Inspection device, inspection device control method, image forming system, and program

Abstract

To solve the problem in which: when a cut-sheet device is connected to a post-processing device for a continuous form machine, productivity may be reduced.SOLUTION: There is provided an inspection device that inspects cut-off sheets on which images are formed by an image forming apparatus and supplied to a post-processing device that performs post-processing on the sheets in units of a booklet. The inspection device inspects, for every sheet, the image formed on the sheet, manages results of inspection of the sheets for every booklet including the plurality of sheets, and notifies the post-processing device of results of inspection of the booklets including the sheets based on the results of inspection of the sheets that are managed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an inspection device for inspecting the print quality of printed matter, for example, in a cut sheet printing press, a control method for the inspection device, an image forming system, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] Inspection devices are known that read and inspect printouts made by image forming devices to check their quality. These devices can detect image defects such as stains and missing prints, character errors, and barcode quality. This ensures the quality of the finished product without manual intervention.

[0003] In the commercial printing industry, post-processing equipment such as binding machines connected to continuous feed presses generally performs processing that takes into account the characteristics of the continuous feed press. Taking booklet printing as an example, continuous feed presses that print on roll paper perform printing and inspection on a roll-by-roll basis. The printed roll is then placed in a cutter and cut to produce sheets. Continuous feed presses generally have the characteristic of not stopping printing mid-print, and will continue printing until the end of the print job even if a defect is detected. Therefore, post-processing equipment connected to continuous feed presses is characterized by processing on a booklet-by-booklet basis after cutting, such as discarding a stack of paper containing sheets that are detected to be defective after cutting the roll.

[0004] On the other hand, cut sheet machines, which print on cut sheets, do not require cutting, so printing, inspection, and booklet production can be carried out as a single process, achieving high productivity. Cut sheet machines are characterized by processing on a sheet-by-sheet basis, such as notifying information about sheets for which defects have been detected and discharging the affected sheets to a defective sheet output tray to separate them from non-defective sheets (Patent Document 1). Another feature of cut sheet machine inspection is that, unlike continuous feed machines, it is possible to reprint sheets for which defects have been detected to create booklets without defects.

[0005] However, it is generally known that the process of reprinting a sheet where a defect is detected reduces the productivity of cut-sheet presses. Factors that reduce productivity include the need to change the output destination and reprint subsequent printed sheets when a defect is detected, and the need to reconfigure the print data for reprinting. Therefore, in cut-sheet presses, just like continuous feed presses, it is possible to improve productivity by not stopping printing even when a defect is detected. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-209504 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, when a cut sheet machine is connected to a post-processing device designed for a continuous feed press, it is difficult to avoid reprinting even when a defect is detected because the cut sheet machine and the post-processing device use different processing units. For example, a cut sheet machine processes sheets, while a post-processing device designed for a continuous feed press processes booklets, making it impossible to process on a sheet-by-sheet basis. Therefore, when post-processing the output of the cut sheet machine using a post-processing device designed for a continuous feed press, it is necessary to ensure that the printed materials to be processed by the continuous feed press do not contain any defective products. Therefore, when a cut sheet machine is connected to a post-processing device designed for a continuous feed press, it is necessary to change the output destination of sheets for which a defect is detected and reprint, which makes it impossible to continue printing even when a defect is detected and process booklets in the post-processing device.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional examples, and has as its object to produce high-quality printed matter with high productivity by connecting a cut sheet machine to a post-processing device for a continuous feed press. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following configuration: That is, according to a first aspect of the present invention, post-processing of sheets is performed on a booklet-by-booklet basis. The post-processing machine control unit is notified of the inspection results and the booklets with defective results are ejected. An inspection device that inspects cut sheets on which an image is formed by an image forming device and that are supplied to a post-processing device, an inspection means for inspecting the image formed on each sheet; a management means for managing the inspection results of the sheets by the inspection means for each booklet including a plurality of sheets; Inspection results of a booklet including the sheet based on the inspection results of the sheet managed by the management means 、 post-processing device the post-processing machine control device connected to and a notification method to notify With death, the inspection device has a first mode in which the sheet to be inspected is sent downstream regardless of the inspection result of the sheet, and a second mode in which, if the sheet to be inspected is a defective product, an image is formed again from the sheet by the image forming device, The management means does not send the inspection results to the post-processing machine control device when the inspection device is in the second mode. An inspection device characterized by the above features is provided. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, a cut sheet machine can be connected to a post-processing device for a continuous feed press, thereby enabling high-quality printed matter to be produced with high productivity. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an entire print processing system according to a first embodiment; [Figure 2] 1 is a hardware configuration diagram of an information processing device, an inspection device, and an image forming device in a first embodiment. [Figure 3] Software configuration diagram of the inspection device in the first embodiment [Figure 4] 1 is a system flow diagram of the entire inspection processing system in the first embodiment. [Figure 5] 1 is a processing flowchart of an inspection device in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a sheet inspection result table obtained by the inspection apparatus according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an inspection result file by an inspection device in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 1 is a system flow diagram of the entire inspection processing system in the second embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a system flow diagram of the entire inspection processing system in the third embodiment. [Figure 10] 10 is a system flow diagram of the entire inspection processing system in the fourth embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which a sheet is transported through a printing system. [Figure 12] Pre-examination processing flowchart [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of job status information. [Figure 14] 10 is a system flow diagram of the entire inspection processing system according to the fifth embodiment. [Figure 15] Flowchart of the entire inspection processing system according to the sixth embodiment [Figure 16A] Flowchart of the entire inspection processing system in the seventh embodiment [Figure 16B] Flowchart of the entire inspection processing system in the seventh embodiment [Figure 17A] Flowcharts of Processes A and B in the Fifth to Seventh Embodiments [Figure 17B] Flowchart of Process C and Process D [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of inspection status information. [Figure 19A] Flowchart of pre-inspection processing and inspection processing in the eighth embodiment [Figure 19B] Flowchart of post-examination processing in the eighth embodiment DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention claimed. Although multiple features are described in the embodiments, not all of these multiple features are necessarily essential to the invention, and multiple features may be combined arbitrarily. Furthermore, in the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same or similar components, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0013] (First embodiment) ●Print processing system [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing the entire print processing system (also called an image forming system) according to this embodiment. Note that, although the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment will be described as an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, it may be an image forming apparatus of a different image forming method, such as an inkjet method or an offset method.

[0014] The image forming apparatus 0101 is communicably connected to an information processing apparatus 0109 via a cable 0112. The information processing apparatus 0109 is connected to a client computer 0110 and an inspection apparatus 0108 via a network 0113.

[0015] The image forming apparatus 0101 includes a UI panel 0102, a paper feed deck 0103, and a paper feed deck 0104. An optional deck 0105 consisting of three paper feed decks is also connected. Cut sheets of a predetermined size, which serve as printing paper, are placed on the paper feed decks 0103, 0104, and 0105. The sheet sizes placed on each paper feed deck may be the same, or may differ for each paper feed deck. The image forming apparatus 0101 is, for example, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The UI panel 0102 is, for example, a user interface equipped with a capacitive touch panel.

[0016] The image forming apparatus 0101 further includes an inspection unit 0106 and a large-capacity stacker 0107. The inspection unit 0106 is connected to an inspection device 0108 via a cable 0114. The inspection unit 0106 reads the paper on which an image is formed by the image forming apparatus 0101, and the inspection device 0108 inspects the quality of the image formed on the paper. In the present to seventh embodiments, the inspection device 0108 simply displays the inspection results on the display unit 0245, and ejects sheets that fail the inspection or are defective (NG) to the normal paper ejection destination. The large-capacity stacker 0107 includes a main tray and a top tray, and the main tray can hold several thousand sheets at a time. In this embodiment, sheets on which images have been formed are not placed on the large-capacity stacker 0107, but are transported to a buffer unit 0115 connected inline via a transport path. The inspection device 0108 and the inspection unit 0106 may be collectively referred to as the inspection device.

[0017] The buffer unit 0115 stacks sheets on which images are formed by the image forming apparatus 0101 and creates a stack of paper in booklets. These stacks of booklets may also be called booklets or copies. A booklet may also be called a booklet even if printing of all pages in the booklet has not been completed. In this embodiment, a continuous feed press is connected to the buffer unit 0115. Roll paper printed by the continuous feed press is set in a cutter and cut to form printed sheets. The cut, printed sheets are then used to form stacks of paper in booklets in the buffer unit 0115. In this embodiment, the buffer unit 0115 is connected inline via a transport path to a post-processing machine 0116 for the continuous feed press. The stacks of paper (sheet stacks) on which images have been formed (printed) into booklets are sent to the post-processing machine 0116 for the continuous feed press and supplied for processing by the post-processing machine 0116. Because the buffer unit 0115 creates stacks of paper in booklets, if a paper jam occurs inside the machine, all paper must be removed, including the stack of paper currently being loaded. In other words, in the continuous feed machine system after the buffer unit 0115, processing is performed on a booklet-by-booklet basis. The continuous feed machine post-processing unit 0116 is connected to the post-processing unit control unit 0118 via a cable 0117. The post-processing unit control unit 0118 is connected to the inspection unit 0108 via a network 0113. The continuous feed machine post-processing unit 0116 is, for example, a perfect binding machine, and has the function of binding stacks of paper in booklets. If the post-processing unit 0116 is a continuous feed machine, the post-processing unit control unit 0118 may eject or process booklets that have a NG inspection result on a booklet-by-booklet basis, in a manner that distinguishes them from booklets that have passed or passed inspection.

[0018] A print job is generated by the client computer 0110, transmitted to the information processing device 0109 via the network 0113, and managed by the information processing device 0109. The print job is then transmitted from the information processing device 0109 to the image forming device 0101 via the cable 0112, and the image forming device 0101 performs processing to form an image on paper. Note that the print job may also be generated and managed by the information processing device 0109, transmitted to the image forming device 0101 via the network 0112, and managed by the image forming device 0101.

[0019] The client computer 0110, the information processing device 0109, and the inspection device 0108 may be connected to a cable 0112 to communicate with the image forming device 0101. That is, the connection configuration of the image forming device 0101, the information processing device 0109, and the client computer 0110 shown in this embodiment is just an example, and it goes without saying that there are various other connection configurations besides that shown in this embodiment.

[0020] ●Configuration of each device [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the control configuration of the image forming apparatus 0101, the inspection apparatus 0108, the large-capacity stacker 0107, the information processing apparatus 0109, and the client computer 0110. As shown in FIG.

[0021] <Image forming device> The CPU (Central Processing Unit) 0201 controls and performs calculations in each section of the image forming apparatus 0101 via a system bus 0212. The CPU 0201 executes programs stored in a non-volatile storage section 0205 and loaded into a RAM (Random Access Memory) 0202. The RAM 0202 is a type of general volatile storage device that can be directly accessed by the CPU 0201, and is used as a work area for the CPU 0201 or as other temporary data storage areas. The storage section 0205 functions as a temporary storage area and work memory when the image forming apparatus is operating.

[0022] The engine I / F 0209 controls communication with and control of the printer engine 02010. The paper feed deck I / F 0204 controls communication with and control of the paper feed deck 0211. The paper feed deck 0211 is a collective term for the paper feed decks 0103 and 0104 and the option deck 0105 as a hardware configuration. The UI panel 0203 is a hardware configuration of the UI panel 0102, and is a user interface for performing overall operations of the image forming apparatus 0101. In this embodiment, the UI panel 0203 is equipped with a capacitive touch panel.

[0023] The network interface (hereinafter referred to as NW I / F) 0207 is connected to the NW I / F 0238 of the information processing device 0109 via a cable 0213, and controls communication between the information processing device 0109 and the image forming device 0101. In this example, the interfaces connected to the system buses 0212 and 0239 are directly connected to each other, but the information processing device 0109 and the image forming device 0101 may also be connected via a network or the like, and the connection method is not limited thereto. The video I / F 0206 is connected to the video I / F 0233 via a video cable 0241, and controls communication of image data between the information processing device 0109 and the image forming device 0101.

[0024] The connection interface between the information processing device 0109 and the image forming device 0101 may be a combination of the functions of the NW I / F 0238 and the video I / F 0233. The connection interface between the image forming device 0101 and the information processing device 0109 may be a combination of the functions of the NW I / F 0207 and the video I / F 0206.

[0025] The accessory I / F 0208 is connected to the accessory I / F 0214 of the inspection unit 0106 and the accessory I / F 0220 of the large-capacity stacker 0107 via a cable 0225. That is, the image forming apparatus 0101 communicates with the inspection unit 0106 and the large-capacity stacker 0107 via the accessory I / Fs 0208, 0214, and 0220.

[0026] <Inspection unit> The CPU 0216 controls and calculates each part of the inspection unit 0106 via the system bus 0219, and executes programs stored in the memory unit 0247 and loaded into the RAM 0217. The RAM 0217 is a type of general volatile storage device that can be directly accessed by the CPU 0216 and is used as a work area for the CPU 0216 or other temporary data storage area. The memory unit 0247 functions as a temporary storage area and work memory when the inspection device is operating. The inspection device I / F 0215 is connected to the inspection device unit I / F 0231 via a cable 0248. That is, the inspection unit 0106 communicates with the inspection device 0108 via the inspection device I / F 0215 and the inspection device unit I / F 0231.

[0027] The photographing unit 0218 has a photographing function equipped with, for example, a conduct image sensor (hereinafter referred to as CIS), photographs the paper passing through the inspection unit, and transmits the photographed image to the inspection device 0108 via the inspection device I / F 0215. Note that the CIS for the photographing unit 0218 is an example of a sensor, and other types of sensors such as a CCD image sensor may be used, and the photographing method is not limited. Since the inspection object of the inspection unit 0106 is printed sheets to be bound, it is provided with image sensors that photograph both sides separately so that both sides can be photographed simultaneously.

[0028] <Large capacity stacker> The CPU 0221 controls and calculates each part of the large-capacity stacker 0107 via the system bus 0224, and executes programs stored in the memory unit 0248 and loaded into the RAM 0222. The RAM 0222 is a type of general volatile storage device that can be directly accessed by the CPU 0221, and is used as a work area for the CPU 0221 or other temporary data storage area. The memory unit 0248 functions as a temporary storage area and work memory when the inspection device is operating. The paper discharge unit 0223 controls the paper discharge operation to the main tray and top tray, and monitors and controls the loading status of each of the main tray and top tray.

[0029] <Inspection equipment> The CPU 0226 controls and performs calculations for each component of the inspection device 0108 via the system bus 0230, and executes programs stored in the memory unit 0228 and loaded into the RAM 0227. The RAM 0227 is a type of general volatile storage device that can be directly accessed by the CPU 0226 and is used as a work area for the CPU 0226 or other temporary data storage area. The memory unit 0228 functions as a temporary storage area and work memory when the inspection device is operating. The PDL analysis unit 0229 reads PDL data, such as PDF, PostScript (registered trademark), and PCL, received from the client computer 0110 or the information processing device 0109 and performs interpretation processing. The display unit 0245 is, for example, a liquid crystal display connected to the inspection device, and accepts user inputs to the inspection device and displays the status of the inspection device.

[0030] <Information processing device> The CPU 0234 controls and performs calculations for each component within the information processing device 0109 via a system bus 0239, and executes programs stored in the memory unit 0236 and loaded into the RAM 0235. The RAM 0235 is a type of general volatile storage device that can be directly accessed by the CPU 0234 and is used as a work area for the CPU 0234 or other temporary data storage area. The memory unit 0236 functions as a temporary storage area and work memory when the information processing device is operating. The network interface (hereinafter referred to as NW I / F) 0237 is connected to the NW I / Fs 0232 and 0240 via a network. The information processing device 0109 communicates with the inspection device 0108 via the NW I / F 0237 and NW I / F 0232. The information processing device 0109 also communicates with the client computer 0110 via the NW I / F 0237 and NW I / F 0240.

[0031] <Client computer> The CPU 0243 controls and performs calculations in each section of the client computer 0110 via the system bus 0246, and executes programs stored in the memory unit 0245 and loaded into the RAM 0242. The RAM 0242 is a type of general volatile storage device that can be directly accessed by the CPU 0243, and is used as a work area for the CPU 0243 or other temporary data storage areas. The memory unit 0244 functions as a temporary storage area and work memory when the client computer is operating.

[0032] <Post-processing machine control device> The CPU 0253 controls and calculates each component of the post-finishing device control device 0118, which is connected to the continuous feed machine post-finishing device 0116 via a system bus 0256, and executes programs stored in the memory unit 0254 and loaded into the RAM 0252. The RAM 0252 is a type of general volatile storage device directly accessible by the CPU 0253 and is used as the CPU 0253's work area or other temporary data storage area. The memory unit 0254 functions as a temporary storage area and work memory when the continuous feed machine post-finishing device is operating. In this embodiment, the RAM 0252 has a storage area shared with the inspection device 0108. The shared storage area can be accessed by the post-finishing device control device 0118 and the inspection device 0108, and data, particularly files, can be read and written to the shared storage area. The booklet inspection result file, described below, is stored in the shared storage area. This enables the inspection results obtained by the inspection device 0108 to be shared. However, the post-finishing device control device 0118 in this embodiment is a system designed for a continuous feed machine system. Due to the characteristics of the continuous feed press system described above, even if a defect is detected by the inspection device, printing continues without stopping the print job. Because of this characteristic, the post-finishing machine control device 0118 does not assume that the inspection result will be rewritten after receiving an NG inspection result. For this reason, the post-finishing machine control device 0118 has the characteristic of not being able to overwrite the inspection result.

[0033] ●Inspection equipment software [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a program included in the inspection device 0108.

[0034] The boot loader 301 is a program that is executed immediately after powering on the inspection device 0108. This program includes programs for executing various startup sequences required for system startup.

[0035] The operating system 302 is a program that provides an execution environment for various programs that realize the functions of the inspection device 0108. It provides functions such as resource management of the memory of the inspection device 0108, that is, the RAM 0227, the storage unit 0228, and the like.

[0036] The network control program 303 is a program executed when sending and receiving data to and from devices connected via the network 0113. In other words, it is used to receive control instructions from the client computer 0110. It is also used to notify the post-processing machine control device 0118 connected via the network 0113 of the inspection results for the printed booklet ID. The receiving program 304 is a program for receiving image data scanned by the inspection unit 0106 via the cable 0114.

[0037] The pre-inspection processing program 305 is a program used to generate an inspection job by generating a reference image, assigning a booklet ID to a print job, etc. The inspection program 306 is a program that collates the image data received by the receiving program 304 with the inspection job generated by the pre-inspection processing program 305. The post-inspection processing program 307 is a program that manages the results of the inspection by the inspection program 306 and executes processing to notify the post-processing machine control device 0118 of the inspection results of the print data using the network control program 303.

[0038] ●Inspection process [Figure 4] The inspection processing according to this embodiment will be described below using a system flow diagram illustrating the processing flow of the entire inspection processing system. The program for the image forming apparatus 0101 according to this flow is stored in the storage unit 0205 of the image forming apparatus 0101, read into the RAM 0202, and executed by the CPU 0201. The program for the inspection apparatus 0108 according to this flow is stored in the storage unit 0228 of the inspection apparatus 0108, read into the RAM 0227, and executed by the CPU 0226. The program for the client computer 0110 according to this flow is stored in the storage unit 0244 of the client computer 0110, read into the RAM 0242, and executed by the CPU 0243. The program for the post-processing machine control device 0118 according to this flow is stored in the storage unit 0254 of the post-processing machine control device 0118, read into the RAM 0252, and executed by the CPU 0253.

[0039] FIG. 4 is a system flow diagram when the client computer 0110, the inspection device 0108, the image forming device 0101, the post-processing device control device 0118, and the users who operate these devices utilize the functions provided by the system.

[0040] The user operations shown in S400, S408, and S423 realize the series of flows shown in the figure. To this end, the user operations are fields that indicate the contents of the operations instructed on the screen provided by the client computer 0110 and the relationships between the flows that occur as a result of those operations.

[0041] In S400, the user instructs the client computer 0110 to register a reference image. For example, the user presses the test print button.

[0042] In S401, the client computer 0110 creates a job for instructing the registration of a reference image to be used as a comparison target for the inspection object, and transmits the job to the inspection apparatus 0108.

[0043] In S402, the inspection device 0108 that has received the reference image registration job starts and completes preparation for reading the reference image. In this preparation process, the inspection device I / F 0215 is notified of the start of reference image reading via the inspection unit I / F 0231. When preparation is complete, a message indicating completion of preparation is sent to the client computer 0110. (S402-2).

[0044] In step S403 , the client computer 0110 , which has received the notification that preparation is complete, transmits a print job with one copy to the image forming apparatus 0101 via the information processing apparatus 0109 .

[0045] In S404, the image forming apparatus 0101 prints the PDF data included in the print job. Then, as the paper passes through the paper transport path, the inspection unit 0106 scans and reads the printed image.

[0046] In S405, the inspection device 0108 receives the scanned image from the inspection unit 0106.

[0047] In S406, the inspection device 0108 registers the image received in S405 as a reference image in the RAM 0227. At this time, it is also possible to read multiple reference images and allow the user to select one, to combine multiple images, or to register multiple reference images.

[0048] In S407, the inspection device 0108 displays an inspection parameter setting screen (not shown) on the display unit 0245. When the display unit 0245 receives a "Complete" instruction on the inspection parameter setting screen, the reference image registration job flow ends. At this time, reference image identification information may be attached to the registered reference image (or reference image group) and notified to the client computer 0110. In that case, the reference image may be specified by the reference image identification information in a control file received from the client computer 0110, which will be described later.

[0049] The number of reference images to be read is the number of pages to be inspected (front and back sides of each sheet). The inspection unit 0106, for example, detects the conveyance of a sheet using a sensor, and scans the detected sheet to obtain a reference image. To reduce the processing load, the edges of the sheet may be detected, the outer edges may be trimmed, and the image may be saved as an image of the appropriate size. In this case, the size may also be stored. The acquired reference images are saved in a manner that allows the order of acquisition to be identified, so that they are referenced in the order of acquisition during inspection.

[0050] To link the registered reference image to the print job to be inspected, reference image identification information may be used as described above, or the registered reference image may be linked to the print job immediately following its registration. In the former case, the registered reference image can be reused for additional printing. In this case, the quality of the additional prints can be inspected using the same evaluation criteria as for the original prints.

[0051] As described above, a reference image is registered in the inspection device by scanning a non-defective product, and the reference image is associated with the printed material to be inspected.

[0052] After the reference image is registered, in S408, the user instructs the client computer 0110 to perform an inspection. For example, the user selects data to be printed and presses the print button.

[0053] In S409, the client computer 0110 creates a print job based on the selected data and transmits a control file corresponding to the print job to the inspection device 0108. Details of the control file will be described later with reference to Fig. 6. At this time, the job ID of the print job to be inspected is acquired, so the job ID may be associated again with the registered reference image.

[0054] In S410, the inspection device 0108 acquires a reference image corresponding to the print job in response to the instruction in S409. If the reference image is registered in association with information for linking it to the print job, the reference image linked to the print job may be acquired. Alternatively, if the reference image is to be linked to the print job immediately after registration, the most recent registered reference image may be acquired.

[0055] In S411, the inspection device 0108 obtains the number of pages of the print job from the number of reference images obtained in S410, and stores the number in the RAM 0227. For example, if the inspection device 0108 obtains five reference images, it stores 5 as the number of pages of the print job.

[0056] In steps S412 and S413, the inspection device 0108 acquires the Job ID and the number of copies to be printed contained in the control file received in step S409, and stores them in the RAM 0227.

[0057] In step S414, the inspection device 0108 sets the initial value 0 as the copy number and stores it in the RAM 0227.

[0058] In S415, the inspection device 0108 prepares for the inspection of the print job linked to the reference image and for the reading of the image to be inspected by the inspection unit 0106. The inspection unit 0106 scans the sheets that are conveyed thereafter and sends the scan results to the inspection device 0108.

[0059] In S416, since the preparation for registering the reference image is completed, the inspection device 0108 enters a state of waiting to receive a scanned image of the printed matter.

[0060] In step S417 , the client computer 0110 transmits a print job to the image forming apparatus 0101 via the information processing apparatus 01090 .

[0061] The inspection device 0108, which has been placed on standby for scan image preparation in S416, executes pre-inspection processing in S418, the details of which will be described later with reference to FIG.

[0062] In S419, the image forming apparatus 0101 that has received the print job starts printing. In this embodiment, printing is performed in sets. The printed sheet is transported to the inspection unit 0106, which scans both sides of the sheet to read the image. The scanned image is sent from the inspection unit 0106 to the inspection device 0108.

[0063] In S420, the inspection device 0108 executes inspection processing, the details of which will be described later with reference to FIG.

[0064] The inspection apparatus 0108 and the image forming apparatus 0101 repeat the processes from S419 to S420 for the number of pages per copy of the print job.

[0065] In step S421, the inspection device 0108 executes post-inspection processing. This will be discussed later.

[0066] In S422, the post-processing machine control device 0118 receives the inspection results of the printed booklets from the inspection device 0108. The inspection results may include information indicating whether the print quality of the printed images is evaluated and whether each set is good or bad. This information may also be linked to a booklet ID, which is identification information that identifies each set of booklets.

[0067] The inspection device 0108, the image forming device 0101, and the post-processing device control device 0118 repeat the processes from S418 to S423 for the number of copies of the print job.

[0068] The process from S418 to S423 is repeated for the number of copies of the print job, and then the flow ends.

[0069] ●Pre-inspection processing [Figure 5(A)] FIG. 5A is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the pre-inspection process performed by the inspection device 0108 in S418. In S501, the copy number stored in the RAM 277 is incremented by one. In S502, a booklet ID is generated by adding together the Job ID and the copy number stored in the RAM 277. The booklet ID may be any information indicating the number of the booklet in a certain job, and may be, for example, a booklet ID obtained by combining the job ID and the copy number. In S503, a sheet inspection result table linked to the booklet ID is generated as shown in Fig. 7. The details of Fig. 7 will be described later. This completes the pre-inspection processing flow.

[0070] ●Inspection process [Figure 5(B)] FIG. 5B is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the inspection process performed by the inspection device 0108 in S420. In S504, the inspection device 0108 receives the scanned image from the inspection unit 0106 via the inspection device I / F 0215 and the inspection unit I / F 0231. Images of both the front and back sides may be received from the inspection unit 0106 in one scan. In this case, it is possible to distinguish between the front and back sides by, for example, determining the order in which the sides are sent.

[0071] In S505, the scanned image is inspected by comparing it with the reference image identified in S410. If the identified reference image includes multiple images, each time a scanned image is received, a reference image is selected in the order in which it was read, and the two are compared. If double-sided printing is performed, the side of the reference image is also registered, and the reference image of the side corresponding to the side of the scanned image is used. Whether each page is defective may be determined, for example, by comparing the degree of positional or color misalignment from the reference image with a reference value. As a result of the comparison, if the difference is within a set tolerance, the page may be determined to be good; if not, the page may be determined to be defective.

[0072] In S506, the inspection result of the scanned image obtained in S505 is added to the result column 705 of the sheet inspection result table generated in S503 and shown in Fig. 6. The inspection time 704 is also added.

[0073] In S507, the inspection results of the scanned image obtained in S505 are displayed on an inspection result screen (not shown). Since the inspection proceeds for each sheet, for example, the booklet ID and the inspection result indicating whether each sheet to be inspected is good (OK) or bad (NG) may be displayed in a list or the like as the inspection progresses. The inspection process flow then ends. The printing process in S419 and the inspection process in S420 are repeated until all pages included in one copy (i.e., one booklet) have been printed. Furthermore, the processes from the pre-inspection process in S418 to the post-inspection process in S421 and the transmission of the inspection results to the post-processing device control device 0118 in S422 are repeatedly executed for each booklet, that is, for each booklet.

[0074] ● Post-examination processing [Figure 5(C)] FIG. 5C is a flowchart illustrating the post-inspection processing operation performed by the inspection device 0108 in S421. In S508, the sheet inspection result table for the booklet ID of interest shown in FIG. 7A is referenced to determine whether there is any NG in the result column 705 in the table. In other words, it is determined whether there are any pages that are defective. If it is determined that there is NG (S508: Yes), the inspection result for the booklet ID is determined to be NG (S509). If it is determined that there is no NG (S508: No), the inspection result for the booklet ID is determined to be OK (S510).

[0075] In S511, the inspection result of the booklet ID determined in S509 or S510 is used to create a booklet inspection result file linked to the booklet ID as shown in Fig. 7(B). Details will be described later with reference to Fig. 7.

[0076] In S512, the booklet inspection result file created in S511 is stored in a shared folder provided in the RAM 0252 of the inspection device 0108. Note that for file uniqueness, the booklet ID may be included in the file name of the booklet inspection result file.

[0077] In S513, an information confirmation file (not shown) indicating that the inspection of the booklet identified by the booklet ID has been completed is placed in the shared folder. The existence of the information confirmation file may indicate the completion of inspection for each booklet. The post-processing machine control device 0118 is triggered by the placement of this information confirmation file in the shared folder to read the inspection results of the booklet identified by the booklet ID from the booklet inspection result file created in S511.

[0078] In S514, the inspection device 0108 displays the inspection result of the booklet ID on an inspection result screen (not shown). This completes the post-inspection processing flow.

[0079] ●Control file [Figure 6] 6 shows an example of a control file that is generated by the client computer 0110 and sent to the inspection device 0108. The control file represents an outline of a print job and is used to transmit information about the print job to devices such as the inspection device 0108.

[0080] The root element 600 represents the root element of the control file and corresponds to one print job. The job ID element 601 represents identification information for uniquely identifying the job. The reference image identifier element 602 is identification information used to identify the reference image in the inspection device 0108.

[0081] The number of copies element 603 is the number of copies of the print job. The number of copies of a print job means how many times the same thing is printed for one print queue. For example, if one copy has 10 pages, the number of copies element 603 specifies how many copies (how many times) all 10 pages are to be printed. The number of copies of a print job is used to determine how many inspections to perform during inspection. If a value less than the actual number of copies is entered in the number of copies element 603 of a print job in the control file, a problem occurs in which printed materials that should be inspected are not inspected. Therefore, the number of copies element 603 of a print job in the control file must be set to the same value as the number of copies specified in the print job.

[0082] The scan count element 604 is the number of scans of the printed material used when registering the reference image. The scan count specifies how many times a non-defective product is scanned when creating the reference image. A reference image obtained by synthesizing images obtained by scanning a non-defective product multiple times reduces noise in the reference image, resulting in higher inspection accuracy. Conversely, if the non-defective product is scanned a small number of times, noise in the reference image becomes more noticeable, resulting in lower inspection accuracy.

[0083] 4, the control file is sent from the client computer 0110 to the inspection device 0108, and therefore the reference image for the corresponding print job has already been registered when the inspection device 0108 receives the control file. Therefore, the inspection device 0108 may ignore the scan count element 604 in the control file. Alternatively, the scan count element 604 may be sent to the inspection device 0108 in a reference image registration job, and the specified number of scans may be performed to synthesize and register the reference image. In that case, for example, the value of the scan count element may also be set as the number of copies to be printed for obtaining the reference image.

[0084] The collation setting element 605 indicates whether or not a collation setting is made for the print job. When printing multiple copies without a collation setting, the printing process proceeds page by page, such as page 1, page 1, page 1, rather than printing in booklet units, such as page 1, page 2, page 3. Therefore, the presence or absence of a collation setting is used to determine whether or not to perform inspection, such as page 1, page 1, page 1. Note that in this embodiment, it is assumed that no collation setting is made, i.e., printing is performed in booklet units.

[0085] The double-sided setting element 606 is the double-sided setting of the print job. The double-sided setting is used to determine whether the back side of the printed material is to be inspected in addition to the front side.

[0086] The paper size element 607 is the paper size specified for the print job. The number of sheets element 608 records the number of sheets per booklet. Since the double-sided setting element 606 can specify whether the print job is single-sided or double-sided, the number of pages may be set instead of the number of sheets.

[0087] Note that the control file may be sent to the inspection device prior to sending the print job for registering the reference image (S401). In this case, the reference image identification information 602 is determined by the client computer 0110, and the inspection device 0108 that receives it will register the reference image by linking it to the identification information.

[0088] ● Sheet inspection result table and inspection result file [Figure 7] FIG. 7A shows an example of a sheet inspection result table 700 generated by the inspection device 0108 in the pre-inspection process S418. The sheet inspection result table 700 consists of a booklet ID column 701, a barcode column 702, a page column 703, a time column 704, and a result column 705. The sheet inspection result table 700 is generated by the inspection device 0108 in S503 of FIG. 5A. Specifically, the inspection device 0108 generates rows equal to the number of pages of the print job acquired in S411 and fills each row of the page column 703 with a page number in the order of inspection. As inspection target information, the booklet ID generated in S502 is entered in the booklet ID column 701, and barcode information corresponding to the booklet ID is entered in the barcode column 702. In the example of FIG. 7A, one copy consists of five pages. In this embodiment, the inspection device 0108 determines the number of pages in one copy to be the number of reference images received from the image forming device 0101. For example, if five reference images are received, it is determined that one copy consists of five pages. The example in FIG. 7A shows an example of one copy. However, sheet inspection result tables for multiple copies may be created. Specifically, the inspection device 0108 inspects multiple copies by repeatedly comparing the scanned images received during inspection with the reference images of pages 1 to 5, and creates sheet inspection result tables for the multiple copies inspected. For example, if the inspection device 0108 acquires scanned images of 15 pages during inspection, it creates sheet inspection result tables for three copies. Alternatively, the inspection device 0108 may acquire the number of copies or pages from the image forming device 0101 or another device.

[0089] The barcode information may be printed, for example, in the margin of the corresponding booklet. Note that this barcode is a type of image information indicating the booklet ID, and other codes may also be used.

[0090] The sheet inspection result table 700 is completed when the inspection device 0108 inputs the inspection results in S506. Specifically, the inspection results acquired in S505 are entered in the result column 705, and the inspection time at that time is entered in the time column 704. By repeating this process for the number of pages, the sheet inspection result table 700 corresponding to the booklet ID is completed.

[0091] FIG. 7B shows an example of an inspection result file (booklet ID inspection result file) 706 corresponding to the booklet ID generated by the inspection device 0108 in the post-inspection process S510.

[0092] The booklet ID inspection result file 706 is made up of a table of a booklet ID column 707 , a barcode column 708 , a time column 709 , and a result column 710 .

[0093] The booklet ID inspection result file 706 is generated by the inspection device 0108 in S511. Specifically, the booklet ID is obtained from the booklet ID column 701 of the sheet inspection result table, and the booklet ID column 707 is filled in. In addition, the barcode corresponding to the booklet ID is obtained from the barcode column 702 of the sheet inspection result table 700, and the barcode column 708 is filled in. Then, the inspection result of the booklet ID determined in S509 or S510 is filled in the result column 710, and the time at that time is filled in the time column 709. With the above steps, the booklet ID inspection result file 706 is completed.

[0094] ●Post-processing The inspection result file stored in the shared file in S512 of FIG. 5C is referenced by the post-processing device control device 0118, triggered by the storage of the information determination file, to determine whether the booklet being processed is a pass or fail product. The booklet and the inspection result file may be synchronized, for example, by matching the timing of storing the information determination file in S513 with the timing of conveying the sheets of each booklet from the buffer unit 0115 to the post-processing device 0116. Alternatively, during printing, a barcode corresponding to the booklet ID may be printed, for example, on the margin of the first page or each page. The post-processing device 0116 may read the barcode to generate a booklet ID and determine whether the booklet is a pass or fail product by referencing the inspection result file of the matching booklet ID. The barcode may be sent from the inspection device 0108 that determined the booklet ID to the image forming device 0101, for example, in S418 of FIG. 4, for printing. Alternatively, the inspection device 0108 may send a booklet ID to the client computer 0110 before the client computer 0110 sends the print job (S417). In this case, the client computer 0110 may combine the received barcode into the margin of the print data before sending the job. Of course, other methods may be used to synchronize the booklet to be post-processed with the inspection result file.

[0095] In this way, the inspection results for each booklet to be inspected are referred to by the post-processing machine control device 0118. The post-processing machine control device 0118 performs post-processing, such as bookbinding, on booklets that the referenced inspection results indicate are good products, and discards booklets that are defective without performing post-processing. Discarding may be performed, for example, by discharging the booklets to a discharge section for defective products.

[0096] With the above configuration and processing procedure, even if the inspection device 0108 finds a defect in the printed matter, the inspection device 0108 converts the defect into an inspection result for each booklet and sends it to the post-processing device control device 0118, allowing the image forming device to continue printing without reprinting. This eliminates the need to prepare for reprinting or to perform the reprinting process itself, improving the productivity of the cut sheet press. Furthermore, because the inspection device 0108 can check for defects for each booklet based on the inspection result, the quality of the printed matter can be maintained at the same level as if reprinting were performed.

[0097] (Second embodiment) One feature of cut-sheet machines that continuous-feed machines do not have is the interruption of printing due to a paper jam. Generally, when a jam occurs in a cut-sheet machine, printing is halted and the stuck sheets are manually removed. The press then automatically reprints the sheets following the jammed sheet. In other words, when a jam occurs in a cut-sheet printing system, the resulting output can be completed by printing the sheets following the jammed sheet, one by one. This is called jam recovery. However, there is a possibility of missing or duplicated pages during jam recovery.

[0098] If the jam occurs upstream of the inspection unit 0106, a missing page or a duplicated page will cause a shift in the page being inspected, making it possible to detect this through inspection by the inspection device 0108. However, if the jam occurs downstream of the inspection unit 0106, there are cases where the missing page or duplicated page cannot be detected through inspection by the inspection device.

[0099] As a specific example, consider the situation shown in FIG. 11. In this case, the first through tenth pages of the sheet stack 1101 are stacked in the buffer unit 0115 as a printed paper stack. The eleventh page 1102 has already been inspected because it is downstream of the inspection unit 0106, while the twelfth page 1103 and thirteenth page 1104 have not yet been inspected because they are upstream of the inspection unit 0106. At this time, the inspection device 0108 is waiting to receive the uninspected twelfth page 1103. For example, if a jam occurs on the eleventh page 1102 downstream of the inspection unit 0106, the jam recovery operation involves reprinting the pages following the eleventh page 1102. For example, if the eleventh page 1102 is missing, as an error case, jam recovery may occur starting with the twelfth page 1103. In this case, the inspection device 0108 will inspect the 12th page sheet 1103 that is waiting to be received, and the inspection can continue, but the final product will have a missing page 11th page sheet 1102. On the other hand, if a jam occurs on the 12th page sheet 1103 upstream of the inspection unit 0106, the 12th page sheet and subsequent pages will be reprinted. For example, if an error occurs in this case, and the 12th page sheet 1103 is missing or duplicated, jam recovery may occur from the 11th page sheet 1102 or the 13th page sheet 1104. In this case, because the inspection device 0108 expects to receive the 12th page sheet 1103, it can detect that the page being inspected is misaligned. Therefore, if a jam occurs downstream of the inspection unit, the printing company will need to check for missing or duplicated pages in the final product.

[0100] In the following embodiments, an example of processing when there is a possibility that a page may be missing or duplicated due to a jam, which is a phenomenon unique to cut sheet machines, will be described. In the second embodiment, a case will be described in which the user is notified of the booklet ID and page number of a booklet that may be missing or duplicated due to a jam, and the user inspects the completed booklet themselves. A paper jam downstream of the inspection unit 0106 occurs between S419 and S421 in FIG. 4. A system flow diagram for when a paper jam occurs in the second embodiment is shown in FIG. 8.

[0101] If a paper jam occurs in the image forming apparatus 0101 between S419 and S421, the image forming apparatus 0101 stops printing in S801.

[0102] In S802, the image forming apparatus 0101 notifies the inspection apparatus 0108 of jam information. The jam information includes, for example, location information indicating where the jam occurred, the booklet ID where the jam occurred, and the page number where the jam occurred.

[0103] In S803, the inspection device 0108 notifies the user of the booklet ID in which the jam occurred and the page number in which the jam occurred from the jam information acquired in S802, for example, by voice or display.

[0104] In this embodiment, in steps S802 and S803, the inspection device 0108 receives jam information and notifies the user, but this is not limitative, and the client computer 0110 may notify the user.

[0105] In S804, the user recognizes that a jam has occurred and removes the sheet remaining in the image forming apparatus 0101, i.e., performs jam processing. In S805, the image forming apparatus 0101 performs jam recovery processing and resumes printing from the page where the jam occurred. Thereafter, the processing from S806 to S811 is the same as the processing from S419 to S423. When resuming printing, the page to be resumed may be notified to the inspection device 0108. In this way, the inspection device 0108 can identify the reference image of the page where printing has resumed and continue inspection.

[0106] As described above, in this embodiment, the jam information is notified to the user as shown in S803, allowing the user to perform jam clearance. Furthermore, the user can prevent missing pages or duplication by, for example, referencing the booklet ID and page number for which the jam has been notified and inspecting the booklet corresponding to the jam information from among the completed booklets.

[0107] (Third embodiment) In the second embodiment, an example was described in which jam information was notified to the user, but on the other hand, the user had to inspect the completed booklet himself to ensure that there were no missing or duplicated pages.

[0108] In the third embodiment, an example will be described in which, in the event of a jam, the sheet being printed is removed and printing is resumed from the beginning of the copy being printed, to ensure that there are no missing pages or duplicates without the user having to inspect the completed booklet themselves.

[0109] A paper jam occurs between S419 and S421. A system flow diagram when a paper jam occurs in the third embodiment is shown in FIG. If a paper jam occurs between S419 and S421, the image forming apparatus 0101 stops printing in S901. In step S902, the image forming apparatus 0101 notifies the client computer 0110 of the occurrence of a paper jam. In step S903, the client computer 0110 instructs the image forming apparatus 0101 to interrupt the job that is currently being printed. In S904, the image forming apparatus 0101 receives an instruction from the client computer 0110 and suspends the job. The image forming apparatus 0101 then notifies the inspection apparatus 0108 of the suspension of the job. This notification may be sent from the client computer 0110 to the inspection apparatus 0108.

[0110] In S905, the inspection apparatus 0108 discards the sheet inspection result table 700 that has been held in association with the interrupted job. In S906, the inspection device 0108 instructs the user to remove all sheets currently being printed. This instruction may be given by voice or display, for example. In this embodiment, in S906, the instruction is given to the user from the inspection device 0108, but this is not limited to this, and the instruction may also be given to the user from the client computer 0110.

[0111] In S907, the user receives the instruction in S906 and removes the printed sheets and the sheets remaining in the machine. In S908, the client computer 0110 recreates the print job that was interrupted in S903. Specifically, the operation when a jam occurs in the large-capacity stacker 0107 on the 90th page of the third copy of a 100-page, 10-copy job with a job ID of 1000 will be described with reference to FIG. 12.

[0112] In S1201, the client computer 0110 cancels the print job being printed by the image forming apparatus 0101. In S1202, the client computer 0110 identifies the copy number where the jam occurred from the jam information notified by the image forming apparatus 0101 in S902. In this example, it determines that the copy number is 3. The copy number indicates the copy number when multiple copies are being printed. In order for the client computer 0110 to identify the copy number where the jam occurred, the client computer 0110 stores job status information 1301 such as that shown in FIG. 13 for the job being printed, for example, in the storage unit 0244.

[0113] The job status information 1301 includes information related to a job ID 1302, a copy number 1303, a page number 1304, a job input status 1305 to the image forming apparatus 0101, and a normal paper ejection status 1306 in the image forming apparatus. In this embodiment, the job status information stores copy numbers 1303 ranging from 1 to 10 and page numbers 1304 ranging from 1 to 100 for a job with a job ID 1302 of 1000. The client computer 0110 also stores job input status 1305 to the image forming apparatus corresponding to each page number 1304, and a normal paper ejection status 1306 corresponding to each page number 1304. The job input status 1305 indicates whether the corresponding page of the corresponding copy number of the corresponding job has been input or not. The normal paper ejection status 1306 indicates whether the corresponding page of the corresponding copy number of the corresponding job has been normally ejected. The client computer 0110 issues an output instruction for each page to the image forming apparatus 0101, and in conjunction with this, the client computer updates the job submission status 1305. Furthermore, when the image forming apparatus 0101 prints the page received from the client computer 0110 and successfully discharges the paper, it notifies the client computer of this information (normal paper discharge information) on a page-by-page basis as an event. In response to this event, the client computer updates the normal paper discharge status 1306.

[0114] If a jam occurs in the large-capacity stacker 0107 on page 90 of the third copy of a 100-page job with a job ID of 1000, the image forming apparatus 0101 notifies the client computer 0110 of the jam occurrence information. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 0101 ejects any paper remaining in the apparatus. At this time, if pages currently being conveyed through the apparatus downstream of the jammed paper, such as pages 89 and earlier, are normally ejected, the image forming apparatus 0101 notifies the client computer 0110 of the normal ejection information for those pages via an event. On the other hand, pages currently being conveyed through the apparatus upstream of the jammed paper, such as pages 91 and later, are ejected by escape ejection to a destination other than the normal paper ejection tray, and normal ejection information is not notified. This allows the client computer 0110 to identify the page number 1304 that was not normally ejected in the normal ejection status 1306 updated based on the jam occurrence and the normal ejection information. As a result, the client computer 0110 can obtain the job ID 1302, copy number 1303, and page number 1304 where the jam occurred. For example, the first page of the pages identified as not being normally ejected can be identified as the page where the jam occurred based on the normal ejection status 1306. However, regarding the method of counting normal ejection when a jam occurs, a method can be used in which all sheets remaining in the machine at the time the jam occurred are assumed to be removed by the user and not counted as normal ejection.

[0115] In S1203, the client computer 0110 recreates the job. In this case, the number of copies to be printed is set to 8, which is the number of copies from copy number 3 onwards where the jam occurred as determined in S1202, out of the 10 copies of the job canceled in S1201. The job ID recreated in S1203 is set to 1000, the same as the job ID canceled in S1201, and the copy numbers also start from copy number 3, the copy number determined in S1202. By the processing of step S908 described above, the client computer can resume the print job from the beginning of the copy number where the jam occurred. Next, in S909, the client computer 0110 transmits the print job to the image forming apparatus 0101 via the information processing apparatus 01090. Thereafter, the processing from S910 to S915 is the same as the processing from S418 to S423. As described above, in this embodiment, the user is prompted to remove sheets being printed, including printed sheets, and the print job is recreated on the client computer 0110. This allows printing to be restarted from the beginning of the jammed copy (booklet), thereby ensuring that there are no missing or duplicated pages.

[0116] (Fourth embodiment) In the third embodiment, an example was described in which printing is resumed from the beginning of a set when a jam occurs. However, in addition to removing sheets stuck in the machine, which is the normal process for handling jams, the user also needs to remove printed sheets from the booklet to be reprinted. Therefore, the items to be removed change depending on the state of the jam.

[0117] In the fourth embodiment, an example will be described in which the inspection results of all booklets with booklet IDs that may have missing or duplicated pages are NG. This allows the user to ensure that there are no missing or duplicated pages by removing sheets remaining in the machine, which is a normal jam process.

[0118] A paper jam occurs between S419 and S421 in Fig. 4. Fig. 10 shows a system flow diagram for when a paper jam occurs in the third embodiment. If a paper jam occurs between S419 and S421, the image forming apparatus 0101 stops printing in S1001. In S1002, the image forming apparatus 0101 notifies the inspection apparatus 0108 of the occurrence of the jam.

[0119] In S1003, the inspection device 0108 creates an inspection result file for the booklet being printed. At this time, NG (fail) is entered in the result column 710 of the booklet ID of the booklet being printed. If the jammed sheet is near the beginning or end of the booklet, the sheets removed from the conveyance path may span multiple booklets. Therefore, the result column 710 of the corresponding booklet ID may be set to NG for booklets that may have overlapping or missing pages, that is, for all booklets that contain sheets that were on the conveyance path at the time the jam occurred. Because printing is performed on a booklet-by-booklet basis, the booklet ID that contains the sheets on the conveyance path can be estimated, for example, from the position of the sheets on the conveyance path.

[0120] In S1004, the inspection device 0108 notifies the user of the occurrence of a jam. In this embodiment, in S1004, the inspection device 0108 notifies the user of the occurrence of a jam, but this is not limited to this, and the client computer 0110 may notify the user.

[0121] In S1005, the user receives the notification in S1004 and performs jam processing. In S1006, the image forming apparatus resumes printing through jam recovery processing. Thereafter, the processing from S1007 to S1008 is the same as the processing from S419 to S420.

[0122] When the image forming apparatus 0101 finishes printing the number of pages of the print job, the inspection apparatus 0108 executes post-inspection processing in S1009. In the post-inspection processing according to this embodiment, if an inspection result file is created in S1003, the process for that booklet is as shown in FIG. 5C , except that steps S508 to S511 are skipped. Then, in S512, the inspection result file created in S1003 is written to a shared folder with the post-finishing machine control device 0118. For this purpose, if a jam is notified in S1004, for example, this information is stored as jam information. In S1009, the jam information is referenced, and if a jam is detected, the created inspection result file may be written to the shared folder as described above. At this time, the jam information is rewritten to a value indicating that no jam has occurred. From here on, the processing from S1010 to S1011 is the same as the processing from S422 to S423. As described above, in this embodiment, if a jam occurs that may result in missing or overlapping pages, the inspection result for the booklet ID of the booklet containing the jammed sheet is set to NG. By doing so, if there is a jammed page, NG is recorded as the inspection result in the booklet inspection result file of the booklet containing that jammed page, and the booklet is processed by the post-processing machine control device 0118 as a rejected booklet. Therefore, the user does not have to remove it. In this way, when a jam occurs, the user only needs to remove the sheets in the conveyance path, and there is no need to remove the sheets placed in the buffer unit 0115. This allows the user to clear the jam without being aware of the location of the jam, and as a result, it is possible to ensure that there are no missing or overlapping pages.

[0123] (Fifth embodiment) In the second, third, and fourth embodiments, the description was given of embodiments that assume a case where a missing page or duplication occurs due to jam recovery. Even when jam recovery processing is performed appropriately in accordance with these embodiments, there are cases where the inspection processing always fails depending on the location where the jam occurs. The processing for this case will be described in the following embodiments.

[0124] In the fifth embodiment, a case where a jam occurs downstream of the inspection unit 0106 will be described. In the process of inspecting a scanned image using a reference image in S505 of FIG. 5, the inspection device 0108 compares each scanned image received from the inspection unit 0106 in S504 with the stored reference image. Using FIG. 11 as an example, the 11th page sheet 1102, which is downstream of the inspection unit 0106, has been scanned by the inspection unit 0106, i.e., the inspection device 0108 has already inspected it. At this time, the inspection device 0108 is waiting for the next scanned image of the 12th page sheet 1103. If a jam occurs on this 11th page sheet 1102, the pages following the 11th page sheet 1102 are reprinted as a jam recovery operation. Then, the next scanned image the inspection device 0108 receives from the inspection unit 0106 is the 11th page sheet 1102, which is inconsistent with the 12th page sheet 1103 that was being waited for.

[0125] On the other hand, if a jam occurs upstream of the inspection unit 0106, for example, if a jam occurs on the 12th page sheet 1103 in FIG. 11, the pages after the 12th page sheet 1103 are reprinted as a jam recovery operation. The scanned image the inspection device 0108 then receives from the inspection unit 0106 is the scanned image of the 12th page sheet 1103, and there is no inconsistency with the waiting 12th page sheet 1103. For these reasons, if a jam occurs downstream of the inspection unit 0106, the inspection result will always be NG even if the jam is cleared and printing is resumed. Therefore, in this embodiment, processing is performed to prevent such a problem from occurring. This example will be described using FIGS. 4 and 14.

[0126] 4, if a paper jam occurs between S419 (printing) and S421 (post-inspection processing), the image forming apparatus 0101 stops printing in S1401. In S1402, the process branches depending on whether the jam occurred upstream or downstream of the inspection unit 0106.

[0127] If the jam occurrence position is upstream of the inspection unit 0106 in S1402, process A shown in FIG. 17A(A) is performed in S1403. In S1711, the image forming apparatus 0101 notifies the client computer 0110 of the jam occurrence using jam information. In S1712, the client computer 0110 instructs the user to remove the jammed sheets inside the image forming apparatus. This instruction may be given, for example, by voice or display (S1713). In this embodiment, the instruction is given to the user from the client computer 0110, but this is not limited to this, and the instruction may also be given to the user from the inspection apparatus 0108. In S1714, the user receives the instruction in S1713 and removes the jammed sheets. In S1715, the image forming apparatus resumes printing from the page where the jam occurred in accordance with jam recovery processing.

[0128] If the jam occurrence position is downstream of the inspection unit 0106 in S1402, process B shown in FIG. 17A(B) is performed in S1404. In S1721, the image forming apparatus 0101 notifies the inspection apparatus 0108 and the client computer 0110 of the jam occurrence using jam information. In S1722, the inspection apparatus 0108 discards the sheet inspection result table 700 that it has retained. The inspection results to be discarded are those of the booklet to be reprinted, and may be inspection results corresponding to the booklet including the sheets to be removed to clear the jam. If the sheets to be removed span multiple booklets, the inspection results of those booklets will be discarded. In S1723, the client computer 0110 instructs the user to remove the sheets remaining in the image forming apparatus. The instruction is transmitted to the user in S1724. In S1725, the user receives the instruction in S1723 and removes the sheets remaining in the apparatus. In S1726, the client computer 0110 creates a new print job to start printing with a new booklet ID. The client computer 0110 also cancels the print job currently being printed by the image forming apparatus 0101 as jam recovery processing. However, the decision as to whether to create a new print job can be made based on whether the jam information notified in S1721 indicates that the jam occurred downstream of the inspection unit 0106. In other words, if the jam occurred downstream of the inspection unit 0106, a new print job will be created. Note that this decision has already been made in S1402, so in S1726, the cancellation of the job being executed and the creation of a new job may be performed unconditionally. Furthermore, the new job created in S1726 will start with the copy following the copy number of the job in which the jam occurred, and the job ID will be the same as the job ID of the canceled job.

[0129] This allows a job with a new job ID different from the job ID of the jammed booklet to be created. The copy number to be recreated may be determined in the same manner as in S1202 of FIG. 12. This updates the copy number, and the booklet ID of the booklet to be reprinted becomes different from that of the jammed booklet. In S1727, the client computer 0110 sends the job with the new job ID created in S1726 to the image forming apparatus 0101. In S1728, the inspection apparatus 0108 performs pre-inspection processing in the same manner as in S418. This allows the printing process interrupted due to the jam to be resumed from the interrupted booklet with a new booklet ID, and a sheet inspection result table linked to the new booklet ID can be generated. In S1729, the image forming apparatus 0101 starts printing the job received from the client computer 0110 in S1727. The inspection apparatus 0108 waits for the first page of the booklet with the booklet ID to be printed next and performs inspection. Thereafter, the processes from S1405 to S1409 are the same as the processes from S419 to S423.

[0130] As described above, in this embodiment, processing is differentiated depending on whether the jam occurred upstream or downstream of the inspection unit 0106. If the jam occurred upstream, normal jam recovery processing is performed. If the jam occurred downstream, recovery processing similar to that performed when a jam occurred upstream would always result in an NG inspection result for printed materials after the jam due to page misalignment during inspection. Therefore, by recreating a job with a new booklet ID and resuming printing and inspection on a booklet-by-booklet basis, misalignment between printed pages and pages to be inspected can be prevented, and printing and inspection can be started without waste.

[0131] (Sixth embodiment) In the fifth embodiment, an example was described in which processing is branched depending on whether the jam occurred upstream or downstream of the inspection unit 0106. According to this example, if a jam occurs upstream of the inspection unit 0106, the pages following the jammed sheet are reprinted by jam recovery. On the other hand, if a jam occurs in the buffer unit 0115 downstream of the inspection unit 0106, the jam recovery operation does not reprint pages, but rather reprints copies of a set, that is, from the beginning of the booklet where the jam occurred. Therefore, it is necessary to remove the sheets of the booklet including the jammed page from the sheet stack stacked in the buffer unit 0115.

[0132] In the sixth embodiment, an example will be described in which processing is branched depending on whether the jam occurs upstream or downstream of the buffer unit 0115. If a jam occurs in the buffer unit 0115, reprinting will be performed from the beginning of the set as a jam recovery process. Therefore, as in the fifth embodiment, an inconsistency will occur with the inspection image that the inspection device 0108 is waiting for. An example of this case will be described using FIG. 15.

[0133] 4, if a paper jam occurs between S419 (printing) and S421 (post-inspection processing), the image forming apparatus 0101 stops printing in S1501. In S1502, the process branches depending on whether the jam occurred upstream or downstream of the inspection unit 0106.

[0134] If it is determined in S1502 that the jam has occurred upstream of the inspection unit 0106, process A shown in Fig. 17A(A) is performed in S1503. Process A performed in S1503 is the same as S1403 in Fig. 14. That is, once the jam is cleared, printing continues from the sheet where the jam occurred.

[0135] If it is determined in step S1502 that the jam has occurred downstream of the inspection unit 0106, the process branches in step S1504 depending on whether the jam has occurred upstream or downstream of the buffer unit 0115.

[0136] If it is determined in S1504 that the jam has occurred upstream of the buffer unit 0115, then in S1505, process B shown in FIG. 17A(B) is performed. Process B performed in S1505 is the same as S1404 in FIG. 14. That is, once the jam is cleared, printing continues from the beginning of the booklet that contains the jammed sheet. At this time, the booklet ID of the booklet to be reprinted will be different from the booklet ID that caused the jam. Specifically, the copy number of the booklet that caused the jam is skipped, and printing resumes from the booklet ID that combines the next copy number with the job ID.

[0137] If, in S1504, the jam location is downstream of the buffer unit 0115, then in S1506, process C shown in FIG. 17B is performed. In S1731, the image forming apparatus 0101 notifies the inspection apparatus 0108 and the client computer 0110 of the jam. In S1732, the inspection apparatus 0108 initializes the sheet inspection result table 700 it has retained. The objects to be initialized are the inspection results of the pages to be reprinted, and may be the inspection results of the booklet including the sheets removed due to the jam and the inspection results corresponding to the pages printed and inspected after that booklet. In S1733, the client computer 0110 instructs the user to remove the sheets remaining in the image forming apparatus, as in S1712. In S1735, the user receives the instruction in S1723 and removes the sheets remaining in the apparatus. In S1736, the client computer 0110 creates a new print job to start printing with a new booklet ID. As a jam recovery process, the client computer 0110 cancels the print job being printed by the image forming apparatus 0101. Process C is executed when a jam occurs downstream of the buffer unit 0115, so canceling the job being executed and creating a new print job may always be performed in process C. The job recreated in S1736 starts from the same copy number as the copy number where the jam occurred, and the job ID is the same as the job ID of the canceled job.

[0138] This makes it possible to generate a job with the same booklet ID as the booklet ID where the jam occurred. The copy number to be recreated may be determined in the same manner as in S1202 of FIG. 12. In S1737, the client computer 0110 transmits the job with the job ID created in S1736 to the image forming apparatus 0101. In S1738, the image forming apparatus 0101 starts printing the job received from the client computer 0110 in S1737. Note that with the resumption of printing in S1738, the inspection apparatus 0108 does not perform pre-inspection processing, and can therefore resume inspection with the same booklet ID as the booklet where the jam occurred. The inspection apparatus 0108 waits for the first page of the booklet with the booklet ID to be printed next, and performs inspection. Thereafter, the processing from S1507 to S1511 is the same as the processing from S419 to S423.

[0139] As described above, in this embodiment, processing is differentiated depending on whether the jam occurred upstream or downstream of the inspection unit 0106, as well as whether the jam occurred upstream or downstream of the buffer unit 0115. When the jam occurred upstream of the buffer unit 0115, processing equivalent to that of the fifth embodiment is performed. On the other hand, when the jam occurred downstream of the buffer unit 0115, the normal jam recovery process, i.e., sheet-by-sheet, would always result in a NG inspection. Therefore, as a jam recovery process, reprinting is started from the beginning of the jammed booklet. Furthermore, the booklet ID of the jammed booklet is retained as the booklet ID for the reprinted booklet. Therefore, rather than creating a new booklet ID, printing is resumed using the same booklet ID as the booklet that caused the job. This allows for efficient printing and inspection. For example, even if the inspection result for the jammed booklet has already been sent to the post-processing device 0116, if the inspection result for the reprinted booklet is NG, the reprinted booklet can also be processed as NG by the post-processing device. Furthermore, the association between the booklet and its inspection result can be maintained. However, in this embodiment, the post-processing machine control device 0118 does not overwrite the transmitted inspection result if it is NG, but overwrites the transmitted inspection result if it is OK.

[0140] (Seventh embodiment) In the sixth embodiment, an example was described in which processing is differentiated based on whether the jam occurred upstream or downstream of the inspection unit 0106, as well as upstream or downstream of the buffer unit 0115. A jam that occurred in the buffer unit 0115 may include the last page of a booklet among the sheets targeted for jam recovery. In this case, the inspection of the booklet targeted for jam recovery has already been completed, and the inspection results for that booklet may have already been notified to the post-processing device control device 0118. In the sixth embodiment, if a jam occurs in the buffer unit 0115, reprinting begins from the beginning of a booklet with the same booklet ID as the booklet targeted for recovery. However, there is a possibility that the post-processing device 0116 has already been notified of a failure (NG) inspection result for the booklet to be reprinted. Even if the inspection result of the reprinted booklet is OK, the post-processing device 0116 does not overwrite the NG inspection result. Therefore, in such a case, the booklet containing the page that was once determined to be failing is discarded, even if the reprinted booklet passes the inspection. In other words, even if the booklet is reprinted from the beginning, the booklet will always be discarded. Furthermore, a discrepancy will occur between the number of booklets that have been inspected as OK by the inspection device 0108 and the number of booklets of the deliverables output by the post-processing device 0116. However, if an OK inspection result has already been notified, the post-processing device control device 0118 can overwrite the OK inspection result with an NG inspection result.

[0141] In the seventh embodiment, an example will be described in which, when a jam occurs downstream of the buffer unit 0115, the processing is branched depending on whether or not the inspection result NG for the booklet ID of the jammed sheet has already been notified to the post-processing machine control device 0118. Here, reference will be made to Figures 16A and 16B. Note that Figure 16B shows processing 16B in Figure 16A, and these will be collectively referred to as Figure 16 below.

[0142] If a paper jam occurs between S419 and S421 in Fig. 4, the image forming apparatus 0101 stops printing in S1601 in Fig. 16. In S1602, the process branches depending on whether the jam occurred upstream or downstream of the inspection unit 0106.

[0143] 17A(A) is performed in S1603. The process A performed in S1603 is the same as S1403 in FIG.

[0144] If it is determined in step S1602 that the jam has occurred downstream of the inspection unit 0106, the process branches in step S1604 depending on whether the jam has occurred upstream or downstream of the buffer unit 0115.

[0145] 17A(B) is executed in S1605. The process B executed in S1605 is the same as S1404 in FIG.

[0146] If, in S1604, the jam has occurred downstream of the buffer unit 0115, in S1606 the image forming apparatus 0101 notifies the inspection apparatus 0108 and the client computer 0110 of the jam by notifying them of the jam information. The inspection apparatus 0108 and the client computer 0110 are notified of the jam in S1607 and S1608, respectively. The notification also includes the location of the jam. This is similar to the other embodiments.

[0147] In S1609, it is determined whether the inspection result of the booklet ID that is the target of jam recovery has already been notified. The client computer 0110 and the inspection device 0108 each determine whether the booklet ID that is the target of jam recovery has already been notified of an NG inspection result. To do this, for example, the inspection device 0108, which has been notified of jam information from the image forming device 0101 in S1606, determines whether the booklet ID that is the target of jam recovery has already been notified of an NG result. The inspection device 0108 then notifies the client computer 0110 via the network 0113. At this time, in order for the inspection device 0108 to identify the booklet ID that is the target of jam recovery, the inspection device 0108 is assumed to hold inspection status information 1801 such as that shown in FIG. 18.

[0148] The inspection status information 1801 is assumed to hold information related to a job number 1802, a copy number 1803, a page number 1804, an inspection status 1805, and a normal paper ejection status 1806 in the image forming apparatus 0101. In this embodiment, the inspection status information 1801 is assumed to hold for inspecting a job with a job number 1802 of 1000, which has 100 pages per copy. As a specific example, assume that the copy number 1803 is currently the third copy, the page number 1804 is the first page, and a jam has occurred on the 100th page of the second copy in the buffer unit 0115. The inspection device 0108 performs an inspection process on each page, and in conjunction with this, the inspection device 0108 updates the inspection status 1805. Furthermore, when the image forming apparatus 0101 prints a page received from the client computer 0110 and successfully ejects the page, it notifies the client computer 0110 and the inspection device 0108 of this information on a page-by-page basis as an event. As a result, the inspection device 0108 updates the normal paper ejection status 1806 .

[0149] If the first page of the third copy has been inspected and a jam occurs on the 100th page of the second copy in the buffer unit 0115, the image forming apparatus 0101 notifies the client computer 0110 and the inspection device 0108 of the jam information. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 0101 ejects any remaining paper. At this time, pages being transported through the apparatus downstream of the jammed sheet, such as pages 99 and before of the second copy, are normally ejected, and normal ejection information is notified to the client computer 0110 and the inspection device 0108 via an event. Meanwhile, pages being transported through the apparatus upstream of the jammed sheet, such as pages 1 and after of the third copy, are ejected by escape ejection, and are ejected to a destination other than the normal paper ejection tray, and normal ejection information is not notified. As a result, the inspection device 0108 can identify the jam occurrence and the page number 1804 that was not normally ejected in the normal ejection status 1806, thereby acquiring the job number 1802, copy number 1803, and page number 1804 where the jam occurred. However, when counting normal paper ejection when a jam occurs, it is also possible to use a method in which escape ejection is not performed and all paper remaining in the machine at the time the jam occurs is removed by the user, and the paper is not counted as normal ejection.

[0150] As described above, in this embodiment, it is possible to determine from the inspection status information 1801 that a jam has occurred on page 100 of the second set, and it is possible to determine from the jam information notified from the image forming apparatus that the jam has occurred in the buffer unit 0115. As described above, the inspection device 0108 can determine the booklet ID that is the target of jam recovery from the job number 1802 and set number 1803 of the jammed sheet. The inspection device can determine whether the inspection result for the booklet ID that is the target of jam recovery has been notified to the post-processing machine control device 0118, and if so, whether the result is OK or NG.

[0151] If it is determined in S1609 that the inspection result for the booklet ID that is the jam recovery target is not yet notified as NG, the inspection device 0108 discards the inspection result for the booklet ID that it holds in S1610. In S1611, the client computer 0110 notifies the user that a jam has occurred and that the sheet being printed should be removed. The subsequent processing from S1613 to S1616 is the same as the processing from S1735 to S1739 in FIG. 17B(C).

[0152] If it is determined in S1609 that the inspection result of the booklet ID to be jam-recovered has already been notified as NG, process D shown in FIG. 17B(D) is executed in S1617. In process D, in S1741, the inspection device 0108 notifies the client computer 0110 that the inspection result of the booklet ID to be jam-recovered has already been notified as NG to the post-finishing machine control device 0118. In addition, in S1743, the client computer 0110 notifies the user of the occurrence of a jam and to remove the sheets being printed. Note that the order of S1741 and S1743 does not matter. In S1745, the user receives the instructions of S1743 and S1744 and removes the sheets remaining in the apparatus. In S1746, the client computer 0110 creates a new print job to start printing with a new booklet ID. The client computer 0110 cancels the print job being printed by the image forming apparatus 0101 as jam recovery processing. The job recreated in step S1746 starts from the copy next to the copy number where the jam occurred, and the job number is the same as the job number of the canceled job.

[0153] As a result, the copy number is updated, and a new booklet ID different from the booklet ID of the jammed booklet can be generated. The copy number of the job to be recreated is identified in the same manner as in S1202 of FIG. 12, and the copy number of the booklet to be recreated starts with the copy number next to the copy number of the jammed booklet. In S1747, the client computer 0110 sends the job with the new booklet ID created in S1746 to the image forming apparatus 0101. In S1748, the inspection apparatus 0108 performs pre-inspection processing in the same manner as in S418. In S1749, the image forming apparatus 0101 starts printing the job received from the client computer 0110 in S1727. Subsequently, the processing from S1618 to S1622 is the same as the processing from S419 to S423.

[0154] As described above, in this embodiment, a determination is made as to whether the jam occurred upstream or downstream of the inspection unit 0106, and if it occurred downstream, whether it occurred upstream or downstream of the buffer unit 0115. In addition, if a jam occurs downstream of the buffer unit 0115, processing is differentiated based on whether the post-finishing machine control device 0118 has already been notified of the NG inspection result for the booklet ID of the jammed booklet. If the NG inspection result has already been notified, performing jam recovery using the same booklet ID results in an NG notification even though the jam recovery will result in reprinting from the beginning. Because an NG inspection result cannot be overturned, jam recovery is performed using a new booklet ID to prevent the reprinted booklet from being discarded regardless of the inspection result. This allows printing and inspection to begin without waste. On the other hand, if the inspection result has not been notified, or if the inspection result has been notified but is OK, reprinting is performed using the same booklet ID as the jammed booklet. This allows the inspection result to be associated with the booklet.

[0155] (Eighth embodiment) In the second to seventh embodiments, the process to be performed when a jam occurs has been described. In this embodiment, the process to be performed in response to switching of the inspection mode, which is a feature of the inspection device 0108 for cut sheet machines and not available in the inspection device for continuous feed machines, will be described.

[0156] The inspection device 0108 for cut sheet machines has three inspection modes: log-on mode, purge mode, and purge and recovery mode. The log-on mode prioritizes productivity and only displays the inspection results on the display unit 0245. Sheets that fail the inspection are also ejected to the normal output destination. The purge mode not only displays the inspection results on the display unit 0245, but also purges sheets that fail the inspection to a different output destination from the normal output destination. This prevents sheets that fail the inspection from being mixed in with the products that are ejected to the normal output destination. The purge and recovery mode, like the purge mode, purges sheets that fail the inspection to a different output destination from the normal output destination, preventing sheets that fail the inspection from being mixed in with the products that are ejected to the normal output destination. In addition, the purge and recovery mode reprints the purged sheets. Note that the first to seventh embodiments of the present invention are based on the assumption that the inspection is performed in the log-on mode.

[0157] In the log-on single mode, sheets with an NG inspection result are also discharged to the normal discharge destination, so the finished booklet will contain some booklets with an NG inspection result. Therefore, in the first to seventh embodiments, the inspection device 0108 notifies the post-processing device control device 0118 of the inspection result for each booklet, and the booklets with an NG inspection result are discarded. Meanwhile, in the purge mode, sheets with an NG inspection result are also purged to a different discharge destination, and the purged sheets are not reprinted. Therefore, in the purge mode, booklets with an NG inspection result must be discarded, so the same processing as in the log-on single mode, i.e., the same processing as in the first to seventh embodiments of the present invention, can be performed.

[0158] However, in the purge and recovery mode, sheets that fail inspection are purged to a different discharge destination from the inspection unit 0106's normal discharge destination, and the purged sheets are reprinted. Therefore, in the purge and recovery mode, the completed booklet always passes inspection. Because of this feature, in the purge and recovery mode, all completed booklets transported to the post-processing device 0116 pass inspection. Therefore, it is not necessary to notify the post-processing device control device 0118 of the inspection results for each booklet. The processing in this purge and recovery mode will be described. Reprinting of purged sheets may be performed by switching the discharge destination to a NG discharge destination when a purged sheet is determined to be NG, and instructing the image forming apparatus to stop printing and reprint from the purged sheet. However, even if printing is stopped, the sheet on the transport path is discharged from the NG discharge destination of the inspection unit 0106.

[0159] The differences in the processing in the purge and recovery mode compared to the log-on single mode are the pre-inspection processing (S418), inspection processing (S420), and post-inspection processing (S421) described in Fig. 5. The flowcharts relating to the above processing in the purge and recovery mode are shown in Figs. 19A and 19B.

[0160] In the log-on single-page mode, the inspection device 0108 generates a sheet inspection result table linked to the booklet ID as shown in FIG. 7 in the process of S503 in the pre-inspection process (S418). On the other hand, in the purge and recovery mode, all completed booklets are OK. Therefore, there is no need to generate a sheet inspection result table for each booklet ID, so in the pre-inspection process shown in FIG. 19A(A), it is determined in S1901 whether the inspection mode is the purge and recovery mode. If the inspection mode is not the purge and recovery mode (S1901: No), a sheet inspection result table is generated in S503, and if the inspection mode is the purge and recovery mode (S1901: Yes), the process of S503 is skipped.

[0161] In the log-on single mode, the inspection device 0108 adds and stores the inspection results of the scanned image to the sheet inspection result table 700 shown in FIG. 7 in the process of S507 during the inspection process (S420). On the other hand, in the purge and recovery mode, the generation of the sheet inspection result table is skipped, so there is no need to process S506. Therefore, in the inspection process shown in FIG. 19A(B), it is determined in S1902 whether the inspection mode is the purge and recovery mode. If it is not the purge and recovery mode (S1902: No), the inspection results of the scanned image are added to the sheet inspection result table shown in FIG. 7 in S506. If it is the purge and recovery mode (S1902: Yes), the process of S506 is skipped.

[0162] In the log-on mode, the inspection device 0108 notifies the post-finishing machine control device 0118 of the inspection results of the booklet ID by processing steps S508 to S513 in the post-inspection processing (S421). On the other hand, in the purge and recovery mode, the inspection result of the booklet ID is always OK, so there is no need to notify the post-finishing machine control device 0118 of the inspection results of the booklet ID. Therefore, in the post-inspection processing of FIG. 19B(C), it is determined in S1903 whether the inspection mode is the purge and recovery mode. If the inspection mode is not the purge and recovery mode (S1903: No), the inspection device 0108 notifies the post-finishing machine control device 0118 of the inspection results of the booklet ID by processing steps S508 to S513. If the inspection mode is the purge and recovery mode (S1903: Yes), the inspection device 0108 skips the processing steps S508 to S513, thereby skipping notification of the inspection result of the booklet ID to the post-finishing machine control device 0118.

[0163] As described above, the inspection device 0108 does not notify the post-processing machine control device 0118 of the inspection results of the booklet ID depending on the inspection mode, thereby achieving the expected product in the same way as when operating in log-on mode.

[0164] In addition, in this embodiment, a process has been described in which the inspection results of the booklet ID are not notified to the post-processing machine control device 0118, but it is also possible to adopt a form in which the inspection results of the booklet ID are always OK are notified to the post-processing machine control device 0118 in the post-inspection processing (S421).

[0165] [Other Examples] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or device via a network or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in the computer of the system or device read and execute the program.The present invention can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

[0166] The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are appended to apprise the public of the scope of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0167] 0101 image forming apparatus, 0106 inspection unit, 0108 inspection apparatus, 0110 client computer, 0115 buffer unit, 0116 post-processing apparatus, 0118 post-processing apparatus control device

Claims

1. An inspection device that inspects cut sheets on which an image is formed by an image forming device, the cut sheets being supplied to a post-processing device that performs post-processing on sheets on a booklet-by-booklet basis and that outputs a booklet for which an inspection result notified to a post-processing device control device is defective, an inspection means for inspecting the image formed on each sheet; a management means for managing the inspection results of the sheets by the inspection means for each booklet including a plurality of sheets; a notification means for notifying the post-processing device control device connected to the post-processing device of the inspection result of the booklet including the sheet, based on the inspection result of the sheet managed by the management means; and the inspection device has a first mode in which the sheet to be inspected is sent downstream regardless of the inspection result of the sheet, and a second mode in which, if the sheet to be inspected is a defective product, an image is formed again from the sheet by the image forming device, The management means does not send the inspection results to the post-processing machine control device when the inspection device is in the second mode. An inspection device characterized by:

2. The inspection device according to claim 1, The management unit discards the inspection result of the sheet being managed in response to a notification of the occurrence of a jam from the image forming apparatus. An inspection device characterized by:

3. 3. The inspection device according to claim 1 or 2, The management unit notifies a user of the occurrence of a jam in response to a notification of the occurrence of a jam from the image forming apparatus. An inspection device characterized by:

4. The inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The management means manages the inspection results of the sheets in association with the identification information of each booklet, and records the inspection results of the booklet corresponding to the identification information associated with the sheet determined to be a defective product as a defective product. An inspection device characterized by:

5. The inspection device according to claim 4, The management unit records the inspection result of the booklet corresponding to the identification information associated with the managed sheet as a defective product in response to a notification of the occurrence of a jam from the image forming apparatus. An inspection device characterized by:

6. The inspection device according to claim 4 or 5, The management unit, in response to a notification of a jam from the image forming device, records an inspection result of the booklet corresponding to the identification information associated with the sheet on the conveyance path from the image forming device as a defective product. An inspection device characterized by:

7. The inspection device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, Imaged information representing the identification information is printed on a sheet associated with the identification information. An inspection device characterized by:

8. The inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The inspection means evaluates an image formed on a sheet conveyed from the image forming device based on a reference image registered in advance for each sheet to be inspected, and records the evaluation as an inspection result for the sheet. An inspection device characterized by:

9. A program for causing a computer to function as the inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A control method for an inspection device that inspects cut sheets on which an image is formed by an image forming device, the cut sheets being supplied to a post-processing device that performs post-processing on sheets on a booklet-by-booklet basis and that outputs a booklet for which an inspection result notified to a post-processing device control device is defective, comprising: an inspection means of the inspection device inspects the images formed on the sheets for each sheet; a management means for managing the inspection results of the sheets for each booklet including a plurality of sheets; a notification means of the inspection device notifies the post-processing device control device connected to the post-processing device of an inspection result of the booklet including the sheet based on the inspection result of the managed sheet; the inspection device has a first mode in which the sheet to be inspected is sent downstream regardless of the inspection result of the sheet, and a second mode in which, if the sheet to be inspected is a defective product, an image is formed again from the sheet by the image forming device, The management means does not send the inspection results to the post-processing machine control device when the inspection device is in the second mode.

2. A control method for an inspection apparatus comprising:

11. an image forming device that forms an image on the cut sheet; an inspection device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which inspects an image formed on a sheet by the image forming device; a client computer that controls the image forming apparatus and the inspection apparatus; An image forming system comprising:

12. 12. The image forming system according to claim 11, the image forming apparatus and the inspection apparatus are connected inline via a conveyance path, In response to the notification of the occurrence of a jam from the image forming apparatus, if the position of the jam is upstream of the inspection device, the client computer notifies a user that the jam has occurred, and the image forming apparatus resumes printing from the sheet where the jam has occurred, and if the position of the jam is downstream of the inspection device, the client computer causes the image forming apparatus to resume printing from the beginning of the booklet including the sheet where the jam has occurred. An image forming system comprising:

13. 13. The image forming system according to claim 12, The apparatus further includes a buffer unit connected inline to the inspection device via a transport path, When the jam occurred at a position upstream of the buffer unit, the client computer assigns identification information different from the identification information of the jammed booklet as identification information of the booklet for which printing is to be resumed, and when the jam occurred at a position downstream of the buffer unit, the client computer assigns identification information identical to the identification information of the jammed booklet as identification information of the booklet for which printing is to be resumed. An image forming system comprising:

14. 14. The image forming system according to claim 13, a post-processing device that performs processing in accordance with the inspection results for each booklet received from the inspection device; Even if the jam occurs downstream of the buffer unit, if the client computer has already transmitted to the post-processing device an inspection result indicating that the product is defective, the client computer assigns identification information different from the identification information of the booklet in which the jam occurred as identification information of the booklet for which printing is to be resumed. An image forming system comprising:

15. 15. The image forming system according to claim 14, The post-processing device is a bookbinding device. An image forming system comprising:

Images