JPH11254795A - Printer matter inspection device, machine readable recording medium with recorded printing data, and printed matter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inspect printed matter with a simple process by making use of a small image memory. SOLUTION: A test pattern 720 is printed on the upper end part of each page of printing paper. The test pattern 720 is extremely small and not remarkable pattern, e.g. in the form in which the straight line in the main scanning direction every color employed in printing is disposed at predetermined distances. When the completion of printing, only images in the part are taken in to subsequently be compared to a reference pattern data for the property of printing. This can detect loosing of picture elements, streaking registration of printing positions of a plurality of heads, and the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printed matter inspection method capable of efficiently inspecting a printed state or printed contents of each page with a small amount of processing for a printed matter on which different printed contents are printed for each page. The present invention relates to an apparatus, a machine-readable recording medium on which print data for efficiently performing such inspection is recorded, and a printed matter capable of efficiently performing such inspection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a method of recording predetermined information on a medium such as paper so as to be visually recognizable, a method of recording the same information on a large amount of medium at high speed by a printing machine using a printing plate is known. Also, a method of printing variable data on a relatively small number of media at a low speed by using a printer used as a terminal device of a computer or the like is well known. However, there is also a demand for printing a large amount of variable data that differs for each sheet, for example, at high speed, and a high-speed printer apparatus for that purpose has been put to practical use. An object to which such a high-speed printer device is applied is, for example, the printing of a document such as a bill, which has a large amount of printing and has to print different numbers and contents.

However, when printing such important documents, it is necessary to completely prevent defects such as duplication or omission of the printed contents, as well as defective printing such as blurring or crushing, line width and shading. Low-quality printing, such as variations in image quality, is not allowed, and accurate data must be printed with high quality. In order to respond to such a demand, for example, Japanese Patent Application No.
No. 661 proposes a printing apparatus for inspecting a print result one page at a time at high speed. According to this printing apparatus, the print image data input to the printer apparatus is also held as inspection image data, and the print result is read from the printed material by the sensor, and the original print image data held is held. To determine whether the print result is appropriate.

[0004]

However, in the above-described method, printing image data must be held for inspection, and a large-capacity image memory is required in the apparatus. There is a problem. In addition, since there are many pixels to be compared, high-speed processing is required, and there is a problem that the entire inspection apparatus has to be enlarged. In particular, when performing color printing using a plurality of colors or performing double-sided printing, such a memory is stored in correspondence with the image data of each color and in correspondence with the image data of each side. Such a problem has become prominent since the data must be held and collated.
Therefore, there has been a demand for performing such an inspection appropriately by a simple method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a printed matter inspection apparatus capable of properly inspecting a printed state of a printed matter and printed contents with less memory and simpler processing. Further, another object of the present invention is to record print data for creating a printed matter by which the state of the head at the time of printing, the printing state, and the print content can be appropriately inspected by simpler processing. An object of the present invention is to provide a machine-readable recording medium. It is another object of the present invention to provide a printed material that can appropriately inspect the state of the head and the printing state at the time of printing, and further, the printed contents, by such simpler processing.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a simple test pattern is simultaneously printed on each page of a printed matter, and the inspection can be performed efficiently using only this pattern.

Therefore, the printed matter inspection apparatus of the present invention
An image reading means for reading the predetermined inspection image from a printed material for each predetermined unit in which an image having an image indicating a print content and a predetermined inspection image is printed on a printing medium; and A print state inspection unit that inspects the state of the printing on the print target medium based on the use image.

Further, the machine-readable recording medium on which the printing data of the present invention is recorded is printed on a print-receiving medium together with an image showing the print contents by being input to the printing apparatus, and is printed by the printing apparatus. It has data of a predetermined inspection image for each predetermined unit of a printed matter to be subjected to a state inspection.

Further, the printed matter of the present invention is a printed matter in which an image of a print content and a predetermined inspection image used for inspection of a printing state at the time of printing in a printing apparatus are printed for each predetermined unit.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment,
It is possible to color print different contents for each printed material on both sides of the printing paper sequentially using multiple colors at high speed, and to inspect the printing condition of each side of the printed material and the consistency of the printed contents on both sides. The present invention will be described by exemplifying a possible printer system. More specifically, the printer system according to the present embodiment is a printer system that prints a sent matter such as a bill. The image data input to the printer system and printed has a predetermined test pattern for performing an inspection in addition to the actual print contents. The printed contents include image data indicating the actual billing contents, and a control barcode indicating a destination of the bill or a page in the same destination.

First, the configuration of the printer system will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the printer system 1. The printer system 1 includes a printer device 2 and an inspection device system 3 according to the present invention. The inspection system 3 further includes an inspection device 30 and a control management device 2.
Has zero.

Next, the configuration and operation of the printer device 2 will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of the printer device 2. First, the operation of the printer device 2 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. In the printer device 2, first, the print sheet 700, which is continuous paper sequentially supplied from the roll paper supply unit 101, is printed on the front print unit 2.
At 00a, color printing of desired data is performed on one surface. Next, the printing paper 7 is turned by the reversing device 103.
00 is reversed, and color printing of desired data is performed on the other surface in the back printing unit 200b. Then, the printing paper 700 on which printing has been completed is transferred to the roll paper winding unit 10.
It is wound by 6. In the printer device 2,
Color printing is performed using three colors of black, red, and blue.

Next, the configuration and operation of each component of the printer device 2 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer device 2 includes a front printing unit 200a, a back printing unit 200b, and a paper transport unit 100. Also,
The printer device 2 has a control unit (not shown) that controls the above units and exchanges information with the outside.

The paper transport unit 100 is a paper feed mechanism for transporting the printing paper 700 as a printing medium stably at a high speed and a predetermined speed. The front printing section paper transport section 102 for transporting the printing paper 700 under the print heads 230a _{-1 to} 230 _-2 of the printing section 200a, the reversing device 103 for reversing the front and back of the printing paper 700, and the printing head 2 for the back printing section 200b.
The back printing unit paper transport unit 104 that transports the printing paper 700 below 30a _{-1 to} 230 _-2 , and the roll paper winding unit 106 that winds the printed printing paper 700 are integrally connected. ing.

Each transport unit includes a roller and a guide for feeding the printing paper 700, an encoder for detecting the rotation speed of the roller, and the like. Based on a control signal inputted from a paper transport control unit (not shown), the printing paper 700 Transport, stop, speed adjustment, etc. The cue mark is printed on the printing paper 700 supplied from the roll paper supply unit 101 by a cue mark printing unit (not shown) immediately after being supplied to the front printing unit 200a. Hereinafter, a table printing unit 200a described later
Each head of the back printing unit 200 detects the cue mark and performs positioning in the sub-scanning direction on the printing paper 700.

The table printing unit 200a will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the table printing unit 200a. The table printing unit 200a includes an interface unit 210, a print image storage unit 220, a printing unit 230, and a control unit 400.

The interface unit 210 is an interface for transferring print image data transferred to the printer device 2 to the print image storage unit 220.
In the present embodiment, it is a dedicated serial interface. For printing one page, black, red,
Three pieces of image data corresponding to each color of blue are input to the front print unit 200a via the interface unit 210. The print image data entered here is
As described above, the image data includes a predetermined test pattern for performing an inspection in addition to the print content.

The print image storage section 220 is a memory for storing image data to be printed on the printing paper 700 by the printing section 230 described later. The print image storage unit 240 is configured by a dual port RAM that can simultaneously read / write data, has a capacity capable of accommodating image data of a plurality of colors of each color, and stores the image transferred through the interface unit 210. Data is stored sequentially in bitmap format.

The printing unit 230 reads out image data stored in the print image storage unit 220 based on a control signal input from the control unit 400, and
Print at 00. As described above, in the printer system 1 of the present embodiment, printing is performed using three colors of black, red, and blue. Therefore, the printing unit 230 has three printing units 230a to 230c corresponding to each color, and the printing units 230a to 230c read out corresponding image data from the print image storage unit 220 and perform printing. Since these three printing units 230a to 230c have the same configuration except for the color to be processed, only the printing unit 230a that prints a black image will be described below.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the printing section 230a. The printing unit 230a further has two printing units 230a- ₁ and 230a- ₂ . Each printing unit 230a- _i (i = 1, 2) has a print control unit 231a- _i and a head 232a- _i .

The print control unit 231a- _i includes a control signal input from the control unit 400,
02, read out image data stored in the print image storage unit 220 based on a signal input from an encoder (not shown) provided in a paper feed roller near the leading end of the paper feed roller and input it to the head 232a- _i , The operation timing of the head 232a- _i with respect to the conveyed printing paper 700, the ink dripping speed of the head 232a- _i described later, and the like are controlled.

Each of the heads 232a- _i has a dot density of 2
The inkjet head is a 40 dpi, print width Wh of 4 inches, and sequentially prints image data read from the print image storage unit 220 on the printing paper 700 under the control of the print control unit 231a- _i . Printing unit 230
FIG. 5 shows the arrangement of the two heads 232a _-1 and 232a _-2 of FIG. As shown in FIG.
The two heads 232a _-1 and 232a _-2 are arranged so that their print areas are continuous, and can be printed with a print width Wp of 8 inches (4 inches x 2) as a whole. .

The control section 400 is a control section for controlling the components constituting the front printing section 200a and the front printing section paper transport section 102 to perform a desired operation. Control unit 40
For 0, printing conditions and control conditions are input from outside. The control unit 400 sets operating conditions of the front printing unit paper transport unit 102, the printing units 230a to 230c, and the like based on the input data, and the transport of the print paper and the printing on the print paper are appropriately synchronized. Control so that it can be performed. The control unit 400 performs control to stop the printing operation when a signal indicating defective printing is input from the inspection device 30 described later during the printing operation.

The desired printing contents are sequentially printed on one surface of the printing paper 700 by the front printing unit 200a having such a configuration.

The back printing unit 200b prints on the printing paper 700, which has already been printed on one side and has been turned upside down by the reversing device 103, in the same manner as the front printing unit 200a. Desired printing is performed on the surface on which printing has not been performed. This back printing section 2
The configuration of 00b is substantially the same as the configuration of the table printing unit 200a, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the configuration and operation of the inspection apparatus system 3 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the inspection device system 3 includes an inspection device 30 and a control management device 20. First, the operation and function of each component will be briefly described. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of the inspection device 30. In the inspection device 30, the roll paper supply unit 1
First, for the printing paper (printed material) 700 that has been sequentially supplied and has been printed, the front printing state inspection unit 300a
In the step (1), an inspection of the printing state of the surface is performed.

Next, the printed matter 7 is
The reverse print state of 00 is reversed, and the print state of the back side is inspected by the back print state inspection unit 300b. Then, the front and back print content inspection unit 500 inspects whether the content printed on the front and back of each page of the printing paper 700 is appropriate as the content to be printed on the front and back of one printed matter, and the inspection is completed. The printing paper 700 is again transferred to the roll paper winding unit 116.
It is wound up. Further, the control management device 20 manages various data and information necessary for these operations in the inspection device 30, and controls the inspection device 30 by using this.

Next, each component of the inspection apparatus 30 will be described.
The configuration and operation will be described in detail. Inspection device 30
Is, as shown in FIG. 6, the table print state inspection unit 300a,
Back printing state inspection unit 300b, front and back printing content inspection unit 500
And a paper transport unit 110. In addition, the inspection device 30
Has a control unit (not shown) that controls the above-described units and exchanges control information with the control management device 20.

The paper transport unit 110 is a paper feed mechanism that transports the print paper 700 on which printing has been completed stably at a high speed and at a predetermined speed. The roll paper supply unit 111 that supplies the print paper 700 described above, CC of the state inspection unit 300a
Front inspection section paper transport section 112 that transports printing paper 700 under D camera 314, reversing device 113 that reverses the front and back of printing paper 700, back side that transports printing paper 700 under CCD camera 314 of back printing state inspection section 300b. Inspection section paper transport section 114, front and back print content inspection section 500 print paper 7
Front and back inspection section paper transport section 115 for transporting 00, and
Roll paper take-up section 11 for re-winding printing paper 700
6 are integrally connected.

Each transport unit includes rollers and guides for feeding the printing paper 700, an encoder for detecting the rotation speed of the rollers, and the like. Based on a control signal input from a paper transport control unit (not shown), the printing paper 700 Transport, stop, speed adjustment, etc. The cue mark has already been printed on the printing paper 700 supplied from the roll paper supply unit 111, and the cameras of the front printing state inspection unit 300a, the back printing state inspection unit 300b, and the front / back printing content inspection unit 500 The cue mark is detected, and positioning in the sub-scanning direction on the printing paper 700 is performed.

FIG. 7 shows the table print state inspection unit 300a.
This will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the front print state inspection unit 300a. The table print state inspection unit 300a includes an image reading unit 310, an inspection image storage unit 330, a reference image storage unit 340, an inspection unit 350, and a control unit 410.

The image reading unit 310 includes
In order to check the printing state of 00, the above-described test pattern portion in the printed image is read.
In the table printing unit 200a of the printer device 2,
As described above, the three color images are printed using the three printing units 230a to 230c. However, in the front printing state inspection unit 300a of the inspection apparatus 30, one image reading with one CCD camera is performed. The unit 310 reads the printed three color images collectively. The image reading unit 310 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the image reading unit 310. The image reading unit 310 includes a cue mark detection sensor 311, an encoder unit 312, a light irradiation unit 313, a CCD camera 314, and a control unit 315.

The cue mark detection sensor 311 is a CCD
As described above, the cue mark is provided near the camera 314, and detects the cue mark recorded at each break of the printed matter of the printing paper 700 that is continuously conveyed.
When a cue mark is detected, a signal to that effect is sent to the control unit 31.
5 is output.

The encoder unit 312 is also provided near the CCD camera 314, detects the transport speed of the printing paper 700, and outputs it to the control unit 315. The encoder unit 312 is an encoder that rotates integrally with the print paper transport roller of the front inspection unit paper transport unit 112 and outputs a predetermined pulse corresponding to the rotation angle, a counter that counts the pulse, and a counter that counts the pulse. Printing paper 7 based on the count value
It has a speed calculation unit that calculates the transport speed of 00.

The light irradiating section 313 is a means for giving an appropriate amount of light to an area of the printing paper 700 where an image is captured by the CCD camera 314. In the present embodiment, light from a halogen lamp provided in the housing is guided by a fiber cable to irradiate the imaging range of the CCD camera 314. Note that the amount of light irradiated by the light irradiation unit 313 is controlled based on the transport speed of the printing paper 700 detected by the encoder unit 312.

The CCD camera 314 reads the printed image and outputs it to the inspection image storage unit 330.
The CCD camera 314 has a T resolution of 16 dots / mm.
DI (Time Delay Integration)-CCD (charge coupled devic)
e) Sensor, output amplifier for amplifying TDI-CCD sensor, A / D converter for converting the amplified value to digital value, shift register for sequentially storing digitally converted pixel values, and page for storing read image Has memory.

The control unit 315 includes the image reading unit 31
0 is controlled. The control unit 315 controls the light irradiation unit based on a control signal from the control unit 410, information on cue mark detection by the cue mark detection sensor 311 described above, and information on the transport speed of the printing paper 700 by the encoder unit 312. Control of the amount of light at 313 and control of image reading by the CCD camera 314 are performed.

The inspection image storage section 330 is a memory for storing the image data read by the image reading section 310, and the stored image data is stored in the inspection section 35.
0 is read as appropriate. Inspection image storage unit 330
The image data of the above-described test pattern portion in the image printed on the printing paper 700 is stored sequentially.

The reference image storage unit 340 is a memory in which reference image data of a test pattern previously input via the control unit 410 is stored. The stored image data is read out by the inspection unit 350 as appropriate. The reference image data stored in the reference image storage unit 340 is image data obtained by integrating test patterns of print image data of three colors used in the front printing unit 200a of the printer device 2 into one. When there are a plurality of test patterns to be used, all of them are stored in the reference image storage unit 340.

The inspection section 350 includes an inspection image storage section 33
0, the test pattern image data read from the printing paper 700 stored in
Based on the reference image data of the test pattern stored in 0, it is determined whether or not the printing state is appropriate, and the determination result is output to the control unit 410. The configuration of the inspection unit 350 will be described with reference to FIG. The inspection unit 350 includes a first address counter 351, a second address counter 352, a matching circuit 353, and an error counter 35.
4 and a CPU 355.

The first address counter 351 is a counter for controlling the address of the print image data stored in the reference image storage section 340 to be read out to the inspection section 350. Also, the second address counter 35
2 is an inspection image storage unit 33 to be read out to the inspection unit 350
This is a counter for controlling the address of the image data to be inspected stored in 0. The image data at the addresses designated by the address counters 351 and 352 are read from the reference image storage unit 340 and the inspection image storage unit 330, and are read by the inspection unit 350.
Is input to Note that these address counters 35
1 and 352 are controlled by signals such as initial value setting and count up / down input from the CPU 355.

The matching circuit 353 sequentially compares and matches corresponding pixels between the image data of the inspection object read from the inspection image storage unit 330 and the reference image data read from the reference image storage unit 340.
The result is output to the error number counter 354. In this comparison, the difference between the pixel values of the corresponding pixels is determined. If the difference is less than a predetermined value, the pixels are determined to be the same, and if the difference is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the pixels are determined to be different. It is done by doing.

The error number counter 354 accumulates the number of pixels determined as different pixels in the result of the comparison performed for each pixel in the matching circuit 353, and outputs the accumulated result to the CPU 355 as the number of error pixels.

The CPU 355 compares the number of error pixels input from the error number counter 354 with a predetermined threshold value THL, and when the number of error pixels becomes larger than the threshold value, the error pixel number is stored in the inspection image storage section 330. It is determined that the difference between the print image data and the reference image data stored in the reference image storage unit 340 is large, and that the desired print cannot be performed. If matching has been completed for all pixels of the image data in a state where the number of error pixels accumulated in the error number counter 354 does not exceed the threshold value THL, it is determined that the printing result is normal in the matching. .

Prior to such matching, C
The PU 508 aligns the print image data with the reference image data. This alignment is a process of detecting the corresponding position of the image data in each image memory of the inspection image storage unit 330 and the reference image storage unit 340. Processing such as taking correspondence with the reference or detecting the center of gravity of both black pixels and determining the corresponding pixel based on the point is performed. By such an operation, the inspection unit 350 inspects the print image data stored in the inspection image storage unit 330 and outputs the inspection result to the control unit 410.

The control unit 410 includes the front print state inspection unit 300
a, and a front inspection unit, a paper transport unit 112,
Is a control unit for controlling a desired operation. Printing conditions and control conditions are input to the control unit 410 from the control management device 20 or the like. Based on the input data, the control unit 410 sets the operating conditions of the front inspection unit paper transport unit 112 and the image reading unit 310, etc., so that the transport of the print paper and the reading of the printed image can be appropriately performed in synchronization with each other. Control. When a signal indicating defective printing is input from the inspection unit 350, the control unit 410
A signal for stopping the printing operation is output to the printer device 2.

The table print state inspection unit 300 having such a configuration is described.
According to a, the printing state of one surface of the printing paper 700 is sequentially inspected.

The back printing state inspection unit 300b performs an inspection on the printing paper 700 on which one surface has already been inspected and the front and back sides have been inverted by the reversing device 113, in the same manner as the front printing state inspection unit 300a. The printing paper 70
Inspection of the printing state is performed on the other side of 0. The configuration of the back printing state inspection unit 300b is the same as that of the front printing state inspection unit 30.
Since the configuration is substantially the same as that of Oa, description thereof is omitted.

The front and back print content inspection unit 500 determines whether the print content printed on the front and back of the printing paper 700 on which printing is performed on both sides is appropriate as a single printed matter, for example, in units of pages. Inspect whether the contents to be printed on the front and back are appropriate. The configuration of the front and back print content inspection unit 500 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG.
1, table image memory 502, table code identification unit 503,
The camera includes a back camera 504, a back image memory 505, a back code identification unit 506, and a collation unit 507. The inside of the front and back printing content inspection unit 500 includes a front and back inspection unit and a paper transport unit 11.
5, the printing paper 700 on which printing is completed is conveyed and passed.

Front camera 501 and rear camera 504
Reads an image of a code identifying a print content printed at a predetermined position on the front side and the back side of each page of the printing paper 700 conveyed in the front and back print content inspection unit 500. The specific reading position and reading timing are controlled by a control unit (not shown) in the front and back print content inspection unit 500. In the present embodiment, a barcode printed on the upper left of each page of the printing paper 700 is read. The barcode is data indicating a destination code of the print data and a page of a printed material for the destination.

The front image memory 502 and the back image memory 505 include a front camera 501 and a back camera 5 respectively.
This is a pattern memory for temporarily storing the image data of the barcode read at 04.

The front code identification unit 503 and the back code identification unit 506 recognize bar codes stored in the front image memory 502 and the back image memory 505, and detect the contents.

The collation unit 507 includes data indicating the print content on the front surface of the printing paper 700 detected by the table code identification unit 503 and the printing paper 70 detected by the back code identification unit 506.
The data is compared with the data indicating the print content on the back side of No. 0 to determine whether or not the data is appropriate, and the result of the determination is output to a control unit (not shown) of the inspection device 30. Specifically, the matching unit 507
Checks whether the data of the destination code of the print data matches each other. Also, it is checked whether or not the data indicating the pages of the printed matter is printed on the front and back of one sheet of paper, and the contradiction is the inner page number. The page number is checked based on a predetermined rule based on the total number of pages of the printed matter, the method of folding the printed matter, and the like.

The printing paper 700 that has passed the front and back printing content inspection section 500 is sequentially wound up by the roll paper winding section 116.

Next, the control management device 20 will be described. The control management device 20 performs various operation conditions for the inspection device 30 such as performing operations such as setting work conditions and print parameters on the inspection device 30 and notifying an operator of data notified from the inspection device 30. It is a device that performs setting of the device and monitoring of the operation. Further, the control management device 20 also receives a log file or the like of a print status inspection result from the inspection device 30. The processing according to the present invention includes a front print state inspection unit 300a of the inspection apparatus 30.
Further, a process of setting reference image data used for inspection of a test pattern of a printed material performed by the back print state inspection unit 300b is performed. Here, the control management device 20 will be described focusing on the process of setting the reference image data.
As shown in FIG. 1, the control management device 20
1, an image scanner 22, a network interface 23, and an external storage medium drive 24.

The computer device 21 is an ordinary personal computer having a display, a keyboard, a hard disk device, various interface devices, and the like.
The exchange of various information with the inspection device 30 and the operation management of the inspection device 30 are actually performed. Further, the computer device 21 uses the test pattern information input by various methods to determine whether the front print state inspection unit 300a or the back print state inspection unit 300
Reference image data used in the inspection performed in step b is generated and set in the inspection image storage unit 330 of the inspection device 30.

The image scanner 22 is a normal scanner for taking image data into the computer device 21. The image data of the test pattern of the standard described above is
For example, by inputting a printed test pattern from the image scanner 22, the test pattern is input to the computer device 21.

The network interface 23 is an interface for the computer device 21 to communicate with a higher-level host computer and another printer system 1. When image data of the reference test pattern described above is input from another system to the computer device 21 via a network, the image data is input via the network interface 23.

The external storage medium drive 24 is, for example, a floppy disk drive or an MO (Magneto-Opti
cs) A device for recording and reproducing data on a removable recording medium such as a disk drive. The image data of the above-described reference test pattern is FD, MO
When input to the computer device 21 via a recording medium such as the above, the input is performed via the external storage medium drive device 24.

Next, in such a printer system 1, a print image is input to the printer device 2 and printed on the printing paper 700, and further input to the inspection device 30 to check its print state and print contents. The data will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating a state in which printing is performed on a printing paper 700 that is a continuous paper. FIG. 7A illustrates a first surface (front surface), and FIG. 7B illustrates a second surface (back surface).

The printed matter is, for example, a bill such as a telephone charge, and includes a billing address 701 and billing source information 70.
2, billing total information 703 _-1 and 703 _-2 , billing details 704 _{-1 to} 704 _-4 over four pages, and an advertisement 705 are printed. In addition, the details 70 of each billed content
In the upper right corner of 4, the identification information 706, such as a telephone number, is described so that the recipient or the billing worker can recognize the billing destination even when looking. These billing addresses 7
The contents from 01 to the identification information 706 are the print contents that one actually wants to notify the billing party.

In the printer device 2 of the present embodiment, with respect to these print contents, the billing address 701, billing total information 703, billing details 704 and identification information 706 are different for each billing party. Print with. The same billing source information 702, advertisement 705, and ruled lines of each item and characters indicating the items are printed in blue in any bill. Further, an image imitating a seal imprint attached to the billing source information 702 or the like is printed in red.

Also, a cue mark 710, which is a black rectangular mark, is provided at the upper left corner on both sides of each page of the bill.
Is printed. This is because, as described above, each processing unit of the printer device 2 and the inspection device 30 performs one processing on the continuous paper.
It is used to know the break position of each page.
A bar code 711 is printed immediately below the cue mark 710. This barcode 711 is
For each page, a number that can identify the billing destination and the page of billing information in the billing destination is shown. As described above, the barcode 711 is used when the front and back print content inspection unit 500 of the inspection device 30 checks the print information on both the front and back sides. This barcode is also black.

Further, on this printed matter, test patterns 720 _{-1 to} 720 _-6 for checking a printing state are printed at an upper end portion of the cue mark 710 of each page. Detailed images of the test patterns 720 _{-1 to} 720 _-6 are shown in FIGS. FIG.
Test pattern 72 described on the front and back of the first sheet (pages 1 and 2) and the front and back of the third sheet (pages 5 and 6)
0 _-1 , 720 _-2 , 720 _-5 , 720 _-6 ,
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing test patterns 720 _-3 and 720 _-4 described on the second sheet (pages ₃ and ₄ ).
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state of a pixel near a center of a printing sheet.

Both FIGS. 12 and 13 have a width of two pixels in the sub-scanning direction, are shifted by two pixels in the center of the printing paper 700, and extend completely to the printable area in the main scanning direction. Three patterns 721, 722, 72 corresponding to each color
3 and 724, 725, 726. Here, the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction are directions on the printing paper 700 based on the position of the head in the printer device 2. The three patterns are arranged at intervals of two pixels each. Further, the position where the line segment corresponding to each color is shifted by two pixels in the center of the printing paper 700 is, as described with reference to FIG.
This is a position corresponding to the boundary between two print heads.

Therefore, each of these three patterns is
Three colors of the front printing unit 200a and the back printing unit 200b
Are printed by three systems of six heads corresponding to. You
That is, the right-hand straight part of the test patterns 721 and 724
721R and 724R are the front print unit 200a and the back print
First head 232a for black of portion 200b _-1By
The straight part 721 on the left side of the test patterns 721 and 724
L and 724L are the front printing unit 200a and the back printing unit 20.
0b second head 232a for black_-2Test by
Straight line portions 722R, 72 on the right side of patterns 722, 725
5R is the blue color of the front printing unit 200a and the back printing unit 200b.
First head 232b for color_-1The test pattern 7
The straight line portions 722L, 725L on the left side of 22, 725 are
The blue printing portion of the front printing portion 200a and the back printing portion 200b
2 head 232b_-2By and test pattern 7
The straight line portions 723R and 726R on the right side of 23 and 726 are
The second printing unit for the red color of the front printing unit 200a and the back printing unit 200b
One head 232c _-1The test patterns 723 and 7
26, the straight line portions 723L and 726L on the left side
200a and the second head for the red color of the back print unit 200b.
C 232c_-2Are printed respectively.

Therefore, such a test pattern 72
If the front print state inspection unit 300a and the back print state inspection unit 300b of the inspection device 30 inspect whether 0 _{-1 to} 720 _-6 are properly printed, the left and right sums of each color of the printer device 2 can be obtained. It is possible to check whether the printing positions by the six heads are appropriate. In addition, the test pattern 72
For 0 _{-1 to} 720 _-6 , the case where printing is performed and the case where printing is not performed are set for all pixels of each head. Therefore, if any of the pixels of any one of the heads of the printer device 2 has a missing pixel due to a pinched head or a streaker due to ink leakage, an abnormality occurs in the test pattern. It can be detected by inspection in the front printing state inspection unit 300a and the back printing state inspection unit 300b of the device 30. Further, in the test patterns 720 _{-1 to} 720 _-6 , a different pattern is printed for each page on each surface, so that, for example, a head displacement in units of one page can be detected.

Next, a description will be given of the flow of processing when a desired printed material is created in the printer system 1 and the operation of the printer system 1. First, various initial settings are performed before printing is started. The operator sets various parameters for the inspection device 30 via the control management device 20. At this time, reference data of a test pattern used for checking a printing state is also set. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 14, for example, the operator sets a single-cut test pattern sample sheet 730 on which a test pattern 720 to be used is described on the image scanner 22 of the control management device 20, and captures the image.

The fetched test pattern 720 is sent from the computer device 21 to the front print state inspection unit 300 of the inspection device 30.
a and the back print state inspection unit 300b and stored in each reference image storage unit 340. When there are a plurality of types of test patterns to be used, a plurality of test pattern sample papers 730 are used, the images are sequentially taken by the image scanner 22, and the reference image storage section 34 is sequentially taken.
Store to 0. In the present embodiment, two types of test pattern sample paper 730 in which a test pattern as shown in FIG. 12 and a test pattern as shown in FIG. Input of the test pattern.

When such initial settings are completed, printing is actually started. When printing is started, image data for performing printing as shown in FIG. 11 is sequentially input to the printer device 2. This image data is data for each color on each surface. The image data to be printed on the front side of the printing paper 700 input to the printer device 2 is input from the interface unit 210 to the front printing unit 200a and stored in the print image storage unit 220. Printing unit 2
30 reads out image data corresponding to each color stored in the print image storage unit 220,
01, and prints on the printing paper 700 conveyed by the front printing unit paper conveyance unit 102. 2 corresponding to black, blue, and red arranged as shown in FIG.
Heads, that is, a total of six heads 230a _-1 and 23
0a _-2 , 230b _-1 , 230b _-2 , 230b _-1 , 230
Printing is performed according to b- ₂ , and color printing for one page is performed.

The printing paper 700 on which printing on the front side has been completed is
The sheet is reversed by the reversing device 103, conveyed to the back printing unit 200b, subjected to the same processing as the front printing unit 200a, and printed on the back surface. Then, the printing paper 700 printed on both sides is sequentially wound up by the roll paper winding unit 106, and the printing paper 700 on which printing is completed is created.

When printing is completed, the printing paper 700 is set on the inspection device 30 automatically and by an operator to convey the printing paper 700, and the printing is inspected. Of course, there may be a geographical and temporal interval from the end of printing to the start of inspection.

The printing paper 700 on which the image as shown in FIG. 11 set on the inspection device 30 is printed is scanned by the image reading unit 310 of the front print state inspection unit 300a, and the test pattern 720 is replaced with the inspection image. It is recorded in the storage unit 330. Then, the test pattern 720 recorded in the inspection image storage unit 330,
The inspection unit 350 compares the reference test pattern recorded in the reference image storage unit 340 with the reference test pattern, and inspects whether they match. As a result of the inspection, if a predetermined number or more of unmatched pixels are found, the fact is notified to the control management device 20 via the control unit 410, and the page or the like is recorded as a defective print.

The printing paper 700 whose front surface has been inspected by the front printing state inspection unit 300a is inverted by the reversing device 103, transported to the back printing state inspection unit 300b, and subjected to the same processing as the front printing state inspection unit 300a. Inspection of the print state and the print content of the back surface is performed.

The printing paper 700 whose printing state on both sides has been inspected by the front printing state inspection unit 300a and the back printing state inspection unit 300b is conveyed to the front and back printing content inspection unit 500, where the printing contents on both sides are matched. A check is made to see if the That is, the front and back print content inspection unit 50
The front-side camera 501 and the back-side camera 504 read the barcode 711 on each side of the front and back sides, identify the description contents of each side based on the number string, and determine whether or not the matching is performed by the collation unit 507. Is done. If the front and back sides are not aligned, the result is displayed in the control management device 2.
0 is notified and recorded as a defective print.

As described above, in the printer system 1 according to the present embodiment, different data such as bills can be printed at a high speed. The printed matter can be created well. At this time, the printer apparatus 2 prints the test pattern 720 as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 at a position that is inconspicuous at the end of each page of the printed matter as shown in FIG. By
The inspection device 30 can easily inspect the printing state of each page by using this.

That is, as described above, the print positions of a plurality of heads corresponding to each color for performing color printing, and a plurality of heads (six heads in the printer device 2 of the present embodiment) are appropriate. Whether or not there are no pixels missing due to head clogging, streakers due to ink leakage, etc. Can be. As a result, the print state of the printed material and the consistency of the data on the front and back of each page are properly checked, and the print state is poor, the page is missing or shifted, or the page is missing. It is possible to prevent a duplicate printed material from being output to the outside as a printed material.

The image data to be processed for performing such an inspection includes a test pattern 72 as shown in FIG.
Very small image data of about 0 is sufficient. Therefore, the capacity of the memory for recording the image data can be significantly reduced, and the number of pixels to be processed can be significantly reduced, so that the inspection can be performed at high speed. In other words, even if the printing speed increases, it is possible to perform an appropriate inspection in real time, and if the printing speed is the same, the inspection can be appropriately performed with an inexpensive configuration having a relatively slow processing speed. In particular, in a color printing apparatus as in the present embodiment, usually, such inspections must be performed in duplicate for the number of colors to be printed. Especially effective.

The present invention is not limited to the present embodiment but can be variously modified. For example, in the present embodiment, the method of loading the reference test pattern data into the reference image storage unit 340 of the inspection device 30 is as follows.
The method of inputting via the network interface 23 or the external storage medium drive 24 has been described. However, for example, the CCD of the image reading unit 310 of the front print state inspection unit 300a or the back print state inspection unit 300b
The camera 314 may be used to input the image data of the test pattern. In that case, FIG.
As shown in (1), the image data fetched by the image reading unit 310 may be input to the reference image storage unit 340, and the input may be controlled by the control unit 410. Such a configuration is preferable because peripheral devices such as the image scanner 22 are not required in the control management device 20, and the configuration of the control management device 20 is simplified.

If the cut sheet can be fed to the front inspection section paper transport section 112, the test pattern sample paper 730 as shown in FIG. Reference data can be input. Of course, the reference data of the test pattern may be input through the same route using the test pattern sample paper in which the test pattern is described on the continuous paper.

Further, for example, information indicating a format describing the shape and position of the test pattern is input from the control management device 20, and the reference pattern data is converted in the computer device 21 or the control unit 410 based on the information. It may be generated and used for inspection.

Further, in the present embodiment, when a displacement of the print head is detected, the result is notified to the control management device 20 and stored. May be specified, and what kind of processing or correspondence is performed based on the detected printing state or the like is arbitrary.

The location of the test pattern printed on the printing paper 700 is not limited to the upper end of each page as shown in FIG. It may be arranged at the lower end or in the center depending on the format of the printed matter. Also,
The function as such a test pattern may be provided to the ruled lines and the like constituting the print content of the printed matter.

The shape of the test pattern is shown in FIG.
The present invention is not limited to the pattern shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 16, a completely linear pattern 750 may be arranged at predetermined intervals in accordance with each color. With such a pattern, the size of the test pattern can be reduced, so that the test pattern can be arranged at a more inconspicuous position, and the print area of the printing paper 700 can be used as an area for printing the actual print contents. It can be used effectively.

In the present embodiment, the test patterns are arranged at the same position on each page. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, each page has its L1 < The test pattern 750 may be arranged at a position where L2 <L3, that is, at a different position for each page. Thus, L1
If the arrangement is made so that <L2 <L3, this results in 2
It is possible to detect the displacement of the head up to the page, which is preferable.

The printer system 1 of the present embodiment
In the printer device 2 described above, printing is performed using three colors, but of course, the number of colors is arbitrary. The printing may be performed in two colors or in four colors such as three primary colors and black. In that case, the front printing unit 200a and the back printing unit 200b of the printer device 2
The number of print heads and the number of test patterns to be printed may be changed according to the number of colors.

The front printing unit 200a and the back printing unit 2
In the present embodiment, the configuration of the head 232 of the print paper 700b is the same as that of the print paper 700b in the main scanning direction.
Is printed in the entire area, but three or more heads may be used. In this case, for example, if the test patterns are as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, it is preferable that the test patterns are sequentially shifted at the boundary. Further, the print head may be constituted by one color. In such a case, the shifted test pattern as described above becomes unnecessary. However, even in this case, the state of the head can be properly inspected by the method according to the present invention, and it is clear that the inspection apparatus is within the scope of the present invention.

Further, the present invention is also applicable to a single-sided printing system in which printing is performed on only one side of the printing paper 700. In this case, the inspection device is different from the inspection device 30 of the present embodiment in that the reversing device 11 is used.
3. Back printing state inspection unit 300b, back inspection unit paper transport unit 1
14, a configuration in which the front and back printing content inspection unit 500 and the front and back inspection unit paper transport unit 115 are excluded.

The method of checking the consistency of the front and back print contents in the front and back print contents inspection unit 500 is not limited to the method of comparing and collating the barcodes indicating the print contents as in the present embodiment, but may be any method. Is fine. For example, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, when identification information 706 such as a telephone number that can specify the destination is printed in a print image for each page, the data portion is read and the identification result is collated. You may do so.

The printing medium is not limited to continuous paper as shown in the present embodiment, but may be cut paper. In this case, the roll paper supply units 101 and 111 of the paper transport units 100 and 110 may be used as hopper units to supply cut paper, or the paper transport units 100 and 1 may be used.
In each of the sections 10, an edge detector may be provided to perform positioning in the sub-scanning direction. Of course, the print medium may be a print medium made of a material other than paper, and the handling mechanism of the print medium may have any configuration according to the print medium.

[0091]

As described above, according to the present invention,
With a smaller memory and simpler processing, it is possible to provide a printed matter inspection apparatus capable of appropriately inspecting a printed state of a printed matter and a printed content. In addition, a machine-readable recording medium is provided that records print data for creating a printed matter that can appropriately inspect the state of the head and the printing state at the time of printing, and furthermore, the printed contents can be appropriately inspected by simpler processing. can do. Further, by such simpler processing, it is possible to provide a printed material that can appropriately inspect the state of the head and the printing state at the time of printing, as well as the print contents.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an overall configuration of a printer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams schematically showing a configuration of a printer device of the printer system shown in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 2A is a side view of the printer device, and FIG. 2B is a top view of the printer device; It is.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a table printing unit illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing unit of a table printing unit illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement state of a print head of a front print unit illustrated in FIG. 3 with respect to a print sheet;

6A and 6B are diagrams schematically showing a configuration of an inspection device of the printer system shown in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 6A is a side view of the inspection device, and FIG. 6B is a top view of the inspection device. It is.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a table print state inspection unit illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image reading unit of the table print state inspection unit illustrated in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an inspection unit of the front print state inspection unit illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a front and back print content inspection unit of the inspection device illustrated in FIG. 6;

11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating print image data on a print sheet and a print result based on the print image data. FIG.
Is a diagram showing a front surface, and (B) is a diagram showing a back surface.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a first example of a test pattern of print image data for the printing paper illustrated in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a second example of a test pattern of print image data for the printing paper illustrated in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a test pattern sample sheet for inputting a test pattern to a printer system.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the configuration of the front print state inspection unit.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the test pattern.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the arrangement of test patterns.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer system 2 ... Printer apparatus 100 ... Paper conveyance part 101 ... Roll paper supply part, 102 ... Front printing part paper conveyance part, 103 ... Reversing device, 104 ... Back printing part paper conveyance part,
106: Roll paper take-up unit 200: Front print unit, back print unit 210: Interface unit, 220: Print image storage unit, 230: Print unit, 231: Print control unit, 232 ...
Print head 400 Control unit 3 Inspection device system 20 Control management device 21 Computer device 22 Image scanner 23 Network interface 24 External storage medium drive device 30 Inspection device 110 Paper transport unit 111 Roll Paper supply unit, 112: front inspection unit, paper conveyance unit, 113: reversing device, 114: back inspection unit, paper conveyance unit,
115: Front and back inspection unit Paper transport unit, 116: Roll paper winding unit 300: Front printing state inspection unit, back printing state inspection unit 310: Image reading unit, 311: Cue mark detection sensor, 312: Encoder unit, 313: Light irradiation Department,
314: CCD camera, 315: control unit, 330: inspection image storage unit, 340: reference image storage unit, 350
... Inspection unit, 351 ... First address counter, 352 ...
Second address counter, 353... Matching circuit, 3
54: Error counter, 355: CPU 410: Control unit 500: Front / back print content inspection unit 501: Front camera, 502: Front image memory, 50
3 front code identification unit, 504 back camera, 505 back image memory, 506 back code identification unit, 507 verification unit 700 printing paper 701 billing address, 702 billing source information, 703
... total information of billing contents, 704 ... details of billing contents, 70
5 advertisement, 706 identification information, 710 cue mark,
720: Test pattern 730: Test pattern sample paper

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Masaharu Suzuki 2-28-5 Maruyama, Nakano-ku, Tokyo No.3 Maison Shinozaki Mansion 202

Claims (33)

[Claims] An image reading means for reading the predetermined inspection image from a printed material for each predetermined unit in which an image having an image indicating a print content and a predetermined inspection image is printed on a printing medium; A print state inspection unit that inspects the state of the printing on the print medium based on the read predetermined inspection image. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising one of said image reading unit and said print state inspection unit, wherein said image reading unit is configured to print the predetermined inspection image printed on the first surface of the printing medium. The print state inspection unit performs the inspection based on a predetermined inspection image read from the first surface, and the image reading unit further includes a first surface of the medium to be printed. Reading the predetermined inspection image printed on the second surface of the back surface of the image forming apparatus, wherein the further provided print state inspection means performs the inspection based on the predetermined inspection image read from the second surface. The printed matter inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printed state is inspected for each side of the double-sided printed matter. 3. A printing unit according to claim 1, wherein data indicating print contents is sequentially read for each of said predetermined units from each of said first surface and said second surface of said print medium. The printed matter inspection apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a double-sided print content inspection unit that inspects whether the print content on the first surface and the second surface is appropriate. 4. The printed matter for each predetermined unit further includes:
Identification data for identifying the print content for the predetermined unit is printed, and the double-sided print content inspection means performs the identification data from each of the first surface and the second surface of the print target medium. 4. The printed matter inspection apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the inspection is performed based on the identification data. 5. The double-sided print content inspection means reads predetermined data of the print content for each of the predetermined units from each of the first surface and the second surface of the printing medium, and 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the inspection is performed based on predetermined data.
A printed matter inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6. The printing state inspection means refers to reference image data relating to the predetermined inspection image inputted in advance, and based on the read predetermined inspection image, the printing condition inspection means 6. The printing condition is inspected.
A printed matter inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 7. The printed matter inspection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said reference image data is input in advance via said image reading means. 8. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: a managing unit for managing the printed matter inspection apparatus; and a scanner unit connected to the managing unit, wherein the reference image data is input in advance via the scanner unit. 2. The printed matter inspection device according to 1. 9. An inspection image format information input unit for inputting format information related to the predetermined inspection image, a reference image data generation unit for generating the reference image data based on the input format information. The printed matter inspection apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising: 10. The predetermined inspection image has a predetermined pattern such that printing is performed on each pixel at least once with respect to all pixels in a printing area in the main scanning direction of the printing medium. The printing state inspection unit detects whether or not the pattern is appropriately reproduced in the read inspection image, and inspects for missing print pixels of the printed matter.
10. The printed matter inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 9. 11. The predetermined inspection image includes a predetermined pattern such that printing is not performed on each pixel at least once with respect to all pixels in a printing area in the main scanning direction of the printing medium. The printing state inspection unit detects whether or not the pattern is appropriately reproduced in the read inspection image, and inspects the presence or absence of a streaker of the printed matter. 2. The printed matter inspection device according to 1. 12. The predetermined inspection image has a predetermined pattern having a predetermined width in a sub-scanning direction of the printing medium and a pixel row continuous for a predetermined number of pixels or more in a main scanning direction. The printing state inspection unit detects whether the pixel row is appropriately reproduced as a pixel row in the main scanning direction based on the read inspection image.
The printed matter inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 13. The predetermined inspection image includes two pixel columns having a predetermined width in the sub-scanning direction of the printing medium and a length equal to or more than a predetermined number of pixels in the main scanning direction. A predetermined pattern arranged at a position shifted by a predetermined number of pixels in the sub-scanning direction, wherein the printing state inspection unit determines that each of the pixel columns is based on the read inspection image. The printed matter inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein whether or not the printed matter is appropriately displaced in the sub-scanning direction at the position is detected. 14. The printed matter is a printed matter printed using a plurality of colors, and the image reading means reads the predetermined inspection image formed by a plurality of colors collectively by one sensing means. A printed matter inspection apparatus according to claim 1. 15. The printed matter is provided for each of the predetermined units.
The predetermined inspection images that are sequentially different are printed, and the printing state detection unit is configured to detect the interval between the predetermined units of the print target medium based on the inspection images that are sequentially different for each of the read predetermined units. The printed matter inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, which inspects a state of the printing according to (1). 16. The printed matter is provided for each of the predetermined units.
The predetermined inspection image is sequentially printed at a different position of the predetermined unit, and the print state detecting unit reads the inspection image based on the inspection image at a position sequentially different for each of the read predetermined units. The printed matter inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15, which inspects a state of the printing related to an interval of the predetermined unit of a print medium. 17. The printed matter inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined inspection image is arranged at a peripheral portion outside an image indicating the print content of a predetermined unit of the printed matter. . 18. A predetermined inspection image for each predetermined unit of a printed matter which is printed on a printing medium together with an image indicating print contents by being input to a printing apparatus, and is subjected to a printing state inspection in the printing apparatus. A machine-readable recording medium on which printing data having the above data is recorded. 19. The machine-readable recording medium according to claim 18, wherein the print data includes image data indicating the print content. 20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the predetermined inspection image is a predetermined image such that printing is performed on each pixel at least once with respect to pixels in a printing area of the printing medium in the main scanning direction in the printing apparatus. 20. The machine-readable recording medium according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the recording medium has a pattern and is used for inspection of missing print pixels in the printing apparatus. 21. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the predetermined inspection image is a predetermined image such that printing is not performed on each pixel at least once with respect to pixels of a printing area of the printing medium in the main scanning direction in the printing apparatus. The machine-readable recording medium according to any one of claims 18 to 20, which has a pattern of (1) and (2), and is subjected to an inspection for the presence or absence of a streaker in the printing apparatus. 22. The predetermined inspection image has a predetermined width in the sub-scanning direction of the printing medium in the sub-scanning direction and a predetermined pattern having a pixel row continuous for a predetermined number of pixels or more in the main scanning direction. A machine-readable recording medium on which the printing data according to any one of claims 18 to 21 is recorded. 23. The predetermined inspection image includes two pixel columns each having a predetermined width in the sub-scanning direction of the printing medium and a length equal to or more than a predetermined number of pixels in the main scanning direction. Has a predetermined pattern that is arranged at a predetermined position and shifted by a predetermined number of pixels in the sub-scanning direction.
A machine-readable recording medium on which the print data according to any one of 8 to 22 is recorded. 24. The printing data of a plurality of the predetermined units, wherein the predetermined inspection image is an image that is sequentially different for each of the predetermined units that are continuous at the time of printing. 24. The machine-readable recording medium according to claim 18, which is used for inspecting the printing state at intervals of a predetermined unit. 25. The printing data of a plurality of the predetermined units, wherein the predetermined inspection images are arranged at different positions on the printing medium at the time of printing for each of the continuous predetermined units. And performing an inspection of the printing state related to the interval of the predetermined unit of the printing medium.
5. A machine-readable recording medium on which the printing data according to any one of 4) is recorded. 26. Printed matter on which an image of a print content and a predetermined inspection image used for inspection of a printing state at the time of printing in a printing apparatus are printed for each predetermined unit. 27. The printed matter according to claim 26, wherein the inspection image is arranged at a peripheral portion of the image of the print content in the predetermined unit. 28. A method according to claim 27, wherein the predetermined inspection image is printed on each pixel at least once with respect to all pixels in a printing area of the printing medium in the main scanning direction in the printing apparatus. 28. The printing apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the printing apparatus has a predetermined pattern used for inspection of missing print pixels.
Printed matter described in. Medium. 29. A method according to claim 29, wherein the predetermined inspection image is such that printing is not performed on each pixel at least once with respect to pixels in a printing area of the printing medium in the main scanning direction in the printing apparatus. The printed matter according to any one of claims 26 to 28, wherein the printed matter has a predetermined pattern to be used for inspection of the presence or absence of a streaker in the printing device. 30. A predetermined pattern, wherein the predetermined inspection image has a predetermined width in the sub-scanning direction of the printing medium in the sub-scanning direction and has a pixel row continuous for a predetermined number of pixels or more in the main scanning direction. The printed matter according to any one of claims 26 to 29, comprising: 31. The predetermined inspection image has two pixel columns having a predetermined width in the sub-scanning direction of the printing medium in the sub-scanning direction and a length not less than a predetermined number of pixels in the main scanning direction. Has a predetermined pattern arranged at a predetermined position and shifted by a predetermined number of pixels in the sub-scanning direction.
31. The printed matter according to any one of 6 to 30. 32. A print product in which a plurality of said predetermined units are continuous, wherein said predetermined inspection image is different from said predetermined unit of said print-receiving medium, which differs sequentially for each of said predetermined units which are continuous at the time of printing. The printed matter according to any one of claims 26 to 31, further comprising a pattern to be used for inspecting a state of the printing related to an interval. 33. A printed material in which the plurality of predetermined units are continuous, wherein the predetermined inspection image is arranged at different positions on the print medium at the time of printing, for each of the continuous predetermined units. 33. The printed matter according to any one of claims 26 to 32, further comprising a predetermined pattern to be used for inspecting the state of the printing with respect to the predetermined unit interval of the printing medium.