Image forming system, varnish coating device
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2022112117
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-07-13
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-15
Smart Images
Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Abstract
Description
[Technical field]
[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming system including an image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a recording material, and a varnish application device that can form a varnish image on the recording material. [Background technology]
[0002] Recently, in addition to the toner image formed on the recording material using a developer, a varnish image using a colorless and transparent varnish is formed on the recording material to decorate the toner image. For example, an inkjet type varnish application device (called a varnish coater) is used as a device for forming the varnish image. The varnish coater can apply varnish partially to the recording material (so-called spot varnish coat) to form a varnish image desired by the user (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]
[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-111813 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0004] Conventionally, a user has been able to change the toner image formed on a recording material by enlarging, reducing, positioning, etc. (hereinafter, for convenience, referred to as layout change). However, in conventional cases, even if the layout of the toner image is changed, the layout of the varnish image is not changed. In that case, a "deviation" may occur between the toner image and the varnish image after the layout change of the toner image, so the user has to change the layout of the varnish image separately from the layout change of the toner image, which is time-consuming and troublesome. Therefore, an image forming system that can change the layout of the varnish image in conjunction with the layout change of the toner image has been desired for a long time, but such a system has not yet been proposed.
[0005] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming system that is capable of changing the layout of a varnish image in accordance with a change in the layout of a toner image. [Means for solving the problem]
[0006] An image forming system according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises an image forming device which forms a toner image on a recording material, a varnish application device which forms a varnish image on the recording material, an input unit to which a data modification process including at least one change of reduction, enlargement, or positioning of first image data relating to the toner image is input, a first image processing unit which applies the data modification process input to the input unit to the first image data, and a second image processing unit which applies the same process as the data modification process input to the input unit to second image data relating to the varnish image, wherein the image forming device forms a toner image on the recording material based on image data obtained by subjecting the first image data to the data modification process, and the varnish application device forms a varnish image on the recording material based on image data obtained by subjecting the second image data to the same process as the data modification process.
[0007] An image forming system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an image forming device that forms a toner image on a recording material, a varnish application device that forms a varnish image on the recording material, an input unit to which a data modification process including at least one of a reduction, an enlargement, and a change in position of first image data relating to the toner image is input, a first image processing unit that applies the data modification process input to the input unit to the first image data, a second image processing unit that applies the same process as the data modification process input to the input unit to second image data relating to the varnish image, and a selection unit that selects whether or not to have the second image processing unit apply the same process as the data modification process to the second image data, The image forming device forms a toner image on a recording material based on image data obtained by subjecting the first image data to the data modification processing, and the varnish application device, when the selection unit selects to perform the same processing as the data modification processing, forms a varnish image on a recording material based on image data obtained by subjecting the second image data to the same processing as the data modification processing by the second image processing unit, and when the selection unit does not select to perform the same processing as the data modification processing of the first image data, forms a varnish image on a recording material based on the original second image data that has not been subjected to the same processing as the data modification processing by the second image processing unit. Effect of the Invention
[0008] According to the present invention, in conjunction with at least one of the data change processes of reducing, enlarging, and positioning the toner image, the same process as the data change process of the toner image is performed on the varnish image, so that the varnish image is reduced, enlarged, positioned, etc. in the same way as the toner image and formed on the recording material. [Brief description of the drawings]
[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an image forming system. [Diagram 2] 6 is a graph showing the relationship between the control voltage and the film thickness in forming a varnish image. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of an image formation control system in the image forming system. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are diagrams for explaining a conventional example, in which FIG. 1A shows a toner image and a varnish image before changing the layout of the toner image, and FIG. 1B shows a toner image and a varnish image after changing the layout of the toner image. [Diagram 5] 5 is a flowchart showing a layout change process according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] 10A to 10C are diagrams for explaining a change in the layout of a varnish image in accordance with a change in the layout of a toner image. [Figure 7] 1A is a diagram showing a toner image based on toner image data before a layout change, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a varnish image based on varnish image data before a layout change. [Figure 8] 13A is a diagram showing a toner image based on toner image data after a layout change, and FIG. 13B is a diagram showing a varnish image based on varnish image data after a layout change. [Figure 9] 1A is a diagram showing a toner image and a varnish image before multiple pages are combined into one page, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a case where the layout of the varnish image is changed in conjunction with a change in the layout of the toner image. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing a layout change process according to a second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a selection screen for selecting whether or not to change the layout of a varnish image. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the case where no layout change is selected for the varnish image. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a toner image based on toner image data before a layout change. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a varnish image based on varnish image data before layout change. [Figure 15] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a toner image based on toner image data after a layout change, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing a varnish image based on varnish image data without a layout change. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0010] [First embodiment] First, the image forming system of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The image forming system 1X shown in FIG. 1 includes an image forming apparatus 100 that forms a toner image on a recording material S, and a varnish application device (called a varnish coater) that forms a varnish image on the recording material S. The varnish coater 200 is a post-process unit that can be freely added to the image forming apparatus 100 for functional expansion, and the image forming apparatus 100 and the varnish coater 200 are connected to be able to transfer the recording material S. In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 and the varnish coater 200 are connected by a data input / output interface (not shown) to be able to transmit and receive control signals and data between them. The recording material S on which the toner image is formed by the image forming apparatus 100 is conveyed to the varnish coater 200 for the purpose of improving the gloss, water resistance, abrasion resistance, etc. of the toner image formed on the recording material S, and the varnish coater 200 forms a varnish image on the recording material S separately from the toner image. The formation of the varnish image by the varnish coater 200 will be described later.
[0011] Although not shown, the image forming system 1X may include other post-process units such as a relay device and a finisher device. The relay device is disposed between the image forming apparatus 100 and the varnish coater 200, and reverses the recording material S conveyed from the image forming apparatus 100 and sends it to the varnish coater 200, or temporarily stacks it and sends it to the varnish coater 200. The finisher device performs, for example, a punching process to make holes in the recording material S, or a stapling process to bundle and staple a plurality of sheets of recording material S, and discharges the punched recording material S or the stapled bundle of recording material S to a discharge tray. In addition to these post-process units, the image forming system 1X may include, for example, a recording material supplying device (not shown) capable of storing a large amount of recording material S therein, and the recording material S may be supplied from the recording material supplying device to the image forming apparatus 100.
[0012] <Image forming device> The image forming apparatus 100 will be described. The image forming apparatus 100 is a tandem-type full-color printer of an electrophotographic system. The image forming apparatus 100 has image forming units Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd that form images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively. The image forming apparatus 100 forms a toner image on a recording material S based on data relating to the toner image included in image data sent from an external device 1000 such as a document reading device (not shown) connected to the image forming apparatus 100 or a personal computer. Examples of the recording material S include sheet materials such as plain paper, thick paper, rough paper, textured paper, and coated paper.
[0013] The conveying process of the recording material S in the image forming apparatus 100 will be described. The recording material S is stored in a cassette 10 in a stacked form, and is sent out from the cassette 10 by a supply roller 13 in accordance with the image formation timing. The recording material S sent out by the supply roller 13 is conveyed to a registration roller 12 arranged in the middle of a conveying path 114. Then, after the registration roller 12 performs skew correction and timing correction on the recording material S, the recording material S is sent to a secondary transfer portion T2. The secondary transfer portion T2 is a transfer nip portion formed by a secondary transfer inner roller 14 and a secondary transfer outer roller 11, and a toner image is transferred onto the recording material in response to the application of a secondary transfer voltage to the secondary transfer outer roller 11.
[0014] The process of forming an image sent to the secondary transfer portion T2 at the same timing as the process of conveying the recording material S to the secondary transfer portion T2 described above will be described. First, the image forming portions will be described. The image forming portions Pa, Pb, Pc, and Pd for each color are configured almost the same except that the colors of toner used in the developing devices 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d are yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Therefore, the following description will be given of the black image forming portion Pd as a representative, and the description of the other image forming portions Pa, Pb, and Pc will be omitted.
[0015] The image forming section Pd is mainly composed of a developing device 1d, a charging device 2d, a photosensitive drum 3d, a photosensitive drum cleaner 4d, and an exposure device 5d. The surface of the rotating photosensitive drum 3d is uniformly charged in advance by the charging device 2d, and then an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3d by the exposure device 5d, which is driven based on a signal of image information. Next, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 3d is developed into a toner image by the developing device 1d using a developer. Then, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 3d is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 80 in response to a primary transfer voltage being applied to a primary transfer roller 6d, which is disposed with the image forming section Pd and the intermediate transfer belt 80 sandwiched therebetween. A small amount of primary transfer residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 3d is collected by the photosensitive drum cleaner 4d.
[0016] The intermediate transfer belt 80 is stretched by the inner secondary transfer roller 14 and tension rollers 15 and 16, and is driven in the direction of the arrow R2. In this embodiment, the tension roller 16 also serves as a drive roller for driving the intermediate transfer belt 80. The image forming processes of each color, which are processed in parallel by the image forming units Pa to Pd, are performed at a timing when the images are sequentially superimposed on the toner images of the upstream colors that have been primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 80. As a result, a full-color toner image is finally formed on the intermediate transfer belt 80, and is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit T2. Note that the secondary transfer residual toner after passing through the secondary transfer unit T2 is removed from the intermediate transfer belt 80 by the transfer cleaner 22.
[0017] Through the above-described conveying process and image forming process, the timing of the recording material S and the full-color toner image coincides at the secondary transfer portion T2, and the secondary transfer is performed. After that, the recording material S is conveyed to the fixing device 50, where heat and pressure are applied to fix the toner image on the recording material. The fixing device 50 conveys the recording material S on which the toner image has been formed by sandwiching and conveying the recording material S, thereby heating and pressurizing the conveyed recording material S to fix the toner image on the recording material S. That is, the toner of the toner image formed on the recording material S is melted and mixed, and is fixed on the recording material S as a full-color image. In this way, a series of image forming processes is completed. Then, in the case of this embodiment, the recording material S on which the toner image has been fixed is conveyed from the image forming device 100 to the varnish coater 200.
[0018] <Developer> In this embodiment, a two-component developer containing a toner and a carrier is used. The toner contains a binder resin, a colorant, and a release agent (wax). The binder resin may be a known one. For example, a vinyl copolymer such as a styrene-(meth)acrylic copolymer, a polyester resin, a hybrid resin in which a vinyl copolymer unit and a polyester unit are chemically bonded, an epoxy resin, a styrene-butadiene copolymer, or other resin may be used. The colorants may be known for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K).
[0019] Examples of the release agent include aliphatic hydrocarbon waxes such as low molecular weight polyethylene, low molecular weight olefin copolymer wax, microcrystalline wax, Fischer-Tropsch wax, and paraffin wax, oxides of aliphatic hydrocarbon waxes such as oxidized polyethylene wax, and block copolymers thereof; waxes mainly composed of fatty acid esters such as carnauba wax and montan acid ester wax, ester waxes which are synthetic reaction products of higher fatty acids and higher alcohols such as behenyl behenate and behenyl stearate, and partially or completely deoxidized fatty acid esters such as deoxidized carnauba wax.
[0020] <Varnish coater> Next, the varnish coater 200 will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The varnish coater 200 is an inkjet type varnish application device that can eject varnish onto the surface of a recording material S on which a toner image has been formed, and form a varnish image such as a user-desired character, line drawing, or figure separately from the toner image. In the case of the inkjet type, the varnish is ejected as droplets toward the recording material S, and the varnish is adhered to the recording material S to form a varnish image. Note that various types of varnish may be used, such as water-based varnish, oil-based varnish, or UV varnish, and the following description will be given taking as an example the varnish coater 200 that forms a varnish image using a UV varnish that solidifies when irradiated with ultraviolet light.
[0021] The varnish coater 200 can form a varnish image on the recording material S based on the varnish image data. In the case of the present embodiment, the image data includes varnish image data related to the varnish image to be formed by the varnish coater 200. The varnish image data (second image data) related to the varnish image is set separately from the toner image data (first image data) related to the four colors of toner images, YMCK, formed by the image forming apparatus 100.
[0022] The varnish coater 200 includes a sheet conveying section 241, a position detection section 245, a varnish discharge section 246, and a varnish solidification section 247. The sheet conveying section 241 conveys the recording material S while adsorbing it to the belt conveying surface by an air suction device (not shown) through holes formed in the conveying belt 242. Along the sheet conveying path of the sheet conveying section 241, the position detection section 245, the varnish discharge section 246, and the varnish solidification section 247 are arranged in this order from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveying direction (arrow X direction) of the recording material S. The position detection section 245 is a detection section using, for example, a CCD, and detects the position of the leading end of the recording material S in the conveying direction and the positions of both ends in the width direction intersecting with the conveying direction, as well as the position of the toner image on the recording material S, with respect to the recording material S adsorbed and conveyed on the belt conveying surface. By detecting the position of the toner image by the position detection section 245, the varnish coater 200 can overprint the varnish image on the toner image.
[0023] The varnish ejection section 246 ejects UV varnish onto one side of the recording material S conveyed by the sheet conveying section 241, thereby forming a varnish image on the recording material S. The varnish ejection section 246 has a plurality of print heads (not shown). The print head is, for example, a line-type head, and a plurality of ejection openings (not shown) are arranged in a line in a width direction intersecting the conveying direction of the recording material S so as to cover a range covering the maximum width of the recording material S on which an image can be formed by the varnish coater 200. The varnish ejection method of the print head may be a method using a heating element, a method using a piezoelectric element, a method using an electrostatic element, a method using a MEMS element, or the like. Although not shown, the UV varnish is supplied to the print head from a tank via a tube.
[0024] The thickness of the varnish image depends on the amount of UV varnish applied per unit area of the recording material. The amount of varnish applied can be varied by adjusting the amount of varnish discharged from the print head. For example, in the case of a method using a piezoelectric element, as shown in FIG. 2, the amount of varnish discharged changes according to the adjustment of the control voltage, and the thickness of the varnish image is adjusted by increasing or decreasing the amount of varnish discharged per unit area. In this embodiment, the thickness of the varnish image is adjusted to a range of, for example, "5 to 100 μm," preferably "10 to 70 μm."
[0025] Furthermore, the resolution of the varnish image that can be formed by the varnish coater 200 is, for example, "600 dpi," in which case the line width of the varnish image is adjusted in units of "600 dpi." Note that the above-mentioned range of varnish image thickness, and the adjustment range of the resolution and line width of the varnish image may be changed as appropriate depending on the varnish ejection method of the print head in the varnish coater 200, the type of varnish, etc.
[0026] Returning to FIG. 1, the recording material S, on one side of which a varnish image has been formed by the varnish discharge section 246, is sent by the sheet transport section 241 to the varnish solidification section 247 downstream in the transport direction, where the UV varnish on the recording material S is solidified by the varnish solidification section 247. The varnish solidification section 247 has an ultraviolet lamp, which irradiates ultraviolet rays (ultraviolet light) of a wavelength corresponding to the UV varnish to solidify the varnish image formed on the recording material S. The ultraviolet lamp is disposed so as to be able to irradiate ultraviolet rays over almost the entire width of the recording material S, and is turned on only when the recording material S passes by. In this manner, the varnish image is overprinted on the toner image formed on the recording material S.
[0027] The UV varnish used in this embodiment contains photosensitive resin, photosensitive monomer, photoinitiator, additives, etc. as main components. Examples of photosensitive resins include acrylic resins having (meth)acryloyl groups. Examples of photosensitive monomers include monomers and oligomers having at least one (meth)acryloyl group in the molecule. Examples of photoinitiators include acetophenone, benzoin ethyl ether, 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone, etc. Examples of additives include wax, plasticizer, leveling agent, solvent, polymerization inhibitor, antiaging agent, photosensitizer, defoamer, etc. The UV varnish may contain one of these, or two or more of them. The content of each component is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that the UV varnish contains, for example, "1 to 20% by mass" of photosensitive resin, "30 to 70% by mass" of photosensitive monomer, "5 to 15% by mass" of photoinitiator, and "5% by mass" or less of additives. As the UV varnish, for example, "UV L Carton OP Varnish (product name)", "UV L Gloss OP Varnish (product name)", "UV Matte OP Varnish (product name)" and the like (manufactured by T&K TOKA Corporation) can be used.
[0028] Next, the control configuration of the image formation control system in the image forming system 1X will be described using Fig. 3 with reference to Fig. 1. In this embodiment, an example has been given in which the image forming apparatus 100 centrally manages and controls operation commands for the varnish coater 200. Note that various devices such as motors and power supplies are connected to the main control unit 101 and varnish processing control unit 330 described later in addition to those shown in Fig. 3, but illustration and description of these will be omitted here as they are not the main point of the invention.
[0029] 3, in the image forming system 1X of this embodiment, a varnishing control unit 330 is connected to a main control unit 101 as a first image processing unit so as to be able to communicate operation commands and various data via communication units 501, 502 capable of data communication between the image forming apparatus 100 and the varnish coater 200. The varnishing control unit 330 as a second image processing unit operates the varnish coater 200 in accordance with operation commands from the main control unit 101. In this way, the main control unit 101 can control the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 while transmitting operation commands and various data to the varnishing control unit 330, thereby controlling the entire image forming system 1X including the varnish coater 200.
[0030] The main control unit 101 and the varnishing control unit 330 may have the same configuration. For example, each of them has a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory).
[0031] The main control unit 101 has a CPU 102, a ROM 103, and a RAM 104. The ROM 103 stores various programs such as an "image formation process" (not shown) and a "layout change process" (see FIG. 5) described later. The RAM 104 stores various data such as image data acquired from the operation unit 110 or the external device 1000. The RAM 104 can also temporarily store the results of calculations associated with the execution of the various programs.
[0032] The image forming apparatus 100 includes an operation unit 110 having, for example, a liquid crystal display unit 111, and the operation unit 110 is connected to the main control unit 101. The operation unit 110 is, for example, a touch panel. The operation unit 110 can display various screens presenting various programs and various data on the liquid crystal display unit 111, and accepts inputs for starting various programs and inputting various data in response to a user's touch operation on the screen. Note that a screen including various buttons, switches, and the like as software keys is displayed on the touch panel.
[0033] A user can input the start of an image forming job from the operation unit 110. When the start of an image forming job is input, the CPU 102 executes an "image forming process" (not shown) stored in the ROM 103. In response to this, the image forming apparatus 100 and the varnish coater 200 are operated, and a toner image and a varnish image are formed on the recording material S.
[0034] The varnish processing control unit 330 has a CPU 331, a ROM 332, and a RAM 333. The CPU 331 operates the sheet transport unit 241, the position detection unit 245, the varnish discharge unit 246, and the varnish solidification unit 247 of the varnish coater 200 based on a control program stored in the ROM 332. When the varnish processing control unit 330 receives varnish image data from the main control unit 101, it stores the received varnish image data in the RAM 333 and controls the varnish coater 200 to form a varnish image on the recording material S based on this varnish image data.
[0035] In this embodiment, a user can use the operation unit 110 or the external device 1000 to change the layout of a toner image to be formed on a recording material S. A data change process including at least one change such as enlargement, reduction, or positioning of a toner image is input from the operation unit 110 or the external device 1000 as an input unit as a change in the layout of the toner image.
[0036] Here, a conventional example of changing the layout of a toner image will be described with reference to Figures 4(a) and 4(b). Figure 4(a) shows the toner image and varnish image before changing the layout of the toner image, and Figure 4(b) shows the toner image and varnish image after changing the layout of the toner image.
[0037] As shown in Fig. 4(a), before the layout change of the toner image, an "A"-shaped toner image 601 is formed on the recording material S based on the toner image data, and a number of star-shaped varnish images 602 are formed superimposed on the toner image 601 based on the varnish image data. When the toner image 601 is reduced as a layout change, a toner image 601a reduced in size compared to Fig. 4(a) is formed on the recording material S, as shown in Fig. 4(b). However, in the conventional example, the toner image 601 is reduced, but the varnish image 602 is formed without being reduced.
[0038] In the case of the conventional example, even if the toner image 601 is reduced, the varnish image 602 is formed as it is without being reduced with respect to the reduced toner image 601a, so a "misalignment" occurs between the reduced toner image 601a and the varnish image 602. Therefore, in the conventional example, the user needs to change the layout of the varnish image separately from the layout change of the toner image, which is time-consuming and troublesome. Therefore, in this embodiment, the layout of the varnish image is changed in conjunction with the layout change of the toner image, even if the user does not change the layout of the varnish image. The following will explain.
[0039] <Layout change process> The "layout change process" of this embodiment will be described using Fig. 5 to Fig. 8(b) with reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4(a). The "layout change process" is started by the main control unit 101 in response to an input to start an image forming job, for example, and is repeated until the image forming job is completed. Note that, in order to make the description easier to understand, the following description will be given taking as an example a case where reduction information (e.g., reduction ratio, etc.) is input as information relating to the layout change of the toner image 601, and the toner image 601 is reduced.
[0040] 5, the main control unit 101 acquires information regarding a layout change of the toner image 601 input from the operation unit 110 or the like (S1). When the main control unit 101 acquires the information regarding the layout change of the toner image 601, it executes a layout change process of the toner image 601 (S2). In the layout change process of the toner image 601, the main control unit 101 performs a data change process on the toner image data related to the toner image 601 to be reduced (see FIGS. 7(a) and 8(a)).
[0041] The main control unit 101 also transmits the varnish image data to the varnish processing control unit 330 (S3), and causes the varnish processing control unit 330 to execute a layout change process for the varnish image 602 that decorates the toner image 601 to be reduced (S4). When the main control unit 101 transmits the varnish image data to the varnish processing control unit 330 through the communication units 501 and 502, it transmits the varnish image data by linking it with a data change process for the toner image 601. In accordance with the data change process for the linked toner image 601, the varnish processing control unit 330 specifies the varnish image 602 at the same coordinates as the toner image 601 to be reduced as a varnish image that decorates the toner image 601, and performs a data change process on the varnish image data for the specified varnish image 602. Thus, in the layout change process for the varnish image 602, the data change of the varnish image 602 specified in the varnish image data is performed in accordance with the data change of the toner image 601 (see FIG. 7(b) and FIG. 8(b)). Thereafter, the main control unit 101 forms a toner image 601a based on the changed toner image data (S5), and causes the varnishing control unit 330 to form a varnish image 602a based on the changed varnish image data (S6).
[0042] FIG. 6 shows the toner image 601a after reduction in this embodiment and the varnish image 602a reduced according to the reduction of the toner image 601. As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the varnish image 602a is reduced according to the reduced toner image 601a so that the relative positional relationship and the relative size relationship of the varnish image 602 to the toner image 601 shown in FIG. 4(a) are maintained for the reduced toner image 601a. In other words, the same reduction process as that performed on the toner image 601 is performed on the varnish image 602, so that the varnish image 602 is reduced to the varnish image 602a. In this way, the varnish image 602a is reduced relative to the reduced toner image 601a, so that the varnish image 602a is formed without being shifted to the toner image 601a, and the relative positional relationship and the size relationship are maintained similar to those of the toner image 601 and the varnish image 602 before reduction even after reduction.
[0043] Fig. 7(a) shows a toner image based on the toner image data before the layout change, and Fig. 7(b) shows a varnish image based on the varnish image data before the layout change. Fig. 8(a) shows a toner image based on the toner image data after the layout change, and Fig. 8(b) shows a varnish image based on the varnish image data after the layout change. The toner image data and varnish image data each contain the coordinate positions of the numerous dots (pixels) that make up the toner image 601 and varnish image 602 on the recording material S.
[0044] When the user inputs reduction information of the toner image 601 from the operation unit 110, a data change process is performed on the toner image data of the toner image 601 shown in Fig. 7(a), and image data of the toner image 601a shown in Fig. 8(a) is formed. The toner image data of the toner image 601 has coordinate positions of many dots for forming a toner image on the recording material S, and the coordinate positions are changed according to the reduction information of the toner image 601. As a result, a toner image 601a that is reduced in size compared to Fig. 7(a) is formed, as shown in Fig. 8(a).
[0045] Then, with the change in the coordinate position of the toner image data for the toner image 601 described above, the coordinate positions of many dots for forming a varnish image on the recording material S are changed for the varnish image data for the varnish image 602 shown in Fig. 7(b). As a result, as shown in Fig. 8(b), a varnish image 602a that is reduced in size compared to Fig. 7(b) is formed. The reduced image data includes toner image data for the toner image 601a and varnish image data for the varnish image 602a.
[0046] As described above, in this embodiment, when performing a layout change on a toner image, the same layout change is applied to the varnish image that decorates the toner image, even if the user does not input a layout change to the varnish image. Since the layout change of the varnish image is performed in conjunction with the layout change of the toner image, a "deviation" is unlikely to occur between the toner image and the varnish image after the layout change. In this way, the user does not need to change the layout of the varnish image separately from the layout change of the toner image, so that the toner image and the varnish image can be formed efficiently on the recording material S. Therefore, the operational efficiency of the image forming system 1X can also be improved.
[0047] [Second embodiment] Next, a second embodiment will be described. In the second embodiment, the user can arbitrarily select whether or not to change the layout of the varnish image in association with the above-mentioned layout change of the toner image. Before describing the second embodiment, the reason why the user is allowed to select whether or not to change the layout of the varnish image will be explained using Figs. 9(a) and 9(b). Fig. 9(a) shows a toner image and a varnish image before the layout change of the toner image, and Fig. 9(b) shows a case where the layout change of the varnish image is made in association with the layout change of the toner image.
[0048] In the example shown in FIG. 9(a), an "A"-shaped toner image 601 and numerous star-shaped varnish images 602 are formed on the first page of the recording material S, and a "B"-shaped toner image 601 and numerous star-shaped varnish images 602 are formed on the second page of the recording material S. A "C"-shaped toner image 601 and numerous star-shaped varnish images 602 are formed on the third page of the recording material S, and a "D"-shaped toner image 601 and numerous star-shaped varnish images 602 are formed on the fourth page of the recording material S. The image data includes toner image data relating to the "A" to "D" toner images 601 and varnish image data relating to the numerous star-shaped varnish images 602 for each page of the recording material S.
[0049] Here, as an example of changing the layout of the toner images, consider a case where the four toner images formed on the four sheets of recording material S of pages 1 to 4 of the above-mentioned recording material S are collectively formed on one sheet of recording material S. In this case, as shown in FIG. 9(b), four toner images 601a obtained by reducing the toner images 601 of "A" to "D" are collectively formed on one sheet of recording material S.
[0050] In the first embodiment described above, in accordance with such a change in the layout of the toner image 601, the varnish image 602 is also subjected to a reduction process in the same manner as the toner image 601 (see S4 in FIG. 5). At that time, a varnish image 602a reduced in size according to the reduction ratio of the toner image 601 is formed so that the relative positional relationship and the relative size relationship of the varnish image 602 to the toner image 601 are maintained on each page shown in FIG. 9(a). However, if the varnish image 602 is reduced in size according to the reduction ratio of the toner image 601, there is a risk that the varnish image 602 will be reduced to such an extent that it becomes difficult for the user to visually recognize the decorativeness. To avoid this, in the second embodiment, the user is allowed to select whether or not to change the layout of the varnish image.
[0051] The layout change process of the second embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3, 9(a), and 9(b) and with reference to FIGS. 10 to 15(b). However, in the image forming process of the second embodiment, the processes of steps S11 and S12 are added compared to the layout change process of the first embodiment (see FIG. 5), and the other processes are the same. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the same processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description is simplified or omitted. In the following, an example will be described in which the four toner images formed on the four sheets of recording material S of pages 1 to 4 of the recording material S are formed together on one sheet of recording material S.
[0052] 10, the main control unit 101 acquires information regarding a change in the layout of the toner images from the operation unit 110 (or the external device 1000) (S1). When the main control unit 101 acquires the information regarding the change in the layout of the toner images, it executes a layout change process for the toner images (S2). In the layout change process for the toner images 601, the main control unit 101 applies data change processing to the toner image data for the four target toner images 601 (see FIGS. 13 and 15(a)).
[0053] Then, the main control unit 101 determines whether to execute a layout change process for the varnish image (S11). The user can select whether to change the layout of the varnish image. For example, the liquid crystal display unit 111 of the operation unit 110 as a selection unit displays a selection screen 700 shown in FIG. 11, and the user can select whether to change the layout of the varnish image from the selection screen 700.
[0054] 11, the selection screen 700 displays an indication of whether or not to change the layout of the varnish image in conjunction with the layout change of the toner image, and displays a "Yes" button 701 and a "No" button 702. Whether or not to change the layout of the varnish image is set according to whether the user operates either the "Yes" or "No" button 701, 702. In the case of this embodiment, when the "Yes" button 701 is operated, it is set to change the layout of the varnish image, and when the "No" button 702 is operated, it is set not to change the layout of the varnish image.
[0055] Returning to the explanation of FIG. 10, if the "Yes" button 701 is operated on the above selection screen 700 (Yes in S11), the main control unit 101 transmits the varnish image data to the varnish processing control unit 330 (S3), and causes the varnish processing control unit 330 to execute a layout change process for the four varnish images 602 that decorate each of the four toner images 601 (S4). In the layout change process for the varnish image 602, the data of the varnish image 602 is changed according to the data change of the toner image 601 for each page of the recording material S (see FIG. 14 and FIG. 15(b)). After that, the main control unit 101 forms four toner images 601a on only one page based on the toner image data after the data change (S5), and causes the varnish processing control unit 330 to form four varnish images 602a on only one page based on the varnish image data after the data change (S6).
[0056] On the other hand, if the "No" button 702 is operated on the selection screen 700 (No in S11), the main control unit 101 transmits the varnish image data to the varnish processing control unit 330 (S12). However, unlike when the "Yes" button 701 is operated on the selection screen 700, the main control unit 101 does not cause the varnish processing control unit 330 to execute the layout change process (see S4) for the varnish image 602. Then, the main control unit 101 forms four toner images 601a on only one page based on the changed toner image data (S5), and causes the varnish processing control unit 330 to form one varnish image 602a on only one page based on the varnish image data (S6).
[0057] FIG. 12 shows the toner image 601a after reduction and the varnish image 602a that is not reduced according to the reduction of the toner image 601 when the "No" button 702 is operated on the above selection screen 700. As shown in FIG. 12, in this embodiment, the relative positional relationship and the relative size relationship of the varnish image 602 to the toner image 601 shown in FIG. 9(a) are not maintained for the four toner images 601a after reduction. In other words, the same reduction process as that performed on the toner image 601 is not performed on the varnish image 602, and the varnish image 602 of the first page is formed without being changed. In this way, the varnish image 602a is not reduced relative to the toner image 601a after reduction, so the decorativeness of the varnish image 602 is maintained.
[0058] When the "Yes" button 701 is operated on the selection screen 700, four reduced toner images 601a of "A" to "D" and four reduced varnish images 602a are formed as shown in FIG. 9(b). The four varnish images 602a are reduced according to the reduction ratio of the toner image 601 so that the relative positional relationship and the relative size relationship of the varnish image 602 to the toner image 601 are maintained on each page shown in FIG. 9(a). Therefore, if the user accepts the reduction in visibility of the decoration, he or she can select the "Yes" button 701 on the selection screen 700, and if the user wants to maintain the visibility of the decoration, he or she can select the "No" button 702 on the selection screen 700. This allows the user to easily ensure the formation pattern of the varnish image according to the necessity of decoration.
[0059] Fig. 13 shows a toner image based on the toner image data before the layout change, and Fig. 14 shows a varnish image based on the varnish image data before the layout change. Fig. 15(a) shows a toner image based on the toner image data after the layout change, and Fig. 15(b) shows a varnish image based on the varnish image data when the "No" button 702 is operated.
[0060] The image data before the layout of the toner images is changed has toner image data for a toner image 601 for each page of the recording material S, as shown in Fig. 13, and has varnish image data for a varnish image 602 for each page of the recording material S, as shown in Fig. 14. When changing the layout of the toner image 601, a data change process is applied to the toner image data for the toner image 601 shown in Fig. 13, and image data of four toner images 601a is formed on only one page of the recording material S, as shown in Fig. 15(a).
[0061] When the "Yes" button 701 on the selection screen 700 is operated, the varnish image data for the varnish image 602 shown in Fig. 14 is changed for each page of the recording material S in accordance with the change in the toner image data for the toner image 601. As a result, as shown in Fig. 9(b), a varnish image 602a that is reduced in size compared to Fig. 9(a) is formed together with the toner image 601a.
[0062] On the other hand, when the "No" button 702 on the selection screen 700 is operated, the varnish image data for the varnish image 602 shown in Fig. 14 is not changed in conjunction with the change in the toner image data for the toner image 601. However, since the image data for the second to fourth pages of the recording material S are deleted in conjunction with the change in the layout of the toner image, the varnish image data for the varnish image 602 is contained in the image data for the first page of the recording material S, as shown in Fig. 15(b). The image shown in Fig. 12 is formed on the recording material S using the toner image data shown in Fig. 15(a) and the varnish image data shown in Fig. 15(b) described above.
[0063] As described above, in this embodiment, when changing the layout of a toner image, the user can select whether or not to change the layout of the varnish image in conjunction with the change in the layout of the toner image. If the user accepts a decrease in the decorativeness of the varnish image relative to the toner image, the user can select to change the layout of the varnish image in conjunction with the change in the layout of the toner image. Conversely, if the user wants to maintain the decorativeness of the varnish image relative to the toner image, the user can select not to change the layout of the varnish image in conjunction with the change in the layout of the toner image. This allows the user to selectively form a varnish image in a formation pattern according to the need for decoration with the varnish image. [Explanation of symbols]
[0064] 1X: image forming system, 100: image forming apparatus, 101: first image processing section (main control section), 110: input section (selection section, operation section), 200: varnish application device (varnish coater), 330: second image processing section (varnish processing control section), 501, 502: communication section, S: recording material
Claims
An image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a recording material based on first image data, A sizing coating apparatus that forms a sizing image on a recording material based on second image data, An input unit to which data change processing information including at least any one of reduction, enlargement, and arrangement of the first image data is input, A first image processing unit that executes a first data change process for changing the first image data based on the data change processing information for the first image data input to the input unit, A second image processing unit that executes a second data change process for changing the second image data based on the data change processing information for the first image data input to the input unit, and comprising, The image forming apparatus forms a toner image on a recording material based on the image data obtained by subjecting the first image data to the first data change process, The sizing coating apparatus forms a sizing image on a recording material based on the image data obtained by subjecting the second image data to the second data change process, An image forming system characterized by this.
2. Comprising a communication unit capable of data communication between the image forming apparatus and the sizing coating apparatus, The input unit and the first image processing unit are provided in the image forming apparatus, The second image processing unit is provided in the sizing coating apparatus, and performs image processing based on the data change processing information transmitted via the communication unit, The image forming system according to claim 1, characterized by this.
3. The first data change process executed by the first image processing unit and the second data change process executed by the second image processing unit are the same layout change process, The image forming system according to claim 1, characterized by this. An image forming apparatus that forms a toner image on a recording material based on first image data, A sizing coating apparatus that forms a sizing image on a recording material based on second image data, An input unit to which data change processing information including at least any one of reduction, enlargement, and arrangement of the first image data is input, A first image processing unit that executes a first data change process for changing the first image data based on the data change processing information for the first image data input to the input unit, A second image processing unit that executes a second data change process for changing the second image data based on the data change processing information for the first image data input to the input unit, A selection unit provided in the second image processing unit for selecting whether to execute the second data change process on the second image data; The image forming apparatus forms a toner image on a recording material based on the image data obtained by subjecting the first image data to the first data change process; The sizing coating device, according to the selection by the selection unit, When executing the second data change process on the second image data, the sizing coating device forms a sizing image on a recording material based on the image data obtained by subjecting the second image data to the second data change process by the second image processing unit; When not executing the second data change process on the second image data, the sizing coating device forms a sizing image on a recording material based on the original second image data on which the second data change process has not been performed by the second image processing unit. An image forming system characterized by the above.
5. The image forming system includes a communication unit capable of data communication between the image forming apparatus and the sizing coating device, The input unit and the first image processing unit are provided in the image forming apparatus, The second image processing unit is provided in the sizing coating device, and performs image processing based on the data change process information transmitted via the communication unit. The image forming system according to claim 4, characterized by the above.
6. The first data change process executed by the first image processing unit and the second data change process executed by the second image processing unit are the same layout change process. The image forming system according to claim 4, characterized by the above.
7. A sizing coating device for forming a sizing image on a recording material on which a toner image has been formed based on first image data by an image forming apparatus, An acquisition unit capable of acquiring data change process information including at least one of reduction, enlargement, and arrangement of the first image data from the image forming apparatus; A sizing coating unit for forming a sizing image on a recording material based on second image data; An image processing unit for executing a data change process for changing the second image data based on the data change process information for the first image data; The sizing coating unit forms a sizing image on a recording material based on the image data obtained by subjecting the second image data to the data change process by the image processing unit. A sizing coating device characterized by the above.
8. The sizing coating device includes a communication unit capable of data communication with the image forming apparatus, The image processing unit performs image processing based on the data change process information acquired via the communication unit. The varnish coating device according to claim 7, characterized in that
9. The data change process is the same process as the layout change process executed by the image forming apparatus. The varnish coating device according to claim 7, characterized in that
10. A varnish coating device for forming a varnish image on a recording material on which a toner image has been formed based on first image data by an image forming apparatus, an acquisition unit capable of acquiring data change process information including at least one of reduction, enlargement, and arrangement of the first image data from the image forming apparatus; a varnish coating unit for forming a varnish image on a recording material based on second image data; an image processing unit that executes a data change process for changing the second image data based on the data change process information for the first image data; a selection unit for selecting whether to execute the data change process on the second image data, and comprising: The varnish coating unit, according to the selection by the selection unit, when the data change process is executed on the second image data, forms a varnish image on the recording material based on the image data obtained by subjecting the second image data to the data change process by the image processing unit; when the data change process is not executed on the second image data, forms a varnish image on the recording material based on the original second image data on which the data change process has not been performed by the image processing unit. The varnish coating device, characterized in that
11. Comprising a communication unit capable of data communication with the image forming apparatus, The image processing unit performs image processing based on the data change process information acquired via the communication unit. The varnish coating device according to claim 10, characterized in that
12. The data change process is the same process as the layout change process executed by the image forming apparatus. The varnish coating device according to claim 10, characterized in that