JP6039296B2 - Image forming apparatus, control method therefor, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a control method therefor, and a program.

  Conventionally, digital printing technology based on electrophotographic technology called print-on-demand has become common, mainly in the printing industry, and it is required to maintain the image quality and efficiently produce the required amount of printed matter. It has been.

  In recent years, there has been a demand for efficiently producing printed matter with image quality maintained even in a normal office.

  Regarding the inspection of the image quality, conventionally, in the inspection of the image quality of the printed material, it has been common for an operator to visually confirm the printed material.

  For this reason, it depends on the sensory evaluation based on the subjectivity of the worker, and there is a possibility that the inspection level may vary. In addition, the inspection time depends on the skill level of the operator, and there is a limit to shortening the inspection time because it depends on human hands.

  In recent years, an apparatus for inspecting the image quality of printed matter has been devised. For example, a technique for reading an image formed on a recording medium using an optical image reading apparatus such as a linear image sensor of an image forming apparatus or an optical image reading apparatus of an image forming apparatus is disclosed (for example, patents). Reference 1).

  In this technique, the read image is converted into electronic data, and the quality of the printed matter is determined by comparing and collating with the electronic data of the image created from the print job. Further, it is disclosed that a defective page is distributed to a disposal tray, a normal print page is discharged to a discharge tray, and the defective page is reprinted as necessary.

  Furthermore, an image forming apparatus having an image inspection function for an insertion sheet has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). In this image forming apparatus, an image formed on a recording medium is read using an optical image reading apparatus of the image forming apparatus. The read image is converted into electronic data.

  Next, the insertion sheet in which the printed matter is inserted into the inserter is read using an optical image reading device such as a linear image sensor of the image forming apparatus. The read image is converted into electronic data, and the quality of the inserted paper is determined by comparing and collating with the electronic data of the image obtained by reading the printed matter using a scanner. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for distributing defective pages to a discard tray.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-145530 JP 2010-102243 A

  However, the techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not describe a quality determination method for a print job in which a printed material printed in advance is inserted between printed materials being printed by an inserter or the like.

  Therefore, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, since there is no electronic data of an image for the insertion sheet, it is not possible to determine whether the insertion sheet is good or bad. For this reason, it is not possible to detect erroneous insertion such as upside down, wrong paper, and upside down, which occurs when the inserted paper is manually installed.

  Further, even with the technique disclosed in Patent Document 2, since there is no electronic data of an image for a printed material, it is impossible to determine whether the printed material is good or bad.

  Furthermore, when the inspection device is installed after insertion in the state where there is no electronic data on the inserted paper or printed matter, there is no electronic data to be compared, so that all subsequent inserted paper or printed matter pass / fail judgment results are impossible. There are problems such as.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of inspecting the quality of an image formed on a recording medium by an image forming apparatus into which an insertion sheet can be inserted, a control method therefor, and a program.

In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1 is an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, and the image forming unit forms an image on the recording medium. The image forming recording medium is output by the generating means for generating the forming image used at the time, the image forming recording medium on which the image is formed by the image forming means, or the output means for outputting the insertion sheet, and the output means. If the image forming recording medium is read, and the output means outputs the insertion sheet, the reading means reads the insertion sheet, and the output means outputs the image forming recording medium. Compares the image read by the reading means with the image for formation generated by the generating means, and when the insertion sheet is output by the output means, By comparing the insertion sheet image showing the insertion sheet and the image read by the serial reading means, and a checking means for checking the quality of the formed image formation recording medium image and the insertion sheet image, image formed on the insertion sheet is characterized that you are formed by the image forming means in accordance with information obtained from other devices.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the image forming apparatus which can test | inspect the quality of the image formed in the recording medium with the image forming apparatus which can insert an insertion sheet, its control method, and a program can be provided.

1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the internal mechanism structure of the image printing part in FIG. 1, an inserter part, an image test | inspection part, and a finishing part. FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a configuration of a printing apparatus controller unit in FIG. 2. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the image inspection apparatus controller part in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of inspection processing executed by the printing apparatus controller unit and the image inspection apparatus controller unit in FIG. 2 (No. 1). FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of inspection processing executed by the printing apparatus controller unit and the image inspection apparatus controller unit in FIG. 2 (part 2). 5A and 5B are diagrams for explaining a determination method in an image comparison determination unit in FIG. 4, where FIG. 5A shows a reference image and FIG. 4B shows a scan image. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on a test | inspection apparatus display part by step S4-21 in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on an inspection apparatus display part by step S4-22 in FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an insertion sheet image acquisition process executed by the printing apparatus controller in FIG. 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a message display displayed on the operation part in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a display example of an image designation screen displayed on an operation unit in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows the example of an insertion location designation | designated screen displayed on the operation part in FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an insertion sheet image designation process executed by the printing apparatus controller in FIG. 2. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the image switching process performed by the test | inspection control part in FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a modified example of an insertion sheet image acquisition process executed by the printing apparatus controller in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows the example of an edit screen displayed on the operation part in FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic modified configuration of an image forming system including an image forming apparatus. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of another modified example of the insertion sheet image acquisition process executed by the printing apparatus controller in FIG. 2.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiment, forming an image on a recording medium may be expressed as printing.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image forming system 1 including an image forming apparatus 101 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, the image forming system 1 includes an image forming apparatus 101, a print server 107, and client PCs 108 and 109, which are connected via a LAN 106.

  The image forming apparatus 101 performs image processing on various input images and prints them. The image forming apparatus 101 includes an image printing unit 102, an inserter unit 103, an image inspection unit 104, and a finishing unit 105.

  The image printing unit 102 performs image processing and prints an image on a recording medium. The inserter unit 103 inserts the insertion sheet between the recording medium that has been printed from the image printing unit 102 and has undergone printing processing. These recording media and insertion sheets are output to the image inspection unit 104 and subjected to image inspection processing. Then, the finishing unit 105 discharges the recording medium and the insertion sheet output from the image inspection unit 104.

  As described above, the image forming apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment is an image forming apparatus that realizes inline image inspection that consistently performs image printing, image inspection, and finishing.

  The user creates a print job using the client PCs 108 and 109. This print job is input to the image forming apparatus 101 via the print server 107 and the LAN 106.

  Thereby, image processing by the image printing unit 102, printing processing, insertion of an insertion sheet by the inserter unit 103, image inspection processing by the image inspection unit 104, and paper discharge processing by the finishing unit 105 are performed.

  Therefore, when a print job is executed by the image forming apparatus 101, an image printed on the recording medium is in-line tested, and the printed material as the image forming recording medium is discharged.

  In the above description, the image forming apparatus 101 conveys the recording medium, the printed material, and the insertion sheet in-line, but is not limited to the configuration. That is, it is needless to say that the present embodiment can be applied to a near-line configuration in which devices constituting the image forming apparatus 101 are physically separated and communication between the devices constituting each image forming apparatus is possible.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the internal mechanism structure of the image printing unit 102, the inserter unit 103, the image inspection unit 104, and the finishing unit 105 in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, the image printing unit 102 includes an image reading unit 100, an operation unit 200, a printer unit 300, and a printing apparatus control unit 400.

  The printing apparatus control unit 400 controls the image forming apparatus 101. The image reading unit 100 reads an image printed in advance on a recording medium conveyed by the document conveying device 110 and generates a scanned image. The operation unit 200 includes a display device such as a liquid crystal display and an input device such as a key, and transmits information on the image forming apparatus 101 to the user and transmits user operations to the image forming apparatus 101.

  The printer unit 300 corresponds to an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium, performs image processing, and prints the image on the recording medium. The printing apparatus controller unit 410 controls the printer unit 300 to communicate with the inserter unit 103, the image inspection unit 104, and the finishing unit 105, and prints an image stored in the storage device 420 on a recording medium. The printing apparatus controller unit 410 transmits and receives to / from the LAN.

  The image reading unit 100 reads a document image conveyed by the document conveying device 110. The document conveying device 110 conveys the documents set on the document tray 111 one by one from the first page in order, and conveys them onto the document table glass 114 through a curved path.

  There are two types of methods for reading a single-sided original. The first method is a document fixed reading mode in which a document is read by transporting and stopping the trailing edge of the document to a reading position R1 on the platen glass 114 and moving the scanner unit 121 from left to right. It is.

  The second method is a document conveyance reading mode in which the document is conveyed to the reading position R1 at a constant reading speed and the document is read while the scanner unit 121 is fixed at the reading position R1.

  In either of these two methods, the read original is discharged to the paper discharge tray 112.

  As a method for reading a double-sided document, there is a method in which the scanner unit 121 reads the front surface and uses the optical unit 113 disposed in the document conveying device 110 to read the back surface. An image sensor and a light source (not shown) are arranged in the optical unit 113.

  The document image read by the image sensor 123 via the lens 122 is subjected to image processing, stored in the storage device 420, and transferred to the printing device control unit 400. The printing device controller unit 410 communicates with the printer control unit 301 that controls the printer unit 300 and prints an image stored in the storage device 420 on a recording medium.

  The printer unit 300 includes a laser exposure unit 3010, a photosensitive drum 302, a developing unit 303, a fixing unit 304, a paper discharge roller 305, a transfer unit 306, and conveyance belts 307 to 310.

  The laser exposure unit 3010 enters the laser beam modulated according to the image formed by the printing apparatus control unit 400 into a rotating polygon mirror that rotates at a constant angular velocity, and the laser beam is reflected scanning light reflected by the rotating polygon mirror. As shown in FIG.

  The photosensitive drum 302 is charged by a charger by being driven to rotate. The developing device 303 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 302 with toner. The transfer unit 306 transfers the developed toner image to a recording medium, and then the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 302 without being transferred is collected. By these operations, the toner image is transferred to the recording medium.

  The fixing unit 304 is configured by a combination of a roller and a belt, and has a built-in heat source such as a halogen heater, and melts and fixes the toner transferred to the recording medium onto which the toner image is transferred by heat and pressure.

  In the present embodiment, the black exposure of the electrophotographic process is assumed, and the laser exposure unit 3010, the photosensitive drum 302, and the developing unit 303 are described as one set. However, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black are described. A configuration for printing in four colors may be used. In this case, there are four sets of the laser exposure unit 3010, the photosensitive drum 302, and the developing unit 303.

  Further, the electrophotographic process is not necessarily required, and the printing method is not limited as long as it is an apparatus that prints an image on a recording medium, such as inkjet, dot impact, thermal transfer, and sublimation type.

  The recording medium storage units 311 to 313 are, for example, a recording medium cassette or a paper deck. The number of recording medium storage units 311 to 313 may be one, or in order to use a plurality of types of recording media, a plurality of recording medium storage units may be provided so that various recording media can be stored. When performing printing, one recording medium is separated from the recording medium stored in the recording medium storage units 311 to 313 and is transported to the transfer unit 306.

  A paper discharge roller 305 discharges the recording medium from the image printing unit 102. That is, the recording medium pulled out from the recording medium storage units 311 to 313, transferred with toner by the transfer unit 306, and fixed by the fixing unit 304 is output to the inserter unit 103 by the paper discharge roller 305.

  The inserter unit 103 includes an insert cassette 501 and an inserter paper feed 502. The inserter unit 103 conveys and inserts the insertion sheets set in the insert cassette 501 or the inserter paper feed 502 one by one between the printed materials to be conveyed in accordance with the print job setting. Thereafter, the insertion sheet and the printed matter are output to the image inspection unit 104.

  The image inspection unit 104 includes an image inspection device controller unit 610 and an inspection scanner 611. The image inspection device controller unit 610 controls the image inspection unit 104. The inspection scanner 611 scans and reads an image printed on a printed material. The inspection scanner 611 is an image scanner including a light source for reading and a line sensor, and scans a printed material conveyed by a conveyance roller to read an image on the printed material.

  The insertion sheet and the printed matter conveyed inside the image inspection unit 104 are output to the finishing unit 105.

  The finishing unit 105 includes a paper discharge controller 710, an acceptable paper discharge tray 720, and a reject paper discharge tray 730.

  The paper discharge control controller 710 includes a CPU and controls the finishing unit 105. The accepted paper discharge tray 720 is a paper output tray for discharging inserted paper and printed matter that have passed the inspection result. The rejected paper discharge tray 730 is a paper output tray for discharging the inserted paper and printed matter whose inspection result is rejected. In the finishing unit 105, according to the inspection result of the image inspection unit 104, the discharge destination of the inserted paper and the printed matter sent to the finishing unit 105 is switched by the paper discharge separator.

  As a result, if the inspection result is acceptable, the insertion sheet and the printed material are discharged to the acceptable discharge tray 720 via the transport roller and the discharge roller. If the inspection result is unacceptable, the insertion sheet and the printed material are discharged to the reject discharge tray 730 via the conveyance roller and the discharge roller.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the printing apparatus controller unit 410 in FIG.

  In FIG. 3, the printing apparatus controller unit 410 controls the image printing unit 102, the inserter unit 103, the image inspection unit 104, and the finishing unit 105. Further, the printing apparatus controller unit 410 is connected to the print server 107, the client PC 108, and the client PC 109 via the LAN 106 described in FIG.

  The LAN control unit 401 controls LAN communication with the LAN 106. That is, for example, PDL (Page Description Language) data is received from the LAN 106, and various images and device information of the image forming apparatus 101 are transmitted / received via the LAN 106.

  A RIP (Raster Image Process) processing unit 402 decodes the PDL data input to the image forming apparatus 101 from the print server 107 or the client PCs 108 and 109 and develops it into an image for printing.

  The image formation control unit 405 includes a CPU and controls each unit of the printing apparatus controller unit 410. In this embodiment, the memory 404 includes a control memory for the image forming control unit 405 to perform various controls, a program memory for storing a control program, and a data memory for storing PDL data and images. It shall be combined.

  The print image processing unit 407 performs image processing for printing by the image printing unit 102. The image inspection apparatus interface 408 performs communication control of images and various information exchanged with the image inspection apparatus controller unit 610.

  The mechanism process control unit 406 performs printing and control of the recording medium in the image printing unit 102, the inserter unit 103, the image inspection unit 104, and the finishing unit 105 when printing an image on the recording medium.

  The storage device 420 is a non-volatile storage device such as an HDD that stores various information such as images, inserted sheet images, and attributes.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the image inspection apparatus controller 610 in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, an inspection apparatus operation unit 613 includes an operation panel on which a user performs various operations related to image inspection.

  The memory 614 also has a program memory for storing various processing programs of the image inspection apparatus controller unit 610, and a data memory for storing a reference image and a scanned image of a printed material.

  The inspection device display unit 615 corresponds to a display unit, and displays contents related to the inspection result of the image inspection to the user. The inspection control unit 617 includes a CPU and controls each unit of the image inspection apparatus controller unit 610.

  The inspection scanner 611 scans and reads an image printed on a recording medium. In the present embodiment, the inspection scanner 611 is an image scanner including a reading light source and a line sensor, and scans a recording medium to read an image.

  A scan image obtained by reading the recording medium by the inspection scanner 611 is subjected to image processing by the inspection scanner 611 or the inspection control unit 617 and stored in the storage device 612. At that time, the scan image may be temporarily stored in the memory 614 and then stored in the storage device 612.

  The image comparison / determination unit 616 compares the reference image with the scanned image to be compared, and determines whether there is a problem with the print result.

  A printing apparatus interface 619 performs communication control of images and various information exchanged with the printing apparatus controller unit 410.

  Note that in the printing process in the image printing unit 102 described in FIG. 2 and the insertion sheet insertion process in the inserter unit 103 between the printed matter and the printed matter, the printing control to the recording medium and the control mechanism of the recording medium are all mechanisms. Controlled by the process control unit 406. Further, in the image inspection process in the image inspection unit 104 and the recording medium discharge process in the finishing unit 105, the printing control on the recording medium and the control mechanism of the recording medium conveyance are all controlled by the mechanism process control unit 406.

  Further, the printed matter printed by the image printing unit 102 and the insertion sheet inserted by the inserter unit 103 are read and inspected by the image inspection unit 104, and a paper discharge separator in the finishing unit 105 based on the inspection result. It is reflected in the control.

  As described above, the image inspection is performed by comparing the reference image generated by the print image processing unit 407 with the scan image obtained by reading the image actually printed on the recording medium by the inspection scanner 611.

  Further, when an insert sheet is inserted between pages by the inserter unit 103, it is necessary to acquire an insert sheet image.

  When the image comparison determination unit 616 performs the comparison determination, the reference image and the scanned image are compared for each corresponding pixel using a bitmap. Therefore, it is necessary to store the reference image in the storage device 612 or the memory 614 in the printing apparatus controller unit 410 before the image comparison determination unit 616 performs the comparison determination.

  5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the inspection process executed by the printing apparatus controller unit 410 and the image inspection apparatus controller unit 610 in FIG.

  In FIG. 5, the processing in the printing apparatus controller unit 410 is first described, and then the processing in the image inspection apparatus controller unit 610 is described.

  First, the user sets a print job to be executed by the image printing unit 102 using the operation unit 200 (step S4-1). At this time, the printing apparatus controller unit 410 performs image inspection setting of the printed matter performed by the image inspection unit 104.

  Then, the printing apparatus controller unit 410 transmits the print job and the image inspection setting to the image inspection apparatus controller unit 610 (step S4-2). Further, the printing apparatus controller unit 410 determines whether there is an insertion sheet in the inserter (step S4-3).

  The inserter indicates the insert cassette 501 and the inserter paper feed 502 of the inserter unit 103. The printing apparatus controller unit 410 determines whether or not there is a sheet.

  If it is determined in step S4-3 that there is no inserted paper in the inserter (NO in step S4-3), the process proceeds to step S4-6 in FIG.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that there is an insertion sheet in the inserter (YES in step S4-3), if an image is stored in the storage device 420 in advance, the user is allowed to specify an insertion sheet image to be used from the image. . Then, the designated image is acquired as an insertion sheet image (step S4-4) and stored in the storage device 420.

  The acquired insertion sheet image and the setting information related to the insertion sheet image are transmitted to the image inspection unit 104 (step S4-5). Based on these settings, a print job is executed (step S4-6).

  When PDL data or the like is received from the print server 107 or the like via the LAN 106, the RIP processing unit 402 performs RIP processing to generate a RIP image, and the RIP image is transmitted to the image inspection apparatus controller unit 610 as a reference image ( Step S4-7). Further, it is stored in the storage device 420 as a reference image. Step S4-7 corresponds to a generating unit that generates a forming image used when the image forming unit forms an image on a recording medium. Therefore, the forming image corresponds to the RIP image. However, if the image inspection apparatus controller unit 610 has the RIP function, the data before the RIP processing corresponds to the forming image. That is, the image for formation may be data for forming an image.

  Next, the printing apparatus controller unit 410 communicates with the printer control unit 301 to print an image on a recording medium (step S4-8). Thereafter, the printed matter is output from the image printing unit 102 and sent to the inserter unit 103.

  The inserter unit 103 transports and inserts the insert paper set in the insert cassette 501 or the inserter paper feed 502 between the transported printed materials according to the setting of the print job (step S4-9). Thereafter, the insertion sheet and the printed matter are output to the image inspection unit 104 (step S4-10). This step S410 corresponds to an image forming recording medium on which an image is formed by the image forming means, or an output means for outputting an insertion sheet.

  Next, the printing apparatus controller unit 410 receives the image determination result transmitted from the image inspection apparatus controller unit 610 (step S4-24). The printing apparatus controller unit 410 determines whether or not the image determination result received from the image inspection apparatus controller unit 610 is OK (step S4-25).

  As a result of the determination in step S4-25, if the image determination result is OK (YES in step S4-25), the finishing unit 105 discharges the paper to the acceptable discharge tray 720 (step S4-26). On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S4-25 is that the image determination result is not OK (NO in step S4-25), the finishing unit 105 discharges the paper to the acceptable discharge tray 720 (step S4-27). As described above, in the present embodiment, the image forming recording medium and the discharge destination of the inserted sheet image are determined according to the inspection result.

  Thereafter, the printing apparatus controller unit 410 determines whether or not the processing for all pages has been completed (step S4-28).

  If the result of determination in step S4-28 is that processing for all pages has not been completed (NO in step S4-28), the process proceeds to step S4-14. On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S4-28 is that processing for all pages has been completed (YES in step S4-28), this processing ends.

  Next, step S4-11 will be described. First, the image inspection device controller unit 610 receives the print job and the image inspection setting transmitted from the printing device controller unit 410 (step S4-11).

  Thereafter, the insertion sheet image data and setting information transmitted from the printing apparatus controller unit 410 are received and stored in the storage device 612 as insertion sheet image data (step S4-12).

  Moving to FIG. 6, the reference image transmitted from the printing apparatus controller unit 410 is received (S <b> 4-13) and stored in the storage device 612. Thereafter, when passage of the recording medium is detected (YES in step S4-14), the print image is read by the inspection scanner 611 (S4-15), and the read image is stored in the storage device 612 as a scan image. Step S4-15 corresponds to a reading unit that reads the image forming recording medium when the image forming recording medium is output, and reads the inserting sheet when the insertion sheet is output.

  Then, the image inspection apparatus controller unit 610 determines whether or not the passed recording medium is an insertion sheet (step S4-16).

  If the result of determination in step S4-16 is that the recording medium that has passed is an insertion sheet (YES in step S4-16), the insertion sheet image is compared with the scanned image (step S4-17), and step S4-19 is performed. Proceed to

  On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S4-16 is that the passed recording medium is not an insertion sheet (NO in step S4-16), the reference image and the scanned image are compared (step S4-18), and step S4- Proceed to 19. The determination method here will be described later.

  In steps S4-17 and 4-18, when the image forming recording medium is output, the read image is compared with the forming image, and when the insertion sheet is output, the read image is read. Is compared with an insertion sheet image indicating the insertion sheet, and corresponds to an inspection unit that inspects the quality of the image formed on the image forming recording medium and the insertion sheet image.

  Next, the image inspection apparatus controller unit 610 transmits the determination result to the printing apparatus controller unit 410 (step S4-19).

  Next, the image inspection apparatus controller unit 610 determines whether or not the determination result is OK (step S4-20). If the result of determination in step S4-20 is OK (YES in step S4-20), the inspection device display unit 615 displays that the determination result is OK (step S4-21). . Steps S4-21 and 4-22 correspond to display control means for controlling the display means so as to display the inspection result by the inspection means.

  On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S4-20 is not OK (NO in step S4-20), the inspection device display unit 615 displays that the determination result is not OK for the user (step S4- 22).

  Thereafter, the image inspection device controller unit 610 determines whether or not the processing for all pages has been completed (step S4-23).

  If the result of determination in step S4-23 is that processing for all pages has not been completed (NO in step S4-23), the flow proceeds to step S4-14. On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S4-23 is that processing for all pages has been completed (YES in step S4-23), this processing ends.

  5 and 6, when the image forming recording medium is output, the read image is compared with the generated forming image. On the other hand, when the insertion sheet is output, the read image is compared with the insertion sheet image indicating the insertion sheet. By comparing these, the quality of the image formed on the image forming recording medium and the quality of the inserted paper image are inspected, so that the quality of the image formed on the recording medium can be inspected by the image forming apparatus in which the inserting paper can be inserted. Yes.

  7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining a determination method in the image comparison determination unit 616 in FIG. 4, in which FIG. 7A shows a reference image and FIG. 7B shows a scan image.

  As described above, FIG. 7 shows an example of comparing and determining the reference image and the scanner image, but the same applies to the case of comparing and determining the inserted image and the scanner image.

  In the determination method according to the present embodiment, matching is performed using a bitmap in which the resolutions of the reference image and the scanner image are matched.

  That is, the reference image and the scan image are divided into a plurality of pixel blocks (5 × 5 pixel block in the drawing), and density comparison is performed in RGB or CMYK for each pixel in each pixel block. In FIG. 7, the density is multi-value data of 0 to 255.

  Whether the comparison is performed in RGB or CMYK can be changed according to the image. For example, in the case of color image data, the comparison is performed in RGB, and in the case of monochrome image data, the color is CMYK. It is assumed that a comparison is made only with K.

  The density comparison uses comparison value = [scan data image density data value] − [reference image density data value].

  The absolute value of the comparison value calculated by this formula is compared with a preset allowable density difference. If the absolute value of the comparison value is smaller than the allowable density difference, the pixel is determined to be OK. Is judged as NG.

  In the case of the example of FIG. 7, if the allowable density difference is set to 40, the image density data value of the pixel 1003 is 255, and the image density of the pixel 1004 is 0, the absolute value of the comparison value (0-255) The value is 255. Since this is larger than the allowable density difference 40, the corresponding pixel is determined to be NG.

  In this manner, the same determination process is repeated for each pixel in the pixel block of 5 × 5 pixels, and an OK determination rate for each pixel block is obtained. The OK determination rate for each pixel block is compared with a predetermined OK determination threshold value. For example, when the OK determination threshold is determined to be 80% and the number of NG pixels in the block is one pixel, the determination rate is 96%.

  Therefore, since the determination rate (96%)> the OK determination threshold value (80%), the determination result is OK for the corresponding block.

  The above-described processing is performed on the entire surface of the recording paper, and if the determination is OK for all the blocks on the entire surface, the recording paper is determined to be OK, and if even one block is NG, it is determined to be NG. As described above, in the present embodiment, the image formed on the image forming recording medium and the inserted paper image are compared by comparing the read image with the forming image or the inserted paper image using the density for each pixel. It is designed to inspect the quality.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the inspection apparatus display unit 615 in step S4-21 in FIG.

  The inspection result 1101 indicates that the inspection result is OK. An image 1102 is a scanned image stored in the storage device 612 in step S4-15. A button 1103 is a button for the user to confirm. When the button 1103 is pressed, this screen is erased as if the user confirmed the result.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the inspection apparatus display unit 615 in step S4-22 in FIG.

  FIG. 9A is an example of a screen showing the detection result for the insertion sheet. The inspection result 1201 indicates that the inspection result is NG. An image 1202 is a scanned image stored in the storage device 612 in S4-15.

  A comment 1203 is a display field for notifying that the inserter unit 103 has detected an abnormality in the inserted insertion sheet. A button 1204 is a button for the user to confirm. When the button 1204 is pressed, the screen is erased as if the user confirmed the result.

  FIG. 9B is an example of a screen showing a detection result for a printed material. The inspection result 1205 indicates that the inspection result is NG. An image 1206 is a scanned image stored in the storage device 612 in step S4-15.

  In the case of FIG. 9B, as an example, a display example is shown in which the comparison determination is NG because there is a stain (black dot) in the scanned image. The enlargement unit 1207 enlarges and shows the periphery of the pixel block that has been judged NG at the time of comparison. A stain 1208 indicates a black spot generated due to a printing failure.

  A button 1209 is a button for the user to confirm. When the button 1209 is pressed, this screen is erased as if the user confirmed the result.

  Next, a method for acquiring an insertion sheet image will be described. In the present embodiment, if an image is stored in advance in the storage device 420 due to execution of another print job or the like, an insertion sheet image to be used is selected from the image stored in the storage device 420 to the user. Let it be specified.

  The designated image is stored in the storage device 420 as an inserted paper image, thereby acquiring the inserted paper image.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the insertion sheet image acquisition process executed by the printing apparatus controller unit 410 in FIG.

  In FIG. 10, when a user sets a print job (step S5-1), a message asking whether or not to use a print image in this print job for another job is displayed on the operation unit 200.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a message display example displayed on the operation unit 200 in FIG.

  In FIG. 11, a message 601 is a button 602 for determining that the user uses the print image for another job, and a button 603 for determining that the user does not use the print image for another job. Button. When used in another job, the print image is stored in the storage device 420.

  Next, it is determined whether or not the button 602 has been selected (step S5-2). As a result of the determination in step S5-2, when the button 603 is selected without selecting the button 602 (NO in step S5-2), this process ends.

  On the other hand, if the button 602 is selected as a result of the determination in step S5-2 (YES in step S5-2), the print image is stored in the storage device 420 (step S5-3).

  Next, when it is necessary to acquire an insertion sheet image used in step S4-4 described above, the operation unit 200 displays an image designation screen.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of an image designation screen displayed on the operation unit 200 in FIG.

  In the image designation screen 701 in FIG. 12, the image 702 displays an image stored in the storage device 420. The designated image 703 displays an image designated by the user.

  A button 704 is a button for determining image data used by the user. A button 705 is a button for canceling the selection.

  By specifying an image with the image 702, image data to be used is specified, and by pressing a button 704, an image to be used is specified (step S5-4). Thereafter, the printing apparatus controller unit 410 acquires the designated insertion sheet image (step S5-5), stores it in the storage device 420 as the insertion sheet image, and ends this processing.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an insertion location designation screen displayed on the operation unit 200 in FIG.

  In FIG. 13, the insertion location designation screen 801 shows a designation image 802, a page designation 803, a preview 804, and buttons 805, 806 and 807.

  The designated image 802 indicates the file name of the image designated by the processing of FIG. A page designation 803 indicates a page designated as a page to be inserted. A preview 804 shows a preview when an insertion sheet image is inserted into a designated page. A button 805 is a button for horizontally scrolling the preview. A button 806 is a button for determining to insert into the page indicated by the page designation 803. A button 807 is a button for canceling.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an insertion sheet image designation process executed by the printing apparatus controller unit 410 in FIG.

  In FIG. 14, an insertion sheet image is acquired (step S8-1). Thereafter, an insertion location is designated on the insertion location designation screen 801 shown in FIG. 13 (step S8-2). Next, the printing apparatus controller unit 410 adds a job ID and information to the inserted sheet image, stores the inserted sheet image in the storage unit 420 (step S8-3), and ends this process. Step S8-2 corresponds to a designation unit that allows a user to designate a page into which an insertion sheet is to be inserted when images are formed on a plurality of recording media. As described in step S4-16, in this embodiment, the quality of the image formed on the image forming recording medium and the inserted paper image is inspected using the designated page.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a procedure of image switching processing executed by the inspection control unit 617 in FIG.

  In FIG. 15, the inspection control unit 617 reads the print job, the image inspection setting, the insertion sheet image setting, and the like received in steps S4-11 and S4-12 (step S9-1). Next, it is determined whether or not the scanned image read in step S4-15 is a page designated as an insertion paper designation location (step S9-2). This corresponds to S4-16 in the flowchart of FIG.

  If the result of determination in step S9-2 is that the page is a specified page (YES in step S9-2), the inspection control unit 617 reads the insertion sheet image stored in the storage device 612 and switches to the insertion sheet image ( Step S9-3).

  On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S9-2 is that the page is not a designated page (NO in step S9-2), the inspection control unit 617 reads the reference image stored in the storage device 612 (step S9-4). ).

  Next, the inspection control unit 617 determines whether or not the processing for all pages has been completed (step S9-5). If it is determined in step S9-5 that the processing for all pages has not been completed (NO in step S9-5), the process returns to step S9-2.

  On the other hand, as a result of the determination in step S9-5, when the processing for all pages is completed (YES in step S9-5), this processing is terminated.

  As described above, by performing the image inspection while acquiring the insertion sheet image and switching to the reference image, it is possible to perform the image inspection of the printed matter including the inspection such as erroneous insertion of the insertion sheet by the inserter.

  In FIG. 10, the insertion sheet image is acquired when the print image is stored when the print job is set. However, the image reading unit 100 may read the image in advance and use it as the insertion sheet image.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a modified example of the insertion sheet image acquisition process executed by the printing apparatus controller unit 410 in FIG.

  In FIG. 16, the scanned image read by the image reading unit 100 is stored in the storage device 420 (step S15-1). Thereafter, it is designated as an insertion sheet image (step S15-2). At this time, it is possible to display a scanned image on the operation unit 200, check the state of the image, and to perform editing such as changing the orientation of the image data (step S15-3). . This editing will be described later.

  Next, the edited image is stored in the storage device 420 as an insertion sheet image (step S15-4), and this process is terminated.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of an edit screen displayed on the operation unit 200 in FIG.

  In FIG. 17, a page number 1601 indicates the page number of the insertion sheet image currently being edited. An image 1602 is a scanned image stored in the storage device 420 in step S15-1.

  A button 1603 is a button for editing to rotate display image data, and an input field 1604 is a field for inputting and specifying an angle to be rotated. A button 1605 is a button for editing to move the image, and an input field 1606 is a field for designating and designating the distance to be moved.

  A button 1607 is a button for executing various image corrections. By pressing buttons 1603, 1605, and 1607, editing processing is executed. A button 1608 is a button for determining editing contents. A button 1609 is a button for canceling editing. When the button 1608 is pressed, image editing is determined. If there is a next page, the next page is edited, and if there is no next page, the editing process is terminated.

  As described above, even when the scan image read by the image reading unit 100 is used as an insertion sheet image, it is possible to perform an image inspection of a printed matter including inspection such as erroneous insertion of the insertion sheet by the inserter.

  In the processing of FIG. 16, the modification example in which the read image is an insertion sheet image has been described. However, as another modification example, an example in which an insertion sheet image is acquired from an external device via the LAN 106 will be described.

  Here, the external devices are the image forming apparatus 1000, the print server 107, and the client PCs 108 and 109 connected to the image forming apparatus 101 via the LAN in the example of FIG.

  The image forming apparatus 1000 has the same configuration as the image forming apparatus 101, and includes an image printing unit 102, an inserter unit 103, an image inspection unit 104, and a finishing unit 105.

  The following processing can be cited as a method for acquiring the inserted paper image. That is, image data is created by the image forming apparatus 1000, the print server 107, and the client PCs 108 and 109 simultaneously with the insertion sheet printing being performed by the image forming apparatus 1000. Then, it is stored in the storage device of the image forming apparatus 1000, the print server 107, and the client PCs 108 and 109. Next, for example, the insertion sheet is printed from the client PC 108 by the image forming apparatus 1000, and the image forming apparatus 1000 stores the image as an image in the print job in the recording apparatus. Thereafter, the image forming apparatus 1000 transmits an image to the client PC 108 via the LAN 106 and is stored in the storage device of the client PC 108. The image forming apparatus 101 can acquire an insertion sheet image by being transmitted to the image forming apparatus 101 via the LAN 106.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of another modified example of the insertion sheet image acquisition process executed by the printing apparatus controller unit 410 in FIG.

  In FIG. 19, when the insertion sheet is printed in the image forming apparatus 1000 (step S <b> 17-1), this insertion sheet image does not exist in the image forming apparatus 101 and needs to be acquired from an external apparatus. In the example described above, the image is stored in the storage device of the client PC 108.

  The image stored in the client PC 108 in this manner is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 101 via the LAN 106, so that the image forming apparatus 101 acquires (step S17-2) and stores it in the storage device 420.

  Thereafter, in step S5-4, by being designated as the insertion sheet image (step S17-3), the image acquired via the LAN is stored in the storage device 420 as the insertion sheet image (step S17-4). This process ends. As described above, the image formed on the insertion sheet may be formed by the image forming unit in accordance with information obtained from another apparatus.

  In the above-described flowchart, an example in which an image is acquired from the client PC 108 has been described. However, there is a method of acquiring an image by causing the image forming apparatus 101 to directly execute a print job and create an image.

  That is, the same job as the job that printed the insertion sheet by the image forming apparatus 1000 is input to the image forming apparatus 101 via the LAN 106 by the client PC 108 or the like. Thereafter, the image forming apparatus 101 creates an image based on the job and stores the image in the storage device 420.

  As described above, even when an image acquired from an external apparatus via the communication line via the LAN 106 is used as an insertion sheet image, it is possible to perform image inspection of a printed matter including inspection such as erroneous insertion of an insertion sheet by an inserter.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to acquire all the images of the printed matter including the information on the insertion sheet, and compare the acquired image with the image read at the time of conveyance, thereby erroneously inserting the insertion sheet. In addition, it is possible to determine the quality of the printed material.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is also realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program code. It is a process to be executed. In this case, the program and the storage medium storing the program constitute the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming system 100 Original reading part 101,111 Image forming apparatus 103 Inserter part 104 Image inspection part 300 Printer part 410 Printing apparatus controller part 420 Storage apparatus 610 Image inspection apparatus controller part 611 Inspection scanner

Claims (7)

An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium,
Generating means for generating an image for formation used when the image forming means forms an image on the recording medium;
An image forming recording medium on which an image is formed by the image forming means, or an output means for outputting an insertion sheet;
A reading unit that reads the image forming recording medium when the output unit outputs the image forming recording medium, and that reads the inserting sheet when the output unit outputs the insertion sheet;
When the image forming recording medium is output by the output unit, the image read by the reading unit is compared with the forming image generated by the generating unit, and the insertion sheet is output by the output unit. If output, the quality of the image formed on the image forming recording medium and the inserted paper image is inspected by comparing the image read by the reading unit with the inserted paper image indicating the inserted paper. and an inspection means that,
Image to be formed on the inserting paper, the image forming apparatus, wherein the this formed by said image forming means in accordance with information obtained from other devices. Display means;
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising display control means for controlling the display means so as to display a result of the inspection by the inspection means.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a discharge destination of the image forming recording medium and the insertion sheet image is determined according to an inspection result by the inspection unit.   The inspection unit compares the image read by the reading unit with the image for formation or the insertion sheet image using the density for each pixel, and the image formed on the image forming recording medium and the image The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the quality of the inserted paper image is inspected. When an image is formed on a plurality of the recording media, the image forming apparatus further includes a specifying unit that allows a user to specify a page into which the insertion sheet is inserted
5. The inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inspection unit inspects the quality of the image formed on the image forming recording medium and the insertion sheet image using the page specified by the specifying unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. A method for controlling an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium,
A generation step for generating an image for formation used when the image forming unit forms an image on the recording medium;
An image forming recording medium on which an image is formed by the image forming means, or an output step for outputting an insertion sheet;
When the image forming recording medium is output by the output step, the image forming recording medium is read, and when the insertion sheet is output by the output step, a reading step of reading the insertion sheet;
When the image forming recording medium is output by the output step, the image read by the reading step is compared with the forming image generated by the generating step, and the insertion sheet is detected by the output step. If output, the quality of the image formed on the image forming recording medium and the inserted paper image is inspected by comparing the image read in the reading step with the inserted paper image indicating the inserted paper. and an inspection step that,
Image control method features that you formed by said image forming means in accordance with information obtained from other devices formed on the insertion sheet. A program for causing a computer to execute a control method of an image forming apparatus including an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium,
The control method is:
A generation step for generating an image for formation used when the image forming unit forms an image on the recording medium;
An image forming recording medium on which an image is formed by the image forming means, or an output step for outputting an insertion sheet;
When the image forming recording medium is output by the output step, the image forming recording medium is read, and when the insertion sheet is output by the output step, a reading step of reading the insertion sheet;
When the image forming recording medium is output by the output step, the image read by the reading step is compared with the forming image generated by the generating step, and the insertion sheet is detected by the output step. If output, the quality of the image formed on the image forming recording medium and the inserted paper image is inspected by comparing the image read in the reading step with the inserted paper image indicating the inserted paper. and an inspection step that,
Images, program characterized and this formed by said image forming means in accordance with information obtained from other devices formed on the insertion sheet.

Images