Print image quality diagnosis using inline scanning device

Abstract

In some examples, the disclosure describes a device that includes a print engine to generate an image on a first print medium during a print process, an inline scanning device to scan the image during the print process, and a processor to: identify a defect on the image based on the scanned image, select a test pattern based on a type of the identified defect, and control the print engine to generate the selected test pattern on a second print medium.

Description

86260951 1 / 21 PRINT IMAGE QUALITY DIAGNOSIS USING INLINE SCANNING DEVICE Background

[0001] A computing device allows a user to utilize computing device operations for work, education, gaming, multimedia, and / or other uses. Computing devices are utilized in a non-portable setting, such as at a desktop. In other examples, the computing device allows a user to carry or otherwise bring the computing device along while in a mobile setting. These computing devices can be connected to scanning devices, printing devices, or other devices to capture images and / or generate images on physical media. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0002] Fig.1 illustrates an example of a printing device with an inline scanning device for image quality diagnosis.

[0003] Fig.2 illustrates a flowchart of an example method for image quality diagnosis using an inline scanning device.

[0004] Fig.3 illustrates a flowchart of an example method for image quality diagnosis using an inline scanning device.

[0005] Fig.4 illustrates an example of a printing device for image quality diagnosis using an inline scanning device.

[0006] Fig.5 illustrates an example of a memory resource with machine- readable instructions for image quality diagnosis using an inline scanning device.

[0007] Fig.6 illustrates an example of a printing device for image quality diagnosis using an inline scanning device. Detailed Description

[0008] A user may utilize a computing device for various purposes, such as for business and / or recreational use. As used herein, the term “computing device” refers to an electronic system having a processor resource and a memory resource. Examples of computing devices can include, for instance, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, a desktop computer, an all-in-one (AIO) computer, networking device (e.g., router, switch, etc.), and / or a mobile device (e.g., a smart phone, tablet, personal digital assistant, smart glasses, a wrist-worn device such as a smart watch,86260951 2 / 21 etc.), among other types of computing devices. As used herein, a mobile device refers to devices that are (or can be) carried and / or worn by a user.

[0009] The computing device may be connected to a peripheral device or be implemented within a device to perform particular functions. For example, the computing device may be part of a printing device and / or a scanning device. In this example, the computing device can provide instructions or digital images to the printing device to generate corresponding images on a substrate (e.g., physical substrate, print medium, paper, plastic, metal, etc.). In this example, the scanning device can scan images on a substrate to generate a scanned image or digital image of the images on the substrate. In some examples, the printing device can utilize a plurality of colors to generate the image on the substrate from an original digital image. For example, the printing device can utilize a combination of Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black to generate a plurality of additional colors on the substrate. If a color or plurality of colors include defect (e.g., a color plane misregistration, etc.), the image printed on the substrate may not include the same or similar properties as the original digital image utilized by the printing device to generate the image.

[0010] In some examples, the printing device utilizes a print substance (e.g., ink, toner, etc.) that is deposited on to a substrate to generate the image. In some examples, a defect such as a color plane misregistration refers to a color location on the substrate that does not match a color location of an original digital image used to generate the image on the substrate. In these examples, the printing device can be adjusted to realign the color plane misregistration or remove future defects and generate images on the substrate with the correct color locations associated with a corresponding original digital image. In some examples, the direction and / or magnitude of the defect is utilized to adjust the printing device to realign the color plane.

[0011] Printing devices can include an inline scanning device that allows the printing device to include inline scanning functionality. In this way, the printing device can form images on a substrate and capture digital scans of the image on the substrate during the printing process. As each print medium passes through a print zone of the printing hardware, the printing hardware forms an image on the print medium. When the print zone generates the image on the print medium, the print medium is provided to the inline scanning device to capture a digital scan of the image. The printing and scanning can be performed during the print job such that the86260951 3 / 21 scan is captured by the inline scanning device before the print medium is provided to an output tray of the printing device. As used herein, during a print process refers to any point in the printing process after which a print medium is extracted from a print media supply up until the print medium is delivered to an output tray. For example, during a print process may refer to an image being formed on a print medium and being scanned by an inline image scanning device before the image is deposited to an output tray. In contrast, not during a print process may refer to an image being formed on a print medium, delivered to an output tray, and re-input into the printing device to be subsequently scanned by an inline image scanning device.

[0012] A user may utilize a printing device with an inline scanning device for various purposes, such as for business and / or recreational use. The processor of the printing device may be a central processing unit or microprocessor that controls or manages various printing device functions. Examples of a printing device may include an inkjet printer, a thermal printer, an all-in-one printer, a dot matrix printer, a laser printer, and / or other type of printing device. An inline scanning device refers to a physical, mechanical, and / or electrical component that comprise scanning functionality. The inline scanning device may be provided within the footprint of the printing device between a print engine and an output tray of the printing device. That is, the inline scanning device can be utilized to scan images generated on a substrate before the substrate is provided to an output tray of the printing device. The inline scanning device may be integrated within the printing device and may be utilized during the printing process of a particular print job. The inline scanning device is capable of capturing images or text from physical print medium as it passes through the inline scanning device along the print path.

[0013] Techniques described herein provide for print image quality diagnosis in printing devices with inline scanning functionality. The inline scanning device may capture a digital image of the printed image and utilize the digital image to diagnose the image quality. Image quality diagnosis using an inline scanning device can increase diagnostic accuracy and detect the root cause of defects included in images with less paper and toner consumption compared to other techniques. In some examples, the scanned image captured by the inline scanning device can be analyzed by the processor of the printing device to determine image qualities associated with the scanned image. For example, the processor of the printing device can compare the scanned image to an original digital image provided to the86260951 4 / 21 printing device to be printed on to the substrate. In this way, the image quality of the scanned image can be based on the comparison between the scanned image and the original digital image.

[0014] In some examples, the image quality of the scanned image can be utilized to determine a specific type of image defect. In these examples, the determined type of image defect can be utilized to generate a corresponding test pattern. As used herein, a test pattern (e.g., test page, self-test page, etc.) is a printed document that can be utilized to assess or diagnose an image defect. The test pattern is generated from corresponding test pattern data. For example, the test pattern can be a printed document that includes text, color blocks, grayscale blocks, alignment markings, geometric shapes, resolution tests, and / or image samples that can be utilized to identify settings to be altered, maintenance to be performed, and / or hardware to be replaced on the printing device. In these examples, the corresponding test pattern can include specific elements associated with the determined image defect. In this way, the specific image defect can be addressed without having to print test patterns associated with other types of defects.

[0015] Fig.1 illustrates an example printing device 100 with inline scanning functionality for image quality diagnosis. The printing device 100 can include a print media supply 102 from which print media is extracted and used during the print process. The print process refers to the process of performing a print job. The print process may begin when the printing device 100 receives a digital print job to be printed from a computing device. The print job may be received from a computing device coupled to the printing device 100, or it may be stored on a memory resource of the printing device 100.

[0016] The print media may be a substrate that can receive the print substance from the printing device 100 to generate images. For example, the print media can be sheets of paper, packaging envelopes, rolls of paper, sheets of plastic, rolls of plastic, among other substrates. After the print media is extracted from the print media supply 102, the print media is advanced through the printing device 100 along a first print path 104-1. In some examples, the printing device 100 can include a pick roller to move the print media from the print media supply 102 to a plurality of rollers within the first print path 104-1. In these examples, the plurality of rollers can move the print media from the print media supply 102 to a print engine 106.86260951 5 / 21

[0017] The print engine 106 (e.g., print area, print zone, etc.) includes a component of the printing device 100 that can be utilized to generate an image or text on the physical print medium. The components of the print engine 106 may include mechanical and / or electrical components that can transfer the print substance (e.g., ink, toner, etc.) onto the print medium. The print engine 106 may include printing hardware to print on the print media as the print media is advanced through the print engine 106. The printing hardware may include an array of printheads that eject ink or other print fluid onto the print medium to generate an image. Once an image is formed on the print medium, the print medium may advance to an inline scanning device 108 along a second print path 104-2. The second print path 104-2 can receive the print medium from the print engine 106 and include a plurality of rollers to move the print medium to the inline scanning device 108.

[0018] The inline scanning device 108 may scan the image on the print medium to generate a first scanned image by converting the image on the print medium into digital information that can be stored in a memory resource. In some examples, the processor resource of the printing device 100 can identify a region of the image that is suitable for image quality detection. A suitable region may include relatively large text, a uniform area, an image region that includes particular properties, a region with a particular color pattern, and / or other properties that may present visible defects when a mechanism of printing device 100 is misaligned or when the printing device 100 has settings that produce image defects. The print medium may advance from the inline scanning device 108 to an output tray 110 along the second print path 104-2.

[0019] As described further herein, the first scanned image can be utilized by the processor of the printing device 100 to determine a type of image defect and its severity of the printed image on the print medium. The first scanned image can be compared to the digital image provided to the printing device 100 for generating an image on the print medium. In this way, the defects can be identified when the image properties of the first scanned image do not match the image properties of the digital image. As described further herein, the type of image defect can be utilized to generate a test pattern that is customized to identify a cause of the type of the image defect. In this way, relatively less print substance and print media can be utilized86260951 6 / 21 since the test pattern may not include images that are not related to the type of image defect.

[0020] Fig.2 shows an example method 200 for performing an image quality diagnosis using an inline scanning device. In some examples, the method 200 can be executed by a processor and / or other components of a printing device. For example, the method 200 can illustrate a user interacting with a printing device such as printing device 100 as illustrated in Fig.1.

[0021] At step 223, the method 200 may include a user printing a print job. In some examples, the user can send a print job to a printing device to be printed by the printing device. In some examples, the user can select a digital document to be printed on a particular print medium. For example, the user can utilize a computing device to send a print job to the printing device. The print job can include instructions for how the printing device is to generate the images on the print media.

[0022] At step 225, the method 200 may include determining whether the user’s page satisfies an analysis condition. The analysis condition may be predetermined rules and may be selected by a user or automatically selected by the processor of the printing device. The analysis condition may include one or more of the following: analyze every page a user prints, analyze one page for every one hundred pages printed, analyze the user page if the page includes a uniform pattern larger than 20 millimeters (mm) by 20 mm, analyze the user page if the page includes black text, and / or analyze the user page if the page includes a font size larger than 10 point font. The analysis condition can include a set of rules that define what pages of a print job are to be scanned by the inline scanning device and which pages of the print job are not to be scanned by the inline scanning device. In this way, a portion of the print job can be designated to be scanned while a portion of the print job can be designated not to be scanned. When a user image satisfies the analysis condition, the method 200 can move to step 227. When the user image does not satisfy the analysis condition, the method 200 can move to step 241 where there is no action to be taken.

[0023] At step 227, the method 200 can include scanning the user image with an inline scanning device when the user’s page satisfies the analysis condition. When the analysis condition is not satisfied, no action may occur when the method 200 moves to step 241. As the image is captured by the inline scanning device, the scanned image may be analyzed by the processor of the printing device for defects.86260951 7 / 21 A defect may refer to any undesirable or unintended occurrence that is produced during a printing process. Defects may be caused by flaws in the hardware or software of the printing device. Defects may vary in the severity, or level of impact on the print job.

[0024] At step 229, the method 200 can include analyzing the scanned image. The scanned image may be analyzed and compared to the original image input by the computing device. Analyzing the scanned image at step 229 can include comparing the scanned image to the original image input by the computing device of the user and may include determining if there is a difference between the scanned image and the original input image. The original input image may be an electronic file sent by a computing device of the user.

[0025] At step 231, the method 200 can include determining when the image includes a defect. When the image does not include a defect, the method 200 can move to step 243 where no further action is taken. When the image is determined to include a defect, the method 200 can move to step 233. At step 233, the method can include determining a test pattern related to the image defect found. As described herein, the test pattern can be customized to be a test pattern that is specific to the image defect found. That is, the test pattern can directly relate to the image defect while not relate to other types of image defects.

[0026] At step 235, the method 200 can print the test pattern and subsequently scan the printed test pattern by the inline scanning device. The test pattern can be printed at the print engine and subsequently scanned by the inline scanning device before providing the test page or test pattern to the output tray of the printing device.

[0027] At step 237, the method 200 can include analyzing the scanned test pattern and comparing it to the original test pattern data. Comparing the scanned test pattern to the original test pattern data may include determining if there is a difference between the original test pattern data and the scanned test pattern. The analysis may include determining the shape of the identified difference and appearance of the identified difference. The shape of the defect may be a spot, vertical line, horizontal line, white-gap between different colors, for example.

[0028] At step 239, the method 200 can include illustrating or notifying a user of the image defect, its root cause, and a troubleshooting guide. In some examples, the notification can be displayed on the print device as a result of the image quality86260951 8 / 21 diagnosis performed. The troubleshooting guide may include instructions on how to correct the identified defect.

[0029] A corresponding test pattern may be determined from a set of predetermined test patterns stored on the print device itself, or in a cloud. The corresponding test pattern is determined based on the identified defect. For example, if the defect is determined to be a white-gap or vertical line, a particular test pattern will be selected as corresponding to that defect. The test pattern may include an object of the defect identified.

[0030] Fig.3 shows an example method 300 for performing an image quality diagnosis using an inline scanning device in a printing device. In some examples, the method 300 can be executed by a processor of a printing device. For example, the method 300 can relate to instructions stored by a memory resource and executed by the processor of the printing device.

[0031] At step 343, the method 300 can include a user printing a print job. As described herein, the print job may include an image to be generated on a substrate by the printing device. At step 345, the method 300 may include determining whether the user’s page satisfies an analysis condition. The analysis condition may be predetermined rules and may be selected by a user or automatically selected by the print device as described previously. If the user’s page is determined to not satisfy the analysis condition, the method 300 can move to step 355 where no further action may occur.

[0032] When the user’s page is determined to satisfy the analysis condition, the method 300 can move to step 347 where the user’s page may be scanned by the inline scanning device. At step 349, the method 300 can include analyzing the scanned image. As described herein, analyzing the scanned image can include comparing the generated image on the substrate to the original image sent to the printing device or the digital image utilized to generate the image on the substrate.

[0033] At step 351, the method 300 can include determining whether the scanned image contains a defect. If the scanned image does not contain a defect, the method 300 can move to step 357 where no further action may occur. When the scanned image is determined to include a defect, the defect may be identified and the method 300 can move to step 353.

[0034] At step 353, the method 300 can include generating a notification that includes the image defect, the root cause of the image defect, and a troubleshooting86260951 9 / 21 guide associated with the image defect. The type of image defect may be of a type that can be fixed or altered without having to generate a test page. For example, a particular type of defect can result from replacing or fixing particular hardware of the printing device. In these examples, the image defect can be identified with a root cause describing the particular hardware, and / or a troubleshooting guide to describe how to replace or fix the particular hardware.

[0035] The method 300 may include identifying the severity of the image defect. The severity of the defect may be determined by the size of the defect, the positioning of the defect, or the intensity of the colors displayed in the defect, for example. If the defect is determined to be severe, the print device may display a message to the user that includes instructions to correct the image defect before completing the print process. In some examples, the defect can be determined to be severe when the defect is outside a threshold of image accuracy. If the image defect is not determined to be severe, the print process may continue without displaying a message to the user on how to correct the image defect. If the image defect is not determined to be severe, the detected information may be sent to the system administrator without displaying a message to the user. The image defect, its root cause, and a troubleshooting guide may be displayed on the print device as a result of the image quality diagnosis performed.

[0036] Fig.4 illustrates an example of a printing device 400 for image quality diagnosis using an inline scanning device 408. The printing device 400 can be a device to generate images on a print substrate utilizing a print substance. In some examples the printing device 400 can include a processor 412 (e.g., processor resource, processing resource, etc.) communicatively coupled to a memory resource. As described further herein, the memory resource can include instructions that can be executed by the processor 412 to perform particular functions. In some examples, the printing device 400 is coupled to a print engine 406 to deposit a print substance (e.g., print fluid, liquid print fluid, ink, toner, etc.) on a print media.

[0037] In some examples, the print engine 406 can include instructions 422 to generate an image on a first print medium during a print process. In some examples, the print engine 406 may generate an image on a print medium during a print process according to a user’s instructions. For example, the printing device 400 can receive a print job or original image data related to a print job defining specifications for generating the image on the print medium.86260951 10 / 21

[0038] In some examples, the inline scanning device 408 can include instructions 426 to scan the image on the print medium during the print process. In some examples, the processor 412 can send instructions 426 to the inline scanning device 408 to scan the image on the print medium during the print process. In some examples, the processor 412 can instruct the inline scanning device 408 to scan particular portions of print media and / or particular sheets of print media during the print job. That is, the processor 412 can identify particular images and / or text to be scanned by the inline scanning device 408 during the print job such that the scanned images can be utilized to identify defects within the printed image.

[0039] The processor 412 can execute instructions 428 to identify a defect on the image based on the scanned image. The processor 412 can identify the defect by checking if the scanned image includes an object corresponding to a defect. The processor 412 can identify the defect by comparing the scanned image to an original input image.

[0040] An identified defect may include one or more of the following types: color plane registration error, banding, vertical streaking, fading, and repetitive unintended image objects. A color plane registration error may include a misalignment of separate color channels or the distance between different colors (cyan, magenta, yellow, and black) may be greater than a preset threshold, for example. Banding appears perpendicular to the direction of paper movement and appears as a horizontal line or band. A banding defect may include aperiodic banding or periodic banding. In some examples, aperiodic banding appears in a specific position which aids in identifying the root cause. For example, aperiodic banding appearing on the top of the paper coincides with a root cause of the paper colliding with a fuser component of a printing device.

[0041] In another example, periodic banding appears as several bands on a page with a period. The root cause of periodic banding may be an abnormality of one or more of a print roller included in the print engine 406. In another example, vertical streaking may appear parallel to the direction of the paper movement and may appear as a vertical line or band. Further, fading may appear as a diminished color present on the generated image as the color density becomes lower. In another example, repetitive unintended image objects may appear as periodic spots or fades due to damaged rollers.86260951 11 / 21

[0042] In some examples, the processor 412 can execute instructions 430 to select a test pattern based on a type of the identified defect. The processor 412 can select the test pattern by selecting one of a plurality of test patterns including an object corresponding to the type of the identified defect. As described herein, the type of the identified defect can be a particular defect caused by a particular mechanism of the printing device 400. For example, a particular defect can correspond to a fading color that can be caused by a print substance running below a threshold level. In this way, the particular defect can be identified based on the scanned image and utilized to identify a corresponding test pattern that can further analyze the particular type of image defect.

[0043] The print engine 406 may further include instructions 424 to generate the selected test pattern on a second print medium. The selected test pattern may include an object associated with the identified defect. For example, if a color plane registration error defect is detected on the scanned image, the corresponding test pattern corresponding to a color plane registration error defect may be printed and scanned by the inline scanning device 408. The test pattern is used to evaluate the identified defect and determine a root cause or diagnosis. The test pattern may also be used to determine the position of the defect on the user image. The processor 412 may generate at least one of an indication of a severity of the defect, an indication of a root cause of the defect, or a diagnosis instruction in response to the defect.

[0044] Fig.5 illustrates an example of a memory resource 516 with machine- readable instructions for image quality diagnosis using an inline scanning device. The memory resource 516 may be a non-transitory memory resource storing executable machine-readable instructions 540, 542, 544, 546, for performing processing for image quality diagnosis using an inline scanning device during a print process.

[0045] A processor 512 can execute the machine-readable instructions 540, 542, 544, 546, to perform the processing. As used herein, the processor 512 can include, but is not limited to: a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a metal- programmable cell array (MPCA), a semiconductor-based microprocessor, or other combination of circuitry and / or logic to orchestrate execution of instructions 540, 542, 544, 546. In other examples, the printing device can include instructions 540, 542,86260951 12 / 21 544, 546, stored on a machine-readable medium (e.g., memory resource 516, non- transitory computer-readable medium, etc.) and executable by a processor 512. In a specific example, the printing device utilizes a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions 540, 542, 544, 546, that, when executed, cause the processor 512 to perform corresponding functions.

[0046] The memory resource 516 may be electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical storage device that stores executable instructions. Thus, a non- transitory machine-readable medium (MRM) (e.g., a memory resource 516) may be, for example, a non-transitory MRM comprising Random-Access Memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), a storage drive, an optical disc, and the like. The non-transitory machine-readable medium (e.g., a memory resource 516) may be disposed within a controller and / or computing device. In this example, the executable instructions 540, 542, 544, 546, can be “installed” on the device. Additionally, and / or alternatively, the non-transitory machine-readable medium (e.g., a memory resource 516) can be a portable, external, or remote storage medium, for example, which allows a computing system to download the instructions 540, 542, 544, 546, from the portable / external / remote storage medium.

[0047] In some examples, the memory resource 516 includes instructions 540 that can be executed by the processor 512 to initiate a first inline scan of a printed image. In some examples, the processor 512 detects when a print media that includes the generated image has reached the inline scanning device of a printing device and instructs the inline scanning device to perform a scan of the printed image. In this way, particular images from a print job can be scanned by the inline scanning device while other images are not scanned by the inline scanning device.

[0048] Identifying a portion to analyze may be based on a print property of a portion the printed image. A print property may refer to the size, shape, orientation, color, resolution, or the like of a printed image. In some examples, a portion of an image or a portion of a print job can be identified based on a plurality of rules to be scanned by the inline scanning device. As described herein, the inline scanning device may not scan each sheet of print media or the entire print job. The original image data utilized to generate the printed image can be utilized to determine which sheets or which portions of the print job are to be scanned. As described herein, the print properties can include a uniform pattern larger than 20 mm by 20 mm, black86260951 13 / 21 text, and / or a font size larger than 10 point font, among other print properties. In some examples, the print properties can be properties of a printed image that are likely to produce visual image defects or likely to produce particular types of image defects.

[0049] In some examples, the memory resource 516 includes instructions 542 that can be executed by the processor 512 to initiate a print of a test pattern in response to determining that the scanned printed image includes an object corresponding to a defect. In these examples, the test pattern corresponds to a particular type of defect. The test pattern can be a predetermined test pattern associated with the defect. Determining that the scanned printed image includes an object corresponding to a defect can include comparing the scanned printed image to an original input image used to generate the printed image during the print process. Differences between the scanned printed image and the original input image can be utilized to identify the type of defect within the scanned printed image.

[0050] In some examples, the memory resource 516 includes instructions 544 that can be executed by the processor 512 to initiate a second inline scan of the printed test pattern. As described herein, the test pattern can be printed by the print engine of a printing device. In these examples, the print engine can print the test pattern in the same or similar way as the printed image was printed on the print media. In this way, the same printing device that printed the printed image can also print the test pattern. The printing of the test pattern can be done in response to determining that the scanned printed image includes an object corresponding to a defect.

[0051] In some examples, the memory resource 516 includes instructions that can be executed by the processor 512 to identify a severity of the defect within the scanned test pattern. As described herein, the severity of the defect can include a value of how much the defect affects a quality of the printed image. In some examples, the severity can be a value to identify how particular settings of the can be altered to adjust the image quality and remove the defect for subsequent printed images.

[0052] In some examples, the memory resource 516 includes instructions 546 that can be executed by the processor 512 to generate an indication of the defect. As described herein, the printed test pattern can be scanned by the inline scanning device. The scanning of the test pattern can generate a digital image of the test86260951 14 / 21 pattern that can be utilized to determine a severity of an image defect and / or diagnosis instructions that can be utilized to fix the image defect. When the defect is detected, an indication can be provided to a user that the defect exists. In some examples, the diagnosis, severity of the image defect, and / or instructions for fixing the image defect can be utilized to generate a notification to the user. The indication may be a notification displayed on a user interface of the printing device and may include instructions on how to address the identified defect, a description of the identified defect, or the like.

[0053] When an image defect is detected on a scanned image of the printed image, a message may be displayed to ask the user whether the image quality evaluation using the test pattern worked. The message displayed may include an option for a user to select “Yes” or “No” in response to the information displayed. An evaluation result may include instructions to clean a component of the printing device, shake a particular toner cartridge, or remove dust from the inline scanning device, for example.

[0054] Fig.6 illustrates an example of a printing device 600 for image quality diagnosis using an inline scanning device 608. The inline scanning device 608 may be an image scanning device that is able to scan images on print media prior to the print media being provided to an output tray.

[0055] The print engine 606 can include instructions 660 to form a first image corresponding to a user document on a first print medium during a print process. The first image is formed based on an original input user image (e.g., print job data, original image data, etc.). The inline scanning device 608 can include instructions 666 to scan the formed first image to generate a first scanned image during the print process. As described herein, the inline scanning device 608 can scan the printed image prior to the printed image being provided to an output tray. In this way, the printed image is scanned during the print process. The first scanned image can be digital data that represents a digital copy of what was printed by the print engine. As described further herein, the first scanned image can be compared to the original image data to determine if there are defects associated with the printed image.

[0056] The processor 612 can execute instructions to identify whether the first scanned image has a defect. The defect may be one of a plurality of defect types including at least one of: a color plane registration error, a banding, a vertical streaking, a fading, or a repetitive unintended image object. The defect type can be86260951 15 / 21 utilized to identify a root cause or potential solution to fixing the defect in future printing of the printing device 600.

[0057] The processor 612 can execute instructions to activate the inline scanning device 608 in response to identifying that image data of the original input image includes an image pattern and deactivate the inline scanning device 608 in response to identifying that the image data of the original input image does not include the image pattern. As described herein, the image pattern can be a particular print property or image property that can be utilized to identify particular types of defects. Activating the inline scanning device 608 refers to instructing the inline scanning device 608 to perform a scan of a printed image on print media. Deactivating the inline scanning device 608 refers to instructing the inline scanning device 608 to not perform a scan of an image on print media. Identifying image data of an image refers to determining that the image satisfies an analysis condition or contains an object to be identified. An image pattern may refer to a series of repeated lines, shapes, or colors that make up an object of an image.

[0058] The processor 612 can execute instructions to apply a set of rules to an image included in a printing process that includes predetermined image parameters corresponding to the original input image. The set of rules may be preselected by a user or automatically selected by the printing device 600. Image parameters may refer to a print property of an image, or be preselected by a user for a specific print job based on a user defined outcome of the print job. For example, image parameters referring to a print property of an image may include parameters based on a particular print property of an image. An example of an image parameter referring to a print property may include instructing an inline scanning device 608 to scan all images that contain an image pattern containing a particular color. An example of an image parameter being preselected by a user for a specific print job may include instructing an inline scanning device 608 to scan the first of every set of ten pages printed in a print job. The set of rules can be utilized to identify images on print media to be scanned by the inline scanning device 608. In this way, particular images can be utilized to identify defects compared to scanning all print media passing through the inline scanning device 608.

[0059] The processor 612 can execute instructions 664 to control the print engine 606 to form a second image corresponding to a test pattern on a second print medium in response to a defect identified in the formed first image. The test pattern86260951 16 / 21 may correspond to the identified defect and may be a second image. As described herein, the test pattern can include a pattern based on the identified defect and / or be customized to diagnose the identified defect. In this way, print substance and print media can be saved by only printing a test pattern associated with the identified defect.

[0060] The processor 612 can execute instructions 670 to control the inline image scanning device 608 to scan the formed second image to generate a second scanned image. The second image can be the test pattern. The test pattern can be scanned to identify the severity of the identified defect and / or identify possible solutions for fixing the identified defect.

[0061] In some examples, the processor 612 can include instructions to compare the original input image to the first scanned image to determine a type of the defect and / or a severity of the defect. The processor 612 can execute instructions to analyze the first scanned image by comparing the first scanned image to an original input image utilized by the printing device 600 to generate the first image on the first print medium. The processor 612 can execute instructions to analyze the second scanned image by comparing the second scanned image to the original test pattern data to determine the severity of the defect. In this way, an image quality or image properties of the original input image can be compared to the first scanned image. Similarly, an image quality or image properties of the second scanned image can be compared to the test pattern data.

[0062] The processor 612 can execute instructions to identify the root cause of the defect. The root cause of the defect can be identified based on the comparison of the test pattern data and the second scanned image. As used herein, a root cause can refer to the fundamental reason or underlying factor that directly leads to a problem, issue, or undesirable outcome. It is the primary source or origin of a problem rather than its symptoms or superficial manifestations. Identifying the root cause of an issue can be crucial for effective problem-solving and corrective actions because addressing the root cause helps prevent the problem from recurring in the future. The processor 612 can execute instructions 672 to generate an indication of a root cause of the defect based on the second scanned image.

[0063] In the foregoing detailed description of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration how examples of the disclosure may be practiced. These86260951 17 / 21 examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice the examples of this disclosure, and it is to be understood that other examples may be utilized and that process, electrical, and / or structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Further, as used herein, “a” refers to one such thing or more than one such thing.

[0064] The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first digit corresponds to the drawing figure number and the remaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing. For example, reference numeral 102 may refer to element 102 in Fig.1 and an analogous element may be identified by reference numeral 302 in Fig.3. Elements shown in the various figures herein can be added, exchanged, and / or eliminated to provide additional examples of the disclosure. In addition, the proportion and the relative scale of the elements provided in the figures are intended to illustrate the examples of the disclosure and should not be taken in a limiting sense.

[0065] It can be understood that when an element is referred to as being "on," "connected to", “coupled to”, or "coupled with" another element, it can be directly on, connected, or coupled with the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an object is “directly coupled to” or “directly coupled with” another element it is understood that are no intervening elements (adhesives, screws, other elements) etc.

[0066] The above specification, examples, and data provide a description of the system and methods of the disclosure. Since many examples can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the system and method of the disclosure, this specification merely sets forth some of the many possible example configurations and implementations.

Claims

86260951 18 / 21 What is claimed is:

1. A printing device, comprising: a print engine to generate an image on a first print medium; an inline scanning device to scan the image; a processor to: identify a defect on the image based on the scanned image; select a test pattern based on a type of the identified defect; and control the print engine to generate the selected test pattern on a second print medium.

2. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the processor identifies the defect by checking if the scanned image includes an object corresponding to the defect.

3. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the processor identifies the defect by comparing the scanned image to an original input image.

4. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the processor selects the test pattern by selecting one of a plurality of test patterns including an object corresponding to the type of the identified defect.

5. The printing device of claim 1, wherein the processor generates at least one of an indication of a severity of the defect, an indication of a root cause of the defect, or a diagnosis instruction in response to the defect.

6. A non-transitory memory resource storing machine-readable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a processor to: initiate a first inline scan of a printed image; initiate a print of a test pattern in response to determining that the scanned printed image includes an object corresponding to a defect; initiate a second inline scan of the printed test pattern; and generate an indication of the defect.86260951 19 / 21 7. The memory resource of claim 6, wherein the test pattern is a predetermined test pattern associated with the defect.

8. The memory resource of claim 6, further comprising instructions to cause the processor to identify a portion of the printed image for analysis based on a print property of the printed image.

9. The memory resource of claim 6, wherein the instructions to determine that the scanned printed image includes the object corresponding to the defect includes instructions to compare the scanned printed image to an original input image used to generate the printed image.

10. The memory resource of claim 6, further comprising instructions to generate a diagnosis instruction based on the scanned printed test pattern.

11. A printing device, comprising: a print engine to form a first image corresponding to a user document on a first print medium; an inline image scanning device to scan the formed first image to generate a first scanned image; and a processor to: control the print engine to form a second image corresponding to a test pattern on a second print medium in response to a defect identified in the formed first image; control the inline image scanning device to scan the formed second image to generate a second scanned image; and generate an indication of a root cause of the defect based on the second scanned image, wherein the test pattern corresponds to the identified defect.

12. The printing device of claim 11, wherein the processor is to compare the second scanned image to a test pattern data.86260951 20 / 21 13. The printing device of claim 11, wherein the processor is to generate an indication of a difference between the first scanned image and the original input image.

14. The printing device of claim 11, wherein the defect is at least one of a color plane registration error, a banding, a vertical streaking, a fading, or a repetitive unintended image object.

15. The printing device of claim 11, wherein the processor is to apply a set of rules that includes predetermined image parameters corresponding to the original input image.

Images