JP2014083727A - Image processing device and image processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing device constituted that performs feedback control or feedforward control over a printing speed or conveying speed according to whether a pattern for detecting the conveying speed is present.SOLUTION: Accepting means of an image processing device accepts an image, image width detecting means detects the width of the image, and form width detecting means detects the width of a form where the image is printed. Determining means compares the width of the image and the width of the form with each other, and determines whether the width of the form is longer enough than the width of the image so that a pattern for detecting the conveying speed of the form is present, and control means performs feedback control or feedforward control over the printing speed of printing means of printing the image on the form or the conveying speed of conveying means of conveying the form.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing program.

  In Patent Document 1, an object is to provide an image recording apparatus that can be downsized without degrading image quality, and an ink droplet is ejected from a recording head array onto a sheet to record an image. A print clock signal corrected by correction data for one period (one rotation of the driving roll) is generated from the reference position of the reference position detection sensor as a starting point in accordance with a change in the conveyance speed by the image recording timing control mechanism to generate a print timing The print timing generation mechanism generates a corrected print clock signal using the drive roll reference position signal from the reference position detection sensor as a trigger, and outputs it to the inkjet recording head. Thus, the image recording timing is output to each of the generation mechanisms. Since the control mechanism controls the image recording timing according to the conveyance speed fluctuation with periodicity, the print density unevenness Can be eliminated is disclosed.

  In Patent Document 2, by adjusting the writing timing of each recording unit by monitoring the conveying speed of the conveying unit that conveys the recording medium, the write timing deviation caused by the uneven conveying speed of the recording medium is offset, For the purpose of obtaining a registration correction apparatus capable of always matching the registration of the recording means, a speed detecting means for detecting the transport speed state of the transport means, and the transport speed of the transport means detected by the speed detecting means It is disclosed that there is provided timing adjusting means for adjusting the image recording timing of each recording means based on the state.

  Patent Document 3 provides a belt moving device that can reduce the belt speed fluctuation and the positional deviation from the belt target position for sub-scanning, and that can perform highly accurate position control for main scanning, and uses the belt moving device. The object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of forming a high-quality image by preventing color misregistration for both main scanning and sub-scanning of a formed image. By feeding back a target value that cancels out the deviation of the position of the endless belt within one turn and feeding forward a value obtained by multiplying the transfer characteristic of the target value of the movable means by the reverse transfer characteristic of the movable means, one round of the endless belt is obtained. It is disclosed to reduce the inner position shift.

JP 2007-283644 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 02-080269 JP 2008-129518 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing program in which a printing speed or a conveyance speed is feedback-controlled or feedforward-controlled depending on whether or not a pattern for detecting the conveyance speed exists. Yes.

The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image receiving means for receiving an image, an image width detecting means for detecting a width of the image received by the image receiving means, and a width of a sheet for printing the image received by the image receiving means. A pattern for detecting the sheet conveyance speed by comparing the width of the image detected by the image width detection unit and the width of the sheet detected by the sheet width detection unit. A determination unit that determines whether or not the width of the sheet is longer than the width of the image, and a printing speed by a printing unit that prints the image on the sheet based on a determination result by the determination unit; An image processing apparatus comprising: a control unit that performs feedback control or feedforward control on a conveyance speed of a conveyance unit that conveys the paper.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the control unit determines that the width of the sheet is longer than the width of the image to the extent that the pattern exists by the determination unit, the control unit detects the pattern and prints by the printing unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance speed by the conveyance unit is feedback-controlled.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the case where the control unit does not determine that the width of the sheet is longer than the width of the image to the extent that the pattern is present by the determination unit, the printing speed or the transport unit The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feed speed is controlled by feedforward.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the control means shifts from feedforward control to feedback control, the control means initially decreases the feedback control gain and increases the feedback control gain with time. The image processing device according to any one of items 1 to 3.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the computer prints the image received by the image receiving means, the image width detecting means for detecting the width of the image received by the image receiving means, and the image received by the image receiving means. A sheet width detecting unit for detecting a sheet width; and a method for detecting a sheet conveying speed by comparing an image width detected by the image width detecting unit with a sheet width detected by the sheet width detecting unit. A determination unit that determines whether the width of the sheet is longer than the width of the image to the extent that the pattern exists, and a printing unit that prints the image on the sheet based on a determination result by the determination unit An image processing program for functioning as a control means for feedback control or feedforward control of the printing speed or the transport speed by the transport means for transporting the paper. A gram.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the first aspect, the printing speed or the conveyance speed can be feedback-controlled or feedforward-controlled depending on whether or not there is a pattern for detecting the conveyance speed.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the second aspect, when the width of the paper is longer than the width of the image, the printing speed or the conveyance speed can be feedback-controlled.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the third aspect, when the width of the paper is not longer than the width of the image, the printing speed or the conveyance speed can be feedforward controlled.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the fourth aspect, when the feedforward control is shifted to the feedback control, the feedback control gain can be initially reduced and the feedback control gain can be increased with time.

  According to the image processing program of the fifth aspect, the printing speed or the conveyance speed can be feedback-controlled or feedforward-controlled depending on whether or not a pattern for detecting the conveyance speed exists.

It is a conceptual module block diagram about the structural example of this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process example by this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the whole structure of the image processing apparatus which implement | achieves this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the inkjet recording head of a one-dimensional arrangement | sequence. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the inkjet recording head of a two-dimensional arrangement | sequence. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process example which measures test printing about the inkjet recording head of a two-dimensional arrangement | sequence. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a characteristic of the speed fluctuation of a conveyance belt. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process example by this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the process example by this Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the hardware structural example of the computer which implement | achieves this Embodiment.

First, before explaining the present embodiment, a basic technique and related techniques will be described. This description is intended to facilitate understanding of the present embodiment.
In general, in an inkjet printer, due to unevenness in paper conveyance, there are cracks / thickness of horizontal lines of 2 dots or more (perpendicular to the paper conveyance direction) and deterioration of graininess. The method of controlling the timing (printing speed) / paper feeding (conveying speed) is used. In order to detect fluctuations in the paper conveyance speed, a dot or line pattern (also called a ladder pattern) is printed on the margin of the paper surface. The image to be printed on the paper has the same length as the horizontal width of the paper, etc. If there is only enough margin that the ladder pattern cannot be detected, the ladder pattern cannot be printed, or an error in reading the ladder pattern will occur, which is not suitable for feedback control by reading the ladder pattern. .

Hereinafter, an example of a preferred embodiment for realizing the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a conceptual module configuration diagram of a configuration example of the present embodiment.
The module generally refers to components such as software (computer program) and hardware that can be logically separated. Therefore, the module in the present embodiment indicates not only a module in a computer program but also a module in a hardware configuration. Therefore, the present embodiment is a computer program for causing these modules to function (a program for causing a computer to execute each procedure, a program for causing a computer to function as each means, and a function for each computer. This also serves as an explanation of the program and system and method for realizing the above. However, for the sake of explanation, the words “store”, “store”, and equivalents thereof are used. However, when the embodiment is a computer program, these words are stored in a storage device or stored in memory. It is the control to be stored in the device. Modules may correspond to functions one-to-one, but in mounting, one module may be configured by one program, or a plurality of modules may be configured by one program, and conversely, one module May be composed of a plurality of programs. The plurality of modules may be executed by one computer, or one module may be executed by a plurality of computers in a distributed or parallel environment. Note that one module may include other modules. Hereinafter, “connection” is used not only for physical connection but also for logical connection (data exchange, instruction, reference relationship between data, etc.). “Predetermined” means that the process is determined before the target process, and not only before the process according to this embodiment starts but also after the process according to this embodiment starts. In addition, if it is before the target processing, it is used in accordance with the situation / state at that time or with the intention to be decided according to the situation / state up to that point. When there are a plurality of “predetermined values”, they may be different values, or two or more values (of course, including all values) may be the same. In addition, the description having the meaning of “do B when it is A” is used in the meaning of “determine whether or not it is A and do B when it is judged as A”. However, the case where it is not necessary to determine whether or not A is excluded.
In addition, the system or device is configured by connecting a plurality of computers, hardware, devices, and the like by communication means such as a network (including one-to-one correspondence communication connection), etc., and one computer, hardware, device. The case where it implement | achieves by etc. is included. “Apparatus” and “system” are used as synonymous terms. Of course, the “system” does not include a social “mechanism” (social system) that is an artificial arrangement.
In addition, when performing a plurality of processes in each module or in each module, the target information is read from the storage device for each process, and the processing result is written to the storage device after performing the processing. is there. Therefore, description of reading from the storage device before processing and writing to the storage device after processing may be omitted. Here, the storage device may include a hard disk, a RAM (Random Access Memory), an external storage medium, a storage device via a communication line, a register in a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and the like.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment performs feedback control or feedforward control on the printing speed or the conveyance speed. As shown in the example of FIG. 1, the image receiving module 110, the image width detection module 120, the paper A width detection module 130, a comparison module 140, a feedback control module 150, a feedforward control module 160, a header module 170, and a paper feed module 180 are provided. In particular, the present invention is applied to an ink jet printer which is an image processing apparatus for recording an image by discharging ink droplets. In the present embodiment, even when the ladder pattern does not exist or the ladder pattern cannot be read depending on the width of the image to be printed (for example, when the image is printed on the ladder pattern that has already been printed) It controls the discharge timing (printing speed) or the conveyance speed corresponding to the speed fluctuation.

  The image reception module 110 is connected to the image width detection module 120. The image reception module 110 receives an image and passes the image to the image width detection module 120. Accepting an image means, for example, reading an image with a scanner, a camera, etc., receiving an image from an external device via a communication line by fax, etc., a hard disk (in addition to what is built in a computer, via a network) And the like, and the like read out the images stored in the device etc.). The image may be a multi-value image (including a color image). One image may be received or a plurality of images may be received. Further, the contents of the image may be a document used for business, a pamphlet for advertisement, or the like.

  The image width detection module 120 is connected to the image reception module 110 and the comparison module 140. The image width detection module 120 detects the width of the image received by the image reception module 110. For example, the width of the image may be read with reference to the header of the image data, or the width of the image data developed in the image memory may be measured. Here, the width of the image is a length in the main scanning direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction) when the image is printed by the image processing apparatus.

  The paper width detection module 130 is connected to the comparison module 140. The paper width detection module 130 detects the width of the paper on which the image received by the image reception module 110 is printed. For example, the width of the paper may be detected from the designation of the paper type (A4, B5, etc.) included in the print command, or the paper feeding means (generally called a tray) designated to be used. The width of the paper may be detected from the size. Here, the width of the sheet is the length in the main scanning direction when an image is printed on the sheet by the image processing apparatus.

The comparison module 140 is connected to the image width detection module 120, the paper width detection module 130, the feedback control module 150, and the feedforward control module 160. The comparison module 140 compares the width of the image detected by the image width detection module 120 with the width of the paper detected by the paper width detection module 130, and a pattern (ladder pattern) for detecting the paper conveyance speed is obtained. It is determined whether or not the width of the sheet is longer than the width of the image. Based on the determination result, either the feedback control module 150 or the feedforward control module 160 controls the printing speed by the header module 170 that prints an image on paper or the conveyance speed by the paper feed module 180 that conveys paper. .
When the comparison module 140 determines that the paper width is longer than the image width to the extent that the pattern exists, the comparison module 140 detects the pattern and determines the printing speed by the header module 170 or the conveyance speed by the paper feed module 180 as a feedback control module. 150. Note that the ladder pattern may already be printed on paper, or may be printed by the image processing apparatus.
If the comparison module 140 does not determine that the paper width is longer than the image width to the extent that the pattern exists, the feed forward control module 160 controls the printing speed by the header module 170 or the conveyance speed by the paper feed module 180. Let
Further, when the comparison module 140 shifts from the feedforward control by the feedforward control module 160 to the feedback control by the feedback control module 150, the comparison module 140 initially reduces the feedback control gain to the feedback control module 150 and performs feedback control with time. Control to increase the gain.

The feedback control module 150 is connected to the comparison module 140, the header module 170, and the paper feed module 180. The feedback control module 150 controls the printing speed by the header module 170 or the conveyance speed by the paper feed module 180 by feedback control. In feedback control, the ladder pattern is read to detect the conveyance speed. The conveyance speed or the printing speed is controlled according to the conveyance speed.
The feedforward control module 160 is connected to the comparison module 140, the header module 170, and the paper feed module 180. The feedforward control module 160 controls the printing speed by the header module 170 or the conveyance speed by the paper feed module 180 by feedforward control. Note that the feedback control module 150 and the feedforward control module 160 may control either one or both of the conveyance speed and the printing speed.

The header module 170 is connected to the feedback control module 150 and the feedforward control module 160. The header module 170 prints the image received by the image receiving module 110 on a sheet. Of course, the paper is a paper whose width is detected by the paper width detection module 130.
The paper feed module 180 is connected to the feedback control module 150 and the feedforward control module 160. The paper feed module 180 conveys paper. Of course, the sheet is conveyed in order to print an image on the sheet by the header module 170, and the sheet is a sheet whose width is detected by the sheet width detection module 130.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of processing according to this embodiment.
In step S202, the image reception module 110 receives an image.
In step S204, the image width detection module 120 detects the horizontal width of the image.
In step S206, the paper width detection module 130 detects the horizontal width of the paper.
In step S208, the comparison module 140 determines whether or not a ladder pattern exists. If it exists, the process proceeds to step S210. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S216.
In step S210, the feedback control module 150 reads the ladder pattern.

In step S212, the feedback control module 150 detects the conveyance speed.
In step S214, the feedback control module 150 controls the header module 170 and the paper feed module 180 according to the conveyance speed.
In step S216, the feedforward control module 160 detects a change in the conveyance speed.
In step S218, the feedforward control module 160 detects a position in the fluctuation cycle.
In step S220, the feedforward control module 160 controls the header module 170 and the paper feed module 180 according to the position in the fluctuation cycle.
In step S222, the image reception module 110 determines whether or not there is a next image. If there is, the process from step S202 is performed, and if not, the process ends (step S299).

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the image processing apparatus that implements the present embodiment. A paper feed means (paper feed tray) 16 is provided at the lower part of the casing 14 of the ink jet recording apparatus 12, and the sheets P stacked in the paper feed means 16 can be taken out one by one by a pickup roll 18. it can. The taken paper P is transported by a plurality of transport roller pairs 20 constituting a predetermined transport path 22. Hereinafter, the “conveying direction” simply refers to the conveying direction of the paper P that is a recording medium, and the “upstream” and “downstream” refer to upstream and downstream in the conveying direction, respectively.

  Above the sheet feeding means 16, an endless conveyance belt 28 stretched around a drive roll 24 and a driven roll 26 as a conveyance means is arranged. A recording head array 30 is disposed above the conveyor belt 28 and faces the flat portion 28F of the conveyor belt 28. This opposed area is an ejection area SE where ink droplets are ejected from the recording head array 30. The sheet P transported along the transport path 22 is held by the transport belt 28 and reaches the discharge area SE, and ink droplets corresponding to image information are attached from the recording head array 30 in a state of facing the recording head array 30. The

  Then, by transporting the paper P while being held by the transport belt 28, image recording can be performed by passing the paper P into the ejection region SE. In addition, by rotating the paper P while being held by the conveyance belt 28, it is possible to perform image recording by so-called multi-pass by allowing the paper P to pass through the ejection region SE a plurality of times.

  The means for conveying the paper P, which is a recording medium, to the recording head array 30 is not limited to the conveyance belt 28. For example, the recording medium (paper P) may be sucked and held on the outer periphery of a cylindrical or columnar conveying roller and rotated. However, since the flat portion 28F is formed when the conveyor belt 28 is used as in the present embodiment, the recording head array 30 can be arranged corresponding to the flat portion 28F, which is preferable.

  In the present embodiment, the recording head array 30 has a long shape in which the effective recording area is equal to or greater than the width of the paper P (the length in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction), yellow (Y), magenta (M ), Cyan (C), and black (K), four ink jet recording heads 32 corresponding to each of the four colors are arranged along the transport direction, and a full color image can be recorded. The method for ejecting ink droplets in each inkjet recording head 32 is not particularly limited, and a known method such as a so-called thermal method or piezoelectric method can be applied.

  The operation of each inkjet recording head 32 is controlled by a recording head controller (header module 170) described later. For example, the recording head controller determines the ink droplet ejection timing and the ink ejection port (nozzle) to be used according to the image information, and sends a drive signal to the inkjet recording head 32. The recording head array 30 may be fixed in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction. However, if the recording head array 30 is configured to move as necessary, an image with higher resolution can be obtained by multi-pass image recording. Or failure of the ink jet recording head 32 is not reflected in the recording result.

  Although not shown, a predetermined maintenance operation is performed by moving to the gap between the recording head array 30 and the conveying belt 28 in the vicinity of the recording head array 30 (at least one of the upstream side and the downstream side in the conveying direction). A maintenance unit for performing (vacuum, dummy jet, wiping, capping, etc.) is arranged.

  On the other hand, on the downstream side of the recording head array 30, a line sensor 84 composed of a CCD is arranged so that an image recorded on the paper P by the recording head array 30 can be taken. The line sensor 84 has a long shape in which the effective image pickup area is not less than the width of the paper P (the length in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction), and can read a full-color image. In addition, the line sensor 84 is applied so that the resolution of the captured image is about four times that of the image recording by the ink jet recording head 32 (about twice the nozzle resolution). Although a CCD line sensor is applied as the line sensor 84, the present invention is not limited to this, and other solid-state imaging devices such as a CMOS image sensor can also be applied. The operation of the line sensor 84 is controlled by a sensor controller.

  Although not shown, a charging roll connected to a power source is disposed on the upstream side of the recording head array 30. The charging roll is driven between the driving roll 24 while sandwiching the conveyance belt 28 and the paper P, and is movable between a pressing position for pressing the paper P against the conveyance belt 28 and a separation position separated from the conveyance belt 28. It is said that. At the pressing position, the sheet P is charged and electrostatically attracted to the transport belt 28.

  A separation plate 40 formed of an aluminum plate or the like is disposed on the downstream side of the line sensor 84 of the recording head array 30, and the sheet P can be separated from the transport belt 28. The peeled paper P is conveyed by a plurality of discharge roller pairs 42 that constitute a discharge path 44 on the downstream side of the peeling plate 40, and is discharged to a paper discharge means 46 provided at the top of the housing 14.

  Below the peeling plate 40, a cleaning roll 48 capable of sandwiching the conveying belt 28 with the driving roll 24 is disposed, and the surface of the conveying belt 28 is cleaned.

  A reversing path 52 composed of a plurality of reversing roller pairs 50 is provided between the paper feeding means 16 and the conveying belt 28, and the sheet P having an image recorded on one side is reversed and held on the conveying belt 28. By doing so, it is possible to easily record images on both sides of the paper P.

  Between the conveyor belt 28 and the paper discharge means 46, an ink tank 54 is provided for storing each of the four color inks. The ink in the ink tank 54 is supplied to the recording head array 30 through an ink supply pipe (not shown). As the ink, various known inks such as water-based ink, oil-based ink, and solvent-based ink can be used.

Next, the configuration of the ink jet recording head 32 according to the present embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 4, in each color ink jet recording head 32, a plurality of nozzles N each ejecting ink droplets for image recording are arranged linearly at the same interval (pitch) S with respect to a predetermined direction. It consists of a nozzle group G. The inkjet recording head 32 is arranged so as to have an inclination angle θ with respect to the transport direction. Note that the spacing S, the inclination angle θ, and the number of nozzles are exemplified for description, and the numbers are not limited to those in the drawing.

  Further, in the present embodiment, in order to adjust the image recording timing as will be described in detail below, an inkjet recording head 32 having a two-dimensional array of nozzles N shown in the example of FIG. 5 can be attached. As shown in the example of FIG. 5, the inkjet recording head 32 includes a plurality of nozzle groups G arranged in a straight line shown in the example of FIG. 4 in a direction intersecting the arrangement direction of the nozzles N (in the example of FIG. 5). 3) arranged. That is, a plurality of head units 32A, 32B, and 32C having a nozzle group G in which a plurality of nozzles N are linearly arranged at the same interval (pitch) S with respect to a predetermined direction are arranged in adjacent head units. The nozzle groups G are arranged so as not to overlap with the conveying direction H of the nozzle group G. Although the head units 32A to 32C have the same specifications, in the following description, when describing individual head units, the ink jet recording head 32 is distinguished and described as one of the head units 32A to 32C for convenience. There is a case.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of processing for measuring test printing for a two-dimensional array of inkjet recording heads.
As detection of the conveyance speed (which may include detection of fluctuation characteristics of the conveyance speed), the ladder pattern which is the test print shown in the example of FIG. 6 is printed, and this is measured and obtained.
In the case of the ink jet recording head 32 having the two-dimensional array of nozzles N (see FIG. 5), as shown in the example of FIG. 6, the nozzles N at the same position in the main scanning direction intersecting with the transport direction (dots) (Pitch). By measuring the printed dot interval, line interval unevenness due to the test pattern (dot) corresponding to the conveyance speed fluctuation is detected. That is, when there is a variation in the conveyance speed, the printed dot interval appears as a periodic length in the conveyance direction. For this reason, by measuring the distance distribution of the intervals in the transport direction, the periodic distance distribution corresponds to the fluctuation characteristic 110. Therefore, the variation characteristic and the phase of each head can be detected by measuring the dot interval of one dot line printed by the nozzle N for each color and detecting the conveyance speed variation.
The feedback control module 150 performs Fordback control according to the detected fluctuation characteristics and the phase of each head.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a characteristic example of the speed variation of the conveyor belt 28.
Since the conveyance belt 28 that conveys the paper P serving as a recording medium has uneven thickness in the manufacturing process and roundness unevenness of the driving roller, periodic fluctuations occur in the conveyance speed of the paper P as shown in FIG. To do.
FIG. 7 is a characteristic diagram for explaining the speed unevenness characteristic of the conveyor belt 28. The vertical axis indicates the belt speed and the horizontal axis indicates time.
In the example of FIG. 7, I indicates a speed curve, T indicates a period of one belt revolution, and H indicates a maximum speed fluctuation amount.
As can be seen from the example of FIG. 7, the thickness of the conveyor belt 28 during the manufacturing process, the roundness irregularity of the driving roller, and the like are larger than the normal reference conveyance speed V ₀ during one rotation of the conveyor belt 28. Speed shifts to the side (acceleration) or minus side (deceleration). And since this has periodicity, feedforward control is possible in a short time. The feedforward control module 160 determines the printing speed or paper feed by the header module 170 according to the characteristics measured in advance (specifically, the current position in the graph shown in the example of FIG. 7 is estimated). The module 180 controls the conveyance speed.

  Further, depending on the case where the image to be printed is changed or the paper is changed, the feedforward control by the feedforward control module 160 can be shifted to the feedback control by the feedback control module 150. In that case, the comparison module 140 controls the feedback control module 150 so that the feedback control gain is initially reduced and the feedback control gain is increased (sensitively reacted) with time.

Next, processing by the comparison module 140 will be described.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing example according to the present embodiment. This figure shows a case where the feedforward control module 160 performs feedforward control.
A case where the image 830 is printed on the paper 820 will be described. In the example of FIG. 8, the sheet 820 is conveyed from the lower direction to the upper direction, and the image 830 is printed by the recording head 810. The paper width detection module 130 detects the paper width 850 and the image width detection module 120 detects the image width 840. Then, the comparison module 140 detects the difference (the sum of the difference (right) 860a and the difference (left) 860b), and whether or not the difference is wide enough to print the ladder pattern or the ladder pattern. Is printed, it is determined whether the width is hidden by the image. In this case, the width is such that the ladder pattern cannot be printed, or when the ladder pattern is printed, it is determined that the width is hidden by the image.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing example according to the present embodiment. This figure shows a case where the feedback control module 150 performs feedback control.
A case where the image 930 is printed on the paper 920 will be described. In the example of FIG. 9, the sheet 920 is conveyed from the lower direction to the upper direction, and the image 930 is printed by the recording head 810. The paper width detection module 130 detects the paper width 950, and the image width detection module 120 detects the image width 940. Then, the comparison module 140 detects the difference (the difference (right) 960a and the difference (left) 960b), and whether the difference is a width that cannot print the ladder pattern or the ladder pattern. Is printed, it is determined whether the width is hidden by the image. In this case, the width is such that the ladder pattern 980 can be printed, or when the ladder pattern 980 is printed, it is determined that the width is not hidden by the image. In the example of FIG. 9, the recording head 810 prints the ladder pattern 980.

  In the above example, the comparison module 140 simply compares the widths to determine whether the paper width is longer than the image width to the extent that there is a ladder pattern. However, the image width detection module 120 detects the width and position where the image is printed (specifically, the right or left coordinate of the area occupied by the image on the paper), and the comparison module 140 prints the ladder pattern. Whether or not the ladder pattern can be detected may be determined based on the position where the ladder pattern is printed or the position where the ladder pattern is printed. For example, when the position where the ladder pattern 980 is printed is on the right side, it is determined whether or not the difference (left) 860b in FIG. 8 (difference (left) 960b in FIG. 9) is equal to or larger than the width of the ladder pattern. You may do it. The difference (left) 860b (difference (left) 960b) is the distance from the right edge of the paper to the right edge of the image. Of course, when the position where the ladder pattern is printed is on the left side, it is determined whether or not the difference (right) 860a in FIG. 8 (difference (right) 960a in FIG. 9) is equal to or larger than the width of the ladder pattern. You may make it judge.

  A hardware configuration example of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The configuration illustrated in FIG. 10 is configured by, for example, a personal computer (PC), and illustrates a hardware configuration example including a data reading unit 1017 such as a scanner and a data output unit 1018 such as a printer.

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1001 includes various modules described in the above-described embodiments, that is, an image reception module 110, an image width detection module 120, a paper width detection module 130, a comparison module 140, a feedback control module 150, a feed. It is a control part which performs the process according to the computer program which described the execution sequence of each module, such as the forward control module 160. FIG.

  A ROM (Read Only Memory) 1002 stores programs used by the CPU 1001, calculation parameters, and the like. A RAM (Random Access Memory) 1003 stores programs used in the execution of the CPU 1001, parameters that change as appropriate during the execution, and the like. These are connected to each other by a host bus 1004 including a CPU bus.

  The host bus 1004 is connected to an external bus 1006 such as a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect / Interface) bus via a bridge 1005.

  A keyboard 1008 and a pointing device 1009 such as a mouse are input devices operated by an operator. The display 1010 includes a liquid crystal display device or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), and displays various types of information as text or image information.

  An HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 1011 includes a hard disk, drives the hard disk, and records or reproduces a program executed by the CPU 1001 and information. The hard disk stores information such as an image received by the image receiving module 110, an image width detected by the image width detection module 120, and a paper width detected by the paper width detection module 130. Further, various computer programs such as various other data processing programs are stored.

  The drive 1012 reads data or a program recorded on a removable recording medium 1013 such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or a semiconductor memory, and the data or program is read out to the interface 1007 and the external bus 1006. , The bridge 1005, and the RAM 1003 connected via the host bus 1004. The removable recording medium 1013 can also be used as a data recording area similar to a hard disk.

  The connection port 1014 is a port for connecting the external connection device 1015 and has a connection unit such as USB and IEEE1394. The connection port 1014 is connected to the CPU 1001 and the like via the interface 1007, the external bus 1006, the bridge 1005, the host bus 1004, and the like. The communication unit 1016 is connected to a communication line and executes data communication processing with the outside. The data reading unit 1017 is a scanner, for example, and executes document reading processing. The data output unit 1018 is a printer, for example, and executes document data output processing.

  Note that the hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 10 shows one configuration example, and the present embodiment is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 10, and the modules described in the present embodiment are executed. Any configuration is possible. For example, some modules may be configured with dedicated hardware (for example, Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), etc.), and some modules are in an external system and connected via a communication line In addition, a plurality of systems shown in FIG. 10 may be connected to each other via communication lines so as to cooperate with each other. Further, it may be incorporated in a copying machine, a fax machine, a scanner, a printer, a multifunction machine (an image processing apparatus having any two or more functions of a scanner, a printer, a copying machine, a fax machine, etc.).

  Further, in the description of the above-described embodiment, “more than”, “less than”, “greater than”, and “less than (less than)” in a comparison with a predetermined value contradicts the combination. As long as the above does not occur, “larger”, “smaller (less than)”, “more than”, and “less than” may be used.

The program described above may be provided by being stored in a recording medium, or the program may be provided by communication means. In that case, for example, the above-described program may be regarded as an invention of a “computer-readable recording medium recording the program”.
The “computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded” refers to a computer-readable recording medium on which a program is recorded, which is used for program installation, execution, program distribution, and the like.
The recording medium is, for example, a digital versatile disc (DVD), which is a standard established by the DVD Forum, such as “DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD-RAM,” and DVD + RW. Standard “DVD + R, DVD + RW, etc.”, compact disc (CD), read-only memory (CD-ROM), CD recordable (CD-R), CD rewritable (CD-RW), Blu-ray disc ( Blu-ray Disc (registered trademark), magneto-optical disk (MO), flexible disk (FD), magnetic tape, hard disk, read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable and rewritable read-only memory (EEPROM (registered trademark)) )), Flash memory, Random access memory (RAM) SD (Secure Digital) memory card and the like.
The program or a part of the program may be recorded on the recording medium for storage or distribution. Also, by communication, for example, a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wired network used for the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, etc., or wireless communication It may be transmitted using a transmission medium such as a network or a combination of these, or may be carried on a carrier wave.
Furthermore, the program may be a part of another program, or may be recorded on a recording medium together with a separate program. Moreover, it may be divided and recorded on a plurality of recording media. Further, it may be recorded in any manner as long as it can be restored, such as compression or encryption.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 110 ... Image reception module 120 ... Image width detection module 130 ... Paper width detection module 140 ... Comparison module 150 ... Feedback control module 160 ... Feed forward control module 170 ... Header module 180 ... Paper feed module

Claims (5)

Image receiving means for receiving images;
Image width detecting means for detecting the width of the image received by the image receiving means;
Paper width detecting means for detecting the width of the paper on which the image received by the image receiving means is printed;
By comparing the width of the image detected by the image width detection means with the width of the paper detected by the paper width detection means, the width of the paper is such that there is a pattern for detecting the conveyance speed of the paper. A judging means for judging whether or not the width is longer than the width of the image;
Control means for feedback-controlling or feed-forward-controlling the printing speed by the printing means for printing the image on the paper or the transport speed by the transport means for transporting the paper based on the determination result by the determination means. An image processing apparatus. If the control means determines that the width of the sheet is longer than the width of the image to the extent that the pattern exists, the control means detects the pattern and prints by the printing means or the conveyance speed by the conveyance means The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein feedback control is performed on the image processing apparatus. When the control unit does not determine that the width of the sheet is longer than the width of the image to the extent that the pattern exists, the control unit performs feedforward control of the printing speed by the printing unit or the conveyance speed by the conveyance unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is an image processing apparatus. 4. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the control means shifts from feedforward control to feedback control, the feedback control gain is initially reduced and the feedback control gain is increased with time. 5. An image processing apparatus according to 1. Computer
Image receiving means for receiving images;
Image width detecting means for detecting the width of the image received by the image receiving means;
Paper width detecting means for detecting the width of the paper on which the image received by the image receiving means is printed;
By comparing the width of the image detected by the image width detection means with the width of the paper detected by the paper width detection means, the width of the paper is such that there is a pattern for detecting the conveyance speed of the paper. A judging means for judging whether or not the width is longer than the width of the image;
An image for functioning as a control means for feedback control or feedforward control of a printing speed by a printing means for printing the image on the paper or a transport speed by a transport means for transporting the paper based on a determination result by the determination means Processing program.

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