KR20080058574A - Image forming apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An image forming device and a control method thereof are provided to reduce unnecessary time/cost for a color image arrangement process by performing color image arrangement, which is continuously repeated for using a color image forming device, minimally. A printing unit(130) performs printing and a storing part(120) a plurality of color image arrangement information corresponding to a plurality of expected printing environments of the printing unit. A controller(140) corrects the color image arrangement information corresponding to the printing environment of the printing unit based on the color image arrangement information stored in the storing part when the printing environment is changed or the image forming device is turned on. The printing environment includes at least one of size and thickness of a printing sheet, ambient humidity and temperature, toner and developer states, and the number of sheets previously printed by a printing engine. A user input unit(110) receives a command as to printing from a user and transfers the command to the controller.

Description

Image forming apparatus and control method thereof {IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF}

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

2 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

100: image forming apparatus 110: user input unit

120: storage unit 130: printing unit

140: control unit

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and a control method thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to color image alignment over an image forming apparatus and a control method thereof.

In general, an image forming apparatus is collectively referred to as an apparatus for forming an image, that is, a copying machine, a printer, a multifunction printer, a facsimile or the like. Here, the MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) is a multi-function terminal implemented by integrating a terminal, which is a single product such as a facsimile machine, a scanner, a printer, a copier, etc. into a single device, or used independently or connected to a computer.

Here, color registration (CR) is an essential element in the use of the image forming apparatus. When the image forming apparatus is booted up, an image printing engine is prepared and defaults to automatic color alignment. The registration process is performed to align images of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) and black (K). After the user's print command determines whether the current automatic color alignment is in accordance with the given print command, the printing operation is started, or after performing the automatic color image alignment, the printing operation is started.

In other words, when the first power is turned on in the image forming apparatus, the control unit determines whether the printing unit of the image forming apparatus is ready for the environment necessary for printing, and is not ready. After the warm-up, after determining whether or not the color registration (CR) has been performed, it is necessary to perform the color printing on the default setting through the auto color registration (ACR) process. Prepare for image alignment.

Thereafter, when a printing command is received, the printing operation is performed through a color image alignment process for a new condition required according to the environment of the printing medium such as the size or thickness of the paper and the surrounding environment such as the temperature or humidity of the printing device. After the printing of the image starts, if the predetermined number of prints is reached or if the predicted change in the surrounding environment is recognized, the printing is stopped, the color image alignment process is performed again, and the printing is performed again.

Each color image sort consumes a predetermined amount of toner according to a color image sorting method. When the number of color image sorts increases, the consumption of the toner continuously occurs in proportion to this. At this time, the consumed toner is stored in the waste toner collecting container through the waste toner removing device.

As described above, color image alignment of a conventional image forming apparatus includes a color image by continuously performing color image alignment for a printing environment according to each printing job, including an initial state of applying power to the image forming apparatus. The time required for alignment is increased, and a large amount of toner is consumed for color image alignment, thereby increasing user inconvenience and cost. In addition, the continuous consumption of a large amount of toner increases the risk of exceeding the number of printable sheets previously agreed with the user and shortens the life of the waste toner container for collecting the waste toner used for color image alignment.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to reduce the time and cost of color image alignment process which is unnecessary and to control color image alignment that is continuously performed in the use of a color image printing apparatus at a minimum number of times. Provide a method.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus, comprising: a printing unit for performing printing; A storage unit for storing a plurality of color image alignment information of the printing unit corresponding to a plurality of predicted printing environments; And a controller for correcting color image alignment information of the printing unit corresponding to a printing environment based on the color image alignment information stored in the storage unit.

The printing environment may include at least one of the size and thickness of the paper, the humidity and temperature of the surroundings, the state of the fixing unit and the developing unit, and the number of printed sheets of the printing engine.

       The controller may correct color image alignment information stored in the storage unit when the printing environment is changed.

The controller may perform color image alignment of the printing unit when the image forming apparatus is turned on.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of controlling an image forming apparatus, the method comprising: storing a plurality of color image alignment information of the printing unit corresponding to a plurality of predicted printing environments; And correcting the color image alignment information of the printing unit corresponding to a printing environment based on the stored plurality of color image alignment information.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described an embodiment of the present invention;

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a user input unit 110, a storage unit 120, a printing unit 130, and a controller 140.

The user input unit 110 receives a user's instruction regarding printing and transmits it to the controller 140. The user input unit 110 may be implemented as a host computer for controlling the printer and a keyboard and a mouse mounted on the computer. In the case of a copy machine, the user input unit 110 may include a control panel or a copy button attached to the control panel. Can be implemented.

The storage unit 120 stores color image alignment information of the printing unit 130 corresponding to the plurality of predicted printing environments. Here, the printing environment includes the size or thickness of the paper corresponding to the user printing command input from the user input unit 110, the humidity and temperature of the surroundings, the state of the fixing unit and the developer, the number of sheets of the print engine, and the like.

The printing unit 130 performs printing on the printing data under the control of the controller 140.

The controller 140 includes color image alignment and correction and generally controls the image forming apparatus 100. When the power (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 100 is turned on, the controller 140 determines whether the printing engine of the image forming apparatus 100 is ready for an environment for printing. do. If it is not in the ready state, after performing warm-up, the predicted plurality of sheets such as the size and thickness of the paper, the humidity and temperature of the surroundings, the state of the fixing unit and the developing unit, and the number of printouts of the printing engine Perform color registration on the printing environment representing each of the conditions predicted in advance according to the two printing environments, and correct and store the input color image alignment information by using the color image alignment information. The storage unit 120 is controlled to be stored in the unit 120.

Subsequently, the control unit 140 is in a standby state after performing color image alignment, and when a printing command is input from the user input unit 110, the control unit 140 according to the environment of the printing medium such as the size and thickness of the paper for the input printing command. The printing unit 130 is controlled to perform a printing operation based on the color image alignment information previously stored in the storage unit 120 without the additional color image alignment process for the new condition required as in the prior art.

The control unit 140 according to the present exemplary embodiment of the present invention may use the conventional color image alignment method when the predetermined number of prints is reached or a change in the surrounding environment is recognized in advance even after printing of the color image alignment information stored in the storage unit 120 starts. As described above, the printing unit 130 is controlled so that continuous printing is performed by adding a correction value to a pre-stored environment change without stopping the printing and performing the color image alignment process again.

The controller 140 may be configured to control a plurality of printing environments selected to allow color image alignment to be corrected for all printing environments initially when power is applied to the image forming apparatus 100 using the correction values stored in the storage unit 120. Color image sorting is performed so that printing stops in the middle of printing and no color image sorting is allowed to eliminate the printing interruption that causes inconvenience to the user, and correction for environmental changes during printing. The time required for the additional color image alignment operation and the consumption of the toner by not performing the additional color image alignment operation using the color image alignment correction information stored in the storage unit 120 in advance without adding the color cosmetic alignment operation. Can be prevented.

Referring to Fig. 2, the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment will be described in detail.

First, the controller 140 allows a plurality of color image alignment information to be stored in the storage 120 (S110). In this case, when the power of the image forming apparatus 100 is turned on, the controller 140 determines whether the printing engine of the image forming apparatus 100 is ready for an environment necessary for printing and performs a preparation process. After performing the color image sorting operation in response to each of the conditions predicted in advance according to the plurality of printing environments predicted in advance through the size and thickness of the paper, the humidity and temperature of the surroundings, the state of the fixing unit, and the position of the developer motor. The color image alignment information that is pre-input is adjusted by using the information of the color image alignment performed and stored in the storage 120.

Subsequently, the controller 140 controls the color image alignment of the printing unit 130 to be performed based on the plurality of color image alignment information stored in the storage 120 (S120).

After the color image alignment process is performed, when a printing command is input while in the standby state, the printing operation is performed based on the pre-stored color image alignment information according to the printing environment for the input printing command.

The printing environment may be classified into a plurality of preset predicted according to the specifications of the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied, and information necessary for correcting the printing environment during printing may be secured through prior experiments for each of the plurality of predicted printing environments. And it can be continuously utilized by storing in advance in the storage unit 120.

In addition, when performing a plurality of color image sorting operations, a large amount of color image sorting processes should be performed, compared with the conventional color image sorting method, but the image forming apparatus when the power of the image forming apparatus 100 is turned on. Since booting and performing a preparation process of the printing engine of the printing unit 130 takes a lot of time, some color image alignment can be performed in parallel.

Although some embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the embodiment without departing from the spirit or spirit of the invention. . It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

As described above, according to the present invention, by eliminating the color image sorting operation every time for the printing environment according to the color image printing command, the user does not have to wait for the color image alignment after giving the printing command to remove the inconvenience of the image forming apparatus. Improve usability.

In addition, the present invention eliminates the inconvenience of waiting for the color image alignment after the printing command is issued by the user by giving a printing command by the user does not perform the color image alignment operation for the change of the printing environment during the printing operation according to the color image printing command Improve the usability of the forming apparatus.

In addition, by eliminating the color image sorting operation for the printing environment and the change of the printing environment during the printing operation according to the color image printing command, the use of the color image printing can be reduced by reducing the use of toner consumed for color image alignment. Can be saved.

It also reduces the use of color toners for color image alignment by changing the printing environment during printing and during printing, thereby extending the life of the waste toner containers used to collect the waste toner. Or reduce the size of the waste toner container.

Claims (5)

In the image forming apparatus, A printing unit which performs printing; A storage unit for storing a plurality of color image alignment information of the printing unit corresponding to a plurality of predicted printing environments; And a controller configured to correct color image alignment information of the printing unit corresponding to a printing environment based on the color image alignment information stored in the storage unit. The method of claim 1, And the printing environment includes at least one of a size and a thickness of a paper, a humidity and a temperature of a peripheral area, a state of a fixing unit and a developing unit, and the number of sheets of the print engine.        The method of claim 2,        And the control unit corrects color image alignment information stored in the storage unit when the printing environment is changed. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, And the controller is configured to correct color image alignment information of the printing unit when the image forming apparatus is turned on. In the control method of the image forming apparatus having a printing unit, Storing a plurality of color image alignment information of the printing unit corresponding to a plurality of predicted printing environments; And performing color image alignment of the printing unit corresponding to a printing environment based on the stored plurality of color image alignment information.

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