Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program

Abstract

To accurately perform inspection by using a scanned image obtained by scanning a printed image on a recording medium.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus includes: inspection image acquisition means for sequentially acquiring inspection images from a scanned image obtained by scanning a plurality of printed images on a recording medium, for each predetermined region in a conveyance direction of the recording medium; and inspection means for sequentially inspecting the printed images by using the acquired inspection image. The inspection image acquisition means acquires the inspection image so that, among the plurality of printed images included in the inspection image, the entire printed image in which a partial region of the printed image is outside the region of the inspection image becomes a target of next and subsequent inspections.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an inspection based on a read image obtained by reading a printed image on a recording medium. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, image forming devices have been proposed that use continuous paper such as roll paper for printing. Because roll paper has a large surface area, multiple images can be printed continuously. There are inspection devices that scan printed materials using such continuous paper to inspect their quality. Patent Document 1 describes a technique in which the partition position of the scan area is positioned in the margin area between images in the sub-scanning direction on the recording medium. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-188657 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, when multiple image patterns with different lengths in the sub-scanning direction on the recording medium are arranged consecutively in the sub-scanning direction with narrow gaps in the main scanning direction on the recording medium, there may be no appropriate margin area. In such cases, part of the image pattern will be missing from the scanned inspection image. When part of the image pattern is missing, it is difficult to apply filter processing appropriately to the edge of the inspection image, which may reduce inspection accuracy.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to perform inspection with high accuracy using a read image obtained by reading a printed image on a recording medium. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention comprises an inspection image acquisition means for sequentially acquiring inspection images for each predetermined area in the transport direction of the recording medium from a read image obtained by reading a plurality of printed images on the recording medium, and an inspection means for sequentially inspecting the printed images using the acquired inspection images, wherein the inspection image acquisition means acquires the inspection images so that, of the plurality of printed images included in the inspection image, the entire printed image, some of which is outside the area of the inspection image, is the subject of subsequent inspections. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to perform inspection with high accuracy using a read image obtained by reading a printed image on a recording medium. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the overall configuration of a print inspection system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an image processing apparatus. [Figure 3A] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of picture images according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3B] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of picture images according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3C] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional arrangement of picture images. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing an image inspection process. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart showing an inspection target area calculation process. [Figure 6A] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a read image. [Figure 6B] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a read image. [Figure 6C] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a read image. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a picture image. [Figure 8A] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example of an inspection UI. [Figure 8B] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example of an inspection UI. [Figure 8C] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example of an inspection UI. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example of an examination image display area. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example of an examination image display area. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example of an examination image display area. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a display of a UI for selecting a display method of a featured pattern. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the present invention, and not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the present invention.

[0010] [Embodiment 1] First, an example of a printed matter to be covered in this embodiment will be described. Figure 3A shows how images of patterns a, b, and c, which have different lengths in the sub-scanning direction (y) when read, are arranged as closely together as possible with no margins to avoid waste in the main scanning direction (x) when read.

[0011] FIG. 3B shows an example of a printed matter in which the image of pattern a, the image of pattern b, and the image of pattern c shown in FIG. 3A are printed on recording medium 300. As shown in FIG. 3B, the image of pattern a, the image of pattern b, and the image of pattern c are arranged consecutively so that there are no margins in the sub-scanning direction (y) during reading. In other words, in FIG. 3B, the image is printed on recording medium 300 as continuous paper in a row of the same pattern, such as pattern images a1, a2, a3,..., pattern images b1, b2, a3,..., and pattern images c1, c2, c3,... The pattern images are an example of printed images. Each pattern image is assigned a pattern number indicating the type of pattern and the printing order. For example, the first printed image of pattern a is assigned pattern number a1. The reading start position 310 is the point where the image for inspection is first read, and hereinafter, each coordinate position may be indicated in a coordinate system with the reading start position 310 as the origin. The inspection image 320 shows an example of the area of the image used for one inspection.

[0012] FIG. 7 shows an example of a picture image. The position and size of picture image 700 are defined by two points: picture image start point 701 and picture image end point 702. Picture image 700 may include picture margin 705. When picture margin 705 is included, picture start point 703 and picture end point 704, which define the position and size of the picture portion, are positioned inside the rectangle defined by the two points: picture image start point 701 and picture image end point 702. Furthermore, picture margin 705 may include picture position marker 706, which indicates the position of the picture in picture image 700. Picture position marker 706 may be used to identify the reading position of the test image or to align the test image with the reference test image.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 3B, multiple different pattern images are printed across the width of recording medium 300, i.e., the main scanning direction (x) during scanning. Furthermore, images of the same pattern are printed across the transport direction of recording medium 300, i.e., the sub-scanning direction (y) during scanning, with no gaps between them. If the length of test image 320 in the sub-scanning direction (y) were extended to the gap between image images a2 and a3, test image 320 would only include image images b3 and c4 partially, resulting in portions of the pattern images being missing. Even if the length of test image 320 in the sub-scanning direction (y) were adjusted to match the spacing between other image images, in many cases, portions of the pattern images would still be missing from test image 320.

[0014] 3C shows a printout in which each picture image shown in FIG. 3B is rearranged to match the length of the test image 320 in the sub-scanning direction (y). In this case, no part of the picture image is missing, but a margin 304 is required where no picture image can be printed, resulting in wasted space on the recording medium 300.

[0015] In this embodiment, a method for inspecting printed matter with high accuracy will be described, even when images of patterns a, b, and c, which have different lengths in the sub-scanning direction (y) on the recording medium, are printed consecutively with no gaps in the sub-scanning direction (y) as shown in Figure 3B.

[0016] 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a print inspection system that outputs and inspects printed matter, including an image processing device 100 according to embodiment 1. The print inspection system includes the image processing device 100 and a printing device 170. The print inspection system may further include a printing server 180. The print inspection system may also include a post-processing device 196.

[0017] The post-processing device 196 is a device capable of cutting paper. The post-processing device 196 may be connected to the printing device 170 and may be capable of receiving data on the cutting position from the printing device 170. The post-processing device 196 may be provided between the image processing device 100 and the winding device 193, or may be omitted.

[0018] The printing server 180 generates a print job including a document to be printed, and submits the print job to the printing device 170. The print job includes print data for printing a picture image. The printing device 170 forms an image on a recording medium based on the print job submitted from the printing server 180. The printing device 170 is connected to a paper feeder 190. When a print job is submitted, the printing device 170 transports printing roll paper 191, which is a recording medium supplied to the paper feeder 190, from a transport path 192 to a transport path 171, while forming an image on one or both sides of the recording medium, and sends it to the image processing device 100.

[0019] The image processing device 100 inspects a recording medium (medium to be inspected) on which printing has been performed for defects. The image processing device 100 is an example of an information processing device. The medium to be inspected is obtained by a printing device 170 forming an image on the recording medium, and is transported through a transport path 110 inside the image processing device 100 connected to a transport path 171 inside the printing device 170.

[0020] The image processing device 100 has a CPU 101, a RAM 102, a ROM 103, and an auxiliary storage device 104. The image processing device 100 also has an image reading device 105, a printing device interface (I / F) 106, a general-purpose interface (I / F) 107, a user interface (UI) panel 108, and a main bus 109. The image processing device 100 may also have a recording medium transport path 110 connected to a transport path 171 of the printing device 170.

[0021] The image processing device according to this embodiment can be realized by a computer including a processor and a memory. For example, a processor such as CPU 101 executes a program stored in a memory such as RAM 102 or ROM 103 to realize the functions of each unit shown in FIG. 2, which will be described later. The processor such as CPU 101 can also control each module in the image processing device 100 as necessary. Note that the image processing device according to this embodiment may be configured by a plurality of processing devices connected via a network, for example.

[0022] The CPU 101 is a processor that controls each module in the image processing device 100. The RAM 102 temporarily stores applications executed by the CPU 101, data used for image processing, etc. The ROM 103 stores a group of programs executed by the CPU 101.

[0023] The image reading device 105 scans and reads one or both sides of the recording medium sent from the printing device 170 on the conveying path 110, and acquires the read image data. The acquired read image data may be temporarily saved in a buffer area on the RAM 102, or may be stored in the auxiliary storage device 104. The conveying path 110 forms the background when the image reading device 105 reads the image on the recording medium, and therefore may be configured to have a color (for example, black) that makes it easy to distinguish it from the recording medium in the image.

[0024] The printing device I / F 106 is connected to the printing device 170, and the image processing device 100 can communicate with the printing device 170 through the printing device I / F 106. For example, by synchronizing the printing device 170 and the image processing device 100 via the printing device I / F 106, the printing device 170 and the image processing device 100 acquire each other's operating status. Furthermore, the image processing device 100 may communicate with the printing server 180 via the printing device 170 via the printing device I / F 106. For example, the image processing device 100 acquires information about a document related to a print job and a picture image to be formed on a recording medium.

[0025] The UI panel 108 may be a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and functions as a user interface for the image processing device 100. The CPU 101 is connected to the UI panel 108 via a general-purpose interface (I / F) 107. The CPU 101 displays information relating to the current status and settings of the image processing device 100 on the UI panel 108. The information displayed on the UI panel 108 is presented to the user. The UI panel 108 may also include an input device such as a touch panel, a mouse, or buttons, and may receive instructions from the user. The main bus 109 is a transmission path that connects the modules of the image processing device 100 .

[0026] While the recording medium output from the printing device 170 is being transported along the transport path 110, the CPU 101 performs image inspection processing to check for defects in the printed matter based on the read image data acquired by the image reading device 105. The inspection results may be temporarily stored in the RAM 102 and then stored in the auxiliary storage device 104. The inspection results may also be displayed on the UI panel 108 together with the inspection image.

[0027] After the inspection process, the recording medium is sent from the transport path 110 in the image processing device 100 to the transport path 195 in the winding device 193, and is wound up as printed roll paper 194. The wound printed roll paper 194 is set by the user in a post-processing device 196, where it may be subjected to slitting, half-cutting, waste removal, sheet cutting, or other processes as needed.

[0028] The print inspection system according to the first embodiment includes the printing device 170, the printing server 180, the image processing device 100, the paper feed device 190, the winding device 193, and the post-processing device 196, but these do not all necessarily need to exist within the same system. The print inspection system may be configured with only some of these devices, and may exchange information with the other devices as needed.

[0029] In addition, in the print inspection system according to the first embodiment, the printing device 170, printing server 180, image processing device 100, paper feed device 190, winding device 193, and post-processing device 196 each exist as a standalone device, but multiple devices may be realized within the same housing. Furthermore, the print inspection system according to the first embodiment may be configured to omit the printing device 170 and have the medium to be inspected transported directly to the image processing device 100 from the paper feed device 190, on which pre-printed roll paper has been set.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a functional configuration diagram of the image processing device 100. The inspection condition setting unit 201 sets inspection information including inspection conditions necessary for image inspection processing. The inspection condition setting unit 201 may display a UI for inspection setting on the UI panel 108, control the display of the UI based on a user operation from an input device, and set the inspection information. The printing data acquired by the printing device 170 from the printing server 180 may be provided to the inspection target area calculation unit 202, the picture arrangement information acquisition unit 203, and the picture reference image acquisition unit 205 via the printing device 170. The inspection target area calculation unit 202 calculates the area of the pattern image to be inspected as the inspection target area from among the areas of the inspection image in the inspection. The picture reference image acquisition unit 205 acquires a picture reference image. A picture reference image is acquired for each picture. The picture layout information acquisition unit 203 acquires layout information of the picture image to be printed on the recording medium as picture layout information.

[0031] The inspection image acquisition unit 204 acquires, as an inspection image, an area including the entire pattern image to be inspected from the scanned image that has been scanned by the image scanning device 105 and stored in the buffer area on the RAM 102 . The inspection reference image generating unit 206 generates an inspection reference image to be compared for inspection from the picture reference image acquired by the picture reference image acquiring unit 205 . The inspection processing unit 207 compares the inspection image with the inspection reference image to inspect the quality of the print.

[0032] The test image display unit 209 presents the test image to the user. The test image display unit 209 displays a UI for displaying the test image on the UI panel 108 and controls the display of the UI. The test result display unit 212 presents to the user the test results from the test processing unit 207. The test result display unit 212 displays a UI for displaying the test results on the UI panel 108, and controls the display of the UI. The test information storage unit 213 stores the test results from the test processing unit 207 in the auxiliary storage device 104 or the like. The inspection image display position designation unit 208, the inspection image display position adjustment unit 210, and the inspection image division unit 211 shown in FIG.

[0033] Next, the image inspection process performed by the image processing device 100 according to this embodiment will be described. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the image inspection process performed by the image processing device 100. The process of this flowchart is realized by the CPU 101 loading a program stored in the ROM 103 into the RAM 102 and executing it. In the following description, each process (step) will be denoted by adding an S to the beginning, and the process (step) will not be described in detail.

[0034] First, in S401, the inspection condition setting unit 201 displays an inspection setting UI on the UI panel 108 and sets inspection conditions based on input from the user to the inspection setting UI. The inspection conditions may include the area size of the inspection image, the inspection sensitivity level for each inspection item, the reading start position, and a method for superimposing the inspection status on the inspection image. FIG. 8A shows an example of the inspection UI 800. The inspection condition setting unit 201 sets the inspection conditions based on input from the user to the inspection setting window 820 of the inspection UI 800. Details of the inspection UI 800 will be described later.

[0035] In S402, the picture reference image acquisition unit 205 acquires a picture reference image. The picture reference image may be an image created by scanning multiple defect-free printed materials with the same pattern as the picture image to be inspected and combining those images. Alternatively, the picture reference image acquisition unit 205 may acquire, via the printing device 170, a picture reference image for each picture included in the print data acquired by the printing device 170 from the printing server 180.

[0036] In S403, the picture layout information acquisition unit 203 acquires picture layout information from the printing server 180 and the printing device 170 via the printing device I / F 106. The picture layout information is a list of one or more picture image information. The picture image information includes an identifier (picture number) of the arranged picture image, a picture reference identifier identifying the picture reference image corresponding to the picture image, picture image start coordinates (x1, y1), and picture image end coordinates (x2, y2). The picture image information may also include information on the presence or absence of a picture position marker, its relative position from the picture position marker, picture margin information such as the coordinates of the picture start and end points representing the picture portion within the picture image, and an inspection status record. Furthermore, the picture layout information may be classified by those with the same picture reference identifier, or may be sorted by the coordinate y1 of the start point of each picture image. The inspection status record includes information indicating whether the image has been inspected or not.

[0037] In S404, the inspection target area calculation unit 202 refers to the inspection status record of the picture arrangement information and determines whether or not there are any uninspected picture images. Inspected picture images will not be inspected in the next and subsequent inspections. Therefore, if all picture images have been inspected, the inspection target area calculation unit 202 ends the series of processes in this flowchart, but if there are any uninspected picture images, the process proceeds to S405.

[0038] In S405, the inspection target area calculation unit 202 calculates the inspection target area to be inspected this time. Details of the processing in this step will be described later with reference to FIG. In S406, the inspection image acquisition unit 204 acquires an image of the inspection image area calculated in S405 as an inspection image from the read image data read by the image reading device 105 and stored in the buffer area of RAM 102. The inspection image may be a rectangle including the smallest (x1', y1') of the picture image start coordinates x1, y1 of each picture image to be inspected in the current inspection and the largest (x2', y2') of the picture image end coordinates x2, y2 of each picture image. Furthermore, the inspection image acquisition unit 204 may adjust the y-coordinate of the beginning of the inspection image acquired in the current inspection to be closest to the y-coordinate of the end of the previous inspection image. Furthermore, the inspection image acquisition unit 204 may adjust the area of the overlap between the previous inspection image and the current inspection image to be minimized.

[0039] In S407, the inspection image display unit 209 displays the inspection image on the UI panel 108. The inspection image may be displayed as a partial area of the read image data that has been read by the image reading device 105 and stored in a buffer area on the RAM 102. Alternatively, the inspection image display unit 209 may display the inspection image in an inspection image display area 801 of the inspection UI 800, as shown in FIG. 8A. In S408, the inspection reference image creation unit 206 generates an inspection reference image. The inspection reference image may be a rectangle of the same size as the inspection image acquired in S406, or may be created by arranging a picture reference image (acquired in S402) corresponding to each picture image of the inspection target. Alternatively, the inspection reference image creation unit 206 may create the inspection reference image by reading it from picture reference image data that was created by the printing server 180, acquired via the printing device I / F 106, and stored in the auxiliary storage device 104, in accordance with the coordinate position of the inspection image.

[0040] In S409, the inspection processing unit 207 performs an inspection by comparing the inspection image with the inspection reference image. This inspection may be performed for multiple inspection items, including inspection items related to image quality defects such as spot-like or streak-like stains, print omissions (loss), and density fluctuations, as well as inspection items other than image quality defects such as print misalignment, paper tears, and sticker peeling. The inspection processing unit 207 may also set multiple inspection sensitivity levels for each inspection item and perform the inspection using the inspection sensitivity levels set for each inspection item. The inspection processing unit 207 may determine whether the inspection is OK or NG for each inspection item. For each image to be inspected, the inspection may be OK if there are no NG inspections for all inspection items, and NG if there is at least one NG inspection. Furthermore, the inspection processing unit 207 may determine the inspection is OK if there are no NG inspections for all image images to be inspected, and NG if there are NG inspections for one or more image images, in a single inspection.

[0041] In S410, the inspection result display unit 212 displays the inspection results from S409 on the UI panel 108. The inspection information storage unit 213 may store the inspection results in the auxiliary storage device 104. The inspection results may also be transmitted to the printing device 170 or the printing server 180 via the printing device I / F 106 and used to temporarily suspend printing or to reprint picture images that have failed the inspection. The inspection result display unit 212 may display a statistical representation of the inspection status (pass or fail), or may display a corresponding inspection image to indicate areas that have failed the inspection for each inspection item. The inspection information storage unit 213 records the inspection status record for picture images for which inspection has been completed as having been inspected. The process then returns to S404 and proceeds to the next inspection. In this manner, the image processing device 100 sequentially acquires and inspects the inspection images until all picture images have been inspected.

[0042] Next, the inspection target area calculation process executed in S405 of Fig. 4 will be described using the flowchart of Fig. 5. Fig. 6A shows an example of a read image. In this embodiment, a case where an inspection target area is calculated for the read image of Fig. 6A will be described.

[0043] First, in S501, the inspection target area calculation unit 202 acquires the inspection image size (W, L) and the inspection image start position 601, which is the inspection start position. The W in the inspection image size (W, L) is the length in the main scanning direction (x), i.e., the width of the inspection image. The L in the inspection image size (W, L) is the length in the sub-scanning direction (y). The inspection image size (W, L) may be determined by the width of the printing roll paper 191, which is the recording medium, or the image reading size set in the image reading device 105. The inspection image size (W, L) may also be determined based on conditions such as the capacity of the RAM 102 of the image processing device 100, or may be specified by the user in S401 of FIG. 4. However, the inspection image size (W, L) is assumed to be larger than or equal to the largest size of the picture image included in the picture layout information. The width W of the inspection image size is assumed to be smaller than or equal to the width of the read image data. The inspection image start position 601 may be the same as the reading start position 310 (FIG. 3B). Furthermore, the inspection target area calculation unit 202 may change the inspection image size (W, L) to different values for each inspection.

[0044] In S502, the inspection target area calculation unit 202 acquires the picture image starting point coordinate y1 of the picture image whose inspection status record is uninspected from the picture arrangement information acquired in S403, which is closest to the reading start position 310 (the y coordinate of the starting point of the picture image is the smallest). In S503, the inspection target area calculation unit 202 calculates an inspection image area. The inspection image area may be a rectangular area defined by two points at coordinates (0, y1) and (W, y1+L).

[0045] In S504, the inspection target area calculation unit 202 checks the inspection status record of the picture arrangement information and determines whether or not there are any picture images among the uninspected picture images that have not yet been determined as being subject to this inspection. If the inspection target area calculation unit 202 determines that all uninspected picture images are subject to inspection but have already been determined, the process proceeds to S509. If it is determined that there are uninspected picture images that have not yet been determined as being subject to inspection, the process proceeds to S505 for one uninspected picture image.

[0046] In S505, the inspection target area calculation unit 202 determines whether the tip of the target picture image, i.e., the picture image start coordinates, are included in the inspection image area calculated in S503. If the inspection target area calculation unit 202 determines that the tip is not included in the inspection image area, the target picture image is deemed to be outside the inspection target, and the process returns to S504. On the other hand, if the inspection target area calculation unit 202 determines that the tip is included in the inspection image area, the process proceeds to S506.

[0047] In S506, the inspection target area calculation unit 202 determines whether the end of the target picture image, i.e., the picture end point coordinates, are included in the inspection image area calculated in S503. If the inspection target area calculation unit 202 determines that the end is not included in the inspection image area, the process proceeds to S508, and if it determines that the end is included in the inspection image area, the process proceeds to S507.

[0048] In S507, the inspection target area calculation unit 202 sets the target pattern image as the target of the current inspection, and records in the inspection status record that the target pattern image is the target of the current inspection. Thereafter, the process returns to S504. In S508, the inspection target area calculation unit 202 excludes the target pattern image from the current inspection and records in the inspection status record that the target pattern image is not subject to the current inspection. A pattern image whose inspection image area includes the leading edge but not the trailing edge is excluded from the current inspection because part of the area is outside the inspection image area. Furthermore, the inspection target area calculation unit 202 may record a pattern image whose inspection image area includes the leading edge but not the trailing edge as being subject to the next inspection. Note that a pattern image that is not subject to the current inspection will be subject to processing from S505 onwards as an uninspected pattern image in the next and subsequent inspections. Processing then returns to S504.

[0049] When the inspection target area calculation unit 202 has determined whether all uninspected pattern images are inspection targets, the processing proceeds to S509. In S509, the inspection target area calculation unit 202 determines the area of the pattern image that is recorded in the inspection status record as the inspection target of the current inspection as the inspection target area. The inspection target area calculation unit 202 may generate a mask image of the same size as the inspection image as the inspection target area, and set mask values according to the position and size of each of the pattern images to be inspected. This completes the series of steps in the flowchart for the inspection target area calculation process. The information on the inspection image area calculated in S503 and the information on the inspection target area calculated in S509 are used in S406 and thereafter.

[0050] As described above, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to exclude from the inspection target an area occupied by a picture image whose end is missing from an inspection image acquired from a scanned image of a printed material in which multiple picture images are arranged without any unnecessary margins. This prevents the inspection area from being interrupted in the middle of a picture image, allowing for accurate and appropriate inspection. Furthermore, an inspection image is acquired so that picture images excluded from the inspection target in the current inspection will be included in subsequent inspections, allowing for efficient inspection without missing or overlapping picture images to be inspected.

[0051] In the inspection target area calculation process, the inspection target area calculation unit 202 may acquire from the scanned image portions corresponding to each side of the inspection image area calculated in S503 and check the pixel values to determine whether or not a portion of the picture image is missing. If the pixel values of the portions corresponding to each side of the inspection image area are within a predetermined threshold, the inspection target area calculation unit 202 may determine that no portion of the picture image is missing, and may set the entire inspection image area calculated earlier as the inspection target area.

[0052] On the other hand, if the pixel values of some of the sides of the inspection image area exceed a predetermined threshold, the inspection target area calculation unit 202 determines that part of the picture image is missing. If part of the picture image is missing, the inspection target area calculation unit 202 detects the area occupied by that picture image from the scanned image and excludes that picture image area from the inspection target area. Alternatively, the inspection target area calculation unit 202 may check only the picture image information of picture images that have the same picture reference identifier as the picture image and exclude that picture image area from the inspection target area. This makes it possible to determine whether part of the picture image included in the inspection image is missing without checking all uninspected picture image information, allowing for faster processing.

[0053] Here, the inspection UI according to this embodiment, which is displayed on the UI panel 108, will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A to 8C.

[0054] FIG. 8A shows an example of an inspection UI. The inspection UI 800 shown in FIG. 8A has an inspection display window 810 and an inspection setting window 820. The inspection image display unit 209 controls the display of the inspection display window 810. In S407, an inspection image display area 801 in the inspection display window 810 displays a portion of the read image read by the image reading device 105. An inspection image area 802 in the read image currently being displayed is displayed in the inspection image display area 801. One inspection is performed for one inspection image area 802.

[0055] In S401, the inspection condition setting unit 201 sets inspection conditions using the inspection setting window 820. The inspection area setting sub-window 840 is used for setting the display of the inspection status for each picture image in the scanned image being displayed. The inspection display window 810 and the inspection setting window 820 may be displayed side by side simultaneously on the UI panel 108, or may be configured to be switchable so that only one of them is displayed. Furthermore, these windows may be provided with functions that enable general operations, such as moving the display position within the UI panel 108, and enlarging or reducing the entire window or the displayed content within the window.

[0056] The check box 821 is used by the user to specify whether or not to superimpose the inspection image area in the scanned image currently displayed in the inspection image display area 801 on the scanned image in the inspection image display area 801. The selection list 822 is used to select the superimposition method when superimposing the inspection image area on the scanned image. The inspection image area 802 is displayed with a frame selected in the selection list 822.

[0057] Next, the inspection display window 810 and inspection setting window 820 shown in Fig. 8A will be described in detail using Fig. 8B. However, details of individual picture images such as those shown in Fig. 8A will not be shown. An inspection target area 803 is displayed in the inspection image area 802. An inspection number display area 809 provided below the inspection display window 810 displays the inspection number of the inspection corresponding to the inspection image area in the scanned image currently being displayed in the inspection image display area 801. Checkbox 823 is used by the user to specify whether each picture image included in the inspection image is an inspection target and whether it should be superimposed on the scanned image in inspection image display area 801. Selection list 824 is used to select a superimposition method when the area of the picture image to be inspected (inspection target area) is superimposed on the scanned image. In FIG. 8B, the inspection target area 803 is displayed with a frame selected in selection list 824.

[0058] A check box 825 is used by the user to specify whether or not to superimpose an inspected area of the scanned image currently being displayed on the scanned image in the inspection image display area 801. A selection list 826 is used to select a superimposition method when superimposing an inspected area of the scanned image on the scanned image. In FIG. 8B, it is specified that the inspected area of the scanned image be displayed with a hatched pattern like area 804. Check box 827 is used by the user to specify whether or not to superimpose the area of the picture image to be inspected from the next time onwards on the scanned image currently being displayed on the scanned image in the inspection image display area 801. Selection list 828 is used to select the superimposition method for superimposing the area of the picture image to be inspected from the next time onwards on the scanned image. In FIG. 8B, it is specified that the area of the picture image to be inspected from the next time onwards should be displayed in a shaded pattern like area 805.

[0059] The check box 829 is used by the user to specify whether or not the display position of the image of interest to the user is to be superimposed on the scanned image in the inspection image display area 801. The selection list 830 is used to select a superimposition method when the display position of the image of interest designated by the user is to be superimposed on the scanned image. In FIG. 8B, it is specified that a frame such as the area frame 806 is to be displayed at the display position of the image of interest designated by the user. Furthermore, the image number of the image designated by the area frame 806 (here, b4) is displayed in the image of interest display area 811.

[0060] A check box 831 is used by the user to specify whether or not to superimpose the picture number of each picture image included in the scanned image on the inspection image display area 801. In Fig. 8B, a character string 807 representing the picture number is displayed at the position of the picture image with the picture number "a3." The check box 832 is used by the user to specify whether or not the inspection result display unit 212 should display the inspection result superimposed on the scanned image in the inspection image display area 801. In Fig. 8B, the check box 832 is checked, so that the inspection is NG is displayed in the area 808 of the pattern image a4 where the inspection result in S410 was NG.

[0061] The inspection results may be displayed by superimposing a character string indicating the inspection was NG, a frame or a hatch on the entire picture image, as in area 808, or by indicating the position of each defect in the picture image and the type of defect. Here, when the user uses the UI panel 108 to specify a picture area for which the inspection was NG by tapping or the like, the inspection result display unit 212 may display a screen that displays the inspection results in more detail. The check box 833 is used by the user to specify whether or not the picture margin 705 (see FIG. 7) included in the picture image is to be included in the inspection target.

[0062] Icon 841 is used by the user to specify an area of the inspection image. When icon 841 is pressed, inspection condition setting unit 201 enables the size of the inspection image and the relative position of the inspection image with respect to the scanned image to be changed from the initial state by the user's operation using the input device of UI panel 108. FIG. 6B illustrates a method for calculating an inspection target area different from that shown in FIG. 6A for the scanned image of FIG. 6A. Inspection image area 640 in FIG. 6B represents the size of the inspection image and its relative position with respect to the scanned image. Inspection image area 640 in FIG. 6B has been changed by a user instruction from inspection image area 610 (FIG. 6A) representing the initial state. In addition, inspection image start position 602 in FIG. 6B has been changed from scanning start position 310 (FIG. 6A) representing the initial state.

[0063] Icon 842 is used by the user to specify a picture image that the user wants to focus on. When icon 842 is pressed, inspection condition setting unit 201 enables the user to specify the picture image that the user wants to focus on through an operation by the user using the input device of UI panel 108. The inspection level setting subwindow 850 is used to set the inspection sensitivity level for each inspection item when the inspection processing unit 207 performs inspection by comparing the inspection image with the inspection reference image in S409.

[0064] In this embodiment, an example has been described in which inspected image regions and uninspected image regions, both of which are not subject to inspection, are displayed in a distinguishable manner, but this distinction may be eliminated and image regions to be inspected and image regions not to be inspected may simply be displayed in a distinguishable manner. Furthermore, if the UI panel 108 is capable of displaying in color, the borders and shading used to indicate the inspection target regions and the inspection status of each image may be colored lines, filled in, or color effects such as transparency.

[0065] Next, the process of calculating the inspection target region when inspections are performed sequentially will be described with reference to FIG. 6A. When the first inspection, inspection 1, is started from the reading start position 310, the inspection image area of inspection 1 calculated in S503 is a rectangular area defined by two points at coordinates (0,0) (W,L). At this time, in S406 of inspection 1, an image of the area sandwiched between the leading edge 611 and the trailing edge 612 is acquired as inspection image 610. Since all picture images have not been inspected in inspection 1, the inspection target area calculation unit 202 sequentially traces the picture image information and determines in S505 and S506 whether the leading edge and trailing edge of each picture image are included between the leading edge 611 and the trailing edge 612 of inspection image 610.

[0066] If the leading edge and trailing edge of a pattern image are included between leading edge 611 and trailing edge 612 of inspection image 610, the entire pattern image is included in inspection image 610, and no part of the pattern image is missing. Therefore, pattern images a1, a2, b1, b2, b3, c1, c2, c3, and c4 are determined to be inspection targets 730 for inspection 1 in S506. On the other hand, trailing edge 612 is located at a position that crosses pattern images a3, b4, and c5. In other words, since the leading edge is within the inspection image area and the trailing edge is outside the inspection image area, parts of pattern images a3, b4, and c5 are missing from inspection image 610. Therefore, pattern images a3, b4, and c5 are excluded from the inspection targets for inspection 1 and are determined to be inspection targets for the next inspection (here, inspection 2).

[0067] Next, in inspection 2, of the uninspected picture images, picture image a3 is closest to the reading start position 310, so the leading edge of picture image a3 becomes leading edge 621 of inspection image 620. The position of inspection image size L from leading edge 621 becomes end 622 of inspection image 620. In S504 to S508, it is determined whether all uninspected picture images will be inspected in inspection 2. As a result of the determination, picture images a3, a4, b4, b5, b6, c5, c6, and c7 have both their picture image start points and picture image end points included in inspection image 620, so they become inspection targets 731 for inspection 2. As for picture images a5, b7, and c8, their picture image start points are included in inspection image 620, but their picture image end points are not included in the inspection image area, so they are determined to be outside the inspection target for inspection 2 and to be inspected from the next inspection onwards (in this case, inspection 3). Similarly, for the following inspection 3, of the uninspected picture images, picture image a5 is closest to the reading start position 310, so the leading edge of picture image a5 becomes leading edge 631 of inspection image 630, and the position of inspection image size L from leading edge 631 becomes end 632 of inspection image 630. Picture images a5, a6, b7, b8, c8, c9, and c10 have both their picture image starting point and picture image ending point included in inspection image 630, so they become inspection targets 732 for inspection 3.

[0068] FIG. 8C shows an example of the display state of the inspection UI 800 for inspection 2. In the inspection image display area 801 of FIG. 8C, an inspection image area 802 (corresponding to inspection image 620) for inspection 2 is displayed. A number indicating that the inspection image area 802 corresponds to inspection 2 is displayed in the inspection number display area 809. The inspection image area 802 is displayed with a frame selected in a selection list 822 in accordance with a check box 821. Since the pattern images a2, b3, c3, and c4 that were the inspection targets in S507 of inspection 1 have already been inspected in inspection 2, they are superimposed and displayed with shading selected in a selection list 826 in accordance with a check box 825. The inspection target area 803 is displayed with a frame selected in a selection list 824 in accordance with a check box 823, surrounding the pattern images a3, a4, b4, b5, b6, c5, c6, and c7 that were the inspection targets for inspection 2 in S507 of inspection 2. The picture images a5, b7, and c8, which were determined in S508 of Inspection 2 not to be inspected but to be inspected in the next Inspection 3, and the subsequent picture images a6 and c9, are superimposed and displayed with shading selected in the selection list 828 in accordance with the check box 827. Furthermore, the picture number is superimposed and displayed in accordance with the check box 831 in association with each picture image.

[0069] As described above, in this embodiment, it is possible to distinguish between and display on the scanned image the area of the inspection image used in the current inspection, the area of the pattern image to be inspected, the area of the pattern image that has already been inspected, and the area of the pattern image that will be inspected in the next and subsequent inspections. In this way, by distinguishing and displaying the area of the pattern image to be inspected this time from the area of the pattern image that is not the object of inspection, the user can easily confirm the area that should be noted when visually checking the inspection image.

[0070] 6A has been used to describe a case where the inspection image start position 601 and the reading start position 310 are the same position. However, this embodiment can also be applied to a case where the inspection image start position 601 is different from the reading start position 310, or where the width of the inspection image is different from the width w of the read image, as shown in FIG. 6B. FIG. 6B describes a case where the inspection image size (W1, L) and the inspection image start position 602 are specified. In this way, when a value W1 smaller than the width w of the read image is specified as the inspection image size, in S505 the inspection target area calculation unit 202 determines whether or not both of the picture image start coordinates (x1, y1) and (x1+W1, y1) are included within the inspection image area.

[0071] Similarly, in S506, the inspection target area calculation unit 202 determines whether the two points, the pattern end coordinates (x2, y2) and (x2-W1, y2), are both contained within the inspection image area. A pattern image in which all four points representing the coordinates of the four corners of the pattern image are contained within the inspection image area is determined to be the inspection target for the current inspection. If one to three of these four points are outside the inspection image area, it can be determined that part of the pattern image is missing from the inspection image, and the pattern image is determined to be outside the inspection target for the current inspection. As a result of these determinations, for example, for inspection image 640 (leading end 641, trailing end 642) for inspection 1, pattern images b1, b2, and b3 become inspection target 741. Similarly, for the inspection image 650 of inspection 2 (leading end 651, trailing end 652), the pattern images b4, b5, and b6 are the inspection objects 742, and for the inspection image 660 of inspection 3 (leading end 661, trailing end 662), the pattern images b7, b8, and b9 are the inspection objects 743.

[0072] As described above, the image processing device 100 uses the position information of the four corners of the picture image to determine which part of the picture image is missing, even if the inspection image area specified by the user is narrower than the width of the read image, and obtains an inspection image that includes the entire picture image in the next or subsequent inspection.

[0073] In this embodiment, the entire area of the picture image has been described as the inspection target, but by using the check box 833 (see FIG. 8B) in the inspection setting window 820, if a picture margin is included in each picture image, the picture margin portion may be treated as an area outside the inspection target. In this case, in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the picture image start coordinates may be read as the picture start coordinates, and the picture image end coordinates may be read as the picture end coordinates. Furthermore, in S509, the processing target mask value may be set only to a rectangular area formed by the two points of the picture start point and the picture end point in the inspection target image.

[0074] As a result, areas that do not need to be inspected can be excluded from inspection in advance, preventing over-detection, such as a failure to inspect defects that occur in areas where the user does not need defect detection.

[0075] FIG. 6C shows another example of a scanned image. Even if the sizes of the image patterns in each column are not uniform, as shown in FIG. 6C, steps S501 to S509 can be used to appropriately determine whether each image pattern in the inspection image area acquired in each inspection of the scanned image is an inspection target, and the inspection target area can be calculated. While FIG. 6C shows an example in which the lengths in the sub-scanning direction (y) during scanning are not uniform, this method can also be applied to cases in which the lengths in the main scanning direction (x) during scanning are not uniform. In FIG. 6C, for inspection image 670 of inspection 1 (leading edge 671, trailing edge 672), image images a1, a2, b1, b2, b3, c1, c2, c3, and c5 are inspection targets 751. Similarly, for inspection image 680 of inspection 2 (leading edge 681, trailing edge 682), image images a3, a4, b4, b5, b6, c6, c7, and c8 are inspection targets 752. Similarly, for the inspection image 690 of inspection 3 (leading end 691, trailing end 692), pattern images a5, a6, b7, b8, b9, c9, c10, and c11 are inspection objects 753. Note that the positions of the test images in the main scanning direction (x) in FIGS. 6A to 6C are different from the actual positions for the sake of explanation.

[0076] [Embodiment 2] In the first embodiment, a method for realizing inspection processing without interrupting the inspection image in the middle of a picture image was described. Also, a method for distinguishing between the area of the picture image to be inspected and the area of the picture image not to be inspected within the area of the inspection image being displayed was described. In addition to these, in the second embodiment, a method for observing a specific picture image among multiple picture images in the inspection image will be described. Note that the following description will focus on the differences from the first embodiment, and a description of the similarities will be omitted.

[0077] In FIG. 8B, a region frame 806 is superimposed on the display position of the image b4 of the target pattern b designated by the user, making it easier to find the target pattern. FIG. 9 shows the test image display region 801 for tests 1, 2, and 3. In FIG. 9, as in FIG. 6A, the test area is assumed to have been calculated for the scanned image. As shown on the left side of FIG. 9, the display position of the target pattern (here, pattern b) for multiple tests, such as test 1, test 2, and test 3, may differ for each test, as shown at display position 901, display position 902, and display position 903. Such changes in the display position of the target pattern result in increased eye movement by the user performing visual confirmation, especially when performing high-speed tests.

[0078] In this embodiment, the inspection image display position designation unit 208 in FIG. 2 is used. When the inspection image display position designation unit 208 receives a notification from the inspection condition setting unit 201 that the check box 829 has been checked and that the position of the target pattern has been instructed to be fixed, it instructs the inspection image display position adjustment unit 210 to adjust the display position of the target pattern. The test image display position adjustment unit 210 controls to adjust the display position of the target picture on the screen even if the target test moves and the read image being displayed changes.

[0079] (Fixed display position of featured image) The left side of Figures 9(a) to (c) shows the case where the display of the target picture area is instructed but the fixation of the target picture position is not instructed. Note that here, the display position of the picture image located at the left edge of the image of the target picture b to be inspected will be described. The display position 901 of the target picture in Figure 9(a) for inspection 1 moves to the right as in display position 902 for inspection 2. For inspection 3, the display position 903 of the target picture moves further to the right.

[0080] 9(a) to 9(c) show the case where a fixed position of the target pattern is instructed. The test image display position adjustment unit 210 adjusts the display positions of display elements such as the test image area 802 currently displayed in the test image display area 801 so that the display position 912 of the target pattern for test 2 in Fig. 9(b) does not move relative to the display position 911 of the target pattern for test 1 in Fig. 9(a).

[0081] Similarly, the test image display position adjustment unit 210 adjusts the display positions of display elements such as the scanned image being displayed in the test image display area 801 and the test image area 802 so that the display position 913 of the target pattern in test 3 shown in Figure 9(c) does not move. The display elements adjusted by the test image display position adjustment unit 210 are appropriately displayed by the test image display unit 209.

[0082] As described above, according to this embodiment, the display position of the target image designated by the user is kept constant for each test, which reduces the amount of eye movement required by the user when visually checking. Furthermore, this has the effect of making it easier for the user to notice changes in the image.

[0083] (Inspection image division and alignment) The following describes a method for fixing not only the display position of the target pattern but also the display positions of other patterns to be inspected, using FIG. 10 . FIG. 10 shows the inspection image display area 801 for inspections 1, 2, and 3. In FIG. 10, as in FIG. 6A, the explanation is given assuming that the inspection target area has been calculated for the scanned image. The left side of FIGS. 10(a), 10(b), and 10(c) shows an example in which the display position of the target pattern (pattern b in this case) changes from inspection to inspection, as in the left side of FIGS. 9(a), 9(b), and 9(c). At this time, pattern c, which is not designated as the target pattern, also changes left and right to display positions 1021, 1022, and 1023. The method for adjusting the display elements in the inspection image display area 801 as described in FIG. 9 does not allow the display positions of patterns b and c to be fixed simultaneously.

[0084] In this embodiment, the inspection image dividing unit 211 in FIG. 2 is used. The inspection image dividing unit 211 divides the display elements in the inspection image display area 801 at the boundaries 1011, 1012 between the rows of each picture, and adjusts the display position for each row of pictures. 10(b) and 10(c), each picture column is adjusted so that the left edge of the picture image to be inspected in each column is aligned with the left edge of the display position 1001 of picture b designated as the target picture. Here, the display positions are adjusted so that the picture images at the left ends of the respective pictures are aligned, but they may also be adjusted so that the picture images at the right ends of the respective pictures are aligned.

[0085] By adjusting the display position for each picture row in this way, the display position of each picture image displayed in the test image display area 801 does not change for each test, which has the advantage that the user can easily notice changes in each picture image.

[0086] The frames superimposed on the display positions 1021, 1022, 1023, 1031, 1032, and 1033 of the picture c are for illustrative purposes only and do not necessarily need to be displayed in the test image display area 801.

[0087] (Enlarged view of featured image) A method for omitting the display of pattern images other than the target pattern will be described below with reference to FIG. 11. FIG. 11 shows the inspection image display area 801 for inspection 2 in FIG. 9. The inspection image display position adjustment unit 210 may adjust the display size of the pattern image so that the pattern image of the target pattern in the inspection target area 803 in FIG. 11(a) is maximized within the inspection image display area 801, as shown in FIG. 11(b). Display position 902 in FIG. 11(a) corresponds to display position 1101 in FIG. 11(b). In FIG. 11(b), pattern images b4, b5, and b6, which are the target pattern b in the inspection target area 803 in FIG. 11(a), are enlarged and displayed within the inspection image display area 801. Furthermore, the inspection image display position adjustment unit 210 may adjust the size of only the pattern image of the target pattern designated by the user so that it is maximized within the inspection image display area 801, as shown in FIG. 11(c). Display position 1101 in Fig. 11(b) corresponds to display position 1102 in Fig. 11(c). In Fig. 11(c), picture image b4 is enlarged and displayed to maximize it within the inspection image display area 801. As described above, enlarging the display size of the picture image so that the target picture or the row of target pictures is maximized can help the user to concentrate on observing the target picture.

[0088] 12 shows an example of a UI for selecting a display method for a target picture, allowing the user to select one of the following display methods: target picture area display, target picture position fixation, inspection image division and alignment, target picture enlargement display, target picture maximization, and target picture non-display. The inspection setting window 820 in FIG. 12 corresponds to the inspection setting window 820 in FIG. 8B. The target picture display method selection UI can use a check box similar to the check box 829 (FIG. 8B) shown above, or it can be a selection list 1201 as shown in FIG. 12.

[0089] As described above, according to the second embodiment, it is possible to focus on and observe a specific picture image among a plurality of picture images in an inspection image.

[0090] Note that the other check boxes in the drawings in each embodiment may also be represented using other UI components such as radio buttons or selection lists.

[0091] (Other embodiments) The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0092] The disclosure of each of the above-described embodiments includes the following configurations, methods, and programs. (Configuration 1) an inspection image acquisition means for sequentially acquiring inspection images for each predetermined area in the conveyance direction of the recording medium from a read image obtained by reading a plurality of printed images on the recording medium; an inspection means for sequentially inspecting the print images using the acquired inspection images; and The information processing device is characterized in that the inspection image acquisition means acquires the inspection image so that the entire print image, of the multiple print images included in the inspection image, where a portion of the print image is outside the area of the inspection image, will be the subject of inspection from the next time onwards. (Configuration 2) The method further includes a calculation unit for calculating an area to be inspected in the inspection image, The information processing device described in configuration 1 is characterized in that the calculation means excludes, from the inspection target using the inspection image, print images of which a portion of the print image is outside the area of the inspection image, among the plurality of print images included in the inspection image. (Configuration 3) The information processing device described in configuration 2 is characterized in that the inspection image acquisition means determines the position of the specified area of the inspection image to be acquired next time or later, based on the position of the leading edge in the transport direction of the printed image excluded from the inspection target. (Configuration 4) The information processing device described in configuration 3 is characterized in that, when there are multiple printed images excluded from the inspection target, the inspection image acquisition means aligns the leading edge position in the transport direction with the leading edge position of the printed image that is closest to the reading start position among the multiple printed images. (Configuration 5) 5. The information processing apparatus according to any one of configurations 2 to 4, wherein the calculation means excludes an inspected area in the inspection image from the inspection target. (Configuration 6) The method further includes: acquiring layout information of the print image on the recording medium; 6. The information processing device according to any one of configurations 2 to 5, wherein the calculation means calculates an area to be inspected in the inspection image based on the arrangement information and an area of the inspection image. (Configuration 7) the layout information includes information indicating the position of a margin area of the print image; 7. The information processing apparatus according to configuration 6, wherein the calculation means excludes a margin area of the print image from the inspection target based on the layout information. (Configuration 8) The information processing device described in any one of configurations 1 to 7, characterized in that the inspection image acquisition means determines whether a portion of the printed image is outside the area of the inspection image based on the pixel values of each side of the inspection image. (Configuration 9) The information processing device described in any one of configurations 1 to 8, characterized in that the inspection image acquisition means determines whether or not a portion of the printed image is outside the area of the inspection image based on position information of the four corners of the multiple printed images included in the inspection image. (Configuration 10) 10. The information processing apparatus according to any one of configurations 1 to 9, further comprising control means for controlling so that an area of the inspection image is displayed on the scanned image. (Configuration 11) the control means excludes, from the inspection target using the inspection image, a print image in which a portion of the print image is outside the inspection image, among the plurality of print images included in the inspection image; 11. The information processing device according to configuration 10, wherein an area to be inspected and an area excluded from the inspection area in the inspection image are displayed in a distinguishable manner. (Configuration 12) the control means excludes an inspected area in the inspection image from the inspection target; 12. The information processing device according to configuration 10 or 11, characterized in that, in the area of the inspection image that has been excluded from the inspection target, the inspected area and the area that will be the target of inspection from the next time onwards are displayed in a distinguishable manner. (Configuration 13) The information processing device described in any one of configurations 10 to 12, characterized in that the control means adjusts the display position of the inspection image to match the display position of a type of print image specified by a user among the plurality of print images included in the inspection image. (Configuration 14) a first image and a second image arranged side by side in the width direction of the recording medium are continuously printed in the transport direction, thereby forming a first row of the first images and a second row of the second images on the recording medium; The information processing device according to any one of configurations 10 to 13, wherein the control means adjusts the display positions of the first column area and the second column area on the read image so that the display positions of the first image and the second image on the read image are aligned. (Configuration 15) The information processing device described in any one of configurations 10 to 14, characterized in that the control means enlarges and displays the print image specified by the user that is the target of the current inspection among the multiple print images included in the inspection image. (Configuration 16) 16. The information processing device according to any one of configurations 1 to 15, wherein the recording medium is continuous paper. (Configuration 17) an inspection image acquisition means for sequentially acquiring inspection images for each predetermined area in the conveyance direction of the recording medium from a read image obtained by reading a plurality of printed images on the recording medium; an inspection means for sequentially inspecting the print images using the acquired inspection images; a control means for controlling the display of the inspection image area on the scanned image; and The information processing apparatus is characterized in that the control means displays whether the print image included in the inspection image is the subject of the current inspection or the subject of subsequent inspections. (method) an inspection image acquisition step of sequentially acquiring inspection images for each predetermined area in the conveyance direction of the recording medium from a read image obtained by reading a plurality of printed images on the recording medium; an inspection step of sequentially inspecting the printed images using the acquired inspection images; Including, An information processing method characterized in that, in the inspection image acquisition process, the inspection image is acquired so that the entire print image, of which some area is outside the area of the inspection image, will be the subject of inspection from the next time onwards. (program) The computer of the information processing device, an inspection image acquisition means for sequentially acquiring inspection images for each predetermined area in the conveyance direction of the recording medium from a read image obtained by reading a plurality of printed images on the recording medium; an inspection means for sequentially inspecting the print images using the acquired inspection images; It functions as The inspection image acquisition means is a program characterized by acquiring the inspection image so that, of the multiple printed images included in the inspection image, the entire printed image, where some areas of the printed image are outside the area of the inspection image, will be subject to inspection from the next time onwards. [Explanation of symbols]

[0093] 100: Image processing device, 170: Printing device, 108: UI panel, 191: Printing roll paper, 194: Printed roll paper

Claims

1. an inspection image acquisition means for sequentially acquiring inspection images for each predetermined area in the conveyance direction of the recording medium from a read image obtained by reading a plurality of printed images on the recording medium; an inspection means for sequentially inspecting the print images using the acquired inspection images; and The information processing device is characterized in that the inspection image acquisition means acquires the inspection image so that the entire print image, of the multiple print images included in the inspection image, where a portion of the print image is outside the area of the inspection image, will be the subject of inspection from the next time onwards.

2. The method further includes a calculation unit for calculating an area to be inspected in the inspection image, The information processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the calculation means excludes from the inspection target any of the plurality of print images included in the inspection image, any print image in which a portion of the print image is outside the area of the inspection image.

3. The information processing device according to claim 2, characterized in that the inspection image acquisition means determines the position of the specified area of the inspection image to be acquired next time or later, in accordance with the position of the leading edge in the transport direction of the printed image excluded from the inspection target.

4. The information processing device described in claim 3, characterized in that when there are multiple printed images excluded from the inspection target, the inspection image acquisition means aligns the leading edge position in the transport direction of the printed image closest to the reading start position among the multiple printed images.

5. 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the calculation means excludes an area in the inspection image that has already been inspected from the inspection target.

6. The method further includes: acquiring layout information of the print image on the recording medium; 3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the calculation means calculates an area to be inspected in the inspection image based on the layout information and an area of the inspection image.

7. the layout information includes information indicating the position of a margin area of the print image; 7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the calculation means excludes a marginal area of the print image from the inspection target based on the layout information.

8. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inspection image acquisition means determines whether a partial area of the print image is outside the area of the inspection image based on pixel values of each side of the inspection image.

9. The information processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the inspection image acquisition means determines whether a part of the printed image is outside the area of the inspection image based on position information of the four corners of the plurality of printed images included in the inspection image.

10. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling the area of the inspection image to be displayed on the scanned image.

11. the control means excludes, from the inspection target using the inspection image, a print image in which a portion of the print image is outside the inspection image, among the plurality of print images included in the inspection image; 11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein an area to be inspected and an area excluded from the inspection area are displayed in a distinguishable manner in the inspection image.

12. the control means excludes an inspected area in the inspection image from the inspection target; 12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein, in the region of the inspection image that has been excluded from the inspection target, the inspected region and the region to be inspected next or thereafter are displayed in a distinguishable manner.

13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the control means adjusts the display position of the inspection image to match the display position of a type of print image specified by a user among the plurality of print images included in the inspection image.

14. a first row of the first images and a second row of the second images are formed on the recording medium by continuously printing the first images and the second images in the width direction of the recording medium in the transport direction; The information processing device according to claim 10, characterized in that the control means adjusts the display positions of the first column area and the second column area on the read image so that the display positions of the first image and the second image on the read image are aligned.

15. 11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the control means enlarges and displays the print image that is the target of the current inspection and that is specified by the user, among the plurality of print images included in the inspection image.

16. 2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording medium is continuous paper.

17. an inspection image acquisition means for sequentially acquiring inspection images for each predetermined area in the conveyance direction of the recording medium from a read image obtained by reading a plurality of printed images on the recording medium; an inspection means for sequentially inspecting the print images using the acquired inspection images; a control means for controlling the display of the inspection image area on the scanned image; and The information processing apparatus is characterized in that the control means displays whether the print image included in the inspection image is the subject of the current inspection or the subject of the next or subsequent inspection.

18. an inspection image acquisition step of sequentially acquiring inspection images for each predetermined area in the conveyance direction of the recording medium from a read image obtained by reading a plurality of printed images on the recording medium; an inspection step of sequentially inspecting the printed images using the acquired inspection images; Including, An information processing method characterized in that, in the inspection image acquisition process, the inspection image is acquired so that the entire print image, of which some area is outside the area of the inspection image, will be the subject of inspection from the next time onwards.

19. The computer of the information processing device, an inspection image acquisition means for sequentially acquiring inspection images for each predetermined area in the conveyance direction of the recording medium from a read image obtained by reading a plurality of printed images on the recording medium; an inspection means for sequentially inspecting the print images using the acquired inspection images; It functions as The inspection image acquisition means is a program characterized by acquiring the inspection image so that, of the multiple printed images included in the inspection image, the entire printed image, where some areas of the printed image are outside the area of the inspection image, will be subject to inspection from the next time onwards.

Images