JP7377436B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

An image processing device prints a test chart with a printer, reads the test chart with a scanner, automatically determines whether or not the obtained scanned image contains an image defect, and if the image defect is included, The image diagnosis result indicating the image defect will be notified. A maintenance processing plan corresponding to the image diagnosis result is added to the image diagnosis result (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP2016-46595A

However, in the above-mentioned image processing devices, since the device automatically determines whether or not there is an image defect and presents a corresponding maintenance processing plan, even if the image processing device does not originally require maintenance processing, the image processing device There is a possibility that an image diagnosis result indicating a defect will be notified and unnecessary maintenance processing will be executed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus in which maintenance processing can be appropriately executed.

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a printing device, an image reading device, and an image diagnosis processing section. The image diagnosis processing unit (a) causes the printing device to print the first image diagnosis manuscript image to output the first image diagnosis manuscript, and (b) prints the image of the first image diagnosis manuscript for the first diagnosis. (c) detecting an image defect in the first diagnostic image; (d) specifying the position of the detected image defect; and (e) determining the position of the detected image defect. (f) causing the printing device to print a second image diagnosis manuscript image including an instruction image that prompts the operator to select whether or not maintenance processing is necessary for the image defect; (g) causing the image reading device to read an image of a second diagnostic manuscript as a second diagnostic image, and (g) detecting the image defect designated by the operator as requiring maintenance processing based on the second diagnostic image; and (h) identifying automatic or manual maintenance actions corresponding to the identified image defects. Furthermore, the first image diagnosis original image includes a first test pattern along the sub-scanning direction for detecting an image defect along the main scanning direction, and the second image diagnosis original image includes the first test pattern along the sub-scanning direction for detecting an image defect along the main scanning direction. the printing device includes a rotating body used in an electrophotographic process, and the image diagnosis processing unit prints the second test pattern of the second image diagnosis document image in the print. A rotational angular position of the rotary body when the apparatus prints is made to match a rotational angular position of the rotary body when the printing apparatus prints the first test pattern of the first image diagnosis original image.

According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus in which maintenance processing is appropriately executed can be obtained.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the mechanical configuration of a printing device in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a first image diagnosis original image. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen pattern used as a test pattern in the first image diagnosis original image. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a first diagnostic image corresponding to the first image diagnostic original image shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a second image diagnosis original image corresponding to the first image diagnosis original image shown in FIG. 3 and the first image diagnosis image shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen pattern used as a test pattern in the second image diagnosis original image. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a second diagnostic image corresponding to the second image diagnostic document image shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another example of the second diagnostic image. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a first image diagnosis original image in the second embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a second image diagnosis original image in the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a second diagnostic image in the second embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

Embodiment 1.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the mechanical configuration of a printing device in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This image forming apparatus is an apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a copying machine, a multifunction machine, etc., which has a printing function of an electrophotographic process, and includes a printing apparatus 10 as shown in FIG.

The printing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 has a tandem type color developing device. This color developing device includes photoreceptor drums 1a to 1d, an exposure device 2, and developing devices 3a to 3d. The photoreceptor drums 1a to 1d are cylindrical rotating bodies, and are photoreceptors of four colors: black, magenta, cyan, and yellow. The exposure device 2 is a device that irradiates the surfaces of the photoreceptor drums 1a to 1d with laser light to form electrostatic latent images. The exposure device 2 includes a laser diode which is a light source of laser light, and optical elements (lenses, mirrors, etc.) that guide the laser light to the photoreceptor drums 1a to 1d, and which emit light along the main scanning direction on the surfaces of the photoreceptor drums 1a to 1d. It has a polygon motor for rotating the polygon mirror, and a polygon motor for rotating the polygon mirror.

The developing devices 3a to 3d attach the toner in the toner cartridge to the electrostatic latent images on the photoreceptor drums 1a to 1d and develop them to form toner images. The photoreceptor drum 1a and the developing device 3a perform black development, the photoreceptor drum 1b and the developing device 3b perform magenta development, and the photoreceptor drum 1c and the developing device 3c perform cyan development. , yellow development is performed by the photoreceptor drum 1d and the developing device 3d.

The intermediate transfer belt 5 is an annular intermediate transfer member that contacts the photoreceptor drums 1a to 1d and onto which the toner images on the photoreceptor drums 1a to 1d are transferred. The intermediate transfer belt 5 is stretched around a drive roller 6 and a tension roller 7, and is rotated by driving force from the drive roller 6 in a direction from a contact position with the photoreceptor drum 1d to a contact position with the photoreceptor drum 1a. To go.

The transfer roller 8 brings the conveyed paper into contact with the intermediate transfer belt 5, and transfers the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 5 onto the paper. Note that the paper onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to a fixing device (not shown), and the toner image is fixed onto the paper.

The density sensor 9 irradiates light onto the intermediate transfer belt 5 and detects the reflected light. In particular, the density sensor 9 detects the density, position, etc. of the adjusted toner pattern on the intermediate transfer belt 5 during automatic density adjustment processing. This concentration sensor 9 is a reflective optical sensor.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2 includes the above-described printing device 10, an image reading device 21, a storage device 22, and a controller 23.

The printing device 10 has a mechanical configuration shown in FIG. 1, and prints a document specified by a user or a document for image diagnosis, which will be described later.

The image reading device 21 is an internal device that optically reads a document image from a document and generates image data (here, color image data) of the document image.

The storage device 22 is a nonvolatile storage device such as a flash memory, and stores programs and data. For example, the storage device 22 stores image data of an image diagnosis document, which will be described later, and a table showing maintenance processing corresponding to the image diagnosis results.

The controller 23 has an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) and/or a microcomputer, and controls various parts within the image forming apparatus (printing device 10, image reading device 21, etc.) using hardware and/or software, and Operates as various processing units. Here, the controller 23 operates as an image diagnosis processing section 31.

The image diagnosis processing unit 31 causes the printing device 10 to print a first image diagnosis manuscript image on print paper to output a first image diagnosis manuscript according to an operation by an operator such as a user or a service person. The image reading device 21 reads the image of the first image diagnosis manuscript as a print product as a first diagnosis image according to the operation by , and detects image defects (streaks, dots, etc. due to density changes) based on the first diagnosis image. Run an automatic diagnostic process to detect.

Furthermore, the image diagnosis processing unit 31 (a) identifies the position of the detected image defect, and displays an instruction image ( (b) causing the printing device 10 to print the second image diagnosis manuscript image on another print paper to output the second image diagnosis manuscript; (c) According to the operation by the operator, the image of the second diagnostic manuscript is read by the image reading device 21 as a second diagnostic image, and (d) Based on the second diagnostic image, the operator specifies that maintenance processing is necessary. (e) identifying automatic or manual maintenance actions corresponding to the specified image defects;

Specifically, the operator visually confirms the test pattern in the second image diagnosis manuscript output as described above, and applies the instruction image corresponding to the image defect determined to require maintenance processing. , an entry indicating that maintenance processing is required (for example, checking a checkbox) is made, and maintenance processing is required for instruction images corresponding to image defects that are determined not to require maintenance processing. Do not make any entry indicating that. Then, the image diagnosis processing unit 31 detects an image of an entry made by the operator on the instruction image in the second diagnostic image, and the image defect corresponding to the instruction image in which such an image of the entry is detected is determined by the operation. The image defect corresponding to the instruction image for which no image with such entry was detected is determined to be an image defect designated as requiring maintenance processing by the operator. It is determined that it is not.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a first image diagnosis original image. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen pattern used as a test pattern in the first image diagnosis original image. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a first diagnostic image corresponding to the first image diagnostic original image shown in FIG.

The first image diagnosis original image 101 shown in FIG. 3 is for detecting streaks along the sub-scanning direction as an image defect, and includes toner colors of the printing device 10 (here, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black), band-shaped test patterns 101C, 101M, 101Y, and 101K along the main scanning direction are included.

For example, image data of a first image diagnosis original image 101 as shown in FIG. A first image diagnosis manuscript is output. At this time, the test patterns 101C, 101M, 101Y, and 101K are drawn as a screen pattern as shown in FIG. 4, for example. Then, a first diagnostic image 111 as shown in FIG. 5, for example, is read by the image reading device 21 from the first image diagnostic document. The first diagnostic image 111 includes test patterns 111C, 111M, 111Y, and 111K corresponding to the test patterns 101C, 101M, 101Y, and 101K. At this time, image defects may occur in the test patterns 111C, 111M, 111Y, and 111K due to the state of the printing device 10 or the like. In the case shown in FIG. 5, image defects occur in test patterns 111C, 111M, and 111K.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a second image diagnosis original image corresponding to the first image diagnosis original image shown in FIG. 3 and the first image diagnosis image shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen pattern used as a test pattern in the second image diagnosis original image. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a second diagnostic image corresponding to the second image diagnostic document image shown in FIG.

The base image data of the second image diagnosis original image (that is, the image data of the second image diagnosis original image that does not include the instruction image) is stored in advance in the storage device 22, and as described above, the base image data of the second image diagnosis original image is Once the position of the image defect is automatically identified, based on the base image data, an image based on the base image data (i.e., a second image diagnosis document image that does not include the instruction image) is created, for example, as shown in FIG. Image data of the second image diagnosis original image 121 is generated by adding the instruction images 131 to 134 to the position of the identified image defect. Note that the second image diagnosis original image based on the base image data includes test patterns 121C, 121M, 121Y, and 121K corresponding to the test patterns 101C, 101M, 101Y, and 101K.

Based on the image data of the second image diagnosis original image 121, the second image diagnosis original image 121 is printed by the printing device 10, and a second image diagnosis original is output. At this time, the test patterns 121C, 121M, 121Y, and 121K are drawn as a screen pattern as shown in FIG. 7, for example. Then, a second diagnostic image 141 as shown in FIG. 8, for example, is read by the image reading device 21 from the second image diagnostic manuscript filled in by the operator. The second diagnostic image 141 includes test patterns 141C, 141M, 141Y, and 141K corresponding to the test patterns 121C, 121M, 121Y, and 121K, as well as instruction images 151 to 154 corresponding to instruction images 131 to 134. Further, the second diagnostic image 141 includes filled-in images 161 to 163 based on the operator's notes, and the filled-in images 161 to 163 determine the instruction images 151, 152, and 154 designated by the operator (that is, the corresponding images). defects) are identified.

In this embodiment, the test patterns 101C, 101M, 101Y, and 101K of the first image diagnosis original image 111 are images with uniform density, as shown in FIG. The patterns 121C, 121M, 121Y, and 121K are images having a density gradation (here, a density gradation in which the density changes along the sub-scanning direction), as shown in FIG. 6, for example.

Specifically, each of the test patterns 101C, 101M, 101Y, 101K is an image with uniform density in order to make it easier to detect image defects in automatic image diagnosis. is an image having a density gradation in order to make it easier for an operator to visually determine the degree of image defects at each halftone level.

Further, in this embodiment, test patterns 121C, 121M, 121Y, and 121K have the same shapes as test patterns 101C, 101M, 101Y, and 101K, respectively. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the test patterns 101C, 101M, 101Y, 101K of the first image diagnosis original image 111 are the same as the test patterns 121C, 121M, 121Y, 121K of the second image diagnosis original image 121. It has a screen pattern different from the screen pattern.

In other words, the screen patterns of test patterns 101C, 101M, 101Y, and 101K are dot patterns in which streaks along the main scanning direction or sub-scanning direction as image defects are more likely to appear than the screen patterns of test patterns 121C, 121M, 121Y, and 121K. has. Specifically, for example, the screen patterns of the test patterns 101C, 101M, 101Y, and 101K are line screens in which the lines are along the main scanning direction or the sub-scanning direction, and dot arrangement directions are in the main scanning direction and/or the sub-scanning direction. such as a dot screen along the line. For example, the screen patterns of test patterns 121C, 121M, 121Y, and 121K include a line screen in which the lines are inclined from the main scanning direction or the sub-scanning direction, and a dot screen in which the dot growth direction is inclined from the main scanning direction or the sub-scanning direction. etc.

In the above example, image diagnosis is performed to detect streaks along the sub-scanning direction as an image defect, but image diagnosis is performed similarly to detect streaks along the main scanning direction as an image defect. You can do it like this. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another example of the second diagnostic image. In this case, a second diagnostic image 181 as shown in FIG. 9, for example, is obtained. In this case as well, if a stripe along the main scanning direction appears in the test patterns 181C, 181M, 181Y, 181K along the sub-scanning direction, the second diagnostic image 181 will display the instruction image 182 corresponding to the stripe. 184, and further includes images 191 to 193 filled in by the operator.

In this first embodiment, when image diagnosis is performed to detect streaks along the main scanning direction as image defects, the first image diagnosis original image is used as a sub-image for detecting image defects along the main scanning direction. The second image diagnosis document image includes a first test pattern along the scanning direction, and the second image diagnosis document image includes a second test pattern that is the same as the first test pattern. Here, all test patterns are images with uniform density, but as described above, the screen patterns are different from each other. Furthermore, in this case, the printing device 10 includes a rotating body (photosensitive drums 1a to 1d, etc.) used in the electrophotographic process, and streaks occur along the main scanning direction in accordance with the period of the rotating body. Therefore, the image diagnosis processing unit 31 changes the rotational angle position of the rotating body when the printing device 10 prints the second test pattern of the second image diagnosis original image to the first test pattern of the first image diagnosis original image. The test pattern is made to match the rotational angle position of the rotating body when the printing device 10 prints the test pattern. In other words, the second image diagnosis original image is adjusted so that the position of the streaks appearing in the first test pattern (position in the sub-scanning direction) matches the position of the streaks appearing in the second test pattern (position in the sub-scanning direction). The rotational angular position of the rotating body is controlled during printing.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment will be explained. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

When a predetermined operation by the operator is detected on an operation panel (not shown), the image diagnosis processing unit 31 causes the printing device 10 to print the first image diagnosis manuscript image 101 and output the first image diagnosis manuscript ( Step S1).

The operator sets the first image diagnosis original on the image reading device 21 and performs a predetermined operation on an operation panel (not shown) or the like.

When the operation is detected on an operation panel (not shown), the image diagnosis processing unit 31 causes the image reading device 21 to read the image of the first image diagnosis manuscript as the first diagnosis image 111 (step S2), and Once the diagnostic image 111 is obtained, automatic image diagnosis processing based on the first diagnostic image 111 is executed (step S3). In the automatic image diagnosis processing, the image diagnosis processing unit 31 detects image defects (concentrations different from the original concentration) in the first diagnosis image 111 based on the density distribution of the test patterns 111C, 111M, 111Y, and 111K in the first diagnosis image 111. The position of the detected image defect in the test patterns 111C, 111M, 111Y, and 111K is identified.

Immediately thereafter, the image diagnosis processing unit 31 generates the first image diagnosis manuscript image 101 and a second image diagnosis manuscript image 121 corresponding to the position of the image defect, and causes the printing device 10 to print the second image diagnosis manuscript image 101 and the second image diagnosis manuscript image 121. is output (step S4).

The operator visually checks the print status of the test pattern on the second image diagnosis manuscript, determines whether or not the image defects (streaks, etc.) marked with the instruction image require maintenance processing, and performs the maintenance. A handwritten entry indicating that maintenance processing is required is made on an instruction image attached to an image defect that requires processing. Thereafter, the operator sets the second image diagnosis document on the image reading device 21 and performs a predetermined operation on an operation panel (not shown) or the like.

When the operation is detected on an operation panel (not shown), the image diagnosis processing unit 31 causes the image reading device 21 to read the image of the second image diagnosis manuscript as the second diagnosis image 141 (step S5), and When the diagnostic image 141 is obtained, an image filled in with respect to the instruction image in the second diagnostic image 141 is detected, and an image defect designated by the operator is identified (step S6).

Then, the image diagnosis processing unit 31 executes the maintenance identification process based on the image defect specified by the operator (that is, without considering image defects not specified by the operator) (step S7). . In the maintenance identification process, the image diagnosis processing unit 31 performs manual or automatic maintenance processing corresponding to the image defect based on the state of the image defect (position, density, shape, etc.) and based on the table described above. Identify. In the case of manual maintenance processing, the specified maintenance processing is displayed on, for example, a display device (not shown) and presented to the operator, and the operator executes the presented maintenance processing. In the case of automatic maintenance processing, the identified maintenance processing is executed by the image diagnosis processing unit 31. For example, manual maintenance processing includes replacing specific parts in the printing device 10, and automatic maintenance processing includes a calibration operation of the printing device 10, a drum refresh operation of the photoreceptor drums 1a to 1d, etc. .

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the image diagnosis processing unit 31 (a) causes the printing device 10 to print the first image diagnosis manuscript image 101 to output the first image diagnosis manuscript, and (b) ) causing the image reading device 21 to read the image of the first image diagnosis manuscript as the first diagnosis image 111; (c) detecting an image defect in the first diagnosis image 111; and (d) specifying the position of the detected image defect. , (e) Printing a second image diagnosis manuscript image 121 on the printing device 10, which includes instruction images 131 to 134 that indicate the position of the detected image defect and prompt the operator to select whether maintenance processing is necessary for the image defect. (f) cause the image reading device 21 to read the image of the second diagnostic image as the second diagnostic image 141; identifying image defects designated as requiring maintenance processing; and (h) identifying automatic or manual maintenance processing corresponding to the identified image defects.

As a result, among automatically detected image defects, maintenance processing is selected without considering image defects that were not determined to require maintenance processing by visual inspection by the operator, resulting in unnecessary maintenance processing. execution is suppressed and maintenance processing is executed appropriately.

Embodiment 2.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a first image diagnosis original image in the second embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a second image diagnosis original image in the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a second diagnostic image in the second embodiment.

In the second embodiment, for example, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the first image diagnosis original image 201 and the second image diagnosis original image 211 are formed using the above-described test patterns 101C, 101M, 101Y, and 101K, respectively. test patterns 201C, 201M, 201Y, 201K for automatic image diagnosis similar to the above, and (b) test patterns 202C, 202M for visual diagnosis by the operator similar to the test patterns 121C, 121M, 121Y, 121K described above. , 202Y, and 202K. Note that, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, the second image diagnosis original image 211 includes instruction images 221 to 224. Then, as shown in FIG. 13, for example, a second diagnostic image includes corresponding test patterns 231C, 231M, 231Y, 231K, 232C, 232M, 232Y, 232K, corresponding instruction images 241 to 244, and filled-in images 251 to 253. 231 is obtained.

Note that the other configurations and operations of the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 are the same as those in Embodiment 1, and therefore descriptions thereof will be omitted.

Note that various changes and modifications to the embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is intended that such changes and modifications be included within the scope of the claims.

The present invention is applicable to, for example, an image forming apparatus.

1a to 1d Photosensitive drum (an example of a rotating body)
10 Printing device 21 Image reading device 31 Image diagnosis processing section

Claims (3)

a printing device;
an image reading device;
Equipped with an image diagnosis processing unit,
The image diagnosis processing unit (a) causes the printing device to print a first image diagnosis manuscript image to output a first image diagnosis manuscript, and (b) sets the image of the first image diagnosis manuscript as a first diagnosis image. (c) detecting an image defect in the first diagnostic image; (d) specifying the position of the detected image defect; and (e) indicating the position of the detected image defect; (f) causing the printing device to print a second image diagnosis manuscript image including an instruction image prompting the operator to select whether maintenance processing is necessary for the image defect, and outputting the second image diagnosis manuscript; (f) the second image diagnosis manuscript image; causing the image reading device to read an image of the image diagnostic manuscript as a second diagnostic image, and (g) identifying the image defect specified by the operator as requiring maintenance processing based on the second diagnostic image; (h) identifying automatic or manual maintenance actions responsive to the identified image defects ;
The first image diagnosis original image includes a first test pattern along the sub-scanning direction for detecting image defects along the main-scanning direction,
The second image diagnosis original image includes a second test pattern that is the same as the first test pattern,
The printing device includes a rotating body used in an electrophotographic process,
The image diagnosis processing unit determines the rotational angle position of the rotating body when the printing device prints the second test pattern of the second image diagnosis original image, according to the first test pattern of the first image diagnosis original image. Matching the rotation angle position of the rotating body when printing the pattern on the printing device;
An image forming apparatus characterized by: The second test pattern has the same shape as the first test pattern,
The first test pattern of the first image diagnosis original image has a screen pattern different from the screen pattern of the second test pattern of the second image diagnosis original image,
The screen pattern of the first test pattern has a dot pattern that causes streaks along the main scanning direction or the sub-scanning direction as the image defect to appear more easily than the screen pattern of the second test pattern;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first test pattern is an image with uniform density,
the second test pattern is an image having a density gradation;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that:

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