JP5565060B2 - Image forming apparatus and image forming method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and an image forming method, and particularly to a technique for reproducing halftones more stably.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a multifunction machine, an electrophotographic system has been adopted as a process for forming an image on a paper medium. In this electrophotographic system, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a photosensitive member (typically, a photosensitive drum or a photosensitive belt) using an exposure device, and then the electrostatic latent image is developed. An image is created.

  In recent years, higher resolution has been developed for this electrophotographic system. For example, by improving the exposure apparatus, the resolution of the electrostatic latent image is improved from 600 dpi (dot per inch) to 1200 dpi, and a high-definition model can achieve a high resolution of 2400 dpi.

  On the other hand, there is a growing demand for improvement in process stability as well as improvement in resolution. That is, it is said that improvement in resolution and process stability are contradictory, and maintaining the stability while increasing the resolution is an important technical issue. Such process stability affects the halftone finish.

  Therefore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-161013 (Patent Document 1) prevents deterioration of image quality due to environmental fluctuations, deterioration of the density detection sensor, deterioration of the surface of the photoconductor, etc., and always keeps high image quality stable. A possible digital recording device is disclosed. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-328112 (Patent Document 2) discloses a dithering process according to the density state of an image around each pixel constituting a grayscale image, so that the target grayscale image has an uneven density. Even if it exists, the dither processing method which can restore | restore the image with gradation was disclosed.

JP-A-5-161013 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-328112

  Generally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, halftones are reproduced using a halftone method. In this halftone method, a target gradation value is reproduced by controlling a coloring amount (typically, toner adhesion amount) per unit area using a pattern composed of small dots and lines. In the control of the coloring amount per unit area, a plurality of screens respectively associated with a plurality of gradation values are prepared in advance, and the screen is selected according to the density to be reproduced. A general screen is used in which “attachment region” to be colored and “non-attachment region” that should not be colored are regularly arranged at a predetermined period. As the resolution becomes higher, the arrangement interval between the “adhesion area” and the “non-adhesion area” on the screen can be shortened. However, as described above, the stability of the process can be lowered, so the arrangement interval should be shortened. Is subject to restrictions. As a result, although a high-resolution electrostatic latent image can be formed, its application is limited only to the character area, and a screen similar to a conventional low-resolution image forming apparatus is used for the intermediate gradation area. It was the situation.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of reproducing intermediate gradations with higher resolution while maintaining process stability. Is to provide.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a recording sheet by selecting a screen from a plurality of screens respectively corresponding to a plurality of gradation values. Each of the plurality of screens includes a pattern in which a first area composed of pixels to be controlled for toner adhesion and a second area composed of pixels not to be controlled for toner adhesion are defined. The image forming apparatus includes a first screen group in which the first area is enlarged based on the first rule as the gradation value is increased, and an independent second rule in which the first area is different from the first rule as the gradation value is increased. A storage unit that stores a second screen group that is enlarged based on the first screen group, a third screen group in which the second area is enlarged based on the first rule as the gradation value is reduced, values and if smaller than the first threshold value and select the screen than the first screen group, the second screen when the gradation value is rather greater than the first threshold value and not smaller than the second threshold value A screen selection unit that selects a screen from the group and selects a screen from the third screen group when the gradation value is greater than the second threshold value, and an image forming unit that executes image formation using the selected screen Including. When the gradation value is larger than the first threshold value and smaller than the second threshold value, the screen selection unit causes the second screen to expand the first region in a predetermined direction as the gradation value increases. When a screen is selected from the group, and the gradation value reaches the second threshold value, in the line pattern formed by the first region in the screen selected from the second screen group in a predetermined direction as the screen at the time of switching A screen having a width of the second area larger than the distance between the lines that are adjacent first areas is selected from the third screen group, and the second area expands in a predetermined direction as the gradation value decreases. As described above, when a screen is selected from the third screen group and the gradation value reaches the second threshold value, the screen selected from the third screen group in a predetermined direction is used as a screen at the time of switching. Than the width of the second region of, selecting a screen distance is smaller between neighboring a first region line in the line pattern first region is formed from a second screen group.

Preferably, regarding the area ratio that is the ratio of the area occupied by the first area in the unit area, the area ratio of the second screen group is larger than the area ratio of the first screen group at the gradation value of the first threshold value. Ku, in the tone value of the second threshold value, the area ratio of the third screen group has size than the area of the second screen group.

  Alternatively, preferably, the first screen group has a pattern having the same area ratio included in the second screen group when the area ratio, which is the ratio of the area occupied by the first area in the unit area, is relatively low. In comparison, the pattern has a relatively large gradation value.

Preferably, the first screen group has a dot pattern, the second screen group, have a line pattern, a third screen group, the have a white dot pattern.

  Preferably, the first rule includes an increase in dot diameter or an increase in the number of dots according to an increase in gradation value, and a second rule includes an increase in line width or an increase in line number according to an increase in gradation value. Includes an increased number of deployments.

  Preferably, the image forming apparatus includes a density sensor for detecting the density of the result of image formation by the image forming unit, and a generation unit for generating or updating a plurality of screens based on the detection result by the density sensor. In addition.

  More preferably, the generator generates the first screen group based on the result of detecting the result of image formation using the respective screens included in the first screen group according to the reference pattern having a plurality of different gradation values. The tone characteristics of the second screen group are obtained from the result of detecting the result of image formation using the respective screens included in the second screen group by the density sensor according to the reference pattern. Then, based on the gradation characteristics of the first and second screen groups, the first threshold value is determined so that the error with respect to the gradation characteristics corresponding to the reference pattern becomes smaller.

  Alternatively, preferably, the image forming apparatus further includes an updating unit that updates a plurality of screens stored in the storage unit in accordance with image forming conditions of the image forming apparatus.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming a toner image on a recording sheet by selecting the screen from among a plurality of screens corresponding to a plurality of tone values. The image forming apparatus includes a first screen group including a plurality of screens having a line pattern that defines a first area composed of pixels to be controlled for toner adhesion, and a second screen composed of pixels that are not to be controlled for toner adhesion. A storage unit storing a second screen group including a plurality of screens having a white dot pattern that defines an area, and the first screen group so that the first area expands in a predetermined direction as the gradation value increases. select screen, when the gradation value reaches a predetermined threshold, switching the screen to select from the first screen group to the second screen group, as the screen when switching, in a predetermined direction, in the line pattern than the distance between a first region adjacent lines, screen selection for selecting the screen width is greater in the second region of the white dot pattern Comprising a part, an image forming unit that performs image formation using the selected screen.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a recording sheet by selecting a screen from a plurality of screens respectively corresponding to a plurality of gradation values. The image forming apparatus includes a first screen group including a plurality of screens having a line pattern that defines a first area composed of pixels to be controlled for toner adhesion, and a second screen composed of pixels that are not to be controlled for toner adhesion. A storage unit that stores a second screen group including a plurality of screens having a white dot pattern that defines an area, and the second screen group so that the second area expands in a predetermined direction as the gradation value decreases. When a screen is selected and the gradation value reaches a predetermined threshold value, the screen to be selected is switched from the second screen group to the first screen group, and a white dot pattern in a predetermined direction is used as a screen at the time of switching. than the width of the second region of the inner screen election distance between a first region adjacent in the line patterned lines to select a smaller screen Comprising a part, an image forming unit that performs image formation using the selected screen.

  Preferably, the screen selected from the first screen group and the screen selected from the second screen group have substantially the same gradation value before and after the switching.

  Preferably, the screen selection unit rearranges the pixel to be controlled for toner adhesion in the first area with a pixel not to be controlled for toner adhesion in the second area while maintaining the same gradation value before and after the switching. Run.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophotographic image forming method for selecting a screen from a plurality of screens respectively corresponding to a plurality of gradation values and forming a toner image on a recording sheet. Each of the plurality of screens includes a pattern in which a first area composed of pixels to be controlled for toner adhesion and a second area composed of pixels not to be controlled for toner adhesion are defined. The image processing method includes a first screen group in which the first area is enlarged based on the first rule as the gradation value increases, and an independent second rule in which the first area is different from the first rule as the gradation value increases. A step of preparing a second screen group to be enlarged based on the first screen, a third screen group in which the second area is enlarged based on the first rule as the gradation value is reduced, and a gradation value for the unit area of the input image There is the case smaller than the first threshold value and select the screen than the first screen group, the second screen group when the gradation value is rather greater than the first threshold value and not smaller than the second threshold value And selecting a screen from the third screen group when the gradation value is larger than the second threshold value, and executing image formation using the selected screen. In the step of selecting a screen, when the gradation value is larger than the first threshold value and smaller than the second threshold value, the first area is expanded in a predetermined direction as the gradation value increases. When a screen is selected from the second screen group and the gradation value reaches the second threshold value, a first area is formed in the screen selected from the second screen group in a predetermined direction as a screen at the time of switching. A screen having a width of the second area larger than the distance between the lines that are adjacent first areas in the line pattern to be selected is selected from the third screen group, and the second area is set to a predetermined value as the gradation value decreases. When the screen is selected from the third screen group so as to expand in the direction, and the gradation value reaches the second threshold value, the screen at the time of switching is set to the third screen group in the predetermined direction. Than the width of the second area in the selected screen, to select the screen distance is smaller between neighboring a first region line in the line pattern first region is formed from a second screen group.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize an image forming apparatus and an image forming method capable of reproducing intermediate gradations with higher resolution while maintaining process stability.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the arrangement pattern in a dot screen. It is a figure which shows another example of the arrangement pattern in a dot screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the arrangement pattern in a line screen. It is a figure which shows another example of the arrangement pattern in a line screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the arrangement pattern in the composite screen group of a dot screen and a line screen. It is a figure which shows another example of the arrangement pattern in the composite screen group of a dot screen and a line screen. It is the figure which showed typically the condition where the image reproducibility in an electrophotographic system deteriorates. It is the figure which showed typically the condition where the image reproducibility in an electrophotographic system deteriorates. It is a figure which shows an example of the pattern change in the screen set according to Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the hardware constitutions of the control part in the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the control structure in the control part of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the production | generation / update process of a screen set according to Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the gradation characteristic according to a screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a dot screen and a line screen. Fig. 10 shows an example of a screen table held by image forming apparatus MFP according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the pattern change which appears in dot clean. It is a figure which shows an example of the pattern change which appears on a line screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the pattern change which appears on a white dot screen. It is a figure which shows another example of the pattern change which appears in dot clean. It is a figure which shows another example of the pattern change which appears on a line screen. It is a figure which shows another example of the pattern change which appears on a white dot screen. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the image formation process in the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the production | generation procedure of the screen set in the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the switching pattern of the screen according to other embodiment of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the same or corresponding parts in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will not be repeated.

[Embodiment 1]
<Configuration of image forming apparatus>
The present invention can be applied to any apparatus as long as it is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Specifically, the present invention is applied to a copying machine, a laser printer, a facsimile, a multi-function peripheral (Multi Function Peripheral), and the like. The Hereinafter, as a typical example of the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, a multi-function machine equipped with a plurality of functions such as a copying function, a printing function, a facsimile function, and a scanner function will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus MFP according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, image forming apparatus MFP includes an automatic document feeder 2, a scanner 3, a print engine 4, and a paper feeder 5.

  The automatic document transport unit 2 is for performing continuous scanning of a document, and includes a document feed table 21, a delivery roller 22, a registration roller 23, a transport drum 24, and a paper discharge table 25. . The document to be scanned is placed on the document feed table 21 and is sent out one by one by the operation of the delivery roller 22. Then, the fed document is temporarily stopped by the registration roller 23 and the leading edge is adjusted, and then conveyed to the conveyance drum 24. Further, the original rotates integrally with the drum surface of the transport drum 24, and the image surface is scanned by the scanner 3 described later in the process. Thereafter, the document is separated from the drum surface at a position approximately half the circumference of the drum surface of the transport drum 24 and is discharged to the discharge table 25.

  The scanner 3 includes a first mirror unit 31, a second mirror unit 32, an imaging lens 33, an image sensor 34, and a platen glass 35. The first mirror unit 31 includes a light source 311 and a mirror 312, and irradiates light from the light source 311 toward a passing document at a position directly below the transport drum 24. Of the light emitted from the light source 311, the light reflected by the document enters the second mirror unit 32. The second mirror unit 32 includes mirrors 321 and 322 arranged along a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the document. The reflected light from the first mirror unit 31 is sequentially reflected by the mirrors 321 and 322 to form an image. Guided to the lens 33. The imaging lens 33 forms an image of this reflected light on the line-shaped image sensor 34.

  Image forming apparatus MFP can also acquire image information from a document placed on platen glass 35. In this case, the movable light source 351 and the mirror 352 scan the image surface of the document. Along with this scanning, the light provided from the light source 351 is sequentially reflected by the mirrors 353 and 354 disposed along the direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the document and guided to the imaging lens 33.

  The image sensor 34 converts the received reflected light into an electrical signal and outputs it to the control unit 10 described later. The image information of the document acquired by the scanner 3, that is, the electric signal output from the image sensor 34 is subjected to various image processing by the control unit 10.

  The print engine 4 can output a single color as an example of an electrophotographic image forming process. That is, the print engine 4 corresponds to an image forming unit that executes image forming processing. Specifically, the print engine 4 includes a photosensitive drum 41, a charger 42, an image writing unit 43, a developing unit 44, a transfer unit 45, a static eliminator 46, a fixing device 47, and a cleaning unit. 48 and an IDC (Image Density Control) sensor 49. When the start of image formation processing (print processing) is instructed by a user operation or the like, the image writing unit 43 rotates a polygon mirror (not shown) based on image data to be printed, thereby emitting laser light. The laser beam emitted from the device 431 is emitted as main scanning exposure with respect to the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 41. At the same time, sub-scanning is also performed by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 41 itself. Before the laser beam irradiation, a predetermined potential is applied to the photosensitive drum 41 by the charger 42. The photosensitive drum 41 is uniformly charged by this potential. As a configuration for charging the photosensitive drum 41, a corona discharge method may be adopted instead of the roller charging method shown in FIG. In this corona discharge method, the photosensitive drum 41 is charged using a charger that generates a predetermined potential and a grid mesh, blade, brush, or the like that is electrically connected to the charger.

  An electrostatic latent image of a document image is formed on the photosensitive layer of the photosensitive drum 41 by main scanning exposure and sub-scanning exposure. In addition, as an exposure apparatus, it replaces with the structure which controls the laser beam from the laser emitter 431 using a polygon mirror, and light emission of several LED (Light Emitting Diode) arrange | positioned along the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 41 is carried out. You may employ | adopt the structure which controls quantity. Further, as the image carrier, a belt-shaped photosensitive member as described later may be employed instead of the roller-shaped photosensitive drum 41 shown in FIG.

  The developing unit 44 reversely develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 41 to generate a toner image. As an example, the developing unit 44 generates a toner image according to a two-component development method. That is, a two-component developer containing toner and carrier is stored in the developing unit 44, and these toner and carrier become a frictionally charged developer by being stirred by a stirring screw. Then, this developer is supplied to the developing roller by the supply screw. Further, when the developer is transported to a position close to the developing area on the photosensitive drum 41 by the rotation of the developing roller, the potential of the developing roller and the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 41 are reduced. In response to the electric field generated between the potential and the potential, the photosensitive drum 41 moves to the photosensitive drum 41. As a result, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 41 is developed as a toner image. The developing unit 44 may adopt a one-component development method or a hybrid development method instead of the above-described two-component development method.

  In parallel with the operation in the developing unit 44 described above, the feeding rollers 52, 53, and 54 and the manual paper feeding unit 26 corresponding to the paper feeding cassette of the paper feeding unit 5 that stores recording paper are used for image formation. The part corresponding to the recording paper to be operated operates to supply the recording paper. The supplied recording paper is conveyed by the conveying rollers 55 and 56 and the timing roller 51, and is fed to the photosensitive drum 41 so as to be synchronized with the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 41.

  The transfer unit 45 applies a voltage of opposite polarity to the photosensitive drum 41 to transfer the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 41 to a recording sheet. The static eliminator 46 removes the recording paper from which the toner image has been transferred, thereby separating the recording paper from the photosensitive drum 41. Thereafter, the recording paper on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 47. As the transfer device 45, a transfer method using a transfer charger or a transfer belt may be adopted instead of the transfer method using a transfer roller as shown in FIG. Alternatively, instead of the direct transfer method in which the toner image is directly transferred from the photosensitive drum 41 to the recording paper, an intermediate transfer member such as a transfer roller or a transfer belt is disposed between the photosensitive drum 41 and the recording paper. You may make it perform transfer by the process of a step or more.

  The fixing device 47 includes a heating roller 471 and a pressure roller 472. The heating roller 471 heats the recording paper to melt the toner transferred thereon, and the melted toner is fixed on the recording paper by the compression force between the heating roller 471 and the pressure roller 472. The Then, the recording paper is discharged to the tray 57. The fixing device 47 may employ a fixing method using a fixing belt or a non-contact fixing method instead of the fixing method using a fixing roller as shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, in the photosensitive drum 41 from which the recording paper has been separated, after the residual potential is removed, the residual toner is removed and cleaned by the cleaning unit 48. Then, the next image forming process is executed. For example, the cleaning unit 48 removes and cleans residual toner by using a cleaning blade, a cleaning brush, a cleaning roller, or a combination thereof. Alternatively, instead of the cleaning unit 48, a cleanerless system that collects residual toner using the developing unit 44 may be employed.

  The IDC sensor 49 detects the density of the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 41. The IDC sensor 49 is a light intensity sensor typically composed of a reflection type photosensor, and detects the intensity of reflected light from the surface of the photosensitive drum 41. That is, the IDC sensor 49 detects the result of image formation.

<Reproduction processing of intermediate gradation>
Next, intermediate tone reproduction processing in an electrophotographic image forming process will be described. As described above, in the image forming process in the electrophotographic system, the surface of the uniformly charged photoreceptor is exposed according to the image to be reproduced by using a laser beam or the like, thereby electrostatically forming on the photoreceptor. A latent image is formed, and the formed electrostatic latent image is developed as a toner image by a developing unit. That is, in the electrophotographic system, it is only possible to control whether or not a portion is a toner image on the surface of the photoreceptor, and it is not possible to continuously control the coloring amount (that is, the toner adhesion amount) of each portion. . Therefore, the halftone in the electrophotographic method is reproduced by controlling the ratio of the area to which the toner per unit area should be deposited (hereinafter also referred to as “area ratio”) using a halftone method. Is done. That is, halftones are reproduced by controlling the exposure amount per unit area by the exposure apparatus in accordance with an exposure pattern composed of small dots and lines. In general, the exposure apparatus employs a so-called pulse width modulation (PWM) system that controls the on / off time of light used for exposure. Therefore, this pulse is also used in the present embodiment. An example of a configuration using a width modulation type exposure apparatus will be described. In this pulse width modulation method, the ratio of the light emission time is relatively shortened in the portion where the image density is low (low gradation value), and the light emission time is set in the portion where the image density is high (high gradation value). Make the ratio relatively long.

  More specifically, image forming apparatus MFP according to the present embodiment reproduces halftone using so-called screen technology. In this screen technology, a plurality of screens are prepared in advance in association with a plurality of gradation values. A screen is selected from the plurality of screens for each unit area having an intermediate gradation included in the input image, and an exposure pattern on the surface of the photoconductor is controlled according to the selected screen. In other words, image forming apparatus MFP according to the present embodiment forms a toner image on a recording sheet by selecting a screen from a plurality of screens respectively corresponding to a plurality of gradation values. In order to reproduce a photograph or the like with high accuracy, it is necessary to make it possible to reproduce a large number of gradation values. Therefore, a number of screens corresponding to target gradation values are prepared in advance. As such a screen group, a “dot screen” or a “line screen” is generally employed.

  2 and 3 are diagrams showing examples of arrangement patterns on the dot screen, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing examples of arrangement patterns on the line screen. As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 5, each screen should be colored (the first area (toner adhesion area)) that is an area to be colored (to which toner should be adhered) and should not be colored (the toner should be adhered). A binarized pattern defined by a “second area (toner non-adhering area)”. 2 to 5, the first area (toner adhesion area) is represented by “black” and the second area (toner non-adhesion area) is represented by “white”. The same applies to the following drawings. The expression method is adopted.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, each of the plurality of screens includes a first area (or toner adhesion area) composed of pixels to be controlled for toner adhesion and pixels that are not to be controlled for toner adhesion. The second region (or toner non-adhering region) to be processed includes a predetermined pattern. In this specification, the “first region” corresponds to a pixel or a collection of pixels to be controlled for attaching toner, and the “second region” is for other regions, that is, for attaching toner. Corresponds to a pixel or a collection of pixels that are not subject to control.

  In the following description, the first area (or toner adhesion area) is simply referred to as “adhesion area”, and the second area (or toner non-adhesion area) is simply referred to as “non-adhesion area”.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the “dot screen” typically has a pattern in which attached areas are arranged in a matrix and other portions are arranged as non-attached areas. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, on the other hand, the “line screen” has a pattern in which attached areas and non-attached areas extending in a predetermined direction are alternately arranged in a line.

  At this time, in order to reproduce a precise image with little graininess (roughness) in the print result, it is preferable that the spatial frequency is not greatly changed by screen switching. Therefore, when increasing the gradation value of the density to be reproduced on the dot screen, as shown in FIG. 2, a method of additionally arranging other dots around the original dot, or the method shown in FIG. Thus, a method of increasing the number of dots arranged by dispersing is adopted. As described above, the dot screen has a pattern change in which the adhesion region expands according to a predetermined rule (an increase in the dot aggregate or an increase in the number of dispersed dots) as the gradation value increases.

  Further, when increasing the gradation value of the density reproduced on the line screen, as shown in FIG. 4, a method of widening the line width while maintaining the center position of the original line, or FIG. As shown, a method of increasing the number of lines arranged in a distributed manner is employed. As described above, the line screen has a pattern change in which the attached region expands according to a predetermined rule (increase in the line width or increase in the number of dispersed lines) as the gradation value increases.

  Furthermore, a screen group in which the above-described dot screen and line screen are combined may be employed. 6 and 7 are diagrams showing an example of an arrangement pattern in a composite screen group of a dot screen and a line screen.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of a screen group showing a pattern change similar to the dot screen shown in FIG. 2 on the low gradation side, but showing a pattern change similar to the line screen shown in FIG. 4 on the high gradation side. Show. That is, in the screen group shown in FIG. 6, on the low gradation side, the dot diameter gradually increases as the gradation value of the density increases, and after a certain area ratio is exceeded (that is, adjacent dots are joined together). After that, the line width gradually increases as the gradation value becomes higher.

  FIG. 7 illustrates a screen group in which the gradation reproducibility on the high gradation side is improved as compared with the screen group shown in FIG. That is, in the screen group shown in FIG. 7, when the gradation value to be reproduced is relatively low, the dot diameter gradually increases as the gradation value of the density increases, and after a certain area ratio is exceeded, As the gradation value becomes higher, the overall line width gradually increases. Furthermore, when the line width exceeds a predetermined value, only the width of a part of the line is gradually enlarged.

<Image reproducibility in electrophotography>
As described above, the electrophotographic method develops an electrostatic latent image into a toner image, and is not good at reproducing very thin lines or small gaps.

  8 and 9 are diagrams schematically showing a situation where image reproducibility in the electrophotographic system is deteriorated. 8 and 9 schematically show cross-sectional views of the recording paper on which the toner image is fixed, but the size does not necessarily match the actual one.

  Consider a linear toner image having a predetermined width in the main scanning direction or the sub-scanning direction as shown in FIG. When the latent image for forming the toner image has a certain width, the electric field between the latent image and the developing roller is an electric field in a certain direction even when the electric lines of force wrap around due to the edge effect. The toner image is formed with a certain degree of stability. For this reason, stable development can be performed when developing toner having a charge. However, when the width of the latent image is small, there is a tendency that the electric lines of force wrap around the development area due to the edge effect, and the direction of the electric field tends not to be stable. Therefore, it becomes difficult to stably attach the toner to a narrow area. In the fixing, when the toner image has a certain width, the toner is integrated, so that the toner image can be stably fixed on the recording paper. On the other hand, when the toner image is thin, the toner image may not be stably fixed on the recording paper due to toner diffusion or the like. In this case, the line may appear to be “cut” or the line may not be reproduced at all.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a toner image having a gap of a predetermined width (a portion where toner should not exist) in the main scanning direction or the sub-scanning direction is considered. When the gap between the toner images has a certain width, the gap can be maintained even if the toner image is affected by the adjacent toner. On the other hand, when the gap is narrow, the gap may be filled due to diffusion of adjacent toner.

  As described above, in the electrophotographic system, reproducibility may be lowered for a pattern having a narrow width to which toner is attached and a pattern having a narrow width to which toner is not attached. Therefore, it is preferable that the screen group used for the halftone reproduction process as described above is not made as narrow as possible in both the attached region and the non-attached region.

  The screen group shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 described above changes the gradation value to be reproduced by monotonically increasing the area ratio based on the basic shape of dots or lines. Therefore, it can be seen that there is an attached region and / or a non-attached region having a width of one pixel at a certain gradation value.

  In the screen group shown in FIG. 6, the dot diameter is enlarged in the form similar to the dot screen on the low gradation side, and the line width is enlarged in the form similar to the line screen on the high gradation side. Compared with the screens shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, it is possible to suppress degradation of image reproducibility. Further, since the screen shown in FIG. 7 has a shorter length while maintaining the width of the non-attached region on the high gradation side, the image reproducibility on the high gradation side is higher than that of the screen shown in FIG. Deterioration can be suppressed.

<Screen according to this embodiment>
Image forming apparatus MFP according to the present embodiment uses a plurality of screens (hereinafter also referred to as “screen sets”) used for intermediate gradation reproduction processing as compared to the screen group shown in FIG. Alternatively, by avoiding a narrow width of the non-attached area, the intermediate gradation is reproduced with higher stability.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of pattern change in the screen set according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, a screen comparable to the screens shown in FIGS. 2 to 7 is drawn in FIG. 10, but the screen according to the present invention is not limited to this. Absent.

  In the screen group shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, a pattern including a narrow attached region and / or a non-attached region is reduced as compared with the screen group shown in FIGS. If a non-attached region with a narrow interval appears, the non-attached region with a narrow interval may disappear, but the interval between the non-attached regions does not widen.

  For example, in the screen group shown in FIG. 7, adjacent dots are joined together at the stage of changing from a form similar to a dot screen to a form similar to a line screen. That is, in each dot, a line appears as the adhesion region expands toward an adjacent dot located on one side of the dot. Immediately before this line appears, a narrow gap region 202 is formed between adjacent dots. The gap region 202 disappears when adjacent dots are joined. At this time, the width of the non-attached region other than the gap region 202 does not change.

  Moreover, in the screen group shown in FIG. 7, a part of adjacent lines join in the stage which changes from the form similar to a line screen to the form similar to the dot screen about a non-attachment area | region. That is, in each line, a dot for a non-attached region appears by partially expanding the line width toward an adjacent line located on one side of the line. Immediately before the dot for the non-attached area appears, a narrow gap area 204 is formed between adjacent lines. The gap region 204 disappears when an adhesion region that joins adjacent lines extends. At this time, the width of the attached region other than the gap region 204 does not change.

  On the other hand, in the screen set according to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent the generation of the gap regions 202 and 204 as described above without affecting the gradation value of the entire screen. In summary, the screen according to the present embodiment can be set to a non-attachment region at a higher gradation value even if it is a portion set to an attachment region at a certain gradation value. ~ This is very different from the screen shown in FIG. That is, in the screens shown in FIGS. 2 to 7 described above, the portion that is the attachment region at a certain gradation value is always the attachment region at a higher gradation value, but according to the present embodiment. In the screen set, restrictions on the attached area and the non-attached area are relaxed, and a more flexible pattern change is performed.

  More specifically, in the screen shown in FIG. 10, a necessary density change is generated by sequentially switching three screens, a dot screen, a line screen, and a white dot screen. That is, as the target gradation value increases, the pattern 211, the pattern 212, the pattern 213, the pattern 214, the pattern 215, the pattern 216, the pattern 217, and the pattern 218 change in this order. Among these, the patterns 211 and 212 are “dot patterns”, the patterns 213, 214 and 215 are “line patterns”, and the patterns 216 and 217 are “white dot patterns”.

  In the present specification, the “dot screen” means a pattern in which attached regions are arranged in a matrix and other portions are non-attached regions as described above. This dot screen has a pattern change in which the adhesion region expands according to a predetermined rule (enlargement of the dot diameter or increase in the number of dots) as the gradation value increases. A pattern included in each screen included in the “dot screen” is also referred to as a “dot pattern”.

  In addition, the “line screen” means a pattern in which attached regions and non-attached regions extending in a predetermined direction are alternately arranged in a line as described above. In this line screen, as the gradation value increases, the pattern changes in which the adhesion area expands according to another predetermined rule (enlargement of line width or increase in the number of lines arranged) that is independent of the rule on the dot screen. Have A pattern included in each screen included in the “line screen” is also referred to as a “line pattern”.

  Further, the “white dot screen” means a pattern in which non-attached areas are arranged in a matrix and other portions are attached areas. This white dot screen has a pattern change in which a non-attached area is enlarged according to a predetermined rule (an increase in the dot diameter or an increase in the number of dots) as the gradation value decreases. A pattern included in each screen included in the “white dot screen” is also referred to as a “white dot pattern”.

  In FIG. 10, when switching from a dot pattern (pattern 212) to a line pattern (pattern 213) with a specific gradation value in accordance with a change to a higher gradation value, the dots shown in the pattern 212 are arranged in one direction. A line is not generated by enlarging only to the area, but a part (area 205) included in the dot is changed from the attached area to the non-attached area, and a part of the dot is enlarged in the direction of the adjacent dot (area 206). In other words, the gradation value to be expressed is increased by moving the adhesion region of the region 205 constituting the dot pattern to the region 206. It should be noted that the area ratio is constant between the pattern 212 and the pattern 213 because the expressed density differs depending on the screen type (difference between the dot pattern and the line pattern). . That is, even if the area ratio is the same, depending on the value, one of the screens (in this example, the line pattern) may be reproduced as a higher density.

  In this way, by rearranging the attached area when switching from the dot pattern to the line pattern, the occurrence of the gap area 202 shown in FIG. 7 can be suppressed, and the line width of the non-attached area after switching to the line pattern can be reduced. Can be wider.

  In addition, when the line pattern (pattern 215) is switched to the white dot pattern (pattern 216) due to a change to a higher density, a part of the line shown in the pattern 215 is enlarged only in one direction. Instead of generating white dots, a part (area 207) included in the line is changed from the attached area to the non-attached area, and a part of the line is enlarged in the direction of the adjacent line (area 208). . In other words, the gradation value to be reproduced is increased by moving the adhesion region of the region 207 constituting the line pattern to the region 208. Note that the area ratio is constant between the pattern 215 and the pattern 216, but also in this case, the gradation value reproduced as described above is the screen type (the line pattern and the white dot pattern). This is because it differs depending on the difference. In this way, when the line pattern is switched to the white dot pattern, the adhesion area is rearranged, so that the generation of the gap area 204 shown in FIG. 7 can be suppressed, and the white dot itself has a size of 2 squares × 2 squares. Can be maintained. The width of the white dots is wider than the width of the non-attached area shown in FIG.

  In other words, image forming apparatus MFP according to the present embodiment has a first screen group (typically a series as described above) in which the first area (toner adhesion area) expands based on the first rule as the gradation value increases. Dot screen) and a second screen group (typically a series as described above) in which the first area (toner adhesion area) expands based on an independent second rule different from the first rule as the gradation value increases. Line screen). For the unit area of the input image, the gradation value to be reproduced is the first threshold value (the intermediate value between the gradation value reproduced by the pattern 212 shown in FIG. 10 and the gradation value reproduced by the pattern 213). If the gradation value is larger than the first threshold value, the screen is selected from the second screen group.

  As described above, image forming apparatus MFP has a third screen group in which the second area (toner non-adhering area) decreases based on an independent third rule different from the first and second rules as the gradation value decreases. It is preferable to further hold (typically a series of white dot screens as described above). At this time, for the unit area of the input image, the second threshold value (the gradation value reproduced by the pattern 215 shown in FIG. 10 and the gradation reproduced by the pattern 216 are larger than the first threshold value). If it is larger than the intermediate value, a screen is selected from the third screen group.

  In other words, image forming apparatus MFP according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of screens including a plurality of screens having a first pattern that defines a first area (toner adhesion area) composed of pixels to be controlled for toner adhesion. A second screen group (typically a series of dot screens as described above) and a second screen group including a plurality of screens having a second pattern that defines a second region composed of pixels not subject to toner adhesion control ( Typically a series of white dot screens as described above. Then, a screen is selected from the first screen group so as to expand the first region in a predetermined direction as the gradation value to be reproduced increases (for example, the state of the pattern 215 shown in FIG. 10). Further, when the gradation value to be reproduced reaches a predetermined threshold value, the screen selection source is switched from the first screen group to the second screen group. As a screen at the time of switching, a screen in which the width of the second region in the second pattern is larger than the distance between adjacent first regions in the first pattern in a predetermined direction is selected (for example, Pattern 216 shown in FIG.

In other words, image forming apparatus MFP according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of screens having a first pattern that defines a first area (toner adhesion area) composed of pixels targeted for toner adhesion control. A screen having a second pattern that defines a first screen group (typically a series of dot screens as described above) and a second region (toner non-adherent region) composed of pixels that are not subject to toner adhesion control. A plurality of second screen groups (typically a series of white dot screens as described above) are held. Then, a screen is selected from the second screen group (for example, the state of the pattern 216 shown in FIG. 10) so that the second region expands in a predetermined direction as the gradation value decreases, and then the gradation value When a predetermined threshold is reached, the screen selection source is switched from the second screen group to the first screen group. As a screen at the time of switching, a screen having a distance between adjacent first regions in the first pattern smaller than the width of the second region in the second pattern in a predetermined direction is selected (for example, in FIG. 10). The state of the pattern 215 shown).

  When the screen group as described above is adopted, the screen selected from the first screen group (for example, the state of the pattern 212 shown in FIG. 10) and the screen selected from the second screen group (before and after switching) ( For example, it is preferable to have substantially the same gradation value as that of the pattern 213 shown in FIG.

  Further, before and after the switching, it is preferable to execute rearrangement in which the pixel to be controlled for toner adhesion in the first area is replaced with a pixel not to be controlled for toner adhesion in the second area while maintaining the same gradation value. For example, when the state of the pattern 212 and the state of the pattern 213 shown in FIG. 10 are compared, a part of the second region (toner non-adhesion region) is maintained while the number of the first regions (toner adhesion region) is maintained. It can be seen that the area is replaced with one area (toner adhesion area). The same applies to the state of the pattern 215 and the state of the pattern 216 shown in FIG.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, even if a portion is set as an attachment region at a certain concentration, the attachment region and It is possible to avoid the narrowing of the width of the non-attached area and to reproduce the intermediate gradation with higher stability.

  In FIG. 10, the screen switching is illustrated in the order of the dot pattern, the line pattern, and the white dot pattern as the density increases. However, from the viewpoint of further simplifying the switching logic, the dot screen and the line are displayed. You may employ | adopt the structure which switches a screen only between screens.

<Configuration of control unit>
FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing a hardware configuration of control unit 10 in image forming apparatus MFP according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 11, the control unit 10 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 102 that is a processing unit, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 104 that is a storage unit, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 106, an EEPROM (Electrical Erasable and A programmable read only memory (HDD) 108 and a hard disk drive (HDD) 110, and an external communication I / F (Interface) 112 and an internal communication I / F 114 which are communication units are included. These parts are connected to each other via an internal bus 116.

  In control unit 10, CPU 102 controls image forming apparatus MFP by developing a program for executing various processes stored in advance in ROM 106 or the like in RAM 104 or the like and executing the program.

  The RAM 104 is a volatile memory and is used as a work memory. More specifically, the RAM 104 temporarily stores image data to be processed and various variable data in addition to the program itself to be executed. The EEPROM 108 is typically a non-volatile semiconductor memory, and stores various setting values such as the IP address and network domain of the image forming apparatus MFP. The HDD 110 is typically a non-volatile magnetic memory, and stores a print job received from the image processing apparatus, image information acquired by the scanner 3, and the like.

  The external communication I / F 112 typically supports a general-purpose communication protocol such as Ethernet (registered trademark), and provides data communication with the personal computer PC and other image forming apparatuses via the network NW.

  The internal communication I / F 114 is connected to an operation panel or the like, receives a signal corresponding to a user operation on the operation panel, transmits the signal to the CPU 102, and displays a message or the like on the operation panel according to a command from the CPU 102. Send the necessary signals.

<Control structure>
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a control structure in control unit 10 of image forming apparatus MFP according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 12, control unit 10 outputs a command (exposure command) to be given to the exposure apparatus in order to form an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the input image to be printed on photosensitive member (photosensitive drum 41). To do. More specifically, the control unit 10 includes, as its control structure, a preprocessing unit 152, a region separation unit 154, a character processing unit 156, a gradation value determination unit 158, a screen selection unit 160, and a screen storage. Unit 162, command generation unit 166, and screen generation unit 170. The screen storage unit 162 is provided as a predetermined area included in the RAM 103, the EEPROM 107, and the HDD 109 (FIG. 11). Other parts are typically provided by the CPU 101 (FIG. 11) developing a program in the RAM 103 (FIG. 11) and executing each command.

  The preprocessing unit 152 performs preprocessing such as color correction on the input image to be printed. The input image processed by the preprocessing unit 152 is output to the region separation unit 154.

  The region separation unit 154 separates the input image received from the preprocessing unit 152 into a character region and an image region. Basically, the character area is a part that does not need to be reproduced as an intermediate gradation, and the image area is a part that needs to be reproduced as an intermediate gradation. The information on the character region separated by the region separation unit 154 is output to the character processing unit 156, and the information on the image region is output to the gradation value determination unit 158.

  The character processing unit 156 performs processing suitable for the character, such as contour enhancement processing, on the character region information received from the region separation unit 154. Then, the character processing unit 156 outputs the processing result to the command generation unit 166.

  The gradation value determination unit 158 determines the gradation value to be reproduced for each predetermined unit area based on the image area information received from the area separation unit 154. Then, the tone value determination unit 158 outputs the determination result to the screen selection unit 160.

  The screen selection unit 160 sequentially selects screens according to the density to be reproduced based on the determination result received from the gradation value determination unit 158, and maps the type of screen to be used to the image area. More specifically, the screen selection unit 160 refers to the screen set 164 stored in the screen storage unit 162 and determines a screen corresponding to the density to be reproduced. Then, the screen selection unit 160 outputs the mapping result to the command generation unit 166.

  The command generation unit 166 generates an exposure command corresponding to the input image by combining the processing result received from the character processing unit 156 and the mapping result received from the screen selection unit 160. The exposure command is output to the image writing unit 43 (FIG. 1). That is, the image forming process is executed according to the selection result of the screen by this exposure command.

  The screen generation unit 170 generates or updates the screen set 164 stored in the screen storage unit 162 as necessary. That is, since the image forming process changes according to the use environment, use frequency, deterioration state, etc. of image forming apparatus MFP, screen generation unit 170 appropriately generates screen characteristics according to such process change. Or updated. Typically, the screen generation unit 170 appropriately combines the screen group 172 prepared in advance based on the deviation of the actual density gradation characteristics in the toner image or the print output with respect to the target density gradation characteristics. The screen set 164 is determined. The screen set generation / update process will be described in detail below.

<Screen set generation / update processing>
In the image forming apparatus using the screen as shown in FIGS. 2 to 7 described above, the process becomes unstable at a specific area ratio, and the target gradation value may not be reproduced. That is, when the gap areas 202 and 204 (FIGS. 6 and 7) are generated on the screen, ideal image forming processing cannot be performed. Therefore, in such an image forming apparatus, correction is performed using the IDC sensor 49 (FIG. 1) or the like so that the target density can be reproduced at any gradation.

  In image forming apparatus MFP according to the present embodiment, this IDC sensor 49 or the like is used to detect the density or the like of the toner image actually formed by print engine 4, and based on the detection result by this IDC sensor 49, Generate and / or update a screen set that can reproduce the tone values of.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram for describing screen set generation / update processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of gradation characteristics for each screen. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a dot screen and a line screen.

  First, the gradation characteristics for each of the screen groups 172 (dot screen, line screen, white dot screen) prepared in advance are acquired. Specifically, the image forming process is repeatedly executed for the types of screens included in the screen group 172 using a reference pattern having a plurality of different gradation values as shown in FIG. 13A as an input image. The density of each toner image formed by this image forming process is detected by the IDC sensor 49. That is, according to the reference pattern as shown in FIG. 13A, the gradation characteristics of the dot screen are acquired from the result of detecting the density of the image formed by using each pattern included in the dot screen by the IDC sensor 49. Is done. According to the same procedure, according to the reference pattern as shown in FIG. 13A, the line density is determined based on the result of detection by the IDC sensor 49 of the density of the image formed using each pattern included in the line screen and the white dot screen. The gradation characteristics for each of the screen and the white dot screen are acquired.

  1 illustrates a configuration in which the IDC sensor 49 detects the density of the toner image on the photosensitive drum 41, but the density on the recording paper onto which the toner image is transferred may be detected. Further, in an image forming apparatus having an intermediate transfer member (for example, a transfer belt), the density of the toner image on the intermediate transfer member may be detected.

  Actually, an input image may be generated by scanning a document on which a reference pattern as shown in FIG. 13A is printed by the scanner 3 (FIG. 1), or image information shown in FIG. You may directly input the data containing. FIG. 13A shows a so-called gradation pattern in which the density changes continuously, but a so-called patch pattern in which a plurality of patterns having discretely different densities are arranged may be used.

  An example of the gradation characteristic acquired in this way is shown in FIG. In the reference pattern shown in FIG. 13A, since the density change rate in the longitudinal direction is constant, the change rate in the longitudinal direction of the area ratio in the screen is constant. Therefore, FIG. 14 shows the relationship between the area ratio (corresponding to the position of the actually formed toner image) and the actual density (tone value) for each screen. In the gradation characteristic shown in FIG. 14, the deviation between the gradation characteristic (target gradation characteristic) of the reference pattern and the gradation characteristic of each screen corresponds to the amount to be corrected. In other words, the larger the deviation from the gradation characteristics of the reference pattern, the more unstable the process.

  For example, looking at the tone characteristics of a dot screen, the target tone value can be reproduced from a range where the area ratio is relatively small. On the other hand, in terms of the gradation characteristics of the line screen, the gradation value cannot be effectively reproduced until the area ratio becomes large to some extent (the area ratio shown in FIG. 14 is in the range of A or less). Further, in the range of the area ratio from A to B, the line screen shows gradation characteristics more consistent with the reference pattern than the dot screen. Furthermore, when the area ratio is B or more, the line screen tends to deviate from the reference pattern.

  Such a difference in gradation characteristics is caused by a difference in the area ratio at which the process becomes unstable. That is, in the dot screen, as shown in FIG. 15A, black dots can be reproduced even when the area ratio is relatively low. On the other hand, in the line screen, as shown in FIG. 15B, when the area ratio is relatively low, a part of the black line is not reproduced. Lower than the concentration of. That is, when the area ratio is relatively low, the dot screen includes a pattern having a relatively large gradation value as compared with a pattern having the same area ratio included in the line screen.

  In the line screen, as shown in FIG. 15B, when the area ratio is relatively high, a part of the gap between the adjacent black lines is not reproduced, and as a result, the density actually appearing Becomes higher than the target concentration.

  Furthermore, it has been found through experiments conducted by the present inventors that there is a strong correlation between the magnitude of the deviation amount from the gradation characteristics of the reference pattern and the quality of the graininess. More specifically, the sensory values (GI values) obtained by the evaluation method proposed by the applicant were compared for dot screens and line screens for a plurality of types of screen lines. As a result, when the gradation value to be reproduced is relatively low, the dot screen has better granularity, whereas when the gradation value to be reproduced is near the median value, the line screen is better. Was found to have better graininess.

  Therefore, when three types of screens, a dot screen, a line screen, and a white dot screen, can be prepared, as shown in FIG. 13B, a dot pattern, a line pattern, and a white dot pattern are displayed from the low gradation side. It is preferable to use a screen set that switches in this order.

  In addition, when only two types of screens, a dot screen and a line screen, can be prepared, the dot pattern, line pattern, dot pattern order, or dot pattern, line pattern order is switched from the low gradation side. It is preferable to use a simple screen set.

  Referring to FIG. 14 again, in which gradation value the screen to be used is switched is determined based on the magnitude of the deviation from the reference pattern. For example, in FIG. 14, in the range lower than the density La, the deviation from the reference pattern is smaller in the dot screen, but in the range higher than the density La, the deviation from the reference pattern is smaller in the line screen. Similarly, in the range lower than the density Lb, the deviation from the reference pattern is smaller in the line screen, but in the range higher than the density Lb, the deviation from the reference pattern is smaller in the white dot screen. Therefore, the densities La and Lb can be determined as screen switching points. Thus, for each density, the switching point is determined by calculating the deviation in the gradation characteristics of each screen with respect to the reference pattern. That is, the switching point is determined based on the gradation characteristics of each screen so that the error with respect to the gradation characteristics corresponding to the reference pattern becomes smaller.

  In the screen set, it is necessary to make the gradation values before and after switching equal in the gradation values for which the screen type to be used is changed. This is because when there is a gradation difference, when an input image having a gradation change such as gradation is printed, a pseudo contour or the like may occur between areas printed using different screens. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, when switching from the dot screen to the line screen at the density La, the line screen pattern corresponding to the area ratio A2 is used following the dot screen pattern corresponding to the area ratio A1. It is done. Similarly, when the line screen is switched to the white dot screen at the density Lb, the white dot screen pattern corresponding to the area ratio B2 is used following the line screen pattern corresponding to the area ratio B1.

  As described above, in addition to or instead of the configuration in which the screen set is generated / updated based on the density of the toner image or the like actually formed using an IDC sensor or the like, a standard level is previously obtained. A screen set having tonal characteristics is prepared, and the screen set prepared in advance is corrected according to the image forming conditions such as the use environment, use frequency, deterioration state, and process setting conditions of the image forming apparatus MFP. May be. According to such a configuration, it is not necessary to detect the density of the actually formed toner image, so that the productivity of the image forming apparatus MFP can be improved.

<Data structure of screen set>
Next, an example of a data structure for performing the above-described screen set generation / update processing will be described. FIG. 16 shows an example of a screen table held by image forming apparatus MFP according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 17 to 19 are diagrams showing examples of pattern changes appearing on the respective screens. 20 to 22 are diagrams showing another example of the pattern change appearing on each screen.

  As shown in FIG. 16, image forming apparatus MFP according to the present embodiment holds screen tables 181, 182 and 183 as part of screen group 172 (FIG. 12). The screen tables 181, 182, and 183 describe information for reproducing target gradation values using a dot screen, a line screen, and a white dot screen, respectively. Prior to the description of information described in these screen tables, the data structure of the screen according to the present embodiment will be described.

  As described above, in order to reproduce the intermediate gradation using the screen technology, it is necessary to prepare a plurality of screens corresponding to the reproducible gradation. A series of screen groups may be prepared individually according to each gradation, but from the viewpoint of suppressing storage capacity and improving maintainability, numbering the elements constituting the screen, A screen group is provided by specifying a number as to whether or not to enable.

  For example, FIGS. 17 to 19 show an example in which four screens constituting one unit are arranged in a square of 8 squares × 8 squares. FIG. 17 shows an example of a dot screen, FIG. 18 shows an example of a line screen, and FIG. 19 shows an example of a white dot screen. In the screens shown in FIGS. 17 to 19, the angle (screen angle) and the number of lines (number of screen lines) are all matched. In this specification, the angle of the screen means the arrangement direction of attached regions (or non-attached regions) in each pattern, and in the examples shown in FIGS. Further, in this specification, the number of screen lines means the number of unit screens per unit length, and in the examples shown in FIGS. 17 to 19, the reciprocal of the screen interval is the number of lines. In general, the number of screen lines is defined using a unit such as “lpi: line per inch”.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 17A to 17F, numbers “0” to “63” are uniquely assigned to a total of 64 squares of 8 squares × 8 squares. In the screen table 181 (FIG. 16), the “validation number” indicates which numbered square should be “black” (attachment area) in association with each target gradation value. Is defined. For example, if “0” is set in the “validation number”, a dot screen as shown in FIG. 17A is output. Similarly, if “2” is set in the “validation number”, a dot screen as shown in FIG. 17B is output. Similarly, as the validation number increases, the “dot” centered on the square to which “0” is assigned increases, that is, the dot diameter increases.

  Similarly, in the screen table 182 (FIG. 16), changes in the line screen shown in FIGS. 18 (A) to 18 (F) are defined. In this line screen, the larger the activation number, the thicker the “line” that passes through the square to which “0” is assigned, that is, the line width increases.

  Similarly, in the screen table 183 (FIG. 16), changes in the white dot screen shown in FIGS. 19A to 19F are defined. In this white dot screen, the larger the activation number, the thicker “white dots” centered on the square to which “0” is assigned, that is, the dot diameter increases.

  20 to 22 show examples of screens having an oblique angle with respect to the paper surface. In the dot screen shown in FIG. 20, as in the dot screen shown in FIG. 17, as the activation number increases, the “dot” centered on the square to which “0” is assigned becomes thick, that is, the dot diameter increases. Become. In the line screen shown in FIG. 21, as in the line screen shown in FIG. 18, the “line” passing through the square to which “0” is assigned becomes thicker as the activation number increases, that is, the line width increases. Become. In the white dot screen shown in FIG. 22, as in the dot screen shown in FIG. 19, as the activation number increases, the “white dot” centered on the square to which “0” is assigned becomes thicker. That is, the dot diameter increases.

  Referring to FIG. 16 again, each of the screen tables 181, 182 and 183 defines a target gradation value and an activation number associated with each gradation value. This defined content corresponds to an inverse function of the gradation characteristic of the screen shown in FIG. That is, in each of the screen tables 181, 182 and 183, the area ratio corresponding to each gradation value (vertical axis) is substantially defined in the gradation characteristics of the screen shown in FIG. Therefore, in each of the screen tables 181, 182 and 183, there are portions where the activation numbers are discretely changed with respect to continuously changing gradation values.

  In screen table 184, information for defining a screen set according to the present embodiment is described. Specifically, when a screen switching point is acquired by the screen set generation / update processing as described above, a portion corresponding to the switching point in the information described in the screen tables 181, 182, and 183. Only are extracted and integrated as a screen table 184. Similar to the screen tables 181, 182, and 183, the screen table 184 defines gradation values and corresponding activation numbers, and also defines a “type” that is information about which screen is used. The In the example shown in FIG. 16, the type “0” means “dot pattern”, the type “1” means “line pattern”, and the type “2” means “white dot pattern”. As described above, in the screen set, the screen is switched in the order of the dot pattern, the line pattern, and the white dot pattern from the low gradation side. Therefore, in the screen table 184, the type is “0” from the low gradation side. It changes in the order of “1” and “2”.

  Thus, in image forming apparatus MFP according to the present embodiment, screen table 184 is generated from screen tables 181, 182, and 183 prepared in advance, so that the screen set is dynamically corrected according to process variations. be able to.

<Processing procedure>
FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a procedure of image forming processing in image forming apparatus MFP according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a screen set generation procedure in image forming apparatus MFP according to the first embodiment of the present invention. These flowcharts are typically provided by the CPU 102 (FIG. 11) of the control unit 10 reading and executing a prestored program.

  Referring to FIG. 23, first, CPU 102 determines whether or not an instruction to start an image forming process has been issued (step S100). If the start of the image forming process is not instructed (NO in step S100), CPU 102 repeats the process of step S100.

  When the start of the image forming process is instructed (YES in step S100), CPU 102 accepts the input image (step S102). Specifically, the CPU 102 gives a control command to the scanner 3 (FIG. 1) and causes the document to be scanned. Alternatively, the CPU 102 reads designated image data from the HDD 110 or the like.

  Subsequently, the CPU 102 performs preprocessing on the received input image (step S104), and further separates the input image after the preprocessing into a character area and an image area (step S106). Thereafter, the CPU 102 performs necessary processing on the character area separated in step S106 (step S108).

  In parallel, the CPU 102 determines a gradation value to be reproduced for each predetermined unit area for the image area separated in step S106 (step S110), and based on the determination result, determines a screen to be used for each unit area. Select (step S112).

  Finally, the CPU 102 generates an exposure command corresponding to the input image based on the processing result output in step S108 and the screen selected in step S112 (step S114), and the generated exposure command is displayed. It outputs to the image writing part 43 (step S116). Then, the print engine 4 executes an image forming process based on the exposure command. Then, the process ends.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 24, generation processing of a screen set used by image forming apparatus MFP according to the present embodiment will be described.

  First, the CPU 102 determines whether or not an instruction to start a screen set generation process has been given (step S200). When the start of the screen set generation process is not instructed (NO in step S200), CPU 102 repeats the process of step S200.

  If the start of the screen set generation process is instructed (YES in step S200), CPU 102 accepts a reference pattern having a predetermined gradation change as an input image (step S202). Subsequently, the CPU 102 generates an exposure command for reproducing the received input image using only the dot screen included in the screen group 172 (step S204), and outputs the generated exposure command to the image writing unit 43. (Step S206). Then, the print engine 4 executes an image forming process based on the exposure command. Then, the CPU 102 acquires the density profile of the toner image formed in the print engine 4 from the IDC sensor 49 (step S208). That is, the CPU 102 acquires the gradation characteristics for the dot screen.

  Further, the CPU 102 generates an exposure command for reproducing the received input image using only the line screen included in the screen group 172 (step S210), and outputs the generated exposure command to the image writing unit 43. (Step S212). Then, the print engine 4 executes an image forming process based on the exposure command. Then, the CPU 102 acquires the density profile of the toner image formed in the print engine 4 from the IDC sensor 49 (step S214). That is, the CPU 102 acquires the tone characteristics for the line screen.

  Further, the CPU 102 generates an exposure command for reproducing the received input image using only the white dot screen included in the screen group 172 (step S216), and sends the generated exposure command to the image writing unit 43. Output (step S218). Then, the print engine 4 executes an image forming process based on the exposure command. Then, the CPU 102 acquires the density profile of the toner image formed in the print engine 4 from the IDC sensor 49 (step S220). That is, the CPU 102 acquires the gradation characteristics for the white dot screen.

  Thereafter, the CPU 102 calculates a deviation profile with respect to the reference pattern for the gradation characteristics acquired in steps S208, S214, and S220, respectively (step S222), and determines a switching point based on the calculated deviation profile (step S222). S224). Further, the CPU 102 extracts necessary contents from the definition contents of the screen tables 181, 182 and 183 (FIG. 16) based on the switching point determined in step S224, and defines a screen set. 184 is generated (step S226). Then, the process ends.

<Effect>
According to the first embodiment of the present invention, a screen set is used which avoids a pattern that reduces the reproducibility in an electrophotographic system, such as a pattern with a narrow width to which toner is adhered and a pattern with a narrow width to which toner is not adhered. Intermediate gradation is reproduced. Therefore, the intermediate gradation can be reproduced stably. At the same time, according to the gradation value to be reproduced, a screen set is configured by selectively combining a plurality of types of screens with a more stable process. Therefore, it is possible to improve the graininess in the print result.

  Further, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, image formation such as the density detection result of the actually formed toner image and / or the use environment, use frequency, deterioration state, process setting condition, etc. of image forming apparatus MFP. Since the screen set is dynamically generated and / or updated according to the conditions, stable halftone reproduction processing can be realized even when the process varies due to various factors.

[Other embodiments]
In each of the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the configuration in which the necessary density change is generated by sequentially switching the three screens (dot screen, line screen, and white dot screen) is illustrated. However, the necessary density change may be generated by sequentially switching the two screens. Typically, a dot screen is used for a portion where the density to be reproduced is low (low gradation value) and a portion where the density to be reproduced is high (high gradation value), and other intermediate densities (intermediate gradation) are used. A line screen may be used for the part.

  As shown in FIG. 14 described above, in the region where the area ratio is relatively low and in the region where the area ratio is relatively high, the dot screen gradation characteristic has a smaller deviation from the reference pattern than the line screen gradation characteristic. On the other hand, in the area with an intermediate area ratio, the deviation of the line screen gradation characteristics from the reference pattern is smaller than the gradation characteristics of the dot screen. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 25, it is preferable to switch the screen to be used in the order of dot screen → line screen → dot screen as the density to be reproduced changes from a low value to a high value.

  Alternatively, a screen set may be generated using a line screen and a white dot screen. Alternatively, a screen set may be generated using a dot screen and a white dot screen.

  Part or all of the functions realized by the programs according to the above-described embodiments may be configured by dedicated hardware.

  Further, the program executed by the CPU according to the above-described embodiment is processed by calling a required module at a predetermined timing in a predetermined arrangement among program modules provided as a part of a computer operating system (OS). May be executed. In that case, the program itself does not include the module, and the process is executed in cooperation with the OS. Therefore, a program that does not include such a module can also be included in the program according to the present invention.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  2 Automatic Document Feeder, 3 Scanner, 4 Print Engine, 5 Paper Feeder, 10 Control Unit, 21 Document Feeder, 22 Feeding Roller, 23 Registration Roller, 24 Carrying Drum, 25 Paper Ejector, 26 Manual Feed , 27 Transfer belt, 31, 32 Mirror unit, 33 Imaging lens, 34 Image sensor, 35 Platen glass, 41 Photoreceptor drum, 42 Charging device, 43 Image writing unit, 44 Developing unit, 45 Transfer device, 46 Electrical equipment, 47 fixing device, 48 cleaning unit, 49 IDC sensor, 51 timing roller, 52, 53, 54 delivery roller, 55 transport roller, 57 tray, 102 CPU, 104 RAM, 106 ROM, 108 EEPROM, 110 HDD, 112 external Communication I / F, 114 Internal communication I / F, 116 Internal bus, 152 Previous Processing unit, 154 area separation unit, 156 character processing unit, 158 gradation value determination unit, 160 screen selection unit, 162 screen storage unit, 164 screen set, 166 command generation unit, 170 screen generation unit, 172 screen group, 176 colors Separator, 181, 182, 183, 184 Screen table, 311, 351 Light source, 312, 321, 352, 353 Mirror, 431 Laser emitter, 471 Heating roller, 472 Pressure roller, MFP Image forming apparatus.

Claims (13)

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a recording sheet by selecting a screen from a plurality of screens respectively corresponding to a plurality of gradation values, wherein each of the plurality of screens is attached with toner. Including a pattern in which a first region composed of pixels to be controlled and a second region composed of pixels not to be controlled for toner adhesion are defined,
A first screen group in which the first area expands based on the first rule according to an increase in gradation value, and the first area expands based on an independent second rule different from the first rule in accordance with an increase in gradation value. A storage unit that stores a second screen group and a third screen group in which the second area expands based on the first rule as the gradation value decreases ;
Unit area of the input image to, when the gradation value is smaller than the first threshold value and select the screen than the first screen group, the gradation value is rather greater than the first threshold value, and the second If not smaller than the threshold value to select the screen from the second screen group, and the screen selection unit for selecting a screen from the third screen group when the gradation value is greater than the second threshold value,
An image forming unit that performs image formation using the selected screen ,
When the gradation value is larger than the first threshold value and smaller than the second threshold value, the screen selection unit causes the first region to expand in a predetermined direction as the gradation value increases. When the screen is selected from the second screen group and the gradation value reaches the second threshold value, the screen selected from the second screen group in the predetermined direction is used as the switching screen when the screen is selected. A screen having a width of the second region larger than the distance between adjacent lines of the first region in the line pattern formed by the first region is selected from the third screen group to reduce the gradation value. Accordingly, a screen is selected from the third screen group so that the second area expands in the predetermined direction, and when the gradation value reaches the second threshold value, a screen at the time of switching is selected. In the predetermined direction, the width between the adjacent first regions in the line pattern formed by the first region is larger than the width of the second region on the screen selected from the third screen group. distance smaller screen you selected from the second screen group, the image forming apparatus. Regarding the area ratio that is the ratio of the area occupied by the first area in the unit area, the area ratio of the second screen group is greater than the area ratio of the first screen group in the gradation value of the first threshold value. also rather large, the the tone value of the second threshold value, the area ratio of the third screen group have greater than the area ratio of the second screen group, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The first screen group is compared with a pattern having the same area ratio included in the second screen group when an area ratio that is a ratio of an area occupied by the first area in the unit area is relatively low. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a pattern having a relatively large gradation value. The first screen group has a dot pattern;
The second screen group, have a line pattern,
The third screen group, the have a white dot pattern, the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The first rule includes an increase in dot diameter or an increase in the number of dots according to an increase in gradation value,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second rule includes an increase in line width or an increase in the number of lines arranged in accordance with an increase in gradation value. A density sensor for detecting the density of the result of image formation by the imaging unit;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a generation unit that generates or updates the plurality of screens based on a detection result by the density sensor. The generator is
Gradation characteristics of the first screen group based on the result of detection by the density sensor of the result of image formation using each screen included in the first screen group according to a reference pattern having a plurality of different gradation values. Get
In accordance with the reference pattern, a gradation characteristic for the second screen group is obtained from a result of detection by the density sensor of a result of image formation using each screen included in the second screen group,
The first threshold value is determined based on the gradation characteristics of the first and second screen groups so that an error with respect to the gradation characteristics corresponding to the reference pattern becomes smaller. Image forming apparatus.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an updating unit that updates the plurality of screens stored in the storage unit in accordance with an image forming condition of the image forming apparatus. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a recording sheet by selecting a screen from a plurality of screens respectively corresponding to a plurality of gradation values,
A first screen group including a plurality of screens having a line pattern that defines a first area composed of pixels that are subject to toner adhesion control, and a white dot that defines a second area composed of pixels that are not subject to toner adhesion control A storage unit for storing a second screen group including a plurality of screens having a pattern;
A screen is selected from the first screen group so that the first area expands in a predetermined direction as the gradation value increases, and a screen to be selected when the gradation value reaches a predetermined threshold value is selected. Switching from the first screen group to the second screen group, and as a screen at the time of switching, the white dots in the predetermined direction are more than the distance between the lines that are the adjacent first regions in the line pattern. A screen selection unit for selecting a screen having a large width of the second region in the pattern;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that performs image formation using a selected screen. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a recording sheet by selecting a screen from a plurality of screens respectively corresponding to a plurality of gradation values,
A first screen group including a plurality of screens having a line pattern that defines a first area composed of pixels that are subject to toner adhesion control, and a white dot that defines a second area composed of pixels that are not subject to toner adhesion control A storage unit for storing a second screen group including a plurality of screens having a pattern;
A screen is selected from the second screen group so that the second area expands in a predetermined direction as the gradation value decreases, and the screen to be selected when the gradation value reaches a predetermined threshold value is selected. Switching from the second screen group to the first screen group, and as a screen at the time of switching, in the predetermined direction, the adjacent in the line pattern in the line pattern rather than the width of the second area in the white dot pattern A screen selection unit for selecting a screen having a small distance between lines as the first region;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit that performs image formation using a selected screen. The image formation according to claim 9 or 10 , wherein the screen selected from the first screen group and the screen selected from the second screen group have substantially the same gradation value before and after the switching. apparatus. The screen selection unit rearranges the pixel to be controlled for toner adhesion in the first area with a pixel not to be controlled for toner adhesion in the second area while maintaining the same gradation value before and after the switching. run, the image forming apparatus according to claim 9 or 10. An electrophotographic image forming method for selecting a screen from a plurality of screens respectively corresponding to a plurality of gradation values and forming a toner image on a recording sheet, wherein each of the plurality of screens is attached with toner. Including a pattern in which a first region composed of pixels to be controlled and a second region composed of pixels not to be controlled for toner adhesion are defined,
A first screen group in which the first area expands based on the first rule according to an increase in gradation value, and the first area expands based on an independent second rule different from the first rule in accordance with an increase in gradation value. Preparing a second screen group and a third screen group in which the second area expands based on the first rule as the gradation value decreases ;
Unit area of the input image to, when the gradation value is smaller than the first threshold value and select the screen than the first screen group, the gradation value is rather greater than the first threshold value, and the second a step if not smaller than the threshold value to select the screen from the second screen group, selecting a screen from the third screen group when the gradation value is greater than the second threshold value,
Performing image formation using the selected screen ,
In the step of selecting the screen, when the gradation value is larger than the first threshold value and smaller than the second threshold value, the first area expands in a predetermined direction as the gradation value increases. When the screen is selected from the second screen group and the gradation value reaches the second threshold value, the screen selected from the second screen group in the predetermined direction is used as the screen at the time of switching. In the line pattern formed by the first region, a screen having a width of the second region larger than the distance between adjacent lines of the first region is selected from the third screen group, and a gradation value of A screen is selected from the third screen group so that the second area expands in the predetermined direction with a decrease, and when the gradation value reaches the second threshold value, As a clean line, in the predetermined direction, a line that is adjacent to the first region in the line pattern formed by the first region, rather than the width of the second region on the screen selected from the third screen group. the screen distance is smaller between you selected from the second screen group, the image forming method.