Patent Application
20240004335
This application claims the priority to Chinese patent application No. 202210785683.0, filed on Jul. 4, 2022, in the China National Intellectual Property Administration, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present disclosure generally relates to the field of image-forming technology and, more particularly, relates to an image-forming apparatus, a correction control method, and a storage medium.
Certain existing image-forming apparatuses are capable of performing color image-forming jobs. For example, the image-forming apparatus can execute color printing jobs based on four color toners of black (K), magenta (M), cyan (C), and yellow (Y).
Image-forming apparatuses normally need to perform certain corrections before operations, including toner density detection, misregistration detection and the like, which ensures that the image-forming apparatuses can more accurately control the density and image-forming position of each color toner and improve image-forming quality.
Certain image-forming apparatus may include a plurality of image-forming units and multicolor images may be formed by forming images of various colors using the image-forming units and then transferring the images to an intermediate transfer part or a recording material in a superimposed manner. Color shift and misregistration, that is, relative positional mismatch between images formed by the image-forming units, may occur in such type of image-forming apparatus. Misregistration may occur due to installation errors of parts of the image-forming units, and relative position changes of such parts due to changes in environmental conditions such as temperature. Misregistration may also occur due to uneven rotation of rotating driven parts, rotation speed change, and the like. In addition, color balance (e.g., tone) may change due to changes in image density of each color caused by conditions such as usage environment and the number of printed sheets.
The defect of the existing technology, on the one hand, may be that different corrections are performed in different time series, that is, the density correction and the misregistration detection are detected at different times, and different detection images are formed on a conveying belt for detection, so that more time and cost may be needed for detection before the image-forming operations may be performed. On the other hand, the defect of the existing technology may be related to the cost of using sensors. In the existing technology, when performing misregistration detection, same color images may be normally formed on the left and right sides of the conveying belt, and IDC (image density control) sensors may be installed on the left and right sides of the conveying belt for detection. Due to the property of toner colors, black toner may need to be detected through a specular reflection channel in the sensor, while color toners with other colors may need to be detected through a diffuse reflection channel. Therefore, the specular reflection channel and the diffuse reflection channel may need to be configured in the left and right sensors, which may have relatively high usage cost of the sensors.
One aspect of the present disclosure provides an image-forming apparatus. The apparatus includes an image carrier; a pattern-forming unit, configured to form a first detection pattern for density detection on the image carrier, where the first detection pattern includes a black first-sub-pattern and a non-black second-sub-pattern; and further configured to form a second detection pattern for misregistration detection on the image carrier, where the second detection pattern includes a full-color third-sub-pattern and a full-color fourth-sub-pattern, and the third-sub-pattern is different from the fourth-sub-pattern; a first sensor, configured to perform the density detection on the first-sub-pattern and the misregistration detection on the third-sub-pattern; and a second sensor, configured to perform the density detection on the second-sub-pattern, and the misregistration detection on the fourth-sub-pattern.
Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a correction control method. The method includes forming a first detection pattern for density detection on an image carrier, where the first detection pattern includes a black first-sub-pattern and a non-black second-sub-pattern; controlling a first sensor to perform the density detection on the first-sub-pattern, and controlling a second sensor to perform the density detection on the second-sub-pattern; forming a second detection pattern for misregistration detection on the image carrier, where the second detection pattern includes a full-color third-sub-pattern and a full-color fourth-sub-pattern, and the third-sub-pattern is different from the fourth-sub-pattern; and controlling the first sensor to perform the misregistration detection on the third-sub-pattern and controlling the second sensor to perform the misregistration detection on the fourth-sub-pattern.
Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing a computer program, and when being executed, the computer program causes a processor to implement a correction control method. The method includes forming a first detection pattern for density detection on an image carrier, where the first detection pattern includes a black first-sub-pattern and a non-black second-sub-pattern; controlling a first sensor to perform the density detection on the first-sub-pattern, and controlling a second sensor to perform the density detection on the second-sub-pattern; forming a second detection pattern for misregistration detection on the image carrier, where the second detection pattern includes a full-color third-sub-pattern and a full-color fourth-sub-pattern, and the third-sub-pattern is different from the fourth-sub-pattern; and controlling the first sensor to perform the misregistration detection on the third-sub-pattern and controlling the second sensor to perform the misregistration detection on the fourth-sub-pattern.
Other aspects of the present disclosure may be understood by those skilled in the art in light of the description, the claims, and the drawings of the present disclosure.
To clearly describe technical solutions of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the drawings, which need to be used for describing various embodiments, are described below. Obviously, the drawings in following description are merely some embodiments of the present disclosure. For those skilled in the art, other drawings may be obtained in accordance with these drawings without creative efforts.
To better understand technical solutions of the present disclosure, embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.
It should be noted that described embodiments are only a part of embodiments of the present disclosure, rather than all embodiments. Based on embodiments of the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work shall fall within the protection scope of the present disclosure.
Terms used in embodiments of the present disclosure are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Singular forms “a”, “said” and “the” used in embodiments of the present disclosure and the appended claims are also intended to include plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
It should be understood that the term “and/or” used herein is only an association relationship describing associated objects, indicating that there may be three relationships. For example, A and/or B may indicate that A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character “I” in the present disclosure may indicate that contextual objects are in an “or” relationship.
It should be understood that although terms such as “first”, “second”, and “third” may be configured to describe terminals in embodiments of the present disclosure, these terminals should not be limited to above-mentioned terms. Above-mentioned terms may only be configured to distinguish one terminal from another. For example, without departing from the scope of embodiments of the present disclosure, the first terminal may also be called the second terminal; and similarly, the second terminal may also be called the first terminal.
Depending on the context, the word “if” as used herein may be interpreted as “at” or “when” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detect”. Similarly, depending on context, the phrase “if determined” or “if detected (the stated condition or event)” may be interpreted as “when determined” or “in response to determining” or “when detected (the stated condition or event)” or “in response to detection of (the stated condition or event)”.
A photosensitive part 122 may rotate along the direction of the arrow in
In embodiments of the present disclosure, a density detection pattern and a (color) misregistration detection pattern formed by toner may be formed on the intermediate transfer part 27; and sensors 101 and 102 may be configured for detection. The sensors 101 and 102 may be disposed on two opposite sides of the intermediate transfer part 27, that is, on the left and right sides along the moving direction of the surface of the intermediate transfer part 27. For example, along the direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the surface of the intermediate transfer part 27, the first sensor 101 may be disposed at a position facing the vicinity of one end of the image-forming range, and the second sensor 102 may be disposed at a position opposite to the vicinity of the other end of the image-forming range.
The first sensor 101 may include a specular reflection detection channel and a diffuse reflection detection channel. For example, a light-emitting element 412 may emit light at an angle A from the normal direction of the surface of the intermediate transfer part 27. The light emitted by the light-emitting element 412 may be reflected by the surface of the intermediate transfer part 27 and an image block 411 formed on the surface of the intermediate transfer part 27. A light-receiving element 414 of the specular reflection detection channel may be configured to receive light reflected in a direction at an angle A from the normal direction of the surface of the intermediate transfer part 27. A specular reflection P wave may be sensitive to black, but not to other colors (C, M, Y), such that the specular reflection detection channel may be configured to detect black (K) toner.
On the other hand, a light-receiving element 413 of the diffuse reflection detection channel may be configured to receive light reflected in a direction at an angle B, which is different from the angle A, from the normal direction of the surface of the intermediate transfer part 27. A diffuse reflection S wave may not be sensitive to black, but sensitive to other colors (C, M, Y), such that the diffuse reflection detection channel may be configured to detect color (C, M, Y) toner.
The second sensor 102 may include a diffuse reflection detection channel. For example, the light-receiving element 413 of the diffuse reflection detection channel may be configured to receive light reflected in a direction at an angle B, which is different from the angle A, from the normal direction of the surface of the intermediate transfer part 27. The diffuse reflection S wave may not be sensitive to black, but sensitive to other colors (C, M, Y), such that the diffuse reflection detection channel may be configured to detect color (C, M, Y) toner.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, an image-forming apparatus is further provided, which can perform density detection and misregistration detection in a same detection image and reduce time cost of detection and usage cost of sensors.
For example, embodiments of the present disclosure provide an image-forming apparatus.
The image-forming apparatus may include an image carrier; a pattern-forming unit, configured to form a first detection pattern for density detection on the image carrier, where the first detection pattern includes a black first-sub-pattern and a non-black second-sub-pattern; the first sensor, configured to detect the density of the first-sub-pattern; and the second sensor, configured to detect the density of the second-sub-pattern. The pattern-forming unit may be also configured to form a second detection pattern for misregistration detection on the image carrier. The second detection pattern may include a full-color third-sub-pattern and a full-color fourth-sub-pattern, where the third-sub-pattern may be different from the fourth-sub-pattern. The first sensor may also be configured to detect misregistration of the third-sub-pattern. The second sensor may also be configured to detect misregistration of the fourth-sub-pattern.
In the image-forming apparatus provided in embodiments of the present disclosure, the first detection pattern for density detection may be formed on the image carrier; the first detection pattern may include the black first-sub-pattern and the non-black second-sub-pattern; the first sensor may be controlled to perform density detection on the first-sub-pattern, and the second sensor may be controlled to perform density detection on the second-sub-pattern, thereby completing density detection. In such solution, the second detection pattern may be formed for misregistration detection on the image carrier; the second detection pattern may include the third-sub-pattern and the fourth-sub-pattern; the first sensor may be controlled to perform misregistration detection on the third-sub-pattern; and the second sensor may be controlled to perform misregistration detection on the fourth-sub-pattern. Therefore, density correction and misregistration detection may be performed simultaneously, which may reduce time cost of correction. Meanwhile, the third-sub-pattern may be different from the fourth-sub-pattern, and there is no need to configure the specular reflection detection channel and the diffuse reflection detection channel on both the first sensor and the second sensor, thereby reducing usage cost of the sensor.
In embodiments of the present disclosure, the image-forming apparatus and its detection process of density detection and misregistration detection are described in detail hereinafter.
For example, the image-forming apparatus may include the image carrier. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the image carrier may be, but not limited to, the intermediate transfer part 27 (intermediate conveying belt). The intermediate conveying belt may be a belt for conveying supplied print paper, and the detection pattern for detection may be formed on the surface of the print paper in the case that transferred image is not received. The image carrier may also be a medium such as paper directly.
The image-forming apparatus may further include the pattern-forming unit. The pattern-forming unit may include the photosensitive part 122, the charging part 123, the scanning unit 124, the developing unit and the like which correspond to each color and may be configured to form detection pattern on the intermediate conveying belt. The pattern-forming unit may further include a needed control unit to control individual parts to cooperate with each other. The pattern-forming unit may further include a storage unit for storing preset detection pattern.
The arrow direction in
As shown in
For example, the first-sub-pattern may be a black pattern, for example, a black color block 210K, and the first sensor 101 may perform density detection on the black color block based on the specular reflection detection channel.
The second-sub-pattern may be a non-black pattern, including a yellow color block 210Y, a magenta color block 210M and a cyan color block 210C; and the second sensor 102 may perform density detection of each non-black color block based on the diffuse reflection detection channel.
In embodiments of the present disclosure, the image-forming apparatus may include the plurality of image-forming units, and multicolor images may be formed by forming images of various colors using the image-forming units and then transferring the images to an intermediate transfer part or a recording material in a superimposed manner. Color shift and misregistration, that is, relative positional mismatch between images formed by the image-forming units, may occur in such type of image-forming apparatus. Misregistration may occur due to installation errors of parts of the image-forming units, and relative position changes of such parts due to changes in environmental conditions such as temperature. Misregistration may also occur due to uneven rotation of rotating driven parts, rotation speed change, and the like. In addition, color balance (e.g., tone) may change due to changes in image density of each color caused by conditions such as usage environment and the number of printed sheets.
The second detection pattern may be configured for the sensor to complete the misregistration detection. In the misregistration detection, the sensor may need to detect the offset of other colors relative to a reference color, and the reference color may be any color. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the reference color may be black as an example.
The second detection pattern may include a full-color third-sub-pattern 211 and a full-color fourth-sub-pattern 212.
Both the third-sub-pattern 211 and the fourth-sub-pattern 212 may include at least one set of detection patterns to detect the offset of C, M, Y relative to K color. Taking 211 in
The first sensor 101 may detect the third-sub-pattern 211. The first sensor 101 may include the specular reflection detection channel and the diffuse reflection detection channel; and the first sensor may perform the misregistration detection on the full-color third-sub-pattern based on the specular reflection detection channel and the diffuse reflection detection channel.
The fourth-sub-pattern 212 may include patterns of non-black colors (C, M, Y) and a pattern that one of the non-black colors is superimposed with black, which is shown as that magenta M is superimposed with black K in embodiments of the present disclosure. The second sensor 102 may include the diffuse reflection detection channel, which may detect C, M, and Y colors in the fourth-sub-pattern 212. The second sensor 102 may also detect the superimposed pattern of magenta M and black K, and the color of the superimposed pattern is regarded as black, thereby further detecting the offset of C, M, Y relative to K color and completing the misregistration detection.
Referring to
At S41, the first detection pattern for density detection may be formed on the image carrier of the image-forming apparatus. The first detection pattern may include the black first-sub-pattern and the non-black second-sub-pattern.
At S42, the first sensor may be controlled to perform density detection of the first-sub-pattern, and the second sensor may be controlled to perform density detection of the second-sub-pattern.
At S43, the second detection pattern for misregistration detection may be formed on the image carrier. The second detection pattern may include the full-color third-sub-pattern and the full-color fourth-sub-pattern, and the third-sub-pattern may be different from the fourth-sub-pattern.
At S44, the first sensor may be controlled to perform misregistration detection on the third-sub-pattern, and the second sensor may be controlled to perform misregistration detection on the fourth-sub-pattern.
In correction control method provided in embodiments of the present disclosure, the first detection pattern for density detection may be formed on the image carrier; the first detection pattern may include the black first-sub-pattern and the non-black second-sub-pattern; the first sensor may be controlled to perform density detection on the first-sub-pattern, and the second sensor may be controlled to perform density detection on the second-sub-pattern, thereby completing density detection. In such solution, the second detection pattern may be formed for misregistration detection on the image carrier; the second detection pattern may include the third-sub-pattern and the fourth-sub-pattern; the first sensor may be controlled to perform misregistration detection on the third-sub-pattern; and the second sensor may be controlled to perform misregistration detection on the fourth-sub-pattern. Therefore, density correction and misregistration detection may be performed simultaneously, which may reduce time cost of correction. Meanwhile, the third-sub-pattern may be different from the fourth-sub-pattern, and there is no need to configure the specular reflection detection channel and the diffuse reflection detection channel on both the first sensor and the second sensor, thereby reducing usage cost of the sensor.
In embodiments of the present disclosure, above-mentioned correction control method is described in detail hereinafter.
Above-mentioned correction control method described may be applied to the image-forming apparatus.
For example, the image-forming apparatus may include the image carrier. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the image carrier may be, but not limited to, the intermediate transfer part 27 (intermediate conveying belt). The intermediate conveying belt may be a belt for conveying supplied print paper, and the detection pattern for detection may be formed on the surface of the print paper in the case that transferred image is not received. The image carrier may also be a medium such as paper directly.
The image-forming apparatus may further include the pattern-forming unit. The pattern-forming unit may include the photosensitive part 122, the charging part 123, the scanning unit 124, the developing unit and the like which correspond to each color and may be configured to form detection pattern on the intermediate conveying belt. The pattern-forming unit may further include a needed control unit to control individual parts to cooperate with each other. The pattern-forming unit may further include a storage unit for storing preset detection pattern.
The arrow direction in
As shown in
For example, the first-sub-pattern may be a black pattern, for example, a black color block 210K, and the first sensor 101 may perform density detection on the black color block based on the specular reflection detection channel.
The second-sub-pattern may be a non-black pattern, including a yellow color block 210Y, a magenta color block 210M and a cyan color block 210C; and the second sensor 102 may perform density detection of each non-black color block based on the diffuse reflection detection channel.
In embodiments of the present disclosure, the image-forming apparatus may include the plurality of image-forming units, and multicolor images may be formed by forming images of various colors using the image-forming units and then transferring the images to an intermediate transfer part or a recording material in a superimposed manner. Color shift and misregistration, that is, relative positional mismatch between images formed by the image-forming units, may occur in such type of image-forming apparatus. Misregistration may occur due to installation errors of parts of the image-forming units, and relative position changes of such parts due to changes in environmental conditions such as temperature. Misregistration may also occur due to uneven rotation of rotating driven parts, rotation speed change, and the like. In addition, color balance (e.g., tone) may change due to changes in image density of each color caused by conditions such as usage environment and the number of printed sheets.
The second detection pattern may be configured for the sensor to complete the misregistration detection. In the misregistration detection, the sensor may need to detect the offset of other colors relative to a reference color, and the reference color may be any color. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the reference color may be black as an example.
The second detection pattern may include a full-color third-sub-pattern 211 and a full-color fourth-sub-pattern 212.
Both the third-sub-pattern 211 and the fourth-sub-pattern 212 may include at least one set of detection patterns to detect the offset of C, M, Y relative to K color. Taking 211 in
The first sensor 101 may detect the third-sub-pattern 211. The first sensor 101 may include the specular reflection detection channel and the diffuse reflection detection channel; and the first sensor may perform the misregistration detection on the full-color third-sub-pattern based on the specular reflection detection channel and the diffuse reflection detection channel.
The fourth-sub-pattern 212 may include patterns of non-black colors (C, M, Y) and a pattern that one of the non-black colors is superimposed with black, which is shown as that magenta M is superimposed with black K in embodiments of the present disclosure. The second sensor 102 may include the diffuse reflection detection channel, which may detect C, M, and Y colors in the fourth-sub-pattern 212. The second sensor 102 may also detect the superimposed pattern of magenta M and black K, and the color of the superimposed pattern is regarded as black, thereby further detecting the offset of C, M, Y relative to K color and completing the misregistration detection.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium may include a stored program; and when the program is executed, the device where the storage medium is located may be controlled to execute above-mentioned correction control method.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a computer device.
The computer device 500 may be a computing device such as a desktop computer, a notebook, a palmtop computer, a cloud server, or an image-forming apparatus. The computer device may include, but not limited to, the processor 501 and the memory 502. Those skilled in the art can understand that
The processor 501 may be a central processing unit (CPU) and may also be a general-purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), other programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic device, a discrete hardware part, and/or the like. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, or the processor may be any conventional processor or the like.
The memory 502 may be an internal storage unit of the computer device 500, such as a hard disk or a memory of the computer device 500. The memory 502 may also be an external storage device of the computer device 500, such as a plug-in hard disk equipped on the computer device 500, a smart media card (SMC), a secure digital (SD) card, a Flash card, or the like. Furthermore, the memory 502 may also include both an internal storage unit of the computer device 500 and an external storage device. The memory 502 may be configured to store computer programs and other programs and data required by the computer device. The memory 502 may also be configured to temporarily store data that has been outputted or will be outputted.
From above-mentioned embodiments, it may be seen that the solutions according to the present disclosure may achieve at least following beneficial effects.
According to the image-forming apparatus and the correction control method provided in embodiments of the present disclosure, the first detection pattern for density detection may be formed on the image carrier; the first detection pattern may include the black first-sub-pattern and the non-black second-sub-pattern; the first sensor may be controlled to perform density detection on the first-sub-pattern, and the second sensor may be controlled to perform density detection on the second-sub-pattern, thereby completing density detection. In such solution, the second detection pattern may be formed for misregistration detection on the image carrier; the second detection pattern may include the third-sub-pattern and the fourth-sub-pattern; the first sensor may be controlled to perform misregistration detection on the third-sub-pattern; and the second sensor may be controlled to perform misregistration detection on the fourth-sub-pattern. Therefore, density correction and misregistration detection may be performed simultaneously, which may reduce time cost of correction. Meanwhile, the third-sub-pattern may be different from the fourth-sub-pattern, and there is no need to configure the specular reflection detection channel and the diffuse reflection detection channel on both the first sensor and the second sensor, thereby reducing usage cost of the sensor.
Those skilled in the art can clearly understand that for the convenience and brevity of description, the working process of above-described system, apparatus and unit can refer to corresponding process in above-mentioned method embodiments, which may not be described in detail herein.
In some embodiments provided in the present disclosure, it should be understood that the disclosed system, apparatus and method may be implemented in other manners. For example, apparatus embodiments described above may be only exemplary. For example, the division of the unit may be only a logical function division, and there may be another division manner during actual implementation. For example, multiple units or parts may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be omitted or not implemented. In addition, mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed above may be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, apparatus or units; and may be electrical, mechanical or other manners.
Above-mentioned integrated units implemented in the form of software functional units may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Above-mentioned software functional units may be stored in a storage medium, which may include a plurality of instructions to make a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, a network device or the like) or a processor execute some steps of above-mentioned methods in various embodiments of the present disclosure. Above-mentioned storage media may include U disk, mobile hard disk, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk or optical disk and other media that can store program codes.
Above-mentioned embodiments of the present disclosure may be exemplary and may not be intended to limit the present disclosure. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements and the like made within the spirit and principles of the present disclosure shall be included within the protection scope of the present disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202210785683.0 | Jul 2022 | CN | national |
