IMAGE ADJUSTMENT DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING DEVICE, IMAGE ADJUSTMENT METHOD, AND IMAGE ADJUSTMENT PROGRAM

Abstract

To provide an image adjustment device, an image forming apparatus, an image adjustment method, and an image adjustment program that can adjust an image formation mode as intended by a user.SOLUTION: An image adjustment device comprises: an input receiving unit that receives a user's input of an image adjustment value; and an adjustment unit that, when the input of the image adjustment value is received, adjusts a mode for forming an image on a recording medium by using the image adjustment value preferentially over a result of reading an image for adjustment formed on the recording medium. An image forming apparatus comprises the image adjustment device, and an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium in an adjusted formation mode.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image adjustment apparatus, an image forming apparatus, an image adjustment method, and an image adjustment program. [Background technology]

[0002] Some image forming devices have a front-back adjustment function that adjusts the shift amount (amount of movement from the current position) and magnification of the print image formed on the front and back of the paper (recording medium). The front-back adjustment function allows manual adjustment, and in this case, when the user inputs the shift amount, magnification, etc., the print image is formed based on the input shift amount, magnification, etc. (manual adjustment function).

[0003] The front and back adjustment function also allows automatic adjustment, in which case the position of an adjustment mark formed on the paper is detected, and the shift amount, magnification, etc. are automatically adjusted based on the detected position to form an image to be printed (automatic adjustment function). For example, in Patent Document 1, the position of the adjustment mark is detected, and the shift amount, magnification, etc. are automatically adjusted using the amount of deviation between the detected position and the design position of the adjustment mark.

[0004] When the user wishes to change the formation position of the image to be printed to a desired position, the user uses the above-mentioned manual adjustment function to set the shift amount of the image to be printed to the desired shift amount.

[0005] In addition, depending on the type of paper, there are cases where the paper shrinks due to image formation, and there are errors in size for each paper. In such cases, the user will use the above-mentioned manual adjustment function to set the magnification of the image to be printed to a desired magnification in order to form an image to be printed of a specific size without being affected by the shrinkage of the paper during image formation or errors in the paper size. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-32922 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Incidentally, even when the above-mentioned automatic adjustment function is used, there are cases where, for example, a user wants to use a shift amount set by the user using the above-mentioned manual adjustment function, etc. However, in the past, even if a user set a desired shift amount using the above-mentioned manual adjustment function, if the above-mentioned automatic adjustment function was used after the setting, the shift amount was automatically adjusted based on the position of the detected adjustment mark, and changed from the shift amount set by the user.

[0008] Furthermore, even if the user sets a desired magnification using the manual adjustment function, if the automatic adjustment function is used after the setting, the magnification is automatically adjusted based on the position of the detected adjustment mark, and is changed from the magnification set by the user. In other words, the magnification is automatically adjusted to a value according to the actual paper size (taking into account paper shrinkage and paper size errors).

[0009] In this way, when using the above-mentioned automatic adjustment function, the shift amount, magnification, etc. are automatically adjusted regardless of the settings entered by the user, so there are cases where the formation manner of the image to be printed (shift amount, magnification, etc.) cannot be achieved as intended by the user.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide an image adjustment device, an image forming device, an image adjustment method, and an image adjustment program that are capable of adjusting the image formation mode as intended by a user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The image adjustment device according to the present invention comprises: an input receiving unit that receives an input of an image adjustment value by a user for a first adjustment item related to an amount of movement of the position of the image; an adjustment unit that adjusts the state of forming an image on a recording medium based on the image adjustment value for the first adjustment item for which an input of the image adjustment value is accepted, and adjusts the state of forming an image on a recording medium based on an image adjustment value that is automatically adjusted from a reading result of an adjustment image formed on a recording medium for a second adjustment item different from the first adjustment item; Equipped with 、 The adjustment unit adjusts the amount of movement of the position of the image to adjust the formation mode. . Further, the image adjustment device according to the present invention comprises: an input receiving unit that receives an input of an image adjustment value by a user; an adjustment unit having a first mode for adjusting a state of forming an image on a recording medium based on the image adjustment value received by the input receiving unit, and a second mode different from the first mode for automatically adjusting a state of forming an image on a recording medium based on a reading result of an adjustment image formed on the recording medium; Equipped with The adjustment unit is Even if the second mode is selected, when the image adjustment value is input, Based on the image adjustment value received by the input receiving unit , by adjusting the amount of movement of the position of the image, the magnification of the image, the rotation of the image, the distortion of the image, the inclination of the image, or the curvature of the image, The manner in which an image is formed on a recording medium is adjusted. Further, the image adjustment device according to the present invention comprises: an input receiving unit that receives an input of an image adjustment value by a user; an adjustment unit that, when an input of the image adjustment value is accepted, adjusts a formation state of the image on the recording medium by using the image adjustment value in preference to a reading result of an adjustment image formed on the recording medium; Equipped with The adjustment section adjusts the formation mode by adjusting an amount of movement of the position of the image, a magnification of the image, a rotation of the image, a distortion of the image, a tilt of the image, or a curvature of the image. Further, the image adjustment device according to the present invention comprises: an input receiving unit that receives an input of an image adjustment value by a user; an adjustment unit that, when an input of the image adjustment value is accepted, adjusts a formation state of the image on the recording medium by using the image adjustment value in preference to a reading result of an adjustment image formed on the recording medium; Equipped with The image adjustment value is an amount by which the position of the image is moved. Further, the image adjustment device according to the present invention comprises: an input receiving unit that receives an input of an image adjustment value by a user; an adjustment unit that, when an input of the image adjustment value is accepted, adjusts a formation state of the image on the recording medium by using the image adjustment value in preference to a reading result of an adjustment image formed on the recording medium; Equipped with The image adjustment value is a magnification of the image.

[0012] The image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises: The image adjustment device; an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium using the formation mode; Equipped with.

[0013] The image adjustment method according to the present invention comprises the steps of: receiving an input of an image adjustment value by a user in a first adjustment item related to an amount of movement of the image position; In the first adjustment item for which the input of the image adjustment value is accepted, , adjusting the amount of movement by which the position of the image is moved; The mode of forming an image on a recording medium is adjusted, and in a second adjustment item different from the first adjustment item, the mode of forming an image on the recording medium is adjusted based on an image adjustment value that is automatically adjusted from the reading result of an adjustment image formed on the recording medium. Further, an image adjustment method according to the present invention includes the steps of: Accepts user input of image adjustment values, a first mode for adjusting the state of forming an image on a recording medium based on the image adjustment value whose input has been accepted, and a second mode different from the first mode for automatically adjusting the state of forming an image on a recording medium based on a result of reading an adjustment image formed on the recording medium, Even if the second mode is selected, when the image adjustment value is input, Based on the image adjustment value whose input has been accepted, , by adjusting the amount of movement of the position of the image, the magnification of the image, the rotation of the image, the distortion of the image, the inclination of the image, or the curvature of the image, The manner in which an image is formed on a recording medium is adjusted. Further, an image adjustment method according to the present invention includes the steps of: Accepts user input of image adjustment values, The image adjustment value is used with priority over the reading result of the adjustment image formed on the recording medium, and the amount of movement of the image position, the magnification of the image, the rotation of the image, the distortion of the image, the inclination of the image, or the curvature of the image is adjusted to adjust the formation mode of the image on the recording medium. Further, an image adjustment method according to the present invention includes the steps of: Accepting an input of an amount of movement for moving the position of the image as an image adjustment value by a user; The image adjustment value is used preferentially over the result of reading the adjustment image formed on the recording medium, and the form of the image on the recording medium is adjusted. Further, an image adjustment method according to the present invention includes the steps of: Accepts input of image magnification as a user adjustment value, The image adjustment value is used preferentially over the result of reading the adjustment image formed on the recording medium, and the form of the image on the recording medium is adjusted.

[0014] The image setting adjustment program according to the present invention is On the computer, an input receiving process for receiving an input of an image adjustment value by a user for a first adjustment item related to an amount of movement of the position of the image; In the first adjustment item for which the input of the image adjustment value has been accepted, , adjusting the amount of movement by which the position of the image is moved; an adjustment process for adjusting the state of image formation on a recording medium, and for a second adjustment item different from the first adjustment item, adjusting the state of image formation on the recording medium based on an image adjustment value that is automatically adjusted from the result of reading an adjustment image formed on the recording medium; Execute the command. Further, the image setting adjustment program according to the present invention comprises: On the computer, an input reception process for receiving an input of an image adjustment value by a user; a first mode for adjusting a state of forming an image on a recording medium based on the image adjustment value received in the input receiving process, and a second mode different from the first mode for automatically adjusting a state of forming an image on a recording medium based on a result of reading an adjustment image formed on the recording medium, Even if the second mode is selected, when the image adjustment value is input, Based on the image adjustment value received by the input receiving unit , by adjusting the amount of movement of the position of the image, the magnification of the image, the rotation of the image, the distortion of the image, the inclination of the image, or the curvature of the image, An adjustment process for adjusting the manner in which an image is formed on a recording medium; Execute the command. Further, the image setting adjustment program according to the present invention comprises: On the computer, an input reception process for receiving an input of an image adjustment value by a user; an adjustment process in which, when the input of the image adjustment value is accepted, the image adjustment value is used preferentially over the result of reading the adjustment image formed on the recording medium, and the amount of movement of the image position, the magnification of the image, the rotation of the image, the distortion of the image, the inclination of the image, or the curvature of the image is adjusted to adjust the formation state of the image on the recording medium; Execute the command. Further, the image setting adjustment program according to the present invention comprises: On the computer, an input receiving process for receiving an input of an amount of movement for moving the position of the image as an image adjustment value input by a user; an adjustment process for adjusting a state in which an image is formed on a recording medium by using the image adjustment value in preference to a result of reading the adjustment image formed on the recording medium when the input of the image adjustment value is accepted; Execute the command. Further, the image setting adjustment program according to the present invention comprises: On the computer, an input receiving process for receiving an input of an image magnification as an image adjustment value by a user; an adjustment process for adjusting a state in which an image is formed on a recording medium by using the image adjustment value in preference to a result of reading the adjustment image formed on the recording medium when the input of the image adjustment value is accepted; Execute the command. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, the image formation mode can be adjusted as intended by the user. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a diagram showing a main part of a control system of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining manual adjustment of front and back adjustment executed in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, showing an operation screen for magnification and shift. [Figure 4] 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining manual front-back adjustment executed in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, showing an operation screen for adjustment items relating to distortion. [Diagram 5] 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation screen for front and back adjustment executed in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, showing a case where image adjustment values ​​of all adjustment items are automatically adjusted. [Figure 6] 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation screen for front-back adjustment executed in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 1, showing a case where some image adjustment values ​​of adjustment items are manually input and the rest are automatically adjusted. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart illustrating an image adjustment method executed during image formation processing in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. [Figure 8] 8 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine executed in step S15 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] 8 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine executed in step S16 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 7. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0018] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the main parts of a control system of the image forming apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment. Note that the configuration and specifications of the image forming apparatus 100 described below are an example of the present embodiment, and are not limited to the following description, and can be modified as appropriate by arbitrarily selecting similar well-known techniques.

[0019] The image forming apparatus 100 is capable of forming an image on a sheet of paper (a recording medium). As shown in Fig. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an image forming apparatus main body 110, a reading device 120 (a detection unit), and the like.

[0020] [Image forming device body] The image forming apparatus main body 110 is an intermediate transfer type color image forming apparatus that utilizes electrophotographic process technology. That is, the image forming apparatus main body 110 primarily transfers the CMYK color toner images formed on the photoconductor to an intermediate transfer body, superimposes the four color toner images on the intermediate transfer body, and then secondarily transfers them onto paper to form an image to be printed. CMYK stands for C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black).

[0021] In addition, the image forming apparatus main body 110 employs a tandem system in which photoconductors corresponding to the four colors, CMYK, are arranged in series in the running direction of the intermediate transfer body, and each color toner image is transferred sequentially to the intermediate transfer body in a single step.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus main body 110 includes an image reading section 10, an operation display section 20, an image processing section 30, an image forming section 40, a paper transport section 50, a fixing section 60, and the like.

[0023] The image reading unit 10 includes an automatic document feeder 11 called an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), a document image scanning device 12 (scanner), and the like.

[0024] The automatic document feeder 11 conveys documents placed on a document tray using a conveying mechanism and sends them to the document image scanning device 12. The automatic document feeder 11 can continuously read images (including both sides) of multiple documents placed on the document tray all at once.

[0025] The document image scanning device 12 optically scans the document conveyed from the automatic document feeder 11 onto the contact glass or the document placed on the contact glass, and forms an image of the reflected light from the document on a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor to read the document image. The image reading unit 10 generates input image data based on the reading result by the document image scanning device 12. This input image data is subjected to a predetermined image processing in the image processing unit 30.

[0026] The operation display unit 20 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) with a touch panel, and functions as a display unit 21 and an operation unit 22. The display unit 21 displays various operation screens, image status display, operation status of each function, etc. according to a display control signal input from the control unit 70 (see FIG. 2). The operation unit 22 has various operation keys such as a numeric keypad and a start key, accepts various input operations by the user, and outputs operation signals to the control unit 70.

[0027] The image processing unit 30 includes a circuit for performing image processing on input image data according to initial settings or user settings, etc. The image forming unit 40 is controlled based on the image data that has been subjected to image processing.

[0028] The image forming section 40 includes image forming units 41Y, 41M, 41C, and 41K for forming images using color toners of Y, M, C, and K components based on image data from the image processing section 30, an intermediate transfer unit 42, and the like.

[0029] The image forming units 41Y, 41M, 41C, and 41K for the Y, M, C, and K components have the same configuration. Therefore, in Fig. 1, only the components of the image forming unit 41Y for the Y component are labeled with a reference symbol, and the components of the other image forming units 41M, 41C, and 41K are not labeled with a reference symbol.

[0030] The image forming unit 41 includes an exposure device 411, a developing device 412, a photoconductor drum 413, a charging device 414, a drum cleaning unit 415, and the like.

[0031] Exposure device 411 is composed of, for example, a semiconductor laser, and irradiates photoconductor drum 413 with laser light corresponding to an image of each color component. Positive charges are generated in the charge generation layer of photoconductor drum 413 by irradiation with the laser light, and when the charges are transported to the surface of the charge transport layer, the surface charge (negative charge) of photoconductor drum 413 is neutralized. As a result, an electrostatic latent image of each color component is formed on the surface of photoconductor drum 413 due to the potential difference with the surroundings.

[0032] The developing device 412 is, for example, a two-component developing device having a developing sleeve etc. The developing device 412 visualizes the electrostatic latent image by attaching toner of each color component from the developing sleeve to the surface of the photoconductor drum 413 to form a toner image.

[0033] The photoconductor drum 413 includes, for example, an aluminum conductive cylinder (aluminum bare tube), an undercoat layer (UCL), a charge generation layer (CGL), a charge transport layer (CTL), and the like. The photoconductor drum 413 is a photoconductor having photoconductivity configured by sequentially laminating an undercoat layer, a charge generation layer, and a charge transport layer on the circumferential surface of a conductive cylinder. The photoconductor drum 413 is, for example, a negatively charged organic photoconductor (OPC). The photoconductor drum 413 is rotated at a constant peripheral speed (linear speed) by the control unit 70 (see FIG. 2) controlling a drive current supplied to a drive motor (not shown).

[0034] The charging device 414 uniformly charges the surface of the photoconductive photoconductor drum 413 to a negative polarity.

[0035] Drum cleaning unit 415 uses a cleaning blade to clean residual toner remaining on the surface of photoconductor drum 413. Drum cleaning unit 415 may include a lubricant supplying device that supplies a lubricant (slip agent) that reduces the adhesive force of toner to photoconductor drum 413 onto photoconductor drum 413.

[0036] The intermediate transfer unit 42 includes an intermediate transfer belt 421, a primary transfer roller 422, a plurality of support rollers 423 including a backup roller 423A, and a secondary transfer roller 424. The intermediate transfer unit 42 may include a belt cleaning device that removes residual toner remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 421 after the secondary transfer, for example, by a belt cleaning blade that comes into sliding contact with the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 421.

[0037] The intermediate transfer belt 421 is stretched in a loop shape around a plurality of support rollers 423, and the intermediate transfer belt 421 runs at a constant speed in the direction of the arrow A as the support rollers 423 rotate. The primary transfer roller 422 presses the intermediate transfer belt 421 against the photosensitive drum 413. This transfers the toner image from the photosensitive drum 413 to the intermediate transfer belt 421. The secondary transfer roller 424 is pressed against the backup roller 423A with the intermediate transfer belt 421 in between. This transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt 421 to the paper. The paper to which the toner image has been transferred is transported toward the fixing unit 60. Instead of the secondary transfer roller 424, a belt-type secondary transfer unit in which the secondary transfer belt is stretched in a loop shape around a plurality of support rollers may be used.

[0038] The paper transport section 50 includes a paper feed section 51, a paper discharge section 52, a transport path section 53, and a reversing mechanism section 54. The three paper feed tray units 51a to 51c that make up the paper feed section 51 store paper (standard paper, special paper) identified based on basis weight, size, etc., by type set in advance. The transport path section 53 has a plurality of transport roller pairs, such as registration roller pairs.

[0039] The sheets stored in the paper feed tray units 51a to 51c are sent out one by one from the top and transported to the image forming unit 40 by the transport path unit 53. At this time, the inclination of the fed sheet is corrected and the transport timing is adjusted by a registration roller unit having a registration roller pair. Then, the sheet on which an image has been formed through the image forming unit 40 and the fixing unit 60 is discharged outside the machine by the paper discharge unit 52. When forming images for printing on both sides of the sheet, the sheet surface is reversed by the reversing mechanism unit 54, and the sheet is transported again to the image forming unit 40 (secondary transfer roller 424).

[0040] The fixing unit 60 heats and presses the paper, which has been transported and to which the toner image has been secondarily transferred, in a fixing nip, thereby fixing the toner image to the paper. The fixing unit 60 includes a fixing roller 61 and a pressure roller 62. The fixing roller 61 and the pressure roller 62 form a fixing nip that holds and transports the paper between them. Note that instead of the fixing roller 61, a belt-type fixing unit in which a fixing belt is stretched in a loop around multiple support rollers may be used.

[0041] The image forming apparatus main body 110 forms a print image on the front and back of the paper with the above-mentioned configuration. The image forming apparatus main body 110 also forms a plurality of adjustment marks (adjustment images) in the margin areas on the front and back of the paper with the above-mentioned configuration. For example, in the margin areas on the front and back of the paper, cross-shaped adjustment marks (register marks) are image-formed near each of the four corners of the paper. At this time, the adjustment marks are formed so as to be at positions a predetermined distance away from the edge of the paper as a reference. The adjustment marks may be formed anywhere in the margin areas of the paper.

[0042] [Reading device] 1, the reading device 120 is disposed downstream of the image forming device main body 110 in the paper conveying direction in the image forming device 100, and includes a first sensor 121, a second sensor 122, and the like. When the image forming device main body 110 forms adjustment marks on both sides of a paper, the reading device 120 is configured to be able to detect the adjustment marks by scanning (reading) both sides of the paper with the first sensor 121 and the second sensor 122. The reading device 120 is also able to detect the paper edge (paper size) with the first sensor 121 and the second sensor 122. The detection results (reading results) of the adjustment marks and the paper edge by the reading device 120 are stored in the storage unit 82 described later, and are used by the control unit 70.

[0043] The first sensor 121 is disposed in the reading device 120 on the upstream side in the paper transport direction, and reads the paper passing through from below. The first sensor 121 is an optical sensor that can read at a relatively high speed, such as a line scanner. Therefore, it can detect adjustment marks formed on the edge of the paper at a relatively high speed and output the detection result. The first sensor 121 is also an optical sensor with a length that spans the entire width of the paper. Therefore, it can read the entire width of the paper.

[0044] The second sensor 122 is disposed on the downstream side in the paper transport direction within the reading device 120, and reads the paper passing therethrough from above. The second sensor 122 has the same configuration as the first sensor 121.

[0045] The positional relationship between the first sensor 121 and the second sensor 122 may be reversed, and within the reading device 120, the second sensor 122 may be disposed on the upstream side in the paper transport direction, and the first sensor 121 may be disposed on the downstream side in the paper transport direction.

[0046] Further, here, two sensors, the first sensor 121 and the second sensor 122, are provided, but if a mechanism equivalent to the above-mentioned reversing mechanism unit 54 is provided in the reading device 120, it is sufficient to provide either one of these sensors.

[0047] Also, here, the reading device 120 is an independent device separate from the image forming apparatus main body 110, but it may be provided inside the image forming apparatus main body 110. In that case, the reading device 120 is disposed downstream of the fixing unit 60 in the paper conveying direction in the image forming apparatus main body 110.

[0048] [Control Unit] As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a control unit 70.

[0049] The control unit 70 functions as a computer and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 71, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 72, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 73. The CPU 71 reads out a program corresponding to the processing contents from the ROM 72, loads it in the RAM 73, and centrally controls the operation of each block of the image forming apparatus 100 in cooperation with the loaded program. At this time, various data such as a LUT (Look Up Table) stored in the storage unit 82 is referenced. The storage unit 82 is configured, for example, with a non-volatile semiconductor memory (so-called flash memory) or a hard disk drive.

[0050] The control unit 70 transmits and receives various data to and from an external device (e.g., a personal computer) connected to a communication network such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a WAN (Wide Area Network) via the communication unit 81. The control unit 70 receives, for example, image data transmitted from an external device, and forms an image to be printed on paper based on this image data (input image data). The communication unit 81 is formed, for example, of a communication control card such as a LAN card.

[0051] The control unit 70 is connected to the image reading unit 10, the operation display unit 20, the image processing unit 30, the image forming unit 40, the paper transport unit 50, and the fixing unit 60. The control unit 70 is also connected to the reading device 120. These perform predetermined processes based on instructions from the control unit 70.

[0052] [Adjustment section] In the image forming apparatus 100, an adjustment unit is configured that automatically adjusts the image adjustment values ​​of the adjustment items constituting the formation mode of the image to be printed, by using the above-mentioned image forming apparatus main body 110 and reading device 120, to automatically adjust the formation mode of the image to be printed. In this way, the adjustment unit has an automatic adjustment function that automatically adjusts the image adjustment values ​​of the adjustment items. The image adjustment values ​​of the adjustment items that are automatically adjusted by the adjustment unit include the movement amount (shift amount) for moving the position of the image to be printed, the magnification of the image to be printed, the rotation of the image to be printed, the distortion of the image to be printed, the inclination of the image to be printed, or the curvature of the image to be printed.

[0053] Specifically, the adjustment unit detects an adjustment mark formed on the paper by a first sensor 121 and a second sensor 122 of the reading device 120. For example, when automatically adjusting the shift amount, the control unit 70 calculates the distance from the edge of the paper based on the position of the detected adjustment mark, and automatically adjusts the shift amount based on the difference between a predetermined distance from the edge of the paper to the adjustment mark and the calculated distance. Then, the image forming apparatus main body 110 forms an image to be printed on the paper using the automatically adjusted shift amount.

[0054] In this way, the adjustment unit automatically adjusts the image adjustment values ​​of the adjustment items of the image to be printed, but there are cases where the user wants to set the image adjustment values ​​of the adjustment items of the image to be printed to desired values. In such cases, the shift amount, magnification, etc. of the image to be printed can be set to desired values ​​using input reception screens Sc1 and Sc2 shown in Figures 3 and 4, which will be described later (manual adjustment function).

[0055] However, in the past, even if a user set a desired shift amount or magnification using the manual adjustment function, when the user used the adjustment unit after setting, the shift amount or magnification was automatically adjusted based on the position of the detected adjustment mark, which means that the shift amount or magnification set by the user was changed against the user's will.

[0056] In this way, when using the above-mentioned adjustment unit, the shift amount, magnification, etc. are automatically adjusted regardless of the settings input by the user, so there are cases where the formation of the print image cannot be achieved as intended by the user.

[0057] Therefore, in this embodiment, image forming apparatus 100 includes an image adjustment device having an input receiving unit and an adjustment unit, which will be described below. The image adjustment device executes an image adjustment method (image adjustment program) which will be described later with reference to Figs. 7 to 9.

[0058] The input reception unit receives input of image adjustment values ​​by a user (input reception process). The input reception unit will be described later with reference to FIGS.

[0059] The adjustment unit is further configured, when input of an image adjustment value is accepted, to adjust the formation manner of the image to be printed on the paper by using the image adjustment value input by the user in preference to the reading results of the adjustment mark formed on the paper (adjustment process).

[0060] Such an input receiving unit and an adjustment unit are provided as one function of the control unit 70. For example, the input receiving unit and the adjustment unit are provided as a program executed by the control unit 70.

[0061] [Input reception section and manual adjustment] The control unit 70 (input receiving unit) will be described below with reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining manual adjustment of front and back adjustment performed in the image forming apparatus 100, and is a diagram showing an operation screen for magnification and shift. Fig. 4 is a diagram for explaining manual adjustment of front and back adjustment performed in the image forming apparatus 100, and is a diagram showing an operation screen for adjustment items related to distortion. Note that in Figs. 3 and 4, image adjustment values ​​are displayed as front and back adjustment values.

[0062] When the user inputs a shift amount or a magnification as an image adjustment value, the control unit 70 (input receiving unit) displays an operation screen Sc1 shown in FIG. 3 on the operation display unit 20, which is a touch panel.

[0063] On the operation screen Sc1, it is possible to set the tray. For example, when the user touches the operation area B11 displayed as "Tray 1," tray 1 is selected as a tray for which image adjustment values ​​can be input. When the user touches the operation area B12 displayed as "Tray 2," tray 2 is selected as a tray for which image adjustment values ​​can be input. When the user touches the operation area B13 displayed as "Tray 3," tray 3 is selected as a tray for which image adjustment values ​​can be input.

[0064] In Fig. 3, operation area B11 is selected, and operation areas B12 and B13 are not selected. To indicate this selected state, operation area B11 is displayed in white on a black background, and operation areas B12 and B13 are displayed in black on a white background.

[0065] In the operation screen Sc1, the user touched the operation area B21 that displays "Front," so it is possible to set the shift amount and magnification of the front side, which is the first side of the paper, as image adjustment values. Here again, to indicate that the operation area B21 is selected, the operation area B21 is displayed in white on a black background in FIG.

[0066] When the user touches the operation area B22 that displays "BACK", the shift amount and magnification of the back side, which is the second side of the paper, can be set as the image adjustment value. The operation screen in this case is the same as the operation screen Sc1 shown in Fig. 3, except that the operation area B21 is displayed in black letters on a white background, and the operation area B22 is displayed in white letters on a black background.

[0067] Furthermore, when the user touches the operation area B23 labeled "Distortion," it is possible to set an adjustment item related to distortion as an image adjustment value. This will be described with reference to FIG. 4. Furthermore, when the user touches the operation area B24 labeled "Front / Back Difference," it is possible to set the front / back difference of image adjustment values ​​such as the shift amount and magnification. Furthermore, when the user touches the operation area B25 labeled "Auto Measurement," it is possible to execute automatic measurement for automatically adjusting the adjustment items of the image to be printed. This will be described with reference to FIG. 5, which will be described later.

[0068] On the operation screen Sc1, when the user touches operation area B31 marked "Vertical magnification," the vertical magnification of the image to be printed can be input as an image adjustment value. When the user touches operation area B32 marked "Horizontal magnification," the horizontal magnification of the image to be printed can be input as an image adjustment value. When the user touches operation area B33 marked "Top / Bottom," the vertical shift amount of the image to be printed (paper feed direction) can be input as an image adjustment value. When the user touches operation area B34 marked "Left / Right," the horizontal shift amount of the image to be printed (width direction) can be input as an image adjustment value.

[0069] In Fig. 3, operation area B31 is selected, and operation areas B32 to B34 are not selected. To indicate this selected state, operation area B31 is displayed in white letters on a black background, and operation areas B32 to B34 are displayed in black letters on a white background in Fig. 3.

[0070] The vertical magnification, horizontal magnification, vertical shift amount, and horizontal shift amount of the above-mentioned print image can be input by the user touching the areas showing numerical values ​​and the areas showing up and down arrows displayed in the numerical input area B35 on the operation screen Sc1.

[0071] Then, when the user touches the operation area B14 that displays "Close", the vertical magnification, horizontal magnification, vertical shift amount, and horizontal shift amount of the image to be printed input by the user are set. In other words, the vertical magnification, horizontal magnification, vertical shift amount, and horizontal shift amount of the image to be printed are set by manual input by the user (manual adjustment).

[0072] After this setting, when the user causes the image forming apparatus 100 to execute an image forming process, the image forming apparatus main body 110 executes the image forming process using the manually input image adjustment values. For example, the image forming section 40 of the image forming apparatus main body 110 can form the print image as intended by the user by shifting (moving) the print image based on the manually input shift amount.

[0073] When the user inputs an adjustment item related to distortion as an image adjustment value, the control unit 70 (input receiving unit) displays the operation screen Sc2 shown in FIG.

[0074] The tray can also be set on the operation screen Sc2, which is the same as the above-mentioned operation screen Sc1, so a duplicated explanation will be omitted.

[0075] In operation screen Sc2, the user touched operation area B23 displayed as "Distortion," so that it is possible to set an adjustment item related to distortion as an image adjustment value. Again, to indicate that operation area B23 is selected, operation area B23 is displayed in white on a black background in FIG. 4.

[0076] On the operation screen Sc2, when the user touches the operation area B41 marked "Front", it is possible to set an adjustment item related to the distortion of the front side of the paper as an image adjustment value. Also, when the user touches the operation area B42 marked "Back", it is possible to set an adjustment item related to the distortion of the back side of the paper as an image adjustment value.

[0077] In Fig. 4, operation area B41 is selected, and operation area B42 is not selected. To indicate this selected state, operation area B41 is displayed in white on a black background, and operation area B42 is displayed in black on a white background in Fig. 4.

[0078] In addition, when the user touches the operation area B43 displayed as "Rotation" on the operation screen Sc2, the image adjustment value for the rotation of the image to be printed can be input. When the user touches the operation area B44 displayed as "Skew", the image adjustment value for the inclination of the image to be printed can be input. When the user touches the operation area B45 displayed as "Vertical Trapezoid", the image adjustment value for the vertical trapezoid of the image to be printed can be input. When the user touches the operation area B46 displayed as "Horizontal Trapezoid", the image adjustment value for the horizontal trapezoid of the image to be printed can be input. When the user touches the operation area B47 displayed as "Bend", the image adjustment value for the bend of the image to be printed can be input. When the user touches the operation area B48 displayed as "Bend Position", the image adjustment value for the bend position of the image to be printed can be input.

[0079] In Fig. 4, operation area B43 is selected, and operation areas B44 to B48 are not selected. To indicate this selected state, operation area B43 is displayed in white letters on a black background, and operation areas B44 to B48 are displayed in black letters on a white background in Fig. 4.

[0080] Numerical value input field B49 in operation screen Sc2 is the same as numeric value input field B35 in operation screen Sc1 shown in Fig. 3. Therefore, the user can input a numerical value to the image adjustment value described above by touching an area showing a numerical value or an area showing an up arrow or a down arrow displayed in numeric value input field B49.

[0081] Then, when the user touches operation area B14 displaying "Close," the image adjustment values ​​for rotation, tilt, vertical trapezoid, horizontal trapezoid, bend, and bend position input by the user are set. In other words, the image adjustment values ​​for rotation, tilt, vertical trapezoid, horizontal trapezoid, bend, and bend position of the print image are set by manual input by the user (manual adjustment).

[0082] After this setting, when the user causes image forming apparatus 100 to execute image forming processing, image forming apparatus main body 110 executes the image forming processing using the manually input image adjustment value. For example, image forming section 40 of image forming apparatus main body 110 can form the print image as intended by the user by rotating the print image based on the manually input image adjustment value for rotation.

[0083] [Adjustment section and automatic adjustment] The control unit 70 (adjustment unit) will be described below with reference to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an operation screen for front and back adjustment performed in image forming apparatus 100, showing a case where image adjustment values ​​of all adjustment items are automatically adjusted. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an operation screen for front and back adjustment performed in image forming apparatus 100, showing a case where some image adjustment values ​​of adjustment items are manually input and the rest are automatically adjusted. Note that image adjustment values ​​are also displayed as front and back adjustment values ​​in Figs. 5 and 6.

[0084] The control unit 70 (adjustment unit) basically uses the results of reading the adjustment marks to automatically adjust the image adjustment values ​​of the adjustment items of the image to be printed, and adjusts the manner in which the image to be printed is formed on the paper (see FIG. 5). Furthermore, in this embodiment, when input of the image adjustment values ​​is accepted, the control unit 70 (adjustment unit) is configured to adjust the manner in which the image to be printed is formed on the paper by using the manually input image adjustment values ​​in preference to the results of reading the adjustment marks (see FIG. 6).

[0085] A case in which the image adjustment values ​​of the adjustment items of the image to be printed are automatically adjusted using the results of reading the adjustment marks formed on the paper will be described with reference to FIG.

[0086] If the user does not input image adjustment values, when the user touches operation area B25 displaying "Automatic Measurement", the control unit 70 (adjustment unit) displays operation screen Sc3 shown in Fig. 5 on the operation display unit 20. For example, if the user does not input image adjustment values ​​using operation screens Sc1 and Sc2 shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the control unit 70 (adjustment unit) displays operation screen Sc3. Note that here too, to indicate that operation area B25 is selected, operation area B25 is displayed in white on a black background in Fig. 5.

[0087] In the operation screen Sc3, the adjustment item, the front side image adjustment value, and the back side image adjustment value are displayed in the adjustment item display area B51. In the case of the operation screen Sc3, since the user did not input the image adjustment value, the adjustment item display area B51 displays, for example, the initial value preset in the image forming apparatus 100 in black on a white background as the front side image adjustment value and the back side image adjustment value of each adjustment item.

[0088] Then, when the user touches operation area B15 displaying "Go to print mode", image forming apparatus 100 forms adjustment marks on both sides of the paper, and reading device 120 detects the adjustment marks on both sides of the paper using first sensor 121 and second sensor 122. Control unit 70 automatically adjusts the image adjustment values ​​of the adjustment items based on the positions of the detected adjustment marks, and updates the image adjustment values ​​in adjustment item display area B51. Then, when the user touches operation area B14 displaying "Close", the image adjustment values ​​of the adjustment items updated by automatic measurement are set (automatic adjustment).

[0089] After this setting, when the user causes the image forming apparatus 100 to execute an image forming process, the image forming apparatus main body 110 executes the image forming process using the image adjustment values ​​of the adjustment items updated by the automatic measurement. For example, the image forming section 40 of the image forming apparatus main body 110 forms an image to be printed by shifting (moving) the image to be printed based on the shift amount updated by the automatic measurement.

[0090] Note that trays can also be set on operation screen Sc3, which is basically the same as operation screen Sc1 described above, but on operation screen Sc3, the user can select multiple trays. For example, on operation screen Sc3, when the user touches operation area B1 displaying "All Trays," all trays are selected, and when the user touches operation area B2 displaying "Multiple Trays," multiple trays are selected.

[0091] On the operation screen Sc3, as an example, the user touches the operation area B2 displayed as "Multiple Trays," and then touches the operation area B11 displayed as "Tray 1," and the operation area B12 displayed as "Tray 2." To indicate that these are in the selected state, the operation areas B2, B11, and B12 are displayed in white on a black background in FIG.

[0092] A case in which manually input image adjustment values ​​are used preferentially over the results of reading adjustment marks formed on paper to adjust the formation state of an image to be printed on paper will be described with reference to FIG.

[0093] After the user inputs the image adjustment values, when the user touches the operation area B25 displaying "Automatic Measurement", the control unit 70 (adjustment unit) displays the operation screen Sc4 shown in Fig. 6 on the operation display unit 20. For example, when the user inputs the image adjustment values ​​using the operation screens Sc1 and Sc2 shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the control unit 70 (adjustment unit) displays the operation screen Sc4. Note that here too, to indicate that the operation area B25 is selected, the operation area B25 is displayed in white on a black background in Fig. 6.

[0094] In the operation screen Sc4, the adjustment item display area B51 displays the adjustment item, the image adjustment value for the front side, and the image adjustment value for the back side. In the case of the operation screen Sc4, the user inputs the image adjustment value before moving to this operation screen Sc4. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, assume that the user inputs the vertical magnification as "+1.00%" in the operation screen Sc1. Then, the adjustment item of the vertical magnification and the image adjustment value are displayed in white on a black background, for example, to indicate that they were input by the user. In other words, the control unit 70 uses the operation display unit 20 functioning as a notification unit to notify the user that this image adjustment value will be used preferentially.

[0095] Note that, here, the control unit 70 uses the operation display unit 20 to display the adjustment items and image adjustment values ​​to be used with priority in white characters on a black background, but this is not limiting, and the control unit 70 may notify the user by changing the area or characters to another color or by blinking. Furthermore, the control unit 70 may notify the user of the adjustment items and image adjustment values ​​to be used with priority by voice, for example, using a speaker (not shown) as a notification unit.

[0096] For items for which the user has not entered image adjustment values, the adjustment item display area B51 shows, for example, the initial values ​​preset in the image forming device 100 as the front side image adjustment value and back side image adjustment value of each adjustment item in black on a white background.

[0097] Then, when the user touches operation area B15 displaying "Go to print mode", image forming apparatus 100 forms adjustment marks on both sides of the paper, and reading device 120 detects the adjustment marks on both sides of the paper using first sensor 121 and second sensor 122. Based on the positions of the detected adjustment marks, control unit 70 automatically adjusts the image adjustment values ​​for adjustment items other than the adjustment item input by the user, and updates the image adjustment values ​​in adjustment item display area B51. Then, when the user touches operation area B14 displaying "Close", the image adjustment values ​​of the adjustment items input by the user and the image adjustment values ​​of the adjustment items updated by automatic measurement are set (partial automatic adjustment).

[0098] After this setting, when the user causes image forming apparatus 100 to execute image forming processing, image forming apparatus main body 110 executes image forming processing using the image adjustment values ​​of the adjustment items input by the user and the image adjustment values ​​of the adjustment items updated by automatic measurement. For example, image forming section 40 of image forming apparatus main body 110 shifts (moves) the image to be printed based on the shift amount input by the user, and rotates the image to be printed based on the image adjustment value of rotation updated by automatic measurement, thereby forming the image to be printed as intended by the user.

[0099] Conventionally, even if a user sets a desired shift amount or magnification using the above-mentioned manual adjustment function, when the automatic adjustment function is used after the setting, the shift amount or magnification is automatically adjusted based on the position of the detected adjustment mark. In contrast, in this embodiment, as described with reference to Fig. 6, the image adjustment value input by the user is used with priority, so that the formation mode of the print image can be adjusted as the user intends.

[0100] [Method of adjusting image during image formation process] In the above description, the formation mode of the image to be printed is adjusted before the image forming process by the image forming apparatus 100, but the formation mode of the image to be printed may be adjusted during the image forming process. A method of adjusting the image during the image forming process will be described with reference to Figs. 7 to 9.

[0101] Here, Fig. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an image adjustment method executed during image formation processing in image forming apparatus 100. Fig. 8 is a flowchart for explaining a subroutine executed in step S15 of the flowchart shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a flowchart for explaining a subroutine executed in step S16 of the flowchart shown in Fig. 7.

[0102] When a user performs an operation to start an image forming process in the image forming apparatus 100, the control unit 70 executes the following procedure. The procedure described below is stored in the storage unit 82 as an image adjustment program executed by the control unit 70.

[0103] (Step S11) The control unit 70 checks whether the adjustment stop mode is selected. If the adjustment stop mode is not selected (NO), the process proceeds to step S12, and if the adjustment stop mode is selected (YES), the process proceeds to step S19.

[0104] Although not shown, the adjustment stop mode is instructed, for example, by the user selecting an operation area displayed as "adjustment stop mode" on the operation screen. This adjustment stop mode is a mode in which the control unit 70 (adjustment stop unit) stops automatic adjustment by the adjustment unit for all adjustment items. In this adjustment stop mode, as will be described in step S19 below, the image adjustment values ​​input for each adjustment item are used.

[0105] (Step S12) The control unit 70 causes the image forming apparatus main body 110 to form image adjustment marks for the paper on which the image to be printed is formed. The image forming apparatus main body 110 forms image adjustment marks, for example, in the margins at the edges of the paper on both sides of the paper on which the image to be printed is formed. Note that the image adjustment marks may be formed not on the paper on which the image to be printed is formed, but on paper for image adjustment on which the image to be printed is not formed.

[0106] (Step S13) The control unit 70 causes the reading device 120 to read the paper on which the image adjustment marks are formed. At this time, the first sensor 121 and the second sensor 122 of the reading device 120 detect not only the image adjustment marks formed on the paper, but also the edges of the paper.

[0107] (Step S14) The control unit 70 determines the paper size of the paper on which the image adjustment marks are formed, based on the reading results of the reading device 120 (the first sensor 121 and the second sensor 122).

[0108] (Step S15) The control unit 70 executes a subroutine for setting the shift amount. The subroutine for setting the shift amount will be described with reference to FIG.

[0109] (Step S151) The control unit 70 checks whether a shift amount has been input. For example, when the user touches the operation area B33 marked "up and down" on the operation screen Sc1 shown in Fig. 3 and inputs a shift amount in the up and down direction, it is determined that a shift amount has been input. Also, when the user touches the operation area B34 marked "left and right" on the operation screen Sc1 shown in Fig. 3 and inputs a shift amount in the left and right direction, it is determined that a shift amount has been input. If a shift amount has been input (YES), the process proceeds to step S152, and if a shift amount has not been input (NO), the process proceeds to step S155.

[0110] (Step S152) The control unit 70 checks whether the shift amount has been input for only one side. For example, when the user performs the following operation, it is determined that the shift amount has been input for only one side.

[0111] For example, this is the case where the user touches the operation area B21 displayed as "Front" or the operation area B22 displayed as "Back" and the operation area B33 displayed as "Up / Down" to input a vertical shift amount to either the front or back surface. Also, this is the case where the user touches the operation area B21 displayed as "Front" or the operation area B22 displayed as "Back" and the operation area B34 displayed as "Left / Right" to input a horizontal shift amount to either the front or back surface.

[0112] If it is determined that the shift amount has been input for only one side (step S152, YES), the process proceeds to step S153. On the other hand, if it is not determined that the shift amount has been input for only one side (step S152, NO), that is, if it is determined that the shift amount has been input for both sides, the process proceeds to step S154.

[0113] (Step S153) If it is determined in step S152 that the shift amount has been input only for one side, the control unit 70 uses the input shift amount for one side as the shift amount for both sides of the paper. At this time, the control unit 70 may display the input shift amount for one side on the operation display unit 20 (notification unit) to notify the user.

[0114] (Step S154) In step S152, if it is not determined that the shift amount has been input for only one side, that is, if it is determined that the shift amount has been input for both sides, the control unit 70 uses the shift amount input for each of the two sides of the paper as the shift amount for both sides of the paper. At this time, the control unit 70 may display the input shift amount for both sides on the operation display unit 20 (notification unit) to notify the user.

[0115] (Step S155) If it is determined in step S151 that the shift amount has not been input, the control unit 70 automatically adjusts the shift amount on both sides of the paper based on the reading result of the reading device 120.

[0116] (Step S16) The control unit 70 executes a subroutine for setting the magnification ratio. The subroutine for setting the magnification ratio will be described with reference to FIG.

[0117] (Step S161) The control unit 70 checks whether a magnification has been input. For example, when the user touches the operation area B31 displayed as "Vertical magnification" on the operation screen Sc1 shown in Fig. 3 and inputs a vertical magnification, it is determined that a magnification has been input. Also, when the user touches the operation area B32 displayed as "Horizontal magnification" on the operation screen Sc1 shown in Fig. 3 and inputs a horizontal magnification, it is determined that a magnification has been input. If a magnification has been input (YES), the process proceeds to step S162, and if a magnification has not been input (NO), the process proceeds to step S166.

[0118] (Step S162) The control unit 70 compares the paper size set by the user with the paper size determined based on the reading result of the reading device 120, and checks whether these paper sizes match. If the paper sizes do not match (NO), the process proceeds to step S163, and if the paper sizes match (YES), the process proceeds to step S166. The paper size set by the user is input using the operation display unit 20 before the image formation process. If the paper sizes do not match as a result of this determination process, the magnification input by the user is used preferentially, as described below.

[0119] (Step S163) The control unit 70 checks whether the magnification has been input for only one side. For example, if the user performs the following operation, it is determined that the magnification has been input for only one side.

[0120] For example, this is the case when the user touches the operation area B21 displayed as "Front" or the operation area B22 displayed as "Back" and the operation area B31 displayed as "Vertical magnification" and inputs the vertical magnification to either the front or back surface. Also, this is the case when the user touches the operation area B21 displayed as "Front" or the operation area B22 displayed as "Back" and the operation area B32 displayed as "Horizontal magnification" and inputs the horizontal magnification to either the front or back surface.

[0121] If it is determined that the magnification has been input for only one side (step S163, YES), the process proceeds to step S164. On the other hand, if it is not determined that the magnification has been input for only one side (step S163, NO), that is, if it is determined that the magnification has been input for both sides, the process proceeds to step S165.

[0122] (Step S164) If it is determined in step S163 that the magnification has been input only for one side, the control unit 70 uses the input magnification for one side as the magnification for both sides of the paper. At this time, the control unit 70 may display the input magnification for one side on the operation display unit 20 (notification unit) to notify the user.

[0123] (Step S165) In step S163, if it is not determined that the magnification has been input for only one side, that is, if it is determined that the magnification has been input for both sides, the control unit 70 uses the magnifications input for both sides of the paper as the magnifications for both sides of the paper. At this time, the control unit 70 may display the input magnifications for both sides on the operation display unit 20 (notification unit) to notify the user.

[0124] (Step S166) If it is determined in step S161 that no magnification has been input, and if it is determined in step S162 that the paper sizes match, the control unit 70 automatically adjusts the magnifications on both sides of the paper based on the reading results of the reading device 120.

[0125] In addition, in the subroutine shown in Fig. 9, if the paper size is not compared, step S162 may be omitted. In that case, step S14 shown in Fig. 7 may also be omitted.

[0126] Furthermore, when the user sets the paper characteristics included in the paper profile as the items related to the paper, the control unit 70 may be able to determine that the paper size will change (shrink) due to the image forming process based on the set paper characteristics. In that case, for example, between step S162 and step S163 shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 70 may execute the determination process described below.

[0127] The control unit 70 determines whether the paper will shrink due to the image forming process based on the set paper characteristics, and if it is determined that the paper will shrink, proceeds to step S163, and if it is not determined that the paper will shrink, proceeds to step S166. The paper characteristics set by the user are input using the operation display unit 20 before the image forming process. If this determination process causes the paper to shrink due to the image forming process, the adjustment items input by the user are used with priority.

[0128] Returning to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, the following steps S17 to S19 will be explained.

[0129] (Step S17) The control unit 70 uses image adjustment values ​​input by the user and image adjustment values ​​automatically adjusted based on the reading results of the reading device 120 to calculate the correction amounts for rotation, skew, trapezoid, and bending of the image to be printed.

[0130] (Step S18) The control unit 70 automatically adjusts the image adjustment values ​​of the adjustment items that require adjustment. For example, if the rotation of the image to be printed needs to be adjusted due to the image adjustment values ​​input by the user or the image adjustment values ​​that are automatically adjusted based on the reading result of the reading device 120, the image adjustment value for the rotation of the image to be printed is adjusted and updated using the correction amount calculated in step S17. The same applies to other skew, trapezoid, and curvature.

[0131] (Step S19) In step S11, if it is determined that the adjustment stop mode is selected (YES), the control unit 70 does not automatically adjust the image adjustment values ​​of each adjustment item, but sets the formation mode of the image to be printed using the image adjustment values ​​entered for each adjustment item.

[0132] The image adjustment method for adjusting the formation mode of the print image is completed by the above procedure. This image adjustment method may be performed for each sheet during the image formation process when the image adjustment values ​​that need to be adjusted are automatically adjusted in real time. However, without being limited to this, for example, it may be performed every time a certain number of sheets are processed, or it may be performed only immediately after the start of the image formation process.

[0133] During the image formation process, the image forming device main body 110 executes the image formation process of the image to be printed on the paper using the image adjustment values ​​input by the user and the automatically adjusted image adjustment values. For example, the image forming section 40 of the image forming device main body 110 shifts (moves) the image to be printed based on the shift amount input by the user, and rotates the image to be printed based on the image adjustment value of rotation updated by automatic measurement, thereby forming the image to be printed as intended by the user.

[0134] As described above, during image formation processing, for adjustment items input by the user before the processing, the input image adjustment values ​​are used preferentially, and image adjustment values ​​for other adjustment items are updated by automatic measurement. Therefore, the formation mode of the print image can be adjusted as intended by the user.

[0135] The above-mentioned embodiments are merely examples of the embodiment of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited by these. In other words, the present invention can be embodied in various forms without departing from the gist or main characteristics of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0136] 10 Image reading unit 20 Operation display section 30 Image processing section 40 Image forming section 50 Paper transport section 60 Fixing unit 70 Control section 100 Image forming device 110 Image forming apparatus main body 120 Reading device 121 First Sensor 122 Second Sensor

Claims

1. an input receiving unit that receives an input of an image adjustment value by a user for a first adjustment item related to an amount of movement of the position of the image; an adjustment unit that adjusts the form of the image on the recording medium based on the image adjustment value for the first adjustment item for which the input of the image adjustment value is accepted, and adjusts the form of the image on the recording medium based on the image adjustment value that is automatically adjusted from the reading result of the adjustment image formed on the recording medium for a second adjustment item different from the first adjustment item; Equipped with The adjustment unit adjusts the amount of movement of the position of the image to adjust the formation mode. Image adjustment device.

2. the adjustment unit adjusts a formation mode of the image to be printed during image formation by the image forming apparatus; The image adjustment device according to claim 1 .

3. an input receiving unit that receives an input of an image adjustment value by a user; an adjustment unit having a first mode for adjusting a state of forming an image on a recording medium based on the image adjustment value received by the input receiving unit, and a second mode different from the first mode for automatically adjusting a state of forming an image on the recording medium based on a reading result of an adjustment image formed on the recording medium; Equipped with When the image adjustment value is input even if the second mode is selected, the adjustment unit adjusts the amount of movement of the position of the image, the magnification of the image, the rotation of the image, the distortion of the image, the inclination of the image, or the curvature of the image based on the image adjustment value accepted by the input acceptance unit, thereby adjusting the form of the image on the recording medium. Image adjustment device.

4. an input receiving unit that receives an input of an image adjustment value by a user; an adjustment unit that, when an input of the image adjustment value is accepted, adjusts a formation state of the image on the recording medium by using the image adjustment value in preference to a reading result of an adjustment image formed on the recording medium; Equipped with the adjustment unit adjusts the amount of movement of the position of the image, the magnification of the image, the rotation of the image, the distortion of the image, the inclination of the image, or the curvature of the image to adjust the formation mode. Image adjustment device.

5. The image adjustment value is a movement amount for moving the position of the image.

5. The image adjustment device according to claim 4.

6. an input receiving unit that receives an input of an image adjustment value by a user; an adjustment unit that, when an input of the image adjustment value is accepted, adjusts a formation state of the image on the recording medium by using the image adjustment value in preference to a reading result of an adjustment image formed on the recording medium; Equipped with The image adjustment value is a movement amount for moving the position of the image. Image adjustment device.

7. The image adjustment value is a magnification of the image.

5. The image adjustment device according to claim 4.

8. an input receiving unit that receives an input of an image adjustment value by a user; an adjustment unit that, when an input of the image adjustment value is accepted, adjusts a formation state of the image on the recording medium by using the image adjustment value in preference to a reading result of an adjustment image formed on the recording medium; Equipped with The image adjustment value is a magnification of the image. Image adjustment device.

9. a detection unit for detecting a size of the recording medium, the input receiving unit receives an input of a size of the recording medium by the user, when the size of the recording medium detected by the detection unit does not match the size of the recording medium whose input has been accepted, the adjustment unit adjusts the formation mode by using the magnification of the image as the image adjustment value with priority over the reading result.

9. An image adjustment device according to claim 7 or 8.

10. the input receiving unit receives an input of characteristics of the recording medium by the user; When the adjustment unit determines that the size of the recording medium will change due to image formation based on the input characteristics of the recording medium, the adjustment unit adjusts the formation mode by using the magnification of the image as the image adjustment value with priority over the reading result.

9. An image adjustment device according to claim 7 or 8.

11. when an input of the image adjustment value for one of the first side and the second side of the recording medium is accepted, the adjustment unit adjusts the formation state by using the image adjustment value in preference to the reading result on both the first side and the second side.

9. An image adjustment device according to any one of claims 5 to 8.

12. an adjustment stop unit that stops the adjustment of the formation mode using the reading result in response to an instruction from the user; An image adjustment device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

13. a notification unit that notifies the user that the image adjustment value is to be used in preference to the reading result; An image adjustment device according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. An image adjustment device according to any one of claims 1 to 13; an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium so as to obtain the adjusted formation mode; An image forming apparatus comprising:

15. accepting an input of an image adjustment value by a user in a first adjustment item related to an amount of movement of the position of the image; In the first adjustment item for which an input of the image adjustment value is accepted, an amount of movement for moving the position of the image is adjusted based on the image adjustment value, thereby adjusting the form of the image formed on the recording medium, and in a second adjustment item different from the first adjustment item, the form of the image formed on the recording medium is adjusted based on an image adjustment value that is automatically adjusted from the result of reading an adjustment image formed on the recording medium. Image adjustment methods.

16. Adjusting the formation mode of the image to be printed during image formation by the image forming device; The image adjustment method according to claim 15.

17. Accepts user input of image adjustment values, a first mode for adjusting the manner in which an image is formed on a recording medium based on the image adjustment value whose input has been accepted, and a second mode different from the first mode for automatically adjusting the manner in which an image is formed on a recording medium based on the result of reading an adjustment image formed on the recording medium, when the image adjustment value is input even if the second mode is selected, the amount of movement for moving the position of the image, the magnification of the image, the rotation of the image, the distortion of the image, the inclination of the image, or the curvature of the image is adjusted based on the image adjustment value whose input has been accepted, to adjust the manner in which the image is formed on the recording medium; Image adjustment methods.

18. Accepts user input of image adjustment values, using the image adjustment value with priority over the result of reading the adjustment image formed on the recording medium, adjusting the amount of movement of the position of the image, the magnification of the image, the rotation of the image, the distortion of the image, the inclination of the image, or the curvature of the image, thereby adjusting the formation mode of the image on the recording medium; Image adjustment methods.

19. Accepting an input of an amount of movement for moving the position of the image as an image adjustment value by a user; adjusting the image formation state on the recording medium by using the image adjustment value preferentially over the result of reading the adjustment image formed on the recording medium; Image adjustment methods.

20. Accepts input of image magnification as a user adjustment value, adjusting the image formation state on the recording medium by using the image adjustment value preferentially over the result of reading the adjustment image formed on the recording medium; Image adjustment methods.

21. On the computer, an input receiving process for receiving an input of an image adjustment value by a user for a first adjustment item related to an amount of movement of the position of the image; an adjustment process for adjusting an amount of movement for moving the position of the image based on the image adjustment value for the first adjustment item for which input of the image adjustment value has been accepted, thereby adjusting a state of formation of the image on a recording medium, and for a second adjustment item different from the first adjustment item, adjusting a state of formation of the image on a recording medium based on an image adjustment value that is automatically adjusted from a result of reading an adjustment image formed on the recording medium; Image adjustment program that executes

22. the adjustment process adjusts a formation mode of an image to be printed during image formation by an image forming apparatus; 22. The image adjustment program according to claim 21.

23. On the computer, an input reception process for receiving an input of an image adjustment value by a user; an adjustment process having a first mode for adjusting the manner in which an image is formed on a recording medium based on the image adjustment value received in the input receiving process, and a second mode different from the first mode for automatically adjusting the manner in which an image is formed on a recording medium based on a result of reading an adjustment image formed on the recording medium, and when the image adjustment value is input even when the second mode is selected, the adjustment process adjusts the amount of movement for moving the position of the image, the magnification of the image, the rotation of the image, the distortion of the image, the inclination of the image, or the curvature of the image based on the image adjustment value received in the input receiving process to adjust the manner in which the image is formed on the recording medium; Image adjustment program that executes

24. On the computer, an input reception process for receiving an input of an image adjustment value by a user; an adjustment process in which, when the input of the image adjustment value is accepted, the image adjustment value is used preferentially over the result of reading the adjustment image formed on the recording medium, and the amount of movement of the image position, the magnification of the image, the rotation of the image, the distortion of the image, the inclination of the image, or the curvature of the image is adjusted to adjust the formation state of the image on the recording medium; Image adjustment program that executes

25. On the computer, an input receiving process for receiving an input of an amount of movement for moving the position of the image as an image adjustment value input by a user; an adjustment process for adjusting a state in which an image is formed on a recording medium by using the image adjustment value in preference to a result of reading the adjustment image formed on the recording medium when the input of the image adjustment value is accepted; Image adjustment program that executes

26. On the computer, an input receiving process for receiving an input of an image magnification as an image adjustment value by a user; an adjustment process for adjusting a state in which an image is formed on a recording medium by using the image adjustment value in preference to a result of reading the adjustment image formed on the recording medium when the input of the image adjustment value is accepted; Image adjustment program that executes

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