JP5213610B2 - Print density determination system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a printing density determination system that determines the printing density of printing ink containing magnetic powder .

In recent years, in printing of magnetic marks for matching forms, magnetic printing of magnetic portions in magnetic cards, MICR (Magnetic Ink Character Recognition) printing, etc., magnetic printing is performed using printing ink containing a predetermined magnetic powder. Is becoming commonplace. Such magnetic printing is desired to be performed with an appropriate ink amount on the premise that magnetic data is reliably recorded.

Conventionally, various density adjustments for printing in an electrophotographic printer or an image forming apparatus have been proposed. For example, in the following Patent Document 1, in the adjustment of the print density with magnetic powder- containing printing ink when printing MICR characters, based on the correlation between the voltage (control voltage) for controlling the electrostatic latent image potential and the print density. Check the magnetic signal strength of the first MICR character set and printed with the first control voltage, and then check the magnetic signal strength of the second MICR character printed with the second control voltage set Thus, it has been proposed to obtain a control voltage having an optimum magnetic signal intensity.

  On the other hand, although not magnetic printing, the following Patent Document 2 aims to enable appropriate gradation correction by actually outputting a continuous gradation pattern onto a recording medium and measuring density or chromaticity. It has been proposed that a continuous gradation pattern is generated and transferred to a recording medium using toner, and the printing condition is set by sequentially reading the chromaticity of the continuous gradation pattern with a sensor. In Patent Document 3 below, an inspection pattern is formed in an edge margin area on a recording material and its density is detected by a color sensor before adjustment of image forming conditions using the image density measurement pattern. Thus, it has been proposed to detect a density difference from the reference density, determine whether or not the density difference exceeds an allowable value, and adjust the image forming conditions only when the allowable value is exceeded.

JP 2000-056526 A JP 2005-319675 A JP 2006-201613 A

  By the way, especially in magnetic printing, if the printing density is low, recording of magnetic data becomes uncertain, and if the printing density is too high or too high, the amount of ink is wasted. However, the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 has a problem that two or more times of printing, writing and reading of magnetic data must be performed, and the corresponding steps are required. Further, in Patent Document 2, there is a problem that the chromaticity of the transferred gradation pattern must be read for each pattern, and this process and time are required. Even if two black and white patterns are used, it is merely determined whether or not the two patterns are printed appropriately, and it is not possible to determine what density level is obtained by one reading. Further, in Patent Document 3, there is a problem that even if a density difference from the reference density is detected, it is not possible to determine what lightness level is obtained by one reading as described above.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a print density determination system that determines what density level is obtained by one reading for magnetic printing.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the invention of claim 1 is a print density determination system that determines the density at the time of printing magnetic data on which magnetic data can be recorded and erased with printing ink containing magnetic powder. In addition, a single sensor composed of a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit that performs detection for at least lightness, and appropriate recording and erasure of magnetic data in the magnetic printing body are performed on the printed magnetic printing body. A plurality of levels of print density including the print density are classified into a plurality of levels of brightness states based on a detection value of the amount of light received from the sensor, and a threshold value that associates the classified brightness state and the detection value of the sensor with the classification. Is calculated for each of the threshold values based on the density determination table associated with the detected value from the sensor, and the print density for any lightness is calculated by referring to the density determination table. And determining the concentration determining means for determining, a structure having.

According to the present invention, a plurality of print densities including a print density for performing proper recording and erasure of magnetic data on a magnetic printing body are obtained by detecting a received light amount from a single sensor including a light emitting part and a light receiving part. It is provided with a density determination table that is classified according to the brightness state of the stage, and the brightness state thus classified and the threshold value for the detection value of the sensor corresponding to the classification are associated with each other based on the detection value from the sensor. By calculating the size and determining from the density determination table the print density for which lightness, it is possible to determine the density level by reading the sensor once for magnetic printing. It is possible to ensure magnetic data recording and avoid waste of ink amount.

Hereinafter, the best embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a print density determination system according to the present invention. FIG. 1A shows a print density determination system 11 according to the present invention, which includes a print density determination processing unit 12, a sensor 13 is connected to the print density determination processing unit 12, and an input unit 14 and a display unit. 15 are connected as appropriate.

  The print density determination processing unit 12 appropriately includes a control unit 21, a bus 22, an interface (IF) 23, a density determination unit 24, a storage unit 25, and a display control unit 26. The storage unit 25 includes a set threshold 27 and a density determination. A storage area for the table 28 is formed. The control means 21 controls the system in an integrated manner, and a program is stored in a ROM or the like (not shown). The IF 23 is a program or an electronic circuit for ensuring consistency of signal exchange with the sensor 13, the input unit 14, and the display unit 15 to be connected.

  The density determination unit 24 calculates the magnitude of each of a plurality of thresholds described later based on a detection value (light reception amount signal) from the sensor 13, and refers to a density determination table 28 (described later) to This is a program for determining whether the print density corresponds to the lightness of the image. The display control unit 26 is a program or an electronic circuit for displaying the result determined by the concentration determination unit 24 on the display unit 15.

  The setting threshold value 27 stored in the storage unit 25 stores a plurality of threshold values that are set to determine the density level of magnetic printing from the detection value (light reception amount) from the sensor 13 (described in FIG. 2). To do). The setting of the threshold value is performed, for example, when an operator inputs from the input unit 14. The density determination table 28 stored in the storage unit 25 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2, but the detected value (the amount of received light) from the sensor 13 is associated with the brightness range as the brightness state for the density of magnetic printing. Is.

The sensor 13 is provided as a single unit to obtain the lightness of the print density. As shown in FIG. 1B, the sensor 13 includes a light emitting unit 13A and a light receiving unit 13B. The magnetic printing body 32 printed with printing ink containing magnetic powder is irradiated from the light emitting unit 13A, the reflected light is received by the light receiving unit 13B, and the received light amount is used as a detection value signal as a density determination means. 24. The detection value is determined by a voltage value or a current value for driving the sensor 13. The magnetic printing body 32 is for performing proper recording and erasing of magnetic data.

  The above configuration can be realized as, for example, printing control by a computer. In this case, the input unit 14 corresponds to a keyboard and a mouse, and the display corresponds to the display unit A15.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the density determination table of FIG. In FIG. 2A, first, a plurality of stages, for example, six stages of print density including the print density for performing proper recording and erasure of magnetic data on the magnetic printing body 32 are classified according to the lightness state (lightness range). Are stored in the storage unit 25 as the set threshold 27 described above. The lightness range of the print density is associated with the five threshold values A to E, and the appropriate state of the print density for the lightness range is appropriately associated.

  Here, the brightness is a color sense attribute relating to the relative brightness of the surface of the object (magnetic print body 32) and a scale based on the white surface illuminated under the same conditions. The state corresponds to the amount of light received by the sensor 13.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B), for example, from black with a lightness level “0” to white with a lightness level “greater than 2000”, the lightness range “greater than 2000” is determined by a threshold A, 1601 to 2000 ”with threshold values A and B, brightness range“ 1201 to 1600 ”with threshold values B and C, brightness range“ 801 to 1200 ”with threshold values C and D, and brightness range“ 401 to 2000 ”. 800 ”is determined by thresholds D and E, and the brightness range“ 400 or less ”is determined by threshold E.

  Then, the lightness range “over 2000” is “too thin (inappropriate)”, the lightness range “1601 to 2000” is “light (warning)”, the lightness range “1201 to 1600” is “appropriate”, and the lightness range “8011” “1200” is “appropriate”, the brightness range “401 to 800” is “dark (warning)”, and the brightness range “400 or less” is “too dark (inappropriate)”.

  Here, “too light (improper)” means that the print density is inappropriate for storing magnetic data, and “thin (warning)” means that magnetic data can be stored but data reading is uncertain. Is meant to have “Dark (warning)” and “too dark (inappropriate)” mean that the ink amount is wasted. “Appropriate” means a print density at which magnetic data is properly recorded and erased in the magnetic printing body 32 without wasting printing ink. Note that the threshold value C can be omitted because “proper” is the brightness range “1201 to 1600” and “801 to 1200”, but the threshold value is included here to make it equal.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the print density determination process in FIG. When the light reception signal (light reception amount) is input from the sensor 13 (step (S) 1), the density determination means 24 is “too light” when the light reception amount exceeds the threshold A (“N”) (S2). (Improper) "is determined and displayed on the display means 15 (S3). When the received light amount is equal to or less than the threshold A (“Y”) and exceeds the threshold B (“N”) (S4), it is determined as “light (warning)” and displayed on the display means 15 (S5). .

  Subsequently, when the received light amount is equal to or less than the threshold value B ("Y") and exceeds the threshold value C ("N") (S6), it is determined as "appropriate" and displayed on the display means 15 (S7). . When the received light amount is equal to or less than the threshold value C (“Y”) and exceeds the threshold value D (“N”) (S8), it is determined as “appropriate” and displayed on the display means 15 (S9). When the received light amount is equal to or less than the threshold value D (“Y”) and exceeds the threshold value E (“N”) (S10), it is determined as “dark (warning)” and displayed on the display unit 15 (S11). . If the amount of received light is equal to or less than the threshold E (“Y”) (S10), it is determined as “too dark (unsuitable)” and displayed on the display means 15 (S12).

  In the above embodiment, the case where the density appropriate state is determined based on the threshold value from the thinner print density (higher lightness) with respect to the amount of light received from the sensor 13 is shown. However, the print density is high (lightness is low). ) May determine the appropriate density state.

  In this way, it is possible to determine what density level can be determined by one reading by the sensor 13 with respect to the magnetic printing body 32, and as a result, magnetic data recording can be ensured and waste of ink amount can be avoided. It is.

  The print density determination system according to the present invention can be used for printing magnetic marks for matching forms, magnetic printing of magnetic cards, MICR printing, and the like.

1 is a block diagram of a print density determination system according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the density | concentration determination table of FIG. 3 is a flowchart of print density determination processing in FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Print density determination system 12 Print density determination process part 13 Sensor 24 Density determination means 28 Density determination table 32 Magnetic printing body

Claims (1)

A printing density determination system that determines the density when printing magnetic data that can be recorded and erased by printing ink containing magnetic powder ,
A single sensor consisting of a light emitting part and a light receiving part for performing detection for obtaining at least lightness with respect to the printed magnetic print body;
A plurality of stages of print density including print densities for performing proper recording and erasure of magnetic data in the magnetic printing body are classified by a plurality of stages of brightness states based on a detection value of the amount of light received from the sensor, and the classified brightness states And a density determination table in which a threshold value that associates the detection value of the sensor with the classification is associated,
Based on the detection value from the sensor, a density determination unit that calculates the magnitude for each of the threshold values, refers to the density determination table, and determines a print density for which brightness,
A print density determination system comprising:

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