JP2019093550A - Image formation apparatus, external device and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To allow the operation after abnormality in an image is determined to be properly set when performing the quality determination of the image on the basis of the reading result obtained by reading the image.SOLUTION: An image formation apparatus includes: an image formation unit which forms an image on a recording medium; and a control unit which causes the image formation unit to output a job on the basis of the job. The control unit can perform the quality determination of the image by acquiring the reading result obtained by reading the image of the recording medium, and select and set the operation on whether to stop or continue the image formation when the abnormality is determined in the determination in accordance with a prescribed condition.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an external apparatus, and a program capable of performing quality determination of an image based on a reading result obtained by reading an image of a recording medium.

  In the field of image forming apparatuses such as copying machines, printers, and multi-functional machines, apparatuses having an automatic detection function for determining image abnormality and image quality adjustment using image read data obtained by reading an image of a sheet are known. There is. For example, by comparing a read image with a correct image such as image data for printing and judging whether it matches the correct image, an abnormality such as stain, color shift, or positional shift can be determined, or failure diagnosis function is performed. Detecting information on streaks and the like to diagnose a faulty part of a machine is performed. In addition, there is known a device that prints an adjustment image on a sheet of insertion paper, cutting allowance, etc. and reads the adjustment image to adjust the image quality. can do. The case where there is an abnormality in these operations is referred to as waste, and the sheet having the abnormality is referred to as waste paper.

The following is an example of the operation after automatically detecting a waste in the automatic waste detection function.
1. Cut off printing immediately (Patent Document 1 etc.)
In Patent Document 1, an image formed on an output is read, and comparison image data and output image data are compared to determine whether they are the same or not, and when it is determined that they are not the same, an operation related to print output based on job data To stop 2. Shift the discharge position of the waste paper or insert the insertion paper and continue printing (eg, Patent Document 2)
In Patent Document 2, as a result of inspection, an insertion sheet for specifying a portion where the printing result is determined not to be normal is efficiently set.
3. Continue printing on other paper output trays (such as sub trays) (eg, Patent Document 3)
In Patent Document 3, even if the binding process is designated in the job process, the sheet is discharged to the first discharge destination without executing the binding process on the sheet determined to be not normal in the inspection process, and If the image is not normal, the sheet fed after the inspected sheet is discharged to the second discharge destination.
4. Instructing other image forming apparatuses to continue printing via a server (eg, Patent Documents 4 and 5)
In Patent Document 4, in a server apparatus that communicates with a plurality of image forming apparatuses or a plurality of information processing apparatuses, inspection information calculated by inspecting an image printed on a sheet is acquired from each image forming apparatus, and adaptation is applied to the inspection level. The print job is allocated to the selected image forming apparatus.
In Patent Document 5, in a server apparatus that communicates with a plurality of image forming apparatuses, a reprinting instruction when a waste sheet is generated is instructed to another image forming apparatus.

JP, 2012-161974, A JP 2012-236343 A JP 2012-236281 A JP 2015-230688 A JP, 2015-230700, A

According to Patent Document 1, strict inspection is necessary, and it is effective in the case where it is desired to immediately cut off and confirm when there is a waste.
Patent Documents 2 and 3 are not suitable for immediate disconnection, but are suitable for confirmation after output, and are effective when confirmation + replacement can be performed after output.
Patent Documents 4 and 5 are effective when a plurality of image forming apparatuses are connected. However, this can not be implemented in the case of a single image processing apparatus.

As described above, although there are a plurality of operations after the detection of the actual loss, the most efficient operation varies depending on the user's situation.
In particular, it differs depending on the user's environment, the type of job, the total number and number of remaining print jobs, and the detected file information.
For example, it is desirable for some users to have a working environment in which the user is immediately prompted to check the waste paper, or for the time being all after output. Depending on the type of job, it may be necessary to immediately and strictly require confirmation work, or it may not be necessary.
In addition, when the remaining number is only a few, and it is likely to want to output first without stopping the job if it detects a waste, it is annoying if the job is frequently interrupted if it is a job with a large number of totals. You may want to check it after you
In the case of a color output defect, it is necessary to immediately stop and confirm the process. However, in the case of streaks, fireflies, etc., there is also a problem specific to the paper, so some users may output immediately without interruption. You may want to check it later.
As described above, if only a specific operation is performed at the time of detection of a sagging, the productivity may be reduced or inconvenient.

  The present invention has been made against the background described above, and an image forming apparatus, an external apparatus, and a program capable of performing an appropriate operation desired by the user in the presence of an image abnormality according to conditions. Make it possible to offer.

In order to solve the above problems, in an image forming apparatus according to the present invention, a first mode is an image forming unit for forming an image on a recording medium;
A control unit that causes the image forming unit to execute job output based on the job;
The control unit may further acquire a read result obtained by reading the image of the recording medium to determine whether the image is good or not, and may stop or continue the image formation when it is determined that there is an abnormality in the determination. It is possible to select and set the operation of in accordance with a predetermined condition in advance.

  In the invention of the other aspect, in the invention of the aspect, the control unit enables the setting to be performed before start of output of a job, at the start of output, or during output of a job.

  In the invention of the image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention, the predetermined condition is a job unit.

  In the invention of the other aspect, in the invention of the image forming apparatus, the control unit associates the setting with job information, and makes the setting associated with job information changeable.

In the invention of the above aspect, the predetermined condition is printing of a plurality of copies of a job, in another invention of the image forming apparatus.
The control unit makes it possible to select and set whether to stop at the number of copies or to output the final page.

  In the invention of the other aspect, in the invention of the image forming apparatus, the control unit can set operation switching during job output when the operation to be continued is selected in the setting.

  According to another invention of the image forming apparatus, in the invention of the aspect described above, the predetermined condition is interruption of a job.

  In the invention of the other aspect, in the invention of the aspect, the control unit enables switching of the setting when the continuation of the job is selected after the interruption of the job.

  In the invention of the above aspect, the predetermined condition is a predetermined remaining number of jobs.

  In the invention of the above aspect, the control unit enables the setting of the predetermined remaining number of sheets.

  In the invention of the above aspect, the predetermined condition is a predetermined total number of jobs.

  In the invention of the above aspect, the control unit enables the setting of the predetermined total number of sheets.

  In the invention of the above aspect, the predetermined condition is a type of image abnormality.

  In another aspect of the present invention of the above aspect, the control unit can perform the setting for each type of image abnormality.

  In the invention of the other aspect, in the invention of the aspect described above, the control unit may include the same abnormality information in the same part of the recording medium when “continue” is selected in the setting. If it occurs at a predetermined frequency, it will stop forcibly and immediately.

  In the invention of the other aspect, in the invention of the image forming apparatus, the control unit can set a threshold of a predetermined frequency at which a prompt disconnection is forcibly stopped.

  Another invention of the image forming apparatus is, in the invention of the above-mentioned form, provided with an image reading unit for reading an image of a recording medium.

  In the invention of the other form, in the invention of the aspect described above, the control unit relates to an operation of stopping or continuing the image formation when it is determined that there is an abnormality in the determination. It is possible to select whether to make common settings or to select and set according to a predetermined condition.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first mode of the external apparatus of the present invention is an external apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus that executes job output in an image forming unit based on a job,
An external apparatus control unit capable of instructing the image forming apparatus to operate the image forming unit;
The external device control unit can acquire the read result obtained by reading the image of the recording medium to determine the quality of the image, and when it is determined that there is an abnormality in the determination, the image according to a predetermined condition It is possible to preselect and set operation control of whether to stop or continue formation.

A first aspect of the program of the present invention for solving the above problems is a program executed by a control unit that controls output of a job executed by an image forming unit based on a job.
The read result obtained by reading the image of the recording medium is acquired to judge the quality of the image, and the operation control as to whether to stop or continue the image formation when it is judged that there is an abnormality in the judgment is a predetermined condition in advance. In accordance with the above, the control unit executes it to enable selection and setting.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when there is an image abnormality in the determination based on the reading result, it is possible to set how to perform the operation according to a predetermined condition, for example, the user desires There is an effect that it is possible to perform the operation.

FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing the mechanical configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Similarly, it is a figure which shows a control block. Similarly, it is a figure which shows the example of the operation setting screen after a rust detection. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for describing a procedure for setting an operation after the detection of a garnish for each job. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an operation setting screen for setting an operation after detection of a garnish for each job. Similarly, it is a flow chart showing a procedure for collectively setting operation settings after the detection of a slip for each job. FIG. 11 is a view showing an operation selection setting screen for collectively setting operation settings after detection of a swarf for each job. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a setting screen for setting operation selection settings for each job in association with job information in another embodiment. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an operation setting screen displayed when a job is interrupted in another embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an operation setting screen displayed when continuation is selected after job interruption. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a procedure for setting an operation when continuation is selected after job interruption. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an operation setting screen which enables common setting after detection of a garnish, setting according to the remaining number of jobs after garnish detection, and setting according to the total number of jobs in another embodiment. In another embodiment, the common setting after the detection of the loss, the setting of the operation after the detection of the loss according to the loss information at the detection of the loss, and the setting of the immediate disconnection stop when the continuous loss information continues in the continuation after the detection of the loss. It is a figure which shows the operation setting screen which enables.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the attached drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an apparatus main body 10 on the front stage side, the relay apparatus 20 is positioned downstream of the apparatus main body 10, and the reading apparatus 30 is positioned downstream of the relay apparatus. Each device and the device body are mechanically and electrically connected to enable communication and conveyance of the sheet between the device and the body.

The apparatus main body 10 is provided with a sheet feeding unit 12 for storing sheets on the lower side of the housing. The paper supply unit 12 supplies the stored paper to the conveyance path 13. The paper corresponds to the recording medium of the present invention.
In the present invention, the material of the recording medium is not limited to paper, and a recording medium made of cloth, plastic or the like can be used.

A conveying path 13 is provided inside the apparatus main body 10, and conveys the sheet supplied from the sheet feeding unit 12 to the downstream side.
An image forming unit 110 is provided in the middle of the conveyance path 13. The image forming unit 110 includes photosensitive members 11 a for each color. A charging unit 11b, an exposure unit 11c, a developing unit 11d, and a cleaning unit 11e are provided around the photoconductors 11a for the respective colors in the counterclockwise direction. The photosensitive member 11a is in contact with the intermediate transfer belt 11f between the developing unit 11d and the cleaning unit 11e.

In the figure, the photosensitive member, the charging unit, the exposing unit, and the developing unit provided for one color are denoted by reference numerals, but the same structure is also applied to other colors, and the intermediate transfer is performed. It is equipped along the belt. As each color, yellow, magenta, cyan, black etc. can be mentioned.
The intermediate transfer belt 11 f can contact the sheet on the conveyance path 13 at the secondary transfer portion 11 g. A fixing device 11 h is provided at a position downstream of the secondary transfer portion 11 g in the transport direction in the transport path 13.

  When an image is formed on a sheet of paper in the image forming unit 110, after the surface of the photosensitive member 11a is charged by the charging unit 11b, a latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the surface of the photosensitive member 11a by the exposure unit 11c. Thereafter, the formed latent image is developed by the developing unit 11 d to form a toner image. The toner image on the photosensitive member 11a is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 11f. These operations are similarly performed on the photosensitive member 11a for other colors, and toner images of respective colors are superimposed and transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 11f. The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 11f is transferred to the sheet at the secondary transfer portion 11g, and the image of the transferred sheet is heated and fixed by the fixing unit 11h.

On the downstream side of the fixing device 11 h, a reverse conveyance path 13 a branches from the conveyance path 13. A reverse path 13b is provided in the reverse conveyance path 13a, and the front and back of the sheet fed to the reverse unit is changed to reverse the front and back. The downstream side of the reverse conveyance path 13 a joins the conveyance path 13 at a position upstream of the image forming unit 110.
When an image is to be formed on the back side of the sheet, the sheet passing through the fixing device 11h is introduced into the reverse conveyance path 13a, is sent to the bypass path 13b, and the paper is reversed. The image forming unit 110 circulates to the upstream side of 13 and forms an image on the back side of the sheet in the image forming unit 110.
When only reversing the front and back of the sheet is performed, the sheet is introduced into the reverse conveying path 13a, and the sheet is conveyed to the downstream conveying path 13 of the fixing device 11h in a state where the front and back is reversed.
When the sheet is not reversed or the image is not formed on the back side, the sheet is conveyed straight as it is without being sent to the reverse conveyance path 13a.

  The apparatus main body 10 includes an operation unit 140 on the top of the case for displaying information and accepting an operation input. The operation unit 140 has a touch panel LCD capable of displaying various operation screens, and the LCD functions as the display unit 141.

An automatic document feeder (ADF) 135 is further provided on the top of the case of the apparatus body 10. The automatic document feeding unit (ADF) 135 can automatically feed the set document, and the document to be fed is read by the CCD of the scanner unit 130.
Further, a platen glass 137 is provided on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 10, and reading of the original can also be performed by setting the original on the platen glass.
Although the scanner unit 130 is used to read an original, it can be used to read an image of the output printing unit. In this case, the scanner unit 130 corresponds to the image reading unit of the present invention.

  The conveyance path 13 is connected to the conveyance path 23 of the relay device 20 in the subsequent stage, and the sheet discharged from the apparatus main body 10 is conveyed to the conveyance path 23 of the relay device 20. In the relay device 20, the conveyance path 23 is connected to the conveyance path 33 of the reading device 30 in the rear stage, and the sheet passing through the relay device 20 is introduced into the reading device 30 in the rear stage via the conveyance path 23.

  The apparatus main body 10 includes an image control unit 100 that controls the entire image forming apparatus 1. The image control unit 100 is configured of a CPU or a program operated by the CPU, a storage unit serving as various setting parameters, a work area, and the like. The image control unit 100 can determine the quality of the image by acquiring the reading result of the image reading unit described later. Furthermore, when it is determined that there is an abnormality, it is possible to select and set in advance the operation of stopping or continuing the image formation in accordance with a predetermined condition.

The reading device 30 is provided with an image reading unit 32 which reads an image of the upper surface of the sheet in the middle of the conveyance path 33. The image reading unit 32 reads the image on the upper surface of the sheet sent by the conveyance path 33.
The image reading unit 32 can be configured by, for example, a line sensor such as a CMOS sensor or a CCD sensor, and may use a colorimeter.
In the conveyance path 33, the reverse conveyance path 34 is branched on the downstream side of the image reading unit 32, and in the middle of the reverse conveyance path 34, a bypass conveyance path 34A is branched. The reverse conveyance path 34 is connected to the conveyance path 33 at a position downstream of the branch position of the bypass conveyance path 34A and on the upstream side of the image reading unit 32.

When reading on the back side of the sheet, the sheet is introduced to the reverse conveyance path 34 at a position past the image reading unit 32, and one end of the sheet is fed to the bypass conveyance path 34A, and then the sheet is switched The sheet is transported to the downstream side of the reverse transport path 34. The sheet passing through the reverse conveyance path 34 can be circulated to the conveyance path 33 in a state where the front and back of the sheet is reversed, and the image reading can be performed on the sheet side opposite to the side on which the image is read first. The series of operations can read the front and back images of the sheet.
Further, by providing at least two image reading units above and below the transport path 33 without reversing the front and back of the sheet, it may be possible to read the images on the front and back of the sheet transported through the transport path 33. When a plurality of image reading units are provided, different types of image reading units may be installed.

  In the present embodiment, the image reading unit 32 is provided in the reading device 30, but the position of the image reading unit is not limited to that provided in the reading device 30, and, for example, the apparatus main body 10 Alternatively, the image reading unit may be provided in the relay device 20.

The reading device 30 includes a reading control unit 300 that controls the entire reading device 30 such as reading an image. The reading control unit 300 is configured of a CPU or a program operated by the CPU, a storage unit serving as various setting parameters, a work area, and the like.
The read data acquired by the image reading unit 32 is sent to the image control unit 100 via the reading control unit 300 provided in the reading device 30 as a reading result. It is used for image quality determination and various adjustments. The sheet discharged from the reading device 30 is discharged to the discharge tray 35.

  In the present embodiment, the image control unit 100 determines the quality of the image. However, the reading control unit 300 may determine the quality of the image as the read result. The result of the quality determination is sent to the image control unit of the apparatus main body, and the image control unit can control the image forming operation. The operation of selecting or setting in advance whether to stop or continue the image formation in accordance with a predetermined condition when it is determined that there is an abnormality may be performed by the reading device 30, and the device main body 10 You may go at In this case, the reading control unit 300 and the image control unit 100 cooperate with each other to function as a control unit of the present invention.

  The read control unit 300 determines whether the image is good or bad, and when it is determined that there is an abnormality, the operation of stopping or continuing the image formation is selected in advance according to a predetermined condition, and the setting is read. In the case of the apparatus 30, the reading device 30 corresponds to the external device of the present invention, and the reading control unit 300 corresponds to the external device control portion of the present invention. In this example, the reading control unit 300 instructs the apparatus main body 10 to control the image forming operation based on the above settings.

  The configuration of the image forming apparatus 1 of the present invention is not limited to the above configuration, and may further include another device. For example, a sheet feeding device for feeding sheets may be provided at the front stage of the apparatus main body 10, and a post-processing device may be provided at the rear stage of the reading device 30. Further, the image forming apparatus 1 may be configured by only the apparatus main body 10, and the image forming system may be configured with the relay device 20 and the reading device 30. Further, the relay device 20 may not be provided.

Next, control blocks of the image forming apparatus 1 and peripheral devices will be described based on FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 1 includes an image control unit 100, a storage unit 101, an image generation unit 108, an image processing unit 109, an image forming unit 110, a history storage unit 120, and an operation unit 140 in the apparatus main body 10. , The display unit 141, and the communication unit 160.
The reading device 30 includes an image reading unit 32 and a reading control unit 300.
Further, an external apparatus 4 is provided as an apparatus connected to the image forming apparatus, and the external apparatus 4 includes a storage unit 40 and an external apparatus control unit 400. The external device 4 is connected by the network 3 connected to the communication unit 160. The connection may be a communication cable or the like instead of a network, and the connection may be wired or wireless.

As described above, the image control unit 100 is configured to include a CPU, a RAM as a work area, and the like, and reads various programs from the storage unit 101 and executes them to execute each unit of the image forming apparatus such as an image forming unit. Control. The storage unit 101 is readable by the image control unit 100 and stores programs, setting files used when executing the programs, image data, etc., and is provided with an image memory, non-volatile memory, HDD, etc. . The storage unit 101 may be included in the image control unit 100. The read image data generated by the image reading unit 32 can be acquired as a read result, and it can be determined whether the image formed on the sheet is abnormal or normal.
In the control of the image control unit 100, the original image such as RIP image data generated by the image generation unit 108 or the scanner unit 130 and held in the storage unit 101 is subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 109 and processed after image processing. An image is formed on a sheet by the image forming unit 110 based on the print image data.

  The operation unit 140 generates an operation signal according to the user's operation, and outputs the operation signal to the image control unit 100. As the operation unit 140, a keypad, a touch panel integrally formed with the display unit 141, or the like can be used.

  The display unit 141 displays an operation screen or the like according to an instruction of the image control unit 100. As the display unit 141, an LCD, an organic electro luminescence display (OELD), or the like can be used. The display unit 141 can display, for example, an operation setting screen for setting an operation after abnormality determination of a scanned image which is a reading result or an image.

The communication unit 160 can communicate with external devices on the network, such as a user terminal, a server, and other image forming apparatuses.
The communication unit 160 can receive, from the user terminal via the network, vector data or the like in which the content of an instruction for forming an image is described in page description language (PDL: Page Description Language). The control signal may be received from a management device to be managed.

The image generation unit 108 rasterizes the vector data received by the communication unit 160 to generate original image data in a bitmap format. The original image data can also be acquired by reading the document by the scanner unit 130 as described above. The original image data has pixel values of four colors of C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow) and K (black). The pixel value is a data value representing the density of an image, and for example, an 8-bit data value represents a density of 0 to 255 gradations.
The image processing unit 109 reads original image data from the storage unit 101 or the like, and performs image rotation, enlargement, reduction, addition of page numbers, layout processing such as page aggregation, thinning processing, density correction processing, and pseudo intermediate It performs various image processing such as half tone processing to reproduce a key.

The image forming unit 110 forms an image of four colors of C, M, Y, and K on a sheet of paper in accordance with the pixel values of four colors of each pixel of the original image data subjected to image processing by the image processing unit 109. .
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 110 includes four writing units, an intermediate transfer belt 11f, a secondary transfer unit 11g, and a fixing unit 11h.

The four writing units are arranged in tandem along the belt surface of the intermediate transfer belt 11 f to form an image of each color of C, M, Y and K. Each writing unit has the same configuration except that the color of the image to be formed is different, and as shown in FIG. 1, the photosensitive unit 11a, the charging unit 11b, the exposure unit 11c, the developing unit 11d, and the cleaning unit 11e.
At the time of image formation, in each writing unit, after charging the photosensitive member 11a by the charging unit 11b, an electrostatic latent image is formed by the exposure unit 11c based on the original image data. When a developing material supplies a color material such as toner and develops it, an image is formed on the photosensitive member 11a.
The images respectively formed on the photosensitive members 11a of the four writing units are sequentially superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 11f and transferred (primary transfer). Thereby, an image of each color is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 11 f. After the primary transfer, the cleaning unit 11 e removes the color material remaining on the photosensitive member 11 a.

In the image forming unit 110, a sheet is fed from the sheet feeding unit 12 and conveyed by the conveyance path 13, and the image is transferred (secondary transfer) onto the sheet from the intermediate transfer belt 11f by the secondary transfer unit 11g. Is heated and pressed by the fixing device 11 h to fix the image.
In the case of forming an image on both sides of the sheet, the sheet is conveyed to the reverse conveyance path 13a and the bypass path 13b, the front and back sides are reversed, and the sheet is conveyed to the secondary transfer portion 11g again.

The history storage unit 120 stores history information using the reading result generated by the image reading unit 32. The history information is evidence of the implementation of image formation, and can also be used for inspection and confirmation of printed matter obtained by image formation.
When at least one abnormality is detected, the history storage unit 120 can generate information indicating that each abnormality is detected. The history information is stored in the history storage unit 120 in this embodiment, but is transmitted to the external device 4 on the network such as a reader, a user terminal or a server via the communication unit 160, and the storage device of the external device 4 You may save it to

The reading device 30 has an image reading unit 32 controlled by the reading control unit 300.
The image forming unit 110 reads a sheet surface on which an image is formed, and generates read image data in a bitmap format. As the image reading unit 32, a line sensor, an area sensor, a digital camera, or the like using an imaging device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) can be used.

As described above, the image control unit 100 can obtain the read image data generated by the image reading unit 32 as a reading result, and can determine whether the image formed on the sheet is abnormal or normal. . The inspection performed by the image control unit 100 can be realized by software processing in which a program for inspection is read by the CPU and executed.
For example, the image control unit 100 can compare the read image data with the original image data and the inspected normal image data, and determine that the image area whose difference exceeds the allowable range is abnormal. Alternatively, the image control unit 100 determines one or more feature points of the original image data and the read image data and their feature amounts, and an image area in which the feature points determined to be similar by the discriminant analysis method from the determined feature amounts Can be determined to be abnormal. The feature amount is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a gradient direction histogram, a speedup robust characteristic, a local binary pattern, a Haar wavelet, a color histogram and the like. Moreover, it does not specifically limit as a discriminant analysis method, A neural network, a support vector machine, etc. are mentioned.
As described above, the image control unit 100 can determine the quality of the image based on the reading result of the image, and the image control unit 100 corresponds to the control unit of the present invention, and the program executed by the image control unit 100. Includes the program of the present invention.

The image control unit 100 can also determine the type of abnormality and its level. As types of abnormality, there are insufficient color output of the image formed on the sheet, streaks in the image, wrinkles, image errors, defects such as loss, stains such as toner scattering, color shifts, fireflies, image position shifts, etc. is there.
For example, since the feature quantities of the image are similar if the types of abnormalities are the same, the image control unit 100 determines the feature quantities of the feature points determined to be abnormal, such as streaks and toner scattering obtained in advance. The type of abnormality can be determined by determining the similarity to the type of abnormality feature.
Further, the image control unit 100 can more easily recognize the abnormality as the difference with the normal image data or the area determined to be abnormal is larger, so that the level of the abnormality can be determined according to the size of these.

  Although the image control unit 100 displays the quality of the image and selects the operation based on the quality determination of the image, as described above, the operation control in the case where the reading control unit determines that the quality of the image is defective or not. Alternatively, the image control unit may perform the quality setting of the image, and the image control unit may perform the operation setting when it is determined that there is an abnormality.

The communication unit 160 is connected to the external device 4 via the network 3. As the external apparatus 4, a user terminal, a management apparatus which manages the image forming apparatus 1, etc. can be used, and both may be provided.
The external device 4 may transmit image data to the image forming apparatus 1 or perform control for managing the image forming apparatus 1.
The external device 4 includes a storage unit 40 and an external device control unit 400. The storage unit 40 can store image data, setting parameters, and the like. The external device control unit 400 is configured of a CPU, a program operated by the CPU, a RAM as a work area, and the like.

  In the external device 4, the external device control unit 400 may acquire the reading result read by the image reading unit, determine the quality of the image, perform operation setting after the image abnormality, and perform control instruction to the image forming apparatus. The correct image etc. which perform the quality determination of an image may use what is stored in the memory | storage part 40, and may be acquired from an image forming apparatus, another terminal, etc. The operation setting after the image abnormality may be displayed on the display unit of the external device 4 (not shown), and the display information is transmitted to another device such as an image forming device so that the display is performed on the other device. It may be controlled. Further, as a result of the quality determination of the image, the operation setting at the time of the image abnormality may be created by the image forming apparatus or the like. In that case, the external device control unit 400 and the image control unit 100 cooperate to function as a control unit of the present invention.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a setting screen for selecting and setting in advance whether to immediately stop or stop image formation when it is determined that there is an abnormality in image quality determination.
The setting screen can be operationally displayed on a display unit (not shown) provided in the operation unit 140 or the reading device 30 and the external device 4.
The screen can be displayed and set before the output of the job, at the start of the output, or during the output of the job.
The post-abnormality operation setting screen 1400 can be displayed on the operation unit 140 as the operation setting after the abnormality determination (hereinafter, referred to as “dirty detection” as appropriate).

In the operation settings, the "stop printing immediately" button 1401, the "stop printing at divisions" button 1402, the "continue printing" button 1403, and the "set for each job" button 1404 are displayed so as to be pressable. ing. In addition, on the lower right side of the screen, an OK button 1405 and a cancel button 1406 are displayed so as to be pressable.
A “set for each job” button 1404 corresponds to one that is selected and set according to a predetermined condition when an abnormality occurs. A “stop printing immediately” button 1401 and a “continue printing” button 1403 correspond to the common setting. A “stop printing at a division number” button 1402 is used to set whether to stop at a division number when continuation is set in printing of a plurality of copies. If this setting is not made, printing is performed up to the final page.
The setting contents may default to any one of the operation settings.

Next, the procedure for setting the operation at the time of abnormality determination for each job before starting printing will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The following procedure is executed by control of the control unit or the external device control unit.
First, it is determined whether printing is to be started (step s1). If it is not the printing start (step s1, No), it waits until the printing start.
If the printing is to be started (Step s1, Yes), setting is made to loop the procedure for the job to start printing (Steps s2 to s5). Before the start of the loop, the number of jobs is X, the number of the job to be processed is set to i, and the initial value of i is 1.
In the loop, a pop-up display for selecting the setting of the print job i is displayed (step s3), and the setting input after the detection of the deletion with respect to the print job i is received (step s4). When the setting input is performed, 1 is added to i and the same process is repeated. When i becomes X, the loop is ended, printing is started (step s6), and then the processing is ended. Settings can be made for each job according to the above procedure.

Next, FIG. 5 shows an operation setting screen for each job 1410 for setting an operation at the time of occurrence of abnormality for each job in a plurality of jobs.
On the operation setting screen 1410 for each job, a pop-up is displayed on the operation screen, and with the job details display unit 1411 a "stop printing immediately" button 1412 and a "stop printing at a division number" button on the lower side of the screen 1413, a "continue printing to the end" button 1414 is displayed so as to be pressable. A binding button 1415 is displayed on the lower right side thereof so as to be pressable.
On the setting screen after the detection of the slack, the setting for each job can be performed. When the “stop printing immediately” button 1412 is pressed and selected, it is set to immediately stop printing when there is an abnormality determination for this job.
When the “stop printing at a division number of copies” button 1413 is pressed and selected, the continuation is selected, and then the setting is performed to perform an operation of stopping at a division number of copies. When the “continue printing to the end” button 1414 is pressed and selected, it is set to perform an operation in which the output is continued until the end of the job. When the close button 1415 is pressed, the setting of each selection is decided.

Next, when setting for each job, a procedure for enabling setting in a batch will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The following procedure is executed by control of the control unit or the external device control unit.
First, it is determined whether printing is to be started (step s10). If it is not the printing start (step s10, No), it waits until the printing start.
If printing is to be started, an operation screen that allows setting for all of the jobs for starting printing is popped up (step s11). When an input for setting all print jobs is received (step s12), printing is started (step s13), and then the procedure is ended.

Next, a per-job collective operation setting screen 1420 displayed in the above procedure is shown.
A job list 1421 indicating the contents of each job is displayed on the job-by-job batch operation setting screen 1420, and an operation setting item column 1422 for file removal detection that can be set for each job is provided.
In the operation setting item column 1422, an "immediate disconnection stop" button 1423, a "delimiter on number of copies" button 1424, and a "continue all" button 1425 are provided for each job in a pressable manner. In the operation setting item column 1422, each button can be selected for each job. The selected button is displayed in dark color. In the example of this screen, the immediate stop is selected for the job of file numbers 1596 and 1597, the continuation is all selected for file numbers 1598 and 1599, and the copy number separator is selected for file numbers 1600 and 1601. When the close button 1426 is pressed, the selection is confirmed and selected. When pressing the close button 1426, if there is a job that has not been selected, the operation may not be accepted, or any one of the operations may be selected by default. . The close button 1426 is assumed to operate when all job selections have been made.

Next, the content of setting the operation selection at the time of an image abnormality in association with job information will be described.
FIG. 8 shows a job information setting screen 1430 for setting job information.
In this embodiment, various types of job information can be set on the job information setting screen 1430, and one of them is provided with an operation setting item 1431 after detection of a garnish. In the operation setting item 1431 after the detection of the looseness, the operation selection column 1432 is provided so as to be operable, and the operable contents can be displayed as a list. In this example, immediate stop is selected. In addition, it is possible to select the number of divisions stop, continuation to the end, and the like. The setting content may default to any one of the operation settings.
After setting, by pressing the new save button 1433 or the overwrite save button 1434, job information can be set and saved and saved in a storage unit or the like. The job information is called when printing the job, and various settings in the job information are reflected to output the job.

Further, in the image forming apparatus 1, there are some which can interrupt the output of a job by a stop button or the like during the output of the job.
FIG. 9 is a diagram in which an operation setting screen 1440 that allows setting of subsequent operations can be popped up when the job is interrupted, and it is possible to change the setting of the operation selection set up to that point. become.
On the operation setting screen, a cancel button 1441, a continuation button 1442, a pause button 1443 and a copy number separation stop button 1444 are displayed so as to be pressable. When the cancel button 1441 is pressed and selected, the job is canceled. When the continuation button 1442 is pressed and selected, the job is continued. When the pause button 1443 is pressed, the job is paused. When the pause button is pressed, the job can be resumed by operating the resume button or the print button. The copy number separation stop button 1444 suspends the job at the division number of copies.

If continuation is selected in the above setting, the operation after the detection of the looseness may be set or changed.
FIG. 10 shows an operation setting screen 1450 in which a drop operation change button is newly added when the continuation button 1442 is pressed on the operation setting screen 1440. Also on this screen, a cancel button 1451, a continue button 1452, a pause button 1453 and a copy break stop button 1454 are displayed to be able to be pressed for stopping, continuation, pause, and copy break. In addition, the operation mode change button 1455 is displayed so as to be able to be pressed. When the dump operation change button 1455 is pressed, it is possible to change the operation at the time of the dump operation. Items of the selection of the dumping operation include immediate disconnection stop, continuation, and suspension by number of copies. It should be noted that it is possible to be able to display and select from the beginning the setting operation when the interruption operation change button or the operation operation setting button is selected when the interruption is selected.

Next, the above procedure will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The following procedure is executed by control of the control unit or the external device control unit.
With the start of the procedure, it is determined whether the stop button has been pressed (step s20). If the step button is not pressed (step s20, No), the procedure is ended.
If the stop button has been pressed (Yes in step s20), it is determined whether the dust removal operation change button has been pressed (step s21). During this time, it may be determined whether the continuation button has been pressed on the operation screen displayed at the time of interruption.
If the dump operation change button has not been pressed (No in step s21), the procedure ends.
If the deletion operation change button is pressed (Yes in step s21), an operation screen for selecting the setting of the print job is popped (step s22). Then, when it is determined that the setting of the print job is selected (step s23), the printing is continued (step s24), and thereafter the procedure is ended.

Next, the selection setting of the operation setting after the detection of the sagging in another embodiment will be described based on FIG.
On the operation setting screen 1460 after the detection of a garnish, a "stop immediately" button 1461 and a "continue" button 1462 are provided for the printing operation after the garnish detection, and the setting is made without depending on predetermined conditions. Common settings are possible.
Further, on the lower side thereof, it is possible to set to switch the operation according to a predetermined remaining number of jobs at the time of the detection of a looseness. An ON button 1463 for turning on this function and an OFF button 1464 for turning off the function are provided, and a remaining number input field 1465 for setting a predetermined remaining number is further provided. When this input field is pressed, the number of sheets can be input by a soft key or the like. In the figure, 15 sheets are input.
Further, as processing according to the remaining number, it is possible to select to continue immediately or stop immediately below a predetermined number, and to continue immediately or to be selectable above a predetermined number is selectable. When any item is selected, a check mark is displayed near the item display. In this example, if the number is less than the predetermined number, continue is selected.

Furthermore, as another selection item, it is possible to set the operation switching after the detection of the dust by the total number of jobs. The operation setting screen 1460 is provided with an ON button 1470 for turning on the function of switching the operation after the detection of a smear according to the total number of jobs and an OFF button 1471 for turning it off. In this example, the OFF button 1471 is selected. Below the buttons, a total number input field 1472 for setting a predetermined total number is provided. When this input field is pressed, the total number of sheets can be input by a soft key or the like. In the figure, the number is not entered because the function is off. Further, as the processing according to the total number, any one of continuous, immediate stop, continuous and immediate stop at predetermined number or less can be selected. When any item is selected, a check mark is displayed near the item display. In this example, no check mark is displayed for the total number.
At the lower right of the screen, an OK button 1474 and a cancel button 1475 are displayed so as to be pressable. When the OK button 1474 is pressed, the setting content is confirmed, and the screen changes. When the cancel button 1475 is pressed, the contents set in the current screen are canceled, and the setting before displaying the current screen is returned.

Further, in the operation setting after the detection of the runout, the type of the runout can be mentioned as the predetermined condition. By enabling setting for each type of waste, it is possible to perform an appropriate operation on the information of each waste.
FIG. 13 shows an operation setting screen 1480 for switching the operation after the detection of the swarf based on the swarf information. In this example, the type of file is used as the file information. In addition, it is good also as a level of yare as yare information, and it is good also as what combines these.
On the operation setting screen 1480, as in the operation setting screen shown in FIG. 12, an ON button 1481 and an OFF button 1482 are provided as common settings to be set without responding to predetermined conditions as operations after detection of a sag.

  As for the waste information, the immediate stop button 1490 and the continuation button 1491 are displayed to be able to be pressed according to the waste information, and can be set arbitrarily for each of the waste information. In this example, color output shortage items 1483, stain items 1484, streak items 1485, firefly items 1486, and image positional deviation items 1487 are provided as the loss information. In addition, although the setting item can be provided based on the deletion information to be detected, the deletion information may be set commonly as other items etc. for the non-important items.

  In this example, when the continuation is selected after the detection of the runout, if the runout occurs continuously at the same location of the sheet, there is a possibility that the problem is not caused by the form but the situation of the machine. It may be desirable to cancel. An ON button 1492 for turning on this function and an OFF button 1493 for turning off the function are provided for each piece of rubbish information so as to be pressable. Further, at this time, a continuous number input field 1494 for setting how many sheets are to be immediately stopped is provided for each of the waste information. In this example, it is possible to make an immediate judgment on continuous deletion information for each deletion information, but common settings may be made. In addition, this function may be applied under other predetermined conditions instead of the waste information.

  As mentioned above, although the present invention was explained based on the above-mentioned embodiment, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the contents of the explanation of the above-mentioned embodiment, and unless it deviates from the scope of the present invention, Appropriate modifications to the form are possible.

Reference Signs List 1 image forming apparatus 4 external apparatus 10 apparatus main body 12 sheet feeding unit 30 reading device 32 image reading unit 40 storage unit 100 image control unit 101 storage unit 110 image forming unit 130 scanner unit 140 operation unit 141 display unit 160 communication unit 300 reading control Part 400 External device control part 1400 After-action operation setting screen 1410 Operation setting screen for each job 1420 Batch operation setting screen for each job 1430 Job information setting screen 1440 Operation setting screen 1450 Operation setting screen 1460 Operation setting screen after loss detection 1480 Operation setting screen

Claims (20)

An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium;
A control unit that causes the image forming unit to execute job output based on the job;
The control unit may further acquire a read result obtained by reading the image of the recording medium to determine whether the image is good or not, and may stop or continue the image formation when it is determined that there is an abnormality in the determination. An image forming apparatus capable of selecting and setting the operation of according to a predetermined condition in advance.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit can perform the setting before start of output of the job, at the start of output of the job or during output of the job.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined condition is a job unit.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit associates the setting with job information and allows the setting associated with the job information to be changed. The predetermined condition is printing of a plurality of copies of a job,
The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit can select and set whether to stop at the number of copies or to output the last page.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, when the operation to be continued is selected in the setting, the control unit can set operation switching during job output.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the predetermined condition is an interruption of a job.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control unit enables switching of the setting when the continuation of the job is selected after the interruption of the job.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the predetermined condition is a predetermined remaining number of jobs.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control unit enables setting of the predetermined remaining number.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the predetermined condition is a predetermined total number of jobs.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control unit enables setting of the predetermined total number.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the predetermined condition is abnormality information when it is determined that there is an abnormality.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the control unit enables the setting to be performed for each piece of abnormality information.   The control unit forcibly stops operation immediately if it occurs at a predetermined frequency that the same portion of the recording medium contains the same abnormality information when “continue” is selected in the setting. The image forming apparatus according to 13 or 14.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control unit is capable of setting a threshold of a predetermined frequency for forcibly stopping immediately.   The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16, further comprising an image reading unit that reads an image of a recording medium.   The control unit predetermines whether to perform common setting by machine setting or to select and set according to a predetermined condition regarding the operation of stopping or continuing the image formation when it is determined that there is an abnormality in the determination. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein selection is made possible. An external apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus that executes an output of a job in an image forming unit based on a job.
An external apparatus control unit capable of instructing the image forming apparatus to operate the image forming unit;
The external device control unit can acquire the read result obtained by reading the image of the recording medium to determine the quality of the image, and when it is determined that there is an abnormality in the determination, the image according to a predetermined condition An external device which enables to select and set operation control of whether to stop or continue formation. A program executed by a control unit that controls output of a job executed by an image forming unit based on a job.
The read result obtained by reading the image of the recording medium is acquired to judge the quality of the image, and the operation control as to whether to stop or continue the image formation when it is judged that there is an abnormality in the judgment is a predetermined condition in advance. The program executed by the control unit to enable selection and setting in accordance with.

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