image forming apparatus 100 reads the register marks shown in FIG. 43. In this case, if there is no white background, for example, when the register marks are drawn on a transparent medium, the shadow of the register marks may appear in the read image as shown in FIG. 20. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 needs to adjust the detection threshold used to detect the register marks, for example, the detection threshold in the edge detection process, so as not to erroneously detect the shadow of the register marks. On the other hand, when the register marks are drawn on a white background, the effect of the shadow of the register marks on the transparent medium can be ignored, so the image forming apparatus 100 does not need to adjust the detection threshold.

As another example, the image forming apparatus 100 reads a small rectangular register mark 905 on a white background as shown in FIG. 9. If the register mark 905 is drawn on a transparent medium, a rectangular shadow on the white background will be generated, which may be erroneously detected as a register mark image. Even if the white background is large, a shadow that is erroneously detected may exist, such as the shadow 4304 shown in FIG. 43. For this reason, the image forming apparatus 100 may, for example, change the register mark design to a third register mark so as not to react to the rectangular shadow on the white background, or change the register mark detection sequence so as to first search for the rectangular shadow and then detect the register mark itself.

In one aspect, the reading control unit 550 can detect the position of an image formed on a medium by the image forming unit based on the patch reading result by the reading unit. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, etc. The reading control unit 550 can calculate the position of a specific image in the user content based on the patch reading result (patch position).

In one aspect, the reading control unit 550 may change the reading control of the patch based on the reading result by the reading unit 560. For example, the image forming apparatus 100 may select a preferred reading method for reading a patch drawn on a medium based on the reading result of the patch formed on the medium by the control shown in Figures 40 to 41. For example, the image forming apparatus 100 may change the reading control, such as controlling the intensity of the illumination light (including adjustment of the intensity of each color light of RGB, for example, if the illumination light is colored light), as shown in Figure 24.

In one aspect, the reading control unit 550 may change the background portion used to read the patch based on changing the reading control. For example, as shown in FIG. 22, when the image forming apparatus 100 detects a combination of a medium and a toner image that is difficult to read on a black background, it may appropriately control the background plate 410 to select a white background that is easier to read.

In one aspect, the reading control unit 550 may change the reading range of the medium by the reading unit based on detection of the adhesion of foreign matter to the surface of the recording medium from the read image. As an example, as shown in FIG. 40, when dirt such as glue is present on the medium, the reading control unit 550 may change the reading range of the patch in order to suppress the effect of the dirt when reading the patch.

In one aspect, the reading control unit 550 may refer to a user usage history storage unit (which may be included in the storage unit 540) when executing the patch reading settings. The reading control unit 550 may also determine the reading method based on the user's usage history. More specifically, the reading control unit 550 searches the user usage history storage unit based on the ID of the user who logged in to the image inspection system or the image forming apparatus 100. If the user's usage history is found, and the characteristics of the medium used in the previous printing process are the same as the characteristics of the medium used in the current printing process, the reading control unit 550 may use the previous patch reading settings. On the other hand, if the user's usage history is not found, the reading control unit 550 uses new patch reading settings. Similarly, if the characteristics of the medium used in the previous printing process are different from the characteristics of the medium used in the current printing process, the reading control unit 550 uses new patch reading settings.

In one aspect, the notification unit 580 may provide notification regarding the reading method. More specifically, the notification unit 580 may notify the user that the previous patch reading settings will be used. The notification unit 580 may also notify the user that new patch reading settings will be used. Furthermore, the notification unit 580 may notify the user that a user usage history was found, that a user usage history was not found, or that the characteristics of the medium used in the previous printing process are the same as or different from the characteristics of the medium used in the current printing process.

In one aspect, the control unit 510 can determine whether or not to add a white background to the patch to improve the correction effect of the correction using the patch, based on the read image generated by reading the medium on which the patch is formed with the reading unit.

For example, as described above, the image forming apparatus 100 can reliably read patches even in difficult patch reading situations such as those shown in FIG. 21, FIG. 24, or FIG. 27 by applying a white background to increase the accuracy of patch reading. However, adding a white background to the background of the developed toner image may change the magnitude of the change in density unevenness or gradation characteristics to be measured, as shown in graphs 3801 and 3802 in FIG. 38.

Therefore, for example, when the density unevenness or change in gradation characteristics is small, the image forming apparatus 100 can perform more appropriate and stable patch reading by adding a white background to the patch. For example, when the density unevenness or change in gradation characteristics is large and adding a white background would result in a smaller change in reading, the apparatus can determine whether or not to add a white background, and select whether or not to add a white background, to determine whether or not to add a white background, which of the following is more preferable for reading: (1) a state in which sensitivity is reduced by adding a white background, or (2) a state in which reading sensitivity remains reduced without adding a white background.

In a certain aspect, the reading control unit 550 may change the reading conditions of the reading unit based on the use of a specific image included in the user content as a patch. More specifically, as described with reference to FIG. 16 and the like, the reading control unit 550 may change the background board 303 during the reading process of the image scanner 110, adjust the exposure conditions of the image scanner 110, etc., based on various conditions such as the characteristics of the medium 120, the base toner, and the use or non-use of a coating material. In addition, when the area of the special color image in the user content is small and there is a possibility that the reading accuracy of the special color image by the image scanner 110 is affected, the reading control unit 550 may reduce the ratio of the involvement of the inspection image (special color reading result) in the user content in the correction process of the print settings. Furthermore, when reading a special color image included in the user content, the reading control unit 550 may set the color and/or exposure conditions of the background board 303 during reading to match the user content.

In one aspect, the control unit 510 can generate an additional patch based on the results of reading the patch and the results of reading the specific image. For example, assume that there is a patch of the same color as a specific image (images of spot colors P, G, and R) as shown in FIG. 16. In this case, the image forming device 100 can read the patches of these specific images using the reading unit 560. The image forming device 100 can then manage how the color of the read patch is used in the user content (specifically, the presence or absence of a background such as white).

For example, suppose that the color contained in the patch and the color contained in the user content are the same color, but the patch includes a background such as white, while the user content does not include a background. In this way, when the color used in the patch and the user content is the same but the presence or absence of a background differs, the appearance and changes in the color of the patch and the user content will be different. For this reason, the image forming device 100 may not be able to properly read the change in characteristics of an image of the same color on the user content from the results of reading the patch of a specific image.

In such a case, the image forming device 100 can add a patch of the missing toner combination (such as a combination of a white background and a special color) to the gradation image 811 or the patch shown in FIG. 13, and read the added patch. Furthermore, when reading a patch such as that shown in FIG. 13, the image forming device 100 can change various settings such as the color of the background board, the intensity and color of the illumination light, etc., to settings preferable for reading the patch.

In one aspect, the reading control unit 550 can determine the state of the background area used by the reading unit to read the medium based on the reading result of reading the area of the medium where no image is formed by the image forming unit 520. More specifically, the reading unit 560 reads the part of the medium where no image is printed or the print margin area during printing, during adjustment mode, during patch reading operation before printing, etc. Then, the reading control unit 550 can analyze the image of the part of the medium where no image is printed or the print margin area and determine whether there is any dirt on the background plate 303 that will affect the image inspection.

The reading control unit 550 also reads the areas on the medium where no image is formed by the image forming unit 520, and reads the areas corresponding to the areas where the background plate 303 does not overlap the medium. Based on at least one of these reading results, the reading control unit 550 can determine the state of the reading unit, in particular the extent to which the reading characteristics of the image scanners 110 and 210 have fluctuated. The fluctuation in the reading characteristics of the image scanners 110 and 210 includes, for example, fluctuations in the brightness of the light 302 and fluctuations in the sensitivity of the image sensor 301 that constitute the image scanner. These fluctuations can occur, for example, during continuous printing, due to an increase in the environmental temperature caused by high-temperature media that have been thermally fixed passing through the image scanners 110 and 210 in succession. Based on the determination result, the reading control unit 550 can correct the reading characteristics of the image scanners 110 and 210 to a state at least close to the state at the time when the job printing was started.

More specifically, the image forming unit 520 periodically and repeatedly prints a real-time adjustment patch 800 as shown in FIG. 8 during job printing, and the reading unit 560 reads the real-time adjustment patch 800. In this case, if a white toner base is applied to the real-time adjustment patch 800, the reading control unit 550 uses a black background plate 312 so that the gradation changes of the white toner are easily read.

The white toner image becomes brighter as the amount of white toner increases. Therefore, the reading result of the white toner image tends to be strongly influenced by the reading characteristics of the image scanners 110 and 210, particularly fluctuations in the brightness of the light 302 or fluctuations in the sensitivity of the image sensor 301. Therefore, when printing using white toner, the reading control unit 550 does not draw the real-time adjustment patch 800 (it is desirable not to draw user content in that area either) during some (for example, one out of five) of the drawings and reading of the real-time adjustment patch 800 that are periodically repeated as described above, and also controls to switch the background during reading to the white background board 311 only for that time, and reads the white background board 311 or the medium itself.

The white background board 311 or medium is considered to have a constant color tone regardless of the printing state. Therefore, if the reading result of the background board or medium changes from the beginning of the job (or the initial state for a certain period of time), the reading control unit 550 can determine that the reading characteristics of the image scanner 110, 210 have changed. In addition, the reading control unit 550 can read the direction of the fluctuation of the image scanner 110, 210 (is it read brighter? Is it read darker?) and the magnitude of the fluctuation, and can correct the reading result. For example, if the read brightness (tone) changes to be read 1.05 times brighter, the reading control unit 550 can correct it by dividing the reading result of the tone of the subsequent real-time adjustment patch 800 by 1.05 to be the original reading result.

Here, a long roll of paper made by joining two or more long pieces of paper together may be used as the medium. When such a medium is used, the surface of the medium before and after the joining may have a slightly different color tone. Therefore, the reading control unit 550 may erroneously detect this slight change in color tone as a change in the reading characteristics of the image scanners 110 and 210. Therefore, when the reading control unit 550 detects the joint of the medium, or detects that the reading result of the medium changes at "a certain point in time" and is stable both before and after that point, it may determine that the paper characteristics have changed at "a certain point in time" and estimate the change in the net reading characteristics that offset the change in the paper characteristics.

We have already mentioned the sensitivity fluctuation of the image sensor 301 as something related to the reading characteristics of the image scanners 110 and 210, but there are two main factors that cause the sensitivity fluctuation. One is the magnitude of the response of the image sensor 301 to the intensity of the light it receives, which is sensitivity in the narrow sense and is also commonly called "gain". The other is the phenomenon in which the response of the image sensor 301 is generally raised or lowered, which is also commonly called "offset" (it may also be called "bias", "zero point error", or "zero point potential").

The reading control unit 550 can determine changes in the reading characteristics of the image scanners 110 and 210, mainly corresponding to "gain", by reading the white background board 311 or the medium itself. In order to determine changes in the reading characteristics of the image scanners 110 and 210, including changes in the part corresponding to "offset", the reading control unit 550 similarly obtains the reading results of the black background board 312 itself (during the reading using the black background board 312) in addition to the white background board 311 or the medium itself, and captures changes in "offset" based on the reading results of the black background board 312, and then captures changes in "gain" based on the reading results of the white background board 311, and corrects these as necessary.

Specifically, when correcting "gain", the reading control unit 550 may perform multiplication and division on the amount of light detected by the image sensor 301. When correcting "offset", the reading control unit 550 may perform addition and subtraction on the amount of light detected by the image sensor 301. When correcting both, the reading control unit 550 corrects "gain" after correcting "offset".

The reading control unit 550 may correct the "offset" or "gain" by performing a numerical calculation of the digital image signal value as described above, or by performing a numerical conversion using an equivalent lookup table. The reading control unit 550 may also use an adjustment mechanism for the "offset" or "gain" contained in an electrical circuit used in the process of converting the analog signal of the image sensor 301, which is composed of a device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), into a digital image signal, such as an AD (Analog To Digital) converter, or an AFE (Analog Front End) that incorporates circuits such as a voltage amplifier and a signal filter.

(f. Changing the Image Quality Judgment)
The control unit 510 controls image formation by the image forming unit 520 based on a read image generated by reading the medium on which the patch is formed by the reading unit. The determination control unit 590 may change a determination method for determining the quality of the image formed on the medium based on the image formed on the medium by the image forming unit 520. As an example, as shown in FIG. 25 etc., the determination control unit 590 or the control unit 510 may change the read setting of the patch based on the presence or absence of a white background. As an example, as shown in FIG. 33 etc., the determination control unit 590 or the control unit 510 may change a target value of the gradation characteristic of the patch based on the presence or absence of a white background in the image formed on the medium.

In one aspect, the judgment control unit 590 may change the judgment method for judging the quality of the image formed on the medium when the image formed on the medium by the image forming unit 520 includes a base image or a covering image (transparent toner, etc.).

In a certain aspect, the judgment control unit 590 may change the judgment method by performing at least one of the following: changing the gradation range used for judgment, changing the image forming method of the image used for judgment, changing the judgment criteria, changing the patch used for judgment, and changing the number of measurements of the patch used for judgment. More specifically, as described with reference to FIG. 16 and the like, for example, the judgment control unit 590 may change the gradation range used for judgment by using a special color contained in the user content as a patch. In addition, the judgment control unit 590 may increase the number of times the image is read when the S/N ratio of the read image is small, for example. Furthermore, for example, when the medium is a medium that easily reflects light specularly, such as a metal deposition film, the judgment control unit 590 may exclude a gradation range in which an increase or decrease in toner concentration does not lead to a change in gradation (the second gradation range 3202 in FIG. 32) from the target for patch reading and pass/fail judgment.

In one aspect, the image inspection system may obtain information about the medium using the identification unit 570, and use the information about the medium to change the method by which the reading unit 560 determines whether the patch is good or bad.

In one aspect, the information about the medium may include at least one of information about the type and characteristics of the medium. The type of medium may include category information of the medium, a product model number of the medium, etc. The characteristics of the medium may include any characteristic information such as color, whether or not it is reflective, whether or not it is transparent, etc.

In one aspect, the image inspection system may acquire information regarding the type of medium by the acquisition unit 530. As an example, the image forming apparatus 100 may acquire information regarding the type of medium based on input information from a user (medium selection information) or image information obtained by an image sensor before image formation. In addition, the control unit 510 may identify the medium based on the acquisition results of the acquisition unit 530.

In one aspect, the judgment control unit 590 can change or select the gradation range used to judge the quality of the patch based on the results of reading the medium, as shown in FIG. 32, etc.

In one aspect, the judgment control unit 590 can change the patch used for judgment by forming a patch on a white background (white toner background) image formed on a medium, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, etc.

In one aspect, the judgment control unit 590 can determine whether or not to form a white background image based on the analysis results of the medium and patch obtained by the control unit 510, the reading control unit 550, the identification unit 570, etc.

In a certain aspect, the judgment control unit 590 may detect noise present in the background including the medium, and change the judgment criteria for judging the quality of the image formed on the medium based on the detection result. As shown in FIG. 31, for example, the judgment control unit 590 may average the noise value of the patch background in the sub-scanning direction to suppress the effect of noise in patch reading. The judgment control unit 590 may perform the concentration unevenness correction setting only when the concentration unevenness value obtained by analyzing the concentration unevenness measurement patch is greater than the signal change value of the noise pattern. The judgment control unit 590 may also repeatedly read the noise pattern of the patch background before the patch reading process, and average the noise value of the patch background in advance based on the reading result. The judgment control unit 590 may also use the average value of the noise value for each type of medium 120 stored in the storage (storage unit 540).

In some aspects, the judgment criterion may be a threshold value related to density unevenness. In this case, the judgment control unit 590 may change the threshold value for judging the quality of the patch according to the intensity of the noise. As an example, referring to FIG. 9, the change of the threshold value for judging the quality of the patch will be described. The patch shown in FIG. 9 is a chart for measuring and correcting density unevenness of the toner image on the blue release paper. The patch is a patch that assumes that the blue release paper is plain and homogeneous. Therefore, if the blue release paper is a release paper with a pattern such as a logo as shown in FIG. 27, the judgment control unit 590 may erroneously recognize the pattern as density unevenness of the toner image. Furthermore, the blue release paper itself may have papermaking unevenness. The papermaking unevenness may also cause unevenness in the patch. The pattern or papermaking unevenness of the release paper itself as described above is difficult to distinguish from unevenness in the patch. Therefore, the judgment control unit 590 changes the threshold value so that these relatively fine unevennesses are not subject to correction. Then, the judgment control unit 590 calculates the correction value by correcting only the density unevenness components that exceed the changed threshold. The judgment control unit 590 does not correct unevenness below the threshold (such as the pattern of the release paper itself or unevenness in papermaking) (it sets a correction value such as 0 that effectively does not affect the correction process).

In one aspect, the judgment criterion may be a range for detecting noise. In this case, the judgment control unit 590 may change the minimum size of the noise period or spatial frequency for detecting noise. As shown in FIG. 31 etc., for example, the judgment control unit 590 may change the minimum size of the noise period or spatial frequency for detecting noise (patch reading size) according to the period of the detected noise.

In one aspect, the judgment control unit 590 may change the patch used for the pass/fail judgment by using a specific image included in the user content as a patch. As an example, as shown in FIG. 16, etc., the judgment control unit 590 may include a spot color image included in the user content in the patch.

In one aspect, the judgment control unit 590 may control the contribution rate of the specific image to the judgment result depending on the validity of the specific image as a patch. As shown in FIG. 16, for example, the judgment control unit 590 may control the contribution rate of the specific image to the judgment result depending on the proportion of spot color images included in the user content, etc.

In one aspect, the determination control unit 590 may determine the state of the background area used by the reading unit to read the medium based on the results of reading an area of the medium where no image is formed by the image forming unit. More specifically, the reading unit 560 reads the areas of the medium where no image is printed or the print margins during printing, during adjustment mode, during patch reading operation before printing, etc. Then, the determination control unit 590 may analyze the image of the areas of the medium where no image is printed or the print margins, and determine whether or not there is dirt on the background plate 303 that will affect the image inspection.

(g. Processing for forming patches on a medium depending on the presence or absence of a white background in an image formed on the medium)
The control unit 510 controls the image formation by the image forming unit 520 based on the read image generated by reading the medium on which the patch is formed by the reading unit. The control unit 510 also controls the image forming unit 520 to form a patch on the medium according to the image formed on the medium by the image forming unit 520. As an example, as shown in FIG. 24 etc., when the medium is black paper, the control unit 510 may print a white background on the medium and print a patch on the white background. As another example, as shown in FIG. 13, FIG. 34 to FIG. 36 etc., the control unit 510 may change the patch based on the presence or absence of a white background in the image formed on the medium. For example, the control unit 510 may select a patch with background or a patch without background, or switch between these patches.

In one aspect, when the image formed on the medium by the image forming unit 520 includes a base image, the control unit 510 can control the image forming unit 520 to form a patch on the medium corresponding to the base image. When the image formed on the medium by the image forming unit 520 includes a cover image (transparent toner, etc.), the control unit 510 can control the image forming unit 520 to form a patch on the medium corresponding to the cover image.

In one aspect, the control unit 510 controls the image forming unit to form on the medium a patch corresponding to the medium, which may be a patch with a base image added, a patch with a changed design, or a specific image included in the user content. More specifically, as an example, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the control unit 510 may control the image forming unit to form on the medium a patch with a base image added. As another example, as shown in Figures 13, 15, 26, etc., the control unit 510 may control the image forming unit to form on the medium a patch with a changed design. As another example, as shown in Figure 16, etc., the control unit 510 may control the image forming unit to form on the medium a specific image included in the user content.

In one aspect, the image inspection system may obtain information about the medium by the identification unit 570, and use the information about the medium to control image formation by the image forming unit 520. As an example, as shown in FIG. 10, etc., when the medium is a combination of a transparent film and a colored release paper, the image inspection system may control the image forming unit to form a density unevenness measurement patch on a white background.

In one aspect, the information about the medium may include at least one of information about the type and characteristics of the medium. The type of medium may include category information of the medium, a product model number of the medium, etc. The characteristics of the medium may include any characteristic information such as color, whether or not it is reflective, whether or not it is transparent, etc.

In one aspect, the image inspection system may acquire information regarding the type of medium by the acquisition unit 530. As an example, the image forming device 100 may acquire information regarding the type of medium based on input information from a user (medium selection information) or image information obtained by an image sensor before image formation.

In one aspect, the control unit 510 may control the image forming unit to form a patch corresponding to the medium based on the results of reading the medium by the reading unit 560. As an example, as shown in FIG. 10 etc., the image inspection system may control the image forming unit to form a density unevenness measurement patch on a white background when the medium is a combination of a transparent film and a colored release paper.

In one aspect, the control unit 510 may control the image forming unit to add a white background to the patch when the reading result by the reading unit 560 has a characteristic in which the relationship between the increase/decrease in developer and the read gradation is partially inverted. As an example, as shown in Figures 21, 22, 23, etc., when the reading result is a reading result regarding a metallized film, holographic paper, or transparent film, the relationship between the increase/decrease in developer and the read gradation may be partially inverted. In this case, the control unit 510 can prevent the occurrence of the phenomenon in which the relationship between the increase/decrease in developer and the read gradation is partially inverted by adding a white background to the patch.

In one aspect, the control unit 510 controls the image forming unit to add a white background to the patch based on the determination that the reading result is not appropriate for analyzing the patch. As an example, as shown in FIG. 27, if there is a pattern such as a logo on the back side of the release paper, it will also affect the reading of the patch. As a result, for example, errors may occur in the measurement of density unevenness and gradation. Also, as shown in FIG. 20 to FIG. 24, if only the color-developing toner is printed on a medium that has characteristics such as a dark color, transparency, mirror reflection, or hologram, the measurement patch may not be read correctly. In such a case, the image forming device 100 can more appropriately read the degree of shading of the color-developing toner image by adding a white background that has the characteristics of covering and concealing the surface of these media.

In one aspect, when forming a patch with a white background added to a medium, the control unit 510 may perform control regarding the addition of the white background differently than when adding a white background to user content. As an example, as shown in FIG. 33, etc., when user content is printed directly on the medium and the patch is printed on top of a white background, the control unit 510 may perform control differently than when adding a white background to user content.

In one aspect, the control unit 510 may control the image forming unit to form a patch on the medium according to the repetition of a specific image when the background including the medium contains a specific image repeatedly based on the reading result. For example, as shown in FIG. 31, the image forming device 100 may change the rectangular patch size to N times (any integer multiple) the repetition period of a specific image such as a logo mark printed on the back side of the medium, and draw the patch. Also, for example, when multiple rectangular patches of the same size are arranged as shown in FIG. 7, the image forming device 100 may set each patch size to N times the repetition period as described above. In this way, the image forming device 100 can equalize the influence of the logo mark in the background of the medium when reading each patch, and correctly read the density unevenness and gradation change of the measurement patch.

In a certain aspect, the control unit 510 may change the gradation range used to form the patch based on the result of the reading, based on the determination that the medium has a characteristic in which the relationship between the increase or decrease in the developer and the read gradation is partially inverted. For example, as shown in FIG. 21, when the developer toner is printed on a glossy medium such as a deposition film, the density of the toner image may change depending on the gradation value (gradation range) of the medium, as in parts 2110 to 2130. As a result, as shown in FIG. 32, the reading result of the toner image in parts 2110 to 2130 changes. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 may, for example, limit the reading of the first gradation range 3201 and the third gradation range 3203, and use the limit to control gradation correction according to each gradation range. The change in the gradation range changes depending on the characteristics of the toner, which is the developer. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 may determine the gradation range to limit the reading from the result of the preliminary patch reading, as shown in FIG. 40, FIG. 41, etc. Alternatively, the image forming device 100 may store in storage a setting that links in advance the toner type with the gradation range in which reading is restricted.

In one aspect, the control unit 510 may change the design of the patch based on the characteristics of the contour of the patch based on the relationship between the patch and the background including the medium. As an example, as shown in FIG. 30, the change in design may include a change in the size of the patch. The control unit 510 may also change the number of measurements of the patch or the size of the patch based on the difficulty of reading the patch based on the relationship between the patch and the background including the medium.

In one aspect, the image inspection system may further include a first notification unit (which may be included in the notification unit 580) that notifies the user about the correction accuracy of the correction using the patch based on the result of the reading difficulty determination. As described above, patch reading that includes a process of adding a white background, a process of changing the patch size to an integer multiple of the logo mark, or a process of limiting patch reading to a specific gradation range is more difficult than reading a patch on ordinary plain white paper, and the reliability of the correction may decrease. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 100 may notify the user whether or not to perform such special processing, and that the reliability of the correction may decrease.

In one aspect, the image inspection system may further include a user usage history storage unit (storage unit 540) that stores patches in association with users. The control unit 510 may also refer to the user usage history storage unit (storage unit 540) when controlling the formation of patches on a medium by the image forming unit 520. More specifically, the control unit 510 searches the user usage history storage unit based on the ID of a user who has logged into the image inspection system or the image forming device 100. If the user usage history is found, the reading control unit 550 may use the previous patch formation settings if the characteristics of the medium used in the previous printing process are the same as the characteristics of the medium used in the current printing process. On the other hand, if the user usage history is not found, the reading control unit 550 uses new patch formation settings.

In one aspect, the image inspection system may further include a second notification unit (which may be included in the notification unit 580) that notifies the user about the formation of the patch according to the user's usage history. For example, if the characteristics of the medium used in the current printing process are the same as the characteristics of the medium used in the previous printing process, the second notification unit may output a notification to the user to confirm whether or not to use the previous settings. On the other hand, if the second notification unit cannot find the user's usage history, it may output a notification to inform the user that new patch formation settings will be used.

In one aspect, the control unit 510 may control the formation of a patch on a medium based on the use of a specific image included in the user content as a patch, depending on the appropriateness of the specific image as a patch. As an example, as shown in FIG. 16, etc., the control unit 510 may replace some colors included in the real-time adjustment patch with colors (spot colors) included in the specific image.

As described above, the image inspection system or image forming apparatus according to this embodiment can change at least one of the patch printing settings, patch reading settings, patch pass/fail judgment settings, and image correction settings based on the medium or the image printed on the medium. This allows the image inspection system or image forming apparatus according to this embodiment to perform correction control of the print settings in accordance with various media.

The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present disclosure is indicated by the claims rather than the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. Furthermore, it is intended that the disclosure contents described in the embodiments and each modified example may be implemented, as far as possible, either alone or in combination.

100, 200, 502 Image forming apparatus, 101, 201, 510 Control unit, 102, 202 Operation display unit, 103, 203 Communication unit, 104, 204, 520 Image forming unit, 105, 205 Intermediate transfer belt, 106, 206 Belt drive roller, 107, 207 Secondary transfer roller, 108, 208 Fixing unit, 109, 209 Toner image sensor, 110, 210 Image scanner, 111, 211, 216 Image analysis unit, 112, 212 Paper feed unit, 113, 213 Paper discharge unit, 120, 220 Media, 214 Defective print discharge unit, 215 Upstream image scanner, 217 Paper reversal unit, 218 Switching unit, 301 Image sensor, 302 Light, 303 Background plate, 311 White background plate, 312 Black background plate, 400, 410 Calibration plate, 401 White calibration plate, 402 Black calibration plate, 420 Transport roller, 500, 500A, 500B Image inspection system, 501 Paper feeder, 530 Acquisition unit, 540 Storage unit, 550 Reading control unit, 560 Reading unit, 570 Identification unit, 580 Notification unit, 590 Determination control unit, 601, 602, 603, 604, 701, 702, 703, 704, 705, 901, 910, 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, 1101, 1102, 1103, 1104, 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304, 1305, 2501, 2511, 4001, 4002, 4003 Patch, 605, 812 Marker, 720 Gradation adjustment patch, 800, 3410, 3420 Real-time adjustment patch, 810, 2610 Real-time gradation patch, 811 Gradation image, 820, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904 Color registration measurement patch, 830 Toner consumption patch, 840 Section, 850, 2005, 2105, 2115, 2205, 2215, 2300, 2310, 2320, 2401, 2402, 2403, 2404 Image, 851 Margin, 905 Registration mark, 1010, 1110, 1501 Base image, 1201, 1221, 1402, 1403, 1404, 1801, 1802, 1803, 1804, 1805, 3200, 3210, 3301, 3302, 3303, 3801, 3802 Graph, 1202 Target value, 1203 Density deviation, 1211 Correction graph, 1310 Patch area, 1401 Point, 1601 Relative position, 1701, 1703 Stabilization process, 1702, 1704, 1705 Print process, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2101, 2102, 2103, 2201, 2202, 2203 Optical path, 2010, 2030, 2040 Location, 2020 Streaks, 2110, 2120, 2130, 2210, 2220, 2230 Part, 2311 Pattern, 2321 Ascending order, 2322 Descending order, 2512, 2600, 3310 Area, 2513 Edge blur, 2520, 2530, 2701, 2702, 2703, 2704, 2705, 2800, 2810 Read setting, 2801, 2811 Base, 3201 First gradation range, 3202 Second gradation range, 3203 Third gradation range, 3304 Points, 3811, 3812 Density range, 4101 Printer body, 4102 Pre-patch, 4103 Stopping part, 4110, 4120, 4130 Status, 4200 Table, 4201, 4202, 4203, 4204, 4205 Items, 4301, 4302 Registration lines, 4303 Noise, 4304 Shadow.

Claims (14)

a control unit that controls image formation by an image forming unit based on a read image generated by reading a medium on which a patch is formed by a reading unit;
and a judgment control unit that changes a judgment method for judging the quality of an image formed on a medium based on the medium on which the patch is formed. The image inspection system of claim 1, wherein the change in the judgment method includes at least one of the following: a change in the gradation range used for judgment, a change in the image formation method of the image used for judgment, a change in the judgment criteria, a change in the patch used for judgment, and a change in the number of measurements of the patch used for judgment. The image inspection system according to claim 1, further comprising an identification unit that acquires information about the medium based on the scanned image and identifies the medium. The image inspection system of claim 3, wherein the information about the medium includes at least one of information about the type and characteristics of the medium. An acquisition unit that acquires information regarding the type of the medium,
The image inspection system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit identifies the medium based on the acquisition result of the acquisition unit. The image inspection system according to claim 2, wherein the judgment control unit changes the gradation range used for judgment based on the reading result of reading the medium. The image inspection system of claim 2, wherein the change in the patch used for the judgment includes forming the patch on a white background formed on the medium. The image inspection system according to claim 7, wherein the determination control unit determines whether or not to form a white background based on the analysis results of the medium and the patch. The determination control unit is
Detecting noise present in a background including the medium;
The image inspection system according to claim 2 , further comprising: a determination standard for determining whether the image formed on the medium is good or bad, which is changed based on the detection result. the judgment criterion is a threshold value related to density unevenness,
The image inspection system according to claim 9 , wherein the determination control unit changes the threshold value depending on the intensity of the noise. the determination criterion is a range for detecting the noise,
The image inspection system according to claim 9 , wherein the determination control unit changes a minimum size of a period or a spatial frequency of the noise for detecting the noise. The image inspection system of claim 2, wherein changing the patch used for the determination includes using a specific image included in the user content as a patch. The image inspection system according to claim 12, wherein the judgment control unit controls the contribution rate of the specific image to the judgment result according to the validity of the specific image as the patch. The image inspection system according to claim 1 , wherein the judgment control unit determines the state of the background area used by the reading unit to read the medium based on the reading result of reading an area on the medium where an image is not formed by the image forming unit.

Images