JP2005205797A - Printed matter inspection controller, printed matter inspection control method, and printed matter inspection control program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and quickly classify qualities of printed matters according to types and contents of the printed matter based on defects in images on the printed matter printed by an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The printed matter inspection controller 10 for controlling inspection of the printed matter printed by the image forming device 20 has a document image data acquiring means, a means for acquiring inspection image data read from a printed result image formed on a sheet by the image forming device based on the document image data, and a quality detemining means for detecting the defect in the image based on the document image data and the inspection image data and classifying qualities of the printed matter into a plrality of classes. The quality determining means can be switched to a mode for classifying the quality into an acceptable class and an unacceptable class and a mode for classifying the quality into an acceptable class, an acceptable class and an intermediate class. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printed matter inspection control device, a printed matter inspection control method, and a printed matter inspection control program for inspecting a printed matter printed by an image forming apparatus.

  An image defect such as a line or dot stain or a white spot may occur in a print result image printed on paper using an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a digital multifunction peripheral. In order to find such image defects, it is known that a print result image printed by an image forming apparatus is imaged, the print result image data is compared with document image data, and the image defect is detected by image processing. It has been. Then, the printed matter is sorted according to the presence or absence of image defects and the contents of the image defects.

  For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-278394 (Patent Document 1) relates to a securities issuing device that prints and issues securities such as bills and checks, and whether or not an error has occurred by reading an image of a printing result and comparing it with a reference image. And discriminating error occurrence contents. Depending on the determination result, each bill and check is classified into a non-defective printed matter and a defective printed matter, and the printing conditions for the defective printed matter are changed based on the generated error and reprinting is performed. The defective printed material is stamped and an error message is printed on the back side. The non-defective printed matter and the defective printed matter are separately stored in the stacker unit in the inspection apparatus. The defective printed matter is discarded.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-278394

  However, in some cases, the defective printed material may be classified as a non-defective printed material depending on the degree of error. As in the example of Patent Document 1, in the case of a special printed material with strict inspection standards such as securities, it is sufficient to separate the printed material into two, that is, a non-defective printed material or a defective printed material. However, in the case of a printed matter whose inspection standard is not so strict, it is also necessary to re-sort an intermediate quality printed matter having a quality between a good printed matter and a defective printed matter into a good printed matter and a defective printed matter. Therefore, it is necessary to change the sorting method according to the type and content of the printed matter.

  The present invention relates to a printed matter inspection control device, a printed matter inspection control method, and a printed matter inspection that can easily and quickly perform quality classification based on image defects of printed matter printed by an image forming apparatus. Provide a control program.

  The present invention is a printed matter inspection control device for controlling inspection of a printed matter printed on a sheet based on original image data by an image forming apparatus, the original image data obtaining means for obtaining the original image data, Inspection image data acquisition means for acquiring inspection image data read from a printing result image formed on a sheet by the image forming apparatus based on document image data; and an image based on the document image data and the inspection image data Quality determining means for detecting defects and classifying the quality of the printed matter into a plurality of quality classes, and in the quality determining means, a mode for classifying the quality of the printed matter into a non-defective product class or a defective class; The quality of the printed matter is a non-defective product class, a defective class, or an intermediate quality class having a quality between the good product class and the defective class, And a mode for sorting, but can be switched.

  In the printed matter inspection control apparatus, it is preferable that the intermediate quality class is classified into a plurality of quality classes.

  Further, in the printed matter inspection control apparatus, it is preferable that the quality determination unit can change a determination criterion for classification into the quality classes.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the printed matter inspection control device further includes a storage unit that holds log information about the printed matter, and a unit that displays the log information.

  In the printed matter inspection control apparatus, it is preferable that the log information includes information on a type of the image defect and a level of the image defect.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printed matter inspection control method for controlling inspection of a printed matter printed on a sheet based on original image data by an image forming apparatus, the original image data obtaining step for obtaining the original image data; An inspection image data acquisition step of acquiring inspection image data read from a print result image formed on a sheet by the image forming apparatus based on the original image data; and based on the original image data and the inspection image data A quality determining step for detecting image defects and classifying the quality of the printed material into a plurality of quality classes, and in the quality determining step, the quality of the printed material is classified into a non-defective product class or a defective class. And the quality of the printed matter is determined as a non-defective class, a defective class, or a quality between a non-defective class and a defective class. And the mode is fractionated intermediate quality class, to be, but can be switched.

  Furthermore, the present invention is a printed matter inspection control program for controlling inspection of a printed matter printed on a sheet based on the original image data by the image forming apparatus, wherein the computer obtains the original image data. Acquisition means; inspection image data acquisition means for acquiring inspection image data read from a print result image formed on a sheet by the image forming apparatus based on the original image data; the original image data and the inspection image; Quality determining means for detecting an image defect based on the data and classifying the quality of the printed material into a plurality of quality classes, and in the quality determining means, the quality of the printed material is classified into a non-defective product class or a defective class. The mode for sorting and the quality of the printed matter between the non-defective class, the defective class, or the non-defective class and the defective class A mode fractionating intermediate quality classes, having a quality, but to function as a printing product inspection device is switchable.

  According to the present invention, in the quality classification based on the image defect of the printed matter printed by the image forming apparatus, the quality is classified into the non-defective product class or the defective class, and the quality between the good product class or the defective class or the good product class and the defective class. It is possible to switch between two modes: a mode for sorting into intermediate quality classes. Thereby, the separation of the printed material is easily and quickly performed according to the type and content of the printed material, and more efficient printing can be performed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printed matter inspection control system according to the embodiment of the present invention can include an inspection control device 10, an image forming device 20, an inspection device 30, and a host computer 40. The inspection control apparatus 10, the image forming apparatus 20, the inspection apparatus 30, and the host computer 40 are connected to be able to transmit information to each other according to a predetermined protocol via an information transmission medium such as a network. The image forming apparatus 20 receives document image data to be printed from the host computer 40 and forms a print result image on a sheet based on the document image data. The inspection device 30 reads the print result image and acquires it as inspection image data. The acquired inspection image data is transmitted to the inspection control device 10. The inspection control device 10 performs an inspection based on the inspection image data and the document image data received from the host computer 40. The image forming apparatus 20 is controlled based on the inspection result.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the inspection control apparatus 10 can include a control unit 100, a storage unit 120, a user interface 140, an input unit 160, and a data interface 180.

  The control unit 100 includes a control element such as a CPU, and has a function of controlling the inspection control device 10 in an integrated manner.

  The storage unit 120 includes a semiconductor memory, a hard disk, and the like, and stores and holds electronic information such as programs processed by the control unit 100, image data, and correction conditions. When a large amount of data is stored and held, it is also preferable to use a mass storage device such as a hard disk device, a magnetic tape device, a magnetic disk device, an optical disk device, or a magneto-optical disk device as an auxiliary storage device.

  The user interface 140 is configured to include a monitor and a touch panel, and is used for receiving an instruction from the user to the inspection control device 10 and presenting information to the user from the inspection control device 10.

  The input unit 160 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, and the like, and is used to acquire various types of information used for processing from the user. When the user interface 140 includes an input / output device such as a touch panel, the input unit 160 may be omitted.

  The data interface 180 is connected to the data interface 250 in the image forming apparatus 20, the data interface 320 in the inspection apparatus 30, and the host computer 40 through a network or the like so as to be able to transmit information, and transmits / receives document image data, inspection image data, and the like. Used for.

  The inspection control apparatus 10 executes the printed matter inspection control program stored in the storage unit 120, thereby allowing the original image data received from the host computer 40, the inspection image data of the printed matter formed by the image forming apparatus 20, and Based on the inspection. The image forming apparatus 20 is controlled based on the inspection result.

  The image forming apparatus 20 is, for example, various printers such as an electrophotographic system, an inkjet system, a thermal system, and a plotter system, a copying machine, a multifunction machine, or a printing machine, and can form an image of original image data to be printed on paper. Anything is acceptable. Here, the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 20 will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 20 can include a control unit 200, a document image data acquisition unit 210, a paper feed unit 220, a printing unit 230, a paper discharge unit 240, and a data interface 250.

  The document image data acquisition unit 210 includes a platen 212 and a scanner 214, the paper supply unit 220 includes a paper tray 222 and a conveyance belt 224, and the printing unit 230 includes a charging unit 231, an exposure unit 232, a development unit 233, and a photosensitive drum. 234, a transfer unit 235, a fixing unit 236, a cleaning unit, and the like, and the paper discharge unit 240 includes a paper discharge tray 242. In the case of performing color printing, the image forming apparatus 20 performs the photosensitive drum 234 corresponding to each color component in the CMYK color space represented by cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K). , A charging unit 231, an exposure unit 232, a developing unit 233, a transfer unit 235, a fixing unit 236, and a cleaning unit.

  The image forming apparatus 20 receives document image data to be printed from the host computer 40 via a network or the like using the data interface 250. At this time, the document image data is also transmitted to the inspection control apparatus 10. The control unit 200 converts the document image data received from the document image data acquisition unit 210 into a so-called halftone image (halftone image) and transmits it to the printing unit 230.

  The document image data may be not only image data transmitted from the host computer 40 but also image data obtained by converting PDL data transmitted from the host computer or the like by a print server or the like.

  The document image data may be read from a document such as paper by the document image data acquisition unit 210. A scanner 214 is used to read a document image from a document placed on the platen 212, digitize the read document image, and send it to the control unit 200 as document image data. At this time, it is preferable that the document image data read via the network or the like using the data interface 250 can be transmitted to the inspection control apparatus 10 as necessary.

  In response to a paper feed control signal from the control unit 200, the paper feed unit 220 transports the paper to be printed from the paper tray 222 by the transport belt 224. The conveyance interval is determined based on the required image quality and the processing speed to be achieved, and is controlled by the control unit 200.

  In addition, the paper in this embodiment refers to not only general paper but also general objects to be printed including OHP sheets, cardboard, and postcards. In addition, the printed matter indicates a sheet on which printing has been performed, and of course includes not only paper but also an OHP sheet, cardboard, and postcard.

  The control unit 200 divides the document image data to be printed into planes for each color component in the CMYK color space and transmits the divided image data to the printing unit 230. The printing unit 230 performs printing on the paper based on the planes of the respective color components received from the control unit 200. The charging unit 231, the exposure unit 232, the developing unit 233, the transfer unit 235, and the cleaning unit are disposed around a cylindrical photosensitive drum 234. The photosensitive drum 234 is rotated at a predetermined cycle about its central axis. After charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 234 by the charging unit 231, original image data is formed as a latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 234 by the exposure unit 232, and the latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 234 by the developing unit 233. The toner is attached to the toner, and the transfer unit 235 transfers the toner onto the paper. An image is formed for each color component in the CMYK color space, and color printing is realized by superimposing the image of each color component on the same sheet. The sheet on which the toner is transferred is sent to the fixing unit 235, and the toner is fixed on the sheet by heating or the like. Through these steps, the original image data is formed on the paper as a print result image. The cleaning unit neutralizes the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 234 and mechanically removes the toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 234 with a cleaning brush or a cleaning blade.

  In the paper discharge unit 240, the printed matter is discharged to the paper discharge tray 242 or the disposal tray 244. The control unit 200 outputs a control signal for changing the paper discharge method to the paper discharge unit 240. In response to the control signal, the paper discharge unit 240 determines whether the printed material is to be discharged to the paper discharge tray 242 or the disposal tray 244 based on the control signal.

  The inspection apparatus 30 is used in combination with the image forming apparatus 20 and has a function of reading a print result image from a printed matter at a stage after the printing unit 230 of the image forming apparatus 20 and outputting the result as inspection image data to the inspection control apparatus 10. The inspection device 30 includes an image reading unit 300 and a data interface 320.

  The image reading unit 300 can include a lamp serving as a light source, a line sensor including a photoelectric conversion element, and an analog / digital converter. A printed result image is read from the entire printed matter by irradiating the surface of the printed matter conveyed by the conveying belt 224 with a lamp and photoelectrically converting light reflected from the printed matter by a line sensor. The read print result image is sent to an analog / digital converter and converted into a digital signal. The digitized inspection image data is sent to the inspection control apparatus 10 via the network using the data interface 320.

  One embodiment of the printed matter inspection control method of the present invention is realized by executing each step of the flowchart shown in FIG. Each step of the printed matter inspection control method is converted to a printed matter inspection control program that can be processed by a computer, and is stored and held in the storage unit 120. The control unit 100 reads a printed matter inspection control program held in the storage unit 120 and sequentially executes each process. In this embodiment, each process is not an essential requirement and can be executed in combination as appropriate.

  In the present embodiment, in the inspection of the printed matter printed by the image forming apparatus 20, the quality of the printed matter is classified into a plurality of quality classes. In this separation, at least two modes can be selected. The first mode is a mode in which the quality of the printed material is classified into a non-defective printed material or a defective printed material. The second mode is a mode in which the quality of the printed material is classified into a non-defective printed material, a defective printed material, or an intermediate quality printed material having a quality between the non-defective printed material and the defective printed material. These two modes can be switched.

  For example, printed materials with strict inspection standards such as securities such as bills and checks, and cash vouchers such as book coupons and gift certificates are printed in the first mode, and are classified into non-defective printed materials or defective printed materials. Prints that may have even image defects are mechanically classified as defective prints. On the other hand, the printed matter whose inspection standard is not so strict such as an in-house document or a personal use document is printed in the second mode, and is classified into a non-defective printed matter, a defective printed matter or an intermediate quality printed matter. Intermediate quality prints can be re-sorted into good prints and defective prints.

  First, in step S10, a printed matter sorting mode is set. In the inspection control apparatus 10, the control unit 100 uses the user interface 140 to present a display for allowing the user to set the classification mode. The user is allowed to set the classification mode using the input unit 160, and the classification mode set by the user is stored and held in the storage unit 120. The control unit 100 transmits the classification mode information to the image forming apparatus 20 using the data interface 180. The image forming apparatus 20 receives the sorting mode information using the data interface 250 and sets the sorting mode based on the sorting mode information.

  In step S12, the document image data is transmitted from the host computer 40 to the inspection control apparatus 10 and the image forming apparatus 20 via the network. The inspection control apparatus 10 receives document image data using the data interface 180, and stores and holds it in the storage unit 120. The image forming apparatus 20 receives document image data using the data interface 250 and forms an image on a sheet based on the document image data.

  In step S <b> 14, the print result image is read from the printed matter as inspection image data and transmitted to the inspection control device 10. In the inspection apparatus 30, an image is read from the entire printed material on which an image is formed in step S12. The inspection apparatus 30 transmits the read image data to the inspection control apparatus 10 as inspection image data using the data interface 320. The control unit 100 of the inspection control apparatus 10 acquires inspection image data via the network using the data interface 180 and stores the acquired inspection image data in the storage unit 120.

  When the classification mode set in step S10 is mode 1, the printed matter is inspected and the quality class of the printed matter is determined in step S18. The control unit 100 uses the inspection image data held in the storage unit 120 in step S14 as data of interest, and reads out the inspection image data from the storage unit 120. Then, difference data between the inspection image data and the original image data acquired in step S12 is calculated, and an image defect included in the inspection image data is extracted based on the difference data. According to the level of the image defect extracted, the printed material is classified into two quality classes, that is, a non-defective printed material or a defective printed material.

  Image defects detected in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus include, for example, pinholes in which portions of the printing surface are exposed to white spots due to paper dust or dust, defects due to bending of the edge of the paper, and inclination of the paper ( Examples include defects based on (skew), “fogging” in which toner adheres to a place other than the electrostatic latent image, and uneven color in the printed image surface.

  For example, the difference data of the gradation between the inspection image data and the document image data is obtained, and if the difference data is equal to or larger than a predetermined gradation difference reference (threshold value), it can be determined as an image defect. At this time, if the inspection image data or the document image data is a color image, each image data is divided into planes of each color component in the CMYK color space or the RGB color space, and gradation difference data for each color component plane. And the image defect can be calculated by comparing the difference data with the reference.

  The first mode is a mode in which the quality of the printed material is classified into a non-defective printed material or a defective printed material. At this time, quality classification is performed by providing one classification criterion (threshold) for the level of image defects. For example, if the number of image defects, the density, or the like of the printed material is equal to or greater than a threshold value, it can be determined as a defective printed material, and if it is less than the threshold value, it can be determined as a good printed material.

  In step S20, processing for designating a paper discharge method based on the quality level of the printed material is performed. For example, the non-defective printed matter is discharged to the discharge tray 242, and the defective printed matter determined to be error is discharged to the disposal tray 244. As a result, the printed matter clearly determined to be defective and the printed matter determined to be suspected of being defective can be discharged as a defective printed matter to a tray different from the non-defective printed matter.

  Using the data interface 180, the control unit 100 transmits, to the image forming apparatus 20, a paper discharge control signal that designates a different paper discharge method depending on whether the printed material is classified into a non-defective printed material or a defective printed material in step S18. . The image forming apparatus 20 receives the paper discharge control signal via the network using the data interface 250. The control unit 200 of the image forming apparatus 20 controls the paper discharge unit 240 based on the received paper discharge control signal. For example, it is possible to determine whether the printed material is a non-defective printed material or a defective printed material by a paper discharge control signal.

  The defective printed matter discharged to the disposal tray 244 in step S20 is disposed of such as disposal. In the present embodiment, the process of changing the paper discharge method is performed depending on whether the printed material is a non-defective product or a defective product. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, other processes such as changing the charging process depending on whether the printed material is a non-defective product or a defective product may be performed.

  When the classification mode set in step S10 is mode 2, the printed matter is inspected in step S22 to determine the quality of the printed matter. The control unit 100 uses the inspection image data held in the storage unit 120 in step S14 as data of interest, and reads out the inspection image data from the storage unit 120. Then, difference data between the inspection image data and the original image data acquired in step S12 is calculated, and an image defect included in the inspection image data is extracted based on the difference data. Depending on the level of the image defect extracted, the printed material is classified into at least three quality classes: a non-defective printed material, a defective printed material or an intermediate quality printed material.

  The second mode is a mode in which the quality of the printed material is classified into a non-defective printed material, a defective printed material, or an intermediate quality printed material. At this time, a plurality of criteria (threshold values) are provided for the level of image defects, and a plurality of classifications are performed. For example, a first threshold value and a second threshold value smaller than the first threshold value are provided, and if the number or density of image defects of the printed material is equal to or greater than the first threshold value, it is determined as a defective printed material, and the second threshold value is less than the first threshold value. If it is equal to or more than the threshold value, it can be determined as an intermediate quality printed material, and if it is less than the second reference value, it can be determined as a good printed material. At this time, it is preferable to set three or more threshold values to separate the intermediate quality printed material into a plurality of quality classes. Thereby, a finer quality inspection is possible.

  In step S24, the contents of the image defect detected by the inspection control apparatus 10 are accumulated in the storage unit 120 as log information. The log information is information about image defects detected from the inspection image data and information about printed matter. For example, the time when the print job is started and finished, the number of copies in each quality class, the intermediate quality printed matter is a discharge tray or It is preferable to include information such as page information indicating the number of sheets on the waste tray, a region where an image defect detected from the printed material is present, and the type of image defect detected from the printed material.

  In step S26, processing for designating a paper discharge method based on the quality level of the printed material is performed. For example, the non-defective printed matter is discharged to the discharge tray 242, and the defective printed matter determined to be error is discharged to the disposal tray 244. The intermediate quality printed matter may be discharged to the disposal tray 244 together with the defective printed matter. Alternatively, when there are a plurality of paper discharge trays 242, the intermediate quality printed material alone may be discharged to a paper discharge tray 242 different from the paper discharge tray 242 from which the non-defective printed material is discharged. As a result, it is possible to discharge the defective printed matter that can be mechanically determined to be a defective product without judgment by the user and the intermediate quality printed matter that is suspected of being defective to a tray different from the non-defective printed product. it can.

  The control unit 100 uses the data interface 180 to generate a paper discharge control signal that designates a different paper discharge method depending on whether the printed material is classified into a non-defective printed material, a defective printed material, or an intermediate quality printed material in step S22. 20 is transmitted. The image forming apparatus 20 receives the paper discharge control signal via the network using the data interface 250. The control unit 200 of the image forming apparatus 20 controls the paper discharge unit 240 based on the received paper discharge control signal. For example, it is possible to determine whether the printed material is a non-defective printed material, a defective printed material, or an intermediate quality printed material by a paper discharge control signal.

  In step S <b> 28, the control unit 100 reads the log information stored in the storage unit 120 and displays the log information using the user interface 140. The displayed log information may include editing information edited based on the log information. In addition, the displayed log information preferably includes information necessary for re-sorting the intermediate quality printed material into a non-defective printed material or a defective printed material. For example, for each type of image defect, information such as the number and location of the defect and the level of the defect may be mentioned. Further, the information may be information such as what kind of image defect and what kind of image defect exist in what number of printed matter discharged to the discharge tray 242 or the disposal tray 244.

  Based on the various log information displayed on the user interface 140, the user can re-sort intermediate quality prints into good prints and defective prints. Previously, the user had to visually check each printed product with a mix of defective and intermediate quality prints. However, the log information indicates the location where the intermediate quality prints were discharged and the quality of the intermediate quality prints. Since the level and the like can be confirmed, the intermediate quality printed matter can be easily and quickly re-sorted into a non-defective printed matter and a defective printed matter.

  The defective printed material discharged to the disposal tray 244 in step S26 and the defective printed material re-sorted from the intermediate quality printed material are disposed of such as disposal. In the present embodiment, the process of changing the paper discharge method is performed depending on whether the printed product is a non-defective product, a defective product, or an intermediate quality product, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, other processes such as changing the charging process depending on whether the printed product is a good product, a defective product, or an intermediate quality product may be performed.

  In this embodiment, referring to the log information displayed using the user interface 140, the user can easily and quickly re-sort intermediate quality prints into normal prints or bad prints. Printing can be performed.

  The quality class of the printed matter determined in step S18 or step S22 may be determined by paying attention to a certain type of image defect. In addition, a quality class may be determined for each image defect selected from a plurality of types of image defects, and a quality class of the printed matter may be determined based on an overall evaluation of the quality classes determined for each image defect. . The comprehensive evaluation may be an evaluation obtained by averaging the quality classes of the respective image defects, or may be an evaluation weighted for each image defect.

  The quality class for each image defect may be determined according to the item for determining the image defect. For example, when the image defect is a pinhole, the quality level is determined by a combination of the quality level of the size (area) of the pinhole and the quality level of the number of pinholes. When the image defect is a stain such as “fog”, the quality level may be determined by a combination of the quality level of the size (area) of the stain and the quality level of the stain density. A combination of quality levels regarding each determination item may be tabulated for each image defect. These tables may be stored in advance in a database.

  Further, the image defect may be detected for the entire area of the original image data and the corresponding inspection image data, and the quality level may be determined. However, depending on the type of original, the original image data and a partial area of the corresponding inspection image data An image defect may be detected (for example, a specific location in the image data, a specific color, etc.) to determine the quality level. For example, for a portion that is particularly important by the user in the document image data, an image defect may be detected for the portion that is important, and the quality level may be determined.

  The threshold set when determining the quality class of the printed material in step S18 or S22 can be changed as appropriate. The control unit 100 uses the user interface 140 to present a display for causing the user to change the threshold value so that the threshold value can be arbitrarily changed on the user interface 140. The user is caused to set a threshold value using the input unit 160, the threshold value set by the user is stored and held in the storage unit 120, and the threshold value used for quality class determination is changed. By making the threshold value changeable, it is possible to cope with a case where the type of document is changed, a quality required as a non-defective product is changed, a use of a printed matter is changed, and the like. Further, by changing the threshold value for each original, a stricter standard can be set for a printed matter that requires high quality.

  Further, the threshold value set when the quality class of the printed material is determined in step S18 or S22, particularly the threshold value set when the intermediate quality printed material is classified into a finer intermediate quality class is the subjective evaluation of each image defect by the user visually. It is preferable to associate with a level. If a threshold is previously associated with the user's visual assessment level of each image defect, it is possible to automatically re-sort intermediate quality prints into non-defective prints and defective prints without the user's visual inspection. it can.

  Further, on the screen on which the log information is displayed using the user interface in step S28, the threshold value may be changed and the information may be re-edited and displayed. The control unit 100 displays log information using the user interface 140. Thereafter, a display for changing the threshold value is presented to the user. The user is caused to change the threshold using the input unit 160. When the threshold is changed by the user, the log information is re-edited and displayed. For example, when the threshold is changed by the user on the screen that displays the number of each quality class sorted based on a certain threshold, the control unit 100 edits the number of each quality class according to the changed threshold. Correct and display.

  Necessary processes can be appropriately combined and executed from the processes described in this embodiment. Further, the printed matter inspection control system according to the present embodiment has been described as including the inspection control device 10, the image forming device 20, the inspection device 30, and the host computer 40. However, the inspection control device 10 operates as the host computer 40. May be. Further, the print control apparatus 10 has been described as including the control unit 100, the storage unit 120, the user interface 140, the input unit 160, and the data interface 180. However, all of these configurations need to be included in one apparatus. There is no. For example, the print control apparatus 10 may have the storage unit 120 and the input unit 160 as independent devices, and may be appropriately combined with a configuration including the other control unit 100, the user interface 140, and the data interface 180.

  According to the present invention, in the inspection of printed matter by image forming apparatuses such as various printers such as electrophotographic method, ink jet method, heat sensitive method, plotter method, copier, multifunction device or printing machine, the classification of the printed matter is the type and content of the printed matter. Depending on the situation, it is easy and quick, and more efficient printing can be performed.

It is a block diagram which shows the printed matter inspection control apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a chart figure which shows the printed matter inspection control method in one Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Inspection control apparatus, 20 Image forming apparatus, 30 Inspection apparatus, 40 Host computer, 100 Control part, 120 Storage part, 140 User interface, 160 Input part, 180 Data interface, 200 Control part, 210 Original image data acquisition means, 212 Platen, 214 Scanner, 220 Paper feed means, 222 Paper tray, 224 Conveyor belt, 230 Printing means, 231 Charging section, 232 Exposure section, 233 Development section, 234 Photosensitive drum, 235 Transfer section, 236 Fixing section, 240 Paper discharge Means, 242 discharge tray, 244 disposal tray, 250 data interface.

Claims (7)

A printed matter inspection control device for controlling inspection of a printed matter printed on paper based on document image data by an image forming device,
Original image data acquisition means for acquiring the original image data;
Inspection image data acquisition means for acquiring inspection image data read from a printing result image formed on a sheet by the image forming apparatus based on the document image data;
Quality determining means for detecting an image defect based on the original image data and the inspection image data, and classifying the quality of the printed matter into a plurality of quality classes;
Have
In the quality determination means,
A mode for classifying the quality of the printed matter into a non-defective class or a defective class;
A mode for classifying the quality of the printed matter into a non-defective class, a defective class, or an intermediate quality class having a quality between the non-defective class and the defective class;
A printed matter inspection control device characterized in that can be switched. The printed matter inspection control apparatus according to claim 1,
The printed material inspection control apparatus, wherein the intermediate quality class is classified into a plurality of quality classes. It is a printed matter inspection control device according to claim 1 or 2,
The printed matter inspection control apparatus characterized in that the quality determination means can change a judgment criterion for classification into the quality classes. It is a printed matter inspection control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Storage means for holding log information related to the printed matter;
Means for displaying the log information;
A printed matter inspection control apparatus comprising: It is a printed matter inspection control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The printed information inspection control apparatus, wherein the log information includes information on a type of the image defect and a level of the image defect. A printed matter inspection control method for controlling inspection of a printed matter printed on paper based on original image data by an image forming apparatus,
A document image data acquisition step for acquiring the document image data;
An inspection image data acquisition step of acquiring inspection image data read from a print result image formed on a sheet by the image forming apparatus based on the original image data;
A quality determination step of detecting an image defect based on the original image data and the inspection image data, and classifying the quality of the printed matter into a plurality of quality classes;
Have
In the quality determination step,
A mode for classifying the quality of the printed matter into a non-defective class or a defective class;
A mode for classifying the quality of the printed matter into a non-defective class, a defective class, or an intermediate quality class having a quality between the non-defective class and the defective class;
A printed matter inspection control method characterized in that can be switched. A printed matter inspection control program for controlling inspection of a printed matter printed on paper based on document image data by an image forming apparatus,
Computer
Original image data acquisition means for acquiring the original image data;
Inspection image data acquisition means for acquiring inspection image data read from a printing result image formed on a sheet by the image forming apparatus based on the document image data;
Quality determining means for detecting an image defect based on the original image data and the inspection image data, and classifying the quality of the printed matter into a plurality of quality classes;
Have
In the quality determination means,
A mode for classifying the quality of the printed matter into a non-defective class or a defective class;
A mode for classifying the quality of the printed matter into a non-defective class, a defective class, or an intermediate quality class having a quality between the non-defective class and the defective class;
A printed matter inspection control program that causes a switch to function as a printed matter inspection device that can be switched.

Images