JP4251838B2 - Print correction system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a print correction system that detects and corrects a defective print portion of a printed medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, advancement of printing technology and higher resolution have progressed, and functions in printing machines have also improved. Even when printing is performed in such a situation, the occurrence of printing defects due to mechanical parts is continually occurring. Therefore, it is desired that correction can be made without impairing the design even if printing defects occur.
[0003]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, printing methods have been diversified, and there are various types ranging from large ones such as an offset printing method using a plate and a screen printing method to ones capable of on-demand printing such as an ink jet method and an electrophotographic method. Even in such various printing methods, unnecessary printing due to the powder of the printing medium, partial deficiency due to insufficient moisture or insufficient amount of printing ink or toner used may occur. When such a printing defect occurs, the present situation is that it is discarded as the design of the printed product is damaged.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the occurrence of printing defects leads to a decrease in yield and waste of the printing medium. Therefore, in order to avoid this, fine print quality management by the operator is required. However, management of print quality is not addressed because it is cumbersome and causes an increase in the burden on the worker, and eventually it must be tolerated to some extent that yield is reduced and a lot of resources are wasted on the print medium. There is a problem.
[0005]
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing correction system that easily corrects a printed medium on which a printing defect has occurred without damaging the design.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 is a print correction system for detecting and correcting a print defect such as a print spot or a blur on a print medium on which print information of a predetermined content is printed. An image capturing unit that captures image information printed on the print medium; and print data of the print information that is printed on the print medium, and the image data corresponding to the image data captured by the image capture unit is printed Control processing means for creating based on the data and collating with the captured image data, recognizing the difference portion as a print defect of the print spot or blur, specifying the position and size, and specifying the density by density analysis And concealment printing means for performing concealment printing on the defective print portion in the same color as the ground color of the printed medium in accordance with an instruction from the control processing means.
[0007]
In the inventions of claims 2 to 5 , it is a configuration comprising "a modified printing means for printing corresponding print information on the cover print portion based on the print data",
“At least one of the concealment printing unit and the modified printing unit has a multicolor printing function and performs printing according to an instruction color from the control processing unit”,
“The control processing unit identifies at least one of a printing color and a ground color of the printed medium in addition to the density when recognizing the printing defect”,
The “hidden printing unit and the modified printing unit are on-demand printing units” .
[0008]
In this way, the print information printed on the print medium is imaged, created from the print data having the image data corresponding to the captured image data, collated with the captured image data, and the difference portion is printed or stained. Recognize a printing defect and specify its position and size, specify the density by density analysis , perform concealment printing on the defective printing part with the same color as the ground color of the print medium, and print appropriately corresponding to the concealment printing part Print information. In other words, it is possible to easily correct the defective printing portion without losing the design by performing concealment printing or appropriate correction printing on the defective printing portion, thereby improving yield and avoiding wasteful printing media. It is possible.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the print medium is assumed to be paper, and the print medium to be corrected is described as a continuous sheet. However, a film (excluding a transparent color) or the like can be applied as the print medium, and the correction object is a sheet-fed print. It can also be applied as a medium.
[0010]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a print correction system according to the present invention. The print correction system 11 shown in FIG. 1A corrects a printed material continuous sheet 12 that is a printed material medium on which printing information having a predetermined content is printed, to obtain a corrected printed material continuous sheet 13 when there is a printing defect. The image pickup means 14, the concealment printing means 15, the correction printing means 16, and the control processing means 17 are provided.
[0011]
The imaging unit 14 captures the print information printed on the printed material continuous sheet 12 and sends the captured image data to the control processing unit 17. The control processing unit 17 holds print data of print information printed on the printed material continuous sheet 12, creates image data corresponding to the image data captured by the imaging unit 14 based on the print data, and the captured image. This is collated with the data, and the different part is recognized as a printing defect, and details will be described with reference to FIG.
[0012]
The concealment printing unit 15 performs concealment printing on the defective print portion recognized in accordance with the instruction of the control processing unit 17 in the same color as the ground color of the printed material continuous sheet 12, and can be printed on demand, for example. Is adopted. The modified printing means 16 prints on the concealed printing portion printed by the concealing printing means 15 based on the print data having the corresponding print information. For example, an electrophotographic method capable of printing on demand is adopted. It is what is done.
[0013]
Further, the print correction system 21 shown in FIG. 1B includes a printing unit 23 that performs printing on the print target continuous sheet 22 based on print data held by the control processing unit 17. Is the same as FIG. That is intended to be imaged Ri by the imaging means 14 is subject to printing failure correction in printed continuous sheet 12 by printing information in the printing unit 22 is printed.
[0014]
In the following, a description will be given of a case where the printing correction system 21 in FIG. 1B recognizes and corrects a printing defect immediately after printing of printing information. Here, the background color of the continuous sheet 22 to be printed is set to normal high-quality paper. In the following description, it is assumed that the printed continuous sheet 12 is printed with black printing ink. Accordingly, the concealing printing unit 15 is provided with a white toner (a white pigment added), and the correction printing unit 16 is provided with a normal black toner.
[0015]
The same applies to the case where a print defect is recognized and corrected in the printed material continuous sheet 12 on which print information has been printed in advance as in the print correction system 11 shown in FIG. in case of application, which can be dealt with, to identify the print information of the imaging object, for example, in printed matter the continuous sheet 12 by a score facilities marking, etc. when creating the image data to be collated on the basis of the captured image data It is.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control processing means in the print correction system according to the present invention. 2A, the control processing unit 17 appropriately includes a control unit 31, a bus 32, an interface (IF) 33, an imaging data acquisition unit 34, a collation specifying unit 35, a print data creation unit 36, and a hidden data creation unit 37. A correction data creating means 38 and a print data storage unit 39. 2B, the collation specifying unit 35 includes a collation unit 41, a print position analyzing unit 42, a density related analyzing unit 43, and a correction target specifying unit 44 as appropriate.
[0017]
The control means 31 controls the system and stores a corresponding control program. The IF 33 inputs the captured image data from the imaging unit 14 and sends a print data file corresponding to the hidden printing unit 15, the modified printing unit 16, and the printing unit 23. The imaging data acquisition unit 34 acquires and stores the captured image data from the imaging unit 14, and also serves as a work area for the verification specifying process by the verification specifying unit 35.
[0018]
The print data creation unit 36 acquires print information to be printed on the print target continuous sheet 22 by the print unit 23 from the print data storage unit 39 to create a print data file, and sends the print data file to the print unit 23. Image data of the print information is created and stored in the imaging data acquisition unit 34 as a target to be compared with the imaging image data. The concealment data creation unit 37 creates a concealment print data file for concealment printing for the defective print portion specified by the collation specifying unit 35 and sends it to the concealment printing unit 15. The correction data creating means 38 obtains the print contents for printing the print information corresponding to the defective print portion specified by the collation specifying means 35 from the print data storage section 39 to create a print data file, and the corrected printing means 16 to send. The print data storage unit 39 stores data to be printed on the unprinted print target continuous sheet 22.
[0019]
The collation means 41 in the collation specifying means 35 collates the image data created from the print data and the captured image data by a known image processing technique. For example, a reference for comparing each other's image data is determined. The comparison target regions are appropriately subdivided and compared by pattern matching (similarity comparison of data values (in this case, binary values), comparison by feature extraction, analysis spectrum comparison, etc.) and the like. The print position analyzing unit 42 analyzes the position and size of a difference portion in the collation result by the collation unit 41 as a defective print portion. Here, the density-related analysis unit 43 analyzes the density of the defective print portion of the different portion (scratch due to a distribution pattern of data values).
[0020]
Then, the correction target specifying unit 44 specifies and recognizes whether the defective print portion is a print spot or a blur based on the position, size, and density of the poor print portion of the analyzed different portion. In the case of a print spot, the data of the position and size is sent to the concealment data creation means 37. In the case of blurring, the position and size data is sent to the concealment data creation means 37 and the position data is sent to the correction data creation means 38.
[0021]
Next, FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the principle of printed matter correction in the present invention. FIG. 3A shows a case where print spots 52A and 52B are printed in the vicinity of the print information 51 printed on the printed material continuous sheet 12, for example, with paper dust. Therefore, the positions and sizes of the print spots 52A and 52B are recognized and specified as printing defects. Then, the concealment printing means 15 performs printing with the white toner on the print spots 51A and 52B that are regarded as defective prints to form the correction areas 53A and 53B, whereby the print spots 52A and 52B are the continuous printed matter sheets. 12 is corrected to be difficult to view.
[0022]
FIG. 3B shows a case where, for example, a letter “F” in the print information 51 is faded into a defective print letter 54 due to, for example, a lack of water or a quantity of printing ink or toner. Therefore, the position of the faint “F” character is recognized and specified as a defective print character 54 by density analysis, and the print character “F” having a normal density is specified. The defective printing character 54 is printed with the white toner in the concealing printing unit 15 to form a correction area 55, and a normal density printing character (“F”) 56 is formed on the correction area 55. Thus, the defective printed characters 54 are corrected to be difficult to visually recognize on the printed material continuous sheet 12, and printed characters 56 having a normal density are printed.
[0023]
Next, FIG. 4 shows a processing flowchart of printed matter correction in the present invention. In FIG. 4, first, in the control processing unit 17, the print data creation unit 36 obtains corresponding print data from the print data storage unit 39 and creates a print data file to be printed on the print target continuous sheet 22. And print the image data from the print data (step (S) 1). With respect to the print information printed on the print target continuous sheet 22, an image pickup command is issued to the image pickup unit 14 to pick up an image of the print information, and the picked-up image data is acquired by the image pickup data acquisition unit 34 (S2).
[0024]
Therefore, the collation unit 41 in the collation specifying unit 35 compares and collates the image data created from the print data and the captured image data, for example, by pattern matching (S3). In this comparison and collation, the print position analysis means 42 analyzes the print position in the print information, and the density related analysis means 43 performs density analysis (S4). Then, it is determined whether or not the print position is matched (S5), and it is determined whether or not the density of the printed print information is appropriate (S6).
[0025]
If the print position matches in S5, the process ends. If the print position does not match, the correction target specifying unit 43 prints the mismatched portions as print spots 52A and 52B as shown in FIG. It is judged as defective, and the position and size of the non-matching part are specified (S7). Then, the concealment data creation means 37 creates a concealment print data file based on the positions and sizes of the print spots 52A and 52B identified by the analysis (S8), and sends the concealment data to the concealment printing means 15. Then, printing for concealment is performed (S9).
[0026]
On the other hand, in S6, if all of the print information has an appropriate density as a result of the density analysis, the process ends. If there is a character whose density is not appropriate, the correction target specifying unit 43 determines that the density is not appropriate. The character is identified as a defective printed character 54 that is faint as shown in FIG. 3B (S10). Then, the concealment data creation means 37 creates a concealment print data file based on the position of the defective print character 54 analyzed and specified, and sends it to the concealment print means 15 to perform concealment printing ( S11). Further, the correction data creation means 38 creates a data file based on the position data of the defective print character and the same character data acquired from the print data storage unit 39, and sends it to the correction printing means 16 for printing at an appropriate density. (S12).
[0027]
Thus, the printing stain 52A, modified by the concealment printed on the printing defect portions such as 52B or bad character 54 area 53A, the printing of the correction character 56 by forming or modifying printing 53B, 55 without compromising the design out with scores facilities The defective print portion can be easily corrected, thereby improving the yield and avoiding wasteful generation of the print medium.
[0028]
Next, FIG. 5 shows another processing flowchart of the printed matter correction in the present invention. Here, the concealment printing unit 15 and the modified printing unit 16 in FIGS. 1A and 1B are on-demand printing units capable of multicolor printing (depending on the printed material continuous sheet 12 or the printing target continuous sheet 22 In addition, in FIG. 2B, the density-related analysis unit 43 performs color analysis and color density analysis in addition to the above analysis.
[0029]
In FIG. 5, first, in the control processing unit 17, the print data creation unit 36 obtains corresponding print data from the print data storage unit 39 and creates a print data file to be printed on the print target continuous sheet 22. And print the image data from the print data (S21). With respect to the print information printed on the print target continuous sheet 22, an image pickup command is issued to the image pickup means 14 to pick up the print information, and the picked-up image data is acquired by the image pickup data acquisition means 34 (S22).
[0030]
Therefore, the collation unit 41 in the collation specifying unit 35 compares and collates the image data created from the print data and the captured image data by pattern matching, for example (S23). In this comparison and collation, the print position analysis unit 42 analyzes the print position in the print information, and the density related analysis unit 43 performs density related analysis (S24). The density-related analysis in this case is an analysis of the density and color of the print information, and the ground color of the print target continuous sheet 22 (printed material continuous sheet 12) and its density. Then, it is determined whether or not the printing position is matched (S25), and it is determined whether or not the density of the printed print information is appropriate (S26).
[0031]
If the print position matches in S25, the process ends. If not, the correction target specifying unit 43 prints the mismatched portions as print spots 52A and 52B as shown in FIG. It is judged as defective, and the position and size of the non-matching part are specified (S27). Then, the concealment data creation means 37 creates a concealed print data file based on the position and size concealment range of the print spots 52A and 52B identified by analysis and the ground color data identified by analysis ( In step S28, the concealment data is sent to the concealment printing unit 15 to perform concealment printing (S9). The concealment printing unit 15 performs concealment printing in the concealment range with the same color as the ground color.
[0032]
On the other hand, in S26, if all of the print information has an appropriate density as a result of the density-related analysis, the process ends. If there is a character whose print density is not appropriate, the correction target specifying unit 43 A character whose density is not suitable is identified as a defective printed character 54 faint as shown in FIG. 3B (S30). Then, the concealment data creation means 37 creates a data file for concealment printing based on the position and ground color of the defective print character 54 analyzed and specified, and sends it to the concealment printing means 15 for printing for concealment. The same color as the ground color is used (S31). Further, the correction data creation means 38 creates a data file based on the position data of the defective print character and the same character data and print color data acquired from the print data storage unit 39 and sends the data file to the correction print means 16. By doing so, as shown in FIG. 3B, printing is performed with the same color and with an appropriate density (S32).
[0033]
In this way, the concealed printing is performed with the ground color of the continuous sheet 22 (12) to be corrected, and the corrected characters are printed with the same printing color. It can be easily corrected, thereby improving yield and avoiding wasteful printing media, and can easily cope with the ground color and printing color of the sheet to be corrected. .
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, print information printed on a print medium is imaged, created from print data having image data corresponding to the captured image data, collated with the captured image data, and printed. Recognize spots and spots as defective prints , specify their position and size, specify the density by density analysis, and perform concealment printing with the same color as the background color of the print medium, and perform concealment printing as appropriate. By printing the printing information corresponding to the part, it is possible to easily correct the defective printing part of the printed medium without damaging the design, and to improve the yield and avoid the waste of the printing medium. It is.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a print correction system according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of control processing means in the print correction system according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the principle of printed matter correction in the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a processing flowchart of printed matter correction in the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating another process for correcting a printed material according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
11, 21 Print Correction System 12 Printed Continuous Sheet 13 Corrected Printed Continuous Sheet 14 Imaging Unit 15 Concealed Printing Unit 16 Corrected Printing Unit 17 Control Processing Unit 22 Print Target Continuous Sheet 23 Printing Unit 51 Printing Information 52 Printing Spots 53, 55 Correction Area 54 Bad character 56 Corrected character

Claims (5)

A print correction system that detects and corrects print defects such as print spots and scratches on a print medium on which print information of a predetermined content is printed,
Imaging means for imaging print information printed on the printed medium;
Print data of print information printed on the print medium is held, image data corresponding to the image data captured by the imaging unit is created based on the print data, and collated with the captured image data. Control processing means for recognizing that the print spots and scratches are defective , specifying the position and size, and specifying the density by density analysis ,
Concealment printing means for performing concealment printing on the defective print portion in the same color as the background color of the printed medium according to the instruction of the control processing means,
A printing correction system comprising: The print correction system according to claim 1, further comprising a correction printing unit that prints corresponding print information on the concealed print portion based on the print data. 3. The printing correction system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the concealment printing unit and the correction printing unit has a multicolor printing function, and performs printing according to an instruction color from the control processing unit. A printing correction system characterized by performing. A third aspect printing correction system of, wherein the control processing means upon recognizing the printing defect, in addition to the concentration, identifying at least one of the ground color of the print color and the printed material medium Print correction system featuring A printing correction system according to at least one of claims 1-4, wherein the concealing printing means and said correction print unit, the print correction system, which is a printing means on demand.

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