JP2014145685A - Inspection device and control method thereof, printing system, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of not displaying an additional pattern image superimposed on a print image when a user enlarges the print image a certain times or more when confirm an inspection result of the print image.SOLUTION: An inspection device inspects a print image on printed matter output from a printer which prints the image superimposing an image indicating additional information thereon. The inspection device includes: reading means for reading the print image; display means capable of displaying a part of the print image enlarged when displaying an inspection result of the read print image; and display control means for controlling not to display by the display means the image indicating the additional information included in the enlarged part of the print image displayed by the display means.

Description

  The present invention relates to an inspection apparatus equipped with a print inspection function for guaranteeing the quality of printed matter, a control method therefor, a printing system, and a program.

  Conventionally, there is an inspection apparatus that automatically inspects the quality of printed matter. In the inspection by the inspection apparatus, RIP data generated in the printing apparatus for printing is used as an original image, and an image obtained by reading a printed matter with a sensor is compared with the original image. As a result of this comparison, it is determined whether or not the original image and the image of the printed material match, and inspection is performed. As the inspection result, a determination result obtained when the inspection unit determines OK / NG and a scanned image obtained by reading the printed matter with the scanner are displayed on the display. In this display, the user can enlarge and confirm an NG location or the like on the display.

  In Patent Document 1, printing is performed by superimposing information for specifying a printing apparatus on an original image to be printed. As information for specifying a printing apparatus, there is information obtained by encoding or symbolizing a serial number unique to the apparatus. Additional information is given to the printed matter by superimposing a dot pattern indicating a production number on the original image as an additional pattern. Since the dots constituting the additional pattern are of a size that is difficult to see, the user does not usually notice the additional pattern.

JP-A-5-244389

  In Patent Document 1, an image in which an additional pattern is superimposed on an original image is output as a print image. When considering that such a printed matter is to be inspected by the inspection apparatus, if the user enlarges and displays the scan image in order to confirm the inspection result, the original image on which the additional pattern is superimposed is displayed. In other words, the additional pattern is enlarged so that the additional pattern can be visually recognized by the enlarged display, but the user is not normally aware of the superposition of the additional pattern, so there is a possibility of erroneously recognizing the superimposed additional pattern as toner scattering or the like. .

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration. That is, an inspection device that inspects a print image on a printed matter that is output by a printing device that performs printing by superimposing an image indicating additional information on the image, the reading unit that reads the print image, and the read print image When displaying the inspection result, the display means capable of enlarging and displaying a part of the print image, and the additional information included in the part of the print image enlarged and displayed by the display means are shown. Display control means for controlling the display means not to display the image.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to hide the image of the additional pattern superimposed on the print image when the print image to be inspected is enlarged and displayed at a certain magnification or higher.

The figure which shows the structural example of a system. The figure which shows the structural example of the control block of an in-line inspection system. Schematic of the internal mechanism structure of the in-line inspection system. 5 is a process flowchart of an image inspection control unit according to the first embodiment. 5 is a process flowchart of an image inspection control unit according to the first embodiment. 9 is a process flowchart of an image inspection control unit according to the second embodiment. The figure for demonstrating inspection determination processing. The figure which shows the example of a display of inspection determination display. The figure which shows the example of a display of inspection determination display. The figure which shows the example of an additional pattern. The figure which shows the example of a yellow image. The figure which shows the example of a display of inspection determination.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Example 1>
[System configuration]
FIG. 1 is an example of a system configuration including an in-line inspection system (printing system) according to the present embodiment. An image printing unit 101 serving as an image forming unit processes various input data and prints an image on a recording sheet. A print image inspection unit 102 serving as an inspection unit receives a printed material output from the image printing unit 101 and inspects an image on the printed material. The finishing unit 103 performs finishing processing such as sorting, stapling, folding, etc., in accordance with a desired output form after printing by the print image inspection unit 102. In the in-line inspection system of this embodiment, image formation, image inspection, and finishing are performed consistently.

  The image printing unit 101 is connected to a print server 105, a client PC 106, and the like via a network 104. In the client PC 106, the user creates a print job for printing an image and executes a printing process. As a result, the print job is provided to the image printing unit 101 via the print server 105 and the network 104. The reading device 107 reads a document and acquires a document image. The network 104 may be either wired or wireless. In addition, other devices may be included on the network. Further, the inspection apparatus according to the present invention may be arranged independently of the image forming apparatus (printing unit).

[Control block configuration of inline inspection system]
FIG. 2 is a control block diagram for controlling each of the image printing unit 101, the printed image inspection unit 102, and the finishing unit 103 in the in-line inspection system of FIG. In FIG. 2, the image printing unit 101 includes an image forming controller 201 and an image inspection controller 210. In this embodiment, the network 202 is assumed to be a LAN (Local Area Network) (hereinafter referred to as a LAN). A LAN 202 corresponds to the network 104 in FIG. 1 and is connected to the print server 105 and the client PC 106 to perform communication.

  The LAN control unit 203 controls communication between devices connected via the LAN 202. That is, it receives image data (for example, PDL (Page Description Language) data) received and input from the LAN 202, and transmits various image data and device information via the LAN 202. The RIP processing unit 204 analyzes the input PDL data and develops it into RIP data for printing. The operation unit 205 is a user interface including an operation panel for a user to perform various operations and a display unit for displaying operation information.

  The image forming control unit 206 is a processing unit that controls each unit of the image forming controller 201, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown). In this embodiment, the memory unit 207 has both a control memory for the image forming control unit 206 to perform various controls and a program memory that stores a control program. The memory unit 207 is used for storing an image during image formation. The memory unit 207 includes, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a HDD (Hard Disk Drive), and the like.

  The print image processing unit 208 performs print processing for printing by the image printing unit 101. The mechanism process control unit 209 controls each of the image printing unit 101, the print image inspection unit 102, and the finishing unit 103 to print and record when printing an image on a sheet such as a recording medium. Perform paper transport control. The mechanism process control unit 209 performs printing control on the sheet and sheet conveyance in the printing process in the image printing unit 101, the printing paper conveyance process in the printing image inspection unit 102, and the recording paper discharge process in the finishing unit 103. Controls such as mechanism control.

  In the image inspection controller 210, an inspection operation unit 211 is a user interface including an operation panel for performing various operations related to image inspection by a user. The memory unit 212 includes a processing memory for the image inspection controller 210 to perform various processes, and a program memory in which processing programs are stored. The memory unit 212 is composed of, for example, a ROM, RAM, HDD, or the like. The reference image resolution conversion unit 213 performs resolution conversion of a reference image that serves as a reference for comparison when an inspection is performed on a print image. The inspection display unit 214 displays the image inspection result for the user. Here, the inspection operation unit 211 and the inspection display unit 214 are described separately, but they may be physically the same.

  The inspection control unit 216 controls each unit of the image inspection controller 210. The inspection scanner 217 scans and reads an image printed on the recording paper in the print image inspection unit 102. In this embodiment, the inspection scanner 217 is an image scanner provided with a reading light source (not shown) and a line sensor (not shown), and scans a recording paper surface to read an image.

  The scan image processing unit 218 processes the scan image scanned by the inspection scanner 217. The scan image resolution conversion unit 219 performs resolution conversion on the scan image data processed by the scan image processing unit 218. The image comparison / determination unit 220 compares reference image data (original image) serving as a reference with scan image data (print image) of a printed material to be compared, and determines a print result. The scan image storage unit 221 stores the scan image data whose resolution has been converted by the scan image resolution conversion unit 219 at the time of determination by the image comparison determination unit 220. The reference image storage unit 222 stores reference image data received from the image forming controller 201 and subjected to resolution conversion by the reference image resolution conversion unit 213 when the image comparison determination unit 220 performs determination.

[Internal mechanism structure of in-line inspection system]
Next, the internal mechanism structure in the image printing unit 101, the printed image inspection unit 102, and the finishing unit 103 that constitute the inline inspection system in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The image printing unit 301 corresponds to the image printing unit 101. The image printing unit 301 includes a laser exposure unit 302, a rotary polygon mirror (polygon mirror) 303, an image forming unit 304, a photosensitive drum 305, and a conveyor belt 306. Here, the laser exposure unit 302 causes a light beam such as a laser beam modulated according to print image data to enter the polygon mirror 303 that rotates at a constant angular velocity, and irradiates the photosensitive drum 305 as reflected scanning light.

  In the image forming unit 304, the photosensitive drum 305 is rotated and charged by a charger in the image forming unit 304, and the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 305 is developed with toner. Then, the toner image is transferred to a sheet, and at that time, the minute toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 305 without being transferred is collected. In the image forming unit 304 of this embodiment, four development units (development stations) of these electrophotographic processes are provided corresponding to four colors.

  In other words, the four development units arranged in the order of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) are magenta, yellow, black after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of cyan station image formation. The image forming operations are sequentially executed. With this timing control, a full color toner image without color misregistration is transferred to the sheet. In this embodiment, color image printing is assumed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in the case of monochrome image printing, only a black development unit may be installed.

  Next, the fixing unit 308 is configured by a combination of a roller and a belt, and includes a heat source (not shown) such as a halogen heater, and melts the toner on the sheet on which the toner image is transferred by the image forming unit 304 by heat and pressure. , Fix. A conveyance belt 307 conveys the sheet from the image forming unit 304 to the fixing unit 308.

  The paper feed unit 309 includes a recording paper storage unit 310 therein. A typical example of the recording paper storage unit 310 is a so-called recording paper cassette or paper deck. One recording paper storage unit 310 may be provided, and a plurality of recording paper storage units 310 may be provided so that various types of sheets can be stored in order to use a plurality of types of sheets. When printing is performed, one sheet is separated from the sheet stored in the recording paper storage unit 310, and the subsequent processing is performed.

  The conveyance roller 311 is a roller that conveys the sheet drawn from the recording paper storage unit 310 to the image forming unit 304. A paper feed sensor (not shown) is provided in the vicinity of the conveyance roller 311, and the image forming control unit 206 has information on how many sheets are being fed. A paper discharge roller 312 discharges the sheet from the image printing unit 301. After the sheet is pulled out from the recording paper storage unit 310, image formation and toner transfer are performed by the image formation unit 304, and the sheet is fixed by the fixing unit 308. Thereafter, the sheet is discharged by a discharge roller 312.

  The print image inspection unit 313 corresponds to the print image inspection unit 102 in FIG. The paper feed roller 314 receives the sheet discharged from the image printing unit 301 and feeds it into the print image inspection unit 102. The conveyor belt 315 conveys the sheet fed by the sheet feed roller 314.

  The inspection scanner 316 scans and reads an image printed on a sheet. The inspection scanner 316 corresponds to the inspection scanner 217 shown in FIG. The inspection scanner 316 is an image scanner including a light source for reading and a line sensor, and scans a sheet conveyed by the conveying belt 315 to read an image. The conveyance belt 317 conveys the sheet. Then, the sheet conveyed through the print image inspection unit 313 is discharged by the paper discharge roller 318.

  The finishing unit 319 corresponds to the finishing unit 103 in FIG. The paper feed roller 320 receives the sheet discharged from the print image inspection unit 313 and feeds it to the finishing unit 103. The paper discharge separator 321 cuts out the paper discharge destination tray when discharging the sheet. The paper discharge destination tray includes a paper discharge roller 322 and a paper discharge tray 323. The other paper discharge destination tray includes a paper discharge roller 324 and a paper discharge tray 325.

  The finishing unit 319 separates the paper discharge destination by the paper discharge separator 321 at the time of paper discharge. As a result, the discharge destination can be divided depending on whether the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray via the discharge roller 322 or discharged to the discharge tray 325 via the discharge roller 324.

  Note that the printing process and sheet control in the image printing unit 301, the print image inspection unit 313, and the finishing unit 319 described here are all performed by the mechanism process control unit 209 in FIG.

[Image inspection flow]
Next, a print job is input, and the flow of inspection for the generated image is shown below.

  The print job is received via the LAN 202 and the LAN control unit 203, then RIP-processed by the RIP processing unit 204, and temporarily stored as print image data in the memory unit 207. The stored print image data is controlled by the image formation control unit 206, subjected to print image processing by the print image processing unit 208, and then printed on recording paper. Then, the recording paper on which the print image is printed is output to the print image inspection unit 102. Further, when the print image processing unit 208 performs print image processing, for example, additional information for specifying a printing apparatus is superimposed on the print image data. Along with outputting the recording paper on which the image is printed, the image formation control unit 206 sequentially reads the print image data of each page from the memory unit 207 and transmits the print image data to the image inspection controller 210.

  In the image inspection controller 210, the scan image generated by reading the recording paper on which the print image is printed by the inspection scanner 217 is converted into an electrical signal. Then, the scan image processing unit 218 performs desired image processing and correction processing before comparison processing such as skew correction on the scan image. Thereafter, it is transmitted to the scanned image resolution conversion unit 219.

  On the other hand, reference image data serving as an original image for comparison is controlled by the inspection control unit 216 and stored in the reference image storage unit 222 via the reference image resolution conversion unit 213. The acquisition path of the reference image data from the image forming controller 201 to the image inspection controller 210 may be configured via a LAN.

  The print image data is converted by the inspection control unit 216 to a resolution suitable for the inspection by the reference image resolution conversion unit 213 and the scan image resolution conversion unit 219, and is sent to the image comparison determination unit 220. The determination result determined by the image comparison determination unit 220 is displayed on the examination display unit 214.

[Judgment method by image inspection controller]
An example of inspection judgment for an image is shown below. The inspection control unit 216 transmits the scan image data stored in the scan image storage unit 221 and the reference image data stored in the reference image storage unit 222 to the image comparison determination unit 220. Then, the image comparison / determination unit 220 compares the acquired image data and performs determination using a bitmap.

In this embodiment, both image data are divided into a plurality of blocks each composed of 5 × 5 pixels, and density comparison is performed in RGB or CMYK for each pixel in each block. Whether to perform comparison with RGB or CMYK can be changed according to the image. For example, in the case of color image data, comparison is performed in RGB, and in the case of monochrome image data, CMYK ( Comparison only in K). An image comparison example for each block is shown in FIG. FIG. 7A shows reference image data, and FIG. 7B shows scan image data, which represents a part of a monochrome image. The density data is multi-value data from 0 to 255. At this time,
Comparison value = [density data value of scanned image] − [density data value of reference image]
The absolute value of the comparison value calculated by the above is compared with a preset allowable density difference. And
If the absolute value of the comparison value <allowable density difference, the corresponding pixel is determined as “OK”, and otherwise it is determined as “NG”.

In the case of the example of FIG. 7, it is assumed that the density difference threshold is set to 40, the image density data value of the pixel 701 is 255, and the image density data value of the pixel 702 is 0. in this case,
Absolute value of comparison value = | 0-255 | = 255
Therefore, the pixel is determined to be “NG” because it is larger than the density threshold.

In this way, an equivalent determination process is performed for each pixel in the block, and an OK determination rate in block units is obtained. The OK determination rate for each block is compared with an OK determination threshold set by a desired method. For example, when the OK determination threshold is specified at 80% and the NG pixel in the block is 1 pixel,
Determination rate = (25-1) /25=0.96
And
Judgment rate (96%)> OK judgment threshold (80%)
Therefore, the inspection determination for the corresponding block is OK. The inspection determination process is performed on the entire surface of the sheet, and if all blocks are OK on the entire surface of the sheet, the corresponding sheet is determined to be OK. On the other hand, if there is NG even in one block, the sheet is determined to be NG.

[Display method with image inspection controller]
FIG. 9 is an example in which the determination result after the inspection determination is displayed on the inspection display unit 214. In the examination display unit 214, a determination result 901 is displayed, which indicates that “NG” is determined in this case. The thumbnail 902 in FIG. 9 is a thumbnail display of the entire image on the sheet that was NG. Further, the corresponding part is enlarged and displayed in the enlarged area 903 on the right side of the thumbnail 902. That is, the examination display unit 214 can enlarge and display the area that causes the examination result to be judged as NG as shown in the enlarged area 903. The enlargement ratio 907 indicates how many times the original image size is enlarged in the enlargement area 903. In this case, it indicates that it is twice the original image size.

  The additional pattern 908 is pattern information based on additional information, and includes information such as a device-specific manufacturing number for specifying a printing device, for example. The additional information is obtained by encoding a device-specific production number as a dot pattern and superimposed on the print image. The additional information may be configured to include other information. Among these, there is a stain on the sheet like a stain 904, and this indicates that the inspection result is NG. On this display screen, the operator presses the OK button 905 or the NG button 906 on the touch panel, and executes processing according to the determination result.

[Display judgment flow in image inspection controller]
Here, a method of not displaying the additional information superimposed on the print image in the determination result when displaying the determination result in an enlarged manner will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for determining whether or not to display an additional pattern based on additional information on the enlarged image when the image inspection controller 210 displays the inspection determination result on the inspection display unit 214. Show. This processing flow is controlled by the inspection control unit 216.

  After the image forming controller 201 performs image forming processing based on the print job input by the user, the recording paper on which the print image is printed is output to the print image inspection unit 102. The print image inspection unit 102 performs inspection by scanning a print image on a recording sheet and comparing it with a reference image.

  The inspection control unit 216 transmits the scanned image data obtained by scanning the output print image and the reference image data stored in the reference image storage unit 222 to the image comparison determination unit 220 (S401). Thereafter, the inspection control unit 216 acquires the result determined by the image comparison determination unit 220 (S402).

  The inspection control unit 216 displays the determination result on the inspection display unit 214. When displaying the determination result, whether to display all the determination results together with the entire image or to display the entire image only when it is determined to be NG can be selected by the user at the time of display or as a user setting in advance. To do. Alternatively, the determination result and the entire image may be displayed only for the selected sheet. In addition, it is assumed that the user can also select whether or not to enlarge the display.

  When it is determined that the entire image is not displayed when displaying the determination result in the inspection control unit 216 (NO in S403), the inspection display unit 214 displays OK or NG as the determination result without displaying the entire image. Only is displayed (S410). Then, this processing flow ends.

  When displaying the determination result, if it is determined that the entire image is to be displayed (YES in S403), the inspection control unit 216 uses the scan image storage unit 221 to display the scanned image in order to display the image data on the inspection display unit 214. Data is acquired (S404).

  Thereafter, when an instruction for enlargement display from the user is not designated, the inspection control unit 216 determines that enlargement display is not necessary (NO in S405), and the inspection display unit 214 displays the determination result and the entire image. (S409). Then, this processing flow ends.

  When it is determined that the determination result is NG, or when the user designates an enlarged display, the inspection control unit 216 determines that an enlarged display of the location that caused the determination result to be NG is necessary ( YES in S405), the magnification for performing the enlarged display of the corresponding part is determined.

  FIG. 12 is an example in which the inspection determination result is displayed on the inspection display unit 214, and the determination result 1201 is displayed. The examination display unit 214 indicates the NG location 1203 as a determination result, and presses an OK button 1204 or an enlarged display button 1205 to execute processing according to the instruction. In the example shown in FIG. 12, the magnification of the enlarged display for the NG location 1203 can be selected from 2, 5, 8, and 10. However, the user can specify any magnification. Good. This implements a receiving means.

  A predetermined threshold value is provided for the magnification specified by the user, and it is determined in S406 whether or not the threshold value is specified. Here, description will be made assuming that the threshold value is five times. If the specified magnification is 5 times or more (YES in S406), the additional pattern based on the additional information becomes conspicuous when displaying on the inspection display unit 214, so the inspection control unit 216 adds from the enlarged display. A pattern thinning process is performed (S407). This process will be described in detail with reference to FIG. Thereafter, the inspection control unit 216 enlarges the scanned image data for which the thinning process has been completed (S408). Then, the inspection control unit 216 displays the entire image and the enlarged image together with the inspection determination result (S409).

  If the specified magnification is less than 5 (NO in S406), inspection control unit 216 enlarges the scanned image data as it is (S408). Then, the inspection control unit 216 displays the entire image and the enlarged image together with the inspection determination result (S409). Here, the magnification of magnification display is determined to be five times, but a different value may be set.

[Additional pattern thinning process in image inspection controller]
FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of processing for thinning out additional patterns based on additional information. This processing flow corresponds to S407 in FIG. 4 and is controlled by the inspection control unit 216. When displaying an enlarged image on the inspection display unit 214, the inspection control unit 216 performs a process of thinning out the additional pattern when the image is enlarged to a specific magnification or more.

  In step S501, the inspection control unit 216 acquires additional information from the image formation control unit 206 in order to perform a process of thinning out the additional pattern superimposed on the scan image data. The additional information acquired here is a setting value for superimposing the information specifying the printing apparatus and the additional information. The set value is a reference position or a phase difference value required for creating the additional pattern.

  In S502, the inspection control unit 216 creates an additional pattern of additional information superimposed on the image based on the acquired additional information. The additional pattern has unit dots of 8 × 4 pixels, for example, and is arranged on the line at a constant cycle in the main scanning direction. Further, the same line is formed in the sub-scanning direction at a constant cycle.

  For example, 4-bit information can be represented by lines in the main scanning direction, and eight lines arranged in the sub-scanning direction can form a set to represent 32-bit additional information. The lines in the main scanning direction are repeatedly formed and show the same information. Data represented by unit dots is determined by the phase difference of unit dots. It is assumed that the additional pattern is added with Y toner by utilizing the characteristic that human eyes have a low discrimination ability with respect to a pattern drawn with Y toner.

  In S503, the inspection control unit 216 compares the scan image data with the created additional pattern, and determines the position of the additional pattern superimposed on the scan image data. The alignment is determined by specifying the coordinates of the unit dot of the scan image data from the created additional pattern. As shown in FIG. 10, the position of the unit dot of the created additional pattern can be represented by a table made up of X and Y coordinates, where X is the main scanning direction and Y is the sub scanning direction. By specifying the coordinates of each unit dot of the scan image data, the position of the additional pattern superimposed on the scan image data can be determined. Here, the upper left is the origin.

  In S504, the inspection control unit 216 deletes the additional pattern from the scanned image data to be enlarged according to the specified position. Here, the additional pattern is deleted from the scan image data by setting the image density of the pixel at the position of the additional pattern superimposed on the scan image data to zero.

  In step S505, the inspection control unit 216 performs correction so that the deleted portion is not conspicuous in the scan image data. In this embodiment, the correction method is complemented by taking the average value of the colors of the peripheral pixels that have been deleted and assigning the average value as the value of the pixels of the deleted portion. FIG. 8 is an example in which the determination result after the inspection determination is displayed on the inspection display unit 214, and shows that the additional information is deleted from the enlarged image.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, when enlarged display is performed, display control can be performed so that the additional pattern based on the additional information is not displayed on the examination display unit 214 according to the magnification. As a result, it is possible to prevent the user from erroneously recognizing the additional pattern.

<Example 2>
FIG. 6 shows a flow of processing for thinning out additional information. 6 differs from the first embodiment (FIG. 5) in that a process for thinning out additional information is performed using the fact that an additional pattern of additional information is generated by Y toner. Here, only differences from the first embodiment will be described.

  When displaying an enlarged image as described in S407 of FIG. 4 in the first embodiment, when the image is enlarged to a specific magnification or more, processing for thinning out the additional pattern is performed.

  In step S601, the inspection control unit 216 filters the scanned image data in order to perform a thinning process, and generates an image that is printed with Y toner and that extracts only the yellow portion. The reason why only the yellow portion is extracted is that the additional pattern is added with only Y toner by utilizing the characteristic that the human eye has a low discrimination ability with respect to the pattern drawn with Y toner.

  FIG. 11 shows an example in which the yellow portion is extracted. The image data 1101 in FIG. 11 is scan image data, whereas the image data 1102 in FIG. 11 is an image of only the yellow portion of the scan image data. An enlarged image 1103 in FIG. 11 is an enlarged image obtained by enlarging only the yellow portion. Here, the dot 1104 and the dot 1105 in FIG. 11 are unit dots of the additional pattern, respectively.

  Here, in the figure arranged at the upper left in the image data 1101, a square portion is assumed to be printed in yellow. Then, in the image data 1102 of only the yellow part, the square part in the figure is yellow and remains. Further, in the enlarged image 1103, a square portion in the figure and a dot portion due to the additional pattern remain.

  In step S602, the inspection control unit 216 determines whether there is an NG determination portion in the image data 1102. When it is determined that there is no NG determination part (NO in S602), the process proceeds to S603. In order to delete the additional pattern based on the additional information, the inspection control unit 216 performs processing for specifying the additional pattern from the image data 1102.

  If it is determined that there is an NG determination part in image data 1102 (YES in S602), the process proceeds to S606. Since it is necessary to display the NG image as it is at the NG determination part, the inspection control unit 216 does not perform the process of deleting the additional pattern (S606).

  In step S603, the inspection control unit 216 determines whether there is a portion where yellow is not continuous from the image data 1102. Here, “continuous” means, for example, that pixels having the same pixel value are arranged adjacent to each other in the print image. If it is determined that yellow is not continuous (NO in S603), the process proceeds to S604. A portion where yellow is not continuous is determined to be a yellow dot independent from the surrounding area, and can be identified as an additional pattern based on additional information. For example, a portion where yellow is not continuous is indicated by a portion indicated by a dot 1105 in FIG.

  If there is a portion where a lot of yellow continues from image data 1102 (YES in S603), the process proceeds to S606. Since an image is printed in yellow where yellow continues, it can be determined that the pattern is not an additional pattern based on additional information. Here, the portion where yellow continues is indicated by a portion indicated by a square including the dot 1104 in FIG. Furthermore, since the additional pattern is superimposed in yellow, when the periphery of the additional pattern is yellow, it is not necessary to delete the additional pattern because the additional pattern is inconspicuous.

  In step S604, the inspection control unit 216 extracts a color around the additional pattern for the portion for which the additional pattern is specified. Then, the inspection control unit 216 determines whether or not the extracted color is a complementary color to the color of the additional pattern. Thereby, complementary color determination is performed. If the extracted color is a complementary color (YES in S604), the process proceeds to S605. In this case, the complementary color is, for example, blue. The complementary color is determined according to the color of the toner used for the additional pattern. Therefore, when colors other than Y toner are used for the additional pattern, other colors are used.

  In step S605, the inspection control unit 216 deletes the additional pattern because the surrounding color is a complementary color and the additional pattern is conspicuous. In step S607, the inspection control unit 216 averages the deleted peripheral colors and adds the averaged color to the deleted portion.

  If the extracted color is not a complementary color (NO in S604), the process proceeds to S606. In S606, the inspection control unit 216 does not delete the additional pattern because the additional pattern is not conspicuous.

  As described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, a method may be used in which the additional pattern is deleted and an average color of the surrounding colors is added to the deleted portion, or the color of the additional pattern itself is lightened. You don't have to stand out. When the color of the additional pattern is lightened, the position of the additional pattern is specified. Thereafter, the specified additional pattern is displayed in the inspection display unit 214 with a lighter color.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, the process of thinning out the additional information can be performed by determining whether the yellow portion is continuous or independent. Further, depending on the background color, it is not necessary to delete the additional information, so that it is possible to prevent extra image processing.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention can also be realized by executing the following processing. That is, software (program) that realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus via a network or various storage media, and a computer (or CPU, MPU, etc.) of the system or apparatus reads the program. It is a process to be executed.

Claims (14)

An inspection device that inspects a printed image on a printed matter output by a printing device that performs printing by superimposing an image indicating additional information on the image,
Reading means for reading the print image;
A display unit capable of enlarging and displaying a part of the print image when displaying the inspection result of the read print image;
Inspection apparatus comprising: display control means for controlling the display means to prevent the display means from displaying an image indicating the additional information included in a part of the print image displayed in an enlarged manner by the display means. . A determination means for determining whether or not a magnification when displaying a part of the print image on the display means is larger than a predetermined magnification;
The display control means, when the determination means determines that the magnification when displaying a part of the print image in an enlarged manner is larger than a predetermined magnification, the display control means displays the print image displayed on the display means. 2. The inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image indicating the additional information is controlled so as not to be displayed on the display unit by deleting the superimposed image indicating the additional information. Further comprising obtaining means for obtaining additional information from the printing apparatus;
3. The display control unit according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit generates pattern information from the additional information acquired by the acquiring unit, and deletes an image indicating the additional information from the print image according to the pattern information. Inspection equipment as described.   The inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image indicating the additional information is superimposed as a dot pattern for specifying the printing apparatus.   5. The inspection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the display control unit deletes an image indicating the additional information by correcting a color value of a pixel corresponding to the dot pattern of the additional information.   When the image indicating the additional information is deleted, the display control unit corrects the color value of the pixel corresponding to the dot pattern of the additional information by the average value of the colors of the pixels located around the pixel. The inspection device according to claim 5.   6. The inspection apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the image indicating the additional information is deleted, the display control unit performs correction by reducing a color value of a pixel corresponding to the dot pattern of the additional information. . Extraction means for extracting a color pixel for printing an image indicating the additional information in the print image and a color of a pixel around the pixel;
Complementary color determination means for determining whether the color of the surrounding pixels is a complementary color of a color for printing an image indicating the additional information;
The inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the complementary color determination unit determines that the color is complementary, the display control unit deletes the image indicating the additional information. Means for determining pixels arranged successively among pixels of a color for printing an image indicating the additional information in the print image;
The inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display control unit determines that the continuously arranged pixels are not images indicating the additional information.   The inspection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reception unit that receives a setting of a magnification when the display unit displays a part of the print image in an enlarged manner.   The inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image indicating the additional information is printed using a yellow toner. A printing system including a printing unit capable of printing by superimposing an image indicating additional information on an image, and an inspection unit for inspecting a print image on a printed matter output by the printing unit,
The inspection part is
Reading means for reading the print image;
A display unit capable of enlarging and displaying a part of the print image when displaying the inspection result of the read print image;
And a display control unit that controls the display unit not to display an image indicating the additional information included in a part of the print image that is enlarged and displayed by the display unit. . An inspection device control method for inspecting a printed image on a printed matter output by a printing device that performs printing by superimposing an image indicating additional information on an image,
A reading step of reading the printed image;
When displaying the inspection result of the read print image, a display step capable of enlarging and displaying a part of the print image;
A display control step of controlling the image indicating the additional information included in a part of the print image displayed enlarged in the display step so as not to be displayed in the display step. Control method. Computer
Reading means for reading a print image output by a printing apparatus that performs printing by superimposing additional information on the image;
Display means capable of enlarging and displaying a part of the print image when displaying the inspection result of the read print image;
A program for causing an image indicating the additional information included in a part of the print image displayed enlarged by the display unit to function as a display control unit for controlling the display unit not to display the image.

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