JP7396064B2 - Processor and control program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a processor and a control program.

Patent Document 1 discloses a system for diagnosing an abnormality in an image forming apparatus, which includes a generating means for generating an image used for diagnosis, and a first diagnosis among a plurality of diagnostic conditions for detecting an abnormality in the image. an input receiving means for accepting specification of conditions; a reading means for reading an image formed by the image forming apparatus based on the generated image; and an input receiving means for reading an image formed by the image forming apparatus based on the generated image; an extraction means for extracting characteristic information representing the characteristics of the image forming apparatus; a diagnostic means for diagnosing an abnormality of the image forming apparatus based on the extracted characteristic information according to the specified first diagnostic condition; After diagnosis based on the diagnostic conditions, if a designation of a second diagnostic condition different from the first diagnostic condition is received, extraction is made during the diagnosis based on the first diagnostic condition for the diagnosis based on the second diagnostic condition. A diagnostic system is disclosed that includes a determining means for determining whether or not the characteristic information obtained is usable.

Patent Document 2 discloses an image forming means for forming an image, a first input means for inputting a plurality of pieces of information regarding the characteristics of the image formed by the image forming means from an operation unit, and an operation unit operated by the first input means. output means for outputting, by the image forming means, a chart determined by a combination of a plurality of pieces of information inputted from the section; and regarding the image quality of an image formed by the image forming means using the chart output by the output means. An image processing apparatus is disclosed that has a determining means for making a determination.

JP 2019-158994 Publication Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2015-220505

The present invention provides a processor and a control program that can identify a location in an image forming apparatus that is the cause of density deviation when the density of an image formed by the image forming apparatus does not satisfy a prescribed density. The purpose is to

The processor according to the first aspect determines a boundary between a plurality of patch images formed on a recording medium together with an identification code representing a density order by an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, and whether the patch image is visible or invisible. receive an identification code corresponding to the patch image located at a visible boundary, and the received identification code is a range of identification codes that are accepted when each of the patch images is formed on a recording medium with a specified density. If the received identification code is not within the specified range, the image forming unit outputs a message indicating that there is a factor leading to density deviation, and if the received identification code is within the specified range, the image is optically processed. image data of a color sample in which each of the patch images is formed at a prescribed density is obtained from a reading unit that reads the image data and converts it into image data; , if each of the patch images does not fall within a preset density range, outputs to the reading section that there is a factor leading to density deviation.

In the processor according to the first aspect, when the density of each of the patch images is included in the density range, the processor according to a second aspect receives replacement information indicating whether or not the image forming section is replaced; When the replacement information indicates that the image forming section has not been replaced, it is outputted that there is a factor leading to density deviation on the recording medium on which the patch image is formed.

In the processor according to the second aspect, when the replacement information indicates that the image forming unit has been replaced, the processor according to a third aspect determines whether or not there is a change in the type of recording medium on which the patch image is formed. If the received change information indicates that there is a change in the type of recording medium, outputs that there is a factor leading to density deviation in the recording medium on which the patch image is formed, and If the change information indicates that there has been no change in the type of recording medium, it is output to the control section that controls the image forming section that there is a factor leading to density deviation.

In the processor according to the first aspect, in the processor according to the first aspect, if the received identification code is not included in the specified range, the image of the color sample is transmitted from the reading unit that optically reads the image and converts it into image data. Data is acquired, and if the density of each of the patch images in the color sample is not included in the density range, it is output to the image forming section and the reading section that there is a factor leading to density deviation.

The processor according to the fifth aspect is the processor according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, and outputs a procedure for correcting density deviation.

In the processor according to the fifth aspect, the processor according to the sixth aspect changes the content of the treatment to be output depending on the location having a factor that leads to density deviation.

The control program according to the seventh aspect is configured to cause a computer to see or not see a patch image among a plurality of patch images formed on a recording medium together with an identification code representing a density order by an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium. an identification code that is accepted when each of the patch images is formed on a recording medium with a specified density; If the received identification code is not included in the specified range preset as the code range, a message indicating that there is a factor leading to density deviation in the image forming section is output, and if the received identification code is included in the specified range, the received identification code is outputted. , acquires image data of a color sample in which each of the patch images is formed with a prescribed density from a reading unit that optically reads an image and converts it into image data, and acquires image data of a color sample in which each of the patch images is formed with a prescribed density, and at least one of the patches in the color sample A program for causing the reading unit to execute processing for outputting that there is a factor leading to density deviation when the density of the image is not within a density range preset for each of the patch images. be.

According to the first aspect and the seventh aspect, when the density of an image formed by the image forming apparatus does not satisfy a prescribed density, it is possible to identify a location in the image forming apparatus that is the cause of density deviation. , has the effect of

According to the second aspect, there is an effect that the recording medium can be included in the identification target of the cause of density deviation.

According to the third aspect, there is an effect that the control unit can be included in the target for specifying the cause of density deviation.

According to the fourth aspect, it is possible to specify that the cause of density deviation exists in a plurality of locations.

According to the fifth aspect, there is an effect that the user can correct the density deviation by himself/herself.

According to the sixth aspect, the density deviation can be corrected without the user having to worry about which action to take, compared to the case where the output includes the correction of the density deviation for a location that does not have a factor that leads to the density deviation. It has the effect that it can be done.

1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a main part configuration of an electrical system in an image forming apparatus. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of diagnostic processing. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the flow of image forming unit diagnosis processing. It is a figure which shows an example of a diagnostic chart. It is a figure which shows an example of a patch number input screen. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the flow of image reading unit diagnostic processing. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a reading screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the flow of a control part diagnostic process. It is a figure which shows an example of a confirmation screen. It is a figure which shows an example of a treatment screen.

The present embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the same components and the same processes are given the same reference numerals throughout all the drawings, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 10 includes functional sections such as an image forming section 2, an image reading section 4, a UI (User Interface) section 6, and a control section 8.

The image forming unit 2 is a functional unit that forms an image on a recording medium such as paper, which corresponds to image data specified by a user.

The image reading section 4 is a functional section that cooperates with, for example, the scanner unit 30, optically reads the contents of a document placed on a platen glass, and converts the contents of the document into image data. Note that the image reading unit 4 according to the present embodiment is an example of a reading unit that optically reads an image and converts it into image data.

The UI unit 6 is a functional unit that provides an interface between the image forming apparatus 10 and the user, and accepts operations from the user and displays the image forming status in the image forming unit 2 and the image reading status in the image reading unit 4. etc. will be notified to the user.

The operation contents accepted from the user include, for example, an image forming instruction to form an image on a recording medium corresponding to image data specified by the user, a reading instruction to convert the content of the document read by the scanner unit 30 into image data, and an image reading unit. This includes a copy instruction for causing the image forming section 2 to form the image of the original document converted into image data in step 4 on a recording medium.

The control unit 8 controls the image forming unit 2, the image reading unit 4, and the UI unit 6, executes processing according to the user's operation received by the UI unit 6, and notifies the UI unit 6 of the processing status. .

The functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is an example, and the image forming apparatus 10 may include other functional units, such as a facsimile transmitting/receiving unit that transmits and receives image data through a facsimile line.

Next, an example of the configuration of main parts of the electrical system in the image forming apparatus 10 will be described.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of main parts of the electrical system in the image forming apparatus 10. The image forming apparatus 10 is configured using a computer 20, for example.

The computer 20 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21 that reads a control program and executes processing related to the image forming apparatus 10, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22 that stores a control program that causes the computer 20 to function as the image forming apparatus 10, It includes a RAM (Random Access Memory) 23 used as a temporary work area for the CPU 21, a nonvolatile memory 24, and an input/output interface (I/O) 25. A CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, a nonvolatile memory 24, and an I/O 25 are connected to each other via a bus 26.

The non-volatile memory 24 is an example of a storage device that maintains stored information even if the power supplied to the non-volatile memory 24 is cut off. For example, a semiconductor memory is used, but a hard disk may also be used. The nonvolatile memory 24 does not necessarily have to be built into the computer 20, and may be a portable storage device that can be attached to and detached from the computer 20, for example.

For example, a communication unit 27, a UI unit 28, an image forming unit 29, and a scanner unit 30 are connected to the I/O 25.

The communication unit 27 is connected to a communication line and includes a communication protocol for performing data communication with an external device connected to the communication line.

The UI unit 28 is a unit that cooperates with the UI section 6 to provide an interface between the image forming apparatus 10 and the user. The UI unit 28 is equipped with an input device such as a button or a touch panel in order to receive instructions from the user, and an output device such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) or a liquid crystal display in order to notify the user of information processed by the image forming apparatus 10. device is provided.

The image forming unit 29 is a unit that cooperates with the image forming section 2 to form an image on a recording medium according to instructions from the CPU 21. When the image forming unit 29 forms an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic method, the image forming unit 29 includes, for example, an exposure device that irradiates light, a photoreceptor on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by the light of the exposure device, and a static It includes a developing device that develops an electrostatic latent image with a developer, a transfer device that transfers the developed image developed with the developer onto a recording medium, and the like. Note that the image forming method in the image forming unit 29 is not limited to the electrophotographic method, and may be, for example, an inkjet method. Further, the image forming unit 29 may be capable of forming either a color image or a grayscale image, but hereinafter, as an example, it is assumed that the image forming unit 29 is capable of forming a color image.

The scanner unit 30 includes, for example, a CCD sensor that optically reads the contents of a document, and cooperates with the image reading section 4 to generate an image representing the contents of the document placed on the platen glass using density components of predefined colors. Convert to data.

Note that there are no restrictions on the type of unit connected to the I/O 25 of the image forming apparatus 10; for example, even if other units such as a punch unit that punches holes in the recording medium are connected to make it easier to bind the recording medium. good.

In such an image forming apparatus 10, for example, when a user places a document on the platen glass of the scanner unit 30 and issues a copy instruction, the density of the image of the document formed on the recording medium becomes lower than the density of the actual document. Such density deviations may occur.

Therefore, the image forming apparatus 10 is equipped with a diagnostic processing function that identifies locations that are the cause of density deviation.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of diagnostic processing executed by the CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 when an instruction to start the diagnostic processing function is received from the user through the UI unit 28. A control program that defines diagnostic processing is stored in advance in the ROM 22 of the image forming apparatus 10, for example. The CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 reads a control program stored in the ROM 22 and executes diagnostic processing.

Note that image density deviation may occur when the density of the image formed on the recording medium is higher or lower than the density of the actual document. A diagnostic process to be executed when the density of the original document becomes lower than the actual density of the document will be explained.

First, in step S10, the CPU 21 executes an image forming unit diagnostic process to diagnose whether or not there is a factor leading to density deviation in the image forming unit 2.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the flow of processing in the image forming unit diagnosis process in step S10.

In step S200, the CPU 21 controls the image forming section 2 to output the recording medium on which the diagnostic chart 12 is formed from the discharge port of the image forming unit 29.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the diagnostic chart 12. As shown in FIG. 5, the diagnostic chart 12 is a recording medium in which images of specified densities are arranged in order of density for each color of color materials such as ink and toner used to form images in the image forming apparatus 10. It was formed in According to the example of FIG. 5, the image forming apparatus 10 uses cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y, and black K color materials. As described above, in this embodiment, cyan is represented by "C", magenta is represented by "M", yellow is represented by "Y", and black is represented by "K".

In the diagnostic chart 12, each image filled with a specified density is called a patch image 32, and each patch image 32 is associated with a number representing the density order (hereinafter referred to as a "patch number"). .

In the example of FIG. 5, patch numbers "1" to "16" are associated with the patch images 32 for each color of CMYK. The patch image 32 corresponding to the patch number "1" has the lowest density, and the larger the corresponding patch number, the higher the density of the patch image 32.

Each patch number corresponds to the density of the patch image 32, for example, the density of the patch image 32 with the patch number "1" is 5%, the density of the patch image 32 with the patch number "2" is 10%, etc. It is attached. Therefore, the CPU 21 requests the image forming section 2 to output the diagnostic chart 12 by specifying that each patch image 32 is formed on the diagnostic chart 12 for each color with the density associated with the patch number. The CPU 21 only specifies the density of the patch images 32 and requests the image forming unit 2 to output the diagnostic chart 12, and only checks whether each patch image 32 is actually formed on the diagnostic chart 12 with the specified density. It is unclear at this stage.

Note that there are no restrictions on the shape of the patch images 32, the number of patch images 32, or the order of arrangement of the patch images 32 in the diagnostic chart 12. For example, as in the diagnostic chart 12 shown in FIG. It is not necessary to form the diagnostic chart 12 by arranging them in numerical order. The patch number also does not need to be a numerical value, and an identification code that allows the order of the patch to be determined may be used. For example, an alphabet may be used as the identification code, such that "A" is associated with the patch image 32 with the lowest density, and "Z" is associated with the patch image 32 with the highest density. Further, as long as the density of the patch image 32 increases as the patch number increases, the density of the patch image 32 associated with the patch number may be set in any manner.

In step S210, the CPU 21 displays the patch number input screen 14 on the UI unit 28. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the patch number input screen 14. As shown in FIG. 6, the patch number input screen 14 displays an input area 34 for inputting patch numbers for each color of CMYK, and the user can input the diagnostic chart 12 output by the image forming apparatus 10 in step S200. Then, the patch number of the patch image 32 located at the visible boundary, which is the boundary between whether the patch image 32 is visible or not, is input into the input area 34 provided for each color.

Among the patch numbers of the patch images 32 located at the visibility boundary, there are a minimum patch number of the patch images 32 that the user can check and a maximum patch number of the patch images 32 that the user cannot check. As an example, assume that the user inputs the minimum patch number of the patch image 32 that can be confirmed into the input area 34.

In step S220, the CPU 21 determines whether a patch number has been input into the input area 34 of each color on the patch number input screen 14.

If a patch number has not yet been input to the input area 34 of each color, the determination process of step S220 is repeatedly executed to monitor whether a patch number is input to the input area 34 of each color. On the other hand, if a patch number is input into the input area 34 for each color, the process moves to step S230.

In the non-volatile memory 24 of the image forming device 10, if a patch image 32 is formed on the diagnostic chart 12 at a specified density corresponding to a patch number for each color of CMYK, it is stored in the nonvolatile memory 24 of the image forming apparatus 10. A patch number (reference patch number) corresponding to a limit density that is considered to be visible to a user without any background information is stored in advance.

Therefore, in step S230, the CPU 21 checks for each color whether or not the patch number input into the input area 34 of the patch number input screen 14 is within a range (referred to as a "specified range") that is equal to or less than the reference patch number. judge.

If the density of the patch image 32 formed on the diagnostic chart 12 is lower than the density associated with the patch number, it will be difficult for the user to visually recognize the patch image 32. The patch number should be entered in input area 34. Furthermore, the diagnostic chart 12 is a chart formed by the image forming section 2.

That is, if even one patch number input into the input area 34 of each color is not included within the specified range of the corresponding color, it is considered that there is a factor in the image forming section 2 that leads to a decrease in density. Therefore, the process moves to step S250, the CPU 21 sets the diagnosis result to "abnormal", and ends the image forming unit diagnosis process shown in FIG. 4.

On the other hand, in the determination process of step S230, if all the patch numbers input into the input area 34 of each color are included within the prescribed range of the corresponding color, the process moves to step S240.

In this case, it is considered that there are no factors that lead to a decrease in density in the image forming unit 2, so in step S240, the CPU 21 sets the diagnosis result to "normal" and executes the image forming unit diagnosis process shown in FIG. finish.

After the image forming unit diagnostic process is completed, in step S20 of FIG. 3, the CPU 21 determines whether the diagnosis result of the image forming unit diagnostic process is set to "normal". If the diagnosis result is set to "abnormal" instead of "normal", the process moves to step S30.

In step S30, the CPU 21 displays a message on the UI unit 28 notifying that there is an abnormality in the image forming section 2. The message displayed on the UI unit 28 is an example of an output form that outputs that the cause of the density deviation is in the image forming section 2. The method of outputting to the outside that there is a factor leading to density deviation is not limited to displaying a message on the UI unit 28. For example, printing on a recording medium, audio notification, and sending a message to the user's pre-registered email address or SNS (Social Networking Service) ID are also methods of outputting to the outside that there are factors that lead to density deviation. This is an example.

Then, in step S110, the CPU 21 displays the contact information of the service company in charge of maintenance of the image forming apparatus 10 on the UI unit 28 so that the user can easily request maintenance, and performs the diagnostic process shown in FIG. end. If the division in charge of maintenance is divided for each location of the image forming apparatus 10, the CPU 21 may display the contact information of the division in charge of maintenance of the image forming section 2. Further, the CPU 21 may automatically send an email requesting maintenance of the image forming apparatus 10 to the service company via the communication line. If the image forming apparatus 10 includes a facsimile transmission/reception unit, the CPU 21 may automatically send a document requesting maintenance of the image forming apparatus 10 to the service company via the facsimile line.

Since it has been identified that there is a factor in the image forming unit 2 that leads to a decrease in density, the user may, for example, change the settings related to the image density among the settings that define the operation of the image forming unit 2 so that the image density decreases. All you have to do is change the settings to a value that will make the correction darker than it is now.

On the other hand, if it is determined in the determination process of step S20 that the diagnosis result of the image forming unit diagnosis process is set to "normal", the process moves to step S40.

In step S40, the CPU 21 executes an image reading unit diagnostic process to diagnose whether or not there is a factor in the image reading unit 4 that leads to density deviation.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the flow of processing in the image reading unit diagnosis process in step S40.

The image forming apparatus 10 is provided with a color sample (referred to as a "sample chart") in which each patch image 32 of each color of the diagnostic chart 12 shown in FIG. 5 is formed at a density corresponding to a patch number. There is. That is, in the sample chart, the patch images 32 are formed such that the density of each patch image 32 for each color of CMYK is as close as possible to the density associated with the patch number.

Here, as an example, the sample chart will be described as having the same display form as the diagnostic chart 12, except that the densities of the patch images 32 match the densities associated with the respective patch numbers. However, the display form of the sample chart does not necessarily have to be the same as that of the diagnostic chart 12, as long as the density of each patch image 32 in the sample chart is formed in a density associated with a patch number. For example, in the sample chart, 30 patch images 32 with patch numbers from "1" to "30" may be formed for each color.

The density of the patch image 32 corresponding to each patch number in the sample chart is stored in advance in the nonvolatile memory 24 for each CMYK color. This will be referred to as the "standard density" for the patch image 32.

In step S300, the CPU 21 displays on the UI unit 28 the reading screen 16 displaying a reading instruction prompting the user to read the sample chart with the scanner unit 30.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the reading screen 16. When the user places a sample chart on the scanner unit 30 and presses the reading start button 36 on the reading screen 16, the CPU 21 executes reading of the sample chart and generates image data of the sample chart.

In step S310, the CPU 21 determines whether the scanner unit 30 has completed reading the sample chart. If reading of the sample chart is not completed, the determination process of step S310 is repeatedly executed to monitor the reading status of the sample chart.

On the other hand, if reading of the sample chart is completed, the process moves to step S320.

In step S320, the CPU 21 selects any one patch image 32 from the image data of the generated sample chart. For convenience of explanation, the patch image 32 selected in step S320 will be referred to as the "selected patch image 32."

If there is no abnormality in the image reading section 4, the density of the selected patch image 32 in the image data of the sample chart read by the scanner unit 30 should be the specified density of the selected patch image 32. However, in reality, the density of the patch image 32 of the sample chart changes due to deterioration of the sample chart over time, so the density of the selected patch image 32 may not match the specified density. Therefore, in step S330, the CPU 21 determines whether the density of the selected patch image 32 is included in a predetermined density range (referred to as a "specified density range").

The specified density range is set to a density range in which the density of the selected patch image 32 can be considered to be the specified density. For example, a range of ±0.5% centered on the specified density of the selected patch image 32 is set as the specified density range. Values for setting the specified concentration range, such as ±0.5%, are stored in advance in the nonvolatile memory 24 and can be changed by setting via the UI unit 28, for example.

Note that it is not necessary that all patch images 32 use a prescribed density range based on the same standard. Depending on the density of the patch image 32, there is a density at which the scanner unit 30 tends to have a large density reading error. Therefore, for example, the specified density range of the patch image 32 with the patch number "1" is the specified density ±0.7%, and the specified density range of the patch image 32 with the patch number "16" is the specified density ±0.5%. The prescribed density range may be changed according to the density of the patch image 32 as shown in FIG. Further, even if the density is the same, the reading error of the density at the scanner unit 30 may change depending on the color of the patch image 32. Therefore, the prescribed density range may be changed depending on the color of the patch image 32.

If the density of the selected patch image 32 is not within the specified density range, it is considered that there is a factor in the image reading section 4 that causes the density to decrease. Therefore, the process moves to step S340, and in step S340, the CPU 21 sets the diagnosis result to "abnormal" and ends the image reading unit diagnosis process shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if the density of the selected patch image 32 is within the specified density range, the process moves to step S350.

In step S350, the CPU 21 determines whether all patch images 32 included in the image data of the sample chart have been selected in step S320. If there is an unselected patch image 32, the process moves to step S320, and the CPU 21 selects any one patch image 32 that has not been selected yet from the image data of the sample chart. Then, the CPU 21 executes the determination process of step S330 on the newly selected patch image 32.

If it is determined in the determination process of step S350 that all patch images 32 included in the image data of the sample chart have been selected, the process moves to step S360. In this case, since the densities of all patch images 32 included in the image data of the sample chart were within the specified density range, it is considered that there is no factor in the image reading unit 4 that would lead to a decrease in density. . Therefore, in step S360, the CPU 21 sets the diagnosis result to "normal" and ends the image reading unit diagnosis process shown in FIG.

After the image reading unit diagnostic processing is completed, in step S50 of FIG. 3, the CPU 21 determines whether the diagnosis result of the image reading unit diagnostic processing is set to “normal”. If the diagnosis result is set to "abnormal" instead of "normal", the process moves to step S60.

In step S60, the CPU 21 displays a message on the UI unit 28 notifying that there is an abnormality in the image reading section 4.

Then, as described above, in step S110, the CPU 21 displays the contact information of the service company in charge of maintenance of the image forming apparatus 10 on the UI unit 28, and ends the diagnostic processing shown in FIG. 3. If the department in charge of maintenance is divided for each location of the image forming apparatus 10, the CPU 21 may display the contact information of the department in charge of maintenance of the image reading section 4.

Furthermore, since it has been identified that there is a factor that leads to a decrease in density in the image reading unit 4, the user may change the settings related to the image density among the settings that define the operation of the image reading unit 4, for example. All you have to do is change the setting value so that the density is corrected to be darker than it is now.

On the other hand, if it is determined in the determination process of step S50 that the diagnosis result of the image reading unit diagnosis process is set to "normal", the process moves to step S70.

In step S70, the CPU 21 executes a control unit diagnosis process to diagnose whether or not there is a factor in the control unit 8 that leads to density deviation.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the flow of the control unit diagnosis process in step S70.

In step S400, the CPU 21 displays the confirmation screen 17 on the UI unit 28, which displays a question regarding the usage status of the image forming apparatus 10.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the confirmation screen 17. As shown in FIG. 10, for example, two questions are listed on the confirmation screen 17. A question such as "Did you replace the image forming apparatus 10 with a new image forming apparatus 10" is written to ask the user for replacement information indicating whether or not the image forming apparatus 10 has been replaced with a new image forming apparatus 10. On the other hand, selection buttons for selecting "yes" or "no" are displayed in the first selection area 31, and the user presses any of the selection buttons to input an answer to the first question.

The second question (referred to as "second question") is answered by the image forming unit 29, for example, "Is the recording medium to be used the same type of recording medium as the recording medium that has been used so far?" A question is written asking the user for change information indicating whether or not the type of recording medium on which the image is formed has been changed. On the other hand, selection buttons for selecting "yes" or "no" are displayed in the second selection area 33, and the user presses any of the selection buttons to input an answer to the second question.

Note that the difference in the type of recording medium is expressed by a difference in the processing method of the image forming surface, such as plain paper or coated paper, or a difference in the basis weight of the recording medium.

When the user presses the "OK" button on the confirmation screen 17 after selecting the answer to the first question and the second question, the CPU 21 is notified of the answer to the first question and the answer to the second question.

Therefore, in step S410, the CPU 21 determines whether input of the answer to the question written on the confirmation screen 17 has been completed, depending on whether the answer to the first question and the answer to the second question have been received.

If the input of the answer has not been completed, the determination process of step S410 is repeatedly executed to monitor the answer status of the question. On the other hand, if an answer to the question has been input, the process moves to step S420.

In step S420, the CPU 21 determines whether the answer to the first question is "yes". If the answer to the first question is "no" instead of "yes", the process moves to step S440.

In this case, since the control section 8 of the image forming apparatus 10 remains the same as before, there is no change in the contents of the settings that define the operation of various functions of the image forming apparatus 10, and the control section 8 does not contain any factors that may lead to a decrease in density. It is thought that it does not exist. If there are no factors that lead to a decrease in density in any of the image forming section 2, image reading section 4, and control section 8, then the remaining location that affects the density of the image is the recording medium. For example, when using a recording medium that has deteriorated over time, even if the image forming apparatus 10 forms an image on the recording medium using an amount of coloring material corresponding to a specified density, there may be a difference in the apparent density. be.

Therefore, in step S440, the CPU 21 sets the diagnosis result to "normal" and ends the control unit diagnosis process shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if the answer to the first question is "yes", the process moves to step S430.

In step S430, the CPU 21 determines whether the answer to the second question is "yes". If the answer to the second question is "no" instead of "yes", the process moves to step S440.

In this case, since the image is being formed on a different type of recording medium than before, it is not the case that there is a factor in the control unit 8 that causes the density to decrease, but rather that it is due to a change in the type of recording medium used. It is thought that a decrease in concentration occurred. For example, if the type of recording medium is different, even if the image forming apparatus 10 forms an image on the recording medium using an amount of coloring material corresponding to a specified density, the absorption rate of the coloring material will differ, so the apparent density will differ. Differences may appear.

Therefore, in step S440, the CPU 21 sets the diagnosis result to "normal" and ends the control unit diagnosis process shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if it is determined in the determination process of step S430 that the answer to the second question is "yes", the process moves to step S450.

In this case, although the type of recording medium used had not been changed, the image forming apparatus 10 had been replaced, and no abnormalities were found in the image forming section 2 or image reading section 4. It is thought that there are factors that lead to a decrease in concentration in No. 8. Therefore, in step S450, the CPU 21 sets the diagnosis result to "abnormal" and ends the control unit diagnosis process shown in FIG.

After the control unit diagnosis process is completed, in step S80 of FIG. 3, the CPU 21 determines whether the diagnosis result of the control unit diagnosis process is set to "normal". If the diagnosis result is set to "abnormal" instead of "normal", the process moves to step S90.

In step S90, the CPU 21 displays a message on the UI unit 28 notifying that there is an abnormality in the control unit 8.

Then, as described above, in step S110, the CPU 21 displays the contact information of the service company in charge of maintenance of the image forming apparatus 10 on the UI unit 28, and ends the diagnostic processing shown in FIG. 3. If the division in charge of maintenance is divided for each location of the image forming apparatus 10, the CPU 21 may display the contact information of the division in charge of maintenance of the control unit 8.

Furthermore, since it has been identified that there is a factor in the control unit 8 that leads to a decrease in density, the user may change the settings related to the image density among the settings that define the operation of the control unit 8, for example, to All you have to do is change the settings to a value that will make the correction darker than it is now.

On the other hand, if it is determined in the determination process of step S80 that the diagnosis result of the control unit diagnosis process is set to "normal", the process moves to step S100.

As already explained, in this case, it is considered that there is a factor leading to a decrease in density in the recording medium, so in step S100, a message notifying the user to check the recording medium is displayed on the UI unit 28, The diagnostic process shown in FIG. 3 ends.

The diagnostic process shown in FIG. 3 identifies which of the image forming section 2, image reading section 4, control section 8, or recording medium is the cause of the decrease in the density of the image formed on the recording medium. become.

In addition, in the diagnostic process shown in FIG. 3, among the settings that specify the operation of the location where it has been identified that there are factors that lead to a decrease in the density of the image formed on the recording medium, the user selects settings that are considered to be related to the density of the image. We have explained an example of finding a setting and changing it to a setting value that will correct the density of the image to be darker than it is now. However, the CPU 21 may notify the user of a procedure for correcting the density of the image to be higher than the current density.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the treatment screen 18 displaying treatments for correcting the density of an image. Since the treatment screen 18 is displayed on the UI unit 28 of the image forming apparatus 10, the user only needs to refer to the treatment screen 18 and correct the density of the image by changing the set value of the instructed setting. When the user wants to close the treatment screen 18, the user presses the OK button.

Preferably, the CPU 21 changes the content of the treatment displayed on the treatment screen 18 depending on the location identified as having a factor that leads to a decrease in concentration. For example, if there is a factor that leads to a decrease in density in the image forming section 2, among the settings that define the operation of the image forming section 2, only setting items and setting values for correcting the density are displayed. Furthermore, if there is a factor that leads to a decrease in density in the image reading section 4, among the settings that define the operation of the image reading section 4, only setting items and setting values for correcting the density are displayed.

On the other hand, maintenance personnel who have received a maintenance request from a user will perform maintenance on the image forming apparatus 10, but in some cases, maintenance personnel may perform maintenance on areas other than those identified as having factors that lead to a decrease in density in the diagnostic process shown in FIG. There may also be locations that have factors that lead to a decrease in concentration.

Therefore, even if it is identified in the diagnostic process of FIG. 3 that there is a factor that leads to a decrease in density in the image forming unit 2, the maintenance personnel starts the process from step S40 of the diagnostic process shown in FIG. Then, the sample chart may be read by the scanner unit 30. Therefore, the diagnostic process shown in FIG. 3 can be set to start from the image reading unit diagnostic process in step S40, regardless of the diagnosis result of the image forming unit diagnostic process in step S10.

If the diagnosis result of the image reading unit diagnostic processing started in this manner is “abnormal”, the CPU 21 displays a message on the UI unit 28 notifying that there is an abnormality in the image forming unit 2 and the image reading unit 4. Further, if the diagnosis result of the control unit diagnosis process in step S70 is “abnormal”, the CPU 21 displays a message on the UI unit 28 notifying that there is an abnormality in the image forming unit 2 and the control unit 8.

Note that the sample chart used by the maintenance staff may be a sample chart carried by the maintenance staff or a sample chart attached to the image forming apparatus 10.

The above explained the diagnostic processing that is executed when the density of the image formed on the recording medium is lower than the density of the actual original. It can also be used when the density of the image is high. In this case, the user notifies the image forming apparatus 10 that the density of the image formed on the recording medium is higher than the density of the actual document, and then executes the diagnostic processing shown in FIG. 3.

If the density of the patch image 32 formed on the diagnostic chart 12 is higher than the density associated with the patch number, the patch image 32 will be easier to visually recognize, so the user will be able to see the patch image 32 smaller than the standard patch number. The patch number will be input into the input area 34. Therefore, when the CPU 21 is notified by the user that the density is high, it is sufficient to set the range equal to or larger than the reference patch number as the specified range.

If even one patch number input into the input area 34 for each color is not included within the prescribed range of the corresponding color, the CPU 21 may identify that there is a factor in the image forming section 2 that leads to an increase in density. On the other hand, the image reading unit diagnostic process shown in FIG. 7 and the control unit diagnostic process shown in FIG. 9 can be used as they are. Further, the CPU 21 displays setting items and setting values for reducing the density of the image on the treatment screen 18.

Note that when the CPU 21 identifies a location that is the cause of density deviation, it displays a message on the UI unit 28 notifying that there is an abnormality in the identified location, but this notification may be sent by voice or by printing on a recording medium. It may also be done in the form of Alternatively, the notification may be sent to an external device via a communication line.

Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the embodiments. Various changes or improvements can be made to the embodiments without departing from the gist of the present invention, and forms with such changes or improvements are also included within the technical scope of the present invention. For example, the order of processing may be changed without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Further, in the embodiment, an example in which the diagnostic processing is implemented using software has been described, but processing equivalent to the flowchart shown in FIG. Alternatively, it may be implemented in a PLD (Programmable Logic Device) and processed by hardware. In this case, the processing speed can be increased compared to the case where the diagnostic processing is implemented by software.

In this way, the CPU 21 of the image forming apparatus 10 may be replaced with a dedicated processor specialized for specific processing, such as an ASIC, an FPGA, a PLD, a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), and an FPU (Floating Point Unit).

The operation of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment may be realized not only by one CPU 21 but also by a plurality of CPUs 21. Furthermore, the operation of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the embodiment may be realized by the cooperation of processors located at physically separate locations.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the control program is installed in the ROM 22, but the present invention is not limited to this. The control program according to the embodiment can also be provided in a form recorded on a storage medium readable by the computer 20. For example, the control program may be provided in a form recorded on an optical disc such as a CD (Compact Disc)-ROM or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)-ROM. Further, the control program according to the embodiment may be provided in a form recorded in a portable semiconductor memory such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or a memory card.

Further, the image forming apparatus 10 may obtain a control program from an external device connected to a communication line via the communication unit 27.

2 image forming unit, 4 image reading unit, 6 UI unit, 8 control unit, 10 image forming device, 12 diagnostic chart, 14 patch number input screen, 16 reading screen, 17 confirmation screen, 18 treatment screen, 20 computer, 21 CPU , 22 ROM, 23 RAM, 24 nonvolatile memory, 25 I/O, 26 bus, 27 communication unit, 28 UI unit, 29 image forming unit, 30 scanner unit, 31 first selection area, 32 patch image (selected patch image ), 33 second selection area, 34 input area, 36 reading start button, 38 OK button, C cyan, K black, M magenta, Y yellow

Claims (5)

Among a plurality of patch images formed on a recording medium together with an identification code representing the density order by an image forming unit that forms images on a recording medium, the patch image located at the visibility boundary that is the boundary between whether the patch image is visible or not. Accepts the identification code corresponding to the patch image,
If the received identification code is not included in the predetermined range of identification codes that are accepted when each of the patch images is formed on a recording medium with a specified density, the image formation Outputs that there is a factor leading to density deviation in the
If the received identification code is within the specified range, a color sample image in which each of the patch images is formed with a specified density is sent from a reading unit that optically reads the image and converts it into image data. get the data,
If the density of at least one of the patch images in the color sample is not included in a density range preset for each of the patch images, output to the reading unit that there is a factor leading to density deviation. death,
If the density of each of the patch images in the color sample is included in the density range, receiving replacement information indicating whether or not the image forming unit is replaced;
If the received replacement information indicates that the image forming unit has not been replaced, outputting that there is a factor leading to density deviation in the recording medium on which the patch image is formed.
processor. If the replacement information indicates that the image forming unit has been replaced, receiving change information indicating whether or not there is a change in the type of recording medium on which the patch image is formed;
If the received change information indicates that there is a change in the type of recording medium, outputting that the recording medium on which the patch image is formed has a factor that leads to density deviation;
2. The processor according to claim 1 , wherein when the received change information indicates that there has been no change in the type of recording medium, the processor outputs to a control section that controls the image forming section that there is a factor leading to density deviation. The processor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the processor outputs a treatment for correcting density deviation. 4. The processor according to claim 3 , wherein the content of the treatment to be output is changed depending on a location having a factor leading to density deviation. to the computer,
Among a plurality of patch images formed on a recording medium together with an identification code representing the density order by an image forming unit that forms images on a recording medium, the patch image located at the visibility boundary that is the boundary between whether the patch image is visible or not. Accepts the identification code corresponding to the patch image,
If the received identification code is not included in the predetermined range of identification codes that are accepted when each of the patch images is formed on a recording medium with a specified density, the image formation Outputs that there is a factor leading to density deviation in the
If the received identification code is within the specified range, a color sample image in which each of the patch images is formed with a specified density is sent from a reading unit that optically reads the image and converts it into image data. get the data,
If the density of at least one of the patch images in the color sample is not included in a density range preset for each of the patch images, output to the reading unit that there is a factor leading to density deviation. death,
If the density of each of the patch images in the color sample is included in the density range, receiving replacement information indicating whether or not the image forming unit is replaced;
If the received replacement information indicates that the image forming unit has not been replaced, the control program executes a process of outputting that there is a factor leading to density deviation on the recording medium on which the patch image is formed .