Image formation system, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To provide an image formation system, an information processing method, and a program that can be expected to reduce users' effort and paper waste, and that can calculate the optimal tone correction amount by observing the reading characteristics that change in accordance with the attenuation of the light source in an image reading device in real time during printing.SOLUTION: The image formation system includes an image formation device that outputs a printing image on the basis of image data, an image reading device that creates a reading image obtained by photographing the printing image, and an image inspection unit that intermittently generates a gradation correction amount that corrects the gradation characteristics of the printing color of the printing image on the image formation device on the basis of the reading image.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming system, an information processing method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] The image inspection unit calculates the amount of gradation correction that minimizes the error between the print color of the print image observed by an RGB scanner (an example of an image reading device) and the target color at the time of initial print output, and controls the output gradation of the image forming device. However, the timing to start controlling the output gradation is after the amount of gradation correction is reflected in the image forming device, and once the amount of gradation correction is sent to the image forming device, control is not performed for a certain period of time until it is reflected. Therefore, during that time, there is a possibility that the fluctuation of the gradation characteristics on the paper surface will not be observed and will deteriorate the color reproduction.

[0003] Patent document 1 discloses a configuration for correcting fluctuations in read values ​​that occur on a read image by acquiring diffuse reflection of illumination light within an image reading device during reading and photographing, with the aim of enabling only the fluctuations in the image forming device (engine fluctuations), which are the control variables, to be acquired from the read image, which is the observation variable for color fluctuation correction control (color homing). Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As described above, conventionally, the printed color reflecting the amount of gradation correction was obtained as the observed color, so simply observing the printed color and performing the conventional calculation of the amount of gradation correction before reflecting the amount of gradation correction could not calculate an appropriate amount of gradation correction.

[0005] The technology described in Patent Document 1 requires the user to print a dedicated chart in advance to obtain the reading characteristics necessary to correct the fluctuations in the image forming device. Also, since the technology described in Patent Document 1 calculates the amount of correction based on the reading characteristics at the time of previous printing, it is not possible to calculate an appropriate amount of correction if the reading characteristics change over time.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide an image forming system, an information processing method, and a program that are expected to reduce user effort and paper waste, and that can observe the reading characteristics that change in accordance with the attenuation of the light source in the image reading device in real time during printing and calculate the optimal amount of gradation correction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention comprises an image forming device that outputs a print image based on image data, an image reading device that creates a read image by photographing the print image, and an image inspection unit that intermittently generates a gradation correction amount that corrects the gradation characteristics of the printing color of the print image in the image forming device based on the read image. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is expected that the user's effort and paper waste can be reduced, and the reading characteristics that change according to the attenuation of the light source in the image reading device can be observed in real time during printing, making it possible to calculate the optimal amount of gradation correction. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of an image forming system according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of an image reading device included in the MFP of the image forming system according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the image forming system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the read variation correction unit included in the image forming system according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of an image inspection unit included in the image forming system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6]FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an example of the process of acquiring read variation characteristic values ​​by the read variation characteristic acquiring unit included in the image forming system according to the present embodiment and an example of an extraction region of the read value by the image reading device. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of a process for acquiring read variation characteristic values ​​by the read variation characteristic acquiring unit included in the image forming system according to the present embodiment and an example of an extraction region of a read value by the image reading device. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of a correction filter creation process performed by the read variation characteristic acquisition unit included in the image forming system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining an example of color variation correction control by the image inspection unit included in the image forming system according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of an image forming system, an information processing method, and a program will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image forming system according to the present embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the image forming system according to the present embodiment includes an MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral) 20, a printer server 2, and a user PC (Personal Computer) 1.

[0012] The user PC 1 is a terminal used by a user, and allows the user to input various operations to the image forming system, for example. The printer server 2 stores various information such as image data to be printed.

[0013] The MFP 20 prints image data to be printed, such as image data stored in the printer server 2 and image data transmitted from the user PC 1, onto a recording medium (such as paper). Specifically, the MFP 20 includes an image forming device 3, an image reading device 4, and an image processing device 5.

[0014] The image processing device 5 performs various image processing on the image data to be printed. The image reading device 4 reads the print image printed on the recording medium. In other words, the image reading device 4 is an example of an image reading device that creates a read image by photographing the print image. The image forming device 3 prints the image data that has been image processed by the image processing device 5 onto the recording medium. In other words, the image forming device 3 is an example of an image forming device that outputs a print image based on the image data.

[0015] 2 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of an image reading device included in the MFP of the image forming system according to the present embodiment. An original image (image data to be printed) created by a user PC 1 is converted into an RIP image by a printer server 2. A print image is printed on a print medium 10 such as printing paper by an image forming device 3, and the print medium 10 is transported to an image reading device 4 by a transport belt 18. The image reading device 4 obtains a read image by photographing the printed image. The read image is sent to an image processing device 5, where acquisition of reading fluctuations of the image reading device 4, correction of the reading fluctuations, color fluctuation correction control (color homing) of the image forming device 3, etc. are performed.

[0016] 3 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the image forming system according to the present embodiment. In the image forming system, an image processing unit 7 in an image processing device 5 generates a reference image for image inspection based on a RIP image generated by a printer server 2.

[0017] On the other hand, the read image acquired by the image reading device 4 is passed to the image processing device 5, and the read variation is corrected in a read variation correction unit 9 of the image processing device 5. Also, an image inspection unit 8 of the image processing device 5 generates a color variation correction amount (an example of a gradation correction amount) by comparing a reference image with a read image in which the read variation has been corrected (a read variation corrected image), and reflects (feeds back) it to the image forming device 3.

[0018] At that time, the image inspection unit 8 functions as an example of an image inspection unit that performs color homing, which intermittently generates, based on the read image, a color variation correction amount that corrects the gradation characteristics of the print color of the print image in the image forming device 3. Then, the image inspection unit 8 reflects (feeds back) the color variation correction amount generated by color homing to the image forming device 3.

[0019] This eliminates the need for a dedicated chart that was previously required to obtain the reading characteristics (e.g., reading fluctuations) of the image reading device 4 required to correct the fluctuations of the image forming device 3, and allows the reading characteristics of the image reading device 4 to be obtained using a user's printed image, making it possible to calculate an optimal color fluctuation correction amount in real time during printing. As a result, it is expected that the user's effort and paper waste can be reduced, and the reading characteristics that change according to the attenuation of the light source in the image reading device 4 can be observed in real time during printing to calculate an optimal color fluctuation correction amount.

[0020] Furthermore, when the read image is observation information of a set of multiple pages, if the image inspection unit 8 detects the reflection of the color variation correction amount while generating the color variation correction amount of one set, the image inspection unit 8 may obtain the color variation correction amount for each set by compensating for the unreflected color variation correction amount corresponding to each page for the color variation correction amount for each page. At that time, the image inspection unit 8 may determine whether the color variation correction amount has been reflected based on the elapsed time since the generation of the color variation correction amount.

[0021] Alternatively, the image inspection unit 8 may determine whether or not the color variation correction amount has been reflected based on job information of a job for outputting a print image in the image forming device 3. Here, the job information may be, for example, paper size, single-sided / double-sided printing, or double-sided printing.

[0022] Furthermore, the image inspection unit 8 may have a normal cycle control mode in which a read image is not created until the color variation correction amount is reflected, in addition to the short cycle control mode in which the color variation correction amount is generated intermittently.

[0023] Furthermore, the image inspection unit 8 may compensate for the color variation correction amount of the color variation correction amount that has not been reflected among the color variation correction amounts generated previously. This makes it possible to control the color reproduction of the print color without interrupting the color reproduction of the print color. It is necessary to calculate the color variation correction amount while keeping in mind that the read image has a color variation correction amount that has not been reflected, and after the conventional calculation of the color variation correction amount, a process is added to compensate for the unreflected amount from the color variation correction amount. This makes it possible to calculate an appropriate color variation correction amount taking into account the color variation correction amount that has not been reflected, so that the gradation characteristics of the print color of the print image in the image forming device 3 can be controlled without interrupting the color reproduction of the print color.

[0024] Furthermore, image inspection unit 8 may include a storage unit that stores the read image, the amount of color variation correction calculated from the read image, and reflection-completed information indicating whether the amount of color variation correction has not yet been reflected in image forming device 3. In this case, image inspection unit 8 updates the reflection-completed information in response to the reflection of the amount of color variation correction in image forming device 3.

[0025] Furthermore, the image inspection unit 8 may perform color variation correction amounts intermittently by consecutively supplying feedback pages including read images that reflect color variation correction amounts without generating color variation correction amounts, and observation pages including read images for which color variation correction amounts are generated, and eliminating non-observation pages including read images that do not generate color variation correction amounts and do not reflect color variation correction amounts.

[0026] 4 is a diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of a read variation correction unit included in the image forming system according to the present embodiment. The read variation correction unit 9 includes a read variation characteristic acquisition unit 12 and a read variation correction processing unit 13. The read variation characteristic acquisition unit 12 acquires a read variation characteristic value of the image reading device 4 using the read image 11 acquired by the image reading device 4, and generates a correction filter for correcting the read variation of the read image 11 based on the read variation characteristic value. Here, the read variation characteristic value is the variation of the read value by the image reading device 4 (read variation of the read image 11).

[0027] The read variation correction processing unit 13 uses the read image 11 and the correction filter generated by the read variation characteristic acquisition unit 12 to obtain a read variation correction value for each pixel of the read image 11. Here, the read variation correction value is a correction value for the read variation by the image reading device 4. Then, the read variation correction processing unit 13 scans the entire read image 11 to perform correction processing, and obtains a read variation corrected image 14 based also on the read variation correction value.

[0028] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of an image inspection unit included in the image forming system according to the present embodiment. As shown in Fig. 5, the image inspection unit 8 has an image comparison unit 16. The image comparison unit 16 executes color variation correction control (color homing). The color variation correction control (color homing) calculates a color variation correction amount 17 using a reference image 15 and a read variation correction image 14, and feeds it back to the image forming device 3 to stabilize the color during printing.

[0029] 6 and 7 are diagrams for explaining an example of an acquisition process of read variation characteristic values ​​by a read variation characteristic acquisition unit of the image forming system according to the present embodiment and an example of an extraction area of ​​read values ​​by an image reading device. In Fig. 7, the vertical axis represents the read value of the image reading device 4, and the horizontal axis represents the coordinates within the read image 11. The read variation characteristic values ​​acquired by the read variation characteristic acquisition unit 12 are acquired not from a dedicated chart but from a user's printed image.

[0030] The imaging area when saved as the read image 11 is wider than the size of the print medium 10. At this time, the area of ​​the conveyor belt 18 (hereinafter referred to as the marginal black area) is captured in the read image 11 as an area outside the print medium 10. Since this marginal black area 18 is captured in all the read images 11, no dedicated chart is required, and the read fluctuation characteristic value can be measured (acquired) at any point during printing.

[0031] At the boundary between the margin area 18 and the area of ​​the printing medium 10, the read value of the image reading device 4 generally has a transient response (transient area) due to the influence of fluctuations in the read value, as shown in Fig. 6. In addition, the read value response becomes constant from the transient area of ​​read values ​​near the paper edge of the area of ​​the printing medium 10 toward the center of the image. The difference between the read value in the area with constant read values ​​and the read value in the transient area is the amount of read fluctuation. The read fluctuation characteristic acquisition unit 12 creates a correction filter required to correct the fluctuations in the read value based on this difference in read values ​​(amount of read fluctuation) and the affected area (range of the transient area).

[0032] Fig. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of a correction filter creation process by the read variation characteristic acquisition unit of the image forming system according to this embodiment. In this embodiment, the read variation characteristic acquisition unit 12 designs a correction filter for the filter value so that the difference between the above-mentioned affected area and the read value is the volume. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 8, the read variation characteristic acquisition unit 12 creates a correction filter in which the filter value (degree of read influence from surrounding pixels) is high at the center of the correction filter and the filter value becomes smaller as it moves away from the center of the correction filter.

[0033] 9 is a diagram for explaining an example of color variation correction control by the image inspection unit of the image forming system according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the image inspection unit 8 determines the color variation correction amount of the pixel of interest by the read value of the region of interest in the user's printed image and a correction filter, as shown in FIG.

[0034] Thus, according to the image forming system of this embodiment, a dedicated chart, which was previously required to obtain the reading characteristics of the image reading device 4 necessary for correcting the variations in the image forming apparatus 3, is not required, and the reading characteristics of the image reading device 4 are obtained using the user's printed image, making it possible to calculate the optimal color variation correction amount in real time during printing. As a result, it is expected that the user's effort and paper waste can be reduced, and the reading characteristics that change according to the attenuation of the light source in the image reading device 4 can be observed in real time during printing to calculate the optimal color variation correction amount.

[0035] The program executed by MFP 20 of this embodiment is provided by being pre-installed in ROM (Read Only Memory) etc. The program executed by MFP 20 of this embodiment may be provided by being recorded in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, or a digital versatile disk (DVD) in the form of an installable or executable file.

[0036] Furthermore, the program executed by MFP 20 of the present embodiment may be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network. Also, the program executed by MFP 20 of the present embodiment may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

[0037] The program executed by MFP 20 in this embodiment has a modular configuration including the above-mentioned units (image processing unit 7, image inspection unit 8, and reading fluctuation correction unit 9), and in actual hardware, a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) reads the program from the above-mentioned ROM and executes it, thereby loading the above-mentioned units onto a main memory device, and the image processing unit 7, image inspection unit 8, and reading fluctuation correction unit 9 are generated on the main memory device.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is described as being applied to a multifunction peripheral having at least two of the functions of a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function. However, the image forming apparatus can be applied to any image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a scanner device, or a facsimile device.

[0039] For example, aspects of the present invention are as follows. <1> an image forming apparatus that outputs a print image based on image data; an image reading device that creates a read image by photographing the printed image; an image inspection unit that intermittently generates a gradation correction amount for correcting a gradation characteristic of a print color of the print image in the image forming apparatus based on the read image; An image forming system comprising: <2> When the read image is observation information of a set of a plurality of pages, if the image inspection unit detects reflection of the gradation correction amount during generation of the set of gradation correction amounts, the image inspection unit obtains the gradation correction amount for each set by compensating for the gradation correction amount for each page with the unreflected gradation correction amount corresponding to each page. <1> 2. The image forming system according to claim 1 . <3> the image inspection unit determines whether the amount of gradation correction has been reflected based on the elapsed time since the amount of gradation correction was generated. <2> 2. The image forming system according to claim 1 . <4> the image inspection unit determines whether the amount of gradation correction has been reflected based on job information of a job for outputting the print image. <2> 2. The image forming system according to claim 1 . <5> the image inspection unit has a short cycle control mode in which the gradation correction amount is intermittently generated, and a normal cycle control mode in which the read image is not generated until the gradation correction amount is reflected, <1> from <4> 13. The image forming system according to claim 12, <6> the image inspection unit compensates for an unreflected portion of the previously generated gradation correction amount with respect to the gradation correction amount; <1> 2. The image forming system according to claim 1 . <7> a storage unit that stores the read image, the amount of gradation correction calculated from the read image, and reflection information indicating whether the amount of gradation correction has been reflected in the image forming apparatus; the image inspection unit updates the reflection information in response to reflection of the amount of gradation correction in the image forming apparatus. <6> 2. The image forming system according to claim 1 . <8> the image inspection unit does not generate the amount of gradation correction, and consecutively generates a feedback page including the read image that reflects the amount of gradation correction, and an observation page including the read image that generates the amount of gradation correction, and eliminates a non-observation page including the read image that does not generate the amount of gradation correction and does not reflect the amount of gradation correction, thereby performing the amount of gradation correction intermittently. <1> from <7> 13. The image forming system according to claim 12, <9> An information processing method executed in an image forming system, comprising: generating, intermittently, a gradation correction amount for correcting a gradation characteristic of a print color of a print image output by an image forming apparatus based on image data, based on a read image of the print image; reflecting the amount of gradation correction in the image forming apparatus; An information processing method comprising: <10> Computer, an image inspection unit that intermittently generates a gradation correction amount for correcting a gradation characteristic of a print color of a print image output by an image forming apparatus based on image data, based on a read image of the print image; A program to make it function as such. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1 User PC 2 Printer Server 3. Image forming device 4. Image reading device 5. Image Processing Device 7 Image Processing Section 8. Imaging Inspection Department 9. Reading Fluctuation Correction Unit 12. Reading fluctuation characteristic acquisition section 13 Reading fluctuation correction processing section 16 Image Comparison Section 20 MFP [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0041] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-086990

Claims

1. an image forming apparatus that outputs a print image based on image data; an image reading device that creates a read image by photographing the printed image; an image inspection unit that intermittently generates a gradation correction amount for correcting a gradation characteristic of a print color of the print image in the image forming apparatus based on the read image; An image forming system comprising:

2. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein when the read image is observation information of a set of multiple pages, if the image inspection unit detects the reflection of the gradation correction amount while generating the set of gradation correction amounts, the image inspection unit obtains the gradation correction amount for each set by compensating for the gradation correction amount for each page with the unreflected gradation correction amount corresponding to each page.

3. The image forming system according to claim 2 , wherein the image inspection unit determines whether the amount of gradation correction has been reflected based on an elapsed time from generation of the amount of gradation correction.

4. The image forming system according to claim 2 , wherein the image inspection unit determines whether or not the amount of tone correction has been reflected based on job information of a job for outputting the print image.

5. 5. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image inspection unit has a normal cycle control mode in which the read image is not created until the gradation correction amount is reflected, in addition to a short cycle control mode in which the gradation correction amount is intermittently generated.

6. The image forming system according to claim 1 , wherein the image inspection section compensates for an unreflected portion of the previously generated amount of tone correction with respect to the amount of tone correction.

7. a storage unit that stores the read image, the amount of gradation correction calculated from the read image, and reflection information indicating whether the amount of gradation correction has been reflected in the image forming apparatus; The image forming system according to claim 6 , wherein the image inspection unit updates the reflection information in response to reflection of the amount of tone correction in the image forming apparatus.

8. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image inspection unit performs the tone correction amount intermittently by consecutively generating a feedback page including the read image that does not generate the tone correction amount and reflects the tone correction amount and an observation page including the read image that generates the tone correction amount, and eliminating a non-observation page including the read image that does not generate the tone correction amount and does not reflect the tone correction amount.

9. An information processing method executed in an image forming system, comprising: generating, intermittently, a gradation correction amount for correcting a gradation characteristic of a print color of a print image output by an image forming apparatus based on image data, based on a read image of the print image; reflecting the amount of gradation correction in the image forming apparatus; An information processing method comprising:

10. Computer, an image inspection unit that intermittently generates a gradation correction amount for correcting a gradation characteristic of a print color of a print image output by an image forming apparatus based on image data, based on a read image of the print image; A program to make it function as such.

Images