JP6658200B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

Conventionally, a tone patch (adjustment patch) for colorimetry is formed on paper, and an image is formed in accordance with a read value obtained by reading the adjustment patch by a colorimeter (colorimeter) provided in the apparatus. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known an image forming apparatus that changes a forming condition or the like and performs color matching of the apparatus in real time.
As an example, as shown in FIG. 10, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, there is a technique in which color adjustment is performed in real time by forming an adjustment patch G10 in a margin E2 (for example, a cutting margin) outside the effective image area E1 of the sheet. It is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1). According to the technique described in Patent Literature 1, since color matching can be performed while forming a desired image J10 in the effective image area E1, a decrease in productivity can be suppressed.

JP 2011-197342 A

  However, the technique described in Patent Document 1 has a problem that if there is no sufficient margin outside the effective image area E1, an adjustment patch cannot be formed, so that color matching cannot be performed in real time.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of performing an image-related adjustment without lowering the productivity even when a sheet does not have a sufficient margin.

The invention described in claim 1 has been made to achieve the above object,
An image forming unit that forms an image on paper;
An image reading unit that reads an image formed on the sheet by the image forming unit,
An adjustment unit configured to perform adjustment related to an image formed by the image forming unit based on the image read by the image reading unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising:
Area determination for determining an area in which an image is formed by the image forming unit and becomes invisible after sheet processing by a sheet processing unit that performs predetermined sheet processing on a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit Department and
An image setting unit configured to set a type of an adjustment image for performing the adjustment related to the image based on the region determined to be invisible by the region determination unit and the type of the sheet processing;
An image forming control unit that controls the image forming unit to form the adjustment image of the type set by the image setting unit in an area determined to be invisible by the area determining unit.
With
The adjustment unit may perform adjustment on the image based on the adjustment image read by the image reading unit.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1,
Based on the image formed by the image forming unit and the sheet processing performed by the sheet processing unit, a position at which the adjustment image is formed is calculated from the regions determined to be invisible by the region determining unit. An image position calculator is provided,
The image formation control unit may form the adjustment image at the position calculated by the image position calculation unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first or second aspect ,
The paper processing unit performs a case binding process on the paper on which the image is formed,
The area determination unit may determine the area of the spine as an area that becomes invisible after the case binding process.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects,
The paper processing unit performs saddle stitching processing for performing square back formation on the paper on which the image is formed,
The area determination unit may determine the area having the corner spine as an area that becomes invisible after the saddle stitching processing for performing the square spine formation.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects,
The paper processing unit performs a multi-hole punching process on the paper on which the image is formed,
The area determination unit determines an area where a punched hole is formed as an area that becomes invisible after the multi-hole punching process.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects,
The paper processing unit performs crease processing on the paper on which the image is formed,
The area determination unit determines an area to be creased as an area that is invisible after the crease processing.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects,
The paper processing unit performs saddle stitching processing that does not perform square back formation on the paper on which the image is formed,
The area determination unit may determine an area to be a fold as an area that is invisible after a saddle stitching process that does not perform the square spine formation.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to adjust an image in real time even when there is not enough blank space on a sheet.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating a control structure of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the image forming apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a table for managing post-processing and a correspondence relationship between an output setting of the post-processing and an adjustment patch. It is a conceptual diagram of the adjustment patch formation process when the case binding process is set. It is a conceptual diagram of the adjustment patch formation process when the saddle stitching process which implements square back formation is set. It is a conceptual diagram of the adjustment patch formation processing when the multi-hole punch processing is set. It is a conceptual diagram of the adjustment patch formation process when the crease process is set. It is a conceptual diagram of the adjustment patch formation process in the case where the saddle stitching process which does not perform square back formation is set. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conventional technique for forming an adjustment patch in a margin of a sheet.

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

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an image forming apparatus main body 100, an image reading apparatus 200, and four image forming apparatus main bodies 100 and the image reading apparatus 200 connected in series. The post-processing apparatus (paper processing unit), specifically, includes a case binding apparatus FN1, a saddle stitching apparatus FN2, a multi-hole punch apparatus FN3, and a crease apparatus FN4.

The image forming apparatus main body 100 forms a color image by an electrophotographic method based on image data obtained by reading an image from a document or image data received from an external device 2 (see FIG. 2).
The image forming apparatus main body 100 includes a main body unit 100a and a print controller 100b, and mutually exchanges information with an external device 2 on a network via a LANIF (Local Area Network Interface) 52 of the print controller 1b. It is connected so that transmission and reception can be performed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body unit 100a includes a main body control unit 10, an operation display unit 20, a scanner unit 30, and a printer unit 40.

  The main body control unit 10 includes an image control CPU 11, a nonvolatile memory 12, a read processing unit 13, a compression IC 14, a DRAM control IC 15, an image memory 16, a decompression IC 17, and a write processing unit 18. Have been.

The image control CPU 11 reads out various programs stored in the non-volatile memory 12 and the like based on an operation signal output from the operation display unit 20, develops the programs on a RAM (not shown), and cooperates with the developed programs. Various processes are executed by the operation to control each unit of the image forming apparatus 1.
The nonvolatile memory 12 is configured by a nonvolatile semiconductor memory capable of reading and writing data, and stores various programs and various data related to the image forming apparatus 1.

The reading processing unit 13 performs analog processing, shading processing, A / D conversion processing, and the like on an analog image signal output from the scanner unit 30 (CCD 32) to generate digital image data. The reading processing unit 13 outputs the generated image data to the compression IC 14.
The compression IC 14 performs a compression process on the image data output from the reading processing unit 13 and then outputs the image data to the DRAM control IC 15.

  The DRAM control IC 15 controls the compression processing of the image data by the compression IC 14 and the expansion processing of the compressed image data by the expansion IC 17 based on the control of the image control CPU 11 and controls the input and output of the image data to and from the image memory 16. . For example, when the storage of the image data read by the scanner unit 30 is instructed, the DRAM control IC 15 causes the compression IC 14 to execute the compression processing of the image data output from the reading processing unit 13 and converts the compressed image data into an image. The data is stored in the compression memory 16a of the memory 16. When the printout of the compressed image data stored in the compression memory 16a is instructed, the DRAM control IC 15 reads out the compressed image data from the compression memory 16a, causes the decompression IC 17 to execute decompression processing, and stores the data in the page memory 16b. Let it. Further, the DRAM control IC 15 reads out the non-compressed image data from the page memory 16b and outputs it to the write processing unit 18.

  The image memory 16 is composed of a DRAM, and includes a compression memory 16a and a page memory 16b. The compression memory 16a stores compressed image data. The page memory 16b temporarily stores uncompressed image data to be printed before image formation.

The decompression IC 17 performs decompression processing on the compressed image data read from the compression memory 16a, and then outputs the image data to the DRAM control IC 15.
The write processing unit 18 generates print image data for image formation based on the print target image data output from the DRAM control IC 15 and outputs the print image data to the printer unit 40.

The operation display unit 20 includes an operation display control unit 21 and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 22.
The operation display control unit 21 controls the display of the LCD 22 based on an instruction from the image control CPU 11, and outputs an operation signal generated by pressing an unshown operation key group or a touch panel to the image control CPU 11.
The LCD 22 includes a touch panel provided so as to cover the LCD 22, and displays various setting screens, image status display, operation status of each function, and the like on the screen in accordance with an instruction of a display signal output from the operation display control unit 21. Is displayed.

The scanner unit 30 includes a scanner control unit 31 that drives and controls the CCD 32 and a CCD 32.
The scanner unit 30 exposes and scans a document surface placed on a document table (not shown) with a light source, receives reflected light from the document surface, and photoelectrically converts the received reflected light by the CCD 32 to generate an analog image signal. I do. The scanner unit 30 outputs the generated analog image signal to the reading processing unit 13.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer unit (image forming unit) 40 includes a printer control unit 41, an LD (Laser Diode) 42, a photosensitive drum 43, a charger 44, a developing unit 45, The transfer unit 46 includes a transfer unit 46, a fixing unit 47, and paper feed trays 48a to 48c that supply paper.
The printer control unit 41 controls the operation of each unit in the printer unit 40 based on an instruction from the image control CPU 11. For example, the printer control unit 41 forms an image on a sheet based on the print image data output from the writing processing unit 18.

  Specifically, the printer control unit 41 feeds paper from one of the paper feed trays 48a to 48c and conveys the paper along a conveyance path. Next, the printer control unit 41 charges the surface of the photoconductor drum 43 by the charger 44 and irradiates the laser beam to the surface of the photoconductor drum 43 by the LD 42 based on the print image data output from the writing processing unit 18. Thus, an electrostatic latent image is formed. Next, the printer control unit 41 causes the developing device 45 to attach toner to a region including the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 43.

  Next, the printer control unit 41 causes the transfer unit 46 to transfer the toner onto the paper conveyed from any of the paper feed trays 48a to 48c to form an image, and fix the image with the fixing unit 47. Is discharged to the image reading apparatus 200.

When the image forming apparatus 1 is used as a network printer, the print controller 100b manages and controls a print job output from the external apparatus 2 connected to the network to the image forming apparatus 1. The print controller 100b receives data to be printed from the external device 2, and transmits the data as print job data to the main unit 100a.
The print controller 100b includes a controller control CPU 51, a LANIF 52, a DRAM control IC 53, and an image memory 54.

  The controller control CPU 51 generally controls the operation of each unit of the print controller 100b, and outputs image data output from the external device 2 via the LANIF 52 to the main unit 100a as a print job.

  The LANIF 52 is a communication interface for connecting to a LAN such as a NIC (Network Interface Card) or a modem, and receives image data to be printed from the external device 2 via a network. The LANIF 52 outputs the received image data to the DRAM control IC 53.

  The DRAM control IC 53 controls storage of image data received via the LANIF 52 in the image memory 54 and reading of image data from the image memory 54. The DRAM control IC 53 is connected to the DRAM control IC 15 of the main body control section 10 of the main body section 100a by a PCI (Peripheral Components Interconnect) bus, and stores image data to be printed in the image memory 54 in accordance with an instruction from the controller control CPU 51. And outputs it to the DRAM control IC 15.

  The image memory 54 is constituted by a DRAM, and temporarily stores input image data.

  The external device 2 generates print job data to be printed by a user operation or the like, and transmits the data to the image forming apparatus 1 via a network. In addition, as the external device 2, for example, a portable device such as a PC, a server device, and a PDA can be applied.

The image reading device 200 includes an image reading control unit 201 and an image reading unit 202.
The image reading control unit 201 generally controls the operation of each unit of the image reading device 200, and outputs the image data read by the image reading unit 202 to the printer control unit 41 (image control CPU 11).

One image reading unit 202 is arranged on each of the back side and the front side of the sheet with the sheet conveyance path interposed therebetween. The image reading unit 202 is a color sensor that receives light emitted from a light source and reflected on the surface of a sheet by a light receiving element and outputs a signal corresponding to the intensity of the light. The image reading unit 202 may be configured by a line sensor in which a plurality of light receiving elements are arranged at a predetermined interval in a direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction, or may be configured only in a predetermined area in a direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction. May be read.
The image reading unit 202 reads an image on a sheet on which an image has been formed by the printer unit 40, and outputs the read image data to the image reading control unit 201.

  The case binding apparatus FN1 performs case binding processing on the sheet conveyed from the image reading apparatus 200 as necessary, and discharges the sheet to the next saddle stitching apparatus FN2. More specifically, if the execution of the case binding process is set for the print job, the case binding device FN1 performs the case binding process, and then discharges it to the saddle stitching device FN2. On the other hand, if the execution of the case binding process is not set for the print job, the case binding device FN1 does not perform the case binding process, and discharges it to the saddle stitching device FN2 as it is.

  The saddle stitching apparatus FN2 performs saddle stitching processing on the sheet conveyed from the case binding apparatus FN1 as necessary, and discharges the sheet to the next multi-hole punching apparatus FN3. Specifically, when execution of the saddle stitching process is set in the print job, the saddle stitching device FN2 performs the saddle stitching process, and then discharges the print job to the multi-hole punching device FN3. On the other hand, when the execution of the saddle stitching process is not set in the print job, the saddle stitching device FN2 does not perform the saddle stitching process and directly discharges the print job to the multi-hole punching device FN3.

  The multi-hole punching device FN3 performs a multi-hole punching process on the sheet conveyed from the saddle stitching device FN2 as necessary, and discharges the sheet to the next crease device FN4. Specifically, when the execution of the multi-hole punching process is set in the print job, the multi-hole punching device FN3 performs the multi-hole punching process and then discharges the print job to the crease device FN4. On the other hand, when execution of the multi-hole punching process is not set in the print job, the multi-hole punching device FN3 does not perform the multi-hole punching process, and discharges the print job to the crease device FN4 as it is.

The crease device FN4 performs crease processing on the sheet conveyed from the multi-hole punch device FN3 as necessary, and discharges the sheet to the discharge tray TR. Specifically, when execution of the crease processing is set in the print job, the crease device FN4 performs the crease processing and then discharges the sheet to the discharge tray TR. On the other hand, if the execution of the crease processing is not set in the print job, the crease device FN4 does not perform the crease processing and discharges the sheet to the discharge tray TR without any processing.
The above-described post-processing devices FN1 to FN4 are controlled by the image control CPU 11. In FIG. 2, for the sake of explanation, the illustration of each of the post-processing devices FN1 to FN4 is omitted.

  Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

  First, the image control CPU 11 receives image data (step S101). Specifically, the image control CPU 11 stores the image data read by the scanner unit 30 (CCD 32) in the compression memory 16a via the read processing unit 13, the compression IC 14, and the DRAM control IC 15. Further, the image control CPU 11 stores the image data to be printed transmitted from the external device 2 via the network in the compression memory 16a via the LANIF 52, the image memory 54, the DRAM control IC 53 and the DRAM control IC 15.

Next, the image control CPU 11 sets a post-process for the image data received in step S101 (step S102). Specifically, the image control CPU 11 obtains information such as image forming conditions set by a user operation on the operation display unit 20 for image data read by the scanner unit 30 and performs setting related to post-processing. Create information. The image control CPU 11 stores the created setting information in a RAM (not shown). The image control CPU 11 also stores information such as image forming conditions transmitted from the external device 2 with the image data to be printed, via the LANIF 52, the image memory 54, the DRAM control IC 53, and the DRAM control IC 15. 16b.
The image control CPU 11 can set post-processing to be performed on a sheet on which an image based on the image data received in step S101 is formed by the processing in step S102 described above.

  Next, based on the image data received in step S101 and the post-processing set in step S102, the image control CPU 11 performs post-processing by the post-processing devices FN1 to FN4 in an area where an image is formed by the printer unit 40. An area that cannot be visually recognized later is determined (step S103). That is, the image control CPU 11 functions as an area determination unit of the present invention.

  Next, the image control CPU 11 sets the type of an adjustment patch (adjustment image) for performing an adjustment related to the image based on the area determined to be invisible in step S103 (step S104). That is, the image control CPU 11 functions as an image setting unit of the present invention.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a table T1 for managing the post-processing and the correspondence between the output settings of the post-processing and the adjustment patches. The table T1 is created in advance and stored in the nonvolatile memory 12 or the like. The table T1 has fields of “post-processing T11” indicating the post-processing name, “output setting T12” indicating the output setting of the post-processing T11, and “adjustment patch type T13” indicating the type of the adjustment patch. For example, FIG. 4 shows an example of a table T1 including a record or the like in which the post-processing T11 “case binding” and the output setting T12 “spine width (large)” are associated with the adjustment patch type T13 “real-time adjustment patch”. Have been. From the first record of the table T1, if "case binding processing" is set as the post-processing T11 in step S102 and "spine width (large)" is set as the output setting T12, the adjustment set in step S104. It can be read that the patch type T13 is a “real-time adjustment patch”.

  Next, based on the image data received in step S101 and the post-processing set in step S102, the image control CPU 11 calculates a position where an adjustment patch is to be formed in an area determined to be invisible in step S103. (Step S105). That is, the image control CPU 11 functions as an image position calculation unit of the present invention.

  5 to 9 are conceptual diagrams of processing for forming an adjustment patch based on the set post-processing. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram when the case binding process is set. FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram in a case where the saddle stitching processing for performing the corner spine formation is set. FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram when the multi-hole punching process is set. FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram when the crease processing is set. FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram in a case where the saddle stitching process in which the square back formation is not performed is set.

  For example, when “case binding processing” is set as the post-processing T11, the image control CPU 11 determines the area E11 of the spine as an “invisible area”, and based on the set spine width H11. It is determined whether or not a colorimetric gradation patch (real-time adjustment patch) G1 can be formed. When determining that the real-time adjustment patch G1 can be formed, the image control CPU 11 calculates a position where the real-time adjustment patch G1 is formed, and forms the real-time adjustment patch G1 at the calculated position (see FIG. 5A). On the other hand, when the image control CPU 11 determines that the set spine width H11 is small and the real-time adjustment patch G1 cannot be formed, the adjustment patch (register mark data patch) G2 for confirming the positional deviation in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. Is calculated, and the register mark data patch G2 is formed at the calculated position (see FIG. 5B). The backstrip width H11 is set by a method of automatically setting based on the number of sheets output and the type of paper, or a method of manually setting by operating the operation display unit 20 by a user. Note that J in FIG. 5 indicates an area where image data is formed (the same applies to FIGS. 6 to 9).

  Further, when the “saddle stitching processing for forming a square back” is set as the post-process T11, the image control CPU 11 determines the area E21 of the square back as an “invisible area” and sets the set corner. It is determined whether or not the real-time adjustment patch G1 can be formed based on the back strength (more specifically, the square back width H21 estimated from the square back strength). Specifically, the image control CPU 11 moves from the center position of the sheet in the sub-scanning direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 6) by a half of the square back width H21 when judging the invisible area. The determined area is determined as an invisible area (square dorsal area E21). When determining that the real-time adjustment patch G1 can be formed, the image control CPU 11 calculates a position where the real-time adjustment patch G1 is formed, and forms the real-time adjustment patch G1 at the calculated position (see FIG. 6A). On the other hand, when the image control CPU 11 determines that the set square back strength is weak (that is, the square back width H21 is narrow) and the real-time adjustment patch G1 cannot be formed, the image control CPU 11 calculates the position where the register mark data patch G2 is formed. A registration mark data patch G2 is formed at the calculated position (see FIG. 6B). In addition, Q in FIG. 6 indicates a staple position at the time of saddle stitching.

  Further, when “multi-hole punching” is set as the post-processing T11, the image control CPU 11 determines that the area E31 where the punched hole is formed is an “invisible area”, It is determined whether or not the real-time adjustment patch G3 can be formed based on the size and the number. When determining that the real-time adjustment patch G3 can be formed, the image control CPU 11 calculates a position where the real-time adjustment patch G3 is formed, and forms the real-time adjustment patch G3 at the calculated position (see FIG. 7A). On the other hand, when the image control CPU 11 determines that the set punch hole size is small (or small in number) and the real-time adjustment patch G3 cannot be formed, the image control CPU 11 calculates the position where the register mark data patch G4 is formed, and calculates the position. A registration mark data patch G4 is formed at the position (see FIG. 7B).

  In addition, when the “crease processing” is set as the post-processing T11, the image control CPU 11 determines that the area E41 to be creased (see FIG. 8A) is an “invisible area”. Then, based on the set crease positions H41 to H44 (the crease position is set by the width from the leading edge of the sheet), the image control CPU 11 adjusts the position of the adjustment patch (one position check) in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. The position where the main line patch G5 is formed is calculated, and the single line patch G5 is formed at the calculated position (see FIG. 8B). In the case of the “crease processing”, a real-time adjustment patch cannot be formed because the width of the area E41 to be creased is narrow.

  In addition, when the “saddle stitching processing not performing square back formation” is set as the post-processing T11, the image control CPU 11 sets the area E51 (see FIG. 9A) to be a fold as an “invisible area”. Is determined. Here, the fold area E51 is the center position of the sheet in the sub-scanning direction. Then, the image control CPU 11 calculates a position at which the single-line patch G5 is formed in the area E51 to be a fold, and forms the single-line patch G5 at the calculated position (see FIG. 9B). In the case of the “saddle stitching process without forming a square back”, a real-time adjustment patch cannot be formed because the width of the fold area E51 is narrow. Further, Q in FIG. 9 indicates a staple position at the time of saddle stitching.

  Next, in step S106 in FIG. 3, the image control CPU 11 controls the printer unit 40 (printer control unit 41) to move the sheet conveyed along the conveyance path to the position calculated in step S105, in step S104. An adjustment patch of the set type is formed (step S106). That is, the image control CPU 11 functions as an image forming control unit of the present invention.

Next, the image control CPU 11 acquires an image of the adjustment patch read by the image reading unit 202 of the image reading device 200 (Step S107).
Next, the image control CPU 11 adjusts the image based on the image of the adjustment patch acquired in step S107 (step S108). That is, the image control CPU 11 functions as the adjustment unit of the present invention. For example, when the image of the adjustment patch acquired in step S107 is the “image of the real-time adjustment patch”, the image control CPU 11 performs control for adjusting the color of the formed image. Further, when the image of the adjustment patch acquired in step S107 is a “register mark data patch or single line patch”, the image control CPU 11 performs control for adjusting the positional deviation of the formed image.

As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment performs a predetermined sheet process on the sheet on which the image is formed by the image forming unit, in the area where the image is formed by the image forming unit (printer unit 40). An area determining unit (image control CPU 11) that determines an area that cannot be viewed after sheet processing by a sheet processing unit (post-processing devices FN1 to FN4) to be performed, and an image forming unit that is controlled by the area determining unit. And an image forming control unit (image control CPU 11) for forming an adjustment image for performing an image-related adjustment in the area determined to be. Further, the adjustment unit performs an adjustment on the image based on the adjustment image read by the image reading unit.
Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, since the adjustment image can be formed in the effective image area of the image, the productivity is reduced even when the paper does not have a sufficient margin. The adjustment relating to the image can be performed without the need.

Further, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an image setting unit (image control CPU 11) that sets the type of the adjustment image based on the region determined to be invisible by the region determination unit. Further, the image formation control unit causes the adjustment image of the type set by the image setting unit to be formed.
Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, it is possible to flexibly select an adjustment image based on post-processing performed later, so that a reduction in productivity can be more reliably suppressed. it can.

In addition, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment adjusts an area among the areas determined to be invisible by the area determination unit based on the image formed by the image forming unit and the sheet processing performed by the sheet processing unit. An image position calculation unit (image control CPU 11) for calculating a position at which a use image is formed is provided. Further, the image formation control unit causes the adjustment image to be formed at the position calculated by the image position calculation unit.
Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the adjustment image can be formed at the optimum position based on the post-processing performed later, so that the image adjustment can be performed with high accuracy. it can.

Further, according to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the sheet processing unit performs the case binding process on the sheet on which the image is formed. In addition, the area determination unit determines the area of the spine as an area that becomes invisible after the case binding process.
Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the adjustment image can be formed without adversely affecting the output after the case binding process, and the types of post-processing that can be performed at the same time are increased. It is possible to make adjustments regarding the image while performing the adjustment.

Further, according to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the sheet processing unit performs the saddle stitching processing for forming the square back on the sheet on which the image is formed. In addition, the area determination unit determines the area having the corner spine as an area that cannot be visually recognized after the saddle stitching processing for forming the corner spine.
Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the adjustment image can be formed without adversely affecting the output product after the saddle stitching processing for performing the square spine formation. Adjustments relating to images can be performed while increasing the types of post-processing.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the sheet processing unit performs the multi-hole punching process on the sheet on which the image is formed. In addition, the area determination unit determines an area where a punch hole is formed as an area that is invisible after multi-hole punching.
Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the adjustment image can be formed without adversely affecting the output product after the multi-hole punching process. The adjustment relating to the image can be performed while increasing.

Further, according to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the sheet processing unit performs the crease processing on the sheet on which the image is formed. In addition, the area determination unit determines the area to be creased as an area that is invisible after the crease processing.
Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, since the adjustment image can be formed without adversely affecting the output after the crease processing, the types of post-processing that can be performed at the same time can be increased. Adjustments relating to the image can be performed.

Further, according to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the sheet processing unit performs the saddle stitching processing without performing the square back formation on the sheet on which the image is formed. In addition, the area determination unit determines the area to be a fold as an area that cannot be visually recognized after the saddle stitching processing in which the corner spine formation is not performed.
Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the adjustment image can be formed without adversely affecting the output after the saddle stitching processing in which the square back formation is not performed. Adjustments relating to images can be performed while increasing the types of post-processing.

  As described above, the present invention has been specifically described based on the embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be changed without departing from the gist of the invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, as the post-processing device, four devices of the case binding device FN1, the saddle stitching device FN2, the multi-hole punching device FN3, and the crease device FN4 are described as examples, but the invention is not limited thereto. Not something. That is, the post-processing device only needs to include at least one of the above four devices.

  In the above embodiment, the configuration in which post-processing devices (case binding device FN1, saddle stitching device FN2, multi-hole punch device FN3, and crease device FN4) are provided in the image forming apparatus 1 has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can be applied to a configuration in which a post-processing device separate from the image forming device 1 is externally connected to the image forming device 1 having no post-processing device. is there.

  In the above embodiment, the position at which the adjustment image is formed is calculated by the image position calculation unit, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the position at which the adjustment image is formed may be any position as long as it is within the region determined to be invisible by the region determination unit.

When a plurality of post-processes are set for one image data (print job), an adjustment patch may be selected based on the post-process having the highest priority. For example, when the saddle stitching process and the crease process for performing the corner spine formation are set, and the priority order of the crease process is high, a single line patch G5 is formed in the area E41 to be creased. You may.
The priority may be determined each time the user operates the operation display unit 20, or may be determined in advance.
As described above, by determining the priority order, it is possible to select an adjustment patch according to the purpose to be used even when a plurality of post-processings are set.

  In addition, the detailed configuration of each device constituting the image forming apparatus and the detailed operation of each device can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 Image Forming Apparatus 100 Image Forming Apparatus Main Body 100a Main Body 10 Main Body Control Unit 11 Image Control CPU (Area Determination Unit, Image Setting Unit, Image Position Calculation Unit, Image Formation Control Unit, Adjustment Unit)
12 Non-volatile memory 13 Read processing unit 14 Compression IC
15 DRAM control IC
16 Image memory 17 Expansion IC
18 Write processing unit 20 Operation display unit 21 Operation display control unit 22 LCD
30 scanner unit 31 scanner control unit 32 CCD
40 Printer unit (image forming unit)
41 Printer control unit 42 LD
43 photoreceptor drum 44 charger 45 developing device 46 transfer unit 47 fixing devices 48a to 48c paper feed tray 100b print controller 51 controller control CPU
52 LANIF
53 DRAM control IC
54 Image memory 200 Image reading device 201 Image reading control unit 202 Image reading unit FN1 Case binding device (paper processing unit)
FN2 saddle stitching device (paper processing unit)
FN3 Multi-hole punching device (paper processing unit)
FN4 creasing device (paper processing unit)
2 External devices

Claims (7)

An image forming unit that forms an image on paper;
An image reading unit that reads an image formed on the sheet by the image forming unit,
An adjustment unit configured to perform adjustment related to an image formed by the image forming unit based on the image read by the image reading unit;
An image forming apparatus comprising:
Area determination for determining an area in which an image is formed by the image forming unit and becomes invisible after sheet processing by a sheet processing unit that performs predetermined sheet processing on a sheet on which an image is formed by the image forming unit Department and
An image setting unit configured to set a type of an adjustment image for performing the adjustment related to the image based on the region determined to be invisible by the region determination unit and the type of the sheet processing;
An image forming control unit that controls the image forming unit to form the adjustment image of the type set by the image setting unit in an area determined to be invisible by the area determining unit.
With
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment unit adjusts the image based on the adjustment image read by the image reading unit. Based on the image formed by the image forming unit and the sheet processing performed by the sheet processing unit, a position at which the adjustment image is formed is calculated from the regions determined to be invisible by the region determining unit. An image position calculator is provided,
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming control unit causes the adjustment image to be formed at a position calculated by the image position calculating unit. The paper processing unit performs a case binding process on the paper on which the image is formed,
The area determination unit, the area of the spine, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that determination as a region to be invisible after the case binding process. The paper processing unit performs saddle stitching processing for performing square back formation on the paper on which the image is formed,
The region determination unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the region determining unit determines the region having the corner dorsal shape as a region that becomes invisible after the saddle stitching process that performs the corner dorsal formation. Image forming device. The paper processing unit performs a multi-hole punching process on the paper on which the image is formed,
The area determination unit, the region in which punch holes are formed, the image forming according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the determining a region to be invisible after the multi-hole punching process apparatus. The paper processing unit performs crease processing on the paper on which the image is formed,
The area determination unit, the region being creases, the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that to determine the area to be invisible after the crease treatment. The paper processing unit performs saddle stitching processing that does not perform square back formation on the paper on which the image is formed,
The region determination unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the region determining unit determines a region to be a fold as a region that becomes invisible after a saddle stitching process that does not perform the square spine formation. Image forming device.

Images