Image forming system

Abstract

To provide a mechanism that can avoid overlaps between an adjustment pattern to be used for adjusting an image forming condition and a user image.SOLUTION: An image forming system comprises: image forming means which forms a user image on a sheet based on an image forming condition, and is capable of forming, on the sheet, an adjustment pattern to adjust the image forming condition; reading means which optically reads the sheet from the image forming means and outputs reading image data indicating a read image; adjustment means which adjusts the image forming condition based on a reading result of the adjustment pattern included in the read image; and control means which, in a case where at least a portion of the user image formed on the sheet overlaps a formation region including the adjustment pattern, shows a display indicating that at least the portion of the user image overlaps the formation region.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming system that forms an adjustment pattern for adjusting an image forming condition. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, an image forming system is known that forms an adjustment pattern for adjusting gradation in the peripheral area of ​​a sheet (i.e., the margin area where an image by a user (hereinafter, a user image) is not formed), and adjusts image formation conditions based on the results of reading the adjustment pattern (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-081623 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A content image may be placed by a user in the marginal area of ​​the sheet as part of the user image. The content image may be, for example, an image intended for managing printed matter, such as a serial number, a one-dimensional barcode, or a two-dimensional barcode. Alternatively, the content image may be an image used in a later process, such as a trim mark indicating a cutting position in a cutting process of a sheet.

[0005] If such a content image is formed so as to be superimposed on the adjustment pattern, the reading accuracy of the adjustment pattern deteriorates, making it impossible to set the image forming conditions with high accuracy.

[0006] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a mechanism for preventing overlapping between an adjustment pattern used for adjusting image forming conditions and a user image. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, an image forming system includes an image forming means capable of forming a user image on a sheet based on image formation conditions and forming an adjustment pattern on the sheet for adjusting the image formation conditions, a reading means for optically reading the sheet from the image forming means and outputting read image data indicating a read image, an adjustment means for adjusting the image formation conditions based on the reading result of the adjustment pattern included in the read image, and a control means for, if at least a portion of the user image formed on the sheet overlaps with a formation area including the adjustment pattern, displaying a notification that at least a portion of the user image overlaps with the formation area. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a mechanism for avoiding overlapping of an adjustment pattern and a user image. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming system according to some embodiments. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to some embodiments. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a reader according to some embodiments. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a line sensor according to some embodiments. [Diagram 5] 11A and 11B show examples of settings screens according to some embodiments. [Figure 6] 11A-11C are diagrams illustrating examples of preview screens according to some embodiments. [Figure 7] 11A-11C are diagrams illustrating examples of preview screens according to some embodiments. [Figure 8] 1 is a flowchart of a printing process according to some embodiments. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a processing unit according to some embodiments. [Figure 10] 11A-11C are diagrams illustrating examples of preview screens according to some embodiments. [Figure 11]11A-11C are diagrams illustrating examples of preview screens according to some embodiments. [Figure 12] 11A-11C are diagrams illustrating examples of preview screens according to some embodiments. [Figure 13] 11A-11C are diagrams illustrating examples of preview screens according to some embodiments. [Figure 14] 11 is a flowchart of a process for moving an adjustment pattern according to some embodiments. [Figure 15] 6 is an explanatory diagram of adjustment pattern movement processing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. Although the embodiments describe a number of features, not all of these features are essential to the invention, and the features may be combined in any manner. Furthermore, in the attached drawings, the same reference numbers are used for the same or similar configurations, and duplicated descriptions are omitted.

[0011] First Embodiment Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming system according to this embodiment. The image forming system is also referred to as a printing system, and includes an image forming apparatus 100 and a host computer 101. The image forming apparatus 100 and the host computer 101 are communicatively connected via a network 105. The network 105 is configured, for example, as a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN). The image forming system in Fig. 1 is configured with one host computer 101 and one image forming apparatus 100, but the image forming system may include a plurality of host computers 101 and a plurality of image forming apparatuses 100.

[0012] The host computer 101 is an information processing device, and transmits a print job to the image forming apparatus 100 via the network 105. A storage unit 1012 of the host computer 101 stores data of a user image (including a content image), data of an adjustment pattern used to adjust image forming conditions, and a program executed by the control unit 1010. The control unit 1010 has, for example, a processor, and controls the host computer 101 as a whole. The user interface (IF) unit 1011 has a display as a display unit, a keyboard, a mouse, and the like as an input unit, and provides a user interface. The communication unit 1013 performs communication processing via the network 105. For example, when the control unit 1010 causes the image forming apparatus 100 to perform image formation accompanied by adjustment control using an adjustment pattern, the control unit 1010 generates image data of an image including a user image and an adjustment pattern, and transmits the image data to the image forming apparatus 100.

[0013] When the image forming apparatus 100 receives a print job from the host computer 101, it forms an image on a sheet in accordance with the print job. A controller 110 of the image forming apparatus 100 controls the entire image forming apparatus 100. A central processing unit (CPU) 114 of the controller 110 controls the operation of each unit of the image forming apparatus 100 by executing control programs stored in a read only memory (ROM) 112 and a hard disk drive (HDD) 115. When controlling the operation of each unit, the CPU 114 uses a random access memory (RAM) 113 as a work area. A communication interface (IF) 111 performs communication processing via a network 105.

[0014] Operation panel 120 provides an input interface and an output interface for a user. The input interface is, for example, an operation button, a numeric keypad, a touch panel, etc. The output interface is, for example, a display, a speaker, etc. A user can input print jobs, commands, print settings, etc. to image forming apparatus 100 through operation panel 120. Operation panel 120 displays a setting screen, the status of image forming apparatus 100, etc. on the display.

[0015] The printer 150 forms a user image on a sheet according to image formation conditions based on image data included in the print job to generate a printed matter. As described above, in the case of a print job involving adjustment control, the image formed from the image data includes an adjustment pattern. Therefore, in the case of a print job involving adjustment control, the printer 150 forms a user image and an adjustment pattern on a sheet. The image formation conditions adjusted by the adjustment pattern may be, for example, conditions related to the density of an image formed on a sheet, or conditions related to the position of an image formed on a sheet. The reader 160 is an image reading device that optically reads the printed matter generated by the printer 150 and transmits the reading result to the controller 110. The finisher 190 is a post-processing device that performs post-processing such as cutting on the printed matter generated by the printer 150.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 100. The printer 150 of the image forming apparatus 100 includes four image forming units 222 for forming images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The colors of the developers (toners) used by the four image forming units 222 for image formation are different, but the configurations are the same. The photoconductor 153 of the image forming unit 222 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction in the figure during image formation. The charger 220 charges the rotating photoconductor 153. The exposure unit 223 exposes the photoconductor 153 based on image data to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 153. The developer 152 develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 153 with toner to form an image (toner image) on the photoconductor 153. The image formed on the photoconductor 153 of each image forming unit 222 is transferred to an intermediate transfer belt 154 that is rotated in a clockwise direction in the figure. By transferring and overlapping the images formed on the photoconductors 153 of the image forming units 222 onto the intermediate transfer belt 154, it is possible to reproduce colors different from yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. The image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 154 is transported to a position facing the transfer roller 221 by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 154. The transfer roller 221 transfers the image on the intermediate transfer belt 154 onto a sheet that has been fed from one of the cassettes 140a to 140e to the transport path of the image forming apparatus 100 and transported along the transport path.

[0017] The printer 150 includes a first fixing device 155 and a second fixing device 156 that fix the toner image onto the sheet by applying heat and pressure to the sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred. The second fixing device 156 is disposed downstream of the first fixing device 155 in the sheet conveying direction. The second fixing device 156 is used to increase the gloss and ensure fixability of the image on the sheet that has passed through the first fixing device 155. Depending on the type of sheet, it may not be necessary to use the second fixing device 156. When the second fixing device 156 is not used, the sheet is conveyed along the conveying path 130. A flapper 131 guides the sheet to the conveying path 130 or the second fixing device 156.

[0018] The sheet that has passed through the second fixing device 156 or the conveying path 130 is sent to the conveying path 135 or the discharge path 139 by the flapper 132. For example, when an image is formed on only one side of the sheet and the sheet is discharged with the image-formed side facing up, the sheet is sent to the discharge path 139. On the other hand, when an image is formed on only one side of the sheet and the sheet is discharged with the image-formed side facing down, the sheet is guided to the conveying path 135. Thereafter, the conveying direction of the sheet is reversed, and the sheet is sent to the discharge path 139 by the flapper 134. Furthermore, when images are formed on both sides of the sheet, the sheet with the image formed on one side is sent to the reversing unit 136 via the conveying path 135. Thereafter, the conveying direction of the sheet is reversed, and the sheet is sent to the conveying path 138 by the flapper 133. The sheet sent to the conveying path 138 is again conveyed to a position facing the transfer roller 221, and an image is formed on the other side. The sheet with the images formed on both sides is sent to the discharge path 139.

[0019] The sheet sent to the discharge path 139 is transported to the reader 160. In the reader 160, the sheet is transported along a transport path 313. The line sensor unit 312a optically reads one side of the sheet through a glass 314a. The line sensor unit 312b optically reads the other side of the sheet through a glass 314b. The original detection sensor 311 is an optical sensor that detects whether or not a sheet is present in a detection area of ​​the transport path 313. The timing at which the original detection sensor 311 detects the sheet is used to determine the timing at which the line sensor units 312a and 312b read the sheet.

[0020] The sheet that has passed through the reader 160 is transported to the finisher 190. The finisher 190 performs various processes on the sheet on which an image has been formed, i.e., the printed matter, based on the print job. The various processes include a cutting process for removing unnecessary parts of the printed matter. The sheet that has passed through the finisher 190 is discharged to a discharge tray.

[0021] 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the reader 160 according to this embodiment. The line sensor units 312a and 312b have the same configuration, and each includes a memory 300, a line sensor 301, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) 302.

[0022] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of the line sensor 301. According to FIG. 4, the line sensor 301 has light sources 171a and 171b, light guides 172a and 172b, a lens array 173, and a plurality of sensor chips 174. The plurality of sensor chips 174 are arranged along the main scanning direction. The main scanning direction is a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveying direction. The light sources 171a and 171b are, for example, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit white light. The light guide 172a guides the light from the light source 171a toward the sheet while diffusing the light. The light guide 172b guides the light from the light source 171b toward the sheet while diffusing the light. The light guides 172a and 172b have a linear light path parallel to the main scanning direction, and irradiate the sheet with white light over the entire area in the main scanning direction. The lens array 173 focuses the white light reflected by the surface of the sheet onto the light receiving surface of each sensor chip 174. Each sensor chip 174 has three rows of color filters for three color components, red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and three rows of photoelectric conversion elements corresponding to the color filters. Each photoelectric conversion element receives the color component light that has passed through the corresponding color filter and generates a corresponding electrical signal. As a result, the line sensor 301 outputs an analog signal representing an RGB image of each line that constitutes the read image of the sheet while the sheet is passing through the reading position.

[0023] Returning to Fig. 3, memory 300 stores correction information for correcting variations in characteristics of each photoelectric conversion element of line sensor 301. ADC 302 converts an analog signal, which is the result of reading by line sensor 301, into a digital signal and transmits it to processing unit 305. Processing unit 305 determines an adjustment pattern in the read image based on a digital signal indicating the read image (hereinafter, read image data), and outputs the detection result of the adjustment pattern to CPU 114. An example of the configuration of processing unit 305 will be described later. Image memory 308 is used by processing unit 305 to temporarily store read image data during its processing.

[0024] 5 shows an example of a setting screen that the control unit 1010 of the host computer 101 displays on a display that is a display unit of the user IF unit 1011. The control unit 1010 transmits a print job to the image forming apparatus 100 in accordance with the print settings.

[0025] The user can use the check box B501 to input whether or not to form an adjustment pattern for adjusting the position of an image in a predetermined area of ​​the sheet and perform position adjustment. The user can also use the check box B502 to input whether or not to form an adjustment pattern for adjusting the density (tone) of an image in a predetermined area of ​​the sheet and perform tone adjustment. In Fig. 5, the setting is such that position adjustment is not performed and only tone adjustment is performed.

[0026] Furthermore, the user can display a preview screen for checking the formation position of the adjustment pattern by pressing a preview button B503. The preview button B503 can be configured to be enabled when at least one of position adjustment and gradation adjustment is set. The user presses the confirm button B505 to enable the print settings made on the setting screen in FIG. 5, or presses the cancel button B504 to cancel.

[0027] Fig. 6 is an example of a preview screen that the control unit 1010 displays on the display unit when the preview button B503 in Fig. 5 is pressed while a setting is made to execute only gradation adjustment. The preview display area 601 is an area for displaying a preview image of the corresponding page. The preview display area 601 displays both the adjustment pattern formed on the sheet and a user image. As described above, data on the adjustment pattern, that is, data indicating the formation position of the adjustment pattern and the image of the adjustment pattern, is stored in the memory unit 1012.

[0028] According to FIG. 6, the user image has content images 603a to 603d which are images indicating the cutting position of the sheet. The content images may be images for the user to manage printed matter, such as one-dimensional barcodes and two-dimensional barcodes. In the following description, the content images 603a to 603d are also collectively referred to as content images 603. Furthermore, according to FIG. 6, four adjustment patterns 608a to 608d are displayed. The four adjustment patterns 608a to 608d are formed with yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toners, respectively, and include patch images of a plurality of different gradations. In the following description, the adjustment patterns 608a to 608d are also collectively referred to as adjustment patterns 608. In order to accurately detect the adjustment pattern 608, a mask area, which is a blank area in which no image is formed (printed), is set around the adjustment pattern 608. In the following, the area including the adjustment pattern 608 and the mask area around the adjustment pattern 608 is referred to as a pattern formation area 602. 6, the control unit 1010 also displays on the preview screen frame lines indicating the ranges of the pattern-forming regions 602a-602d corresponding to the adjustment patterns 608a-608d, respectively. Note that the data of the adjustment patterns stored in the memory unit 1012 of the control unit 1010 also includes information such as the size of the pattern-forming region 602 and its position on the sheet.

[0029] The user can check the page number of the page being displayed on the preview screen by using the page number object 604. The user can also change the page being displayed in the preview display area 601 by operating a page forward button 605. The user can also enlarge or reduce the image being displayed in the preview display area 601 by operating a zoom in / out object 606. The user can also return from the preview screen to the setting screen of FIG. 5 by operating a back button 607.

[0030] FIG. 7 shows an example of a preview screen in the case where at least a part of the content image 603 overlaps with the pattern formation region 602 (first state). FIG. 6 shows an example of a preview screen in the case where the content image 603 does not overlap with the pattern formation region 602 (second state). In this embodiment, the control unit 1010 determines the region of the sheet on which the user image is formed based on image data for forming the user image, and compares it with the pattern formation region 602 to determine whether or not it is in an overlap state. In the case where it is in an overlap state, the control unit 1010 makes the display mode of the pattern formation region 602 on the preview screen different from that in the case where it is in a non-overlapping state in order to make the user recognize that it is in an overlap state. As an example, as shown in FIG. 7, in the case where it is in an overlap state, the display mode of the frame line indicating the pattern formation region 602, for example, the color, thickness, line type (solid line, dashed line, dotted line, etc.) of the frame line is made different from that in the case where it is in a non-overlapping state to highlight the frame line.

[0031] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a print process executed by the controller 110 when a print job accompanied by adjustment control for adjusting gradation is received from the host computer 101. A user can operate the host computer 101 to transmit a print job to the image forming apparatus 100. The print job includes information indicating whether or not adjustment control is to be executed, and, if adjustment control is to be executed, information indicating the type of adjustment control to be executed. When adjustment control is to be executed, the host computer 101 transmits image data for forming an image including a user image and an adjustment pattern to the image forming apparatus 100. In the flowchart of FIG. 8, it is assumed that gradation adjustment control is to be executed. The user image includes information for printing a content image. When the controller 110 receives a print job from the host computer 101 in S10, the controller 110 initializes a page counter P to 0 in S11. In S12, the controller 110 forms a user image and an adjustment pattern for gradation adjustment on a sheet based on the print job. When the image is formed on the sheet, the controller 110 increments the value of the page counter P by 1 in S13.

[0032] The sheet on which the image is formed by the printer 150 is conveyed to the reader 160. The reader 160 reads the image on the sheet by the line sensor units 312a and 312b. The controller 110 detects the density of each patch image of the adjustment pattern 608 based on the read result of the adjustment pattern 608 acquired from the processing unit 305 of the reader 160 in S14. The controller 110 sets the image forming conditions based on the detected density of each patch image of the adjustment pattern 608 and the target density of each patch image in S15. The image forming conditions are, for example, a look-up table (LUT) for gamma correction. The controller 110 determines whether all printing specified in the print job has been completed in S16. If all printing has not been completed, the controller 110 repeats the process from S12. If all printing has been completed, the controller 110 ends the process of FIG. 8.

[0033] 9 is a block diagram of the processing unit 305 according to this embodiment. A color selection unit 3051 selects any one of the RGB color component images included in the read image data from the line sensor unit 312. In order to detect the adjustment pattern 608 with high accuracy, the color component may be selected according to the background color of the sheet (for example, the color component having the largest color difference from the background color may be selected).

[0034] The left edge determination unit 3052 determines the position of the left edge of each image of the adjustment pattern 608 to be detected in the read image of the color component selected by the color selection unit 3051. The left edge here means the left edge when facing the conveying direction of the sheet. For example, the left edge determination unit 3052 may determine the left edge of each patch image of the adjustment pattern 608 by sequentially scanning the pixel values ​​of each line of the read image and comparing each pixel value with a predefined threshold value. When the mask area of ​​the pattern formation area 602 is white, the left edge of the patch image can be detected when the pixel value (or brightness value) is below the threshold value. In this manner, the mask area is provided to facilitate detection of each patch image of the adjustment pattern 608. In this embodiment, the search of each adjustment pattern 608 based on the scanning of the pixel values ​​by the left edge determination unit 3052 can be performed within a known search range, such as the pattern formation area 602. Note that, in order to improve the accuracy of the determination, the left edge determination unit 3052 may simultaneously scan the pixel values ​​of multiple lines and determine the position of the left edge of the patch image using the multiple pixel values.

[0035] The range determination unit 3053 determines the range of each patch image to be cut out from the read image (hereinafter referred to as the cut-out range) based on the determination result by the left edge determination unit 3052. The cut-out range may be, for example, the central region of each patch image excluding the areas near the four sides. The writing unit 3054 writes image data of the cut-out range of each patch image determined by the range determination unit 3053 into the image memory 308. The reading unit 3055 reads out the image data written to the image memory 308 and outputs it to the average calculation unit 3056.

[0036] The average calculation unit 3056 calculates an average pixel value (RGB value) of the gradation of each patch image based on the image data input from the reading unit 3055. Then, the average calculation unit 3056 outputs the calculated average pixel value to the CPU 114. The CPU 114 converts the average pixel value input from the processing unit 305 into the density of each patch image. Then, an LUT is generated based on the density of each patch image and the target density of each patch image.

[0037] As described above, the display mode of the pattern formation region 602 on the preview screen in the case of an overlapping state is made different from the display mode of the pattern formation region 602 on the preview screen in the case of a non-overlapping state. With this configuration, the user can easily check on the screen whether the user image overlaps with the adjustment pattern 608 before executing a print job. If there is an overlap, the user can change the arrangement position of the user image, for example, the content image 603, so as to eliminate the overlapping state. Alternatively, the user can input a change in the arrangement position of the adjustment pattern 608 to the control unit 1010 via the user IF unit 1011 so as to eliminate the overlapping state. As an example, the control unit 1010 displays an input object for individually moving each of the pattern formation regions 602a to 602d on the preview screen shown in FIG. 7. The movement direction can be either or both of the left-right direction and the up-down direction in FIG. 7. The user can input the amount of movement in the left-right direction and the up-down direction by the input object. The control unit 1010 displays the pattern formation region 602 after the movement on the preview screen according to the amount of movement input to the input object. Therefore, the user can eliminate the overlapping state by changing the amount of movement input to the input object while viewing the preview screen. If the range in which the arrangement position of the pattern formation region 602 can be changed is determined in advance, the amount of movement input to the input object is limited to be within the changeable range. In this way, by checking whether or not there is an overlapping state before executing a print job, measures can be taken in advance to avoid the overlapping of the pattern formation region 602 and the user image. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the user image from being formed in the pattern formation region 602 including the adjustment pattern 608, and the adjustment accuracy of the image formation conditions from being reduced.

[0038] 6 and 7 show the entire sheet, but may show only the periphery of the pattern-forming region 602. In the present embodiment, the display manner of the frame line indicating the pattern-forming region 602 is different, but the display manner of the entire pattern-forming region 602 and the display manner of the adjustment pattern 608 can be different between the overlapping state and the non-overlapping state. For example, in the non-overlapping state, the adjustment pattern 608 is previewed as it is printed, but in the overlapping state, the whole or part of the overlapping pattern-forming region 602 can be highlighted in a predetermined color. Furthermore, in the non-overlapping state, the frame line indicating the pattern-forming region 602 is not displayed on the preview screen, and in the overlapping state, the frame line is displayed on the preview screen to highlight the pattern-forming region 602.

[0039] In the present embodiment, a mask region is provided around the adjustment pattern 608. This is to make the adjustment pattern 608 easier to detect, as described above. However, a configuration may be adopted in which a mask region is not provided and the region of the adjustment pattern 608 is used as the pattern formation region 602. In this case, in an overlapping state, the control unit 1010 changes the display mode of the adjustment pattern 608 from that in a non-overlapping state. As an example, in an overlapping state, the control unit 1010 can display a line surrounding the adjustment pattern 608, display the adjustment pattern 608 as a highlight, or change the color or line type (thickness, color, etc.) of the adjustment pattern 608 from that which is printed. In a non-overlapping state, the adjustment pattern 608 is displayed in the manner in which it is printed.

[0040] In the present embodiment, the preview screen is displayed when the user presses the preview button B503 on the print setting screen shown in FIG. 5. However, when the user operates the checkboxes B501 and B502 to input that adjustment control is to be executed, the control unit 1010 can determine whether or not the overlap state exists. Therefore, for example, when the control unit 1010 determines that the overlap state exists when the execution of adjustment control is input, the control unit 1010 may perform a process of making the user recognize that the overlap state exists even if the preview button B503 is not pressed by the user's operation. The process of making the user recognize that the overlap state exists can be, for example, a process of displaying the preview screen even if the preview button B503 is not pressed. Furthermore, the process of making the user recognize that the overlap state exists can be, for example, a process of displaying an object that requests the user to display and confirm the preview screen, or an object that indicates that the overlap state exists, on the print setting screen. The process of making the user recognize that the overlap state exists can be performed not when the user operates the checkboxes B501 and B502 to input that adjustment control is to be executed, but when the user inputs that adjustment control is to be executed and presses the decision button B505. Alternatively, in the case of an overlapping state, the decision button B505 can be grayed out so as to be inoperable. The process of making the user aware of the overlapping state can be triggered by the user performing an operation to transmit a print job to the image forming apparatus 100. In this case, the control unit 1010 can perform the process of making the user aware of the overlapping state without transmitting the print job to the image forming apparatus 100. Furthermore, the process of making the user aware of the overlapping state can be performed by a warning sound, audio output, or the like, in addition to or instead of displaying an image on the screen.

[0041] Furthermore, in this embodiment, data for forming adjustment pattern 608 on a sheet is stored in advance in storage unit 1012. However, for example, when a user operates check boxes B501 and B502 shown in FIG. 5 to input that adjustment control is to be executed, control unit 1010 may obtain data for forming adjustment pattern 608 on a sheet from image forming apparatus 100 and store the data in storage unit 1012.

[0042] As described above, when the control unit 1010 detects an overlapping state, it performs a process of displaying a notification of the overlapping state. For example, the control unit 1010 can perform this display on a preview screen. Alternatively, the control unit 1010 can perform this display when a user input is made to select execution of adjustment control, a user input is made to confirm execution of adjustment control, or a user input is made to send a print job involving adjustment control to the image forming apparatus.

[0043] Second Embodiment Next, the second embodiment will be described with a focus on the differences from the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, in the case of an overlapping state, the display mode of the pattern formation region 602 is made different from that in the case of a non-overlapping state. In this embodiment, the display mode of a user image, for example, a content image 603, is made different.

[0044] FIG. 10 shows a preview screen displayed in the case of an overlapping state in this embodiment. Note that the preview screen in the case of a non-overlapping state is, for example, as shown in FIG. 6. In this embodiment, the display mode of the part of the content image 603 overlapping with the pattern-forming region 602 is highlighted by changing the display mode of the part in the non-overlapping state. For example, in the case of a non-overlapping state, the control unit 1010 previews the user image as it is printed. On the other hand, in the case of an overlapping state, the control unit 1010 may be configured to highlight the part by changing the color or size of the part of the user image overlapping with the pattern-forming region 602. As another example, in the case of an overlapping state, the control unit 1010 may be configured to change the color of the area including the part of the content image 603 overlapping with the pattern-forming region 602 from the color to be printed, or to display a frame surrounding the area. Note that in FIG. 10, only the part of the content image 603 overlapping with the pattern-forming region 602 is highlighted, but the entire content image 603 having the overlapping part may be highlighted. Furthermore, similarly to the first embodiment, the pattern formation region 602 can also be configured to be highlighted.

[0045] As described above, in this embodiment as well, it is possible to make the user aware that a user image is about to be formed in the pattern formation region 602. Therefore, the user can take measures in advance to prevent a user image from being formed in the pattern formation region 602.

[0046] <Third embodiment> Next, the third embodiment will be described, focusing on the differences from the first and second embodiments. In the first and second embodiments, in the case of an overlapping state, the pattern formation region 602 and the display mode of the user image are made different from those in the case of a non-overlapping state. In this embodiment, in the case of an overlapping state, an object indicating the overlapping state is displayed on the preview screen.

[0047] FIG. 11 shows an example of a preview screen displayed in the case of an overlapping state in this embodiment. In the case of a non-overlapping state, for example, the preview screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. As shown in FIG. 11, in the case of an overlapping state in this embodiment, the control unit 1010 displays an object 1208 on the preview screen. In the example of FIG. 11, the object 1208 has a warning message indicating that the state is overlapping. In the case of an overlapping page, the object 1208 can be displayed regardless of the page displayed on the preview screen. Alternatively, the object 1208 can be displayed only on the preview screen that displays the overlapping page.

[0048] Note that, although the object 1208 is displayed on the preview screen in both the overlapped state and the non-overlapping state, the display manner can be configured to be different between the overlapped state and the non-overlapping state. For example, in the non-overlapping state, the object 1208 including the characters indicating the non-overlapping state can be configured to be displayed so as not to overlap with the preview display area 601. In the overlapping state, as shown in FIG. 11, the object 1208 including the characters indicating the overlapping state can be configured to be displayed so as to overlap with the preview display area 601.

[0049] As described above, in this embodiment as well, it is possible to make the user aware that a user image is about to be formed in the pattern formation region 602. Therefore, the user can take measures in advance to prevent a user image from being formed in the pattern formation region 602.

[0050] <Fourth embodiment> Next, the fourth embodiment will be described, focusing on the differences from the first to third embodiments. In this embodiment, when an overlapping state is detected, the control unit 1010 determines whether the adjustment pattern 608 (pattern formation region 602) can be moved so as to achieve a non-overlapping state, and if so, moves it and displays a preview screen.

[0051] FIG. 12 shows an example of a preview screen according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12, a part of a content image 603 is arranged in a pattern formation region 602. In this embodiment, a mode setting check box 1308 is displayed on the preview screen. A user can set the automatic adjustment mode to ON by checking the mode setting check box 1308. Also, a user can set the automatic adjustment mode to OFF by unchecking the mode setting check box 1308. In FIG. 12, the automatic adjustment mode is OFF. The preview screen in this case is similar to the case of an overlapping state in any one of the first to third embodiments.

[0052] Fig. 13 shows an example of a preview screen that is displayed when the automatic adjustment mode is on, or when the automatic adjustment mode is changed to on from the state of Fig. 12. As shown in Fig. 13, the adjustment pattern 608 (and therefore the pattern formation region 602) is moved in the vertical direction of the figure, thereby resulting in a non-overlapping state.

[0053] Fig. 14 is a flowchart of the adjustment pattern 608 movement process executed by the control unit 1010 when the automatic adjustment mode is on. In S20, the control unit 1010 judges whether or not there is an overlapping state. If there is no overlapping state, the control unit 1010 ends the process in Fig. 14. If there is an overlapping state, the control unit 1010 judges the distance A and the distance B shown in Fig. 15.

[0054] In this embodiment, the pattern formation region 602 can be moved from its reference position (initial position) in the sheet transport direction or the opposite direction (toward the bottom of the figure) within a range of distance B or less. For example, in the example of Fig. 13, the pattern formation regions 602a and 602c can be moved in the opposite direction to the transport direction, and the pattern formation regions 602b and 602d can be moved in the transport direction. In the following description, the direction in which the pattern formation region 602a can be moved is referred to as the movable direction.

[0055] The pattern formation region 602 in FIG. 15 shows a state where it is arranged at a reference position. Note that the movable direction of the pattern formation region 602 in FIG. 15 is the opposite direction to the transport direction. The distance A in FIG. 15 is the distance between the most upstream position of the pattern formation region 602 in the movable direction and the most downstream position of the overlapping content image 603 in the movable direction. As is clear from FIG. 15, if the distance B is not greater than the distance A, the overlapping state cannot be resolved. Therefore, the control unit 1010 determines in S22 whether the distance B is greater than the distance A. If the distance B is not greater than the distance A, the control unit 1010 ends the process in FIG. 14. In this case, the control unit 1010 can be configured to notify the user of the existence of the overlapping state or that the overlapping state cannot be automatically resolved.

[0056] If distance B is greater than distance A, the control unit 1010 determines in S23 whether the pattern-forming region 602 can be moved in the movable direction within a range of distance A to distance B. For example, if moving the pattern-forming region 602 by distance A to distance B in the movable direction would cause it to overlap with another portion of the user image, the control unit 1010 determines in S23 that the pattern-forming region 602 cannot be moved. If it is determined in S23 that the pattern-forming region 602 cannot be moved, the control unit 1010 ends the processing in Fig. 14. In this case, the control unit 1010 can be configured to notify the user of the existence of an overlapping state, or that the overlapping state cannot be automatically resolved.

[0057] If it is determined in S23 that the adjustment pattern 608 can be moved, the control unit 1010 moves the adjustment pattern 608 (pattern formation region 602) in S24, and displays a preview screen after the adjustment pattern 608 has been moved, for example, as shown in FIG. 13. When a user who has checked the preview screen shown in FIG. 13 operates the host computer 101 to send a print job, the control unit 1010 sends image data of an image including a user image and the adjustment pattern 608 after the movement to the image forming apparatus 100. The control unit 1010 may also be configured to notify the image forming apparatus 100 of information indicating the position of the adjustment pattern 608 after the movement. In this case, the processing unit 305 of the image forming apparatus 100 detects the adjustment pattern 608 according to the formation position of the adjustment pattern 608 after the movement.

[0058] In this embodiment, the pattern formation region 602 can be moved in only one direction from its reference position, but it may be configured to be movable in both the sheet conveying direction and the opposite direction. Furthermore, the pattern formation region 602 may be configured to be movable in the main scanning direction from its reference position. In summary, a reference position and a movable range are set in the pattern formation region 602. The control unit 1010 initially determines whether or not the pattern formation region 602 is in an overlapping state, assuming that the pattern formation region 602 is formed at the reference position. When an overlapping state is detected when the automatic adjustment mode is on, the control unit 1010 determines whether or not a non-overlapping state can be achieved by moving the pattern formation region 602 within the movable range. If a non-overlapping state can be achieved, the control unit 1010 moves the pattern formation region 602 and displays a preview screen. On the other hand, if a non-overlapping state cannot be achieved, the control unit 1010 notifies the user, for example, that a non-overlapping state cannot be achieved automatically. When the control unit 1010 moves the pattern formation region 602 from the reference position, the control unit 1010 can notify the controller 110 of information indicating the position of the pattern formation region 602 after the movement. The data of the adjustment pattern 608 stored in the storage unit 1012 of the host computer 101 includes information indicating the reference position and the movable range. Alternatively, when the preview screen is displayed or the automatic adjustment mode is changed to ON, the control unit 1010 may acquire information indicating the reference position and the movable range from the controller 110. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the automatic adjustment mode is set to ON / OFF on the preview screen, but the automatic adjustment mode may be set to ON / OFF on another screen such as the print setting screen of FIG. 5. Furthermore, the control unit 1010 may be configured to always perform automatic adjustment. In this case, the control unit 1010 may display a notification that the overlap state exists when the automatic adjustment cannot achieve a non-overlapping state.

[0059] As described above, by adjusting the formation position of the adjustment pattern 608 on the sheet in accordance with the user image, it is possible to reduce the frequency of overlapping. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a user image from being formed in the pattern formation region 602 including the adjustment pattern 608, thereby preventing a decrease in the adjustment accuracy of the image formation conditions.

[0060] <Fifth embodiment> In the first to fourth embodiments, data for forming the adjustment pattern 608 on a sheet is stored in advance in the storage unit 1012 of the host computer 101, or the control unit 1010 of the host computer 101 obtains the data from the image forming apparatus 100. Then, when performing image formation involving adjustment control, the control unit 1010 of the host computer 101 transmits image data of an image in which a user image (including a content image) and the adjustment pattern are combined to the image forming apparatus 100.

[0061] This embodiment differs from the first to fourth embodiments in that, when performing image formation involving adjustment control, the control unit 1010 of the host computer 101 transmits information indicating the type of adjustment control and image data of a user image (including a content image) to the image forming apparatus 100. Therefore, the controller 110 of the image forming apparatus 100 generates image data of an image in which a user image and an adjustment pattern are combined based on the image data of the user image (including a content image) received from the host computer 101, and performs image formation. The data of the adjustment pattern is stored, for example, in the HDD 115 of the controller 110. Note that, in this embodiment as well, the host computer 101 executes the judgment of whether or not there is an overlap state, and notifies the user when there is an overlap state, etc.

[0062] In this configuration, when the host computer 101 adjusts the formation position of the adjustment pattern 608 to eliminate the overlapping state, the host computer 101 notifies the image forming apparatus 100 of the position of the adjustment pattern 608 after the adjustment.

[0063] The controller 110 can determine whether or not there is an overlap state when generating image data of an image obtained by combining a user image and an adjustment pattern. For example, a user may send a print job in the overlap state without checking the preview screen on the host computer 101. If the controller 110 detects an overlap state when generating image data of an image obtained by combining a user image and an adjustment pattern, the controller 110 can perform a process to make the user aware of the overlap state without forming an image. For example, the controller 110 can notify the control unit 1010 of the host computer 101 of the overlap state. In this case, the control unit 1010 can display a preview screen, display an object that prompts the user to check the preview screen, or display an object that indicates that the adjustment pattern and the user image overlap on the display of the user IF unit 1011 in response to the notification.

[0064] It is also possible to configure the host computer 101 so that the data of the adjustment pattern 608 is not stored in advance in the storage unit 1012 of the host computer 101, and therefore the control unit 1010 of the host computer 101 does not determine whether or not there is an overlap state before sending a print job. In this case, the controller 110 determines whether or not there is an overlap state when generating image data of an image in which a user image and an adjustment pattern are combined. If there is an overlap state, the controller 110 transmits the data of the adjustment pattern 608 to the host computer 101 without forming an image, and notifies the host computer 101 that there is an overlap state. When the host computer 101 receives the notification that there is an overlap state, it can be configured to display a preview screen or the like based on the received data of the adjustment pattern 608, and allow the user to change the position of the adjustment pattern 608 or the position of the user image.

[0065] <Other> In the first to fifth embodiments, the host computer 101, which is an information processing apparatus, performs control for displaying a preview screen. That is, the control unit 1010 of the host computer 101 determines whether or not there is an overlap state, and moves the pattern formation region 602 when the automatic adjustment mode is on. However, the process that is supposed to be executed by the control unit 1010 of the host computer 101 in the first to fifth embodiments may be configured to be executed by the controller 110 of the image forming apparatus 100. For example, when forming an image based on a user image stored in the HDD 115, the controller 110 displays a setting screen or a preview screen on the operation panel 120. Then, when there is an overlap state, the controller 110 displays a notification of the overlap state on the operation panel 120, or moves the adjustment pattern 608 to eliminate the overlap state, as described in the first to fourth embodiments.

[0066] Furthermore, the controller 110 may also be configured to control a preview screen displayed on the host computer 101. For example, the host computer 101 may transmit image data of a user image to be processed to the controller 110, and the controller 110 may create a preview screen to be displayed on the display of the host computer 101 and display it on the display of the host computer 101. In this case, the controller 110 determines whether or not there is an overlap state, and moves the pattern formation region 602 when the automatic adjustment mode is on.

[0067] [Other embodiments] The present invention can also be realized by a process in which a program for implementing one or more of the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that implements one or more of the functions.

[0068] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 150: printer, 110: controller, 120: operation panel

Claims

1. an image forming means capable of forming a user image on a sheet based on image forming conditions and forming an adjustment pattern for adjusting the image forming conditions on the sheet; a reading means for optically reading the sheet from the image forming means and outputting read image data representing the read image; an adjustment unit that adjusts the image forming conditions based on a result of reading the adjustment pattern included in the read image; a control means for, when at least a portion of the user image formed on the sheet overlaps with a formation area including the adjustment pattern, displaying a notification that at least a portion of the user image overlaps with the formation area; An image forming system comprising:

2. 2. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls a display means to display a preview screen of the user image and the adjustment pattern formed on the sheet by the image forming means, and when at least a portion of the user image overlaps with the forming area, displays on the preview screen a notification that at least a portion of the user image overlaps with the forming area.

3. The image forming system of claim 2, wherein the control means, when at least a portion of the user image overlaps with the forming area, displays the preview screen without user operation, or displays an object on the display means requesting an operation to display the preview screen.

4. 3. The image forming system of claim 2, wherein the control means, when at least a portion of the user image overlaps with the formation area, causes the display mode of the adjustment pattern or the user image on the preview screen to be different from the display mode of the adjustment pattern or the user image on the preview screen when the user image and the formation area do not overlap.

5. The image forming system of claim 4, wherein the control means, when at least a portion of the user image overlaps with the formation area, changes the display mode on the preview screen of the portion of the user image formed within the formation area from the display mode on the preview screen of the portion when the user image and the formation area do not overlap.

6. 3. The image forming system of claim 2, wherein the control means displays a frame line indicating the formation area on the preview screen, and when at least a portion of the user image overlaps with the formation area, the display manner of the frame line on the preview screen is made different from the display manner of the frame line when the user image and the formation area do not overlap.

7. 3. The image forming system of claim 2, wherein the control means displays a frame line indicating the formation area on the preview screen when at least a portion of the user image overlaps with the formation area, and does not display a frame line indicating the formation area on the preview screen when the user image and the formation area do not overlap.

8. 3. The image forming system of claim 2, wherein the control means displays an object on the preview screen indicating that at least a portion of the user image overlaps with the formation area when at least a portion of the user image overlaps with the formation area, and does not display the object on the preview screen when the user image and the formation area do not overlap.

9. The image forming system of claim 2, wherein the control means, when at least a portion of the user image overlaps with the formation area, displays an object on the preview screen indicating that at least a portion of the user image overlaps with the formation area, and, when the user image and the formation area do not overlap, displays an object on the preview screen indicating that the user image and the formation area do not overlap.

10. 3. The image forming system of claim 2, wherein when the control means detects that at least a portion of the user image overlaps with the formation area when set to an automatic adjustment mode, the control means determines whether the formation area can be moved so that the user image and the formation area do not overlap, and if it determines that the formation area can be moved, moves the formation area so that the user image and the formation area do not overlap, and displays the preview screen on the display means.

11. A movable range within which the formation region can be moved is set in the control means, The image forming system of claim 10, wherein when the control means detects that at least a portion of the user image overlaps with the formation area when the automatic adjustment mode is set, the control means determines whether the formation area can be moved within the movable range so that the user image and the formation area do not overlap.

12. 2 . The image forming system according to claim 1 , wherein the formation area includes an area in which the adjustment pattern is formed and a blank area surrounding the adjustment pattern in which no image is formed.

13. 13. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming condition adjusted by the adjustment pattern is a condition related to density of the image formed by the image forming unit.

14. 13. The image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the image forming condition adjusted by the adjustment pattern is a condition related to a position of an image formed by the image forming means.

15. an image forming means capable of forming a user image on a sheet based on image forming conditions and forming an adjustment pattern for adjusting the image forming conditions on the sheet; a reading means for optically reading the sheet from the image forming means and outputting read image data representing the read image; an adjustment unit that adjusts the image forming conditions based on a result of reading the adjustment pattern included in the read image; a control means for determining whether the formation area can be moved so that the user image and the formation area do not overlap when at least a part of the user image formed on the sheet overlaps with a formation area including the adjustment pattern, and, when it is determined that the formation area can be moved, moving the formation area so that the user image and the formation area do not overlap; An image forming system comprising:

16. The image forming system according to claim 15, wherein the control means, when it is not possible to move the formation area so that the user image and the formation area do not overlap, displays a message notifying the user that at least a portion of the user image overlaps with the formation area.

Images