Image forming device, image forming system, and computer-readable non-transitory storage medium storing control program executed by computer for controlling additional printing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018115656-A1
Application number	US-201715726758-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 6, 2017
Priority date	Oct 21, 2016
Publication date	Apr 26, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided is an image forming device that performs additional printing, including: an image forming unit that prints an additional image on a transfer medium; a storage that stores information about an alignment image printed on the transfer medium; a reader unit that reads the alignment image printed on the transfer medium on an upstream side of the transfer direction of the transfer medium in the image forming unit; and a control unit that detects and distinguishes multiple alignment images upon reception of reading results from the reader unit. The control unit performs control of storing adjustment information for adjusting the position of the additional image to be formed, according to multiple alignment images, in the storage.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An image forming device that performs additional printing, comprising:
an image forming unit that prints an additional image on a transfer medium; a storage that stores information about an alignment image printed on the transfer medium; a reader unit that reads the alignment image printed on the transfer medium on an upstream side of the image forming unit along the transfer direction of the transfer medium; and a control unit that distinguishes multiple alignment images upon reception of reading results from the reader unit, wherein the control unit performs control of storing adjustment information for adjusting the position of the additional image to be formed, according to multiple alignment images, in the storage.

2 . The image forming device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit causes adjustment information to be associated with the respective alignment image and stored the adjustment information associated with the respective alignment image in the storage.

3 . The image forming device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit detects the alignment image upon reception of reading results from the reader unit.

4 . The image forming device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit allows adjustment information to be acquired from a print additionally printed according to detection of the alignment image.

5 . The image forming device according to claim 4 , wherein the control unit allows adjustment information to be acquired from a print printed with a predetermined number of additional printing.

6 . The image forming device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit determines, in additional printing, the position of the additional image to be formed, according to the results of detection of the alignment image and adjustment information read from the storage based on the results of distinguishing between the alignment images, and prints the additional image on the transfer medium.

7 . The image forming device according to claim 6 , wherein the control unit determines the position of the additional image to be formed, according to an image forming timing.

8 . The image forming device according to claim 1 , wherein information about the alignment image includes a default value of the position of the additional image to be formed that is dependent on the alignment image.

9 . The image forming device according to claim 8 , wherein the adjustment information relates to the amount of deviation of the additional image from the default value.

10 . The image forming device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit distinguishes the multiple alignment images by one or two or more of color, size, and shape.

11 . The image forming device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit enables management that associates a job for printing the additional image with an alignment image.

12 . The image forming device according to claim 1 , wherein, during additional printing on a job associated with an alignment image, the control unit gives an alarm in the event of a mismatch between the alignment image set for the job and the alignment image read by the reader unit.

13 . The image forming device according to claim 12 , wherein the control unit indicates existence of a wrong alignment image when giving the alarm.

14 . The image forming device according to claim 12 , wherein the control unit makes an inquiry about whether to cancel the job when giving the alarm.

15 . The image forming device according to claim 1 , wherein while a job for additional printing is executed, the control unit continues conveyance of the transfer medium until the reader unit detects the alignment image associated with the job, and notifies the distance of the conveyance of the transfer medium.

16 . The image forming device according to claim 15 , wherein the distance of the conveyance of the transfer medium notified by the control unit includes the distance of conveyance lasting until detection of the alignment image associated with the job and/or the distance of conveyance unaccompanied by printing and lasting until detection of the alignment image associated with the job.

17 . An image forming system comprising:
a storage that stores information about an alignment image printed on a transfer medium; and a control unit that detects and distinguishes multiple alignment images upon reception of the results of reading of the alignment image printed on the transfer medium on an upstream side of the image forming unit along the transfer direction of the transfer medium, wherein the control unit stores adjustment information for adjusting the position of an additional image to be formed, according to multiple alignment images, in the storage.

18 . The image forming system according to claim 17 , further comprising a management device that manages the image forming device performing additional printing.

19 . A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium storing control program executed by computer for controlling additional printing the program causing a computer to perform:
control such that information about an alignment image printed on a transfer medium is stored in a storage; reading for controlling reading of the alignment image printed on the transfer medium on an upstream side of the image forming unit along the transfer direction of the transfer medium; judgement for controlling detection and distinguishing of multiple alignment images upon reception of the reading results; and control such that adjustment information for adjusting the position of an additional image to be formed, according to multiple alignment images is stored in the storage.

20 . The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium storing control program executed by computer for controlling additional printing according to claim 19 , the program causing a computer to performing:
executing a job for additional printing; during the job execution, the reading and the judgement, acquisition of adjustment information from the storage on the basis of the results of detection of alignment image according to the judgement and the results of distinguishing according to the judgement, determination of the position of an additional image to be formed, and printing of the additional image on the transfer medium.

Assignees

• Konica Minolta Inc

Inventors

• Noda Yoriko

Classifications

• G03G15/50

  Machine control of apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern, e.g. regulating differents parts of the machine, multimode copiers, microprocessor control (sequencing control G03G21/14) · CPC title

• H04N1/121

  Feeding arrangements (transporting sheets to or from the scanning position H04N1/0057; control or error compensation of sub-scanning velocity H04N1/0473) · CPC title

• B41J11/008

  Controlling printhead for accurately positioning print image on printing material, e.g. with the intention to control the width of margins · CPC title

• G06F3/1237

  Print job management · CPC title

• B41J2202/21

  Line printing · CPC title