JP4319761B2 - Image position deviation remote adjustment method and system, and recording medium on which the method is programmed and recorded - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, an image misregistration remote adjustment method, a system thereof, and the method thereof are programmed and recorded by inspecting the position accuracy of a color image among image qualities reproduced by a copying machine or a printer and performing remote adjustment thereof. The present invention relates to a recording medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
With the spread of OA (office automation), various information devices in the office output image information such as characters and images. A typical example of this is a copying machine that copies an original, and a printer that outputs data processed by the information processing apparatus main body.
[0003]
The copying machine or printer described above forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive drum, reads image information using an image pickup device such as a CCD, develops it, or uses a recording head such as a thermal head on a sheet. The image is printed on.
[0004]
When such information equipment is designed, manufactured, and shipped in a factory, the reproduced image is inspected. Recently, color copying or color recording has become commonplace, and it is also necessary to inspect images for these. When the inspection object is a color image, a color other than a predetermined color is reproduced by mixing several colors. That is, when printing a color image in an electrostatic copying machine or a thermal transfer printer, black B is added to the three color materials of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y). An image is formed with the added four color materials. When printing is performed by sequentially superposing such color materials, the amount of color misregistration as one factor that affects color reproducibility becomes a problem. That is, when color misregistration occurs in the process of reproducing colors for each color, the quality of the image is significantly deteriorated particularly in a line drawing or a character portion.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, in the color printing apparatus, printing is performed with KCMY four-color toner and ink, and the colors are synthesized by superimposing the CMY colors. If the position of the color to be superimposed is shifted in this synthesis process, a color different from the original color is synthesized, and the quality of the image is remarkably deteriorated particularly in a line drawing or a character portion.
[0006]
For example, blue characters are reproduced by mixing the primary colors of magenta and cyan, but if the positions of these two colors are shifted in the printing process, the characters are blurred and become very difficult to read. Further, in the case of a picture image, there is a problem that the influence of misalignment appears on the printed picture itself, and accurate color reproduction cannot be performed.
[0007]
Therefore, the amount of color misregistration is conventionally measured for an image reproduced. Conventionally, such a color misregistration amount is measured by a method in which a color image as an object to be inspected is enlarged and projected using a microscope, and an inspector directly reads the color misregistration. Alternatively, a pattern as a non-inspection object is prepared as an inspection pattern in which cyan, magenta, yellow, and black color materials are sequentially adjacent to each other and arranged on a straight line. And a color image is inspected based on the maximum value of the color misregistration amount.
[0008]
However, according to the former, since the examiner is the main subject, the measured value or the test result changes when the examiner is different, and the psychological influence based on the examiner's mental fatigue and physical fatigue is measured. Reflected in the values and test results, it was difficult to accurately measure or test. According to the latter, although the measurement and inspection are automated, there is a difference between the measured color shift amount and the color shift feeling experienced when the actual color image is viewed with the eyes. It was impossible to inspect the color misregistration amount accurately corresponding to the vision. Further, according to the latter, since the inspection is performed using the inspection pattern in which the respective color materials are sequentially adjacent and arranged on a straight line, there is a disadvantage that only one of the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction can be measured and inspected. It was.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a plurality of single-color L-shaped inspection patterns prepared for each color material used in a printing process are adjacently generated and output with regularity, and the output inspection patterns are scanned by a scanner. Measure the amount of misalignment in the main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction by calculating the amount of misalignment by reading in, calculate the amount of adjustment by comparing with the standard value, and perform remote adjustment to be within the standard It is an object of the present invention to provide a positional deviation remote diagnosis method, a system thereof, and a recording medium on which the method is programmed and recorded.
[0013]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is an image misregistration remote control in which printing timing adjustment of an inspected apparatus is remotely performed using an inspecting apparatus connected to the inspected apparatus via a communication line. in the adjustment method, the inspection apparatus includes the steps of generating multiple outputs monochromatic L-pattern with regularity is adjacent prepared for each coloring material in the printing process, the output monochromatic L- uptake as RBG signal by sequentially reading the pattern, performed and transmitting the RBG signal taken to the testing device via the communication circuit, sequentially, the inspection apparatus, the reference color to each received the RBG signal that A step of measuring an intersection coordinate of two straight lines constituting the monochromatic L-shaped pattern of the color material having a complementary color relationship, and a step of measuring the intersection coordinates of the two straight lines constituting the reference L-shaped pattern; The relative coordinates of the two straight lines of intersection coordinates constituting the monochromatic L-patterns of each color material has been measured by measuring the respective color materials in comparison with a predefined ideal relative coordinate position relative coordinate position corresponding measured Sequentially measuring a positional deviation amount of the monochrome L-shaped pattern in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, and calculating an adjustment amount so that the measured positional deviation amount for each color material is minimized. I decided to do it.
[0014]
As a result, the color shift in the color image is inspected based on the average value and the maximum value of the shift amount of each color material used in the printing process, so that it is possible to inspect the color shift amount more accurately corresponding to human vision. Also, remote adjustment of printing timing based on the amount of deviation can be automatically performed.
[0016]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image misregistration remote adjustment system in which printing timing adjustment of an inspected apparatus is remotely performed using an inspection apparatus connected to the inspected apparatus via a communication line. apparatus, a printing apparatus that generate multiple outputs with regularity are adjacent single color L-shaped patterns prepared for each coloring material in the printing process, a single color L-shaped pattern which is output from the printing apparatus sequentially An image input / output device that reads and captures it as an R GB signal and transmits the captured RGB signal to the inspection device via a communication line, and the inspection device receives the communication device from the device to be inspected via the communication circuit. After measuring the intersection coordinates of two straight lines constituting the monochrome L-shaped pattern of the color material complementary to the reference color for each RBG signal, 2 constituting the reference L-shaped pattern The relative coordinate position of the intersection coordinates of the two straight lines constituting each of the measured monochromatic L-shaped patterns with respect to the intersection coordinates of the two straight lines is measured, and the measured relative coordinate position and a predetermined ideal relative coordinate position are To measure the amount of positional deviation in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction of the monochrome L-shaped pattern for each color material, so that the measured amount of positional deviation for each color material is minimized. And an adjustment instruction device that calculates an adjustment amount and transmits the calculated adjustment amount to the device to be inspected via the communication line.
[0017]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the printing apparatus adjusts printing timing based on an adjustment amount transmitted from the inspection apparatus.
[0019]
According to each of the above configurations, the positions of the vertical and horizontal lines of the single-color L-shaped pattern generated corresponding to the printing process color are detected, and the intersection coordinates thereof are calculated and compared with the ideal coordinate positions defined in advance. Enables automatic and accurate inspection for color shift in the main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction, and by comparing the measured displacement amount with the standard value. It is possible to provide an image misalignment remote adjustment system capable of calculating a misregistration adjustment amount in an image and automatically adjusting print timing in a remote place based on the adjustment amount.
[0021]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inspection apparatus computer that receives a plurality of RGB signals of a single color L-shaped pattern prepared for each color material used in a printing process from an apparatus to be inspected via a communication line. For each of the RGB signals, a step of measuring an intersection coordinate of two straight lines constituting the monochrome L-shaped pattern of the color material complementary to black and two colors constituting the black L-shaped pattern A step of obtaining a relative intersection point coordinate of two straight lines constituting the monochromatic L-shaped pattern of each color material measured on the basis of the intersection point coordinate of the straight line, and comparing the obtained relative position coordinate with a relative position coordinate which is a design value And calculating the average value and the maximum value for each color material of the positional deviation amount calculated for each single color L-shaped pattern prepared for each of the color materials. Comparing the average value and the maximum value of the positional deviation amount for each color material obtained with a standard value, and calculating the adjustment amount so that the positional deviation amount generated as a result of the comparison is minimized. And a program for sequentially performing the calculated adjustment amount and the step of transmitting the calculated adjustment amount to the device to be inspected via the communication line.
[0022]
As a result, high-precision detection of the position of the color pattern including the reference pattern in the main / sub-scanning direction is performed starting from the rough detection of the position of the color pattern including the reference pattern in the main / sub-scanning direction. And the intersection coordinates are determined as pattern coordinates, so that the intersection coordinates can be easily measured and the accuracy can be increased. The relative position coordinates obtained here are compared with the relative position coordinates, which are design values, to calculate the deviation amount with respect to the design value, and the average value and the maximum value of the deviation amounts calculated for all the captured L-shaped patterns And a program for inspecting color misregistration in a color image by comparing an average value and a maximum value of misregistration amounts of each color material used in the printing process with a standard value. In a color printing apparatus, printing is performed with KCMY four-color toner and ink, and the colors are synthesized by superimposing CMY colors. If the position of the colors to be superimposed is shifted in this synthesis process, a color different from the original color is generated. The quality of the image was significantly degraded especially in line drawings and character parts, but the amount of displacement is automatically generated by the present invention, and the amount of displacement is guaranteed by remote adjustment. As a result, the positional accuracy of the printing positions of the respective colors is improved, and the printing quality is improved.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an inspection apparatus, which takes in an L-shaped pattern printed on an inspection sheet, which will be described later, and measures and inspects a color image misalignment. Here, a personal computer is used as an inspection apparatus, and comparison processing with a standard value is also performed for inspection. An image input / output board 2 is connected to the inspection apparatus 1 via a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus 6 and captures an image captured via the measurement scanner 5 via a dedicated video interface 7. When a copying machine is connected as the device to be inspected, a scanner provided in the copying machine can be substituted for the measuring scanner 5.
[0024]
The schematic operation in the above configuration will be described as follows. That is, the inspection pattern data is output to the inspection apparatus such as a printer or a copying machine via the image input / output board 2 and the inspection pattern is read. After the image reading is completed, the image is transmitted to an externally connected computer (not shown) and the adjustment instruction is entrusted to the externally connected computer. The externally connected computer measures the position of each color pattern, calculates the amount of deviation from the pattern design value (ideal position), makes a pass / fail judgment with the standard value, and calculates the adjustment amount. Details will be described later with reference to a flowchart.
[0025]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. Here, a printer is connected as the inspected apparatus 4 in addition to a copying machine, and is connected to the pattern generator board 3 via a dedicated video interface 7 and a dedicated printer interface 9, respectively. A measurement scanner 5 for image reading may be connected to the inspection apparatus 1 via a scanner interface such as SCSI (Small Computer System Bus) or USB (Universal Serial Bus). Details of the internal configuration of the inspection apparatus 1 and the pattern generator board 3 will be described later.
[0026]
FIG. 3 shows an example of a color image misregistration measurement pattern printed on the inspection sheet used in the present invention. Here, a single color L-shaped pattern prepared for each of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (B), which are color materials (toner / ink) used in the printing process, is 1 Four pieces are arranged adjacent to each other, and a plurality of these pieces arranged continuously (printed) on the entire surface constituting the inspection sheet 10 are used.
[0027]
The print area for the inspection sheet 10 is 6 mm inside from the edge of the paper at all four corners, and the shape is L-shaped as shown in FIG. 3A. The line length of this L-shaped pattern is 114 dots in both vertical and horizontal directions and the line width is 2 dots It is assumed that L-shaped patterns of other colors are arranged at a distance of 12 dots. That is, an L-shaped pattern corresponding to each of CMYB, an inverted L-shaped pattern, an L-shaped pattern rotated by 90 degrees, and an inverted L-shaped pattern rotated by 90 degrees are arranged adjacent to each other in one partition area. In addition, all the numbers in the figure represent the number of dots when the resolution of the non-inspection apparatus 4 is 400 dpi. An example of a continuous pattern printed on the inspection sheet is shown in FIG.
[0028]
Note that the smaller the size of the L-shaped pattern (the line length, the interval, and the thickness of each color), the denser the measurement possible, but at the same time, the probability of erroneous recognition and erroneous detection increases. Specifically, if the interval between the L-shaped patterns is too wide, there is a possibility that the characteristic is different from the purpose of detecting the positional deviation at the same position, and if it is too narrow, the allowable amount for the positional deviation of the pattern is small. This increases the probability of erroneous measurement. If the pattern is too large, the density to be measured becomes coarse, and if it is too small, the allowable amount for the positional deviation of the pattern becomes small, and the probability of erroneous measurement increases. Furthermore, if the line width is too thin, the line tends to fade, and if it is too thick, the measurement error of the line position (center position) tends to increase. Therefore, it is necessary to set an optimum value according to the measurement specification.
[0029]
The pattern can also be visually inspected with a magnifying glass, but for visual sensory evaluation, four colors of ink (toner) are overlapped at the same position, and it is determined whether or not the line looks colored. The simplest. For this purpose, a cross-character pattern is effective for viewing both main and sub-scans simultaneously. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, the cross-character pattern for visual evaluation and the L-shaped pattern for mechanical inspection described above can be shared by arranging them alternately in the row or column direction. It becomes a measurement pattern.
[0030]
The pattern described above is created using commercially available image creation / processing software such as photo retouch. Here, Photoshop version 5.5 manufactured by Adobe in the United States is used. In this case, first, a file for creating a pattern in CMY colors is opened with respect to the size of one pattern (240 × 240 dots). Next, an L-shaped pattern corresponding to each color of KCMY is created in the entire file. The pattern density is 100%. Thus, one single pattern is completed, and a plurality of the single patterns are arranged to complete the inspection pattern. Then, all regions of the created pattern are selected and registered, and the storage is completed. Next, the file is opened with the size of the inspection pattern to be finally created, for example, A3 size CMY color. Then, the entire opened file is designated and filled in with a registered pattern.
[0031]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the inspection apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. The inspection device 1 has a CPU 11 as a control center, and a main storage device 12 and a hard disk device 13 are commonly connected to a system bus 15. Although not shown, a keyboard mouse and a display monitor are also connected to the system bus via a dedicated controller. Further, the system bus 15 is connected to the PCI bus 3 via the bus bridge 14, and the PCI bus 3 is connected to the image input / output device 2 (3) incorporating the image memory as described above.
[0032]
In the main storage device 12, Windows 98 made by Microsoft Corporation in the United States is resident as an OS (basic software), and the pattern generator 122, printer driver 123, and scanner driver 124 are assigned as software tools for image input / output. And stored. Further, the above-described image creation such as Photoshop, processing software 125, and pattern measurement and evaluation programs described later are also allocated and stored. Reference numeral 127 denotes a work area used by application software such as the image creation, processing program 126, pattern measurement, and evaluation program 126 described above, and a work area having a relatively large capacity is also allocated to the hard disk device 13.
[0033]
FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of the image misregistration remote adjustment system of the present invention. Specifically, the CPU 11 shown in FIG. 4 executes a pattern measurement / evaluation program stored in the main storage device 12. It corresponds to a functional block diagram in the case of.
[0034]
As shown in the figure, the image color misregistration inspection apparatus of the present invention includes a pattern generation output unit 111, a color image extraction unit 112, a work memory 113, a pattern cutout unit 114, an intersection coordinate measurement unit 115, a relative position calculation unit 116, a deviation. An amount calculation unit 117, a control unit 118, a logical operation unit 119, a table memory 120, and a timing adjustment unit 121 are configured.
[0035]
The pattern generation / output unit 111 captures a pattern scanned via the scanner unit of the copying machine (inspected apparatus) shown in FIG. 1 or the scanner device 5 shown in FIG. 2 and supplies it to the color image extraction unit 112. The color image extraction unit 112 extracts a predetermined amount of the captured image for each of the R, G, and B images and discharges the extracted image to the work memory 113. The work memory 113 corresponds to the work area 127 of the main storage device 12 or the work area of the hard disk device 13 shown in FIG. The pattern cutout unit 114 cuts out an L-shaped pattern corresponding to one section from the work memory 113 for each of R, G, and B, and supplies it to the intersection coordinate measurement unit 115.
[0036]
The intersection coordinate measurement unit 115 obtains the intersection coordinates of the L-shaped pattern of each of the colors constituting R, G, and B according to an algorithm to be described later, and supplies it to the relative position calculation unit 116. The relative position calculation unit 116 calculates the relative position of the intersection coordinates of the color pattern with reference to the previously obtained intersection coordinates, and passes them to the deviation amount calculation unit 117. The deviation amount calculation unit 117 compares the relative coordinates obtained by the relative position calculation unit with the relative coordinates previously defined as ideal values in the table memory 120, calculates the deviation amount, and outputs the deviation amount to the logic operation unit 119. The control unit 118 controls the order of each calculation by the intersection coordinate measurement unit, the relative position calculation unit, the deviation amount calculation unit 117, and the logic calculation unit 119. The logical operation unit 119 accumulates the deviation amount calculated by the deviation amount calculation unit 117 as the deviation amount of the color pattern, obtains the average value and the maximum value of the deviation amount calculated for the pattern on the entire inspection sheet, and defines them in advance. Then, the pass / fail judgment is performed by comparing with the standard value recorded in the table memory 120. The timing adjustment unit 121 further calculates a misregistration adjustment amount in the color image by the logic operation unit 119, and adjusts the print timing based on the calculated adjustment amount. Details of the processing flow and the like will be described later with reference to flowcharts.
[0037]
6 and 7 are block diagrams showing the internal configuration of the image input / output device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively.
[0038]
FIG. 6 shows the configuration of an image input / output device for connecting a copying machine. The image input / output device 2 has an image memory 21 in which color image information is developed in a bitmap format as a core, an image control circuit 22, data A selector 23 and a PCI bus interface 24 are included. The image input / output device 2 is connected to the inspection device 1 via the PCI bus 6 and to the copying machine 4 via a dedicated video interface 7. When accessing the image memory 21 directly from the interface or from the inspection apparatus 1, data is input / output while performing bus conversion via the internal local bus 24.
[0039]
FIG. 7 shows a configuration of an image input / output device for connecting to a printer. The image input / output device 3 has an image memory 31 in which color image information is developed in a bitmap format as a core, an image control circuit 32, a PCI. A bus interface 33, a local bus interface 34, and an image data bus interface 35 are included. The image input / output device 3 is directly connected to the inspection device 1 via the PCI bus 6 and to a printer connected as the device to be inspected 4 to the image data bus interface 35. Therefore, the inspection pattern can be directly output to the printer engine using the pattern generator 122 without using the printer driver 123 stored in the main storage device 12. The image control circuit 32 performs a rasterizing process for this purpose.
[0040]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image misalignment remote diagnosis system of the present invention.
[0041]
The operation of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 will be described in detail below with reference to FIG. First, the inspection apparatus 1 generates an inspection pattern by the above-described method and supplies it to the copier or printer that is the inspected apparatus 2 via the image input / output apparatus 2 (3) to perform a printing process (step S81). , S82). The printed inspection pattern is again taken in and stored in the inspection device 1 by the scanner unit of the copying machine or the scanner device 5 connected externally (step S83). Note that the printed L hour pattern of each single color is captured as three color signals of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) by the scanner unit of the copying machine or the scanner device 5, and the image is input. The image is stored in the image memory 21 in the output device 2.
[0042]
Next, the inspection apparatus 1 first extracts only the R image from the image memory 21 and reads it into the work area 127 in the inspection apparatus 1 (step S84). From the relationship of complementary colors, the R image can clearly discriminate between black and cyan L-shaped patterns. Next, an image of a region containing one set (four L-shaped patterns) of the upper left corner of the inspection sheet is cut out (step S85), and the intersection coordinates (X, Y) of the black and cyan L-shaped patterns are extracted. ) Is measured (step S86). The measurement algorithm will be described later. Then, the relative position (X, Y) of the cyan pattern intersection coordinates is calculated with reference to the black pattern intersection coordinates (step S87). Next, the previously obtained relative coordinates are compared with the relative coordinates of the pattern design value, and a deviation amount (X, Y) with respect to the design value (ideal value) is calculated (step S88). The deviation amount is determined as a cyan color position deviation in the pattern 1. The processing from step S85 to S88 is sequentially performed on all L-shaped patterns printed on the inspection sheet (step S89). Next, an average value and a maximum value of the deviation amounts calculated for the L-shaped pattern on the entire inspection sheet by the logical operation unit 119 are obtained (step S100).
[0043]
Next, only the G image is extracted from the image memory 21 and read out to the work area 127 of the inspection apparatus 1. From the complementary color relationship, the G image can clearly discriminate the L-shaped pattern of black and magenta. Steps S90 to S93 of the G image corresponding to steps S85 to S88 are sequentially performed on the entire pattern printed on the inspection sheet (step S94), and the logical operation unit 119 calculates the pattern on the entire inspection sheet. The average value and the maximum value of the deviation amounts are obtained. Finally, only the B image is extracted from the image memory 21 and read out to the work area 127 of the inspection apparatus 1. From the relationship of complementary colors, the B image can clearly distinguish the L-shaped pattern of black and yellow. Steps S95 to S98 of the B image corresponding to steps S85 to S88 described above are sequentially performed on the entire pattern printed on the inspection sheet (step S99), and the logical operation unit 119 calculates the pattern on the entire inspection sheet. The average value and the maximum value of the deviation amounts are obtained.
[0044]
Finally, the logical operation unit 119 uses the measurement result and compares the average value and the maximum value of the deviation amounts of the C, M, and Y color materials used in the printing process with predetermined standard values. The pass / fail judgment is performed by. If not, an abnormality notification is issued and the process ends (step S104). If the result is acceptable, the logical operation unit 119 further calculates the adjustment amount based on the calculated positional deviation amount so that the positional deviation amount becomes the smallest (step S102). Then, the timing adjustment unit 121 is activated to adjust the print timing based on the calculated adjustment amount (step S103).
[0045]
A specific example of this timing adjustment will be described with reference to FIG. For example, in the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, first, the inspection apparatus 1 outputs a positional deviation measurement image in the product internal pattern output mode, and the output image is set in the measurement scanner 5. As a result, the inspection apparatus 1 scans the output image in the product self-inspection mode, fetches the image data into the memory built in the image input / output board 2, and calculates the KCMY relative displacement amount according to the algorithm described above. Then, the adjustment amount is calculated so that the positional deviation amount becomes the smallest at each measurement point of KCMY. A specific example is shown in FIG.
[0046]
In the example shown on the left, the position of C (cyan) is shifted to the rear end side by an equal amount with respect to the reference color K (black). Accordingly, it is necessary to adjust the sub-registration of C. In the example shown on the right, an abnormality in magnification error in the C sub-scanning direction is recognized. Here, it is necessary to adjust the amount of C sub-registration so that the average value of positional deviation is minimized. If the average value of the positional deviation is adjusted to be the smallest, the maximum value of the positional deviation can be minimized. In any example, the logical operation unit 119 shown in FIG. 5 calculates according to the procedure shown in FIG. 8 and drives the print timing adjustment circuit of the inspected device via the timing adjustment unit 121 to adjust the print timing.
[0047]
The above-described example is an operation in the self-adjustment mode, but in the remote diagnosis and adjustment mode, the inspection apparatus acquires operation status data of the apparatus to be inspected, such as the number of copies, for example, via the communication line, The position adjustment amount is calculated from pre-registered data at the time of production, and the timing adjustment is performed by supplying this amount to the inspected apparatus again via the communication line.
[0048]
FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image misalignment diagnosis system used in the remote diagnosis and adjustment mode. In the figure, reference numeral 100 denotes a user side apparatus including a copying machine as an apparatus to be inspected. This user side apparatus 100 is connected to a center computer (CSS 300) at a service base via a public line 200 as a communication line. It is connected. In the user apparatus 100, it is assumed that copiers (PPCs) 101 and 102 are multidrop-connected, for example, up to five via the RS485 interface 103 via the line adapter apparatus 104. The line adapter device 104 exchanges data including remote diagnosis of the present invention with the CSS center terminal via the public line 200, and has a switching function with a general telephone, a modem function, and a communication control function. Have both. Here, a maximum of five PPCs can be connected, and in addition, a management terminal 105 for displaying user department fee management and CSS information and a maximum of 27 key card counters can be connected. The line adapter 104 is energized for 24 hours, and can communicate with the CSS center terminal 300 located at the service base even when the PPCs 101 and 102 are powered off.
[0049]
FIGS. 17 and 18 are block diagrams showing internal configurations of the personal interface device (PI) 1010 and the PPC main controller 1020 with a built-in copying machine shown in FIG. 16, and are classified according to the internal processing form of the PI (1010). Is done.
[0050]
The main controller 1020 built in the PPC 101 (102) is connected to the line adapter 104 via the PI board 1010. Note that the configuration of the PI interface board 1010 can be incorporated into the main controller 1020. The example shown in FIG. 17 shows a parallel type in which the PI board 1010 is directly connected to the CPU 1021 built in the main controller 1020. At this time, exchange of information between the main controller 1020 and the PI board 1010 is performed via a dual port RAM (DP-RAM) 1012. In the example shown in FIG. 18, the PI board 1010 and the main controller 1020 are connected via UARTs (Universal Asynchronous Receiver & Transmitters) 1015 and 1023 incorporated therein.
[0051]
In the figure, 1011 is a CPU with a built-in PI board 1010, 1013 is a transceiver, 1014 is a CPU bus with a built-in PI board 1010, and 1022 is a CPU bus with a built-in PPC main controller 1020.
[0052]
In the above configuration, the processes performed by the PPCs 101 and 102 include two processes: a notification process transmitted by the PPCs 101 and 012 as an event generation source, and a process that responds when a request is received from the CSS center terminal 300 via the line adapter 104. Broadly divided into systems.
[0053]
The following processing is performed when a reporting factor occurs in the PPC 101, 102. One is an emergency call. The emergency call is a notification to the CSS center terminal 300 immediately when a right-side factor occurs in the PPC. The other is an alarm call. An alarm call such as the occurrence of a jam reports that an abnormality has occurred but is not urgent. Like the emergency call, the PPC notifies the line adapter 104 immediately when a transmission factor occurs, but the notification from the line adapter 104 to the CSS center terminal 300 is made in batches at a fixed time once a day. .
[0054]
There are four types of processing requests issued from the line adapter 104 to the CSS center terminal 300 side: Read processing, Write processing, Execute processing, and device code confirmation processing. The PPCs 101 and 102 must always return the results when the following requests are received. The Read process is a process for capturing the internal information of the PPC, and the Write process is a process for rewriting the internal information of the PPC. This request always includes data to be updated. The Execute process is a process for requesting execution of an operation such as a PPC drive test or memory clear, and information for capturing the requested operation is added. The device code confirmation process is a process for checking the communication function.
[0055]
The remote diagnosis system according to the present invention is performed using these “Read process”, “Write process”, and “Execute process” as appropriate. That is, in the remote diagnosis / adjustment mode, for example, the PPC 101 is a device to be diagnosed, in accordance with the procedure shown in FIG. A plurality of images are generated and output, and the output single-color L-shaped pattern is read sequentially, captured as RGB signals, and the relative coordinate position of each single-color L-shaped pattern with respect to the reference L-shaped pattern is measured to determine the ideal relative coordinates defined in advance. Compared with the position, the positional deviation amount of each monochrome L-shaped pattern in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction is measured, and the measurement result is obtained via the line adapter 104 and the public line 200, and the CSS center terminal device 300 serving as a diagnostic device. Send to.
[0056]
The diagnostic device that has received the image displacement measurement result via the public line 200 determines the result, calculates the diagnosis of the diagnostic device or the amount of adjustment thereof, and performs a write process for response.
[0057]
9 to 13 are flowcharts cited for explaining an algorithm for the intersection coordinate measurement (steps S86, S91, S96) shown in FIG. 8, and FIG. 15 is an operation cited for explaining the operation. It is a conceptual diagram.
[0058]
Hereinafter, an algorithm for measuring the intersection coordinates will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 9 to 13 and FIG.
[0059]
In the color image misregistration inspection method according to the present invention, in order to measure the intersection coordinates of the L-shaped pattern, the inspection apparatus 1 first obtains a predetermined amount of RGB single-color image files from the color image file 130 in the main storage device 12. Read and write to the work area 127 (step S911). Then, a pattern is cut out in units of sections (step S912), and the following measurement work starts.
[0060]
Basically, this measurement operation is performed after rough detection of the position of the reference pattern (black) in the main / sub scanning direction for each L-shaped pattern in the section (steps S913, S914), and then the main / sub of the reference pattern. This is performed by detecting the position in the scanning direction with high accuracy (steps S915 and S916) and determining the reference pattern position coordinates (step S917). Further, the position coordinates of the color pattern position coordinates having a complementary color relationship are determined by the same algorithm as the above-described reference pattern.
[0061]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for performing rough detection of the position of the reference (color) pattern in the main scanning direction. FIG. 14 shows a conceptual diagram of the operation.
[0062]
The operation conceptual diagram shown in FIG. 14 will be described below with reference to FIG. First, the inspection apparatus 1 calls only a single-color image from the color image file 130 in the main storage device 12 to the work area 127, and cuts out an image area at a rough detection position where a line is considered to exist (FIGS. 14a, b, and c). And Step S9131 of FIG. Next, product-sum data is calculated (step S9132 in FIGS. 14D and 10). Here, a graph is shown in which 10 pixel values lined up vertically in, for example, a 10 × 100 region are added and the product sum values are arranged in the horizontal direction. In the embodiment of the present invention, since the product sum value is reversed, the black image portion has a peak. Then, the waveform is smoothed and shaped (step S9133). Next, the peak position of the waveform is detected, spline processing is performed based on the data of the three pixels before and after the detected peak value, and the waveform is further shaped (steps S9134 and S9135 in FIG. 14f and FIG. 10).
[0063]
Then, a peak value is obtained from the obtained spline curve (step S9136), and a higher data value of both end data used for the spline curve calculation is obtained (step S9137). Next, the width of the peak of the spline waveform is obtained by setting 1/3 as the threshold value (threshold level) from the bottom between the data obtained based on the processing of the previous steps S9136 and S9137, and this is used as the line width. (Step S9138 in FIG. 14g and FIG. 10) Further, the center position of the width is obtained and set as the rough position in the main scanning direction of the reference pattern line (Step S9139).
[0064]
A procedure for performing rough detection of the position in the sub-scanning direction of the reference (color) pattern is shown in the flowchart of FIG. First, the inspection apparatus 1 calls only a single color image from the color image file 130 in the main storage device 12 to the work area 127, and cuts out an image area at a coarse detection position where a line is considered to exist (step S9141). Next, product-sum data is calculated (step S9142). Here, a graph is shown in which 10 pixel values lined up vertically in, for example, a 10 × 100 region are added and the product sum values are arranged in the horizontal direction. In the embodiment of the present invention, since the product sum value is reversed, the black image portion has a peak. Then, the waveform is smoothed and shaped (step S9143). Next, the peak position of the waveform is detected, spline processing is performed based on the data of the three pixels before and after the detected peak value, and the waveform is further shaped (steps S9144 and S9145).
[0065]
Then, the peak value is obtained from the obtained spline curve (step S9146), and the higher data value of the both end data used for the spline curve calculation is obtained (step S9147). Next, the width of the peak of the spline waveform is obtained by setting 1/3 as the threshold value (threshold level) from the bottom between the data obtained based on the processing of the previous steps S9146 and S9147, and this is used as the line width. (Step S9148) Further, the center position of the width is obtained and set as a rough position in the sub-scanning direction of the reference pattern line (Step S9149).
[0066]
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a procedure for performing high-precision detection of the position of the reference (color) pattern in the main scanning direction. In FIG. 12, the inspection apparatus 1 uses the pattern sub-scanning direction rough detection position data acquired in the rough detection processing of the reference pattern sub-scanning direction position (steps S9141 to S9149 in FIG. 11) to obtain an image area closest to the pattern intersection. Is cut out (step S9151). Next, an image data histogram in the main scanning direction is acquired (step S9152), and the histogram waveform is smoothed to shape the waveform (step S9153). Next, the peak position of the waveform is detected, spline processing is performed based on the data of the three pixels before and after the detected peak value, and the waveform is further shaped (steps S9154 and S9155).
[0067]
Then, a peak value is obtained from the obtained spline curve (step S9156), and a higher data value of both end data used for the spline curve calculation is obtained (step S9157). Next, the width of the peak of the spline waveform is obtained by setting 1/3 as the threshold value (threshold level) from the bottom between the data obtained based on the processing of the previous steps S9156 and S9157, and this is used as the line width. (Step S9138) Further, the center position of the width is obtained and set as the position of the reference pattern line in the main scanning direction (Step S9139).
[0068]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure for performing high-accuracy detection of the position of the reference (color) pattern in the sub-scanning direction. In FIG. 13, the inspection apparatus 1 uses the pattern main scanning direction rough detection position data acquired in the rough detection processing of the reference pattern main scanning direction position (steps S <b> 9131 to S <b> 9139 in FIG. 10). Is cut out (step S9161). Next, an image data histogram in the main scanning direction is acquired (step S9162), and the histogram waveform is smoothed to shape the waveform (step S9163). Next, the peak position of the waveform is detected, spline processing is performed based on the data of the three pixels before and after the detected peak value, and the waveform is further shaped (steps S9164 and S9165).
[0069]
Then, a peak value is obtained from the obtained spline curve (step S9166), and a higher data value of both end data used for the spline curve calculation is obtained (step S9157). Next, the width of the peak of the spline waveform is obtained by setting 1/3 as the threshold value (threshold level) from the bottom between the data obtained based on the processing of the previous steps S9166 and S9167, and this is used as the line width. (Step S9168) Further, the center position of the width is obtained and set as the position of the reference pattern line in the sub-scanning direction (Step S9169).
[0070]
Then, the pattern line position obtained in accordance with the processing procedure shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 is extended, and the intersection coordinate is determined as the reference position pattern coordinate. Further, the color pattern position coordinates are also obtained by the same procedure as the above-described reference pattern position measurement, and are determined as the color pattern coordinates.
[0071]
In the embodiment of the present invention described above, only the color image misregistration inspection is illustrated, but an RGB signal switching unit is added to the connection interface of the image input / output device 2 (3), and measurement processing is performed for each color signal. By doing so, the same system construction can be realized even when a monochrome type scanner controller is used. However, in this case, although a cost effect is obtained, three scans are required for the coordinate position measurement, and an extra time is required.
[0072]
In the above-described embodiment, when a scanner unit of a copying machine connected as the device to be inspected 4 or a printer is connected as the device to be inspected 4, the color signal captured from the externally connected scanner device 5 to the inspection device 1 is scanned. Switch sequentially. Then, the R signal is first selected at the signal interface of the image input / output device 2 (3), and the pattern of only the R signal is taken into the inspection device 1. In the case of the R signal, since the black and cyan patterns can be clearly discriminated from the complementary color relationship as described above, the intersection coordinates of both patterns are measured. Then, the amount of deviation of the cyan pattern is obtained by comparison with the ideal pattern design value. Each of the above processes is performed on a pattern printed on the entire inspection sheet.
[0073]
Next, the G signal and the B signal are sequentially selected by the signal interface, and only the G signal and the B signal are taken into the inspection apparatus 1 respectively. Since the former can clearly distinguish black and magenta patterns and the latter can clearly distinguish black and yellow patterns, the intersection coordinates of both patterns are measured. Then, the amount of deviation of the cyan pattern is obtained by comparison with the ideal pattern design value. Each of the above processes is performed on a pattern printed on the entire inspection sheet. As a result, by performing measurement processing for each color signal, a similar system can be constructed even if a monochrome type scanner is used.
[0074]
Further, in the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the relative position with respect to black is measured and inspected for ease of discrimination as a reference pattern within a one-part pattern, here as a pattern, but is not limited to black. For example, when considering the order of development, yellow may be used as a reference. Also, the print quality can be inspected by measuring the absolute position of the pattern on the paper simultaneously with this inspection. In this case, marks are added to four or more corners of the paper, and by detecting these marks, resist (front end, horizontal), magnification error, magnification deviation (vertical, horizontal), parallelism, skew, Inspections such as linearity and paper length will also be performed. As a result, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus with better print quality.
[0075]
The flowcharts disclosed in FIG. 8 to FIG. 13 show the operation procedure of the pattern measurement / evaluation program 126. When the program 126 operates, it is loaded and assigned to the main storage device 12 shown in FIG. At all times, it is evacuated to the hard disk device 13. Alternatively, it is recorded on a recording medium such as an optical disc and distributed, and is installed and used in the system as necessary. Further, a form of supplying via a communication medium such as the Internet can be considered.
[0076]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of single-color L-shaped inspection patterns prepared for each color material used in the printing process are adjacently generated and output with regularity, and the output inspection patterns are read by a scanner and misaligned. The amount of misalignment in the main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction is measured by calculating the amount, and the amount of adjustment is calculated by comparing with the standard value to perform remote diagnosis or remote adjustment so that it is within the standard. As a result, it is possible to automatically inspect the color misregistration of each single color L-shaped pattern in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction and accurately correspond to human vision. In addition, remote diagnosis or automatic adjustment of printing timing based on the deviation amount can be performed.
[0077]
In a color printing apparatus, printing is performed with KCMY four-color toner and ink, and the colors are synthesized by superimposing CMY colors. If the position of the colors to be superimposed is shifted in this synthesis process, a color different from the original color is generated. In particular, the quality of the image was significantly deteriorated in line drawings and character portions. However, since the positional deviation amount is guaranteed by the present invention, the positional accuracy of the printing position of each color is improved and the printing quality is improved. Can be improved. In addition, a cross pattern is effective for visual inspection in both the main and sub directions. By alternately arranging the visual evaluation pattern and the L-shaped mechanical inspection pattern described above, the inspection pattern can be shared by both. Therefore, mechanical inspection and visual inspection can be performed in parallel in both the main and sub scanning directions, and the degree of color misregistration can be accurately detected and the amount of color misregistration corresponding to human vision can be detected.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an L-shaped pattern printed on an inspection sheet used in the present invention.
4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the inspection apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a CPU in FIG. 4;
6 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the image input / output device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
7 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the image input / output device shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the operation procedure of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart cited for explaining a pattern position measurement algorithm used in the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart cited for explaining a pattern position measurement algorithm used in the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart cited for explaining a pattern position measurement algorithm used in the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart cited for explaining a pattern position measurement algorithm used in the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart cited for explaining a pattern position measurement algorithm used in the present invention.
FIG. 14 is an operation concept diagram quoted for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 15 is a diagram cited for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram illustrating an example of adjustment.
FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a remote diagnosis system according to the present invention.
17 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the periphery of a controller built in the copying machine in FIG. 16. FIG.
18 is a block diagram showing another embodiment around the controller built in the copying machine in FIG. 16. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Inspection device 2 (3) Image input / output device (image input / output board)
4 Device to be inspected 5 Measuring scanner device 6 PCI bus 7 Image memory 22 (32) Dedicated video interface 9 Dedicated printer interface 10 Inspection sheet 21 (31) Image control circuit 23 Data selector 24 (33) PCI bus interface 34 Local bus interface 35 Image Data Bus Interface 101 (102) Copying Machine (PPC)
103 RS-485 interface 104 Line adapter 111 Pattern generation output unit 112 Color image extraction unit 113 Work memory 114 Pattern cutout unit 115 Intersection coordinate measurement unit 116 Relative position calculation unit 117 Deviation amount calculation unit 118 Control unit 119 Logic operation unit 120 Table memory 121 Timing adjustment unit 200 Public line 300 CSS center terminal

Claims (4)

In the image misregistration remote adjustment method in which the adjustment of the printing timing of the device to be inspected is performed remotely using the inspection device connected to the device to be inspected via a communication line .
The inspected device is
A step of generating multiple outputs monochromatic L-pattern with regularity is adjacent prepared for each coloring material in the printing process,
Sequentially reading the output monochromatic L-shaped pattern and capturing it as an RBG signal, and transmitting the captured RBG signal to the inspection device via the communication circuit;
The inspection device is
Measuring the intersection coordinates of two straight lines constituting the monochrome L-shaped pattern of the color material complementary to the reference color for each received RBG signal;
Measure the relative coordinate position of the intersection coordinates of the two straight lines constituting the monochromatic L-shaped pattern of each of the measured color materials with respect to the intersection coordinates of the two straight lines constituting the reference L-shaped pattern, and measure the relative coordinate position When the step of measuring a predefined ideal relative coordinate position as compared to the positional displacement amount in the main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction of the monochromatic L-shaped patterns of the respective color materials, respectively,
Calculating an adjustment amount so that the measured positional deviation amount for each color material is minimized ;
A method for remotely adjusting an image misalignment, characterized in that: In the image misregistration remote adjustment system for performing the adjustment of the printing timing of the device to be inspected remotely using the inspection device connected to the device to be inspected via a communication line,
The inspection apparatus, a printing apparatus that generate multiple outputs with regularity are adjacent single color L-shaped patterns prepared for each coloring material in the printing process, monochromatic L-shaped output from the printing device An image input / output device that sequentially reads a pattern and captures it as an R GB signal, and transmits the captured RGB signal to the inspection device via a communication line;
The inspection device measures the intersection coordinates of two straight lines constituting the single color L-shaped pattern of the color material complementary to the reference color for each RBG signal received from the device under inspection via the communication circuit. after, by measuring the relative coordinate position of the two straight lines of intersection coordinates constituting each single color L-shaped pattern the measurement for two straight intersection coordinates constituting the reference L-shaped pattern, the relative coordinates the measured a measuring device for measuring respectively by comparing the ideal relative coordinate position positional deviation amount in the main scanning direction and sub-scanning direction of the monochromatic L-shaped pattern for each of the color material which is predefined and the position, the coloring material was the measurement to calculate the adjustment amount so that the position displacement amount is minimum for each, and adjustment instruction device that transmits an adjustment amount the calculated relative to the inspection apparatus via the communication line, further comprising a Image position deviation remote adjustment system to symptoms. The image misalignment remote adjustment system according to claim 2, wherein the printing apparatus adjusts printing timing based on an adjustment amount transmitted from the inspection apparatus. To a computer of an inspection apparatus that receives RGB signals of a single color L-shaped pattern prepared for each color material used in the printing process from the inspected apparatus via a communication line,
Measuring the intersection coordinates of two straight lines constituting the monochrome L-shaped pattern of the color material complementary to black for each of the transmitted RGB signals;
Obtaining relative intersection coordinates of two straight lines constituting the monochromatic L-shaped pattern of each color material measured with reference to the intersection coordinates of the two straight lines constituting the black L-shaped pattern;
Comparing the determined relative position coordinates with a relative position coordinate that is a design value to calculate a positional deviation amount with respect to the design value;
Obtaining an average value and a maximum value for each color material of the amount of misregistration calculated for each monochrome L-shaped pattern prepared for each of the color materials;
A step of comparing the average value and the maximum value of the amount of misregistration for each obtained color material with a standard value;
Calculating an adjustment amount so that a positional deviation amount generated as a result of the comparison is minimized;
Transmitting the calculated adjustment amount to the device to be inspected via the communication line;
A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for sequentially performing the operations is recorded.

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