Image forming apparatus

• US 6,055,071 A
• Filed: 05/09/1997
• Issued: 04/25/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Inventors: Hayashi, Kouji, Kuwata, Kazumi
• Primary Examiner(s): COUSO, YON JUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/854,111
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 358/518, 358/443, 358/523, 358/520, 358/455, 358/501, 382/169, 382/167
• US Class Current: 358/501
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6033 using test pattern analysis H04N1/6055 takes precedence

Abstract

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention comprises a scanner for optically scanning and reading a draft image, an image processing circuit for converting input image signals from this scanner to output image signals by referring to an image signal conversion table and outputting the converted signals, a laser optical system for writing image information on a photosensitive drum in response to the output image signals, developing units for forming images with toner, an image signal generating means for generating a plurality of gradation patterns, and a CPU which prepares and selectors an image signal conversion table according to read signals for gradation patterns read by the scanner; wherein a read signal for a gradation pattern comprises a plurality of signals with different spectral sensitivity respectively, and said image forming apparatus has a RAM to store calibration factors for the plurality of factors with different spectral sensitivity respectively and calibrates read signals according to a calibration factor from the RAM.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a reading means for optically scanning and reading a document image;

a means for converting an input image signal from said reading means to an output image signal by referring an image signal conversion table, and outputting the converted signal;

a writing means for writing image information on an image carrier according to said output image signal;

a means for transfer the image on said image carrier onto a transfer member to form the image;

a means for generating a plurality of gradation patterns; and

a means for updating and selecting an image signal conversion table according to read values obtained by reading the gradation patterns generated and transferred by said generating means onto transfer paper with said reading means for reading an image;

wherein a read signal for said gradation patterns comprises a plurality of signals each having different spectral sensitivity, and a memory for storing therein calibration factors for said plurality of signals each having different spectral sensitivity is provided to correct the read signals for said gradation patterns according to said calibration factor from said memory.

2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a means for setting a ratio between read values for said plurality of signals each having different spectral sensitivity.

3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2;

wherein said means for setting a ratio between read values sets the ratio between read values from read values for said patterns as well as from read values for a plurality of signals previously stored therein.

4. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2;

wherein setting by said means for setting a ratio between read values is performed by inputting data from an operating section of the image forming apparatus.

5. An image forming apparatus according to claim 4;

wherein said means for setting a ratio between read values sets the ratio between read values from read values for said patterns as well as from read values for a plurality of signals previously stored therein.

6. An image forming apparatus according to claim 2;

wherein said means for setting a ratio between said read values is provided outside the image forming apparatus and inputs said ratio between read values into said image forming apparatus from the outside thereof.

7. An image forming apparatus according to claim 6;

wherein said means for setting a ratio between read values sets the ratio between read values from read values for said patterns as well as from read values for a plurality of signals previously stored therein.

8. An image forming apparatus comprising:

a means for optically scanning and reading a document image;

a means for converting an input image signal from said reading means to an output image signal by referring to an image signal conversion table and outputting the converted signal;

a writing means for writing image information onto an image carrier according to said output image signal;

a means for transferring the image on said image carrier onto a transfer member to form the image;

a means for generating a plurality of gradation patterns; and

a means for updating and selecting an image signal conversion table according to read signals for gradation patterns generated and formed on a transfer member by said generating means and read by said image reading means as well as to reference data which is gradation target data corresponding to the read signals for said gradation patterns stored in the storing means;

wherein said reference data comprises a plurality of signals each having different spectral sensitivity, and said image forming apparatus has a memory for storing calibration factors for the plurality of signals each having different spectral sensitivity and a means for calibrating said reference data according to said calibration factors.

9. An image forming apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising a means for setting a ratio between said reference data having different spectral sensitivity respectively.

10. An image forming apparatus according to claim 9;

wherein setting by said means for setting a ratio between reference data having spectral sensitivity is performed by inputting data from an operating section of the image forming apparatus.

11. An image forming apparatus according to claim 9;

wherein said means for setting a ratio between reference data having different spectral sensitivity is provided outside the image forming apparatus and the reference data from said setting means is inputted into said image forming apparatus.

12. An image forming apparatus according claim 9;

wherein said means for setting a ratio between reference data having different spectral sensitivity sets a ratio between read values from read values for said patterns as well as from read values for a plurality of signals previously stored therein.