JP2013130732A - Inspection device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inspection device and an image forming apparatus capable of properly switching an ejection destination of printed matters in accordance with an inspection result of an image without causing a significant reduction in productivity.SOLUTION: A plurality of second conveyance sections 202a to 202g are provided on a conveyance path through which printed matters are conveyed. A conveyance control unit allocates printed matters in which images have been read by an image reading unit 220 to the second conveyance sections 202a to 202g; keeps the printed matters in the second conveyance sections until an image inspection unit completes inspection of the images; and conveys the printed matters for which inspection of the image has completed out to a third conveyance section 203 that is a latter stage.

Description

  The present invention relates to an inspection apparatus and an image forming apparatus that inspect an image of a printed matter.

  Conventionally, an inspection apparatus that inspects an image of a printed matter generated by a printing apparatus is known. This inspection device reads an image of a printed material while conveying the printed material discharged from the printing device downstream, and compares the original image used when the printing device generates the printed material with the read image read from the printed material. Thus, it is inspected whether the image of the printed matter is defective. On the downstream side of the reading position for reading the image of the printed matter, there is provided switching means for switching the discharge destination of the printed matter according to the inspection result of the image. The printed matter determined to have a defect in the image is guided to one of the two discharge paths by the switching unit, and is discharged to, for example, a dedicated discharge tray. On the other hand, the printed matter determined to have no defect in the image is guided to the other discharge path by the switching unit, and is discharged to, for example, a post-processing apparatus in the subsequent stage.

  In this inspection apparatus, since the switching unit switches the discharge destination of the printed material according to the inspection result of the image, the inspection of the image of the printed material is completed before the printed material reaches the discharge path switching position by the switching unit. Need to be. However, depending on the amount of image data and the content of the inspection, the inspection may take time, and the inspection of the image of the printed matter may not be completed before the printed matter reaches the discharge path switching position. Has been.

  As one of the above countermeasures, for example, a technique described in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. In the technique described in Patent Document 1, a printed matter accumulation unit that temporarily stores printed matter is provided in a conveyance path of the printed matter. The printed matter from which the image has been read is stacked and stored in the printed matter accumulating unit, and the printed matter whose image has been inspected is taken out from the printed matter accumulating unit and transported to the discharge path switching position.

  However, since the technique described in Patent Document 1 accumulates and stores printed matter in the printed matter accumulating unit, when the printed matter is taken out from the printed matter accumulating unit and conveyed, originally, the printed matter is conveyed one by one. May be conveyed at the same time, so-called double feeding may occur. In addition, when the printed matter stored in the printed matter accumulating part is not cooled appropriately, the printed matter is stacked due to the viscosity of the material used for image formation of the printed matter (toner for electrophotography, ink for inkjet method). There may be a case where so-called blocking occurs in which a plurality of printed materials stick to each other. In either case, since it is necessary to stop printing and perform a manual recovery operation, there has been a problem in that the productivity of printed matter is significantly reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and provides an inspection apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can appropriately switch a discharge destination of a printed material according to an image inspection result without causing a significant decrease in productivity. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an inspection apparatus according to the present invention is a conveyance path through which printed matter is conveyed, and is provided in a first conveyance section and a downstream portion in the conveyance direction of the first conveyance section. A plurality of second transport sections to be connected; a third transport section to which downstream portions in the transport direction of the plurality of second transport sections are connected; and a fourth transport section that branches from the third transport section. A conveyance path, an image reading unit that reads an image of the printed matter that passes through the first conveyance section, an image inspection unit that inspects the read image, and a branch position from the third conveyance section to the fourth conveyance section The transport destination of the printed material passing through the third transport section is selected between the downstream portion in the transport direction of the third transport section and the fourth transport section according to the result of the inspection on the image of the printed material Switching part to switch automatically and the image The plurality of printed materials that have been picked up are distributed from the first conveying section to the plurality of second conveying sections, and the printed materials are kept waiting in the second conveying section until the inspection of the image of the printed material is completed. A transport control unit that transports the printed matter for which inspection has been completed to the third transport section from the second transport section.

  The image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a printing unit that prints an image on a printing medium to generate a printed material, a conveyance path that conveys the printed material generated by the printing unit, and a first conveyance section; A plurality of second transport sections connected to a downstream portion in the transport direction of the first transport section, a third transport section to which downstream sections in the transport direction of the plurality of second transport sections are connected, and the third transport A transport path having a fourth transport section that branches from the section, an image reading section that reads an image of the printed matter that passes through the first transport section, an image inspection section that inspects the read image, and the third A transport destination of the printed material that is provided at a branch position from the transport region to the fourth transport region and passes through the third transport region is transported in the third transport region according to a result of an inspection on an image of the printed material. Direction downstream part and the fourth transport zone And a switching unit that selectively switches between the plurality of printed materials from which the images have been read are distributed from the first conveyance section to the plurality of second conveyance sections, and the inspection of the printed material with respect to the image of the printed materials ends. And a conveyance control unit that waits in the second conveyance section and carries out the printed matter that has been inspected for the image from the second conveyance section to the third conveyance section.

  According to the present invention, since the plurality of printed materials from which the images have been read are distributed to the plurality of second transport sections and the inspection of the images is completed, the printed materials wait in the second transport section. There is an effect that it is possible to appropriately switch the discharge destination of the printed matter according to the inspection result of the image without causing a significant decrease.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an outline of a printing system. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a mechanical configuration of the printing apparatus. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a mechanical configuration of the inspection apparatus according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of the printing apparatus and the inspection apparatus. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a process of distributing a printed matter whose image has been read to a plurality of second transport sections. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a process of discharging a printed matter whose image inspection has been completed to a defective discharge tray or a post-processing apparatus. FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining processing for sending a control signal to the printing apparatus in accordance with the number of second conveyance sections in which printed materials are waiting. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control system of the image forming apparatus having both the function of the printing apparatus and the function of the inspection apparatus.

  Exemplary embodiments of an inspection apparatus and an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an outline of a printing system including an inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment. The printing system performs post-processing on a printing device 100 that generates a printed material, an inspection device 200 that inspects an image of the printed material generated by the printing device 100, and a printed material that is determined to have no image defect by the inspection device 200. And a post-processing apparatus 300.

  The printing apparatus 100 prints an image on a print medium supplied from the paper feed hopper 110 based on the original image to generate a printed material. Examples of the printing process method include an electrophotographic method and an ink jet recording method. In the case of the electrophotographic system, an electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiating a photoconductor with writing light corresponding to an original image, and the electrostatic latent image is developed with toner to generate a toner image. The toner image is transferred directly or via an intermediate transfer member to a print medium supplied from the paper feed hopper 110, and the toner image is fixed on the print medium by a fixing device to generate a printed matter. In the case of the ink jet system, the print head is driven based on the original image to discharge ink droplets, and the printed ink is generated by attaching the ink droplets discharged from the print head to the recording medium supplied from the paper feed hopper 110. The printed matter generated by the printing apparatus 100 is discharged to the inspection apparatus 200.

  The inspection apparatus 200 reads an image of the printed matter while conveying the printed matter discharged from the printing apparatus 100 to the downstream side, and obtains an original image used when the printing apparatus 100 generates the printed matter and a read image read from the printed matter. By comparing, it is inspected whether the image of the printed matter is defective. The inspection apparatus 200 switches the discharge destination of the printed material according to the image inspection result. The printed matter determined to have a defect in the image is discharged to the defective paper discharge tray 210. On the other hand, the printed matter determined to have no defect in the image is discharged to the post-processing apparatus 300.

  The post-processing device 300 performs specified post-processing such as bending processing, stapling processing, and punching processing on the printed matter discharged from the inspection device 200. The post-processed printed matter is discharged to the printed matter discharge tray 310.

  In the printing system as described above, among the printed matter generated by the printing apparatus 100, only the printed matter determined as having no defect by the inspection device 200 is subjected to the post-processing by the post-processing device 300 and the printed matter discharge tray. It is discharged to 310. Therefore, the quality of the printed matter finally obtained can be maintained.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of a mechanical configuration of the printing apparatus 100. A printing apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 2 is a printing apparatus configured to print a four-color full-color image on a printing medium by an electrophotographic method, and in particular, a production that performs high-speed printing by continuously conveying a large number of printing media. It is a printing device suitable for the application. As shown in FIG. 2, the printing apparatus 100 has a configuration in which an additional sheet feeding apparatus 102 is connected to the apparatus main body 101.

  The apparatus main body 101 includes a printing unit that prints an image on a print medium to generate a printed material, a first paper feed hopper 110a and a second paper feed hopper 110b, and an operation panel 103. The additional paper feeder 102 includes a third paper feed hopper 110c and a fourth paper feed hopper 110d. The first to fourth paper feed hoppers 110a to 110d each store a print medium. The sheet feeding hopper 110 shown in FIG. 1 is a general term for these first to fourth sheet feeding hoppers 110a to 110d. The operation panel 103 is a user interface for allowing the user to perform various input operations on the printing apparatus 100 and confirm settings of the printing apparatus 100.

  In accordance with a user input from an external terminal such as a personal computer connected to the operation panel 103 or the printing apparatus 100, a paper feed hopper to be used is selected from the first to fourth paper feed hoppers 110a to 110d. The selected paper feed hopper supplies a printing medium to the printing unit when the printing unit prints an image by a printing process described later.

  The printing unit includes four image forming units 120a, 120b, 120c, and 120d, an intermediate transfer belt 130 as an intermediate transfer member, a secondary transfer roller 140, and a fixing device 150. The image forming units 120a to 120d are arranged along the traveling direction of the intermediate transfer belt 130 (the direction of arrow B in the figure). In the image forming units 120a to 120d, for example, the image forming unit 120a corresponds to yellow, the image forming unit 120b corresponds to magenta, the image forming unit 120c corresponds to cyan, and the image forming unit 120d corresponds to black.

  The image forming unit 120a includes a photosensitive drum 121a as a photosensitive member, a drum charger 122a, an exposure device 123a, a developing device 124a, and a primary transfer roller 125a. Similarly, the image forming units 120b to 120d include photosensitive drums 121b to 121d, drum chargers 122b to 122d, exposure devices 123b to 123d, developing devices 124b to 124d, and primary transfer rollers 125b to 125d.

  The photosensitive drum 121a starts rotating in the direction of arrow A in the drawing when the printing process is started in accordance with, for example, a command from a host device (not shown), and continues rotating until the printing process is completed. When the photosensitive drum 121a starts rotating, a high voltage is applied to the drum charger 122a, and negative charges are uniformly charged on the surface of the photosensitive drum 121a. Thereafter, the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 121a is irradiated with laser light modulated according to the original image from the exposure device 123a, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original image is formed on the photosensitive drum 121a. When the portion where the electrostatic latent image is formed by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 121a reaches a position facing the developing device 124a, the negatively charged toner is attracted from the developing device 124a to the electrostatic latent image, thereby The electrostatic latent image is developed with toner to form a toner image on the photosensitive drum 121a.

  When the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 121a reaches a position facing the primary transfer roller 125a across the intermediate transfer belt 130, the toner image is moved toward the intermediate transfer belt 130 by the action of a high voltage applied to the primary transfer roller 125a. It is attracted and transferred (primary transfer) onto the intermediate transfer belt 130 moving in the direction of arrow B in the figure.

  An image forming operation is similarly performed in the image forming unit 120b following the image forming unit 120a, and the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 121b is applied to the intermediate transfer belt 130 by the action of a high voltage applied to the primary transfer roller 125b. Transferred (primary transfer) on top. At this time, the timing at which the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 121b reaches the position facing the primary transfer device 125b is the time when the toner image transferred from the photosensitive drum 121a to the intermediate transfer belt 130 moves the intermediate transfer belt 130. Therefore, the toner image transferred from the photosensitive drum 121a and the toner image transferred from the photosensitive drum 121b are superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 130 by being controlled so as to match the timing of reaching the position of the primary transfer device 125b. The

  Similarly, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 121c of the image forming unit 120c and the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 121d of the image forming unit 120d are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 130. A full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 130.

  On the other hand, the printing medium is supplied from the paper feed hopper selected as described above among the first to fourth paper feed hoppers 110a to 110d. The print medium supplied from the paper feed hopper is conveyed in the direction of arrow H in the drawing, and reaches a position facing the secondary transfer roller 140 in synchronization with the full-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 130. The full-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 130 is transferred (secondary transfer) onto the print medium by the action of the high voltage applied to the secondary transfer roller 140.

  The print medium on which the full-color toner image is transferred is conveyed to the fixing device 150. Then, by applying heat and pressure by the fixing device 150, the full-color toner image transferred onto the print medium is fixed on the print medium. The print medium on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to the inspection apparatus 200 as a printed matter.

  A series of printing processes by the printing unit is comprehensively controlled by a printing control unit (see FIG. 4) described later, including the supply of the printing medium from the paper feed hopper.

  FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a mechanical configuration of the inspection apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment. The inspection apparatus 200 reads an image of the printed material while conveying the printed material discharged from the printing apparatus 100 along the conveyance path, inspects whether the read image has a defect, and prints according to the inspection result of the image. Switch the discharge destination.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the inspection apparatus 200 has a plurality of conveyance paths (seven in the example shown in FIG. 3) that are connected to the first conveyance section 201 and the downstream portion in the conveyance direction of the first conveyance section 201. Branching from the third transport section 203 and the third transport section 203 to which the transport direction downstream portions of the transport sections 202a, 202b, 202c, 202d, 202e, 202f, 202g, the plurality of second transport sections 202a to 202g are respectively connected. And a fourth transfer section 204. The upstream portion in the transport direction of the first transport section 201 is connected to the transport path of the printing apparatus 100 at the printed material entrance 205 of the inspection apparatus 200. Further, the downstream portion in the transport direction of the third transport section 203 is connected to the transport path of the post-processing device 300 at the printed material outlet 206 of the inspection apparatus 200. Further, the downstream portion in the transport direction of the fourth transport section 204 is connected to the defective paper discharge tray 210.

  The first transport section 201 is provided with an image reading unit 220 that reads an image of a printed matter that passes through the first transport section 201. As the image reading unit 220, for example, a reading device using a contact image sensor (CIS) can be used. The image read by the image reading unit 220 is sent to an inspection device control unit (see FIG. 4) described later.

  At the branch position between the third transport section 203 and the fourth transport section 204, the transport destination of the printed material passing through the third transport section 203 is set according to the result of the inspection of the image of the printed material. A paper discharge branch claw (switching unit) 230 that selectively switches between the downstream portion in the transport direction and the fourth transport section 204 is provided. The paper discharge branch claw 230 rotates around a drive shaft that receives a driving force such as a motor (not shown) under the control of an inspection device control unit, which will be described later. It guides to either the conveyance direction downstream part of the 3rd conveyance area 203, or the 4th conveyance area 204. FIG.

  Further, a transport roller is appropriately provided in the transport path of the inspection apparatus 200. Specifically, in the first conveyance section 201, conveyance rollers 241 and 242 are provided before and after the image reading unit 220, and the conveyance roller 243 is disposed in the conveyance direction downstream portion where the plurality of second conveyance sections 202a to 202g branch. , 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, respectively. In addition, conveyance rollers 249a to 249g and conveyance rollers 250a to 250g are provided in the plurality of second conveyance sections 202a to 202g, respectively. The third transport section 203 is provided with transport rollers 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, and 256 in the transport direction upstream part where the plurality of second transport sections 202 a to 202 g merge, and the transport direction downstream part Are provided with conveying rollers 257 and 258. Further, a transport roller 259 is provided in the fourth transport section 204. These conveyance rollers are rotated by receiving a driving force from a motor (not shown) under the control of an inspection apparatus control unit, which will be described later, and convey the printed matter.

  Further, branch claws 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, and 266 are provided at branch positions between the downstream portion in the transport direction of the first transport section 201 and the plurality of second transport sections 202 a to 202 g, respectively. These branch claws 261 to 266 rotate around a drive shaft that receives a driving force such as a motor (not shown) under the control of an inspection device control unit, which will be described later, and prints that have passed through the first conveyance section 201. Then, it guides to any one of the plurality of second transport sections 202a to 202g.

  The plurality of second transport sections 202a to 202g are respectively provided with printed matter detection sensors 268a to 268g that detect the presence or absence of printed matter in each second transport section. As the printed matter detection sensors 268a to 268g, for example, optical sensors that optically detect an object can be used. The detection signals of the printed matter detection sensors 268a to 268g are sent to an inspection device control unit described later.

  The printed material discharged from the printing apparatus 100 reaches the first conveyance section 201 from the printed material inlet portion 205 of the inspection apparatus 200 and is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrows in the drawing by the conveyance rollers 241 and 242. When the printed matter passing through the first conveyance section 201 passes through the position where the image reading unit 220 is provided, the image reading unit 220 reads the image. An image of the printed matter read by the image reading unit 220 is sent to an inspection device control unit, which will be described later, and an image inspection unit (see FIG. 4) in the inspection device control unit inspects whether there is a defect in the image.

  The printed matter whose image has been read by the image reading unit 220 is guided to one of the plurality of second conveyance sections 202a to 202g by the conveyance rollers 243 to 248 and the branching claws 261 to 266. Among the plurality of second transport sections 202a to 202g, the second transport section in which the printed material is guided is a second transport section in which the preceding printed material is not waiting. That is, the conveyance control unit (see FIG. 4) in the inspection apparatus control unit, which will be described later, on the basis of the detection signals of the print detection sensors 268a to 268g, the second conveyance section where the printed material is waiting and the second conveyance where it is not waiting. The operation of the conveying rollers 243 to 248 and the branching claws 261 to 266 is controlled so that the subsequent printed material is guided to the second conveying interval where the printed material is not waiting.

  Here, when there are a plurality of second transport sections in which the printed material is not waiting, the second transport section for guiding the printed material is selected according to a predetermined rule. For example, when the printed material is not waiting in any of the plurality of second transport sections 202a to 202g, the printed material is guided to the second transport section 202a serving as a reference position for sorting. When a plurality of printed materials are continuously conveyed, the subsequent printed materials are divided into a second conveying section 202b, a second conveying section 202c, a second conveying section 202d, a second conveying section 202e, a second conveying section 202f, The two guide sections 202g are sequentially guided in order. Thereafter, when the subsequent printed material is further conveyed, the conveyance destination of the printed material returns to the second conveyance section 202a, and the above-described guidance is repeated while the conveyance of the subsequent printed material is continued.

  The printed material guided to the second transport sections 202a to 202g is transported by the transport rollers 249a to 249g and reaches the specified positions in the second transport sections 202a to 202g. At this time, if the inspection of the image of the printed matter is not completed, the printed matter stands by at this specified position. Then, after the inspection of the image is completed, the image is carried out to the third conveyance section 203 by the conveyance rollers 250a to 250g. Note that the timing at which the printed material is carried out from the second conveyance sections 202a to 202g to the third conveyance section 203 is adjusted so that a plurality of printed materials do not overlap in the upstream portion of the third conveyance section 203 in the conveyance direction.

  The printed material carried out to the third transport section 203 is transported in the direction indicated by the arrow in the drawing by the transport rollers 251 to 256 and reaches a branch position with respect to the fourth transport section 204. Here, the printed matter that is determined to have an image defect by inspection is guided to the fourth transport section 204 by the paper discharge branch claw 230. The printed material guided to the fourth transport section 204 is transported by the transport roller 259 and discharged to the defective paper discharge tray 210. On the other hand, the printed matter determined to have no defect in the image by inspection is guided to the downstream portion in the transport direction of the third transport section 203 by the paper discharge branch claw 230. The printed material guided to the downstream portion in the conveyance direction of the third conveyance section 203 is conveyed by the conveyance rollers 257 and 258 and is discharged from the printed material outlet 206 of the inspection apparatus 200 to the post-processing device 300.

  Note that FIG. 3 shows a state in which four printed materials are continuously conveyed. The bold line portion in the figure represents the position of the printed matter. The first printed matter is carried out from the second conveyance section 202a to the third conveyance section 203 because the image inspection is completed. The second printed matter is waiting at the specified position in the second transport section 202b because the image inspection has not been completed. The third printed matter is guided to the second conveyance section 202c. The fourth printed material has been read by the image reading unit 220 and is conveyed toward the second conveyance section 202d.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a control system of the printing apparatus 100 and the inspection apparatus 200. The inspection apparatus 200 includes an inspection apparatus control unit 270 that controls the operation of the inspection apparatus 200. The inspection device control unit 270 includes an inspection device I / F (interface) unit 271, a storage device 272, a reading control unit 273, an image inspection unit 274, and a conveyance control unit 275. The printing apparatus 100 includes a printing apparatus I / F unit 161 and a print control unit 162. In addition, the arrow line in a figure represents the flow of a signal or data.

  The inspection apparatus I / F unit 271 performs data communication with the printing apparatus 100 and transmission / reception of various signals. The inspection device I / F unit 271 is connected to a printing device I / F unit 161 included in the printing device 100. The inspection apparatus I / F unit 271 is also connected to an image inspection unit 274 and a conveyance control unit 275 in the inspection apparatus control unit 270.

  The storage device 272 stores image data necessary for the image inspection unit 274 to inspect an image. The storage device 272 is configured with, for example, a hard disk drive or the like, and is connected to the image inspection unit 274.

  The reading control unit 273 controls the image reading unit 220 to acquire an image read from the printed material by the image reading unit 220 and send the read image data to the image inspection unit 274.

  The image inspection unit 274 acquires the original image used when the printing apparatus 100 generates the printed material from the printing apparatus 100 via the printing apparatus I / F unit 161 and the inspection apparatus I / F unit 271, and the original image data Is stored in the storage device 272. Further, when the read image data is sent from the read control unit 273, the image inspection unit 274 reads the original image data corresponding to the read image data from the storage device 272. Then, the image inspection unit 274 compares the read image data with the original image data to inspect whether the image of the printed material is defective. The image inspection result by the image inspection unit 274 is sent to the printing apparatus 100 via the inspection apparatus I / F section 271 and the printing apparatus I / F section 161. Further, the inspection result of the image by the image inspection unit 274 is also sent to the transport control unit 275.

  Note that the printed matter generated by the printing apparatus 100 is managed by, for example, the printed matter ID assigned by the printing apparatus 100. When transmitting the original image and discharging the printed material, the printing device 100 sends the corresponding printed material ID to the inspection device 200, respectively. The read image data and the original image data are associated with the printed matter ID of the corresponding printed matter. The image inspection unit 274 reads the original image data corresponding to the read image data sent from the read control unit 273 from the storage device 272 using the printed matter ID as a key, and performs the above-described inspection.

  When a plurality of printed materials are continuously conveyed, read image data of a subsequent printed material may be sent from the reading control unit 273 to the image inspection unit 274 before the inspection of the image of the preceding printed material is completed. In this case, the image inspection unit 274 stores the read image data of the subsequent printed matter in the storage device 272, and after the inspection of the image of the preceding printed matter is completed, the read image data and the original image data of the subsequent printed matter are stored. May be read from the storage device 272 and the above-described inspection may be performed.

  The conveyance control unit 275 controls the driving device 280 to control the conveyance of the printed material in the inspection apparatus 200. The drive device 280 is a general term for a conveyance roller provided in the conveyance path of the inspection apparatus 200, a motor that is a driving source of the branching claw, and the like. The conveyance control unit 275 controls the drive device 280 to distribute the plurality of printed materials whose images have been read by the image reading unit 220 from the first conveyance section 201 to the plurality of second conveyance sections 202a to 202g. Until the inspection of the image of the printed matter is completed in the second conveyance sections 202a to 202g, and the printed matter that has been inspected for the image is carried out from the second conveyance sections 202a to 202g to the third conveyance section 203.

  Further, the conveyance control unit 275 identifies the second conveyance section where the printed material is waiting and the second conveyance section where the printed material is not waiting based on the detection signals of the printed material detection sensors 268a to 268g. And the conveyance control part 275 is control for reducing the speed | rate (printing speed by a printing part) which produces | generates printed matter, when the number of the 2nd conveyance area where printed matter waits becomes more than a predetermined threshold value. A signal or a control signal for stopping generation of a printed matter (printing process by the printing unit) is sent to the printing apparatus 100 via the inspection apparatus I / F unit 161. For example, the conveyance control unit 275 is configured to reduce the speed of generating a printed material to the printing apparatus 100 when the number of second conveying sections in which the printed material is waiting exceeds a first threshold. When a control signal (pre-BUSY signal to be described later) is sent and the number of second conveyance sections in which printed matter is waiting exceeds a second threshold value that is greater than the first threshold value, the printing apparatus 100 is A second control signal (a BUSY signal described later) for stopping the generation of the printed material is transmitted.

  The time required for inspecting the image of the printed material by the image inspection unit 274 depends on the data amount of the image and the number of parts suspected of being defective, and differs for each printed material. For this reason, the standby time in the second conveyance section of the conveyance path is also different for each printed matter, and a printed matter that takes time to inspect an image will prolong the standby time in the second conveyance section. Here, when the printed material that takes time to inspect the image is continuously conveyed, the interval (time) at which the printed material is carried from the first conveyance section 201 to any one of the second conveyance sections 202a to 202g. The interval (time) at which the printed material is carried out from any one of the second conveyance sections 202a to 202g to the third conveyance section 203 becomes longer, and the number of second conveyance sections in which the printed material waits increases. Therefore, the number of second conveyance sections provided in the conveyance path of the inspection apparatus 200 is, for example, an average inspection time of an image predicted by simulation or experiment, and a frequency at which a printed matter whose inspection time exceeds the average value appears. Therefore, it is desirable to determine the number so that there can be a second conveyance section in which the printed matter is not waiting when the average number of continuous printing is performed.

  However, even when the number of the second conveyance sections is determined as described above, if printed materials whose inspection time exceeds the average value frequently occur, the printed materials are in a standby state in all the second conveyance sections, and the subsequent printed materials are There may be a situation where it cannot be transported to the second transport section. In order to prevent this, the conveyance control unit 275 sends a control signal to the printing apparatus 100 when the number of second conveyance sections in which the printed material is waiting exceeds a predetermined threshold. In the printing apparatus 100, the print control unit 162 acquires a control signal sent from the conveyance control unit 275 of the inspection apparatus 200 via the inspection apparatus I / F unit 271 via the printing apparatus I / F unit 161. Upon receiving the control signal sent from the conveyance control unit 275, the print control unit 162 reduces the printing speed by the printing unit, or temporarily stops the printing process by the printing unit, and the printed matter is not waiting. Wait for the number of second transport sections to increase.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining a process of distributing a printed matter whose image has been read into a plurality of second transport sections 202a to 202g. For example, when the conveyance control unit 275 of the inspection apparatus 200 determines that the printed material is discharged from the printing apparatus 100 through communication with the printing apparatus 100, the conveyance control unit 275 performs a series of processes illustrated in the flowchart of FIG.

  Step S101: The conveyance control unit 275 determines whether or not reading of an image by the image reading unit 220 has been completed for the printed matter to be distributed. This determination is made, for example, when the image reading unit 220 has finished reading an image, the conveyance control unit 275 notifies the reading control unit 273 directly or via the image inspection unit 274 that the image reading has ended. Can be implemented by receiving. In addition, for example, a sensor that detects the passage of the printed material is provided on the downstream side of the image reading unit 220 in the first conveyance section 201, and it is determined that the image reading is finished when the sensor detects the passage of the printed material. This can also be implemented. The conveyance control unit 275 repeats the determination in step S101 if the determination in step S101 is No, and proceeds to step S102 if the determination in step S101 is Yes.

  Step S102: The conveyance control unit 275 determines whether or not there is a second conveyance section where the printed material is waiting among the plurality of second conveyance sections 202a to 202g. This determination can be performed, for example, when the conveyance control unit 275 confirms the detection signals of the printed matter detection sensors 268a to 268g. Alternatively, the transfer control unit 275 can check whether or not the printed material to be distributed is the first printed material of a job that generates a plurality of printed materials. In this case, when the distribution target print is the first print of the job, the conveyance control unit 275 determines that there is no second conveyance section in which the print is waiting, and the distribution target print is the first print of the job. If not, it is determined that there is a second transport section in which the printed material is waiting. The conveyance control unit 275 proceeds to step S103 if the determination in step S102 is No, and proceeds to step S104 if the determination in step S102 is Yes.

  Step S103: The conveyance control unit 275 determines the distribution position of the printed material to be distributed as the second conveyance section 202a that is the reference position for distribution among the plurality of second conveyance sections 202a to 202g, and proceeds to step S106. .

  Step S104: The conveyance control unit 275 determines the distribution position of the preceding printed material (printed material conveyed immediately before the distribution-target printed material) from a memory such as an SRAM (not shown) provided in the conveyance control unit 275. Read and proceed to step S105.

  Step S105: The conveyance control unit 275 determines the distribution position of the printed material to be distributed based on the distribution position of the preceding printed material read in step S104, and proceeds to step S106. The printed material distribution position is shifted to the second conveyance section 202a when the second conveyance section 202a, the second conveyance section 202b, the second conveyance section 202c,... Returning, the distribution position of the printed material to be distributed is the position next to the distribution position of the preceding printed material. For example, if the distribution position of the preceding printed material is the second conveyance section 202a, the conveyance control unit 275 determines the distribution position of the printed material to be distributed as the conveyance section 202b. If the distribution position of the preceding printed material is the second conveyance section 202b, the conveyance control unit 275 determines the distribution position of the printed material to be distributed as the second conveyance section 202c. If the distribution position of the preceding printed material is the second conveyance section 202g, the conveyance control unit 275 determines the distribution position of the distribution target printed material as the second conveyance section 202a.

  Step S106: The conveyance control unit 275 controls the drive device 280 to optimize the positions of the branching claws 261 to 266 so that the printed material to be distributed is guided to the distribution position determined in Step S103 or Step S105. The process proceeds to S107.

  Step S107: The conveyance control unit 275 stores the allocation position determined in step S103 or step S105 in a memory such as an SRAM (not shown) provided in the conveyance control unit 275 in association with the printed matter ID, and then proceeds to step S108. move on.

  Step S108: The conveyance control unit 275 determines whether or not there is a printed material subsequent to the printed material distributed to any one of the second conveyance sections 202a to 202g in the step S106. This determination can be performed, for example, by confirming whether there is a new printed material for which the conveyance control unit 275 has finished reading an image by the image reading unit 220. Further, when the printing apparatus 100 sends a printed matter discharge signal to the inspection apparatus 200 every time the printed matter is discharged, the conveyance control unit 275 can receive the printed matter discharge signal. If the determination in step S108 is Yes, the transport control unit 275 returns to step S104 and repeats the subsequent processes. If the determination in step S108 is No, the transport control unit 275 ends the series of processes shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  In the above description, the conveyance control unit 275 stores the distribution position of the preceding printed material in the memory, and determines the distribution position of the printed material to be distributed based on the distribution position stored in the memory. However, instead of this, the distribution position of the printed material to be distributed may be determined by checking the detection signals of the printed material detection sensors 268a to 268g as needed.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for describing processing for discharging a printed matter whose image inspection has been completed to the defective discharge tray 210 or the post-processing device 300. The conveyance control unit 275 of the inspection apparatus 200 executes a series of processes shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 in parallel with the processes shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  Step S201: The conveyance control unit 275 determines whether or not the image inspection by the image inspection unit 274 is completed for any printed matter waiting in any one of the second conveyance sections 202a to 202g. This determination can be performed by, for example, the conveyance control unit 274 receiving the inspection result from the image inspection unit 274 together with the printed material ID for the printed material for which the image inspection by the image inspection unit 274 has been completed. The conveyance control unit 275 repeats the determination in step S201 if the determination in step S201 is No, and proceeds to step S202 if the determination in step S201 is Yes.

  Step S202: The conveyance control unit 275 reads out the printed material distribution position determined to have completed the image inspection in step S201 from a memory such as an SRAM (not shown) provided in the conveyance control unit 275, and proceeds to step S203. .

  Step S203: The conveyance control unit 275 controls the drive device 280 so that the printed matter determined to have been subjected to the image inspection in Step S201 is carried out to the third conveyance section 203, and among the conveyance rollers 250a to 250g. Then, the conveyance roller corresponding to the distribution position read in step S202 is rotationally driven, and the process proceeds to step S204. At this time, if there is a printed material that has been previously transported to the third transport section 203, the transport control unit 275 prints the printed material so that the previously transported printed material and the next transported material are not overlapped in the third transport section 203. It is desirable to adjust the timing for carrying out the ink to the third conveyance section 203.

  Step S204: The conveyance control unit 275 determines whether the image inspection result by the image inspection unit 274 indicates that the image has a defect with respect to the printed matter carried out to the third conveyance section 203 in step S203. The conveyance control unit 275 proceeds to step S205 if the determination in step S204 is Yes, and proceeds to step S206 if the determination in step S204 is No.

  Step S205: The conveyance control unit 275 controls the driving device 280 so that the printed material carried out in the third conveyance section 203 in step S203 is discharged to the defective paper discharge tray 210, and appropriately sets the position of the paper discharge branch claw 230. Go to step S207.

  Step S206: The conveyance control unit 275 controls the driving device 280 to optimize the position of the paper discharge branch claw 230 so that the printed material carried out to the third conveyance section 203 in step S203 is discharged to the post-processing device 300. The process proceeds to step S207.

  Step S207: The conveyance control unit 275 determines whether there is a printed matter waiting in any of the second conveyance sections 202a to 202g. This determination can be performed, for example, when the conveyance control unit 275 confirms the detection signals of the printed matter detection sensors 268a to 268g. If the determination in step S207 is Yes, the transport control unit 275 returns to step S201 and repeats the subsequent processing. If the determination in step S207 is No, the conveyance control unit 275 ends the series of processing illustrated in the flowchart of FIG.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart for describing processing for sending a control signal to the printing apparatus 100 in accordance with the number of second conveyance sections in which printed materials are waiting. In parallel with the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 and the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6, the transport control unit 275 of the inspection apparatus 200 repeatedly executes a series of processes shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 at a predetermined cycle. .

  Step S301: The conveyance control unit 275 calculates the number A of the second conveyance sections where the printed material is waiting among the plurality of second conveyance sections 202a to 202g, and proceeds to step S302. This process can be performed, for example, when the conveyance control unit 275 confirms the detection signals of the printed matter detection sensors 268a to 268g.

  Step S302: The conveyance control unit 275 determines whether or not the number A of the second conveyance sections in which the printed matter calculated in Step S301 is waiting is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold N (second threshold). The conveyance control unit 275 proceeds to step S303 if the determination in step S302 is Yes, and proceeds to step S304 if the determination in step S302 is No.

  Step S303: The transport control unit 275 asserts the BUSY signal (second control signal) and ends the process. Asserting the BUSY signal corresponds to sending the BUSY signal to the printing apparatus 100. When the BUSY signal is in the asserted state, the printing control unit 162 of the printing apparatus 100 temporarily stops the printing process by the printing unit until the BUSY signal is negated.

  Step S304: If the BUSY signal is in the asserted state, the transport control unit 275 negates the BUSY signal and proceeds to Step S305.

  Step S305: The conveyance control unit 275 determines whether or not the number A of second conveyance sections in which the printed matter calculated in step S301 is waiting is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold M (first threshold). The threshold value M has a relationship of M <N with respect to the threshold value N. The conveyance control unit 275 proceeds to step S306 if the determination in step S305 is Yes, and proceeds to step S307 if the determination in step S305 is No.

  Step S306: The transport control unit 275 asserts Pre-BUSY (second control signal) and ends the process. Asserting the Pre-BUSY signal corresponds to sending the Pre-BUSY signal to the printing apparatus 100. When the Pre-BUSY signal is in the asserted state, the printing control unit 162 of the printing apparatus 100 reduces the printing speed by the printing unit until the Pre-BUSY signal is negated.

  Step S307: If the Pre-BUSY signal is asserted, the transport control unit 275 negates the Pre-BUSY signal and ends the process.

  In the above description, a control signal is transmitted from the inspection apparatus 200 to the printing apparatus 100 by asserting the BUSY signal or the Pre-BUSY signal. A status signal indicating the congestion state of the conveyance section may be transmitted from the inspection apparatus 200 to the printing apparatus 100 by serial communication or the like. In the above description, the operation of the printing apparatus 100 when the second transport section is congested is controlled in two stages by using two control signals of the Pre-BUSY signal and the BUSY signal. For example, the operation of the printing apparatus 100 is controlled by one control signal, or the operation of the printing apparatus 100 is controlled by three or more steps by three or more control signals (for example, the rate of decrease in printing speed is set). You may make it switch in several steps).

  As described above in detail with specific examples, the inspection apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment is provided with a plurality of second conveyance sections 202a to 202g on a conveyance path through which a printed material is conveyed. Then, the conveyance control unit 275 distributes the printed matter whose image has been read by the image reading unit 220 into a plurality of second conveyance sections 202a to 202g, and enters the second conveyance section until the image inspection by the image inspection unit 274 is completed. The printed matter is put on standby, and the printed matter whose image has been inspected is carried out to the third conveyance section 203 at the subsequent stage. Therefore, before the printed material reaches the position of the paper discharge branch claw 230, the inspection of the image of the printed material can be surely ended, and the output destination of the printed material can be switched appropriately. In addition, since the printed materials are not stacked in one place unlike the prior art, it is possible to effectively avoid the occurrence of double feeding and blocking, which is a concern in the prior art, and maintain productivity.

  Further, according to the inspection apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment, when the number of second transport sections in which a printed material is waiting among the plurality of second transport sections 202a to 202g is equal to or greater than a threshold value, the printing apparatus 100 is used. The printing speed of the printing section is reduced, or the printing process by the printing section is temporarily stopped, so even if a large number of printed materials that take time to inspect the image are conveyed continuously The printed material can be appropriately distributed to the second transport section while minimizing the decrease in productivity.

  Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and is embodied in the implementation stage while adding various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention. be able to. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the printing apparatus 100 and the inspection apparatus 200 are configured as separate apparatuses has been described. However, the embodiment is implemented as an image forming apparatus having both the functions of the printing apparatus 100 and the inspection apparatus 200. You can also

  In this case, the image forming apparatus includes a conveyance path having the configuration illustrated in FIG. 3 on the downstream side of the fixing device 150 of the printing unit illustrated in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the image forming apparatus includes the storage device 272, the reading control unit 273, the image inspection unit 274, and the conveyance control unit 275 (see FIG. 4) of the inspection apparatus 200 described above, and the printing apparatus 100 described above. A control unit 400 including a print control unit 162 (see FIG. 4). The printing control unit 162 of the control device 400 is connected to the conveyance control unit 275, and when the number of second conveyance sections where the printed material is waiting exceeds a predetermined threshold, the printing speed by the printing unit is set. Or the printing process by the printing unit is temporarily stopped. For example, the printing control unit 162 of the control device 200 reduces the printing speed by the printing unit when the number of second transport sections in which the printed material is waiting exceeds a first threshold, and the printed material is waiting When the number of two transport sections becomes equal to or greater than a second threshold value that is greater than the first threshold value, the printing process by the printing unit is temporarily stopped.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Printing apparatus 110 Paper feed hopper 120a-120d Image forming unit 130 Intermediate transfer belt 140 Secondary transfer roller 150 Fixing apparatus 162 Print control part 200 Inspection apparatus 201 1st conveyance area 202a-202g 2nd conveyance area 203 3rd conveyance area 204 Fourth conveyance section 220 Image reading unit 230 Paper discharge branch claw 270 Inspection device control unit 274 Image inspection unit 275 conveyance control unit

JP 2009-230046 A

Claims (6)

A transport path through which a printed product is transported, the first transport section, a plurality of second transport sections connected to the transport direction downstream portion of the first transport section, and the transport direction downstream of the plurality of second transport sections A transport path having a third transport section to which the sections are connected, and a fourth transport section branched from the third transport section,
An image reading unit that reads an image of the printed matter passing through the first conveyance section;
An image inspection unit for inspecting the read image;
According to the result of the inspection of the image of the printed matter, the third conveying position is set at the branch position from the third conveying interval to the fourth conveying interval, and the destination of the printed matter passing through the third conveying interval is determined. A switching unit that selectively switches between the downstream portion in the transport direction of the section and the fourth transport section;
Distributing the plurality of printed materials from which the images have been read from the first conveying section to the plurality of second conveying sections, and waiting the printed material in the second conveying section until the inspection of the image of the printed material is completed; An inspection apparatus comprising: a conveyance control unit configured to carry out the printed matter that has been inspected for an image from the second conveyance section to the third conveyance section.   The transport control unit is configured to set a speed of generating the printed material to a printing apparatus that generates the printed material when the number of the second transport sections in which the printed material is waiting exceeds a predetermined threshold. The inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a control signal for lowering or a control signal for stopping generation of the printed matter is transmitted.   The transport control unit is configured to reduce a speed of generating the printed material with respect to the printing apparatus when the number of the second transport sections in which the printed material is waiting exceeds a first threshold. 1 control signal is sent, and when the number of the second conveyance sections in which the printed material is waiting becomes equal to or larger than a second threshold value that is larger than the first threshold value, The inspection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a second control signal for stopping generation is transmitted. A printing unit that prints an image on a print medium to generate a printed matter;
A transport path for transporting the printed matter generated by the printing unit, a first transport section, a plurality of second transport sections connected to a downstream portion in the transport direction of the first transport section, and a plurality of the first transport sections. A transport path having a third transport section to which downstream portions in the transport direction of the two transport sections are connected, and a fourth transport section branched from the third transport section;
An image reading unit that reads an image of the printed matter passing through the first conveyance section;
An image inspection unit for inspecting the read image;
According to the result of the inspection of the image of the printed matter, the third conveying position is set at the branch position from the third conveying interval to the fourth conveying interval, and the destination of the printed matter passing through the third conveying interval is determined. A switching unit that selectively switches between the downstream portion in the transport direction of the section and the fourth transport section;
Distributing the plurality of printed materials from which the images have been read from the first conveying section to the plurality of second conveying sections, and waiting the printed material in the second conveying section until the inspection of the image of the printed material is completed; An image forming apparatus comprising: a conveyance control unit configured to carry out the printed matter that has been inspected for an image from the second conveyance section to the third conveyance section.   A print control unit that reduces a printing speed by the printing unit or stops printing by the printing unit when the number of the second transport sections in which the printed matter is waiting exceeds a predetermined threshold value; The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:   The printing control unit reduces the printing speed of the printing unit when the number of the second conveyance sections in which the printed material is waiting is equal to or greater than a first threshold, and the printed material is waiting in the second The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein printing by the printing unit is stopped when the number of two transport sections is equal to or greater than a second threshold value that is greater than the first threshold value.

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