JP2001320538A - Method and device for supporting evaluation of copy quality of copying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To support user's selection of tools for test by storing an area separation result used in picture processing at the time of copying and storing the inclination of a copied document and using this copy inclination of the document to display degrees of importance of tools for test to be used for evaluation of the copy quality of a copying machine. SOLUTION: A device for supporting evaluation of the copy quality of the copying machine comprises a CPU, first and second memories, and the display device, and areas of zones separated at the time of picture processing are accumulated by classifications of zones by the CPU, and accumulated data is stored in the first memory, and tools for test used to evaluate a copy picture are preliminarily stored in the second memory in relation to classifications of zones, and degrees of importance of tools for test are calculated on the basis of the inclination of the document indicated by accumulated data of separated zones, and calculated degrees of importance of tools are displayed on the display device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for assisting evaluation of copy quality of a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Copiers are required to always maintain good copy quality. However, since the copy quality tends to decrease with aging, it is necessary to check the copy quality at regular intervals, adjust the equipment, and maintain good copy quality. This copy quality check usually involves
A test chart of a paper manuscript (printing a test pattern) and a test chart of digitized data (a digitized test pattern) are used.

In general, when a copy image is classified into characters, halftone dots, photographs, and the like, the tendency of the copy image differs depending on the user. Therefore, it is desirable to check the copy quality using a test chart that matches the tendency of the user. As an extreme example, there is no point in performing a check using a photographic test chart for a copying machine in an environment where only a character image is copied. In order to cope with this, it is only necessary to know the copying tendency of the copying machine, that is, the contents of daily copying.

As an apparatus for checking the copy quality of a copying machine, there is known a digital copying machine which incorporates automatic correction and calibration of the copying quality described in JP-A-7-38687. In this copying machine, the scanner unit and the printer unit are automatically adjusted using known original data (test chart), and adjustment amounts and failure diagnosis information are reported to an operator or a maintenance technician through a user interface such as a display. Like that. As the original data, the test chart of the paper manuscript and the test chart of the digitized data are shared.

As a method for facilitating the setting of copying conditions, a method of controlling a copying machine described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-230746 is known. In this control method, the use history of the setting such as the magnification is recorded, and the setting value is changed by assigning a weight to the newer one to judge the usage tendency.

Further, a system for performing maintenance / diagnosis by communicating test patterns is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-2928.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-5959 discloses a diagnostic system for an image printing apparatus. In this system, a test pattern included in one side is transferred to the other side, thereby performing maintenance / communication including a communication portion with a remote apparatus. Diagnosis is also performed at the same time.

[0007]

However, each of the above-described copying machines has a configuration in which when checking the copying quality of the copying machine, the checking is performed using a test chart that matches the copy content of the user. Not.

[0008] That is, in the digital copying machine described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-38687, there is no mention of a method of selecting test charts for checking. It was entrusted to.

In the copying machine control method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-230746, the operability is improved by utilizing the history of the setting operation of the user among the usage conditions. It is not intended to select a test chart for checking by using.

Further, the diagnostic system of the image printing apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-292859 does not select a test chart for checking by utilizing the tendency of copy contents.

According to the present invention, the tendency of a copied document is stored by accumulating the area separation results used in image processing at the time of copying, and the copying tendency of a copying machine is stored by utilizing the tendency of copying the document. An object of the present invention is to provide a copy quality evaluation support apparatus and method for a copying machine that displays the importance of a test tool used for quality evaluation and assists a user in selecting a test tool.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a copying machine for reading a document image, separating the read document image into a plurality of types of areas, performing image processing according to the separated areas, and outputting a copied image. A copy quality evaluation support apparatus, comprising: a separation area accumulation unit that accumulates the area of an area separated during image processing for each type of area; and a separation area accumulation data storage unit that accumulates data accumulated by the separation area accumulation unit. And a test tool storage unit that stores a test tool for evaluating a copied image in association with an area type, and calculates the importance of the test tool based on the tendency of the document indicated by the separated area total data. And a display unit for displaying the calculated tool importance.

In the present invention, the separation area accumulating section and the tool importance calculating section include a CPU, a ROM, a RAM,
A microprocessor consisting of an / O port can be used.

It is desirable to use a relatively large-capacity storage device that does not lose its contents even when the power is turned off, as the separated region total data storage unit and the test tool storage unit. For example, a magnetic disk device or the like can be applied.

The display section only needs to be able to display the calculated tool importance. Examples of such a display device include a CRT display device and a liquid crystal display device.

In the above configuration, it is preferable that the separated area accumulating section accumulates the area of each area for each type of character image area, halftone image area, photographic image area, and other image areas. In this case, the area of the area may be accumulated for each of the character image area, the halftone image area, the photographic image area, the area where different types of image areas are adjacent to each other, and other image areas.

It is preferable that a tool information storage unit for storing the validity for each type of area for each test tool, and a tool use history storage unit for storing a use history of the test tool are further provided. When the tool use history storage unit is provided, it is desirable to correct the validity for the type of area stored in the tool information storage unit based on the use history of the test tool. In this way, it is possible to prevent a test only for an area having a large accumulated amount in the classified area accumulating unit from being performed.

It is desirable that the separated area total data storage unit is configured to accumulate the total data of the area of the area for each predetermined period and delete the total data after the lapse of a predetermined period.

It is desirable that the tool importance calculating section is configured such that, when calculating the importance of the test tool, the separated area total data is multiplied by a smaller weighting factor for the older data.

The present invention is also a copying machine incorporating the above-described copying machine copy quality evaluation support apparatus.

The present invention further reads an original image,
A copy quality evaluation support method for a copier that separates a read document image into a plurality of types of areas, performs image processing according to the separated areas, and outputs a copy image, and the area of the areas separated during image processing. Is accumulated for each type of area, the accumulated data is stored in the memory, and a test tool for evaluating the copied image is stored in advance in the memory in association with the type of the area, and the separated area total data is stored. Is a method of calculating the importance of a test tool based on the tendency of a document indicated by the above, and displaying the calculated tool importance on a display unit.

The present invention is also a computer-readable recording medium which records a copying quality evaluation support program for a copying machine for causing a computer to execute the above-described method for supporting copying quality evaluation of a copying machine.

[0023]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings based on embodiments. Note that the present invention is not limited by this.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a digital copying machine in which a copying quality evaluation support device for a copying machine according to the present invention is incorporated. In this figure, 1 is a digital copying machine, 2 is an image reading unit, 3 is an image processing unit, 4 is an image forming unit, 5 is a storage unit, 6 is a control unit, 7 is an image comparison and evaluation unit, 8
Denotes a communication unit, and 9 denotes a user I / F (interface).

The image processing unit 3, the control unit 6, and the image comparison and evaluation unit 7 are constituted by a microprocessor comprising a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and an I / O port.

The storage unit 5 is a storage device, such as a hard disk or a flash memory, which does not lose its contents even when the power is turned off. The storage unit 5 stores the separated area total data 11, the test tool 12, the tool information 13, Tool usage history 14
Is stored.

The control section 6 has a mode setting section 15, a separation area totaling section 16, a tool importance calculating section 17, and an announcement generating section 18.

The image reading section 2 is composed of a line image sensor composed of a CCD, and has a maximum width capable of copying (for example, about 320 to 3 if copying is possible up to the width of A3).
50 mm). The image reading unit 2 performs a scanning operation (or may move a sheet) while moving the line image sensor in a direction (sub-scanning direction) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the line image sensor. The image reading unit 2 scans the supplied document, reads an image on the document as image data, converts the read image data into a digital signal, and outputs the digital signal.

The image processing unit 3 receives the output from the image reading unit 2, performs image processing of the data, and outputs the processed data. This image processing unit 3 is a DSP (Digital Signal P
and performs image processing such as area separation, color correction, filter processing, and halftone processing. At the time of region separation, the image is separated into a character image, a halftone dot image, a photographic image, and four other types of regions. Then, the size (the number of pixels, the area, or the like) of each separated region is given to the separated region totaling unit 16 of the control unit 6.

The image forming section 4 is a page printer such as an electrophotograph or an ink jet, and receives data from the image processing section 3 to copy and print an original image on paper.

The separation area accumulation section 16 receives the area separation result from the image processing section 3 and converts the image area into characters, halftone dots, photographs,
The data is accumulated for each of the other four areas, and is stored in the storage unit 5 as the separated area accumulated data 11.

The separated area total data 11 in the storage unit 5 is
The data accumulated by the separation area accumulating unit 16 is accumulated. The test tool 12 in the storage unit 5 is a tool for checking the copy quality, and stores a plurality of types. The tool information 13 includes the above-described characters, halftone dots,
The validity for the type of area such as a photograph is stored for each test tool. The tool usage history 14 stores the usage history of the test tool.

FIG. 2A is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the storage contents of the separated area total data 11. In this figure, the target month “0” indicates the current month, and the target month “−n (n = 1, 2,...)
..) ”Indicates n months ago. As the separated area total data, the number of pixels of the separated area is represented by the character SL and the halftone dot S.
M, photo SP, and other areas are accumulated for each SB area. This total data may be represented not only by the number of pixels but also by the area. In this way, the data is accumulated for each fixed period, and the old data is discarded sequentially. In this example, data up to 11 months ago is stored, but data for a longer period may be stored as needed. As shown in FIG. 2B, it is possible to weight the separated area cumulative data so that new data is emphasized.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the storage contents of the separated area total data 11. In this example, as the separated area total data, the number of pixels of the area is represented by a character SL and a halftone dot S.
M, photo SP, and other SBs are accumulated for each area.
As areas where different types of areas are adjacent, sentence / halftone (area where character and halftone dot are adjacent) SLM, halftone / shape (area where halftone dot and photo are adjacent) SMP, Are adjacent areas) SPL, and sentence / halftone / shape (area where characters, halftone dots, and pictures are adjacent) SLMP areas are also accumulated.

FIG. 4A is an explanatory view partially showing an example of an original on which only characters are printed. In the example of FIG.
The count of the area is 20 pixels for the character area and 80 pixels for the other area (blank area). FIG. 4B is an explanatory view partially showing an example of a document in which characters are printed on a halftone dot. In the example of FIG. Area: 80 pixels, sentence / dot area: 34
It becomes a pixel.

The test tool 12 includes a test chart for performing a failure diagnosis and a copy quality evaluation test, and evaluation software for evaluating the results. These are for text (a tool whose main purpose is to check characters),
It is stored for each test object for halftone dots (a tool whose main purpose is to check halftone dots) and for photographs (a tool whose main focus is to check a photo).

The test chart in the test tool 12 is reference data for testing, and is a test chart in which a test pattern is digitized (digitized test chart).
It is. In addition, a test chart (paper test chart) of a paper document in which the same pattern as the digitized test chart is printed on paper is separately prepared outside the copying machine.

The evaluation software in the test tool 12 is software for evaluating and judging the result of copying using the digitized test chart or both the digitized test chart and the paper test chart. 7 is used in the image comparison evaluation.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the test tool 12. As shown in FIG.
Is stored in association with the type of area such as characters, halftone dots, and photographs. For example, a character chart, a resolution chart, and the like are stored for characters. For a halftone dot, a halftone gradation chart or the like is stored. For a photograph, a photograph gradation chart or the like is stored. As described above, these tools are a set of a test chart and evaluation software, and two types of test charts are prepared: an electronic test chart and a paper test chart.
The digitized test chart is stored in the storage unit 5.

The above is a simple example of a test tool. In this example, the tool information 13 indicating the validity of the tool is represented by a character chart and a resolution chart.
"1.00 (effective rate 100%)" for characters and "0 (effective rate 0%)" for halftone dots and photographs. In the halftone chart, “1.00 (effective rate 10
0%) ”,“ 0 (effective rate 0%) ”for text and photos
It is. In the photo gradation chart, “1.
00 (effective rate 100%) ”and“ 0 ”for characters and halftone dots
(Effective rate 0%) ". The tool use history 14 is not stored.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing another example of the test tool 12. In this example, only the resolution evaluation tool is shown, but in addition, a character evaluation tool for characters, a halftone evaluation tool for halftone dots, a photographic gradation evaluation tool for photographs, etc. have the same configuration. Can be stored.

In the resolution evaluation tool shown in FIG. 6, resolution chart data used as a test chart and “(validity character / V _RL ) 1.00” and “(validity halftone / V _RM )
0.05 ”,“ (Effectiveness photo / V _RP ) 0.05 ”, and“ (Last execution month) 1999 /
A tool use history 14 indicated by 6 "and resolution evaluation data used as evaluation software are stored as one set.
As the content of the resolution chart data, the resolution chart data is stored together with other data as shown by the broken arrow on the right side of the drawing.

As described above, the tool information 13 is data indicating which area of a character, a halftone dot, or a photograph is valid for the test by the test tool 12. In the tool information 13, “(validity character / V _RL ) 1.00” indicates that the validity of the character is 100%, and “(validity dot / V _RL )
V _RM ) 0.05 ”is 5% effective for halftone dots,
“(Effectiveness photo / V _RP ) 0.05” indicates that the effectiveness on the photograph is 5%.

As described above, by separately storing the test tool and the validity information of the test tool, the tool information is re-registered even if the test tool is added or updated. Eliminates the need.

The tool use history 14 is, as described above,
The time when the test by the test tool 12 was last performed is recorded. As shown in FIG. 7, the tool usage history 14 can be weighted so that the more recently performed, the lower the effectiveness. In the figure, the target month “0” indicates the current month, and the target month “−n (n = 1, 2,...)”
Indicates n months ago. The tool information is corrected based on the tool use history 14. This prevents tests only for areas with large cumulative weights from being performed,
Tests for areas with small cumulative weights should also be properly woven.

The mode setting section 15 of the control section 6 sets the copying machine to a normal mode for performing normal processing such as copying by setting a flag, and performs processing (test processing) for supporting evaluation of copy quality. Set the test mode to perform.
When the test process is instructed, the test mode is set before the test process is executed, and the test mode is returned to the normal mode after the test process is completed, so that the test process is not interrupted by the copy instruction or the external print instruction. I do. During the test processing, an LED or the like indicates that the test processing is being performed.

The tool importance calculating unit 17 refers to the separated area total data 11 stored in the storage unit 5 and furthermore, based on the tool information 13 and the tool use history 14, determines the importance of the tool in the test tool 12. The degree is calculated and displayed to assist the user in selecting a test tool (test chart and evaluation software) that requires a test.

For example, when it is determined that the number of character areas is large in the separated area total data 11, the tool information 13 is referred to and a test tool valid for the character among the test tools 12 is determined. Higher priority. If it is determined in the separated area total data 11 that there are many halftone dot areas, a test tool effective for the halftone dots is assigned a higher importance. If it is determined in the separated area total data 11 that there are many photo areas, a test tool effective for the photo is assigned a higher importance.

The announcement generator 18 displays the result of the importance of the test tool calculated by the tool importance calculator 17 on the user I / F 9 to assist the user in selecting the test tool. Alternatively, the user is presented with a test tool that needs to perform the test, and the user receives a test execution instruction.

The user I / F 9 is an input / output device including a display device such as a CRT display device and a liquid crystal display device, and a keyboard and a mouse. The user I / F 9 is used for inputting an instruction from a user. Displays the result of the importance of the generated test tool.

The image comparison / evaluation unit 17 compares the result of reading the paper test chart with the image reading unit 2 with the digitized test chart that matches the paper test chart. Alternatively, the digitized test chart is printed by the image forming unit 4 and the result read by the image reading unit 2 is compared with the test chart of the digitized data. Then, by determining the result of this comparison using the corresponding evaluation software,
Evaluate copy quality. This evaluation software may incorporate image comparison software.

The test chart of the test tool to be used may be determined in order from the test chart of the test tool with the highest importance calculated by the tool importance calculation unit 17 or the tool importance may be used. A user may use a test chart of a test tool selected in consideration of the importance calculated by the calculation unit 17 and a unique determination criterion by a user.

In the normal mode, the communication unit 8 is connected to a LAN,
It receives print data from the outside via a WAN or the like and transmits the status of the copying machine to the outside. Note that Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-2
As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 92859, a new test tool may be introduced from the outside via the communication unit 8. The test tool introduced from the outside may be a target of the selection of the test tool, or may be added to the test tool 12 of the storage unit 5.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the contents of the processing operation of the separated area accumulating section 16, and the contents of the separated area accumulating processing will be described with reference to this flowchart. In the separation area accumulating process, first, attention is paid to the first line of the copy original (step S1). If it is not the last line, the process waits for completion of the next line (step S3). Focus on the first pixel (step S
4) It is checked whether the pixel belongs to a character, a halftone dot, a photograph, or any other area (step S5). If the pixel belongs to a character area, the pixel is counted. , A memory A for determination is set, and 3 bits having weights of “1”, “2”, and “4” are set in the memory A, and “1” is set in the memory A in the case of a character.
Is added (step S6). If the area is a halftone dot, halftone dots are counted, and "2" is added to the memory A (step S7). "4" (step S
8). If it is another area such as a blank area, other counting is performed (step S9), and the process proceeds to step S21.

Next, the vicinity of the pixel of interest is examined, and if there is a character in the vicinity (either 4 or 8) (step S10), the memory A (pixel of interest) stores the character " 1 ”is added (step S11), and if there is a halftone dot in the vicinity (step S12),“ 2 ”of the halftone dot (neighboring pixel) is added to the memory A (pixel of interest) (step S13), and there is a photograph in the vicinity. If (step S14), "4" of a photograph (neighboring pixel) is added to the memory A (pixel of interest) (step S15).

Then, the contents of the memory A are checked to count the adjacent area (step S16). If the value is "3", the character / dot is regarded as an adjacent area, and the sentence / network is counted. If the value is "6", halftone / photographing is counted assuming that the halftone dot and the photograph are adjacent areas (step S1).
8) If "5", the photograph / text is counted as an area where the photograph and the character are adjacent to each other (step S19),
If it is "7", text / halftone / shape is counted as an area where characters, halftone dots, and photographs are adjacent to each other (step S2).
0).

Then, it is checked whether or not it is the end of the line (step S21). If it is not the end of the line, attention is paid to the next pixel (step S22), and the process returns to step S5. Next, it is checked whether or not the line is the last line (step S23). If it is not the last line, the next line is focused (step S24), and the process returns to step S2. If it is the last line, the count is converted into an area or the like. (Step S25), add to the total data (Step S2)
6).

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the contents of the processing operation of the control unit 6 in the test mode. The processing contents of the control unit in the test mode will be described with reference to this flowchart.

At the time of checking the copy quality, first, the test mode is set (step S31), and the importance of the test tool is calculated based on the cumulative result of the area classification (step S32). Then, since the importance of the test tool is displayed (step S33), the user selects an instruction of the test tool from the display (step S34), and performs tests such as image evaluation and diagnostic maintenance. Then, the use history of the used test tool is recorded (step S36), and the process returns to the normal mode (step S37).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the contents of the processing operation of the tool importance calculating section 17, and the processing contents of the tool importance calculating section will be described with reference to this flowchart. This flowchart is a detailed flowchart of step S32 in FIG.

In the tool importance calculation process, first, a weighted sum of the monthly total (area) for each type of region: Sx ← Σ (S
xm × Wm) (step S41), and the presence or absence of another area is checked (step S42). If there is another area, the process returns to step S41 and is repeated. Effectiveness by tool usage history: V
yx is corrected (step S43), and for each test tool, the sum of the area and the corrected validity is calculated as the product sum: Iy ← Σ
(Sx × Vyx) is calculated (step S44), and the presence or absence of another test tool is checked (step S45). If there is another test tool, the process returns to step S41. If there is no other test tool, the process is terminated. finish.

In this way, when image processing is performed by the digital copying machine, the results of determination of copy areas such as character images, halftone images, and photographic images are stored, and image evaluation is performed based on the tendency of the document based on the stored results. And the importance of maintenance tools are calculated and displayed. This makes it easy for a maintenance technician, operator or user to select a test tool such as a test chart according to the usage tendency when evaluating and adjusting the image of the digital copying machine. In addition, by performing image evaluation and adjustment in the order of importance, effective evaluation and maintenance work can be performed within a limited time.

In calculating the importance of the test tool, the total separation area data is referred to. The total separation area data uses the result of the area separation in the image processing at the time of copying. As described above, since data that can be said to be a by-product of image processing is used, the cumulative processing of the regions is easy. In addition, the selection of the test tool corresponding to the type of the region to be separated is certain.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, the total data of the separated areas is divided and accumulated for every predetermined period, and the old data is discarded sequentially, so that the latest copy tendency is always grasped. In addition to this, it is possible to prevent the past copying results from being affected forever. In addition, it is possible to perform an operation such as deleting the result of the period of the peculiar use later.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2B, by weighting the separated area cumulative data, it is possible to adjust what period of the copy result is reflected in the calculation of the importance of the tool. Becomes Further, when weighting is applied to the separated area total data so that new data is emphasized, it is possible to reflect recent copying results more.

Also, as shown in FIG. 3, if the separated area total data also includes the areas where different types of image areas are adjacent to each other, for example, if the adjacent area between the characters and the halftone dots is large, It is possible to calculate the importance of a more precise tool, for example, by assigning a higher priority to a test tool for evaluating a character as a background.

[0067]

According to the present invention, when copying by a copying machine,
The area of the separated region is stored for each type of region,
When evaluating the copy quality, the stored separation area total data is used to calculate and display the importance of the test tool, so the user can select the best test tool according to the copying tendency of the copier. It is possible to do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a digital copying machine incorporating a copying quality evaluation support device for a copying machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of storage contents of separated area total data according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the storage contents of the separated area total data of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a document in which only characters exist in the embodiment, and an example of a document in which halftone dots and characters are mixed.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing types of test tools according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a resolution chart of the test tool according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of stored contents of a tool use history according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of a processing operation of a separation region accumulating unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of a processing operation of a control unit in a test mode according to the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the contents of a processing operation of a tool importance calculating unit according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Digital copying machine 2 Image reading part 3 Image processing part 4 Image formation part 5 Storage part 6 Control part 7 Image comparison evaluation part 8 Communication part 9 User I / F 11 Total data of separated area 12 Test tool 13 Tool information 14 Use of tool History 15 Mode setting section 16 Separation area accumulation section 17 Tool importance calculation section 18 Announcement generation section

Claims (8)

[Claims] An apparatus for reading a document image, separating the read document image into a plurality of types of areas, performing image processing according to the separated areas, and outputting a copied image, is a copy quality evaluation support apparatus for a copying machine. A separating area accumulating section for accumulating the area of the area separated at the time of image processing for each type of area, a separating area accumulating data storage section for accumulating data accumulated by the separating area accumulating section, and evaluating a copied image. A test tool storage unit that stores the test tool in association with the type of area, a tool importance calculation unit that calculates the importance of the test tool based on the tendency of the manuscript indicated by the separated area total data, A copy quality evaluation support device for a copying machine, comprising: a display unit for displaying the calculated tool importance. 2. The copying quality of a copying machine according to claim 1, wherein the separation area accumulating section accumulates the area of each area for each type of a character image area, a halftone image area, a photographic image area, and other image areas. Evaluation support device. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a tool information storage unit for storing the validity for each type of area for each test tool. 4. The copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the separated area total data storage unit accumulates total data of the area of the area for each predetermined period, and deletes the total data after a predetermined period. Copy quality evaluation support device for machines. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tool importance calculating section refers to the separated area total data for calculating the importance of the test tool by applying a smaller weighting factor to the older data. Item 2. A copying quality evaluation support device for a copying machine according to Item 1. 6. A copying machine in which the copying quality evaluation support device for a copying machine according to claim 1 is incorporated. 7. A copy quality evaluation support method for a copying machine which reads a document image, separates the read document image into a plurality of types of areas, performs image processing according to the separated areas, and outputs a copy image. The area of the area separated during image processing is accumulated for each area type, the accumulated data is stored in the memory, and a test tool for evaluating the copied image is associated with the area type in the memory. The copy quality of the copying machine is stored in advance, and the importance of the test tool is calculated based on the tendency of the manuscript indicated by the separated area total data, and the calculated tool importance is displayed on the display unit. Evaluation support method. 8. A copy quality evaluation support program for a copying machine that reads a document image, separates the read document image into a plurality of types of regions, performs image processing according to the separated regions, and outputs a copy image. A procedure for accumulating the area of the area separated during image processing for each area type, a procedure for accumulating the accumulated data in the memory, and a test tool for evaluating the copied image associated with the area type. In the computer, a procedure for calculating the importance of the test tool based on the tendency of the manuscript indicated by the separation area total data, and a procedure for displaying the calculated tool importance on the display unit. A computer-readable recording medium on which a copy quality evaluation support program of a copying machine for causing a computer to execute is recorded.