IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD

• US 20170104888A1
• Filed: 10/11/2016
• Published: 04/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc.
• Original Assignee: Konica Minolta Inc.
• Inventors: NOMURA, Shoichi
• Granted Patent: US 9,807,277 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00718 Skew
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00737 using the scanning elements as detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00761 using reference marks, e.g. on sheet, sheet holder or guide
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00779 Adjusting settings, e.g. mode, feeding rate or type of paper
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00795 Reading arrangements details of scanning heads H04N1/024; scanning arrangements therefor H04N1/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00801 according to characteristics of the original
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00816 Determining the reading area, e.g. eliminating reading of margins
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3878 Skew detection or correction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0005 using a reference pattern designed for the purpose, e.g. a test chart
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0082 Image hardcopy reproducer H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes: an image processing unit configured to execute image processing including skew correction that deforms an image so as to cancel distortion on the image; and a control unit configured to control the image processing on the image processing unit, wherein, in a case where a margin amount available for correcting the distortion is defined as a first correction margin amount and a margin amount used for correction other than skew correction is defined as a second correction margin amount, the control unit calculates a third correction margin amount obtained by subtracting the second correction margin amount from the first correction margin amount, and controls such that the image processing unit executes the image processing including the skew correction toward a first image and a second image such that the skew correction amount to be corrected falls within a range of the third correction margin amount.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

an image processing unit configured to execute image processing including skew correction that deforms an image so as to cancel distortion generated on the image formed on a sheet; and

a control unit configured to control the image processing on the image processing unit,

wherein, in a case where a margin amount available for correcting the distortion is defined as a first correction margin amount and a margin amount used for correction other than skew correction, among the distortion, is defined as a second correction margin amount, the control unit calculates a third correction margin amount obtained by subtracting the second correction margin amount from the first correction margin amount, and

controls such that the image processing unit executes the image processing including the skew correction toward a first image formed on a first surface of the sheet and toward a second image formed on a second surface of the sheet such that the skew correction amount to be corrected by the skew correction falls within a range of the third correction margin amount.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the image processing unit executes the image processing including the skew correction so as to adjust the image to an intermediate position of the first image and the second image.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein, in a case where it is selectable whether skew correction takes priority over items other than the skew correction and where skew correction priority is selected,

the control unit controls the image processing unit so as to execute the image processing including the skew correction by performing position adjustment for at least one of the first image and the second image such that the third margin amount is maximized.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3,

wherein the control unit allows a portion of a mark indicating a cutting position of the sheet to protrude from the sheet when the mark is generated.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the control unit calculates a skew correction amount to be corrected by the skew correction, and

controls the image processing unit so as not to execute the skew correction in a case where the skew correction amount is smaller than a predetermined threshold.

6. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the control unit calculates the skew correction amount separately for a main scan direction correction amount and a sub scan direction correction amount, at image forming, and

controls the image processing unit so as not to execute the skew correction in a case where each of the main scan direction correction amount and the sub scan direction correction amount is smaller than a predetermined threshold.

7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the control unit calculates a skew correction amount to be corrected by the skew correction, and controls the image processing unit so as to execute the skew correction in a condition where the skew correction amount is smaller than a predetermined threshold and in a case where the selection was execution of the skew correction even when the condition is met.

8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 5,

wherein the control unit calculates a skew correction amount to be corrected by the skew correction and controls the image processing unit so as not to execute the skew correction in a condition where the skew correction amount is smaller than a predetermined threshold and in a case where the selection is non-execution of the skew correction when the condition is met.

9. A non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable program used in an image processing apparatus including:

an image processing unit configured to execute image processing including skew correction that deforms an image so as to cancel distortion generated on the image formed on a sheet; and

a control unit configured to control the image processing on the image processing unit,

wherein, in a case where a margin amount available for correcting the distortion is defined as a first correction margin amount and a margin amount used for correction other than for skew correction, among the distortion, is defined as a second correction margin amount, a third margin amount is calculated by subtracting the second correction margin amount from the first correction margin amount, and

the image processing unit executes the image processing including the skew correction toward a first image formed on a first surface of the sheet and toward a second image formed on a second surface of the sheet such that the skew correction amount to be corrected by the skew correction falls within a range of the third correction margin amount.

10. The non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable program according to claim 9,

wherein the image processing unit executes the image processing including the skew correction so as to adjust the image to an intermediate position of the first image and the second image.

11. The non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable program according to claim 9,

wherein, in a case where it is selectable whether the skew correction takes priority over items other than the skew correction and where priority of skew correction is selected,

the control unit controls the image processing unit so as to execute the image processing including the skew correction by performing position adjustment for at least one of the first image and the second image such that the third margin amount is maximized.

12. The non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable program according to claim 11,

wherein the control unit allows a portion of a mark indicating a cutting position of the sheet to protrude from the sheet when the mark is generated.

13. The non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable program according to claim 9,

wherein the control unit calculates a skew correction amount to be corrected by the skew correction, and

controls the image processing unit so as not to execute the skew correction in a case where the skew correction amount is smaller than a predetermined threshold.

14. The non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable program according to claim 13,

wherein the control unit calculates the skew correction amount separately for a main scan direction correction amount and a sub scan direction correction amount, at image forming, and

controls the image processing unit so as not to execute the skew correction in a case where each of the main scan direction correction amount and the sub scan direction correction amount is smaller than a predetermined threshold.

15. The non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable program according to claim 13,

wherein the control unit calculates a skew correction amount to be corrected by the skew correction, and controls the image processing unit so as to execute the skew correction in a condition where the skew correction amount is smaller than a predetermined threshold and in a case where the selection is execution of the skew correction even when the condition is met.

16. The non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable program according to claim 13,

wherein the control unit calculates a skew correction amount to be corrected by the skew correction, and controls the image processing unit so as not to execute the skew correction in a condition where the skew correction amount is smaller than a predetermined threshold and in a case where selection is non-execution of the skew correction when the condition is met.