Collation information processing device, collation system

Abstract

To provide a gathering information processing device and a gathering system with improved convenience in managing the history of the gathering process.SOLUTION: A corresponding device 40 is equipped with an extraction processing unit that extracts information including inspection information in the extracted image as extraction information by image processing the inspection image including inspection information of folded sheets output from an inspection device 30 as an image to be extracted, and a file transmission processing unit that stores the image to be extracted and the extraction information in a storage file 78 and transmits to a management device 60 with identifiable information attached to the storage file 78.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a collating information processing device and a collating system installed in a facility such as a bookbinding factory. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there have been mis-binding inspection systems installed in facilities such as bookbinding factories (for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-103188 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, there is room for improvement in conventional misprint inspection systems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problem, one form of the present invention is a collation information processing device that is communicatively connected to a quire inspection device and a management device, and is configured to include an extraction processing unit that processes an inspection image containing inspection information for a quire output from the quire inspection device as an extraction target image, thereby extracting information containing the inspection information from the extraction target image as extracted information, and a file transmission processing unit that stores the extraction target image and the extracted information in a single file, which is a single file, and attaches identifiable information to the single file and transmits it to the management device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a collation system 1 according to an embodiment. [Figure 2]4 is a diagram illustrating the flow of processing by the inspection device 30 and the corresponding device 40 according to the embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3] 6 is a diagram illustrating a storage file stored in a storage unit 65 of a management device 60 according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example of checking the process of collating using the management device 60 of the embodiment. [Figure 5] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating the count information reset process of the collation system 1 of the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] (First embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a collation system 1 according to an embodiment. The collating system 1 is a system installed in a facility such as a bookbinding factory. The collating system 1 is a system that sequentially stacks folded sections W by dropping them from the top to create intermediate collations (collations in the collating process), and in the final process binds the intermediate collations to create a collated section F. A folded section W is a printed book that has been folded for binding (it does not have to be folded), and is one unit in bookbinding. In the example shown in Figure 1, the intermediate collection is fed from right to left by a conveying device 2 (e.g., a conveyor). In other words, the right side is the upstream side and the left side is the downstream side. Signature W6, which is the most upstream in the conveying direction, constitutes the bottom end of the intermediate collection, and as it moves downstream, signatures W are successively superimposed on top of the intermediate collection. In the embodiment, the configuration of the most downstream collation frame 10 is appropriately numbered 1, and the numbers increase by 1 toward the upstream side, with the configuration of the most upstream collation frame 10 being numbered 6.

[0008] [Configuration of Collation System 1] The collating system 1 includes six collating frames 10 (1 to 6), a stitcher 50, and a management device 60. Note that the collating frames 10 (2 to 4) are not shown in FIG. In the embodiments, a computer refers to an electronic calculator equipped with a storage device, a control device, an arithmetic device, etc., and each of the collating machine 20, the inspection device 30, the processing device 40, and the management device 60 is equipped with a storage unit, a control unit, etc., and is included in the concept of a computer. Furthermore, each device is not limited to being configured by a single electronic computer, and may be configured by multiple electronic computers as necessary. The storage unit is a storage device such as a hard disk or semiconductor memory element for storing programs, information, etc. required for the operation of each device. The control unit is a device that performs the arithmetic processing required for the operation of each device and controls each device in an integrated manner. The control unit is composed of, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit realizes various functions of the embodiment by appropriately reading and executing various programs stored in the storage unit.

[0009] (Collation piece 10) Each collating piece 10 includes a collating machine 20, an inspection device 30, and a corresponding device 40 (collating information processing device). The inspection device 30 and the response device 40 are communicably connected by a communication cable. The response device 40 and the management device 60 are communicably connected by a communication network 5 such as a LAN within the facility (which may include wireless communication in part).

[0010] The collating piece 10 is a unit (unit collating device) that stacks the folded sections W one by one onto the intermediate collated sheets conveyed by the conveying device 2 and also inspects the folded sections W. Note that the most upstream collating piece 10(6) does not have any intermediate collated sheets to be stacked, so the first intermediate collated sheet is the folded section W6. A collating frame 10 is provided for each type of signature W1 to W6. The collating system 1 includes six collating frames 10 (1 to 6), so it can stack and collate up to six types of signatures W1 to W6. The collating frames 10 are also simply referred to as frames.

[0011] (Collate machine 20) Each of the collators 20 is a device that actually overlaps the signatures W of the type corresponding to each of the collators 20 with the intermediate collators of the collated mass F. Each of the collating machines 20 includes a stock unit 21 for stacking a plurality of signatures W. Although a detailed description of each collator 20 will be omitted, each collator 20 is configured to drop the signatures W arranged at the bottom of the stock section 21 toward the conveying device 2.

[0012] (Inspection device 30) Each inspection device 30 is provided near (directly above, etc.) the corresponding collating machine 20. Each inspection device 30 is a device that inspects whether the signatures W dropped by each collating machine 20 are proper or not. Note that each inspection device 30 has a communication function with the corresponding device 40, but does not have a communication function via the communication network 5. Each inspection device 30 includes a camera 31, a storage unit 35, the camera 31 (imaging unit), a photosensor 33, and a control unit 36 ​​(inspection unit). Camera 31 is a device that captures an image of signature W dropped by collating machine 20. Camera 31 acquires an image of a predetermined imaging range of the printed surface of signature W. The imaging range is, for example, a portion of the bottom surface of signature W dropped by collating machine 20.

[0013] Photosensor 33 is installed near camera 31. Photosensor 33 is a sensor such as a photoreflector that detects a signature W dropped by collating machine 20. Photosensor 33 detects the dropped signature W when it interrupts the optical axis. After determining that the output of photosensor 33 is the time when the end of the signature W passes, control unit 36 ​​waits for the imaging timing (the time when the imaging range of the signature W passes through the imaging angle of camera 31) by counting encoder pulses output from an encoder described below. Then, when the imaging timing is reached, control unit 36 ​​issues an imaging trigger to camera 31, thereby capturing an image of the dropped signature W.

[0014] The storage unit 35 stores a reference image, etc., which serves as a standard for determining whether a product is good or bad. The manager, etc. of the collation system 1 (also simply referred to as the manager, etc.) operates the inspection device 30 to store this reference image in the storage unit 35. The control unit 36 ​​includes a counting unit 36b (counting unit) and a quality determining unit 36a. The pass / fail judgment unit 36a performs image analysis on the captured image acquired by the camera 31 to obtain information such as the printing position and inclination of the CP (check point) in the captured image (shown as numerical values ​​of X, Y, and θ in Figure 2, etc.). Furthermore, the quality determination unit 36a determines the quality (whether it is appropriate or not) of the signatures W dropped by each collating machine 20. This determination process calculates a score by performing image processing using a normalized correlation method on the reference image and the captured image (inspection image) based on the reference image. If this score is equal to or greater than a reference point, the product is determined to be a good product, and if it is less than the reference point, the product is determined to be a defective product. In this embodiment, the print position, inclination, and score are collectively referred to as inspection information 72 .

[0015] The counting unit 36b counts information relating to the number of signatures W dropped by the collating machine 20. The counting unit 36b counts a total count value (total count value) and an NG count value (pass / fail count value) as the count information. The total count value is the total number of signatures W dropped by the collator 20 (information on the total number of collations). Although a detailed explanation will be omitted, the total count value is counted (incremented) based on the operation of a sensor attached to a mechanical shaft of the collator 20. This sensor can be, for example, an encoder such as an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor, and in this case, the operation of the mechanical shaft is output as a pulse signal (encoder pulse).

[0016] The NG count value is the number of sheets W that the quality determining unit 36a has determined to be defective. The counting unit 36b acquires information about the determination result from the quality determining unit 36a and counts the NG count value. Furthermore, the counting unit 36b has a function of counting an inspection count value in addition to the total count value and the NG count value. The inspection count value is information regarding the number of signatures W inspected by each collating frame 10. The counting unit 36b counts (increments) the inspection count value based on the output of the photosensor 33, that is, each time the photosensor 33 detects a signature W.

[0017] (Compatible device 40) The support device 40 includes a communication unit 41, a storage unit 45, and a control unit 46 (an extraction processing unit, a composite image creation processing unit, a file transmission processing unit, and a count value reset processing unit).

[0018] The communication unit 41 is a device for communicating with the inspection device 30 and the management device 60. The communication unit 41 includes an interface with various terminals, etc. The communication unit 41 includes, for example, a device for receiving the inspection image and count information from the inspection device 30 (a composite terminal, a terminal for serial communication, etc.), and a device for communicating with the management device 60 (a LAN port, etc.).

[0019] The control unit 46 is disposed between the inspection device 30 and the management device 60, and performs various processes on the inspection images and count information obtained from the inspection device 30, and performs processes such as sending information regarding the inspection results of the inspection device 30 to the management device 60. The detailed processing of the control unit 46 will be described later.

[0020] (Stitcher 50) The stitcher 50 is a device that uses staples to bind the intermediate collated sheets that have been stacked by the collation frames 10. The intermediate collated sheets are stitched by the stitcher 50 to be processed into the final form of the collated sheet F. The stitcher 50 is located on the most downstream side.

[0021] (Management device 60) The management device 60 is a server for managing the collation system 1, a computer such as a personal computer, or the like. The management device 60 includes a storage unit 65 and a control unit 66 . The storage unit 65 stores the storage files 78 received from the corresponding devices 40 for the six collated frames 10 (1 to 6), respectively, and stores them as information on the inspection history (see FIG. 3, etc.). The control unit 66 manages the storage file 78 stored in the storage unit 65, and performs count information reset processing, which will be described later.

[0022] [Operation of Collation System 1] The operation of the collation system 1 will now be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the flow of processing by the inspection device 30 and the corresponding device 40 according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a storage file 78 stored in the storage unit 65 of the management device 60 according to the embodiment. The following describes, as an example, the process of collating lot 1 (also referred to as Lot 1) on January 1, 2020. The following mainly describes the operation of the collation frame 10 (6). The other collation frames 10 (1-5) also perform the dropping operation of the signatures W1-W5. In this case, not all of the collation frames 10 (1-6) perform the dropping operation of the signatures W1-W6 in precise synchronization. However, because each collation frame 10 sequentially drops the signatures W onto the intermediate collated sheets sent by the conveying device 2, there is no significant difference in the time periods during which the collation frames 10 (1-6) perform the dropping operation. For example, when each collation frame 10 is performing the dropping operation of the nth signature W (n is a natural number), the other collation frames 10 are also basically performing the dropping operation of the nth signature W. In the embodiment, the fact that the operations of the plurality of collation frames 10 (1 to 6) relating to the same signature W are carried out for approximately the same period is also referred to as "at the same time" or the like, as appropriate. As will be described later, the storage files 78 with the same total count value relate to the simultaneous processes of the collating frames 10 (1 to 6). Therefore, the administrator or the like can verify the simultaneous processes of each collating frame 10 and other collating frames 10 by referring to the storage files 78 with the same total count value.

[0023] The collation frame 10(6) follows the following steps. (Processing of the collating machine 20) (#1) Dropping process of folded W6 (collating process) When the timing for dropping the folded signature W6 arrives, the collating machine 20 drops the folded signature W6 arranged at the bottom of the stock unit 21 toward the conveying device 2. The signature W6 of the collator 20(6) constitutes the first intermediate collated sheet. The signatures W1 to W5 of the collators 20(1 to 5) are dropped so as to be stacked on the conveyed intermediate collated sheet.

[0024] (Processing of inspection device 30) (#2) Image Processing The camera 31 of the inspection device 30 captures a captured image 71 of the signature W6 dropped from the collator 20. (#3) Examination information acquisition process The pass / fail judgment unit 36a of the inspection device 30 obtains inspection information 72 by inspecting the captured image 71 acquired by the camera 31. In this process, the pass / fail judgment unit 36a obtains "print position, tilt, pass / fail judgment result (OK or NG)" as the inspection information 72 based on the captured image 71 acquired by the camera 31, the reference image stored in the storage unit 35, etc. The inspection information 72 in FIG. 2 is an example in which "Judgment: OK, Score: 86, X: 251, Y: 222, θ: 3" is obtained by performing pass / fail judgment processing on the captured image 71.

[0025] (#4) Inspection image creation process The control unit 36 ​​of the inspection device 30 creates an inspection image 73 by combining the captured image 71 acquired by the camera 31 and the inspection information 72 acquired by the pass / fail judgment unit 36a. The inspection image 73 is displayed on a display device (not shown), such as a liquid crystal display device, provided in the inspection device 30.

[0026] (#5) Counting process The counting unit 36b of the inspection device 30 acquires the count information 74. In this process, the counting unit 36b increments the total count value by one based on the encoder detecting the operation of the mechanical axis of the collating machine 20 in the above step #1. Also, in the above step #3, if the judgment of the inspection information 72 is "NG", the counting unit 36b increments the NG count value by one. FIG. 2 shows an example in which the total count value is calculated as "12345" by adding one, and since the judgment of the inspection information 72 is "OK", the NG count value is not added and remains "0046". As will be described later, the total count values ​​of all the collation frames 10 (1 to 6) in the same process are synchronized.

[0027] (#6) Inspection information output processing The control unit 36 ​​of the inspection device 30 outputs (transmits) to the corresponding device 40 the inspection image 73 created in #4 and the count information 74 acquired in #5.

[0028] (Processing of the corresponding device 40) (#7: Composite image creation process) The control unit 46 of the processing device 40 performs image processing on the inspection image 73 and count information 74 output by the inspection device 30 to create a composite image 75 . In the composition process, count information 74 is composited onto an inspection image 73 in a display format of "NG count value / total count value" using a method such as OSD (on-screen display). The composite image 75 in FIG. 2 is an example in which the count information 74 "0046 / 12345" is composited with the inspection image 73. The control unit 46 then files the composite image 75 as a composite image file 76, and temporarily stores the file with an identifiable file name. In this embodiment, the file name is set to "20220101_Lot1_M6_12345.bmp" using the processing date, lot number, collated frame 10 number, total count value information, and the image file extension. Therefore, the composite image file 76 is identifiable because no file with the same name exists, and the above information (processing date, lot number, collated frame 10 number, total count value) can be confirmed based on the file name.

[0029] (#8: Character extraction processing) The control unit 46 of the support device 40 performs image processing such as OCR (optical character reader) on the composite image 75 as an extraction target image to perform character extraction processing. As a result, the inspection information 72 and count information 74 (total count value, pass / fail count value) included in the composite image 75 are extracted as extracted information. Note that, in the embodiment, the character information is exemplified as alphanumeric characters, but is not limited to this and may be in a form including various symbols. Then, the control unit 46 assigns the extracted character information the same name as the composite image 75, "20220101_Lot1_M6_12345.txt", and temporarily stores it as a text file 77 (extracted text file).

[0030] (#9: Storage processing) The control unit 46 of the compatible device 40 stores the composite image file 76 created in step #7 above and the text file 77 created in step #8 above in one folder, and then creates a stored file 78 (single file) by compressing it using a zip format or the like. In this case, the control unit 46 gives this stored file 78 an identifiable name, "20220101_Lot1_M6_12345.zip," similar to the composite image 75. Note that in the embodiment, a folder refers to a directory structure that groups multiple files, such as the composite image file 76 and the text file 77, and is included in the concept of a file. By this process, details of one process for each collated frame 10 are stored in one storage file 78. (#10: File transmission processing) The control unit 46 of the support device 40 transmits the storage file 78 created in the above step #9 to the management device 60.

[0031] By the above processing, the process of stacking one signature W6 on the collating frame 10 is completed. The six collating frames 10 (1 to 6) perform these steps simultaneously and independently. The six collating frames 10 (1 to 6) continue these steps from the start to the end of the collating process for one lot.

[0032] (Processing of management device 60) (#11: Storage file 78 storage processing) 3, when the control unit 66 of the management device 60 receives each of the stored files 78 transmitted from the six collated frames 10 (1 to 6), the control unit 66 stores the received files in the memory unit 65. As a result, the memory unit 65 stores the stored files 78 transmitted from each of the collated frames 10 in an identifiable manner. Furthermore, among the multiple stored files 78, those with the same file name total count value, etc. are files that were sent when the drop process was performed on multiple collated frames 10 at the same time and were transmitted from multiple collated frames 10. For example, a stored file 78 with the file name "20220101_Lot1_M6_12345.zip" is a process for collated frame 10(6) with a total count value of 12345, and a stored file 78 with the file name "20220101_Lot1_M5_12345.zip" is a process for collated frame 10(5) with a total count value of 12345. These stored files 78 were created when the drop process was performed on collated frame 10(5) and collated frame 10(6) at the same time.

[0033] (Traceability of Collated F) FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of checking the process of the collated body F using the management device 60 according to the embodiment. For example, if a defective product is found in the market after the shipment of a collated body F (books, etc.), the administrator may investigate what process the defective product went through before being shipped. In this case, it is effective to identify the manufacturing date, lot number, etc. based on the shipping date, identification number, etc. of the collated body F, and to check the process of the collated body 10 involved in the defective product, etc., and the collated body 10 nearby.

[0034] For example, the collating frame 10(5) is originally a device for stacking the folded section W5, but if the folded section W6 is mixed in, the collating frame 10(5) and the collating frame 10(6) will drop two folded sections W6 at the same time. 4, the file names "20220101_Lot1_M5_12345.zip" and "20220101_Lot1_M6_12345.zip" have the same count value, "12345," which indicates that the process of collating piece 10(5) and the process of collating piece 10(6) were performed at the same time. By checking these stored files 78 on the display device of management device 60, a manager or the like can confirm that collating machine 20(5) dropped not the original fold W5, but instead fold W6, which was intended for the adjacent collating machine 20(5). Furthermore, the storage file 78 of "20220101_Lot1_M5_12346.zip" with a total count value of "12346" stores a composite image file 76 of "20220101_Lot1_M5_12346.bmp" of quire W5, which should be dropped on collating frame 10(5). For this reason, the manager or the like can infer that the process from the count value "12346" onwards is appropriate. The collation system 1 uses the zip method for folder compression, which makes it possible to check the composite image file 76 and the text file 77 in the storage folder without decompressing them, which is very convenient.

[0035] In this way, the total count values ​​of the inspection devices 30 of the collating pieces 10 (1 to 6) are synchronized in the same process, so it is possible to check the processing performed by the six collating machines 20 at the same time by referring to the storage file 78 with the same total count value from among the storage files 78. Therefore, for example, when a defect or the like occurs, it is possible to ensure the traceability of the collating process by referring to the storage file 78 with the same total count value.

[0036] Furthermore, the collation system 1 has the following functions and effects due to the above configuration and processing. (1) The composite image 75 and the inspection information 72 (e.g., judgment score) are stored in the storage file 78, and are managed by the management device 60 with identification information attached. Therefore, the composite image 75 and the inspection information 72 of the signatures W handled in each process of each collating machine 20 can be integrated and managed without becoming disorganized. Furthermore, when a binding defect or the like occurs, the composite image 75 and the inspection information 72 of the signatures W (i.e., the past processing contents) can be read out based on the identification information, thereby improving traceability.

[0037] (2) The information in the text file 77 includes the total count value and the NG count value. Therefore, when a defect occurs, the manager or the like can check the quality of each quire W at the time of processing by referring to the storage file 78 stored in the management device 60 based on the identification information. (3) The management device 60 stores the storage files 78, so it can centrally manage the processing contents (composite images 75, inspection information 72) of multiple collating machines 20. Furthermore, by using a server, personal computer, or the like as the management device 60, these storage files 78 can be managed with one or a small number of storage devices, making management easy and low-cost. That is, unlike the embodiment, if each inspection device 30 or corresponding device 40 is provided with its own storage, management becomes cumbersome and the number of storage devices required becomes enormous. Also, if a recorder such as a DVR (Digital Video Recorder) is connected to the inspection device 30, these recorders need to be replenished or replaced when the remaining storage capacity becomes low, which is troublesome and expensive.

[0038] (4) The multiple compatible devices 40 do not all need to have the same specifications, and devices compatible with each inspection device 30 can be prepared. That is, in general, a collation system does not simultaneously introduce a collation machine and an inspection device, but rather adds new devices to an existing system one by one to reinforce it. Therefore, the collation machines in a collation system may have different models and specifications. The same is true for the inspection devices. Because of these circumstances, the standards of signals such as inspection images output from the inspection devices are different from one another, making it difficult for conventional collation systems to comprehensively manage inspection information. In the collation system 1 of this embodiment, by preparing a corresponding device 40 corresponding to each inspection device 30, storage files 78 of the same specifications can be output from all the corresponding devices 40 to the management device 60. This allows the management device 60 to centrally manage the inspection information 72, etc., even if the specifications, etc. of the inspection devices 30 are different.

[0039] (Reset process) FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the count information reset process of the collation system 1 of the embodiment. As shown in Fig. 5, each inspection device 30 of the collating pieces 10 (1 to 6) is provided with a display unit 32 (1 to 6). The display unit 32 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display device. The display units 32 (1 to 6) display the total count value. The count information reset process is a process of resetting to zero the count information 74 (total count value, NG count value) of the inspection device 30. In this case, the inspection count value may be reset in addition to the total count value and NG count value. The manager or the like can execute the count information reset process by operating an operation unit (not shown) such as a keyboard or switch of the management device 60, for example, at the start of the first lot of the day, when switching lots, etc. The control unit 66 of the management device 60 transmits a reset signal (count value reset command) to the six compatible devices 40 simultaneously in response to an operation on the operation unit.

[0040] When the corresponding device 40(6) of the collating frame 10(6) receives the reset signal, it commands the counting section 36b of the inspection device 30 to reset the count information 74 to zero. In response to this, the counting unit 36b of the inspection device 30 resets the count information 74 to zero. Also, the total count value displayed on the display unit 32(6) is reset to zero. Similarly, the count information 74 of each of the inspection devices 30(1-5) for the other collated frames 10(1-5) is reset, and the total count value displayed on the display unit 32(1-5) is reset to zero.

[0041] By the above process, in the collating process, the total count values ​​of all the inspection devices 30 are synchronized in the same process. Therefore, the total count values ​​of the dropping process performed simultaneously on multiple collating frames 10 match among multiple collating frames 10.

[0042] Furthermore, the NG count value is also reset by each inspection device 30 (1 to 6) for the plurality of collation frames 10. This allows each collation frame 10 to count the NG count value for each collation frame 10 from zero independently of the other collation frames 10. In this way, the collating system 1 can easily reset the count information 74 of all collating frames 10 and synchronize them in the same process. As a result, as described above, by adding the total count value to the file name, traceability of the bookbinding process can be ensured.

[0043] Furthermore, the collation system 1 performs a reset process of the count information 74, etc., thereby achieving the following actions and effects. (1) By operating the management device 60, the count information 74 of the multiple inspection devices 30 can be reset via the corresponding device 40 without having to operate the multiple inspection devices 30 individually. This makes the resetting operation simple and easy.

[0044] Here, the six collation frames 10 (1 to 6) may be used in their entirety or in part, depending on the specifications of the collated body F (the number of signatures W). Of the six collation frames 10 (1 to 6), the count information 74 of those that are not used is not updated even as the collation process progresses. For this reason, when multiple lots are stacked, the total count values ​​of the six collation frames 10 (1 to 6) usually do not match. In the embodiment, a manager or the like can reset the count information of the six collation frames 10 (1 to 6) with a simple operation when switching lots, etc. This allows the collation system 1 to facilitate process management based on the count information.

[0045] (2) The total count values ​​of all inspection devices 30 in the collation system 1 can be reset simultaneously, making it possible to clearly distinguish between production lots, and the total count value can be used as the production counter for the collated product F after a lot change, etc.

[0046] Here, in conventional collating systems, even if the inspection device has a function to reset the count information, the count information cannot be fully utilized because the resetting work for all collated frames is cumbersome, etc. Also, conventionally, a method has been used in which the clocks of multiple inspection devices 30 are synchronized and each process is traced based on the storage date and time of the inspection image file. However, with a management method based on the stored date and time, if the time of occurrence of the defective product (the date and time of storage of the inspection image) is unclear, the search range becomes wide. As a result, with this management method, it can take a long time to find the inspection image of the defective product. In addition, as time passes, the times on the clocks of multiple inspection devices become inconsistent, and because facilities such as bookbinding factories are hot, the accuracy of the clocks on the inspection devices decreases and they are prone to becoming unstable.

[0047] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. Note that the respective configurations of the above-described embodiment and the respective configurations of the modified embodiments described below can be used in appropriate combination, but detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0048] (Variations) (1) In the embodiment, an example was shown in which all the collation pieces of the collation system are equipped with a corresponding device, but this is not limited to this. If the inspection device itself has a communication function with the management device and is capable of outputting the stored file, the collation piece does not need to be equipped with a corresponding device.

[0049] (2) In the embodiment, the test object of the compatible device is a composite image file including count information, but this is not limited to this. The composite image file does not need to include count information. In this case, the text file only needs to include information such as print position information and score as test information, without including count information.

[0050] (3) In the embodiment, the collation system is configured as one collation line, but this is not limiting. The collation system may be configured as multiple collation lines. In this case, one management device may be provided for each line. In this case, a host computer such as a server that manages these management devices may be provided, and the host computer may manage the stored files.

[0051] (4) In the embodiment, the count information includes information on the total count value, and the system manages the stored files based on the total count value. However, this is not limiting. For example, the inspection count value indicates information on the total number of collations after the reset process, although it may not exactly match the total count value. Therefore, the count information may include the inspection count value instead of or in addition to the total count value, thereby managing the stored files based on the inspection count value.

[0052] (5) In the embodiment, the control unit of the corresponding device extracts count information (total count value, NG count value) by processing such as OCR and creates a text file based on the extracted count information, but this is not limiting. The control unit of the corresponding device may create a text file by directly using the count information (total count value, NG count value) acquired in the count processing (#5).

[0053] (6) In the embodiment, the control unit of the corresponding device extracts test information (score, X, Y, θ) by processing such as OCR and creates a text file containing the test information, but this is not limiting. The control unit of the corresponding device may create a text file that does not contain test information without extracting the test information. In this case, when performing traceability of the collated product, the inspection information can be confirmed by referring to the composite image. Also in this case, the control unit of the corresponding device may create a text file using the count information acquired in the counting process (#5) as described above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1: Collation system 10,10(1~6): Collation piece 20: Collator 30: Inspection equipment 40: Compatible equipment 60: Management device

Claims

1. A collation information processing device communicably connected to a signature inspection device and a management device, an extraction processing unit that processes an inspection image including inspection information of a signature output from the signature inspection device as an extraction target image, thereby extracting information including the inspection information from the extraction target image as extracted information; a file transmission processing unit that stores the extraction target image and the extraction information in a single file, and adds identifiable information to the single file and transmits it to the management device; A collation information processing device characterized by:

2. a composite image creation processing unit that creates a composite image by combining a total count value, which is information about the total number of collated sections output from the section inspection device, and a pass / fail count value, which is a count value regarding the pass / fail of the sections, with the inspection image output from the section inspection device, The extraction processing unit performs image processing on the composite image as the extraction target image, thereby extracting information including a total count value and a pass / fail count value in addition to inspection information as the extracted information.

2. The collation information processing device according to claim 1.

3. a count reset processing unit that resets the total count value and the pass / fail count value of the signature inspection device in response to a count reset command from the management device; 3. The collation information processing device according to claim 2.

4. a plurality of signature inspection devices; a plurality of collation information processing devices provided in the plurality of signature inspection devices according to any one of claims 1 to 3; a management device communicably connected to the plurality of collation information processing devices, The management device a storage unit for storing the individual files received from the plurality of collated information processing devices; A collation system comprising:

5. Each of the signature inspection devices is a counting unit that counts a total count value, which is information relating to the number of inspections of the signatures, and a pass / fail count value, which is a count value relating to the pass / fail of the collation, The management device a control unit that simultaneously transmits a count value reset command to the plurality of collation information processing devices; Each collation information processing device includes: A control unit is provided to reset the total count value and the pass / fail count value of the counting unit in response to a count value reset command from the management device.

5. The collation system of claim 4.

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