JP3234800B2 - Image inspection system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention, of the image for printing
The present invention relates to an image inspection system capable of efficiently performing an image inspection by comparing reference image information and target image information when performing plate inspection.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image inspection system, for example, a plate inspection system, an editing machine, a plate inspection machine, and an output machine are provided one by one. Based on the instruction, the plate inspection worker read the reference image data of the first school and the like and the target image data of the re-school and the like by the plate inspection machine, performed the plate inspection processing, and output by the output unit. .

[0003]

However, when a large number of printed materials are inspected using such an inspection system, there are the following problems.

That is, after the output of the editing machine, the plate inspection is performed by the plate inspection machine, and after the plate inspection is completed, the inspection result must be further outputted to the output machine. A plate inspection worker was required to perform the plate.

[0005] In addition, a series of processes such as editing, plate inspection, and output are performed for each edited material, and then the processes are sequentially performed such that those processes are performed for the next edited material.

As described above, the conventional plate inspection system has been inefficient.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned problems in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image inspection system capable of performing an image inspection efficiently.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, a system according to claim 1 of the present invention is used in a plate making process.
A system for performing plate inspection as an image inspection, an image editing device that edits and outputs reference image information and target image information, an image storage device that stores reference image information output by the image editing device, An image inspection device that generates inspection result information by comparing the reference image information and the target image information to perform plate inspection, and that is stored in an image storage device in response to output of the target image information by the image editing device. The control device sends the reference image information together with the target image information to the image inspection device, and instructs the image inspection device to execute the image inspection, and receives the inspection result information from the image inspection device, and performs the inspection represented by the inspection result information. And a test result output device for outputting a result. Then, the image editing device
The reference image information and the target image information
Has an image data file with a file name that includes the inspection condition name.
Created in the form of a file, and the image inspection device
Inspection condition holding means for holding the inspection conditions corresponding to the subject
Among the contents held by the plate inspection condition holding means,
Included in the file name of the image information and the target image information
Refer to the inspection conditions corresponding to the inspection conditions, and check the inspection conditions.
Comparing the reference image information with the target image information according to
And a means for performing plate inspection.

Further, the system according to claim 2 of the present invention provides:
2. The image inspection system according to claim 1, wherein:
A plurality of image inspection devices and a plurality of inspection result output devices; and a storage device for storing standby status information that is information on a standby status of the image inspection device and the inspection result output device. The reference image information and the target image information are sent to the waiting image inspection apparatus with reference to the standby state information of the image inspection apparatus, and an instruction of the image inspection is performed. The inspection result information is transmitted to a standby inspection result output device by referring to the standby status information of the output device.

The system according to claim 3 of the present invention provides:
3. The image inspection system according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of image editing devices and a plurality of inspection result output devices are respectively more than the plurality of image inspection devices.

The system according to claim 4 of the present invention provides:
A system that performs plate inspection as an image inspection in the plate making process
A is, compared with an image editing apparatus for outputting by editing the reference image information and the object image data, an image storage device for storing reference image data output by the image editing apparatus, and the reference image information and the object image data A plurality of image inspection devices that generate inspection result information by performing plate inspection, and an inspection result output device that receives inspection result information from the image inspection device and outputs an inspection result represented by the inspection result information. Prepared,
A plurality of image inspection apparatuses can perform image inspection in parallel. In the image editing apparatus, the reference image
The image information and the target image information include a plate inspection condition name.
Created in the form of an image data file with a file name
And the image inspection apparatus checks the plate inspection conditions corresponding to the plate inspection condition name.
Means for holding plate inspection conditions, and means for holding plate inspection conditions.
The reference image information and the target image among the contents held in columns
The inspection corresponding to the inspection condition name included in the file name with the information
Refer to the plate condition and refer to the reference image information according to the plate check condition.
Means for performing plate inspection by comparing a report with the target image information,
It is characterized by having.

Further, the system according to claim 5 of the present invention provides:
5. The image inspection system according to claim 4, comprising a plurality of image editing devices and a plurality of inspection result output devices.

Further, a system according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the image inspection system according to the fifth aspect, wherein a plurality of image editing devices and a plurality of inspection result output devices are respectively more than a plurality of image inspection devices. And

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[1. First Embodiment] An image inspection system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is mainly used in a proofreading operation in a plate making process, in which image data of a first school, a second school, a third school, and the like are compared and inspected for calibration. This device is used for plate inspection to detect mistakes and the like. Hereinafter, the features of the image inspection system 1 will be described in detail while describing the device arrangement, processing procedure, and the like of the image inspection system 1.

<1-1. Apparatus Arrangement> FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image inspection system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the device arrangement of the image inspection system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

The image inspection system 1 has seven editing machines 10a.
10g, 3 plate inspection machines 20a-20c, 6 output machines 30a-30f, and a file server 40 are connected by a communication line via a hub for communication connection. 45
Are electrically connected.

Each of the editing machines 10a to 10g includes an editing computer 11 and an editing hard disk 12 electrically connected to the editing computer 11, as shown in FIG. Functioning as an image editing device for editing image data of the first school, re-school, three schools, etc., and outputting the image data edited by the editing computer 11 to the editing hard disk 12 as a Tiff format image data file. It is.

The plate inspection machines 20a to 20c are editing machines 10a to 1
Of the image data created with 0g, the image data at different stages in the calibration work such as first school and re-school (hereinafter referred to as "calibration stage") are compared with each other, and the inspection result including the difference image between the two images and the like. It functions as an image inspection device that outputs data as digital data.

Each of the output units 30a to 30f has a color printer 32 and a monochrome plotter 33 connected to an output computer 31 as shown in FIG.
Are electrically connected, and a color printer 32 and a monochrome plotter 33 are provided in accordance with an output request of plate inspection results from plate inspection machines 20a to 20c as described later.
Function as an inspection result output device that outputs a plate inspection result to one or both of them.

The file server 40 is a computer functioning as a control device having a memory and a CPU. The file server 40 exchanges data files between the editing machines 10a to 10g, the plate inspection machines 20a to 20c and the hard disk 45, and performs inspection as described later. The automatic plate inspection by the plate machines 20a to 20c is controlled.

The hard disk 45 includes editing machines 10a to 10
g functions as an image storage device in which the edited image data file output from the g is copied as a reference image data file, and also indicates a plate inspection machine 20a to 20c and an operation state of output units 30a to 30f to be described later. It also functions as a storage device for storing the status file and the output device status file.

Next, the main part of the image inspection system 1 will be described.

When the editing operator finishes the editing operation of the image data by any of the editing machines 10a to 10g, the image data (hereinafter, referred to as "output image data") file immediately after the editing is converted to the file shown in FIG. Editing hard disks 1 of the editing machines 10a to 10g with file names according to the rules
Save to 2.

In FIG. 4A, "job name" indicates the name of a job determined in advance for each printed material.

The “imposition name” refers to information on the number of pages (number of impositions) of an image to be output on one printed material, alignment information for positioning when a reference image and a target image are overlapped during plate inspection, and the like. Is the file name of an imposition information file stored in the hard disk 45 in advance. For example, the imposition information file is A4 size, and the imposition format is B.
If it is called a type, use "A48B" or the like. Among the various types of information recorded in the imposition information file, the alignment information includes information such as a size of a margin in each image data and data indicating a pixel unit position of data of an image portion. By referring to this information, it is possible to know the pixels corresponding to each other between the reference image and the target image, and the alignment processing is automated by referring to the same during the plate inspection processing.

The “page number” is a number indicating which page of the image data is used in the case of a plurality of impositions.
For example, in the case of the first page, "1" or the like is set.

The “plate inspection condition name” is a “threshold” of the plate inspection (threshold of a density difference for judging a difference), a “dust removal size” (a difference between a reference image and a target image is simply expressed). This is the name of a plate inspection condition file that is stored in the hard disk 45 in advance with respect to information such as the maximum number of pixels as dust), a “display format” (a format for displaying a detected difference), and a reference image selection rule described later. The plate inspection machines 20a to 20c perform plate inspection processing with reference to the plate inspection condition file having the plate inspection condition name.

The output image data file is given a file name as described above.
Periodically searches the editing hard disk 12 of each of the editing machines 10a to 10g, and if there is a file updated after the previous search with reference to the time stamp, copies it to the hard disk 45. At this time, the file server 40 changes the file name as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4B, "color number" is CMY
A number representing each color component such as K, which is determined by the file server 40 based on the image data of the file and added.

The "resolution" is the resolution of the image data of the file, and is added by the file server 40 by judging from the image data of the file.

The "calibration number" is a number indicating the calibration stage of the first school, the re-school,..., And is added as 001, 002.

By giving a file name in this manner, the file server 40 automatically determines which output image data is which image data of which job, and which image data is in a calibration stage. You can do it.

Further, in the image inspection system 1, two image data in different calibration stages of the image data of the same page of the same printed matter are compared with each other in the plate inspection machines 20a to 20c, that is, a reference for comparison. Plate inspection processing is performed by comparing target image data to be compared with the reference image data. Therefore, when the file server 40 detects the output image data, the file name thereof (FIG. 4)
"Job name", "Imposition name", "Page number", "Inspection condition name"
(Hereinafter, of the file names according to the rule of FIG. 4B, a part including these is referred to as a “basic name part.”) The image data files saved on the hard disk 45 having the file names including Is determined to be the image data file of the page, and among such image data files, the image data file having the calibration number conforming to the reference image selection rule shown below is read from the hard disk 45 as the image data file of the reference image. , The plate inspection machines 20a to 20d waiting together with the output image data file
20c.

By the way, in the image inspection system 1, a reference image selection rule which designates a calibration step (calibration number) of image data used as a reference image in advance is stored in the hard disk 45 as the plate inspection condition file. For example, the first school may be used as the reference image, or the image data of the first school and the third school may be requested to be output immediately before the output stage of the output image data file. (If it is, re-establishment) is used as the reference image.

The file server 40 assigns the file name (in accordance with the rule of FIG. 4B) of the image data files determined to be the same page of the same printed matter to the same page. ) Is an image data file indicating the calibration stage in accordance with the above-described reference image selection rule (for example, if the reference image selection rule uses the first school as the reference image, the calibration number is “001”). Is used as the reference image data file.

The image inspection system 1 includes a plurality of plate inspection machines 20a to 20c and output machines 30a to 30f, each of which can perform processing independently and in parallel. Therefore, when an image data file is output from the editing machines 10a to 10g to the editing hard disk 12, one of the plate inspection machines 20a to 20c has already performed plate inspection of another job, or the plate inspection machine 20a
When one of the output devices 30a to 30f has already output the inspection result of another job when the printing job 20 to 20c finishes plate inspection of a specific job. Therefore, in this image inspection system 1, each plate inspection machine 20a to 20c and each output machine 30
The hard disk 45 holds a plate inspection machine status file and an output machine status file, which are files in which information on whether a to 30f is on standby or in operation is written. The plate inspection machine status file and the output unit status file are divided into areas for recording operation information for each of the plate inspection units 20a to 20c and each of the output units 30a to 30f. It is a flag that can represent only one state. Then, each plate inspection machine 20a-20c or each output machine 30a-
When the operation status changes (transition from operation to standby or from standby to operation), 30f updates the operation information of the area corresponding to the device in the plate inspection machine status file or the output machine status file.

The file server 40 receiving the output of the image data file from the editing machines 10a to 10g.
When a standby plate inspection machine 20a to 20c is detected with reference to the plate inspection machine status file, the image data file is set as a target image data file, and the standby plate inspection device together with the corresponding reference image data file. Machine 2
0a to 20c and a plate inspection command signal.

Similarly, the plate inspection machine 20a having completed the plate inspection process
20c to 20c refer to the output device status file, and when a standby output device 30a to 30f is detected, the output device 30a
The plate inspection result data and the output command signal to be described later are transmitted to .about.30f.

Further, as described above, the plate inspection machines 20a to 20c
In the plate inspection process, the “plate inspection condition name” is detected from the file names of the reference image data and the target image data, and the plate inspection condition file having that name is read from the hard disk 45 and referenced to perform the plate inspection process. "Display format"
Outputs the inspection result data in the format corresponding to. The hard disk 45 further holds an output condition file. The output condition files include output devices 30a to 30f.
The “output conditions” for outputting the plate inspection result to one or both of the color printer 32 and the monochrome plotter 33 are recorded.
Reference numeral 30f refers to the output condition file when outputting the plate inspection result, and outputs it by an output method corresponding to the output condition file.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the image inspection system 1 has editing machines 10a to 10g and plate inspection machines 20a to 20g.
c, and a plurality of output machines 30a to 30f, respectively.
The speed of the plate inspection process by a to 20c is higher than the editing machines 10a to 10c
g, which is slower than the speed of editing by the g and the speed of output by the output machines 30a to 30f, and requires about twice as much time.
In the first embodiment, the number of the editing machines 10a to 10g and the number of the output machines 30a to 30f are set to be larger than those of the plate inspection machines 20a to 20c.
10g and the number of output machines 30a-30f
(the image inspection system 1 includes three plate inspection machines 20a to 20c, seven editing machines 10a to 10g, and six output machines 30a to 30f.)
Table). Thereby, the plate inspection machines 20a to 20c,
A wait state for processing is unlikely to occur in any of the output devices 30a to 30f, and processing can be performed efficiently.

With the above-described configuration, the image inspection system 1 can automatically perform the plate inspection process and the output process of the plate inspection result other than the editing of the image data by the editing machines 10a to 10g. Next, the processing procedure at that time will be described.

<1-2. Processing Procedure> FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a plate inspection command procedure of the file server 40.
Hereinafter, the plate inspection command procedure will be described with reference to FIG.

First, editing is completed in any of the editing machines 10a to 10g, and an output image data file is output to the editing hard disk 12. The file server 40 periodically detects and detects the editing hard disk 12 of each of the editing machines 10a to 10g (step S).
1).

Next, the file server 40 refers to the plate inspection machine status file and refers to the waiting plate inspection machines 20a to 20a to 20a.
20c is searched for a standby unit (step S2),
If the plate inspection machines 20a to 20c cannot be detected, step S2
The search is continued by returning to step S4, and if it can be detected, the process proceeds to step S4 (step S3).

Next, the file server 40 stores an image data file having a file name including the same basic name portion as that included in the file name of the output image data file (the file name according to the rule of FIG. 4A) on the hard disk. 45
(Step S4).

Then, based on the search result, the file server 40 determines whether or not the output image data corresponds to the first school (step S5). That is, if an image data file having a file name including the same basic name as the output image data file is not stored in the hard disk 45, that is, if it is determined that the output image data is that of the first school, the file server Reference numeral 40 changes the output image data file from the plate inspection machines 20a to 20c to the hard disk 45 with a file name according to the rule of FIG. 4B and copies it (step S6). Conversely, if an image data file having a file name including the same basic name as the output image data file is stored in the hard disk 45, that is, if the output image data is of a calibration stage after re-reading. When the judgment is made, the image data file including the “calibration number” that conforms to the above-described reference image selection rule is set as the reference image data among the image data files having the file name in the hard disk 45 together with the plate inspection command signal, Stand-by plate inspection machine 20a-2 that has detected the output image data file as the target image data
0c (step S7). Note that, in parallel with this processing, the file server 40 transmits data to the editing machines 10a to 10a.
The output image data from g is given a file name in accordance with the rule of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a plate inspection result output process by the plate inspection machines 20a to 20c. Hereinafter, the plate inspection result output processing procedure will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the detected plate inspection machines 20a to 20a
20c is the file server 4 in step S7.
Then, the plate inspection command signal transmitted by 0 is detected (step S11).

Next, the detected plate inspection machine 20a in a standby state is detected.
20c performs the plate inspection process by comparing the reference image data and the target image data transmitted accordingly. This plate inspection process is performed as follows.

First, an alignment process for designating corresponding representative points of both images is performed so that the reference image data and the target image data overlap each other. This processing is performed with reference to the alignment information recorded in the imposition information file in advance as described above. Next, difference detection processing for detecting a difference between the reference image and the target image by referring to the inspection conditions such as the above-described “threshold value”, “dust removal size”, “display format”,. Execute That is, the reference image data and the target image data are each divided into a plurality of sections, and the density difference between the two images is calculated while the reference image and the target image are locally matched for each of the divided sections. Threshold value ". If the difference is larger than the threshold value, it is determined that there is a difference in the divided area. As a result, a matching portion that matches between the reference image and the target image and a mismatching portion that does not match are detected. Then, a difference display image is created according to the “display format”. Further, a contour extraction process is performed, which is a process of extracting a block in which image data in which the difference between the reference image and the target image is equal to or greater than a threshold is extracted. Then, the number of pixels constituting the outline of the obtained block is counted and compared with the set dust removal size. For a block larger than the dust removal size, the X and Y coordinates of the four corners of the frame surrounding the block Is used as the plate inspection result data together with the difference display image data as information on a position having a difference.

Next, the plate inspection machine 2 that has completed the plate inspection processing described above.
0a to 20c refer to the output device status file to search for one of the standby output devices 30a to 30f that is on standby (step S13). And the plate inspection machine 2 waiting
If 0a to 20c cannot be detected, the process returns to step S13 to continue searching for the standby output devices 30a to 30f. Conversely, if the standby output devices 30a to 30f are detected, step S13 is performed.
Go to Step 15 (Step S14).

Then, the plate inspection machine 2 which has completed the plate inspection processing described above.
0a to 20c indicate the detected standby output devices 30a to 30
f, the output command signal and the above-described plate inspection result data are transmitted, and the received output devices 30a to 30a which have been detected are received.
0f searches the hard disk 45 for an inspection condition file and an output condition file having the above-described inspection condition name included in the inspection result data as a file name, and includes “display format” and “output” included therein. By performing the output according to the “condition” (step S15), the plate inspection result output process is completed.

As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the file server 40 is
In response to a request for output of the output image data file to the editing hard disk 12 by a to 10g, the reference image data file stored in the hard disk 45 is output together with the output image data file to the standby plate inspection machines 20a to 20a-2.
0c, and instructs the plate inspection machines 20a to 20c to execute plate inspection, whereby the plate inspection machines 20a to 20c are sent.
Performs plate inspection by comparing the reference image data with the target image data to generate plate inspection result data. The output units 30a to 30f that have been waiting output the plate inspection result indicated by the plate inspection result data. In addition, since a person for outputting the plate inspection result becomes unnecessary, the plate inspection process can be performed efficiently.

The editing machines 10a to 10g, the plate inspection machine 20
a to 20c and a plurality of output devices 30a to 30f, respectively, so that editing, plate inspection, and output of plate inspection results can all be performed in parallel, so that plate inspection processing can be performed more efficiently.

Further, since the plate inspection process and the output process of the plate inspection result can be made unmanned, it is possible to operate these processes overnight after editing.

[2. Second Embodiment] Second Embodiment of the Invention
The image inspection system 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention is mainly used for plate inspection for comparing and inspecting image data of a first school, a second school, a third school, etc. in a calibration work in a plate making process to detect a calibration error or the like. Device. Hereinafter, the features of the image inspection system 2 will be described in detail while describing the device arrangement, processing procedure, and the like.

<2-1. Device Arrangement> FIG. 7 is an overall configuration diagram of an image inspection system 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the device arrangement of the image inspection system 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

The image inspection system 2 has seven editing machines 10a.
10 to 10 g, three plate inspection machines 25a to 25c, and six output machines 30a to 30f are connected by communication lines via hubs for communication connection.

Each of the editing machines 10a to 10g includes an editing computer 11 and an editing hard disk 12 electrically connected to the editing computer 11, as shown in FIG. Functions as an image editing apparatus for editing image data of the first school, re-school, three schools, etc., and edits the image data by the editing computer 11 as an image data file in Tiff format on the editing hard disk 12 (“image storage”). Device).

As shown in FIG. 8, which is an apparatus configuration diagram, each of the plate inspection machines 25a to 25c includes a plate inspection computer 26 having input means such as a CRT and a mouse, and a plate inspection computer 26 electrically connected thereto. The hard disk 27 is provided, and among image data created by the editing machines 10a to 10g, image data at different stages in proofreading work such as first school and re-school (hereinafter referred to as "proofreading stage") are compared with each other, and both are compared. It functions as an image inspection device that outputs inspection result data including image difference images as digital data.

Each of the output units 30a to 30f has a color printer 32 and a monochrome plotter 33 connected to an output computer 31 as shown in FIG.
Are electrically connected to each other. As will be described later, the color printer 32 and the monochrome plotter 33 are provided in accordance with an output request of plate inspection results from the plate inspection machines 25a to 25c.
Function as an inspection result output device that outputs a plate inspection result to one or both of them.

Next, the main part of the image inspection system 2 will be described.

When the editing operator finishes editing the image data with any of the editing machines 10a to 10g, the editing operator transfers the image data (hereinafter referred to as "output image data") file immediately after the editing to the editing machines 10a to 10g. The data is stored in the editing hard disk 12. At that time, the editing machines 10a-
10g stores the file name of the output image data file in accordance with the rules described in detail later. At the same time, if the output image data is other than the first school, the editor issues a plate inspection command to the plate inspection worker.

Further, in this image inspection system 2, the file name of the output image data file is as shown in FIG.
In accordance with the rules described above.

In FIG. 4B, “job name” indicates a job name predetermined for each printed material.

The “imposition name” is a file name of a file stored in advance in the plate inspection hard disk 27 for information on the number of pages (number of impositions) of an image to be output on one printed material. If there are eight impositions and the type of imposition is the B type, "A48B" or the like is used.

The “page number” is a number indicating which page the image data is for in the case of a plurality of impositions.
For example, in the case of the first page, "1" or the like is set.

The “plate inspection condition name” is the “threshold” of the plate inspection (the threshold of the density difference for judging the difference), the “dust removal size” (the difference between the reference image and the target image is simply Each plate inspection machine 25a relating to information such as the maximum number of pixels as dust), “display format” (format for displaying the detected difference), etc.
25c are the names of the plate inspection condition files stored in the plate inspection hard disk 27 of the plate inspection machines 25a to 25c.
Performs the plate inspection process with reference to the plate inspection condition file of this plate inspection condition name.

The “color number” is a number representing each color component such as CMYK, and is added by the file server 40 by judging from the image data of the file.

The “resolution” is the resolution of the image data of the file, and is added by the file server 40 by judging from the image data of the file.

The "calibration number" is a number indicating the calibration stage of the first school, re-school,..., And is added as 001, 002.

By giving the file names in this manner, the plate inspection operator can determine which image data file is stored in the editing hard disk 12 as which image data of which job, and further, which calibration image It can be determined by looking at the file name whether the data is data.

In the image inspection system 2, the plate image inspection machines 25a to 25c compare two image data of image data of the same page of the same printed matter in different calibration stages with each other, that is, serve as a reference for comparison. Plate inspection processing is performed by comparing target image data to be compared with the reference image data. Therefore, when performing the plate inspection process, the plate inspection worker needs to select the “job name”, “imposition name”, “page number”, “plate inspection condition name” (hereinafter referred to as “the plate inspection condition name”) of the file name of the output image data file. Of the file names according to the rule of FIG. 4B, a part including these is called a “basic name part”.) An image data file saved on the editing hard disk 12 having a file name including the same basic name part The image data file of the same page of the same printed matter is determined to be an image data file, and among such image data files, an image data file having a calibration number that conforms to the reference image selection rule shown below is used as an image data file of the reference image. As
The output image data file is read as a target image data file to standby plate inspection machines 25a to 25c, which will be described later, and compared with each other to perform plate inspection processing.

In the second embodiment, a reference image selection rule which specifies a calibration stage of image data used as a reference image is predetermined. For example, the first school may be used as the reference image, or the image data of the first school and the third school may be requested to be output at the calibration stage immediately before the output image data file (that is, when the image data of the re-school is output). If there is, re-establishment) is used as the reference image.

The image inspection system 2 is provided with a plurality of plate inspection machines 25a to 25c and output machines 30a to 30f, each of which can perform processing independently and in parallel. Therefore, when the image data files are output from the editing machines 10a to 10g, one of the plate inspection machines 25a to 25c has already performed plate inspection of another job, or the plate inspection machines 25a to 25c When one of the output units 30a to 30f has already output the inspection result of another job when the plate inspection of the above is finished, it may occur.
Of these, in the former case, the plate inspection operator visually checks one of the plate inspection machines 25a to 25c in a standby state, but in the latter case, the image inspection system 2 uses each output device. The output device status file, which is a file in which information on whether the devices 30a to 30f are on standby or in operation, is stored in the plate hard disk 27. This output device status file is stored in each of the output devices 30a to 30f.
The area is divided into areas for recording operation information, and the information is a flag that can represent only two states, that is, standby and operation. And each output machine 30a ~
When the operation status changes (transition from operation to standby or from standby to operation), 30f updates the operation information of the area corresponding to the device in the output device status file.

Then, the plate inspection machine 25a for which the plate inspection process has been completed.
25c to 25c refer to the output device status file, and when one of the output devices 30a to 30f is detected in standby, the plate inspection result data and output to the detected standby output devices 30a to 30f are output. Send a command signal.

Further, as described above, the plate inspection machines 25a to 25c
In the plate inspection process, the plate inspection condition name is detected from the file names of the reference image data file and the target image data file, and the plate inspection condition file having that name is read out from the plate inspection hard disk 27, and the plate inspection process is performed by referring to the file. Then, plate inspection result data in a format corresponding to the "display format" is output to the detected output devices 30a to 30f that are on standby. The plate hard disk 27 further holds an output condition file. In this output condition file, the plate inspection results are output by the output devices 30a to 30f to the color printer 32.
And output conditions to one or both of the monochrome plotters 33 or both are recorded.
The plate inspection machines 25a to 25c output the stand-by output device 30 which has detected the information of the "output condition" together with the output command of the plate inspection result.
a to 30f, and the output machines 30a to 30f output the data in accordance with the output method.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, this image inspection system 2 has editing machines 10a to 10g and plate inspection machines 25a to 25g.
c, and a plurality of output machines 30a to 30f, respectively.
The speed of the plate inspection processing by a to 25c is higher than the editing machines 10a to 10c
g, which is slower than the speed of editing by the g and the speed of output by the output machines 30a to 30f, and requires about twice as much time.
In the second embodiment, the number of the editing machines 10a to 10g and the number of the output machines 30a to 30f are set to be larger than those of the plate inspection machines 25a to 25c.
10 to 10 g and the number of output machines 30a to 30f
(the image inspection system 2 has three plate inspection machines 25a to 25c, seven editing machines 10a to 10g, and six output machines 30a to 30f, respectively)
Table). Thereby, the plate inspection machines 25a to 25c,
A wait state for processing is unlikely to occur in any of the output devices 30a to 30f, and processing can be performed efficiently.

With the above-described configuration, the image inspection system 2 can perform the respective processes of editing, plate inspection, and outputting the plate inspection result in parallel. Next, the processing procedure at that time will be described.

<2-2. Processing Procedure> FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a plate inspection and a plate inspection result output processing procedure in the second embodiment. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIG.

First, the plate inspection operator receives a plate inspection instruction from the editing operator (step S21). However, here, the case where the output image data file is in the proofreading stage after the re-education is described. In the case of the first school, a plate inspection request is not made, and the output image data file is directly sent to the editing machine 10a to 10d. It is stored in a 10 g editing hard disk 12.

Next, the plate inspection machine 25 in which the plate inspection worker is on standby
a to 25c are visually searched (step S22), and the process waits until the waiting plate inspection machines 25a to 25c can be confirmed (step S23).

When the standby plate inspection machines 25a to 25c are found, the detected standby plate inspection machines 25a to 25c are detected.
In step 5c, the inspection operator determines that the basic name portion of the file name is the same as that of the output image data file and that the “calibration number” is in the calibration stage according to the predetermined reference image selection rule. As the image data, the output image data file is read from the editing hard disk 12 as the target image data, and the plate inspection process is performed (step S24).

The plate inspection process is performed as follows.

First, while checking on the CRT screens of the standby plate inspection machines 25a to 25c where the plate inspection worker has been detected, the corresponding representative points in both images are overlapped so that the reference image data and the target image data overlap each other. Is performed. Next, difference detection processing for detecting a difference between the reference image and the target image by referring to the inspection conditions such as the above-described “threshold value”, “dust removal size”, “display format”,. Execute That is, the reference image data and the target image data are each divided into a plurality of sections, and the density difference between the two images is calculated while the reference image and the target image are locally matched for each of the divided sections,
The difference is compared with the "threshold". If the difference is larger than the threshold, it is determined that there is a difference in the divided sections. As a result, a matching portion that matches between the reference image and the target image and a mismatching portion that does not match are detected. Then, difference display image data is created according to the “display format”. Further, a contour extraction process is performed, which is a process of extracting a block in which image data in which the difference between the reference image and the target image is equal to or greater than a threshold is extracted. Then, the number of pixels constituting the outline of the obtained block is counted and compared with the set dust removal size. For a block larger than the dust removal size, the X and Y coordinates of the four corners of the frame surrounding the block Is used as the plate inspection result data together with the difference display image data as information on a position having a difference.

Next, the plate inspection machine 2 which has completed the plate inspection processing described above.
5a to 25c refer to the output device status file to search for one of the output devices 30a to 30f that is on standby (step S25). Then, the output devices 30a to 30
If 30f cannot be detected, the process returns to step S25 to continue searching for the output devices 30a to 30f in standby. Conversely, if the output devices 30a to 30f in standby are detected, the process proceeds to step S27 (step S26).

Then, the plate inspection machine 2 that has completed the plate inspection processing described above.
5a to 25c are output to the standby output units 30a to 30f which have detected the plate inspection result data, the output command signal, the plate inspection condition file information, and the "output condition" information. Transmit and output the output machines 30a-30f
Performs an output according to the information of those conditions (step S
27) Then, the plate inspection result output process ends.

As described above, according to the second embodiment of the present invention, since a plurality of plate inspection machines 25a to 25c are provided, plate inspection can be performed in parallel, so that plate inspection can be performed efficiently. It can be carried out.

The editing machines 10a to 10g, the plate inspection machine 25
Since a plurality of printers a to 25c and output machines 30a to 30f are provided, editing, plate inspection, and output of plate inspection results can all be performed in parallel, so that plate inspection processing can be performed more efficiently.

[3. Modification] In the first embodiment, a file server 4 includes a plurality of editing machines, plate inspection machines, and output machines.
However, the present invention is not limited to this. The present invention is not limited to this, and one editing machine, one printing machine, and one output machine are provided. Plate inspection and output thereof may be automatically performed. In this case, the plate inspection machine status file and the output machine status file are unnecessary.

Further, in the second embodiment, the detection of the output device in a standby state is automatically detected by the plate inspection machine. However, the plate inspection worker may visually detect the output device.

Further, in the first embodiment, plate inspection and output thereof are performed by automatic control. In the second embodiment, plate inspection and manual output are performed. However, the system of the first embodiment is used. In the configuration, an apparatus for switching between automatic plate inspection as in the first embodiment and manual plate inspection as in the second embodiment may be used. In this case, the determination may be made by providing the hard disk 45 with automatic / manual switching information.

Further, some plate inspection machines and output machines may be set to be automatic, and the rest may be made manual. In this case, the plate inspection machine status file and the output machine status file are further added. The file server 40 refers to the information of automatic / manual switching between the plate inspection machine and the output unit, and the manual operation of the plate inspection unit and the output unit may be regarded as not existing in the automatic control.

[0094]

As described above, according to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the control device responds to the output of the target image information by the image editing device and stores the reference information stored in the image storage device. Sending the image information together with the target image information to the image inspection apparatus, and instructing the image inspection apparatus to execute the image inspection, whereby the image inspection apparatus compares the reference image information with the target image information and performs the image inspection. , The inspection result information is generated, and the output result is outputted by the output device, so that no personnel is required for the image inspection and the output of the inspection result. According to this, since a plurality of image inspection devices are provided, image inspection can be performed in parallel, so that image inspection can be performed efficiently.

According to the second, third, fifth, and sixth aspects of the present invention, a plurality of image editing apparatuses, image inspection apparatuses, and inspection result output apparatuses are provided. Since all of the result outputs can be performed in parallel, the image inspection can be performed more efficiently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an image inspection system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an apparatus configuration diagram of an editing machine.

FIG. 3 is a device configuration diagram of an output device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing rules for giving file names.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a plate inspection command procedure of a file server.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a plate inspection result output processing procedure by the plate inspection machine.

FIG. 7 is an overall configuration diagram of an image inspection system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a plate inspection machine.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a plate inspection and a plate inspection result output processing procedure according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 Image inspection system 10a-10g Editing machine 20a-20c, 25a-25c Plate inspection machine 27 Hard disk for inspection 30a-30f Output machine 40 File server 45 Hard disk

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03F 1/00

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. Plate inspection as an image inspection in a plate making process
A system for performing an image editing apparatus for outputting by editing the reference image information and the object image data, an image storage device for storing reference image data output by the image editing apparatus, the reference image information and the target image An image inspection device that generates inspection result information by performing plate inspection by comparing information with the information, and in response to output of target image information by the image editing device, the reference image stored in the image storage device A control device that sends information to the image inspection apparatus together with the target image information, and that instructs the image inspection apparatus to perform an image inspection; and an inspection represented by the inspection result information upon receiving inspection result information from the image inspection apparatus. and an inspection result output unit for outputting the result, in the image editing apparatus, the reference image information and
The target image information is a file name including a plate inspection condition name.
Created in the format of an image data file having the image inspection apparatus , wherein the image inspection apparatus retains the inspection condition corresponding to the inspection condition name.
Means, and the reference image among the contents held by the plate inspection condition holding means.
Inspection included in the file name of the information and the target image information
Refer to the inspection conditions corresponding to the condition name, and follow the inspection conditions.
By comparing the reference image information and the target image information
An image inspection system , comprising: means for performing plate inspection. 2. The image inspection system according to claim 1, wherein
The image editing apparatus, the image inspection apparatus, and the inspection result output apparatus, each of which includes a plurality of storage units, and further stores standby state information that is information on a standby state of the image inspection apparatus and the inspection result output apparatus. The control device refers to standby status information of the plurality of image inspection devices, sends the reference image information and the target image information to a standby image inspection device, and issues an image inspection command. Wherein the image inspection device sends the inspection result information to a standby inspection result output device by referring to standby status information of each of the plurality of inspection result output devices. system. 3. The image inspection system according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of image editing devices and the plurality of inspection result output devices are more than the plurality of image inspection devices, respectively. 4. Plate inspection as an image inspection in the plate making process
A system for performing an image editing apparatus for outputting by editing the reference image information and the object image data, an image storage device for storing reference image data output by the image editing apparatus, the reference image information and the target image A plurality of image inspection apparatuses that generate inspection result information by performing plate inspection by comparing information with inspection information; and an inspection result that receives inspection result information from the image inspection apparatus and outputs an inspection result represented by the inspection result information. and an output device, both the plurality of the image inspection apparatus is capable of imaging test in parallel, in the image editing apparatus, the reference image information and
The target image information is a file name including a plate inspection condition name.
Created in the format of an image data file having the image inspection apparatus , wherein the image inspection apparatus retains the inspection condition corresponding to the inspection condition name.
Means, and the reference image among the contents held by the plate inspection condition holding means.
Inspection included in the file name of the information and the target image information
Refer to the inspection conditions corresponding to the condition name, and follow the inspection conditions.
By comparing the reference image information and the target image information
An image inspection system , comprising: means for performing plate inspection. 5. The image inspection system according to claim 4, comprising a plurality of said image editing devices and said inspection result output device. 6. The image inspection system according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of image editing devices and the plurality of inspection result output devices are respectively more than the plurality of image inspection devices.