JP2001265080A - Image processing device, image forming device, method for discriminating color or monochrome, and use charging device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device capable of discriminating whether the image formed on a paper sheet is color image or monochrome image by appropriately making the actual image formation state reflected performed and to provide a charging device for appropriately charging the user. SOLUTION: A color discriminating part 305 discriminates whether a formed image is color or monochrome, based on the reception number of times of vertical enable signal. A charging part 309 performs appropriately the charging based on the reception number of times of the vertical enable signal. Therefore, the appropriate charging is performed based on the signal reception number of times while reducing burdens for calculating the charging.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for determining whether an image formed on a sheet is a color image or a monochrome image, a color / monochrome determination method, and an image forming apparatus having the image processing apparatus. , And a charging device connected to the image processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Electrophotographic color copying machines and color printers generally include cyan (C), magenta (M),
A color image is formed using four color toners of yellow (Y) and black (K), and a monochrome image is formed using only black (K) toner.

In the case of forming a monochrome image, the number of types of toner to be used is smaller and the time required for image formation is shorter than in the case of forming a color image by multi-transferring four color toner images. . As a result, depending on whether the formed image is a monochrome image or a color image,
The cost of image formation is different, and the contents of billing should be different. Therefore, when instructing copying, the user is allowed to select a full-color mode for forming a full-color image, a monochrome mode for forming a monochrome image, or a single-color mode for forming a single-color image, and charging is performed according to the selected mode. The technology that performs is widely used.

However, according to the above technique, when reading and copying a plurality of pages of a document continuously as one print job, the print job includes at least one page of a color image. In such a case, since the entire print job is set to the color mode, there is a problem that the same charge as when a color image is formed for all pages included in the print job is caused.

When a color copying machine is used as a color printer, a similar problem occurs when a print job including images for a plurality of pages is received and printed.
In other words, if the received print job includes at least one page of color images, the entire print job is set to the color mode, and the same charge as in the case where color images are formed for all pages is charged. There is a problem.

With respect to these points, conventionally, image processing is performed based on an original image to determine whether the original image is a color image or a monochrome image, and a color mode is set for each page of the original image. ACS (Auto C
olor Selection) function has been put to practical use.

However, when printing out based on the data converted to C, M, Y, and K image data, the printer engine side determines whether the image formed on the paper is a color image or a monochrome image. It is desirable to be able to easily determine whether there is any.

When the color copying machine is used in the double chuck mode (two-sheet simultaneous print mode), two pages of originals are read together and whether the entire two-page original image is a color image or not. Since it is determined whether the image is a monochrome image by using the ACS function, even if one of the images formed on the paper for two pages is a color image and the other is a monochrome image, the image as a whole is In some cases, it is determined that the image is a color image, and the same charge as in the case where both pages are color images may be charged.

In view of this point, in recent years, there has been proposed a technique of charging for output paper based on the consumption of toners of different colors actually used for one page of paper (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 11-1999). 184336).

[0010]

However, according to the technology described in the above publication, the amount of toner consumption for each color must be calculated sequentially, and the burden of calculating the charge increases. In addition, when a monochrome image is formed using one-color toner, charging is performed with an emphasis on the time required for printing is shorter than when a color image is formed using four-color toner. From the viewpoint of execution, in some cases, it is desirable not to charge based on the consumption amount of each toner, but to charge according to the number of toner colors used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve such a problem, and a technique for easily discriminating whether an image actually formed on a sheet is a full-color image or a monochrome image is provided. To provide.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide an appropriate charge based on a determination result as to whether an image actually formed on a sheet is a full-color image or a monochrome image. To provide technologies that can be used.

[0013]

The object of the present invention is achieved by the following constitution.

(1) An image processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a receiving unit for receiving an enable signal for each color for designating a writing start position when an electrostatic latent image is formed on an image carrier; Counting means for counting the number of times the receiving means has received the enable signal until the toner image formed on the basis of the latent image is transferred and the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged; A determination unit configured to determine whether the image formed on the sheet is a color image or a monochrome image based on the number of times.

(2) The enable signal is a vertical enable signal for designating a write start position for each page.

(3) The enable signal is a horizontal enable signal for designating a write start position for each line in the main scanning direction.

(4) Further, there is provided a charging means for charging for image formation based on the result of the determination by the determining means.

(5) On the image carrier, a plurality of pages of electrostatic latent images for forming toner images to be transferred onto a plurality of pages of paper held on a paper holder are formed. The determining means determines whether the image formed on the paper for a plurality of pages is a color image only, a monochrome image only, or both a color image and a monochrome image based on the counted number of times of reception of the enable signal. It is characterized in that it is determined whether or not it contains.

(6) Further, when double-sided printing is set as the image output mode, it is determined based on the counted number of times of reception of the enable signal that there is a page on which no image is formed on one side of the sheet. (7) An electrostatic latent image for one page is formed on the image carrier, and the receiving means indicates a write start position for each page as an enable signal. The counting means receives a vertical enable signal for performing
The receiving unit counts the number of times the vertical enable signal has been received until the page of paper is discharged. If the number of times the vertical enable signal is received is four, the determination unit determines that the number of received vertical enable signals is four. It is determined that the image formed on the paper is a full-color image, and if the counted number of times of receiving the vertical enable signal is one, it is determined that the image formed on the paper for one page is a monochrome image. It is characterized by doing.

(8) On the image carrier, two pages of electrostatic latent images for forming a toner image to be transferred onto two pages of paper held on a paper holder are formed. The receiving means receives, as an enable signal, a vertical enable signal for instructing a write start position for each page, and the counting means sets the reception time until two pages of paper on which an image is formed are discharged. The means counts the number of times the vertical enable signal has been received. If the number of times the counted vertical enable signal has been received is eight, the determination means determines whether the number of received vertical enable signals is eight.
It is determined that both images formed on the paper for two pages are full color images, and if the counted number of times of receiving the vertical enable signal is two, both images formed on the paper for two pages are determined. Both are determined to be monochrome images,
When the counted number of times of reception of the vertical enable signal is five, it is characterized that one of the images formed on the paper for two pages is a full-color image and the other is a monochrome image.

(9) The image processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a receiving unit for receiving an enable signal for each color for designating a writing start position when an electrostatic latent image is formed on an image carrier; Counting means for counting the number of times that the receiving means has received the enable signal until the formation of images for a plurality of pages included in the job is completed; and counting the number of times the enable signal has been received and the page of the image included in the print job. Detecting means for detecting the number of pages of a full-color image and the number of pages of a monochrome image included in the print job based on the number.

(10) The enable signal is a vertical enable signal for designating a write start position for each page.

(11) The enable signal is a horizontal enable signal for designating a write start position for each line in the main scanning direction.

(12) Further, there is provided charging means for charging for image formation based on the detection result of the detecting means.

(13) On the image carrier, an electrostatic latent image for two pages required to form an image on two pages of paper held by a paper holder is formed. Features.

(14) The image forming apparatus includes the image processing device described above.

(15) A charging device connected to an image processing apparatus having an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, wherein a charging start position for forming an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier is designated. Receiving means for receiving an enable signal for each color, and the receiving means receiving the enable signal until the sheet on which the toner image formed based on the electrostatic latent image is transferred and the image is discharged is discharged. And counting means for counting the number of times the image formation has been performed, and billing for image formation is performed based on the counted number of times the enable signal has been received.

(16) In the color / monochrome discriminating method according to the present invention, a step of receiving an enable signal for each color for designating a writing start position for forming an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier is provided. Counting the number of times the receiving means has received the enable signal before the toner image formed on the basis of the latent image is transferred and the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged; and And determining whether the image formed on the sheet is a color image or a monochrome image based on the

(17) The computer-readable recording medium according to the present invention receives an enable signal for each color for designating a writing start position when an electrostatic latent image is formed on an image carrier. Counting the number of times the receiving means has received an enable signal until the toner image formed on the basis of the electrostatic latent image is transferred and the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged; and A step of determining whether the image formed on the sheet is a color image or a monochrome image based on the number of receptions.

[0030]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a copying machine to which an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The copier 100 can function not only as a copier but also as a printer.

The copying machine 100 is a digital copying machine capable of performing monochrome copying and full-color copying, and includes an image reader unit 101 and a printing unit 102.

The image reader unit 101 scans an original placed on an original platen glass 103 by a scanner 104, and outputs R (red), G (green), and B (blue) by a color image sensor 105 composed of a CCD. 3
Read by separating into colors. RG obtained by reading manuscript
The image data of B is processed inside the processing system 110 by shading correction, YCrCb conversion,
OG correction, masking operation, UCR / BP processing, MTF
Image processing such as correction is performed, and the image data is converted into image data of each color of C, M, Y, and K.

The printing section 102 includes an image forming system 120 and an automatic paper feed mechanism 130. The imaging system 120 includes a semiconductor laser 140 serving as an irradiation light source, and a semiconductor laser 140.
Scanning print head 142 having a polygon mirror 141 for scanning the laser beam output from the main scanning direction in the main scanning direction, and the photosensitive drum 15 as a latent image carrier
0, a charging charger 151, a cyan developing device 152C, a magenta developing device 152M, a yellow developing device 152Y, a black developing device 152K, and a transfer drum 16 as a paper holder.
0, and a fixing device 153.

C, M, and C processed in the processing system 110
The image data for each of the colors Y and K is sent to the printer head 142 as exposure control data. In this embodiment, image data of one of the colors C, M, Y, and K is sent to the print unit 102 for each original scan (field sequential transfer method). If the image formed on the paper based on the image data obtained by reading is a monochrome image, only the black (K) image data is sent to the printer head 142. M,
Image data for each color of Y and K is sent to the printer head 142 in order.

The laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drum 15 based on the image data for each color inputted to the print head 142.
Irradiated on zero. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 150. The electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive drum 150 are developed by the developing devices 152C, 152M, 152
Y, developed by 152K.

When a full-color image is formed, the following processing is performed.

First, a laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drum 150 based on cyan (C) image data, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 150. Thereafter, the transfer drum 160 is developed by the cyan developing device 152C.
The above developed image is transferred to paper. Similarly, the photosensitive drum 150 is irradiated with a laser beam based on the image data of magenta (M) to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 150, and a magenta developing device 152M
, And the developed image is transferred onto a sheet on the transfer drum 160. Further, the same processing is performed for yellow (Y) and black (K). Note that the order in which the electrostatic latent images of the respective colors C, M, Y, and K are formed on the photosensitive drum 150 is not limited to the order of C, M, Y, and K.

On the other hand, when forming a monochrome image,
The photosensitive drum 150 is irradiated with a laser beam based on the black (K) image data, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 150. After that, the black developing device 152K
Is developed on the transfer drum 160, and the developed image is transferred to the sheet on the transfer drum 160.

As described above, when a full-color image is formed, a total of four images are formed on the photosensitive drum 150 as an image carrier.
This means that the electrostatic latent image is formed over the same time (for four colors of C, M, Y, and K). When a monochrome image is formed, the electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 150 once (for one color of K). ) Is formed.

Since a toner image is formed on the basis of the electrostatic latent image for each of the colors C, M, Y, and K, and the toner image is multiplex-transferred to form a full-color image, the alignment of each color is important. Technology. Since the displacement between the images of each color greatly affects the quality of the image, it is necessary to reduce the displacement to the limit that cannot be discriminated by human eyes. Therefore, in order to prevent the displacement between the images of each color, the photosensitive drum 150
An enable signal for designating a writing start position at which an electrostatic latent image for each color is formed is output. Only when this enable signal is output (hereinafter, referred to as “active”), formation of an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 150 is permitted. On the other hand, when the enable signal is not output (hereinafter, referred to as “non-active”), formation of an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 150 is not permitted. Therefore, when the enable signal becomes active, the formation of the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 150 is started, and when the enable signal becomes inactive, the formation of the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 150 is started. The formation ends. The enable signal includes a vertical enable signal VD and a horizontal enable signal HD.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the contents of the vertical enable signal VD and the horizontal enable signal HD.

The laser light is transmitted to the rotating polygon mirror 14.
The scanning is performed in the direction (main scanning direction) along the axis of the photosensitive drum 150 by using 1 or the like. That is, raster scanning is performed in which an image is reproduced by scanning a laser beam for each line. Then, the photosensitive drum 150 is synchronized with the laser scanning.
Is rotated to reproduce an image for each laser scanning line. On the other hand, the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 150 (the direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction) is the sub-scanning direction.

Here, the vertical enable signal VD is an enable signal for instructing a write start position for each page in the sub-scanning direction, and is a horizontal enable signal HD.
Is an enable signal for designating a write start position for each line in the main scanning direction.

More specifically, the vertical enable signal VD
Is a signal that rises at the image writing start position P1 and falls at the image writing end position P3 for one page in the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, when forming a one-page electrostatic latent image for each color, the vertical enable signal VD is received once.

The horizontal enable signal HD is a signal that rises at the image writing position P1 in the figure and falls at the image writing end position P2 of one line in the main scanning direction. Normally, one page of an electrostatic image is formed by performing raster scanning over a plurality of lines. Therefore, when forming one page of an electrostatic latent image for each color, a plurality of horizontal enable signals HD are output. Received twice.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the processing system 110.

FIG. 3 shows a processing system 110 of the copying machine 100.
And a controller 400 connected to the copier 100 and performing control when the copier 100 is used as a printer. The personal computer 500 that transmits image data is connected to the controller 400.

The image processing unit 301 converts image data obtained by reading a document into C, M, Y, and K image data. The image memory 302 stores image data for each of C, M, Y, and K colors. Finally, the image data is read from the image memory 302 and output to the printer head 142.

The control signal section 303 outputs a vertical enable signal VD and a horizontal enable signal HD, and designates a write start position when an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 150 based on image data of each color. . As will be described later, when the copier 100 functions as a printer, the vertical enable signal VD and the horizontal enable signal HD are output from the controller 400 side. Then, the copier 100 receives the output signal via the interface unit 311. Therefore, depending on whether the copier 100 functions as a printer or not, the selector 304 uses the image data and the enable signal generated inside the copier 100 or the image data and the Select whether to use the enable signal.

The color discrimination unit 305 discriminates whether the image finally formed on the sheet is a color image or a monochrome image (hereinafter, referred to as “color / monochrome determination”). The color determination unit 305 receives the output vertical enable signal VD or horizontal enable signal HD. Then, the number of times the enable signal is received is counted, and it is determined whether the image formed on the sheet is a color image or a monochrome image based on the counted number of times the enable signal is received. Since the color determination unit 305 receives the enable signal each time the enable signal becomes active, the number of times the enable signal is received matches the number of times the enable signal becomes active.

The color determination unit 305 has a counter 306 for counting the number of times the enable signal has been received and a memory 307 for storing the result of counting the number of times the enable signal has been received.

The print engine control unit 308 outputs information to the effect that paper has been newly fed to the color discrimination unit 305 as paper feed trigger information. By this paper feed trigger information,
The value of the counter 306 is reset.

The charging section 309 performs appropriate charging based on the result of the color / monochrome discrimination by the color identification section 305. The billing unit 309 has a memory 310 for storing the set billing amount as billing information.

When the copier 100 is used as a printer, the controller 400 performs image processing,
Outputs an enable signal. In this case, the controller 4
Reference numeral 00 denotes an image processing unit 401 for converting image data into C, M, Y, and K image data, and an image memory 4 for storing image data.
02, a control signal unit 403 that outputs an enable signal, and the enable signal is transmitted to the processing system 110 of the copying machine 100 via the selector 404 and the interface unit 411. Therefore, the color determination unit 305 and the charging unit 309 receive the enable signal created by the external controller 400, and determine the color / monochrome of the image to be formed and charge.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of image forming apparatuses 100A, 100B, 10
0C and 100D (hereinafter referred to as “100A to 100D”) are connected, and when an enable signal is transmitted from the connected controller 400, personal computer 500, or the like, for each of the image forming apparatuses 100A to 100D, A color determination unit 305 and a charging unit 309 can be provided. As a result, when there is a difference in performance between the image forming apparatuses, for example, the enable signal received by each of the image forming apparatuses 100A to 100D is determined by a charging coefficient determined according to the performance of each of the image forming apparatuses 100A to 100D. By multiplying by the number of times of reception, an appropriate charge can be set for each of the image forming apparatuses 100A to 100D.

Hereinafter, the processing contents of the copying machine 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. 5, 6, and 7, a case where the color / monochrome determination is performed using the vertical enable signal VD will be described as an example.

FIG. 5 shows a copying machine 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
11 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the process No. 0.

First, in step S100, a print job is received. When receiving a print job,
When scanning a document to obtain image data (copy mode)
And a case where image data described in a page description language or the like is received from the personal computer 500 (print mode). When the RGB image data is received, the image processing unit 301 performs the above-described processing such as the shading correction as necessary, and creates image data of each color of C, M, Y, and K. On the other hand, the controller 40
If 0 has already been converted into CMYK image data, the copying machine 100 does not need to create image data of each color of C, M, Y, and K.

Next, in step 101, paper is fed. The sheet is mounted on and held by the transfer drum 160. In the case of the double chuck mode (simultaneous printing of two sheets), the supplied two pages (two sheets) of paper are held by the transfer drum 160.

In step 102, the color discriminating unit 305 is based on a paper feed trigger which is information that paper has been newly fed.
Of the counter 306 is reset.

In step S103, the vertical enable signal VD is received. When the vertical enable signal VD is generated on the controller 400 side, the color determination unit 305
May simply receive the vertical enable signal VD created on the controller 400 side.

In step S104, the counter 306
Is the number of times the vertical enable signal VD becomes active,
That is, the number of receptions of the vertical enable signal is counted. In step S105, an electrostatic latent image for each color is sequentially formed on the photosensitive drum 150, developed, and the developed toner image is transferred on the transfer drum 160 onto a sheet to form an image. Is done. The sheet on which the image is finally formed is discharged.

In step S106, the color determination unit 305
Is the number of times recorded in the counter 306, that is,
Based on the number of times the vertical enable signal VD becomes active, it is determined whether the image actually formed on the sheet is a full-color image or a monochrome image. further,
It is determined whether there is no image.

In step S107, billing section 309
Based on the determination result of the color determination unit 305, charging is performed for each page on which an image is formed.

In step S108, it is determined whether or not printing of all pages included in the print job has been completed. If the printing is not completed (S108: NO), paper is newly fed as shown in steps S101 and S102, and the value of the counter 306 is reset. According to such a reset process, the counter 306
Means counting the number of times the enable signal is received from when the sheet is fed to when the sheet on which the toner image is transferred and the image is formed is discharged. For example, in the single chuck mode, that is, in the one-sheet print mode in which one sheet is held on one transfer drum 160, the number of times the enable signal is received during the formation of an image for one page of the sheet is counted, and You are charged every time. In the case of the double chuck mode, that is, the two-sheet simultaneous print mode in which two sheets are held on one transfer drum 160, the number of times the enable signal is received during the formation of an image for two sheets of paper is counted, and You are charged every time.

If it is determined in step S108 that printing of all pages has been completed, the process ends (S108: YES).

FIGS. 6 and 7 are flowcharts showing in detail the step S106 relating to the color / monochrome discrimination in FIG.

In step S200, first, it is determined whether the mode is the single chuck mode or the double chuck mode. Regarding the color / monochrome discrimination when the double chuck mode is determined (S200: NO),
It will be described later.

In the case of the single chuck mode (S20
0: YES), color / monochrome determination is performed on an image formed on one page of paper as follows.

In step S201, it is determined whether or not the number of times the vertical enable signal VD has been activated is four. When the number of times the vertical enable signal VD has been activated is four (S201: YES), in step S202, it is determined that the image formed on one page of paper is a full-color image. FIG. 8A shows an example of reception of a vertical enable signal when a full-color image is formed on one page of paper in the single chuck mode. As shown in FIG. 8A, when the image formed on the paper is a full-color image, an electrostatic latent image of each color of C, M, Y, and K is formed on the photosensitive drum 150 as an image for one page. Therefore, the vertical enable signal is received four times for each color.

Next, in step S203, it is determined whether or not the number of times the vertical enable signal VD has been activated is one. When the number of times the vertical enable signal VD has been activated is one (S203: YES), in step S204, it is determined that the image formed on one page of paper is a monochrome image. FIG. 8B shows an example of receiving a vertical enable signal when a monochrome image is formed on one page of paper in the single chuck mode. As shown in FIG. 8B, when the image formed on the sheet is a monochrome image, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to black (K) is formed on the photosensitive drum 150 as an image for one page. , The vertical enable signal is 1
Times.

On the other hand, if the number of times that the vertical enable signal VD has been activated is not four or one in step S203 (S203: NO), the vertical enable signal VD is not activated at all. It is determined that the number of times the vertical enable signal has been received is zero. In this case, in step S205, it is determined that no image is formed on one page of paper. FIG. 8C shows a state where an image is not formed on one sheet in the single chuck mode.

In step S206, the result of the determination is stored in the memory 307. After performing the above processing, the process returns.

If it is determined in step S200 that the mode is the double chuck mode (S200: NO),
The color / monochrome determination is performed as follows.

In step S207, it is determined whether or not the number of times the vertical enable signal VD has been activated is eight. If the number of times the vertical enable signal VD has been activated is eight (S207: YES), it is determined in step S208 that both images formed on two pages of paper are full color images.

Here, the relationship between the sheet feeding state, the vertical enable signal VD and the image data in the double chuck mode will be briefly described with reference to FIG.

In the double chuck mode, the sheets of the first and second pages are continuously fed. Both sheets of paper for two pages are held by the transfer drum 160,
The image is transferred to both pages of paper at a time. An electrostatic latent image for forming a cyan toner image transferred to the first page of paper is denoted by C1, and an electrostatic latent image for forming a cyan toner image transferred to the second page of paper is denoted by C1. The latent image is denoted as C2, and the same applies to magenta, yellow, and black. When both images formed on two pages of paper are full-color images, C
1, C2, M1, M2, Y1, Y2, K1, K2, eight times based on the image data
An electrostatic latent image is formed thereon. Therefore, the vertical enable signal becomes active eight times. FIG. 10 shows a reception example of a vertical enable signal when both images formed on two sheets in the double chuck mode are full color images.
It is shown in (A).

Next, in step S209, it is determined whether or not the number of times the vertical enable signal VD has been activated is five. If the number of times the vertical enable signal VD has been activated is five (S209: YES), it is determined in step S210 that one of the images formed on the two sheets is a full-color image and one is a monochrome image. Is done. FIG. 10B shows an example of receiving the enable signal in this case. As shown in FIG.
When one of the images formed on a sheet of paper is a full-color image and the other is a monochrome image, the vertical enable signal is activated four times for the full-color image of one page, and the monochrome image of one page , The vertical enable signal becomes active once, so that the vertical enable signal becomes active five times in total.

In step S211, it is determined whether or not the number of times the vertical enable signal VD has been activated is four. If the number of times that the vertical enable signal VD has been activated is four (S211: YES), in step S212, a full-color image is formed on one of two pages of paper, and no image is formed on the other. Is determined. FIG. 10C shows an example of receiving the enable signal in this case. The vertical enable signal is activated only four times for one page of a full-color image formed on one sheet. The function of determining that an image is not formed on a sheet is useful when double-sided printing is set. That is, based on the number of times the vertical enable signal VD has become active, it is determined that there is a page on which no image is formed on one side of the sheet, so that an image exists on only one side of a document having images on both sides. When a document is read and copied in the double chuck mode, it is possible to prevent the same billing as in the case where both documents are printed on both sides and to perform appropriate billing.

In step S213, it is determined whether or not the number of times the vertical enable signal VD has been activated is two. If the number of times the vertical enable signal VD has been activated is two (S213: YES), in step S214, it is determined that both images formed on two pages of paper are monochrome images. FIG. 10D shows an example of receiving the enable signal in this case.

In step S215, it is determined whether the number of times the vertical enable signal VD has been activated is one or not. If the number of times the vertical enable signal VD has been activated is one (S215: YES), in step S216, a monochrome image is formed on one of the two pages of paper and no image is formed on the other. Is determined.

Further, in step S215, the number of times the vertical enable signal VD becomes active is eight,
Times, 4 times, and 1 time (S215: NO),
This is the case where the vertical enable signal VD is not activated at all, and it is determined that the number of times the vertical enable signal has been received is zero. In step S217, it is determined that no image is formed on either of the two sheets.

At step S 218, the discrimination result is stored in the memory 307. After performing the above processing, the process returns.

Next, an example of setting a billing amount by the billing unit 310 will be described with reference to FIG.

The charge amount can be set based on the determination result by the color determination unit 305 and the paper size.

In the example shown in FIG. 11, the paper size is A4
If the image is smaller than the size and the image formed on the sheet is determined to be a full color image, the charge per page (charging coefficient) is 5, and if the image is determined to be a monochrome image, the charge per page is When it is determined that there is no image to be formed, the charge per page becomes zero.

If the paper size is larger than the A4 size and the image formed on the paper is determined to be a full color image, the charge per page is 8, and if the image is determined to be a monochrome image, the charge per page is Is 5, and if it is determined that there is no image to be formed, the charge per page is 0. That is, the billing amount is increased as the paper size increases, and a higher billing amount is set when the formed image is determined to be a full-color image, and a lower billing amount is set when the formed image is determined to be a monochrome image. If it is determined that there is no image, the billing amount can be set lower.

In the above description, a case has been described in which it is determined whether an image to be formed is a full-color image or a monochrome image, and further, whether there is no image is determined. Can also be applied to a case where it is determined whether an image formed on a sheet is a single-color image or a two-color image. Hereinafter, taking the case of the single chuck mode as an example, the type of color recognized by human vision and the vertical enable signal VD represented in the formed image
The relationship with the number of times of reception will be described.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the relationship between the number of receptions of the vertical enable signal VD and the type of image.

In the above description, an example in which an image is formed once on the photosensitive drum 150 as a latent image carrier, that is, an example in which the vertical enable signal VD is activated once, is a monochrome image (that is, includes only black). Image). However, the image formed is cyan, magenta,
Also in the case of a single color image formed of one of yellow, the vertical enable signal VD is activated once. A single-color image using one of C, M, Y, and K is used to distinguish whether a formed image is a cyan single-color image or a magenta single-color image. It is difficult to make a distinction between the number of times the vertical enable signal becomes active, that is, only the number of times the vertical enable signal is received. Therefore, in this case, when the vertical enable signal VD becomes active, that is, when the vertical enable signal VD is received, the type of image to be formed is determined based on the number of times and the reception timing of the vertical enable signal VD. Can be determined.

In the above description, an example in which an image is formed twice on the photosensitive drum 150 as a latent image carrier, that is, an example in which the vertical enable signal VD is activated twice is not shown. When the image is a single-color image formed of one of red (R), green (G), and blue (B), the vertical enable signal VD is activated twice. That is, red is expressed by superimposing magenta (M) and yellow (Y), green (G) is expressed by superimposing cyan (C) and yellow (Y), and blue (B) is expressed by , Cyan (C) and magenta (M).

The images formed are C, M, Y, K
In the case of a two-color image using two colors selected from the above colors (for example, a two-color image of yellow and black)
In other words, the vertical enable signal VD becomes active twice. Also, the image to be formed is C, M, B (= C + M)
In the case of the three-color image, the two toner colors C and M
This is the same as two-color printing using two colors selected from C, M, Y, and K colors.

As described above, when the vertical enable signal is activated twice, there are a plurality of modes. The distinction between the modes can be made based on the number and timing of activation of the vertical enable signal VD.

In the mode in which the vertical enable signal VD is activated three times, the images to be formed are R, G,
In the case of a two-color printing image using one of the three basic three primary colors B and black, a four-color printing image such as C, M, B, and K, or a three-color full-color image not using black. The distinction between the modes can be made based on the number and timing of activation of the vertical enable signal VD.

In the above description, from the viewpoint that it is desirable to form an image on the condition that a fee is paid in advance, when the copying machine is in the single chuck mode, color / monochrome discrimination is performed for each page. In the case of the double chuck mode, the color / monochrome discrimination is performed every two pages, and the billing is performed per page or every two pages based on the discrimination result. Not limited. In the above description, the value of the counter 306 that counts the number of times the vertical enable signal has been received is reset by the information indicating that a new sheet has been fed. The configuration may be such that the value of the counter 306 is not reset until the process is completed. In this case, based on the number of pages of an image included in one print job and the number of times the vertical enable is received in the entire processing of one print job, the number of pages of a color image and the number of pages of a monochrome image included in the print job are determined. The number is appropriately detected, and the charge is made collectively based on the detection result.

For example, the case where the single chuck mode is set and a page where no image is present is not considered will be described below. If the number of pages of the image included in one print job is 10, and the number of receptions of the vertical enable signal until the formation of the image of a plurality of pages included in the print job is completed is 40, the image is included in the print job. It can be detected that the number of pages of the full-color image is 10, the number of pages of the monochrome image is 0, and if the number of receptions of the vertical enable signal is 28, the number of pages of the full-color image is 6, Can be detected as having four pages. Based on this detection result, it is possible to charge for processing per print job.

In the above description, an example in which color / monochrome discrimination is performed and charging is performed based on the determination result has been described. From the viewpoint of appropriate charging, the type of image to be formed is specified in detail. There is no need to receive the vertical enable signal, and the receiving means receives the enable signal until the toner image formed based on the electrostatic latent image is transferred and the sheet on which the image is formed is discharged. It is possible to charge the image formation based on the counted number of times the enable signal is received.

In the above description, the case where the type of the image to be formed is determined based on the vertical enable signal VD has been described. It is also possible to determine whether the image to be processed is a full-color image or a monochrome image, and to charge a fee according to the determination result. The horizontal enable signal HD is activated N times each time an image is formed on the photosensitive drum once. Here, N is 1
This is the total number of lines included in the page. Therefore, when the horizontal enable signal HD is activated N times, the image to be formed is determined to be a monochrome image, and when the horizontal enable signal HD is activated 4N times, the image is determined to be a full-color image. You.

In the above description, the case where the present invention is applied to a four-cycle type image forming apparatus for sequentially forming an electrostatic latent image of each color on one photosensitive drum 150 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be applied to an image forming apparatus of a system (tandem system) in which a plurality of photosensitive drums are provided and an electrostatic latent image of each color is written on each photosensitive drum. Even in the case of a tandem type image forming apparatus, since an enable signal for each color for indicating a writing start position is output when an electrostatic latent image is formed on each photosensitive drum, this enable signal is output. By receiving and counting the number of receptions, it is possible to determine whether the image formed on the sheet is a color image or a monochrome image.

It is apparent that those skilled in the art can actually carry out the color / monochrome discrimination method of the image in the present embodiment. Similar operations can be performed by storing and executing each step of the color / monochrome determination method in a computer-readable storage medium.

[0101]

According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, an image formed on a sheet is a color image or a monochrome image without performing complicated calculations such as sequentially calculating the toner consumption for each color. Whether the image is an image can be properly determined for each page. Also, a color enable / disable discrimination of an image formed on a sheet is performed by effectively using a vertical enable signal or a horizontal enable signal output for designating a writing start position when an image is formed on an image carrier. Therefore, the configuration of the apparatus added for performing color / monochrome discrimination is simple, a highly practical image processing apparatus can be realized, and the color / monochrome discrimination can be easily performed on the print engine side. Will be able to

According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to charge for image formation based on the determination result as to whether the image actually formed on the sheet is a color image or a monochrome image. Because it is possible, without performing complicated calculations such as calculating the toner consumption for each color one by one,
Appropriate accounting for image formation can be performed.

According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of chucks on which a plurality of pages of electrostatic latent images for forming toner images to be transferred onto a plurality of pages of paper held on a paper holder are formed. In the image forming apparatus in the mode, the present invention can be applied to a case where both a color image and a monochrome image are included in an image formed on a plurality of pages of paper, so that the image is formed on a plurality of papers held simultaneously. When a color image and a monochrome image are included in the image, it is prevented that the image is determined to be a color image as a whole. Further, based on the counted number of times the enable signal has been received, it is possible to determine that there is a page on which no image is formed on one side of the sheet. Billing can be performed in consideration of the case where there is no image on one side.

According to another image processing apparatus of the present invention, the number of full-color images and the number of monochrome images included in the print job are determined based on the number of times the enable signal has been received and the number of images included in the print job. Can be detected, and appropriate charging can be performed even when the printing job is charged collectively.

According to the charging apparatus of the present invention, the number of times the receiving means receives the enable signal until the toner image formed based on the electrostatic latent image is transferred and the paper on which the image is formed is discharged. Is counted, and charging for image formation is performed based on the counted number of times the enable signal has been received. Therefore, appropriate charging can be performed according to the image actually formed on the sheet. In addition, in an existing image processing apparatus, appropriate charging is performed by effectively using a vertical enable signal or a horizontal enable signal output for designating a writing start position when an image is formed on an image carrier. Therefore, it is possible to realize a charging apparatus which has a simple apparatus configuration and is highly practical.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a digital copying machine to which an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the contents of a vertical enable signal VD and a horizontal enable signal HD.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a processing system in the copying machine.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a situation where a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected to a controller.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed by a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating in detail a color / monochrome determination process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a color / monochrome determination process in detail.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a reception result of a vertical enable signal VD according to an image type in a single chuck mode.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a paper feed state and output results of a vertical enable signal VD and image data in a double chuck mode.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a reception result of a vertical enable signal VD according to an image type in a double chuck mode.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of setting a billing amount.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the number of times the vertical enable signal VD becomes active and the type of image.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 100: Copier 101: Image reader unit 110: Processing system 120: Image forming system 140: Semiconductor laser 142: Print head 150: Photoreceptor drum 152C: Cyan developing device 152M: Magenta developing device 152Y: yellow developing unit, 152K: black developing unit, 160: transfer drum, 301: image processing unit, 302: image memory, 303: control signal unit, 305: color determination unit, 306: counter, 308: print engine control unit 309: Billing unit 400: Controller 500: Personal computer

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2C061 AP04 AQ06 AR01 AR03 AS02 HK23 HN15 2H027 DA41 DE07 EJ06 EJ08 EJ13 FD08 ZA07 2H030 AD11 AD16 BB02 BB23 BB63 9A001 BB02 BB06 HH34 JJ35 KK42 LL09

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. A receiving means for receiving an enable signal for each color for designating a writing start position when an electrostatic latent image is formed on an image carrier, and a toner formed based on the electrostatic latent image Counting means for counting the number of times the receiving means has received the enable signal until the sheet on which the image has been transferred and the image formed thereon is discharged; and A determination unit for determining whether the image is a color image or a monochrome image. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the enable signal is a vertical enable signal for designating a write start position for each page. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the enable signal is a horizontal enable signal for designating a write start position for each line in the main scanning direction. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: charging means for charging for image formation based on a determination result of said determining means. 5. An electrostatic latent image for a plurality of pages for forming a toner image to be transferred to a plurality of pages of paper held on a paper holder is formed on the image carrier. The means includes, based on the counted number of times of receiving the enable signal, whether the image formed on the paper for a plurality of pages is a color image only, a monochrome image only, or includes both a color image and a monochrome image. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination is performed. 6. When the two-sided printing is set as the image output mode, a second determination is made based on the counted number of received enable signals to determine whether there is a page on which no image is formed on one side of the sheet. 6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a unit. 7. An electrostatic latent image for one page is formed on the image carrier, and the receiving unit outputs a vertical enable signal for instructing a write start position for each page as an enable signal. Receiving, the counting means counting the number of times the receiving means has received the vertical enable signal until one sheet of paper on which an image is formed is discharged, and the discriminating means counting the counted vertical enable signal. If the number of receptions is four, it is determined that the image formed on the paper for one page is a full-color image, and if the counted number of receptions of the vertical enable signal is one, it is determined that the number of receptions is one. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image formed on the sheet is determined to be a monochrome image. 8. An electrostatic latent image for two pages for forming a toner image to be transferred to two pages of paper held on a paper holder is formed on the image carrier. Means for receiving, as an enable signal, a vertical enable signal for instructing a write start position for each page; and the counting means, wherein the receiving means is provided until two pages of paper on which an image is formed are discharged. Counts the number of times the vertical enable signal has been received, and when the counted number of times the vertical enable signal has been received is eight, both images formed on two pages of paper are full-color images. If the number of received vertical enable signals is two, the images formed on two pages of paper are both determined to be monochrome images, and the counted number of vertical enable signals is determined. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the number of times of reception of the bull signal is five, it is determined that one of the images formed on the paper for two pages is a full-color image and the other is a monochrome image. Image processing device. 9. A receiving means for receiving an enable signal for each color for designating a writing start position when an electrostatic latent image is formed on an image carrier, and an image for a plurality of pages included in a print job. Counting means for counting the number of times the receiving means has received the enable signal until the formation is completed; and a counting means for counting the number of times the enable signal has been received and the number of pages of the image included in the print job. Detecting means for detecting the number of pages of a full-color image and the number of pages of a monochrome image to be processed. 10. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the enable signal is a vertical enable signal for designating a write start position for each page. 11. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the enable signal is a horizontal enable signal for designating a write start position for each line in the main scanning direction. 12. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising: charging means for charging for image formation based on a detection result of said detecting means. 13. An electrostatic latent image for two pages required for forming an image on two pages of paper held by a paper holder is formed on the image carrier. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9. 14. An image forming apparatus comprising the image processing apparatus according to claim 1. Description: 15. A charging apparatus connected to an image processing apparatus having an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, wherein a charging start position for forming an electrostatic latent image on the image carrier is designated. Receiving means for receiving an enable signal for each color, and receiving means for receiving the enable signal until the sheet on which the toner image formed based on the electrostatic latent image is transferred and the image is discharged is discharged. A charging device, comprising: counting means for counting the number of times, and performing charging for image formation based on the counted number of times the enable signal is received. 16. A step of receiving an enable signal for each color for designating a writing start position when forming an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier, and a toner image formed based on the electrostatic latent image. Counting the number of times the receiving means has received the enable signal until the sheet on which the image is transferred and the image is formed; and an image formed on the sheet based on the counted enable signal reception number. Determining whether the image is a color image or a monochrome image. 17. A step of receiving an enable signal for each color for indicating a writing start position when forming an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier, and a toner image formed based on the electrostatic latent image. Counting the number of times the receiving means has received the enable signal until the sheet on which the image is transferred and the image is formed; and an image formed on the sheet based on the counted enable signal reception number. And a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a color / monochrome determination procedure, which comprises: determining whether the image is a color image or a monochrome image.