IP Library Granted Patent US 8,229,340
Granted Patent B2
US 8,229,340 · App. 12/695,626 · Granted Jul 24, 2012

Control apparatus, program, recording medium, and image forming system

Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,229,340
App. No.
12/695,626
Granted
Jul 24, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A control apparatus configured to control an image forming system, in forming a transparent image so as to cover color images fixed on a sheet, applies a transparent toner on an area on which an image can be formed and which is other than an area that a user desires to increase the glossiness thereof.

Claims (25)

1. A control apparatus configured to control an image forming system including a color image forming unit configured to form a color image on a sheet, a transparent image forming unit configured to form a transparent image on the sheet, a first fixing unit configured to fix color images formed on the sheet, and a second fixing unit configured to fix the transparent image formed on the sheet, the control apparatus comprising:

an image data acquisition unit configured to acquire color image data corresponding to a color image to be formed on the sheet;

an area acquisition unit configured to acquire information about an area, the area being selected by a user so that glossiness of the area is relatively higher than that of other areas;

an execution unit configured to execute a first mode in which the transparent image forming unit forms a transparent image on the area of the sheet, the information about the area being acquired by the area acquisition unit, or a second mode in which the transparent image forming unit forms a transparent image on an area of the sheet where an image can be formed other than the area, the information of which is acquired by the area acquisition unit; and

a control unit configured, if a density of the color image to be formed on the sheet is equal to or higher than a predetermined density, to control the execution unit to execute the second mode, and configured, if a density of the color image to be formed on the sheet is lower than a predetermined density, to control the execution unit to execute the first mode.

2. The control apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a sheet information acquisition unit configured to acquire information about glossiness of a surface of the sheet on which an image is to be formed,

wherein the control unit is configured, if the density of the color image to be formed on the sheet is equal to or higher than the predetermined density and if the glossiness of the surface of the sheet, the information about which is acquired by the sheet information acquisition unit, is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, to control the execution unit to execute the second mode, and

wherein the control unit is configured, if the density of the color image to be formed on the sheet is lower than the predetermined density and if the glossiness of the surface of the sheet, the information about which is acquired by the sheet information acquisition unit, is lower than a predetermined threshold value, to control the execution unit to execute the first mode.

3. A control apparatus configured to control an image forming system including a color image forming unit configured to form a color image on a sheet, a transparent image forming unit configured to form a transparent image on the sheet, a first fixing unit configured to fix color images formed on the sheet, and a second fixing unit configured to fix the transparent image formed on the sheet, the control apparatus comprising:

a sheet information acquisition unit configured to acquire information about glossiness of a surface of the sheet on which an image is to be formed;

an area acquisition unit configured to acquire information about an area, the area being selected by a user so that glossiness of the area is relatively higher than that of other areas;

an execution unit configured to execute a first mode in which the transparent image forming unit forms a transparent image on the area of the sheet, the information about the area being acquired by the area acquisition unit, or a second mode in which the transparent image forming unit forms a transparent image on an area of the sheet where an image can be formed other than the area, the information of which is acquired by the area acquisition unit; and

a control unit configured, if the glossiness of the surface of the sheet, the information about which is acquired by the sheet information acquisition unit, is equal to or higher than a predetermined threshold value, to control the execution unit to execute the second mode, and configured, if the glossiness of the surface of the sheet, the information about which is acquired by the sheet information acquisition unit, is lower than a predetermined threshold value, to control the execution unit to execute the first mode.

4. The control apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising:

an image data acquisition unit configured to acquire color image data corresponding to a color image to be formed on the sheet,

wherein the control unit is configured, if the glossiness of the surface of the sheet, the information about which is acquired by the sheet information acquisition unit, is lower than a predetermined threshold value and if the density of the color image to be formed on the sheet is equal to or higher than a predetermined density, to control the execution unit to execute the second mode, and

wherein the control unit is configured, if the glossiness of the surface of the sheet, the information about which is acquired by the sheet information acquisition unit, is lower than a predetermined threshold value and if the density of the color image to be formed on the sheet is lower than the predetermined density, to control the execution unit to execute the first mode.

5. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by an information processing apparatus, cause the information processing apparatus to function as the control apparatus according to claim 1 .

6. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by an information processing system including a plurality of information processing apparatuses, cause each of the plurality of information processing apparatuses included in the information processing system to function as the control apparatus according to claim 1 .

7. An image forming system comprising:

a color image forming unit configured to form a color image on a sheet;

a transparent image forming unit configured to form a transparent image on the sheet;

a first fixing unit configured to fix color images formed on the sheet; and

a second fixing unit configured to fix the transparent image formed on the sheet; and

the control apparatus according to claim 1 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2010
From: SHIOZAWA, MOTOHIDE
To: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 024687/0636 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2009-020243 · Jan 30, 2009 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100196023A1 · Aug 5, 2010