Image forming apparatus and image forming method

An image processing apparatus for an image forming apparatus configured to form an image, the image processing apparatus comprising:

• an input unit configured to input image data formed by pixels each including a plurality of pixel pieces, at least one of which is an adjustment pixel piece that stays blank;
• an acquisition unit configured to acquire main scanning position information which indicates a position in a main scanning direction when the image data is exposed, wherein the main scanning direction is a direction in which an exposure unit in the image forming apparatus scans a recording medium;
• and
• an adjustment unit configured to adjust a main scanning position corresponding to a pixel of interest in the image data by extracting the adjustment pixel piece from the pixel of interest according to the main scanning position information.

An image forming apparatus configured to form an image using an electrophotographic method, in which an exposure unit exposes and scans a photosensitive drum to form an image, the image forming apparatus comprising:

• a generation unit configured to generate a signal for driving the exposure unit according to image data;
• and
• a drive unit configured to drive the exposure unit according to the signal,
• wherein the signal has a different number of clock signals corresponding to a single pixel included in the image data at different positions on the photosensitive drum, and
• wherein a maximum number of clock signals corresponding to lit pixel pieces among the clock signals for a single pixel is constant across all the positions on the photosensitive drum.

A control method for controlling an image forming apparatus configured to form an image, the control method comprising:

• acquiring image data formed by pixels each including a plurality of pixel pieces, and pixel piece insertion/extraction information indicating whether a pixel piece needs to be inserted into or extracted from each pixel of the image data;
• generating an exposure signal to be used by the image forming apparatus to carry out an exposure, according to a pixel value indicating a pixel of interest in the image data and to pixel piece insertion/extraction information on the pixel of interest;
• and
• controlling exposure by the image forming apparatus according to the exposure signal,
• wherein the generating of the exposure signal causes the pixel of interest to be formed by a plurality of pixel pieces arranged in a direction in which the image forming apparatus performs exposure scanning, and presets at least one of the plurality of pixel pieces as an adjustment pixel piece that stays blank, and
• wherein the adjustment pixel piece is extracted when the width of the pixel of interest in the scanning direction is to be reduced.

An image processing method for an image forming apparatus configured to form an image, the image processing method comprising:

• inputting image data formed by pixels each including a plurality of pixel pieces, at least one of which is an adjustment pixel piece that stays blank;
• acquiring main scanning position information which indicates a position in a main scanning direction when the image data is exposed, wherein the main scanning direction is a direction in which an exposure unit in the image forming apparatus scans a recording medium;
• and
• adjusting a main scanning position corresponding to a pixel of interest in the image data by extracting the adjustment pixel piece from the pixel of interest according to the main scanning position information.

A control method for controlling an image forming apparatus configured to form an image using an electrophotographic method, in which an exposure unit exposes and scans a photosensitive drum to form an image, the control method comprising:

• generating a signal for driving the exposure unit according to image data;
• and
• driving the exposure unit according to the signal,
• wherein the signal has a different number of clock signals corresponding to a single pixel included in the image data at different positions on the photosensitive drum, and
• wherein a maximum number of clock signals corresponding to lit pixel pieces among the clock signals for a single pixel is constant across all the positions on the photosensitive drum.