JP2005303422A - Image recording medium, image reading apparatus, image recording apparatus, and image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

An image recording medium and an image recording apparatus that can automatically recognize physical characteristics of a color material used in a copy document and perform optimum color processing on the color material.
A wireless communication element called an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) element is attached to an image recording medium by physical contact. The RFID element records physical characteristic information such as spectral characteristics and chromaticity of a color material forming a visible image, or a URL in which information for acquiring physical characteristic information is recorded. Network information and tag information for acquiring the network address are recorded. The digital copying machine 1 communicates with the RFID element attached to the document via the RFID reader / writer 22, reads physical property information of the color material used in the document, processes it with the image processing unit 3, and then records the image. The unit 4 forms a visible image.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording medium, an image reading apparatus, an image recording apparatus, and an image processing system, and particularly to a scanner that recognizes a document with a wireless communication element (wireless tag) added thereto and records the document on the wireless communication element. The present invention relates to an image recording medium, an image reading apparatus, an image recording apparatus, and an image processing system that can be applied to a reading apparatus or a copying apparatus that performs optimum color correction using physical property information of the color material being used.

  There are various color materials used for forming a color image, and their physical characteristics are different for each color material. For example, physical properties such as spectral characteristics vary greatly depending on products and manufacturers, such as color materials used in silver salt photography and color toners used in electrophotography. Therefore, when copying a color document, there is a problem that even if the document looks visually the same color, the color of the output image differs if the color material used is different.

Normally, in a copier, the color conversion table is optimized mainly for color materials that are frequently used so that it can handle many color originals, and a reading mode is provided according to the original type. Different color processing is performed. However, since only rough classification such as silver salt photography and printing is actually performed, there is a problem that the color changes greatly depending on the type even if the same silver salt photograph is used.
Even when a mode is provided for each document type, if the user makes a mistake in selecting a mode, it is a matter of course that proper correction is not performed and proper copying cannot be obtained.

  For example, in an image reading apparatus that reads a document by color separation, depending on the type of document (more precisely, the type of color material used in the document) It is known to be read. For this reason, various apparatuses have been proposed for detecting the type of document and changing the image processing method according to the result, thereby obtaining a stable image regardless of the type of document.

  For example, the “color document type classification device” disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a first measuring unit having a sensitivity peak in a wavelength range of approximately 370 to 420 nm, and a first measuring unit having a sensitivity peak in other wavelength ranges. The reflected light of the color original is measured using the second measuring means, the two measured values obtained are compared, and the color image is classified into a photographic image and a printed image based on the comparison result. In other words, this apparatus includes a sensor different from the normal three primary color sensors in order to detect the type of document.

  In addition, the “image forming apparatus” disclosed in Patent Document 2 uses two types of sensors that have sensitivity peaks at different wavelengths within the wavelength range of one primary color light in order to measure the reflected light of the original. The type of the original is determined based on the measurement values measured by these sensors. That is, this apparatus includes a sensor having two different sensitivity peaks for each of the three primary colors in order to detect the type of document.

  In the “color image input device” disclosed in Patent Document 3, the color separation means color-separates the reflected light from the original illuminated by the original illumination means, and the image reading means performs photoelectric conversion on the reflected light. The color material is read as an image signal, and based on the image signal read by the color material determination unit, the type of the color material of the document is determined. The color correction unit reads the image material based on the determination result of the color material determination unit. The image signal is subjected to optimal color correction processing according to the type of color material used in the document. In other words, this apparatus outputs an image signal obtained by reading a document with different color separation characteristics in the order of frames.

On the other hand, as described in Non-Patent Document 1, ID element (RFID: Radio Frequency Identification) technology for electronically holding individual information and transmitting information in a non-contact manner by electromagnetic induction has been developed, and object identification management Has begun to be applied for. The individual recognition method using an ID element has been attracting attention as a technology that replaces barcodes in the distribution field.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-83142 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-168769 JP 9-46533 A IPSJ Journal, Vol. 40, No. 8 (August 1999), p846-850, “RFID tags for applying information to objects and their applications”

  However, since the devices disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 require a new sensor in addition to the normal three primary color sensors, the configuration of the device is considered in consideration of the sensor and the circuit associated with the sensor. However, there is a problem that the cost of the apparatus becomes high.

  Further, in the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 3, since the color separation characteristics are varied in the frame order, at least two preliminary reading operations are required to determine the type of the document, which is immediate. There is a problem of lacking. In other words, the apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 3 performs a document reading operation prior to the actual copy operation in order to determine the type of color material used in the document, so that the reading operation is increased once. For this reason, there is a problem that the time from pressing of the copy start key to the end of copy discharge becomes longer. Furthermore, since it is necessary to immediately switch the color correction processing parameter in accordance with the determined document type, a parameter corresponding to the document type to be determined must be stored in a memory or the like in advance. As a result, when a new document type is added, the capacity of the memory or the like must be increased, and there is a problem that the document type cannot be substantially added.

  Further, in the devices described in Patent Documents 1 to 3, since the type of the document is determined by estimation, there is a problem that an erroneous determination may occur depending on the document. Further, even if the types of originals having greatly different characteristics such as printing and silver halide photography can be discriminated, even the same printing ink has not been able to discriminate the color difference between manufacturers. For this reason, even when the document type is discriminated, there is a problem that a defect is caused in the color reproduced by a specific manufacturer or color material.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and automatically recognizes the physical characteristics of a color material used in a copy document, so that the optimum color processing for the color material is achieved. An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording medium, an image reading device, an image recording device, and an image processing system.
For this reason, the image recording medium of the present invention stores in the wireless communication element (wireless tag) the physical characteristics (for example, spectral characteristics and chromaticity) of the color material that forms a color image on the image recording medium or link information to the physical characteristics. Install such wireless communication elements. Further, the image reading device acquires physical property information of the color material from the wireless communication element installed on the image recording medium, and performs color correction according to the property of the color material on the read image data. Further, when an image is recorded on an image recording medium provided with a wireless communication element, physical property information of a color material used for image formation is written into the wireless communication element.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the image recording medium to which a wireless communication element that performs close proximity wireless communication is attached, physical property information of a color material that forms a visible image on the recording medium is recorded on the wireless communication element. Or information for acquiring the physical characteristic information is recorded.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image recording medium according to the first aspect, the information for acquiring the physical characteristic information is a network address indicating a location where the physical characteristic information is stored or the network address. Tag information.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image recording medium according to the first or second aspect, the physical characteristic information is a spectral characteristic or chromaticity of a color material.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording medium according to any one of the first to third aspects, the information recorded in the wireless communication element includes physical characteristic information of the image recording medium.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording medium according to the fourth aspect, the physical property information of the image recording medium includes thickness, weight, glossiness, smoothness, transmittance, reflectance, haze degree, and chromaticity point. And at least one of spectral reflectance and spectral transmittance.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording medium according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the information recorded in the wireless communication element includes physical characteristic information when color materials are mixed.

  A seventh aspect of the invention is characterized in that the image recording medium according to any one of the first to sixth aspects is photographic paper.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in an image reading apparatus that reads a visible image on a document, optical image information reading means that reads image information on the document and a wireless communication element attached to the document perform close proximity wireless communication. A communication unit, a color material physical property information acquisition unit for acquiring color material physical property information used for image recording of the original document from information recorded in the wireless communication element, and an optical image information reading unit. Image correction means for correcting color information of the read image using the physical characteristic information is provided.

  A ninth aspect of the present invention is the image reading apparatus according to the eighth aspect, further comprising network communication means for connecting to and communicating with a network, and information recorded in the wireless communication element for acquiring the physical characteristic information. In the case of information, the physical characteristic information is obtained using the network communication means and information for obtaining the physical characteristic information.

  A tenth aspect of the present invention is the image reading apparatus according to the eighth aspect, further comprising network communication means for connecting to and communicating with a network, and whether the information stored in the wireless communication element is the physical characteristic information. Or a record information determination means for determining whether the information is for acquiring the physical characteristic information, and a network address of a database that stores the network address in which the physical characteristic information is stored in association with the tag information When the database address storage means for acquiring and the information for acquiring the physical characteristic information are tag information associated with the network address of the physical characteristic information storage location, the database is connected to the database and the physical characteristic information storage is performed. The network address of the place is acquired, and the thing saved in the acquired network address And having a physical characteristic information obtaining means for obtaining feature information.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided writing means for writing an image on an image recording medium, communication means for communicating with a wireless communication element, and physical property information of a color material used for writing an image on the image recording medium. When the color material information storage means for storing and a wireless communication element writable on the image recording medium are attached, the image recording apparatus writes the physical characteristic information to the wireless communication element on the image recording medium It is characterized by.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, the information written to the image recording medium is information for acquiring physical characteristic information of the color material.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus of the eleventh or twelfth aspect, the color material information storage means is a wireless communication element installed in a detachable color material storage unit. It has a communication means.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing device connected to a network, an image reading means having a communication function with a wireless communication element, an image forming means having a communication function with the wireless communication element, and a color material or an image. An image processing system comprising a database storing physical property information of the color material or image recording medium or address information of the storage location of the physical property information, which is associated with an ID assigned to each recording medium It is characterized by.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, since the physical property information of the color material is recorded on the wireless communication element (wireless tag) installed on the image recording medium, the color image information recorded on the image recording medium is duplicated. In this case, the optimum correction according to the characteristics of the color material can be performed.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the information for acquiring the physical property information of the color material recorded on the wireless communication element is the network address or tag information for acquiring the address, it is installed on the image recording medium. Thus, the storage capacity of the wireless communication element (wireless tag) can be reduced, and the cost of the image recording medium can be reduced.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the physical characteristic information recorded on the wireless communication element installed on the image recording medium is the spectral characteristic or chromaticity of the color material, the color image information recorded on the image recording medium When making a copy of the image, it is possible to perform optimum color correction in accordance with the characteristics of the color material.

  According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the physical characteristic information of the image recording medium is also recorded on the wireless communication element installed on the recording medium, color correction considering the background color is possible.

  According to the invention of claim 5, as physical property information of the image recording medium, any of weight, glossiness, smoothness, transmittance, reflectance, haze degree, chromaticity point, spectral reflectance, and spectral transmittance is provided. Therefore, it is possible to perform color correction in consideration of the background color, determination of the amount of color material in consideration of the influence of the back side during double-sided printing, color correction in a transparent document, and the like.

  According to the invention of claim 6, since the color characteristic material used for color reproduction is recorded in the wireless communication element installed in the recording medium including the physical characteristic information when the color material is mixed, more accurate color correction can be performed. It becomes possible.

  According to the invention of claim 7, since the image recording medium on which the wireless communication element is installed is photographic paper, the color material and the physical characteristics of the image recording medium are known at the photographic paper manufacturing stage, and the color material and Because it is possible to write information to obtain physical characteristic information of the recording medium or physical characteristic information of the coloring material in the wireless communication element, a read-only wireless communication element can be used as the wireless communication element to be used. Cost reduction can be achieved.

  According to the invention of claim 8, the image reading apparatus transmits the communication means for performing close proximity wireless communication with the wireless communication element attached to the document, and the physical characteristic information of the color material used for image recording of the document. Color material physical characteristic information acquisition means acquired from the information recorded in the image information, and image correction means for correcting the color information of the image read by the optical image information reading means using the physical characteristic information. Communication with a wireless communication element installed on an image recording medium in which physical property information of the color material is recorded, and using the read color image information, it is possible to perform optimum correction according to the property of the color material.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, since the physical characteristic information can be acquired via the network using the information for acquiring the physical characteristic information of the color material read from the wireless communication element, the memory capacity is small, The present invention can also be applied to an image recording medium using a wireless communication element that cannot record physical characteristic information.

  According to the invention of claim 10, even if the information stored in the wireless communication element installed in the read document is tag information for obtaining the address of the location where the physical property information of the color material is stored, Since the address for accessing the database in which the tag information and the address information are associated with each other is stored, the address where the physical characteristic information is stored can be obtained by accessing the address, and as a result, the physical characteristic information of the color material is obtained. Can be acquired. By acquiring the address to the physical property information storage location via the database, it is not necessary for the device itself to store the address corresponding to the tag information, and the storage location is changed even if the storage location is changed. There is no need to change the contents, and it is possible to cope with new color materials. In the case where the device itself stores it, it may be necessary to add memory or the like, and such a response is difficult in practice. Even if the address is directly written on the image recording medium, there is a problem that the data cannot be acquired if the address is changed. Can be avoided.

  According to the invention of claim 11, the physical property information of the color material used for image recording or link information to the physical property information is recorded on the image recording medium to which the wireless communication element is attached. When copying an image created by the image recording apparatus of the present invention, high color reproduction can be obtained by using the physical characteristics of the color material.

  According to the invention of claim 12, since the information recorded on the wireless communication element attached to the image recording medium is information for acquiring physical property information of the color material, the wireless communication element having a small storage capacity is provided. The same effect as that of the 11th aspect of the invention can be obtained with respect to the attached image recording medium.

  According to the invention of claim 13, the physical property information of the color material to be used or the information for acquiring the physical property information of the color material is obtained from the wireless communication element attached to the color material storage means. Therefore, the main unit does not need a storage device for storing physical property information of the color material, and even if the type of the color material to be used is changed, no work is required. Reduction and operability can be improved.

  According to the fourteenth aspect of the present invention, the reading device, the image forming apparatus, and the database that can communicate with the wireless communication element are included, and the physical property information of the color material can be acquired. It is possible to perform optimum color correction on an image, and when forming an image with this system, it is also possible to write physical property information or tag information of a color material on a wireless communication element installed on an image recording medium. In other words, an image created by the present system can be copied using the present system to perform optimum color correction in consideration of the physical characteristics of the color material, and a high-quality image can be obtained.

  The image recording medium of the present invention has a form in which an element generally called RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is attached by physical contact. As a name for the RFID element, there are an RFID tag, a wireless communication element, a wireless tag, an IC tag, a wireless IC tag, a proximity wireless communication element, and the like. The attachment method may be adhesion, or when the image recording medium is paper, the element may be inserted into the paper, and the means for attachment is not limited.

There are two types of RFID elements, one that can be read and written, and the other that can only be read. The type that can only be read has the advantage that it can be reduced in size and price, and data cannot be falsified. Depending on the object of use, this can be used.
For example, if the image recording medium is integrated with a color material for forming an image, such as photographic paper, or the color material to be used in advance is known, the physical properties of the color material when creating the image recording medium By storing the characteristic information in the RFID element in advance, it is possible to use read-only information.

  In addition, when the color material used in the manufacturing stage is unknown, such as paper used for printing and copying machines, an element that can be read and written is attached to the image recording medium. After the image is formed or the color material to be used is determined, the physical property information of the color material used at an arbitrary time is written in the RFID element.

In the present invention, the information recorded in the RFID element is not limited to the physical property information of the color material itself, but may be information for acquiring physical property information. Here, the information for acquiring the physical characteristic information may be address information such as a so-called URL or tag information indicating an ID number unique to the color material.
For example, when the physical property information is an ID number unique to a color material, the ID number unique to the color material is associated in advance with the physical property information of the color material or address information accessible to the physical property information of the color material. The database is constructed, and the database is inquired as necessary to obtain information associated with the ID number. When the acquired information is address information, the physical property information of the color material is acquired from the address destination via the network.

  Next, the physical property information of the color material acquired from information recorded on the RFID element attached to the image recording medium includes at least one of the spectral reflectance, spectral transmittance, and chromaticity point of the color material. In addition, if the combination of color materials to be used is specified or there is a recommended combination, the spectral characteristics or chromaticity points for the secondary or higher colors obtained by mixing with those color materials are specified. You may comprise so that it may be included.

  In addition to the physical property information of the color material, physical property information of the image recording medium may be recorded on the RFID element installed on the image recording medium. In particular, in the case of photographic paper, since the same manufacturer knows both the physical characteristics of the color material and the physical characteristics of the image recording medium, it is possible to record the physical characteristics of the color material and the image recording medium. It can be easily implemented and is a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

  However, the image recording medium of the present invention is not limited to photographic paper. The image recording medium manufacturer records physical characteristic information of the image recording medium on an RFID element installed on the image recording medium, and the image output apparatus At the stage when an image is formed on the recording medium, physical property information of the color material may be recorded on the RFID element.

Here, the physical property information of the image recording medium is at least one of thickness, weight, glossiness, smoothness, transmittance, reflectance, haze degree, chromaticity point, spectral reflectance, and spectral transmittance. Is included. Knowing the chromaticity point and spectral reflectance of the image recording medium can be used to select a color correction coefficient according to the background color and to separate the background portion and the image portion. In addition, the influence of the back side when double-sided printing is estimated from the thickness and weight of the recording medium can be used to optimize the ink amount. Furthermore, when the image recording medium is a transparent member such as an OHP sheet, the transmittance, the haze degree, and the spectral transmittance can be used for selecting a color correction coefficient of the image output apparatus.
Hereinafter, specific examples of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a digital copying machine as an image recording apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
The digital copying machine 1 according to the first embodiment is connected to the network 30 and can be connected to the RFID database 40 via the network 30. The digital copying machine 1 reads a document image and outputs read color gradation signals red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and a read color gradation from the read processing unit 2. An image processing unit 3 that inputs signals R, G, and B to perform various image processing, an image recording unit 4 that outputs image data after image processing by the image processing unit 3 to a recording paper, and a reading processing unit 2. A synchronization control unit 5 for matching the signal transmission / reception timing between the image processing unit 3 and the image recording unit 4 and between each element in each unit, the entire digital copying machine 1, and physical characteristic acquisition means And a console board 7 having a display unit and a key unit for operating the entire digital copying machine.

Next, detailed configurations of the reading processing unit 2, the image processing unit 3, the image recording unit 4, and the system control unit 6 will be described.
First, the reading processing unit 2 receives reflected light corresponding to R, G, and B separated by a dichroic prism as color separation means, photoelectrically converts them, and reads them as image signals, CCDs 8r, 8g, 8b, and CCD 8r. , 8g, and 8b are converted into digital signals by A / D converters 9r, 9g, and 9b that convert image signals (here, analog signals) read into digital signals, and A / D converters 9r, 9g, and 9b. And a shading correction circuit 10 for performing shading correction by inputting the received image signal.

  The image processing unit 3 also performs a gamma correction circuit 11 that performs logarithmic conversion on the input read color gradation signals R, G, and B, a masking process, and a color correction circuit 12 as a color correction processing unit. A scaling processing circuit 13 that performs scaling processing on the read color gradation signals R, G, and B; and a dither processing circuit 14 that performs dither processing based on the signals subjected to scaling processing of the scaling processing circuit 13; It is composed of

The image recording unit 4 includes a buffer memory 15 that stores each recording color gradation signal input from the image processing unit 3, a semiconductor laser 16, and a laser driver 17 that drives the semiconductor laser 16.
The buffer memory 15 includes buffer memories 15c, 15m, and 15y for each of the recording color gradation signals cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) corresponding to the recording density of each toner. ing. Similarly to the buffer memory 15, the semiconductor laser 16 includes semiconductor lasers 16 c, 16 m, 16 y, and 16 bk for black (Bk) that is the fourth color, together with the recording color gradation signals C, M, and Y. Similarly to the semiconductor laser 16, the laser driver 17 includes laser drivers 17c, 17m, 17y, and 17bk for the recording color gradation signals C, M, Y, and Bk.

  Further, the system control unit 6 includes a CPU 18 for controlling the entire digital copying machine, a ROM 19, a RAM 20, an I / O port 21 for connection to the reading processing unit 2, and an RFID element attached to the document. RFID reader / writer 22 for communicating and reading / writing recorded information, I / O port 23 for connecting to image processing unit 3, I / O port 24 for connecting to image recording unit 4, and synchronization control unit 5, an I / O port 25 for connecting to the network 30, a communication port 27 for communicating with the network 30, and an I / O port 26 for connecting to the console board 7. In other words, the system control unit 6 is a microcomputer. The system control unit 6 performs predetermined control and operation in accordance with display control and key input of a console board 7 described later.

The operation of the digital copying machine having the above configuration will be described. The reading processing unit 2, the image processing unit 3, the image recording unit 4, the system control unit 6, and the console board 7 will be described in this order.
In the reading processing unit 2, the CCDs 8r, 8g, and 8b read the original for each color and output R, G, and B signals. The output signals of the CCDs 8r, 8g, and 8b are converted into 10-bit digital signals by the A / D converters 9r, 9g, and 9b, respectively, and input to the shading correction circuit 10. The shading correction circuit 10 performs correction for uneven illuminance of the reading optical system of the CCD 8, variation in sensitivity of the light receiving element groups in the CCDs 8r, 8g, and 8b, and dark potential, and reads 10-bit read color gradation signals. R, G and B are output.

  Next, in the image processing unit 3, the γ correction circuit 11 performs logarithmic conversion on the read color gradation signals R, G, and B, and corrects the gradation characteristics according to an instruction from the console board 7. The 8-bit R, G, B read color density signals Dr, Dg, Db are output.

  Next, the color correction circuit 12 performs a masking process to record the read color density signals Dr, Dg, and Db, which are input signals, based on the read color gradation signals R, G, and B into C, M, Y, and Bk. Color correspondence (corresponding to the recording density of each toner) signal Dc, Dm, Dy, Dbk is converted. In the conversion performed by the color correction circuit 12, basic color correction for correcting a deviation from the ideal recording characteristics of the digital copying machine of the first embodiment, and arbitrary color correction based on an instruction from the console board 7, As will be described in detail later, color correction processing is performed according to the color material used in the document of Example 1 or the physical characteristics of the color material and the recording medium.

  Each 8-bit recording color density signal Dc, Dm, Dy, Dbk output from the color correction circuit 12 is applied to the scaling processing circuit 13. In response to an instruction from the console board 7, the scaling processing circuit 13 is in the main scanning direction (in the image reading apparatus shown in the second embodiment, a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the first carriage on which the light source and the full rate mirror are mounted. ) Is performed on each color signal, and 8-bit recording color density signals Dc ′, Dm ′, Dy ′, and Dbk ′ are output. Note that scaling in the sub-scanning direction (moving direction of the first carriage) is performed by changing the moving speed of the paper.

  The signal output from the scaling processing circuit 13 is applied to the dither processing circuit 14. The dither processing circuit 14 dithers the recording density signals Dc ′, Dm ′, Dy ′, and Dbk ′ and outputs 3-bit recording color gradation signals C, M, Y, and Bk. In the dither processing performed by the dither processing circuit 14, nonlinear characteristics on the gradation of the recording system are also corrected.

  The semiconductor lasers 16c, 16m, 16y, and 16bk are energized according to the recording color gradation signals C, M, Y, and Bk output from the image processing unit 3. The recording color gradation signal Bk is directly supplied to the laser driver 17bk, but the recording color gradation signals C, M, and Y are held in the buffer memories 15y, 15m, and 15c, respectively, and then set in advance. Data are read from the buffer memories 15y, 15m, and 15c with a delay of Ty, Tm, and Tc, and supplied to the laser drivers 17y, 17m, and 17c.

In the digital copying machine of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, when a reading instruction is given from the user by the console 7, a normal document reading operation is performed and an RFID tag attached to the document by the RFID reader / writer 22 is used. Communication is performed, and information recorded on the RFID tag is read.
The CPU 18 determines from the data content whether the read information is the physical property information of the color material or the information for acquiring the physical property information.

  Although the present invention does not prescribe a determination method, a method of simply adding a tag indicating the content to information recorded in the RFID tag and detecting the tag to determine the content is conceivable. If the read information is the physical property information of the color material, no further additional operation is performed. When the read information is information for acquiring physical property information of the color material and is an address on the network 30, the physical property information is downloaded from the address via the communication port 27.

  Further, when the read information is information for acquiring physical property information of the color material and is tag information (ID number) given to the color material, the ID number and the physical property information of the color material The address indicating the storage location is read from the ROM 19, and the RFID database 40 that stores the associated data is accessed to obtain the network address. Thereafter, the network address is accessed again via the communication port 27 to acquire physical characteristic information.

When acquiring physical property information (for example, spectral reflectance distribution) of the color material, the system control unit 6 sets predetermined processing conditions in the image processing unit 3 according to the spectral reflectance distribution of the color material. . The setting performed at this time is, for example, a change of a processing coefficient of masking processing performed by the color correction circuit 12 which is a color correction processing unit.
The process performed by the color correction circuit 12 is not limited to the masking process, but can be applied to the case where an interpolation process or an LUT (Look Up Table) is used. In addition, since it is possible to distinguish between a silver salt photo original and a halftone photo original from the physical property information of the color material, for example, when the physical characteristics of the color material used for the halftone photo original are acquired, the moire by the halftone dot is obtained. Of course, it is possible to set such as adding a process for removing.

In the above description, the information obtained from the image recording medium has been described as the physical property information of the color material. However, the physical property information of the color material may also be included in the case where the physical property information of the image recording medium itself is included. By using the spectral reflectance or chromaticity point) and the physical characteristics (spectral reflectance or chromaticity point) of the image recording medium, color correction can be performed with higher accuracy.
Further, the γ correction circuit 11 sets the background reproduction start level from the physical characteristics of the image recording medium. This is particularly effective when the image recording medium has a chromatic color other than white.

Next, the system control unit 6 controls the image recording unit 4 and discharges a copy according to the setting of the image processing unit 3.
As described above, according to the digital copying machine 1 of the first embodiment, an optimum color correction process according to the physical characteristics of the color material used in the document is applied to the image signal output from the reading processing unit 2. Unit 3 can be applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a tandem digital color printer as an image recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
This tandem type digital color printer includes an image reading device, and functions as a full-color copying machine. The digital color printer may of course form an image based on image data output from a personal computer (not shown) without including an image reading device. In addition, it is not limited to the tandem type, and a non-tandem type digital image in which each color toner image is superimposed on a photoconductor and transferred to paper, or a toner image is formed and transferred to paper is repeated for each color. It may be a color printer or a monochrome printer that forms an image with only one color.

  In the tandem type digital color printer 100 shown in FIG. 2, reference numeral 101 denotes a digital color printer main body, and the digital color printer main body 101 has an image reading device (on the upper end of one end side) for reading an image of a document 102 ( An IIT (Image Input Terminal) 103 is provided, and the image data output from the image reading device 103 or a personal computer (not shown), or the like is sent to the inside of the digital color printer main body 101 via a telephone line or a LAN. An image processing apparatus (IPS: Image Processing System) 111 that performs predetermined image processing on the received image data, and an image output that outputs an image based on the image data that has been subjected to predetermined image processing by the image processing apparatus 111 apparatus( OT: Image Output Terminal) 112 and is disposed. Here, the configuration of the present invention will be described using a tandem type digital color printer 100, but the present invention can of course be applied to a color copier / facsimile or the like.

  A platen cover 105 that presses the original 102 onto the platen glass 104 and an image reading device 103 that reads an image of the original 102 placed on the platen glass 104 are disposed on the upper end of the digital color printer main body 101. Has been. The image reading apparatus 103 illuminates a document 102 placed on a platen glass 104 with a light source 106, and reflects a reflected light image from the document 102 from a full-rate mirror 107, half-rate mirrors 108 and 108, and an imaging lens 109. The image reading element 110 formed of a CCD or the like is scanned and exposed through a reduction optical system, and the color material reflected light image of the original 102 is scanned at a predetermined dot density (for example, 16 dots / mm) by the image reading element 110. It is configured to read.

  The color material reflected light image of the original 102 read by the image reading apparatus 103 is, for example, as red (R), green (G), and blue (B) three-color original reflectance data of 8 bits (bits). The image processing apparatus 111 sends predetermined reflectance data such as shading correction, position shift correction, brightness / color space conversion, gamma correction, frame deletion, color / moving editing, etc. to the reflectance data of the original 102. Image processing is performed.

  The image data subjected to the predetermined image processing by the image processing apparatus 111 as described above is a four-color document of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk) (each 8 bits). As described below, the color material gradation data (raster data) is converted into black (Bk), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) image forming units 113Bk, 113Y, 113M, 113C raster output scanners (ROS: Raster Output Scanners) 114Bk, 114Y, 114M, 114C are sent to these raster output scanners 114Bk, 114Y, 114M, 114C according to the original color material gradation data of a predetermined color. Image exposure with laser light is performed.

  Incidentally, inside the tandem type digital color printer main body 101, as described above, four image forming units 113Bk, 113Y, black (Bk), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) are provided. 113M and 113C are arranged in parallel at regular intervals in the horizontal direction.

  Since these four image forming units 113Bk, 113Y, 113M, and 113C are all configured in the same manner, in the following description, attention is paid to the black (Bk) image forming unit 113Bk, and the subscript (Bk) is described. The description is omitted. The image forming unit 113 is roughly divided into a photosensitive drum 115 that rotates at a predetermined rotational speed in the direction of the arrow, a primary charging scorotron 116 that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 115, and the photosensitive drum. A raster output scanner (ROS) 114 as an image exposure device that exposes an image corresponding to each color on the surface of the body drum 115 to form an electrostatic latent image, and an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 115 A developing unit 117 for developing and a cleaning device 118 are included. The developing unit 117 includes a developing unit, a toner replenishing unit, and an RFID reader / writer 160 that communicates with an RFID element mounted on the toner cartridge and reads / writes information.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing details of the developing unit.
The developing units 117Bk, 117Y, 117M, and 117C shown in FIG. 2 have a common configuration in the four image forming units 113Bk, 113Y, 113M, and 113C. In the developing unit 117 shown in FIG. Toner cartridge storing T, 172 is a photoconductor, 173 is an exposure unit for exposing the charged photoconductor 172 to form an electrostatic latent image, and 174 is for attaching the toner T to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 172. The developing device which visualizes is shown. The developing unit 174 has a developing hopper 174a on which the toner cartridge 171 is mounted, a toner supply roller 174b, and a toner T from the toner supply roller 174b attached to the surface, and further a development roller 174c that attaches the toner T to the photosensitive member 172. And a metal blade 174d for making the toner layer on the surface of the developing roller 174c thin and frictionally charging.

  Reference numeral 175 denotes an agitator that rotates inside the toner cartridge 171 and stirs the toner T, and 176 denotes a shutter that opens and closes the opening in conjunction with the attaching / detaching operation of the toner cartridge 171. When the toner cartridge 171 is mounted on the developing hopper 174a, the shutter 176 is opened. During the developing operation, the agitator 175 scrapes the toner T, so that the toner T is sent to the toner supply roller 174b through the opening 171a.

  An RFID element 180 is installed at an appropriate location of the toner cartridge 171. Further, an RFID reader / writer 160 for performing communication with the RFID element 180 is installed at an appropriate position facing the RFID element 180 of the developing hopper 174a.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the raster output scanner (ROS) 114 modulates the semiconductor laser 119 according to the original color material gradation data, and emits a laser beam LB from the semiconductor laser 119 according to the gradation data. . The laser beam LB emitted from the semiconductor laser 119 is deflected and scanned by the rotary polygon mirror 122 via the reflection mirrors 120 and 121, and again carries the image via the reflection mirrors 120 and 121 and the plurality of reflection mirrors 123 and 124. Scanning exposure is performed on the photosensitive drum 115 as a body.

  From the image processing apparatus 111, black (Bk), yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) image forming units 113Bk, 113Y, 113M, 113C raster output scanners (ROS) 114Bk, 114Y, Image data (raster data) of each color is sequentially output to 114M and 114C, and laser beams LB emitted according to the image data from these raster output scanners 114Bk, 114Y, 114M, and 114C are output to the respective photosensitive drums 115Bk, The surfaces of 115Y, 115M, and 115C are scanned and exposed to form electrostatic latent images. The electrostatic latent images formed on the respective photoconductive drums 115Bk, 115Y, 115M, and 115C are developed by the developing units 117Bk, 117Y, 117M, and 117C, respectively, so that black (Bk), yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan ( C) is developed as a toner image of each color.

  Each color of black (Bk), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) sequentially formed on the photosensitive drums 115Bk, 115Y, 115M, and 115C of the image forming units 113Bk, 113Y, 113M, and 113C. The toner images are transferred in multiple by primary transfer rolls 126Bk, 126Y, 126M, and 126C onto an intermediate transfer belt 125 as an intermediate transfer member disposed below each of the image forming units 113Bk, 113Y, 113M, and 113C. . The intermediate transfer belt 125 is wound around the drive roll 127, the stripping roll 128, the steering roll 129, the idle roll 130, the backup roll 131, and the idle roll 132 with a constant tension. A drive roll 127 that is rotationally driven by a dedicated drive motor excellent in constant speed (not shown) is circulated at a predetermined speed in the direction of the arrow. As the intermediate transfer belt 125, for example, a flexible synthetic resin film such as polyimide is formed in a strip shape, and both ends of the synthetic resin film formed in the strip shape are connected by means such as welding, thereby being endless. A belt-shaped one is used.

  The black (Bk), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) toner images transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 125 in a multiple manner are transferred to the backup roll 131 by the secondary transfer roll 133. The recording paper 134 that has been secondarily transferred onto the recording paper 134 by the pressure contact force and electrostatic force and onto which the toner images of the respective colors have been transferred is transported to the fixing device 137 by the two transport belts 135 and 136. The recording paper 134 onto which the toner images of the respective colors have been transferred undergoes a fixing process with heat and pressure by the fixing device 137 and is discharged onto a discharge tray 138 provided outside the digital color printer main body 101.

As shown in FIG. 2, the recording paper 134 has a predetermined size from any of a plurality of paper feed trays 139, 140, 141, and includes a paper feed roller 142 and a pair of paper transport rollers 143, 144, The paper is once transported to the registration roll 147 through the paper transport path 146 formed of 145. The recording paper 134 supplied from any one of the paper feed trays 139, 140, 141 is delivered onto the intermediate transfer belt 125 by a registration roll 147 that is rotationally driven at a predetermined timing.
Then, in the four image forming units 113Bk, 113Y, 113M, and 113C of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan, as described above, the black, yellow, magenta, and cyan toner images respectively have predetermined timings. Are sequentially formed.

The photosensitive drums 115Bk, 115Y, 115M, and 115C are subjected to the next image forming process after the toner image transfer process is completed and residual toner and paper dust are removed by the cleaning devices 118Bk, 118Y, 118M, and 118C. Prepare for. Further, residual toner is removed from the intermediate transfer belt 125 by a belt cleaner 148.
The recording paper 134 is an image recording medium including the RFID element 180 described in the first embodiment, and an RFID reader / writer 160 is installed in the vicinity of the paper discharge unit.

Next, the operation of the digital color printer of Example 2 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the digital color printer according to the second embodiment.
Each toner cartridge 171 used in the tandem type digital color printer 100 shown in FIG. 2 includes an RFID element 180 as shown in FIG. 3, and the RFID element 180 is housed in the toner cartridge 171. The physical property information of the color material or information for acquiring the physical property information is recorded at least. The digital color printer 100 communicates with the RFID element 180 via the RFID reader / writer 160 to read the recorded information (steps 1 and 2).

  Next, physical characteristic information such as spectral characteristic information or chromaticity information of the color material is extracted from the information read from the RFID element 180 provided in the toner cartridge 171 and determined (step 3). In the present invention, the information to be extracted is not limited to the spectral characteristic or chromaticity information, and it goes without saying that other information may be taken out as necessary.

As a result of determining the information read from the RFID element 180, for example, if spectral data indicating physical property information of the color material is obtained, the color correction coefficient of the color material is selected based on the spectral data (step 4), and the color material If the network address indicating the location where the physical property information is stored is obtained, the network address is accessed to download the spectral data indicating the physical property information of the color material (step 5), and the color of the color material is based on the data. A correction coefficient is selected (step 4). If the tag information for acquiring the network address is obtained, the network address corresponding to the tag information is acquired, and the spectral data indicating the physical property information of the color material is downloaded from the network address (step 6). A color correction coefficient for the color material is selected based on the spectral data (step 4).
Based on the image data processed by the image processing unit, each color image forming unit 113Bk, 113Y, 113M, 113C undergoes exposure, development, transfer, and fixing processes, and a visible image is formed on the recording paper 134 and discharged. The

  At this time, the RFID reader / writer 161 installed at the subsequent stage of the fixing device 137 is used to communicate with the RFID element 180 installed on the recording paper 134 and the physical property information of the color material used for image recording or the physical property of the color material. Information such as URL is written for acquiring characteristic information. In the above description, the installation position of the RFID reader / writer 161 is the latter stage of the fixing device 137, but the present invention is not limited to this. Further, the RFID element 180 installed on the recording paper 134 may be a paper sheet that is cut or pasted on the recording paper 134 at the manufacturing stage, or an RFID element attaching means is separately provided in the image output apparatus. It may be provided. Further, the present invention does not limit the method of installing the RFID element on the recording paper 134.

1 is a block configuration diagram showing a digital copying machine as an image recording apparatus of Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a tandem type digital color printer as an image recording apparatus according to a second embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the detail of a developing unit. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the digital color printer according to the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Digital copying machine, 2 ... Reading processing unit, 3 ... Image processing unit, 4 ... Image recording unit, 5 ... Synchronous control unit, 6 ... System control unit, 7 ... Console board, 8 ... CCD, 9 ... A / D Converter 10, shading correction circuit 11 γ correction circuit 12 color correction circuit 13 variable power processing circuit 14 dither processing circuit 15 buffer memory 16 semiconductor laser 17 laser driver 18 ... CPU, 19 ... ROM, 20 ... RAM, 21 ... I / O port, 22 ... RFID reader / writer, 23 ... I / O port, 24 ... I / O port, 25 ... I / O port, 26 ... I / O 27: Communication port, 30 ... Network, 40 ... RFID database, 100 ... Tandem digital color printer, 101 ... Digital color printer Body, 102 ... Document, 103 ... Image reading device, 104 ... Platen glass, 105 ... Platen cover, 106 ... Light source, 107 ... Full-rate mirror, 108 ... Half-rate mirror, 109 ... Imaging lens, 110 ... Image reading element, 111 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Image processing apparatus, 112 ... Image output apparatus (IOT), 113 ... Image forming unit, 114 ... Raster output scanner (ROS), 115 ... Photosensitive drum, 116 ... Scorotron for primary charging, 117 ... Development unit, 118 ... Cleaning device, 119: Semiconductor laser, 120, 121: Reflection mirror, 122: Rotating polygon mirror, 123, 124 ... Reflection mirror, 125 ... Intermediate transfer belt, 126 ... Primary transfer roll, 127 ... Drive roll, 128 ... Stripping roll 129 ... Steering roll, 130 ... Idolro 131, backup roll, 132, idle roll, 133, secondary transfer roll, 134, recording paper, 135, 136, conveying belt, 137, fixing device, 138, discharge tray, 139, 140, 141, paper feed Tray, 142... Paper feed roller, 143, 144, 145... Pair of paper transport rollers, 146... Paper transport path, 147... Registration roll, 148 .. belt cleaner, 160 and 161 ... RFID reader / writer, 171. , 171a ... opening, 172 ... photoconductor, 173 ... exposure unit, 174 ... developer, 174a ... developing hopper, 174b ... toner supply roller, 174c ... developing roller, 174d ... metal blade, 175 ... agitator, 176 ... shutter, 180: RFID element.

Claims (14)

  In an image recording medium to which a wireless communication element that performs close proximity wireless communication is attached, physical property information of a color material that forms a visible image on the image recording medium is recorded in the wireless communication element, or the physical characteristic information An image recording medium on which information for acquiring the image is recorded.   2. The image recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the information for acquiring the physical characteristic information is a network address indicating a location where the physical characteristic information is stored, or tag information for acquiring the network address. An image recording medium characterized by the above.   3. The image recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the physical characteristic information is spectral characteristics or chromaticity of a color material.   4. The image recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the information recorded on the wireless communication element includes physical characteristic information of the image recording medium.   5. The image recording medium according to claim 4, wherein the physical property information of the image recording medium includes thickness, weight, gloss, smoothness, transmittance, reflectance, haze, chromaticity point, spectral reflectance, spectral transmission. An image recording medium comprising at least one of the ratios.   6. The image recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the information recorded on the wireless communication element includes physical characteristic information when color materials are mixed.   7. The image recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the image recording medium is photographic paper.   In an image reading apparatus that reads a visible image on a document, an optical image information reading unit that reads image information on the document, a communication unit that performs close proximity wireless communication with a wireless communication element attached to the document, Color material physical characteristic information acquisition means for acquiring physical characteristic information of a color material used for image recording from information recorded in the wireless communication element; and color information of an image read by the optical image information reading means. An image reading apparatus comprising image correcting means for correcting using the physical characteristic information.   9. The image reading apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising network communication means for connecting to and communicating with a network, and when the information recorded in the wireless communication element is information for acquiring the physical characteristic information, An image reading apparatus that acquires the physical characteristic information using the network communication unit and information for acquiring the physical characteristic information.   9. The image reading apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising network communication means for connecting to a network and performing communication, wherein the information stored in the wireless communication element is the physical characteristic information, or the physical characteristic information is Recording information determination means for determining whether the information is for acquisition; database address storage means for storing a network address of a database in which the network address in which the physical characteristic information is stored is stored in association with tag information; When the information for acquiring the physical property information is tag information associated with the network address of the physical property information storage location, connect to the database, acquire the network address of the physical property information storage location, Items that acquire physical property information stored at the acquired network address Image reading apparatus characterized by having a characteristic information obtaining means.   Writing means for writing an image on an image recording medium, communication means for communicating with a wireless communication element, and color material information storage means for storing physical property information of a color material used for writing an image on the image recording medium And, when a wireless communication element writable to the image recording medium is attached, the physical characteristic information is written to the wireless communication element on the image recording medium.   12. The image recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the information written on the image recording medium is information for acquiring physical characteristic information of the color material.   13. The image recording apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the color material information storage means is a wireless communication element installed in a detachable color material storage unit, and has a communication means with the wireless communication element. An image recording apparatus.   Image processing means connected through a network, image reading means having a communication function with a wireless communication element, image forming means having a communication function with the wireless communication element, and each color material or image recording medium An image processing system comprising: a database storing physical property information of the color material or image recording medium or address information of a physical property information storage location associated with an ID.