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EP-4432643-B1 - COLOR CORRECTION METHOD, IMAGE FORMING DEVICE AND STORAGE MEDIUM

EP4432643B1EP 4432643 B1EP4432643 B1EP 4432643B1EP-4432643-B1

Inventors

  • LIANG, Jiajun

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240305

Claims (11)

  1. A color correction method, comprising: acquiring (101) a job to be processed; inserting (102) a first image into part of or each of intervals between adjacent job pages of the job to be processed, and/or inserting (102) the first image before/after a specific job page included in the job to be processed, wherein the first image is configured to trigger color correction; obtaining (103) a detection result of a transfer image formed by the first image on an image carrier; determining (104) whether the detection result meets a condition for triggering color correction; and when the detection result meets the condition for triggering color correction, performing (105) color correction, characterized in that before inserting (102) the first image into part of or each of the intervals between adjacent job pages of the job to be processed, and/or, inserting (102) the first image before/after a specific job page included in the job to be processed, further comprising: determining a target correction mode from a plurality of correction modes, wherein each correction mode of the plurality of correction modes is associated with at least one correction trigger image; and from the at least one correction trigger image associated with the target correction mode, determining (203) the first image to be inserted into part of or each of the intervals between adjacent job pages of the job to be processed, and/or to be inserted before/after a specific job page included in the job to be processed, wherein determining (104) the target correction mode from the plurality of correction modes includes: determining the target correction mode from the plurality of correction modes, based on one or more of parameters including current ambient temperature and humidity, a quantity of printed pages of the job to be processed, whether a developing component is replaced, and temperature change of a laser scanning unit (LSU).
  2. The method according to claim 1, wherein inserting the first image into part of or each of the intervals between adjacent job pages of the job to be processed, and/or, inserting the first image before/after a specific job page included in the job to be processed, includes: dividing a complete correction trigger image into a plurality of sub-images, wherein along a transfer direction of an imaging medium, a height of a sub-image of the plurality of sub-images is less than the intervals between adjacent job pages; and inserting the sub-image into part of or each of the intervals between adjacent job pages of the job to be processed, wherein the sub-image is used as the first image; or inserting the complete correction trigger image, as a job page, between part of or each of adjacent job pages of the job to be processed, wherein the complete correction trigger image is used as the first image; or dividing the complete correction trigger image into the plurality of sub-images, wherein along the transfer direction of the imaging medium, the height of the sub-image is less than the intervals between adjacent job pages; and inserting the sub-image before/after a specific job page included in the job to be processed, wherein the sub-image is used as the first image; or inserting the complete correction trigger image, as a job page, before/after a specific job page included in the job to be processed, wherein the complete correction trigger image is used as the first image.
  3. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining (104) whether the detection result meets the condition for triggering color correction includes: determining whether a color registration offset value, or a color block density error value of the transfer image formed by the first image on the image carrier, meets the condition for triggering color correction.
  4. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining (104) whether the detection result meets the condition for triggering color correction includes: determining whether the condition for triggering color correction is met, based on the detection result of each of or part of the first images, inserted into part of or each of the intervals between adjacent job pages of the job to be processed and/or inserted before/after a specific job page included in the job to be processed.
  5. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the detection result meets the condition for triggering color correction, performing (105) color correction, includes: suspending printing of remaining job pages of the job to be processed to perform (105) color correction; or after the printing of the job to be processed is completed, performing (105) color correction; or determining whether to perform (105) color correction immediately, based on a quantity of remaining job pages to be processed corresponding to the job to be processed.
  6. An image forming device, comprising: a processor (410) and a memory (430) which are communicatively connected to each other, wherein a computer program is stored in the memory (430), and when the processor (410) executes the computer program is executed, the processor (410) is configured to: acquire (101) a job to be processed; insert a first image into part of or each of intervals between adjacent job pages of the job to be processed, and/or, insert the first image before/after a specific job page included in the job to be processed, wherein the first image is configured to trigger color correction; obtain (103) a detection result of a transfer image formed by the first image on an image carrier; determine (104) whether the detection result meets a condition for triggering color correction; and when the detection result meets the condition for triggering color correction, perform (105) color correction; characterized in that wherein the processor (410) is further configured for: before inserting (102) the first image into part of or each of the intervals between adjacent job pages of the job to be processed, and/or inserting (102) the first image before/after a specific job page included in the job to be processed, determining a target correction mode from a plurality of correction modes, wherein each correction mode of the plurality of correction modes is associated with at least one correction trigger image; and from the at least one correction trigger image associated with the target correction mode, determining (203) the first image to be inserted into part of or each of the intervals between adjacent job pages of the job to be processed; and/or, from the at least one correction trigger image associated with the target correction mode, determining (203) the first image to be inserted before/after a specific job page included in the job to be processed, wherein the processor (410) is configured for: determining the target correction mode from the plurality of correction modes, based on one or more of parameters including current ambient temperature and humidity, a quantity of printed pages of the job to be processed, whether the developing component is replaced, and temperature change of a laser scanning unit (LSU).
  7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the processor is configured for: dividing a complete correction trigger image into a plurality of sub-images, wherein along a transfer direction of an imaging medium, a height of a sub-image of the plurality of sub-images is less than the intervals between adjacent job pages; and inserting the sub-image into part of or each of the intervals between adjacent job pages of the job to be processed, wherein the sub-image is used as the first image; or inserting the complete correction trigger image, as a job page, between part of or each of adjacent job pages of the job to be processed, wherein the complete correction trigger image is used as the first image; or dividing the complete correction trigger image into the plurality of sub-images, wherein along the transfer direction of the imaging medium, the height of the sub-image is less than the intervals between adjacent job pages; and inserting the sub-image before/after a specific job page included in the job to be processed, wherein the sub-image is used as the first image; or inserting the complete correction trigger image, as a job page, before/after a specific page included in the job to be processed, wherein the complete correction trigger image is used as the first image.
  8. The device according to claim 6, wherein the processor (410) is configured for: determining whether a color registration offset value, or a color block density error value of the transfer image formed by the first image on the image carrier, meets the condition for triggering color correction.
  9. The device according to claim 6, wherein the processor (410) is configured for: determining whether the condition for triggering color correction is met, based on the detection result of part of or each of the first images, inserted into part of or each of the intervals between adjacent job pages of the job to be processed and/or inserted before/after a specific job page included in the job to be processed.
  10. The device according to claim 6, wherein the processor (410) is configured for: suspending printing of remaining job pages of the job to be processed to perform (105) color correction; or after the printing of the job to be processed is completed, performing (105) color correction; or determining whether to perform (105) color correction immediately, based on a quantity of remaining job pages to be processed corresponding to the job to be processed.
  11. A computer-readable storage medium, including a stored program, wherein: when the stored program is in operation, the stored program controls a device where the computer-readable storage medium is located to perform any one of the methods described in claims 1 to 5.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure generally relates to the field of image forming technology and, more particularly, relates to a color correction method, an image forming device and a storage medium. BACKGROUND Image forming devices are devices that may form images on imaging media based on imaging principles. Image forming devices include but not limited to printers, copiers, fax machines, scanners, multi-function devices, electrostatic printing devices, and other devices that may implement image forming functions. In order to ensure the image-quality of the image formation, image forming devices may need to be color corrected. In related technologies, conditions that may trigger color correction include that: consumables used by an image forming device are new, a quantity of job pages printed reaches a set value, or ambient temperature and humidity change significantly. However, when the above method is used, there may be situations where the image quality may be already poor, but the trigger conditions for color correction may have not yet been met, and printing effects of the image forming device may thus be affected. Document US 2008/174834 A1 discloses a color image forming apparatus, which includes: an image forming section which forms an image based on image information on an image carrier provided in the image forming section; a detection section which detects a print mark for color misalignment correction formed on the image carrier by the image forming section, and outputs print mark detection information; and a control section for executing color misalignment correction control based on the print mark detection information outputted from the detection section. Document JP 2013 021467 A discloses an image forming apparatus, which includes: extraction means that analyzes an input print job, and extracts color to be used in a plurality of pages in the print job; formation means that forms a patch image of an extraction color extracted by the extraction means; determination means that measures the patch image formed by the formation means, and determines the amount of variation in color from a reference value in the extraction color; and correction means that, in printing the input print job, corrects the extraction color using the amount of variation in color determined by the determination means. Document 2012/038731 A1 discloses an image forming apparatus, which includes: an image forming unit having an exposure unit configured to irradiate each of a plurality of photosensitive members with a corresponding light beam, a light amount control unit configured to control a light amount of the light beams, a plurality of developing units configured to develop electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive members by exposure with the light beams, and a transfer unit configured to transfer toner images formed on the photosensitive members onto an image carrier. Document JP 2015 087407 A discloses an image forming apparatus, including one or a plurality of developing devices 3 for applying one or more colors of toner to a latent image on an image carrier and developing the latent image, a density detecting means for detecting the density of the toner image, a temperature/humidity detecting means, a counting means for the number of printed sheets, and a clocking means for counting the elapsed time. Document US 2022/382202 A1 discloses an image forming apparatus, which includes an image forming unit configured to form an image on a recording medium based on an image forming condition; an image reader configured to read an image for adjustment of the image forming condition, the image for adjustment being formed on the recording medium; and a controller configured to: control the image forming unit to form images for adjustment; control the image reader to read the images for adjustment; determine target data based on a reading result of a first image included in reading results of the images for adjustment; and adjust the image forming condition, during execution of a job in which the image forming unit forms a plurality of images on a plurality of recording mediums, based on the target data and a reading result of second image included in the reading results of the images for adjustment. Document JP 2021 153242A discloses an information processing apparatus, which comprises: first generation means that generates PDL data in which a page image and a sheet type of a sheet on which the page image is printed are each set; and second generation means that generates a print request including the PDL data and information on print settings of patch image for gradation correction. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE To overcome the deficiencies of the related art, the present invention provides a color correction method, image forming device, and storage medium as defined in the independent claims attached. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in dependent claims attached. Accord