JP6673069B2 - Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and image forming control program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and an image forming control program capable of adjusting image quality in real time during output of a job.

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus, there is a technique of reading a patch output outside a frame of an output image of a job by an inline sensor and performing tone correction or the like in real time (hereinafter referred to as real-time adjustment).
When printing is performed by an image forming apparatus, printing may be performed on a sheet larger than an output image, and unnecessary portions may be cut using a trimming machine to generate a final output product. In real-time adjustment, a patch such as a tone patch is printed on all pages in the margin area to be trimmed, read by an image sensor such as a CCD mounted on a post-processor, and a correction value is calculated. Is applied to the image being printed to stabilize the color of the image forming apparatus.
In the transfer medium P shown in FIG. 3, an area required as a final output is an oblique image area, and an area other than the image area is an area that is cut.
For example, the tone correction value can be calculated by dividing the patch into two patches of YMCK and RGBPb (Pb = YMC superimposed black) and repeatedly printing the patch in the patch area. In this case, at least two pieces of data are required for the calculation of the gradation correction.
For example, Patent Literature 1 describes an image forming apparatus that reads a test image formed on a recording medium with an inline sensor, and performs color calibration based on the read test image.

JP 2005-266212 A

By the way, since the correction value is calculated after the image is read, it is impossible to draw the first few sheets of the job with the calculated correction value.
In some cases, a tone correction value is calculated by repeatedly printing two YMCK and RGBPb (Pb = YMC superimposed black) tone patches and printing them repeatedly. In this case, the tone correction calculation is performed. Requires at least two pieces of data, and the application of the correction value is further delayed.
On the other hand, before the start of the real-time adjustment job, a dedicated adjustment chart is interrupted, and the correction value is calculated before the start of the job, whereby the correction value can be applied from the first page of the job. There is a problem in that the dedicated adjustment chart becomes scrap paper.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and an image forming control program that enable early application of image quality adjustment in a job that performs real-time adjustment. Is one of the objectives.

That is, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, a first mode is an image forming unit that forms an image and prints the image on a transfer medium,
A control unit that manages a job and controls image formation in the image forming unit,
The control unit prints an adjustment image on the transfer medium to obtain a read result of the adjustment image during job output for printing an image on the transfer medium based on a job in the image forming unit, A real-time adjustment function for adjusting the image quality of an image formed by the image forming unit based on the read result in real time;
When the job that does not perform the real-time adjustment and the job that performs the real-time adjustment are continuous to the execution job, the adjustment result is printed by printing an adjustment image on the transfer medium with the job that does not perform the real-time adjustment, and the reading result is obtained. An image forming apparatus, wherein the image quality adjustment is applied to a job that performs real-time adjustment based on the image quality adjustment.

  According to another aspect of the invention of the image forming apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the control unit prints the adjustment image on a transfer medium on which the job is printed and outside a print area of the job. It is characterized by.

  According to another aspect of the invention of the image forming apparatus, in the invention of the above aspect, the adjustment image is formed at a cutting margin.

  In another aspect of the invention of the image forming apparatus, in the invention of the aspect, the control unit does not perform the real-time adjustment when the execution job includes a job that does not perform the real-time adjustment after the job that performs the real-time adjustment. The job is switched as a preceding job of the job for which real-time adjustment is performed.

  In another aspect of the invention of the image forming apparatus according to the invention of the aspect, the control unit prints an adjustment image in a job that does not perform the real-time adjustment so that the real-time adjustment can be performed from the first page of the job that performs the real-time adjustment. Is performed.

  In another aspect of the invention of the image forming apparatus according to the invention of the above aspect, the control unit reads the adjustment image and adjusts the number of transfer media until the image quality of the image can be adjusted as the number of delays in real time. When the remaining number of sheets of the previous job that does not perform the adjustment is equal to or greater than the delay number, an adjustment image is printed on the transfer medium in the previous job that does not perform the real-time adjustment.

  According to another aspect of the invention of the image forming apparatus, in the invention of the above aspect, the control unit prints an adjustment image on a transfer medium of the remaining number of the delayed sheets in a previous job without performing real-time adjustment. If there is a transfer medium for which adjustment is not possible, the number of remaining transfer sheets is changed to the remaining number by adding the number of transfer mediums on which the adjustment image cannot be printed.

  According to another aspect of the invention of the image forming apparatus, in the invention of the aspect, the control unit cannot print an adjustment image among the remaining number of the delayed sheets in a previous job that does not perform real-time adjustment. If there is a number of transfer media, print the adjustment image using a job that does not perform real-time adjustment, print the adjustment image using a job that performs real-time adjustment, and use the read result of a job that spans multiple jobs. In addition, the image quality is adjusted by real-time adjustment.

  According to another aspect of the invention of the image forming apparatus, in the invention of the above aspect, the control unit predicts a transfer medium on which the adjustment image cannot be printed in the previous job and obtains the number of the transfer medium. .

  According to another aspect of the invention of the image forming apparatus, in the invention of the above aspect, the preceding job is one or more jobs.

  According to another aspect of the invention of the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus according to the above aspect further includes an image reading unit that reads an image printed on a transfer medium.

In the image forming method according to the first aspect of the present invention, the image forming unit prints an adjustment image on a transfer medium during job output for printing an image on a transfer medium based on a job and outputs the adjustment image. An image forming method having a real-time adjustment function of acquiring a reading result and adjusting the image quality of an image formed by the image forming unit based on the reading result in real time,
When a job that does not perform the real-time adjustment and a job that performs the real-time adjustment are continuous in the execution job, the adjustment image is printed on the transfer medium by the job that does not perform the real-time adjustment to obtain a read result, and the real-time adjustment is performed. The image quality adjustment is applied to a job.

A first embodiment of the image forming control program according to the present invention is an image forming control program executed by a control unit that controls an image forming apparatus,
During output of a job for printing an image on a transfer medium based on a job in an image forming unit provided in the image forming apparatus, control for printing an adjustment image on the transfer medium and acquiring a read result of the adjustment image is performed. An image acquisition step for adjustment to be performed;
Real-time adjustment step of adjusting the image quality of an image formed by the image forming unit based on the read result in real time,
When a job that does not perform the real-time adjustment and a job that performs the real-time adjustment are continuous in the execution job, the adjustment image is printed on the transfer medium by the job that does not perform the real-time adjustment to obtain a read result, and the real-time adjustment is performed. The method includes a step of applying image quality adjustment to a job.

  That is, according to the present invention, there is an effect that the image for adjustment is printed in a job in which real-time adjustment is not performed, and the image quality can be adjusted early in a job in which real-time adjustment is performed based on the read result.

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a mechanical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a control block according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a sheet on which a patch image is printed. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating reading of an adjustment image and drawing of an image when performing real-time adjustment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating printing of an adjustment image in a job in which real-time adjustment is not performed and a job in which real-time adjustment is performed according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the process shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 14 is a diagram for describing job replacement in another embodiment. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing when a job is interchanged. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating printing of an adjustment image in a job that does not perform real-time adjustment and a job that performs real-time adjustment in another embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a job in which real-time adjustment is not performed and printing of an adjustment image in a job in which real-time adjustment is performed in another embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a job in which real-time adjustment is not performed and printing of an adjustment image in a job in which real-time adjustment is performed in another embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the procedure of a process in FIGS.

An embodiment of the image forming apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic structure of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment.
The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a large-capacity sheet feeding device 40 having a large-capacity sheet feeding stage from the upstream side along the sheet conveyance direction, an apparatus main body 10, a reading device 20, and a post-processing device 30. Each device is connected in series in the paper transport direction. The large-capacity paper feeding device 40 can feed paper to the apparatus main body 10.
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that these devices constitute an image forming apparatus. In the present invention, the configuration of the image forming apparatus is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus may be configured by the apparatus main body 10 and the reading apparatus 20. The image forming system may be configured to include the reading device 20, the post-processing device 30, the large-capacity sheet feeding device 40, and the like.

The device body 10 will be described.
An automatic document feeder (ADF) 14 is provided on the upper side of the apparatus main body 10. An image of a document fed by the automatic document feeder (ADF) 14 can be read by the scanner unit 130 shown in FIG. The original can be read on a platen glass (not shown).

  An operation unit 140 is further arranged on the upper side of the apparatus main body 10. The operation unit 140 has a touch panel type LCD 141, and the LCD 141 can display information and accept operations. The operation unit may be configured by a mouse, a tablet, or the like, and may be configured separately from the display unit. Further, the LCD 141 may be movable.

  On the lower side of the apparatus main body 10, a main body paper feeding section 12 is arranged. The main body paper feed section 12 has a plurality of main body paper feed stages for storing and feeding paper. The large-capacity paper feeder 40 attached to the apparatus main body 10 has a plurality of large-capacity paper feed stages, stores paper, and supplies the paper to the main body 10. The paper corresponds to the transfer medium of the present invention. The transfer medium is not limited to paper, but may be cloth or plastic.

A transport path 13 is provided inside the apparatus main body 10. The transport path 13 is for transporting the paper fed from the main body paper feed unit 12 or the large capacity paper feed device 40, and is connected to the transport path 23 of the reading device 20.
An image forming unit 11 is provided in the middle of the transport path 13 of the apparatus main body 10. The image forming unit 11 has photoconductors 11a for the respective colors (cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K)). It has an uncharged charger, LD, and developing unit. Further, the image forming unit 11 has an intermediate transfer belt 11b to which an image on the photoconductor 11a is transferred, and a secondary transfer unit 11c for transferring the image on the intermediate transfer belt 11b to a sheet.

A fixing device 11d is disposed on the transport path 13 on the downstream side of the secondary transfer unit 11c.
The image forming unit 11 includes the photoconductor 11a, a charger (not shown), an LD, a developing unit, an intermediate transfer belt 11b, a secondary transfer unit 11c, a fixing unit 11d, and the like. Note that the image forming unit may be one that forms an image in a single color. The image forming unit that can print only a single color may be used.

    Further, the transport path 13 has a reverse transport path 13a branched from the straight side on the downstream side of the fixing device 11d. A downstream transport path 13c branches off from the reverse transport path 13a, and a retreat transport path 13b branches off downstream thereof. The reverse transport path 13a joins the transport path 13 upstream of the image forming unit 11 on the downstream side after the retreat transport path 13b branches off.

When only the face surface is switched, the sheet transported to the reverse transport path 13a is once sent to the retreat transport path 13b, and then travels backward and is sent to the downstream transport path 13c. The downstream transport path 13c joins the transport path 13 on the downstream side in the transport direction, and the paper sent to the downstream transport path 13c is transported downstream through the transport path 13 with the face surface switched. Is done.
When the sheet is reversed and recirculated to the image forming unit 11, the sheet is temporarily sent from the reversing conveyance path 13 a to the retreat conveyance path 13 b, and then reversely moved and sent to the downstream reversing conveyance path 13 a, and the upstream side of the image forming unit 11. To form an image on the back side of the sheet.

  The control unit 100 of the apparatus main body 10 controls the entire image forming apparatus 1 and includes a CPU, programs executed by the CPU, storage units serving as parameters and work areas, and the like.

The reading device 20 is connected to the downstream side of the apparatus main body 10, and the downstream side of the transport path 13 of the apparatus main body 10 is connected to the transport path 23 of the reading device 20.
An image reading unit 24 that reads an image on one side of a sheet and an image reading unit 25 that reads an image on another side are provided in the middle of the transport path 23. The image reading units 24 and 25 read an image on the face surface of the sheet conveyed on the conveyance path 23, and transmit the read result to the control unit 100. The image reading units 24 and 25 may be line sensors, or may be color measuring devices that read images at points. The present invention is not limited to a specific device as long as it can read images. In this embodiment, the configuration has been described as having a configuration capable of reading images on both sides of a sheet. However, a configuration capable of reading an image on only one side may be employed. The reading unit may read images on both sides of the sheet.

The post-processing device 30 is connected to the downstream side of the reading device 20, and the downstream side of the transport path 23 provided in the reading device 20 is connected to the transport path 33 of the post-processing device 30.
The transport path 33 branches and is connected to the first paper discharge unit 31 and the second paper discharge unit 32, and a post-processing unit 34 is provided in the middle of the transport path 33 reaching the second paper discharge unit 32. . The post-processing unit 34 performs a predetermined post-processing. As the post-processing, appropriate processing such as staple, punch, booklet processing and the like can be mentioned. The sheet not subjected to the post-processing is discharged to the first sheet discharging unit 31.
The sheet sent on the transport path 23 is sent to the transport path 33 of the post-processing device 30 and is discharged to the first paper discharge unit 31 without performing post-processing, or the predetermined post-processing is performed by the post-processing unit 34. Then, the paper is discharged to the second paper discharge unit 32. The post-processing unit 34 may perform a plurality of post-processing.

  Although the above embodiment has been described on the assumption that a color image is formed, the image forming apparatus may have a single-color image forming unit.

Next, a control block of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of the image forming apparatus 1 functioning as a digital multi-function peripheral (copier / printer / scanner) according to the present embodiment, and a diagram illustrating a network configuration of the image forming system. In FIG. 2, control configurations other than the apparatus main body 10 are omitted.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a digital copier main body and an image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160. The digital copier main body includes a control block 110, a scanner unit 130, an operation unit 140, and a printer unit 150. An image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160 processes image data input from an external device such as the external device 4 through the LAN 3 or converts image data obtained by the scanner unit 130 into an external device such as the external device 4 through the LAN 3. Enable transfer to device.

Note that the external device 4 may operate as a management device that manages the image forming apparatus 1. The external device 4 includes an external device control unit 400 that controls the external device 4 and a display operation unit 410 that performs a display operation. When the external device 4 is used as a management device, the external device control unit 400 , Corresponds to a control unit that manages the image forming apparatus. Further, the display operation unit 410 may include an operation unit and a display unit individually. The external device control unit 400 includes a CPU, a program executed on the CPU, a storage unit storing operation parameters, and the like. When the real-time adjustment is managed by the external device control unit 400, the program executed by the external device control unit 400 corresponds to the image forming control program of the present invention.
Note that the image forming control program of the present invention may be distributed and moved in a portable storage unit or the like, or may be stored in a storage unit of the external device control unit 400 through a network or the like. It may be.

  The control block 110 has a PCI bus 112 connected to the image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160, and a DRAM control IC 111 is connected to the PCI bus 112. An image memory 120 including a compression memory 121 and a page memory 122 is connected to the DRAM control IC 111. The compression memory 121 is a memory for storing job management information and compressed image data such as originals, and the page memory 122 is a memory for temporarily storing uncompressed image data to be printed before image formation. is there.

  The HDD 127 is connected to the PCI bus 112. The HDD 127 stores jobs and the like generated by the image forming apparatus 1 and the external device 4 connected to the image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160. The HDD 127 can store a plurality of jobs. Each job includes information on the entire job, information on a page basis, image data, and printing conditions. Further, the print conditions of a job may include information such as ON / OFF setting information for real-time adjustment for each job, and information such as the type of paper to be printed.

The control block 110 includes an image control CPU 113, and the DRAM control IC 111 is connected to the image control CPU 113.
The ROM 114 and the nonvolatile memory 115 are connected to the image control CPU 113. The nonvolatile memory 115 stores programs executed by the image control CPU 113, setting data in the image forming apparatus, process control parameters including image forming conditions, and the like.

The non-volatile memory 115 includes a program, data of an adjustment image such as a patch used for image quality adjustment of the image forming unit, information on the number of sheets required for printing the adjustment image, printing of the adjustment image to application of the correction value. And the remaining number of sheets of the job are stored in such a manner that they can be referred to. The data in the nonvolatile memory 115 may be readable and writable.
A part or all of these contents may be stored in the ROM 114, the HDD 127, the RAM, or the like. The nonvolatile memory 115, the ROM 114, the HDD 127, the RAM, and the like in which the above-described setting contents are stored correspond to a storage unit.
The ROM 114 stores a program for causing the image control CPU 113 to execute a predetermined operation in a readable manner. Note that the program may be provided from the outside and stored in a nonvolatile memory, an HDD, or the like. Note that the image forming control program of the present invention may be distributed and moved in a portable storage unit or the like, or may be stored in a storage unit of the external device control unit 400 through a network or the like. It may be.

The image control CPU 113 can read non-volatile data stored in the ROM 114 or the non-volatile memory 115, and may be able to write desired data to the non-volatile memory 115 as non-volatile data. The image control CPU 113 controls the operation of each unit of the image forming apparatus 1 according to the setting data and the like.
The image control CPU 113 controls the entire image forming apparatus 1, and constitutes the control unit 100 of the present invention together with a program stored in the ROM 114 and the nonvolatile memory 115.
The image control CPU 113 performs control for realizing adjustment of the image forming apparatus, acquisition of in-machine information of the image forming apparatus, and the like, in addition to control for obtaining image data and outputting an image.
An IO 128 is connected to the image control CPU 113 so that signals from various sensors in the image forming apparatus 1 can be obtained. For example, the image reading units 24 and 25 obtain image reading results.

  The scanner unit 130 includes a CCD 131 that performs optical reading, and a scanner control unit 132 that controls the entire scanner unit 130. The scanner control unit 132 is connected to the image control CPU 113 so as to be able to perform serial communication. Further, the CCD 131 is connected to a reading processing unit 116 for processing image data read by the CCD 131, a compression IC 118 for compressing image data is connected to the reading processing unit 116, and the compression IC 118 is connected to the DRAM control IC 111 described above. Have been.

  The operation unit 140 includes an LCD 141 having a touch panel, and an operation unit control unit 142 that controls the entire operation unit. The operation unit 140 performs both display and operation, and corresponds to a display operation unit. The operation unit control unit 142 is connected to the image control CPU 113 so as to be able to perform serial communication.

  In the operation unit 140, various settings for each unit of the image forming apparatus 1 are possible, and based on the settings, the image control CPU 113 controls image formation, paper conveyance, and post-processing. Further, in the operation unit 140, settings relating to machine setting input and output such as print settings and operation control conditions in the image forming apparatus 1, setting of paper information (size and paper type) of each paper feed tray, and output mode setting (For example, a normal copy mode and a confirmation copy mode), settings including ON / OFF of real-time adjustment of a job can be performed. Further, the operation unit 140 can display desired information and the like, such as display of setting contents and display of notifications.

  Also, a decompression IC 125 for decompressing the compressed image data is connected to the DRAM control IC 111, and a write processing unit 126 is connected to the decompression IC 125. The write processing unit 126 is connected to the LD 151A (laser diode) of the printer unit 150 and performs processing of write data used for the operation of the LD 151A. The printer unit 150 includes a printer control unit 152 that controls the entire printer unit 150 (paper feeding, image formation, paper ejection, post-processing, and the like). The printer control unit 152 is connected to the image control CPU 113 described above. Have been. The printer control unit 152 operates according to the control command of the image control CPU 113 to control the printer unit 150.

  The DRAM control IC 161 of the image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160 is connected to the PCI bus 112 to which the DRAM control IC 111 is connected. The image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160 receives image data and the like from the external device 4 connected to the LAN 3 in the image forming apparatus 1 when the image forming apparatus is used as a network printer or a network scanner. , And transmits image data acquired by the scanner unit 130 to the external device 4 connected to the LAN 3.

  In the image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160, an image memory (DRAM) 162 composed of a DRAM or the like is connected to the DRAM control IC 161. In the image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160, the DRAM control IC 161, the controller control CPU 163 for controlling the entire image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160, the LAN interface 165, and the HDD 166 are connected to a common bus. And are connected. The LAN interface 165 is connected to LAN3.

Next, a basic operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.
First, a procedure for storing image data in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.
First, the case where the image is read by the scanner unit 130 and the image data is generated in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.
The image control CPU 113 issues a command to the scanner unit 130 based on an operation by the operation unit 140. In the scanner unit 130, the scanner control unit 132 that has received a command from the image control CPU 113 controls the operation of the CCD 131, and the scanner unit 130 optically reads an image from a document using the CCD 131. At this time, the reading of the document may be performed by the automatic document feeder (ADF) 14, or the document may be placed on the platen glass.

  The image read by the CCD 131 is subjected to data processing by a reading processing unit 116, and the image data subjected to the data processing is compressed by a compression IC 118 by a predetermined method and stored in a compression memory 121 via a DRAM control IC 111. When the HDD 127 is used, the image data stored in the compression memory 121 is stored in the HDD 127 via the DRAM control IC 111.

Second, a case where image data is acquired from the outside will be described.
The image data is input to the image forming apparatus 1 via the LAN 3. Examples of the image data include data generated by an application program or the like of the external device 4 and data generated by another image forming apparatus. The data is received by the image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160 via the LAN 3 and the LAN interface 165, and is temporarily stored in the image memory (DRAM) 162 and the HDD 166 by the DRAM control IC 161. The data once stored in the image memory (DRAM) 162 or the HDD 166 is transferred to the DRAM control IC 111 via the PCI bus 112 and temporarily stored in the page memory 122. The data stored in the page memory 122 is sequentially sent to the compression IC 118 via the DRAM control IC 111, subjected to compression processing, and stored in the compression memory 121 via the DRAM control IC 111. When storing the compressed data in the HDD 127, the data stored in the compression memory 121 is stored in the HDD 127 via the DRAM control IC 111.

Next, a case where an image is output in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.
When printing is performed by the image forming apparatus 1, the image data stored in the compression memory 121 is transmitted to the decompression IC 125 via the DRAM control IC 111 to decompress the data. When the image data stored in the HDD 127 is output as an image, the image data is temporarily stored in the compression memory 121 via the DRAM control IC 111 and sent to the expansion IC 125 via the DRAM control IC 111 to expand the data.

  The decompressed data is transmitted to the write processing unit 126 via the DRAM control IC 111 to generate write data, and the LD 151A of the printer unit 150 writes the photoconductor 11a. In the printer unit 150, the printer control unit 152 that has received an instruction from the image control CPU 113 controls each unit such as the main body paper feeding unit 12, the large capacity paper feeding device 40, the transport path 13, and the image forming unit 11. . As a result, in the printer unit 150, image formation, transfer to paper, fixing, transport to the post-processing device 30 via the transport path, post-processing in the post-processing device 30, and the like are sequentially performed, and printout is performed.

  Further, as the image data, data previously stored in a storage unit such as the nonvolatile memory 115 or the HDD 127 can be used. For example, an image such as an image patch for adjustment or an image mark can be read from a storage unit and temporarily stored in an image memory (DRAM), and then an image can be formed on a sheet.

Next, real-time adjustment for performing image quality adjustment during job output will be described.
The image forming apparatus 1 outputs an image for adjustment, such as a patch, while outputting a job, and adjusts image quality based on a read result of the output image in order to prevent a change in a print image over time in the image forming apparatus. It has a real-time adjustment function to perform As items of image quality adjustment, gradation correction, density correction, color unevenness correction, and the like can be performed. Whether or not to perform real-time adjustment can be set for each job. In real-time adjustment setting, not only real-time adjustment ON / OFF, but also real-time adjustment item setting and adjustment cycle setting (each page, predetermined cycle) Etc.) are possible. The setting of the real-time adjustment can be performed through the operation unit 140, and when a job is input from the external device 4, it can be set on the external device side.

Hereinafter, a procedure for performing the real-time correction will be described.
When outputting a job for which real-time adjustment is set, image data of a patch for gradation correction or the like is prepared according to a command from the control unit 100 and stored in the page memory 122. The image data of the patch or the instruction content for generating the image data can be stored in the nonvolatile memory 115 or the like. In this example, tone correction is described as real-time adjustment, but real-time adjustment is not limited to this, and various corrections for adjusting the image forming unit can be performed according to the present invention. It is.

  The image data stored in the page memory 122 is sent to the image forming unit 11, and a patch is printed on a sheet by the image forming unit 11 at each set adjustment cycle during the output of the job. The patch is usually printed outside the image forming area of the job and in a margin area that is finally cut, but is not limited to this. For example, the patch is formed in an area that is not cut. The present invention is not particularly limited as to where the adjustment image is formed. The printing location of the patch is not limited to this, and may be any location that does not affect the output document image. Further, the adjustment image is not limited to a patch, and the shape and the like of the image are not limited to specific ones as long as the image can be used for adjustment.

  The image of the printed patch is read by the image reading units 24 and 25 of the reading device 20. The image reading units 24 and 25 transmit the patch reading result to the control unit 100, and the control unit 100 calculates an adjustment value (correction value) for gradation correction based on the reading result, and the image forming unit 11 prints the adjustment value. Applied to the image. The method of correcting the image quality can be performed by the charging bias of the charging device, the exposure light amount and exposure position of the exposure device, the developing bias of the developing device, the density correction characteristics, and the like. As a result, it is possible to prevent a change in the image during the output of the job and to stabilize the color.

  By the way, in the real-time adjustment, as shown in FIG. 4, the correction value is applied to the sheet passing through the drawing position after the first sheet of the job is read by the image reading units 24 and 25, and thus the correction value is applied. It becomes possible. However, since there is a distance between the image forming unit 11 that prints the patch on the paper and the image reading units 24 and 25 that read the patch, the drawing of the previous paper is performed before the correction value is calculated. Since the correction is completed, it is impossible to apply the calculated correction value, so that a time lag of several sheets occurs after reading the sheet and before applying the correction value. For this reason, in a job for performing real-time adjustment, it is difficult to perform image quality adjustment from the first page.

(Embodiment 1)
Thus, in the first embodiment, when a real-time adjustment OFF job and a real-time adjustment ON job continue, the adjustment image is printed using the real-time adjustment OFF job.
In other words, in the case of executing a continuous job of real-time adjustment OFF (JOB A) ⇒ real-time adjustment ON (JOB B), the job of JOB B may be a job of real-time adjustment ON at the time of loading the job of real-time adjustment ON. I can judge.

As shown in FIG. 5, JOB A has the real-time adjustment OFF, but if the next succeeding JOB B has the real-time adjustment ON and JOB A has a cutting margin, a gradation patch is printed on JOB A, and JOB A is printed. A correction value for B is calculated.
If the calculation of the correction value is completed in JOB A before the start of JOB B, the correction value can be applied from the first sheet of JOB B.
At this time, it is necessary to determine the gradation correction value in JOB A before outputting the first page of JOB B. In the case where there is x delay from reading of the patch portion to application to the image by the image reading unit, at least before the job A [x sheets + the number of sheets required for calculating the correction value] (hereinafter referred to as a delay sheet) By printing the patch, the correction value can be applied from the leading sheet of JOB B. The page on which the adjustment image is printed in JOB A is not limited to a specific page, but it is preferable to print the page including the last page from the viewpoint of understanding the current situation.

The above procedure will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The following procedure is executed under the control of the control unit.
Processing is started by executing the job, and paper is fed.
Next, it is determined whether the job is a gradation correction job, that is, a job for performing real-time adjustment (step s1).
If the job is a tone correction job, that is, a job for performing real-time adjustment (step s1, Yes), an image is formed in the image area, and a patch image is printed on the cutting unit (step s5). Thereafter, it is determined whether the job has been completed (step s6).
If the job is not a tone correction job, that is, a job for which real-time adjustment is not performed (step s1, No), it is determined whether the next job is a tone correction job (step s2).

If the next job is a gradation correction job (step s2, Yes), it is determined whether the remaining output number is a delay number (step s4). If the remaining output number is the delay number (step s4, Yes), an image is formed in the image area and a patch image is printed on the cutting unit (step s5). Thereafter, it is determined whether the job has been completed (step s6).
If the remaining output number is not the delay number (step s4, No), printing is performed on the image area (step s3), and thereafter, it is determined whether the job is completed (step s6).
If the next job is not a gradation correction job in step s2 (step s2, No), printing is performed on the image area (step s3), and thereafter, it is determined whether the job is completed (step s6).

  If the job is not finished (step s6) and the job is not finished (step s6, No), the process proceeds to step s2 to determine whether the next job is a gradation correction job, and repeats the above procedure. If the job has ended (step s6, Yes), the job ends.

(Embodiment 2)
In the above description, the case where the job for which the real-time adjustment is not performed and the job for which the real-time adjustment is performed is continuous. However, there may be a case where the job is performed under different conditions.
For example, in the job shown in FIG. 5, when JOB A has real-time adjustment and subsequent JOB B does not have real-time adjustment, the correction value cannot be applied from the first sheet of JOB A. Therefore, by inserting JOB B before JOB A and outputting JOB B first, the correction value of JOB A can be created by JOB B.
Job replacement is performed when the next job or the next job also has a real-time adjustment when the job A is clogged in the output reservation job list and is waiting for output by a machine WarmingUp or the like. In the case of no adjustment, a job without real-time adjustment can be output first to perform correction.

  FIG. 7 shows an output job list, in which a higher-rank job is output first. Before the job replacement (the left figure), JOB A with real-time correction is in the upper rank (preceding job), and JOB B without real-time correction is in the lower rank (subsequent job). As shown in the figure on the right, JOB B without real-time correction becomes the preceding job, and JOB A with real-time correction is replaced with the succeeding job, and the adjusted image is printed in JOB B as in the first embodiment. Thus, it becomes possible to apply the correction value from the first page of JOB A. Note that the job replacement time is not particularly limited in the present invention. In the above description, the case where JOB A and JOB B are continuous has been described. However, if JOB B is at the subsequent position and there is a JOB with real-time adjustment between JOB A and JOB B, The job may be replaced as a preceding job of JOB A.

The procedure of the job exchange will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The following procedure is executed under the control of the control unit.
At the start of the job output, it is determined whether the job is a gradation correction job (step s10).
If the job is not a gradation correction job (step s10, No), job output is performed (step s14). If the job is a gradation correction job (step s10, Yes), it is determined whether there is a next job (step s11).
If there is no next job (step s11, No), the process proceeds to step s14 to output the job. If there is a next job (step s11, Yes), it is determined whether the next job is a gradation correction job (step s12). If the next job is a tone correction job (step s12, Yes), the process proceeds to step s11 and the determination as to whether there is another next job is repeated.
If the next job is not a tone correction job (step s12, No), a tone correction OFF job, that is, a job for which real-time correction is not performed, is moved as a preceding job of the tone correction job (step s13). Thereafter, a job is output according to the job list (step s14).

After the start of the job output procedure (step s14), it is determined whether the next job is a gradation correction job (step s15).
If the next job is not a tone correction job (step s15, No), an image is formed in the image area (step s18). Thereafter, it is determined whether the job has been completed (step s19).
If the next job is a gradation correction job (step s15, Yes), it is determined whether the remaining output number is a delay number (step s16). If the remaining output number is the delay number (step s16, Yes), an image is formed in the image area, and a patch image is printed as a cutting margin (step s17). Thereafter, it is determined whether the job has been completed (step s19). If the remaining output number is not the delay number (step s16, No), printing is performed on the image area (step s18), and thereafter, it is determined whether or not the job is completed (step s19).

  If the job is not completed (step s19, No), the process proceeds to step s10 to determine whether the job is a gradation correction job, and repeats the above procedure. If the job has ended (step s19, Yes), the job is ended.

(Embodiment 3)
In the above-described embodiments, the adjustment image is printed in the job for which the real-time adjustment is not performed on the remaining number of sheets to be delayed, and the image quality correction can be applied to the first page of the job in which the real-time adjustment is performed. However, this method is based on the premise that a necessary adjustment image can be printed with the remaining number of sheets, which is the number of sheets to be delayed.
However, when a plurality of correction charts (for example, two) are required and a patch cannot be printed in JOB A (a page without a cutting margin, a blank page, or the like), at the start of JOB B, In some cases, the calculation of the correction value cannot be completed because the patch cannot be printed.
Therefore, in order to make it possible to always execute the correction from the beginning of JOB B, the correction can be completed by printing a patch from the y-th page before JOB A (the page obtained by integrating the pages that cannot be printed on the delayed number).

The situation will be described based on the printing state in FIG.
JOB A is a job that does not perform real-time adjustment, and JOB B is a job that performs real-time adjustment. JOB A includes one sheet on which the adjustment image cannot be printed in the remaining number of sheets although the number of delay sheets is given by y-1. In the figure, the adjustment image cannot be printed on the last page. Therefore, if the adjustment image is printed with the remaining number of delay sheets, JOB B will not be able to apply the correction value from the first page due to insufficient reading of the adjustment image for one sheet. Therefore, by adding the number (1) at which the adjustment image cannot be printed to the number of delays (y-1) and setting this as the number of delays y, it is possible to apply the correction value from the first page of JOB B. . Note that the number of pages on which the adjustment image cannot be printed is not limited to one, and in that case, the number of pages is added to the number of delays.

(Embodiment 4)
In the above description, the number of sheets on which the adjustment image cannot be printed in JOB A is estimated to grasp the number of sheets. However, there is a case where the number of sheets to be read is insufficient because a sheet on which an adjustment image cannot be printed cannot be estimated in a job, or a case where the number of sheets required for correction cannot be secured. In such a case, the correction value cannot be applied from the first page of the job for which the real-time adjustment is performed. And the correction value can be applied earlier than when the correction value is applied. That is, real-time adjustment can be performed early by using the image reading result across the jobs.

The above situation will be described based on the printing state of FIG.
In JOB A in which the real-time adjustment is not performed, the number of delays is two, and an adjustment image, in this example, a YMCK image is printed on the cutting unit when the number of delays becomes the remaining number. However, in the remaining number of pages, there is a page on which the adjustment image cannot be printed, in this example, the last page, and there is a shortage of pages on which RGBPb that is further required for applying the correction value is printed. By printing an adjustment image on the first page of JOB B for which real-time adjustment is performed on the missing page, it becomes possible to apply the correction value to JOB B as early as the number of sheets printed by JOB A.

(Embodiment 5)
In the description of each of the above embodiments, the adjustment image is printed in the job immediately before the job for which the real-time adjustment is performed. The adjustment image can be printed over the jobs. Also in the fourth embodiment, similarly, the adjustment image may be printed over a plurality of jobs, and the insufficient number may be printed by JOB B for real-time adjustment.

The situation in the fifth embodiment will be described based on the printing state in FIG.
The jobs before JOB B performing real-time adjustment include JOB A,..., JOB (n−2), JOB (n−1), and JOB (n) not performing real-time adjustment. Here, assuming that the number of sheets required for calculation of the correction value is two and the necessary number of delayed sheets is three (the number of unprintable sheets is added), the adjustment image YMCK is printed in JOB (n-2), and JOB (n-2) is printed. In n-1), the adjustment image RGBPb is printed. JOB (n) cannot print an adjustment image. This makes it possible to apply the correction value to the first page of JOB B.

The procedure in the third to fifth embodiments will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. The following procedure is executed under the control of the control unit.
With the start of job output, the number of delay sheets is set according to the number of charts necessary for adjustment (step s20).
Next, it is determined whether the job is a gradation correction job (step s21). If the job is a gradation correction job (step s21, Yes), an image is printed in the image area, a patch image is formed as a cutting margin (step s26), and it is determined whether the job is completed (step s28). If it is not a gradation correction job (step s21, No), it is determined whether the next job is a gradation correction job (step s22).

If the next job is not a tone correction job (step s22, No), an image is printed in the image area (step s27), and it is determined whether the job is completed (step s28).
If the next job is a tone correction job (step s22, Yes), it is determined whether there is a page for which patch printing is impossible within the number of delayed sheets from the end of the next job (step s23).
If there is a page for which patch printing is not possible (step s23, Yes), 1 is added to the number of delayed sheets (step s24), and the process proceeds to step s25.
If there is no non-patch printable page (step s23, No), the process proceeds to step s25.

In step s25, it is determined whether the number of remaining output sheets is the number of delay sheets. If the remaining output number is not the delay number (step s25, No), an image is printed in the image area (step s27), and it is determined whether the job is completed. If the remaining output number is the delay number (step s25, Yes), an image is printed in the image area, a patch image is formed as a cutting margin (step s26), and it is determined whether the job is completed (step s28).
If it is determined that the job has not ended (step s28) and the job has not ended (step s28, No), the process proceeds to step s21 to determine whether the job is a gradation correction job, and the above procedure is repeated.
When it is determined that the job has ended (step s28, Yes), it is determined whether the number of correction value creation sheets has been reached (step s29).

If the number of correction value creation sheets has not been reached (No in step s29), the number of correction patches in the next job is set for the next job, and an image reading result is obtained across a plurality of jobs (step s30). In addition. If the number of correction batches is not enough in one of the next jobs, a setting is made so that correction patches are printed in a plurality of next jobs. After step s30, the job ends.
If the number of correction value creation sheets has been reached (step s29, Yes), the job ends.

  According to each of the above-described embodiments, it is possible to print the real-time adjustment job reflecting the real-time adjustment from the first page or an earlier page.

  As described above, the present invention has been described based on the above embodiment. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above description, and the content of the above embodiment is not departed from the scope of the present invention. Can be appropriately changed.

1 image forming apparatus 3 LAN
Reference Signs List 4 external device 10 device main body 11 image forming unit 20 reading device 24 image reading unit 25 image reading unit 30 post-processing device 34 post-processing unit 100 control unit 113 image control CPU
115 Non-volatile memory 127 HDD
400 External device control unit

Claims (37)

An image forming unit that forms an image and prints the image on paper,
A control unit that manages a job and controls image formation in the image forming unit,
The control unit prints an adjustment image on the sheet and obtains a read result of the adjustment image during job output for printing an image on the sheet based on a job in the image forming unit, and obtains a read result of the adjustment image. Having a real-time adjustment function to adjust the image formed in the image forming unit based on the real-time,
When executing a job that performs real-time adjustment after a job that does not perform real-time adjustment, prints an adjustment image on the paper with the job that does not perform real-time adjustment, obtains a read result, and performs real-time adjustment based on the read result. An image forming apparatus, wherein the adjustment is applied to a job to be performed.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit prints the adjustment image on a sheet on which the job is printed and outside a print area of the job.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the adjustment image is formed at a cutting margin.   The control unit, if there is a job that does not perform the real-time adjustment after the job that performs the real-time adjustment in the execution job, replaces the job that does not perform the real-time adjustment as a preceding job of the job that performs the real-time adjustment. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:   5. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit prints the adjustment image using a job that does not perform the real-time adjustment so that the real-time adjustment can be performed from the first page of the job that performs the real-time adjustment. 6. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1.   The control unit reads the adjustment image, sets the number of sheets until the image can be adjusted as a delay number, and sets the real-time adjustment when the remaining number of sheets of the previous job not performing real-time adjustment is equal to or greater than the delay number. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein an adjustment image is printed on the sheet in the previous job that does not perform the adjustment.   The control unit is configured to print the adjustment image on the remaining number of sheets in a previous job without performing the real-time adjustment, when there is a sheet on which the adjustment image cannot be printed among the sheets on the remaining number of sheets as the delay number. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the number of remaining sheets is changed to a remaining number obtained by adding the number of sheets.   The control unit, when there is a number of sheets on which the adjustment image cannot be printed out of the remaining number of sheets which is the delay number in the previous job without performing the real-time adjustment, the adjustment image is deleted in the job without performing the real-time adjustment. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein an adjustment image is printed by a job for which real-time adjustment is performed, and adjustment by real-time adjustment is performed based on a read result of a job spanning a plurality of jobs. apparatus.   9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the control unit estimates the number of sheets on which the adjustment image cannot be printed in the previous job and calculates the number of sheets. 9.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the previous job is one or more jobs.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment is an image quality adjustment.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the image quality adjustment includes at least one of gradation correction, density correction, and color unevenness correction.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image reading unit that reads an image printed on a sheet. An image forming unit prints an image on a sheet based on a job, and outputs an adjustment image on a sheet during a job output to obtain a read result of the adjustment image.The image forming unit outputs the adjustment result based on the read result. An image forming method having a real-time adjustment function of adjusting a formed image in real time,
When executing a job for performing the real-time adjustment after a job for which the real-time adjustment is not performed, print the adjustment image on the paper by using the job that does not perform the real-time adjustment, obtain a reading result, and perform the adjustment for the job that performs the real-time adjustment. An image forming method characterized by being applied.   15. The image forming method according to claim 14, wherein the adjustment image is printed on a sheet on which the job is printed and outside a print area of the job.   16. The image forming method according to claim 15, wherein the adjustment image is formed at a cutting margin.   If the execution job includes a job that does not perform real-time adjustment after a job that performs real-time adjustment, the job that does not perform real-time adjustment is replaced with a job preceding the job that performs real-time adjustment. The image forming method according to claim 14.   18. The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the adjustment image is printed using a job that does not perform the real-time adjustment so that the real-time adjustment can be performed from the first page of the job that performs the real-time adjustment. Method.   When the adjustment image is read, and the number of sheets until the image can be adjusted is set as a delay number, and the remaining number of jobs before the real-time adjustment is not performed is equal to or more than the delay number, the real-time adjustment is not performed. 19. The image forming method according to claim 14, wherein an adjustment image is printed on the sheet in a job.   In the previous job without performing the real-time adjustment, if there is a sheet on which the adjustment image cannot be printed on the sheets of the remaining number of sheets as the delay number, a sheet on which the adjustment image cannot be printed on the remaining number of sheets. 20. The image forming method according to claim 19, wherein the number is changed to the remaining number.   If there is a number of sheets on which the adjustment image cannot be printed among the remaining number of sheets which is the delay number in the previous job without real-time adjustment, the adjustment image is printed in the job without real-time adjustment, and the real-time adjustment is performed. 20. The image forming method according to claim 19, wherein an adjustment image is printed by a job to be adjusted, and adjustment is performed by real-time adjustment based on a read result of a job spanning a plurality of jobs.   22. The image forming method according to claim 19, wherein a number of sheets on which the adjustment image cannot be printed in the previous job is estimated and the number of sheets is calculated.   23. The image forming method according to claim 19, wherein the previous job is one or more jobs.   The image forming method according to any one of claims 14 to 23, wherein the adjustment is an image quality adjustment.   The image forming method according to claim 24, wherein the image quality adjustment includes at least one of gradation correction, density correction, and color unevenness correction. An image forming control program executed by a control unit that controls the image forming apparatus,
Adjustment for performing control to print an adjustment image on the sheet and obtain a reading result of the adjustment image during job output for printing an image on a sheet based on a job in an image forming unit provided in the image forming apparatus Image acquisition step;
Real-time adjustment step of adjusting the image formed by the image forming unit based on the read result in real time,
When executing a job for performing the real-time adjustment after a job for which the real-time adjustment is not performed, print the adjustment image on the paper by using the job that does not perform the real-time adjustment, obtain a reading result, and perform the adjustment for the job that performs the real-time adjustment. An image forming control program having an applying step.   27. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 26, wherein the control unit causes the control unit to execute a step of printing the adjustment image on a sheet on which the job is printed and outside a print area of the job.   The image forming control program according to claim 27, wherein the adjustment image is formed at a cutting margin.   If the execution job includes a job that does not perform real-time adjustment after the job that performs real-time adjustment, the control unit performs a step of replacing the job that does not perform real-time adjustment as a preceding job of the job that performs real-time adjustment. The image forming control program according to any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein the program is executed.   30. The control unit according to claim 26, wherein the control unit executes a step of printing an adjustment image using a job that does not perform real-time adjustment so that the real-time adjustment can be performed from the first page of the job that performs real-time adjustment. 9. The image forming control program according to claim 1.   When the adjustment image is read, and the number of sheets until the image can be adjusted is set as a delay number, and the remaining number of jobs before the real-time adjustment is not performed is equal to or more than the delay number, the real-time adjustment is not performed. 31. The image forming control program according to claim 26, wherein the control unit causes the control unit to execute a step of printing an adjustment image on the sheet in a job.   In the previous job without performing the real-time adjustment, if there is a sheet on which the adjustment image cannot be printed on the sheets of the remaining number of sheets as the delay number, a sheet on which the adjustment image cannot be printed on the remaining number of sheets. 32. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 31, wherein the control unit causes the control unit to execute a step of changing the remaining number of sheets to the remaining number of sheets.   If there is a number of sheets on which the adjustment image cannot be printed among the remaining number of sheets which is the delay number in the previous job without real-time adjustment, the adjustment image is printed in the job without real-time adjustment, and the real-time adjustment is performed. 32. The control unit according to claim 31, wherein the control unit prints an adjustment image in a job to be adjusted, and causes the control unit to perform an adjustment by real-time adjustment based on a read result of the job spanning a plurality of jobs. Image forming control program. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 31 to 33, further comprising: causing the control unit to execute a step of predicting a sheet on which the adjustment image cannot be printed in the previous job and calculating the number of sheets. Control program. The image forming control program according to any one of claims 31 to 34 , wherein the previous job is one or two or more jobs. The image forming control program according to any one of claims 26 to 35 , wherein the adjustment is an image quality adjustment.   The image forming control program according to claim 36, wherein the image quality adjustment includes at least one of gradation correction, density correction, and color unevenness correction.

Images