Image forming apparatus, image forming method, and program

An image forming method performed by an image forming apparatus that includes

• a direct transfer control unit that transfers an image formed by an image forming unit onto a direct transfer unit or a transfer sheet conveyed by the direct transfer unit;
• an indirect transfer control unit that causes multicolor image forming units to superimpose multicolor images on the intermediate transfer unit and then transfers the multicolor images onto the transfer sheet;
• and
• a secondary transfer control unit that controls proximity and separation between the direct transfer unit and the intermediate transfer unit,
• the image forming apparatus including a control unit and a storage unit, and
• the image forming method performed by the control unit comprising:
• performing, by a first alignment control unit, a first alignment control process by causing the secondary transfer control unit to perform the proximity control so as to transfer an image formed on the direct transfer unit by the direct transfer control unit and an image formed on the intermediate transfer unit by the indirect transfer control unit onto at least one of the direct transfer unit and the intermediate transfer unit and correcting misalignment of each of the images in main and sub-scanning directions;
• and
• performing, by a second alignment control unit, a second alignment control process by causing the secondary transfer control unit to perform a separation control and, by using a position of a color image that has undergone the first alignment control process as a reference, correcting misalignment of a different color image formed on the intermediate transfer unit by the indirect transfer control unit in the main and sub-scanning directions.

A program that causes a computer to function as

• a direct transfer control unit that controls a single-color image forming unit and a direct transfer unit so as to transfer an image formed by the single-color image forming unit onto the direct transfer unit or a transfer sheet conveyed by the direct transfer unit;
• an indirect transfer control unit that controls multicolor image forming units and an intermediate transfer unit and causes the multicolor image forming units to superimpose multicolor images on the intermediate transfer unit;
• a secondary transfer control unit that controls contact and separation between the direct transfer unit and the intermediate transfer unit;
• a first alignment control unit that performs a first alignment control process by causing the secondary transfer control unit to perform the proximity control so as to transfer both an image formed on the direct transfer unit by the direct transfer control unit and an image formed on the intermediate transfer unit by the indirect transfer control unit onto at least one of the direct transfer unit and the intermediate transfer unit and correcting misalignment of each of the images in main and sub-scanning directions;
• and
• a second alignment control unit that performs a second alignment control process by causing the secondary transfer control unit to perform a separation control and, by using a position of a color image that has undergone the first alignment control process as a reference, correcting misalignment of a different color image formed on the intermediate transfer unit by the indirect transfer control unit in the main and sub-scanning directions.