JP6969486B2 - Image forming device and program - Google Patents

Description

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

Conventionally, when a color printer or the like prints, an image having a slightly different hue from the image requested by the user may be printed. The causes include differences in output conditions such as individual differences in the color image output device itself, changes in the environment, and changes over time. When strictly defined colors are required, paper with hue shift (color shift) may become defective printing paper. Therefore, in order to eliminate the color difference and density difference of hard copy (output on paper), many techniques for proofreading the color reproducibility of a printer or the like have been proposed in advance.

In particular, corporate colors used for corporate logos and design marks are highly requested by users, and in that case, it is required to strictly reproduce a specific color specified by the user.

Therefore, there is known an image forming apparatus that detects a color shift of a specific color specified by a user and performs warning or stabilization control (see Patent Document 1). This image forming apparatus prints a plurality of color shift samples in which the hue is subtly changed according to the density centering on a specific color specified by the user in order to set a threshold value at which the user can tolerate the color shift. Determines the threshold by specifying the sample tolerance. As for the plurality of color shift samples when the allowable range is specified, the samples whose hues are slightly changed around a specific color are arranged in a row in order according to the density.

Further, an image forming apparatus is known that prints a color sample including a peripheral color of a specific color and generates correction data from a read image of the color sample in order to perform color correction so that the specific color approaches a target color (. See Patent Document 2). In the color swatch, a color whose brightness is changed from a specific color is arranged in the vertical direction, and a color whose saturation and hue are changed from a specific color are arranged in the left-right direction.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-1049 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-22648

By the way, when a color shift of a specific color occurs due to a difference in output conditions, the color shift actually occurs due to a change in the amount of a color material such as a monochromatic toner constituting the specific color attached to a recording medium. For example, when the specific color is a primary color (eg, magenta 50%), the amount of adhering magenta colorant changes from 50%, resulting in color shift. When the specific color is a secondary color (eg, 50% yellow + 50% cyan), the amount of yellow or cyan adhering material changes from 50% and is mixed, resulting in color shift.

Considering the printing process, only certain monochromatic colorants in secondary colors and above may change. For example, when printing using an electrophotographic process, when the parameters (charge amount of developer, toner concentration, sensitivity of photoconductor) unique to each monochromatic color material change, or when they are attached upstream on the intermediate transfer belt. This is the case when a phenomenon occurs in which the toner is reverse-transferred downstream and returned. Also, considering the printing process, when color shift occurs, other color materials will not be mixed due to changes over time.

The image forming apparatus of Patent Document 1 does not consider the case of secondary colors or more. In the image forming apparatus of Patent Document 2, the sample arrangement is not arranged according to the amount of change of a certain color material. In other words, it is not a sample that takes into consideration actual changes (changes in the monochromatic color materials that make up a specific color).

An object of the present invention is to present a sample of color shift that the user may actually see, and to make it easy for the user to specify an acceptable range.

In order to solve the above problems, the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 is the image forming apparatus.
The first operation unit that accepts the input of a specific color,
An image forming unit that forms an image of image data on paper using multiple coloring materials,
A sample image data including the input specific color sample and a sample in which the input values of the plurality of colorants constituting the specific color are changed from the specific color is generated, and the sample image data is used as the image. A sample image formation control unit that causes the formation unit to form an image,
An image reading unit that reads the paper on which the sample image is formed from the sample image data and acquires the scanned image data of the sample image.
A second operation unit that accepts an input of an allowable range of a sample that is acceptable as the specific color in the formed sample image, and a second operation unit.
A storage control unit that associates the color data of the sample of the scanned image data of the sample image corresponding to the input allowable range with the input specific color and stores it in the storage unit as the allowable range information of the specific color. To prepare for.

The invention according to claim 2 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
A content image formation control unit for forming an image of content image data including the specific color on paper by the image forming unit is provided.
The image reading unit reads the paper on which the content image is formed from the content image data, acquires the scanned image data of the content image, and obtains the scanned image data.
A permissible range determination unit for determining whether or not the specific color portion of the scanned image data of the read content image is within the stored permissible range information of the specific color is provided.

The invention according to claim 3 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 2.
When the specific color portion of the scanned image data of the scanned content image is not within the stored specific color allowable range information, a warning unit for notifying warning information that the specific color is not within the allowable range information. To prepare for.

The invention according to claim 4 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 2 or 3.
The first operation unit accepts an input with a part of the content image data as the specific color.

The invention according to claim 5 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4.
The sample image is a sample of a content partial image including at least a specific color portion of the content image data, and a sample in which the input value of the color material of the specific color portion of the content partial image is changed from the specific color. And include.

The invention according to claim 6 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
The second operation unit accepts an input with one or more samples acceptable as the specific color among the formed sample images as an allowable range.

The invention according to claim 7 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
The sample image formation control unit changes the input value of the input specific color sample and the plurality of color materials constituting the specific color from the specific color, the input value of the color material having an input value equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value. Generate sample image data including the sample.

The invention according to claim 8 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
The sample image formation control unit is arranged along an axis corresponding to each of the input specific color sample and the plurality of color materials constituting the specific color, and is used for information on changes over time of the color material. Accordingly, sample image data including a sample in which the input value of the color material is changed from the specific color is generated.

The invention according to claim 9 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 8.
The information on the change of the coloring material over time is information peculiar to the image forming apparatus.

The invention according to claim 10 is the image forming apparatus according to claim 8 or 9.
It is equipped with a detector that detects environmental information of the image forming apparatus.
The sample image formation control unit responds to the time-dependent change information of the input specific color sample and the plurality of color materials constituting the specific color corresponding to the detected environment information. The sample image data including the sample in which the input value of the color material is changed from the specific color is generated.

The invention according to claim 11 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10.
The storage unit stores historical information of change information of the coloring material over time, and stores the historical information.
The sample image formation control unit of the color material according to the history information of the time-dependent change information of each of the input specific color sample and the stored plurality of color materials constituting the specific color. The sample image data including the sample whose input value is changed from the specific color is generated.

The invention according to claim 12 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11.
It is provided with a receiving unit that receives information on changes in the color material over time from other devices of the image forming apparatus.
The sample image formation control unit sets the input value of the input value of the input specific color and the received input value of the color material according to the change information of each of the plurality of color materials constituting the specific color with time. The sample image data including the sample changed from the specific color is generated.

The invention according to claim 13 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12.
The sample image formation control unit is a sample in which the input values of the input specific color sample and the plurality of color materials constituting the specific color are changed according to the allowable range of the input specific color. And, the sample image data in which the difference between the input values between the samples is made smaller is generated, and the sample image data is formed in the image forming unit to form an image.
The second operation unit accepts the input of the allowable range of the sample acceptable as the specific color among the sample images in which the difference in the input value between the formed samples is small.

The invention according to claim 14 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13.
It is equipped with a third operation unit that accepts the input of the difference in the input value of the color material between the samples of the sample image.
The sample image formation control unit sets the input value of the color material according to the difference between the input value of the input specific color sample and the input values of the plurality of color materials constituting the input specific color. Generate sample image data including samples that have changed from a specific color.

The invention according to claim 15 is the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14.
The sample image formation control unit corresponds to each of a plurality of screens, and includes a sample of the input specific color and a sample in which the input value of each of the plurality of color materials constituting the specific color is changed. Image data is generated, and the sample image data is formed in the image forming unit to form an image.
The second operation unit receives an input of an allowable range of a screen sample that is acceptable as the specific color in the formed sample image.

The program of the invention according to claim 16
Computer,
The first operation unit that accepts the input of a specific color,
An image forming unit that forms an image of image data on paper using multiple coloring materials,
A sample image data including the input specific color sample and a sample in which the input values of the plurality of colorants constituting the specific color are changed from the specific color is generated, and the sample image data is used as the image. Sample image formation control unit that causes the formation unit to form an image,
An image reading unit that reads the paper on which the sample image is formed from the sample image data and acquires the scanned image data of the sample image.
A second operation unit that accepts input of an allowable range of a sample that is acceptable as the specific color among the formed sample images.
As a storage control unit that associates the color data of the sample of the scanned image data of the sample image corresponding to the input allowable range with the input specific color and stores it in the storage unit as the allowable range information of the specific color. Make it work.

According to the present invention, it is possible to present a sample of color shift that the user may actually see, and it is possible to easily specify a range that the user can tolerate.

It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the image forming apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of a main body unit and an image reader. It is a flowchart which shows the tolerance setting process. It is a figure which shows the sample image. It is a figure which shows the sample which arranged in the order of the concentration. It is a figure which shows the sample image in the state which the permissible range is specified. It is a figure which shows the change amount of a monochromatic color material with time. It is a figure which shows another sample image. It is a flowchart which shows the color shift inspection process.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to the illustrated examples.

(Embodiment)
An embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. First, the apparatus configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the main unit 130 and the image reading device 140.

The overall configuration of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. The image forming apparatus 100 is an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral) that forms an electrophotographic color image, but may be another type of image forming apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a print controller 110, a paper feeding unit 120, a main body unit 130, an image reading apparatus 140, and a post-processing apparatus 150.

The print controller 110 receives PDL (Page Description Language) data from a computer terminal or the like as a device on a communication network, rasterizes the PDL data, and generates image data in bitmap format. The print controller 110 generates image data for each of the colors C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black), and outputs the image data to the main unit 130.

The paper feed unit 120 includes a plurality of large-capacity paper feed trays. The paper feed unit 120 conveys paper from the paper feed tray designated by the main body unit 130 to the main body unit 130.

The main body unit 130 forms an image on the paper by the image forming unit 8 based on the image data obtained by scanning the manuscript paper D by the scanner unit 6 or the image data generated by the print controller 110. The main body unit 130 conveys the image-formed paper to the image reading device 140.

The image reading device 140 reads the sample image formed on the paper in the image reading unit 11, and outputs the read image data to the control unit 1 described later. The image reading device 140 conveys the paper on which the image has been read by the image reading unit 11 to the post-processing device 150.

The post-processing device 150 post-processes the paper conveyed from the image reading device 140 and discharges the paper. Examples of the post-treatment include a staple treatment, a punch hole punching treatment, a folding treatment, and a bookbinding treatment. Post-processing is not essential, and the post-processing device 150 executes only when instructed by the main unit 130. If there is no post-processing, the post-processing device 150 discharges the conveyed paper as it is.

Next, the configuration of the main body unit 130 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body unit 130 includes a sample image formation control unit, a storage control unit, a content image formation control unit, a permissible range determination unit, a control unit 1 as a warning unit, and a storage unit 2. An operation unit 3 as a first, second, and third operation unit, a display unit 4, a communication unit 5 as a reception unit, an automatic document transfer unit 61, a scanner unit 6, an image processing unit 7, and an image processing unit 7. It includes an image forming unit 8, a paper feeding unit 131, a correction unit 9, and a detecting unit 10.

The control unit 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. The CPU of the control unit 1 reads out the program stored in the storage unit 2 and expands it into the RAM, and controls each unit of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the expanded program.
For example, the control unit 1 feeds paper by the paper feed unit 120 or the paper feed unit 131 according to the setting of the submitted job, and causes the image forming unit 8 to form an image. Further, when the job setting includes the post-processing setting, the control unit 1 instructs the post-processing device 150 to perform the post-processing.

The storage unit 2 stores programs, files, and the like that can be read by the control unit 1. As the storage unit 2, a non-volatile storage medium such as a hard disk or a flash memory capable of reading and writing can be used. In particular, it is assumed that the storage unit 2 stores an allowable range setting program for performing the allowable range setting process and a color shift inspection program for performing the color shift inspection process.

The operation unit 3 includes an operation key, a touch panel integrally configured with the display unit 4, and outputs operation signals corresponding to these operations to the control unit 1. The user can input instructions such as job settings, processing content settings, and changes via the operation unit 3.

The display unit 4 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays display information such as an operation screen according to an instruction from the control unit 1. The communication unit 5 is composed of a network card or the like, is connected to a communication network such as a LAN (Local Area Network), and transmits / receives information to / from a device on the communication network. The control unit 1 communicates with a device such as a PC (Personal Computer) or another image forming apparatus on the communication network via the communication unit 5.

The automatic document transport unit 61 includes a mounting tray on which the document paper D is placed, a mechanism for transporting the document paper D, a transport roller, and the like, and transports the document paper D to a predetermined transport path under the control of the control unit 1. .. The scanner unit 6 is configured to include an optical system such as a light source and a reflecting mirror, and reads an image of the original paper D transported along a predetermined transport path or the original paper D placed on the platen glass, and reads R (red). ), G (green) and B (blue), image data for each color is generated and output to the image processing unit 7.

The image processing unit 7 corrects the image data input from the scanner unit 6 or the print controller 110 under the control of the control unit 1, performs image processing, and outputs the image data to the image forming unit 8.

The image forming unit 8 forms an image on paper based on the image data output from the image processing unit 7 under the control of the control unit 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 8 includes an exposure unit 81, a photoconductor 82, and a developing unit 83 for each of the four colors C, M, Y, and K as a single color. Further, the image forming unit 8 includes an intermediate transfer belt 84, a secondary transfer roller 85, and a fixing unit 86.

The exposure unit 81 includes an LD (Laser Diode) as a light emitting element. The exposure unit 81 drives the LD based on the image data under the control of the control unit 1, and irradiates the charged photoconductor 82 with a laser beam to expose the photoconductor 82. Under the control of the control unit 1, the developing unit 83 supplies toner onto the photoconductor 82 by a charged developing roller, and develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 82 by exposure. The images formed by the toners of each color on the four photoconductors 82 in this way are sequentially superimposed and transferred from each photoconductor 82 onto the intermediate transfer belt 84. As a result, a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 84. The intermediate transfer belt 84 is an endless belt wound around a plurality of rollers, and rotates according to the rotation of each roller under the control of the control unit 1.

The secondary transfer roller 85 transfers the color image on the intermediate transfer belt 84 onto the paper fed from the paper feed unit 120 or the paper feed unit 131 under the control of the control unit 1. The fixing unit 86 heats and pressurizes the transferred paper for fixing treatment.

Under the control of the control unit 1, the straightening unit 9 corrects the deformation of the fixed paper and flattens the paper surface. Here, the paper is easily deformed by the fixing process, and it is necessary to flatten the paper when reading the reference image. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the straightening section 9 is arranged between the fixing section 86 and the image reading section 11 in the paper transport direction.

The detection unit 10 has a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature inside the machine of the main body unit 130 and a humidity sensor for detecting the humidity inside the machine, and the temperature sensor, the temperature information and the humidity information detected by the humidity sensor are transmitted to the control unit 1. Output.

Next, the configuration of the image reading device 140 will be described. The image reading device 140 includes an image reading unit 11 and a paper transport unit 13.

Under the control of the control unit 1, the image reading unit 11 reads an image formed on the paper conveyed on the transfer path R1 by the paper transfer unit 13 at a predetermined reading position, and outputs the read image data to the control unit 1. do. The image reading unit 11 includes a lighting unit, an optical system, and an image pickup element fixed in the housing of the image reading device 140.

The lighting unit includes a light source such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) or a halogen lamp, and under the control of the control unit 1, illuminates the paper conveyed to the reading position by the image reading unit 11 by the conveying roller. The optical system includes a plurality of mirrors, lenses, and the like, and forms an image of light (image of a reading position) illuminated on paper from an illumination unit on an image pickup device. The image pickup device is composed of a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or the like, and is controlled by the control unit 1 to read an image formed on the paper at a predetermined reading position. The image sensor is a color in-line sensor that can read the entire width range in the width direction of the paper.

Under the control of the control unit 1, the paper transport unit 13 guides the paper on which the image is formed to the reading position in the transport path R1 configured in a substantially linear shape, and the image is read by the image reading unit 11. The paper is guided to the post-processing device 150 in the ejection direction. Under the control of the control unit 1, the post-processing device 150 performs post-processing on the conveyed paper as necessary, and discharges the paper to the output tray E.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 9. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a permissible range setting process. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a sample image 200. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing samples 210, 2111, and 2112 arranged in order of concentration. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a sample image 200 in a state where the allowable range 231 is specified. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the amount of change of the monochromatic coloring material with time. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another sample image 200a. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a color shift inspection process.

As described above, the image forming apparatus 100 expresses an output (printing) color by a combination of four typical monochromatic color materials (toners) of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The image forming apparatus 100 takes a value of 0% -100% for each color material as an input value of a certain color, and assumes that a specific color is expressed by a combination of the percentages of the four types of color materials. ..

It is assumed that the image forming apparatus 100 prints a content image such as a company logo or a design mark, which is required to accurately reproduce a specific color on a printed matter. Before printing, it is necessary for the user to determine the allowable range of a specific color in advance. The specific color is an arbitrary color that is strictly reproduced at the time of printing.

The permissible range setting process is a process of printing sample image data of a specific color and setting a permissible range of the specific color by the user selecting a sample around the printed specific color. In the image forming apparatus 100, for example, when an instruction of the allowable range setting process is input from the user via the operation unit 3, the control unit 1 follows the allowable range setting program stored in the storage unit and has an allowable range. Execute the setting process.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 1 receives a designated input of a specific color from the user via the operation unit 3 (step S11). In step S11, the content image data to be printed later is input in advance via the print controller 110, the communication unit 5, or the scanner unit 6, and the control unit 1 displays the content image data on the display unit 4 and operates the operation unit. It is assumed that a part of the content image displayed by the user via 3 is set as a specific color and the designated input is accepted. It should be noted that a plurality of color samples are displayed on the display unit 4, and the user accepts the selection input of the specific color from the sample via the operation unit 3, or the RGB value of the specific color is received from the user via the operation unit 3. By accepting the numerical input, the designated input of a specific color may be performed.

Returning to FIG. 3, the control unit 1 generates sample image data for setting the allowable range using the specific color input in step S11, and the image forming unit 8 prints the generated sample image data on paper. , The image reading unit 11 reads the image of the image-generated paper and acquires the sample reading image data (step S12). In step S12, for example, it is assumed that sample image data representing the sample image 200 shown in FIG. 4 is generated. In FIG. 4, yellow is represented by hatching that rises to the right, magenta is represented by hatching that falls to the right, and the thickness of the diagonal line becomes thicker as the input amount increases, and the same applies to FIGS. 5, 6, and 8. ..

Here, as an example, it is assumed that the user selects a secondary color of 50% yellow and 50% magenta as a specific color. In that case, there are two types of coloring materials constituting the specific color, yellow and magenta. The sample image for setting the allowable range at that time is the sample image 200. In the sample image 200, a plurality of samples 211 of a combination in which the input value of magenta is changed on the horizontal axis and the input value of yellow is changed on the vertical axis are arranged around the sample 210 of a specific color. In the sample image 200, the difference between the input values of the color materials between the samples 211 in the vertical axis direction or the horizontal axis direction is set to be equal (10%). Further, the sample image 200 has a color material amount 221 as character information of the input value of the color material corresponding to the arrangement of the samples 210 and 211. The amount of color material 221 is expressed as "Y50" and "M50" when, for example, yellow is 50% and magenta is 50%.

Considering the phenomenon of actual color change with time, the color changes due to the change in the amount of the coloring material that constitutes the specific color. Color change over time is a change in color over time when an image is printed (continuously) on paper. In the sample image 200, that is, the sample 211 whose color changes with time is arranged in the direction toward the outside from the sample 210 having a specific color in the center. Further, since only the color material constituting the specific color is changed, it is possible to provide the user with a color combination that can appear when the output condition actually changes.

In the conventional technique, a sample for setting an allowable range is output on the axis of concentration, but in that case, the sample arrangement may not correlate with the actual change over time. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the samples 210, 2111, and 2112 are arranged in the order of low concentration → high concentration. The amount of the coloring material of the sample 210 is 50% yellow and 50% magenta. The amount of coloring material in sample 2111 is 90% yellow and 50% magenta. The amount of coloring material in sample 2112 is 50% yellow and 70% magenta. Regarding the density, sample 2112> sample 2111, but the amount of change in the color input value that correlates with the actual change over time is sample 2112 <sample 2111. Therefore, when the samples are arranged in order of concentration, it becomes difficult for the user to specify the allowable range.

In the sample image 200, the samples 210 and 211 are solid colors, but the sample image 200 is not limited to this. For example, the input value of the color material of the specific color portion of a part or all of the content image including at least the specified specific color portion of the content image of the content image data input in advance in step S11 is changed from the specific color. The content partial image that has been made may be used as a sample. In particular, there may be a need to specify the corporate color used for corporate logos and design marks as a specific color and monitor it. In that case, for example, it is better to print the content image of the corporate logo itself as a sample. It is easy for the user to judge the allowable range.

Further, the sample image may be formed so that the color material to be changed in the sample image is limited to the color material having an input value equal to or higher than a certain threshold value among the color materials constituting the specific color. When a color composed of multiple color materials causes color shift, the degree of influence on the color shift is higher when the input value of the dominant color material is changed due to the large amount among the constituent color materials. it is conceivable that.

In the sample image 200, an example in which the specific color is a secondary color is used, but the present invention is not limited to this. If the amount of change in the input value of a single color material is expressed by a certain axis on the sample image, the same sample image can be applied to a tertiary color or the like. However, it is easier for users to select a limited range of sample options.

The amount of change in the input value of the monochromatic color material to be changed in the sample image may be the amount of change according to the characteristics of the change over time of the color material. It is desirable that the interval of the amount of change in the input value of the color material between adjacent samples of the sample image matches the interval of the actual change over time. An example of such a sample image is shown in FIG. 8 as a sample image 200a. It is assumed that the user selects a secondary color of 50% yellow and 50% magenta as a specific color. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the magenta tends to change more slowly at first and sharply with time than yellow due to the passage of time, the amount of change in the input value of magenta between samples of the sample image. It is preferable to reflect that tendency. In FIG. 7, the horizontal axis represents the elapsed time of printing, the vertical axis represents the amount of change in the coloring material, the solid line is magenta, and the broken line is yellow. In the example of the sample image 200a, the input value of yellow is changed by 10% for the sample 211a as in the sample image 200, whereas the input value of magenta is 5% for the sample 211a which is close to the sample 210a of a specific color. Also, the distant sample 211a is changed by 25%. The time-dependent change information indicating the amount of change in the color material according to the elapsed time of printing may be set in advance, for example, according to the machine-specific tendency of the image forming apparatus 100.

Further, when the amount of change in the input value of the monochromatic color material between the samples to be changed in the sample image is set to the amount of change according to the characteristics of the change over time of the color material, the environment around the machine of the image forming apparatus 100 is changed. The characteristics of the change may be predicted according to the information from the detection unit that collects the information, and the amount of change in the input value of the color material between the samples may be determined. The printing output conditions of the image forming apparatus 100 may be affected by the surrounding environment such as temperature and humidity. For example, in the image forming apparatus 100, the tendency of the time-dependent change information of the image forming apparatus 100 as a machine according to the temperature information and the humidity information is printed by the image forming unit 8 by printing the image data of the coloring material and by the image reading unit 11. By reading the image of the printed paper, it is measured in advance and stored in the storage unit 2. In step S12, the control unit 1 acquires environment information (temperature information and humidity information) detected by the detection unit 10, reads out time-dependent change information according to the environment information from the storage unit 2, and reads out the time-lapse. By determining the difference in the input value of the color material between the samples in the sample image according to the change information, it is possible to generate and print the sample image data according to the time-dependent change information that actually changes in the environment from now on.

Further, when the amount of change in the input value of the monochromatic color material between the samples to be changed in the sample image is set to the amount of change according to the characteristics of the change over time of the color material, the past of the machine of the image forming apparatus 100 The characteristics of the change may be predicted from the history information of the change, and the difference in the input value of the color material between the samples in the sample image may be determined. When there is a characteristic of change in the past, the amount of change of the coloring material may change according to the characteristic. Therefore, in advance, the control unit 1 prints the color image data by the image forming unit 8 and reads the image of the printed paper by the image reading unit 11, and what kind of printing color material changes with time in the past. The time-dependent change history information as to whether or not the image has been printed is acquired and stored in the storage unit 2. Then, in step S12, the control unit 1 can generate and print sample image data according to the time-dependent change history information that actually changes by reading the time-dependent change history information from the storage unit 2 and referring to the information.

Further, when the amount of change in the input value of the monochromatic color material between the samples to be changed in the sample image is set to the amount of change according to the characteristics of the change over time of the color material, the control unit 1 communicates via the communication unit 5. Then, the time-dependent change information of the image forming apparatus as another machine of the image forming apparatus 100 is collected, the characteristics of the change are predicted from the time-dependent change information, and the amount of change of the input value of the coloring material between the samples of the sample image data is predicted. May be determined. For example, when a plurality of image forming devices are operated in the same environment, the same type of machine may change with the same tendency. Therefore, when printing the same sample image, the control unit 1 acquires and refers to the time-dependent change information from the image forming apparatus operating in the same environment, so that the sample is in line with the time-dependent change information that actually changes. Image data can be generated and printed.

In addition, two sample image data are generated, and in the first sample image, the amount of change in the input value between adjacent samples is roughly changed, the user selects an allowable range, and the second sample image is used. May be generated by changing the amount of change in the input value of the coloring material more finely than the first sheet. For the user who selects the permissible range, it is easier to select the permissible range by gradually narrowing down the sample images from the first image to the second image.

Further, the amount of change in the input value of the color material between the monochromatic samples to be changed in the sample image may be set by the control unit 1 according to the setting input from the user via the operation unit 3. It is expected that the amount of change (allowable range) in the input value of the color material that can be tolerated differs depending on the user. It is expected that some users will be tolerant. In that case, in the case of the former user who cannot tolerate any change, the amount of change in the input value of the color material between the samples in the sample image is set in detail, and in the case of the latter user, the input value of the color material between the samples is set finely. By setting a large amount of change in, sample image data that meets the permissible level for each user can be generated and printed.

Further, in step S12, the control unit 1 controls the RGB value or the RGB value converted into the color value (L * a * b *, etc.) of the sample read image data of the sample image 200 printed on the paper. It is stored in the RAM of the unit 1 or the storage unit 2.

Returning to FIG. 3, after step S12, the user refers to the printed sample image paper. Then, the control unit 1 receives, via the operation unit 3, a designated input of an allowable range indicating which sample of the sample images printed by the user can be tolerated as a color shift (step S13). In step S13, for example, the position information of the sample 211 within the allowable range of the sample image 200 is designated and input. As the position information of the sample 211, for example, information on the amount of color material 221 on the vertical axis and the horizontal axis (for example, Y50M50) may be designated and input. Alternatively, the control unit 1 may display the sample image data generated in step S12 on the display unit 4 and accept the selection input within the allowable range via the operation unit 3. Since the range that can or cannot be tolerated by the user is not necessarily the range of equal intervals from a specific color, it is possible to make a setting that meets the user's request by specifying an arbitrary allowable range.

Further, the permissible range to be designated and input is, for example, a permissible range for designating a plurality of samples 210 and 211 as in the permissible range 231 on the sample image 200 shown in FIG. The permissible range to be designated and input may be one sample on the sample image 200. Further, the allowable range specified and input does not have to include the sample 210 of a specific color.

Then, the control unit 1 obtains the color data corresponding to the sample in the allowable range designated and input in step S13 among the sample read image data (color data of RGB value or color value) read in step S12. As the color data, it is stored in the storage unit 2 in association with the specific color input in step S11 (step S14), and the permissible range setting process is terminated.

Then, the color shift inspection process will be described with reference to FIG. The color shift inspection process is a process of inspecting whether or not a specific color portion of the paper to be printed is color shift when a job of a content image is submitted.

In the image forming apparatus 100, as a job input for copying a content image or printing image data, a copy start operation input from a user via the operation unit 3 or content image data for printing from an external device via a print controller 110 is input. With the reception as a trigger, the control unit 1 executes the color shift inspection process according to the color shift inspection program stored in the storage unit 2. When the job is a copy, the control unit 1 reads the original including the content image by the scanner unit 6 as a copy and acquires the content image data.

As shown in FIG. 9, first, the control unit 1 receives the content image data read by the scanner unit 6 or the communication unit 5 by the paper feed unit 120 or the paper feed unit 131 and the image forming unit 8. The formed content image data is image-formed on one page of paper, and the image reading unit 11 reads the image of the image-formed paper and acquires the content-reading image data (step S21).

In step S21, the control unit 1 forms an image of only the content image data on the paper. The control unit 1 may form an image of a specific color corresponding to the allowable range of color data stored in the storage unit 2 in the cutting margin portion of the content image of the content image data.

Then, the control unit 1 refers to the specific color corresponding to the color data in the allowable range stored in the storage unit 2, and the content read image data of the current page acquired in step S21 includes the specific color. It is determined whether or not the data is page data (step S22). In step S22, the control unit 1 determines whether or not the data is of a page containing a specific color depending on whether or not the content image of the content image data of the current page acquired in step S21 contains a specific color portion. do. Alternatively, the control unit 1 determines whether or not the data is the page containing the specific color, depending on whether or not the image of the specific color is formed in the cutting margin of the content image in step S21. When an image of a specific color is formed in the cutting margin of the content image, in step S21, the control unit 1 performs cutting processing on the image-formed paper by the post-processing device 150 as necessary.

If the page does not include a specific color (step S22; NO), the control unit 1 determines whether or not the content image data does not have a page to form an image from now on and the color shift inspection process is terminated (step S23). If the color shift inspection process is not completed (step S23; NO), the process proceeds to step S21. When the color shift inspection process is terminated (step S23; YES), the color shift inspection process is terminated.

When the page contains a specific color (step S22; YES), the control unit 1 refers to the color data in the allowable range of the specific color stored in the storage unit 2, and the current page acquired in step S21. It is inspected whether the color shift of the specific color portion of the content read image data is within the allowable range of the specific color (step S24). In step S24, the control unit 1 acquires the RGB value of the specific color portion of the scanned image data, and then the RGB value or the value converted into the color value is within the allowable range of the color data (RGB value or color value). The color shift is inspected depending on whether or not it is.

Then, the control unit 1 determines whether or not the color shift of the specific color portion of the content read image data of the current page is within the allowable range according to the inspection result in step S24 (step S25). If it is within the permissible range (step S25; YES), the process proceeds to step S23. If it is not within the permissible range (step S25; NO), the control unit 1 displays warning information on the display unit 4 that the color shift of the specific color portion of the content read image data is not within the permissible range (step S26). The process proceeds to step S23.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 is input to the operation unit 3 that accepts the input of a specific color and the image forming unit 8 that forms an image data on paper using a plurality of color materials. Sample image data including a sample of a specific color and a sample in which the input values of each of a plurality of color materials constituting the specific color are changed from the specific color is generated, and the sample image data is image-formed in the image forming unit 8. It is provided with a control unit 1 for making the sample image data, and an image reading unit 11 for reading the paper on which the sample image is formed from the sample image data and acquiring the sample read image data. The operation unit 3 accepts input of an allowable range of a sample that is acceptable as a specific color among the sample images formed on the paper. The control unit 1 associates the color data of the sample of the sample read image data corresponding to the input allowable range with the input specific color, and stores it in the storage unit 2 as the allowable range information of the specific color.

Therefore, it is possible to present a sample of color shift in which the input value of each color material is changed from a specific color that the user may actually see, and it is easy for the user to specify and input an allowable range.

Further, the control unit 1 causes the image forming unit 8 to form an image of the content image data on the paper. The image reading unit 11 reads the paper on which the content image is formed from the content image data, and acquires the content reading image data. The control unit 1 determines whether or not the portion of the read content read image data of the specific color is within the allowable range of the stored specific color. Therefore, it is possible to easily and accurately determine the color shift of a specific color of the content image formed on the paper.

Further, the control unit 1 displays warning information to the display unit 4 that the specific color portion of the read content read image data is not within the allowable range of the specific color when the stored specific color is not within the allowable range. indicate. Therefore, the user can easily visually recognize that a color shift has occurred in a specific color due to the warning information. In addition, this warning information may be configured to be notified by voice or the like.

Further, the operation unit 3 accepts an input with a part of the content image data as a specific color. Therefore, the user can easily specify and input a specific color in the content image.

Further, the sample image data includes a sample of the content partial image including at least a specific color portion of the content image data and a sample in which the input value of the color material of the specific color portion of the content partial image is changed from the specific color. include. Therefore, the user can easily visually recognize the specific color in the content image and easily determine the allowable range.

Further, the operation unit 3 accepts an input with one or a plurality of samples acceptable as a specific color among the sample images formed on the paper as an allowable range. Therefore, in a configuration in which one sample is input, it is possible to easily input an allowable range, it is possible to easily determine whether or not a specific color portion of the content image is within the allowable range, and a plurality of samples are input. In the configuration, the user's desired tolerance can be entered.

Further, the control unit 1 uses an input specific color sample and a sample in which the input value of the color material whose input value is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value is changed from the specific color among a plurality of color materials constituting the specific color. Generate sample image data including. Therefore, it is possible to easily specify and input an allowable range for a color material having a high degree of influence on color shift.

Further, the control unit 1 is arranged along an axis corresponding to each of the input specific color sample and the plurality of color materials constituting the specific color, and corresponds to the change information of the color material with time. Generate sample image data including a sample in which the input value of the color material is changed from a specific color. Therefore, it is possible to accurately specify and input the allowable range of the coloring material in accordance with the actual interval of change over time.

Further, the information on the change of the coloring material over time is information peculiar to the image forming apparatus 100. Therefore, it is possible to accurately specify and input the allowable range of the color material in accordance with the interval of change over time peculiar to the actual image forming apparatus 100.

Further, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a detection unit 10 that detects temperature information and humidity information as environmental information of the image forming apparatus 100. The control unit 1 inputs the input value of the input specific color sample and the input value of the color material according to the change information of each of the plurality of color materials constituting the specific color corresponding to the detected environment information. Generate sample image data including samples that have changed from a specific color. Therefore, it is possible to print a sample image in line with the tendency of the input value of the color material that actually changes in the environment from now on, and it is possible to accurately specify and input the allowable range of the color material.

Further, the storage unit 2 stores the history information of the change information of the coloring material with time. The control unit 1 sets the input value of the input value of the specific color from the specific color according to the history information of the change information over time of each of the input specific color sample and the plurality of color materials constituting the stored specific color. Generate sample image data including altered samples. Therefore, it is possible to print a sample image in line with the past tendency of the input value of the color material that actually changes from now on, and it is possible to accurately specify and input the allowable range of the color material.

Further, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a communication unit 5 that receives information on changes in the coloring material over time from other devices of the image forming apparatus 100. The control unit 1 is a sample in which the input value of the input value of the specific color is changed from the specific color according to the change information of each of the input specific color sample and the received plurality of color materials constituting the specific color with time. Generate sample image data including and. Therefore, it is possible to print a sample image of the input value of the color material that actually changes from now on in line with the tendency of other devices similar to the image forming apparatus 100, and it is possible to accurately specify and input the allowable range of the color material.

Further, the control unit 1 includes a sample of the input specific color and a sample in which the input values of the plurality of color materials constituting the specific color are changed according to the allowable range of the input specific color. Sample image data in which the difference between the input values between the samples is smaller is generated, and the sample image data is formed by the image forming unit 8. The operation unit 3 accepts the input of the allowable range of the sample that is acceptable as a specific color among the sample images in which the difference in the input value between the formed samples is small. Therefore, the user can narrow down the permissible range step by step, and can easily and accurately specify and input the permissible range.

Further, the operation unit 3 accepts the input of the difference between the input values of the color materials between the samples of the sample image. Further, the control unit 1 changes the input value of the input specific color from the specific color according to the difference between the input values of the input specific color sample and the input values of the plurality of color materials constituting the input specific color. Generate sample image data including a sample. Therefore, it is possible to print a sample image that meets the permissible level for each user, and it is possible to easily and accurately specify and input the permissible range of the color material.

In the above description, an example in which a hard disk, a flash memory, or the like is used as a computer-readable medium for the program according to the present invention has been disclosed, but the present invention is not limited to this example. As another computer-readable medium, a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM can be applied. A carrier wave is also applied to the present invention as a medium for providing data of a program according to the present invention via a communication line.

The description in the above embodiment is an example of a suitable image forming apparatus and program according to the present invention, and is not limited thereto.

For example, in the above embodiment, a typical example is given that the image forming apparatus 100 is configured to use four kinds of monochromatic coloring materials of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, but the present invention is not limited to this. No. The image forming apparatus 100 may be configured to use a monochromatic coloring material other than the four types of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, or may be configured to use four or more types of monochromatic coloring materials. For example, even in a configuration using transparent toner, gold / silver toner, or the like as a special color material, the same permissible range of designated input and color shift inspection can be applied.

Further, in the above embodiment, in step S12 of FIG. 3 and step S21 of FIG. 9, the control unit 1 of the image forming apparatus 100 automatically obtains an image of the paper formed and conveyed by the image reading unit 11. However, the configuration is such that the scanned image data is acquired, but the present invention is not limited to this. In step S12 of FIG. 3 and step S21 of FIG. 9, after the paper on which the image is formed by the image forming unit 8 is ejected, the paper on which the image is formed on the platen glass of the automatic document conveying unit 61 and the scanner unit 6 by the user. May be manually set, and the control unit 1 may read the image of the paper by the scanner unit 6.

Further, in the above embodiment, the user sets only the allowable range of the change amount of the input value of the color material by the allowable range setting process, but the present invention is not limited to this. Depending on the screen (halftone dots) used when printing an image, the characteristics of changes over time in the color material may differ, and the appearance of changes may differ. The screen is a pattern of a color material that expresses a halftone dot image, and includes a dot screen composed of a collection of dots and a line screen composed of a collection of diagonal lines. In general, a screen with a high line number is greatly affected by output conditions, so that the amount of change in the color material is large, and a screen with a low line number has a feature that the stability is high and the amount of change in the color material is small. A dot screen with a high number of lines is one in which the size of dots is reduced and the number of dots in a unit area is increased. A line screen with a high number of lines is one in which the line width is shortened and the number of lines in a unit area is increased.

However, a screen with a high number of lines has a feature that smooth gradation reproduction can be performed, and the user may select the screen according to the demand for image quality. Therefore, when printing a sample image, multiple screens are also printed under the same conditions, and in the allowable range setting process, the user accepts the allowable range of the color material sample and the selection input of one screen used for printing from the plurality of screens. It may be that.

That is, the control unit 1 corresponds to each of the plurality of screens, and includes sample image data including a sample in the input specific color and a sample in which the input value of each of the plurality of color materials constituting the specific color is changed. Is generated, and the sample image data is formed by the image forming unit 8. The operation unit 3 accepts input of an allowable range of a screen sample that is acceptable as a specific color among the sample images formed on the paper. Therefore, the user can specify and input an allowable range that satisfies the amount of change in the color material and the demand for image quality by the screen.

Further, the detailed configuration and detailed operation of each part constituting the image forming apparatus 100 in the above embodiments can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

100 Image forming device 110 Print controller 120 Paper feeding unit 130 Main unit 131 Paper feeding unit 1 Control unit 2 Storage unit 3 Operation unit 4 Display unit 5 Communication unit 61 Automatic document transfer unit 6 Scanner unit 7 Image processing unit 8 Image forming unit 9 Correcting unit 10 Detection unit 140 Image reading device 11 Image reading unit 13 Paper transport unit 150 Post-processing device

Claims (16)

The first operation unit that accepts the input of a specific color,
An image forming unit that forms an image of image data on paper using multiple coloring materials,
A sample image data including the input specific color sample and a sample in which the input values of the plurality of colorants constituting the specific color are changed from the specific color is generated, and the sample image data is used as the image. A sample image formation control unit that causes the formation unit to form an image,
An image reading unit that reads the paper on which the sample image is formed from the sample image data and acquires the scanned image data of the sample image.
A second operation unit that accepts an input of an allowable range of a sample that is acceptable as the specific color in the formed sample image, and a second operation unit.
A storage control unit that associates the color data of the sample of the scanned image data of the sample image corresponding to the input allowable range with the input specific color and stores it in the storage unit as the allowable range information of the specific color. An image forming apparatus. A content image formation control unit for forming an image of content image data including the specific color on paper by the image forming unit is provided.
The image reading unit reads the paper on which the content image is formed from the content image data, acquires the scanned image data of the content image, and obtains the scanned image data.
The image formation according to claim 1, further comprising a permissible range discriminating unit for discriminating whether or not the specific color portion of the scanned image data of the read content image is within the stored permissible range information of the specific color. Device. When the specific color portion of the scanned image data of the scanned content image is not within the stored specific color allowable range information, a warning unit for notifying warning information that the specific color is not within the allowable range information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the first operation unit accepts an input of a part of the content image data as the specific color. The sample image is a sample of a content partial image including at least a specific color portion of the content image data, and a sample in which the input value of the color material of the specific color portion of the content partial image is changed from the specific color. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, comprising the above. The image forming according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second operating unit accepts an input with one or a plurality of samples acceptable as the specific color among the formed sample images as an allowable range. Device. The sample image formation control unit changes the input value of the input specific color sample and the plurality of color materials constituting the specific color from the specific color whose input value is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which generates sample image data including the sample. The sample image formation control unit is arranged along an axis corresponding to each of the input specific color sample and the plurality of color materials constituting the specific color, and is used for information on changes over time of the color material. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein sample image data including a sample in which an input value of the color material is changed from the specific color is generated. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the information on changes in the color material over time is information unique to the image forming apparatus. It is equipped with a detector that detects environmental information of the image forming apparatus.
The sample image formation control unit responds to the time-dependent change information of the input specific color sample and the plurality of color materials constituting the specific color corresponding to the detected environment information. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the sample image data including a sample in which an input value of the color material is changed from the specific color is generated. The storage unit stores historical information of change information of the coloring material over time, and stores the historical information.
The sample image formation control unit of the color material according to the history information of the time-dependent change information of each of the input specific color sample and the stored plurality of color materials constituting the specific color. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the sample image data including a sample whose input value is changed from the specific color is generated. It is provided with a receiving unit that receives information on changes in the color material over time from other devices of the image forming apparatus.
The sample image formation control unit sets the input value of the input value of the input specific color and the received input value of the color material according to the change information of each of the plurality of color materials constituting the specific color with time. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the sample image data including the sample changed from the specific color is generated. The sample image formation control unit is a sample in which the input values of the input specific color sample and the plurality of color materials constituting the specific color are changed according to the allowable range of the input specific color. And, the sample image data in which the difference between the input values between the samples is made smaller is generated, and the sample image data is formed in the image forming unit to form an image.
2. The image forming apparatus according to the description. It is equipped with a third operation unit that accepts the input of the difference in the input value of the color material between the samples of the sample image.
The sample image formation control unit sets the input value of the color material according to the difference between the input value of the input specific color sample and the input values of the plurality of color materials constituting the input specific color. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, which generates sample image data including a sample changed from a specific color. The sample image formation control unit corresponds to each of a plurality of screens, and includes a sample of the input specific color and a sample in which the input value of each of the plurality of color materials constituting the specific color is changed. Image data is generated, and the sample image data is formed in the image forming unit to form an image.
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the second operating unit receives an input of an allowable range of a screen sample acceptable as the specific color among the formed sample images. Computer,
The first operation unit that accepts the input of a specific color,
An image forming unit that forms an image of image data on paper using multiple coloring materials,
A sample image data including the input specific color sample and a sample in which the input values of the plurality of colorants constituting the specific color are changed from the specific color is generated, and the sample image data is used as the image. Sample image formation control unit that causes the formation unit to form an image,
An image reading unit that reads the paper on which the sample image is formed from the sample image data and acquires the scanned image data of the sample image.
A second operation unit that accepts input of an allowable range of a sample that is acceptable as the specific color among the formed sample images.
As a storage control unit that associates the color data of the sample of the scanned image data of the sample image corresponding to the input allowable range with the input specific color and stores it in the storage unit as the allowable range information of the specific color. A program to make it work.

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