Information processing system and program

Abstract

To provide an information processing system that, when image quality abnormality intermittently appears on a test chart along a paper feed direction during printing of the test chart, and when cutting out partial images respectively from a plurality of test charts generated according to different image forming conditions and arranging the images side by side on one screen, facilitates finding out the appearance positions of the image quality abnormality on each test chart, compared to a case where movement of display ranges in both the paper feed direction and a direction orthogonal to the paper feed direction on the test charts is displayed in synchronization between the plurality of test charts.SOLUTION: When an image forming apparatus displays images 44 cut out respectively from a chart P1 according to a normal image forming condition and charts P2, P3 according to an image forming condition different from the normal image forming condition, on one screen of an operation panel 25 while aligning axial directions of the images, when the position of the image 44a corresponding to the chart P1 is moved by a user, the image forming apparatus performs control so that the charts P2, P3 are synchronized in the axial direction of the movement direction and are not synchronized in a paper feed direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing system and a program.

Background Art

[0002] An image forming apparatus such as a printer usually prints a document image on a paper medium or the like through an image forming process such as charging, exposure, development, and transfer. The image forming apparatus forms a document image serving as print source data by acquiring an electronic document via a network or reading a document with a scanner.

[0003] In an image forming apparatus, image quality abnormalities such as streaks may appear on the printed paper surface due to abnormalities or aging deterioration of members used during image formation, such as a charging roll or a mag roller. In this case, in the maintenance work of the image forming apparatus, among the members constituting the image forming apparatus, the member that is the cause of the appearance of the image quality abnormality is maintained to remove the image quality abnormality.

[0004] In recent years, there is a technique for determining an image forming process that is the cause of the appearance of image quality abnormalities. For example, in Patent Document 2, by using a combination of test charts (hereinafter, "bias development images") generated according to imaging conditions different from those during normal imaging, it is possible to confirm at which imaging conditions streaks appear or disappear. When the image forming process that causes the generation of streaks is specified, the maintenance staff performs work with the members operating in the specified image forming process as the maintenance targets.

[0005] By the way, there is an image forming apparatus having a function of reading a printed test chart and displaying the read image based on the imaging conditions. Therefore, in this image forming apparatus, when an image quality abnormality is detected in a document image, a plurality of printed bias development images are read and the read images are displayed on the screen. The maintenance staff can check the presence or absence and the appearance position of the image quality abnormality in each bias development image by referring to the plurality of read bias development images, and thereby determine the image forming process that is the cause of the appearance of streaks.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Document

[0006]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] If an attempt is made to display a plurality of test charts on one screen without reducing them, it may become impossible to display the entire image of all the test charts to be displayed on one screen. Therefore, it is conceivable to cut out a partial image from each test chart and arrange and display them on one screen. That is, the display range in each test chart is set to a part rather than the entire test chart. If image quality abnormalities such as streaks continuously appear along the paper feed direction during printing of the test chart, if the image is cut out so as to include the entire width in the direction orthogonal to the paper feed direction from the test chart, it is possible to include the appearing image quality abnormalities in the display range.

[0008] However, when image quality abnormalities intermittently appear along the paper feed direction during printing of the test chart, depending on the position where the image is cut out, there may be cases where the image quality abnormalities appearing in the original image cannot be included in the display range.

[0009] Therefore, the user may be allowed to select the range to be cut out and displayed from the test chart. For example, by moving the position of a partial image to be displayed on the test chart for the user, the user is made to search for image quality abnormalities appearing on the test chart. When moving the display range according to the user operation, it is considered efficient to move the display range in other test charts in the same manner in synchronization with the movement of the display range of one test chart, so as to check the presence or absence and the appearance position of the image quality abnormalities while comparing the images cut out from each test chart.

[0010] However, if the display positions of each test chart are synchronized both vertically and horizontally and linked, even if the user is able to find the location of an image quality abnormality in one test chart, if the user performs an operation to move the display range in another test chart, the location of the image quality abnormality may end up being outside the display range in the test chart in which the user has managed to find the location.

[0011] The present invention aims to make it easier to find the location of the image quality abnormality in each test chart when a test chart that is printed and displayed by being read by a reading means has image quality abnormalities that appear intermittently along the paper feed direction when the test chart is printed, by cutting out and displaying a portion of an image from each of a plurality of test charts that are printed under different image-making conditions and displayed by being read by a reading means side by side on one screen, compared to when the movement of the display range on the test chart in both the paper feed direction and the direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction is synchronized for display of a plurality of test charts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The information processing system of the present invention includes a processor, and when image quality abnormalities appear continuously or intermittently in a test chart generated according to predetermined image creation conditions along the paper feed direction when the test chart is printed, and when a portion of an image is cut out from each of a plurality of test charts generated according to different image creation conditions and displayed side by side on one screen, the processor performs display control such that, in response to a user's operation to move the display range, the display range of a test chart selected by a user from among the plurality of test charts is moved in accordance with the user's operation to move the display range of test charts other than the test chart selected by the user, only in the direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction, in synchronization with the test chart selected by the user.

[0013] Further, when the processor selects, as a member that may be the cause of the image quality abnormality in the image forming apparatus that continuously forms the plurality of test charts, a rotating member that rotates during printing of the test charts, the processor cuts out a part of the image corresponding to a position according to the rotation period of the rotating member from each of the plurality of test charts and arranges them side by side on one screen for display, and also performs display control so that the display range of the test charts other than the test chart selected by the user is moved in synchronization with the test chart selected by the user, with the movement in the paper feed direction also taken into account.

[0014] The program according to the present invention causes a computer to perform display control such that when an image quality abnormality appears continuously or intermittently along the paper feed direction during printing of a test chart, which is generated according to predetermined image formation conditions, and a part of the image is cut out from each of the plurality of test charts generated according to different image formation conditions and arranged side by side on one screen for display, in response to a movement operation of the display range by the user, the display range of the test chart selected by the user among the plurality of test charts is moved according to the movement operation, and the display range of the test charts other than the test chart selected by the user is moved in synchronization with the test chart selected by the user only in the direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction.

Advantages of the Invention

[0015] According to the invention described in claim 1, when an image quality abnormality appears intermittently along the paper feed direction in a test chart that is printed and displayed by being read by a reading means, and a part of the image is cut out from each of the plurality of test charts generated according to different image formation conditions and arranged side by side on one screen for display, and when the display ranges in both the paper feed direction and the direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction on the test chart are synchronously displayed among the plurality of test charts, it is easier to find the position where the image quality abnormality appears in each test chart compared to the case where the display ranges are not synchronized.

[0016] According to the invention described in claim 2, it becomes easier to find image quality abnormalities that may periodically occur from each test chart.

[0017] According to the invention described in claim 3, when a plurality of test charts generated according to different image formation conditions are each cut out a part of the image and arranged side by side on one screen for display in the case where image quality abnormalities intermittently appear along the paper feed direction at the time of printing the test chart, compared with the case where the display ranges in both the paper feed direction and the direction orthogonal to the paper feed direction on the test chart are synchronized and displayed with a plurality of test charts, it is possible to more easily find the positions where the image quality abnormalities appear in each test chart.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0018]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0020] Figure 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of the image forming apparatus 10 in the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 10 is a multifunction device equipped with various functions such as a printing function, a copying function, and a scanner function, and is a device incorporating a computer. The image forming apparatus 10 in the present embodiment can be realized with a general-purpose hardware configuration that has existed conventionally. That is, the image forming apparatus 10 incorporates a computer including at least a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 24. Further, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a display means for displaying information, an operation panel 25 as a user interface that functions as an input means for the user to input, a scanner 26 as a reading means for reading the original set on the original platen and storing it as electronic data in the HDD 24 etc., a printer 27 for printing a test chart on the output paper, and a network interface (IF) 28 as a communication means.

[0021] Note that, as will be described later, in the present embodiment, images cut out from a plurality of images generated by being printed according to specified image forming conditions and read by the reading means are arranged side by side and displayed on one screen, and the operation panel 25 is used as the display means for the arrangement and display. Of course, the display means does not necessarily have to be limited to the operation panel 25, and a dedicated display device may be separately provided in the image forming apparatus 10, or the display means of an information processing device such as a PC connected to the image forming apparatus 10 via a network may be used.

[0022] Figure 2 is a block configuration diagram showing the image forming apparatus 10 in the present embodiment. The image forming apparatus 10 in the present embodiment has an image forming unit 12, a display control unit 13, and a user interface (UI) unit 14. Components not used in the description of the present embodiment are omitted from the figure.

[0023] The image forming unit 12 forms a test chart according to a predetermined image forming process. The test chart is printed on the printer 27. Further, the test chart read after printing is displayed on the operation panel 25. The display control unit 13 performs display control of the image in the user interface unit 14. The user interface unit 14 is realized by the operation panel 25, accepts user operations, and displays images under the display control by the display control unit 13.

[0024] Each component 12 to 14 in the image forming apparatus 10 is realized by the cooperative operation of a computer forming the image forming apparatus 10 and a program operating on the CPU 21 mounted on the computer.

[0025] Also, the program used in this embodiment can be provided not only by communication means but also stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a USB memory and provided. The program provided from the communication means or the recording medium is installed in the computer, and various processes are realized by the CPU 21 of the computer sequentially executing the program.

[0026] Also, the "information processing system" in this embodiment will be described as being configured by a single image forming apparatus 10 as an example. However, for example, the image display may be performed by an information processing apparatus such as a PC as described above, and may be configured by a plurality of apparatuses such as the image forming apparatus 10 and the information processing apparatus.

[0027] Incidentally, the image forming unit 12 forms a test chart according to a predetermined image forming process. This predetermined image forming process generally consists of processes of charging, exposure, and development, and the test chart is formed through this image forming process. More specifically, in the image forming process of "charging", a charging machine including a charging roller is made to exhibit a charging function to charge the photoreceptor. In the image forming process of "exposure", an exposure machine including a laser or the like is made to exhibit an exposure function to lower the potential of the portion to be printed on the original from the surface of the charged photoreceptor. In the image forming process of "development", a developing machine including a mag roller is made to exhibit a developing function to attach toner to the portion where the potential of the photoreceptor has decreased. In the image forming process of "transfer", a transfer machine including a transfer roller is made to exhibit a transfer function to transfer the toner attached to the photoreceptor onto the paper.

[0028] When image quality abnormalities appear in the printed matter, it is mainly considered that the cause is an abnormality in the image forming function in any of the image forming processes. For example, if there is a defect or the like in a part of the member, an image quality abnormality such as streaks appearing along the paper feed direction of the test chart may occur. In that case, the user can identify the image forming process that is the cause of the appearance of the image quality abnormality by comparing test charts with different image forming conditions. In the case of this embodiment, existing techniques can be used as a predetermined diagnosis method, for example, the diagnosis method described in Patent Document 2 can be used.

[0029] Here, the description of the diagnosis method described in Patent Document 2 will be outlined, and a method of estimating the image forming process that is the cause of the appearance of the image quality abnormality using a plurality of test charts with different image forming conditions will be described with reference to the table shown in FIG. 3. This table may be stored, for example, in the HDD 24, or may be held inside the image forming unit 12.

[0030] FIG. 3 classifies the imaging processes that can cause image quality abnormalities into charging, exposure, development, or transfer. With only the diagnostic method described in Patent Document 2, the distinction between development and transfer is shown together in FIG. 3 because other methods are used. In the present embodiment, since the direct objective is not to find out the imaging processes that can cause image quality abnormalities, for the sake of convenience in explanation, they are grouped together. In the following explanation, regarding "development or transfer", development will be described as a representative.

[0031] In this diagnostic method, usually, three types of test charts, namely VHD (VH-Bias development) and GLD (GND-level Bias development), which are predetermined, are formed. In the present embodiment, since the three types of test charts are formed one page at a time in order, the first page (P1), the second page (P2), and the third page (P3) are shown in FIGS. 4 to � for the sake of convenience by the page numbers to indicate the types of test charts. Also, in FIG. 3, whether or not to exert the functions originally possessed by each imaging process is indicated by "ON" or "OFF". For example, "ON" indicates that the function in the corresponding imaging process has been exerted, while "OFF" indicates that the function in the corresponding imaging process has not been exerted. Then, the imaging conditions are set according to the combination of "ON" or "OFF" of each imaging process of charging, exposure, development, or transfer.

[0032] As described above, the "imaging conditions" are set according to whether or not to exert the functions possessed by each imaging process. Under normal imaging conditions, imaging is performed using the functions in all imaging processes. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, each imaging process of charging, exposure, and development is made to function. The bias development image is generated according to imaging conditions different from the normal imaging conditions, in other words, imaging conditions in which at least one imaging process does not function.

[0033] First, the test chart corresponding to "Normal (P1)" (hereinafter also simply referred to as the "normal chart") is generated according to the normal imaging process because each imaging process is "ON". Therefore, image quality abnormalities of streaks appear in the "normal chart". Since the "normal chart" is generated according to the normal imaging process, it corresponds to the "reference image".

[0034] In the case of the normal chart, in the charging imaging process (hereinafter also referred to as the "charging process"), the surface of the photoreceptor is charged using a charger. Let the voltage of the charged photoreceptor be "VH". In the exposure imaging process (hereinafter also referred to as the "exposure process"), the voltage of the part to be printed on the photoreceptor surface is lowered using an exposure machine. Let the voltage lowered from VH be "VL". In the development imaging process (hereinafter also referred to as the "development process"), toner is attached to the surface of the photoreceptor using a developing machine. Usually, by applying a potential of Vbias (VH > Vbias > VL) to the mag roller, the toner moves and adheres to the part of the photoreceptor where the voltage has been lowered to VL from the mag roller.

[0035] Subsequently, the test chart corresponding to "VHD (P2)" (hereinafter also simply referred to as the "VHD chart") is generated without using the exposure function because the exposure process is "OFF". Since the VHD chart is generated according to imaging conditions different from the normal imaging conditions, it corresponds to the "abnormal imaging condition image".

[0036] In the case of the VHD chart, since "charging" is "ON" and the same as "normal", the description of the charging process is omitted. The exposure process is not executed as described above. In the development process in the case of the VHD chart, by applying a potential of Vbias (Vbias > VH) to the mag roller, the toner moves and adheres to the part of the photoreceptor where the voltage is VH from the mag roller.

[0037] In the case of the VHD chart, since it is not exposed, a full - tone test chart is originally formed if there is no image quality abnormality. In this embodiment, no margin is formed on the test chart so that white streaks can be detected. The same applies to other test charts.

[0038] Subsequently, the test chart corresponding to "GLD(P3)" (hereinafter also simply referred to as the "GLD chart") is generated without using the charging function and the exposure function because the charging process and the exposure process are "OFF". Since the GLD chart is generated according to imaging conditions different from normal imaging conditions, it corresponds to an "abnormal imaging condition image".

[0039] In the case of the GLD chart, since the photoreceptor is not charged, the potential of the photoreceptor is 0V (GND). The exposure process is not executed as described above. In the development process in the case of the GLD chart, by applying a potential of Vbias (Vbias > GND) to the mag roller, the toner moves and adheres from the mag roller to the portion where the potential of the photoreceptor is GND.

[0040] In the case of the GLD chart, since it is not exposed, a full - tone test chart is formed if there is no image quality abnormality, similar to the case of the VHD chart.

[0041] Here, the imaging process that causes image quality abnormalities can be specified based on the presence or absence of streaks in the three types of test charts described above.

[0042] First, it is assumed that lines are present in a normal chart. Here, referring to the VHD chart, if the lines that should originally appear in the VHD chart do not appear, it can be inferred that this is due to non-exposure. Therefore, the imaging process that causes image quality abnormalities can be identified as the "exposure process". Subsequently, referring to the GLD chart, if the lines that should originally appear in the VHD chart appear and the lines that should originally appear in the GLD chart do not appear, it can be inferred that this is due to non-charging. Therefore, the imaging process that causes image quality abnormalities can be identified as the "charging process". Here, if lines appear in both the VHD chart and the GLD chart, the imaging process that causes image quality abnormalities can be identified as the "development process" or mechanical irregularities on the surface of the photoreceptor, etc.

[0043] As described above, by using two types of test charts, namely the VHD chart and the GLD chart (corresponding to the above-mentioned "biased development image") generated according to imaging conditions different from those in the case of forming a normal chart, the user can identify the imaging process that causes lines to appear on the test chart.

[0044] As described above, if it is not possible to correctly determine whether lines appear in the image cut out and displayed from the test chart, it is not possible to correctly estimate the imaging process that causes image quality abnormalities. Therefore, below, a method for verifying the presence or absence of lines in the biased development image in this embodiment will be described using the screen display example shown in FIG. 4.

[0045] FIG. 4(a) shows the three types of test charts described above, namely the normal chart P1, the VHD chart P2, and the GLD chart P3. Also, in FIG. 4(a), as shown in FIG. 3, the imaging conditions when each of the charts P1 to P3 is formed are shown in association. Further, FIG. 4(a) shows an example where image quality abnormalities 42a to 42c intermittently appear along the paper feed direction. Note that the image quality abnormalities 42a to 42c are collectively referred to as "image quality abnormality 42" when there is no need to distinguish them from each other. FIG. 4(a) illustrates streaks and dots as examples of the image quality abnormality 42, but the image quality abnormality 42 is not necessarily limited to this.

[0046] Furthermore, in FIG. 4(a), in response to a user operation, a partial image is cut out from each of the charts P1 to P3, and the area for specifying the cut-out image becomes the display range on the operation panel 25. From this, the reference numerals 44a to 44c are collectively referred to as "image 44" or "display range 44" when there is no need to distinguish them from each other. In FIG. 4(a), after the image forming apparatus 10 cuts out the image 44 from a predetermined position of each of the charts P1 to P3 according to the initial settings, and the user arbitrarily moves the display range 44, the display ranges 44a to 44c in each of the charts P1 to P3 are not relatively in the same position but are shown to be scattered.

[0047] If there is a defect or the like in a part of the member, image defects occur intermittently. The interval at which the image defects occur is determined by the rotation speed of the rotating member during printing, the paper conveyance speed, the printing interval of the paper, and the like. When the image quality abnormality intermittently appears on the test chart, regarding the paper feed direction, depending on the cut-out position and range of the image 44, there is a possibility of misjudging the member causing the image quality abnormality by overlooking the image quality abnormality 42 that has not actually disappeared. In FIG. 4(a), an example is shown where the user has adjusted the display range 44b to the position of the image quality abnormality 42c for the VHD chart P2, but has not adjusted the display range 44a to the position of the image quality abnormality 42a for the normal chart P1. Note that since two image quality abnormalities 42b and 42c appear on the VHD chart P2, either of them may be included in the display range 44b.

[0048] As illustrated in FIG. 4, FIG. 4(b) shows an example in which, in a state where the image 44 is being cut out, the images 44a to 44c cut out from the charts P1 to P3 are arranged side by side on the operation panel 25 and displayed. Note that the display control unit 13 may enlarge and display the images 44a to 44c cut out from the charts P1 to P3 and arranged side by side on the operation panel 25 as long as they can be displayed side by side. According to the screen display example shown in FIG. 4(b), the appearance position of the image quality abnormality 42 cannot be accurately displayed from the normal chart P1. For the charts P2 and P3 which are bias development images, as a result, there may be a possibility that the image quality abnormality 42 does not appear, but in fact, the image quality abnormality 42 should appear in the normal chart P1.

[0049] Therefore, the user performs an operation to move the display range 44a in the normal chart P1. As illustrated in FIG. 4(c), the user selects the image 44 to be moved among the images 44 displayed on the operation panel 25. Since the operation panel 25 in the present embodiment is a touch panel type, the user touches the image 44 to be moved, in this example, the image 44a cut out from the normal chart P1, with the hand 6 to select it. Of course, a method using a mouse or other pointing device instead of a touch panel may also be used. Then, the user moves the hand 6 in the direction in which the display range 44a in the normal chart P1 selected by touching the hand 6 is to be moved while maintaining the state of touching the operation panel 25. Then, when the user releases the hand 6 from the operation panel 25, the movement of the display range 44a ends. In FIG. 4(c), the example in which the user moves in the direction of the arrow A is shown. Note that since the position of the normal chart P1 displayed on the operation panel 25 is fixed, on the display screen, the hand 6 moves above the VHD chart P2, but this is only because the user moves the hand 6 above the VHD chart P2 due to the amount of movement indicated by the arrow A. The movement of the user's hand 6 indicates the movement of the normal chart P1.

[0050] Incidentally, the direction of arrow A can be divided into components in the paper feed direction and the direction orthogonal to the paper feed direction. In the image forming apparatus 10, the axis of a charging roll or the like that rotates when forming a test chart is disposed in the image forming apparatus 10 along the direction orthogonal to the paper feed direction. Therefore, in the following description, the direction orthogonal to the paper feed direction will simply be referred to as the "axial direction". In a two-dimensional coordinate system, if the paper feed direction is the X-axis direction and the axial direction is the Y-axis direction, arrow A can be divided into an X component Ax and a Y component Ay as shown in FIG. 4(c).

[0051] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen display when the user moves the display range 44a on the normal chart P1. Among these, FIG. 5(a) shows the charts P1 to P3 as in FIG. 4(a). Incidentally, the movement of the user's hand 6 indicates the movement for moving the normal chart P1. In FIG. 5(c), the display range 44a on the normal chart P1 is fixed, and the normal chart P1 is shown to move relatively with respect to the movement of the hand 6. On the other hand, in FIG. 5(a), for the sake of convenience, the position of the normal chart P1 is fixed, and the display range 44a is shown to move relatively with respect to the movement of the hand 6. Therefore, in FIG. 5(c), the movement direction of the display range 44a can be indicated by an arrow A in the same manner as the movement of the hand 6 shown in FIG. 4(c). On the other hand, in FIG. 5(a), the movement direction of the display range 44a is indicated by an arrow A' that is exactly opposite to the arrow A.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 5(a), assume that on the normal chart P1, the display range 44a has moved to the position of the display range 44a' in response to a user operation. As a result, the display control unit 13 causes the image including the image quality abnormality 42a that intermittently appears along the paper feed direction, that is, the moved display range 44a', to be displayed on the operation panel 25 as in the example of the screen display shown in FIG. 5(b).

[0053] Incidentally, in response to a movement operation by the user on the normal chart P1, in the present embodiment, the charts P2 and P3 other than the normal chart P1 that is the target of the user operation are moved as follows.

[0054] That is, when the user interface unit 14 receives an operation to move the display range 44a in the normal chart P1 selected by the user among the charts P1 to P3 to the display range 44a', the image forming unit 12 changes the image cut out from the normal chart P1 from the image 44a to the image 44a'. As a result, the display control unit 13 will display the display range 44a' in the normal chart P1.

[0055] In addition, in response to the above user operation, with respect to the display ranges 44b and 44c in the charts P2 and P3 other than the normal chart P1, only the component in the axial direction of the arrow A', that is, only the movement of Ay, is synchronized with the normal chart P1 selected by the user and moved, and the cut-out images are changed from the images 44b and 44c to the images 44b' and 44c'. As a result, the display control unit 13 will display the display ranges 44b' and 44c' for the charts P2 and P3.

[0056] In the present embodiment, the movement of the display range 44 in the charts P2 and P3 other than the normal chart P1 selected by the user is limited to the axial direction. In other words, the display control unit 13 does not synchronize the movement in the paper feed direction of the arrow A with the movement of the display range 44a for the display ranges 44b and 44c in the charts P2 and P3. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5(a), the display range 44b in the VHD chart P2 moves to the display range 44b', and the display range 44c in the GLD chart P3 moves to the display range 44c'. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5(b), the image quality abnormality 42c displayed in the VHD chart P2 remains included in the display range 44b' although the display position in the display range 44b' moves in the axial direction. Also, the image quality abnormalities 42a and 42c in the respective charts P1 and P2 are displayed in a state arranged in the axial direction. Since no image quality abnormality appears in the GLD chart P3, no image quality abnormality is displayed in the cut-out image 44c' from the GLD chart P3 even after the display range 44 in the normal chart P1 is moved.

[0057] As described above, in the present embodiment, even when the image quality abnormality 42 intermittently appears along the paper feeding direction, it becomes easier to find the image quality abnormality 42 that can appear in each of the charts P1 to P3.

[0058] Incidentally, it can be presumed that one of the reasons why the image quality abnormality 42 intermittently appears along the paper feeding direction is that there is a problem only in a part of the circumferential direction of the rotating member that rotates during the operation of the image forming apparatus 10. That is, the image quality abnormality 42 appears at the positions of the charts P1 and P2 corresponding to the problematic part, and the appearance position of this image quality abnormality 42 appears according to the rotation cycle of the rotating member as shown in FIG. 6(a). Note that the image quality abnormality 42 does not appear in the GLD chart P3, but if it did appear, the image 4 would be shown at a position according to the rotation cycle of the rotating member.

[0059] Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6(a), the position where the image 44 is cut out is cut out from a position corresponding to the rotation cycle of the rotating member. Incidentally, the pitch at which the streaks 46 appear in the charts P1 to P3 is a position corresponding to the rotation cycle of the rotating member that causes the image quality abnormality. For example, it depends on the diameter or circumference of the rotating member, or the specifications such as the operation control of the rotating member. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6(b), the user is allowed to select the rotating member for which the period is to be set. In FIG. 6(b), the charging roll and the mag roll can be selected as the rotating members, but other rotating members that can cause the appearance of the image quality abnormality 42 may also be selectable. When there are a plurality of candidates for the faulty member, by selecting the candidates, the attention position can be changed for each member, and it is possible to accurately focus on the position where the image defect should have occurred.

[0060] Note that in the description using FIGS. 4 and 5, the case corresponding to the case where the image quality abnormality 42 does not appear periodically has been described. That is, it corresponds to the process when the cause of the appearance of the image quality abnormality 42 is unknown and the user selects "unknown" from FIG. 6(b).

[0061] Incidentally, if the user knows the rotating member that causes the image quality abnormality, the user may select the member from the screen shown in Fig. 6(b). If the user does not know the rotating member that causes the image quality abnormality, it is necessary to sequentially select the rotating members from the screen shown in Fig. 6(b) and search for the appearance position of the image quality abnormality 42 while moving the display range 44 in each of the charts P1 to P3 from the operation panel 25.

[0062] However, when the image quality abnormality 42 appears periodically, the image forming unit 12 fixes the position of the image 44 to be cut out as the position corresponding to the rotation period of the rotating member selected by the user, that is, the position separated by an integer multiple of the rotation period of the rotating member, and cuts out the image 44 from each of the charts P1 to P3. In this case, unlike the case described with reference to Figs. 4 and 5, when the position where the image 44 is cut out is changed from the image (for example, "normal chart P1") selected by the user as the moving target, the image forming unit 12 changes the position of the image to be cut out from the images other than the selected image (that is, "charts P2 and P3") not only in the axial direction of the selected normal chart P1 but also in the paper feed direction. As a result, the display control unit 13 performs display control so that the display ranges 44b and 44c in the charts P2 and P3 are also moved in synchronization with the normal chart P1 including the movement in the paper feed direction. In short, the display ranges 44b and 44c in the charts P2 and P3 move in synchronization with the movement of the display range 44a in the normal chart P1 in both the paper feed direction and the axial direction, that is, they move in the same manner.

[0063] In the above embodiment, the processor refers to a processor in a broad sense and includes a general-purpose processor (for example, CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) and a dedicated processor (for example, GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

[0064] Also, the operation of the processor in the above-described embodiment may be achieved not only by one processor but also by a plurality of physically separated processors cooperating with each other. Also, the order of each operation of the processor is not limited to the order described in each of the above embodiments and may be changed as appropriate.

[0065] (Appended Note) (((1))) An information processing system comprising a processor, wherein, when the processor cuts out a part of an image from each of a plurality of test charts generated according to different imaging conditions and arranges them side by side on one screen in the case where image quality abnormalities appear continuously or intermittently along the paper feed direction during printing of the test chart on a test chart generated according to predetermined imaging conditions, in response to a movement operation of the display range by the user, the display range in the test chart selected by the user among the plurality of test charts is moved according to the movement operation, and the display range in a test chart other than the test chart selected by the user is moved in synchronization with the test chart selected by the user only in a direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction. The information processing system is characterized by performing display control so as to move. (((2))) wherein, when a rotating member that rotates during printing of the test chart is selected as a member that may be the cause of the appearance of the image quality abnormality in an image forming apparatus that continuously forms the plurality of test charts, a part of the image corresponding to a position according to the rotation period of the rotating member is cut out from each of the plurality of test charts and arranged side by side on one screen, and the display range in a test chart other than the test chart selected by the user is moved in synchronization with the test chart selected by the user also including the movement in the paper feed direction. The information processing system according to (((1))) is characterized by performing display control so as to move. (((3))) On a computer, When there are continuous or intermittent image quality abnormalities along the paper feed direction during printing of the test chart in a test chart generated according to predetermined imaging conditions, and when a part of the images are cut out from each of a plurality of test charts generated according to different imaging conditions and arranged side by side on one screen for display, in response to a user's operation to move the display range, the display range in the test chart selected by the user among the plurality of test charts is moved according to the movement operation, and the display range in the test charts other than the test chart selected by the user is moved in synchronization with the test chart selected by the user only in the direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction. A program for realizing a function of performing display control so as to move.

[0066] (((1))) According to the invention described above, when there are intermittent image quality abnormalities along the paper feed direction during printing of the test chart in the test chart, and when a part of the images are cut out from each of a plurality of test charts generated according to different imaging conditions and arranged side by side on one screen for display, compared to the case where the movement of the display range in both the paper feed direction and the direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction on the test chart is synchronized and displayed among the plurality of test charts, it is possible to more easily find the position where the image quality abnormality appears in each test chart. (((2))) According to the invention described above, it becomes easier to find image quality abnormalities that may appear periodically from each test chart. (((3))) According to the invention described above, when there are intermittent image quality abnormalities along the paper feed direction during printing of the test chart in the test chart, and when a part of the images are cut out from each of a plurality of test charts generated according to different imaging conditions and arranged side by side on one screen for display, compared to the case where the movement of the display range in both the paper feed direction and the direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction on the test chart is synchronized and displayed among the plurality of test charts, it is possible to more easily find the position where the image quality abnormality appears in each test chart.

Explanation of Signs

[0067] 10 Image forming apparatus, 12 Image forming unit, 13 Display control unit, 14 User interface (UI) unit, 21 CPU, 22 ROM, 23 RAM, 24 Hard disk drive (HDD), 25 Operation panel, 26 Scanner, 27 Printer, 28 Network interface (IF).

Claims

1. Comprising a processor, when the processor displays, on a test chart generated according to predetermined imaging conditions, a part of images cut out from each of a plurality of test charts generated according to different imaging conditions and arranged side by side on one screen, in a case where image quality abnormalities appear continuously or intermittently along the paper feed direction during printing of the test chart, and in response to a movement operation of the display range by the user, the processor moves the display range in the test chart selected by the user among the plurality of test charts according to the movement operation, and synchronizes and moves the display range in test charts other than the test chart selected by the user only in a direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction with the test chart selected by the user, and performs display control, an information processing system characterized by the above.

2. When a rotating member that rotates during printing of the test chart is selected as a member that may be the cause of the appearance of the image quality abnormality in an image forming apparatus that continuously forms the plurality of test charts, the processor cuts out a part of the images corresponding to positions according to the rotation period of the rotating member from each of the plurality of test charts, arranges them side by side on one screen, and performs display control so that the display range in test charts other than the test chart selected by the user is also synchronized and moved with the test chart selected by the user in the movement in the paper feed direction. The information processing system according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. A program for causing a computer to realize a function of performing display control such that, when the processor displays, on a test chart generated according to predetermined imaging conditions, a part of images cut out from each of a plurality of test charts generated according to different imaging conditions and arranged side by side on one screen, in a case where image quality abnormalities appear continuously or intermittently along the paper feed direction during printing of the test chart, and in response to a movement operation of the display range by the user, the processor moves the display range in the test chart selected by the user among the plurality of test charts according to the movement operation, and synchronizes and moves the display range in test charts other than the test chart selected by the user only in a direction perpendicular to the paper feed direction with the test chart selected by the user. ​

Images