Image recording device and method for controlling image recording device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019109957-A1
Application number	US-201716086855-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 3, 2017
Priority date	Mar 28, 2016
Publication date	Apr 11, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

An image recording device includes a recorder, a reader and a hardware processor. The recorder records an image on a recording medium. The reader reads, with an imaging element, a surface of the recording medium and a surface of a predetermined reference member. The hardware processor calibrates the reader for a value to be detected by the imaging element, based on a reading result of the reading of the surface of the reference member. Further, the hardware processor performs the calibration in at least one of: a case where a type of the image to be recorded on the recording medium satisfies a predetermined image type condition; and a case where a predetermined reading influence factor which affects a reading result of the reading of the surface of the recording medium satisfies a predetermined reading influence factor condition.

First claim

1 . An image recording device comprising:
a recorder which records an image on a recording medium; a reader which reads, with an imaging element, a surface of the recording medium and a surface of a predetermined reference member; and a hardware processor which calibrates the reader for a value to be detected by the imaging element, based on a reading result of the reading of the surface of the reference member by the reader, and performs the calibration in at least one of: a case where a type of the image to be recorded on the recording medium by the recorder satisfies a predetermined image type condition; and a case where a predetermined reading influence factor which affects a reading result of the reading of the surface of the recording medium by the reader satisfies a predetermined reading influence factor condition.

2 . The image recording device according to claim 1 , wherein
with a recording element included in the recorder performing a recording operation, the recorder records the image on the recording medium, and the hardware processor causes the recorder to record a predetermined test image on the recording medium, the test image being used for detecting a defective recording element which poorly performs the recording operation, and performs the calibration if the image to be recorded by the recorder is the test image.

3 . The image recording device according to claim 2 , wherein the hardware processor detects the defective recording element from the recording element based on a reading result of reading of the test image by the reader.

4 . The image recording device according to claim 1 , comprising a detector which detects the reading influence factor, wherein
the hardware processor performs the calibration if a detection result of the detection by the detector satisfies the reading influence factor condition.

5 . The image recording device according to claim 1 , comprising an illuminator which emits light of a light emitter to the surface of the recording medium to be read by the reader, wherein
a brightness of the light emitter changes according to a temperature of the light emitter, the reading influence factor includes a nearby temperature near the illuminator, and the hardware processor performs the calibration if change in the nearby temperature from predetermined reference time satisfies a predetermined temperature change condition.

6 . The image recording device according to claim 1 , comprising an illuminator which emits, to the surface of the recording medium to be read by the reader, light of a light emitter a brightness of which changes with time, wherein
the reading influence factor includes elapsed time since start of latest light emission by the illuminator.

7 . The image recording device according to claim 1 , comprising an illuminator which emits light of a light emitter to the surface of the recording medium to be read by the reader, wherein
the reading influence factor includes a brightness correspondence value relevant to a brightness of the light emitter, and the hardware processor performs the calibration if change in the brightness correspondence value from predetermined reference time satisfies a predetermined brightness correspondence value change condition.

8 . The image recording device according to claim 7 , comprising a conveyor which conveys the recording medium, wherein
the reader reads the surface of the recording medium being conveyed by the conveyor and a reading target region on a reading target member included in the conveyor, the illuminator emits the light to the recording medium and the reading target region being read by the reader, and the brightness correspondence value includes a predetermined representative value relevant to a pixel value of imaged data obtained by the reader reading the reading target region.

9 . The image recording device according to claim 8 , wherein the conveyor conveys the recording medium by moving the reading target member with the recording medium placed on a placement surface of the recording target member.

10 . The image recording device according to claim 7 , wherein the brightness correspondence value includes a predetermined representative value relevant to a pixel value of imaged data obtained by the reader reading, on the recording medium, a no-image-recorded region where no image is recorded.

11 . The image recording device according to claim 5 , wherein the reference time is time of start of the light emission by the illuminator or time of the latest calibration by the hardware processor, whichever is later.

12 . The image recording device according to claim 5 , wherein the light emitter is an LED.

13 . The image recording device according to claim 1 , comprising:
a reading position adjuster which moves the reader between a recording medium reading position for the reader to read the recording medium and a reference member reading position for the reader to read the reference member; and a reference member mover which moves the reference member to a predetermined position to be read by the reader as the reading position adjuster moves the reader to the reference member reading position from the recording medium reading position.

14 . A method for controlling an image recording device including a recorder which records an image on a recording medium and a reader which reads, with an imaging element, a surface of the recording medium and a surface of a predetermined reference member, comprising:
calibrating the reader for a value to be detected by the imaging element, based on a reading result of the reading of the surface of the reference member by the reader, wherein the calibration is performed in at least one of: a case where a type of the image to be recorded on the recording medium by the recorder satisfies a predetermined image type condition; and a case where a predetermined reading influence factor which affects a reading result of the reading of the surface of the recording medium by the reader satisfies a predetermined reading influence factor condition.

Assignees

• Konica Minolta Inc

Inventors

• Date Masakazu
• Hosono Yutaka
• Mizutani Toshiyuki

Classifications

• H04N1/4076

  dependent on references outside the picture · CPC title

• H04N1/4015

  of the reproducing head · CPC title

• H04N1/02815

  Means for illuminating the original, not specific to a particular type of pick-up head · CPC title

• H04N2201/0094

  Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception · CPC title

• H04N1/00045

  using a reference pattern designed for the purpose, e.g. a test chart · CPC title