JP5935251B2 - Image processing apparatus and image processing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method , and more particularly to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method for reducing consumption of image forming materials such as toner and ink.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in an image forming apparatus that forms an image by applying an image forming material (toner, ink, etc.) such as an electrophotographic method or an ink ejection method to an image forming medium such as paper (hereinafter simply referred to as paper). There is a demand to reduce the consumption of image forming materials such as toner and ink used for image formation, and to reduce costs and improve environmental measures. There is an image forming apparatus provided with an image forming material saving mode that uniformly reduces consumption (usage).

  Conventionally, the normal toner consumption that is the toner consumption when the image is formed in the normal print mode and the safe mode toner consumption that is the toner consumption when the image is formed in the toner save mode are calculated, and the safe mode is determined from the calculation result. A technique for displaying an effect obtained by selection on a display unit has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

  However, in the prior art described in the above publication, it is assumed that the consumption of the image forming material is uniformly reduced. In the case of selecting the image forming material safe mode that uniformly reduces the image forming material. Although the effect can be known, if the number of image forming materials is uniformly reduced, the intended image formation result cannot always be obtained at the image formation cost intended by the user, and improvement is required. That is, when the image data itself is sufficiently suppressed from using the image forming material, further image saving may result in degradation of the image quality.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to appropriately reduce the consumption of an image forming material while suppressing deterioration in image quality.

In order to achieve the above object, the image processing apparatus of the present invention includes a usage amount calculation unit that calculates an estimated usage amount of an image forming material used when an image is formed on an image forming medium based on image data. Comparing means for comparing the predicted usage amount with the usage limit amount of the image forming material, and image processing for reducing the usage amount of the image forming material by a predetermined amount when the predicted usage amount is equal to or greater than the usage limit amount. Image processing means for applying to the image data, and object discrimination means for discriminating the type of object in the image data, wherein the image processing means sets a specific type among the determined types of the object. after the image processing to reduce the amount of preferentially the image forming member with respect to the relevant object it has been subjected to the image data, with respect to the object corresponding to the type other than the specific type It is characterized by applying image processing to reduce the amount of the image forming material on the image data.

In order to achieve the above object, the image processing method of the present invention calculates a predicted usage amount of an image forming material used when an image is formed on an image forming medium based on image data, and performs the prediction. Compare the usage amount with the usage limit amount of the image forming material, determine the type of the object in the image data, and if the predicted usage amount is greater than or equal to the usage limit amount , Among these , after subjecting the image data to image processing for preferentially reducing the amount of the image forming material used for a specific object corresponding to a specific type, the object corresponding to a type other than the specific type On the other hand, the image data is subjected to image processing for reducing the amount of the image forming material used.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately reduce the consumption of the image forming material while suppressing the deterioration of the image quality.

1 is a block diagram of a main part of an image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. The flowchart which shows a gamma table adjustment process. 10 is a flowchart showing toner save priority processing for an image / graphic object in the γ table adjustment processing. The figure which shows an example of the adjusted gamma table for image / graphic objects. The figure which shows an example of the adjusted gamma table for character objects.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The range of this invention is unduly limited by the following description. However, not all the configurations described in the present embodiment are essential constituent elements of the present invention.

1 to 5 are diagrams showing an embodiment of an image processing apparatus and an image processing method of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is an image formation to which an embodiment of the image processing apparatus and the image processing method of the present invention is applied. 2 is a block diagram of the main part of the device 1. FIG.

  In FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 is an image forming apparatus such as a printer apparatus, a copying apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, or a composite apparatus that forms an image on a sheet (image forming medium) using toner (image forming material). A processing unit 2, an image output unit 3, a non-volatile memory (such as a hard disk or a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM)) 4 for storing various data necessary for image processing in the image processing unit 2, and volatile although not shown. A memory (RAM (Random Access Memory)), a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an operation display unit, and the like are provided, and a communication unit and an operation display unit that communicate with an external host computer HC and the management device KC are provided. When the image forming apparatus 1 is a copying apparatus, a facsimile apparatus, a composite apparatus, etc., it further includes a scanner unit for reading an image of a document.

  The host computer HC is a personal computer or the like having a normal hardware configuration and software configuration, and the RGB (Red, green) generated in the image forming apparatus 1 in an arbitrary PDL (Page Description Language). A print job including image data of (Green) and blue (Blue) and a control command (print control data) by PJL (Printer Job Language) is transmitted. In other words, the host computer HC includes PJL data and PDL data by the printer driver PD when a print request operation is performed on data generated by the application software AS or received by another host computer HC. A print job is generated and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1 via the network.

  The management device KC is a personal computer having a normal hardware configuration and software configuration, and is connected to the image forming device 1 via a network. The management device KC sends management information to the image forming device 1 and sends it to the image processing unit 1. The operation status is received and management information is received from the image processing unit 1 to manage the operating status and the like. In particular, the management device KC stores a plurality of toner consumption limit values TG that are allowed to be used for image formation in the image forming device 1 in an internal nonvolatile memory (such as a hard disk), and an appropriate selection operation is performed by the administrator. The toner consumption limit value TG thus transmitted is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 1.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, the operation display unit includes various keys necessary for operating the image forming apparatus 1, and includes a lamp such as a display (for example, a liquid crystal display) or an LED (Light Emitting Diode). . The operation display unit performs various operations necessary for image forming processing using the image forming apparatus 1 and various operations in image forming control processing using a toner save function as will be described later. The contents of commands input from the operation keys and various information notified to the user from the image forming apparatus 1 are displayed.

  The image processing unit 2 includes a color conversion processing unit 11, a black generation unit 12, a total amount regulation unit 13, a γ table adjustment processing unit 14, a γ conversion unit 15, a dither processing unit 16, and the like. A color profile 21, a normal γ table 22, a toner consumption conversion table 23, an adjusted γ table 24, and the like are stored. The color profile 21 holds an LUT (Look-up Table) 21a, an IN / OUTPUT (input / output) table 21b, and the like.

  The color conversion processing unit 11 performs LUT (Look-up Table) 21a, IN / OUTPUT stored in the color profile 21 stored in the nonvolatile memory 4 on RGB image data sent from the host computer HC. Using the table 21b, the signal is converted into a CMY signal and output to the black generation unit 12. That is, the color profile 21 includes conversion information necessary for converting RGB image data into CMY data as an LUT 21a and an IN / OUTPUT table 21b.

  The black generation unit 12 refers to a black generation table (not shown) in the non-volatile memory 2 to generate K color image data corresponding to the image data, and as CMYK image data together with the CMY image data from the color conversion processing unit 11. Output to the total amount regulating unit 13.

  The total amount regulating unit 13 subtracts a constant value from the CMYK image data in accordance with the maximum amount that the image output unit 3 can generate and output the total amount of CMYK image data from the black generation unit 12. And output to the γ table adjustment processing unit 14.

  The γ table adjustment processing unit (usage amount calculating unit, comparison unit, image processing control unit) 14 is converted into CMYK image data input from the total amount regulating unit 13 and stored in the nonvolatile memory 4 based on the image data. A predicted toner consumption (predicted usage amount) per page when γ conversion is performed using the normal γ table 22 is obtained using the toner consumption conversion table 23, and the predicted toner consumption is determined by the management device KC. It is determined whether or not the toner consumption amount limit value (usage limit amount) TG notified from is less than TG. The γ table adjustment processing unit 4 also sets the normal γ that is set by default when the predicted toner consumption amount when the γ conversion is performed using the normal γ table 22 exceeds the toner consumption amount limit value TG. Similarly, a predicted toner consumption amount is calculated using the γ table (which is created in advance and stored in the non-volatile memory 4), which is the image processing content in which the toner consumption amount is reduced as compared with the table 22, and the prediction A process (image processing content selection process) for determining whether or not the toner consumption amount is less than the toner consumption amount limit value TG is repeatedly performed, so that the predicted toner consumption amount becomes less than the toner consumption amount limit value TG (executed image) Process content) is input to the γ conversion unit 15 as the adjusted γ table 24.

  The γ conversion unit (image processing execution unit, γ conversion unit) 15 performs γ conversion (image processing) using the adjusted γ table that is adjusted by the γ table adjustment processing unit 14 and input from the adjusted γ table 24. , Γ-converted CMYK image data is output to the dither processing unit 6.

  The image forming apparatus 1 then determines an object discriminating unit (object discriminating unit) that discriminates the type of an image object, a graphic object, or a character object for each region in each page of image data to be imaged. The toner consumption conversion table 23 showing the relationship between the CMYK output value after γ conversion and the area occupied by each object in the image and the actual toner consumption is created in advance in the nonvolatile memory 4. Stored. The γ table adjustment processing unit 4 calculates the predicted toner consumption for each object determined by the object determination unit with reference to the toner consumption conversion table 23 set for the object in the nonvolatile memory 4. Further, the γ table adjustment processing unit 4 repeatedly compares the predicted toner consumption amount with the toner consumption amount limit value TG while adjusting the γ table in a minute amount, and the predicted toner consumption amount is the toner consumption amount limit value. In addition to changing the setting to the adjusted γ table 24 that is less than TG, the adjusted γ table 24 is set so that printing is performed with the toner consumption reduced to the limit of the toner consumption limit value TG, thereby reducing the toner consumption. This prevents the image from being deteriorated more than necessary.

  Here, as described above, the toner consumption limit value TG is formed in consideration of the cost of the toner amount required to print one sheet of paper on the image output unit 3 based on the CMYK image data of one page. It is appropriately set in the management device KC by the administrator of the device 1. Note that the toner consumption amount limit value TG is not limited to the one set by the administrator's selection and sent to the image forming apparatus 1 from the management device KC. For example, a plurality of toner consumption amount limit values are nonvolatile in advance. May be stored in the memory 4 and appropriately selected by operating the operation display unit.

  Further, the toner consumption amount conversion table 23 sets, in a table format, a predicted toner consumption amount that is predicted to be consumed when CMYK image data is γ-converted by the set γ table and an image is formed by the image output unit 3. The relationship between the CMYK output value of the image output unit 3 and the area occupied by the object in the image of the image data and the toner consumption per sheet is obtained in advance and stored in the nonvolatile memory 4.

  The dither processing unit 16 converts the CMYK image data γ-converted by the γ conversion unit 5 into dither data using a predetermined dither pattern and outputs the dither data to the image output unit 3.

  The image output unit (image forming unit) 3 forms a color image on a sheet by electrophotography based on the CMYK image data input from the dither processing unit 16. That is, the image output unit 3 includes image forming units for CMYK colors, and each image forming unit for each color has an optical writing unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a fixing unit around a rotationally driven photoreceptor. In addition, a charging unit and a cleaning unit are disposed. The image forming unit for each color is formed on the photoconductor uniformly charged by the charging unit, and the optical writing unit converts the CMYK image data from the dither processing unit 16 into image data of a color corresponding to the image forming unit. An electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiating writing light (laser light) modulated on the basis thereof. The image forming unit of each color supplies the toner (image forming material) of the color from the developing unit to the photoconductor on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, and develops the toner image of the color on the photoconductor. The sheet is transferred from the paper feeding cassette to the sheet conveyed by the sheet conveying unit between the toner and the photosensitive member, and the sheet on which the toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit and fixed by the fixing unit.

  The image output unit 3 is not limited to the electrophotographic system, and may be, for example, an ink jet image output unit. In this case, a color image is formed on a sheet using color ink as an image forming material. In this embodiment, the image output unit 3 is described as an electrophotographic image output unit as described above.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a ROM, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM, a flash memory, a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable), and a DVD. An image formation control program for executing the image formation control method of the present invention recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a (Digital Versatile Disk), an SD (Secure Digital) card, or an MO (Magneto-Optical Disc) is read. The image forming apparatus is constructed as an image forming apparatus that executes an image forming control method that reduces the consumption of toner as an image forming material while suppressing deterioration in image quality, which will be described later, by introducing it into a non-volatile memory such as a ROM or a hard disk. ing. This image formation control program is a computer-executable program written in a legacy programming language such as assembler, C, C ++, C #, Java (registered trademark), an object-oriented programming language, or the like, and is stored in the recording medium. And can be distributed.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The image forming apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment appropriately reduces the consumption amount of toner as an image forming material while suppressing deterioration in image quality.

  First, image processing in print processing by the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. In the image forming apparatus 1, when a print job is sent from the host computer HC, the color conversion processing unit 11 of the image processing unit 2 stores the RGB image data of the print job in the nonvolatile memory 4. The CUT image data is converted into CMY image data using the LUT 21a and the IN / OUTPUT table 21b held by the color profile 21, and the black generation unit 12 refers to the black generation table of the non-volatile memory 2 and the K color image corresponding to the image data. Data is generated and output to the total amount regulating unit 13 as CMYK image data together with the CMY image data from the color conversion processing unit 11. The total amount regulation unit 13 of the image processing unit 2 subtracts a constant value from the CMYK image data according to the maximum generation amount that the image output unit 3 can generate and output the total amount of CMYK image data. , The γ table adjustment processing unit 14 is notified of the predicted toner consumption per page from the management device KC for the CMYK image data input from the total amount regulation unit 13. The γ table used by the γ conversion unit 15 is adjusted so that it is less than the toner consumption limit value TG. The γ changing unit 15 γ-converts the CMYK image data using the γ table 24 after adjustment by the γ table adjustment processing unit 4 and outputs the γ-converted image data to the dither processing unit 16. The CMYK image data is converted into dither data using a predetermined dither pattern and output to the image output unit 3.

  Based on the CMYK image data input from the dither processing unit 16, the image output unit 3 forms a color image on a sheet using color toner in an electrophotographic manner.

  The γ table adjustment processing unit 14 performs γ table adjustment processing as shown in FIG. That is, the γ table adjustment processing unit 14 first performs γ conversion on the CMYK image data input from the total amount regulating unit 13 by using the normal γ table 22 set by default and stored in the nonvolatile memory 4. (Step S101), the predicted toner consumption per page when the γ conversion is performed using the normal γ table 22 is obtained using the toner consumption conversion table 23 (step S102), and the predicted toner consumption is calculated. It is determined whether the amount is less than the toner consumption amount limit value TG notified from the management device KC (step S103).

  If the predicted toner consumption amount when the γ conversion is performed using the normal γ table 22 in step S103 is greater than or equal to the toner consumption amount limit value TG (NO in step S103), the γ table adjustment processing unit 4 Is an adjusted γ table (executed image processing content) that is input from the adjusted γ table 24 to the γ converting unit 15 and is actually used for γ conversion. The setting is changed to the table (step S104), and the process returns to step S101. Similarly, when the γ conversion is performed using the γ table after the setting change (step S101), the predicted toner predicted to be consumed A consumption amount is calculated (step S102).

  After calculating the predicted toner consumption when the γ table after the setting change is used, the γ table adjustment processing unit 4 determines whether or not the predicted toner consumption is less than the toner consumption limit value TG (step S103). ) If the predicted toner consumption is equal to or greater than the toner consumption limit TG (NO in step S103), the setting is made as an adjusted γ table 24 that is input to the γ conversion unit 15 and actually used for γ conversion. The γ table in which the toner consumption is reduced compared to the changed γ table is changed, the process returns to step S101, and the same processing is performed (steps S101 to S104).

  In step S103, the γ table adjustment processing unit 4 sequentially repeats the above processing (image processing content selection processing) until the predicted toner consumption amount when the γ conversion is performed in the adjusted γ table is less than the toner consumption amount limit value TG. In step S103, if the predicted toner consumption when the γ conversion is performed in the adjusted γ table is less than the toner consumption limit value TG (YES in step S103), the adjusted γ conversion table after the setting change. 24 is transferred to the γ conversion unit 15, and the γ conversion unit 15 performs γ conversion using the adjusted γ table 24 adjusted by the γ table adjustment processing unit 14, and the CMYK image data subjected to the γ conversion is subjected to the dither processing unit 6. Output to. The dither processing unit 16 converts the CMYK image data γ-converted by the γ conversion unit 5 into dither data using a predetermined dither pattern and outputs the dither data to the image output unit 3. Based on the CMYK image data input from the dither processing unit 16, the image output unit 3 forms a color image on a sheet using color toner in an electrophotographic manner (step S105).

  Then, the γ table adjustment processing unit 4 discriminates the object type of the CMYK image data in the γ table adjustment process, as shown in FIG. The toner save process is performed on the character object after giving priority to the toner save process on the (photo) object and the graphic object so that the predicted toner consumption amount of the entire page is less than the toner consumption limit value TG. γ table adjustment processing may be performed. In this case, the image processing unit 11 includes an object determination unit (object determination unit) that determines the type of object for each region of each page of image data to be image formed.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the γ table adjustment processing unit 4 has sufficiently performed the toner saving process on the image / graphic object determined by the object determination unit, for example, a preset toner restriction. Whether the predicted toner consumption amount has been reduced to the usage amount, or whether the setting of the γ table has been changed to the γ table that reduces the toner most among the preset γ tables for image / graphic objects. If it is determined (step S201) and the γ table adjustment processing for sufficiently saving the toner for the image / graphic object is not performed (NO in step S201), the image / graphic object γ table consumes less toner. Change the setting to the adjusted γ table. -Up S202). Thereafter, the γ table adjustment processing unit 4 performs γ conversion in the case of using the adjusted γ table for the image / graphic object for the image / graphic object, similarly to the γ table adjustment processing of FIG. Sometimes (step S101), a predicted toner consumption amount calculated as a toner consumption amount is calculated (step S102), and it is determined whether the predicted toner consumption amount is less than the toner consumption amount limit value TG. γ table adjustment processing is performed.

  In the image / graphic object γ table adjustment process, the adjusted γ table 24 shown in FIG. 4 is used as the adjusted γ table 24. That is, in the adjusted γ table for image / graphic objects, if the density of the low density part is lowered, the image reproducibility on the highlight side is lowered. The density of the low density portion is a γ table that is not much lower than the normal γ table. That is, the γ table adjustment processing unit 4 increases the image / graphic object as follows: an adjusted γ table TBg1 of the image / graphic object → an adjusted γ table TBg2 → an adjusted γ table TBg3 → an adjusted γ table TBg4. The adjusted γ table 24 is changed to significantly reduce the density of the density portion.

  When the γ table adjustment processing unit 4 performs sufficient toner saving processing on the image / graphic object in step S201 (YES in step S201), the γ table for the character object has a toner consumption amount. The setting is changed to the adjusted γ table that decreases (step S202). When the γ table adjustment processing unit 4 subsequently performs γ conversion when the adjusted γ table is used for the character object as in the γ table adjustment processing of FIG. 2 (step S101), the toner A predicted toner consumption amount predicted as the consumption amount is calculated (step S102), and a γ table adjustment process for character objects is performed to determine whether the predicted toner consumption amount is less than the toner consumption amount limit value TG.

  In the above-described character object γ table adjustment processing, the adjusted γ table for character objects as shown in FIG. That is, the adjusted γ table for character objects is an adjusted γ table shown in FIG. 5 so as not to greatly reduce the density of high-density characters having relatively high importance as character information, and originally low-density characters. A medium density γ table such as TBm1, TBm2, and TBm3 is preferentially lowered, and the lowering range is relatively small for low density and high density portions. Further, the adjusted γ table for character objects has a predicted toner consumption amount equal to or larger than the toner consumption limit value TG even if the γ table having a medium density is greatly reduced as in the adjusted γ table TBm4 shown in FIG. Only in this case, the γ table lowers the density of the high density portion. When the γ table setting change processing for the character object is performed, the toner consumption can be greatly reduced when the toner is wasted and drastically consumed for the graphics object such as the background portion of the character. .

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment performs image processing of predetermined image processing contents on image data, and forms a sheet (image forming medium) for each page based on the image data subjected to the image processing. When the image output unit (image forming unit) 3 forms an image using toner (image forming material), the γ table adjustment processing unit (use amount calculating unit, comparison unit, image processing control unit) 14 A predicted toner consumption (predicted usage) is calculated for each page of data, and the predicted toner consumption is compared with a toner consumption limit value (usage limit) TG per page of toner set appropriately. If the predicted toner consumption amount is equal to or greater than the toner consumption amount limit value TG, the image processing content for reducing the toner usage amount by a predetermined amount is selected as the image processing content to be applied to the image data. Image processing of processing contents Calculate the predicted toner consumption when applied to the image data, compare the predicted toner consumption after the image processing with the toner consumption limit value TG, and reduce the amount of toner used based on the comparison result The image processing content selection process for selecting the image processing content to be performed is sequentially repeated until the predicted toner consumption amount becomes less than the toner consumption amount limit value TG, and the execution image processing content is determined. Image processing is executed.

  Accordingly, the image processing content can be selected and set so as to limit the consumption amount of toner, which is an image forming material per sheet, to be less than the toner consumption amount limit value TG, and deterioration of image quality can be suppressed. At the same time, the toner consumption can be appropriately reduced.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes an image processing execution processing step for performing image processing of predetermined image processing content on image data, and applying toner to a sheet for each page based on the image data subjected to the image processing. An image forming process step for forming an image using the image, a use amount calculating process step for calculating a predicted toner consumption amount for each page of image data, and a use limit per one page of the predicted toner consumption amount and an appropriately set toner A comparison processing step for comparing the amount of toner, and if the predicted toner consumption amount is equal to or greater than a toner consumption amount limit value TG, the amount of toner used as the image processing content applied to the image data in the image processing execution processing step Image processing content to be reduced by a predetermined amount, and predicted toner consumption when the image processing content is subjected to image processing in the image processing execution processing step. Is calculated in the usage amount calculation processing step, the predicted toner consumption after the image processing is compared with the toner consumption amount limit value TG in the comparison processing step, and the usage amount of the toner is reduced based on the comparison result. The image processing content selection processing for selecting the image processing content to be performed is sequentially repeated until the predicted toner consumption amount becomes less than the toner consumption amount limit value TG to determine the execution image processing content, and the execution image processing content is determined. The image forming control method is executed. The image forming control method includes an image processing control processing step that executes the image processing in the image processing execution processing step.

  Therefore, by executing the image formation control method, it is possible to select and set the image processing content so that the consumption amount of toner, which is toner per sheet, is limited to less than the toner consumption amount limit value TG. Quality deterioration can be suppressed and toner consumption can be appropriately reduced.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment performs image processing execution processing for performing image processing of predetermined image processing content on image data to a CPU that is a computer, and each page based on the image data subjected to image processing. An image forming process for forming an image on a sheet using toner, a usage amount calculating process for calculating a predicted toner consumption amount for each page of image data, and the predicted toner consumption amount and an appropriately set amount of toner per page Comparison processing for comparing the toner consumption amount limit value TG and the predicted toner consumption amount equal to or greater than the toner consumption amount limit value TG as image processing contents to be applied to the image data in the image processing execution processing. The image processing content that reduces the toner usage amount by a predetermined amount is selected, and the predicted toner when the image processing content is subjected to the image processing in the image processing execution processing is selected. The consumption amount is calculated by the usage amount calculation process, the predicted toner consumption amount after the image processing is compared with the toner consumption amount limit value TG, and the toner usage amount is reduced based on the comparison result. The image processing content selection processing for selecting the image processing content to be performed is sequentially repeated until the predicted toner consumption amount becomes less than the toner consumption amount limit value TG to determine the execution image processing content, and the execution image processing content is determined. And an image processing control program for executing the image processing in the image processing execution processing.

  Therefore, by executing the image formation control program, the image processing content can be selected and set so as to limit the consumption amount of toner, which is toner per sheet, to less than the toner consumption amount limit value TG. Quality deterioration can be suppressed and toner consumption can be appropriately reduced.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes an object determination unit (object determination unit) that determines an object in the image data, and a γ table that is a plurality of types of image processing contents having different toner usage amounts for each object. A non-volatile memory (image processing content storage means) 4 for storing, and the γ table adjustment processing unit (image processing control means) 14 stores in the non-volatile memory 4 for each object determined by the object determination unit. From the γ tables set as the γ table for the object, the γ table for reducing the amount of toner used is selected.

  Therefore, for each object type, γ conversion, which is image processing for reducing toner, can be performed using a γ table, which is image processing content in which a toner reduction ratio is set for the object, and image quality is improved. The toner consumption can be further suppressed, and the toner consumption can be more appropriately reduced.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 of this embodiment stores a plurality of types of γ tables having different toner usage amounts in the nonvolatile memory 4, and the γ table adjustment processing unit (image processing execution unit) 14 selects the image processing content. As processing, based on the calculated predicted toner consumption amount, a γ table for reducing the toner usage amount by a predetermined amount is selected from the nonvolatile memory 4, and the γ conversion unit 15 performs γ conversion using the γ table. The predicted toner consumption when the toner is applied to the toner is calculated, the predicted toner consumption when the γ table is used is compared with the toner consumption limit value TG, and the amount of toner used is calculated based on the comparison result. A γ table selection process for selecting the γ table to be reduced is performed.

  Therefore, it is possible to select the γ table and form an image based on the image data after γ conversion so that the toner consumption is less than the toner consumption limit value TG, and further suppress the deterioration of the image quality. In addition, toner consumption can be more appropriately reduced.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes an object determination unit (object determination unit) that determines an object in the object image data, and a γ table that is a plurality of types of image processing contents having different toner usage amounts for each object. And a non-volatile memory (image processing content storage means) 4 for storing the image, and when the object determined by the object determining unit includes an image object or a graphic object and a character object, the γ table adjustment processing unit 14 As the processing content selection processing, for the image object or graphic object, the toner for the image object or graphic object in the γ table stored in the nonvolatile memory 4 is calculated based on the calculated predicted toner consumption. Messenger Using the γ table, the γ conversion unit 15 calculates a predicted toner consumption amount when the γ conversion is performed on the image data by using the γ table. The predicted toner consumption at this time is compared with the toner consumption limit value TG, and a γ table selection process for selecting a γ table for reducing the amount of toner used based on the comparison result is sequentially repeated, and the predicted toner When the consumption amount reaches a predetermined regulated usage amount in which the toner usage amount is larger than the toner consumption amount limit value TG, the character object is stored in the nonvolatile memory based on the calculated predicted toner consumption amount. Among the existing γ tables, a γ table for character objects, which reduces the amount of toner used by a predetermined amount, is selected, and the γ conversion unit 15 performs γ conversion using the γ table. The predicted toner consumption when the toner is applied to the toner is calculated, the predicted toner consumption when the γ table is used is compared with the toner consumption limit value TG, and the amount of toner used is calculated based on the comparison result. The γ table selection process for selecting the γ table to be reduced is sequentially repeated until the predicted toner consumption amount becomes less than the toner consumption amount limit value TG to determine the execution γ table as the execution image processing content.

  Therefore, when the γ table selection process is performed to reduce the toner consumption with priority over the image object or the graphic object, the predicted toner consumption does not reach the toner consumption limit value TG even if the regulated usage is reached. Then, a γ table selection process for reducing the toner consumption amount for the character object is performed, and a γ table in which the predicted toner consumption amount of the entire page becomes the toner consumption amount limit value TG is selected. An image can be formed after conversion, the deterioration of the image quality of characters can be further suppressed, and the consumption of toner can be further appropriately reduced.

  Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment uses the image object or the graphic object as a γ table, and the amount of decrease in the amount of toner used in the low density portion of the image object or the graphic object is relatively small. A plurality of γ tables that use a relatively large amount of decrease in toner usage in the density portion are used.

  Therefore, it is possible to appropriately reduce the amount of toner consumption while further suppressing the deterioration of the image quality of the image object and the graphic object.

  Further, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is a γ table for a character object, and the amount of decrease in the amount of toner (image forming material) used in the high density portion of the character object is relatively small, and the toner in the middle density portion. A plurality of γ tables are used in which the amount of decrease in the amount of toner used is gradually increased and then the amount of decrease in the amount of toner used in the high density portion is relatively large.

  Accordingly, it is possible to appropriately reduce the toner consumption while further suppressing the deterioration of the image quality of the character object.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to that described in the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It goes without saying that it is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Image processing part 3 Image output part 4 Non-volatile memory 11 Color conversion processing part 12 Black generation part 13 Total amount control part 14 γ table adjustment processing part 15 γ conversion part 16 Dither processing part 21 Color profile 22 Normal γ table 23 Toner consumption conversion table 24 Adjusted γ table 21a LUT
21b IN / OUTPUT table TG Toner consumption limit value HC Host computer AS Application software PD Printer driver KC Management device

JP 2010-49003 A

Claims (6)

A usage amount calculating means for calculating a predicted usage amount of an image forming material used when an image is formed on an image forming medium based on image data;
Comparison means for comparing the predicted usage amount and the usage limit amount of the image forming material,
When the predicted usage amount is equal to or greater than the usage limit amount, an image processing unit that performs image processing on the image data to reduce the usage amount of the image forming material by a predetermined amount;
Object discriminating means for discriminating the type of object in the image data;
With
The image processing unit performs image processing on the image data to preferentially reduce the amount of the image forming material used for an object corresponding to a specific type among the determined types of the object, An image processing apparatus that performs image processing for reducing the amount of the image forming material used on an object corresponding to a type other than the specific type, on the image data. The comparison unit is the estimated usage amount based on the image data after the image processing unit performs image processing for reducing the usage amount of the image forming material with respect to the object corresponding to the specific type. Compare the predicted usage with the usage limit,
The image processing means performs image processing for reducing the amount of use of the image forming material for an object corresponding to a type other than the specific type when the predicted use amount after reduction is equal to or greater than the use limit amount. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is applied to image data. The image processing means, if the predicted usage after reduction is equal to or greater than the usage limit , the object corresponding to a type other than the specific type until the usage of the image forming material becomes less than the usage limit The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image data is subjected to image processing for reducing the amount of the image forming material used.   When the determined object includes an image object or a graphic object, the image processing means performs image processing for preferentially reducing the amount of the image forming material used with respect to the image object or the graphic object. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is applied to the image processing apparatus.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing unit performs image processing on the image data so that a density of the image data is low. Calculate the estimated usage amount of the image forming material used when the image is formed on the image forming medium based on the image data,
Comparing the predicted usage amount and the usage limit amount of the image forming material,
Determining the type of object in the image data;
When the estimated usage amount is the allowable limit amount or more, of the type of the discriminated said object, an image to reduce the amount of preferentially the image forming material for a particular object corresponding to a particular type An image processing method comprising: performing image processing on the image data to reduce an amount of the image forming material used for an object corresponding to a type other than the specific type after performing the processing on the image data .

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