Image forming apparatus that executes image processing corresponding to resolution

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10341502-B2
Application number	US-201715728322-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 9, 2017
Priority date	Oct 11, 2016
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes an obtaining unit configured to obtain information related to a resolution of an image to be formed, an image processing unit configured to execute image processing corresponding to the information on image data, an image forming unit configured to form an image based on the image data on which the image processing is executed by the image processing unit, an intermediate transfer member to which a measuring image formed by the image forming unit is transferred, a measurement unit configured to measure the measuring image transferred to the intermediate transfer member, a storage unit configured to store measuring image data, and a controller configured to control the image processing unit to execute first image processing on the measuring image data, control the image forming unit to form the measuring image, control the measurement unit to measure the measuring image, and control an image forming condition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:
a plurality of image forming units configured to form a plurality of images having different colors based on image data;
a first sensor configured to detect a color pattern formed on an intermediate transfer member, the color pattern being used for detecting a color misregistration;
a second sensor configured to measure a measuring image; and
a controller configured to control the plurality of image forming units to form a plurality of color patterns having different colors on the intermediate transfer member, control the first sensor to detect an amount of color misregistration related to a relative position of a color pattern having a reference color among the plurality of color patterns and a color pattern having another color among the plurality of color patterns, determine an offset value for adjusting an image writing start timing of the other color different from the reference color based on the amount of color misregistration detected by the first sensor, control the plurality of image forming units to form the measuring image on the intermediate transfer member, control the second sensor to measure the measuring image, and determine an image forming condition for adjusting densities of images to be formed by the plurality of image forming units based on a measurement result of the second sensor,
wherein:
the controller controls the image forming apparatus based on an image forming mode corresponding to the image data;
the controller controls the plurality of image forming units to form the plurality of color patterns in a case where a first condition is satisfied in a first image forming mode;
the controller controls the plurality of image forming units to form the measuring image in a case where a second condition is satisfied in the first image forming mode;
the controller controls the plurality of image forming units to form the measuring image and the plurality of color patterns in a case where both the first condition and the second condition are satisfied in a second image forming mode;
the controller skips the image formation of the measuring image when the first condition is not satisfied in the second image forming mode irrespective of a state of the second condition; and
the first condition is different from the second condition.

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first condition is satisfied in a case where a number of sheet on which an output image is formed after the plurality of color patterns are formed in a previous time reaches a first number,
wherein the second condition is satisfied in a case where a number of sheet on which an output image is formed after the measuring image is formed in a previous time reaches a second number, and
wherein the first number is different from the second number.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the second number is lower than the first number.

4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the controller controls the plurality of image forming units to form the plurality of color patterns in a case where the first condition is satisfied in the second image forming mode.

5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the controller controls the plurality of image forming units to form the measuring image and controls the plurality of image forming units to form the plurality of color patterns in a case where both the first condition and the second condition are satisfied in the second image forming mode.

6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the image data includes information related to a resolution, and
wherein the controller selects the image forming mode based on the information.

7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the controller controls the image forming apparatus based on the first image forming mode in a case where a resolution of the image data is equivalent to a first resolution,
wherein the controller controls the image forming apparatus based on the second image forming mode in a case where the resolution of the image data is equivalent to a second resolution, and
wherein the second resolution is higher than the first resolution.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising an image processor configured to execute image processing on the image data,
wherein the plurality of image forming units form the plurality of images based on the image data on which the image processing is executed by the image processor,
wherein the image processor executes first image processing on the image data in the first image forming mode, and
wherein the image processor executes second image processing on the image data in the second image forming mode.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 ,
wherein the image processor converts the image data based on a first conversion condition in a case where the image processor executes the first image processing,
wherein the image processor converts the image data based on a second conversion condition in a case where the image processor executes the second image processing, and
wherein the first conversion condition is different from the second conversion condition.

10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 8 ,
wherein the image processor executes thinning-out processing on the image data in a case where the image processor executes the second image processing.

11. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 ,
wherein the image processor does not execute the thinning-out processing on the image data in a case where the image processor executes the first image processing.

12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10 ,
wherein the image forming unit includes
a photosensitive member arranged to rotate, and
a laser scanner including a light source configured to emit laser light, a rotating polygon mirror that deflects the laser light, and a motor configured to rotate the rotating polygon mirror,
wherein the laser light deflected by the rotating polygon mirror scans the photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image,
wherein the image forming unit develops the electrostatic latent image and forms the image,
wherein the image processor does not execute the thinning-out processing in a first scanning direction in which the laser light scans the photosensitive member, and
wherein the image processor executes the thinning-out processing in a second scanning direction orthogonal to the first scanning direction.

13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the image forming unit includes
a photosensitive member arranged to rotate, and
a laser scanner including a light source configured to emit laser light, a rotating polygon mirror that deflects the laser light, and a motor configured to rotate the rotating polygon mirror,
wherein the laser light deflected by the rotating polygon mirror scans the photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image,
wherein the image forming unit develops the electrostatic latent image and forms the image,
wherein a rotating speed of the photosensitive member in the first image forming mode corresponds to a first rotating speed,
wherein the rotating speed of the photosensitive member in the second image forming mode corresponds to the first rotating speed,
wherein a rotating speed of the rotating polygon mirror in the first image forming mode corresponds to a second rotating speed, and
wherein the rotating speed of the rotating polygon mirror in the second image forming mod

Assignees

• Canon Kk

Inventors

• Mima Naoko
• Sakaguchi Ryou
• Sugiura Tadao
• Yokoyama Masashi
• Motohashi Shun

Classifications

• H04N1/00021

  Picture signal circuits · CPC title

• H04N1/00912

  Arrangements for controlling a still picture apparatus or components thereof not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• H04N1/0009

  Storage · CPC title

• H04N1/00037 Primary

  Detecting, i.e. determining the occurrence of a predetermined state (H04N1/00031 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04N1/00018

  Scanning arrangements · CPC title