Image formation apparatus

Abstract

To provide an image formation apparatus which enables a person to easily confirm by visual observation whether printing positions on both sides of paper match each other or not.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus includes: a control unit that adjusts printing positions on both sides of print paper by using a first test paper on which first position aligning marks are formed on both sides; and an image formation unit that forms second position aligning marks at overlapping positions on both sides of a second test paper. In the image formation apparatus, the second position aligning marks can abut on ends of the second test paper according to a prescribed method.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses an image forming device that includes an image reading unit that generates image data of a read image, adjusts the amount of light from a light source provided within the image reading unit to the amount of light at which show-through occurs, and measures the positional relationship between a one-sided image of a document and a back-sided image that is reflected in the one-sided image due to the show-through phenomenon. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-210886 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When an image is printed on the front and back sides of a relatively low basis weight paper, a person may visually check whether the printing positions on the front and back sides of the paper match by looking through the paper. However, in the case of a relatively high basis weight thick paper, it is difficult for a person to visually check whether the printing positions on the front and back sides of the paper match by looking through the paper. In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a risk that an error is included in the measured positional relationship due to an error in the reading process by the image reading unit. Therefore, in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, there is a risk that the measurement result is different from the confirmation result of the printing position when a person visually checks it. Therefore, an object of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an image forming device that allows a person to easily visually check whether the printing positions on both sides of the paper match. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] An image forming device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a control unit that adjusts the printing positions on both sides of a printing paper using a first test paper having first alignment marks formed on both sides, and an image forming unit that forms second alignment marks at overlapping positions on both sides of a second test paper, and enables the second alignment marks to be abutted against the ends of the second test paper by a predetermined method. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Diagram 2] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing an example of second alignment marks formed on the front and back sides of a second test paper. [Diagram 3] 3 is an enlarged view of a region illustrated in FIG. 2 as viewed from a direction D illustrated in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 13A and 13B are diagrams showing an example of cutting lines formed on the front and back sides of a second test paper. [Diagram 5] 13 is a diagram showing an example of cutting lines formed on the front and back surfaces of a second test paper so as to intersect and cross the second alignment mark. FIG. [Figure 6] 5 is a diagram showing an example of the front side of a second test paper cut along the cutting line illustrated in FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a first test paper is placed over an original placed on an original placement plate. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a second test paper is placed on top of a first test paper in the state illustrated in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a second test paper according to a modified example of the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] First embodiment The first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. In the drawings, the same or similar elements are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0008] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image forming apparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 includes a storage unit 101, an operation unit 102, a display unit 103, an image reading unit 104, an image forming unit 105, an image output unit 107, and a control unit 108.

[0009] The storage unit 101 is a recording medium capable of recording various data, programs, etc. The storage unit 101 is configured by, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a semiconductor memory, etc.

[0010] The operation unit 102 accepts operations by a user. For example, the operation unit 102 accepts an operation to select a function installed in the image forming apparatus 100 and an operation to specify the number of copies to be printed. The operation unit 102 is composed of a touch panel, a mouse, a keyboard, and the like.

[0011] The display unit 103 displays information to be presented to a user. For example, the display unit 103 is configured with a liquid crystal panel, an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) panel, or the like.

[0012] The image reading unit 104 reads an original placed on an original placement plate (not shown) and generates image data representing the read original.

[0013] The image forming unit 105 forms an image on a sheet based on the image data generated by the image reading unit 104. Specifically, the image forming unit 105 attaches a coloring material to a recording medium to form an image on the sheet based on the image data generated by the image reading unit 104. For example, the image forming unit 105 can be configured as a laser printer using an electrophotographic method, or an inkjet printer using an inkjet method. When the image forming unit 105 is configured as a laser printer, it attaches toner, which is a coloring material, to the sheet to form an image on the sheet. When the image forming unit 105 is configured as an inkjet printer, it attaches ink, which is a coloring material, to the sheet to form an image on the sheet.

[0014] Furthermore, image forming unit 105 forms second alignment marks 211 and 212 at overlapping positions on both sides of the second test paper. In image forming apparatus 100, second alignment marks 211 and 212 can be abutted against the ends of the second test paper by a predetermined method. For example, the predetermined method is for image forming unit 105 to form the second alignment marks by abutting them against the ends of the second test paper. Alternatively, the predetermined method may be for the second test paper to be cut so as to intersect with second alignment marks 211 and 212.

[0015] The paper transport section 106 transports the paper on which an image has been formed by the image forming section 105. The paper transport section 106 is composed of rollers for transporting the paper.

[0016] The image output unit 107 outputs the paper on which the image has been formed by the image forming unit 105 from a paper discharge outlet (not shown).

[0017] The control unit 108 executes various processes in accordance with the programs stored in the storage unit 101. For example, the control unit 108 is configured with a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit).

[0018] The control unit 108 adjusts the printing positions on both sides of the printing paper using a first test paper having first alignment marks formed on both sides. For example, the image reading unit 104 reads both sides of the first test paper placed on a document placement table (not shown), and the control unit 108 acquires the positions of the first alignment marks on both sides of the first test paper. Then, the control unit 108 adjusts the printing positions on both sides of the printing paper based on the positions of the first alignment marks acquired for both sides of the first test paper.

[0019] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of second alignment marks 211 formed on the front surface 201 of a second test paper, and second alignment marks 212 formed on the back surface 202 of the second test paper. In Fig. 2, the second alignment marks 211 formed on the front surface 201 of the second test paper are labeled with the letters A to N and 1 to 14 for ease of description in order to distinguish each of them. Similarly, in Fig. 2, the second alignment marks 212 formed on the back surface 202 of the second test paper are labeled with the letters A' to N' and 1' to 14' for ease of description in order to distinguish each of them.

[0020] The image forming unit 105 forms second alignment marks 211 and 212 at overlapping positions on both sides of the second test paper. For example, on the front side 201 and the back side 202, the second alignment marks 211 on the back sides A to N and 1 to 14 and the second alignment marks 211 on A' to N' and 1' to 14' are formed at overlapping positions, respectively.

[0021] The second test paper is rectangular, and second alignment marks 211 and 212 can be abutted against the ends of the four sides of the second test paper. For example, image forming unit 105 forms second alignment mark 211 by abutting it against the end of front side 201. Similarly, image forming unit 105 forms second alignment mark 212 by abutting it against the end of back side 202. By forming second alignment marks 211 and 212 by abutting them against the ends of the second test paper, it becomes possible for the second alignment marks to abut against the ends of the second test paper.

[0022] 3 is an enlarged view of the region 203 illustrated in FIG. 2 as viewed from a direction D illustrated in FIG.

[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the second alignment mark 211 abuts against the edge of the front surface 201, and the second alignment mark 212 abuts against the edge of the back surface 202, so that the second alignment marks 211 and 212 can be seen from the side of the second test paper. That is, the second alignment marks 211 and 212 abut against the edge of the second test paper, so that the second alignment marks 211 and 212 can be seen from the side of the second test paper. This allows a person to visually check the second test paper output by the image forming device 100 from the side to see whether or not the position of the second alignment mark 211 formed on the front surface 201 and the position of the second alignment mark 212 formed on the back surface 202 are misaligned. Alternatively, when visually checking the second test paper from the side, a person may quickly change the angle of the second test paper, then change it to the opposite angle and move it back and forth, making use of the afterimage phenomenon to check the misalignment or overlap of the second alignment marks 211 and 212.

[0024] Furthermore, the second alignment marks 211 and 212 indicate scales, which allow a person to confirm the amount of misalignment between the second alignment marks 211 and 212 on the front side 201 and back side 202 of the second test paper.

[0025] As described above, by forming second alignment marks 211 and 212 on both sides of the second test paper by image forming unit 105 abutting the ends of the paper, a person can check whether or not there is a misalignment between second alignment mark 211 on front side 201 of the second test paper and second alignment mark 212 on back side 202 of the second test paper, even if the second test paper is thick paper with a high basis weight and a person cannot fold the second test paper or cannot see through it to check the misalignment of the printing on the front and back sides. This allows image forming device 100 to easily allow a person to visually check whether the printing positions on both sides of the paper match.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a cutting line 411 formed on a front surface 401 of a second test paper and a cutting line 412 formed on a back surface 402 of the second test paper.

[0027] 4, the image forming unit 105 may form the second alignment marks 211 and 212 on the inside of the edge of the second test paper. Specifically, the image forming unit 105 forms the second alignment mark 211 on the front side 401 on the inside of the edge of the front side 401. Similarly, the image forming unit 105 forms the second alignment mark 212 on the back side 402 on the inside of the edge of the back side 402. This provides unprinted blank areas around the second alignment marks 211 and 212 on the front side 401 and the back side 402.

[0028] If there is no unprinted margin around the second alignment marks 211 and 212 on the front side 401 and back side 402, the image forming unit 105 needs to apply the coloring material to the portion leading to the edge of the second test paper. In that case, when the paper transport unit 106 transports the second test paper to which the coloring material has been applied, there is a risk that the coloring material will be applied to the portion of the roller that constitutes the paper transport unit 106 that does not come into contact with the second test paper being transported.

[0029] However, if there are unprinted margins around second alignment marks 211 and second alignment marks 212 on front side 401 and back side 402, image forming unit 105 does not apply coloring material to the portions leading to the edges of the second test paper. Therefore, paper transport unit 106 can transport the second test paper to which the coloring material has been applied, without the coloring material being applied to portions of the rollers that make up paper transport unit 106 that do not come into contact with the transported second test paper.

[0030] The image forming unit 105 forms a cutting line 411 parallel to the edge of the second test paper and in contact with an end point of the second alignment mark 211. Similarly, the image forming unit 105 forms a cutting line 412 so as to cross the second alignment mark 212. In other words, the image forming unit 105 forms the cutting line 412 parallel to the edge of the second test paper and in contact with an end point of the second alignment mark 212.

[0031] Then, by cutting the second test paper so as to cross the second alignment marks 211 and 212, it becomes possible to abut the second alignment marks against the edges of the second test paper. Specifically, when the second test paper is cut parallel to the edges of the second test paper along the cutting lines 411 and 412, the second alignment mark 211 is formed in contact with the edge of the front side 401 of the cut second test paper, and the second alignment mark 212 is formed in contact with the edge of the back side 402 of the cut second test paper.

[0032] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a cut line 411 formed on the front surface 501 of the second test paper, and a cut line 412 formed on the back surface 502 of the second test paper. The difference between the cut line 411 shown in Fig. 5 and the cut line 411 shown in Fig. 4 is that the cut line 411 shown in Fig. 5 is formed so as to intersect and cross the second alignment mark 211 formed on the front surface 401 of the second test paper. Similarly, the difference between the cut line 412 shown in Fig. 5 and the cut line 412 shown in Fig. 4 is that the cut line 411 shown in Fig. 5 is formed so as to intersect and cross the second alignment mark 212 formed on the back surface 402 of the second test paper.

[0033] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the front surface 501 of a second test paper cut along the cutting lines 411 and 412 shown in Fig. 5. As shown in Fig. 6, the second test paper is cut along the cutting lines 411 and 412 shown in Fig. 4, so that the second alignment mark 211 is formed on the front surface 501 of the cut second test paper by abutting the end portion. This allows the image forming device 100 to allow a person to visually check the cut second test paper from the side to see whether or not the position of the second alignment mark 211 on the front surface 501 of the second test paper is misaligned with the position of the second alignment mark 212 on the back surface 502 of the second test paper.

[0034] 7 and 8, a process for adjusting the print position using a first test paper 703 placed on a document placement table 701 will be described.

[0035] 7 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a first test paper 703 is placed on top of a document 702 placed on a document placement table 701. Document position indicators indicating the position at which the document is placed for each document size are displayed on the document placement table 701. First alignment marks 711 are formed at the four corners on both sides of the first test paper 602 and on the inside of the ends on both sides of the first test paper 602. In other words, second alignment marks are not formed on both sides of the first test paper, but first alignment marks 711 are formed.

[0036] The person places first test paper 703 so that the upper left corner of first test paper 703 overlaps with the document position indicator shown in the upper left corner of document placement table 701. Then, image reading unit 104 reads first alignment mark 711 formed on first test paper 703, and control unit 108 adjusts the print position at which an image is formed on the print paper by image forming unit 105 based on the position of first alignment mark 711 that has been read. Then, control unit 108 causes display unit 108 to display the result of adjusting the print position. In this way, image forming apparatus 100 can adjust the print position and present the result of adjusting the print position to the user.

[0037] 8 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which a second test paper 801 is placed on the first test paper 703, which is placed on the manuscript 702, as exemplified in FIG. 7. The second test paper 801 has no first alignment marks on both sides, but has second alignment marks 811. In other words, in this embodiment, the first test paper and the second test paper are different papers. A person places the second test paper 801 so that the second alignment marks 811 formed on both sides of the second test paper 801 are aligned with the manuscript position indicators formed on the manuscript placement table 701.

[0038] As described above, the image forming device 100 uses a first test paper to adjust the printing position, and is also capable of forming second alignment marks at the ends of both sides of the second test paper, allowing a person to easily visually check whether the printing positions on both sides of the paper are aligned.

[0039] (Modification) As a modified example of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, a first alignment mark and a second alignment mark may be formed on both sides of a single test paper. In other words, a first alignment mark and a second alignment mark may be formed on both sides of each of the first test paper and the second test paper.

[0040] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a second test paper according to this modification. First alignment marks 911 are formed at the four corners of the front surface 901 of the second test paper shown in FIG. 9 and on the inside of the ends of the front surface 901. Furthermore, second alignment marks 211 are formed at the ends of the four sides of the front surface 901 of the second test paper. Furthermore, like the front surface 901, a first alignment mark 912 and a second alignment mark 212 are formed on the back surface 902 of the second test paper shown in FIG. 9. As a result, in the image forming apparatus 100 according to this modification, the control unit 108 adjusts the printing position using the first alignment marks 911 and 912 using one type of test paper, and a person can easily visually check whether the printing positions on both sides of the second test paper match.

[0041] The processes executed in the above-described embodiments are not limited to the process modes exemplified in the above-described embodiments. The above-described functional blocks may be realized using either a logic circuit (hardware) formed in an integrated circuit or the like, or software using a CPU. The processes executed in the above-described embodiments may be executed by multiple computers. For example, the processes executed in the image forming apparatus 100 may be partially executed by another computer, or all of the processes may be shared and executed by multiple computers.

[0042] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and may be replaced with a configuration substantially the same as the configuration shown in the above-mentioned embodiment, a configuration having the same action and effect, or a configuration capable of achieving the same purpose. The present disclosure also includes embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in the different embodiments. Furthermore, by combining the technical means disclosed in each embodiment, a new technical feature can be formed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 100 Image forming apparatus, 101 Memory unit, 102 Operation unit, 103 Display unit, 104 Image reading unit, 105 Image forming unit, 106 Paper conveying unit, 107 Image output unit, 108 Control unit, 201 Front side, 202 Back side, 203 Area, 211 Second alignment mark, 212 Second alignment mark, 401 Front side, 402 Back side, 411 Cut line, 412 Cut line, 501 Front side, 502 Back side, 602 First test paper, 701 Document placement table, 702 Document, 703 First test paper, 711 First alignment mark, 801 Second test paper, 811 Second alignment mark, 901 Front side, 902 Back side, 911 First alignment mark, 912 First alignment mark

Claims

1. a control unit that adjusts the printing positions on both sides of a printing paper using a first test paper having first alignment marks formed on both sides; an image forming unit that forms second alignment marks at overlapping positions on both sides of the second test paper; Equipped with The second alignment mark can be brought into contact with an edge of the second test paper by a predetermined method. Image forming device.

2. The second test paper is rectangular, The second alignment marks can be brought into contact with the ends of the four sides of the second test paper. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

3. The predetermined method is that the image forming unit forms the second alignment mark by contacting an edge of the second test paper. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

4. the image forming unit forms the second alignment mark on the inside of an edge of the second test paper; The predetermined method is that the second test paper is cut across the second alignment mark. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

5. The image forming unit forms a cutting line so as to cross the second alignment mark. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4 .

6. The second alignment mark is made visible from a side of the second test paper by contacting the edge of the second test paper. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

7. The second alignment mark indicates a scale. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

8. The second alignment marks are not formed on both sides of the first test paper, and the first alignment marks are formed on both sides of the first test paper; The first alignment mark is not formed on both sides of the second test paper, and the second alignment mark is formed on both sides of the second test paper. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

9. The first alignment mark and the second alignment mark are formed on both sides of the first test paper and the second test paper, respectively. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 .

Images