Inspection equipment, image forming equipment

Abstract

To provide an inspection device that can accurately perform a determine of hue regardless of the type of paper.SOLUTION: An inspection device comprises: a reader 160 that reads an image formed on a recording sheet, and measures a predetermined color of a predetermined area of the image formed on the recording sheet from a result of the reading; a controller 110 that determines the image formed on the recording sheet from whether a result of color measurement performed by the reader 160 is within a range indicated by a predetermined color determination threshold; and an operation panel 120 that is operated by a user. When the predetermined area, the predetermined color, the type of the recording sheet, and the color determination threshold within a setting range according to the sheet type are input from the operation panel 120, the controller 110 sets the input predetermined area and predetermined color to the reader 160 and sets the color determination threshold.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an inspection device that inspects the color of an image printed on a printed material, and an image forming apparatus that includes this inspection device. [Background technology]

[0002] In image forming apparatuses that form images using an electrophotographic process, the characteristics of each process—charging, developing, transferring, and fixing—can change over time or due to environmental changes, resulting in variations in the image density and color of printed images. To address this issue, image forming apparatuses employ image stabilization control. Image stabilization control involves, for example, detecting a test image formed on an image carrier for image density detection using an optical sensor, and adjusting image formation conditions based on the detection results so that the image on the image carrier has an appropriate image density. Image formation conditions include various settings during image formation, such as the charge amount of the image carrier and the amount of light emitted by the laser that scans the image carrier.

[0003] Image stabilization control controls the process before the image is transferred onto the recording paper, so it cannot control the effects on image density that occur in processes after the transfer process. For example, image stabilization control does not address fluctuations in transfer efficiency due to environmental changes when transferring a toner image from an image carrier to the recording paper. This can result in variations in the image density of the image finally formed on the recording paper. To address this issue, control is performed by detecting the image formed on the recording paper with an optical sensor and adjusting the image formation conditions based on the detection results.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses an image reading device that measures the color of an image formed on recording paper. This image reading device reads an adjustment chart on which a test image for adjusting image formation conditions is formed, and feeds back the reading result to an image forming device. The image reading device may also be used as a printed matter inspection device that inspects the reading result of an image specified by a user in a print job (hereinafter referred to as a "user image") to see if its color deviates from the color specified by the user. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-080327 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As described above, print inspection devices perform inspections by comparing the colors specified by the user with the colors of the actual prints to check for any discrepancies. When colors are set using L, a, and b coordinate values ​​in the Lab color space, it is difficult to consistently output prints with exactly the same values. This results in a certain degree of variation in the color of the prints.

[0007] For this reason, inspection devices must set thresholds to allow for deviations within a specified range. However, the color of an image on a printed matter varies depending on the surface properties of the recording paper used for printing and the color of the recording paper itself. For example, the color variation of a printed matter increases when the recording paper has a low whiteness, such as special paper with a pattern or recycled paper. Therefore, when determining the color of printed matter on different paper types using the same threshold, depending on the paper type, it is possible that most of the colors of the printed matter will be determined to deviate from the color specified by the user.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its main object to provide an inspection device that can accurately judge the color of paper regardless of the type of paper. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The inspection device of the present invention is characterized by comprising: a reading means for reading an image formed on a recording sheet; a color detection means for measuring a predetermined color of a predetermined area of ​​the image formed on the recording sheet from the reading result by the reading means; a judgment means for judging the image formed on the recording sheet based on whether the color measurement result by the color detection means is within a range indicated by a predetermined color judgment threshold; an input means operated by a user; and a control means for, when the predetermined area, the predetermined color, the paper type of the recording sheet, and the color judgment threshold within a set range according to the paper type are input from the input means, setting the input predetermined area and predetermined color in the color detection means and setting the color judgment threshold in the judgment means. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, color can be accurately determined regardless of the type of paper. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing system. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] 10 is a flowchart showing a parameter setting process. [Figure 6] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of screens that are displayed on a display during the setting process. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of screens displayed on a display during a setting process. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating examples of screens displayed on a display during a setting process. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing a modified example of the parameter setting process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The following describes in detail the embodiments with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention as claimed, and not all of the combinations of features described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the solution of the invention.

[0013] (Printing System) 1 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of a printing system including an inspection device of this embodiment. The printing system includes an image forming apparatus 100 and a host computer 101. The image forming apparatus 100 and the host computer 101 are communicably connected via a network 105. The network 105 is configured with communication lines such as a LAN (Local Area Network), a WAN (Wide Area Network), or a public communication line. Note that multiple image forming apparatuses 100 and multiple host computers 101 may be connected to the network 105.

[0014] The host computer 101 is, for example, a server device, and transmits a print job to the image forming device 100 via a network 105. The print job includes various information necessary for printing, such as image data, the type of recording paper to be used for printing, the number of copies to be printed, and instructions for double-sided or single-sided printing.

[0015] Image forming apparatus 100 includes a controller 110, an operation panel 120, a paper feed unit 140, a printer 150, and a reader 160. Controller 110, operation panel 120, paper feed unit 140, printer 150, and reader 160 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a system bus 116. Image forming apparatus 100 controls the operation of printer 150 based on a print job acquired from host computer 101, and forms an image on recording paper according to image data.

[0016] The controller 110 controls the operation of each unit of the image forming apparatus 100. The controller 110 is an information processing device including a ROM (Read Only Memory) 112, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 113, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 114. The controller 110 also includes a communication control unit 111 and a storage 115. Each module is connected to each other via a system bus 116 so as to be able to communicate with each other. In this embodiment, the controller 110 and the reader 160 function as an inspection device that inspects the color and other aspects of the image of the printed matter generated by the printer 150.

[0017] The communication control unit 111 is a communication interface that communicates with the host computer 101 and other devices via the network 105. The storage 115 is a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The storage 115 stores computer programs and various data used in image forming processing (printing processing). The CPU 114 controls the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 by executing computer programs stored in the ROM 112 or the storage 115. The RAM 113 provides a work area when the CPU 114 executes the computer programs.

[0018] The operation panel 120 is a user interface and includes an input interface and an output interface. The input interface is, for example, an operation button, a numeric keypad, a touch panel, etc. The output interface is, for example, a display such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), a speaker, etc. A user can input print jobs, commands, print settings, etc. to the image forming apparatus 100 using the operation panel 120. The operation panel 120 displays a setting screen and the status of the image forming apparatus 100 on the display.

[0019] The paper feed unit 140 has a plurality of paper feed trays (described below) that store recording paper. Each paper feed tray may store the same type of recording paper, or different types of recording paper. The paper feed unit 140 feeds the type of recording paper specified in the print job from the paper feed tray that stores that recording paper. A paper feed tray stores multiple sheets of recording paper (a stack of recording paper), and the sheets are fed in order starting from the topmost sheet. The paper feed unit 140 transports the recording paper fed from the paper feed tray to the printer 150.

[0020] The printer 150 generates a printed matter by printing an image on recording paper supplied from the paper feed unit 140 based on image data included in the print job. The reader 160 is an image reading device that reads an image from the printed matter generated by the printer 150 and transmits the reading result to the controller 110.

[0021] (Image forming device) FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of image forming apparatus 100. Image forming apparatus 100 includes, in order from the upstream side in the recording paper transport direction, paper feed trays 140a to 140e, printer 150, reader 160, and finisher 190. Paper feed trays 140a to 140e make up paper feed unit 140. Here, finisher 190 is a post-processing device that performs post-processing on printed materials printed by printer 150. Finisher 190 performs, for example, stapling and sorting on multiple printed materials. An operation panel 120 is provided on top of printer 150. Operation panel 120 includes operation buttons 121 as an input interface and a display 122 as an output interface.

[0022] Printer 150 includes multiple image forming units 222 that each form an image of a different color. Printer 150 of this embodiment includes four image forming units 222 to form images of four colors: yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Each image forming unit 222 has a similar configuration and performs a similar operation, except that the image colors it forms differ.

[0023] Each image forming unit 222 includes a photosensitive drum 153, a charger 220, an exposure device 223, and a developing device 152. The photosensitive drum 153 is a drum-shaped photosensitive body having a photosensitive layer on its surface, and is rotated in the direction of arrow R1 by a motor (not shown). The charger 220 charges the surface (photosensitive layer) of the rotating photosensitive drum 153. The exposure device 223 exposes the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 153 with laser light. The laser light scans the surface of the photosensitive drum 153 in the axial direction of the photosensitive drum 153. The direction in which the laser light scans the surface of the photosensitive drum 153 is the main scanning direction (depth direction in FIG. 2) of the printer 150. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 153. The developing device 152 develops the electrostatic latent image using a developer (toner). As a result, an image (toner image) is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 153 by visualizing the electrostatic latent image.

[0024] The printer 150 includes an intermediate transfer belt 154 onto which the toner images generated by each image forming unit 222 are transferred. The intermediate transfer belt 154 is driven to rotate in the direction of arrow R2. The toner images of each color are transferred at timing corresponding to the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 154. As a result, a full-color toner image in which the toner images of each color are superimposed is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 154. As the intermediate transfer belt 154 rotates, the full-color toner image is transported to a nip formed by the intermediate transfer belt 154 and a transfer roller 221. The full-color toner image is transferred to recording paper by the nip.

[0025] Recording paper is stored in paper feed trays 140a, 140b, 140c, 140d, and 140e of paper feed section 140, and is fed in accordance with the timing of image formation by each image forming unit 222. The paper feed tray from which the recording paper is fed is specified by the print job. The recording paper is transported to the nip portion at the same time that the full-color toner image is transported to the nip portion. This transfers the toner image to a predetermined position on the recording paper. The transport direction of the recording paper is the sub-scanning direction, which is perpendicular to the main scanning direction.

[0026] The printer 150 includes a first fuser 155 and a second fuser 156 that fuse toner images onto recording paper by applying heat and pressure. The first fuser 155 includes a fuser roller with a built-in heater and a pressure belt that presses the recording paper against the fuser roller. The fuser roller and pressure belt are driven by a motor (not shown) to sandwich and transport the recording paper, thereby fusing the toner image onto the recording paper. The toner image is fused onto the recording paper by being sandwiched between the fuser roller and pressure belt. The second fuser 156 is located downstream of the first fuser in the transport direction of the recording paper. The second fuser 156 is used to increase the gloss and ensure fixability of the image on the recording paper that has passed through the first fuser 155. The second fuser 156 includes a fuser roller with a built-in heater and a pressure roller with a built-in heater. The fuser roller and pressure roller sandwich and transport the recording paper, thereby fusing the toner image onto the recording paper. Depending on the type of recording paper, the second fuser 156 may not be used. In this case, the recording paper is not transported to the second fixing device 156, but is transported to the transport path 130. For this reason, a flapper 131 is provided downstream of the first fixing device 155 to guide the recording paper to either the transport path 130 or the second fixing device 156.

[0027] A conveying path 135 and a discharge path 139 are provided downstream of the position where the conveying path 130 joins downstream of the second fixing device 156. For this reason, a flapper 132 for guiding recording paper to either the conveying path 135 or the discharge path 139 is provided at the position where the conveying path 130 joins downstream of the second fixing device 156. For example, in a double-sided printing mode, the flapper 132 guides recording paper with an image formed on its first side to the conveying path 135. For example, in a face-up discharge mode, the flapper 132 guides recording paper with an image formed on its first side to the discharge path 139. For example, in a face-down discharge mode, the flapper 132 guides recording paper with an image formed on its first side to the conveying path 135.

[0028] The recording paper conveyed to the conveying path 135 is conveyed to the inverting unit 136. After the conveying operation of the recording paper conveyed to the inverting unit 136 is temporarily stopped, the conveying direction is reversed (switched back). From the inverting unit 136, the recording paper is guided by the flapper 133 to either the conveying path 135 or the conveying path 138. For example, in the double-sided printing mode, the flapper 133 guides the switched-back recording paper to the conveying path 138 to print an image on the second side. The recording paper conveyed to the conveying path 138 is conveyed toward the nip between the intermediate transfer belt 154 and the transfer roller 221. As a result, the recording paper is turned over as it passes through the nip, and an image is formed on the second side. For example, in the face-down paper ejection mode, the flapper 133 guides the switched-back recording paper to the conveying path 135. The recording paper conveyed to the conveying path 135 by the flapper 133 is guided to the discharge path 139 by the flapper 134 .

[0029] Recording paper on which an image has been formed by the printer 150 is transported from the discharge path 139 to the reader 160. The reader 160 reads the colorimetry area of ​​the user's image printed on the recording paper in accordance with the print job. The method for setting the colorimetry area, the color information to be measured, and determining the color judgment threshold will be described later. The recording paper transported from the printer 150 to the reader 160 is transported along a transport path 313 within the reader 160. The reader 160 includes an original detection sensor 311 and line sensor units 312a and 312b on the transport path 313. Flow reading glasses 314a and 314b are disposed between the line sensor units 312a and 312b and the transport path 313. The reader 160 reads the recording paper on which the user's image has been printed by the printer 150 using the line sensor units 312a and 312b while transporting the recording paper along the transport path 313.

[0030] The document detection sensor 311 is, for example, an optical sensor having a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. The document detection sensor 311 detects the leading edge of the recording paper in the transport direction as it is transported along the transport path 313. The detection result of the leading edge of the recording paper by the document detection sensor 311 is sent to the controller 110. The controller 110 starts a reading operation by the reader 160 (line sensor units 312a, 312b) based on the timing at which the document detection sensor 311 detects the leading edge of the recording paper.

[0031] Line sensor units 312a and 312b read a user image printed on a printed material via flow reading glasses 314a and 314b, respectively. Line sensor unit 312a and line sensor unit 312b are positioned on either side of conveyance path 313. Line sensor unit 312a and line sensor unit 312b can read a user image even when colorimetric areas are set on both sides of the recording paper.

[0032] The controller 110 acquires the colorimetry results of the colorimetry areas in the user image of the front and back sides of the printed material using the line sensor units 312a and 312b. The controller 110 controls the image formation conditions based on the colorimetry results so that the image of the printed material (printed image) output from the printer 150 has appropriate colors. The controller 110 also ejects printed materials that do not have appropriate colors (NG products) separately from normal printed materials created with appropriate colors. To achieve this, the controller 110 causes the finisher 190 to sort and eject the printed materials into different paper ejection trays depending on the inspection results of the printed materials. The controller 110 determines the colors based on the colorimetry results to inspect the printed materials.

[0033] (Leader) 3 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the reader 160. The reader 160 includes line sensor units 312a and 312b, an original detection sensor 311, an image memory 303, and a color detection processing unit 305.

[0034] The line sensor units 312a and 312b include line sensors 301a and 301b, memories 300a and 300b, and AD converters 302a and 302b. The line sensors 301a and 301b are, for example, contact image sensors (CIS). The memories 300a and 300b store correction information for the corresponding line sensors 301a and 301b, such as variations in the amount of light between pixels, differences in levels between pixels, and distances between pixels. The AD converters 302a and 302b acquire analog signals that are the results of reading by the line sensors 301a and 301b. The AD converters 302a and 302b convert the acquired analog signals into digital signals and send them to the color detection processing unit 305. The digital signals are read data for R (red), G (green), and B (blue).

[0035] The color detection processing unit 305 is configured with a semiconductor device such as an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit). The color detection processing unit 305 derives an average value (average brightness value) of brightness values ​​for each color in the colorimetric area from the RGB read data acquired from the line sensor units 312a and 312b, and transmits the average value to the CPU 114. The operations of the line sensor units 312a and 312b, the image memory 303, the color detection processing unit 305, and the document detection sensor 311 are controlled by the CPU 114 of the controller 110. The image memory 303 stores image data required for image processing by the CPU 114.

[0036] (Colorimetric settings) The colorimetry settings are made using the operation panel 120 or the host computer 101 as an input device. The colorimetry settings include the colorimetry area, the color information to be measured, and the method for determining the color judgment threshold. Here, an example will be described in which the colorimetry settings are made to the controller 110 using the operation panel 120. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the controller 110.

[0037] The controller 110 functions as a color information setting unit 1100, a paper type setting unit 1101, a threshold setting unit 1102, and a judgment unit 1103 by the CPU 114 executing a computer program stored in the ROM 112. The color information setting unit 1100 sets color information of the colorimetric area based on information input from the operation panel 120. The paper type setting unit 1101 sets paper type information of the recording paper used for the printed material to be measured based on information input from the operation panel 120. The threshold setting unit 1102 sets a threshold range based on the paper type information set by the paper type setting unit 1101. The threshold range is a range set within the range from the color value indicated by the image data to the color judgment threshold. The judgment unit 1103 inspects the image formed on the printed material based on the color judgment threshold and the colorimetric result. Specifically, the judgment unit 1103 judges whether the color of the image formed on the printed material falls within the threshold range. Whether the printed matter has an image of appropriate color or is an NG product is determined based on the determination result of the determination unit 1103. Specifically, the printed matter is determined to have an image of appropriate color when the color measurement result falls within the threshold range, and is determined to be an NG product when the color measurement result does not fall within the threshold range.

[0038] Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the process of setting parameters necessary for colorimetry, such as the colorimetry area, color information to be measured, and color judgment threshold value. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are example views of screens displayed on display 122 of operation panel 120 during the setting process. This process is performed when a print job is input to image forming apparatus 100.

[0039] The controller 110 displays a screen on the display 122 of the operation panel 120 to prompt the user to select the area and color to be measured. The controller 110 displays this screen and waits for input of specification information specifying the color measurement area and color (S101:N). Here, the screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. FIG. 6(a) shows an image based on image data included in the print job. FIG. 6(b) shows a color information display section showing color information. When the user selects a color measurement area from the image based on the image data, the controller 110 uses the color information setting section 1100 to display color information of the selected color measurement area on the color information display section. In FIG. 6(a), "User_Area" has been selected as the color measurement area, and in FIG. 6(b), "L:40 a:50 b:10" is displayed as color information. The user can also directly specify the color to be measured by directly inputting color information into the color information display section using the operation panel 120. By inputting a numerical value into the color information display section, the color measurement area corresponding to that color is highlighted in the image based on the image data. In this way, the designation information is input.

[0040] When the designation information is input (S101: Y), the controller 110 sets the color measurement area and color information using the color information setting unit 1100 based on the input designation information (S102). The color measurement area and color information are set in the color detection processing unit 305 of the reader 160. The color detection processing unit 305 derives an average luminance value for each color of the color measurement area from the RGB read data acquired from the line sensor units 312a and 312b based on the set color measurement area and color information, and transmits the average luminance value to the CPU 114. In this embodiment, the color information is an L, a, b coordinate value in the Lab color space.

[0041] Once the measurement area and color information have been set, the controller 110 displays a paper type setting screen on the display 122 of the operation panel 120 to prompt the user to set the type of recording paper to be used for printing. The controller 110 sets the paper type using the paper type setting unit 1101 based on the input content on the paper type setting screen (S103). The setting content is saved in, for example, the RAM 113. Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of the paper type setting screen. There are three methods for setting the paper type.

[0042] The first method is to set the paper type by inputting parameters in the setting area 71. The parameters input in the setting area 71 include basis weight, paper category, and color. A numerical value is input for basis weight. The input area for the paper category displays general types of paper, such as plain paper, coated paper, embossed paper, recycled paper, and colored paper, from which the appropriate item can be selected. The color is set when colored paper is selected in the paper category. The second method is to specify the brand from a list of paper type brands displayed in the setting area 72. The third method is to import the paper type information set in the print job by pressing button 73.

[0043] Once the paper type is set, the controller 110 displays a threshold setting screen on the display 122 of the operation panel 120 to prompt the user to set a color judgment threshold. The color judgment threshold is a value used by the judgment unit 1103 to determine whether or not to judge a printed product as an NG deliverable based on the amount of deviation of the color measurement results of the printed product from the specified color. The judgment unit 1103 acquires an average luminance value from, for example, the color detection processing unit 305, and compares this average luminance value with the color judgment threshold to calculate the amount of deviation of the color measurement results of the printed product from the specified color. The controller 110 sets a threshold in the judgment unit 1103 using the threshold setting unit 1102 based on the input content from the threshold setting screen (S104). FIG. 8 is a view showing an example of the threshold setting screen.

[0044] The threshold setting screen displays the color information set in the process of S102 and the paper type set in the process of S103. The threshold setting screen displays a setting range 81 in which the threshold can be set. The setting range 81 is determined in advance according to the paper type and is stored in ROM 112. The threshold setting unit 1102 reads setting range information for the corresponding paper type from ROM 112 based on the paper type information acquired from the paper type setting unit 1101, and displays the setting range 81.

[0045] A numerical value for the color judgment threshold is input into the setting area 82. The color judgment threshold is set as ΔE, which indicates the color difference in Lab space. Furthermore, the setting area 82 is configured so that numerical values ​​outside the range shown in the setting range 81 cannot be input. In other words, only numerical values ​​within the range shown in the setting range 81 can be input into the setting area 82.

[0046] Once the color determination threshold is set, the controller 110 displays a screen on the display 122 of the operation panel 120, inquiring whether there are any other colors the user wishes to measure. The controller 110 determines whether to end the colorimetry setting process based on the display of this screen (S105). If there are other colors the user wishes to measure (S105: N), the controller 110 will perform the processes from S101 onwards again. If there are no other colors the user wishes to measure (S105: Y), the controller 110 ends the colorimetry setting process.

[0047] When a print job instructs image formation on multiple pages, the controller 110 switches the image in Fig. 6(a) and then performs the process in Fig. 5 again. Also, when a print job instructs image formation on multiple paper types, the controller 110 can perform the process in Fig. 5 multiple times to set a color determination threshold for each paper type.

[0048] (Variation) 9 is a flowchart showing a modified example of the process for setting parameters necessary for colorimetry. The process from waiting for input of specification information to setting the paper type is the same as the process of S101 to S103 in FIG. 5 (S201 to S203). When the paper type is set, the controller 110 displays the threshold setting screen of FIG. 8 on the display 122 of the operation panel 120. However, in this modified example, a numerical value outside the range indicated in the setting range 81 of the color judgment threshold can be input in the setting area 82. For this reason, the controller 110 determines whether the color judgment threshold input in the setting area 82 is outside the setting range (S205).

[0049] If the result is not within the set range (S205: Y), the controller 110 displays an alert on the display 122 of the operation panel 120 (S206). The alert is, for example, a message indicating that "there is a possibility that many NG deliverables will be produced because the result is outside the set range." After displaying the alert, the controller 110 determines whether or not to end the colorimetry setting process, similar to the process of S105 in FIG. 5 (S207). If the result is within the set range (S205: N), the controller 110 performs the process of S207 without displaying the alert. After displaying the alert, the controller 110 may display a setting screen on the display 122 to prompt the user to reset the color judgment threshold.

[0050] If the user wants to measure other colors (S207: N), the controller 110 repeats the process from S201 onwards. If the user wants to measure other colors (S207: Y), the controller 110 ends the colorimetry setting process.

[0051] 5 and 9 are performed by the controller 110, but these processes may also be performed by the host computer 101. In this case, the host computer 101 has the functions of a color information setting unit 1100, a paper type setting unit 1101, and a threshold setting unit 1102. A user interface having an input interface and an output interface is also connected to the host computer 101. The host computer 101 performs the processes of FIGS. 5 and 9 while communicating with the controller 110 via the network 105. The controller 110 may also display the screens of FIGS. 6 to 8 on the display of the host computer 101. In this case, the controller 110 sets parameters necessary for colorimetry in accordance with input from the host computer 101.

[0052] As described above, this embodiment makes it possible to set color determination thresholds for appropriate colorimetry for each paper type, thereby suppressing the influence of paper type on the inspection of printed materials and enabling accurate inspection.

Claims

1. reading means for reading an image formed on a recording paper; a color detection unit that measures a predetermined color in a predetermined area of ​​the image formed on the recording paper based on the reading result of the reading unit; a determination means for determining whether or not the color measurement result by the color detection means is within a range indicated by a predetermined color determination threshold value; and an input means operated by a user; and a control means for, when the predetermined area, the predetermined color, the type of the recording paper, and the color judgment threshold value within a set range according to the paper type are input from the input means, setting the input predetermined area and the input predetermined color in the color detection means, and setting the color judgment threshold value in the judgment means. Inspection equipment.

2. the control means displays a threshold setting screen on a predetermined display so as to prompt the user to input the color judgment threshold within the setting range. The inspection device according to claim 1.

3. the threshold setting screen is configured so that only values ​​within the setting range can be input as the color judgment threshold. The inspection device according to claim 2.

4. The control means displays an alert on a predetermined display if the input color judgment threshold value is not within the set range. The inspection device according to claim 1.

5. the control means displays, on the predetermined display, a setting screen prompting the user to reset the color judgment threshold value after displaying the alert. The inspection device according to claim 4.

6. Further, the recording medium further includes a storage means for storing a setting range according to the type of recording paper, The control means acquires the setting range corresponding to the paper type of the recording paper input from the storage means. The inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. an image forming means for forming an image on a recording sheet according to image data; reading means for reading the image formed on the recording paper by the image forming means; a color detection unit that measures a predetermined color in a predetermined area of ​​the image formed on the recording paper based on the reading result of the reading unit; a determination means for determining whether or not the color measurement result by the color detection means is within a range indicated by a predetermined color determination threshold value; and an input means operated by a user; and a control means for, when the predetermined area, the predetermined color, the type of the recording paper, and the color judgment threshold value within a set range according to the paper type are input from the input means, setting the input predetermined area and the input predetermined color in the color detection means, and setting the color judgment threshold value in the judgment means. Image forming device.

8. The determination means determines the image formed on the recording paper based on whether or not the color measurement result by the color detection means is within a range set as a range of the color determination threshold from the color value indicated by the image data.

8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7.

9. The image forming apparatus further comprises a discharge means for discharging the recording paper on which the image has been formed in a sorted manner according to the result of the determination by the determination means.

9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7.

Images