Inspection apparatus, program, and inspection system

Abstract

To provide a technology for providing useful information for a user concerning an image defect being generated in a printed matter of a printing apparatus.SOLUTION: When an image defect is generated on a sheet output from a printing apparatus, an image of the sheet including the image defect is displayed. A page image 901 includes an image defect which is generated in a first job. A page image 902 includes an image defect which is generated in a second job. Page images 903, 904 include an image defect which is generated in a third job. A page image 905 includes an image defect which is generated in a fourth job. Page images 906-908 include an image defect which is generated in a fifth job. A page image 909 includes an image defect which is generated in a sixth job.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to inspection of image defects on sheets output from a printing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Various techniques have been proposed for inspecting image defects on a sheet by comparing an image on the sheet output from a conventional printing apparatus such as an MFP (Multi-Functional Peripheral) with an image to be output.

[0003] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-205682 (Patent Document 1) discloses an abnormality detection device that detects the number of occurrences for each type of image defect (such as dirt, missing, etc.) detected in a printed sheet. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-210835 (Patent Document 2) discloses an inspection device that determines the quality of a printed matter and displays an image of the printed matter determined to be defective together with an image of the printed matter determined to be good. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-210836 (Patent Document 3) discloses an inspection device that determines the quality of a printed matter and displays image data of the printed matter determined to be defective together with printing information (item name, allowable value, defective occurrence position, etc.).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The conventional techniques as described above are It did not indicate the location where the image defect occurred .

[0006] The present disclosure has been conceived in view of such circumstances, and its object is to provide a technique for dealing with image defects occurring in printed matter of a printing apparatus. Indicates the location where the image defect occurred

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an inspection apparatus including a memory and a controller that inspects an image of a sheet output by a printing apparatus by comparing it with a correct image of the image, wherein the controller stores an image determined to be a defective image in the inspection in the memory, and displays, on a display device, a rectangle covering the entire defective image of the image determined to be a defective image in the inspection.

[0008] Preferably, the controller displays on the display device so that the type of the defective image covered by the rectangle can be understood.

[0009] Preferably, the controller surrounds the defective image with a rectangle so that it can be recognized as streaks. Preferably, the controller surrounds the defective image with a rectangle so that it can be recognized as dirt or dots.

[0010] Preferably, the controller identifies the type of the defective image in the inspection. Preferably, the correct image is an image corresponding to RIP image data generated from the image of the sheet.

[0011] Preferably, the inspection apparatus has a storage unit that stores information regarding the inspection. Preferably, the information regarding the inspection includes information regarding the type of the defective image.

[0012] ​According to another aspect of the present disclosure, when executed by a computer processor, the computer is caused to perform steps of inspecting an image of a sheet output by a printing device by comparing the image with a correct image of the image; storing an image determined to be a defective image in the inspection in a memory of the computer; and displaying, on a display device, an image determined to be a defective image in the inspection, covering the entire defective image with a rectangle. A program is provided that causes the above to be executed.

[0013] According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an inspection system including a printing device and an information processing device. The information processing device includes an interface that acquires information for deriving an inspection result by comparison with a correct image for an image output from the printing device, and a controller that, using the information acquired via the interface, displays, on a display device, an image determined to be a defective image in the inspection, covering the entire defective image with a rectangle, among the inspection results.

Advantages of the Invention

[0014] According to the present disclosure, useful information is provided to the user regarding image defects occurring in printed matter of a printing device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0015]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of an inspection device and an inspection system will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts and components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, these descriptions will not be repeated.

[0017] [Schematic Configuration of Inspection Device] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the schematic configuration of a printing device 100 which is an example of an inspection device.

[0018] The printing device 100 includes a printer controller 113, an image forming unit 120, a post-processing device 125, a transport device 127, an operation panel 130, and a control device 135.

[0019] The printer controller 113 performs RIP (Raster Image Processor) processing based on the original data included in the print job received by the printing device 100 from the client terminal via the communication line, and generates RIP image data which is bitmap data. The original data may include data of graphics, characters, and backgrounds.

[0020] The image forming unit 120 prints a printed image on a sheet based on the RIP image data generated by the printer controller 113. Details of the image forming unit 120 will be described later.

[0021] The post-processing device 125 reads the printed image formed on the sheet and switches the conveyance direction of the sheet according to whether or not an image defect has occurred. The post-processing device 125 and image defects will be described later.

[0022] The conveyance device 127 feeds sheets of the type (for example, size, basis weight, and paper type) specified by the print job, one by one, toward the image forming unit 120. Further, the conveyance device 127 conveys the sheet on which an image has been formed in the image forming unit 120 to the post-processing device 125.

[0023] The operation panel 130 receives operation inputs from the user for the printing device 100. Further, the operation panel 130 displays screens such as a setting screen based on commands from the control device 135.

[0024] The control device 135 controls the operation of the printing device 100. Further, the control device 135 makes various determinations in the operation of the printing device 100.

[0025] The image forming unit 120 includes an intermediate transfer belt 163 and a fixing unit 175. The intermediate transfer belt 163 carries the toner image transferred from a photoreceptor (not shown) and conveys the carried toner image to a transfer device (not shown). The transfer device transfers the toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 163 to the sheet. The fixing unit 175 pressurizes and heats the printed image formed on the sheet. Thereby, the printed image is fixed on the sheet.

[0026] In the example of FIG. 1, the image forming unit 120 forms a printed image or the like on the sheet by an electrophotographic method. In other aspects, the image forming unit 120 may form a printed image or the like on the sheet by an inkjet method. The method of forming the printed image is not limited.

[0027] More specifically, the post-processing device 125 includes reading devices 140, 145, a purge unit 150, a purge tray 155, and a discharge tray 160.

[0028] The reading devices 140 and 145 read the printed images formed on the paper and generate read image data corresponding to the surface of the read paper. For example, when the reading device 140 reads the printed image on the front surface of the paper, the reading device 145 reads the printed image on the back surface of the paper. In a single-sided printing job, when the image forming unit 120 forms the printed image only on one side of the paper, only one of the reading devices 140 and 145 reads the surface of the paper on which the printed image is formed. In a certain aspect, the reading devices 140 and 145 are realized by a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor.

[0029] The purge unit 150 switches the direction in which the paper is conveyed by the conveying device 127 according to whether or not there is an image defect in the printed image formed on the paper. For example, the purge unit 150 switches the conveying direction of the paper so that the paper with an image defect is conveyed by the conveying device 127 to the purge tray 155. At this time, the purge unit 150 switches the conveying direction of the paper so that the paper without an image defect is conveyed by the conveying device 127 to the discharge tray 160.

[0030] [Hardware Configuration of the Inspection Device] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the detailed hardware configuration of a printing device 100 which is an example of the inspection device.

[0031] The printing device 100 includes an operation panel 130, a control device 135, a paper feed tray 222, a data reader / writer 232, a communication device 235, and a bus 247.

[0032] The paper feed tray 222 stores the paper. The printing device 100 may include a plurality of paper feed trays 222. The paper of the type specified by the printing job is taken out one by one from the paper feed tray 222 that stores the paper of the specified type among the plurality of paper feed trays 222 by the conveying device 127.

[0033] The operation panel 130 includes a display device 225 and an input device 230. The operation panel 130 is configured by a touch screen that combines a display device 225 such as a liquid crystal monitor and an input device 230 such as a plurality of touch sensors. The operation panel 130 may further include a plurality of physical keys as the input device 230.

[0034] When an external storage medium 233 such as an external HDD (Hard Disk Drive) is detachably attached, the data reader / writer 232 writes data or a program including an image to the attached storage medium 233 or reads data from the storage medium 233 based on an instruction from the CPU 205. The storage medium 233 stores information such as the program by an electrical, magnetic, optical, mechanical, or chemical action so that a computer or other device can read the recorded program and other information.

[0035] The communication device 235 connects to an external device such as a client terminal via a communication line. In one aspect, the communication device 235 is realized by a wired LAN (Local Area Network) port and a Wi-Fi (registered trademark) (Wireless Fidelity) module or the like. The printing device 100 receives a job from an external device such as a client terminal via the communication device 235. The printing device 100 may include a plurality of communication devices 235. Each component of the printing device 100 communicates with each other via a bus 247.

[0036] The control device 135 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 205, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 210, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 215, and an HDD 220.

[0037] The CPU 205 executes a control program for controlling the printing device 100. As an example, the CPU 205 executes a program for displaying a setting screen, performing printing processing, and determining whether an image defect has occurred in the printed image.

[0038] The RAM 210 stores the application programs executed by the CPU 205 and the data referred to. In a certain aspect, the RAM 210 can be realized by SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) or DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory).

[0039] The ROM 215 stores programs such as the OS (Operating System) executed in the CPU 200. In a certain aspect, the ROM 215 can be realized by EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), or flash memory.

[0040] The HDD 220 stores various programs and data used in the printing apparatus 100. In other aspects, instead of the HDD 220, an auxiliary storage device such as an SSD (Solid State Drive) may be used.

[0041] [Inspection in the inspection apparatus] In the printing apparatus 100, the control device 135 can inspect the printed image and detect the occurrence of image defects in the printed image. In this sense, the printing apparatus 100 including the control device 135 can function as an inspection apparatus.

[0042] In one implementation example, the control device 135 can detect the occurrence of image defects by comparing the image on the paper read by the reading device 140 and / or the reading device 145 with a reference image. The reference image is an example of a correct image, and for example, it is an image corresponding to the RIP image data generated from the original data included in the print job. The types of detected image defects include, for example, "stain", "dot", and "streak" detected by the image forming apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2020-046523.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of information management processing executed in the printing apparatus 100 in relation to inspection of image defects. The processing in FIG. 3 starts, for example, together with the start of a print job in the printing apparatus 100. In one implementation example, the printing apparatus 100 may execute the information management processing by causing the CPU 205 to execute a given program. In one implementation example, the printing apparatus 100 may include a dedicated circuit such as an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) or an FPGA (field-programmable gate array), and may execute the information management processing as a function of the dedicated circuit.

[0044] In step S10, the printing apparatus 100 inspects an image on a sheet by comparing it with, for example, a reference image.

[0045] In step S12, the printing apparatus 100 determines whether or not an image defect has occurred in the image on the sheet in the inspection in step S10. If the printing apparatus 100 determines that an image defect has been detected (YES in step S12), the control proceeds to step S14; otherwise (NO in step S12), the control returns to step S10, and an inspection of the image on the next sheet is performed.

[0046] In step S14, the printing apparatus 100 registers the information of the detected image defect in the abnormal image information. Thereafter, the printing apparatus 100 returns the control to step S10, and performs an inspection of the image on the next sheet. The abnormal image information accumulates the information of the image defects detected in the printing apparatus 100, and its content will be described later with reference to FIG. 4.

[0047] [Abnormal Image Information] FIG. 4 shows an example of the data configuration of the abnormal image information. The abnormal image information is stored, for example, in the HDD 220. As shown in FIG. 4, it includes "Job ID", "Print Date and Time", "Page Number", "Abnormal Type", "Position", "Level", and "File Name".

[0048] The "Job ID" defines the job to which the image with detected image defects belongs. For example, the Job ID "0003" indicates that image defects have been detected in the image printed for the job specified as "0003".

[0049] The "Print Date and Time" defines the start date and time of execution of the job in which the image defects were detected. For example, the print date and time "20200301_1001" indicates that the job in which the image defects were detected started at 10:01 on March 1, 2020.

[0050] The "Page Number" defines which page of the job's image data the paper with detected image defects formed. For example, the page number "004" indicates that the paper with detected image defects is the paper that formed the 4th page of the job's image.

[0051] The "Defect Type" defines the type of detected image defects. In one implementation example, the types of image defects are "Stain", "Dot", or "Line", but the registered types of image defects are not limited to these.

[0052] The "Location" defines the location on the paper of the detected image defects. In one implementation example, as the value of the location on the paper, any of the regions A to D defined for the paper is registered.

[0053] Figure 5 is a diagram for explaining an example of four regions defined on a paper. In Figure 5, for the region X representing the paper, an arrow D1 representing the paper conveyance direction and an arrow D2 representing the direction intersecting the conveyance direction (the width direction of the paper) are shown. In the example of Figure 5, on the downstream side in the paper conveyance direction, region A is set on one side and region B is set on the other side. Also, on the upstream side in the paper conveyance direction, region C is set on one side and region D is set on the other side.

[0054] Returning to FIG. 4, when the printing apparatus 100 detects the occurrence of an image defect, it identifies the location where the image defect has occurred, identifies the area (areas A to D) to which the occurrence location belongs, and registers the identified area as the "position" in the abnormal image information.

[0055] The "level" defines the level of the detected image defect. In one implementation example, information (such as the area of the image defect) for specifying the level for each type of image defect (for example, dirt, streaks, fireflies, etc.) is stored in the HDD 220 of the printing apparatus 100. In the printing apparatus 100, when an image defect is detected, the level of the image defect is specified and registered in the abnormal image information.

[0056] The "file name" defines the file name of the image of the sheet on which the image defect was detected. In the printing apparatus 100, an image file of the sheet is generated by reading the image of the sheet on which the image was formed with the reading device 140 and / or the reading device 145. In the printing apparatus 100, when an image defect is detected, the image file of the sheet on which the image defect was detected is stored in the HDD 220. The "file name" of the abnormal image information represents the file name of the image file stored in this way.

[0057] [Specific Example of Abnormal Image Information] FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing an example of sheets output for six jobs in which images were formed by the printing apparatus 100. In the example of FIG. 6, each of the frames 301, 302, 303, 302, 305, 306 represents one or more sheets output for one job. In the example of FIG. 6, six sheets are shown within each of the frames 301, 302, 303, 302, 305, 306, and for the sake of explanation, page numbers are shown on each sheet. Note that the number of pages included in each job in FIG. 6 is merely an example.

[0058] The example of FIG. 6 corresponds to the abnormal image information of FIG. 4. Hereinafter, how the abnormal image information of FIG. 5 corresponds to the example of FIG. 6 will be described.

[0059] In the example of FIG. 6, in the job shown in frame 301, an image defect of "smudge" has occurred on the paper of the fourth page, but no image defect has occurred on the papers of other pages.

[0060] The smudge that occurred on the fourth page of the job in frame 301 is registered in the first line of the abnormal image information in FIG. 4. That is, the smudge on the fourth page of the job in frame 301 is located in area B, and the level specified for the smudge is "1". The image of this page is registered with the file name "IMG_0003_004jpg". In this example, the name of the image file includes a character string representing the job ID (0003) and the page number (004). However, the format of the image file name is not limited to this.

[0061] In the example of FIG. 6, in the job shown in frame 302, an image defect of "smudge" has occurred on the paper of the second page, but no image defect has occurred on the papers of other pages.

[0062] The smudge that occurred on the second page of the job in frame 302 is registered in the second line of the abnormal image information in FIG. 4. That is, the smudge on the second page of the job in frame 302 is located in area A, and the level specified for the smudge is "3". The image of this page is registered with the file name "IMG_0018_002jpg".

[0063] In the example of FIG. 6, in the job shown in frame 303, image defects of "firefly" have occurred on the papers of the fourth and fifth pages, but no image defect has occurred on the papers of other pages.

[0064] The firefly that occurred on the fourth page of the job in frame 303 is registered in the third line of the abnormal image information in FIG. 4. That is, the firefly on the fourth page of the job in frame 303 is located in area B. Note that no level has been specified for the firefly. The image of this page is registered with the file name "IMG_0020_004jpg".

[0065] The firefly that occurred on the fifth page of the job of frame 303 is registered on the fourth line of the abnormal image information in FIG. 4. That is, the firefly on the fifth page of the job of frame 303 is located in area B. The level has not been specified for the firefly. The image of this page is registered with the file name "IMG_0020_005jpg".

[0066] In the example of FIG. 6, in the job shown in frame 304, an image defect of "firefly" has occurred on the second page of the paper, but no image defect has occurred on the other pages of the paper.

[0067] The firefly that occurred on the second page of the job of frame 304 is registered on the fifth line of the abnormal image information in FIG. 4. That is, the firefly on the second page of the job of frame 304 is located in area A. The level has not been specified for the firefly. The image of this page is registered with the file name "IMG_0021_002jpg".

[0068] In the example of FIG. 6, in the job shown in frame 305, image defects of "streaks" have occurred on each of the third to fifth pages of the paper, but no image defect has occurred on the other pages of the paper.

[0069] The streaks that occurred on each of the third to fifth pages of the job of frame 305 are registered on the fifth to seventh lines of the abnormal image information in FIG. 4 respectively. That is, the streaks on each of the third to fifth pages of the job of frame 305 are located in areas B and D. Note that the level has not been specified for the streaks. The images of these pages are registered with the file names "IMG_0124_003jpg", "IMG_0124_004jpg", and "IMG_0124_005jpg".

[0070] In the example of FIG. 6, in the job shown in frame 306, an image defect of "streaks" has occurred on the second page of the paper, but no image defect has occurred on the other pages of the paper.

[0071] The streaks that occurred on the second page of the job in frame 306 are registered in the 8th row of the abnormal image information in Figure 4. That is, the streaks on the second page of the job in frame 306 are located in region A and region C. Note that the level has not been specified for the said streaks. The image of this page is registered with the file name "IMG_0125_002jpg".

[0072] [Display of information regarding detected image defects] Figure 7 is a flowchart of the process executed by the printing apparatus 100 for displaying information regarding detected image defects. The process in Figure 7 is started, for example, in response to an operation of requesting the display of information to the input device 230. In one implementation example, the printing apparatus 100 may execute the process in Figure 7 by causing the CPU 205 to execute a given program. In one implementation example, the printing apparatus 100 may include a dedicated circuit such as an ASIC or an FPGA, and may execute the process in Figure 7 as the function of the dedicated circuit.

[0073] Referring to Figure 7, in step S20, the printing apparatus 100 displays a menu on the display device 225.

[0074] Figure 8 is an example of the menu screen displayed in step S20. The menu screen 800 in Figure 8 includes keys 801, 802, and 803. Key 801 is operated to instruct the display of a list of information. Key 802 is operated to instruct the display of classified information. Key 803 is operated to instruct the display of statistical information. The user operates the key corresponding to the desired display mode on the menu screen 800.

[0075] Returning to Figure 7, in step S22, the printing apparatus 100 determines whether "list display" has been selected in the menu (menu screen 800) displayed in step S20. If the printing apparatus 100 determines that the list display has been selected (YES in step S22), it advances the control to step S24, and otherwise (NO in step S22), it advances the control to step S26.

[0076] In step S24, the printing apparatus 100 displays a list of the images of the pages in which image defects have occurred on the display device 225. Then, when receiving an instruction to end the list display, the printing apparatus 100 returns control to step S20.

[0077] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for displaying a list of the images of the pages in which image defects have occurred. In the list display screen 900 of FIG. 9, nine page images 901 to 909 are displayed. Each of the page images 901 to 909 is an image of each of the nine file names registered in the abnormal image information (FIG. 4). That is, in the printing apparatus 100, the image data of each of the images of the file names registered in the abnormal image information is read out and displayed on the list display screen 900. When the number of file names registered in the abnormal image information is large and the entire list display screen does not fit within the display device 225, the user can view the entire list display screen by scrolling the list display screen.

[0078] The abnormal image information stores information on image defects of a plurality of jobs. Therefore, on the list display screen 900, the images of the pages determined to be abnormal (image defects) in the inspection are listed for two or more jobs.

[0079] That is, in the present embodiment, when image defects occur in the sheets output for two or more jobs from the printing apparatus 100, the images of the sheets including the image defects output in the two or more jobs are listed. The list display screen 900 includes the page images 901 to 909. The page image 901 includes the image defect that occurred in the first job. The page image 902 includes the image defect that occurred in the second job. The page images 903 and 904 include the image defects that occurred in the third job. The page image 905 includes the image defect that occurred in the fourth job. The page images 906 to 908 include the image defects that occurred in the fifth job. The page image 909 includes the image defect that occurred in the sixth job.

[0080] When the printing apparatus 100 performs the list display as shown in FIG. 9, it can adjust the size of the image of each page. In one implementation example, the printing apparatus 100 performs adjustment so that the images of each page are displayed in the same size. Thereby, even when an image defect occurs on an A4 sheet or when an image defect occurs on an A3 sheet, the images of the respective sheets are displayed in the same size on the list display screen. Thereby, comparison of image defects between sheets can be facilitated.

[0081] On the other hand, in the list display as shown in FIG. 9, the printing apparatus 100 may display the image of each page in a size corresponding to the size of the sheet of each page. Thereby, the state in which the image defect has occurred can be reproduced more accurately.

[0082] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of a screen for list-displaying an image of a page in which an image defect has occurred. In the list display screen 1000 of FIG. 10, each of the page images 901 to 909 is provided with each of the frames 911 to 919. In each of the page images 901 to 909, each of the frames 911 to 919 indicates a location where an image defect (such as stain, spot, streak, etc.) has occurred. The printing apparatus 100 may register, in the abnormal image information, information for specifying a portion where an image defect has occurred in the inspection of each page, and may generate the frames 911 to 919 as frames covering the portion and add them to the list display screen.

[0083] Returning to FIG. 8, in step S26, the printing apparatus 100 determines whether "classified display" has been selected in the menu (menu screen 800) displayed in step S20. When the printing apparatus 100 determines that the classified display has been selected (YES in step S26), it proceeds with the control to step S28, and otherwise (NO in step S26), it proceeds with the control to step S44.

[0084] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a menu screen related to classification display. When the classification display is selected in step S26, the printing apparatus 100 may further provide a menu for the classification display. The menu screen 1100 in FIG. 11 includes four keys 1101, 1102, 1103, and 1104. The key 1101 is operated for an instruction of classification according to the type of image defect. The key 1102 is operated for an instruction of classification according to the occurrence date and time of the image defect. The key 1103 is operated for an instruction of classification according to the level of the image defect. The key 1104 is operated for an instruction of classification according to the occurrence position of the image defect.

[0085] In step S28, the printing apparatus 100 determines whether an instruction of classification according to the type of image defect has been received for the classification display. If so (YES in step S28), the process proceeds to step S30. If not (NO in step S28), the control proceeds to step S32.

[0086] In step S30, the printing apparatus 100 executes control for displaying the images of the file names registered in the abnormal image information according to the type of image defect. Thereafter, when the printing apparatus 100 receives an instruction to end the display according to the type of image defect, the control returns to step S20.

[0087] FIGS. 12 to 15 are diagrams for explaining the display according to the type of image defect. FIG. 12 shows a screen 1200 for selecting the type of image defect to be displayed. The screen 1200 includes three keys 1201, 1202, and 1203. Each of the keys 1201, 1202, and 1203 is operated to select each of the types "stain", "firefly", and "streak". Note that the printing apparatus 100 may display on the screen 1200 the number of pages including various types of image defects, such as "stain: 2 pages" in FIG. 12.

[0088] FIG. 13 shows a screen 1300 that displays an image of a page including an image defect of the type "stain". The screen 1300 is displayed when the key 1201 of the screen 1200 is operated, and includes the page images 901 and 902 among the page images 901 to 909 displayed on the list display screen 900.

[0089] FIG. 14 shows a screen 1400 that displays an image of a page including an image defect of the type "firefly". The screen 1400 is displayed when the key 1202 of the screen 1200 is operated, and includes the page images 903, 904, and 905 among the page images 901 to 909 displayed on the list display screen 900.

[0090] FIG. 15 shows a screen 1400 that displays an image of a page including an image defect of the type "streak". The screen 1400 is displayed when the key 1203 of the screen 1200 is operated, and includes the page images 906 to 909 among the page images 901 to 909 displayed on the list display screen 900.

[0091] Returning to FIG. 7, in step S32, the printing apparatus 100 determines whether an instruction for classification according to the occurrence date and time of the image defect has been received for the classification display. If so (YES in step S32), the process proceeds to step S34. Otherwise (NO in step S32), the control proceeds to step S36.

[0092] In step S34, the printing apparatus 100 executes control to display the image of the file name registered in the abnormal image information according to the occurrence date and time of the image defect. Thereafter, when the printing apparatus 100 receives an instruction to end the display according to the occurrence date and time of the image defect, the control returns to step S20.

[0093] In one implementation example, in step S34, the printing apparatus 100 receives a specification of a period, extracts information included in the specified period of the printing date and time from the abnormal image information, and displays the image of the file name of the extracted information on the display device 225. A date may be specified as the period.

[0094] In the abnormal image information of FIG. 4, the printing dates and times of the information in the top five lines include March 1, 2020. For example, when "March 1, 2020" is specified as the period (date), the printing apparatus 100 displays the images of the respective file names in the top five lines of the abnormal image information on the display device 225.

[0095] Returning to FIG. 7, in step S36, the printing apparatus 100 determines whether an instruction for classification display according to the level of image defect has been received. If so (YES in step S36), the process proceeds to step S38; otherwise (NO in step S36), the control proceeds to step S40.

[0096] In step S38, the printing apparatus 100 executes control for displaying the images of the file names registered in the abnormal image information according to the level of image defect. After that, when the printing apparatus 100 receives an instruction to end the display according to the level of image defect, the control returns to step S20.

[0097] FIGS. 16 to 18 are diagrams for explaining the display according to the level of image defect. FIG. 16 shows a screen 1600 for selecting the level of image defect to be displayed. The screen 1600 includes two keys 1601 and 1603. Each of the keys 1601 and 1603 is operated to select the level of image defect.

[0098] In the present embodiment, "level 1" indicates that the degree of image defect is higher than that of "level 2", and "level 2" indicates that the degree of image defect is higher than that of "level 3". That is, the image defect of "level 1" also corresponds to the image defect of "level 2", and the image defects of "level 1" and "level 2" also correspond to the image defect of "level 3". Note that such a setting mode of the level of image defect is merely an example. The setting mode of the level of image defect can be appropriately set in the system to which the technology according to the present disclosure is applied.

[0099] As shown in Fig. 16, such as "Level 1: 1 page" and "Level 3: 2 pages", the printing apparatus 100 may display on the screen 1600 the number of pages including image defects at each level.

[0100] Fig. 17 shows a screen 1700 for displaying the image of the page including the image defect of "Level 1". The screen 1700 is displayed by operating the key 1601 of the screen 1600 and includes the page image 901 among the page images 901 - 909 displayed on the list display screen 900.

[0101] Fig. 18 shows a screen 1800 for displaying the image of the page including the image defect of "Level 3". The screen 1800 is displayed by operating the key 1603 of the screen 1600 and includes the page images 901 and 902 among the page images 901 - 909 displayed on the list display screen 900. The page image 901 includes the image defect of "Level 1". In this embodiment, since the image defect of "Level 1" includes the image defect of "Level 3", the page image 901 is displayed on both the screen 1700 and the screen 1800.

[0102] Returning to Fig. 7, at step S40, the printing apparatus 100 determines whether an instruction for classification according to the position of the image defect has been received for the classification display. If so (YES at step S40), it proceeds to step S42; otherwise (NO at step S40), it returns the control to step S20.

[0103] At step S42, the printing apparatus 100 executes control for displaying the image of the file name registered in the abnormal image information according to the position of the image defect. After that, when the printing apparatus 100 receives an instruction to end the display according to the position of the image defect, it returns the control to step S20.

[0104] Figures 19 to 23 are diagrams for explaining the display according to the position of the image defect. In Figure 19, a screen 1900 for selecting the position of the image defect to be displayed is shown. The screen 1900 includes four keys 1901 to 1904. The key 1901 is operated to select the upper left of the page (region A in Figure 5) as the position to be displayed. The key 1902 is operated to select the upper right of the page (region B in Figure 5) as the position to be displayed. The key 1903 is operated to select the lower left of the page (region C in Figure 5) as the position to be displayed. The key 1904 is operated to select the upper right of the page (region D in Figure 5) as the position to be displayed.

[0105] As shown in "Upper left: 3 pages", "Upper right: 6 pages", etc. in Figure 19, the printing apparatus 100 may display the number of pages including the image defect at each position on the screen 1900.

[0106] Figure 17 shows a screen 1700 for displaying the image of the page including the image defect at "Position 1". The screen 1700 is displayed when the key 1601 on the screen 1600 is operated, and includes the page image 901 among the page images 901 to 909 displayed on the list display screen 900.

[0107] Figure 20 shows a screen 2000 for displaying the images of the pages including the image defect in the upper left of the page (region A in Figure 5). The screen 2000 is displayed when the key 1901 on the screen 1900 is operated, and includes the page images 902, 905, and 909 among the page images 901 to 909 displayed on the list display screen 900.

[0108] Figure 21 shows a screen 2100 for displaying the images of the pages including the image defect in the upper right of the page (region B in Figure 5). The screen 2100 is displayed when the key 1902 on the screen 1900 is operated, and includes the page images 901, 903, and 906 to 908 among the page images 901 to 909 displayed on the list display screen 900.

[0109] FIG. 22 shows a screen 2200 that displays an image of a page including an image defect in the lower left corner of the page (region C in FIG. 5). The screen 2200 is displayed when the key 1903 on the screen 1900 is operated, and includes the page image 909 among the page images 901 to 909 displayed on the list display screen 900.

[0110] FIG. 23 shows a screen 2300 that displays an image of a page including an image defect in the lower right corner of the page (region D in FIG. 5). The screen 2300 is displayed when the key 1904 on the screen 1900 is operated, and includes the page images 906 to 908 among the page images 901 to 909 displayed on the list display screen 900.

[0111] Returning to FIG. 7, in step S44, the printing apparatus 100 determines whether an instruction to display statistical information on image defects has been received. If so (YES in step S44), it proceeds to step S46. Otherwise (NO in step S44), the control returns to step S20.

[0112] In step S46, the printing apparatus 100 executes control to display information obtained by statistically processing the information registered in the abnormal image information. Thereafter, when the printing apparatus 100 receives an instruction to end the display of the statistical information, the control returns to step S20.

[0113] FIGS. 24 to 25 are diagrams for explaining the display of statistical information on image defects. FIG. 24 shows a screen 2400 for selecting a period to be displayed. On the screen 2400, the column 2401 receives the specification of the start period, the column 2402 receives the specification of the end period, and the column 2403 receives an instruction to display statistical information for the specified period.

[0114] FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for displaying statistical information. The screen 2500 in FIG. 25 includes a graph 2501. The printing apparatus 100 generates statistical information on the information registered in the abnormal image information for the period specified in the screen 2400, and generates image data of the graph 2501 using the generated information. In one implementation example, the statistical information is a time series of the number of occurrences of image defects per day. The printing apparatus 100 may generate the number of occurrences of image defects as statistical information for each type of image defect, for each level, for each occurrence position, or for a combination of type, level, and occurrence position (for example, the number of occurrences per day of "smudges" in "area A").

[0115] [Integration of Results of Multiple Printing Apparatuses] (Configuration of Inspection System) FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an inspection system including two or more printing apparatuses. In FIG. 26, the inspection system 2600 includes a management apparatus 110 and two printing apparatuses 100A and 100B.

[0116] FIG. 27 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the management apparatus 110. As shown in FIG. 3, the management apparatus 110 includes a CPU 300, a RAM 305, a ROM 310, an HDD 315, a data reader / writer 317, a communication apparatus 320, an input apparatus 322, a display apparatus 340, and a bus 345.

[0117] The CPU 300 controls the operation of the entire management apparatus 110. The communication apparatus 320 is realized by a wired LAN port, a Wi-Fi module, etc. The configurations and functions of the RAM 305, ROM 310, HDD 315, data reader / writer 317, storage medium 318, input apparatus 322, display apparatus 340, and bus 345 are the same as the configurations and functions of the RAM 210, ROM 215, HDD 220, data reader / writer 232, storage medium 233, input apparatus 230, display apparatus 225, and bus 247, respectively. Therefore, these descriptions will not be repeated.

[0118] In the management device 110, the CPU 300 executes various processes by executing a given program. Note that the management device 110 may include a dedicated circuit such as an ASIC or an FPGA instead of or in addition to the CPU 300, and may execute various processes using the dedicated circuit.

[0119] Each of the printing devices 100A and 100B forms an image on a sheet, inspects the formed image, and generates abnormal image information, in the same manner as the printing device 100 in FIG. 1. In the inspection system 2600, each of the printing devices 100A and 100B transmits the abnormal image information generated therein to the management device 110.

[0120] In one implementation example, the management device 110 generates an abnormal image information database by integrating the abnormal image information acquired from the printing devices 100A and 100B. Then, the management device 110 executes a display process as described with reference to FIG. 7 using the abnormal image information database. The management device 110 preferably displays the information on image defects as shown in FIG. 7 separately for each printing device in which the image defects have occurred.

[0121] It should be considered that all the embodiments disclosed this time are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description but by the claims, and it is intended that all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are included. Also, the inventions described in the embodiments and each modification example are intended to be implemented alone or in combination as much as possible.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0122] 100, 100A, 100B printing devices, 110 management device, 113 printer controller, 120 image forming unit, 125 post-processing device, 127 conveying device, 130 operation panel, 135 control device, 140, 145 reading devices, 150 purge unit, 155 purge tray, 160 discharge tray, 163 intermediate transfer belt, 175 fixing unit, 800, 1100 menu screens, 900, 1000 list display screens, 901, 902, 903, 904, 905, 906, 908, 909 images, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, 2500 screens, 2600 inspection system.

Claims

1. Memory and a controller for inspecting the image of the paper by comparing the image of the paper output by the printing device with a correct answer image of the image; The controller, detecting fireflies in the image of the paper during the inspection; storing an image of the paper on which the firefly was detected together with information on the printing date and time in the memory; An inspection device that displays the entire image of the paper with the firefly covered by a rectangle on a display device according to the printing date and time.

2. The inspection device according to claim 1 , wherein the correct image corresponds to RIP image data generated from the image of the paper.

3. The inspection device according to claim 1 , further comprising a storage unit that stores information relating to the inspection.

4. The inspection device according to claim 1 , wherein the information related to the inspection includes information related to a type of image defect detected in the inspection.

5. When executed by a processor of a computer, the computer is caused to: performing an inspection of the image of the paper output by the printing device by comparing said image with a reference image of said image; detecting fireflies in an image of the paper during said inspection; storing an image of the paper on which the firefly was detected together with information on the printing date and time in a memory of the computer; and displaying, on a display device, the entire area of ​​the image of the paper with the firefly covered by a rectangle in accordance with the printing date and time.

6. A printing device; An information processing device, The information processing device includes: An interface for acquiring information for deriving an inspection result of an inspection by comparing an image output from the printing device with a correct image; an inspection system including: a controller that uses information acquired via the interface to detect fireflies in the image during the inspection from among the inspection results, stores the image in which the firefly was detected together with information on a printing date and time, and displays the entire area of ​​the image with the firefly covered by a rectangle on a display device according to the printing date and time.

Images