Information processing system and information processing program

Abstract

To enable visual confirmation of the print condition by performing sample printing even when performing continuous printing while inspecting print quality.SOLUTION: An information processing includes a processor. The processor is configured to: while inspecting print quality of a printed material, continuously print subsequent printed materials; eject, as a rejected printed material, to a first ejection section, a printed material with an inspection result of rejected and printed materials printed succeeding after the rejected printed material up until printing is stopped; eject, to a second ejection section, a printed material with an inspection result of passed; and, upon receiving an instruction for sample printing, eject, to the first ejection section, as a sample print, a printed material for which the instruction was made.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a printing system for inspecting printed sheets, comprising: a printing device that prints an image on a sheet; an inspection device that receives and inspects the sheet printed by the printing device and transported; and an information processing device, wherein the information processing device has a determination means that determines whether a device having a paper output tray exists between the printing device and the inspection device, and, if the determination means determines that such device exists, a control means that controls the ejection of a sheet printed by the sample print to the paper output tray when it is time for sample printing during execution of a print job that uses the printing device and the inspection device, so that the user can check the printing on the sheet.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses an inspection device that inspects printed matter by comparing the printed matter with a reference image, characterized in that the inspection mode for the inspection has a control means that exclusively controls a mode for switching the discharge destination of printed matter in which defects are found, and an inspection job for inspecting printed matter in which one copy is made up of multiple printed matter, or an inspection type for inspecting printed matter that has a sequence.

[0004] Patent document 3 discloses an image forming system that includes an image forming means that executes a print job and forms an image on a sheet that is supplied, and an inspection means that inspects the quality of the image formed on the sheet, and the inspection means does not inspect sheets that are discharged by the image forming means without being used for the print job. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-124459 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-146528 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-107439 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present disclosure aims to enable sample printing to be performed so that the print condition can be visually confirmed even when continuous printing is performed while inspecting print quality. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The information processing system according to the first aspect includes: a processor; The processor: While inspecting the print quality of the printed material, subsequent printed materials are printed continuously. Discharging the prints whose inspection results have failed and the prints that have been printed after the failed prints up until the printing stoppage to a first discharge section as failed prints; Printed items that pass the inspection are discharged to the second discharge section, When a sample print instruction is received, the printout for which the instruction has been given is discharged to the first discharge unit as a sample print.

[0008] An information processing system according to a second aspect is the information processing system according to the first aspect, The processor: Only when the printout with the instruction is not included in the rejected printouts, is the printout with the instruction ejected to the first ejection section as a sample print.

[0009] An information processing system according to a third aspect is the information processing system according to the second aspect, The processor: The continuous printing is automatically restarted from the rejected printed matter.

[0010] An information processing system according to a fourth aspect is the information processing system according to the third aspect, The processor: When the continuous printing is automatically resumed, the continuous printing is resumed excluding the printed matter of the sample print that has been discharged to the first discharge section.

[0011] An information processing system according to a fifth aspect is the information processing system according to the third aspect, The processor: A blank sheet is discharged into the first discharge section between the sample print and the rejected print.

[0012] An information processing system according to a sixth aspect is the information processing system according to the fifth aspect, The processor: If the rejected printed matter is discharged to the first discharge section before the printed matter of the sample print, a blank sheet is discharged to the first discharge section, and then the printed matter of the sample print is discharged to the first discharge section; If the sample print is discharged to the first discharge section before the rejected print, a blank sheet is discharged to the first discharge section, and then the rejected print is discharged to the first discharge section.

[0013] An information processing system according to a seventh aspect is the information processing system according to the third aspect, The processor: The positions of the printed matter to be discharged onto the first discharge section are made different between the sample printed matter and the rejected printed matter.

[0014] An information processing system according to an eighth aspect is the information processing system according to the seventh aspect, The processor: If the rejected printed matter is discharged to the first discharge section before the sample printing, the position at which the printed matter of the sample printing is discharged to the first discharge section is made different from the position of the rejected printed matter discharged to the first discharge section; If the sample print is discharged to the first discharge section before the rejected print, the position at which the rejected print is discharged to the first discharge section is made different from the position of the sample print discharged to the first discharge section.

[0015] An information processing system according to a ninth aspect is the information processing system according to any one of the third to sixth aspects, The processor: Accepting user input to set a printing method according to a separation between the sample print and the rejected print; According to the set printing method, the sample print and the rejected print are discharged to the first discharge section.

[0016] An information processing program according to a tenth aspect includes: To the computer Print the subsequent print while inspecting the print quality of the print, Discharging the prints whose inspection results have failed and the prints that have been printed after the failed prints up until the printing stoppage to a first discharge section as failed prints; Printed items that pass the inspection are discharged to the second discharge section, When a sample print instruction is received, the printout for which the instruction was given is discharged as a sample print to the first discharge unit. Execute the process. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the first aspect, even when performing continuous printing while inspecting the print quality, sample printing can be performed to visually check the print condition.

[0018] According to the second aspect, the number of printed materials is reduced compared to when sample printing is performed again on printed materials that have already been discharged.

[0019] According to the third aspect, continuous printing can be automatically continued.

[0020] According to the fourth aspect, the amount of printed matter is reduced compared to when the ejected sample print is also restarted.

[0021] According to the fifth aspect, it is possible to distinguish between sample prints and rejected prints.

[0022] According to the sixth aspect, it is possible to distinguish between sample prints and prints that have failed inspection both at the transition from sample print to failed print and at the transition from failed print to sample print.

[0023] According to the seventh aspect, it is possible to distinguish between sample prints and rejected prints.

[0024] According to the eighth aspect, it is possible to distinguish between sample prints and prints that have failed inspection both at the transition from sample print to failed print and at the transition from failed print to sample print.

[0025] According to the ninth aspect, the printing method for separating the sample print and the rejected print can be handled by user settings.

[0026] According to the tenth aspect, even when performing continuous printing while inspecting the print quality, sample printing can be performed to visually check the print condition. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image forming system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the image forming system shown in FIG. 1 (part 1). [Figure 3]FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the image forming system shown in FIG. 1 (part 2). [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of the image forming system shown in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image forming system shown in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of sample printing in the image forming system shown in FIG. 1 (part 1). [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of sample printing in the image forming system shown in FIG. 1 (part 2). [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of sample printing in the image forming system shown in FIG. 1 (part 3). [Figure 9] 1. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of sample printing in the image forming system shown in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of sample printing in the image forming system shown in FIG. 1 (part 5). [Figure 11] FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of sample printing in the image forming system shown in FIG. 1 (part 6). [Figure 12] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the operation of sample printing in the image forming system shown in FIG. 1 (part 7). [Figure 13] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printing system 1 according to an embodiment. [Figure 14] 10 is an example of a purge setting screen. [Figure 15] 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of a sample printing process in the image forming system shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0029] (Image Forming System Overview) 1 shows an image forming system 10 according to one embodiment. The image forming system 10 includes a printing device 20, an inspection device 30, and a post-processing device 40. The image forming system 10 is an example of an information processing system and an information processing device.

[0030] (Printing device) The printing device 20 has a plurality of storage trays 20T that store paper. The printing device 20 has a printing function that prints an image on paper supplied from any of the storage trays 20T. Note that paper is an example of a recording medium, and the storage trays 20T are an example of a storage unit.

[0031] (Inspection equipment) The inspection device 30 has an inspection function to receive paper on which an image has been printed from the printing device 20 and inspect the print quality of the received printed paper (printed matter). The inspection device 30 determines whether the printed matter received from the printing device 20 has any abnormalities such as bent corners, dirty print, misalignment, etc.

[0032] Specifically, the inspection device 30 has a purge tray 30T onto which printed matter is discharged. The inspection device 30 receives a reference image (correct image) such as a rasterized image generated based on image data to be printed on paper from the printing device 20. The inspection device 30 also scans the image of the printed matter received from the printing device 20. The inspection device 30 then compares the reference image received from the printing device 20 with an inspection image such as a rasterized image based on the scanned image, and determines whether or not there is an abnormality in the printed matter.

[0033] As a result, if it is determined that the printed matter has an abnormality, the inspection device 30 fails the inspection and discharges the printed matter to the purge tray 30T. On the other hand, if it is determined that the printed matter has no abnormality, the inspection device 30 passes the inspection and supplies the printed matter to the post-processing device 40. The purge tray 30T is an example of a first discharge unit.

[0034] (Post-treatment device) The post-processing device 40 performs various post-processing operations such as folding, stapling, punching holes, and booklet production on the printed matter inspected by the inspection device 30, and discharges the post-processed printed matter onto a predetermined discharge tray 40T. Note that the processing contents of the post-processing device 40 can be changed as appropriate. The discharge tray 40T is an example of a second discharge unit.

[0035] (Continuous printing) The image forming system 10 has a continuous printing function. In this continuous printing, for example, a plurality of consecutive printed materials are continuously printed while inspecting the print quality. Specifically, in continuous printing, the printing device 20 prints an image on each of a plurality of sheets of paper supplied in order from a storage tray 20T, and the printed materials with the printed images are inspected in order by the inspection device 30. Then, printed materials that pass the inspection by the inspection device 30 are post-processed by the post-processing device 40 and discharged to a predetermined discharge tray 40T.

[0036] Here, as shown in Figure 2, if a printed item is found to fail inspection by the inspection device 30 during continuous printing (printed item 6P), not only the failed printed item but also the printed items being printed following the failed printed item (printed items 7 and 8P), i.e., all sheets of paper on the paper transport path from the storage tray 20T to the point of inspection by the inspection device 30, are ejected to the purge tray 30T.

[0037] 3, continuous printing (reprinting) is then resumed from the printed material (printed material of 6P) that failed inspection in the inspection device 30. Then, as indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3, the reprinted material (printed material of 6P) that passed inspection in the inspection device 30, and the subsequent printed materials (printed materials of 7P to 11P) following the reprinted material are discharged to the discharge tray 40T of the post-processing device 40. This is because if a printed material that failed inspection in the inspection device 30 occurs, and only the failed printed material (printed material of 6P) is discharged to the purge tray 30T, and the printed materials being printed following that printed material (printed materials of 7P and 8P) are discharged to the discharge tray 40T of the post-processing device 40, the page order of the printed materials will be shifted in the discharge tray 40T.

[0038] The image forming system 10 also has a sample printing function. In this sample printing, for example, a copy of a specified printout from among a series of multiple printouts is ejected onto the purge tray 30T to visually check the print quality. Specifically, in the sample printing, when the sample button is pressed from the input unit 58 in the printing device 20, the printout before ejection is ejected onto the purge tray 30T.

[0039] However, in the conventional image forming system 10, sample printing is prohibited for printing that involves inspection.

[0040] Therefore, in the image forming system 10 according to this embodiment, subsequent printed materials are continuously printed while inspecting the print quality of the printed materials, and printed materials that fail the inspection and printed materials printed after the failed printed material up until the printing was stopped are discharged to a first discharge section as failed printed materials, and printed materials that pass the inspection are discharged to a second discharge section, and when an instruction for sample printing is received, the printed material for which the instruction was made is discharged to the first discharge section as a sample print. The image forming system 10 according to this embodiment will be described in detail below.

[0041] (Hardware configuration of image forming system) First, we will explain the hardware configuration of the image forming system 10. Note that, for the sake of convenience, the hardware configuration of the image forming system 10 will be explained below, but the printing device 20, the inspection device 30, and the post-processing device 40 may each have a hardware configuration such as that shown in FIG.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 4, the image forming system 10 includes a computer having a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 50, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 52, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 54, a bus 72, storage 56, a communication interface (I / F) 62, etc., and further includes an input unit 58, a display unit 60, an image reading unit 64, an image forming unit 66, an inspection unit 68, and a post-processing unit 70.

[0043] The CPU 50 is a central processing unit that executes various programs and controls each component. That is, the CPU 50 reads programs from the ROM 52 or storage 56 and executes the programs using the RAM 54 as a work area. The CPU 50 controls the above components and performs various arithmetic processing in accordance with the programs recorded in the ROM 52 or storage 56. The CPU 50 is an example of a processor.

[0044] The ROM 52 stores various information processing programs and various data. The RAM 54 serves as a work area for the CPU 50 and temporarily stores programs or data.

[0045] The storage 56 is configured by a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), and stores various programs including an operating system and various data. The storage 56 also stores a response processing program.

[0046] The input unit 58 includes operation buttons and the like and is used to perform various inputs. The display unit 60 is, for example, a liquid crystal display and displays various information. The display unit 60 may employ a touch panel system and function as an input unit.

[0047] The communication I / F 62 is an interface for communicating with other devices, and uses standards such as Ethernet (registered trademark), FDDI, and Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[0048] The image reading unit 64 includes a scanner or the like, and optically reads image data from a document, etc. The image forming unit 66 prints the image data read by the image reading unit 64 or image data received from an operation terminal (not shown) onto a recording medium such as paper.

[0049] The inspection unit 68 includes a scanner and the like, and optically reads image data from the paper (printed matter) on which the image is printed by the image forming unit 66.

[0050] The post-processing unit 70 includes various post-processing mechanisms such as a folding mechanism for recording media such as paper, a stapling mechanism, a punch hole processing mechanism, and a booklet production processing mechanism, and performs post-processing on printed materials inspected by the inspection device 30.

[0051] (Image formation system functions) Next, the functions of the image forming system 10 will be described.

[0052] When executing the information processing program described above, the image forming system 10 uses the above hardware resources to realize the various functions of the printing device 20, the inspection device 30, and the post-processing device 40.

[0053] (Printing device) Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the printing device 20 functionally comprises a print request acquisition unit 22, a supply unit 24, a printing unit 26, and a print control unit 28.

[0054] The print request acquisition unit 22 acquires, for example, information (print data) of the print image input to the image forming system 10, and a print request (print job) such as paper size and number of copies.

[0055] The supply unit 24 supplies the paper sheets stored in a predetermined storage tray 20T among the multiple storage trays 20T to the printing unit 26. The printing unit 26 prints an image on the paper sheets supplied from the supply unit 24.

[0056] (Inspection function) The printing control unit 28 controls the overall operation of the printing device 20, prints images on multiple sheets of paper stored in the storage tray 20T, and performs continuous printing by sequentially supplying the multiple printed sheets to the inspection device 30.

[0057] Specifically, the printing control unit 28 controls the supply unit 24 based on the printing request acquired by the printing request acquisition unit 22, and causes the supply unit 24 to sequentially supply multiple sheets of paper from a predetermined storage tray 20T among the multiple storage trays 20T to the printing unit 26. The printing control unit 28 also transmits print data to be printed on the multiple sheets of paper to the printing unit 26. The printing control unit 28 then causes the printing unit 26 to print images based on the print data on the multiple sheets of paper supplied from the storage tray 20T, and sequentially supplies the multiple printed sheets from the printing unit 26 to the inspection device 30.

[0058] Furthermore, the print control unit 28 transmits print data to be printed on each of the multiple sheets of paper to an inspection control unit 39 in the inspection device 30, which will be described later.

[0059] (reprint) For example, as shown in FIG. 2, when a printed matter (6P printed matter) that fails the inspection is generated in the inspection device 30, the printing control unit 28 stops continuous printing of printed matter and performs reprinting, in which only the printed matter (6P printed matter) that fails the inspection is printed again.

[0060] 3, the print control unit 28 controls the supply unit 24 based on the inspection result received from the inspection control unit 39 (described later) to supply one sheet of paper from a predetermined one of the multiple storage trays 20T to the print unit 26. The print control unit 28 then causes the print unit 26 to reprint the image that failed the inspection on the sheet of paper supplied from the storage tray 20T, and supplies the reprinted product (6P reprinted product) from the print unit 26 to the inspection device 30.

[0061] If the inspection result of the reprinted material by the inspection device 30 is a pass, the print control unit 28 resumes continuous printing of the subsequent printed material following the reprinted material.

[0062] (Inspection equipment) The inspection device 30 functionally comprises an inspection image acquisition unit 32 , a reference image acquisition unit 34 , a quality inspection unit 36 ​​, a discharge destination switching unit 38 , and an inspection control unit 39 .

[0063] The inspection image acquisition unit 32 scans an image from the printed matter printed by the printing unit 26, and generates an inspection image such as a rasterized image based on the scanned image.

[0064] The reference image acquisition unit 34 receives the print data or test data sent from the print control unit 28 as a reference image.

[0065] The quality inspection unit 36 ​​compares the inspection image read by the inspection image acquisition unit 32 with the reference image received by the reference image acquisition unit 34 to determine whether there are any abnormalities in the printed matter, i.e., whether the printing quality of the printed matter is acceptable.

[0066] Specifically, the quality inspection unit 36 ​​compares the inspection image with the reference image to determine whether there are any abnormalities such as bent corners, smudged print, misalignment, etc. If the quality inspection unit 36 ​​determines that the printed matter has no abnormalities, it classifies the printed matter as passing, and if it determines that the printed matter has an abnormality, it classifies the printed matter as failing.

[0067] The discharge destination switching unit 38 switches the discharge destination of the printed matter inspected by the quality inspection unit 36 ​​between the post-processing device 40 and the purge tray 30T. In addition, a function for controlling the discharge position of the printed matter on the purge tray 30T may be provided.

[0068] The inspection control unit 39 controls the overall operation of the inspection device 30. Specifically, the inspection control unit 39 causes the quality inspection unit 36 ​​to inspect the print quality of the printed matter or reprinted matter. If the print quality of the printed matter or reprinted matter determined by the quality inspection unit 36 ​​to be acceptable, the inspection control unit 39 causes the discharge destination switching unit 38 to switch the discharge destination of the printed matter or reprinted matter to the post-processing device 40.

[0069] On the other hand, if the print or reprint inspection by the quality inspection unit 36 ​​results in a failure, the inspection control unit 39 causes the discharge destination switching unit 38 to switch the discharge destination of the print or reprint to the purge tray 30T.

[0070] Furthermore, the inspection control unit 39 transmits information such as the inspection results by the quality inspection unit 36 ​​and the number of pages (page numbers) of the printed matter that was determined to be unacceptable to the print control unit 28, and the information is stored in the printing device 20.

[0071] (Post-treatment device) The post-processing device 40 functionally includes a post-processing control unit 42. The post-processing control unit 42 controls the overall operation of the post-processing device 40. Specifically, the post-processing control unit 42 controls various post-processing mechanisms such as a folding mechanism, a stapling mechanism, a punching mechanism, and a booklet production mechanism, and performs post-processing on the printed materials supplied from the inspection device 30.

[0072] The print control unit 28, the inspection control unit 39, and the post-processing control unit 42 cooperate to control the overall operation of the image forming system 10 by transmitting and receiving information to and from each other.

[0073] (Sample print) When a sample print instruction is received from input unit 58, the printout of the job currently being printed is targeted for sample printing. Also, if the job for which sample printing is specified is set to print multiple copies, with multiple sheets of printed material counted as one copy, one copy of the copies will be targeted for sample printing.

[0074] Whether or not to perform a sample print for the job being inspected depends on the purge settings set for each job. The purge settings also set the method for discharging the sample print and the rejected print. Specifically, the purge settings can be set to either discharge a blank sheet of paper between the sample print and the rejected print, or to discharge the sample print and the rejected print at different positions.

[0075] The inspection control unit 39 switches the printed matter included in the copy that was the target of the sample printing to the purge tray 30T and discharges it there, and the discharge destination switching unit 38 switches the remaining printed matter to the discharge tray 40T and discharges them there.

[0076] Printed materials included in sample printing are also subject to inspection. Therefore, the inspection control unit 39 has the quality inspection unit 36 ​​inspect the print quality of the sample printed materials, and discharges the sample printed materials, both those that pass and those that fail, to the purge tray 30T. Note that, even for sample printed materials that are determined to be unsuccessful, the inspection results, such as the page count and page numbers, are sent to the print control unit 28 and stored in the printing device 20.

[0077] As shown in Figure 6, in the inspection device 30, for the first set of printed materials that are not subject to sample printing, printed materials that pass the inspection (1P / 1 to 4P / 1) are discharged to the discharge tray 40T, and for the second set of printed materials that are subject to sample printing (printed materials surrounded by dashed lines in Figure 6), both printed materials that pass the inspection (1P / 2, 3P / 2, 4P / 2) and printed materials that fail the inspection (2P / 2) are discharged to the purge tray 30T.

[0078] Next, as shown in Figure 7, if a failed print occurs among the third prints that were not included in the sample print after the sample print has been discharged onto the purge tray 30T, not only the failed print (1P / 3) but also the prints being printed that follow it (2P / 3, 3P / 3 prints) are discharged onto the purge tray 30T as failed prints (i.e., all the paper in the paper transport path from the storage tray 20T to the time of inspection by the inspection device 30 (prints surrounded by a dotted line in Figure 7)).

[0079] Since both the sample print and the rejected print are discharged onto the purge tray 30T, if they are discharged onto the purge tray 30T in a stacked manner, the rejected print will overlap the sample print, making it impossible to distinguish between the sample print and the rejected print.

[0080] Therefore, the sample print and the rejected print are discharged to the purge tray 30T according to the discharge method set in the purge setting. First, a case where a blank sheet is discharged as a separator between the sample print and the rejected print will be described.

[0081] 8, when the sample print (print surrounded by a dashed line) is discharged onto the purge tray 30T before the failed print (print surrounded by a dashed line), the inspection device 30 discharges a blank sheet onto the purge tray 30T between the sample print and the failed print. In other words, the blank sheet is discharged onto the purge tray 30T on top of the sample print, and then the failed print is discharged onto the purge tray 30T.

[0082] Thereafter, continuous printing (reprinting) is resumed from the printed matter (1P / 3) that failed inspection in the inspection device 30. Then, the reprinted matters (1P / 3 to 3P / 3) that passed inspection in the inspection device 30 and the subsequent printed matter (4P / 3) following the reprinted matters have their discharge destination switched by the discharge destination switching unit 38 and are discharged onto the discharge tray 40T.

[0083] 7 and 8 have described a case where a failed printout occurs for the third copy following the second copy of the sample printout, but even if a failed printout occurs after the sample printout is completed and a passing printout is discharged to output tray 40T, if the sample printout has been discharged to purge tray 30T, a blank sheet of paper is discharged to purge tray 30T, and then the failed printout is discharged to purge tray 30T. Discharging a blank sheet of paper between the sample printout and the failed printout in this way makes it easier to distinguish between the sample printout and the failed printout.

[0084] Next, a case will be described in which printed matter that has failed the inspection is discharged onto the purge tray 30T, and then printed matter that has been sample printed is discharged onto the purge tray 30T.

[0085] 9, the inspection device 30 discharges failed prints (prints surrounded by dashed lines) onto the purge tray 30T, and the reprints (1P / 3 to 3P / 3) that passed the inspection and the subsequent prints (4P / 3) following the reprints have their discharge destination switched by the discharge destination switching unit 38 and are discharged onto the discharge tray 40T. Next, if the fourth prints (1P / 4 to 4P / 4) are to be sample printed, the discharge destination is switched by the discharge destination switching unit 38 and the fourth print is discharged onto the purge tray 30T.

[0086] In this case, both the rejected prints and the sample prints are discharged onto the purge tray 30T, and if they are discharged onto the purge tray 30T in a stacked manner, the rejected prints and the sample prints will be overlapped, making it impossible to distinguish between them.

[0087] 10, when a failed printout (printout surrounded by a dashed line) is discharged onto the purge tray 30T before a sample printout (printout surrounded by a dashed line), the inspection device 30 discharges a blank sheet onto the purge tray 30T between the failed printout and the sample printout. In other words, the inspection device 30 discharges a blank sheet onto the purge tray 30T on top of the failed printout that has been discharged onto the purge tray 30T, and then discharges the sample printout onto the purge tray 30T.

[0088] 9 and 10 have described the case where a fourth copy is sample printed following the third copy being rejected, but even if the third copy is reprinted and the accepted printouts are discharged to output tray 40T, and then the sample printouts are discharged to purge tray 30T, if rejected printouts have been discharged to purge tray 30T, a blank sheet of paper is discharged to purge tray 30T before the sample printouts are discharged to purge tray 30T. By discharging a blank sheet of paper between the rejected printouts and the sample printouts in this way, the separation between the rejected printouts and the sample printouts becomes easier to see.

[0089] Figures 7 to 10 explain the case where a blank sheet of paper is sandwiched between the sample print and the rejected print and then the print is discharged to the purge tray 30T. Next, we will explain the case where the discharge position is changed at the boundary between the sample print and the rejected print.

[0090] Specifically, if the rejected printed materials are discharged to the purge tray 30T before the sample printed materials, the discharge destination switching unit 38 causes the position at which the sample printed materials are discharged to the purge tray 30T to differ from the position at which the rejected printed materials were discharged to the purge tray 30T. For example, the discharge position at which the sample printed materials are discharged may be offset in a direction intersecting the discharge direction and stacking direction of the printed materials on the purge tray 30T. For example, the discharge position may be shifted 3 cm to the right in the discharge direction from the discharge position at which the rejected printed materials were discharged.

[0091] Alternatively, if the sample printouts are discharged to the purge tray 30T before the rejected printouts, the discharge destination switching unit 38 causes the position at which the rejected printouts are discharged to the purge tray 30T to be different from the position at which the sample printouts were discharged to the purge tray 30T. For example, the discharge position at which the rejected printouts are discharged is offset in a direction intersecting the discharge direction and stacking direction of the printed printouts on the purge tray 30T. For example, the position may be shifted 3 cm to the left in the discharge direction from the discharge position of the sample printouts.

[0092] By moving the discharge position in the opposite direction when the rejected printed matter is discharged onto the purge tray 30T before the sample printed matter and when the sample printed matter is discharged onto the purge tray 30T before the rejected printed matter, the sample printed matter and the rejected printed matter are piled up at the same position, making it easy to distinguish between the sample printed matter and the rejected printed matter.

[0093] In the above description, the discharge position is moved in the opposite direction when rejected printed materials are discharged to the purge tray 30T before the sample printed materials and when the sample printed materials are discharged to the purge tray 30T before the rejected printed materials, but the discharge position may always be moved in the same direction when rejected printed materials are discharged to the purge tray 30T before the sample printed materials and when the sample printed materials are discharged to the purge tray 30T before the rejected printed materials. By shifting the discharge position of the purge tray 30T between the rejected printed materials and the sample printed materials in this way, the separation between the rejected printed materials and the sample printed materials becomes easier to see.

[0094] (Reprint of sample print) Next, we will explain how to reprint when the second printed copy following the first printed copy is the subject of sample printing and the second printed copy is discharged to the purge tray 30T as a failed printed copy following the first failed printed copy.

[0095] As shown in Figure 11, when the first copy of a printed material (4P / 1) fails inspection in the inspection device 30, the second copy of the printed material (1P / 2, 2P / 2) being printed on the paper transport path following the first copy is ejected to the purge tray 30T as a failed printed material.

[0096] 12, continuous printing (reprinting) is then automatically resumed starting with the printed matter (4P / 1) that failed inspection in the inspection device 30. After resumption, the reprinted matter (4P / 1) that passed inspection in the inspection device 30 is discharged to the discharge tray 40T. Next, the second printed matter is also subject to continuous printing. Since the second printed matter is subject to sample printing, it is discharged to the purge tray 30T, but the first two printed matters of the second copy (1P / 2, 2P / 2) have already been discharged to the purge tray 30T because they are included in the failed printed matters.

[0097] Therefore, only if the second copy of the printout instructed to be sample printed is not included among the rejected printouts, is the second copy of the printout ejected to the purge tray 30T as a sample print. As shown in Fig. 12, reprinting of the first two printouts of the second copy (1P / 2, 2P / 2) is skipped, and sample printing is resumed from the printout (3P / 2) next to the printout (2P / 2) last ejected to the purge tray 30T, and the printout is ejected to the purge tray 30T.

[0098] In this way, when continuous printing is automatically resumed, the sample prints that have been discharged to the purge tray 30T are excluded from the continuous printing. This reduces the number of prints by not discharging multiple copies of the same sample print.

[0099] (Printing System) Next, a printing system 1 according to an embodiment will be described.

[0100] As shown in Fig. 13, the printing system 1 includes an image forming system 10, a print control device 80, and a user terminal 90. The print control device 80 is a computer with server functionality, and is communicatively connected to the image forming system 10 and the user terminal 90 via a network. The network uses standards such as Ethernet (registered trademark), FDDI, and Wi-Fi (registered trademark). Although Fig. 8 shows only one image forming system 10 and one user terminal 90, the printing control device 80 may be configured to connect to multiple image forming systems 10 and multiple user terminals.

[0101] The user terminal 90 is a computer with a communication function, and includes an input unit 94 and a display unit 96. The input unit 94 includes operation buttons and the like, and is used to perform various inputs. The display unit 96 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and displays various types of information. The display unit 96 may also function as the input unit 94 by employing a touch panel system.

[0102] The print control device 80 receives job J from the user terminal 90 and performs control to transmit the received job J to the image forming system 10.

[0103] Furthermore, the print control device 80 transmits the print conditions C set on the user terminal 90 to the corresponding image forming system 10. The print conditions C include whether or not the job is a job to be inspected, and purge settings regarding the method of ejecting the sample print.

[0104] The image forming system 10 receives the job J sent from the print control device 80 at the print request acquisition unit 22 of the printing device 20 and starts the print processing. The image forming system 10 also stores the print conditions C sent from the print control device 80 and executes the print processing according to the settings of the print conditions C.

[0105] The inspection results R performed by the inspection device 30 of the image forming system 10 are transmitted to the print control device 80, and the print results R are associated with each job J and stored in the print control device 80. Furthermore, if the print results R are unsuccessful, error information E is transmitted to the user terminal 90. The error information E may be transmitted to the user terminal 90 via the print control device 80, but if the image forming system 10 and the user terminal 90 are directly connected for communication, it may also be transmitted directly from the image forming system 10 to the user terminal 90.

[0106] The user terminal 90 is provided with a user interface (UI) 92. The UI 92 is composed of an input unit 94 and a display unit 96, and is used to input job J and printing conditions C. Furthermore, job J and printing conditions C input from the UI 92 are transmitted from the user terminal 90 to the print control device 80. Furthermore, the user terminal 90 displays error information E transmitted from the inspection device 30 on the UI 92.

[0107] Since the error information E includes inspection results such as the number of pages and page numbers of printed materials that were determined to be unacceptable among the printed materials, the user can check on the UI 92 of the user terminal 90 whether the sample printed materials also include printed materials that were determined to be unacceptable. Alternatively, the inspection results stored in the printing device 20 may be displayed on the display unit 60 of the image forming system 10 so that the user can check them.

[0108] (Inspection purge settings) Next, a method for setting the purge of a job to be inspected will be described.

[0109] Purge settings are set on a job-by-job basis from the UI 92 of the user terminal 90. Fig. 14 shows an example of a purge setting screen for a job to be inspected, which is displayed on the display unit 96. The purge setting is performed by the user selecting a radio button on the purge setting screen using the input unit 94. The purge setting screen and the selection method are merely examples and are not limited to these.

[0110] First, select whether or not to perform a sample print for the job to be inspected. If you want to perform a sample print, check "Print sample sheet." If you do not want to perform a sample print, uncheck "Print sample sheet."

[0111] Next, if you are performing a sample print, select the setting for the separator between the rejected print and the sample print. If you want to print consecutively without a separator between the rejected print and the sample print, check "Do nothing." If you want to insert a separator between the rejected print and the sample print, select either "Offset" (to make the ejection positions of the rejected print and the sample print different) or "Insert blank sheet" (to eject a blank sheet between the rejected print and the sample print). These selected information are recorded in printing condition C.

[0112] Job J and printing conditions C input from the UI 92 are sent from the user terminal 90 to the print control device 80, and the job to be sample printed is printed according to the settings of printing conditions C.

[0113] (Sample printing process of image forming system) Next, the sample printing process by the image forming system 10 will be described.

[0114] In the image forming system 10, continuous printing of a plurality of printed materials is performed, and when the printing device 20 receives an instruction for sample printing from the input unit 58, the image forming system 10 executes the sample printing process shown in FIG.

[0115] First, in step S10, the CPU 50 prints or reprints on paper supplied from the supply unit 24. Then, in step S12, the print quality of the printed or reprinted material is inspected.

[0116] Next, in step S14, the CPU 50 determines whether the printed matter is a target for sample printing. If it is a target for sample printing (YES in step S14), the CPU 50 proceeds to step S16, where the CPU 50 determines whether the preceding printed matter discharged onto the purge tray 30T is a rejected printed matter.

[0117] In step S16, if the rejected printed matter has not been discharged onto the purge tray 30T (NO in step S16), the process proceeds to step 24, where the sample printed matter is discharged onto the purge tray.

[0118] On the other hand, if the preceding printed matter discharged onto the purge tray 30T is a rejected printed matter (YES in step S16), the CPU 50 proceeds to step S18.

[0119] In step S18, if the rejected printouts previously discharged to the purge tray 30T include sample printouts, the CPU 50 skips discharging the already printed sample printouts (see 1P / 2 and 2P / 2 in FIG. 12). In step S10, the CPU 50 determines whether or not a reprint is being performed, skips the sample printout that has already been discharged as a rejected printout in the reprint, and prints the next printout (3P / 2 in FIG. 12).

[0120] Next, in step S20, the CPU 50 determines whether or not a break is specified in the printing condition C. If a break is not specified (NO in step S20), the CPU 50 proceeds to step S24, where it ejects the sample printout onto the purge tray 30T.

[0121] On the other hand, if a separator is specified in the printing condition C (YES in step S20), the CPU 50 proceeds to step S22, where if the separator is to insert a blank sheet, the CPU 50 discharges a blank sheet to the purge tray 30T. Alternatively, if the separator is to offset, the CPU 50 changes the discharge position of the purge tray 30T.

[0122] Subsequently, in step S24, the CPU 50 discharges the sample print onto the purge tray 30T.

[0123] Returning to step S14, the case where the printed matter is not a target for sample printing will be described.

[0124] If it is determined in step S14 that the printed matter is not a target for sample printing (NO in step S14), the process proceeds to step S26. In step S26, the CPU 50 determines whether the inspection result of the printed matter performed in step S12 is pass or fail. If the inspection result of the printed matter is pass (YES in step S26), the CPU 50 proceeds to step S30 and discharges the passed printed matter (not a target for sample printing) onto the discharge tray 40T.

[0125] On the other hand, if the inspection result of the printed matter is unsuccessful in step S26 (NO in step S26), the CPU 50 proceeds to step S28.

[0126] In step S28, the CPU 50 determines whether the preceding printed matter discharged onto the purge tray 30T is a sample print. If the preceding printed matter is not a sample print and a rejected printed matter has been discharged onto the purge tray 30T (NO in step S28), the CPU 50 proceeds to step S24, where the rejected printed matter is discharged onto the purge tray 30T.

[0127] On the other hand, if the preceding printed matter discharged onto the purge tray 30T is a sample print (YES in step S28), the process proceeds to step S20.

[0128] In step S20, the CPU 50 determines whether a separator is specified in the printing condition C. If a separator is not specified (NO in step S20), the process proceeds to step 24. In step 24, the CPU 50 ejects the rejected printout onto the purge tray 30T on top of the sample printout on the purge tray 30T.

[0129] If a separator is specified in printing condition C (YES in step S20), the CPU 50 proceeds to step S22. In step S22, if the separator is specified to insert a blank sheet, the CPU 50 discharges a blank sheet to the purge tray 30T. On the other hand, if the separator is specified to be an offset, the CPU 50 changes the discharge position of the purge tray 30T.

[0130] Subsequently, in step S24, the CPU 50 discharges the rejected printed matter (not subject to sample printing) onto the purge tray 30T.

[0131] In step S26, it is determined whether printing is complete. If printing is not complete (NO in step S26), the CPU 50 returns to step S10 and prints the next printed matter or a reprinted matter.

[0132] Steps S10 to S30 are repeated until it is determined in step S26 that printing has ended.

[0133] As explained above, by printing a sample of the print to be inspected, the print condition can be visually confirmed. In addition, by adding a separator between the sample print and the rejected print, it becomes possible to distinguish between the sample print and the rejected print.

[0134] In the above embodiment, when an instruction for sample printing is received, a portion of the printed material of the job being printed is subject to sample printing. However, sample printing may also be performed at specified intervals, such as 50 or 100 copies.

[0135] In the above embodiment, the term "processor" refers to a processor in a broad sense, and includes general-purpose processors (e.g., CPU: Central Processing Unit, etc.) and dedicated processors (e.g., GPU: Graphics Processing Unit, ASIC: Application Specific Integrated Circuit, FPGA: Field Programmable Gate Array, programmable logic device, etc.).

[0136] Furthermore, the operations of the processor in the above embodiments may not only be performed by one processor, but may also be performed by multiple processors located at physically separate locations working together. The order of the operations of the processor is not limited to the order described in the above embodiments, and may be changed as appropriate. Some or all of the processors may be configured on a cloud. At least each process described in the above embodiments may be executed by a processor on a cloud.

[0137] In the above embodiment, the programs are installed on a computer, but this is not limiting. The programs according to the above embodiment may be provided in a form recorded on a computer-readable storage medium. For example, the programs according to the above embodiment may be provided in a form recorded on an optical disc such as a CD (Compact Disc)-ROM or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)-ROM, or in a form recorded on a semiconductor memory such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or a memory card. The programs according to the above embodiment may also be acquired from an external device via a communication I / F.

[0138] In the above embodiment, the processing in the image forming system 10 is described as being implemented by a software configuration using a computer by executing a program, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the processing in the image forming system 10 may be implemented by a hardware configuration or a combination of a hardware configuration and a software configuration.

[0139] In addition, the configuration of the image forming system 10 described in the above embodiment is one example, and it goes without saying that unnecessary parts may be deleted or new parts may be added within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0140] Furthermore, the processing flow in the image forming system 10 described in the above embodiment is also an example, and it goes without saying that unnecessary steps may be deleted, new steps may be added, or the processing order may be rearranged within the scope of the gist of this disclosure.

[0141] The following additional notes are provided regarding the above-described embodiments.

[0142] (((1))) a processor; The processor: While inspecting the print quality of the printed material, subsequent printed materials are printed continuously. Discharging the prints whose inspection results have failed and the prints that have been printed after the failed prints up until the printing stoppage to a first discharge section as failed prints; Printed items that pass the inspection are discharged to the second discharge section, When a sample print instruction is received, the printout for which the instruction was given is discharged as a sample print to the first discharge unit. Information processing system. (((2))) The processor: Only when the printout of the instruction is not included in the rejected printouts, the printout on which the instruction is made is discharged to the first discharge unit as a sample print. The information processing system according to (((1))). (((3))) The processor: automatically restarting the continuous printing from the rejected print; The information processing system according to (((1))) or (((2))). (((4))) The processor: When automatically restarting the continuous printing, restarting the continuous printing except for the printed matter of the sample print that has been discharged to the first discharge unit. The information processing system according to (((3))). (((5))) The processor: Discharging a blank sheet of paper into the first discharge section between the sample print and the rejected print. The information processing system according to (((3))). (((6))) The processor: If the rejected printed matter is discharged to the first discharge section before the printed matter of the sample print, a blank sheet is discharged to the first discharge section, and then the printed matter of the sample print is discharged to the first discharge section; If the sample print is discharged to the first discharge section before the rejected print, a blank sheet is discharged to the first discharge section, and then the rejected print is discharged to the first discharge section. The information processing system according to (((5))). (((7))) The processor: differentiating the positions of the printed matter to be discharged onto the first discharge section between the sample printed matter and the rejected printed matter; The information processing system according to any one of (((1))) to (((6))). (((8))) The processor: If the rejected printed matter is discharged to the first discharge section before the sample printing, the position at which the printed matter of the sample printing is discharged to the first discharge section is made different from the position of the rejected printed matter discharged to the first discharge section; When the printed matter of the sample print is discharged to the first discharge section before the rejected printed matter, the position at which the rejected printed matter is discharged to the first discharge section is made different from the position of the printed matter of the sample print discharged to the first discharge section. The information processing system according to (((7))). (((9))) The processor: Accepting user input to set a printing method according to a separation between the sample print and the rejected print; Discharging the sample print and the rejected print to the first discharge unit according to the set printing method. The information processing system according to any one of (((3))) to (((6))). (((10))) On the computer, Print the subsequent print while inspecting the print quality of the print, Discharging the prints whose inspection results have failed and the prints that have been printed after the failed prints up until the printing stoppage to a first discharge section as failed prints; Printed items that pass the inspection are discharged to the second discharge section, When a sample print instruction is received, the printout for which the instruction was given is discharged as a sample print to the first discharge unit. An information processing program for executing processing.

[0143] According to (((1))), even when printing continuously while inspecting the print quality, sample printing can be performed to visually check the print condition. According to (((2))), the number of printed materials is reduced compared to printing a sample of the printed materials that have already been discharged. According to (((3))), reprinting is automatically resumed, so continuous printing can be continued. According to (((4))), the amount of printed material is reduced compared to restarting printing of sample prints that have already been discharged. According to (((5))), it is possible to distinguish between sample prints and rejected prints. According to (((6))), it is possible to distinguish between sample prints and prints that have failed inspection at both the boundary between sample prints and failed prints and the boundary between failed prints and sample prints. According to (((7))), it is possible to distinguish between sample prints and rejected prints. According to (((8))), it is possible to distinguish between sample prints and prints that have failed inspection at both the boundary between sample prints and failed prints and the boundary between failed prints and sample prints. According to (((9))), the printing method for separating the sample prints and the rejected prints can be handled by user settings. According to (((10))), even when printing continuously while inspecting the print quality, sample printing can be performed to visually check the print condition. [Explanation of symbols]

[0144] 10 Image forming system (information processing system, information processing device) 20T storage tray (storage section) 30T Purge tray (first discharge section) 40T output tray (second output section) 50 CPUs (processors)

Claims

1. a processor; The processor: The printing quality of the printed material is inspected while the subsequent printed material is printed continuously. Discharging the prints whose inspection results have failed and the prints that have been printed after the failed prints up until the printing stoppage to a first discharge section as failed prints; The printed matter that passes the inspection is discharged to the second discharge section; When an instruction for sample printing is received, the printed matter for which the instruction has been given is discharged as a sample print to the first discharge unit. Information processing system.

2. The processor: If the printout of the instruction is not included in the rejected printouts, the printout of the instruction is discharged to the first discharge unit as a sample print. The information processing system according to claim 1 .

3. The processor: automatically restarting the continuous printing from the rejected print; The information processing system according to claim 2 .

4. The processor: When the continuous printing is automatically resumed, the continuous printing is resumed excluding the printed matter of the sample print that has been discharged to the first discharge unit. The information processing system according to claim 3 .

5. The processor: Discharging a blank sheet of paper into the first discharge section between the sample print and the rejected print. The information processing system according to claim 3 .

6. The processor: If the rejected printed matter is discharged to the first discharge section before the printed matter of the sample print, a blank sheet is discharged to the first discharge section, and then the printed matter of the sample print is discharged to the first discharge section; When the sample print is discharged to the first discharge section before the rejected print, a blank sheet is discharged to the first discharge section, and then the rejected print is discharged to the first discharge section. The information processing system according to claim 5 .

7. The processor: differentiating the positions of the printed matter to be discharged onto the first discharge section between the sample printed matter and the rejected printed matter; The information processing system according to claim 3 .

8. The processor: If the rejected printed matter is discharged to the first discharge section before the sample printing, the position at which the printed matter of the sample printing is discharged to the first discharge section is made different from the position of the rejected printed matter discharged to the first discharge section; When the printed matter of the sample print is discharged to the first discharge section before the rejected printed matter, the position at which the rejected printed matter is discharged to the first discharge section is made different from the position of the printed matter of the sample print discharged to the first discharge section. The information processing system according to claim 7 .

9. The processor: Accepting user input to set a printing method according to a separation between the sample print and the rejected print; Discharging the sample print and the rejected print to the first discharge section according to the set printing method. The information processing system according to any one of claims 3 to 6.

10. On the computer, Print the subsequent print while inspecting the print quality of the print, Discharging the prints whose inspection results have failed and the prints that have been printed after the failed prints up until the printing stoppage to a first discharge section as failed prints; The printed matter that passes the inspection is discharged to the second discharge section; When an instruction for sample printing is received, the printed matter for which the instruction has been given is discharged as a sample print to the first discharge unit. An information processing program for executing processing.

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