JP2008162199A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which forms many images by retaining only a small amount of data by the use of image information having a registered file name of image data and the like. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming apparatus comprises a CPU 1, an operating portion 2, an image transfer control portion 3, an image data expansion portion 4, a storage portion 5, and a printing portion 6. The image information 7 such as a name of compressed image data is retained in the storage portion 5. When a printing request is inputted from the operating portion 2, the image information of an adjusting pattern to be printed is read out from the storage portion 5, and an address of a storage medium in which the compressed image data for use are retained is recognized from the read image information. The compressed image data are selected from the recognized address, expanded in the expansion portion 4, and transferred to each nozzle. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus that uses a piece of image information registered with a file name of image data and forms a large number of images with a small amount of data.

  In recent years, color printers have become mainstream in image forming apparatuses. A color printer has a mechanism for printing a desired color by superimposing a plurality of colors. When outputting, printing is performed from the ink head. If there is a deviation between the ink heads, a problem such as a printing deviation occurs. In view of this, a technique for appropriately correcting the position of the ink head and adjusting image printing has been proposed. For example, the following techniques have been proposed.

  The position of the print dot by the plurality of ink heads is detected by a print position detection means comprising a CCD, etc., and based on this detection data, the displacement between the heads is determined by the calculation unit, and the position is corrected by moving each head. However, a color inkjet printer that prevents printing misalignment of each color has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  On the other hand, a technique for adjusting each part of an image forming unit such as an ink head from an image (correction image) printed on the output paper has been proposed. Specifically, the distance between the specific pattern formed on the paper and the edge of the paper is measured by the measurement unit, the distance of each measurement target portion is obtained, the distance is compared with the reference value, and the deviation from the reference value is determined. If the value exceeds the allowable range, the set value calculation unit calculates a correction amount, calculates a set value for adjusting each unit of the image forming unit, and adjusts each unit of the image forming unit according to the set value (for example, , See Patent Document 2).

Conventionally, correction image data is created by the I / F controller and sent to each image forming unit via the engine controller. However, since it takes time, the correction image is compressed. By storing the data, reading it out at the timing of a request from the user, and sending it to the printer printing unit while performing expansion processing, the image for correction can be printed on the conveyor belt in a short time and various corrections can be made quickly. Techniques have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 3 and 4).
JP-A-5-301353 JP 2005-173261 A JP 2003-270879 A JP 2003-209773 A

  However, in the technique as described above, when a lot of correction images are formed, it is necessary to hold a lot of data.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to form a large number of images with a small amount of data.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage means for storing image information in which an address for specifying a location of a storage medium in which image data is held, information on a print start position and a print end position are registered, and An image forming apparatus comprising: an acquisition unit configured to acquire the image data based on an address.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the first aspect, the image is compressed compressed image data, and further includes decompression means for decompressing the compressed image data.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the image is an adjustment pattern image for adjusting the position of a head composed of a plurality of nozzles.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the third aspect, the adjustment pattern image used for each nozzle uses data common to the nozzles of each color.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the third or fourth aspect of the present invention, the apparatus includes a printing unit that prints the adjustment pattern image according to the information of the print start and print end positions. The printing start and end positions of the pattern image for printing are shifted for each color nozzle and printed.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, the image information registers information indicating that the same adjustment pattern image as that of other nozzles of different colors can be used. It is characterized by that.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to any one of the third to sixth aspects, an input for inputting a correction value for a deviation amount of each head position determined from the adjustment pattern image output by the printing unit. And adjusting means for adjusting a deviation of the head position in the main scanning direction based on the correction value.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to any one of the third to seventh aspects of the present invention, the apparatus includes a control unit that controls a feed amount in a sub-scanning direction based on the image information.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to any one of the third to eighth aspects, the image information registers an amount of ink used for printing the adjustment pattern image, and the ink An ink amount comparison unit that compares a usage amount with an ink amount held by the image forming apparatus, and a print determination unit that determines whether printing is possible based on a comparison result by the comparison unit. .

  According to the present invention, a large number of images can be formed with a small amount of data.

  Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. As long as there is no description which limits, it is not restricted to these aspects.

  In this specification, an image for adjusting the nozzle position and the like is referred to as an “adjustment pattern”. Data obtained by compressing the adjustment pattern is referred to as “compressed image data”.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, it includes a CPU 1, an operation unit 2, an image data transfer control unit 3, an image data decompression unit 4, a storage unit 5, and a printing unit 6.

  The CPU 1 performs system control. The storage unit 5 holds image information 7 such as compressed image data names. The image data decompression unit 4 decompresses the compressed image data. The image data transfer control unit 3 outputs image data to each nozzle. The operation unit 2 is used when inputting an output request for image data.

  A configuration example of the image information 7 held in the storage unit 5 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, image information includes a compressed image data name, a compressed image data amount, a raw image data amount, a print start position, a print end position, a resolution, a drop size and a drop number used in the image data, and the like. It consists of information on the adjustment pattern.

  The “compressed image data name” is index information for specifying the compressed image data obtained by compressing the adjustment pattern, and specifically indicates the file name and the location of the storage medium storing the compressed image data. Address. It is conceivable that the compressed image data is stored in a storage medium other than the storage unit 5, and in the present invention, where the compressed image data itself is held is not particularly limited. The held address can be determined from the “compressed image data name”.

  Next, operation processing of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation process when reading image data to be used based on image information in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. When a print request is input from the operation unit 2 (step S1), the image information of the adjustment pattern to be printed is read from the storage unit 5 (step S2).

  In the read image information, the name of the compressed image data to be used, the print start / print end position, etc. are registered, and from this information, the address of the storage medium holding the compressed image data can be recognized. (Step S3).

  By setting the recognized address in the image data transfer control unit 3 (step S4), compressed image data is selected (step S5). Also, a print start position and a print end position are set (step S4), and the decompressed image data is decompressed by the decompressing unit 4 (step S5), and the decompressed image data is output (step S6).

  In another embodiment, the decompressed image data (adjustment pattern) is transferred to the printing unit 6 (step S12 in FIG. 4), used as an adjustment pattern for each head, and output as a print image (step S13). You can also think about that. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation process when printing the read image data in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. Note that steps S7 to S11 in FIG. 4 are the same as steps S1 to S5 in FIG.

  According to the embodiment, since image data to be used can be acquired based on image information, a large number of adjustment patterns can be formed with a small amount of data.

  Next, an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The structure of this embodiment is the same as that of the said embodiment (refer FIG. 1). FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation process when reading image data of all nozzles in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  When a print request is input from the operation unit 2 (step S15), image information that is information on an adjustment pattern to be printed is read from the storage unit 5 (step S16). In the read information, the compressed image data used for each nozzle, the print start / print end position, and the like are registered, and the address of the storage medium holding the compressed image data can be recognized from these information.

  Compressed image data is selected by setting the recognized address in the image data transfer control unit 3 (step S17), and the image data of each nozzle is read (step S18). Data reading is repeated until data for all nozzles is read (step S19). With respect to the image data after the compression of the compressed image data, a print start position and a print end position are set, and the decompressed image data is decompressed by the decompressing unit 4 to output the decompressed image data.

  Conventionally, it has been necessary to prepare one page of image data and form it for each color in order to form an adjustment pattern. However, according to the above embodiment, image information used for each nozzle and a compressed image are stored. Since data is held, the amount of data can be reduced.

  Next, an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The structure of this embodiment is the same as that of the said embodiment (refer FIG. 1). The present embodiment relates to nozzle check image data. The nozzle check image is used to check whether ink is being ejected from the nozzles, and ink is ejected in order from the upper stage to the lower stage of each nozzle (see FIG. 14). The image data used at this time is not prepared separately for each nozzle, but the same data is used. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation process when reading the nozzle check image data in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  When a print request is input from the operation unit 2 (step S20), the image information of the nozzle check pattern to be printed is read from the storage unit 5 (step S21). In the read image information, the name of the compressed image data to be used, the print start / print end position, etc. are registered, and the address of the storage medium holding the compressed image data for nozzle check to be used is stored from these information. Can be recognized.

  By setting the recognized address in the image data transfer control unit 3, the compressed image data for nozzle check is selected and read (step S22). Data reading is repeated until data for all nozzles is read (step S23). With respect to the image data after the compression of the compressed image data, a print start position and a print end position are set, and the decompressed image data is decompressed by the decompressing unit 4 to output the decompressed image data.

  Conventionally, it has been necessary to prepare image data for one page in order to form an adjustment pattern and hold it for each color. According to the above embodiment, a pattern output from a print nozzle for each color. Can be reduced, so that the amount of image data can be reduced.

  Next, an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The structure of this embodiment is the same as that of the said embodiment (refer FIG. 1). The present embodiment relates to nozzle check image data. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation process when the print start position of the nozzle check image data is shifted by a certain amount in the main scanning direction in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  When a print request is input from the operation unit 2 (step S25), the image information of the nozzle check pattern to be printed is read from the storage unit 5 (step S26). In the read image information, the name of the compressed image data to be used, the print start / print end position, etc. are registered, and the address of the storage medium holding the compressed image data can be recognized from these information.

  By setting the recognized address in the image data transfer control unit 3, the compressed image data for nozzle check is selected and read (step S27). With respect to the image data after the compression of the compressed image data, a print start position and a print end position are set, and the decompressed image data is decompressed by the decompressing unit 4 to output the decompressed image data. Reading is repeated until the data of all nozzles is read (step S28), and the print start position setting is shifted by a certain amount in the main scanning direction at that time, so that the amount of image data to be used can be reduced. .

  Conventionally, it has been necessary to prepare image data for one page in order to form an adjustment pattern and hold it for each color. However, according to the above embodiment, the print start position of image data is set for each nozzle. Since each nozzle check image can be printed with common image data, the amount of image data can be reduced.

  Next, an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of this embodiment is the same as that of the above embodiment (see FIG. 1). The present embodiment relates to a print adjustment pattern used when adjusting the deviation of the head position in the main scanning direction. FIG. 14 is a diagram for explaining a head unit and the like according to the present embodiment. In the present specification, a bundle of heads is defined as a head portion, and as shown in FIG. 14, a head indicated by two lines is defined as a “nozzle”. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation process when the same image data is used even for different colors in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  When a print request is input from the operation unit 2 (step S30), image information of an adjustment pattern to be printed is read from the storage unit 5 (step S31). In the read information, the compressed image data to be used, the print start / print end position, etc. are registered, and the address of the storage medium holding the compressed image data can be recognized from these information.

  At this time, for example, if the second scan and the fourth scan image are the same, the same data can be used. Even if the colors are different, the same data can be used for the same image. For this reason, when registering image data to be used for image information, the same image data (for example, “Nth image data”) is designated, so that it is not necessary to hold data redundantly.

  When reading out the image data of the Nth nozzle to be used registered in the image information (step S32), the compressed image data is selected by setting the image data address of the Nth nozzle in the image data transfer control unit 3. (Step S33). Further, with respect to the image data after the compression of the compressed image data, a print start position and a print end position are set, and the decompressed image data is decompressed by the decompressing unit 4 so that the decompressed image data is output. Here, the direction in which the head moves away from the home position is the first scan, and the opposite direction is the second scan, and this is repeated when printing an image. Data reading is repeated until data for all nozzles is read (step S34).

  Conventionally, an image is formed and printed for each color in order to form an adjustment pattern. However, according to the above-described embodiment, the adjustment used when adjusting the deviation of the head position from the ideal value in the main scanning direction. Since the image pattern is used for the pattern for use, and a part of the adjustment pattern for different colors is shared, the data amount can be reduced. The deviation from the ideal value indicates an attachment error when assembling the head / head part.

  Next, an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The structure of this embodiment is the same as that of the said embodiment (refer FIG. 1). The present embodiment relates to an adjustment pattern used when adjusting the deviation of the head position in the main scanning direction, and is characterized in that a correction value is calculated from the printed adjustment pattern and is automatically adjusted by feedback. . FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation process when the correction value is calculated and fed back in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  When a print request for the main scanning direction image adjustment sheet is input from the operation unit 2 (step S35), the image information of the adjustment pattern to be printed is read from the storage unit 5 (step S36). In the read image information, the name of the compressed image data to be used, the print start / print end position, etc. are registered, and the address of the storage medium holding the compressed image data can be recognized from these information.

  The compressed image data is selected by setting the recognized address in the image data transfer control unit 3. Further, with respect to the image data after the compression of the compressed image data, a print start position and a print end position are set, and the decompressed image data is decompressed by the decompressing unit 4 so that the decompressed image data is output. When printing, in order to determine whether or not the main scanning head is misaligned, other colors are printed at the same position as a reference head (for example, black) in the main scanning direction. Whether or not the head is displaced can be determined based on whether or not printing is performed at the position.

  The printed image (print adjustment pattern) printed at this time is read from reading means such as a scanner (step S38), and the correction value is derived by detecting the amount of deviation from the reference (step S39). Is fed back, and the amount of deviation can be corrected (step S40).

  Conventionally, a plurality of light receiving elements for reading an adjustment pattern for adjusting the positional deviation of the head had to be arranged for each apparatus, which was costly. However, in the above embodiment, the positional deviation of the head position in the main scanning direction has occurred. Since the print adjustment pattern used when adjusting the image can be read by the reading means and the correction value can be calculated, the correction value can be fed back to correct the deviation of the head position in the main scanning direction.

  Next, an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The structure of this embodiment is the same as that of the said embodiment (refer FIG. 1). The present embodiment is characterized by control for darkening a color that is difficult to visually recognize, such as yellow, with respect to printing of an adjustment pattern used when adjusting the deviation of the head position in the main scanning direction. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation process when overwriting is performed in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  When a print request for the main scanning direction image adjustment sheet is input from the operation unit 2 (step S41), the image information of the adjustment pattern to be printed is read from the storage unit 5 (step S42). In the read image information, the name of the compressed image data to be used, the print start / print end position, etc. are registered, and the address of the storage medium holding the compressed image data can be recognized from these information.

  By setting the recognized address in the image data transfer control unit 3, the compressed image data is selected and the image data is read (step S43). When using an adjustment unit that visually recognizes the adjustment pattern printed here and corrects the head position deviation, the paper movement in the sub-scanning direction is performed in order to darken a difficult-to-view color such as yellow. Without writing, overwriting is performed several times at the same position (step S44). Thereby, a color can be darkened and visibility can be improved. In addition, it repeats from the reading of image information (step S42) until it reads the data of all the nozzles (step S45).

  Conventionally, since the pattern in the sub-scanning direction is printed at a certain speed, it was not possible to overlay the same position, but according to the above embodiment, the sub-scan feed amount can be freely set according to the image information, Since the feed amount in the sub-scanning direction can be stopped and printing can be performed, it is possible to overlay colors such as yellow that are difficult to see.

  Next, an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The structure of this embodiment is the same as that of the said embodiment (refer FIG. 1). The present embodiment relates to printing of an adjustment pattern (correction image adjustment sheet) used when adjusting the deviation of the sub-scanning forward path and the backward path. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process when changing the amount of movement in the sub-scanning direction in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a forward return path with respect to the paper conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction).

  When an image adjustment sheet print request for sub-scanning forward / return correction is input from the operation unit 2 (step S46), image information of an adjustment pattern to be printed is read from the storage unit 5 (step S47). In the read image information, the name of the compressed image data to be used, the print start / print end position, etc. are registered, and the address of the storage medium holding the compressed image data can be recognized from these information.

  By setting the recognized address in the image data transfer control unit 3, the compressed image data is selected, and the image data is read (step S48). The compressed image data that has been read out is expanded and output as an image, as in the above embodiments. At this time, there is a possibility that a deviation in the sub-scanning direction may occur with respect to the reference print position due to the inclination of the head between the printing in the backward direction and the printing in the forward direction. In other words, if a head unit is defined as a bundle of a plurality of heads, image misalignment occurs when the head unit is attached in an inclined manner rather than parallel to the main scanning direction. This shift appears in the printed image due to the phenomenon of white streaks and overlapping of images.

  Therefore, the sub-scanning direction is moved by a certain fixed amount with respect to the image (reference image) printed from the backward direction (step S49) (step S50), and the forward direction (adjustment target image) is printed. (Step S51), it is possible to know the amount of deviation between the return pass printing and the forward pass printing.

  The predetermined fixed amount is, for example, a plurality of correction values prepared at the time of shipment from the factory, after the image of the adjustment pattern is output and the images do not overlap and do not shift in the forward / return path. From this, it can be considered that the user makes a selection after visually checking the output image. Since the dot corresponding to the reciprocal of the selected correction value is the amount of deviation, the determination can be made without calculation. For example, if the correction value is −8, it can be determined that the amount of deviation is 8 dots.

  Further, by feeding back the deviation amount at this time as a correction value (step S53), it is possible to perform deviation correction in the sub-scanning direction due to the tilt of the head in the return path and the forward path.

  Conventionally, since the pattern in the sub-scanning direction is printed at a certain speed, it cannot be overwritten at the same position, and the correction value of the deviation amount in the forward path and the backward path has been fixed. Since the feed amount in the sub-scanning direction can be stopped and printing can be performed, the head when printing is performed on the forward pass and the return pass by setting the print so that the forward pass overlaps after moving a certain amount of sub-scan after the return pass printing. The amount of deviation in the sub-scanning direction due to the inclination of can be calculated and corrected.

  Next, an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described. The structure of this embodiment is the same as that of the said embodiment (refer FIG. 1). The present embodiment is characterized in that print control is performed in consideration of the ink amount (for example, the number of ink droplets) used when printing the adjustment pattern registered in the image information. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an operation process when determining whether printing is possible in consideration of the remaining ink amount in the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  When a print request is input from the operation unit 2, the image information of the adjustment pattern to be printed is read from the storage unit 5 (step S55). In the read information, the compressed image data to be used, the print start / print end position, etc. are registered, and the address of the storage medium holding the compressed image data can be recognized from these information.

  The compressed image data is selected by setting the recognized address in the image data transfer control unit 3. Here, as the image information, it is possible to register the number of ink droplets (number of used ink droplets) used for printing the adjustment pattern, and the registered number of used ink droplets (step S56) and the image forming apparatus. The remaining ink levels are compared (step S57), and if the remaining ink level is large (step S57 / No), printing is enabled and an image is printed (step S58). If the remaining amount of ink is less than the number of ink droplets used (step S57 / Yes), the process ends without printing (step S59).

  Conventionally, when printing is performed when the amount of ink is small, the ink runs out during printing, the color becomes light, and it is necessary to stop and replenish the device during printing. When the ink amount (for example, the number of ink droplets) of the adjustment pattern to be printed in advance is registered in the image information and can be compared with the actual remaining ink amount, so it is determined that the ink amount is insufficient Does not allow printing and can prompt for ink supply.

  Note that the program for the CPU 1 to execute the processing shown in the flowcharts of the drawings constitutes a program according to the present invention. As a recording medium for recording the program, a semiconductor storage unit, an optical and / or magnetic storage unit, or the like can be used. By using such a program and a recording medium in a system having a configuration different from that of each of the above-described embodiments and causing the CPU to execute the program, substantially the same effect as the present invention can be obtained.

  Although the present invention has been specifically described above based on the preferred embodiments, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described ones and can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof.

1 is a block configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the image information which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation process when reading image data to be used based on image information in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation process when printing out read image data in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process when reading image data of all nozzles in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation process when reading nozzle check image data in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process when the print start position of nozzle check image data is shifted by a certain amount in the main scanning direction in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process when using the same image data even in different colors in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process when a correction value is calculated and fed back in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process when overwriting is performed in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process when changing the amount of movement in the sub-scanning direction in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process when determining whether printing is possible in consideration of the remaining amount of ink in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the outward path | route back with respect to the paper conveyance direction (subscanning direction) which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the head part which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 CPU
2 Operation unit 3 Image data transfer control unit 4 Image data decompression unit 5 Storage unit 6 Printing unit 7 Image information 10 Head unit 11 Head 12 Nozzle

Claims (9)

Storage means for storing registered image information, an address for specifying the location of the storage medium in which the image data is held, and information on the print start and print end positions;
An image forming apparatus comprising: an acquisition unit configured to acquire the image data based on the address. The image is compressed compressed image data,
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising decompression means for decompressing the compressed image data.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is an adjustment pattern image for adjusting a position of a head composed of a plurality of nozzles.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the adjustment pattern image used for each nozzle uses data common to the nozzles of each color. In accordance with the information of the print start and print end positions, the printing pattern printing unit for printing the adjustment pattern image,
5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the printing unit performs printing by shifting a printing start position and an end position of the adjustment pattern image for each color nozzle.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image information registers information indicating that the same adjustment pattern image as that of other nozzles of different colors can be used. An input means for inputting a correction value of a deviation amount of each head position determined from the adjustment pattern image output by the printing means;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: an adjusting unit that adjusts a deviation of the head position in the main scanning direction based on the correction value.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a control unit that controls a feed amount in a sub-scanning direction based on the image information. The image information registers the amount of ink used for printing the adjustment pattern image,
An ink amount comparing means for comparing the ink usage amount with the ink amount held by the image forming apparatus;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: a print determination unit that determines whether printing is possible based on a comparison result by the comparison unit.

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