US 10,484,555 B2Granted

Image forming apparatus communicably connected to an external measurement device that measures a measurement image for a calibration operation, and a related image processing apparatus

AssigneeCanon Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorTomohisa Itagaki

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

An image forming apparatus includes a printer, a sensor that measures a measurement image, and a controller that selects a layout including a plurality of test images and a separator, controls the printer to print the plurality of test images and the separator on the sheet, controls the sensor to measure the plurality of test images, and obtains measurement data related to the plurality of test images. The controller also generates a conversion condition based on the measurement result of the plurality of test images and the obtained measurement data. The conversion condition is used to convert the measurement result of the plurality of test images into a measurement result of an external measurement device.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An image forming apparatus connected communicably to an external measurement device, the apparatus comprising:

(A) a printer configured to print an image on a sheet;
(B) a sensor provided on a conveyance path along which the sheet is conveyed, and configured to measure a measurement image printed on the sheet by the printer;
and
(C) a controller configured:
(a) to select a layout including a plurality of test images and a separator, the layout being at least one of (i) a first layout including (1) a plurality of first test images, and (2) a first separator, and (ii) a second layout that is different from the first layout, the second layout including (1) a plurality of second test images that are different from the first test images, and (2) a second separator that is different from the first separator;
(b) to control the printer to print the plurality of test images and the separator on the sheet, the separator being used to control a measurement timing of an external measurement device, wherein, in a case in which the first layout is selected, the controller controls the printer to print the plurality of first test images and the first separator on the sheet, and, in a case in which the second layout is selected, the controller controls the printer to print the plurality of second test images and the second separator on the sheet;
(c) to control the sensor to measure the plurality of test images printed on the sheet, thereby producing a measurement result of the plurality of test images printed on the sheet;
(d) to obtain measurement data related to the plurality of test images, the measurement data being output from the external measurement device, thereby producing obtained measurement data;
and
(e) to generate a conversion condition based on the measurement result of the plurality of test images and the obtained measurement data,
wherein the conversion condition is used to convert the measurement result of the plurality of test images into a measurement result of an external measurement device.

8 more elements

An image processing apparatus that executes image processing on image data to be transferred to a printer, the apparatus comprising:

(A) a first interface configured to communicate with the printer;
(B) a second interface configured to communicate with a measurement device;
and
(C) a controller configured:
(a) to select a layout including a plurality of test images and a separator, the layout being at least one of (i) a first layout including (1) a plurality of first test images, and (2) a first separator, and (ii) a second layout that is different from the first layout, the second layout including (1) a plurality of second test images that are different from the first test images, and (2) a second separator that is different from the first separator;
(b) to transfer measurement image data via the first interface, the measurement image data being used to print the plurality of test images and the separator on a sheet, and the separator being used to control a measurement timing of an external measurement device, wherein, in a case in which the first layout is selected, the controller transfers first measurement image data via the first interface, the first measurement image data being used to print the plurality of first test images and the first separator on a sheet, and, in a case in which the second layout is selected, the controller transfers second measurement image data via the first interface, the second measurement image data being used to print the plurality of second test images and the second separator on the sheet;
(c) to obtain a result of measuring the plurality of test images, printed on the sheet, by a sensor provided for the printer via the first interface, thereby producing an obtained sensor measurement result;
(d) to obtain a result of measuring the plurality of test images, printed on the sheet, by the external measurement device via the second interface, thereby producing an obtained external measurement device measurement result;
and
(e) to generate a conversion condition based on the obtained sensor measurement result and the obtained external measurement device measurement result,
wherein the conversion condition is used to convert the obtained sensor measurement result into a measurement result of an external measurement device.

8 more elements

An image forming apparatus comprising:

(A) an image printer configured to print an image on a sheet;
(B) a conveyance roller configured to convey the sheet along a conveyance path;
(C) a sensor provided on the conveyance path, and configured to measure a measurement image on the sheet;
and
(D) a controller configured:
(a) to control the image printer to print a first chart including a plurality of measurement images;
(b) to convert, based on a conversion condition, a measurement result of the first chart by the sensor, thereby producing a converted measurement result;
(c) to control the image printer to print a second chart including a first measurement image, a second measurement image, and a plurality of separators, the plurality of separators being used to control a measurement timing of an external measurement device, wherein the second measurement image is formed at a position different in a predetermined direction, which is perpendicular to a conveyance direction in which the conveyance roller conveys the sheet, from a position at which the first measurement image is formed, wherein the second measurement image overlaps the first measurement image in the conveyance direction, and wherein the plurality of separators are formed between the first measurement image and the second measurement image in the predetermined direction;
(d) to control the sensor to measure the second chart printed on the sheet, thereby producing a sensor measurement result;
(e) to obtain measurement data related to the second chart, the measurement data related to the second chart being output from an external measurement device, thereby producing obtained measurement data;
and
(f) to generate the conversion condition based on the sensor measurement result and the obtained measurement data,
wherein the external measurement device measures the first measurement image and the second measurement image along the predetermined direction.

10 more elements

An image processing apparatus that communicates with a printer having a sensor for measuring a measurement image on a sheet, the image processing apparatus comprising:

(A) an interface to which an external measurement device is communicable;
and
(B) a controller configured:
(a) to control the printer to print a first chart including a plurality of measurement images on a sheet;
(b) to control the sensor of the printer to measure the first chart, thereby producing a sensor measurement result of the first chart;
(c) to obtain a measurement result of the first chart measured by the sensor of the printer, thereby producing an obtained measurement result of the first chart;
(d) to convert, based on a conversion condition, the measurement result of the first chart, thereby producing a converted measurement result;
(e) to control the printer to print a second chart including a first measurement image, a second measurement image, and a plurality of separators, the plurality of separators being used to control a measurement timing of an external measurement device, wherein the second measurement image is formed at a position different in a predetermined direction, which is perpendicular to a conveyance direction in which a conveyance roller conveys the sheet, from a position at which the first measurement image is formed, wherein the second measurement image overlaps the first measurement image in the conveyance direction, and wherein the plurality of separators are formed between the first measurement image and the second measurement image in the predetermined direction;
(f) to control the sensor of the printer to measure the second chart, thereby producing a sensor measurement result of the second chart;
(g) to obtain a measurement result of the second chart measured by the sensor of the printer, thereby producing an obtained measurement result of the second chart;
(h) to obtain measurement data related to the second chart via the interface, the measurement data related to the second chart being output from the external measurement device, thereby producing external measurement device obtained measurement data;
and
(i) to generate the conversion condition based on the sensor measurement result of the second chart and the external measure device obtained measurement data,
wherein the external measurement device measures the first measurement image and the second measurement image along the predetermined direction.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/997,119Filed 4 Jun 2018
Priority: JP 2017-1136378 Jun 2017
Published: US 2018/0359380 A113 Dec 2018
Granted: 19 Nov 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

H04N 1/00588
Conveying sheets before or after scanning: to the scanning position
G03G 15/0848
Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer: arrangements for testing or measuring developer properties or quality, e.g.…
G03G 15/087
Cylindrical developer cartridges, e.g. toner bottles for the developer replenishing opening: developer cartridges having a longitudinal rotational…
G03G 15/0887
Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer: arrangements for conveying and conditioning developer in the developing…

Family

US 2018/0359380 A1Pre-grant publication · published 13 Dec 2018
US 10,484,555 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Timeline

Citations

Open elsewhere

Building an agent or pulling many patents? Use the API or MCP server instead of scraping pages. Get an API key