JPH07129039A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To secure image quality corresponding to the need of a user in a printed matter where the graphic and the sentence coexist on the same paper by making the gloss of an image in an optional area variable. CONSTITUTION:After an image information processor 13 discriminates a graphic area/sentence area and an area to which black or cyan toner is supplied from image information equivalent to one page of paper, it commands the start of printing operation. Next, according to the operation of an electrostatic charger 2, a signal for operating a developing device 4B is transmitted so that the toner corresponding to the sentence area may be supplied, and yellow toner having low glossiness expressed as Y2 is supplied based on signal information for outputting a yellow image. When the image equivalent to one page of paper is formed on an intermediate transfer body 5 and the timing of transferring the image to the paper 7 is attained, the paper 7 is fed out by a resist roller 9 and the image is transferred from the intermediate transfer body 5 at the position of a transfer device 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that visualizes an image using toner, such as a printer, a facsimile, and a copying machine, and in particular, it is capable of outputting a color image according to a user's preference. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional image forming apparatus will be described below. An image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic method is an apparatus that forms a toner image on the surface of paper. The image forming process is basically a paper feeding process for sending out an unimaged paper, a charging process and an exposing process for forming an image on the photoconductor as an electric latent image, and a toner for supplying the latent image on the photoconductor surface. , A developing process for visualizing an image, a transferring process for transferring an image on a photoconductor to a paper surface, a fixing process for fixing the transferred toner image on a recording medium, a discharging process for discharging the recording medium after fixing, The transport device transports the recording body between each process. Furthermore, since the present invention handles color images, black K, cyan C,
A developing device for supplying four color toners of magenta M and yellow Y onto the photoconductor is installed.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional image forming apparatus that handles color images. This apparatus is an example of a system in which color images of four colors are superimposed on each other by an intermediate transfer member in order to form a full-color image on paper, and the printing operation by this apparatus will be described below.

In this apparatus, like the general electrophotographic system,
The charging device 2 charges one surface of the photoconductor to a predetermined potential, and the exposure device 3 irradiates the portion corresponding to the image information with light to change the potential of the corresponding portion. As a result, a latent image due to the potential difference is formed on the photoconductor 1. Next, in the developing process, toner is supplied to the latent image to visualize the toner image. In this apparatus, the developing device 4 that supplies the toner of the color corresponding to the image information is selected from the four color toners. Then, only one color toner image is formed on the photoconductor 1. Next, photoreceptor 1
The image on which only one color is formed is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 5. After that, the toner remaining on the photoconductor 1 that has not been transferred is cleaned by the cleaner 6, and again passes through the charging device 2 to perform the next image forming process. By repeating this operation, four color images are sequentially transferred from the photoconductor 1 onto the intermediate transfer body 5, and a full color image in which the four colors are overlaid is formed on the intermediate transfer body 5. On the other hand, the paper 7 is fed from the paper feed roller 8, conveyed to the registration roller 9, and stands by. When a full-color image is formed on the intermediate transfer body 5 and the timing of transferring the image onto the sheet 7 is reached, the sheet 7 is fed out by the registration roller 9 and the full-color image is transferred from the intermediate transfer body 5 at the position of the transfer device 10. . The sheet 7 on which the image is transferred is further sent to the fixing device 11,
After the unfixed toner image on the paper 7 is fixed, the paper discharge unit 1
The sheet is ejected to 2 and printing is completed. The above is the basic printing process. In this apparatus, image information is input from the outside of the image forming apparatus by a communication signal, processed by the image information processing apparatus 13 based on this information, and includes control of the exposure apparatus 3 and selection control of the developing apparatus 4. The printing process is controlled.

[0005]

Generally, the beauty of a color printed image is judged by print density, uniformity and color reproducibility. Therefore, in the prior art, attention has been paid to enhancing the beauty of a full-color image in which four colors are superimposed. In addition, most of the color printed matter output is a graphic image such as a photograph. Now, one of the elements that makes a graphic image look beautiful is the glossiness of the printed matter, and the glossiness makes it easier for the user to recognize that the printed matter is beautiful. Along with this user need, a full-color image forming apparatus outputs a printed matter with high gloss. However, conventional image forming apparatuses that handle black-and-white printed matter often handle character images such as documents that gaze at printed matter for a long time, and the higher glossy printed matter is, the more easily the reader's eyes get tired. Was not liked.

From this point of view, in the full-color image forming apparatus as shown in the prior art, the image quality corresponding to the needs of the user cannot be compatible with the graphics and the text.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus capable of satisfying both the image quality corresponding to the user's needs in a printed matter in which graphics and text are mixed on the same sheet.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention determines a graphics area and a text area from image information, increases the glossiness in the graphics area, and increases the glossiness in the text area. Reduce the gloss level.

[0009]

According to the present invention, in a printed matter in which graphics and text coexist on the same sheet, graphics can be glossy and text can be printed without gloss. As a result, the graphics are beautiful on the same paper, the eyes of the reader are less tired, and it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that is compatible with the image quality that meets the needs of the user.

[0010]

【Example】

<< Embodiment 1 >> An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a full-color image forming apparatus of this embodiment, in which 1 is a photoconductor, 2 is a charging device,
3 is an exposure device, 4A is a developing device that supplies toner K1, C1, M1, and Y1 for forming an image with high glossiness,
4B is toner K2 for forming an image with low gloss
A developing device for supplying C2, M2 and Y2. However, the symbols K, C, M, and Y described as toner represent the color toners of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, respectively, and the subscripts 1 and 2 of the symbols represent the images with high glossiness, respectively. Toner, toner for forming an image with low gloss. Further, 5 is an intermediate transfer member, 6 is a cleaner, 7 is a paper, 8 is a paper feed roller 8, 9 is a registration roller, 10 is a transfer device, 11 is a fixing device, 12 is a paper discharge unit,
Reference numeral 13 is an image information processing apparatus. The photosensitive member 1 in this apparatus is a negatively charged organic photosensitive member, and the developing devices 4A and 4B are of the reversal developing type in which the portions irradiated with light by the exposure device 3 are developed. Regarding the order of image formation in this apparatus, the order indicated by the symbol of each color toner is Y1.
/ M1 / C1 / K1 / Y2 / M2 / C2 / K2 and Y1
/ Y2 / M1 / M2 / C1 / C2 / K1 / K2 and Y2
Although / Y1 / M2 / M1 / C2 / C1 / K2 / K1 and the like are also conceivable, in the present embodiment, first, an image is formed in the order of yellow Y2, magenta M2, cyan C2, and black K2 corresponding to the text area, and then, With respect to the method of forming an image in the order of yellow Y1, magenta M1, cyan C1, and black K1 corresponding to the graphics area, the image forming process and the paper 7 conveying process in this apparatus will be described in detail below.

In this apparatus, image information is first input from outside the image forming apparatus by a communication signal and transmitted to the image information processing apparatus 13. The image information processing device 13 determines the graphics area / sentence area from the image information for one page of the paper and the area for supplying the toners of black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, and then issues a command to start the printing operation. To do. By this command, the surface of the photoconductor 1 is charged by the charging device 2 to about -600V.

The charging operation of the surface of the photosensitive member 1 by the charging device 2 continues to operate without stopping during the series of printing operations described below, and the image information processing device 1
When a command to stop the printing operation is received from the printer 3 or when a trouble occurs in the image forming apparatus, the printing is stopped.

Along with the operation of the charging device 2, the image information processing device 13 sends a signal to the exposure device 3 for irradiating the text area and the area where the yellow Y2 toner should be supplied. An electrostatic latent image is formed that is closer to zero potential than the background portion where light is not irradiated. Further, a signal for operating the developing device 4B is transmitted from the image information processing device 13 in order to supply the toner corresponding to the text area,
In the developing device 4B, the low-gloss yellow toner represented by Y2 is supplied based on the signal information for outputting the yellow image. At this time, each toner (K2, C2, M2, Y2) stored inside the developing device 4B is charged to about −10 μC / g by friction, and the potential of the background portion formed on the photoconductor 1 is increased. By applying an electric potential, which is intermediate between the electric potential of the electrostatic latent image portion and that of the electrostatic latent image portion, to the low gloss yellow toner Y2 supply unit of the developing device 4B,
2 is attracted only to the electrostatic latent image, and toner Y2
To form a visible image. Next, the image formed by the toner Y2 formed on the photoconductor 1 is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 5. After that, the photoconductor 1 performs the next image formation through a step of cleaning the toner Y2 remaining on the surface with the cleaner 6. In the next image forming step, the image information processing device 13 sends a signal to the exposure device 3 to irradiate the text area and the area where the image of the magenta M2 is to be formed, and the electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor 1. An image is formed. Further, the toner Y2 is supplied from the image information processing device 13 in order to supply the toner corresponding to the text area.
The toner M2 is supplied from the supply unit of the low gloss magenta toner M2 in the developing device 4B, a visible image is formed on the photoconductor 1 by the toner M2, and is transferred to the intermediate transfer body 5, as in the case of , In the text area and yellow Y2
Then, the next image is formed again through the same steps as those for forming the image.

The image forming process as described above is performed with cyan C2 and black K.
This is repeated in the order of 2, and an image corresponding to the text area is formed on the intermediate transfer body 5.

Next, the image information processing device 13 switches the toner supply instruction target from the developing device 4B to the developing device 4A in order to form an image in the graphics area, and copes with the repetition of the image forming operation similar to the above. Then, the control for supplying the toner in the order of yellow Y1, magenta M1, cyan C1, and black K1 is started. At this time, the developing device 4B is on standby at a position ready for printing the next page. Further, an exposure signal corresponding to the graphics area is transmitted to the exposure device 3 in the order of yellow Y1, magenta M1, cyan C1, and black K1. In synchronization with this, image formation by the toner supply operation of the developing device 4A and transfer to the intermediate transfer body 5 are sequentially performed. When these operations are completed, the entire image information for one page of paper is transferred onto the intermediate transfer body 5.

On the other hand, in the case of the sheet 7, after the image information for one page of the sheet is transmitted to the image information processing device 13 and before the entire image information for one page of the sheet is transferred onto the intermediate transfer body 5, The paper is fed from the paper feed roller 8, conveyed to the registration roller 9, and stands by. When an image for one page of paper is formed on the intermediate transfer body 5 and the timing of transferring the image onto the paper 7 comes, the paper 7 is fed out by the registration roller 9 and the image is transferred from the intermediate transfer body 5 at the position of the transfer device 10. Transcribed.
The sheet 7 to which the image has been transferred is further sent to the fixing device 11, and after the unfixed toner image on the sheet 7 is fixed, the sheet 7 is ejected to the sheet ejection unit 12 to finish the printing.

With such a configuration, in a printed matter in which graphics and text coexist on the same sheet, graphics have gloss and text can be printed without gloss. As a result, the graphics are beautiful on the same paper, the eyes of the reader are less tired, and it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that is compatible with the image quality that meets the needs of the user.

<Embodiment 2> Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the full-color image forming apparatus of this embodiment.

The basic constituent elements of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, but among them, the developing device 4 includes black, cyan, K, C, M and Y symbols in the drawing. It is composed of a portion for supplying each color toner of magenta and yellow and a gloss increasing member supplying device 14 for supplying a gloss increasing member for changing the gloss amount of the image indicated by the symbol R. Along with this, the control operation of the image information processing apparatus 13 changes from that of the first embodiment. The process of image formation and the process of transporting the paper 7 in this apparatus will be described in detail below. In this apparatus, the image information is transmitted from the outside of the image forming apparatus to the image information processing apparatus 13, and the image information processing apparatus 13 discriminates the graphics area / text area from the image information and the area supplying each color toner. After that, the instruction to start the printing operation is the same as in the first embodiment. At this time, the charging device 2 performs the same start and stop operations as in the first embodiment, and continues to charge the surface of the photoconductor 1 during the printing operation.

Along with the operation of the charging device 2, a control signal is then sent from the image information processing device 13 to the exposure device 3. At this point, there is no distinction between the graphics area and the text area, and the toner supply area for each color is provided. The exposure control corresponding to is performed, and in the order of yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black K,
The same exposure / development / transfer operations as in Example 1 are repeated,
A full-color image is formed on the intermediate transfer member 5. In addition,
At the time when these operations are completed, the color image information having no difference in gloss amount for one page of the paper is transferred onto the intermediate transfer body 5.

Next, from the image information processing device 13, Y,
Image information corresponding to the graphics area is selected regardless of the color information of M, C, and K, and an exposure control signal corresponding to the graphics area is transmitted to the exposure device 3. At this time,
The image information processing device 13 controls the operation of the gloss increasing member supplying device 14 of the developing device 4, and supplies the gloss increasing member onto the latent image formed on the photoconductor 1 by the exposure device 3. As a result, an image is formed on the photoconductor 1 by the gloss increasing member in a portion corresponding to the graphics area. By superimposing this image on the full-color image on the intermediate transfer body 5 in the transfer step, an image for one page having a graphics area and a text area having different glosses is formed on the intermediate transfer body 5.

On the other hand, as in the case of the first embodiment, the image information for one page of the sheet 7 is transmitted to the image information processing device 13, and then the entire image information for one page of the sheet is transferred onto the intermediate transfer member 5. In the meantime, the sheet is fed from the sheet feeding roller 8, conveyed to the registration roller 9, and stands by. Intermediate transfer member 5
When an image for one page of the sheet is formed on the sheet and the timing of transferring the image to the sheet 7 is reached, the sheet 7 is unrolled by the registration roller 9 and the image is transferred from the intermediate transfer member 5 at the position of the transfer device 10. The sheet 7 to which the image has been transferred is further sent to the fixing device 11, and after the unfixed toner image on the sheet 7 is fixed, the sheet 7 is ejected to the sheet ejection unit 12 to finish the printing.

With this structure, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained, and it is possible to provide the image forming apparatus which is compatible with the image quality corresponding to the needs of the user.

<Embodiment 3> Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the full-color image forming apparatus of this embodiment.

The basic constituent elements of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, but among them, the developing device 4 is the black, cyan, and K, C, M, and Y symbols. It is composed of only the parts that supply magenta and yellow color toners. In the configuration of this embodiment different from that of the first embodiment, the path switching device 15 for the paper 7 is arranged in the middle of the path through which the paper 7 is discharged to the paper discharge unit 12 via the fixing device 11. The sheet 7 of which the path is changed by is returned to the position of the registration roller 9 via the return conveyance path 16 in that it is provided.

The following is a detailed description of the image forming process in this apparatus.

In this apparatus, the image information is transmitted from the outside of the image forming apparatus to the image information processing apparatus 13, and the image information processing apparatus 13 discriminates the graphics area / text area from the image information and supplies the toner of each color. After making the determination, the command to start the printing operation is the same as in the first embodiment. At this time, the charging device 2 starts as in the first embodiment,
The stop operation is performed, and the surface of the photoconductor 1 is continuously charged during the printing operation.

Along with the operation of the charging device 2, a control signal is sent from the image information processing device 13 to the exposure device 3 next.
In the graphics area, the exposure control corresponding to each color toner supply area is performed, and yellow Y, magenta M,
The same exposure / development / development as in Example 1 in order of cyan C and black K
The transfer operation is repeated to form a full-color image in the graphics area on the intermediate transfer member 5. At the time when these operations are completed, the color image information corresponding to the graphics area for one page of the paper is transferred onto the intermediate transfer body 5.

At this time, the paper 7 is the same as in the first embodiment.
After the image information for one page is transmitted to the image information processing device 13 and before the graphics image information for one page of the paper is transferred onto the intermediate transfer member 5, the paper is fed from the paper feed roller 8 and registered. It has been conveyed to the roller 9 and is on standby.
A graphics image for one page of paper is formed on the intermediate transfer body 5, and when the timing of transferring the image onto the paper 7 comes, the paper 7 is fed out by the registration roller 9 and the transfer device 1
At the position of 0, the graphics image is transferred from the intermediate transfer member 5. The sheet 7 to which the image has been transferred is further sent to the fixing device 11, and the unfixed toner image on the sheet 7 is fixed. After that, the sheet 7 is guided to the return conveyance path 16 by the path switching device 15, returns to the registration roller 9 via the return conveyance path 16, and stands by until the next printing timing.

The image information processing device 13 is continued after the printing operation.
From the above, the exposure control is performed in the text area and corresponding to the toner supply area of each color, and the same exposure / development / transfer operation as in the case of the graphics area is repeated in the order of Y, M, C and K. , A full-color image of the text area for one page of paper is formed on the intermediate transfer member 5.

When the text area image for one page of the paper is formed on the intermediate transfer body 5 and the timing of transferring the image to the paper 7 comes, the paper 7 returned through the return conveyance path 16 is again moved by the registration roller 9. The text area image is transferred from the intermediate transfer body 5 at the position of the transfer device 10. The sheet 7 on which the image is transferred is further sent to the fixing device 11,
At the same time as the unfixed toner image corresponding to the text area on the paper 7 is fixed, the image in the graphics area is reheated. After that, the paper 7 passes through the path switching device 15 and is discharged to the paper discharge unit 12 to finish the printing.

By these operations, the amount of fixing heat supplied to the graphics area becomes larger than the amount of fixing heat supplied to the text area on the paper 7 where the text area and the graphics area coexist. Now, there is a proportional relationship between the degree of melting of toner and the degree of gloss of an image, and the total amount of heat supplied in the fixing operation is large and the degree of gloss of an image increases as the degree of melting of toner is promoted. . Therefore, by this operation, an image having higher gloss in the graphics area than in the text area can be obtained.

With such a configuration, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained in a printed matter in which graphics and text are mixed on the same sheet, and it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus satisfying the image quality corresponding to the needs of the user.

<Embodiment 4> Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the full-color image forming apparatus of this embodiment.

The basic constituent elements of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, but among them, the developing device 4 includes black, cyan, K, C, M, and Y symbols. It is composed of only the parts that supply magenta and yellow color toners. The configuration of the present embodiment different from that of the first embodiment is that an exposure amount control device 17 attached to the exposure device 3 is provided.

The printing process in this apparatus is performed from the outside of the image forming apparatus by the image information processing apparatus 1 as in the case of the above-described embodiment.
The image information transmitted to 3 is discriminated, and charging / exposure / transfer are repeated in order of yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black K to form a full-color image on the intermediate transfer body 5, and then the image is formed on the paper 7. After transferring, the paper passes through the fixing device 11 and then the paper discharge unit
This is the process of discharging the paper to. However, in this apparatus, the exposure control signal from the image information processing apparatus 13 is sent to the exposure amount control apparatus 17 attached to the exposure apparatus 3. Based on the control signal, the exposure amount control device 17 controls the exposure to the regions to which the yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black K toners should be supplied, and increases the light amount in the graphics region and increases the light amount in the text region. At the same time, control for reducing the amount of light is performed. Example 1
As described above, the electrostatic latent image portion irradiated with light is closer to the zero potential than the background portion not irradiated with light. However, the larger the amount of irradiated light is, the closer it is to the zero potential. As the degree of approaching the zero potential increases, the potential difference between the potential supplied in the toner supply portion of the developing device 4 and the potential of the electrostatic latent image portion increases, so that the electrostatic latent image portion is supplied from the developing device 4. A large amount of toner is discharged. As a result, under the control of the exposure amount, a larger amount of toner is supplied to the image in the graphics area, and a smaller amount of toner is supplied to the image in the text area.

Now, there is a correlation between the amount of toner forming an image and the amount of gloss of the image, and the amount of gloss of the image increases as the amount of toner increases. Therefore, by the operation, an image having higher gloss in the graphics area than in the text area can be obtained.

With the above-described structure, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained with the printed matter in which the graphics and the text are mixed on the same sheet, and the image forming apparatus can be provided which has the image quality corresponding to the user's needs.

<Embodiment 5> Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the full-color image forming apparatus of this embodiment.

The basic constituent elements and the printing process of the image forming apparatus of this embodiment are the same as those of the above embodiment, and the image information transmitted from the outside of the image forming apparatus to the image information processing apparatus 13 is discriminated and the yellow After charging, exposing, and transferring are repeated in the order of Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black K to form a full-color image on the intermediate transfer body 5, the image is transferred onto the paper 7, and the paper is discharged via the fixing device 11. This is the process of discharging the sheet to 12.

In this embodiment, the configuration different from the above-mentioned embodiment is
The point is that the gloss increasing member supply device 18 is provided on the path from the transfer device 10 to the fixing device 11.

The gloss increasing member supplying device 18 is roughly constituted by a chamber for enclosing a solid or liquid gloss increasing member and a minute opening nozzle provided in a part of the chamber. The minute opening nozzle is provided by increasing the pressure in the chamber. This is a system in which the gloss increasing member is extruded in the form of a small amount of droplets and is supplied to arbitrary dots of an image, and a plurality of minute opening nozzles are provided side by side in a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the paper. The gloss increasing member used contains a component of fixing oil as used in a general fixing device.

In this apparatus, the gloss increasing member supplying device 18 supplies a large amount of the gloss increasing member to the graphics area and supplies a small amount of the gloss increasing member to the text area according to the control signal from the image information processing device 13. Or the gloss increasing member is not supplied. By this operation, an image having higher gloss in the graphics area than in the text area can be obtained.

When the operation of the gloss increasing member supplying device 18 is further described in detail, a higher quality image can be obtained by adding the configuration described below. That is, the toner image transferred onto the paper 7 is attracted to the surface of the paper 7 by the electrostatic force generated between the electric charge of the toner image applied to the paper 7 and the electric charge of the toner image itself. However, when the force due to the wind pressure generated when the gloss increasing member is supplied is larger than the electrostatic force, the toner image may be disturbed. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to add a device such as a device for increasing the electrostatic force or a pre-fixing device for fixing the toner image to the sheet to some extent immediately before the supply of the gloss increasing member. In this embodiment, the pre-fixing device 19 is arranged to further improve the print quality.

Further, in this embodiment, the gloss increasing member supplying device 18
In this example, a plurality of minute opening nozzles are provided side by side. However, the gloss amount can be similarly changed with a structure in which a single minute opening nozzle is moved in a direction perpendicular to the sheet advancing direction. However, in this case, it is necessary to add a configuration in which the moving speed of the sheet 7 is sufficiently slower than the moving speed of the nozzle.

With the above-described structure, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained with the printed matter in which the graphics and the text are mixed on the same sheet, and the image forming apparatus having the image quality corresponding to the user's needs can be provided.

<Embodiment 6> Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In this embodiment, the same image forming apparatus as that used in the above-mentioned embodiment is used, so that it is not shown.

In this embodiment, the image information transmitted from the outside of the image forming apparatus to the image information processing apparatus 13 includes information designating an area in which the gloss amount is arbitrarily changed without distinction between the graphics area and the text area. This is an example of the case where

By transmitting the image information including the information of the gloss amount change area, the image information processing apparatus 13 determines the non-gloss change area and the gloss change area instead of distinguishing the text area and the graphics area. Subsequent operations are performed by replacing the text area with the control in the non-glossy change area and the graphic area with the control in the glossy change area in each embodiment, and a printed matter in which the gloss amount of an arbitrary area is changed is formed. To be done.

An example of an image information output device capable of including gloss change information of an arbitrary area in image information as in this embodiment is as follows.

As a first example, there is an image information creating system accompanied by an instruction to change the gloss of a region. In the case of such an example, it is necessary to match the information structure of the gloss change information in the image information creating system with the information structure of the gloss change information determination in the image forming apparatus.

In the second example, an existing image information creating system may be used. As an example of a method of using an existing image information creating system, there is a case where an odd page of a sentence input by the image information creating system is utilized as an image information source such as a sentence and an even page is utilized as a gloss change information source. That is,
When the user creates a sentence with the existing image information creation system, the image information for changing the gloss is input by inputting the same image information as the image information input location in the odd page to the same location in the even page to change the gloss. For the non-existing image information, the same place in the even-numbered page is filled with blanks or the image information is not input. Here, the image forming apparatus side prepares a mode in which the odd-numbered page and the even-numbered page of the paper are simultaneously taken into the image information processing apparatus 13 and the information of the odd-numbered page and the even-numbered page are compared to determine the gloss change area. When the user selects a mode with a mode changeover switch or the like, it is possible to print a sentence in which the gloss of an arbitrary area on one page of the paper is changed. in this case,
As modes that can be selected by the mode changeover switch, in addition to the modes, there is no distinction between odd-numbered pages and even-numbered pages, and a mode in which a low-gloss image is printed or a high-gloss image is printed in the text area and the graphics area. It is desirable to add a mode that makes a distinction and changes the gloss.

The third example is to convert the position coordinate data of the designated position into a digital signal by instructing the scanner unit that reads the print image as a digital signal and an arbitrary position on the paper on which the print image is printed, with a pen or the like. Like a digital copying machine having a digitizer section, it is an apparatus that reads a pre-printed image and performs copy printing of the image.The scanner section reads the print image, and the digitizer specifies the gloss change area to display the image information. There is a case where a function for including gloss change information of an arbitrary area is added to.

When the user wants to emphasize a part of a sentence printed in the same color, this printed matter can be achieved by printing the emphasized part with characters of different gloss.

As described above, by using the invention of this embodiment, an effect peculiar to the present invention that the user can further enhance the expressiveness of sentences and the like can be obtained.

<Embodiment 7> Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In this embodiment, the same image forming apparatus as that used in the above embodiment is used.

In the above-described embodiment, the gloss change state is binary, but this embodiment is an example in which a plurality of gloss change states is changed to two or more.

The object of the present embodiment can be achieved by changing the irradiation light amount from the exposure device 3 in several steps with the configuration of the fourth embodiment. That is, as shown in Example 4, the larger the irradiation light amount is, the larger the supplied toner amount is, and the gloss amount of the image is increased as the toner amount is increased. Therefore, the gloss amount is changed by changing the irradiation light amount in several steps. The amount can be changed in several steps.

A second example of achieving the object of the present embodiment is to use the developing device 4 as in the second embodiment (see FIG. 3) and the gloss increasing member supplying device 14 and the exposure device 3 as in the third embodiment. The amount of irradiation light is changed in several steps to change the amount of supply of the gloss increasing member from the gloss increasing member supply device 14 in the second embodiment, and the amount of irradiation light is the same as in the first example of the present embodiment. The gloss amount can be changed in several steps by changing the value in several steps.

A third example of achieving the object of the present embodiment is to change the supply amount of the gloss increasing member in several steps in the configuration of the fifth embodiment.

The image forming apparatus capable of changing a plurality of gloss change states in a binary value or more can be provided with an adjuster capable of changing the gloss amount according to a user's preference. Further, in the image forming apparatus, it is possible to change the gloss amount for any image information in several steps.

When the information for changing the gloss amount in several steps is included in the image information creating system accompanied by the instruction for changing the gloss of the area in the embodiment, the instruction for adjusting the change level of the gloss is included. Or, when using the existing image information creation system to determine the image information of the odd page and the even page, in the information source of the gloss change of the even page, the designated display color of each information source is set as the gloss change level. There is a method to make it an information source. Further, in a digital copying apparatus having a scanner section and a digitizer section, when a scanner section reads a print image and a digitizer specifies a gloss change area, the gloss change level is also specified at the same time, so that the gloss amount can be set to several levels. It is possible to include information for changing the image information in the image information.

With this configuration, it is possible to arbitrarily adjust the gloss amount according to the taste of the user, and it is possible to form a printed matter in which the gloss amount is changed in several steps. Such a printed matter can be achieved by, for example, when the user emphasizes a sentence printed in the same color, by printing this emphasized portion with characters whose gloss changes in several steps, and the user can express the sentence. Can be further increased.

[0065]

According to the present invention, printed matter in which graphics and text are mixed on the same sheet, graphics can be glossy and text can be printed without gloss. As a result, the graphics are beautiful on the same paper, the eyes of the reader are less tired, and it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that is compatible with the image quality that meets the needs of the user.

Further, since the gloss amount can be selected according to the user's preference, a wide range of user needs can be met.

Further, since the gloss change area can be designated in accordance with the user's request, it is possible to express a printed matter more sophisticated than the user group.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a full-color image forming apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional full-color image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a full-color image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a full-color image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a full-color image forming apparatus according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a full-color image forming apparatus according to a fifth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Photoconductor, 2 ... Charging device, 3 ... Exposure device, 4, 4A,
4B: developing device, 5 ... intermediate transfer member, 6 ... cleaner, 7 ...
Paper, 8 ... Paper feed roller, 9 ... Registration roller, 10 ... Transfer device, 11 ... Fixing device, 12 ... Paper ejection unit, 13 ... Image information processing device.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI Technical display location G03G 15/01 113 Z 15/20 101 109

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus for forming a color image on a sheet, wherein the gloss of an image in an arbitrary area is variable. 2. An image forming apparatus for forming a color image on a sheet, wherein a print area on the same sheet is divided into a character area and an image area, and gloss of the character area and gloss of the image area are made variable. An image forming apparatus comprising: 3. An image forming apparatus, wherein a process of forming an image corresponding to a text area and an image corresponding to a graphics area are divided. 4. The means for varying the gloss of an image according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of printing members having different gloss are held for a printing member of the same color, and printing is performed based on information for changing the gloss. An image forming apparatus that selects a printing member to be supplied to an area. 5. The information according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the means for varying the gloss of the image has a configuration in which the amount of heat applied to the area where the gloss is to be varied in the image fixing means is variable, and the information for changing the gloss is provided. An image forming apparatus that changes the amount of heat supplied to the printing area based on the above. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the color image information in the graphics area is transferred and heat-fixed on the paper, and then the transfer and heat-fixing steps are repeated to print a full-color image of the text area on the same printing surface. Image forming apparatus. 7. The means for varying the gloss of an image according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the means for varying the amount of the printing member supplied to the area where the gloss is to be varied is provided, and the information for changing the gloss is also included. An image forming apparatus that controls the amount of printing material supplied to the area. 8. An image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process according to claim 7, wherein the means for varying the amount of the printing member is capable of varying the irradiation light amount in the exposure section prior to the development of the printing member. 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the light amount is increased in the graphics area and is decreased in the text area. 10. The means for varying the gloss of an image according to claim 1, wherein the gloss increasing member for changing the gloss of the image is supplied to the printing area, and the information for changing the gloss is provided. An image forming apparatus that changes the glossiness of a print area by controlling the amount of the gloss increasing member supplied to the area. 11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a gloss increasing member that changes a gloss amount of an image in the same step as a visible image developing step. 12. An image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein after forming a full-color image, an image formed by a gloss increasing member formed in a portion corresponding to a graphics area is superimposed. 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a gloss increasing member supply device on a path from the transfer device to the fixing device. 14. The micro-opening nozzle according to claim 13, which is roughly constituted by a chamber for enclosing the solid or liquid gloss increasing member and a micro-opening nozzle provided in a part of the chamber. An image forming apparatus in which a gloss increasing member is extruded in a minute amount of liquid droplets and is supplied to arbitrary dots of an image. 15. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the gloss increasing member contains at least a component of a fixing oil used in a fixing device. 16. The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a device for increasing electrostatic force between toner and paper or a pre-fixing device immediately before the gloss increasing member supplying device. 17. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an adjusting mechanism capable of arbitrarily adjusting a gloss change amount. 18. An image forming apparatus capable of inputting gloss change information associated with image information and information processing of the gloss change information. 19. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gloss change state can be changed in multiple stages of two or more values. 20. The information output device according to claim 19, which is capable of communicating gloss change information. 21. An image information processing system, wherein gloss change information can be input to image information. 22. An image forming apparatus characterized in that an odd page of a sentence input by an image information creating system is utilized as a normal image information source and an even page is utilized as a gloss change information source. 23. A printing method, wherein an image is emphasized by a difference in gloss of the printed image.