JPH1138708A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording device by which the recording density is adjusted in accordance with the background density of the recording paper, and the picture image of good quality can be recorded. SOLUTION: In a recording device 1, when the recording density adjusting mode on/off key of an operation part 6 is turned off, a control part 5 carries out ordinary recording action at the time of recording. When the recording density adjusting mode on/off key is turned on, the background density of a recording paper 8 is detected by a recording paper density sensor 2 for being recognized by an analog data recognizing part 3, and it is converted by an A/D converting part 4 into digital recording paper density data and is output to a control part 5. The control part 5 determines the actual recording density from the set recording density being set by the recording paper density data are the operation part 6, and the recording density signal corresponding to the relevant actual recording density and the recording data are output to a recording part 7, and the recording part 7 records the image on the recording paper 8 in the relevant actual recording density both by the recording data being input through the control part 5 and by the recording density signal. Thus, without being influenced by the background density of the recording paper 8, the image can be recorded by a proper recording density, so that the image quality can be enhanced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus,
More specifically, the present invention relates to a recording apparatus that adjusts a recording density according to a background density of a recording sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a recording apparatus, for example, a copying machine, the recording density of an image of a document is read by a reading unit, and based on the recording density of the image of the document read by the reading unit.
By adjusting the voltage of the recording section, the toner amount is adjusted, and the recording density corresponding to the recording density of the image of the original is obtained.
The image is recorded on the recording paper by the recording unit.

In a printing apparatus such as a printer that performs printing based on print data input from the outside, an image is printed based only on a preset print density.

However, since the recording density changes depending on the state of the recording paper, a recording apparatus that performs recording at a density gradation independent of the state of the recording paper and the gradation method has been proposed (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei. 633862).

In this recording apparatus, the density of the gradation image printed on the recording medium by the printing means is sequentially determined by the density reading means based on the logical density data stored in the memory for the number of gradations or less. The correction density generation unit compares the read actual density data with the stored logical density data, and determines that the logical density of the multi-valued image data linearly corresponds to the actual density. Create a correction table for Then, the density of the multi-valued image data input from the external device is converted with reference to the correction table, and a gradation effect is performed so that the density of the input multi-valued image data is proportional to the actual density actually printed. .

According to this recording apparatus, it is possible to correct and print in the case where printing is not performed with the expected gradation due to the fiber characteristics and gradation method of the recording medium.

[0007]

However, in such a conventional recording apparatus, the gradation density is corrected by reading the gradation density of the image recorded on the recording paper.
Since the recording density is not adjusted based on the background color (background color) of the recording paper, it is not possible to record an image at a recording density suitable for the background density of the recording paper. There was a problem of lowering.

That is, the recording paper is not always the same color recording paper. For example, even if it is a white recording paper,
The degree of whiteness varies depending on the recording paper, and in the case where the degree of color of the recording paper differs as described above, there is a problem that unless the recording density is adjusted in consideration of the background density of the recording paper, the recording quality deteriorates. there were.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the background density of the recording paper is detected, and the actual recording density to be actually recorded is determined based on the detected background density of the recording paper and a preset recording density. Then, by recording the image based on the determined actual recording density, the image is recorded at the recording density suitable for the background density of the recording paper, that is, the recording density suitable for the background color of the recording paper, and the image quality is clear and good. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording device capable of recording a simple image.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when an image is recorded by causing toner to adhere to recording paper, the actual recording density determined based on the background density of the recording paper and a preset recording density is set. By controlling the amount of toner based on this, even in an electrophotographic recording apparatus using toner, an image is recorded at a recording density suitable for the background density of the recording paper, and a clear image with good image quality is recorded. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording device that can perform the recording.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, dot thinning or dot insertion of the image portion of the recording data is performed based on the background density of the recording paper and the actual recording density determined based on the preset recording density. To provide a recording apparatus capable of recording an image at a recording density more suitable for the background density of recording paper by recording an image, and recording an image with higher clarity and higher image quality. It is an object.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the density adjustment mode is set to ON by the operation means for setting ON / OFF of the density adjustment mode for adjusting the recording density based on the background density of the recording paper. Only by adjusting the recording density based on the background density of the recording paper, the recording density intended by the operator of the recording apparatus is appropriately recorded, and a recording apparatus with good usability and good image quality is provided. It is intended to be.

[0013]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus comprising recording means for recording an image on recording paper at a specified recording density based on input recording data. Density detecting means for detecting the background density of the recording paper; and actual recording density actually recorded on the recording means based on the background density of the recording paper detected by the density detecting means and a preset recording density. And a recording density determining unit that outputs the determined actual recording density to the recording unit as the designated recording density, wherein the recording unit determines the image based on the designated recording density designated by the recording density decision unit. The above-mentioned object is achieved by performing the recording.

According to the above arrangement, the background density of the recording paper is detected, and the actual recording density to be actually recorded is determined based on the detected background density of the recording paper and a preset recording density. Since the image is recorded based on the determined actual recording density, the image can be recorded at the recording density suitable for the background density of the recording paper, that is, the recording density suitable for the background color of the recording paper. Can be recorded.

In this case, for example, as described in claim 2, the recording means performs the recording of the image by causing toner to adhere to the recording paper, and the recording density determining means controls the determined actual density. A toner density signal for controlling a toner amount corresponding to a recording density is output to the recording unit as the designated recording density, and the recording unit changes the toner amount according to the toner density signal to record the image. It may be performed.

According to the above arrangement, when recording an image by adhering toner to recording paper, the recording density is determined based on the background density of the recording paper and the actual recording density determined based on a preset recording density. Since the amount of toner is controlled, an image can be recorded at a recording density suitable for the background density of the recording paper even in an electrophotographic recording apparatus using toner, and a clear and high-quality image is recorded. be able to.

Further, for example, as set forth in claim 3, the printing apparatus further comprises image processing means for thinning out dots and inserting dots in an image portion of the print data, and the image processing means comprises: The dot thinning or the dot insertion is performed based on the actual recording density determined by the recording density determining unit, and the recording unit records the image based on the recording data processed by the image processing unit. There may be.

According to the above-described configuration, based on the background density of the recording paper and the actual recording density determined on the basis of the preset recording density, dots are thinned out or inserted in the image portion of the recording data, and the image is recorded. Therefore, an image can be recorded at a recording density more suitable for the background density of the recording paper, and a clearer image with higher image quality can be recorded.

Further, for example, as set forth in claim 4, the recording apparatus includes operating means for setting ON / OFF of a density adjustment mode for adjusting a recording density based on a background density of the recording paper. The recording density determination unit may adjust the recording density based on the background density of the recording paper only when the density adjustment mode is set to ON by the operation unit. .

According to the above arrangement, only when the density adjusting mode is set to ON by the operation means for setting ON / OFF of the density adjusting mode for adjusting the recording density based on the background density of the recording paper, Since the recording density is adjusted based on the background density of the recording paper, the recording density intended by the operator of the recording apparatus can be appropriately recorded, the usability of the recording apparatus can be improved, and the recording image can be improved. Image quality can be improved.

[0021]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and therefore, various technically preferable limitations are added. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following description. The embodiments are not limited to these embodiments unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a recording apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a main part of a recording apparatus 1 to which an embodiment of the recording apparatus of the present invention is applied. is there. Note that the recording apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is applied to a recording unit of a copying apparatus, a printer, and the like.

In FIG. 1, a recording apparatus 1 includes a recording paper density sensor 2, an analog data recognition section 3, an A / D conversion section 4,
A control unit 5, an operation unit 6, a recording unit 7, and the like are provided.

The recording paper density sensor (density detection means) 2
For example, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) is provided,
The background density (background density) of the recording paper 8 is detected and output to the analog data recognition unit 3 as analog density detection data.

The analog data recognizing section 3 recognizes analog density detection data input from the recording paper density sensor 2, and converts the analog density detection data into analog density recognition data.
Output to

The A / D conversion section 4 converts the analog density recognition data input from the analog data recognition section 3 into digital data, and outputs the digital density data to the control section 5 as digital recording paper density data separated into a plurality of stages.

The control unit (recording density determining means, image processing means) 5 controls the recording unit 7 based on the input recording data.
To record an image on the recording paper 8. At this time,
The control unit 5 determines the actual recording density to be actually recorded on the recording unit 7 based on the recording density preset by the operation unit 6 and the recording paper density data input from the A / D conversion unit 4,
The recording unit 7 performs recording at the determined actual recording density.
For example, the control unit 5 includes a data table indicating the relationship between the recording paper density data and the set recording density and the actual recording density data. The control unit 5 searches the data table based on the recording paper density data and the setting recording density to determine the actual recording density. The density is determined, a recording density signal corresponding to the determined actual recording density is output to the recording unit 7, and the recording unit 7 performs recording at the actual recording density.

The operation unit (operation means) 6 includes various operation keys and a display necessary for operating the recording apparatus 1, and in particular, a setting operation key for setting the recording density set by the recording unit 7 and a recording paper background density. Turn recording density adjustment mode on /
It has an off key and the like.

The control unit 5 performs various operations as the recording apparatus 1 in response to key operations of the operation unit 6, sets a set recording density, and sets the recording unit 7 based on the set recording density.
The recording density adjustment process based on the background density of the recording paper 8 is performed or not performed in accordance with the control of the recording operation and the ON / OFF operation of the recording density adjustment mode.

The control unit 5 has an image processing circuit (image processing means) for performing dot thinning processing and dot insertion processing of print data, and stores a data table based on print paper density data and a set print density. A search is performed to determine an actual recording density, and according to the determined actual recording density, a dot thinning process or a dot inserting process is performed on the input recording data, and the data is output to the recording unit 7. An image is recorded at a density corresponding to the determined actual recording density.

As the recording unit 7, for example, an electrophotographic recording device is used, which operates under the control of the control unit 5, and based on the recording data input from the control unit 5,
The image is recorded on the recording paper 8 at the recording density specified by the control unit 5.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. The recording apparatus 1 is characterized in that the recording density of an image in the recording unit 7 is changed according to the background density of the recording paper 8.

First, at the time of recording, the recording device 1
Checks the recording density adjustment mode on / off key of the operation unit 6, and performs recording processing according to the on / off state of the recording density adjustment mode.

That is, when the recording density adjustment mode is set to off by the recording density adjustment mode on / off key, the control unit 5 outputs the input recording data to the recording unit 7 and sets the density of the operation unit 6. A recording density signal for designating the recording density is output to the recording unit 7 based on the recording density set by the setting key and the like, and the recording unit 7 records an image on the recording paper 8 at the set recording density. At this time, the recording density signal output by the control unit 5 to the recording unit 7 is, for example, a voltage signal for adjusting the toner amount when the recording unit 7 is an electrophotographic recording device.

Therefore, it is possible to print an image at a print density intended by the operator of the printing apparatus 1, and it is possible to improve the usability of the printing apparatus 1.

When the recording density adjustment mode is set to on by the recording density adjustment mode on / off key of the operation unit 6, the control unit 5 controls the recording unit 7 based on the recording density corresponding to the background density of the recording paper 8. To record an image.

That is, at this time, the recording paper density sensor 2
Detects the background density of the recording paper 8 and outputs it as analog density detection data to the analog data recognizing unit 3, which recognizes the density detection data and performs A / D conversion as analog density recognition data. Output to section 4. A
The / D conversion unit 4 converts the analog density recognition data input from the analog data recognition unit 3 into digital recording paper density data and outputs it to the control unit 5. 4 to determine the actual recording density from the recording paper density data input from the input unit 4 and the set recording density set by the operation unit 6, and a recording density signal for designating the recording density of the recording unit 7 to the determined actual recording density. The recording data is output to the recording unit 7. The recording unit 7 records an image on the recording paper 8 at the actual recording density based on the recording data and the recording density signal input from the control unit 5.

Therefore, an image can be recorded at an appropriate recording density without being affected by the background density of the recording paper 8, and the image quality of the recorded image can be improved.

Further, the control unit 5 is not limited to controlling the recording density of the image by the recording unit 7 by the recording density signal, but by thinning out dots or inserting dots in the image portion of the recording data. The recording density may be controlled.

That is, the control unit 5 determines the actual recording density from the recording paper density data input from the A / D conversion unit 4 and the set recording density set by the operation unit 6, and determines the determined actual recording density. The dot thinning rate or the dot insertion rate of the image part of the recording data is calculated based on the dot thinning rate or the dot insertion rate of the dot of the image part of the recording data, Perform insertion processing. The control unit 5 outputs the recording data on which the dot thinning process or the dot inserting process has been performed to the recording unit 7 and causes the recording unit 7 to record an image at a recording density corresponding to the background density of the recording paper 8.

Accordingly, an image can be recorded at a density more suitable for the background density of the recording paper 8, and the image quality can be further improved.

Although the invention made by the inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be made without departing from the gist of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which an electrophotographic recording device is used as the recording unit 7. However, the recording unit 7 is not limited to an electrophotographic recording device. For example, a recording apparatus of any recording method such as an ink dot method can be applied in the same manner as described above.

In the above-described embodiment, the recording paper density sensor 2 for detecting the background density of the recording paper 8 has the CC
D is used, but the recording paper density sensor 2
Is not limited to this, and may be any as long as the background density of the recording paper 8 can be appropriately detected.

[0045]

According to the recording apparatus of the present invention, the background density of the recording paper is detected, and the actual recording is performed based on the detected background density of the recording paper and a preset recording density. Since the actual recording density is determined and the image is recorded based on the determined actual recording density, the image can be recorded at the recording density suitable for the background density of the recording paper, that is, the recording density suitable for the background color of the recording paper. It is possible to record a clear and high-quality image.

According to the recording apparatus of the second aspect,
When recording an image by attaching toner to recording paper, the amount of toner is controlled based on the actual recording density determined based on the background density of the recording paper and a preset set recording density. Also, in an electrophotographic recording apparatus using, an image can be recorded at a recording density suitable for the background density of the recording paper, and a clear and high-quality image can be recorded.

According to the recording apparatus of the third aspect,
Based on the background density of the recording paper and the actual recording density determined on the basis of the preset recording density, dots are thinned out or inserted in the image portion of the recording data to record the image. An image can be recorded at a recording density that is more suitable for the background density, and an image with higher definition and higher image quality can be recorded.

According to the recording apparatus of the fourth aspect,
The recording density based on the background density of the recording paper only when the density adjustment mode is set to ON by the operation means for setting ON / OFF of the density adjustment mode for adjusting the recording density based on the background density of the recording paper Is adjusted, the recording of the recording density intended by the operator of the recording apparatus can be appropriately performed, the usability of the recording apparatus can be improved, and the image quality of the recorded image can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main part circuit block diagram of a recording apparatus to which an embodiment of the recording apparatus of the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording device 2 Recording paper density sensor 3 Analog data recognition part 4 A / D conversion part 5 Control part 6 Operation part 7 Recording part 8 Recording paper

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A recording apparatus comprising: recording means for recording an image on recording paper at a specified recording density based on input recording data; density detecting means for detecting a background density of the recording paper; The actual recording density to be actually recorded on the recording means is determined based on the background density of the recording paper detected by the detecting means and a preset recording density, and the determined actual recording density is transmitted to the recording means. A recording density determining unit that outputs the designated recording density, wherein the recording unit records the image at the designated recording density designated by the recording density determining unit. 2. The recording device according to claim 1, wherein the recording unit records the image by attaching toner to the recording paper, and the recording density determining unit controls a toner amount corresponding to the determined actual recording density. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a signal is output to the recording unit as the designated recording density, and the recording unit records the image by changing the toner amount according to the toner density signal. apparatus. 3. The recording apparatus further comprises image processing means for thinning out dots and inserting dots in an image portion of the recording data, wherein the image processing means comprises the actual recording density determined by the recording density determining means. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dot thinning or the dot insertion is performed based on the image data, and the recording unit records the image based on the recording data processed by the image processing unit. Recording device. 4. A recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording apparatus is configured to turn on / off a density adjustment mode for adjusting a recording density based on a background density of said recording paper.
Operating means for setting an OFF setting, wherein the recording density determining means adjusts the recording density based on the background density of the recording paper only when the density adjusting mode is set to ON by the operating means. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording is performed.