JP6442588B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an image forming apparatus.

  In the image forming apparatus, as processing for maintaining good image quality, image quality maintenance control for maintaining the image quality (density) of a printed image and maintenance (correction) of the overlay accuracy of a plurality of color images are maintained. Some have the alignment control. The image forming apparatus performs image quality maintenance control and alignment control when a preset execution condition is satisfied. However, the implementation conditions for image quality maintenance control and alignment control may not match the user's usage and preferences. In the conventional image forming apparatus, setting of the execution conditions for the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control cannot be changed by the user himself, and it is necessary to request a service person to change the setting. The work of changing the setting by the service person has a problem that costs such as business trip expenses and work expenses increase.

JP 2011-180170 A

  In order to solve the above problem, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which a user can easily specify setting contents for control for maintaining the quality of image forming processing.

According to the embodiment, the display unit, the operation unit, the image forming unit, the first storage unit, the second storage unit, and the control unit are included. The image forming unit forms an image on the medium. The first storage unit stores a plurality of settings for quality maintenance control for maintaining the quality of image formation in the image forming unit. The second storage unit stores settings for quality maintenance control for maintaining the quality of image formation in the image forming unit. The control unit performs quality maintenance control based on the setting stored in the second storage unit, displays a plurality of settings stored in the first storage unit on the display unit, and displays the plurality of settings displayed. When one setting is selected by the operation unit, the setting stored in the second storage unit is changed to the selected setting. Keeping quality control is a positioning control to adjust the accuracy of the alignment of the image quality maintenance control and multiple images to maintain the image quality of the individual images. Each setting stored in the second storage unit includes the number of printings in one of the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control, and the other execution condition includes an elapsed time.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration example of a digital multifunction peripheral according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of a control unit in the control unit of the digital multifunction peripheral and the printer according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration example of an operation panel of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining operations of image quality maintenance control and alignment control in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 is a display example of a setting menu screen displayed on the display unit of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a display example of a setting menu screen displayed on the display unit of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a display example of a setting screen for the self-check function displayed on the display unit of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment. FIG. 8 is a display example of a setting screen for image quality maintenance control in the maintenance mode of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a display example of a setting screen for alignment control in the maintenance mode of the digital multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a processing example when changing the setting of the self-check function in the digital multifunction peripheral according to the embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a configuration example of a digital multifunction peripheral 10 according to the embodiment. A digital multifunction peripheral 10 (MFP, Multi-Functional Peripheral) according to the present embodiment functions as an image forming apparatus. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the digital multifunction peripheral 10 (image forming apparatus) includes a scanner 1, a printer 2, an operation panel 4, and a control unit 5.

  The scanner 1 is an apparatus that reads an image of a document and converts it into image data. The scanner 1 is constituted by, for example, a CCD line sensor that converts an image on a reading surface of a document into image data. The scanner 1 is installed on the upper part of the main body of the digital multifunction machine 10, for example. The scanner 1 is controlled by the control unit 5. The scanner 1 outputs image data of a document to the control unit 5.

  The printer 2 (printing unit) forms an image on a sheet as an image forming medium (medium). The printer 2 as the image forming apparatus has a color printing function for printing a color image on a sheet and a monochrome printing function for printing a monochrome (for example, black) image on a sheet. For example, the printer 2 is an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The printer 2 forms a color image using toner (printing material) of a plurality of colors (for example, three colors of yellow (Y), cyan (C), and magenta (M)). The printer 2 forms a monochrome image using a single color (for example, black) toner. The printer 2 only needs to have a color printing function for forming a color image by superimposing a plurality of color images and a monochrome printing function for forming a single color image.

  In the configuration example shown in FIG. 1, the printer 2 has a paper feed cassette 20 (20A, 20B, 20C). The paper feed cassette 20 is a paper feed unit that supplies paper for printing an image. Further, the printer 2 may have a manual feed tray or the like as a paper feeding unit. For example, each of the paper feed cassettes 20A, 20B, and 20C is provided in a detachable state at the bottom of the digital multifunction peripheral 10 main body. These paper feed cassettes 20A, 20B, and 20C store paper of a set type (for example, size and paper quality).

  Setting information such as information relating to paper stored in each paper cassette is stored in a nonvolatile memory (for example, NVM 54 described later). The printer 2 selects a paper feed cassette that stores paper used for print processing according to the setting information. The printer 2 prints an image on the paper fed from the selected paper feed cassette. When the printer 2 has a manual feed tray, setting information may be stored in the non-volatile memory for the manual feed tray as well as each paper feed cassette.

  Each of the paper feed cassettes 20A, 20B, and 20C has pickup rollers 21A, 21B, and 21C, respectively. The pick-up rollers 21A, 21B, and 21C take out sheets one by one from each of the paper feed cassettes 20A, 20B, and 20C. The pick-up rollers 21A, 21B, and 21C supply the taken paper to the transport unit 22 that includes a plurality of transport rollers and the like. The number of paper feed cassettes and pickup rollers as the paper feed unit is not limited to three. For example, the number of paper feed cassettes and pickup rollers may be one or two, or four or more. Further, the paper feed unit may be a manual feed tray as well as a cassette.

  The transport unit 22 transports paper within the printer 2. The transport unit 22 transports the paper supplied by the pickup rollers 21 </ b> A, 21 </ b> B, and 21 </ b> C to the registration roller 24. The registration roller 24 conveys the paper to the transfer position at the timing of transferring the image from the intermediate transfer belt 27 to the paper.

  The image forming unit 25 (25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K), the exposure unit 26, the intermediate transfer belt 27, and the transfer unit 28 function as an image forming unit that forms an image. The image forming unit 25 (25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K) forms an image to be transferred onto a sheet. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 25Y forms an image with yellow toner. The image forming unit 25M forms an image with magenta toner. The image forming unit 25C forms an image with cyan toner. The image forming unit 25K forms an image with black toner. Each image forming unit 25 (25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K) transfers the images of the respective colors in an overlapping manner on the intermediate transfer belt 27. As a result, a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 27.

  The exposure unit 26 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum (image carrier) of each image forming unit 25 (25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K) with laser light. The exposure unit 26 irradiates the photosensitive drum with a laser beam controlled according to the image data through an optical system such as a polygon mirror. Laser light from the exposure unit 26 forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of each photosensitive drum. The exposure unit 26 controls the emission of laser light in accordance with a control signal corresponding to the image data. The electrostatic latent image formed on each photosensitive drum is an image developed with toner of each color. For example, the exposure unit 26 controls the power of the laser light according to the control signal. The exposure unit 26 also controls the modulation amount of the pulse width for controlling the emission of the laser light according to the control signal.

  Each image forming unit 25 (25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K) develops the electrostatic latent image formed on each photosensitive drum with toner of each color. Each image forming unit 25 (25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K) forms a toner image as a visible image on the photosensitive drum. The intermediate transfer belt 27 is an intermediate transfer member. Each image forming unit 25 (25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K) transfers (primary transfer) the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum onto the intermediate transfer belt 27. Each image forming unit 25 (25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K) applies a transfer bias to the toner image at the primary transfer position. Each image forming unit 25 (25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K) controls a transfer bias by a transfer current. The toner image on each photosensitive drum is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 27 by a transfer bias at each primary transfer position.

  Each of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, and 25K has a sensor such as a potential sensor and a density sensor. The potential sensor is a sensor that detects the surface potential of the photosensitive drum. In each of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, and 25K, the charging charger charges the surface of the photosensitive drum before being exposed by the exposure unit 26. The potential sensor detects the surface potential of the photosensitive drum whose surface is charged by the charging charger. The density sensor detects the density of the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 27. The density sensor may detect a toner image formed on the photosensitive drum.

  For example, when forming a monochrome image, the image forming unit 25K transfers (primarily transfers) a toner image (visible image) developed with black (monochrome) toner onto the intermediate transfer belt 27. As a result, the intermediate transfer belt 27 holds a monochrome image formed with black (monochrome) toner.

  In the case of forming a color image, each of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, and 25K uses a toner image (visible image) developed with toner of each color (yellow, magenta, cyan, black), respectively, as the intermediate transfer belt 27. The images are superimposed and transferred (primary transfer). As a result, the intermediate transfer belt 27 holds a color image in which the toner images of the respective colors are overlapped.

  The transfer unit 28 transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 27 to a sheet (medium) at the secondary transfer position. The secondary transfer position is a position where the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 27 is transferred to a sheet. The secondary transfer position is a position where the support roller 28a and the secondary transfer roller 28b face each other. The transfer unit 28 applies a transfer bias controlled by a transfer current to the secondary transfer position. The transfer unit 28 transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 27 to a sheet by a transfer bias.

  The fixing device 29 has a function of fixing toner on a sheet (medium). For example, in the embodiment, it is assumed that the fixing device 29 fixes a toner image on a sheet by heat applied to the sheet. However, the fixing device 29 may be any device that fixes an image on a sheet, and is not limited to a device that fixes an image by heat.

  The fixing device 29 has a configuration for applying heat to the sheet in order to perform a fixing process. In the configuration example shown in FIG. 1, the fixing device 29 includes a heat roller 29b having a built-in heating unit 29a and a pressure roller 29c in contact with the fixing belt heated by the heat roller 29b in a pressurized state. The heating unit 29a may be a heater capable of controlling the temperature. For example, the heating unit 29a may be configured by a heater lamp such as a halogen lamp, or may be an induction heating (IH) type heater. Moreover, you may comprise the heating part 29a with a some heater.

  For example, when performing a fixing process for fixing a toner image on a sheet, the control unit 5 controls the fixing device 29 to a fixing temperature. The fixing device 29 controlled to the fixing temperature heats the sheet on which the toner image is transferred by the transfer unit 28 at the fixing temperature while applying pressure. As a result, the fixing device 29 fixes the toner image on the paper. The fixing unit 29 conveys the fixed sheet to either the paper discharge unit 30 or the automatic duplex device 31.

  When the paper fixed by the fixing device 29 is discharged, the paper is carried out to the paper discharge unit 30. When an image is also formed on the back surface of the paper fixed by the fixing device 29, the paper is once transported to the paper discharge unit 30 side, then switched back and transported to the ADU 31. In this case, the ADU 31 supplies the paper reversed by the switchback again to the front of the registration roller 24.

  The operation panel 4 (operation unit) is a user interface. The operation panel 4 includes various buttons and a display unit 4a including a touch panel 4b. The control unit 5 controls the contents displayed on the display unit 4 a of the operation panel 4. Further, the operation panel 4 outputs information input to the touch panel 4b or the button of the display unit 4a to the control unit 5. The user designates an operation mode on the operation panel 4 or inputs information such as device settings. For example, the user designates the type of paper put in the paper feed cassette 20 by using the operation panel 4.

Next, the configuration of the control system of the digital multifunction machine 10 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a configuration example of a control system in the control unit 5 and the printer 2 of the digital multifunction peripheral 10.
In the configuration example illustrated in FIG. 2, the control unit 5 includes a system CPU 51 (processor), a RAM 52, a ROM 53, an NVM 54, an HDD 55, a page memory 56, an external interface 57 (external I / F), and an image processing unit 58.

  The system CPU 51 comprehensively controls the entire digital multifunction peripheral 10 and each unit. The system CPU 51 is a processor that implements processing by executing a program. The system CPU 51 is connected to each unit in the apparatus via a system bus. The system CPU 51 connects not only each unit in the control unit 5 but also the scanner 1, the printer 2, the operation panel 4, and the like via the system bus. The system CPU 51 outputs an operation instruction to each unit and acquires various information from each unit through bidirectional communication with the scanner 1, the printer 2, and the operation panel 4. In addition, the system CPU 51 inputs information indicating detection signals, operation states, and the like of various sensors installed in each unit in the apparatus.

  The RAM 52 is composed of a volatile memory. The RAM 52 functions as a working memory or a buffer memory. The ROM 53 is a non-rewritable nonvolatile memory that stores programs, control data, and the like. The system CPU 51 implements various processes by executing programs stored in the ROM 53 (or NVM 54, HDD 55) while using the RAM 52. For example, the system CPU 51 functions as a print execution unit and a prohibition unit by executing a program.

The NVM 54 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory. The NVM 54 stores a control program and control data executed by the system CPU 51. The NVM 54 stores various setting information and processing conditions.
The hard disk drive (HDD) 55 is a large-capacity storage device. The HDD 55 stores image data and various operation history information. The HDD 55 may store a control program and control data, and may store setting information and processing conditions.

  The page memory 56 is a memory for developing image data to be processed. For example, when performing copy processing, the page memory 56 stores image data scanned by the scanner 1 and processed for scanning. The system CPU 51 performs image processing for printing on the image data stored in the page memory 56 and outputs it to the printer 2. Further, the system CPU 51 may store the image data stored in the page memory 56 in the HDD 55 or send it to an external device via the external interface 57.

  The external interface 57 (external I / F) is an interface for communicating with an external device. For example, the external interface 57 receives print data corresponding to a print request from an external device. The external interface 57 may be an interface that performs data notification with an external device. For example, the external interface 57 may be locally connected to the external device, or may be a network interface for communicating via a network. .

The image processing unit 58 is a scanner-type image processing unit that performs image processing on image data read by the scanner 1, a compression / decompression unit that compresses or decompresses image data, and image data for printing that the printer 2 prints on paper. Functions of a printer-type image processing unit for generating the image. For example, the scanner-type image processing unit has functions such as shading correction processing, gradation conversion processing, and interline correction processing.
The control unit 5 may be composed of a plurality of control units. Moreover, the process which the control part 5 performs may be each performed by the some control part which comprises the control part 5. FIG.

Next, a configuration example of a control system in the printer 2 will be described.
In the configuration example shown in FIG. 2, the printer 2 includes a printer CPU 61 (processor), a RAM 62, a ROM 63, an NVM 64, a conveyance control unit 65, an exposure control unit 70, an image formation control unit 71, and a transfer control unit 73 as a control system configuration. A fixing control unit 75, a reversal control unit 76, and the like.

  The printer CPU 61 controls the entire printer 2. The printer CPU 61 is a processor that realizes processing by executing a program. The printer CPU 61 is connected to each unit in the printer 2 via a system bus or the like. In response to the operation instruction from the system CPU 51, the printer CPU 61 outputs an operation instruction to each unit in the printer 2 and notifies the system CPU 51 of various information acquired from each unit.

  The RAM 62 is composed of a volatile memory. The RAM 62 functions as a working memory or a buffer memory. The ROM 63 is a non-rewritable nonvolatile memory that stores programs, control data, and the like. The printer CPU 61 implements various processes by executing programs stored in the ROM 63 (or NVM 64) while using the RAM 62.

  The NVM 64 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory. For example, the NVM 64 stores a control program and control data executed by the printer CPU 61. The NVM 64 also stores setting information and processing conditions related to the operation of the printer. Further, the NVM 64 has a table 64a as a first storage unit and a table 64b as a second storage unit.

  The table 64a stores setting contents that can be selected by the user. The table 64a stores setting contents associated with each icon displayed on the operation screen that can be operated by the user. The table 64b stores setting information of an image quality maintenance control function and an alignment control function described later. The setting information stored in the table 64b includes an image quality maintenance control execution condition (condition 1) and an alignment control execution condition (condition 2). The tables 64a and 64b may be provided in a storage unit such as the NVM 54 or the HDD 55.

  The conveyance control unit 65 controls paper conveyance in the printer 2. The conveyance control unit 65 controls driving of the pickup roller 21 and the conveyance unit 22. The conveyance control unit 65 controls driving of a conveyance roller as the conveyance unit 22 in the printer 2 in accordance with an operation instruction from the printer CPU 61. For example, the printer CPU 61 instructs the conveyance control unit 65 to start paper feeding by the pickup roller 21 and the conveyance unit 22 when starting the image forming process on the paper.

  The exposure control unit 70 controls the exposure unit 26. The exposure control unit 70 forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drums of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, and 25K by the exposure unit 26 in response to an operation instruction from the printer CPU 61. For example, the exposure control unit 70 controls the laser light that the exposure unit 26 irradiates each photosensitive drum according to image data instructed to the printer CPU 61.

  The image formation control unit 71 controls driving of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, and 25K. The image forming control unit 71 develops the electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive drums of the image forming units 25Y, 25M, 25C, and 25K with toners of respective colors in accordance with operation instructions from the printer CPU 61. The transfer control unit 73 controls driving of the transfer unit 28, transfer current, and the like. The transfer control unit 73 transfers the toner image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 27 to the sheet by the transfer unit 28 in accordance with an operation instruction from the printer CPU 61.

  The fixing control unit 75 controls the driving of the fixing device 29. The fixing controller 75 drives the heat roller 29b and the pressure roller 29c in accordance with an operation instruction from the printer CPU 61. Further, the fixing control unit 75 controls the surface temperature of the heat roller 29b to a desired temperature by controlling the heating unit 29a. The fixing controller 75 controls the surface temperature of the heat roller 29b to a temperature (fixing temperature) designated by the printer CPU 61.

  The inversion control unit 76 controls driving of the ADU 31. The inversion control unit 76 takes in the paper that has passed through the fixing device 29 to the ADU 31 in accordance with an operation instruction from the printer CPU 61. For example, when an image is formed on the back surface of the fixed paper (when duplex printing is performed), the reversal control unit 76 once transports the paper after the fixing processing to the paper discharge unit 30 side, and then switches it back. Drive control is performed so as to be taken into the ADU 31. The ADU 31 re-feeds the paper that has been switched back by the paper discharge unit 30 to the front of the registration roller 24. As a result, the sheet is re-supplied to the registration roller 24 in an inverted state.

Next, the operation panel 4 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration example of the operation panel 4.
As shown in FIG. 3, the operation panel 4 includes a display unit 4a, a touch panel 4b, a panel CPU 41 (processor), a RAM 42, a ROM 43, and the like.

  The panel CPU 41 controls the entire operation panel 4. For example, the panel CPU 41 displays an icon or the like for the user to input an instruction on the display unit 4a. In addition, the panel CPU 41 acquires an instruction input to the touch panel 4b. The panel CPU 41 detects that the icon has been instructed (selected) when the touch panel 4b detects that the user has touched (touched) the display portion of the icon displayed on the display unit 4a. The panel CPU 41 transmits information indicating the input instruction (for example, icon) to the system CPU 51.

The RAM 42 is composed of a volatile memory. The RAM 42 functions as a working memory or a buffer memory. The ROM 43 is a non-rewritable nonvolatile memory that stores programs, control data, and the like. The panel CPU 41 implements various processes by executing programs stored in the ROM 43 while using the RAM 42.
The panel CPU 41 may be realized as a function of the system CPU 51.

Next, a function (control) for maintaining the quality of printing (image formation) by the printer 2 will be described.
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a function for the printer 2 to maintain print quality is included in the self-check function. The function of maintaining the printing quality is realized by quality maintenance control. The printer 2 according to the present embodiment has image quality maintenance control and alignment control as quality maintenance control. Here, the quality maintenance control is assumed to include one or both of image quality maintenance control and alignment control.

  Image quality maintenance control is one type of quality maintenance control, and is processing (control) for maintaining (adjusting and correcting) the quality of a printed image. The image quality maintenance control function is a function for executing image quality maintenance control according to setting information. The image quality maintenance control function is a function for maintaining image quality that may change due to aging or the number of processed images. For example, in the printer 2 in which a plurality of types of toner such as yellow, cyan, magenta, and black are used, a change in color tone may occur with time or the number of printed sheets. For this reason, the printer 2 executes image quality maintenance control in order to maintain the image quality.

  The alignment control is one of quality maintenance controls and is a process (control) for maintaining (adjusting and correcting) the overlay accuracy of a plurality of images. The alignment control is a process of maintaining the overlay accuracy of the images of the respective colors constituting the color when mainly performing color printing. The alignment control function is a function that executes alignment control according to setting information. For example, the printer 2 has four color developer units of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, and superimposes images developed in the respective colors on the intermediate transfer belt 27 to create a color image. The printer 2 performs control for maintaining the accuracy of superimposing the images of the respective colors on the intermediate transfer belt 27 as the alignment control.

  Image quality maintenance control and alignment control are set with a plurality of independent control parameters. Such setting information is stored in the table 64b of the NVM 64. For example, execution conditions are set for each of the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control. The printer 2 executes the image quality maintenance control when the image quality position control execution condition is satisfied, and executes the alignment control when the image alignment control execution condition is satisfied. That is, the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control can be set at the same time because they can set the execution conditions for each, and may be set so that only one of them is executed.

  In the printer 2 of the present embodiment, the execution conditions for performing the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control are changed from a plurality of preset settings to those directly selected by the user, or have expertise. It is possible for the service person to change to what is customized according to the usage and preference of the user. It is assumed that the service person is a person who can customize setting information that cannot be changed by a general user in the digital multi-function peripheral 10, and is a person who performs setting customization work in response to a request from the user.

  In general, image forming apparatuses have various specifications according to the operation mode, product category, and the like. For example, color image forming apparatuses that require high image quality often have settings (default settings) that frequently perform quality maintenance control such as image quality maintenance control and alignment control in order to maintain high image quality. However, the image forming process cannot be executed while quality maintenance control such as image quality maintenance control and alignment control is being executed. For this reason, when the setting is such that the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control are performed more frequently than the user assumes, the user may have a request to reduce the frequency of the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control.

  In the digital multifunction peripheral 10 according to the present embodiment, the user can select execution conditions for the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control function from a plurality of types of settings prepared in advance. Accordingly, the execution conditions (frequency of execution) of the image quality position control and the alignment control can be changed by the user's own operation without calling a service person. In addition, the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment can accept a setting request by a service person when it is desired to customize the image forming apparatus in more detail than a plurality of types of settings prepared in advance.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operations of the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control.
As shown in FIG. 4, the printer CPU 61 of the printer 2 determines the image quality maintenance control execution condition (condition 1) and the alignment control execution condition (condition 2) based on the setting information stored in the table 64b of the NVM 64. Recognize While the printer 2 is operating, the printer CPU 61 monitors whether the image quality maintenance control execution condition (condition 1) and the alignment control execution condition (condition 2) are satisfied (ACT11).

  That is, the printer CPU 61 executes the image quality maintenance control (ACT 12) when it is determined that the image quality maintenance control implementation condition (condition 1) is satisfied (ACT 11, YES). When it is determined that the execution condition (condition 2) for the alignment control function is satisfied (ACT13, YES), alignment control is executed (ACT14).

  The implementation condition may be the number of prints (number of printed pages) or the elapsed time. When the execution condition based on the number of prints is set, the printer CPU 61 accumulates and counts the number of prints every time printing is executed. In this case, the printer CPU 61 monitors whether the cumulative number of prints is equal to or greater than the threshold set as the execution condition (condition 1 or condition 2). When the cumulative number of prints exceeds the threshold value of condition 1 or condition 2, the printer CPU 61 executes image quality maintenance control or alignment control. When the image quality maintenance control or the alignment control is performed, the printer CPU 61 resets the accumulated number of prints and again counts the number of prints.

  When the execution condition is set for the elapsed time, the printer CPU 61 counts the elapsed time. In this case, the printer CPU 61 monitors whether the elapsed time is equal to or greater than the threshold set as the implementation condition (condition 1 or condition 2). When the elapsed time becomes equal to or greater than the threshold value of condition 1 or condition 2, the printer CPU 61 executes image quality maintenance control or alignment control. When the image quality maintenance control or the alignment control is performed, the printer CPU 61 resets the elapsed time that has been counted, and counts the elapsed time again.

  Further, the image quality maintenance control execution condition (condition 1) and the alignment control execution condition (condition 2) are set according to the characteristics and operation mode of each image forming apparatus. That is, conditions 1 and 2 may be set as independent independent conditions. For example, the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control may be set not to be executed, or the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control may be executed under the same conditions. When the condition 1 and the condition 2 are the same condition, the printer CPU 61 performs the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control at the same time.

  In addition, among the execution conditions of the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control, one execution condition may be set by the elapsed time, and the other execution condition may be set by the number of prints. For example, in an image forming apparatus in which misalignment may occur according to the continuous operation time, the alignment control execution condition may be set as a threshold for the elapsed time of continuous operation. The image quality maintenance control is not related to the operation time, and in an image forming apparatus in which the image quality may change according to the number of prints, the image quality maintenance control execution condition may be set as a threshold for the number of prints. . That is, the execution condition for the alignment control may be set as a threshold for the elapsed time of continuous operation, and the execution condition for the image quality maintenance control may be set as a threshold for the number of prints.

Next, setting changes for quality maintenance control (image quality maintenance control and alignment control) will be described.
5 and 6 are display examples of the setting menu screen displayed on the display unit 4a. FIG. 5 is a screen of the first page of the setting menu screen, and FIG. 6 is a screen of the second page of the setting menu screen. A plurality of icons that can be selected by the touch panel 4b are displayed on the setting menu screen shown in FIGS. For example, the screen of FIG. 5 and the screen of FIG. 6 can be switched by an arrow icon provided on the right side of the screen.

  On the setting menu screen shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a plurality of icons are displayed for each of various setting items. Of the icons shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the icon A <b> 1 is a button for instructing setting of a self-check function including quality maintenance control. A user who wishes to change the setting for quality maintenance control selects (touches) the icon A1. When the icon A1 is selected (touched), the panel CPU 41 displays a setting screen for a self-check function including quality maintenance control on the display unit 4a.

FIG. 7 is a display example of a setting screen for the self-check function. In the display example shown in FIG. 7, four icons A21, A22, A23, and A24 that can be selected by the user are displayed.
The icon A21 is displayed as “Performance priority 1”. The icon A21 is associated with a setting content that reduces both the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control, or one of the implementation frequencies, compared to the default setting. When the icon A21 is selected, the setting is changed to a setting that reduces the frequency of performing either or both of the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control. The setting content corresponding to the icon A21 is stored in the table 64a of the NVM 64, for example.

  For example, when an operation situation with a small number of color prints is assumed, the icon A21 may be associated with setting contents for reducing the frequency of alignment control without changing the frequency of image quality maintenance control. This setting is based on the assumption that there is less need to maintain alignment accuracy if there is less color printing.

  The icon A22 is displayed as “Performance priority 2”. The icon A22 is associated with a setting content that reduces both the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control, or any of the frequency of implementation, more than the setting content corresponding to the icon A21. When this icon A22 is selected, the setting is changed to a setting in which the image quality maintenance control and / or the alignment control are performed less frequently than when the icon A21 is selected. The setting content corresponding to the icon A22 is stored, for example, in the table 64a of the NVM 64.

  For example, assuming an operation situation in which color printing is hardly performed, the icon A22 may be associated with a setting content that the alignment control is not performed without changing the frequency of the image quality maintenance control. This setting is based on the assumption that the necessity of alignment control for maintaining the quality of the color image is almost eliminated if the color printing is hardly performed.

  The icon A23 is displayed as “Image quality priority”. The icon A23 is set to a setting content such that the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control execution frequency can maintain a good print quality. Here, it is assumed that the setting content corresponding to the icon A23 is the default setting of “image quality priority”. When the icon A23 is selected, the execution frequency of the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control is set to a default setting.

  Generally, the default settings are set contents necessary for maintaining the original image quality of the digital multi-function peripheral regardless of the actual operation status (for example, color printing frequency). For this reason, the default setting is an image quality priority setting in order to maintain the image quality of the digital multi-function peripheral. The default setting may be an initial setting value fixedly set in the digital multi-function peripheral, or a setting content customized by a service person may be set as the default setting.

  The icon A24 is displayed as “service man call”. The icon A24 requests a setting change by a service person having specialized knowledge. The digital multi-function peripheral 10 can be changed to any setting in a maintenance mode that can be handled only by service personnel. That is, the icon A24 is a button for performing notification to a person (serviceman) who can perform setting in the maintenance mode. When the icon A24 is selected, the setting contents of the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control are changed to default settings. When the icon A24 is selected, as a notification to the service person, maintenance may be requested to the service person online, or a contact information and a contact method for the service person may be displayed as guidance. good.

  For example, if the default setting is to perform image quality maintenance control and alignment control for every 1000 prints, icon A21 corresponds to the setting content for performing image quality maintenance control and alignment control for every 2000 prints, and icon A22. Corresponds to the setting contents for performing the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control for every 5000 prints. As described above, each icon for the user to select a setting is created by associating setting contents (execution conditions) indicating intervals for performing image quality maintenance control and alignment control.

  By providing the above icons on the operation screen that can be directly operated by the user, the user can select an icon without having to call a service person each time if the user wants to change the interval between image quality maintenance control and alignment control. It is possible to change the interval for performing the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control simply by doing so.

  For users who are not satisfied with the settings corresponding to the icons prepared in advance, the setting values can be adjusted so that a service person can be called to change the timing of image quality maintenance control and alignment control. Like that. In order to support this work, a serviceman call icon may also be set.

8 and 9 are display examples of the setting screen in the maintenance mode in which the setting can be changed by the operation of the service person.
The service person who has received a request for setting change from the user switches the digital multifunction peripheral 10 to the maintenance mode. For example, the control unit 5 of the digital multi-function peripheral 10 shifts to the maintenance mode when a special code that can be known by a serviceman not known to the user is input, or when a special operation is input. . The maintenance mode is an operation mode that can be handled only by a service person, unlike an operation mode that can be used by a normal user. In the maintenance mode, the digital multifunction peripheral 10 performs settings instructed by the service person using the operation unit. For example, in the maintenance mode, the execution condition for the image quality maintenance control or the execution condition for the alignment control is designated by a code input by the service person through the operation unit 4b. The control unit 5 performs setting according to the code designated by the operation unit 4b in the maintenance mode.

  For example, the setting screen shown in FIG. 8 is an example in which a code “1” is designated as an execution condition for image quality maintenance control. The setting contents of the image quality maintenance control are assigned to various codes designated by the serviceman as the execution conditions of the image quality maintenance control. In the example illustrated in FIG. 8, the service person designates an execution condition (for example, 1000 prints) assigned to the code “1” as the execution condition of the image quality maintenance control. Further, the setting screen illustrated in FIG. 9 is an example in which the code “2” is designated as the execution condition of the image alignment control. The setting contents of the image alignment control are assigned to various codes designated by the serviceman as the execution conditions of the image alignment control. In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the service person designates an execution condition (for example, an elapsed time of 1 hour) assigned to the code “2” as the execution condition of the alignment control.

  In the setting in the maintenance mode by such a service person, setting information for the self-check function (image quality maintenance control execution condition and alignment control execution condition) can be specified in detail. For this reason, for users who are not satisfied with the setting contents that can be selected with the icons, the setting can be changed in the maintenance mode operated by the service person.

Next, setting change processing for quality maintenance control (image quality maintenance control and alignment control) in the digital multi-function peripheral 10 will be described.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a processing example in the case of performing a setting change for image quality maintenance control and alignment control.
A user who wishes to change the setting operates the operation panel 4 to instruct display of the setting menu screen. Panel CPU41 displays a setting menu screen on the display part 4a according to a user's operation (ACT21). After the setting menu screen is displayed on the display unit 4a, the user who desires to change the setting of the quality maintenance control selects an icon (button) instructing the setting of the self-check function.

  When an icon for instructing the setting of the self-check function is selected (ACT 22, YES), the panel CPU 41 displays a setting screen for the self-check function on the display unit 4a (ACT 23). The panel CPU 41 displays at least a plurality of icons (buttons) corresponding to setting contents selectable by the user on the display unit 4a as a setting screen for the self-check function.

  Here, as in the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the panel CPU 41 has two icons (performance priority 1 icon A21 and performance priority 2 icon A22) corresponding to setting contents selectable by the user, and an icon for instructing default settings. (Image quality priority icon A23) and an icon (serviceman call icon A24) for instructing a serviceman code are displayed on the display unit 4a.

  When the user touches the performance priority 1 icon A21, the panel CPU 41 detects that the performance priority 1 icon A21 is selected based on the detection signal of the touch panel 4b. The panel CPU 41 notifies the system CPU 51 that the performance priority 1 icon A21 has been selected. In response to the notification from the panel CPU 41, the system CPU 51 instructs the printer CPU 61 that the performance priority 1 icon A21 has been selected.

  When it is instructed from the system CPU 51 that the performance priority 1 icon A21 has been selected (ACT24, YES), the printer CPU 61 changes the setting information held in the table 64b to the setting content corresponding to the performance priority 1 icon A21. (ACT25). For example, the setting content corresponding to the performance priority 1 icon A21 is held in the NVM 64 or the like. Thereby, the printer CPU 61 can change the setting information held in the table 64b to the setting content corresponding to the performance priority 1 icon A21.

  When the user touches the performance priority 2 icon A22, the panel CPU 41 detects that the performance priority 2 icon A22 is selected based on the detection signal of the touch panel 4b. The panel CPU 41 notifies the system CPU 51 that the performance priority 2 icon A22 has been selected. Upon receiving the notification from the panel CPU 41, the system CPU 51 instructs the printer CPU 61 that the performance priority 2 icon A22 has been selected.

  When it is instructed from the system CPU 51 that the performance priority 2 icon A22 has been selected (ACT 26, YES), the printer CPU 61 changes the setting information held in the table 64b to the setting content corresponding to the performance priority 2 icon A22. (ACT27). For example, the setting content corresponding to the performance priority 2 icon A22 is held in the NVM 64 or the like. As a result, the printer CPU 61 can change the setting information held in the table 64b to the setting content corresponding to the performance priority 2 icon A22.

  When the user touches the image quality priority icon A23, the panel CPU 41 detects that the image quality priority icon A23 has been selected based on the detection signal from the touch panel 4b. The panel CPU 41 notifies the system CPU 51 that the image quality priority icon A23 has been selected. In response to the notification from the panel CPU 41, the system CPU 51 instructs the printer CPU 61 that the image quality priority icon A23 has been selected.

  When it is instructed from the system CPU 51 that the image quality priority icon A23 has been selected (ACT28, YES), the printer CPU 61 sets the setting information held in the table 64b to the setting contents (here, default settings) corresponding to the image quality priority icon A23. (ACT29). For example, even when the setting information of the table 64b is changed by the user's operation, the setting content of the default setting is held in the NVM 64 or the like. As a result, the printer CPU 61 can change the setting information held in the table 64b to the image quality priority setting content (default setting) corresponding to the image quality priority icon A23.

  When the user touches serviceman call icon A24, panel CPU 41 detects that serviceman call icon A24 has been selected based on a detection signal from touch panel 4b. Panel CPU 41 notifies system CPU 51 that serviceman call icon A24 has been selected. Upon receiving the notification from the panel CPU 41, the system CPU 51 instructs the printer CPU 61 that the serviceman call icon A24 has been selected.

  When it is instructed by the system CPU 51 that the serviceman call icon A24 has been selected (ACT 30, YES), the printer CPU 61 changes the setting information held in the table 64b to the default setting (ACT 31). Further, when it is instructed that the serviceman call icon A24 has been selected (ACT30, YES), the printer CPU 61 performs a serviceman call process (ACT32). The processing of the service man call may be one in which the panel CPU 41 displays a notification guide to the service man on the display unit 4a, or the system CPU 51 notifies the service man via the network interface. good.

  As described above, the digital multi-function peripheral according to the present embodiment has a function for changing setting information for quality maintenance control to a setting content selected by a user with an icon and a value for changing to a value specified by a serviceman in a maintenance mode. Have As the former function, the digital multi-function peripheral presents icons (buttons) associated with a plurality of types of setting contents prepared in advance. The digital multifunction peripheral changes the image quality maintenance control execution condition and the alignment control execution condition to the setting contents associated with the icon (button) selected by the user.

  Thereby, in the digital multi-function peripheral according to the present embodiment, the user can change the execution conditions of the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control only by selecting the icon, and according to the user's preference and the actual operation mode. You can easily change the settings.

  In addition, as the setting contents associated with each icon, any setting contents can be presented. The icon is presented depending on whether priority is given to maintaining print quality or performance of the actual printing process. For example, if the default setting guarantees the maintenance of the print quality of the device, the actual print processing (performance) is given priority step by step as the setting content associated with the icon (setting content that can be selected by the user). You may make it show a thing. In an image forming apparatus having such an icon, a user can instruct a change from a default setting that prioritizes print quality to a setting that prioritizes performance.

  Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, the user not only selects a setting from a plurality of types of setting contents corresponding to icons prepared in advance, but also calls a service person to customize the setting contents of quality maintenance control. It is also possible to select an icon for instructing.

  Each icon for instructing a setting change or the like may be displayed on an operation screen set by the administrator. When displaying an icon on the operation screen set by the administrator, the operation screen displays (publishes) the icon in a state where the user can select it.

  In addition, two icons (buttons) may be set for the icons that can be directly selected by the user so that the image quality maintenance control execution condition and the alignment control execution condition can be set separately. However, the parameter of the execution timing of the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control is not limited to the number of prints or the elapsed time, but may be other parameters.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.
Hereinafter, the invention described in the scope of claims of the present application will be appended.
[1]
A display unit;
An operation unit;
An image forming unit for forming an image on a medium;
A first storage unit that stores a plurality of settings for quality maintenance control for maintaining quality of image formation in the image forming unit;
A second storage unit for storing settings for quality maintenance control for maintaining the quality of image formation in the image forming unit;
A control unit that performs quality maintenance control based on settings stored in the second storage unit;
The control unit displays a plurality of settings stored in the first storage unit on the display unit, and when one setting is selected by the operation unit from the displayed plurality of settings, the second unit The setting stored in the storage unit is changed to the selected setting, and when any setting is specified by the operation unit, the setting stored in the second storage unit is changed to the setting specified by the operation unit. To
Image forming apparatus.
[2]
Each setting stored in the second storage unit includes either an elapsed time or the number of prints as an implementation condition of the quality maintenance control.
The image forming apparatus according to Appendix [1].
[3]
The quality maintenance control is at least one of image quality maintenance control for maintaining the image quality of individual images and alignment control for adjusting the accuracy of registration of a plurality of images.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of [1] and [2].
[4]
The plurality of settings stored in the second storage unit are settings in which the frequency of executing the quality maintenance control is a plurality of stages.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of appendices [1] to [3].
[5]
The control unit accepts designation of any setting in the maintenance mode, and changes the setting stored in the second storage unit to the setting designated by the operation unit.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of appendices [1] to [4].

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Scanner, 2 ... Printer, 4 ... Operation panel, 4a ... Display part, 4b ... Touch panel (operation part), 5 ... Control part, 10 ... Digital compound machine, 25Y, 25M, 25C, 25K ... Image formation part, 27 ... intermediate transfer belt, 41 ... panel CPU, 51 ... system CPU, 61 ... printer CPU (control section), 64 ... NVM, 64a ... table (first storage section), 64b ... table (second storage section).

Claims (5)

A display unit;
An operation unit;
An image forming unit for forming an image on a medium;
A first storage unit that stores a plurality of settings for quality maintenance control for maintaining quality of image formation in the image forming unit;
A second storage unit for storing settings for quality maintenance control for maintaining the quality of image formation in the image forming unit;
A control unit that performs quality maintenance control based on settings stored in the second storage unit;
The control unit displays a plurality of settings stored in the first storage unit on the display unit, and when one setting is selected by the operation unit from the displayed plurality of settings, the second unit Change the setting stored in the storage section to the selected setting,
It said quality maintenance control is a positioning control to adjust the accuracy of the alignment of the image quality maintenance control and multiple images to maintain the image quality of each image,
Each setting stored in the second storage unit includes the number of printings in one of the image quality maintenance control and the alignment control, and the other execution condition includes an elapsed time.
Image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each setting stored in the second storage unit includes the number of prints as an execution condition of the image quality maintenance control, and the execution condition of the alignment control includes an elapsed time.   2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each setting stored in the second storage unit includes an elapsed time as an execution condition of the image quality maintenance control, and the execution condition of the alignment control includes the number of prints.   3. The image formation according to claim 1, wherein, when an arbitrary setting is designated by the operation unit, the control unit changes a setting stored in the second storage unit to a setting designated by the operation unit. 4. apparatus. The plurality of settings stored in the second storage unit are settings in which the frequency of executing the quality maintenance control is a plurality of stages.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.