JP2021096195A - Image inspection device, image forming apparatus, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To certainly detect and mask an edge of a content of original image data to prevent erroneous determination of abnormality in read image data.SOLUTION: An image inspection device comprises: an image acquisition unit that acquires read image data obtained by reading an image formed on a recording medium and original image data of the image formed for the read image data; a mask area creation unit that creates a mask area for masking and removing an area for detecting abnormality by using the acquired original image data and executes, on the mask area, processing in which edge sharpness is reduced (steps S43, S44); and an analysis unit that removes the created mask area and performs analysis for detecting normality or abnormality in the read image data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to an image inspection device, an image forming device and a program.

Conventionally, an image inspection device that reads an image and inspects a streak of the scanned image is known. In the scanned image, there is a technique of detecting a streak-shaped edge by taking a difference (differentiating) between pixels separated by a predetermined pixel and detecting a change in brightness.

Here, with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, a method of using a derivative (differential filter) as described above will be described as a technique for detecting a streak-shaped edge. FIG. 6A is a diagram showing the differential filter D1. FIG. 6B is a diagram showing an image I1 to which the differential filter D1 is applied. FIG. 7A is a diagram showing the brightness with respect to the coordinates. FIG. 7B is a diagram showing the differential value of the luminance with respect to the coordinates.

The differential filter detects a small range of differences on the image. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, consider a differential filter D1 that obtains pixel values (luminances) of pixels 6 [pixels] apart. As shown in FIG. 6B, in the image I1, the differential filter D1 is moved and applied to all the pixels. The white part on the image I1 is a streak.

The graph shown in FIG. 7A is a graph in which the coordinates of the horizontal axis of the image I1 are taken on the horizontal axis and the brightness values of the pixels of one line of the image I1 are taken on the vertical axis. The brightness value is large at the streaks. The graph shown in FIG. 7B is a graph in which the coordinates of the horizontal axis of the image I1 are taken on the horizontal axis, and the differential value of the brightness of the pixel using the differential filter D1 in one line of the image I1 is taken on the vertical axis. .. At the edge of the streak, the differential value has a positive maximum value and a negative minimum value.

What is desired to be detected from the scanned image is a streak that occurs as an image abnormality, but the scanned image also has a streak of content. When the edge of the content is detected, it is a false detection because no abnormality has actually occurred. It is desirable not to detect the edges of the content.

Therefore, the limit value of the streak-shaped edge portion (threshold value that can distinguish the edge portion and the non-edge portion) is obtained from the image signal of the inspection target without defects, and the image signal of the inspection target is larger than the limit value. In some cases, a defect inspection device is known that determines a defective product if there is a pixel whose differential value is larger than the reference value by replacing it with a limit value (see Patent Document 1). The edge to be inspected is not detected, only the defect to be inspected is detected.

Further, when the paper on which the image data is printed is read to acquire the scanned image, the edge of the content is detected from the original image (RIP (Raster Image Processer) image) used for printing, and the area of the edge of the content detected there. However, there is a method in which streaks are not detected on the scanned image. That area is called an edge exclusion area as a mask area. The edge detection method from the original image uses the same method as the detection from the scanned image.

In addition, when performing image edge detection by binarizing an image, when calculating the brightness change rate using differentiation, leveling processing is performed to set the brightness of each pixel to the average brightness in a certain range before differentiation2. A binarizing device is known (see Patent Document 2).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 6-27037 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-129761

However, in the method using the edge exclusion region, false detection occurs due to the inability to properly detect the edge of the content from the original image in a specific pattern of the image.

There are two reasons why the edge of the content cannot be detected from the original image.
(1). Edge blurring due to affine transformation FIG. 8A is a diagram showing an original image I2 before affine transformation. FIG. 8B is a diagram showing the original image I3 after the affine transformation.

In the inspection, the original image and the scanned image are aligned. It is common to use affine transformation for image deformation in alignment. The affine transformation is a transformation that combines translation and linear transformation. Here, when the original image is deformed and matched with the scanned image, the fine structure may be destroyed by the affine transformation, and the originally existing edge may be blurred.

For example, the original image I2 before the affine transformation shown in FIG. 8A is an image including a vertical stripe pattern. In the original image I3 after the affine transformation shown in FIG. 8B, the edges of the original image I3 are partially blurred due to the effect of the vertical stripe pattern being slightly obliquely deformed. If you try to detect the edge of the content in that state, the edge of the content cannot be detected from the original image because the edge is blurred.

(2). In consideration of edge blur performance due to lower resolution, the scanned image may be lowered in resolution to detect streaks other than content during inspection. At that time, if the resolution of the image is lowered, the fine structure may collapse and the originally existing edge may be blurred. If you try to detect the edge in that state, the edge of the content cannot be detected from the original image because the edge is blurred. Regarding (2), the same applies to the scanned image, but the edge of only the scanned image may be detected due to the difference such as noise of the scanned image, and erroneous detection may occur at a place where no abnormality actually occurs.

Further, the defect inspection apparatus described in Patent Document 1 does not correspond to the above-mentioned problems (1) and (2). Further, the leveling process of the binarizing device described in Patent Document 2 is leveling for the purpose of removing noise in the captured image, and the above problems (1) and (2) in which the pattern to be detected is blurred cannot be solved. ..

An object of the present invention is to reliably detect and mask the edge of the content of the original image data and prevent erroneous determination of an abnormality in the read image data.

In order to solve the above problems, the image inspection apparatus according to claim 1 is
An image acquisition unit that acquires the read image data obtained by reading the image formed on the recording medium and the original image data of the image formation of the read image data.
Using the acquired original image data, a mask area for masking and excluding an area for detecting anomalies is created, and a mask area creating unit that performs a process of reducing edge sharpness on the mask area, and a mask area creating unit.
It includes an analysis unit that excludes the created mask area and performs analysis for detecting normality or abnormality of the read image data.

The invention according to claim 2 is the image inspection apparatus according to claim 1.
The process of reducing the edge sharpness is an affine transformation for aligning the position of the image of the original image data with the position of the image of the read image data.

The invention according to claim 3 is the image inspection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.
The process of reducing the edge sharpness is a resolution conversion.

The invention according to claim 4 is the image inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
A display control unit that displays the mask area together with the original image data on the display unit is provided.

The invention according to claim 5 is the image inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
The detection of the abnormality is the detection of streaks other than the content.

The invention according to claim 6 is the image inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
It is provided with an image reading unit that reads the image-formed recording medium and generates the read image data.

The image forming apparatus of the invention according to claim 7 is
The image inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
An image forming unit that forms an image of the original image data on a recording medium,
It includes an image reading unit that reads the image-formed recording medium and generates the read image data.

The program of the invention according to claim 8 is
Computer,
An image acquisition unit that acquires read image data obtained by reading an image formed on a recording medium and original image data of image formation of the read image data.
Using the acquired original image data, a mask area for masking and excluding an area for detecting anomalies is created, and the mask area is subjected to a process of reducing edge sharpness.
An analysis unit that excludes the created mask area and performs analysis to detect normality or abnormality of the read image data.
To function as.

According to the present invention, the edge of the content of the original image data can be reliably detected and masked, and an erroneous determination of an abnormality in the read image data can be prevented.

It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of an image forming apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the image inspection process. It is a block diagram which shows the image inspection system of the 2nd Embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of an image inspection apparatus. (A) is a figure which shows the differential filter. (B) is a diagram showing an image to which a differential filter is applied. (A) is a figure which shows brightness with respect to coordinates. (B) is a figure which shows the differential value of the luminance with respect to the coordinate. (A) is a figure which shows the original image before the affine transformation. (B) is a figure which shows the original image after affine transformation.

The first and second embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail in order with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention is not limited to the illustrated examples.

(First Embodiment)
A first embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. First, the apparatus configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the image forming apparatus 100.

The image forming apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is an MFP (MultiFunction Peripheral) that forms a color image by an electrophotographic method based on image data obtained by reading an image from a document and image data received from an external device. is there.

As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes an operation unit 10, a display unit 20, a document reading unit 30, an image forming unit 40, a paper feeding unit 50, an image reading unit 60, a conveying unit 70, and a paper ejection tray T1,. It is equipped with T2 and the like.

The operation unit 10 has a touch panel formed so as to cover the display screen of the display unit 20, and various operation buttons such as a number button and a start button.

The display unit 20 is composed of an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), an EL (ElectroLuminescence) display, and the like, and displays various display information on the display screen.

The document scanning unit 30 includes an ADF (Auto Document Feeder), a scanner, and the like, and scans an image of a set document.

The image forming unit 40 forms an image on the paper supplied from the paper feeding unit 50. The image forming unit 40 has photoconductor drums 41Y, 41M, 41C, 41K, and charging units 42Y, 42M, 42C, 42K for each of the colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). It has exposure units 43Y, 43M, 43C, 43K, development units 44Y, 44M, 44C, 44K, and primary transfer rollers 45Y, 45M, 45C, 45K. Further, the image forming unit 40 includes an intermediate transfer belt 46, a secondary transfer roller 47, a fixing unit 48, and the like.

A yellow toner image is formed on the photoconductor drum 41Y. The charging unit 42Y uniformly charges the photoconductor drum 41Y. The exposure unit 43Y scans and exposes the surface of the photoconductor drum 41Y with a beam such as a laser beam based on the yellow component of the image data related to the image formation to form an electrostatic latent image. The developing unit 44Y attaches toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum 41Y to develop the image. The primary transfer roller 45Y transfers the toner image formed on the photoconductor drum 41Y onto the intermediate transfer belt 46 (primary transfer). Each part corresponding to magenta, cyan, and black is the same as yellow except that the color (toner) handled is different.

The toner images formed on the photoconductor drums 41Y, 41M, 41C, and 41K are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 46. The secondary transfer roller 47 transfers the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 46 onto the paper (secondary transfer).

The fixing portion 48 includes a fixing belt 48A that heats the paper on which the toner image is transferred, and a pressure roller 48B that pressurizes the paper, and fixes the toner image on the paper by heating and pressurizing.

The paper feed unit 50 includes paper feed trays 51, 52, 53, a paper feed roller, and the like, and supplies paper to the image forming unit 40. Each of the paper feed trays 51 to 53 stores paper of a paper type and size predetermined for each paper feed tray.

The image reading unit 60 is provided downstream of the image forming unit 40 on the paper transport path. The image reading unit 60 reads the paper surfaces of a plurality of sheets on which an image is formed, and reads images of R (Red: red), G (Green: green), and B (Blue: blue) corresponding to each of the sheets. Generate data. The image reading unit 60 is a color sensor that receives light emitted from a light source and reflected on the surface of paper by a light receiving element and outputs an RGB signal according to the intensity of the light. The image reading unit 60 is composed of, for example, a line sensor in which a plurality of light receiving elements are arranged at predetermined intervals in the paper width direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction.

The transport unit 70 is composed of a transport roller, a resist roller, and the like for transporting paper, and is arranged on the paper transport path from the paper feed section 50 to the output trays T1 and T2 via the image forming section 40. The paper on the paper transport path is transported. The conveying unit 70 includes an inversion unit that inverts the paper output from the image forming unit 40 and conveys the paper to the image forming unit 40 again, and the image reading unit 60 uses the image forming unit 40 to perform one-sided or double-sided images. The image of the front surface or the front surface and the back surface of the formed paper may be read.

The output trays T1 and T2 are trays on which the image-formed paper discharged from the main body of the image forming apparatus 100 is placed. In the present embodiment, as a result of the image inspection of the paper after the image formation, it is assumed that the paper is ejected to the output tray T1 when it is normal and the paper is ejected to the output tray T2 when it is abnormal. ..

As shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 100 has an image acquisition unit, a mask area creation unit, a control unit 81 as an analysis unit, an operation unit 10, a storage unit 82, a display unit 20, a communication unit 83, and so on. A document reading unit 30, an image forming unit 40, a paper feeding unit 50, an image reading unit 60, a conveying unit 70, and the like are provided. The control unit 81 functions as an image inspection device.

The control unit 81 is composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, and controls each unit of the image forming apparatus 100. The control unit 81 reads various programs stored in the storage unit 82, expands them in the RAM, and executes various processes in cooperation with the expanded programs and the CPU.

The operation unit 10 receives a touch input and a button press input from the user, and outputs the operation information to the control unit 81.

The storage unit 82 is composed of a non-volatile storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), an SSD (Solid State Drive), or a flash memory, and stores various data and various programs. For example, the storage unit 82 stores an image inspection program for executing an image inspection process described later.

The display unit 20 displays the display information on the display panel according to the display information input from the control unit 81.

The communication unit 83 transmits / receives data to / from an external device such as a PC (Personal Computer) connected via a communication network such as a LAN (Local Area Network). The control unit 81 transmits / receives data to / from an external device via the communication unit 83. For example, the communication unit 83 receives a job including image data for printing from an external device.

The document reading unit 30 reads the set document according to the control of the control unit 81, generates image data thereof, and outputs the image data to the control unit 81.

The image forming unit 40 forms an image on the paper fed from the paper feeding unit 50 according to the control of the control unit 81.

The paper feed unit 50 selects from the paper feed trays 51 to 53 and supplies paper according to the control of the control unit 81.

The image reading unit 60 reads the image of the paper after image formation output from the image forming unit 40 under the control of the control unit 81, generates the read image data, and outputs the read image data to the control unit 81.

The transport unit 70 supplies the paper stored in the paper feed unit 50 to the image forming unit 40 under the control of the control unit 81, and the image forming apparatus until the paper after image formation is conveyed to the output trays T1 and T2. Paper on the paper transport path is transported within 100.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an image inspection process.

The external device connected to the image forming apparatus 100 RIP-converts the image data for printing (data in the page description language, bitmap data) into the image data for the image forming apparatus 100 (CMYK bitmap data). A job including the image data of CMYK for the image forming apparatus 100 is generated and transmitted to the image forming apparatus 100. In the image forming apparatus 100, the control unit 81 receives a job for printing from an external device via the communication unit 83, controls the paper feeding unit 50, the image forming unit 40, the conveying unit 70, and the like, and controls the job. The image data of the above is formed on a paper, and the image reading unit 60 is made to read the image of the paper after the image formation. The image data of the job received from the external device is used as the original image data. Further, the image data generated after the image is read by the image reading unit 60 is used as the image data to be read.

Then, in the image forming apparatus 100, the image reading unit 60 reads the image of the paper after image formation corresponding to a certain original image data (hereinafter, simply referred to as the original image data), and the RGB read image data is generated. With this as a trigger, the control unit 81 executes the image inspection process according to the image inspection program stored in the storage unit 82.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 81 converts the CMYK original image data into RGB original image data (step S1). Step S1 may be executed before the scanned image data is generated.

Then, the control unit 81 converts the resolution of the (RGB) read image data to a predetermined low resolution (step S2). Here, for example, the read image data of 100 [dpi] is converted into the read image data of 50 [dpi]. Therefore, the processing load of the control unit 81 that performs image processing in the subsequent process is reduced.

Then, the control unit 81 differentially filters the read image data after the resolution conversion by using the differential filter (step S3). In step S3, a differential filter having a predetermined length (for example, 6 [pixel]) as shown in FIG. 6A is used, and the read image is read while the differential filter is moved for a predetermined line (main scanning direction). The derivative value of the brightness on the horizontal axis (main scanning direction) of the data is calculated for all the lines on the vertical axis (secondary scanning direction). In this way, the differential value of the brightness of the entire surface of the read image data is calculated.

Further, in parallel with step S2, the control unit 81 executes an edge exclusion area creation process (step S4). In step S4, first, the control unit 81 differentially filters the original image data (of RGB) using a differential filter in the same manner as in step S3 (step S41). The original image data after the differential filtering becomes the image data of the differential value of the brightness.

Then, the control unit 81 binarizes the original image data after the differential filtering by comparison with a predetermined threshold value, and creates the binarized original image data indicating the region with the edge exclusion region (step S42). ). The predetermined threshold value in step S42 is a threshold value for dividing the differential value of the brightness into the edge exclusion region and the other region, and the predetermined threshold value (maximum value-minimum value) of the differential value of the brightness is set in advance. The above area is defined as an edge exclusion area (= 1) indicating the edge area of the content, and the area where the differential value of brightness (maximum value-minimum value) is smaller than a predetermined threshold is the other area (= 0). Will be done. Then, the control unit 81 performs affine transformation or the like on the binarized original image data to align the position of the image of the binarized original image data with the position of the image of the (RGB) read image data. (Step S43). Then, the control unit 81 converts the resolution of the original image data after binarization after alignment to the same predetermined low resolution as in step S2 (step S44). Steps S43 and S44 are processes for reducing edge sharpness.

Then, the control unit 81 masks the read image data after differential filtering generated in step S3 to the area corresponding to the edge exclusion region of the original image data after binarization after resolution conversion generated in step S44. Is applied, and the scanned image data other than the masked edge exclusion region is compared with a predetermined threshold value set in advance (step S5). The predetermined threshold in step S8 is a threshold for dividing the differential value of the luminance into a streak and a non-streak, and the region where the differential value of the luminance (maximum value-minimum value) is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold is the streak. It is determined that the region where the differential value of the luminance (maximum value-minimum value) is smaller than a predetermined threshold is not a streak. In step S5, the comparison is not actually performed for all the pixels of the original image data and the read image after the differential filtering, and for example, the same main scan is performed for each predetermined length line (for example, 10 lines) in the sub-scan direction. The average value of the differential value of the brightness at the position in the direction is calculated, and the average value of the differential value of the brightness is compared with a predetermined threshold value. The predetermined length lines are shifted by a predetermined number of lines (for example, 5 lines), and each time, a comparison with a predetermined threshold value and a streak determination are made.

Then, when the read image data after differential filtering has a streak (at a position different from the edge of the content), the control unit 81 determines the streak as a streak other than the content, and determines whether or not there is a streak other than the content. Is determined (abnormality analysis) (step S6). For example, if at least one streak other than the content is determined in the read image data by comparison with the predetermined threshold value for each movement of the predetermined length line and determination of the streak, it is determined that there is a streak other than the content. And.

When there is no streak other than the content (step S6; NO), the control unit 81 controls the transport unit 70 to obtain the read image data as the result of inspection of the read image data after the streak determination is normal. The corresponding image-formed paper is ejected from the output tray T1 (step S7), and the image inspection process is completed. When there is a streak other than the content (step S6; YES), the control unit 81 controls the transport unit 70 as a paper discharge in which the inspection result of the read image data after the streak determination is abnormal, and the read image data has a streak. The corresponding image-formed paper is ejected from the output tray T2 (step S8), and the image inspection process is completed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 acquires the read image data in which the image formed on the paper is read and the original image data for image formation of the read image data, and the acquired original image. Using the data, a mask area for masking and excluding the area where an abnormality is detected is created, and the mask area is subjected to processing (steps S43 and S44) for reducing the edge sharpness, and the created mask area is excluded. Then, the control unit 81 is provided for analyzing the normality or abnormality of the read image data. Therefore, the edge of the content of the original image data can be reliably detected and masked as an edge exclusion area, and it is possible to prevent erroneous determination of an abnormality in the read image data.

Further, the process of reducing the edge sharpness is an affine transformation for aligning the original image of the original image data with the read image of the read image data. Therefore, the edge of the content of the original image data can be reliably detected and the edge exclusion area can be created before the blurring due to the affine transformation occurs, and the edge exclusion area can be set for the read image data while maintaining the edge exclusion area. It can be aligned.

Further, the process of reducing the edge sharpness is a resolution conversion. Therefore, the edge of the content of the original image data can be reliably detected and the edge exclusion area can be created before the blurring due to the affine transformation occurs. Therefore, it is possible to reliably detect the edge of the content of the original image data and create an edge exclusion area before blurring occurs due to resolution conversion, and fine edges that collapse at the time of low resolution can be detected from the high resolution original image data. Can be detected.

Further, the detection of abnormality is the detection of streaks other than the content. Therefore, it is possible to detect an abnormality caused by a streak other than the content.

Further, the image forming apparatus 100 reads a control unit 81 as an image inspection apparatus, an image forming unit 40 that forms an image of the original image data on a recording medium, and an image reading that reads the image-formed paper and generates the scanned image data. A unit 60 is provided. Therefore, it is possible to reliably detect the edge of the content of the original image data and mask it as an edge exclusion area without preparing and connecting an image inspection device as a separate device, and erroneous determination of an abnormality in image formation by the own device can be performed. Can be prevented.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the image inspection system 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the image inspection device 200.

In the first embodiment, the paper after image formation is inspected inside the image forming apparatus 100, and the paper is discharged according to the inspection result. However, in the present embodiment, the image as an external device is used. The inspection device 200 is configured to read and inspect the image-formed paper that has been image-formed and discharged by the image-forming device 100A.

As shown in FIG. 4, the image inspection system 1 of the present embodiment includes an image forming apparatus 100A and an image inspection apparatus 200. The image forming apparatus 100A has substantially the same configuration as the image forming apparatus 100, but does not have an image reading unit 60 and does not have a function of executing an image inspection process. The image forming apparatus 100A and the image inspection apparatus 200 are connected via a communication network N. The communication network N is a network such as a LAN.

The image inspection device 200 is an information processing device that is composed of a PC or the like and that reads and inspects an image of paper on which an image is formed by the image forming device 100A.

As shown in FIG. 5, the image inspection device 200 has an image acquisition unit, a mask area creation unit, an analysis unit, a control unit 201 as a display control unit, an operation unit 202, a storage unit 203, and a display unit 204 as functional configurations. It includes a communication unit 205, an image reading unit 206, and the like.

The control unit 201 is composed of a CPU, RAM, and the like, and controls each unit of the image inspection device 200. The control unit 81 reads various programs stored in the storage unit 82, expands them in the RAM, and executes various processes in cooperation with the expanded programs and the CPU.

The operation unit 10 has a pointing device such as a keyboard and a mouse, receives key input and position input from the user, and outputs the operation information to the control unit 201.

The storage unit 203 is composed of a non-volatile storage device such as an HDD or SSD, and stores various data and various programs. For example, the storage unit 203 stores an image inspection program for executing an image inspection process described later.

The display unit 204 displays the display information on the display panel according to the display information input from the control unit 201.

The communication unit 205 is composed of a network card or the like, and transmits / receives data to / from an external device such as an image forming device 100A connected via the communication network N. The control unit 201 transmits / receives data to / from an external device via the communication unit 205.

The image reading unit 206 is composed of a scanner or the like, and under the control of the control unit 201, the image forming apparatus 100A reads an image of the image-formed and discharged paper after image formation, and generates RGB-read image data thereof. Is output to the control unit 201.

Next, the operation of the image inspection system 1 will be described. First, for example, the control unit 201 of the image inspection device 200 RIP-converts the image data for printing to be inspected into the image data for the image forming apparatus 100A, and includes the image data of CMYK for the image forming apparatus 100A. A job for printing is generated, the job is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 100A via the communication unit 205, and the job is stored in the storage unit 203. The RIP-converted CMYK image data of this stored job is used as the original image data. A job for printing is created and transmitted by another information processing device connected to the communication network N, and the control unit 201 processes the original image data of the job via the communication unit 205 to process the other information processing. It may be configured to receive from the device.

The control unit 81 of the image forming device 100 receives a job for printing from the image inspection device 200 via the communication unit 83, and depending on the job for printing, the paper feeding unit 50, the image forming unit 40, and the transfer. The image data of the job is formed on paper and discharged by controlling the unit 70 and the like. The user sets the discharged image-formed paper in the image reading unit 206 of the image inspection device 200.

Then, in the image inspection device 200, the image reading unit 206 reads the image of the paper after image formation corresponding to the original image data of the job stored in the storage unit 203, and the RGB read image data is generated. The control unit 201 executes the image inspection process according to the image inspection program stored in the storage unit 203.

The image inspection process executed by the control unit 201 is the same as that shown in FIG. 3, but the control unit 201 uses the result information (abnormal analysis result information) of the determination of the presence or absence of streaks other than the content in step S6. It shall be displayed on the display unit 204. At this time, the control unit 201 displays the original image of the original image data, the mask area thereof, and the determination result information of the streaks other than the content on the display unit 204. Further, the control unit 201 may be configured to display the original image of the original image data and its mask area, the read image of the read image data, and the determination result information of the streaks other than the content on the display unit 204.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, the image inspection device 200 displays the edge exclusion region together with the original image data on the display unit 204. Therefore, the user can easily visually confirm which area in the original image is the exclusion area for abnormality detection.

Further, the image inspection device 200 includes an image reading unit 206 that reads the image-formed paper and generates the read image data. Therefore, even if the image forming apparatus 100A is in an offline state after forming an image, the edge of the content of the original image data can be reliably detected and masked, and an erroneous determination of abnormality can be prevented.

In the above description, an example in which an HDD or the like is used as a computer-readable medium for the program according to the present invention has been disclosed, but the present invention is not limited to this example. As another computer-readable medium, a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM can be applied. A carrier wave is also applied to the present invention as a medium for providing data of a program according to the present invention via a communication line.

The description in the above embodiment is an example of a suitable image inspection device, image forming device, and program according to the present invention, and is not limited thereto.

For example, in the image inspection process of the first embodiment, along with the normal paper ejection (step S7) and the abnormal paper ejection (step S8), the control unit 81 controls the original image data as in the second embodiment. At least one of the original image, its mask area, the scanned image of the scanned image data, and the determination result information of the streaks other than the content may be displayed on the display unit 20.

Further, in the above embodiment, in the image inspection process, a process of creating an edge exclusion region (differential filtering and binarization) of the original image data before alignment and resolution conversion as a process of reducing edge sharpness. However, it is not limited to this. The process for reducing the edge sharpness may be another process for reducing the edge sharpness, such as a leveling process.

Further, the detailed configuration and detailed operation of each part constituting the image forming apparatus 100 and the image inspection system 1 in the above embodiments can be appropriately changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

100 Image forming device 10 Operation unit 20 Display unit 30 Original reading unit 40 Image forming unit 41Y, 41M, 41C, 41K Photoreceptor drum 42Y, 42M, 42C, 42K Charging unit 43Y, 43M, 43C, 43K Exposure unit 44Y, 44M, 44C, 44K Development unit 45Y, 45M, 45C, 45K Primary transfer roller 46 Intermediate transfer belt 47 Secondary transfer roller 48 Fixing unit 48A Fixing belt 48B Pressurizing roller 50 Paper feed unit 51, 52, 53 Paper feed tray 60 Image reading Unit 70 Conveying unit T1, T2 Paper ejection tray 81 Control unit 82 Storage unit 83 Communication unit 1 Image inspection system 100A Image forming device 200 Image inspection device 201 Control unit 202 Operation unit 203 Storage unit 204 Display unit 205 Communication unit 206 Image reading unit N communication network

Claims (8)

An image acquisition unit that acquires the read image data obtained by reading the image formed on the recording medium and the original image data of the image formation of the read image data.
Using the acquired original image data, a mask area for masking and excluding an area for detecting anomalies is created, and a mask area creating unit that performs a process of reducing edge sharpness on the mask area, and a mask area creating unit.
An image inspection apparatus including an analysis unit that excludes the created mask area and performs analysis for detecting normality or abnormality of the read image data. The image inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the process of reducing the edge sharpness is an affine transformation for aligning the position of the image of the original image data with the position of the image of the read image data. The image inspection apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the process for reducing the edge sharpness is resolution conversion. The image inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a display control unit that displays the mask area together with the original image data on the display unit. The image inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the abnormality is detected by detecting streaks other than the content. The image inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an image reading unit that reads the image-formed recording medium and generates the read image data. The image inspection apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
An image forming unit that forms an image of the original image data on a recording medium,
An image forming apparatus including an image reading unit that reads the image-formed recording medium and generates the read image data. Computer,
An image acquisition unit that acquires read image data obtained by reading an image formed on a recording medium and original image data of image formation of the read image data.
Using the acquired original image data, a mask area for masking and excluding an area for detecting anomalies is created, and the mask area is subjected to a process of reducing edge sharpness.
An analysis unit that excludes the created mask area and performs analysis to detect normality or abnormality of the read image data.
A program to function as.

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