JP2018189728A - Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the quality of an output object after post-processing.SOLUTION: An image processing apparatus comprises a control part controlling an image forming part that forms an image on a transfer medium on the basis of a job. The control part can perform control of acquiring a result of reading of the image formed on the transfer medium by the image forming part to perform image adjustment in the image forming part, and when post-processing is performed on the transfer medium on which the image is formed, and the transfer medium has areas in proximity to each other as a result of the post-processing, can perform control of performing image adjustment while taking areas set in the areas in proximity to each other as one integrated area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program capable of acquiring a reading result of an image formed on a transfer medium by an image forming unit and performing image adjustment in the image forming unit.

When printing is performed with an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, image misalignment or density unevenness may occur in the output. Misalignment and uneven density occur in the printing process. For example, with regard to misregistration, a change in magnification occurs due to tension applied to the scanning direction during paper conveyance, and the paper meanders. A skew in the sub-scanning direction occurs. Further, uneven density can also occur in a single sheet due to the shape or wear of the photoconductor for image formation.
If these positional deviations and density irregularities occur, the output product expected by the user cannot be obtained. Therefore, it is desirable that there are no positional deviations and density irregularities.

As a technique for correcting misregistration and density unevenness that occurs during printing, an adjustment chart in which an adjustment image such as a registration mark or a color patch is printed is output, the output adjustment chart is read, and the read result is used. There is known a method of measuring whether or not positional deviation or density unevenness has occurred and correcting the image forming unit based on the measurement result. Further, it is possible to compare the printing image and the read image to determine misalignment or uneven density.
For example, for misalignment, measure whether misalignment has occurred by printing cross mark marks at multiple positions on the adjustment chart and measuring the distance between the center points of each register mark. Can do.
Further, in Patent Document 1, a cross-shaped mark image is printed at the four corners of the front and back of the paper so that the image forming position on the front surface of the paper and the image forming position on the back surface of the paper can be easily aligned. The print position of the image is corrected based on the deviation amount of the mark image position on the front and back sides.

JP 2006-11285 A

Incidentally, post-printing output products may be subjected to post-processing such as folding. In particular, when long paper is used, post-processing such as tri-folding, Z-folding, and kannon folding is often performed on the printed paper. In that case, by performing post-processing, the part that was originally separated will approach. At this time, if there is a positional deviation or a density difference between the places approached by the post-processing, the positional deviation or the density difference becomes conspicuous at those places. Specifically, when the images are connected at the overlapping portions by folding, or when a table of the same size is arranged at the portions, the positional deviation and the density unevenness are particularly noticeable. For this reason, it is desirable that the position and density difference of the portion approached by post-processing are corrected.
The technique described in Patent Document 1 does not consider the contents of post-processing, and cannot solve the above-described problem.

  The present invention has been made against the background of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image processing apparatus, a program, and an image processing method capable of improving the quality of an output product after post-processing.

That is, among the image processing apparatuses of the present invention, the first aspect of the present invention includes a control unit that controls an image forming unit that forms an image on a transfer medium based on a job,
The control unit is capable of performing control of obtaining an image reading result formed on a transfer medium by the image forming unit and performing image adjustment in the image forming unit,
When post-processing is performed on a transfer medium on which an image has been formed, when there is an area in which the transfer medium is close to each other as a result of the post-processing, each of the areas set in the close-to-close areas is grouped as one. It is possible to control the image adjustment as the area.

  In another form of the image processing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the control unit may determine an area of the transfer medium that is adjacent based on a result of post-processing, and determine an area to be one unit out of the areas. Features.

  An image processing apparatus according to another aspect is characterized in that, in the invention according to the aspect described above, the control unit determines an area of a transfer medium that is closer to the result of post-processing based on transfer medium information and post-processing contents.

  An image processing apparatus according to another aspect is characterized in that, in the aspect of the invention, the set mutual area is determined by a machine setting or an operator's operation.

  In another aspect of the image processing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the image adjustment is image alignment.

In another form of the image processing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the control unit prints, on the transfer medium, a measurement mark for measuring a positional deviation in each of the set areas by the image forming unit,
Calculate the correction amount for each measurement position based on the image reading result,
The image position is corrected by the calculated correction value.

  An image processing apparatus according to another aspect is characterized in that, in the invention of the above aspect, the image adjustment is image density adjustment.

In another form of the image processing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the control unit prints, on the transfer medium, a color patch for measuring density unevenness in the area plane in each of the set areas.
Calculate the correction amount for each measurement position based on the image reading result,
It is characterized in that density unevenness is corrected by the calculated correction value.

  In another form of the image processing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the post-processing includes a folding process or / and a binding process of a transfer medium.

  In another aspect of the image processing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the post-processing is tri-folded, and the set mutual areas are a central portion of the first surface of the transfer medium and a second portion of the transfer medium. It is the end of the surface.

  In another form of the image processing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the post-processing is saddle stitching, and the set mutual areas are a central portion of the first surface of the transfer medium and a second surface of the transfer medium. It is characterized by being the central part of.

  In another form of the image processing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the post-processing is Z-folding, and the set mutual areas are a central portion of the first surface of the transfer medium and the first of the transfer medium. It is a region near the end of the surface.

  In another form of the image processing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the post-processing is a fold-in folding, and the set mutual regions are a central portion of the first surface of the transfer medium and a second portion of the transfer medium. It is the end of the surface.

  In another form of the image processing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the post-processing is quadrupled, and the set mutual regions are a central portion of one surface of the transfer medium and a region near an end of the same surface. It is characterized by being.

  In another form of the image processing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the post-processing is performed in units of one transfer medium.

  In another form of the image processing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the post-processing is performed in units of a plurality of transfer media.

  In another aspect of the image processing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the control unit outputs an adjustment chart to a transfer medium by the image forming unit and reads the adjustment chart before outputting the job. The image adjustment is performed based on the read result.

  In another form of the image processing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the adjustment chart is an alignment image.

  In another form of the image processing apparatus according to the aspect of the invention, the adjustment chart is a density adjustment image used for density adjustment.

  An image processing apparatus according to another aspect is the image forming apparatus including the image forming unit according to the aspect of the invention.

  According to another aspect of the invention, the image processing apparatus includes an image reading unit that reads an image on the transfer medium.

  According to another aspect of the invention, the image processing apparatus is a management apparatus that manages the image forming apparatus.

An image processing method of the present invention is an image processing method when an image is formed on a transfer medium by an image forming unit based on a job,
Obtaining a reading result of an image formed on a transfer medium and performing image adjustment in the image forming unit;
When post-processing is performed on a transfer medium on which an image has been formed, when there is an area in which the transfer medium is close to each other as a result of the post-processing, each of the areas set in the close-to-close areas is grouped as one. The image adjustment is performed as a region.

The program of the present invention is a program executed by a control unit that controls an image forming unit that forms an image on a transfer medium based on a job,
Obtaining a reading result of an image formed on a transfer medium and performing image adjustment in the image forming unit;
When post-processing is performed on a transfer medium on which an image has been formed, when there is an area in which the transfer medium is close to each other as a result of the post-processing, each of the areas set in the close-to-close areas is grouped as one. The image adjustment is performed as a region.

  According to the present invention, when there is an area in which the transfer medium is close to each other as a result of post-processing, image adjustment is performed by setting each area set among the areas close to each other as a single area. It becomes possible to improve the quality of the output.

1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a mechanical configuration of an image forming apparatus which is an embodiment of an image processing apparatus of the present invention. Similarly, it is a functional block diagram. Similarly, it is a figure which shows the problem in the case of performing an internal trifold as post-processing. Similarly, it is a figure which shows the printing position of the registration mark in the case of performing an internal trifold as post-processing. Similarly, it is a figure which shows the printing position of the register mark when performing saddle stitching as post-processing. Similarly, it is a figure which shows the printing position of the register mark when Z-folding is performed as post-processing. Similarly, it is a figure which shows the printing position of the register mark in the case of performing Kannon folding as post-processing. Similarly, it is a figure which shows the printing position of the register mark in the case of performing a four-fold as post-processing. Similarly, it is a flowchart showing a procedure for determining a printing position of a register mark.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image processing apparatus of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a mechanical outline of an image forming apparatus which is an embodiment of an image processing apparatus of the present invention.
The image forming apparatus 1 includes, in order from the upstream side in the paper conveyance direction, a paper feeding device 40 having a large-capacity paper feeding stage, an apparatus body 10 that forms an image on paper, and a reading that reads an image on the paper. An apparatus 20 and a post-processing apparatus 30 that performs post-processing on paper are provided. Each apparatus is electrically and mechanically connected, and communication between apparatuses and conveyance of paper are possible.

  In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 is configured by these apparatuses, but the configuration of the image forming apparatus is not limited to this in the present invention. For example, the image forming apparatus may be configured by the apparatus main body 10 and the reading apparatus 20, or the image forming apparatus is configured by only the apparatus main body 10, and the reading apparatus 20, the post-processing apparatus 30, and the large-capacity paper feeding apparatus. An apparatus having 40 or the like may be configured as an image forming system. Also, the reading device. The image forming apparatus and the reading apparatus may be mechanically off-line. The image forming apparatus and the reading apparatus may be electrically inline, or the reading result may be taken into the image forming apparatus by an appropriate method both offline and offline. Further, the reading result of the reading device may be transmitted to the management device or the like without being given to the image forming apparatus.

The paper feed device 40 includes a plurality of paper feed stages, and paper is stored in each paper feed stage. The paper in the paper feed stage is transported to the transport path 13 of the apparatus main body 10 and is used for image formation by the apparatus main body 10. The paper corresponds to the transfer medium of the present invention. In the present invention, the material of the transfer medium is not limited to paper, and may be a medium made of cloth or plastic. The transfer medium of the present invention may be a continuous transfer medium such as continuous paper with continuous paper, and may be cut before or after image formation.
The apparatus main body 10 is connected to the subsequent stage of the sheet feeding apparatus 40.

  The apparatus main body 10 includes an operation unit 140 at the top of the casing. The operation unit 140 includes a touch panel type LCD 141 and a group of operation keys such as a numeric keypad, and can display information and accept operation inputs.

  The apparatus main body 10 further includes an automatic document feeder (ADF) 14 at the top of the housing. The automatic document feeder (ADF) 14 automatically feeds a document set on a document table, and the document fed by the automatic document feeder (ADF) 14 is shown in FIG. Read by the scanner unit 130. Note that it is also possible to read a document on a platen glass (not shown).

Inside the apparatus main body 10, a main body paper feeding unit 12 is provided on the lower side. Sheets are stored in the main body feeding unit 12, and the sheets in the main body feeding unit 12 are conveyed to the conveyance path 13. The paper corresponds to the transfer medium of the present invention. The transfer medium in the main body paper supply unit 12 can be made of a material other than paper as in the case of the large capacity paper supply device 40.
A roller (not shown) or the like is provided around the conveyance path 13 in the apparatus main body 10, and the conveyance path 13 can convey the paper supplied from the paper feeding device 40 or the main body paper feeding unit 12.

Furthermore, an image forming unit 11 that forms an image on a sheet is provided in the middle of the conveyance path 13.
The image forming unit 11 includes a photoreceptor 11a for each color (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black). Around the photoreceptor 11a, a charger, an LD, a developer, a cleaning unit, and the like (not shown) are provided. Is provided. Further, the image forming unit 11 has an intermediate transfer belt 11b at a position where the image forming unit 11 can come into contact with the photoconductor 11a for each color. The intermediate transfer belt 11b comes into contact with the paper on the conveyance path 13 in the secondary transfer portion 11c provided in the middle thereof. In the transport path 13, a fixing unit 11d is provided at a position downstream of the secondary transfer unit 11c.
When an image is formed on a sheet, a latent image is formed by irradiating the photosensitive member 11a charged by the charger with laser light by the LD, and the latent image formed on the photosensitive member 11a becomes a toner image by the developing unit. . The toner image on the photosensitive member is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 11b, and the transferred image is transferred to the sheet by the secondary transfer portion 11c. Thereafter, the image on the sheet is fixed by the fixing device 11d.

  Further, the reverse conveyance path 13a branches from the conveyance path 13 on the downstream side of the fixing device 11d. A downstream transport path 13c branches off from the reverse transport path 13a, and a retreat transport path 13b branches off on the downstream side. The reverse conveyance path 13 a joins the conveyance path 13 on the upstream side of the image forming unit 11 on the downstream side after the retreat conveyance path 13 b branches.

In the case where only the front and back are reversed, the sheet conveyed to the reverse conveyance path 13a is once sent to the retreat conveyance path 13b and then reversely traveled to the downstream conveyance path 13c. The downstream transport path 13c merges with the transport path 13 on the downstream side in the transport direction, and the sheet sent to the downstream transport path 13c is transported to the downstream side through the transport path 13 with the front and back being reversed. The
When the sheet is reversed and circulated to the image forming unit 11, the sheet is temporarily sent from the reverse conveyance path 13a to the retreat conveyance path 13b, conveyed in the reverse direction, and sent to the downstream reverse conveyance path 13a for image formation. At the upstream side of the section 11, the paper is joined to the transport path 13, and then image formation is performed on the back side of the paper.
The sheet on which the image has been formed is conveyed to the conveyance path 23 of the subsequent reading device 20.

  The apparatus main body 10 has a control unit 100. The control unit 100 controls the entire image forming apparatus 1, and includes a CPU and a storage unit that stores a program executed by the CPU, parameters, and the like and serves as a work area. The control unit may be provided outside the apparatus main body.

  The reading device 20 has a transport path 23 that can transport paper. In the middle of the conveyance path 23, an image reading unit 24 that reads an image on the lower surface of the conveyed paper and an image reading unit 25 that reads an image on the upper surface of the paper are provided in the paper conveyance order. . The image data acquired by reading is transmitted to the control unit 100 of the apparatus main body 10, and the control unit 100 can perform various processes, adjustment of the image forming unit 11, and the like based on the acquired image data.

The image reading units 24 and 25 are constituted by a CCD sensor, a CMOS sensor, or the like, and can read an image on the entire sheet in the width direction. In the present invention, the configuration of the image reading unit 24 is not limited to a specific configuration. For example, a colorimeter that reads an image at a point and measures a color can be used. Is not limited to a specific one. Further, the number of image reading units is not particularly limited, and one image reading unit may be provided. When reading images on both sides of a sheet with one image reading unit, the other side may be read by reversing after reading one side of the sheet.
The conveyance path 23 is connected to the conveyance path 33 of the post-processing device 30 at the subsequent stage.

The post-processing device 30 includes a transport path 33 that can transport the paper.
The transport path 33 is branched and connected to the first paper discharge section 31 and the second paper discharge section 32, and a post-processing section 34 is provided in the middle of the transport path 33 leading to the second paper discharge section 32. . The post-processing unit 34 can execute predetermined post-processing. As post-processing, for example, appropriate processing such as stapling, punching, booklet processing, and post-processing including folding, for example, processing such as inner tri-fold, saddle stitching, Z-fold, kannon folding, and quadruple folding are performed. Is possible. The post-processing unit 34 may perform a plurality of post-processing.
The paper that has undergone post-processing can be discharged to the second paper discharge unit 32, and the paper that has not been post-processed can be discharged to the first paper discharge unit 31. Note that paper that is not subjected to post-processing may be discharged to the second paper discharge unit 32.

  In the above-described embodiment, the description is given on the assumption that a plurality of color images are formed. However, the image forming apparatus may perform single-color image formation.

Next, control blocks of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 that functions as a digital multifunction peripheral (copier, printer, scanner) according to the present embodiment and a network configuration that forms the image forming system. In FIG. 2, the control configuration other than the apparatus main body 10 is omitted.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a digital copier main body including a control block 110, a scanner unit 130, an operation unit 140, and a printer unit 150, and an image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160. Is connected to the external device 4 via the network 3.

First, the digital copier body of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.
The control block 110 includes a control CPU 113 that controls the entire image forming apparatus 1. The control CPU 113 is connected to a ROM 114 that stores information and a nonvolatile memory 115 in addition to a RAM that serves as a work area. The nonvolatile memory 115 includes a program for operating the image forming apparatus 1, an operation parameter for operating the image forming apparatus, a parameter at the time of image adjustment, a parameter for determining an area where the sheet is close based on a post-processing result, Parameters for determining a region for performing image adjustment as a group within the region to be stored are stored. The control CPU 113 can control the image forming apparatus 1 by executing predetermined processing according to programs and parameters.

Note that programs, parameters, and the like can be stored in the nonvolatile memory 115 and the ROM 114, or may be stored in the HDD 127 described later. Further, the program may be stored in a storage unit in the external device 4, another storage unit connected to the network 3, or a removable medium connected to the image forming apparatus 1. The storage location is not particularly limited. The program of the present invention may be stored in a portable storage unit or the like and distributed or moved, or may be stored in the storage unit of the control unit 100 through a network or the like.
The control CPU 113 can control image formation, output an adjustment chart, determine the position of an adjustment image based on the contents of post-processing, adjust image formation based on the read result of the adjustment image, and the like. The adjustment chart can be stored in the nonvolatile memory 115, the ROM 114, the HDD 127, and the like, and is read out by the control CPU 113 as necessary and used for image formation.

  An IO 128 is further connected to the control CPU 113. The IO 128 can acquire signals from various devices connected to the digital copier body. For example, the IO 128 can receive reading results acquired by the image reading units 24 and 25.

A DRAM control IC 111 is connected to the control CPU 113. The DRAM control IC 111 operates based on a control instruction from the control CPU 113.
An image memory (DRAM) 120 capable of storing image data is connected to the DRAM control IC 111. An image memory (DRAM) 120 includes a compression memory 121 for storing compressed image data, data such as job management information, and a page memory 122 for temporarily storing uncompressed image data immediately before image formation. Have.

The DRAM control IC 111 is further connected to a compression IC 118 that performs image data compression processing. For example, the compression IC 118 can perform compression processing on image data of a document read by the scanner unit 130.
The compression IC 118 is connected to a reading processing unit 116 that performs predetermined processing on the read image data. The CCD 131 of the scanner unit 130 is connected to the reading processing unit 116.

The scanner unit 130 includes a CCD 131 that optically reads an image on a sheet, and a scanner control unit 132 that controls the scanner unit 130. Under the control of the scanner control unit 132, the CCD 131 can read an image of a document fed by an ADF (automatic document feeder) 14 or a document on a platen glass. The CCD 131 is connected to the reading processing unit 116 of the control block 110, and image data acquired by the CCD 131 is transmitted to the reading processing unit 116.
The reading processing unit 116 performs various processes such as analog signal processing, A / D (Analog to Digital) conversion processing, and shading processing on the analog image signal input from the CCD 131 to generate digital image data.
The scanner control unit 132 is connected to the control CPU 113 so as to be capable of serial communication, and controls each unit of the scanner unit 130 based on a control instruction from the control CPU 113.

The DRAM control IC 111 is further connected to a decompression IC 125 that performs image data decompression processing. The decompression IC 125 can decompress, for example, the compressed image data stored in the compression memory 121 to obtain page image data for image formation.
The decompression IC 125 is connected to a write processing unit 126 that converts image data into write data to the LD, and the write processing unit 126 is connected to the LD 151 of the printer unit 150.

  The printer unit 150 includes an LD 151 that writes an image on the photoconductor 11 a and a printer control unit 152 that controls the entire printer unit 150. The printer control unit 152 is connected to the control CPU 113, and can control the printer unit 150 in response to a control instruction from the control CPU 113 to control paper conveyance, image formation, and the like. The LD 151 is prepared for each color and is included in the image forming unit 11.

A PCI bus 112 is further connected to the DRAM control IC 111. The other end of the PCI bus 112 is connected to the DRAM control IC 161 of the image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160, and the DRAM control IC 111 is connected to the image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160 via the PCI bus 112. It is possible to send and receive data between.
In addition, an HDD 127 that stores information is connected to the PCI bus 112. The DRAM control IC 113 can execute writing and reading of data to and from the HDD 127.

The operation unit 140 includes a touch panel LCD 141 that can display information and accept operation inputs, and an operation unit control unit 142 that controls the entire operation unit. The operation unit control unit 142 is connected to the control CPU 113 so as to be capable of serial communication, and can control the operation unit 140 based on a control instruction from the control CPU 113.
The operation unit 140 can perform various settings for each unit of the image forming apparatus 1, and the control CPU 113 controls image formation, sheet conveyance, and post-processing based on the settings. Further, in the operation unit 140, settings relating to machine settings such as print settings and operation control conditions in the image forming apparatus 1 and output, settings for post-processing, settings for presence / absence of adjustment chart printing, presence / absence of image adjustment, Depending on the result of post-processing, it is possible to set a region for image adjustment as a group within the adjacent paper regions.

Next, the image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160 will be described.
The image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160 can process image data received from the external device 4 and can transfer the image data to an external device such as the external device 4 through the network 3.
The image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160 has a DRAM control IC 161, and the DRAM control IC 161 of the control block 110 is connected to the DRAM control IC 161 via the PCI bus 112.
The image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160 receives image data or the like from the external device 4 connected to the network 3 or the like when the image forming device is used as a network printer or a network scanner. The image data acquired by the scanner unit 130 can be transmitted to the external device 4 connected to the network 3 or the like.

  In the image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160, an image memory (DRAM) 162 composed of a DRAM or the like is connected to the DRAM control IC 161. In the image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160, a DRAM control IC 161, a controller control CPU 163 that controls the entire image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160, a LAN interface 165, and an HDD 166 are connected to a common bus. , Is connected. The LAN interface 165 is connected to the network 3. An external device 4 is connected to the network 3.

The external device 4 includes an external device control unit 400 that controls the external device 4 and a display operation unit 410 that displays information and accepts operation inputs.
The external device control unit 400 includes a CPU and a storage unit that stores programs and operation parameters.
The program of the present invention may be stored in a portable storage unit or the like for distribution or movement, or may be stored in the storage unit of the external device control unit 400 through a network or the like. .

  The external device 4 may operate as a management device that manages the image forming apparatus 1. In that case, the external device 4 is an embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the present invention, and the external device control unit 400 corresponds to a control unit that manages the image forming apparatus. That is, in this case, the external device control unit 400 can control the image forming unit to adjust the image by acquiring the reading result of the image formed on the transfer medium by the image forming unit, and the image is formed. When post-processing is performed on the transfer medium, when there is an area where the transfer medium is close to each other as a result of the post-processing, image adjustment is performed using the areas set in the areas close to each other as a single area. Can be controlled

Next, the basic operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.
First, a procedure for storing image data in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.
First, a case where an image is read by the scanner unit 130 of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.
The control CPU 113 issues a command to the scanner unit 130 based on the operation by the operation unit 140. In the scanner unit 130, the scanner control unit 132 that has received a command from the control CPU 113 controls the operation of the CCD 131, and the CCD 131 is fed by the automatic document feeder (ADF) 14 based on the control of the scanner control unit 132. Optically reads an image of a document or a document on a platen glass.

  The image data read by the CCD 131 is transmitted to the reading processing unit 116, and the reading processing unit 116 performs data processing. The image data subjected to the data processing is transmitted to the compression IC 118, and the compression processing is performed in the compression IC 118 by a predetermined method. The compressed image data is stored in the compression memory 121 via the DRAM control IC 111. When image data is stored in the HDD 127, the image data stored in the compression memory 121 is transferred to the HDD 127 and stored in the HDD 127.

Secondly, a case where image data is acquired from the outside will be described.
The image forming apparatus 1 can acquire image data via the network 3. Examples of the image data include those generated by an application program of the external device 4. The data is received by the image processing unit (print & scanner controller) 160 via the LAN interface 165 and then temporarily stored in the image memory (DRAM) 162 or the HDD 166 under the control of the DRAM control IC 161. Data once stored in the image memory (DRAM) 162 or the HDD 166 is transferred to the DRAM control IC 111 via the PCI bus 112, then transferred to the page memory 122, and temporarily stored in the page memory 122.
The data stored in the page memory 122 is sequentially sent to the compression IC 118 via the DRAM control IC 111 and subjected to compression processing, and stored in the compression memory 121 via the DRAM control IC 111. When storing the compressed data in the HDD 127, the data stored in the compression memory 121 is transferred to the HDD 127 via the DRAM control IC 111 and stored in the HDD 127.

Next, a case where an image is output in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described.
When printing is performed by the image forming apparatus 1, the image data stored in the compression memory 121 is sent to the decompression IC 125 via the DRAM control IC 111, and the decompression IC 125 decompresses the image data. When the image data stored in the HDD 127 is output as an image, the image data is temporarily stored in the compression memory 121, the image data is sent to the decompression IC 125 via the DRAM control IC 111, and the image data is decompressed.

  The expanded image data is sent to the write processing unit 126, and the write processing unit 126 generates write data based on the image data. The generated writing data is transferred to the LD 151, and writing to the photoconductor 11a is performed by the LD 151 of the printer unit 150 based on the writing data. In the printer unit 150, the printer control unit 152 that receives a command from the control CPU 113 controls each unit such as the main body sheet feeding unit 12, the large capacity sheet feeding device 40, the conveyance path 13, and the image forming unit 11. Accordingly, the printer unit 150 sequentially performs image formation, transfer to paper, fixing, conveyance to the post-processing device 30 through the conveyance path, post-processing in the post-processing device 30, and the like to perform print output.

  As the image data, data stored in advance in a storage unit such as the nonvolatile memory 115 or the HDD 127 can be used. For example, an image such as an image chart for density adjustment or registration marks can be read from the storage unit and temporarily stored in the image memory (DRAM) 120, and then an image can be formed on a sheet.

Next, an operation for printing an adjustment chart in consideration of the contents of post-processing and performing image adjustment based on the reading result of the adjustment chart will be described.
Post-printing output products may be subjected to post-processing such as folding processing. For example, tri-folding, Z-folding, and Kannon folding may be performed as post-processing.
In the output product after the post-processing, a close region may occur depending on the result of the post-processing. In this embodiment, it is possible to perform control so that an adjustment image such as a registration mark is printed as a single unit in a set area with respect to an area close by post-processing.

In the correction of misalignment and density unevenness, the accuracy is highest at the position where the adjustment chart is printed. For example, when correcting misalignment, a plurality of registration marks are printed on the paper as an adjustment chart, and the misalignment is generated by measuring the distance between the center points. Measure and calculate the correction value based on the measurement result. The correction value is calculated for each registration mark position, and the correction value at the position where the registration mark mark is not printed is linear between the registration mark positions. This is based on interpolation. For this reason, the accuracy of correction is highest at the position where the registration mark is printed.
For this reason, by forming an adjustment image in an adjacent area after post-processing, it becomes possible to perform high-precision correction in the area, and to reduce positional deviation and density unevenness in an adjacent area after post-processing. .

Hereinafter, a method for determining the print position of the adjustment chart will be described. In the following description, the front surface of the paper corresponds to the first surface of the present invention, and the back surface of the paper corresponds to the second surface of the present invention.
When outputting the adjustment chart, the control unit acquires the paper information and post-processing information of the job scheduled to be output. Thereafter, an area of adjacent paper is determined based on the result of post-processing, and the adjustment chart is printed with the set area in the area as a group area. Note that the area determined at this time may be set as a set area. In the case where the setting area is determined by the control of the control unit, the setting area can be determined by determining the edge of the area based on a predetermined distance or area with reference to the boundary between the adjacent areas. The setting area may be determined in advance.

Hereinafter, an example in which folding processing is performed as post-processing will be described. The folding process is performed in units of one sheet.
An example of performing inner trifold as post-processing will be described with reference to FIG.
When the long paper P shown in the upper part of FIG. 3 is folded in three, as shown in the central view of FIG. 3, the paper P is folded inward so that the central part (area A1) of the paper surface and the back of the paper To the end (region A2). If there is a positional shift in the adjacent area, as shown in the lower diagram of FIG. 3, the positional shift in the adjacent area becomes conspicuous and can be a subject of claims. Therefore, high correction accuracy is required in the areas A1 and A2. .
In view of this, when the adjustment chart is printed, a registration mark is printed for alignment, taking into account the proximity of the tri-fold, and using the proximity as a group. The registration mark corresponds to the alignment image of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows the registration mark mark printing position when performing internal trifold as post-processing.
As shown in the upper diagram and the middle diagram in FIG. 4, since the region A1 at the center of the sheet surface and the region A2 at the end of the sheet are close to each other by tri-folding, they become adjacent regions after post-processing. For each of the areas A1 and A2, registration marks are printed as a group of areas. Image reading is performed on the printed paper. The control unit corrects the printing position according to the measured position of the registration mark.

In the correction of the printing position, the distance between the center points of the registration mark is measured, and the deviation from the target printing position is determined to calculate the correction value of the image. The position deviation is not measured at the position where the registration mark is not printed, but the correction value of the position not measured is obtained by linear interpolation between the measured positions. Since the correction accuracy increases most in the vicinity of the position where the registration mark mark is printed, the measurement is performed by printing the registration mark in an area adjacent to the folding mark, so that the positional deviation between the positions adjacent to the folding mark can be reduced.
The registration mark mark printing position can be determined based on the paper information and the post-processing information. For example, by acquiring the length of the sheet in the conveyance direction and the type of post-processing, it is possible to calculate an adjacent location after the post-processing, and to set a register mark to be printed on the area.
In general, registration mark marks for alignment are often printed at the four corners of the front and back sides of the paper. If post-processing is not taken into consideration, the registration mark is not printed at such positions.

In the above embodiment, the registration mark for alignment is printed on the adjustment chart in a grouped area, but the type of the adjustment chart is not limited to the registration mark as the present invention. A color patch for correcting density unevenness may be printed.
When a long sheet is used to output a job that is tri-folded in post-processing, if there is content of a color that resembles a portion that is close by folding, it is not desirable that the appearances of each other differ due to uneven density.
Therefore, in the adjustment chart, the adjacent portions are taken into consideration, and color patches for density measurement are printed at adjacent positions. The color patch corresponds to the image for density adjustment of the present invention. At the time of adjustment, color unevenness is corrected based on the measured density of the color patch. Since the correction accuracy increases most in the vicinity of the position where the color patch is printed, it is possible to reduce the density difference between the positions close to each other by folding.

Next, the case of performing saddle stitching as post-processing will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the binding process is a post process performed in units of a plurality of sheets.
When saddle stitching is performed as post-processing, as shown in the upper diagram of FIG. 5, the central area A3 on the front surface of the paper P and the central area A4 on the back surface are close to each other. Therefore, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 5, the area A3 and the area A4 are set as a single area, and the registration mark T is printed in the areas A3 and A4. By measuring these register marks at the time of adjustment and correcting the alignment based on the measurement result, it is possible to suppress a positional shift in an adjacent region after saddle stitching.
As in the other examples, a color patch for correcting density unevenness may be printed instead of the registration mark.

Next, a case where Z-folding is performed as post-processing will be described with reference to FIG.
When performing Z-folding, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 6, the area A5 in the central portion of the paper table and the area A6 in the central portion on the edge side of the paper table are close to each other and become an adjacent area after post-processing. . For this reason, the registration marks for alignment are printed in each of the areas A5 and A6, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 6, with the areas A5 and A6 as a group. At the time of adjustment, by measuring the printed registration marks and correcting the printing position deviation, it is possible to perform highly accurate correction in the area A5 and the area A6, and the position deviation in the adjacent area after Z-folding is reduced. Can be suppressed. Note that the Z-folding position is not limited to the example in FIG. 6, and the Z-folding can be performed at an arbitrary folding position. In this case, the areas A5 and A6 move based on the setting of the folding position.
As in the other examples, a color patch for correcting density unevenness may be printed instead of the registration mark.

Next, the case of performing Kannon folding as post-processing will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in the upper part of FIG. 7, when the folding is performed on the paper, as shown in the middle part of FIG. 7, the area A7 at the center of the paper surface and the area A8 at the end of the paper are close to each other. (Left in the middle of FIG. 7), the area A10 at the center of the paper table and the area A9 at the edge of the back of the paper are close to each other (right in the middle of FIG. 7). Therefore, after post-processing, the region A7 and the region A8 are adjacent to each other as a group, and the region A9 and the region A10 are adjacent to each other as a group.
In this case, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 7, registration marks for alignment are printed in each of the regions A7, A8, A9, and A10. Thereafter, the position of the register mark is measured at the time of adjustment, and the deviation of the printing position is corrected based on the measurement result. It is possible to perform highly accurate correction in the areas A7, A8, A9, and A10, and it is possible to suppress misalignment in areas close to each other after the folding.
As in the other examples, a color patch for correcting density unevenness may be printed instead of the registration mark.

Next, the case of performing quarter-folding as post-processing will be described with reference to FIG.
When the sheet is folded in four, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 8, the area A11 at the center of the sheet table and the area A12 at the center of the edge of the sheet table are close to each other. Therefore, the registration marks for alignment are printed in the areas A11 and A12, with the areas A11 and A12 as a group.
At the time of adjustment, by measuring these registration marks and correcting the printing position, it is possible to perform high-precision correction in the areas A11 and A12, and it is possible to suppress misalignment in the area after being folded in four. .
Similar to the above embodiment, a color patch for correcting density unevenness may be printed instead of the register mark.

In the above operation, the print position of the image for adjustment such as the registration mark can be determined based on the paper information used in the job and the content of the post-processing of the job. Therefore, it is desirable that correction is made in accordance with job post-processing.
Therefore, when outputting a job, based on the post-processing settings set for the job, an adjustment chart in which an adjustment image is printed at a position considering post-processing is output before the job is output. Perform correction based on. As a result, it is possible to perform high-precision correction in accordance with job post-processing.

Note that the method for determining the print position of the adjustment chart is not particularly limited as the present invention.For example, based on the paper information and post-processing information of the job, the control unit automatically calculates the adjacent area after the post-processing, The area may be used as the print position of the adjustment image. Alternatively, the data of adjacent areas after post-processing corresponding to the combination of paper information and post-processing information is stored in a table, and the print position of the adjustment image is determined by referring to the table when outputting a job. Also good.
Alternatively, the user may be able to select a setting area to be a group of adjacent areas in accordance with the result of post-processing and select the print position of the adjustment chart. For example, based on the paper information and post-processing information, the control unit presents an area close to the post-processing to the user, and the user selects an area for which high-precision correction is to be performed from these areas. Also good. Thereby, it becomes possible to perform highly accurate correction in the region desired by the user. The means for presenting to the user is not particularly limited. For example, the option may be displayed on the operation unit 140 or the option may be displayed on the operation display unit 410 of the external device 4.

  The correction method based on the adjustment chart is not particularly limited as the present invention. For example, the output adjustment chart is read by the image reading units 24 and 25, the image data obtained by reading is analyzed by the control unit, the distance of the registration mark is measured, and the image formation position and the like are corrected based on the measurement result. Alternatively, the output adjustment chart may be set on the platen glass and read, and the image data obtained by reading may be analyzed and corrected. Alternatively, the user may perform correction based on the adjustment chart.

Next, a procedure for outputting an adjustment chart and executing correction based on the adjustment chart will be described. The following procedure is executed under the control of the control unit.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation of printing a registration mark on paper and performing correction.
When the job is input (step s1), the paper information and post-processing information of the job are acquired (step s2). Based on the paper information and post-processing information of the job, an adjacent area is calculated after the post-processing. A setting area is set (step s3). After the post-processing, a position for printing a registration mark is determined for an adjacent area (step s4), and an adjustment chart on which the registration mark is printed is output (step s5).
After printing, the image reading unit reads the adjustment chart (step s6), measures the registration mark position from the read adjustment chart, calculates the correction value (step s7), and uses the correction value to control the image forming unit. Apply (step s8) and output the job (step s9). Thereafter, the procedure is terminated.

  In the above description, as the post-processing, inner tri-fold, saddle stitching, Z-fold, Kannon fold, and quadruple fold are illustrated, but the content of the post-processing is not particularly limited in the present invention. In other words, post-processing of the present invention may be any processing that is adjacent to a region that was not adjacent before post-processing, for example, post-processing including folding processing and binding processing. Further, the post-processing may be performed for each sheet or may be performed in units of a plurality of sheets.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to correct the density difference and the positional deviation of the adjacent portions by post-processing after printing with high accuracy.

  As described above, the present invention has been described based on the above embodiment and the accompanying drawings, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above description, and is appropriate for the above embodiment unless departing from the scope of the present invention. It can be changed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 3 Network 4 External apparatus 10 Apparatus main body 11 Image forming part 20 Reading apparatus 24 Image reading part 25 Image reading part 30 Post-processing apparatus 34 Post-processing part 40 Paper feeding apparatus 100 Control part 113 Control CPU
115 Nonvolatile memory 127 HDD
400 External device controller

Claims (24)

A control unit that controls an image forming unit that forms an image on a transfer medium based on a job;
The control unit is capable of performing control of obtaining an image reading result formed on a transfer medium by the image forming unit and performing image adjustment in the image forming unit,
When post-processing is performed on a transfer medium on which an image has been formed, when there is an area in which the transfer medium is close to each other as a result of the post-processing, each of the areas set in the close-to-close areas is grouped as one. An image processing apparatus characterized by being capable of controlling the image adjustment as a region.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines an area of a transfer medium that is close to the area based on a result of post-processing, and determines an area as one unit in the area.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit determines an adjacent transfer medium region based on the result of post-processing based on transfer medium information and post-processing content.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the set mutual areas are determined by machine settings or operator operations.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image adjustment is image alignment. The control unit prints a measurement mark on the transfer medium for measuring a positional shift in the set mutual area by the image forming unit,
Calculate the correction amount for each measurement position based on the image reading result,
6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the image position is corrected with the calculated correction value.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image adjustment is image density adjustment. The controller prints on the transfer medium a color patch for measuring density unevenness in the area plane in each of the set areas.
Calculate the correction amount for each measurement position based on the image reading result,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein density unevenness is corrected by the calculated correction value.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing includes a transfer medium folding process and / or a binding process.   10. The post-processing is an inner tri-fold, and the set mutual areas are a central portion of the first surface of the transfer medium and an end portion of the second surface of the transfer medium. Image processing apparatus.   The post-processing is saddle stitching, and the set mutual areas are a central portion of the first surface of the transfer medium and a central portion of the second surface of the transfer medium. Image processing device.   The post-processing is Z-folding, and the set mutual regions are a central portion of the first surface of the transfer medium and a region near an end portion of the first surface of the transfer medium. Item 10. The image processing apparatus according to Item 9.   10. The post-processing is Kannon folding, and the set mutual areas are a central portion of the first surface of the transfer medium and an end portion of the second surface of the transfer medium. Image processing apparatus.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the post-processing is quadrupled, and the set mutual area is an area in the vicinity of an end of the same surface as a central portion of the one surface of the transfer medium. .   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing is performed in units of one transfer medium.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the post-processing is performed in units of a plurality of transfer media.   The control unit outputs an adjustment chart to a transfer medium by the image forming unit before outputting the job, and performs image adjustment based on a reading result obtained by reading the adjustment chart. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the adjustment chart is an alignment image.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the adjustment chart is a density adjustment image used for density adjustment.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus includes the image forming unit.   21. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image reading unit that reads an image on the transfer medium.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is a management apparatus that manages the image forming apparatus. An image processing method for forming an image on a transfer medium by an image forming unit based on a job,
Obtaining a reading result of an image formed on a transfer medium and performing image adjustment in the image forming unit;
When post-processing is performed on a transfer medium on which an image has been formed, when there is an area in which the transfer medium is close to each other as a result of the post-processing, each of the areas set in the close-to-close areas is grouped as one. An image processing method characterized in that the image adjustment is performed as a region. A program executed by a control unit that controls an image forming unit that forms an image on a transfer medium based on a job,
Obtaining a reading result of an image formed on a transfer medium and performing image adjustment in the image forming unit;
When post-processing is performed on a transfer medium on which an image has been formed, when there is an area in which the transfer medium is close to each other as a result of the post-processing, each of the areas set in the close-to-close areas is grouped as one. A program characterized in that the image adjustment is performed as a region.

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