Image forming control method and image forming apparatus

An image forming control method for controlling an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising:

• a sheet conveying device configured to convey a sheet along a conveying path;
• a printing device configured to form an image on the sheet by ejecting ink onto the sheet conveyed along the conveying path;
• a drying device arranged on a downstream side of the printing device in a sheet conveying direction, including a heater configured to heat the sheet, and dry the ink on the sheet;
• and
• an edge detection portion arranged on an upstream side of the printing device in the sheet conveying direction and configured to detect a pair of lateral edge positions that are positions of both ends of the sheet in a width direction crossing the sheet conveying direction;
• the image forming control method comprising:
• a processor, when an operation mode is a first mode, causing the sheet conveying device to execute a process of conveying a target sheet in a state where a first surface of the target sheet serves as a printing surface;
• the processor acquiring a pair of first lateral edge positions that are detection results of the edge detection portion when the target sheet is conveyed with the first surface of the target sheet serving as the printing surface;
• the processor causing the printing device to execute a process of forming a first test image on the first surface of the target sheet, the first test image including a plurality of first scale images arranged at a first interval in the width direction with reference to a center position of the pair of first lateral edge positions;
• the processor causing the sheet conveying device to execute a process of conveying the target sheet with a second surface of the target sheet serving as the printing surface;
• the processor acquiring a pair of second lateral edge positions that are detection results of the edge detection portion when the target sheet is conveyed with the second surface of the target sheet serving as the printing surface;
• the processor causing the printing device to execute a process of forming a second test image on the second surface of the target sheet, the second test image including a plurality of second scale images arranged at a second interval in the width direction with reference to a center position of the pair of second lateral edge positions;
• the processor acquiring matching scale information that specifies one of the plurality of first scale images formed on the target sheet whose position in the width direction matches one of the plurality of second scale images;
• the processor setting a reference center position according to the matching scale information and a sheet width ratio that is a ratio of an interval between the pair of second lateral edge positions to an interval between the pair of first lateral edge positions;
• the processor, when the operation mode is a second mode, correcting a position of the print target image in the width direction according to a difference between the center position of the pair of lateral edge positions detected by the edge detection portion and the reference center position, and then causing the printing device to execute a process of forming the print target image on the sheet;
• and
• the processor executing control to stop power supply to the heater of the drying device when the operation mode is the first mode.

An image forming control method for controlling an image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus comprising:

• a sheet conveying device configured to convey a sheet along a conveying path;
• a printing device configured to form an image on the sheet by ejecting ink onto the sheet conveyed along the conveying path;
• a drying device arranged on a downstream side of the printing device in a sheet conveying direction, including a heater configured to heat the sheet, and dry the ink on the sheet;
• and
• an edge detection portion arranged on an upstream side of the printing device in the sheet conveying direction and configured to detect a pair of lateral edge positions that are positions of both ends of the sheet in a width direction crossing the sheet conveying direction;
• the image forming control method comprising:
• a processor, when an operation mode is a first mode, causing the sheet conveying device to execute a process of conveying a target sheet in a state where a first surface of the target sheet serves as a printing surface;
• the processor acquiring a pair of first lateral edge positions that are detection results of the edge detection portion when the target sheet is conveyed with the first surface of the target sheet serving as the printing surface;
• the processor causing the printing device to execute a process of forming a first test image on the first surface of the target sheet, the first test image including a plurality of first scale images arranged at a first interval in the width direction with reference to a center position of the pair of first lateral edge positions;
• the processor causing the sheet conveying device to execute a process of conveying the target sheet with a second surface of the target sheet serving as the printing surface;
• the processor acquiring a pair of second lateral edge positions that are detection results of the edge detection portion when the target sheet is conveyed with the second surface of the target sheet serving as the printing surface;
• the processor causing the printing device to execute a process of forming a second test image on the second surface of the target sheet, the second test image including a plurality of second scale images arranged at a second interval in the width direction with reference to a center position of the pair of second lateral edge positions;
• the processor acquiring matching scale information that specifies one of the plurality of first scale images formed on the target sheet whose position in the width direction matches one of the plurality of second scale images;
• the processor setting a reference center position according to the matching scale information and a sheet width ratio that is a ratio of an interval between the pair of second lateral edge positions to an interval between the pair of first lateral edge positions;
• the processor, when the operation mode is a second mode, correcting a position of the print target image in the width direction according to a difference between the center position of the pair of lateral edge positions detected by the edge detection portion and the reference center position, and then causing the printing device to execute a process of forming the print target image on the sheet;
• and
• the processor, when the operation mode is the first mode, acquiring thickness information representing a thickness of the target sheet;
• wherein
• the processor, when the operation mode is the first mode, causes the sheet conveying device to execute a process of conveying the target sheet on the condition that the thickness information satisfies a preset allowable condition.