JP3080053U - Printing device performance inspection device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To automatically measure the values of a plurality of evaluation items for evaluating printing performance and evaluate the performance. A scanner reads a test image printed on a test sheet using a background sheet of a different background color, takes in the read image data into a data processing section, processes the read image data, and processes each straight line forming the upper, lower, left and right peripheral edges. And the formula of a straight line corresponding to each side of the rectangle that is the test image is derived, and the positions of a plurality of points on each straight line that forms the periphery of the test paper and the positions of the points on each side of the rectangle of the test image From the positions of the plurality of points, a value of each evaluation item of the test image is derived by a predetermined operation, and whether the derived value of each evaluation item is within the allowable range of each evaluation item input by the keyboard 9 is determined. The judgment is made by the judgment unit 11, and a different background color is displayed on the screen of the display unit 13 depending on whether it is within the allowable range or not.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

 This invention uses a printing device to print a predetermined test image on a test sheet with a margin set to a specified value, and to evaluate a plurality of evaluation items for evaluating the performance of the test image printed on the test sheet. The present invention relates to a performance inspection device for a printing device that determines a position by measuring a printing position.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Conventionally, in order to evaluate the printing performance of a printer as a printing device, a predetermined test image, for example, a test image consisting of a rectangle of a predetermined size is printed on a predetermined test sheet and printed. At a predetermined measurement point in the test image, the distance and distortion from each side of the test paper periphery are measured by a measuring device such as a caliper, and the skew and the values of the top, bottom, left, and right margins are measured in advance. The evaluation is performed by judging whether it is within the specified allowable range.

At this time, since the rectangular test image is set so as to be printed with a predetermined margin, the margin and the like of the actually printed test image are set according to a predetermined specified value. Should be.

However, since the performance of individual printers varies, the margin and the like of the actually printed test image deviate from a preset specified value, and this deviation exceeds an allowable range. If so, the printer is judged to be defective. If the deviation does not exceed the allowable range, the printer is judged to be good. In such a performance inspection, for example, a printer to be inspected is picked up at a rate of several printers per lot in a printer production line, and data at each measurement point is actually measured as described above. In fact, the results are recorded.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

 However, as described above, the conventional performance inspection has been performed by an operator using actual measurement equipment such as a caliper, so that there has been a problem that work efficiency is extremely poor and time-consuming.

[0006] By the way, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-209398 discloses that when a scanner reads image data printed on a sheet, a means for giving a background image composed of two types of colors is used. An image data input device capable of detecting a boundary between a sheet and a background and correcting the inclination of read image data is described.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-134368 discloses a technique for detecting the positions of both ends of a character line in the main and sub-scanning directions from a read document image, and determining the skew amount of the document image based on the detected positions. A document image processing apparatus is described in which the skew of a document image is corrected in accordance with the obtained skew amount.

However, both of these publications are inventions relating to the content of correcting the skew amount itself of image data (or a document image). It does not automatically determine whether or not the numerical values of a plurality of evaluation items for evaluating the printing performance of the printer are within a predetermined allowable range.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to automatically measure the values of a plurality of evaluation items to evaluate the printing performance and to evaluate the performance.

[0010]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above object, the present invention evaluates the performance of a printer as a printing device by printing a predetermined test image on a test paper with the upper, lower, left, and right margins set to specified values. A plurality of evaluation items such as skew, margin, etc., for measuring the print position of the test image printed on the test paper by measuring and determining the print position before the test image is printed. A scanner that reads the test paper, and derives expressions at predetermined reading coordinates of respective straight lines that form the upper, lower, left, and right edges of the test paper read by the scanner, and furthermore, derives the formula of each side of the rectangle that is the test image. A formula for a straight line in the read coordinates is derived, and the positions of a plurality of points on each straight line that forms the periphery of the test paper and the positions on each side of the rectangle of the test image are determined. A deriving unit that derives the value of each evaluation item of the test image from several positions, a setting unit that sets an allowable range of the value of each evaluation item for each printer model to be inspected, A determining unit that determines whether the value of each of the evaluation items derived by the deriving unit is within an allowable range set by the setting unit for each of the evaluation items; A display unit that displays differently depending on whether the value of the evaluation item derived by the unit falls within a predetermined allowable range or not. The paper is arranged as a background of the test paper in order to make the periphery of the test paper clear when the image is read by the image reading unit.

According to such a configuration, the formulas of the respective straight lines forming the upper, lower, left and right edges of the test paper read by the scanner are derived, and the positions of a plurality of points on each of the straight lines and the rectangular shape of the test image are obtained. The value of each evaluation item of the test image is automatically derived from the positions of the plurality of points on each side, and whether the derived value of each evaluation item is within the predetermined allowable range for each It is determined whether or not the printing is completed, and the result is displayed on the display unit, so that the printing performance of the printer can be automatically and easily evaluated.

In addition, the present invention provides a printing apparatus for printing a predetermined test image on a test sheet with a margin set to a prescribed value, and printing on the test sheet a plurality of evaluation items for evaluating performance. A performance inspection device for a printing device for measuring and determining a printing position of the test image thus obtained, wherein the image reading unit reads the test paper on which the test image is printed, and the image reading unit reads the test paper. A deriving unit that derives values of the respective evaluation items such as a skew and a margin of the test image from a plurality of points on a periphery of a test sheet and positions of the plurality of points on the test image, and the deriving unit that is derived by the deriving unit. And a judgment unit for judging whether or not the value of each evaluation item is within a predetermined allowable range.

According to such a configuration, the value of each evaluation item of the test image is determined from the positions of the plurality of points on the periphery of the test sheet read by the image reading unit and the positions of the plurality of points on the test image. Is automatically derived and it is determined whether the value of each derived evaluation item is within the predetermined allowable range for each.Therefore, it is possible to automatically evaluate the performance of the printing device. it can.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that a background paper having a background color different from that of the test paper is arranged as a background of the test paper when reading by the image reading unit. According to such a configuration, the periphery of the test paper can be clearly recognized when the image is read by the image reading unit. Specifically, since the test paper is often white, the background paper is preferably black.

Also, in the present invention, the test image is a rectangular image, and the deriving unit determines the predetermined read coordinates of each straight line that forms the upper, lower, left, and right peripheral edges of the test sheet read by the image reading unit. And the formula of a straight line at the read coordinates of each side of the rectangle that is the test image is derived, and the positions of a plurality of points on each straight line that forms the periphery of the test paper and the test image are obtained. The value of each evaluation item of the test image is derived from the positions of a plurality of points on each side of the rectangle.

According to such a configuration, the formula of each straight line that forms the upper, lower, left, and right peripheral edges of the test paper and the formula of the straight line of each side of the rectangle that is the test image are derived. The coordinates of multiple points on each straight line and the coordinates of multiple points on each side of the rectangle that is the test image can be derived by calculation, and the value of each evaluation item in the test image can be easily derived. can do.

Further, the present invention includes a display unit for displaying a result of the determination by the determination unit, wherein the display unit is configured such that the value of the evaluation item derived by the derivation unit falls within a predetermined allowable range. It is characterized in that different indications are made depending on whether it is in or not. According to such a configuration, by looking at the display on the display unit, it is possible to easily recognize whether the value of each evaluation item is within the allowable range or not, and determine whether the value is good or bad. If necessary, action can be taken immediately if not within the acceptable range.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the setting unit is operated to input data of an allowable range of each of the evaluation items. According to such a configuration, for example, when the allowable range of the evaluation item is different depending on the type of the printing device, the data of the allowable range corresponding to the type of the target printing device is input by operating the setting unit. Thus, it is possible to determine whether or not the value of each evaluation item is within the input allowable range, and perform the performance evaluation of the printing apparatus.

In the present invention, the setting unit may include a storage unit in which data of an allowable range of each of the evaluation items is stored in advance for each type of the printing device, and a designation unit for designating the type. And a reading unit for reading out the allowable range data of each of the evaluation items corresponding to the type specified by the specifying unit from the storage unit.

According to such a configuration, even if the allowable range of the evaluation item is different depending on the type of the printing apparatus, only by designating the type by the designation unit, the storage unit can correspond to the designated type. Since the data of each allowable range of each evaluation item is read out by the reading unit, it is not necessary to input the data of each allowable range of each evaluation item for each type of printing device, and each evaluation of the printing device to be inspected is not required. It is easy to set the allowable range for the item.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the printing device is a printer. According to such a configuration, the performance evaluation of the printer can be automatically performed.

[0022]

[Embodiment of the invention]

 An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a printer as a printing apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a functional block diagram, FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory diagram, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are operation explanatory flowcharts.

The performance inspection apparatus according to the present embodiment prints a predetermined test image on a test sheet with upper, lower, left, and right margins set to specified values by a printer to be inspected, and evaluates the performance of the printer. It automatically measures and evaluates a plurality of evaluation items such as skew, margin, etc., and is composed of, for example, application software for performance inspection of personal computers.

More specifically, the present device is configured by functional blocks as shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, a predetermined test image is printed on a test sheet by a printer to be inspected with upper, lower, left, and right margins set to specified values, and the test is performed by a scanner 1 as an image reading unit. The test image printed on the paper is read. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2A, for example, a rectangular test image S is printed on a test paper P of JIS A4 size.

Then, as shown in FIG. 1, when the test paper P is read by the scanner 1, a background paper having a different background color (in this case, black) from the test paper P at this time is read by the scanner 1. At this time, in order to make the periphery of the test paper P clear, it is arranged as a background of the test paper P.

The image data thus obtained by reading by the scanner 1 is as shown in FIG. 2B, for example, and the test image S is included in a black background image (hatched portion in FIG. The image of the white test paper P having a rectangular frame is present.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, image data read by the scanner 1 is input to a data processing unit 5 via a data input unit 3, and processing of the image data is performed by the data processing unit 5. Done. In other words, as shown in FIG. 2B, the data processing unit 5 follows the image processing program stored in advance in the memory unit 7 composed of the ROM and the RAM, and sets each straight line M1 forming the peripheral edge of the test paper P. From the coordinates of the plurality of points A, B, C, D, E, and F on M2, M3, the expression of each straight line M1, M2, M3 in the XY coordinates as the read coordinates, and the test image S From the coordinates of a plurality of points G, H, I, J on each of the sides N1, N2, N3 of a certain rectangle, an equation of a straight line of each side N1, N2, N3 is derived. Here, the points A, G, J and F are on the same straight line, and the points B, H, I and E are also on the same straight line including the side N2. Similarly, points C, H, and G are on the same straight line including side N1, and points D, I, and J are on the same straight line including side N3.

Then, the coordinates of the midpoint K between the points G and H on the side N1 are calculated, and the coordinates of the point L, which is the foot of the perpendicular drawn down from the midpoint J toward the straight line M1, are calculated. From the coordinates of these points A to L, the values of the evaluation items of the test image S, such as the top skew, top margin, bottom skew, bottom margin, print width, print length, and left margin, are calculated according to a predetermined arithmetic expression. It is derived by the calculation by.

The process of deriving the value of the evaluation item by the data processing unit 5 corresponds to a deriving unit. Further, the data input unit 3, the data processing unit 5, and the determination unit 11 are configured by, for example, a CPU that forms a personal computer together with the memory unit 7.

By the way, when the allowable range data (upper limit value and lower limit value) of the value of each evaluation item is input by operating the keyboard 9 as a setting unit, the input data is temporarily stored in the memory unit 7, The determination unit 11 determines whether or not the value of each evaluation item derived by the data processing unit 5 falls within the allowable range stored in the memory unit 7.

At this time, the allowable range of the evaluation item differs depending on the type of the printer. For example, even if the top skew is the same, the allowable range is different between the inkjet printers and the laser printers of different types. Since the ranges are different, the data of the allowable range according to the type and model of the printer to be inspected are sequentially input by operating the keyboard 9.

Then, the data processor 5 converts the result of the determination by the determiner 11 into a predetermined file format, for example, a file format of Microsoft Windows Excel, and temporarily stores it in the memory unit 7. Of these, items that fall within the input allowable range and items that do not fall within the input allowable range are displayed in different colors on the screen of the display unit 13 composed of a liquid crystal display or a CRT display. Specifically, items that fall within the allowable range are displayed in black, those that do not are displayed in red, or black if all items are within the allowable range, and even one item is within the allowable range. If not, it will be displayed in red.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 3 and 4. As shown in FIG. 3, first, the printer model name is input by the keyboard 9 (S1), the name of the measurer is input by the keyboard 9 (S2), and the type of the ink jet or the laser is input as the type of the printer. (S3), it is determined whether or not the printer to be inspected is an ink jet (S4).

If the determination result in step S4 is YES, the allowable range data of each evaluation item of the ink jet printer is input (S5), and if the determination result is NO, the allowable range data of each evaluation item of the laser printer is input. After the processing of steps S5 and S6, the process proceeds to the next step S7, where a predetermined output file name is input through the keyboard 9 (S7).

Then, the test paper P (see FIG. 2) is set on the scanner 1 (S 8), the image data is read (S 9), and the straight lines M 1, M 2, M 3, which are the periphery of the test paper P, are formed. An equation in the XY coordinates is derived (S10), and an equation of a straight line in the XY coordinates corresponding to each side N1, N2, N3, etc. of the test image S is derived (S11). The coordinates of each of the points A to L (see FIG. 2) are derived from the equation (S12).

Subsequently, based on the coordinates of each of the points A to L, the value of each evaluation item such as top skew, top margin, bottom skew, bottom margin, print width, print length, and left margin is calculated according to a predetermined arithmetic expression. It is derived (S13), and it is determined whether or not the value of each of these evaluation items falls within the allowable range input in step S5 or S6 (S14). If it is included, it is displayed in black on the screen of the display unit 13 (S15), and if the determination result is NO, that is, if it is not within the allowable range, it is displayed in red on the screen of the display unit 13 (S15). .

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the inspection for the printer has been completed (S16). If the determination result is NO, the process returns to step S8, and the processes after step S8 are repeated. If the determination result is YES, the operation ends.

Therefore, according to the above-described embodiment, the data processing unit 5 derives the equations of the straight lines M1, M2, and M3 that form the upper, lower, left, and right edges of the test paper P read by the scanner 1. From the plurality of points A to F and L on each of the straight lines M1, M2 and M3 and the coordinate positions of the plurality of points G to K on each of the sides N1, N2 and N3 of the rectangle which is the test image S, The value of each evaluation item of S is derived, and the determination unit 11 determines whether the derived value of each evaluation item is within a predetermined allowable range for each, and displays the result on the display unit 13. Displayed on the screen, it is possible to automatically evaluate the printing performance of the printer.

In addition, since a background paper having a background color (black in this case) different from that of the test paper P is arranged as the background of the test paper, the peripheral edge (edge) of the test paper P becomes clear when the scanner 1 reads. Can be recognized.

The permissible range data of each printer model once input by the keyboard 9 is stored in, for example, the memory unit 7 and the next time the same model is inspected, the model name is input by the keyboard 9. Only by doing so, the allowable range data for each evaluation item may be read from the memory unit 7. In this way, it is not necessary to input the permissible range data for the evaluation item for the same model redundantly, and the working efficiency can be further improved.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the setting unit is configured by the keyboard 9 has been described. However, as another embodiment of the present invention, the data of the allowable range of each evaluation item for each type of printer is described. , A storage unit composed of a ROM or the like in which is stored in advance in a predetermined table format, a designation unit composed of a keyboard or a mouse for designating a type, and allowable range data of each evaluation item corresponding to the type designated by the designation unit The setting unit may be configured by a reading unit that reads out from the storage unit.

With this configuration, the data in the allowable range of each evaluation item corresponding to the specified type can be read out from the storage unit by simply specifying the type by the specifying unit. It is not necessary to input the data of the allowable range of each evaluation item every time, and the setting of the allowable range of each evaluation item of the printer to be inspected can be easily performed, thereby improving the work efficiency.

In the above-described embodiment, the display color of the display unit 13 is changed depending on whether it is within the allowable range or not. May be changed.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the printing device is a printer has been described. However, the present invention can be applied to a printing device other than the printer, and the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained. Can of course be obtained.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the present invention may be an independent apparatus as a dedicated inspection apparatus instead of being configured by the application software of the personal computer as described above. Various changes other than those described above can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0046]

[Effect of the invention]

 As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, equations of each straight line forming the upper, lower, left, and right peripheral edges of the test paper read by the scanner are derived, and the positions of a plurality of points on each of the straight lines are determined. The value of each evaluation item of the test image is automatically derived from the positions of a plurality of points on each side of the rectangle that is the test image, and the value of each derived evaluation item is determined in advance for each. It is determined whether the value falls within the allowable range and the result is displayed on the display unit, so that the printing performance of the printer can be automatically and easily evaluated.

According to the present invention, the position of a plurality of points on the peripheral edge of the test paper read by the image reading unit and the positions of the plurality of points on the test image are determined. The value of each evaluation item is automatically derived, and it is determined whether the value of each derived evaluation item is within a predetermined allowable range for each. It will be possible to make an evaluation.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the periphery of the test paper can be clearly recognized when the image is read by the image reading unit.

Further, according to the invention of the fourth aspect, by deriving the formula of each straight line forming the upper, lower, left and right peripheral edges of the test paper and the formula of the straight line of each side of the rectangle which is the test image, The coordinate positions of multiple points on each straight line that forms the periphery of the test paper and the coordinate positions of multiple points on each side of the test image rectangle can be derived by calculation, and the value of each evaluation item in the test image can be calculated. It can be easily derived.

According to the invention of claim 5, by looking at the display on the display unit, it is possible to easily recognize which of the evaluation items are within the allowable range and which are not. Good or bad can be determined, and if necessary, it is possible to take immediate action if the value is not within the allowable range.

According to the invention of claim 6, for example, when the allowable range of the evaluation item differs depending on the type of the printing device, the setting unit is operated to change the evaluation item according to the type of the target printing device. By inputting the data of the allowable range, it is possible to judge whether the value of each evaluation item is within the input allowable range, and to perform the performance evaluation of the printing apparatus.

According to the present invention, even when the allowable range of the evaluation item differs depending on the type of the printing device, the type is specified from the storage unit only by specifying the type by the specifying unit. Since the data in the permissible range of each evaluation item corresponding to the type is read out by the reading unit, there is no need to input the data in the permissible range of each evaluation item for each type of printing device, and the data can be inspected. It is possible to easily set the allowable range for each evaluation item of the printing device.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically evaluate the performance of the printer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Scanner (image reading part) 5 Data processing part (derivation part) 9 Keyboard (setting part) 11 Judgment part 13 Display part

Claims (8)

[Utility model registration claims] 1. A skew and a margin for evaluating a printer performance by printing a predetermined rectangular test image on a test sheet by a printer, which is a printing device, with upper, lower, left, and right margins set to specified values. For a plurality of evaluation items such as, in a performance inspection device of a printing device that measures and determines the printing position of the test image printed on the test paper, a scanner that reads the test paper on which the test image is printed, In addition to deriving an equation at predetermined reading coordinates of each straight line forming the upper, lower, left, and right edges of the test paper read by the scanner, deriving an equation of a straight line at the reading coordinates of each side of the rectangle that is the test image. From the positions of a plurality of points on each straight line that forms the periphery of the test paper and the positions of a plurality of points on each side of the rectangle that is the test image, A deriving unit that derives the value of each of the evaluation items of the test image, a setting unit that sets an allowable range of the value of each of the evaluation items for each type of printer to be inspected, and the deriving unit that is derived by the deriving unit. A judgment unit for judging whether or not the value of each evaluation item is within an allowable range set by the setting unit for each of the evaluation items; as a result of the judgment by the judgment unit, the evaluation item derived by the derivation unit A display unit that performs display differently when the value of the test paper is within a predetermined allowable range and when the value of the test paper is not within the predetermined allowable range. A performance inspection apparatus for a printing apparatus, wherein the apparatus is arranged as a background of the test paper in order to make the periphery of the test paper clear. 2. A printing apparatus, wherein a predetermined test image is printed on a test sheet with a margin set to a specified value, and a plurality of evaluation items for evaluating performance are printed on the test sheet. A performance inspection device for a printing device for measuring and judging a printing position of a test sheet, wherein: an image reading section for reading the test sheet on which the test image is printed; and a plurality of test sheets on the periphery of the test sheet read by the image reading section. A derivation unit that derives the value of each of the evaluation items such as a skew of the test image and a margin from the points and the positions of the plurality of points on the test image, and a value of each of the evaluation items derived by the derivation unit, A determination unit for determining whether each of the values falls within a predetermined allowable range. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a background sheet having a background color different from that of the test sheet is arranged as a background of the test sheet when the image reading unit reads the sheet. Performance inspection device. 4. The test image is a rectangular image,
The deriving unit derives an equation at predetermined reading coordinates of each straight line that forms the upper, lower, left, and right peripheral edges of the test paper read by the image reading unit, and obtains the reading coordinates of each side of a rectangle that is the test image. Is derived from the positions of a plurality of points on each straight line that forms the periphery of the test paper and the positions of a plurality of points on each side of the rectangle that is the test image. 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a value of the item is derived. 5. A display unit for displaying a determination result of the determination unit, wherein the display unit is configured to determine whether a value of the evaluation item derived by the derivation unit falls within a predetermined allowable range. The performance inspection device for a printing device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a different display is performed depending on whether or not the character is not included. 6. The performance of the printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the setting unit is operated to input data of an allowable range of each of the evaluation items. Inspection equipment. 7. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit includes a storage unit in which data of an allowable range of each of the evaluation items is stored in advance for each type of the printing device, a specifying unit for specifying the type, and the specifying unit. 6. The performance of the printing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a reading unit that reads out, from the storage unit, permissible range data of each of the evaluation items corresponding to the specified type. Inspection equipment. 8. The performance inspection device for a printing device according to claim 2, wherein the printing device is a printer.