Image forming apparatus, image inspection method, and image inspection system

Abstract

To provide an image forming apparatus, an image inspection method, and an image inspection system that, when a user cleans a reading sensor, enable the cleaning to be performed more reliably.SOLUTION: The present invention includes an inspection image acquisition unit that reads a printed matter printed by a printing device and acquires an inspection image, a defect determination unit that determines whether the condition of the printed matter is good or bad on the basis of the inspection image and a correct image to be compared with the inspection image, a reading sensor defect determination unit that, when it is determined that the condition of the printed matter is defective, determines whether the defect is caused by the inspection image acquisition unit on the basis of the inspection image, a position calculation unit that calculates position information of the defect caused by the inspection image acquisition unit, and a display control unit that displays the position information calculated by the position calculation unit together with the inspection image.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, an image inspection method, and an image inspection system. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, printing systems have been developed that can determine the quality of printed paper by using an inspection device to inspect the paper printed by a printing device while it is being transported. The inspection device that inspects the quality of paper reads an image of the transported paper and determines from the read image whether the printed paper is normal.

[0003] In the image reading process, it is necessary that the paper to be read is printed with sufficient quality and that the paper is read correctly by the reading sensor. In particular, if dust or other debris from the paper adheres to the reading sensor of the inspection device, the image data obtained by reading may contain streaky, incorrect data. If such data is used as the image to be inspected, the read image may be erroneously determined to be defective even if the printed paper is of sufficient quality.

[0004] To address this issue, there is a technology that detects defects caused by the reading sensor and prompts the user to take appropriate action.For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which, when a defect caused by dust on the reading sensor is detected during image inspection, a display unit displays to the user that the inspection result is NG and that the cause is a defect caused by the reading sensor, in order to prompt the user to take appropriate action. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, with the above technology, when a defect caused by the reading sensor is detected, the user is prompted to clean the reading sensor, but the specific location to clean is not known, and cleaning may not resolve the problem.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide an image forming apparatus, an image inspection method, and an image inspection system that can perform more reliable cleaning when a user cleans the reading sensor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention comprises an inspection image acquisition unit that reads a printed matter printed by a printing device and acquires an inspection image; a defect judgment unit that judges whether the condition of the printed matter is good or bad based on the inspection image and a correct image to be compared with the inspection image; a reading sensor defect judgment unit that, if it is judged that the condition of the printed matter is defective, judges whether the defect is caused by the inspection image acquisition unit based on the inspection image; a position calculation unit that calculates position information of the defect caused by the inspection image acquisition unit; and a display control unit that displays the position information calculated by the position calculation unit together with the inspection image. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, when a user cleans the reading sensor, the cleaning can be performed more reliably. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the printer according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the inspection device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed when performing image inspection in the inspection device according to this embodiment and processing when a reading sensor defect occurs. [Figure 5]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a specific processing flow of step S506 in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a specific processing flow of step S601 in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an example of a display screen for notifying the user in step S506 of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of an image forming apparatus, an image inspection method, and an image inspection system will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an image forming apparatus according to this embodiment. The image forming apparatus according to this embodiment includes a printer 101 and an operation unit 102 of the printer 101.

[0012] Printer 101 receives printing information (print job) including a print image (RIP image) from an externally connected image generation controller (DFE: Digital Front End, etc.), or receives an instruction to execute a print job stored within printer 101. According to the contents of the print job, printer 101 obtains paper from paper feed unit 105 and transports it along the path indicated by the dotted line in the figure. Printer 101 also uses drums 113-116 to superimpose toner images of K (black), C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow) on belt 111, transfers the toner images to the paper being transported by roller 112, and fixes them on the paper by roller 117. In the case of single-sided printing, printer 101 directly ejects the paper to inspection device 103. In the case of double-sided printing, printer 101 inverts the paper to inversion path 118, and transfers and fixes the toner image on the other side of the paper before ejecting it.

[0013] Inspection device 103 (an example of an image inspection system) is an inspection device for printing paper output by printer 101. Operation unit 133 is an operation unit of inspection device 103. Inspection device 103 may be configured without operation unit 133, with operation unit 102 of the printer main body also serving as the operation unit of inspection device 103, or may be configured with a PC (Personal Computer) connected via LAN (Local Area Network) as the operation unit. Inspection device 103 reads both sides of paper ejected from printer 101 using reading sensors 131 and 132 and ejects the paper. Stacker 104 stacks paper ejected from inspection device 103 in tray 141.

[0014] 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a printer according to this embodiment. In this embodiment, the printer 101 includes a system control unit 201, a user I / F unit 202, a network I / F unit 203, an external I / F control unit 204, a storage unit 205, a mechanism control unit 206, a RIP I / F unit 207, an image processing control unit 208, a printing control unit 209, and the like.

[0015] The system control unit 201 is a control unit that controls the entire printer 101, and includes a memory 251, a job processing unit 252, a RIP processing unit 253, a job information generating unit 254, and the like.

[0016] The user I / F unit 202 is an I / F for connecting to the operation unit 102. The network I / F unit 203 is an I / F for connecting to a network such as a LAN. The external I / F control unit 204 is an I / F with other devices. The memory unit 205 is a storage device such as a hard disk. The mechanism control unit 206 is a control unit for printer operations such as paper transport and transfer processes of the printer 101. The RIP I / F unit 207 is an I / F for RIP image transfer with an externally connected image generation controller (DFE, etc.). The image processing control unit 208 controls the transfer of toner images and the like using the mechanism control unit 206. The printing control unit 209 controls image formation on print media such as paper.

[0017] Fig. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of the configuration of the inspection device according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 3, the inspection device 103 includes a system control unit 401, a user I / F unit 402, a network I / F unit 403, an external I / F control unit 404, a storage unit 405, a mechanism control unit 406, a print image reading unit 407, a master image generation unit 408, a difference image generation unit 409, etc.

[0018] The system control unit 401 is a control unit that controls the entire inspection device 103. The user I / F unit 402 is an I / F for connecting to the operation unit 133. The network I / F unit 403 is an I / F for connecting to a network such as a LAN. The external I / F control unit 404 is an I / F with other devices. The memory unit 405 is a storage device such as a hard disk.

[0019] The mechanism control unit 406 is a control unit for the operation of the inspection device 103, such as paper transport. The printed image reading unit 407 has reading sensors 131 and 132, and is an example of an inspection image acquisition unit that reads the printed matter (printed output) printed by the printer 101 and acquires the inspection target image.

[0020] The master image generating unit 408 generates a master image (correct image) to be compared with the inspection image (image to be inspected) from the RIP image.

[0021] The differential image generating unit 409 generates a differential image between the master image and the image to be inspected.

[0022] The system control unit 401 stores the inspection target image (read image) and the difference image in the image storage unit 451, and notifies the print defect determination processing unit 452 and the reading sensor defect determination processing unit 453 of the results.

[0023] The print defect / defect determination processing unit 452 determines defects present on the printed matter using a preset print defect / defect determination threshold value for the differential image. In other words, the print defect / defect determination processing unit 452 is an example of a defect determination unit that determines whether the state of the printed matter is good or bad based on the master image and the inspection target image.

[0024] The reading sensor defect determination processing unit 453 also determines defects caused by dust or the like in the reading sensor (printed image reading unit 407) present on the inspection target image based on a preset reading sensor defect determination threshold value for the differential image. That is, the reading sensor defect determination processing unit 453 is an example of a reading sensor defect determination unit that determines whether or not a defect is caused by the printed image reading unit 407 based on the inspection target image.

[0025] The system control unit 401 is also an example of a position calculation unit that calculates position information of defects caused by the print image reading unit 407. The system control unit 401 is also an example of a display control unit that displays the calculated position information together with the inspection image. This allows for more reliable cleaning when the user cleans the reading sensors 131 and 132.

[0026] At this time, the system control unit 401 may display the reading sensors 131, 132 with scales for specifying the cleaning position of the print image reading unit 407 based on the calculated position information. This allows the defective position information displayed on the operation unit 133 (UI) to be compared with the actual reading sensors 131, 131, so that when the user cleans the reading sensors 131, 132, the cleaning can be performed more reliably. Alternatively, the system control unit 401 may display the calculated position information and scales as the cleaning position. Furthermore, the system control unit 401 is an example of a cleaning notification unit that notifies the user that dirt on the reading sensors 131, 132 has been successfully cleaned when cleaning of the reading sensors 131, 132 has been performed.

[0027] The system control unit 401 also stores the calculated position information in the storage unit 405. The system control unit 401 is an example of a determination unit that determines whether defects caused by the reading sensors 131 and 132 occur at the same position based on the position information stored in the storage unit 405. The system control unit 401 is also an example of a notification unit that notifies the user when it determines that defects caused by the reading sensors 131 and 132 occur at the same position. As a result, if the defect in the reading sensors 131 and 132 is not resolved, it can be determined that the defect is fatal, that is, that dust has gotten inside the hardware and cannot be easily cleaned by the user, and the system control unit 401 can prompt a service call at an appropriate time. In this embodiment, the system control unit 401 displays the position information, the inspection image, etc. on the operation unit 133. However, this is not limited to this, and the display may also be on a PC, mobile terminal, etc. other than the image forming apparatus.

[0028] 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing executed when performing image inspection in the inspection device according to this embodiment and processing executed when a reading sensor malfunctions. When a print job is submitted, the printer 101 executes printing (step S501). Next, the inspection device 103 reads the printed matter using the reading sensors 131 and 132 (printed image reading unit 407) (step S502), and the system control unit 401 stores the read image (image to be inspected) in the storage unit 405. Next, the differential image generation unit 409 compares the correct master image with the image to be inspected and generates a differential image (step S503).

[0029] Next, the print defect / fault determination processing unit 452 determines whether a defect (defect) has occurred in the printed matter based on the generated differential image (step S504). If no defect has occurred (step S504: No), that is, if the image is determined to be normal, the system control unit 401 determines whether the user has been notified of the defect in the reading sensors 131, 132 based on the status of step S508 (described later) (step S510). If the user has not been notified of the defect in the reading sensors 131, 132 (step S510: No), the process ends.

[0030] If it is determined that a defect has occurred in the printed matter (step S504: Yes), that is, if it is determined to be an abnormal image, the reading sensor defect determination processing unit 453 determines whether the determined defect is a defect (defect) caused by a malfunction of the reading sensors 131, 132 (step S505). Here, a defect caused by dust on the reading sensors 131, 132 is taken as an example. A defect caused by dust on the reading sensors 131, 132 is a streaky defect caused by paper dust or the like. The algorithm for determining whether a defect is caused by dust on the reading sensors 131, 132 may be a known technique.

[0031] If it is not determined that the defect is due to a malfunction of the reading sensors 131, 132 (step S505: No), the process proceeds to step S510, where the system control unit 401 determines, based on the status of step S508 (described later), whether the user has been notified of the malfunction of the reading sensors 131, 132. If the user has not been notified of the malfunction of the reading sensors 131, 132 (step S510: No), the process ends here.

[0032] Next, if it is determined that the defect is due to a malfunction of the reading sensors 131, 132 (step S505: Yes), for example, if it is determined that the defect is due to dust on the reading sensors 131, 132, the system control unit 401 displays information on the position and size of the dust on the reading sensors 131, 132 on the display unit 133, etc., together with the read inspection target image (step S506). This notifies the user that dust has occurred on the reading sensors 131, 132 and that cleaning is required.

[0033] Next, the user cleans the reading sensors 131 and 132 based on the information about the position and size of the dust on the reading sensors 131 and 132 and the image to be inspected (step S507). Next, the system control unit 401 retains the status that dust has been detected on the reading sensors 131 and 132 (status of a reading sensor malfunction) (step S508). This status is retained for the purpose of notifying the user in step S511, described later, that the cleaning has been successfully completed. Thereafter, the user submits a job again, and the printer 101 re-executes printing (step S509), and returns to the processing of step S502.

[0034] Similarly, in step S503, the print defect determination processing unit 452 compares the inspection target image with the correct image, and in step S504, determines whether a defect has occurred. If no defect has occurred (step S504: No), the process proceeds to step S510, where the system control unit 401 determines whether the user has been notified of a defect in the reading sensors 131 and 132, based on the status in step S508. At this time, since the status indicates a defect in the reading sensors 131 and 132 in the above-described process, the process proceeds to step S511. At this time, the status has transitioned from a status indicating a defect in the reading sensors 131 and 132 to a status indicating no defect, so the system control unit 401 can determine that cleaning of the reading sensors 131 and 132 has been successfully performed. Therefore, the system control unit 401 notifies the user that cleaning has been successfully completed, and ends the process (step S511).

[0035] Next, if a defect has occurred in the printed matter (step S504: Yes), the reading sensor defect determination processing unit 453 determines whether the defect is on the reading sensors 131, 132 (step S505). At this time, if the defect is not on the reading sensors 131, 132 (step S505: No), the process proceeds to step S510, and as described above, in step S511, the user is notified that the cleaning has been completed successfully, and the process ends.

[0036] If it is determined that the dirt is on the reading sensors 131, 132 (step S505: Yes), the inspection device 103 executes the processes of steps S506 to S509 again. The inspection device 103 repeats this process by cleaning the reading sensors 131, 132 until the dirt on the reading sensors 131, 132 is cleaned. If the defect in the reading sensors 131, 132 is not resolved even after repeated steps, it is determined that the dirt is fatal to the reading sensors 131, 132, that is, that dirt exists inside the reading sensors 131, 132 and cannot be resolved by the cleaning method presented to the user, and notifies the user of this.

[0037] 5 is a flowchart showing an example of a specific processing flow of step S506 in FIG. 4. First, the system control unit 401 calculates position information on the inspection target image of defects such as dust on the reading sensors 131 and 132 (step S601). The method of calculating the position information may use information on the occurrence of defects in the inspection target image (read image) based on the difference image in step S504. Next, the system control unit 401 generates a read image indicating the position information of the defects on the read image based on the calculated position information of the defects (step S602).

[0038] Next, the system control unit 401 calculates position information of the dirt on the reading sensors 131 and 132 (step S603). The position information of the dirt on the reading sensors 131 and 132 is calculated based on position information of the defect on the read image and specifications such as dimensions of the installed reading sensors 131 and 132. Then, the system control unit 401 generates an image showing the position information of the defect on the reading sensors 131 and 132 (step S604).

[0039] Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of a specific processing flow of step S601 in Fig. 5. The system control unit 401 calculates position information of defects on the scanned image (step S701). This is the same as step S601 shown in Fig. 6. Next, the system control unit 401 stores the calculated position information of the defects (step S702).

[0040] Next, the system control unit 401 determines whether the position information of the defect calculated when the previous reading sensors 131, 132 were determined to be defective (stored position information of the defect) matches the position information of the defect that has occurred this time (step S703). If the stored position information of the defect does not match the position information of the defect that has occurred this time (step S703: No), the process ends here. If the stored position information of the defect matches the position information of the defect that has occurred this time (step S703: Yes), the system control unit 401 stores the number of times the stored position information of the defect matches the position information of the defect that has occurred this time (step S704).

[0041] Next, the system control unit 401 determines whether the number of matches is equal to or greater than a predetermined number N (step S705). The determination condition here varies depending on the defect determination algorithm and the HW specifications and installation locations of the reading sensors 131 and 132, and is therefore determined in a preliminary evaluation and is a value that can be changed externally. If the number of matches is less than the predetermined number (step S705: No), the process ends here. If the number of matches is equal to or greater than the predetermined number N (step S705: Yes), the system control unit 401 determines that there is fatal dirt in the reading sensors 131 and 132, that is, that there is dirt inside the reading sensors 131 and 132, and that the cleaning method presented to the user cannot resolve this, and notifies the user (step S706).

[0042] 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen for notifying the user in step S506 of FIG. 4. The system control unit 401 displays an image S801 indicating position information of defects in the reading sensors 131 and 132 on the inspection target image (read image). The system control unit 401 displays a defect S802 of the reading sensors 131 and 132 on the image S801. The system control unit 401 also displays a display frame S803 on the image S801 for indicating position information of the defects on the reading sensors 131 and 132 to the user. The display method for notifying the user of the defects on the reading sensors 131 and 132 is not limited to this display method as long as it can indicate to the user that there is a defect on the reading sensors 131 and 132.

[0043] The system control unit 401 also displays a message S804 notifying the user of whether or not a defect has occurred on the reading sensors 131 and 132. If a defect has occurred on the reading sensors 131 and 132, the system control unit 401 displays a notification S805 urging the user to clean them. At this time, the system control unit 401 includes the position information of the dirt on the reading sensors 131 and 132 calculated in step S604 of FIG. 6 in the notification message.

[0044] The system control unit 401 also displays images S807 to S809 for specifically indicating the positional information of the dirt on the reading sensors 131 and 132. In image S807, a mark indicating the specific positional information of the dirt on the reading sensors 131 and 132 calculated in step S604 of FIG. 6 is displayed together with the dimensions (scale) S806 of the reading sensors 131 and 132. The dimensions in this image are an example, and the displayed content is not limited to this. The system control unit 401 also displays image S808 showing the actual reading sensors 131 and 132, and displays a mark S809 indicating the dirt position in the same position as image S807.

[0045] In this way, according to the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, when the user cleans the reading sensors 131 and 132, the cleaning can be performed more reliably.

[0046] In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is described as being applied to a multifunction peripheral having at least two of the functions of a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function, and a facsimile function, but the present invention can be applied to any image forming apparatus such as a copier, printer, scanner device, or facsimile device.

[0047] For example, aspects of the present invention are as follows. <1> an inspection image acquisition unit that reads a printed matter printed by a printing device and acquires an inspection image; a defect determination unit that determines whether the state of the printed matter is good or bad based on a correct image to be compared with the inspection image and the inspection image; a reading sensor defect determination unit that determines, when the printed matter is determined to be in a defective state, whether or not the defect is caused by the inspection image acquisition unit based on the inspection image; a position calculation unit that calculates position information of a defect caused by the inspection image acquisition unit; a display control unit that displays the position information calculated by the position calculation unit together with the inspection image; An image forming apparatus comprising: <2> the display control unit displays a reading unit on which a scale for specifying a cleaning position of the inspection image acquisition unit is written. <1> 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 . <3> the display control unit displays the position information and the scale as a cleaning position of the inspection image acquisition unit. <2> 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 . <4> a cleaning notification unit that notifies the user that the inspection image acquisition unit has been successfully cleaned when the inspection image acquisition unit has been cleaned; <1> from <3> 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein <5> a storage unit that stores the position information of defects caused by the inspection image acquisition unit; a determination unit that determines whether the defects occur at the same position based on the position information stored in the storage unit; a notification unit that notifies a user when it is determined that a defect has occurred at the same position as the inspection image acquisition unit; Equipped with <1> from <4> 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein <6> An image inspection method executed by an image forming apparatus including an inspection image acquisition unit that reads a printed matter printed by a printing device and acquires an inspection image, a step of determining whether the state of the printed matter is good or bad based on a correct image to be compared with the inspection image and the inspection image; a step of determining, when it is determined that the printed matter is in a defective state, whether or not the defect is caused by the inspection image acquisition unit based on the inspection image; calculating position information of a defect caused by the inspection image acquisition unit; displaying the calculated position information together with the inspection image; An imaging inspection method comprising: <7> an inspection image acquisition unit that reads a printed matter printed by a printing device and acquires an inspection image; a defect determination unit that determines whether the state of the printed matter is good or bad based on a correct image to be compared with the inspection image and the inspection image; a reading sensor defect determination unit that determines, when the printed matter is determined to be in a defective state, whether or not the defect is caused by the inspection image acquisition unit based on the inspection image; a position calculation unit that calculates position information of a defect caused by the inspection image acquisition unit; a display control unit that displays the position information calculated by the position calculation unit together with the inspection image; An image inspection system comprising: [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 101 Printer 102,133 Operation section 103 Inspection equipment 131,132 reading sensor 401 System Control Unit 402 User I / F section 403 Network I / F section 404 External I / F control section 405 Storage section 406 Mechanism control unit 407 Print image reading unit 408 Master image generation unit 409 Differential Image Generation Unit 451 Image storage unit 452 Printing defect judgment processing unit 453 Reading sensor defect determination processing unit [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0049] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-072778

Claims

1. an inspection image acquisition unit that reads a printed matter printed by a printing device and acquires an inspection image; a defect determination unit that determines whether the state of the printed matter is good or bad based on a correct image to be compared with the inspection image and the inspection image; a reading sensor defect determination unit that determines, when it is determined that the printed matter is in a defective state, whether or not the defect is caused by the inspection image acquisition unit based on the inspection image; a position calculation unit that calculates position information of a defect caused by the inspection image acquisition unit; a display control unit that displays the position information calculated by the position calculation unit together with the inspection image; An image forming apparatus comprising:

2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the display control unit displays a reading unit on which a scale for specifying a cleaning position of the inspection image acquisition unit is marked.

3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the display control unit displays the position information and the scale as a cleaning position of the inspection image acquisition unit.

4. 4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cleaning notification unit that notifies the user that dirt on the inspection image acquisition unit has been successfully cleaned when the inspection image acquisition unit has been cleaned.

5. a storage unit that stores the position information of defects caused by the inspection image acquisition unit; a determination unit that determines whether the defects occur at the same position based on the position information stored in the storage unit; a notification unit that notifies a user when it is determined that a defect has occurred at the same position as the inspection image acquisition unit; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

6. An image inspection method executed by an image forming apparatus including an inspection image acquisition unit that reads a printed matter printed by a printing device and acquires an inspection image, a step of determining whether the state of the printed matter is good or bad based on a correct image to be compared with the inspection image and the inspection image; a step of determining, when it is determined that the printed matter is in a defective state, whether or not the defect is caused by the inspection image acquisition unit based on the inspection image; calculating position information of a defect caused by the inspection image acquisition unit; displaying the calculated position information together with the inspection image; An imaging inspection method comprising:

7. an inspection image acquisition unit that reads a printed matter printed by a printing device and acquires an inspection image; a defect determination unit that determines whether the state of the printed matter is good or bad based on a correct image to be compared with the inspection image and the inspection image; a reading sensor defect determination unit that determines, when it is determined that the printed matter is in a defective state, whether or not the defect is caused by the inspection image acquisition unit based on the inspection image; a position calculation unit that calculates position information of a defect caused by the inspection image acquisition unit; a display control unit that displays the position information calculated by the position calculation unit together with the inspection image; An image inspection system comprising:

Images