JP2010154031A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which automatically performs setting work by only reading an original image embedding setting information of the device, and improves work efficiency. <P>SOLUTION: A test sheet embedding the setting information of the device beforehand as an invisible image, is set to an original reading unit 3, reading the original image of the test sheet is performed, and a control unit 2 temporarily stores the original image in a memory unit 4. An image processing unit 5 extracts the setting information embedded in the original image 10 of the memory unit 4. The control unit 2 reflects the acquired setting information on the setting of the image forming device 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that reads a document image in which setting contents are embedded and automatically sets the apparatus, and is particularly suitable for a FAX, a copying machine, or a digital multifunction peripheral.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a FAX, a copying machine, or a digital multifunction machine having these functions, first, various settings of the apparatus were made in an adjustment process at a production factory or product installation and maintenance by a service person. Then, copy the original for adjustment such as a test chart, and the operator will visually observe the copied paper. Adjustments have been made to allow formation.

Also, by reading the setting sheet, the mode setting of the image forming apparatus can be performed without input from the operation unit (see Patent Document 1), or the print setting condition can be set as a barcode when the image is formed. A correction table is output by outputting to a setting sheet and reading the setting sheet at a later date under the same conditions (see Patent Document 2), or by reading a sheet on which a plurality of gradation patterns are printed. Is generated, and the image is corrected by the correction table and output (see Patent Document 3).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-112064 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-30735 JP 2001-268363 A

  However, in the techniques of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 3, a test sheet is copied and various adjustment values for image quality adjustment are set by visually confirming the image, and separately from which paper feed tray the paper is fed. It was necessary to perform setting work such as how many copies were made separately. Also, when using multiple test sheets, it is necessary to set the settings for each test sheet one by one, and it is necessary to perform complicated work, resulting in poor work efficiency and setting errors. There was a problem.

  Further, in Patent Document 2, when setting conditions are added to a test chart using a barcode or the like, it is necessary to secure an area for recording the barcode, and there is a problem that the image area of the test chart is compressed. As a countermeasure, a method of recording a barcode on the back side can be considered, but when copying a test chart, it is necessary to first read the barcode on the back side, which is complicated.

  In view of such circumstances, the present invention is intended to provide an image forming apparatus that can automatically perform setting work simply by reading a document image in which apparatus setting information is embedded, and can improve work efficiency.

The present invention relates to a document reading unit that reads a document image having a document original image and device setting information, a storage unit that stores a document image read by the document reading unit, and the document image stored in the storage unit. An image processing unit that extracts the apparatus setting information, a printing unit that prints the document image stored in the storage unit, and a control unit that controls each unit,
The control unit is an image forming apparatus that sets an apparatus based on the apparatus setting information extracted by the image processing unit and causes the printing unit to print the document image.

  The apparatus setting information is setting information concerning print quality in image formation and setting information of printing conditions.

  The apparatus setting information is embedded in the original image as an invisible image.

  The document image read by the document reading unit is a test chart.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to set various adjustment values for image quality adjustment when performing test printing by simply reading a document image in which apparatus setting information is embedded, and from which paper feed tray to feed paper separately. And the number of copies to be made can be automatically set, and when multiple original images are test charts, even when adjustments are made using the test charts, they are suitable for each test sheet. It is not necessary to set each setting individually, which improves work efficiency and prevents setting mistakes.

  Furthermore, since the setting condition is added as an invisible image, it is not necessary to secure an area for recording an image of device setting information such as a barcode, and the device setting information does not impose an image area to be printed.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Control of a copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus 1 is a digital multi-function peripheral. The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 2 that controls the entire image forming apparatus, a document reading unit 3 for reading a document image, and a storage unit 4 that stores a document image read by the document reading unit 3. An image processing unit 5 that extracts apparatus setting information embedded in the document image stored in the storage unit 4; an image printing unit 6 that prints the document image stored in the storage unit 4; It is comprised from the input operation part 7 which performs input operation to.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 as described above, an image adjustment method at the time of production factory adjustment, market installation, and maintenance will be described below. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a procedure for setting the apparatus and adjusting the image.

  First, the operator sets the image forming apparatus 1 to the automatic setting mode from the input operation unit 7 in order to automatically set image adjustment (step S1). Next, a test sheet in which the setting information of the apparatus is embedded in advance as an invisible image is set in the document reading unit 3, and an instruction to read the document image of the test sheet is given (step S2).

  Here, the test chart of the read test sheet is composed of the original document image 10a and the setting information 10b as shown in FIG. 3, and the setting information is added so as not to be seen by human eyes. As an example of this image processing, two-dimensional Fourier transform is performed on the original document image 10a, data of a plurality of frequency components is generated, and the data number sequence of the specific frequency α is replaced with the data number sequence of the setting information 10b. In some cases, the original image 10 is generated by performing an inverse Fourier transform on the frequency component of. The setting information 10b embedded in the original image 10 includes information for controlling print quality (copy lamp light quantity, developing bias, transfer voltage, fixing temperature, etc. in the electrophotographic process) and printing condition information (setting of tray to be used, number of copies to be printed). Etc.).

  When there is a reading execution instruction from the operator, the control unit 2 controls the document reading unit 3 to read an image of the test chart, and temporarily stores the read document image 10 in the storage unit 4 (step S3).

  Next, the control unit 2 confirms the setting mode input by the operator (step S4). If the image adjustment automatic setting mode is selected, the control unit 2 controls the image processing unit 5 to control the document image 10 in the storage unit 4. Image processing for extracting the setting information 10b embedded in is performed (step S5).

  The image processing performed here performs the same calculation as the image processing calculation used when embedding the setting information 10b in the document image 10. That is, as described above, when the setting information 10b is extracted from the document image 10 in which the setting information 10b is embedded by the two-dimensional Fourier transform, the document image 10 is two-dimensionally Fourier-transformed to generate data of a plurality of frequency components. The data number sequence of the specific frequency α is regarded as the data number sequence of the setting information 10b. The frequency α is selected so that the generated document image 11 can maintain the image quality as a test sheet.

  Then, the control unit 2 reflects the obtained setting information 10b on the setting of the image forming apparatus 1 (step S6). After the setting of the image forming apparatus 1 is performed, the control unit 2 reads an image stored in the storage unit 4 and controls the image printing unit 6 to print a document image (step S7). The document image 11 that is the printing result is confirmed (step S8). If there is no problem with the printing result, the setting operation is completed.

  On the other hand, if there is a point that needs to be adjusted in the print result, the operator changes the setting mode to the manual setting mode (step S9), changes the desired setting from the input operation unit 7 (step S10), and again the original. An instruction to read the image 10 is given (step S2).

  When the controller 2 is instructed to execute reading of the document in the manual setting mode, the control unit 2 does not extract the setting information from the document image 10 (steps S5 and S6), and does not perform the setting of the manually set setting contents. Printing is executed (step S7).

  In this way, by simply reading the test chart (document image 10), setting various adjustment values for image quality adjustment when test printing is performed, and separately from which paper feed tray the paper is fed from what Setting work such as whether to make a copy is automatically performed, and even when adjustment work is performed using multiple test charts, settings that match each test sheet do not have to be set one by one. Improvements can be made and setting errors can be prevented.

  Furthermore, since the setting condition is added to the test chart as an invisible image as described above, it is not necessary to secure an area for recording an image of setting information such as a barcode, and the image area of the test chart is not compressed.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the embodiment, Fourier transform is used for embedding and extracting setting information with respect to a document image. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the processing may be performed by other data processing methods.

1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the setting of an apparatus and the procedure of image adjustment. It is a figure which shows the setting of an apparatus and the concept of image adjustment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Control part 3 Original reading part 4 Memory | storage part 5 Image processing part 6 Image printing part 7 Input operation part 10 Original image 10a Original original image 10b Apparatus setting information 11 Original image (printing result)

Claims (4)

An original reading unit that reads an original image and an original image having apparatus setting information;
A storage unit for storing a document image read by the document reading unit;
An image processing unit for extracting the apparatus setting information from the document image stored in the storage unit;
A printing unit for printing the document image stored in the storage unit;
A control unit for controlling each unit;
Have
The control unit sets an apparatus based on the apparatus setting information extracted by the image processing unit, and causes the printing unit to print the document image.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus setting information includes setting information relating to print quality in image formation and setting information of printing conditions.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus setting information is embedded in the document image as an invisible image.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the document image read by the document reading unit is a test chart.

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