JP2003291424A - Color imaging apparatus, color imaging system, and correction method therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a color imaging apparatus capable of improving the user convenience at the time of executing a color registration correction, a color imaging system, and a correction method therefor. <P>SOLUTION: The color imaging system comprising a host terminal 102 and a color imaging unit 101, for registering information concerning color registration in the color imaging unit in a server unit 105 connected with a network 108, and receiving color registration correction information from the server unit 105 for executing correction, detects the information on the color registration corresponding to a correction command concerning color registration, transmits information of the detection result to the server unit 105 via the host unit 102, receives the correction information corrected by the server unit 105, and executes a color registration correction based on the correction information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus, a color image forming system, and a correction method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various developments have been made in information networks such as the Internet. World Wide Web server (hereinafter referred to as "WWW server") and Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (hereinafter referred to as "HTTP") on the information network.
It is possible to refer to the information on the WWW server from that computer by connecting to a computer equipped with software for accessing the WWW server. This makes it possible to access a specific WWW server from multiple computers connected to the network,
Various information and services are provided.

Among these services using the WWW server, an online ordering system for consumables such as toner and replacement parts has been put into practical use, particularly in the field of color image forming apparatuses.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional online ordering system. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a network system installed in an office or a general home, which includes a color image forming apparatus 101 and a host terminal 102. The color image forming apparatus 101 is a host terminal 1.
A status signal 103 indicating the state of the color image forming apparatus 101 is sent to the printer 02. This status signal 1
03 also includes information about consumables (for example, toner supply and print paper supply). Host terminal 10
2 users, based on the information about this consumable,
It is possible to request a service center, which will be described later, to exchange consumables via the Internet 108.

104 is a service center, and 105
Including the WWW server device, the WWW server device performs a consumable item order to a manufacturing factory and inventory control in response to a user's replacement request for the consumable item. 106 is a manufacturing factory for various consumables, 107 is various consumables for the color image forming apparatus, and various consumables delivered from the manufacturing factory 106 to the service center 104 are delivered to the user who has made a request for replacement of the consumables. To be done.

[0006] With the spread of such a series of online services, the user can save the trouble of visiting a service shop for exchanging consumables.

Next, the structure of the color image forming apparatus in the above conventional system will be described.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a conventional color image forming apparatus. The color image forming apparatus shown in FIG.
Four image forming units are arranged for each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk). Each of the image forming units includes an image carrier 108Y, 1
08M, 108C, 108Bk, image carrier 108Y-1
Charging means 109Y, 109M, 109C, 109Bk for uniformly charging 08Bk to a predetermined potential, and laser beams 110Y, 110M, 110C, 11 corresponding to each color image data on the charged image carriers 108Y to 108Bk.
Laser scanner units 111Y, 111M, 111C, 111B for irradiating 0Bk to form an electrostatic latent image
k, developing means 112Y, 1 for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing members 108Y to 108Bk to visualize it.
12M, 112C, 112Bk, developing means 112Y-1
Image carrier 108Y-108B for each color toner within 12Bk
sleeve rollers 113Y, 113 for feeding to k
M, 113C, 113Bk, image carrier 108Y-108
Transfer means 115Y, 115M, 115C, 1 for transferring the toner image formed on Bk to the recording medium 114.
15Bk, image carrier 108Y-108 after transfer of toner
It comprises cleaning means 116Y, 116M, 116C, 116Bk for removing the toner remaining on Bk. Also, 117Y, 117M, 117C, 11
7Bk is a waste toner unit for storing waste toner.

At the lower part of the color image forming apparatus, a paper feed cassette 118 containing a recording medium 114 is arranged. The pickup roller 11 for feeding the recording medium is provided in the conveyance path of the recording medium 114 from the paper feeding cassette 118.
9, a recording medium conveying unit 120 for conveying the fed recording medium 114 from the image forming unit to the fixing unit, recording medium 1
Detection sensor 121 for detecting the leading edge of 14 and timing the image forming process, image carrier 108Y-1
The registration roller 122 for holding the recording medium 114 on standby for transferring the developer image formed on 08Bk, and the recording medium 114 to the recording medium conveying unit 1.
20 is an attraction roller 123 for electrostatically attracting onto 20. Recording medium 114 waiting by registration roller 122
Is conveyed on the conveyor belt 120 arranged so as to penetrate each color image forming portion at the timing of the detection result of the detection sensor 121 and the image forming process, and the toner images are sequentially transferred by the transfer means 115Y to 115Bk. To be done.

Reference numeral 124 denotes a fixing unit, which is a recording medium 114.
The toner images of the four colors transferred above are fused and fixed. The fixed recording medium 114 is ejected outside the apparatus, and the image forming operation is completed.

In a color image forming apparatus for forming a color image by sequentially superposing a plurality of toner images as described above, when the writing start position of each color toner image on the recording medium is shifted in the scanning direction and the conveyance direction, the color is changed. Misalignment occurs and the image quality deteriorates. Therefore, Y, M, on the recording medium
In order to align the writing start positions of the C and Bk color toner images in the scanning direction and the conveyance direction, the writing reference position in the conveyance direction of the image carrier is adjusted at the timing when the recording medium is conveyed to the transfer position of each color toner image. Laser light 110Y for each color image carrier 108Y to 108Bk is adjusted and adjusted in accordance with the scanning direction of the recording medium when it is conveyed to the transfer position.
It is necessary to adjust the latent image writing timing of 110 Bk.

Now, the color misregistration correction control in the conventional color image forming apparatus will be described. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the color misregistration correction control. In FIG. 3, 12
5L and 125R are color registration detection sensors composed of a light emitting element LED and a light receiving element PD.
One is arranged at each end of 0. 126
L and 126R are toner image patterns (hereinafter referred to as "toner patterns") for measuring the color shift amount.

In FIG. 3, first, the toner patterns 126L and 126R for measuring the color misregistration amount are the conveying belt 1.
20 formed on the surface. The PD detects the reflected light of the light emitted from the LED to the toner pattern 126 on the surface of the conveyor belt 120, and the toner pattern position is detected by the reflected light. The detection signal is the engine CP described later.
Then, the engine CPU calculates the color shift amount from the detection signal, stores it in the internal memory as the color shift correction value, and resets the write start timing of each color based on the stored color shift correction value to set the interval between the colors. Corrects color misregistration.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a toner pattern. In FIG. 4, 127 is a toner pattern for detecting color misregistration in the conveyance direction of the recording medium 114.
28 is a toner pattern for detecting color misregistration in the scanning direction. The toner patterns 127 and 128 are formed on the conveyor belt 120 at predetermined intervals for each color of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.

Further, Ts1 to Ts3 are timings at which the reference color toner pattern 127 in the carrying direction is detected, and Ts
2'is the timing at which the detection color toner pattern in the transport direction is detected. Further, Tm1 to Tm3 are timings at which the reference color toner pattern 128 in the scanning direction is detected,
Tm1 'to Tm3' are timings at which the detection color toner pattern in the scanning direction is detected.

127 is used as the toner pattern for detecting the amount of color misregistration between the respective colors in the carrying direction. For the toner pattern 127, a reference color is set (for example, black), and the toner pattern 127 of the reference color and the detection color (other than black) is detected to measure the color shift amount. Specifically, the color shift amount is obtained from the time interval between the time when the reference color is detected and the time when the detected color is detected. In FIG. 4A, when the reference color time interval (Ts3−Ts1) is Tref and the detected color time interval (Ts2′−Ts1) is To, the time ΔT corresponding to the color shift amount is Required from.

ΔT = To-Vref / 2 In the toner pattern (A) shown in FIG. 4, there is shown an example in which there is no color shift in the scanning direction. In reality, the pattern is a combination of color misregistration in both the transport direction and the scanning direction.

Next, 128 is used as a toner pattern for detecting the amount of color misregistration between colors in the scanning direction. The toner pattern 128 sets a reference color (for example, black), and the toner pattern 128 of the reference color and the detection color (other than black)
Is detected to measure the amount of color misregistration. Specifically, the color shift amount is obtained from the time interval between the time when the reference color is detected and the time when the detected color is detected. Shown in FIG. 4 (B)
When the reference color time interval (Tm3−Tm1) is Href and the detected color time interval (Tm2′−Tm1 ′) is Ho, the time ΔH corresponding to the color misregistration amount is obtained from the following equation.

ΔH = (Ho−1 / 2Href) / 2 In the toner pattern of (B) shown in FIG. 4, there is shown an example in which there is no color shift in the carrying direction. In reality, the pattern is a combination of color shifts in both the transport direction and the scanning direction.

The calculation result of the color shift amount in the scanning direction obtained by the above-mentioned measurement is sent to the controller CPU, and the image writing timing is corrected on the engine controller side in accordance with the timing of the reference color. The calculation result of the color misregistration amount in the carrying direction is sent to the engine CPU, and the calculation result of the color misregistration amount in the carrying direction is subtracted from the timing of each color image formation set in the internal memory, and the new color image forming timing is obtained. It is set and stored. Then, the next image formation or the color misregistration detection sequence is executed at the newly set image formation timing.

[0021]

However, in the above-described conventional color image forming apparatus and color image forming system, when a desired image acquired through the network is output, the image quality is never satisfied by the user. Instead, it is required to improve the image quality.
In particular, color misregistration due to the superposition of each color that occurs when forming a color image such as a photographic image or a high definition image is troublesome.

On the other hand, for the purpose of solving this problem, color registration correction (hereinafter referred to as "color registration correction")
Is performed inside the color image forming apparatus. However, even if the color registration correction is executed during calibration of the color image forming apparatus, if the color registration is unsatisfactory when the photographic image or high-definition image is output, the recording paper once output is wasted, and the color registration is performed again. Color registration correction must be performed on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus. In particular,
In the case of a color image forming device connected to the network,
It is very annoying that we have to go to a place away from the host terminal to pick up the recording paper.

Further, there is also a problem that the color shift detection mechanism relating to the color registration correction and the memory capacity used for the control table for the color registration correction increase, leading to an increase in cost.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a color image forming apparatus, a color image forming system, and those having improved convenience for a user when executing color registration correction. It is an object of the present invention to provide a correction method of.

[0025]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a host device and a color image forming apparatus, and information about color registration in the color image forming apparatus is connected to a network. A color image forming system that registers in a server device, receives color registration correction information from the server device, and executes correction, and a communication unit that communicates with the server device via the host device, Input means for inputting a correction request relating to the color registration, detection means for detecting information relating to the color registration in response to the correction request, and information on the detection result detected by the detecting means via the host device. Transferred to the server device, receives the correction information corrected by the server device, And having a correction means for performing color registration correction based on the correction information.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention registers information on color registration in a color image forming apparatus in a server apparatus connected to a network, and corrects the color registration correction information from the server apparatus. A color image forming apparatus for receiving and performing correction, comprising: input means for inputting a correction request regarding the color registration; detection means for detecting information regarding the color registration in response to the correction request; A transfer unit that transfers the information of the detection result detected by the means to the server device via the network, and the correction information corrected by the server device, and performs the correction related to the color registration based on the correction information. Correction means for

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a host device and a color image forming apparatus,
A color image forming system for registering information on color registration in the color image forming apparatus in a server device connected to a network, receiving color registration correction information from the server device, and executing correction. Communication means for communicating with the server device via a host device, storage means for storing identification information unique to the color image forming apparatus, input means for inputting a correction request for the color registration, and the correction request Detecting means for detecting information relating to the color registration in accordance with the above, the information of the detection result detected by the detecting means and the identification information are transferred to the server device via the host device, and the server device transfers the information. Receives the correction information corrected based on the identification information, and And having a correction means for performing color registration correction Hazuki.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention registers information on color registration in a color image forming apparatus in a server apparatus connected to a network, and corrects the color registration information from the server apparatus. A color image forming apparatus for receiving and performing correction, comprising: storage means for storing identification information unique to the color image forming apparatus; input means for inputting a correction request for the color registration; Detecting means for detecting information relating to the color registration, transfer means for transferring the information of the detection result detected by the detecting means and the identification information to a server device via the network, and correction by the server device. The corrected registration information is received, and based on the correction information, the color registration And having a correction means for performing correction for ® down.

[0029]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment] First, as a first embodiment, color registration correction (color registration correction)
When executing, the host computer connected to the color image forming apparatus is connected to the server device of the service center via the Internet to transfer the color registration detection data, and the corrected color registration correction file is downloaded from the server device. An on-line color registration correction system that executes color registration correction by using the following will be described.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the arrangement of the online color registration correction system according to the first embodiment. The same components as those shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 501 denotes a communication instruction from the host terminal 102 to the color image forming apparatus 101.
Reference numeral 2 is an information signal from the color image forming apparatus 101 to the host terminal 102. Further, 503 to 505 are flows showing processing in the server device 105.

Reference numeral 503 denotes the detection timing of the toner image pattern of each color, which is transmitted from the host terminal 102 via the Internet 108 to the color image forming apparatus 101.
Misregistration detection information. Reference numeral 504 refers to the correction table based on the pattern detection timing of each color. Reference numeral 505 determines the image writing timing of each color to be corrected based on the result of referring to the correction table. The image writing timing determined here is transferred from the server device 105 to the host terminal 102 via the Internet 108. The host terminal 102 can correct the color misregistration of the color image forming apparatus 101 by executing the transferred correction information.

Here, the above-mentioned image writing timing information is, specifically, the information of the laser lighting timing according to the image data in the main scanning direction, and the rotation driving timing for the reference position alignment of the image carrier in the sub scanning direction. Information.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the arrangement of the color image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 6, 60
Reference numeral 1 is an execution instruction relating to color registration detection transmitted from the host terminal 102, 602 is an engine controller inside the color image forming apparatus 101, 603 is a network interface inside the engine controller 602, and 604 is a network interface from the execution instruction 601 regarding color registration detection. A signal line transmitted via 603, 605 is an engine control unit, and 606 is an engine controller 602.
Internal controller CPU, 607 is controller CP
U606 is an execution instruction for generating data of a pattern image for color registration detection according to an instruction from U606, 608 is an image data generation unit, and 609 is image data of each color transmitted from the image data generation unit 608 to the engine unit.

Reference numeral 610 is an engine unit of the color image forming apparatus, 611 is an engine CPU inside the color image forming apparatus 101, 612 is an image writing signal corresponding to image data of each color, and 613 is a latent image, a developing image according to an instruction of the engine CPU 611, An image forming unit that sequentially performs each process of transfer and fixing, 614 is a color registration detecting unit that detects a toner image pattern, 615 is a toner image pattern formed by the image forming unit 613 for color registration correction, and 616 is color registration detection. Part 6
14, a toner image pattern detection signal transmitted from the engine CPU 611 to the engine CPU 611; 617, a signal related to color registration detection information transmitted from the engine CPU 611 to the controller CPU 606; and 618, color registration detection information from the controller CPU 606 to the network interface 603.
619 is a signal transmitted to the network interface 603 and the color image forming apparatus 101.
When the host terminal 102 recognizes this color registration detection information, it is connected to the server device 105 via the Internet to acquire the color registration correction data and transmits the color registration detection information. To do.

Upon receiving the color registration correction information from the server device 105, the host terminal 102 sends it to the color image forming device 101. The color registration correction information 620 is information regarding correction in the main scanning direction, and the color registration correction information 621 is transmitted to the controller CPU 606 via the network interface 603. 622 is an execution instruction for generating image data according to an instruction from the controller CPU 606, 623 is image data of each color, 6
In the image data 623 of each color, 24 is a color registration correction unit A for correcting the writing timing (laser lighting timing) in the main scanning direction with respect to the reference color, and 625 is each color of which the image writing timing in the main scanning direction is corrected. Image data 626 is an image writing signal corresponding to the image data 625 of each color.

Reference numeral 627 denotes information regarding correction in the sub-scanning direction of the color registration correction information, 628 denotes color registration correction information in the sub-scanning direction after passing through the network interface 603, and 629 denotes sub-scanning direction after passing through the controller CPU 606. The color registration correction information in the scanning direction, and the correction information in the sub-scanning direction is the engine CP of the color image forming apparatus 101 as it is.
Sent to U611. 630 is an engine CPU 611
From the color registration correction information in the sub-scanning direction, 631 is a color registration correction unit B that drives the image carrier of each color in synchronization with the drive timing of the image carrier of the reference color, and 632 is a color registration correction unit B6.
The image carrier is driven at the timing corrected in 31, and the image formation is performed in synchronization with the writing start timing in the main scanning direction.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the color registration correction operation in the first embodiment. First, step S1
In 01, the power source of the color image forming apparatus 101 is turned on.
Then, the engine CPU 611 issues a registration execution request to the host terminal 102 via the engine controller 602. Then, in step S102, in accordance with the registration execution request, the host terminal 102 connects to the Internet 108 to access the service center 104 to request registration of the color image forming apparatus 101. Next, in step S103, a request for color registration detection data is issued from the server device 105 of the service center 104, and an instruction to execute color registration detection is issued.

Next, in step S 104, the network interface 603 and the engine controller 6 are received in response to an instruction to execute color registration detection from the server device 105.
The engine CPU 611 executes color registration detection via 02. The processing as described above is performed to detect the color registration. Next, in step S105, it is checked whether or not the color registration detection has been completed without abnormality inside the color image forming apparatus 101. If the color registration detection ends abnormally, the process proceeds to step S106, the counter is incremented, and if the number of color registration detection retries is less than or equal to a predetermined number (in this example, “a”) in step S107. Returns to step S104 to retry the color registration detection. Then, if the color registration detection is not successful even after retrying a predetermined number of times, the process proceeds to step S108, an error is notified, and the registration registration process ends.

In step S105, if the processing is completed without abnormality, the process proceeds to step S109, and the detection result is transferred to the server device 105 of the service center 104 via the engine controller 602, the network interface 603, and the host terminal 102. Then, in step S110, it is checked whether the transferred color registration detection data is received by the server apparatus 105. If the reception fails, the process proceeds to step S111,
The counter is incremented, and if the number of retries of the detection data request is less than or equal to the predetermined number, the process returns to step S109 to retry the above-mentioned detection data request. Also,
When the detection data is not successfully acquired after retrying a predetermined number of times, the process proceeds to step S108, an error is notified, and the process ends.

In step S110 described above,
When the server device 105 acquires the transferred color registration detection data, the process proceeds to step S113, where the RA of the server device 105 is RA.
The correction values for the image writing timing in the scanning direction and the image carrier driving timing in the transport direction are determined by referring to the color registration correction table stored in M. Then, in step S114, a color registration correction execution file containing color registration correction data is created, and in step S115, the file is transmitted to the host terminal 102. Then, in step S116, by executing the color registration correction execution file transmitted from the host terminal 105, the color image forming apparatus 101 stores the correction data in an internal memory (not shown), and the correction data is stored in the next image forming operation. To call and reflect.

Here, the color registration correction is configured to be able to acquire data in the scanning direction and the carrying direction, but depending on the time required to acquire the data and the capacity load of the internal memory of the server device 105 or the color image forming apparatus 101. It is also possible to acquire either one from the server device 105 and automatically adjust either one inside the color image forming apparatus 101.

If the user is dissatisfied with the correction result for the color registration correction that has been executed once, it is possible to request the registration execution again from the host terminal 102 after executing the color registration correction.

By performing the operation of the first embodiment described above, high-quality color image formation without color misregistration can be realized at low cost without increasing the capacity of the internal memory of the color image forming apparatus 101.

[Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In the second embodiment, the color image forming apparatus 101 is provided with an external operation section and a terminal adapter,
Even if the host terminal 102 is not connected, the server device 105 of the service center 104 is connected via the Internet.
It is possible to connect directly to.

FIG. 8 is a view showing the arrangement of an online color registration correction system according to the second embodiment. The same components as those shown in FIG. 5 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 801 denotes an external operation unit,
A series of operations of color registration detection and color registration correction can be executed by an external operation (user operation or the like). A terminal adapter 802 enables the color image forming apparatus 101 to directly connect to the Internet without the intervention of the host terminal 102. The internal configuration of the color image forming apparatus 101 is the same as that shown in FIG. 6 except for the terminal adapter 802.

The operation of the second embodiment can be described in the same way as the operation described with reference to FIG. 7 in the first embodiment. In step S101 shown in FIG. 7, the registration operation execution request can be issued by the external operation unit 801 of the color image forming apparatus 101. Then, in step S102, the terminal adapter 802 is used to connect to the Internet. It should be noted that steps S103 to S114 are the same as those in the first embodiment. Next, in step S115, the color registration correction data transmitted from the server apparatus 105 is directly transmitted via the terminal adapter 802 to the color image forming apparatus 101.
To be received. Similarly in the next step S116, by executing the color registration correction execution file transmitted from the server apparatus 105, the color image forming apparatus 1
Reference numeral 01 stores the correction data in an internal memory (not shown), and calls and reflects the correction data at the next image forming operation.

Similarly to the first embodiment, the second embodiment is configured such that data can be acquired in the color registration correction in the scanning direction and the conveyance direction. However, the time required to acquire the data, the server device 105, or the color Depending on the capacity load of the internal memory of the image forming apparatus 101, one of them may be the server apparatus 1
05, and one of them is acquired by the color image forming apparatus 1.
It is also possible to make automatic adjustment inside 01.

If the user is dissatisfied with the correction result for the color registration correction that has been executed once, it is possible to request the registration registration again from the host terminal 102 after executing the color registration correction.

By performing the operation of the second embodiment described above, it is possible to realize high-quality color image formation without color misalignment at low cost without increasing the capacity of the internal memory of the color image forming apparatus 101.

[Third Embodiment] Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an online color registration correcting system according to the third embodiment. The same components as those shown in FIG. 5 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 9, 503 to 505 and 901 to
Reference numeral 903 is a flow showing a process in the server device 105. The processing of the server device 105 shown at 503 to 505 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

Reference numeral 901 denotes image forming portion ID information, which is information peculiar to the image forming portion (for example, an image carrier or a toner cartridge) of the color image forming apparatus 101.
Specifically, it is information about the density and life of the image carrier, the toner consumption of the toner cartridge, and the like. Reference numeral 902 denotes the image forming unit ID information 90 acquired from the color image forming apparatus 101.
6 is a correction table for performing correction so that an appropriate toner pattern can be formed when a color registration is detected based on 2. This is because when detecting the color registration, if the density of the toner pattern is not uniform, the detection level from the color registration detection unit fluctuates, and accurate color registration timing information cannot be provided. Reference numeral 903 denotes a correction parameter for forming a toner pattern having a predetermined density by referring to the correction table, and together with image writing timing information for color registration correction, the host terminal 102
Send to. The host terminal 102 can correct the color misregistration of the color image forming apparatus 101 by executing the transferred correction information. Here, the correction parameters for forming the toner pattern of the above-described predetermined density are, specifically, a charging bias relating to image formation, a laser exposure amount, a developing bias, and the like.

FIG. 10 is a view showing the arrangement of the color image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment. First shown in FIG.
The same parts as those in the embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 10, an image forming unit memory 1001 stores information unique to each unit arranged inside each unit of the image forming unit 613. 10
Reference numeral 02 denotes the engine CPU 611 and the image forming unit memory 100.
It is a transmission / reception means for exchanging communication with 1. The transmitting / receiving means for exchanging communication between the engine CPU 611 and the image forming unit memory 1001 is a known means described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-338329. Reference numeral 1003 is a signal relating to image forming unit memory information transmitted from the engine CPU 611 to the controller CPU 606, 1004 is a signal relating to image forming unit memory information transmitted from the controller CPU 606 to the network interface 603, and 1005 is image forming unit memory information indicating the network interface 603. A signal transmitted from the color image forming apparatus 101 to the host terminal 102, and when the host terminal 102 recognizes the image forming unit memory information 1005 together with the color registration detection information 619, the color registration correction data is acquired via the Internet 108. And connects to the server device 105 to transmit the color registration detection information and the image forming unit memory information.

When the host terminal 102 receives the color registration correction information and the image forming portion memory information from the server device 105, the host terminal 102 transmits the color registration correction information and the image forming portion memory information to the color image forming device 101. Reference numeral 1006 denotes image forming unit memory information transmitted from the host terminal 102 to the color image forming apparatus 101. Reference numeral 1007 denotes the controller CPU 606 via the network interface 603.
Image forming unit memory information transmitted to the. Reference numeral 1008 denotes image formation unit memory information after passing through the controller CPU 606, which is directly transmitted to the engine CPU 611 of the color image forming apparatus 101. Reference numeral 1009 denotes an image forming unit control signal. When the engine CPU 611 receives the image forming unit memory information 1008, it controls each correction parameter of the image forming unit 613 and reflects it in the next image forming operation together with the control related to color registration correction. .

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the color registration correcting operation in the third embodiment. Steps S201 to S208 shown in FIG. 11 are the same as steps S101 to S108 shown in FIG. 7 of the first embodiment.
In step S205, the color image forming apparatus 101
If the color registration detection has been completed without abnormality inside, step S
In step 209, the image forming unit memory 1001 is read. Next, in step S210, if the reading is unsuccessful, the process proceeds to step S211, the counter is incremented, and in step S212, if the number of retries for requesting the image forming unit memory data is less than or equal to a predetermined number, the process returns to step S209. , Retry the request for image forming unit memory data. Then, if the detection data is not successfully acquired even after retrying a predetermined number of times, the process proceeds to step S208, an error is notified, and the process ends.

In step S210 described above,
If the reading is successful, the process advances to step S213 to transfer the color registration detection data and the data in the image forming unit memory 1001. Then, in step S214, the transferred color registration detection data and the image forming unit memory 1001 are transferred.
It is checked whether or not the data has been received by the server device 105. If the reception fails, step S
In step S216, the counter is incremented, and if the number of retries for requesting the color registration detection data and the image forming unit memory data is less than or equal to the predetermined number in step S216, the process returns to step S213 to return the color registration detection data and the image forming unit. Retry the memory data request. Then, if the detection data is not successfully acquired even after retrying a predetermined number of times, the process proceeds to step S208, an error is notified, and the process ends.

In step S214 described above,
When the server device 105 acquires the color registration detection data and the data of the image forming unit memory 1001, the process proceeds to step S217, and the color registration correction table and the image forming unit parameter correction table stored in the RAM of the server device 105 are referred to. The correction values for the image writing timing in the scanning direction and the driving timing for the image carrier in the transport direction for the color registration are determined, and the correction value for the toner pattern density formed on the image carrier for the image forming unit parameters is determined. . Then, in step S218, a color registration correction execution file containing color registration correction data is created, and in step S219 an image density correction execution file containing image forming portion parameter correction data is created, and these data are transmitted to the host terminal. (Steps S220, S22
1). Then, in step S223, the color registration correction and image density correction execution files transmitted to the host terminal 102 are executed to execute the color image forming apparatus 1
Reference numeral 01 stores the correction data in an internal memory (not shown), and calls and reflects the correction data at the next image forming operation.

Here, the color registration correction is configured to be able to acquire data in the scanning direction and the carrying direction. However, depending on the time required to acquire the data and the capacity load of the internal memory of the server apparatus 105 or the color image forming apparatus 101. It is also possible to acquire either one from the server device 105 and automatically adjust either one inside the color image forming apparatus 101.

If the user is dissatisfied with the correction result for the color registration correction that has been executed once, it is possible to request the registration execution again from the host terminal 102 after executing the color registration correction.

Further, although the image forming portion ID data is used as the image density correction data, it is also possible to use the toner density data obtained by detecting the toner pattern by the optical sensor as the image density correction data.

By performing the operation of the third embodiment described above, high-quality color image formation without color misregistration can be realized at low cost without increasing the capacity of the internal memory of the color image forming apparatus 101.

[Fourth Embodiment] Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The fourth embodiment is a combination of the above-described second embodiment and third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a view showing the arrangement of an online color registration correction system according to the fourth embodiment. 12
The configuration shown in is a combination of the configurations in the second and third embodiments shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The operation in the fourth embodiment can be described in the same manner as the operation described in the third embodiment with reference to FIG. In step S201 shown in FIG. 11, a registration execution request can be issued by an external operation 801 of the color image forming apparatus. And step S
At 202, the terminal adapter 802 is used to connect to the Internet. It should be noted that steps S203 to S219 are the same as those in the third embodiment. Next, in steps S220 and S221,
The color registration correction data and the image density correction data transmitted from the server apparatus 105 are directly received by the color image forming apparatus 101 via the terminal adapter 802. Similarly in the next steps S222 and S223, the color image forming apparatus 101 stores the correction data in an internal memory (not shown) by executing the image density correction and color registration correction execution file transmitted from the server apparatus 105. Then
The correction data is called and reflected at the next image forming operation.

Similarly to the third embodiment, the fourth embodiment is configured such that data can be acquired in the color registration correction in the scanning direction and the conveyance direction. However, the time required to acquire the data, the server device 105, or the color Depending on the capacity load of the internal memory of the image forming apparatus 101, one of them may be the server apparatus 1
05, and one of them is acquired by the color image forming apparatus 1.
It is also possible to make automatic adjustment inside 01.

If the user is dissatisfied with the correction result for the color registration correction that has been executed once, it is possible to request the registration execution again from the host terminal 102 after executing the color registration correction.

By performing the operation of the above-described fourth embodiment, it is possible to realize high-quality color image formation without color deviation at low cost without increasing the capacity of the internal memory of the color image forming apparatus 101.

[Fifth Embodiment] Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The fifth embodiment is a combination of all the configurations in the first to fourth embodiments.

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the color registration correcting operation in the fifth embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a user operation screen regarding color registration correction performed on the Internet.

First, in step S301, when the user wants to execute the color registration correction of the color image forming apparatus 101 from the host terminal 102, the user setting is performed on the user operation screen for color registration correction as shown in FIG. Select a mode.

Incidentally, the normal mode shown in FIG.
The color registration correction service is based on the correction table of the server device 105 described in the first and second embodiments, and the high image quality mode is the correction table of the server device 105 described in the third and fourth embodiments. This is a color registration correction service based on correction data from ID information unique to the color image forming apparatus.

Next, steps S302 to S308 are steps S102 to S10 in the first embodiment.
It is the same operation as 8. Then, in step S305, if the color registration detection in the color image forming apparatus 101 has been completed without abnormality, the process proceeds to step S309. In step S309, the color registration detection result from the color image forming apparatus 101 is notified on the host terminal 102. The color registration information notified to the host terminal 102 is displayed as shown in (B) of FIG. 10, for example. As shown in FIG. 10B, the current value of the color registration information of each color of Y, M, C, and Bk in the scanning direction and the transport direction is displayed. For the color registration information, the amount of deviation on the actual recording paper is 1
It is possible to notify in units of / n dot. As shown in (C) of FIG. 10, the user determines and inputs the correction amount while viewing the recording sheet on which the test print is performed.

Next, in step S310, when the correction amount set value set by the user as the correction amount is input, the process proceeds to step S312. If no input is made, the color registration correction mode is ended after waiting for a specified time (step S311). In step S312, the color registration correction is executed based on the correction amount setting value set by the user.
Next, in step S313, the result of color registration correction is reported again on the host terminal 102. To confirm the correction result, use the test print again. If the color registration correction does not match, the process returns to step S309, the correction value is input again, and the color registration correction is executed. Then, step S313
If the color registration correction is OK, step S31
4, the host terminal 102 is informed of whether to save the determined color registration correction data. If not saved, the color registration correction mode ends. When saving, the process proceeds to step S315, and the correction data is transferred to the server device 105 of the service center 104. Then, the server apparatus 105 confirms the ID of the color image forming apparatus 101 used by the user (step S316),
A correction data file is created, saved, and the process ends (step S317).

As described above, if the user next inputs the ID number of the color image forming apparatus 101, the stored correction data can be used without resetting.

By performing the operation of the fifth embodiment described above, it is possible to realize high-quality color image formation without color misalignment at low cost without increasing the capacity of the internal memory of the color image forming apparatus 101.

As described above, according to the embodiment,
When the service center has a correction table for color registration correction (color registration correction) and the user wants to output a high-definition image by executing color registration correction from the host terminal or external operation unit via the Internet. ,
The color registration correction can be executed at a desired timing, and the waste of executing the color registration correction again after outputting the recording paper can be omitted.

Further, it is possible to prevent an increase in RAM capacity and the like which is spent in the color misregistration detection mechanism relating to color registration correction and the control table for color registration correction, and it is possible to provide an inexpensive color image forming apparatus.

Even if the present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (eg, host computer, interface device, reader, printer, etc.), a device composed of one device (eg, copying machine, facsimile device) Etc.) may be applied.

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a recording medium having a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or apparatus, and to supply a computer (CPU or MP) of the system or apparatus.
It goes without saying that U) is also achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in the recording medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

A recording medium for supplying the program code is, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk,
Hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-
ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, ROM, etc. can be used.

Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It is needless to say that this also includes a case where the above) performs a part or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

Further, after the program code read from the recording medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code, It goes without saying that a case where the CPU provided in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs a part or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is also included.

[0089]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When it is desired to output a high-definition image, color registration correction (color registration correction) can be executed at a desired timing, and it is possible to eliminate the waste of executing the color registration correction again after outputting the recording paper.

Further, it is possible to prevent an increase in the RAM capacity and the like which are spent in the color misregistration detection mechanism relating to color registration correction and the control table for color registration correction, and it is possible to provide an inexpensive color image forming apparatus.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional online ordering system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional color image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining color misregistration correction control.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a toner pattern.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of an online color registration correction system in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a color image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a color registration correcting operation in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a configuration of an online color registration correction system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of an online color registration correction system according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of a color image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a color registration correcting operation in the third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration of an online color registration correction system according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a color registration correction operation in the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a user operation screen regarding color registration correction performed on the Internet.

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) G03G 21/14 G03G 21/00 372 G06F 3/12 B41J 3/00 BF term (reference) 2C187 AC07 AE13 BF14 BF41 BG19 CD13 GA01 2C262 AA24 AA30 AB11 AB13 FA01 FA03 FA06 GA02 GA04 GA57 GA59 2H027 DA04 DA10 DA15 DA22 DA23 DD02 DE02 DE07 EA01 EA02 EA05 EB06 EC03 EC06 ED02 ED04 EE02 EA07 EA07 EJ07 GB0714 GB14 FA14 FA37 FA14 FA28 FA37 FA14 FA28 FA37 FA14 FA37 FA14 EB12 EB26 EF02 EF08 EF13 EG02 EH16 EH26 EH34 EH36 EJ09 FF18 GG09 GG12 GG16 GG22 GG23 GG27 GG32 GG33 GG34 QQ10 QQ13 QQ25 QQ30 QQ32 QQ34 RR04 RR13 RR24 RR32 RR34 RR36 RR37 RR38 RR39 RR45 RR50 SS07 SS12 TT03 5B021 AA04 CC05 LG07 LG08 LL05

Claims (38)

[Claims] 1. A host apparatus and a color image forming apparatus, information about color registration in the color image forming apparatus is registered in a server apparatus connected to a network, and the server apparatus corrects the color registration correction information. A color image forming system for receiving and performing correction, comprising: communication means for communicating with the server device via the host device; input means for inputting a correction request relating to the color registration; Detecting means for detecting information on the color registration in response to a request, and information on the detection result detected by the detecting means, transferred to the server device via the host device, and corrected information corrected by the server device. And receive color registration correction based on the correction information. Color image forming system characterized by comprising a correction means for performing. 2. The color image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the input unit inputs a correction request from the host device. 3. The color image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the server device transmits correction information corrected based on the detection result information transferred from the host device to the host device. 4. The color image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the correction information corrected by the server device is received from the host device, and the correction of the color registration is executed. 5. The color image forming system according to claim 1, wherein the detection result information is detection timing information when a toner image pattern of each color is detected. 6. The correction information corrected by the server device is image writing timing information in a scanning direction in forming toner images of respective colors and driving timing information of an image carrier in a conveying direction. Item 2. The color image forming system according to Item 1. 7. The correction relating to the color registration can be executed at a desired timing from a host terminal connected to the network, and can be corrected to a desired correction amount. The color image forming system described in 1. 8. A color image forming apparatus that registers color registration information in a color image forming apparatus in a server apparatus connected to a network, receives color registration correction information from the server apparatus, and executes correction. An input unit for inputting a correction request for the color registration, a detection unit for detecting information about the color registration in response to the correction request, and information about a detection result detected by the detection unit for the network. And a transfer unit that transfers the correction information to the server apparatus via the server, and a correction unit that receives the correction information corrected by the server apparatus and executes the correction related to the color registration based on the correction information. Image forming apparatus. 9. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the input unit inputs a correction request from an external operation unit. 10. The server apparatus transmits the correction information to the color image forming apparatus via the network based on the detection result information transferred from the color image forming apparatus. The described color image forming apparatus. 11. The color image according to claim 8, wherein correction information corrected by the server device is received via the network, and correction relating to color registration is executed based on the correction information. Forming equipment. 12. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the information of the detection result is detection timing information when the toner image pattern of each color is detected. 13. The correction information corrected by the server device is image writing timing information in a scanning direction in forming toner images of respective colors and driving timing information of an image carrier in a conveying direction. Item 9. The color image forming apparatus according to Item 8. 14. The color according to claim 8, wherein the correction relating to the color registration can be executed at a desired timing from the external operation means and can be corrected to a desired correction amount. Image forming apparatus. 15. A color image forming apparatus comprising a host apparatus and a color image forming apparatus, wherein information on color registration in the color image forming apparatus is registered in a server apparatus connected to a network, and the server apparatus corrects the color registration correction information. A color image forming system for receiving and performing correction, comprising: communication means for communicating with the server device via the host device; storage means for storing identification information unique to the color image forming device; The input unit for inputting a correction request for the color registration, the detection unit for detecting information about the color registration in response to the correction request, the detection result information detected by the detection unit, and the identification information Transfer to the server device via the host device,
A color image forming system, comprising: a correction unit that receives correction information corrected by the server device based on the identification information, and executes color registration correction based on the correction information. 16. The color image forming system according to claim 15, wherein the input unit inputs a correction request from the host device. 17. The server device according to claim 15, wherein the server device transmits, to the host device, correction information corrected based on the detection result information transferred from the host device and the identification information. Color image forming system. 18. The color image forming system according to claim 15, wherein the correction information corrected by the server device is received from the host device, and the correction of the color registration is executed. 19. The color image forming system according to claim 15, wherein the identification information is density information of an image carrier of the image forming unit. 20. The color image forming system according to claim 19, wherein density correction is executed based on the density information. 21. The color image forming system according to claim 15, wherein the information of the detection result is detection timing information when the toner image pattern of each color is detected. 22. The correction information corrected by the server device is image writing timing information in the scanning direction in each color toner image formation and driving timing information of the image carrier in the transport direction. 15. The color image forming system according to item 15. 23. The correction relating to the color registration can be executed at a desired timing from a host terminal connected to the network, and can be corrected to a desired correction amount.
5. The color image forming system according to item 5. 24. A color image forming apparatus that registers color registration information in a color image forming apparatus in a server apparatus connected to a network, receives color registration correction information from the server apparatus, and executes correction. A storage unit that stores identification information unique to the color image forming apparatus; an input unit that inputs a correction request regarding the color registration; and a detection unit that detects information regarding the color registration according to the correction request. And a transfer unit that transfers the information of the detection result detected by the detection unit and the identification information to the server device via the network, and receives the correction information corrected by the server device, and outputs the correction information. Correction means for executing correction relating to color registration based on Color image forming apparatus characterized by having a. 25. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the input unit inputs a correction request from an external operation unit. 26. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the server device holds information about color registration corresponding to the identification information. 27. The server device transmits corrected correction information regarding color registration to the color image forming device via the network based on the detection result information and the identification information. Item 24. The color image forming apparatus according to Item 24. 28. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the identification information is density information of an image carrier of the image forming unit. 29. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 28, wherein density correction is executed based on the density information. 30. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the detection result information is detection timing information when the toner image pattern of each color is detected. 31. The correction information corrected by the server device is image writing timing information in the scanning direction in each color toner image formation and driving timing information of the image carrier in the transport direction. 24. The color image forming apparatus according to 24. 32. The color according to claim 24, wherein the correction relating to the color registration can be executed from the external operation means at a desired timing and can be corrected to a desired correction amount. Image forming apparatus. 33. A host apparatus and a color image forming apparatus, information about color registration in the color image forming apparatus is registered in a server apparatus connected to a network, and the server apparatus corrects the color registration correction information. A correction method of a color image forming system for receiving and performing correction, comprising: a communication step of communicating with the server apparatus via the host apparatus; and an input step of inputting a correction request regarding the color registration. A detection step of detecting information relating to the color registration in response to the correction request, and transfer of information of the detection result detected in the detection step to the server device via the host device, and the information is corrected by the server device. Received the correction information, and based on the correction information, the color registration Correction method of a color image forming system, comprising a correction step of running the Deployment correction. 34. A color image forming apparatus that registers color registration information in a color image forming apparatus in a server apparatus connected to a network, receives color registration correction information from the server apparatus, and executes correction. A correction method, comprising an input step of inputting a correction request relating to the color registration, a detection step of detecting information relating to the color registration in response to the correction request, and information of the detection result detected in the detecting step. A transfer step of transferring to the server device via the network, and a correction step of receiving correction information corrected by the server device and executing correction relating to color registration based on the correction information. And a method for correcting a color image forming apparatus. 35. A host apparatus and a color image forming apparatus, wherein information on color registration in the color image forming apparatus is registered in a server apparatus connected to a network, and the server apparatus corrects the color registration correction information. And a correction method for a color image forming system, wherein the color image forming apparatus has a memory for storing identification information unique to the color image forming apparatus, A communication step of communicating with a server device, an input means for inputting a correction request regarding the color registration, a detection step of detecting information regarding the color registration in response to the correction request, and a detection step detected by the detection step. The detection result information and the identification information are transferred to the host device via the host device. Transfer to over server apparatus,
And a correction step of receiving correction information corrected by the server device based on the identification information and executing color registration correction based on the correction information. 36. A color image forming apparatus that registers color registration information in a color image forming apparatus in a server apparatus connected to a network, receives color registration correction information from the server apparatus, and executes correction. A correction method, wherein the color image forming apparatus has a memory for storing identification information unique to the color image forming apparatus, and an input step of inputting a correction request relating to the color registration; A detection step of detecting information about the color registration; a transfer step of transferring the detection result information detected in the detection step and the identification information to a server device via the network; Received the correction information, and based on the correction information, the color registration Correction method of the color image forming apparatus characterized by comprising a correction step of performing correction regarding ® down. 37. A program for causing a computer to function as the unit according to any one of claims 1 to 32. 38. A computer-readable recording medium in which the program according to claim 37 is recorded.