JP6024380B2 - Image forming apparatus and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a program.

  There is a technique for correcting a positional deviation of ink ejected from a recording head such as an ink jet printer. Patent Document 1 discloses an image recording that can perform image recording with reduced image quality at high speed by detecting and correcting in real time a positional deviation in the main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction that occurs during image recording. An apparatus is disclosed.

JP 2011-31497 A

  One of the objects of the present invention is that a partial image included in a target image to be formed on a recording medium has a distance between dots formed on the recording medium by different recording heads within a given range. The object image is formed on the recording medium after being arranged in the area.

  The invention according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus, wherein the positions of dots formed on the recording medium by the first recording head at a plurality of positions along the conveyance direction of the recording medium, and the second The distance between the dots formed on the rear side of the direction in which the recording medium is transported on the line along the transport direction of the recording medium that passes through the dot by the recording head A specific result acquisition unit that acquires a result, a target image acquisition unit that acquires a target image to be formed on a recording medium, and a partial image included in the target image is given a distance represented by the specific result. And a control means for controlling the first recording head and the second recording head to form an image after changing the position so as to be arranged at a position in the recording medium within the range of Also It is.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the control unit determines that the partial image specified from among the plurality of partial images included in the target image is the specified result. Is changed so that the distance represented by is within a given range, and is controlled so that an image is formed by the first recording head and the second recording head. It is what.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the specific result acquisition unit is configured such that the droplet of the size is the first for each of a plurality of different sizes. The specific result when ejected from one recording head and the second recording head is acquired, and the control unit is configured to detect the partial image when the partial image is formed on the recording medium. The distance represented by the specific result regarding the size of the liquid droplets ejected from the recording head and the second recording head is changed so as to be arranged at a position in the recording medium within a given range. The first recording head and the second recording head are controlled so as to form an image.

  The invention according to claim 4 is a program, in which the positions of dots formed on the recording medium by the first recording head at a plurality of positions along the conveyance direction of the recording medium, and the second recording The result of specifying the distance between the head and the dot formed at the rear position with respect to the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed on the line along the conveyance direction of the recording medium passing through the dot. Specific result acquisition means for acquiring, target image acquisition means for acquiring a target image to be formed on a recording medium, and a partial image included in the target image has a distance represented by the specific result within a given range The computer functions as control means for controlling the first recording head and the second recording head to form an image after changing the position so as to be arranged at a position in the recording medium. It is obtained by the Rukoto.

  According to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, the partial image included in the target image to be formed on the recording medium has a given distance between dots formed on the recording medium by different recording heads. The target image is formed on the recording medium after being arranged in the area within the range.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the partial image designated from among the plurality of partial images is an area in which the distance between dots formed on the recording medium by different recording heads is within a given range. After being arranged, the target image is formed on the recording medium.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, the distance between dots formed by droplets having a size that is ejected when the partial image is formed on a recording medium from different recording heads is determined. A target image is formed on a recording medium after being arranged in a region within a given range.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions realized by an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of an arrangement of recording heads. It is a figure which shows an example of a chart. It is the figure which expressed an example of the distance data between dots by the graph. It is a figure which shows an example of a target image. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of processing performed by the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of functions realized by the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment functionally includes, for example, an alignment chart print output unit 12, a specific result generation unit 14, a specific result acquisition unit 16, a target image acquisition unit 18, and a target. An image print output unit 20 and a target image update unit 22 are included.

  The image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is, for example, an inkjet printer, and includes a control unit that is a program control device such as a CPU that operates according to a program installed in the image forming apparatus 10, a storage element such as a ROM and a RAM, and the like. It includes a storage unit, a communication unit such as a network board connected to communication means such as a local area network (LAN), a printing unit for printing out a recording medium, and the like. The function of each unit shown in FIG. 1 is executed by the control unit of the image forming apparatus 10 including a command that is installed in the image forming apparatus 10 that is a computer and that includes a command corresponding to the function of each unit shown in FIG. It is realized by. This program is supplied to the image forming apparatus 10 via a computer-readable information storage medium such as an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a magnetic tape, a magneto-optical disk, or a flash memory, or via communication means such as the Internet. .

  The image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment communicates with an information processing terminal such as a personal computer connected to a communication unit such as a local area network (LAN), a scanner, or the like via a communication unit. It has become.

  The printing unit according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a paper feed tray, a pickup roll, a conveyance path, a registration roll, a conveyance belt, a recording head unit, a paper discharge roll, an ink tank unit, and the like. A recording medium (for example, paper) is loaded on the paper feed tray. The pickup roll takes out the recording medium loaded on the paper feed tray. The recording medium taken out by the pickup roll is sent out to a conveyance path constituted by a plurality of pairs of rollers. Then, the recording medium reaches the registration roll via the conveyance path. When the leading edge of the recording medium comes into contact with the registration roll, the direction of the paper becomes parallel to the conveyance path. Thereafter, the registration roll starts to rotate, and the recording medium is sent to the conveyance belt.

  A recording head unit is disposed above the conveyance belt so as to face the flat portion of the conveyance belt. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the recording head unit includes a plurality of recording heads 30 whose longitudinal direction is the direction orthogonal to the carrying-out direction of the recording medium.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of the arrangement of the plurality of recording heads 30. In FIG. 2, the arrangement of the plurality of recording heads 30 is shown so that the recording medium is conveyed upward. In the present embodiment, ten recording heads 30y that discharge Y (yellow) ink are arranged at the head in the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed. Ten recording heads 30m that eject M (magenta) ink are arranged behind the recording head 30y in the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed. Ten recording heads 30c that eject C (cyan) ink are arranged on the rear side of the recording head 30m with respect to the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed. Ten recording heads 30k that discharge K (black) ink are arranged on the rear side of the recording head 30c with respect to the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed. With the ink ejected from these recording heads 30, the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment performs full color printing on the recording medium.

  Here, the arrangement of the ten recording heads 30y will be described. Three S1 heads 30-1 that form an odd-numbered dot group from the head in the direction in which the recording medium is transported in the area in which an image is formed on the recording medium at the head in the direction in which the recording medium is transported Are arranged side by side along a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium. Each of the three S1 heads 30-1 has a head in the direction in which the recording medium is transported in the area where the image is formed on the recording medium on the rear side with respect to the direction in which the recording medium is transported. The three S2 heads 30-2 that form even-numbered dot groups are arranged side by side along a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium. Then, on the rear side of the three S2 heads 30-2 with respect to the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed, a range in which no image is formed by the three S1 heads 30-1 is filled with 2 The S1 heads 30-1 are arranged side by side along a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium. Then, the two S2 heads 30-2 are arranged along the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording medium on the rear side of each of the two S1 heads 30-1 with respect to the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed. Is arranged in. As described above, in the present embodiment, the S2 head 30-2 forms dots adjacent to the dots formed by the S1 head 30-1 along the conveyance direction of the recording medium.

  The arrangement of the ten recording heads 30m, the arrangement of the ten recording heads 30c, and the arrangement of the ten recording heads 30k are the same as the arrangement of the ten recording heads 30y.

  Each color recording head 30 includes a plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink and an ink chamber filled with ink. In the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the size of the ink droplet ejected from the nozzle can be adjusted.

  While the recording medium is held on the conveyance belt, ink droplets corresponding to the image to be printed out are ejected by the recording head 30 at a predetermined flat portion through which the conveyance belt passes to form an image on the recording medium. The Rukoto. Thereafter, the recording medium on which the image is formed is sent to a paper discharge roll by a conveyor belt. Then, the paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray by the rotation of the paper discharge roll.

  The ink tank section includes an ink tank that stores ink of each color. The ink chamber of the recording head 30 is replenished with ink from the ink tank corresponding to each color.

  In the present embodiment, the alignment chart print output unit 12 includes, for example, a chart 40 (alignment) illustrated in FIG. 3 along the conveyance direction at the left end or the right end toward the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed. The recording medium on which the chart is formed is printed out. FIG. 3 shows, as an example, a chart 40 of a recording medium that is arranged along the conveyance direction at the left end portion in the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed. In the present embodiment, the alignment chart print output unit 12 includes an S1 line (S1 line) formed by ink ejected from the S1 head 30-1 at an interval of 7 dots along the carrying-out direction of the recording medium, and an S2 head. Ink is ejected from the S1 head 30-1 and the S2 head 30-2 so that the chart 40 in which the lines (S2 lines) formed by the ink ejected from 30-2 are alternately formed and printed is output. Timing (timing for forming S1 line and S2 line) is controlled.

  In the case of 600 dpi (dots per inch), the S1 line and the S2 line should be formed on the recording medium at an interval of 25.4 mm / 600 × 7 = 0.296 mm. The distance between the S1 line and the S2 line may vary due to the eccentricity of the motor to be driven, the eccentricity of the roller for feeding the recording medium, the phase difference between the rollers, and the like, due to fluctuations in the conveyance speed of the recording medium. is there. Hereinafter, the interval at which the S1 line and the S2 line are to be formed on the recording medium (for example, the S1 line to be formed on the recording medium and the S2 immediately after the S1 line with respect to the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed) The distance between the lines) is called the target distance.

  Then, the specific result generation unit 14 receives, from the scanner, an image generated by reading the recording medium on which the chart is formed by a scanner connected to the image forming apparatus 10. And the specific result generation part 14 is formed immediately after the S1 line toward the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed and a plurality of positions along the conveyance direction of the recording medium based on the image. The distance between the two S2 lines (hereinafter referred to as the S1-S2 distance) is specified. Then, based on the S1-S2 distance identification result, the identification result generation unit 14 determines the distance from the leading end line in the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed at the position that is the identification target of the S1-S2 distance, Inter-dot distance data indicating the relationship between the S1-S2 distance at the position is generated. FIG. 4 is a diagram representing an example of the inter-dot distance data in a graph. In FIG. 4, the horizontal axis indicates the distance (expressed as D (edge) in FIG. 4) from the leading end line in the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed at the position where the S1-S2 distance is specified. The S1-S2 distance (expressed as D (S1-S2) in FIG. 4) at that position is shown on the vertical axis. Then, the identification result acquisition unit 16 acquires the inter-dot distance data.

  The target image acquisition unit 18 receives (acquires) the target image 50 to be formed on the recording medium illustrated in FIG. 5 from, for example, an information processing terminal that can communicate with the image forming apparatus 10. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the target image 50 in the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the target image 50 includes a plurality of partial images 52. The target image 50 illustrated in FIG. 5 includes five partial images 52 arranged at the upper left, upper right, left center, right center, and lower, respectively. In the present embodiment, the target image acquisition unit 18 together with the target image 50, among the plurality of partial images 52 included in the target image 50, the partial image 52 that prioritizes the arrangement (hereinafter referred to as a designated partial image 52a). .) Is accepted. In the present embodiment, the designated partial image 52a is an image selected from the plurality of partial images 52 by the user of the image forming apparatus 10, for example. In FIG. 5, the edge line EL of the recording medium when the target image 50 is formed on the recording medium is also shown by a broken line.

  Here, an example of a flow of processing performed by the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment when the target image 50 is received will be described with reference to a flowchart illustrated in FIG. In this processing example, as shown in FIG. 5, it is assumed that the partial image 52 arranged at the left center is designated as the designated partial image 52a.

  First, the target image print output unit 20 specifies the position of the designated partial image 52a in the target image 50 (S101). In the process shown in S101, for example, the distance from the head end line in the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed at the position of the center of gravity of the designated partial image 52a is specified. In this processing example, for example, the distance d1 is specified.

  Then, the target image update unit 22 has a leading end line in the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed at a position where the S1-S2 distance is within a given range including the reference value dStd (for example, the above-described target interval). The distance d2 having the smallest difference from the above-mentioned distance d1 is specified among the distances D (edge) from (S102). In the process shown in S102, for example, the target image update unit 22 determines that the difference between the S1-S2 distance and the reference value dStd is Δd (for example, 0.001 mm) or less, dStd−Δd to dStd + Δd (for example, the above-described When the target interval is 0.296 mm, the distance D (edge) from the leading end line in the direction in which the recording medium within the range of 0.295 mm to 0.297 mm is transported is specified and specified. Among the measured distances D (edge), a distance having the smallest difference from the above-mentioned distance d1 is specified as the distance d2.

  Then, the target image update unit 22 causes the distance D of the position of the center of gravity of the designated partial image 52a from the leading end line in the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed to be the distance d2 specified in the process shown in S102. The target image 50 is updated (S103). In the process shown in S103, for example, the target image update unit 22 determines that the distance D from the head end line in the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed at the center of gravity of the designated partial image 52a is the process shown in S102. The position of the designated partial image 52a is translated in the target image 50 along the recording medium conveyance direction so that the specified distance d2 is obtained.

  The target image print output unit 20 prints out the recording medium on which the target image 50 updated in the process shown in S103 is formed (S104).

  According to the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the designated partial image 52a included in the target image 50 to be formed on the recording medium is formed on the recording medium by the S1 head 30-1 and the S2 head 30-2. The target image is formed on the recording medium after being arranged in a region where the distance between the dots is within a given range. As a result, an improvement in image quality of the designated partial image 52a on the recording medium to be printed is expected.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment.

  For example, the target image acquisition unit 18 may receive the designation of a plurality of designated partial images 52 a together with the target image 50. Then, the image forming apparatus 10 may execute the processes shown in S101 to S103 described above for each of the plurality of designated partial images 52a.

  Further, for example, in the above-described embodiment, instead of the S1-S2 distance, the S2 line specified for a plurality of positions along the conveyance direction of the recording medium and the S2 toward the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed. You may make it use the distance (S2-S1 distance) between S1 lines formed immediately after a line. For example, in the process shown in S102 described above, the target image update unit 22 determines that the distance D (edge) from the leading end line in the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed at a position where the S2-S1 distance is within a given range. ), The distance d2 having the smallest difference from the distance d1 specified in the process shown in S101 may be specified.

  In addition, for example, the alignment chart print output unit 12 has a plurality of different sizes (for example, three sizes of large droplets, medium droplets, and small droplets, each having a predetermined size), You may make it print out the recording medium in which the chart 40 at the time of the droplet of the magnitude | size discharged from S1 head 30-1 and S2 head 30-2 was formed. Then, the specific result generation unit 14 receives, from each of the plurality of charts 40, an image generated by reading a recording medium on which the chart 40 is formed by a scanner connected to the image forming apparatus 10. You may make it do. Then, the identification result generation unit 14 may generate inter-dot distance data based on each image received from the scanner. In this way, inter-dot distance data associated with each of a plurality of ink droplet sizes may be generated.

  Then, the target image print output unit 20 specifies the type of the designated partial image 52a (for example, photo, character, barcode image, etc.), and the designated partial image 52a of the specified type is formed on the recording medium. The size of the droplet at the time may be specified. For example, when the type of the designated partial image 52a is a photograph, the target image printout unit 20 specifies that the droplet size when the designated partial image 52a is formed on the recording medium is a small droplet, When the type of the designated partial image 52a is a character or barcode image, the size of the droplet when the designated partial image 52a is formed on the recording medium may be specified as a large droplet. Then, the target image update unit 22 may execute the processes shown in the above-described S102 and S103 based on the inter-dot distance data associated with the specified droplet size.

  Further, for example, in the processing shown in S101 described above, the target image print output unit 20 specifies the distance from the leading end line in the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed, for example, at the position of the center of gravity of the designated partial image 52a. There is no need. In the process shown in S101 described above, the target image print output unit 20 may, for example, specify the head of the designated partial image 52a in the direction in which the recording medium is transported or in the direction opposite to the direction in which the recording medium is transported. Alternatively, the distance from the leading end line in the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed may be specified.

  Further, for example, in the process shown in S102 described above, the target image update unit 22 determines that the distance D (edge) from the leading end line in the direction in which the recording medium is conveyed, in which the S1-S2 distance is the reference value dStd. And the distance D2 that is the smallest difference from the distance d1 described above may be specified as the distance d2.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 10 in the present embodiment may be configured from a plurality of housings. Further, specific character strings and numerical values in the specification, and specific character strings and numerical values in the drawings are examples, and are not limited to these character strings and numerical values.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus, 12 Alignment chart print output part, 14 Specific result generation part, 16 Specific result acquisition part, 18 Target image acquisition part, 20 Target image print output part, 22 Target image update part, 30 Recording head, 30-1 S1 head, 30-2 S2 head, 40 chart, 50 target image, 52 partial image, 52a Designated partial image.

Claims (4)

For a plurality of positions along the conveying direction of the first recording medium, the position of the dots formed on the first recording medium by the first recording head, the second recording head, through the dot, the the line along the conveying direction of the first recording medium, specific to the first recording medium to obtain a dot formed on a position of the rear side, a specific result of the distance between the relative orientations to be conveyed A result acquisition means;
Target image acquisition means for acquiring a target image to be formed on the second recording medium;
The partial image contained in the target image, so that the distance of the identification result represents is placed in position in the second recording medium is within a given range, the target in the second recording in the medium Control means for setting the position of an image and controlling the target image to be formed on the second recording medium by the first recording head and the second recording head;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The control means arranges a partial image specified from among a plurality of partial images included in the target image at a position in the second recording medium in which a distance represented by the identification result is within a given range. As described above , after setting the position of the target image in the second recording medium, the target image is formed on the second recording medium by the first recording head and the second recording head. To control,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The specific result acquisition unit is configured to output a droplet of the size from the first recording head and the second recording head to the first recording medium for each of a plurality of different sizes. Obtaining the specific result,
The control means determines the size of droplets ejected from the first recording head and the second recording head when the partial image is formed on the second recording medium. The position of the target image in the second recording medium is set so that the distance represented by the identification result is located in a position in the second recording medium within a given range. Controlling so that the target image is formed on the second recording medium by one recording head and the second recording head;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus. For a plurality of positions along the conveying direction of the first recording medium, the position of the dots formed on the first recording medium by the first recording head, the second recording head, through the dot, the the line along the conveying direction of the first recording medium, specific to the first recording medium to obtain a dot formed on a position of the rear side, a specific result of the distance between the relative orientations to be conveyed Result acquisition means,
Target image acquisition means for acquiring a target image to be formed on the second recording medium;
The partial image contained in the target image, so that the distance of the identification result represents is placed in position in the second recording medium is within a given range, the target in the second recording in the medium Control means for controlling the target image to be formed on the second recording medium by the first recording head and the second recording head after setting the position of the image ;
A program characterized by causing a computer to function.

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