JP2004090402A - Printing correction system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate correction to a printed matter medium which is accompanied with printing failures, without damaging the design in relation to a printed matter correcting system for detecting and correcting printing failure parts of the printed matter medium. <P>SOLUTION: The printing correction system is configured, in which printing information printed to the printed matter medium 12 is imaged by an imaging means 14, image data corresponding to the pick-up image data is formed by a control process means 17 from retained printing data and is compared with the pick-up image data, a different part is recognized as the printing failure and the printing failure part is subjected to hiding printing by a hiding printing means 15 with the same color as a ground color of the printed matter medium 12, and corresponding printing information is suitably printed to the hiding printing part by a correction printing means 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a print correction system that detects and corrects a defective print portion of a print medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, printing technology has been advanced and resolution has been improved, and functions of printing machines have also been improved. Even in the printing in such a situation, since the occurrence of printing failure due to the mechanical part is not endless, it is desired that even if the printing failure occurs, it can be corrected without damaging the design.
[0003]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, printing methods have been diversified, and there are various types, from large-scale printing methods such as an offset printing method using a plate and a screen printing method, to printing methods capable of on-demand printing such as an inkjet method and an electrostatographic method. Even with such various printing methods, unnecessary printing using powder of a printing medium, or insufficient moisture or insufficient quantity of printing ink or toner used may cause partial blurring or the like. At present, when such printing failure occurs, the printed product is discarded as spoiling the design.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the occurrence of printing defects causes a decrease in yield and waste of print media. Therefore, in order to avoid this, it is necessary for an operator to manage print quality in detail. However, the management of print quality is complicated and causes no increase in the burden on the workers, so it has not been dealt with, and it has to be tolerated to some extent that the yield is reduced and a lot of resources are wasted on the print medium. There is a problem.
[0005]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a print correction system that easily corrects a printed medium in which a print defect has occurred without damaging the design.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a print correction system which detects a print defect and corrects a print medium on which print information of a predetermined content is printed. An imaging unit that captures printed print information, and print data of the print information printed on the print medium are held, and image data corresponding to the image data captured by the imaging unit is created based on the print data. Control processing means for comparing the captured image data with the captured image data and recognizing a different part as a print defect; and concealment for performing concealment printing on the defective print part in the same color as the ground color of the print medium in accordance with an instruction from the control processing means. And a printing unit.
[0007]
The invention according to claims 2 to 6 is configured to “provide a corrected print unit that prints the corresponding print information based on the print data in the opaque print portion”.
At least one of the concealment printing unit and the correction printing unit has a multi-color printing function, and performs printing in accordance with an instruction color from the control processing unit.
The "concealment printing means and the correction printing means are on-demand printing means" configuration,
"The control processing means, when recognizing the printing failure, specifies at least the position and size of the printing failure portion",
The "control processing means specifies at least one of a density, a print color, and a ground color of the print medium when recognizing the print defect".
[0008]
As described above, the print information printed on the print medium is imaged, created from print data having image data corresponding to the imaged image data, collated with the imaged image data, and the difference is recognized as a print defect. Then, concealment printing is performed on the defective print portion in the same color as the ground color of the print medium, and the corresponding print information is printed on the concealed print portion as appropriate. That is, it is possible to easily correct the defective print portion without impairing the design by concealing printing or appropriately correcting the defective print portion, thereby improving the yield and avoiding waste of the print medium. It is possible.
[0009]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the print medium will be described as paper and the print medium to be corrected will be described as a continuous sheet. However, a film (excluding a transparent color) or the like may be applied as a print medium, and the correction target may be a sheet-like print material. It can also be applied as a medium.
[0010]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a print correction system according to the present invention. The print correction system 11 shown in FIG. 1A corrects a printed continuous sheet 12 which is a print medium on which print information of a predetermined content is printed, when there is a printing failure, to obtain a corrected printed continuous sheet 13. It comprises an imaging means 14, a concealment printing means 15, a correction printing means 16, and a control processing means 17.
[0011]
The image pickup means 14 picks up the print information printed on the printed material continuous sheet 12 and sends out the picked-up image data to the control processing means 17. The control processing unit 17 holds print data of print information printed on the printed material continuous sheet 12, creates image data corresponding to the image data captured by the imaging unit 14 based on the print data, and generates the image data. The data is collated with the data, and the difference is recognized as a printing failure. The details will be described with reference to FIG.
[0012]
The concealment printing unit 15 performs concealment printing on the defective printing part recognized in accordance with the instruction of the control processing unit 17 with the same color as the ground color of the continuous printed material sheet 12. Is adopted. The correction printing unit 16 prints on the concealed print portion printed by the concealment printing unit 15 based on the print data holding the corresponding print information. For example, an electrostatic photography method capable of printing on demand is adopted. Is what is done.
[0013]
The print correction system 21 shown in FIG. 1B includes a printing unit 23 that prints a continuous sheet 22 to be printed based on print data held by the control processing unit 17. Is the same as FIG. That is, when the print information is printed by the printing unit 22, the printout continuous sheet 12 is subjected to print defect correction and is imaged by the imaging unit 14.
[0014]
In the following, a case will be described in which the print correction system 21 of FIG. 1B recognizes and corrects a print defect immediately after printing the print information. In this case, the ground color of the continuous sheet 22 to be printed is changed to a normal high quality paper. The description will be made on the assumption that the printing on the printed material continuous sheet 12 is performed with black printing ink. Therefore, the concealment printing unit 15 is provided with a white toner (to which a white pigment is added), and the correction printing unit 16 is provided with a normal black toner.
[0015]
Note that the same applies to a case where a print defect is recognized and corrected in a printed material continuous sheet 12 on which print information is printed in advance, as in the print correction system 11 shown in FIG. In the case of applying, the correspondence in the case of creating the image data of the collation target based on the captured image data can be specified, for example, by marking the printed continuous sheet 12 to specify the print information of the imaging target. It is.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control processing means in the print correction system according to the present invention. 2A, the control processing unit 17 includes a control unit 31, a bus 32, an interface (IF) 33, an imaging data acquisition unit 34, a collation identification unit 35, a print data creation unit 36, and a concealed data creation unit 37, as appropriate. , A correction data creation unit 38 and a print data storage unit 39. Then, in FIG. 2B, the collation specifying unit 35 includes a collating unit 41, a print position analyzing unit 42, a density-related analyzing unit 43, and a correction target specifying unit 44 as appropriate.
[0017]
The control means 31 controls the control of the system, and stores a corresponding control program. The IF 33 inputs the captured image data from the imaging unit 14 and sends out a corresponding print data file to the concealment printing unit 15, the correction printing unit 16, and the printing unit 23. The imaging data acquisition unit 34 acquires and stores the captured image data from the imaging unit 14 and also serves as a work area for the collation specifying process performed by the collation specifying unit 35.
[0018]
The print data creating unit 36 acquires print information to be printed on the continuous sheet 22 to be printed by the print unit 23 from the print data storage unit 39, creates a print data file, and sends the print data file to the print unit 23. The image data of the print information is created, and the image data is stored in the image data acquisition unit 34 as a target to be compared with the image data. The concealment data creating unit 37 creates a concealment print data file for concealment printing for the defective print portion specified by the collation specifying unit 35 and sends it to the concealment printing unit 15. The correction data creating means 38 obtains from the print data storage section 39 the print contents for printing the print information corresponding to the defective print portion specified by the collation specifying means 35, creates a print data file, and To 16. The print data storage unit 39 stores data to be printed on the unprinted continuous sheet 22 to be printed.
[0019]
The collation unit 41 in the collation identification unit 35 collates the image data created from the print data with the captured image data by a known image processing method. For example, a standard for comparing the image data with each other is determined. The comparison target area is appropriately divided, and comparison and collation are performed by pattern matching (similarity comparison of data values (here, two values), comparison by feature extraction, comparison of analysis spectra, and the like). The print position analysis unit 42 analyzes the position and size of a difference portion in the collation result by the collation unit 41 as a print failure portion. Here, the density-related analysis means 43 analyzes the density (blurring due to a distribution pattern of data values) of the printing failure portion of the different portion.
[0020]
Then, the correction target specifying unit 44 specifies and recognizes whether the defective print portion is a print spot or a blur based on the analyzed position, size, and density of the defective print portion of the different portion. In the case of a print stain, the data of the position and size is sent to the concealed data creating unit 37. In the case of a blur, the data of the position and the size are sent to the concealment data creation unit 37 and the position data is sent to the correction data creation unit 38.
[0021]
Next, FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the principle of correction of a printed matter according to the present invention. FIG. 3A shows a case where printing spots 52A and 52B are printed in the vicinity of the printing information 51 printed on the printed material continuous sheet 12, for example, with paper dust or the like. Therefore, the positions and sizes of the printing spots 52A and 52B are recognized and specified as printing defects. The concealed printing means 15 prints the defective prints 51A and 52B with white toner to form the correction areas 53A and 53B, whereby the print stains 52A and 52B are printed on the continuous printed sheet. 12 is corrected so as to be difficult to see.
[0022]
FIG. 3B shows a case in which, for example, the character “F” in the print information 51 is blurred and becomes a defective print character 54 due to, for example, a shortage of moisture or a shortage of printing ink or toner. Then, the position of the faint “F” character is recognized and specified as the defective print character 54 by the density analysis, and the normal density print character “F” is specified. The defective printing character 54 is printed with white toner by the concealment printing unit 15 to form a correction area 55, and a normal density print character (“F”) 56 is printed on the correction area 55. Thus, the defective printed character 54 is corrected so as to be difficult to visually recognize on the printed material continuous sheet 12, and the printed character 56 having the normal density is printed.
[0023]
Next, FIG. 4 shows a processing flowchart of the printed matter correction in the present invention. In FIG. 4, first, in the control processing unit 17, the print data creation unit 36 acquires the corresponding print data from the print data storage unit 39 and creates a print data file to be printed on the continuous sheet 22 to be printed. And prints it, and creates image data from the print data (step (S) 1). For the print information printed on the continuous sheet 22 to be printed, an imaging instruction is issued to the imaging unit 14 to image the print information, and the captured image data is acquired by the imaging data acquisition unit 34 (S2).
[0024]
Then, the collating means 41 of the collating and identifying means 35 compares and collates the image data created from the print data with the captured image data by, for example, pattern matching (S3). In the comparison and collation, the print position in the print information is analyzed by the print position analysis unit 42, and the density analysis is performed by the density-related analysis unit 43 (S4). Then, it is determined whether the print positions match (S5), and it is determined whether the density of the printed print information is appropriate (S6).
[0025]
In step S5, if the print positions match, the process ends. If the print positions do not match, the correction target specifying unit 43 prints the non-matching portions as print stains 52A and 52B as shown in FIG. It is determined to be defective, and the position and size of the unmatched portion are specified (S7). The concealment data creating unit 37 creates a concealed printing data file based on the positions and sizes of the print spots 52A and 52B analyzed and specified (S8), and sends the concealed data to the concealed printing unit 15. Then, printing for concealment is performed (S9).
[0026]
On the other hand, if the result of the density analysis is that all of the print information has an appropriate density in S6, the process ends. If there is a character whose density is not appropriate, the correction target specifying unit 43 determines that the density is not appropriate. The character is identified as a faint defective print character 54 as shown in FIG. 3B (S10). The concealment data creation unit 37 creates a concealment print data file based on the position of the defective print character 54 that has been analyzed and specified, and sends the concealment print data file to the concealment print unit 15 to perform printing for concealment ( S11). Further, the correction data creating unit 38 creates a data file based on the position data of the defective print character and the same character data obtained from the print data storage unit 39, and sends the data file to the correction printing unit 16 to print at an appropriate density. (S12).
[0027]
In this manner, by forming the correction areas 53A, 53B, and 55 by concealment printing and printing the correction characters 56 by correction printing on print defective portions such as the print stains 52A and 52B and the defective characters 54, the design is not spoiled. The defective printing portion can be easily corrected, thereby improving the yield and avoiding waste of the print medium.
[0028]
Next, FIG. 5 shows another processing flowchart of the printed matter correction in the present invention. Here, the concealing printing unit 15 and the correction printing unit 16 in FIGS. 1A and 1B are on-demand printing units capable of multicolor printing (any one of the continuous sheet 12 and the continuous sheet 22 to be printed). In addition, in FIG. 2B, the density-related analysis means 43 performs color analysis and color density analysis in addition to the above analysis.
[0029]
In FIG. 5, first, in the control processing unit 17, the print data creation unit 36 acquires the corresponding print data from the print data storage unit 39 and creates a print data file to be printed on the continuous sheet 22 to be printed. And prints it, and creates image data from the print data (S21). For the print information printed on the continuous sheet 22 to be printed, an imaging instruction is issued to the imaging unit 14 to image the print information, and the captured image data is acquired by the imaging data acquisition unit 34 (S22).
[0030]
Therefore, the collating means 41 of the collating and identifying means 35 compares and matches the image data created from the print data with the captured image data by, for example, pattern matching as described above (S23). In the comparison and collation, the print position in the print information is analyzed by the print position analysis means 42, and the density-related analysis is performed by the density-related analysis means 43 (S24). The analysis relating to the density in this case is an analysis of the density and color of the print information, the ground color of the continuous sheet 22 to be printed (the continuous sheet 12 of printed material), and the density. Then, it is determined whether the print positions match (S25), and it is determined whether the density of the printed print information is appropriate (S26).
[0031]
In step S25, if the print positions match, the process ends. If the print positions do not match, the correction target specifying unit 43 prints the non-match portions as print spots 52A and 52B as shown in FIG. It is determined to be defective, and the position and size of the unmatched portion are specified (S27). Then, the concealment data creation unit 37 creates a concealment printing data file based on the analyzed and identified positions of the printing spots 52A and 52B, the concealment range of the size, and the analyzed and specified ground color data ( S28), the concealment data is sent to the concealment printing means 15 to perform printing for concealment (S9). The concealment printing unit 15 performs concealment printing in the concealment range with the same color as the ground color.
[0032]
On the other hand, in step S26, if all of the print information has an appropriate density as a result of the density-related analysis, the process ends. If there is a character whose print density is not appropriate, the correction target identifying unit 43 Characters whose density is not appropriate are specified as faint defective print characters 54 as shown in FIG. 3B (S30). Then, the concealment data creation unit 37 creates a concealment print data file based on the position and background color of the defective print character 54 that has been analyzed and specified, and sends the concealment print data file to the concealment print unit 15 to perform printing for concealment. It is performed with the same color as the ground color (S31). Further, the correction data creation unit 38 creates a data file based on the position data of the defective print character and the same character data and print color data acquired from the print data storage unit 39 and sends the data file to the correction printing unit 16. By doing so, as shown in FIG. 3B, printing is performed with the same color at an appropriate density (S32).
[0033]
In this way, by performing concealment printing with the ground color of the continuous sheet 22 (12) to be corrected and printing corrected characters in the same print color, the defective print portion can be removed without impairing the design as described above. It can be easily corrected, thereby improving the yield and avoiding waste of the print medium, and can easily correspond to the ground color and print color of the sheet to be corrected. .
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, print information printed on a print medium is imaged, created from print data having image data corresponding to the captured image data, collated with the captured image data, By recognizing the portion as a print defect, causing the defective print portion to perform concealment printing with the same color as the ground color of the print medium, and by appropriately printing the corresponding print information on the concealed print portion, Thus, it is possible to easily correct the design without impairing the design, thereby improving the yield and avoiding waste of the print medium.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a print correction system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control processing unit in the print correction system according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the principle of correction of a printed matter according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a processing flowchart of a printed matter correction according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart of another process of correcting a printed material according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
11, 21 Print correction system 12 Printed material continuous sheet 13 Corrected printed material continuous sheet 14 Imaging means 15 Concealed printing means 16 Correction printing means 17 Control processing means 22 Printing target continuous sheet 23 Printing means 51 Printing information 52 Printing stain 53, 55 Correction area 54 Bad character 56 Corrected character

Claims (6)

A print correction system for detecting and correcting a print defect on a print medium on which print information of a predetermined content is printed,
Imaging means for imaging print information printed on the print medium,
Print data of print information printed on the print medium is held, image data corresponding to the image data captured by the imaging unit is created based on the print data, and is compared with the captured image data. Control processing means for recognizing a print defect as
A concealment printing unit that performs concealment printing with the same color as the ground color of the print medium on the printing failure portion according to the instruction of the control processing unit,
A print correction system, comprising: 2. The print correction system according to claim 1, further comprising a correction printing unit that prints corresponding print information on the concealed print portion based on the print data. 3. The printing correction system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the concealment printing unit and the correction printing unit has a multicolor printing function, and performs printing in accordance with an instruction color from the control processing unit. A print correction system characterized by performing. The print correction system according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the concealment printing unit and the correction printing unit are on-demand printing units. The print correction system according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control processing unit specifies at least a position and a size of the print failure portion when recognizing the print failure. Print correction system. 6. The print correction system according to claim 5, wherein the control processing unit specifies at least one of a density, a print color, and a ground color of the print medium when recognizing the print defect. Correction system.

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