Image-forming device

Abstract

To permit high-quality printing processing to a continuous recording medium having an unprintable range.SOLUTION: An image-forming device includes: an image-forming section that forms an image; a transfer section that is provided in the middle of a conveyance path and transfers an image formed by the image-forming section to a continuous recording medium; a reading section that reads an adjustment pattern formed by using the image-forming section; a control section that adjusts the image-forming section on the basis of a reading result of the adjustment pattern by the reading section; a guide section that visually shows a range of the adjustment pattern in a width direction of the conveyance path; a detection section that is provided in the middle of the conveyance path and detects the continuous recording medium; and a notification section that reports that a printable range of the continuous recording medium should be set to a range shown by the guide section when the range of the adjustment pattern in the width direction of the conveyance path is not within the printable range of the continuous recording medium on the basis of a detection result of the detection section.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 20

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and is suitably applied to, for example, an apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by an electrophotographic method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, electrophotographic image forming apparatuses that have been widely used include, for example, a control unit that generates print data based on a print job supplied from a predetermined upper device, a transport unit that transports paper as a recording medium, an image forming unit that forms a toner image based on the print data, a fixing unit that fixes the toner image onto the paper, etc. Also widely used as image forming apparatuses are those configured in an intermediate transfer system in which a toner image formed by the image forming unit is transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt, and the toner image is then transferred from the intermediate transfer belt onto the paper.

[0003] In this image forming apparatus, for example, the density or position of the image printed on the paper may deviate from the appropriate value or range due to the ambient temperature or humidity, or the variation of various parts. In response to this, an image forming apparatus has been proposed in which a predetermined adjustment pattern (density detection image) is formed outside the range of the recording medium in the width direction (main scanning direction) of the intermediate transfer belt (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this image forming apparatus, a reading unit consisting of a reflected light optical sensor or the like reads the adjustment pattern from the intermediate transfer belt, and based on the reading result, the density of the image formed by the image forming unit is appropriately adjusted, thereby enabling high-quality printing processing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-227336 A (FIG. 11, etc.) Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Incidentally, when an image forming apparatus is configured for so-called commercial use, it is configured in various ways according to its use and purpose. For example, an image forming apparatus may be configured to handle a recording medium (hereinafter also referred to as a continuous recording medium) in which a plurality of sticker-like labels with adhesive attached to the backing are affixed in a line along the longitudinal direction of a roll of long die-cut label paper wound in a roll, that is, a backing paper made of a long release paper. The backing paper has a surface coated with a specific resin or the like so that the labels can be easily peeled off, making it difficult for a fixing unit to fix a toner image thereon.

[0006] When using such die-cut label paper, if an adjustment pattern is formed on a backing portion where fixing is difficult in an image forming device, the toner of the adjustment pattern may not be fixed properly in that backing portion, soiling the fixing unit, and there is also the possibility that the fixing unit may soil the label paper that is transported later.In the following, with regard to die-cut label paper, the range where a label is affixed and where the toner image can be fixed properly is referred to as the printable range, and the range of the backing portion where no label is affixed and where it is difficult to fix the toner image is referred to as the unprintable range.

[0007] As described above, conventional image forming devices had problems in that when forming an adjustment pattern on a continuous recording medium having an unprintable area, such as die-cut label paper, there was a risk of a decrease in print quality and the need for maintenance work.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to propose an image forming apparatus capable of performing high-quality printing processing on a continuous recording medium having an unprintable area. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve this problem, the image forming apparatus of the present invention comprises a medium insertion unit, a transport unit that transports the continuous recording medium set in the medium insertion unit along a transport path, an image forming unit that forms an image, a transfer unit that is provided halfway along the transport path and transfers the image formed by the image forming unit to the continuous recording medium, a reading unit that reads the adjustment pattern formed using the image forming unit, a control unit that adjusts the image forming unit based on the reading result of the adjustment pattern by the reading unit, a guide unit that visually indicates the range of the adjustment pattern in the width direction of the transport path, a detection unit that is provided halfway along the transport path and detects the continuous recording medium, and a notification unit that, based on the detection result of the detection unit, notifies the user to set the printable range of the continuous recording medium to the range indicated by the guide unit if the range of the adjustment pattern in the width direction of the transport path is not within the printable range of the continuous recording medium.

[0010] In this way, when the range of the adjustment pattern in the width direction of the transport path is not located within the printable range of the continuous recording medium, a notification is provided to set the printable range of the continuous recording medium to the range indicated by the guide portion, thereby making it possible to avoid printing the adjustment pattern outside the printable range of the continuous recording medium (i.e., the unprintable range). This makes it possible for the present invention to appropriately adjust the image forming unit based on the results of reading the adjustment pattern, and to prevent the developer, etc. that constitutes the image from being fixed in the unprintable range of the continuous recording medium and thereby soiling various parts, or to prevent the developer, etc. from soiling other parts of the continuous recording medium. Effect of the Invention

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize an image forming apparatus capable of performing high-quality printing processing on a continuous recording medium having an unprintable area. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the image forming apparatus. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a continuous recording medium. [Figure 4] 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of adjustment pattern image data. [Diagram 5] 5 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of adjustment patterns on a continuous recording medium. [Figure 6] 13 is a flowchart showing a density / position adjustment process procedure. [Figure 7] 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a density / position adjustment pattern generating process. [Figure 8] 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a suitable adjusted image data generating process. [Figure 9] 13 is a flowchart showing a first allocation process procedure. [Figure 10] 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an adjustment pattern replacement process. [Figure 11] 13 is a flowchart showing a second allocation process procedure. [Figure 12] 13 is a flowchart showing a third allocation process procedure. [Figure 13] 13 is a flowchart showing a fourth allocation process procedure. [Figure 14] 13 is a flowchart showing a fifth allocation process procedure. [Figure 15] 11A and 11B are schematic diagrams illustrating the allocation of adjustment patterns and blank spaces by a first allocation process. [Figure 16] 13A and 13B are schematic diagrams illustrating the allocation of adjustment patterns and blank spaces by a second allocation process. [Figure 17] 13A and 13B are schematic diagrams illustrating the allocation of adjustment patterns and blank spaces by a third allocation process. [Figure 18] 13 is a schematic diagram showing the allocation of adjustment patterns and blank spaces by a fourth allocation process. FIG. [Figure 19] 13 is a schematic diagram showing the allocation of adjustment patterns and blank spaces by a fifth allocation process. FIG. [Figure 20] FIG. 2 is a top view illustrating a configuration of the image forming apparatus. [Figure 21]FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an operation when a continuous recording medium is reset. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] [1. Configuration of image forming device] As shown in Fig. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured as an electrophotographic printer and is configured to print a desired color image, for example, on a long continuous recording medium P. Fig. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 is broadly composed of a main body section 2 that performs printing processing on the continuous recording medium P, a supply section 3 that supplies the continuous recording medium P to the main body section 2, and a winding section 4 that winds up the continuous recording medium P after the printing processing.

[0015] For ease of explanation, in the following, the supply section 3 side will be referred to as the front side, the winding section 4 side as the rear side, the front side of the paper in Figure 1 will be referred to as the right side, and the rear side will be referred to as the left side. Furthermore, we will define upper and lower sides, and then explain each part.

[0016] The main body 2 is provided with a control unit 6 that performs overall control inside a rectangular parallelepiped housing 5. A display operation unit 7 is provided on the front side of the upper surface of the main body 2. The control unit 6 is connected wirelessly or wired to a host device 100 (FIG. 2) such as a personal computer via a predetermined network (details will be described later).

[0017] The display operation unit 7 is configured as a touch panel that combines a display device such as a liquid crystal panel and an operation device such as a touch sensor. That is, the display operation unit 7 displays various information based on the control of the control unit 6. The display operation unit 7 also accepts touch operations by the user and transmits the contents of the operations to the control unit 6.

[0018] When the control unit 6 receives a print job including image data to be printed and print instructions from the higher-level device 100, it generates print data based on the print job and starts a printing process to print an image based on this data on the continuous recording medium P.

[0019] The continuous recording medium P is a so-called long sheet of paper, and has a sufficient length along the transport direction in which it is transported (more details will be described later). During the manufacturing process, the continuous recording medium P is wound around a cylindrical or columnar core material with a relatively small diameter, i.e., spirally, so that the continuous recording medium P is formed into a cylindrical shape with a relatively large diameter as a whole. Hereinafter, the portion of the continuous recording medium P that is wound around the core material and formed into a cylindrical shape is referred to as the supply roll portion PR1.

[0020] The supply section 3 rotatably supports the core material of the supply roll section PR1, and while appropriately rotating the supply roll section PR1, the continuous recording medium P is sequentially peeled off from the outermost portion of the supply roll section PR1 and supplied to the main body section 2.

[0021] The main body 2 has four image forming units 10 (10K, 10C, 10M, 10Y) arranged in a row along the front-to-rear direction at the top inside the rectangular parallelepiped housing 5. From the front, the image forming units 10 correspond to the colors black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y).

[0022] Each image forming unit 10 is composed of a toner cartridge 11, an image forming main body 12, an exposure unit 13, etc. The toner cartridge 11 contains toner as a developer. The image forming main body 12 is provided with a photosensitive drum 14 and various rollers, all of which are rotatable. The exposure unit 13 is also called an exposure head, etc., and has a plurality of light-emitting elements such as LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes).

[0023] Based on the printing data supplied from the control unit 6, each image forming unit 10 appropriately exposes the photosensitive drum 14 using the exposure unit 13, and develops it using toner of each color, thereby forming a toner image of each color on the surface of the photosensitive drum 14.

[0024] The intermediate transfer section 20 is disposed below each image forming unit 10 and is composed of a number of rotatable rollers, such as a drive roller 21, a driven roller 22, a secondary transfer roller 23, a tension roller 24 and four primary transfer rollers 25, as well as an intermediate transfer belt 26.

[0025] The drive roller 21 is disposed toward the rear within the housing 5. The driven roller 22 is disposed toward the front within the housing 5, and rotates by a driving force supplied from a drive motor (not shown). The secondary transfer roller 23 is disposed toward the bottom within the housing 5. The tension roller 24 is disposed forward of the drive roller 21 and above the secondary transfer roller 23.

[0026] The four primary transfer rollers 25 are disposed between the drive roller 21 and the driven roller 22, directly below each image forming unit 10 and facing each photoconductor drum 14. A predetermined high voltage is applied to the primary transfer rollers 25. For convenience of explanation, each primary transfer roller 25 is also referred to as a primary transfer unit hereinafter.

[0027] The intermediate transfer belt 26 is a flexible endless belt that is stretched so as to rotate while being in contact with the outside of the drive roller 21, the four primary transfer rollers 25, the driven roller 22, and the secondary transfer roller 23, and with the inside of the tension roller 24. A reading unit 28 is provided on the outer circumferential surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 26 near the driven roller 22. The reading unit 28 photographs the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 26, generates read image data representing the obtained reading result, and supplies the data to the control unit 6.

[0028] In the intermediate transfer section 20, while the intermediate transfer belt 26 is running by rotating the drive roller 21, the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum 14 of each image forming unit 10 to the intermediate transfer belt 26 by each primary transfer roller 25, and the toner image reaches the vicinity of the secondary transfer roller 23.

[0029] Meanwhile, in the lowest part of the housing 5, i.e., the part below the intermediate transfer unit 20, a conveying path W for conveying the continuous recording medium P is formed by a plurality of parts and the like along the approximately front-rear direction. The main body 2 has a medium insertion unit 200 at the lower front part of the housing 5, and a medium discharge unit 201 at the lower rear part of the housing 5. The medium insertion unit 200 is a tray-shaped member that protrudes forward from the lower front part of the housing 5, and is connected to the front end of the conveying path W. The medium discharge unit 201 is a tray-shaped member that protrudes backward from the lower rear part of the housing 5, and is connected to the rear end of the conveying path W. The continuous recording medium P supplied from the supply unit 3 to the main body 2 is inserted from the medium insertion unit 200 to the front end side of the conveying path W, and is discharged from the rear end side of the conveying path W to the medium discharge unit 201.

[0030] 20, which is a top view of the image forming apparatus 1, the medium inserting section 200 is provided with a butting guide 210 that regulates the position of one end (e.g., the right end) of the continuous recording medium P in the width direction, and a guide mark 211. The butting guide 210 is provided on the placement surface of the medium inserting section 200 on which the continuous recording medium P is placed, and is a plate-like member that extends in the front-rear direction of the medium inserting section 200, and is slidable in the width direction (left-right direction) of the medium inserting section 200. A user of the image forming apparatus 1 slides the butting guide 210 to a desired position, and sets the continuous recording medium P in the image forming apparatus 1 by butting one end (e.g., the right end) of the continuous recording medium P against the butting guide 210.

[0031] Guide mark 211 is formed at a predetermined position on the loading surface of medium insertion unit 200 and is a triangular mark for guiding the setting position of the continuous recording medium P. This guide mark 211 is formed with one apex on the front side and the remaining two apexes on the left and right sides. As will be described in detail later, in image forming apparatus 1, continuous recording medium P is set in medium insertion unit 200 so that guide mark 211 fits between one end and the other end in the width direction (left and right direction) of label PB, which is the printable range of continuous recording medium P, which is die-cut label paper.

[0032] Returning to FIG. 1, a transport section 30 is provided at the frontmost portion of the transport path W, that is, at the rear side of the medium insertion section 200.

[0033] The transport section 30 is composed of a plurality of transport rollers 31, an entrance sensor 202, a position detection section 32, and a transport guide (not shown). The transport rollers 31 are arranged on the upper and lower sides of the transport path W, facing each other, and rotate by a driving force supplied from a transport motor (not shown), to transport the continuous recording medium P backward. The entrance sensor 202 is provided near the entrance of the transport path W (i.e., near the medium insertion section 200), and has, for example, a light-emitting element that emits light and an optical sensor that receives light. The entrance sensor 202 detects the feeding of the continuous recording medium P. The position detection section 32 is provided behind the entrance sensor 202 (downstream in the medium transport direction), and has, for example, a light-emitting element that emits light and an optical sensor that receives light. The position detection section 32 detects the position of each label PB on the continuous recording medium P.

[0034] Behind the conveying section 30, the secondary transfer roller 23 of the intermediate transfer section 20 described above is disposed so as to abut against the upper side of the conveying path W. A secondary transfer opposing roller 33 is disposed below the secondary transfer roller 23 at a position facing the secondary transfer roller 23. A predetermined high voltage is applied to the secondary transfer opposing roller 33. Hereinafter, the secondary transfer roller 23 and the secondary transfer opposing roller 33 are collectively referred to as a secondary transfer section 34.

[0035] This secondary transfer section 34 transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt 26 to the continuous recording medium P when the portion on the intermediate transfer belt 26 to which the toner image has been transferred reaches the secondary transfer section 34 and the continuous recording medium P reaches the vicinity of the secondary transfer section 34 along the conveying path W.

[0036] A fixing unit 35 is provided behind the secondary transfer unit 34. The fixing unit 35 has two rotatable rollers disposed at positions sandwiching the transport path W, and applies heat and pressure to the continuous recording medium P transported along the transport path W by the rollers. In this way, the fixing unit 35 can fix the toner image to the continuous recording medium P. The fixing unit 35 also has a cleaning member 35C for cleaning the rollers (described in detail later).

[0037] Behind the fixing unit 35, there are provided discharge rollers 36, a line sensor 203, and a discharge sensor 204. The discharge rollers 36 are configured similarly to the conveying rollers 31 of the conveying unit 30, and are rotated by a driving force supplied from a motor (not shown). As a result, the discharge rollers 36 advance the continuous recording medium P backward, and discharge it into the medium discharge unit 201 provided behind the housing 5.

[0038] The line sensor 203 is an optical sensor extending in the width direction of the transport path W, and reads the continuous recording medium P in the width direction of the continuous recording medium P. The discharge sensor 204 is provided behind the line sensor 203 and near the exit of the transport path W (i.e., near the medium discharge unit 201), and has, for example, a light emitting element that emits light and an optical sensor that receives light. The discharge sensor 204 detects the discharge of the continuous recording medium P.

[0039] The winding unit 4 is disposed behind the medium discharge unit 201. The winding unit 4 rotatably supports a core material aligned in the left-right direction, and rotates the core material in the direction of arrow R2 by a driving force supplied from a motor (not shown). In this way, the winding unit 4 winds the continuous recording medium P on which a toner image is printed around the core material, forming a cylindrical discharge roll unit PR2. Hereinafter, the series of processes of forming a toner image and transferring and fixing the toner image to the continuous recording medium P, i.e., the process of printing an image, will be referred to as a printing process.

[0040] Next, the circuit configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described with reference to the block diagram of Fig. 2. In the image forming apparatus 1, a control unit 6 that performs overall control of the apparatus is connected to a storage unit 41, a communication unit 42, the above-mentioned reading unit 28, a position detection unit 32, and various sensors such as an entrance sensor 202, a line sensor 203, and a discharge sensor 204. In addition, a print image processing unit 45, a transport control unit 46, a primary transfer control unit 47, a secondary transfer control unit 48, a fixing control unit 49, etc. are also connected to the control unit 6.

[0041] The control unit 6 is mainly composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown) and has a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. (not shown) as well as various circuits. The control unit 6 reads out and executes a predetermined program from the ROM, the storage unit 41, etc., to perform various processes related to printing, etc.

[0042] The storage unit 41 is a non-volatile storage medium such as a flash memory or a hard disk drive, and stores various programs, data, etc. Based on the control of the storage unit 41 and the control unit 6, it can also temporarily store, for example, a print job and print data generated based on the print job.

[0043] The communication unit 42 functions as an interface for a wired LAN (Local Area Network) conforming to standards such as IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.3u / ab / an / ae, or a wireless LAN conforming to standards such as IEEE 802.11a / b / g / n / ac / ax, etc. The communication unit 42 can transmit and receive various information to and from the higher-level device 100, a predetermined server device (not shown), etc.

[0044] The reading unit 28 reads an adjustment image (described in detail later) transferred to a predetermined position in the width direction of the intermediate transfer belt 26 (FIG. 1), and transmits the obtained reading result to the control unit 6. The position detection unit 32 detects the presence or absence of the continuous recording medium P and the presence or absence of the label PB (FIG. 20) transported along the transport path W (FIG. 1), and transmits the obtained detection result to the control unit 6. The entrance sensor 202 detects the presence or absence of the continuous recording medium P and the presence or absence of the label PB transported along the transport path W, and transmits the obtained detection result to the control unit 6. The line sensor 203 detects the position in the width direction of the continuous recording medium P transported along the transport path W, and transmits the obtained detection result to the control unit 6. The discharge sensor 204 detects the presence or absence of the continuous recording medium P and the presence or absence of the label PB transported along the transport path W, and transmits the obtained detection result to the control unit 6.

[0045] The print image processing unit 45 generates print data based on a print job received from the upper device 100, and supplies the print data to the exposure unit 13, thereby exposing an image based on the print data onto the photosensitive drum 14. The transport control unit 46 controls a transport motor (not shown) and the like to appropriately rotate the transport rollers 31 and the like in the transport unit 30, thereby transporting the continuous recording medium P.

[0046] The primary transfer control unit 47 controls the rotation of the primary transfer roller 25 and the voltage applied to the primary transfer roller 25 to transfer the toner image from the photoconductor drum 14 to the intermediate transfer belt 26 (hereinafter referred to as primary transfer). The secondary transfer control unit 48 controls the secondary transfer unit 34 to transfer the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt 26 to the continuous recording medium P (hereinafter referred to as secondary transfer). The fixing control unit 49 controls the fixing unit 35 to fix the toner image transferred to the continuous recording medium P at an appropriate temperature.

[0047] Furthermore, the control unit 6 reads out and executes a predetermined program from the storage unit 41, thereby forming a medium information acquisition unit 51 and an allocation determination unit 52 as functional blocks therein. The medium information acquisition unit 51 acquires information regarding various ranges, such as the length of the range in which a toner image can be printed on the continuous recording medium P, based on various data included in the print job received from the higher-level device 100. The allocation determination unit 52 performs a process of determining the arrangement of adjustment patterns, which will be described later.

[0048] Furthermore, using the detection results obtained from the entrance sensor 202 and the detection results obtained from the position detection unit 32, the medium information acquisition unit 51 performs a process to determine whether or not the transfer range of the adjustment image in the width direction of the conveying path W is located within the label PB of the continuous recording medium P when transferring the adjustment image transferred to a predetermined location in the width direction of the intermediate transfer belt 26 (Figure 1) to the continuous recording medium P.

[0049] 20, the reading unit 28 reads the adjusted image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 26 (FIG. 1) within a rectangular reading area Ra1 set on the intermediate transfer belt 26. That is, in order for the reading unit 28 to read the adjusted image being transported forward by the intermediate transfer belt 26, the adjusted image must pass inside the width direction of this reading area Ra1.

[0050] For this reason, in the image forming apparatus 1, the adjustment image is transferred to a location on the intermediate transfer belt 26 in the width direction that corresponds to the reading area Ra1 so that the adjustment image passes inside the reading area Ra1 in the width direction. The adjustment image transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 26 in this manner is transferred to the continuous recording medium P by the secondary transfer unit 34 (FIG. 1). At this time, the adjustment image is transferred within a transfer range Ra2 on the conveying path W, where the positions of both ends in the width direction coincide with those of the reading area Ra1.

[0051] In response to this, the entrance sensor 202 is adapted to detect the presence or absence of a label PB on the continuous recording medium P transported by the transport unit 30 (FIG. 1) at a detection position Pt1 set on the transport path W. The position detection unit 32 is adapted to detect the presence or absence of a label PB on the continuous recording medium P transported by the transport unit 30 at a detection position Pt2 set on the transport path W. Here, the detection position Pt1 of the entrance sensor 202 and the detection position Pt2 of the position detection unit 32 disposed downstream of the entrance sensor 202 in the transport direction are shifted in the width direction of the transport path W.

[0052] Therefore, if the inlet sensor 202 and the position detection unit 32 each detect the label PB while the continuous recording medium P is being transported a predetermined amount, this means that the label PB is located between the detection position Pt1 and the detection position Pt2.

[0053] Furthermore, the detection position Pt1 of the entrance sensor 202 is located at the same position in the width direction of the conveying path W as one width end of the reading area Ra1 of the reading unit 28 (i.e., one width end of the transfer range Ra2, for example, the right end), and the detection position Pt2 of the position detection unit 32 is located at the same position in the width direction of the conveying path W as the other width end of the reading area Ra1 of the reading unit 28 (i.e., the other width end of the transfer range Ra2, for example, the left end).

[0054] For this reason, if the entrance sensor 202 and the position detection unit 32 each detect the label PB, this means that the transfer range Ra2 when the adjusted image passing between one end and the other end of the reading area Ra1 in the width direction is transferred to the continuous recording medium P is located inside the label PB, that is, the adjusted image is transferred between one end and the other end in the width direction of the label PB. On the other hand, if at least one of the entrance sensor 202 and the position detection unit 32 does not detect the label PB, this means that at least a part of the transfer range Ra2 when the adjusted image is transferred to the continuous recording medium P is located outside the label PB, that is, at least a part of the adjusted image is transferred outside between one end and the other end in the width direction of the label PB.

[0055] For the above reasons, the medium information acquisition unit 51 of the control unit 6 uses the detection results of the entrance sensor 202 and the position detection unit 32 to determine whether or not the transfer range Ra2 of the adjustment image in the width direction of the transport path W is located within the label PB of the continuous recording medium P. As shown in Fig. 20, the detection position Pt3 of the discharge sensor 204 is located, for example, at the center in the width direction of the reading area Ra1.

[0056] The above-mentioned guide mark 211 has a size (i.e. width) in the width direction of the conveying path W that is approximately the same as the reading area Ra1 and the transfer area Ra2, and is provided at the same position as the reading area Ra1 and the transfer area Ra2 in the width direction of the conveying path W. For this reason, in the image forming apparatus 1, if the continuous recording medium P is set so that the guide mark 211 is between one end and the other end of the label PB in the width direction (left and right direction), an adjustment image can be printed on the label PB at least in the width direction of the continuous recording medium P.

[0057] [2. Configuration of Continuous Recording Medium and Adjustment Pattern] Next, the structure of the continuous recording medium P will be described. As shown in the schematic plan view of Fig. 3(A), the continuous recording medium P is configured as a die-cut label paper, with a backing paper PM made of so-called release paper and multiple labels PB made of so-called stickers. Incidentally, Fig. 3 shows the printable surface (hereinafter also referred to as the printing surface or front surface) of the continuous recording medium P as viewed from the front.

[0058] The mount PM is a release paper having a release surface that has been specially processed to enhance its releasability, and can hold an adhesive substance attached thereto while allowing the substance to be peeled off relatively easily. However, it is difficult to transfer or fix toner to the release surface of the mount PM, and images cannot be printed on the release surface. The mount PM is formed long and aligned along the running direction in the image forming apparatus 1. Hereinafter, this direction will also be referred to as the running direction, the transport direction, or the sub-scanning direction.

[0059] Each label PB is formed in the same rectangular shape, and its front surface is configured as a printable printing surface, while its back surface is configured as an attachment surface to which a sticky adhesive is attached. Each label PB is aligned and attached to the front surface of the mount PM at equal intervals along the running direction (i.e., the conveying direction) in which the conveying unit 30 (FIG. 1) runs during printing, with the label period LK being one period.

[0060] Specifically, in the continuous recording medium P, a number of labels PB are aligned along the running direction on a backing paper PM, with a fixed length of label gap PG between them. Therefore, on the surface of the continuous recording medium P, in the running direction, there are alternately arranged printable areas AB where a toner image can be printed due to the presence of the labels PB, and non-printable areas AG which are equivalent to the label gap PG and where a toner image cannot be printed because the backing paper PM is exposed.

[0061] In the following, the length of the label PB in the running direction is referred to as the label length LB, and the length of the label gap PG is referred to as the label gap length LG. The period at which the labels PB appear along the running direction is referred to as the label period LK. In other words, the relationship of the mathematical formula (LK=LN+LM) is established. Furthermore, the length of each label PB in the direction perpendicular to the running direction (hereinafter also referred to as the main scanning direction or width direction) is referred to as the label width WB, and the length of the exposed portion of the backing paper PM is referred to as the label width interval WG. In the following, the range on the label PB that can be printed in the width direction, i.e., the range equivalent to the label width WB, is referred to as the width direction printable range.

[0062] In the continuous recording medium P, the label width interval WG on each side may be the same, or the label width interval WG1 on the left side and the label width interval WG2 on the right side may be different, that is, each label PB may be arranged in a position offset to the right or left side with respect to the backing paper PM. Also, in Fig. 3(A), the upper side is the leading side during conveyance, and the lower side is the trailing side. That is, the continuous recording medium P is conveyed in a posture in which the leading side is located at the rear side and the trailing side is located at the front side in the conveyance section 30 (Fig. 1) of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0063] 3B, there is also a continuous recording medium P2 in which a plurality of labels PB (for example, two) are arranged in the width direction. In this continuous recording medium P2, in the width direction, the label width WB1, which is the length of the leftmost label PB1, and the label width WB2, which is the length of the label PB2 to the right of it, may be the same as each other or may be different from each other. In this continuous recording medium P2, when the length of the exposed part of the backing paper PM is defined as the label width intervals WG1, WG2, and WG3 from the left side, the label width intervals WG1, WG2, and WG3 may be the same as each other, or may be partially the same as each other, or may be different from each other.

[0064] Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 3C, it is assumed that n sheets of labels PB (where n is a natural number of 2 or more) are arranged in the width direction on the continuous recording medium Pn. Also, the label widths are WB1, WB2, ..., WBn from the left, and the length of the exposed part of the mount PM is the label width interval WG1, WG2, ..., WG(n+1) from the left. In such a continuous recording medium Pn, each label width WB1, WB2, ..., WBn may be all the same, or a part of them may be the same, or they may be different from each other. Also, in the continuous recording medium Pn, each label width WB1, WB2, ..., WBn may be all the same, or a part of them may be the same, or they may be different from each other.

[0065] Incidentally, continuous recording media P are manufactured with various values ​​for the label length LB of the label PB and the label gap length LG of the label gap PG in order to accommodate various uses. Thus, the print job supplied from the higher-level device 100 to the image forming apparatus 1 includes not only data representing the image to be printed, but also medium information, which is various information related to the continuous recording medium P to be used, such as the label width WB, label length LB, and label gap length LG. By reading out this medium information from the print job, the image forming apparatus 1 can appropriately print an image within the range of the label PB on the continuous recording medium P, i.e., the printable range AB.

[0066] Furthermore, on the back surface of the backing paper PM of the continuous recording medium P, i.e., the surface on which the labels PB are not affixed (hereinafter also referred to as the non-printing surface), a predetermined position mark (not shown) is printed in advance in accordance with the position of the leading edge of each label PB. This position mark is, for example, a tiny rectangle filled with black, and is also called a black mark. In the image forming apparatus 1, the position detection unit 32 (FIG. 1) of the conveying unit 30 detects this position mark, thereby accurately detecting the position of each label PB.

[0067] Next, the adjustment patterns will be described. The adjustment pattern image data D shown in FIG. 4 is stored in advance in the storage unit 41 (FIG. 2) of the image forming apparatus 1. The adjustment pattern image data D as an adjustment image is image data in which a plurality of (for example, four) adjustment patterns T (T1, T2, T3, and T4) are arranged inside a rectangular background portion B of a predetermined size. The adjustment pattern image data D is arranged so that the upper side in FIG. 4 corresponds to the leading side of the continuous recording medium P, and the lower side corresponds to the trailing side of the continuous recording medium P.

[0068] The background portion B is white and is an area without any images, patterns, etc. The four adjustment patterns T1 to T4 are each formed as a square that is relatively small compared to the background portion B. Each adjustment pattern T is positioned in the center of the background portion B in the main scanning direction and is disposed so as to leave a constant adjustment pattern gap TG between each of the adjustment patterns in the sub-scanning direction, i.e., so as to be equally spaced from each other.

[0069] In the following, the length of one side of the adjustment pattern T is referred to as the adjustment pattern length LP, and the length of the adjustment pattern gap TG in the sub-scanning direction is referred to as the adjustment pattern gap length LQ. Furthermore, the period at which each adjustment pattern T appears in the sub-scanning direction is referred to as the adjustment pattern period LS. In other words, the relationship of the mathematical formula (LS=LP+LQ) holds. Moreover, a combination of one adjustment pattern T and one adjustment pattern gap TG is referred to as one adjustment pattern set.

[0070] Incidentally, in the image forming apparatus 1, in order to properly detect the density and position of the toner image based on the performance of the reading unit 28, etc., the minimum distance that should be provided between the adjustment patterns T in the sub-scanning direction is the adjustment pattern gap length LQ.

[0071] Moreover, the image data width WD, which is the length in the main scanning direction in the adjustment pattern image data D, is the maximum length along the main operation direction in a toner image that can be formed by the image forming unit 10, and is sufficiently larger than the adjustment pattern length LP. On the other hand, the image data length LD, which is the length in the sub-scanning direction in the adjustment pattern image data D, is equal to four times the value obtained by adding the adjustment pattern length LP and the adjustment pattern gap length LQ (i.e., the adjustment pattern period LS).

[0072] Furthermore, the four adjustment patterns T1 to T4 are filled in with different densities and are arranged so that the density decreases from the beginning to the end. That is, the adjustment pattern T1 with the highest density is arranged at the very beginning. For convenience of explanation, hereinafter, the adjustment pattern T1 with the highest density is also referred to as the first adjustment pattern.

[0073] [3. Cleaning the fixing unit with cleaning materials] Incidentally, as described above, the fixing unit 35 is provided with the cleaning member 35C. When toner adheres to the roller of the fixing unit 35, the cleaning member 35C scrapes off the toner and cleans it. Therefore, for example, when the toner of the four adjustment patterns T1 to T4 is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 26 to the continuous recording medium P but is not fixed to the continuous recording medium P and adheres to the roller, the cleaning member 35C can scrape off the toner, i.e., clean it.

[0074] However, cleaning member 35C is a member that requires maintenance depending on usage. That is, after cleaning member 35C performs a process of scraping off an amount of toner corresponding to one set of adjustment patterns T1 to T4 from the roller a predetermined number of times (for example, twice), it becomes difficult for cleaning member 35C to properly scrape off new toner, and maintenance is required.

[0075] In other words, in the image forming apparatus 1, even if the toner of the adjustment pattern T cannot be fixed to the continuous recording medium P, if the cleaning member 35C has been maintained, the process of transferring a set of adjustment patterns T1 to T4 to the intermediate transfer belt 26 and correcting the density, etc. can be performed a predetermined number of times (e.g., twice).

[0076] Therefore, the control unit 6 of the image forming apparatus 1 executes a process to correct the density, etc., each time a printing process is performed on a continuous recording medium P of a specified length, and does not execute the process to correct the density, etc., after maintenance of the cleaning member 35C becomes necessary.

[0077] For example, the control unit 6 prestores an initial cleaning count NCB, which is an initial value of the number of times that the cleaning member 35C can clean an amount of toner equivalent to one set of adjustment patterns T1 to T4, and also acquires a length LP1 of the continuous recording medium P in its running direction in an unused state together with a print job from the host device 100. Then, the control unit 6 calculates a density adjustment distance LP2 by calculation processing (LP1 / NCB), and performs processing to correct the density, etc. before starting printing processing on the continuous recording medium P and each time printing of the density adjustment distance LP2 is completed.

[0078] In this way, even if there is a risk that the toner of the adjustment pattern T will not be fixed to the continuous recording medium P in the fixing section 35 and will stain the roller, the image forming device 1 can perform a process to correct the density using the adjustment pattern T by taking into account the cleaning of the roller by the cleaning member 35C.

[0079] [4. Adjustment of density and position of toner image] In the image forming apparatus 1, when adjusting the density and position of a toner image, the image forming unit 10 transfers the adjustment pattern T to the intermediate transfer belt 26, which is then read by the reading unit 28, and the density and position of the toner image formed by the image forming unit 10 are adjusted based on the obtained reading result. Therefore, for the purpose of adjusting the density and position of the toner image, the position at which each adjustment pattern T on the intermediate transfer belt 26 is transferred to the continuous recording medium P in the secondary transfer unit 34 has no effect.

[0080] For example, if the adjustment pattern image data D (FIG. 4) were printed directly onto the continuous recording medium P (FIG. 3) in the image forming apparatus 1, the result would be the state as shown in FIG. 5(A) (hereinafter referred to as the uncorrected print state MD0). In this uncorrected print state MD0, a portion of the adjustment pattern T extends beyond the label PB and overlaps with the label gap PG, and is transferred onto the backing paper PM.

[0081] In the case of this uncorrected print state MD0, in the image forming apparatus 1, as in the case described above for the conventional image forming apparatus, the toner image cannot be properly fixed to the mount PM in the fixing unit 35, which may result in soiling of the fixing unit 35. In that case, in the image forming apparatus 1, as in the case described above, the continuous recording medium P subsequently conveyed to the fixing unit 35 will be soiled, resulting in wasteful consumption of toner and the continuous recording medium P and the need for maintenance work to clean the fixing unit 35.

[0082] Therefore, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, the position of each adjustment pattern T in the adjustment pattern image data D is appropriately assigned so that each adjustment pattern T does not overlap the label gap PG when transferred to the continuous recording medium P, as in the modified printing state MD1 shown in FIG. 5(B) which corresponds to FIG. 5(A).

[0083] [4-1. Density and position adjustment processing] Next, a specific density / position adjustment process procedure for adjusting the density and position of an image printed on the continuous recording medium P in the image forming apparatus 1 will be described in detail. When the control unit 6 of the image forming apparatus 1 receives a print job from the upper device 100 instructing printing of an adjustment pattern, it reads out a density / position adjustment process program from the storage unit 41 (FIG. 2) and executes it. This causes the control unit 6 to start the density / position adjustment process procedure RT1 according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, and proceeds to the first step SP1. In addition to medium information related to the continuous recording medium P, this print job also includes the adjustment pattern print count, which indicates the number of adjustment patterns T to be printed, and the like.

[0084] In step SP1, the control unit 6 executes a density / position adjustment pattern generation process as a subroutine (described in detail later) to generate image data of the density / position adjustment pattern modified to fit the continuous recording medium P, and then proceeds to the next step SP2. Hereinafter, the image data generated at this time will be referred to as "adjusted image data."

[0085] In step SP2, the control unit 6 determines whether or not the adaptive adjustment image data was generated in step SP1. If a positive result is obtained here, this indicates that a toner image of a density / position adjustment pattern based on the adaptive adjustment image data can be generated on the intermediate transfer belt 26, and that this can be used to adjust the position and density of the toner image. In this case, the control unit 6 proceeds to the next step SP3.

[0086] In step SP3, the control unit 6 causes the image forming unit 10 to generate a toner image based on the adaptation adjustment image data and transfers (i.e., primary transfer) this to the intermediate transfer belt 26, and then proceeds to the next step SP4. In step SP4, the control unit 6 causes the reading unit 28 (FIGS. 1 and 2) to read the toner image (i.e., the density / position adjustment pattern) on the intermediate transfer belt 26, and obtains read image data representing the reading result from the reading unit 28, and then proceeds to the next step SP5.

[0087] In step SP5, the control unit 6 adjusts the density and position of the toner image formed by the image forming unit 10 by appropriately adjusting various applied voltages and the timing of the exposure process in the image forming unit 10 based on the read image data, and then proceeds to the next step SP6.

[0088] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP2, this indicates that the toner image of the density / position adjustment pattern cannot be generated on the intermediate transfer belt 26 because the adaptive adjustment image data has not been generated, i.e., the position or density of the toner image cannot be adjusted. In this case, the control unit 6 proceeds to the next step SP6. In step SP6, the control unit 6 ends the density / position adjustment processing procedure RT1.

[0089] [4-2. Density and position adjustment pattern generation process] Next, the density / position adjustment pattern generation process executed as a subroutine in step SP1 of the density / position adjustment process procedure RT1 (FIG. 6) will be described. In step SP1 of the density / position adjustment process procedure RT1, the control unit 6 reads out a density / position adjustment pattern generation process program from the storage unit 41 (FIG. 2) and executes it. As a result, the control unit 6 forms the medium information acquisition unit 51 and the allocation determination unit 52 (FIG. 2) as functional blocks therein, starts the density / position adjustment pattern generation process procedure RT2 according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, and proceeds to the first step SP21.

[0090] Incidentally, the memory unit 41 stores the remaining number of cleaning times NCR, which is the number of times that the cleaning member 35C of the fixing unit 35 can clean an amount of toner equivalent to one set of adjustment patterns T1 to T4 before maintenance is required, for the cleaning member 35C of the fixing unit 35 at that time.

[0091] In step SP21, the control unit 6 reads medium information about the continuous recording medium P from the print job received from the higher-level device 100, and proceeds to the next step SP22. Specifically, the control unit 6 uses the medium information acquisition unit 51 (FIG. 2) to acquire from the print job the label length LB and label gap length LG, label period LK and label width WB of the continuous recording medium P, as well as the position in the main scanning direction of the continuous recording medium P. This allows the medium information acquisition unit 51 to acquire the lengths of the printable range AB and non-printable range AG of the continuous recording medium P in the sub-scanning direction.

[0092] In step SP22, the control unit 6 conveys the continuous recording medium P a predetermined amount (at least until the leading edge position of the label PB in the conveying direction reaches the detection position Pt2 of the position detection unit 32), while acquiring the detection result of the inlet sensor 202 and the detection result of the position detection unit 32, and proceeds to the next step SP23. At this time, the control unit 6 also reads out from the memory unit 41 information on the adjustment pattern length LP of each adjustment pattern T, the adjustment pattern gap length LQ, the density of each adjustment pattern T, and the like.

[0093] In step SP23, the control unit 6 uses the detection results of the entrance sensor 202 and the position detection unit 32 to determine whether the transfer range Ra2 of the adjustment pattern T in the width direction of the transport path W is located within the label PB of the continuous recording medium P (i.e., whether the transfer range Ra2 of the adjustment pattern T is within the printable range). If a positive result is obtained here, this indicates that the entire portion of the adjustment pattern T is included within the range of the label width WB, at least in the width direction. Furthermore, this indicates that there is no risk of the adjustment pattern T protruding from the label PB in the main scanning direction (the width direction of the transport path W) when the adjustment pattern T is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 26 to the label PB of the continuous recording medium P in the secondary transfer unit 34. At this time, the control unit 6 proceeds to the next step SP24.

[0094] In step SP24, the control unit 6 determines whether the label length LB is equal to or greater than the adjustment pattern length LP. If a positive result is obtained here, this indicates that by appropriately adjusting the position of each adjustment pattern T in the sub scanning direction, one or more adjustment patterns T can be arranged to fit on one label PB. This also indicates that the adjustment pattern T can be transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 26 to the label PB of the continuous recording medium P in the secondary transfer unit 34 so that the adjustment pattern T does not protrude into the label gap PG in the sub scanning direction. At this time, the control unit 6 proceeds to the next step SP25.

[0095] In step SP25, the control unit 6 executes a suitable adjustment image data generation process as a subroutine (described in detail later) to generate suitable adjustment image data in which the position of each adjustment pattern T in the secondary scanning direction is corrected to suit the continuous recording medium P. Thereafter, the control unit 6 proceeds to the next step SP29 to end the density / position adjustment pattern generation process procedure RT2, and returns to the original density / position adjustment process procedure RT1 (FIG. 6).

[0096] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP23, this indicates that when the adjustment pattern T is transferred to the label PB of the continuous recording medium P, at least a portion of the adjustment pattern T (for example, a portion of the adjustment pattern T1) will extend outside the range of the label width WB in the main scanning direction (the width direction of the conveying path W), which may result in soiling of the fixing unit 35. In this case, the control unit 6 proceeds to the next step SP28.

[0097] In step SP28, the control unit 6 displays on the display operation unit 7 a message urging the user to reset the continuous recording medium P so that the guide mark 211 is located between one end and the other end in the width direction (left and right direction) of the label PB of the continuous recording medium P. Thereafter, the control unit 6 proceeds to the next step SP29 without generating adaptation adjustment image data. Note that if the control unit 6 proceeds to step SP29 without generating adaptation adjustment image data in this way, the control unit 6 obtains a negative result in the above-mentioned step SP2, and ends the density / position adjustment processing procedure RT1 without adjusting the position or density of the toner image.

[0098] In this way, in the image forming device 1, depending on the position where the continuous recording medium P is set, it may not be possible to print the adjustment pattern T between one end and the other end of the width direction of the label PB of the continuous recording medium P. In this case, a message is displayed on the display operation unit 7 urging the user to re-set the continuous recording medium P so that the guide mark 211 is between one end and the other end of the width direction (left and right direction) of the label PB of the continuous recording medium P.

[0099] In this way, as shown in FIG. 21, the image forming apparatus 1 allows the user to reset the continuous recording medium P so that the guide mark 211 is between one end and the other end of the width direction (left and right direction) of the label PB. When resetting the continuous recording medium P in the image forming apparatus 1, for example, the user may pull out the continuous recording medium P from the medium inserting section 200, abut the continuous recording medium P against the abutment guide 210 that has been slid to a desired position, and then insert the continuous recording medium P again from the medium inserting section 200. By resetting the continuous recording medium P in such a position, the image forming apparatus 1 can print the adjustment pattern T between one end and the other end of the label PB of the continuous recording medium P in the width direction. Note that, in FIG. 21, for ease of explanation, the adjustment pattern T is printed in the label PB of the set continuous recording medium P.

[0100] After resetting the continuous recording medium P in this way, the user, for example, presses the OK button displayed together with the message on the display operation unit 7. In response to this, the control unit 6 executes the density / position adjustment processing procedure RT1 again.

[0101] Now, returning to Fig. 7, if a negative result is obtained in step SP24, this indicates that when the adjustment pattern T is transferred to the label PB of the continuous recording medium P, at least a portion of the adjustment pattern T (for example, a portion of the adjustment pattern T1) may protrude into the label gap PG in the sub-scanning direction, possibly causing damage to the fixing unit 35. In this case, the control unit 6 proceeds to the next step SP26.

[0102] That is, in the density / position adjustment pattern generation process procedure RT2, the control unit 6 verifies whether the adjustment pattern T1 with the highest density falls within the range of the label PB. Therefore, if a negative result is obtained in step SP23 or SP24, this indicates that the adjustment pattern T1 does not fall within the range of the label PB.

[0103] In step SP26, the control unit 6 determines whether or not toner corresponding to one set of adjustment patterns T adheres to the rollers of the fixing unit 35 and can be cleaned by the cleaning member 35C, specifically, whether or not the remaining number of cleanings NCR at this point in time is equal to or greater than the value "1." If a positive result is obtained here, this indicates that even if each adjustment pattern T goes beyond the range of the label PB when transferred to the continuous recording medium P and soils the rollers in the fixing unit 35, it can still be cleaned by the cleaning member 35C. In this case, the control unit 6 proceeds to the next step SP27.

[0104] In step SP27, the control unit 6 treats the adjustment pattern image data D (FIG. 4) as it is as the adapted adjustment image data, and proceeds to the next step SP29. This means that each adjustment pattern T based on the adjustment pattern image data D is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 26, so that density and position adjustment processing can be performed appropriately later. This also means that at least a part of each adjustment pattern T will extend beyond the range of the label PB when transferred to the continuous recording medium P, causing dirt on the roller in the fixing unit 35, but will be cleaned by the cleaning member 35C. Incidentally, at this time, the control unit 6 updates the remaining number of cleanings NCR by subtracting the value "1" from it.

[0105] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP26, this indicates that if each adjustment pattern T goes beyond the range of the label PB when transferred to the continuous recording medium P and soils the roller in the fixing unit 35, it cannot be cleaned by the cleaning member 35C, that is, each adjustment pattern T should not be formed or transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 26. In this case, the control unit 6 proceeds to the next step SP29 without generating adaptive adjustment image data.

[0106] In this case, the control unit 6 returns to the density / position adjustment process procedure RT1 (FIG. 6), obtains a negative result in step SP2, and moves to step SP6, so that the process of adjusting the density and position of the image is discontinued. From another perspective, even if the image forming device 1 receives an instruction to execute the density / position adjustment process from the upper device 100, specifically a print job with contents instructing printing of an adjustment pattern, there are cases where the density / position adjustment process is not executed depending on the continuous recording medium P set at that time. In other words, when the image forming device 1 determines that each adjustment pattern T will go beyond the range of the label PB when transferred to the continuous recording medium P, it reduces the frequency of executing the density / position adjustment process.

[0107] [4-3. Generation of adapted image data] Next, the adaptive adjustment image data generation process executed as a subroutine in step SP25 of the density / position adjustment pattern generation process procedure RT2 (FIG. 7) will be described. In step SP25 of the density / position adjustment pattern generation process procedure RT2, the control unit 6 reads out an adaptive adjustment image data generation process program from the storage unit 41 (FIG. 2) and executes it, thereby performing processes according to the flowcharts shown in FIG. 8, FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 11, FIG. 12, FIG. 13, and FIG. 14. Specifically, the control unit 6 first starts the adaptive adjustment image data generation process procedure RT3 in FIG. 8, and proceeds to the first step SP31. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the length refers to the length in the sub-scanning direction (i.e., the transport direction of the continuous recording medium P).

[0108] In step SP31, the control unit 6 initializes various variables to be used in the following processing, specifically the current printable length LC and the number of remaining adjustment patterns U, and proceeds to the next step SP32. The current printable length LC represents the length of the portion of the printable range AB of the currently focused label PB that is not yet assigned and can be printed, and the label length LB is set as its initial value. The number of remaining adjustment patterns U represents the number of unassigned adjustment patterns T among the number of adjustment patterns to be printed specified in the print job, and the number of adjustment patterns to be printed is set as its initial value.

[0109] In step SP32, the control unit 6 calculates the number of adjustment pattern sets (combinations of adjustment patterns T and adjustment pattern gaps TG) that can be placed within the current printable length LC, and proceeds to the next step SP33. Specifically, the control unit 6 calculates the number of possible periods Y by using the current printable length LC, the adjustment pattern period LS, which is the length of the adjustment pattern set, and the function floor() that performs rounding down processing, using the allocation determination unit 52 (FIG. 2), by performing calculation processing according to the following equation (1).

[0110] Y=floor(LC / LS) ……(1)

[0111] In step SP33, the control unit 6 determines whether the number of remaining adjustment patterns U is equal to or greater than the number of possible arrangement periods Y. If a positive result is obtained here, this indicates that the adjustment pattern set with the number of remaining adjustment patterns U (pieces) cannot be allocated within the printable range AB of interest. In this case, the control unit 6 proceeds to the next step SP34.

[0112] In step SP34, the control unit 6 calculates the remaining printable length LR, which represents the length of the portion (hereinafter also referred to as the remaining portion) that would remain if an adjustment pattern set with the arrangementable periodic number Y (pieces) were allocated within the current printable length LC, as shown in Fig. 15(A), and proceeds to the next step SP35. Specifically, the control unit 6 calculates the remaining printable length LR by using the current printable length LC, the adjustment pattern period LS, which is the length of the adjustment pattern set, and the remainder calculation formula mod, using the allocation determination unit 52 (Fig. 2) to perform calculation processing according to the following formula (2).

[0113] LR = (LC mod LS) …… (2)

[0114] In step SP35, the control unit 6 determines whether the remaining printable length LR is equal to or greater than the adjustment pattern length LP, which is the length of the adjustment pattern T. If a negative result is obtained here, this indicates that neither an adjustment pattern set nor a single adjustment pattern T can be allocated within the remaining printable length LR, i.e., the maximum number of adjustment patterns T that can be allocated within the printable range AB under consideration is the arrangeable periodicity number Y. In this case, the control unit 6 proceeds to the next step SP36.

[0115] In step SP36, the control unit 6 performs a first allocation process as a subroutine to allocate an adjustment pattern set with the arrangeable periodic number Y (pieces) within the printable range AB of interest. Specifically, the control unit 6 starts a first allocation process procedure RT5 shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9, and proceeds to the first step SP51.

[0116] In step SP51, the control unit 6, via the allocation determination unit 52 (Figure 2), allocates a space S1 of the remaining printable length LR to the leading end of the unallocated portion of the printable range AB under consideration, as shown in Figure 15 (B), and proceeds to the next step SP52.

[0117] The reason why the blank S1 is allocated to the leading side of the printable range AB is to move the leading adjustment pattern T away from the leading edge of the printable range AB and to position it as close to the center of the printable range AB as possible. That is, in the adjustment pattern image data D (FIG. 4), the first adjustment pattern T1 is arranged at the leading edge of the background portion B for the purpose of minimizing the number of labels PB used. However, if the adjustment pattern T is arranged close to the end of the printable range AB as shown in FIG. 15(A), a slight shift in the position where the adjustment pattern T is transferred to the continuous recording medium P in the secondary transfer unit 34 (FIG. 1) may cause a part of the adjustment pattern T to be transferred off the label PB onto the backing paper PM, which may result in soiling the fixing unit 35. Therefore, in this embodiment, instead of allocating the blank S1 adjacent to the adjustment pattern gap TG, the blank S1 is allocated to the leading side of the leading adjustment pattern T as shown in FIG. 15(B). In the following, the blank area formed in the printable range AB or the non-printable range AG is also called a blank area.

[0118] In step SP52, the control unit 6 sequentially allocates the arrangement possible periodic number Y (pieces) of adjustment pattern sets from the leading side of the unallocated portion in the printable range AB, and proceeds to the next step SP53. In step SP53, the control unit 6 allocates a space of the label gap length LG from the leading side of the unprintable range AG following the printable range AB, and proceeds to the next step SP54.

[0119] As a result, the control unit 6 assigns adjustment patterns T with a possible periodicity Y (pieces) to the entire range of the printable range AB under consideration, as well as the entire range of the unprintable range AG in the label gap PG following the label PB, and also assigns an adjustment pattern gap TG to the end of each adjustment pattern T.

[0120] In step SP54, the control unit 6 executes, as a subroutine, an adjustment pattern replacement process for replacing the positions of the adjustment patterns T in the printable range AB of interest. Specifically, the control unit 6 starts an adjustment pattern replacement process procedure RT6 shown in the flowchart of Fig. 10, and proceeds to the first step SP61.

[0121] In step SP61, the control unit 6 calculates an end distance, which is the distance to the end of the printable range AB in the sub-scanning direction, for each adjustment pattern T arranged within the printable range AB of interest, and proceeds to the next step SP62. Specifically, the control unit 6 uses the allocation determination unit 52 (FIG. 2) to calculate the distance from that adjustment pattern T to the leading end and the trailing end of the printable range AB for each adjustment pattern T, and determines the shorter of these as the end distance for that adjustment pattern T. In step SP62, the control unit 6 checks the density of each adjustment pattern T arranged within the printable range AB, and proceeds to the next step SP63.

[0122] In step SP63, the control unit 6 uses the allocation determination unit 52 to allocate each adjustment pattern T in the printable range AB to its respective positions, starting with the adjustment pattern T with the longest edge distance, in descending order of density. The control unit 6 then proceeds to the next step SP64, ends the adjustment pattern replacement processing procedure RT6, and returns to step SP54 of the original first allocation processing procedure RT5 (FIG. 9), before proceeding to the next step SP55. This allows the control unit 6 to replace the adjustment patterns T with those with high density so that they are placed at positions farther away from the edges of the printable range AB.

[0123] In step SP55, the control unit 6 ends the first allocation processing procedure RT5, returns to the original adapted adjusted image data generation processing procedure RT3 (FIG. 8), and proceeds from step SP36 to the next step SP45. This allows the control unit 6 to generate adapted adjusted image data to which the arrangement possible periodic number Y (pieces) of adjustment patterns T and necessary blank spaces are assigned for the printable range AB of interest and the following unprintable range AG.

[0124] On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step SP35, this indicates that the adjustment pattern set including the adjustment pattern gap TG cannot fit within the range of the remaining printable length LR, but only the adjustment pattern T can fit within the range. In this case, the control unit 6 proceeds to the next step SP37.

[0125] In step SP37, the control unit 6 determines whether the number of remaining adjustment patterns U is equal to or greater than the value (Y+1) obtained by adding the value "1" to the number of possible layout periods Y. If a positive result is obtained here, this indicates that all of the unassigned adjustment patterns T cannot be assigned to the currently focused printable range AB. In this case, the control unit 6 proceeds to the next step SP38.

[0126] In step SP38, the control unit 6 calculates a second remaining printable length LR2, which represents the length of the portion that would remain if adjustment pattern T were placed within the range of the remaining printable length LR, as shown in Fig. 16(A), and proceeds to the next step SP39. Specifically, the control unit 6 calculates the second remaining printable length LR2 by using the remaining printable length LR and adjustment pattern length LP via the allocation determination unit 52 (Fig. 2) and performing calculation processing according to the following equation (3).

[0127] LR2=LR-LP ……(3)

[0128] In step SP39, the control unit 6 judges whether the value obtained by adding the label gap length LG, which is the length of the label gap PG (Fig. 3), to the second remaining printable length LR2 is equal to or greater than the adjustment pattern gap length LQ (Fig. 4). If a positive result is obtained here, this indicates that, as shown in Fig. 16(A), if the adjustment pattern gap TG is allocated from the beginning of the portion corresponding to the second remaining printable length LR2, the end of the adjustment pattern gap TG will be within the range of the label gap PG (i.e., within the unprintable range AG) and will not reach the next printable range AB. In this case, the control unit 6 proceeds to the next step SP40.

[0129] In step SP40, the control unit 6 performs a second allocation process as a subroutine to allocate an adjustment pattern set with the arrangement periodic number Y (pieces) and one adjustment pattern T to the printable range AB of interest, and further allocates an adjustment pattern gap TG over the unprintable range AG. Specifically, the control unit 6 starts a second allocation process procedure RT7 whose flowchart is shown in Fig. 11, and proceeds to the first step SP71.

[0130] 16(B), the control unit 6 uses the allocation determination unit 52 (FIG. 2) to allocate a space S2 of a length obtained by subtracting the adjustment pattern gap length LQ from the sum of the second remaining printable length LR2 and the label gap length LG to the leading end of the unallocated portion of the printable range AB under consideration, and proceeds to the next step SP72. The reason for allocating the space S2 first here is the same as that for step SP51 in the first allocation processing procedure RT5 (FIG. 9).

[0131] In step SP72, the control unit 6 sequentially allocates the arrangement possible periodic number Y (pieces) of adjustment pattern sets and one adjustment pattern T from the leading end of the unallocated portion in the printable range AB, and proceeds to the next step SP73. As a result, the value obtained by adding the length of the unallocated portion in the printable range AB to the label gap length LG becomes equal to the adjustment pattern gap length LQ.

[0132] In step SP73, the control unit 6 allocates a blank space of the adjustment pattern gap length LQ (i.e., adjustment pattern gap TG) from the leading end of the unallocated portion of the printable range AB, and proceeds to the next step SP74. As a result, the control unit 6 allocates the arrangement possible periodic number Y+1 (pieces) of adjustment patterns T to the entire printable range AB and the entire unprintable range AG following the printable range AB, and allocates an adjustment pattern gap TG to the trailing end of each adjustment pattern T.

[0133] In step SP74, the control unit 6 executes the adjustment pattern replacement processing procedure RT6 (Figure 10) as a subroutine, thereby replacing the arrangement of each adjustment pattern T within the printable range AB according to its respective density, as in the case of the first allocation processing procedure RT5 (Figure 9), and proceeds to the next step SP75.

[0134] In step SP75, the control unit 6 ends the second allocation processing procedure RT7, returns to the original adapted adjusted image data generation processing procedure RT3 (FIG. 8), and proceeds from step SP40 to the next step SP45. This enables the control unit 6 to generate adapted adjusted image data to which the arrangement possible periodic number Y+1 (pieces) of adjustment patterns T and necessary blank spaces are assigned for the printable range AB of interest and the subsequent unprintable range AG.

[0135] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP39, this means that if the adjustment pattern gap TG is allocated from the beginning of the portion corresponding to the second remaining printable length LR2, the end of the adjustment pattern gap TG will not fit within the label gap PG and will extend into the next printable range AB, as shown in Figure 17. In this case, the control unit 6 proceeds to the next step SP41.

[0136] In step SP41, the control unit 6 calculates a leading blank length LJ, which is the length of the blank space to be formed in the next printable range AB, and proceeds to the next step SP42. Specifically, the control unit 6 calculates the leading blank length LJ by using the adjustment pattern gap length LQ, the second remaining printable length LR2, and the label gap length LG through the allocation determination unit 52 (FIG. 2) and performing a calculation process according to the following equation (4).

[0137] LJ=LQ-LR2-LG ……(4)

[0138] In step SP42, the control unit 6 determines whether the value obtained by subtracting the leading blank length LJ from the label length LB, which is the length of the printable range AB (hereinafter referred to as printable range AB2) next to the printable range AB of interest (hereinafter referred to as printable range AB1), is equal to or greater than the adjustment pattern length LP. If a positive result is obtained here, this indicates that the next adjustment pattern T can be placed in the printable range AB2 at a position adjacent to the end of the leading blank length LJ so as to fit within the printable range AB2, as shown in Figure 17. In this case, the control unit 6 proceeds to the next step SP43.

[0139] In step SP43, the control unit 6 performs a third allocation process as a subroutine to allocate an adjustment pattern set with the arrangeable periodic number Y (pieces) and one adjustment pattern T to the printable range AB1 of interest, and further allocates an adjustment pattern gap TG to the unprintable range AG and the next printable range AB2. Specifically, the control unit 6 starts a third allocation process procedure RT8 whose flowchart is shown in Fig. 12, and proceeds to the first step SP81.

[0140] In step SP81, the control unit 6 uses the allocation determination unit 52 (FIG. 2) to sequentially allocate the arrangement possible periodicity number Y (pieces) of adjustment pattern sets and one adjustment pattern T from the leading end of the unallocated portion in the printable range AB of interest, and proceeds to the next step SP82. As a result, the value obtained by adding the length of the unallocated portion in the printable range AB1 (i.e., the second remaining printable length LR2) to the label gap length LG, which is the length of the unprintable range AG, is less than the adjustment pattern gap length LQ.

[0141] In step SP82, the control unit 6, via the allocation determination unit 52, allocates a space from the beginning of the unallocated portion in the printable range AB, the length being the sum of the second remaining printable length LR2 and the label gap length LG (i.e., a length less than the adjustment pattern gap length LQ), and proceeds to the next step SP83.

[0142] In step SP83, the control unit 6 allocates a space of the leading space length LJ to the leading portion of the next printable range AB2, and proceeds to the next step SP84. As a result, continuous spaces of the adjustment pattern gap length LQ are formed near the end of the printable range AB1, the unprintable range AG, and near the leading portion of the next printable range AB2.

[0143] In step SP84, the control section 6 causes the allocation determination section 52 to set the current printable length LC in the printable range AB2 to a value obtained by subtracting the leading blank length LJ from the initial label length LB, and then proceeds to the next step SP85.

[0144] In step SP85, the control unit 6 executes the adjustment pattern replacement processing procedure RT6 (Figure 10) as a subroutine to rearrange the arrangement of each adjustment pattern T in the printable range AB1 according to its respective density, as in the case of the first allocation processing procedure RT5 (Figure 9), etc., and then proceeds to the next step SP86.

[0145] In step SP86, the control unit 6 ends the third allocation processing procedure RT8, returns to the original adapted adjustment image data generation processing procedure RT3 (FIG. 8), and proceeds from step SP43 to the next step SP45. This allows the control unit 6 to generate adapted adjustment image data that allocates the arrangement possible periodic number Y (pieces) of adjustment patterns T and necessary blank spaces to the printable range AB1 of interest and the following unprintable range AG, and further allocates necessary blank spaces to the beginning of the next printable range AB2.

[0146] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP42, this indicates that the next adjustment pattern T cannot be placed so as to fit within the printable range AB2 adjacent to the end of the leading blank length LJ in the printable range AB2 next to the printable range AB1 under consideration, as shown in Figure 18(A). In this case, the control unit 6 proceeds to the next step SP44.

[0147] In step SP43, the control unit 6 performs a fourth allocation process as a subroutine to allocate the adjustment pattern set with the arrangeable periodic number Y (pieces) and one adjustment pattern T to the currently focused printable range AB1, and allocates a margin to the remaining part and the next printable range AB2. Specifically, the control unit 6 starts a fourth allocation process procedure RT9 whose flowchart is shown in Fig. 13, and proceeds to the first step SP91.

[0148] In step SP91, the control unit 6 uses the allocation determination unit 52 (FIG. 2) to sequentially allocate the arrangement possible periodicity number Y (pieces) of adjustment pattern sets and one adjustment pattern T from the leading end of the unallocated portion of the printable range AB1 of interest, and proceeds to the next step SP92. As a result, the value obtained by adding the length of the unallocated portion of the printable range AB1 (i.e., the second remaining printable length LR2) to the label gap length LG is less than the adjustment pattern gap length LQ.

[0149] In step SP92, the control unit 6, via the allocation determination unit 52, allocates a space of a length equal to the sum of the second remaining printable length LR2 and the label gap length LG (i.e., a length less than the adjustment pattern gap length LQ) from the beginning of the unallocated portion in the printable range AB1, and proceeds to the next step SP93.

[0150] In step SP93, the control unit 6 causes the allocation determination unit 52 to allocate a space equivalent to the sum of the label length LB and the label gap length LG to the next printable range AB2 (and the following unprintable range AG), as shown in Fig. 18(B), and proceeds to the next step SP94. This makes it possible to reliably allocate the next adjustment pattern T in the subsequent processing within the printable range AB3 following the printable range AB2, that is, at a position that does not overlap the unprintable range AG.

[0151] In step SP94, the control unit 6 executes the adjustment pattern replacement processing procedure RT6 (Figure 10) as a subroutine to rearrange the arrangement of each adjustment pattern T in the printable range AB1 according to their respective densities, as in the case of the first allocation processing procedure RT5 (Figure 9), etc., and then proceeds to the next step SP95.

[0152] In step SP95, the control unit 6 ends the fourth allocation processing procedure RT9, returns to the original adapted adjusted image data generation processing procedure RT3 (FIG. 8), and proceeds from step SP44 to the next step SP45. This allows the control unit 6 to generate adapted adjusted image data in which adjustment patterns T with the possible arrangement periodic number Y (pieces) and necessary blank spaces are allocated to the printable range AB1 of interest and the following unprintable range AG, and further allocates blank spaces to the entire range of the next printable range AB2.

[0153] In step SP45, the control unit 6 updates the current printable length LC and the number of remaining adjustment patterns U in accordance with the allocation of adjustment patterns T and blank spaces in the first allocation process, the second allocation process, the third allocation process, or the fourth allocation process, and returns to step SP32. Thereafter, as long as positive results are obtained in steps SP33 and SP37, the control unit 6 repeats the series of processes to sequentially allocate each adjustment pattern T and blank spaces.

[0154] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP33, this means that all unassigned adjustment patterns T, including the final adjustment pattern gap TG, can be assigned to the currently focused printable range AB. In this case, the control unit 6 proceeds to the next step SP46.

[0155] If a negative result is obtained in step SP37, this means that all unassigned adjustment patterns T, except for the last adjustment pattern gap TG, can be assigned to the currently focused printable range AB. In this case, the control unit 6 proceeds to the next step SP46.

[0156] In step SP46, the control unit 6 performs a fifth allocation process as a subroutine to allocate all unallocated adjustment patterns T to the currently focused printable range AB. Specifically, the control unit 6 starts a fifth allocation process procedure RT10 shown in the flowchart of Fig. 14, and proceeds to the first step SP101.

[0157] In step SP101, the control unit 6 determines whether the number of remaining adjustment patterns U is equal to the number of possible periods Y, as in step SP37 of the adaptive adjustment image data generation processing procedure RT3 (FIG. 8). If a positive result is obtained here, this indicates that an adjustment pattern set (a combination of adjustment patterns T and adjustment pattern gaps TG) with the number of possible periods Y (pieces) can be arranged in the printable range AB of interest, as shown in FIG. 19(A). In this case, the control unit 6 proceeds to the next step SP102.

[0158] In step SP102, the control unit 6 calculates a third remaining printable length LR3, which represents the length of the portion remaining when an adjustment pattern set with the remaining adjustment pattern count U (pieces) is allocated within the current printable length LC, and proceeds to the next step SP103. Specifically, the control unit 6 calculates the third remaining printable length LR3 by using the current printable length LC, the remaining adjustment pattern count U, and the adjustment pattern period LS, which is the length of the adjustment pattern set, through the allocation determination unit 52 (FIG. 2), by performing a calculation process according to the following equation (5).

[0159] LR3=LC-(U×LS) ……(5)

[0160] In step SP103, the control unit 6 causes the allocation determination unit 52 to allocate a blank space of the third remaining printable length LR3 to the leading end of the unallocated portion of the printable range AB of interest, as shown in Fig. 19(A), and proceeds to the next step SP104. In step SP104, the control unit 6 causes the allocation determination unit 52 to sequentially allocate adjustment pattern sets of the remaining number of adjustment patterns U (pieces) from the leading end of the unallocated portion, and proceeds to the next step SP108.

[0161] On the other hand, if a negative result is obtained in step SP101, this indicates that an adjustment pattern set with the arrangement possible periodic number Y-1 (pieces) and one adjustment pattern T can be arranged in the currently focused printable range AB, as shown in Fig. 19(B). In this case, the control unit 6 proceeds to the next step SP105.

[0162] In step SP105, the control unit 6 uses the allocation determination unit 52 to sequentially allocate adjustment pattern sets with the remaining number of adjustment patterns U-1 (pieces) from the leading end of the unallocated portion of the printable range AB, and proceeds to the next step SP106. In step SP106, the control unit 6 uses the allocation determination unit 52 to allocate one adjustment pattern T from the leading end of the unallocated portion of the printable range AB, and proceeds to the next step SP107.

[0163] In step SP107, the control unit 6 allocates a blank space equivalent to the length of the unallocated portion in the printable range AB and the length of the unprintable range AG, and proceeds to the next step SP108. Specifically, the control unit 6, by the allocation determination unit 52, subtracts the length of the adjustment pattern period LS of the remaining adjustment pattern number U-1 (pieces) and the length of the adjustment pattern T from the current printable length LC, and allocates a blank space of a length obtained by adding the length of the label gap PG.

[0164] In step SP108, the control unit 6 executes the adjustment pattern replacement processing procedure RT6 (Figure 10) as a subroutine to replace the arrangement of each adjustment pattern T in the printable range AB according to their respective densities, as in the case of the first allocation processing procedure RT5 (Figure 9), etc., and then proceeds to the next step SP109.

[0165] In step SP109, the control unit 6 ends the fifth allocation processing procedure RT10 and returns to the original adapted adjustment image data generation processing procedure RT3 (FIG. 8), then proceeds from step SP46 to the next step SP47 and ends the adapted adjustment image data generation processing procedure RT3. This enables the control unit 6 to generate adapted adjustment image data to which the remaining adjustment pattern number U (pieces) of adjustment patterns T and necessary blanks are assigned for the printable range AB of interest and the subsequent unprintable range AG.

[0166] [5. Summary and Effects] As described above, in this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a medium insertion section 200, a transport section 30 that transports the continuous recording medium P set in the medium insertion section 200 along the transport path W, an image forming unit 10 as an image forming section that forms an image, an intermediate transfer section 20 that is an example of a transfer section that transfers the image formed by the image forming unit 10 to the continuous recording medium P, a reading section 28 that reads the adjustment pattern T formed using the image forming unit 10, a control section 6 that adjusts the image forming unit 10 based on the reading result of the adjustment pattern T by the reading section 28, a guide mark 211 that is an example of a guide section that visually indicates the transfer range Ra2, which is the range of the adjustment pattern T in the width direction of the transport path W, and an entrance sensor 202 and a position detection section 32 that are examples of detection sections provided midway along the transport path W and detect the continuous recording medium P.

[0167] Then, when the transfer range Ra2 of the adjustment pattern T is not within the label PB, which is the printable range of the continuous recording medium P, based on the detection results of the entrance sensor 202 and the position detection unit 32, the control unit 6, which is an example of a notification unit, notifies (specifically, displays on the display operation unit 7) the user to reset the continuous recording medium P in the medium insertion unit 200 so that the guide mark 211 is positioned within the label PB of the continuous recording medium P. In other words, the control unit 6 notifies the user to set the label PB of the continuous recording medium P in the transfer range Ra2 of the adjustment pattern T indicated by the guide mark 211.

[0168] In this way, the image forming apparatus 1 can avoid printing the adjustment pattern outside the printable range of the continuous recording medium P (i.e., on the backing paper PM outside the label PB) at least in the width direction of the continuous recording medium P. This allows the present invention to appropriately adjust the image forming unit 10 based on the results of reading the adjustment pattern T, and can prevent the developer and other materials that make up the image from being fixed in the unprintable range of the continuous recording medium P (i.e., on the backing paper PM) and causing soiling of various parts, or from soiling other parts of the continuous recording medium by this developer and other materials. Thus, the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment can perform high-quality printing processing on the continuous recording medium P that has an unprintable range.

[0169] In addition, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, the detection position Pt1 of the entrance sensor 202, which is an example of a first detection unit that detects the label PB, is provided at one width end of the transfer range Ra2 on the conveying path W when the adjustment pattern T is transferred to the continuous recording medium P (one width end of the reading area Ra1 of the reading unit 28), and the detection position Pt2 of the position detection unit 32, which is an example of a second detection unit that detects the label PB, is provided at the other width end of the transfer range Ra2 (the other width end of the reading area Ra1 of the reading unit 28).

[0170] In this way, the image forming apparatus 1 can detect that the transfer range Ra2 of the adjustment pattern T is located within the label PB of the continuous recording medium P from the detection results of the entrance sensor 202 and the position detection unit 32, so there is no need for the user to input the set position of the continuous recording medium P, the label width WB, the label width spacing WG, etc., thereby reducing the burden on the user.

[0171] Furthermore, in the image forming apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, a guide mark 211 that visually indicates the transfer range Ra2 of the adjustment pattern T is provided in the medium insertion section 200. This allows the user to set the continuous recording medium P from the beginning so that the transfer range of the adjustment pattern T indicated by the guide mark 211 is positioned within the label PB of the continuous recording medium P. This reduces the number of times the user is required to reset the continuous recording medium P, thereby reducing the burden on the user.

[0172] [6. Other embodiments] [6-1. Another embodiment 1] In the above-described embodiment, the detection position Pt1 of the entrance sensor 202 is provided at one end in the width direction of the transfer range Ra2 on the transport path W when the adjustment pattern T is transferred to the continuous recording medium P (one end in the width direction of the reading area Ra1 of the reading unit 28), and the detection position Pt2 of the position detection unit 32 is provided at the other end in the width direction of the transfer range Ra2 when the adjustment pattern T is transferred (the other end in the width direction of the reading area Ra1 of the reading unit 28). Conversely, the detection position Pt1 of the entrance sensor 202 may be provided at the other end in the width direction of the transfer range Ra2, and the detection position Pt2 of the position detection unit 32 may be provided at one end in the width direction of the transfer range Ra2.

[0173] In the above-described embodiment, the detection result of the entrance sensor 202 and the detection result of the position detection unit 32 are used to detect that the transfer range Ra2 of the adjustment pattern T is located within the label PB of the continuous recording medium P. However, in addition to the detection result of the entrance sensor 202 and the detection result of the position detection unit 32, the detection result of the discharge sensor 204, which is an example of a third detection unit whose detection position P3 is located at the center of the width direction of the transfer range Ra2 when the adjustment pattern T is transferred (the center of the width direction of the reading area Ra1 of the reading unit 28), may be used. In this way, the presence or absence of the label PB is detected at both ends and the center of the width direction of the transfer range Ra2 of the adjustment pattern T, so that it is possible to more accurately detect that the transfer range Ra2 of the adjustment pattern T is located within the label PB of the continuous recording medium P. In this case, it is necessary to transport the continuous recording medium P at least until the leading end position of the label PB in the transport direction reaches the detection position Pt3 of the discharge sensor 204. Furthermore, without being limited to this, it is also possible to detect that the transfer range Ra2 of the adjustment pattern T is located within the label PB of the continuous recording medium P using the detection results of a detection unit other than the entrance sensor 202, the position detection unit 32, and the discharge sensor 204.

[0174] [6-2. Other embodiment 2] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a triangular guide mark 211 is provided, but this is not limited thereto, and the shape of the guide mark 211 may be other shapes (circular or rectangular) as long as the width size corresponds to the width size of the transfer range Ra2 when transferring the adjustment pattern T.

[0175] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the guide mark 211 is provided at a predetermined position on the loading surface of the medium insertion unit 200. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the medium insertion unit 200 may be provided with a visor that covers the top of the set continuous recording medium P, and the guide mark may be provided on the visor. In this way, the guide mark is not hidden by the continuous recording medium P when the continuous recording medium P is set in the medium insertion unit 200, so that the continuous recording medium P can be easily set.

[0176] [6-3. Other embodiment 3] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, when the control unit 6 executes the density / position adjustment process, if it is not possible to print the adjustment pattern T between one end and the other end in the width direction of the label PB of the continuous recording medium P, a message is displayed on the display operation unit 7 to prompt the user to set the continuous recording medium P in accordance with the guide mark 211. However, without being limited to this, a message may be displayed on the display operation unit 7 to prompt the user to set the continuous recording medium P in accordance with the guide mark 211 even when the continuous recording medium P is not set in the image forming apparatus 1, for example, when the image forming apparatus 1 is started up for the first time.

[0177] Alternatively, the image forming apparatus 1 may be provided with a voice output unit, and a message prompting the user to set the continuous recording medium P in accordance with the guide mark 211 may be output as voice from the voice output unit.

[0178] [6-4. Other embodiment 4] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, in step SP23 shown in FIG. 7, the detection results of the entrance sensor 202 and the position detection unit 32 are used to determine whether or not the label PB of the continuous recording medium P is located within the transfer range (i.e., the transfer range Ra2) of the adjustment pattern T in the width direction of the conveying path W, and if a negative result is obtained, a message is displayed on the display operation unit 7 prompting the user to set the continuous recording medium P in accordance with the guide mark 211.

[0179] Without being limited to this, for example, if a negative result is obtained in step SP23, the process proceeds to step SP26, where it is determined whether or not cleaning is possible using the cleaning member 35C even if the rollers in the fixing unit 35 have been soiled, and if a negative result is obtained, a message urging the user to set the continuous recording medium P in line with the guide mark 211 is displayed on the display operation unit 7.

[0180] [6-5. Other embodiment 5] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, when resetting the continuous recording medium P in the image forming apparatus 1, after the continuous recording medium P is pulled out from the medium insertion section 200, the continuous recording medium P is abutted against the abutment guide 210 that has been slid to a desired position, and then the continuous recording medium P is inserted again from the medium insertion section 200. However, if the image forming apparatus 1 has a mechanism for separating rollers such as the conveying roller 31 that are disposed opposite to each other so as to sandwich the continuous recording medium P, the continuous recording medium P can be reset by moving the position in the width direction while still inserted after separating the rollers.

[0181] [6-6. Other embodiment 6] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the entire range of the label PB is the printable range AB, and the entire range of the label gap PG is the unprintable range AG in the sub-scanning direction (travel direction) of the continuous recording medium P. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the vicinity of the end of the label PB may be excluded from the printable range AB and included in the unprintable range AG.

[0182] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, in each allocation process such as the first allocation process procedure RT5 (FIG. 9), one or more adjustment patterns T and blank spaces are allocated to one printable range AB, and then the adjustment pattern replacement process procedure RT6 (FIG. 10) is used to rearrange the arrangement depending on the density of the adjustment pattern T. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, in each allocation process such as the first allocation process procedure RT5, the adjustment pattern replacement process procedure RT6 may not be performed.

[0183] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a form has been described in which a blank space is allocated to the beginning of an unallocated portion in the printable range AB and then an adjustment pattern set is allocated in the first allocation process procedure RT5 (FIG. 9) and the second allocation process procedure RT7 (FIG. 11), etc. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a blank space may be allocated to the beginning of an unallocated portion in the printable range AB and then an adjustment pattern set may be allocated.

[0184] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the first adjustment pattern T1 is arranged at a position adjacent to the leading edge of the adjustment pattern image data D (FIG. 4). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the first adjustment pattern T1 may be arranged at a position away from the leading edge, for example.

[0185] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the adjustment patterns T are arranged in the adjustment pattern image data D (FIG. 4) so ​​that the density is the darkest at the beginning. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the adjustment patterns T may be arranged so that the density is the lightest at the beginning, or may be arranged randomly.

[0186] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the adjustment patterns T in the adjustment pattern image data D (FIG. 4) are all square and all have the same shape and size. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the adjustment patterns T may be various shapes such as rectangular or hexagonal, and the shapes and sizes of the adjustment patterns T may differ from one another. What is important is that the density and position of the toner image can be appropriately read by the reading unit 28.

[0187] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a single piece of adjustment pattern image data D (FIG. 4) is stored in the storage unit 41, and the adaptive adjustment image data is generated by sequentially extracting and allocating portions of the adjustment pattern image data D in the adaptive adjustment image data generation processing procedure RT3 (FIG. 8). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, image data in which the adjustment pattern image data D is divided for each adjustment pattern period LS or for each adjustment pattern T and each adjustment pattern gap TG may be stored in advance in the storage unit 41, and the adaptive adjustment image data may be generated by reading and linking these as appropriate.

[0188] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the adjustment pattern image data D is stored in advance in the storage unit 41 (FIG. 2). However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the adjustment pattern image data D may be generated in a print job including the adjustment pattern image data D in the higher-level device 100, and after the image forming device 1 receives the print job, the control unit 6 may read out the adjustment pattern image data D from the print job. Alternatively, the adjustment pattern image data D may be downloaded from a predetermined server device (not shown), for example.

[0189] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the fixing unit 35 is provided with the cleaning member 35C, and the toner adhering to the roller is cleaned by the cleaning member 35C. Also, the remaining number of cleaning times NCR of the cleaning member 35C is stored in the memory unit 41, and even if the adjustment pattern T protrudes from the label PB of the continuous recording medium P, whether or not to perform the density / position adjustment process is switched according to the remaining number of cleaning times NCR. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the cleaning member 35C may be omitted from the fixing unit 35, the remaining number of cleaning times NCR may not be stored in the memory unit 41, and the density / position adjustment process may be stopped when the adjustment pattern T protrudes from the label PB of the continuous recording medium P.

[0190] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, in step SP4 of the density / position adjustment process procedure RT1 (FIG. 6), both the density and the position of the toner image formed by the image forming unit 10 based on the read image data are adjusted. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, only one of the density and the position may be adjusted.

[0191] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the medium information (label length LB, etc.) is read and acquired from the print job transmitted from the higher-level device 100. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the user may be allowed to read at least a part of the medium information via the display operation unit 7 (FIG. 1). Alternatively, for example, the label length LB, label gap length LG, etc. of the continuous recording medium P may be calculated and acquired based on the detection result by the position detection unit 32.

[0192] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, when the control unit 6 reads out the density / position adjustment pattern generation processing program from the storage unit 41 (FIG. 2) and executes the density / position adjustment pattern generation processing procedure RT2 (FIG. 7), the medium information acquisition unit 51 and the allocation determination unit 52 (FIG. 2) are formed as functional blocks therein. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, at least one of the medium information acquisition unit 51 and the allocation determination unit 52 may be configured as hardware.

[0193] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the density / position adjustment process procedure RT1 (FIG. 6) and other processes are executed in the control unit 6 of the image forming apparatus 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a part of the adaptively adjusted image data generation process procedure RT3 (FIG. 8) may be executed in the control unit 6, and the rest may be executed in a control unit (not shown) of the higher-level device 100, etc.

[0194] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 is of an intermediate transfer type, and a toner image formed by the image forming unit 10 is primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 26, and then the toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 26 to the continuous recording medium P in the secondary transfer section 34. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the image forming apparatus 1 may be of a direct transfer type, and the toner image formed by the image forming unit 10 may be directly transferred onto the continuous recording medium P.

[0195] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with four image forming units 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus 1 may be provided with, for example, three or less image forming units 10 or five or more image forming units 10.

[0196] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned first embodiment, the present invention has been described as being applied to the image forming apparatus 1 which is a single-function printer. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to image forming apparatuses having various other functions, such as an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) having the functions of a copier or facsimile machine.

[0197] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, a position mark is provided on the back surface of the continuous recording medium P, and the position detection unit 32 of the transport unit 30 detects the position mark to detect the leading position of the label PB. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the position mark may be omitted from the back surface of the continuous recording medium P. In this case, for example, the position detection unit 32 may detect the leading position of the label PB based on the light transmittance, reflectance, etc. of the continuous recording medium P.

[0198] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and other embodiments. That is, the scope of application of the present invention extends to embodiments in which the above-mentioned embodiments and the other embodiments are combined in part or in whole in any manner. The scope of application of the present invention also extends to embodiments in which a part of the configuration described in any of the above-mentioned embodiments and other embodiments is extracted and replaced or diverted with a part of the configuration of any of the above-mentioned embodiments and other embodiments, or an embodiment in which a part of the extracted configuration is added to any of the embodiments.

[0199] Furthermore, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 is configured by the medium insertion unit 200, the conveying unit 30, the medium information acquisition unit 51 as a range information acquisition unit, the memory unit 41, the allocation determination unit 52 as a placement determination unit, the image forming unit 10 as an image forming unit, the reading unit 28, the control unit 6 as a control unit and a notification unit, the intermediate transfer unit 20 as a transfer unit, and the entrance sensor 202 and the position detection unit 32 as detection units. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus may be configured by a medium insertion unit, a conveying unit, a range information acquisition unit, a memory unit, a placement determination unit, an image forming unit, a reading unit, a control unit, a notification unit, a transfer unit, a detection unit, etc. having various other configurations. [Industrial Applicability]

[0200] The present invention can be used in an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a continuous recording medium P having a plurality of labels PB affixed to a mount PM, for example. [Explanation of symbols]

[0201] 1: image forming apparatus, 6: control unit, 7: display operation unit, 10: image forming unit, 20: intermediate transfer unit, 26: intermediate transfer belt, 28: reading unit, 30: conveying unit, 32: position detection unit, 34: secondary transfer unit, 35: fixing unit, 41: storage unit, 42: communication unit, 51: medium information acquisition unit, 52: allocation determination unit, 200: medium insertion unit, 201: medium discharge unit, 202: entrance sensor, 203: line sensor, 204: discharge sensor, 210: stop guide, 211: guide mark, AB: printable range, AG: non-printable range, B: background, D: adjustment pattern image data, G: gap between labels, LB: label length of label, LC...current printable length, LG...label gap length, LJ...leading blank length, LK...label cycle, LP...adjustment pattern length, LQ...adjustment pattern gap length, LR...remaining printable length, LR2...second remaining printable length, LR3...third remaining printable length, LS...adjustment pattern cycle, P...continuous recording medium, PB...label, PG...label gap, PM...backing paper, Pt1, Pt2, Pt3...detection position, Ra1...reading area, Ra2...transfer range, S1...space, S2...space, T...adjustment pattern, TG...adjustment pattern gap, U...number of remaining adjustment patterns, W...transport path, WB...label width, WG...label width interval, Y...number of possible cycles.

Claims

1. A medium insertion section; a conveying section that conveys the continuous recording medium set in the medium inserting section along a conveying path; an image forming unit that forms an image; a transfer unit provided in the middle of the transport path and configured to transfer the image formed by the image forming unit onto the continuous recording medium; a reading unit that reads the adjustment pattern formed by the image forming unit; a control unit that adjusts the image forming unit based on a result of reading the adjustment pattern by the reading unit; a guide portion that visually indicates a range of the adjustment pattern in a width direction of the conveying path; a detection unit provided in the middle of the transport path and configured to detect the continuous recording medium; a notification unit that notifies the user to set the printable range of the continuous recording medium to the range indicated by the guide unit when the range of the adjustment pattern in the width direction of the transport path is not within the printable range of the continuous recording medium based on a detection result of the detection unit; Equipped 1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

2. The guide portion is a mark that visually indicates a range of the adjustment pattern in the width direction of the transport path, and is provided at the same position as the range in the width direction of the transport path.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

3. The guide portion is The size of the conveying path in the width direction is the same as the range of the adjustment pattern.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2,

4. The guide portion is The medium inserting section is provided with 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3.

5. The detection unit is a first detection unit provided in the middle of the transport path and configured to detect the printable range of the continuous recording medium; and a second detection unit provided in the middle of the transport path and configured to detect the printable range of the continuous recording medium, a detection position of the first detection unit is provided at the same position as one end of a range of the adjustment pattern in a width direction of the transport path, The detection position of the second detection unit is provided at the same position as the other end of the range of the adjustment pattern in the width direction of the transport path.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a liquid crystal display.

6. The notification unit is When at least one of the first detection unit and the second detection unit does not detect the printable range, a notification is given to set the printable range of the continuous recording medium to the range indicated by the guide unit.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5,

7. The continuous recording medium is the medium has a plurality of printable areas formed at intervals in the transport direction, a medium information acquiring unit that acquires medium information that is information regarding the printable range of the continuous recording medium; a storage unit in which an adjustment image including a plurality of the adjustment patterns is stored; an allocation determination unit that determines positions to which the adjustment patterns in the adjustment image are to be allocated on the continuous recording medium so that the adjustment patterns are each contained within the printable range based on the medium information; Further equipped with The image forming unit includes: forming images of the adjustment patterns so as to correspond to the assigned positions within the printable range of the continuous recording medium conveyed by the conveying unit; 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

8. The continuous recording medium is a die-cut label paper having a plurality of labels attached to a mount, and the labels form the printable range.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1,

Images