PRINTED MATERIAL INSPECTION SYSTEM, PRINTED MATERIAL INSPECTION METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM

A printed material inspection system includes a processor configured to inspect a quality of a printed material; and a display that displays a result of the inspection. The processor is configured to: by reading and executing a program, compare a scanned image obtained by scanning an inspection target page of the printed material, out of pages forming a job, with a reference image created based on rasterize data of the inspection target page and perform an inspection of whether or not a first defect is present in the scanned image at a first inspection level, which is a preset initial level or a level set by a user; automatically perform an inspection of whether or not a second defect is present in the scanned image at a second inspection level that is different from the first inspection level; and display the first defect and the second defect on the display in such a manner that the first defect and the second defect are able to be distinguished from each other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-042871 filed Mar. 17, 2022.

BACKGROUND

(I) Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a printed material inspection system, a printed material inspection method, and a non-transitory computer readable medium.

(II) Related Art

An image inspection report creation apparatus that displays only a defect that is recognized as being necessary for a user to understand in a result report, is described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2020-082421. The image inspection report creation apparatus includes an inspection image generation unit that generates an inspection image so that a read image read by an image reading unit is inspected, a difference level calculation unit that calculates a difference level indicating the degree of a difference between the inspection image and the read image on the basis of the difference, a display determination unit that compares the difference level calculated by the difference level calculation unit with a reference difference level that is set in advance to determine whether or not to display the difference in a result report, and a file creation unit that creates the result report regarding the difference on the basis of a result of the determination by the display determination unit.

An image processing apparatus capable of appropriately reusing a non-defective material and excluding a defective material even when an image abnormality detection condition for a discharged printed material is changed and re-determination is performed, is described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2020-205567. The image processing apparatus includes a printing unit that outputs a printed material, a reading unit that reads the printed material and obtains a read image, a determination unit that analyzes the read image to detect an image abnormality and determines the quality of the printed material, a paper discharge unit that discharges the printed material on the basis of the determination result while sorting printed materials into a non-defective material and a defective material, and a notification unit that displays a result of the detection of an image abnormality on a display unit and accepts a change in a detection threshold and/or a detection item for an image abnormality. When the detection threshold and/or the detection item for an image abnormality is changed, the determination unit re-determines the discharged printed material, and the notification unit provides a notification on the output position of the printed material for which the determination regarding the quality has been changed.

SUMMARY

In an inspection system that inspects the quality of a printed material, the level of the inspection is based on a default value of the system or set by a user. However, it becomes possible to determine whether setting of the inspection level is appropriate only after the printed material is printed and the inspection of the printed material is completed. Even if the setting level was too strict or too loose, it is not easy to change the setting level. In particular, an appropriate inspection level may differ depending on a print job. Thus, the inspection level needs to be flexibly changed for each job.

Aspects of non-limiting embodiments of the present disclosure relate to providing a technique capable of easily determining whether or not the level of an initial inspection is appropriate and easily changing an inspection level if the level of the initial inspection is not appropriate.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a printed material inspection system including a processor configured to inspect a quality of a printed material and a display that displays a result of the inspection. The processor is configured to: by reading and executing a program, compare a scanned image obtained by scanning an inspection target page of the printed material, out of pages forming a job, with a reference image created based on rasterize data of the inspection target page and perform an inspection of whether or not a first defect is present in the scanned image at a first inspection level, which is a preset initial level or a level set by a user; automatically perform an inspection of whether or not a second defect is present in the scanned image at a second inspection level that is different from the first inspection level; and display the first defect and the second defect on the display in such a manner that the first defect and the second defect are able to be distinguished from each other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to drawings.

FIG.1is a system configuration diagram of a printed material inspection system according to an exemplary embodiment. The printed material inspection system includes a print server10, a printed material inspection apparatus12, and a printer14. The print server10, the printed material inspection apparatus12, and the printer14are connected to one another through a communication line such that data transmission and reception is performed. The communication line may be wired or wireless and may be a public line or a private line. The communication line is, for example, a local area network (LAN). However, the communication line is not limited to a LAN.

The print server10supplies print data of a print job to the printer14. Furthermore, the print server10generates, in addition to the print data, reference image data based on a rasterization result of the print job, and supplies the reference image data to the printed material inspection apparatus12. Rasterization is well-known processing for generating raster data (image data) by performing rendering based on data of an intermediate format.

The printer14receives the print data from the print server10and performs printing based on the print data on paper. A printed material is discharged from a discharge tray of the printer14. The printer14includes a built-in scanner. The printer14scans a printed material with the built-in scanner to generate scanned image data, and supplies the scanned image data to the printed material inspection apparatus12.

The configuration of the printer14is well known. However, the configuration of the printer14will be described briefly below. The printer14prints an image on a printing medium such as paper on the basis of a job (print job) acquired from the print server10. A print job represents a processing unit of a printing operation instructed by a single printing instruction.

The printer14includes a storage unit, a transport unit, a printing unit, a discharge unit, and a controller. The storage unit has a function for accommodating paper to be supplied to the printing unit and includes a storage tray in which paper is loaded.

The transport unit has a function for transporting paper accommodated in the storage unit to the printing unit. The transport unit includes, for example, a sending roll for sending paper from the storage unit and a pair of transport rolls arranged along a transport path extending from the storage unit to the printing unit.

The printing has a function for printing an image on paper. For example, the printing unit prints an image on paper by an electrophotographic method. That is, the printing unit prints an image on paper going through processes including charging, exposure, development, transfer, and fixing. Furthermore, the printing unit may have a function for transporting reversed paper so that images are printed on both sides of the paper.

The discharge unit is a part to which printed paper is discharged. The discharge unit includes, for example, multiple sections that are arranged vertically. Paper is discharged to a section specified in a print job.

The controller controls operations of the individual units of the printer14. In this exemplary embodiment, the controller controls an operation of the built-in scanner to scan a printed material printed by the printing unit and generate scanned image data for a page set as an inspection target, out of all the pages forming a job, by turning on the operation of the built-in scanner. In contrast, the controller turns off the operation of the built-in scanner and does not generate scanned image data for a page set as a non-inspection target, out of all the pages forming the job. The controller acquires information regarding whether or not a page is an inspection target from a user terminal operated by the user or the print server10. The controller may acquire the information from the printed material inspection apparatus12.

The printed material inspection apparatus12acquires the reference image data from the print server10and the scanned image data from the printer14. The printed material inspection apparatus12detects an abnormality in printing by comparing the reference image data with the scanned image data for a page set as an inspection target out of all the pages forming the print job. The printed material inspection apparatus12displays an inspection result on a display so that the inspection result is notified to the user.

FIG.2is a functional block diagram of the printed material inspection apparatus12. The printed material inspection apparatus12includes, as functional blocks, a reference image input unit16, a scanned image input unit18, a page configuration management unit20, an inspection result comparison unit22, and an inspection result display unit24.

The reference image input unit16inputs reference image data created by the print server10. The reference image input unit16may generate reference image data based on job data acquired from the print server10, that is, based on a rasterization result of a job. The reference image data may be generated by the print server10or the printed material inspection apparatus12.

The scanned image input unit18inputs scanned image data obtained by scanning with the built-in scanner of the printer14.

The page configuration management unit20manages information about pages forming the job, a determination regarding whether or not each of the pages is an inspection target, and an inspection result for each of the pages determined to be an inspection target.

The inspection result comparison unit22compares a reference image with a scanned image for each page and determines whether or not there is an abnormality in a result of printing by the printer14. Abnormalities in printing results include specks in printing and failure in printing. The inspection result comparison unit22notifies the page configuration management unit20of an inspection result and supplies reference image data and scanned image data to the inspection result display unit24.

The inspection result display unit24receives data from the page configuration management unit20, that is, page configuration data and inspection result data, and displays and outputs an inspection result based on the received data. Specifically, the inspection result display unit24displays a scanned image or both a reference image and a scanned image of each page on the basis of page configuration data of a job. In the case where the inspection result indicates that there is an abnormality in printing, the inspection result display unit24highlights a region in a scanned image where the abnormality is detected, so that the user is able to easily recognize the region where the abnormality is detected. Highlighting a region where the abnormality is detected may be, for example, indicating the region using an arrow, displaying the region in a specific color, or surrounding the region in a specific shape or a specific type of line. However, the way of highlighting is not particularly limited.

FIG.3is a configuration block diagram of the printed material inspection apparatus12. The printed material inspection apparatus12includes one or more computers. The printed material inspection apparatus12includes one or more central processing unit (CPUs)12b, a read only memory (ROM)12c, a random access memory (RAM)12d, a communication interface (I/F)12e, a display12f, and a storage device12g.

Each of the one or more CPUs12bimplements various functions by reading a program stored in the ROM12cor the storage device12gand using the RAM12das a working memory. The CPU12bimplements the page configuration management unit20and the inspection result comparison unit22illustrated inFIG.2.

The communication I/F12ereceives reference image data supplied from the print server10and receives scanned image data supplied from the printer14. The communication I/F12eoutputs the received reference image data and scanned image data to the CPU12b.

The display12fincludes a cathode ray tube (CRT) display, a liquid crystal display, an organic electroluminescence (EL) display, or the like. The display12fdisplays a page configuration inspection result acquired from the CPU12band displays a reference image and a scanned image. The dislay12fimplements the inspection result display unit24illustrated inFIG.2.

The storage device12gincludes a nonvolatile memory such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD). The storage device12gstores a program and various image data.

The printed material inspection apparatus12according to this embodiment performs, as a basic operation, an inspection of whether or not there is an abnormality such as specks in a printed material by comparing a reference image acquired from the print server10, that is, a reference image serving as a reference for the inspection created based on a rasterization result of a job, with a scanned image obtained by scanning with the built-in scanner the printed material printed by the printer14, and displays a result of the inspection.

All the pages forming a job output from the printer14are not necessarily set as inspection targets. In cases described below, some pages may be set as non-inspection targets.

Case Where a Printing Target Page Is Set As a Non-Inspection Target by a User

This is because false detection may occur when, in a page using pre-print paper, a pre-print image that is not included in a reference image is recorded in a scanned image. Furthermore, this is because false detection may occur when, in a page using paper that is intentionally provided with a pattern of paper, such as embossed paper, the pattern of the paper is recorded in a scanned image. Furthermore, this is because the user may intentionally exclude a page determined to be unimportant due to the configuration of a job from an inspection target.

Case Where a Blank Page on Which Printing Is Not Performed Due to the Configuration of a Job is Inserted

This is because a blank page used for sorting on which printing is not performed may be inserted for separation between copies of a job. Furthermore, this is because a recovery sheet may be inserted when a paper jam occurs. Furthermore, this is because the rear side of paper is blank when an odd number of pages are printed with double-sided printing.

In contrast, as described above, an inspection of whether or not there is an abnormality such as specks in a printed material is performed for a page set as an inspection target by comparing a reference image acquired from the print server10, that is, a reference image serving as a reference for the inspection created based on a rasterization result of a job, with a scanned image obtained by scanning with the built-in scanner the printed material printed by the printer14, and a result of the inspection is displayed. It is desirable that a plurality of thresholds or inspection levels for determining whether there is an abnormality or defect for each job be set in advance so that a user is able to set a desired threshold or inspection level for the job. This is because a required inspection level may differ depending on the job or the type or purpose of a printed material. For example, while a printed material does not require a very high inspection level, another printed material requires a high inspection level.

However, depending on a set threshold or inspection level, a minute difference that is unable to be recognized by human eyes may be determined to be an abnormality or defect. Thus, an inspection result may become complicated or unnecessary re-printing may be required because the printed material is treated as a defective printed material. Therefore, a threshold or an inspection level used in the inspection system needs to be set to an accuracy close to the accuracy of visual inspection with human eyes.

Thus, the CPU12bin this exemplary embodiment performs inspections of a printed material on the basis of a plurality of thresholds or inspection levels stored in advance in the storage device12g, and switches display on the display12fbetween inspection results for the individual thresholds. More specifically, the CPU12bperforms an inspection of whether or not a defect is present in a printed material in accordance with a preset initial level or a first threshold (first inspection level) set by a user, and automatically performs an inspection of whether or not a defect is present in the printed material in accordance with a second threshold (second inspection level) that is different from the first threshold (first inspection level). Then, the CPU12bdisplays detected defects on the display such that the defects are able to be distinguished from each other.

Hereinafter, specific explanation will be provided below by referring to a threshold or an inspection level as an “inspection level” and an abnormality or a defect as a “defect”.

FIG.4illustrates an example of a plurality of inspection levels used by the CPU12bfor inspections of whether or not a defect is present in a printed material. Information about a defect in a job includes x coordinate, y coordinate, color difference, size, and so on. In this example, color difference and size are used as information about a defect. A plurality of inspection levels are set for combinations of color difference and size. The number of inspection levels is set in a desired manner. In this example, three levels: High, Standard, and Low, are set. The inspection levels have the relationship of High > Standard > Low. At the High level, a minute defect with a small color difference and a small size is determined to be a defect. At the Low level, only a defect with a large color difference and a large size is determined to be a defect.

InFIG.4, a High inspection level30, a Standard inspection level32, and a Low inspection level34are set for combinations of five levels of color difference ranging from 40% to 80% and five levels of size ranging from 0.3 mm to 1.5 mm. For example, a defect with a color difference of 40% and a size of 0.3 mm is recognized as a defect at the High inspection level30but is not recognized as a defect at the Standard inspection level32and the Low inspection level34. Furthermore, a defect with a color difference of 80% and a size of 1.5 mm is recognized as a defect at all the inspection levels30,32, and34.

FIG.5schematically illustrates results of inspections at the three inspection levels illustrated inFIG.4, that is, the High inspection level30, the Standard inspection level32, and the Low inspection level34. InFIG.5, positions at which defects are detected are indicated as rectangular regions.

As the inspection level increases (becomes stricter) in the order of Low, Standard, and High, the number of defects that are detected increases. In contrast, as the inspection level reduces (becomes looser), the number of defects that are detected decreases. At the High inspection level30, many defects40,42, and44are detected. At the Standard inspection level32, the defects40, which are detected at the High inspection level30, are not detected but the defects42and44are detected. At the Low inspection level34, the defects40, which are detected at the High inspection level30, and the defects42, which are detected at the Standard inspection level32, are not detected but only the defect44is detected.

In the case where the preset initial level, that is, the default level, is High or in the case where the High level is set by a user, the CPU12bdetects the defects40,42, and44, and displays the detected defects40,42, and44on the display12f. However, as illustrated inFIG.5, because the many defects40,42, and44are detected and displayed at the High level, display is complicated. Thus, defects that are to be definitely confirmed by visual inspection with human eyes, for example, the defects42, may be obscured by the defects40and overlooked. In particular, as illustrated inFIG.5, if many defects40are present around the defects42or are superimposed on the defects42, the defects42are highly likely to be overlooked.

In such a case, by changing the inspection level from High to Standard, the defects40are not detected. Thus, the presence of the defects42, which are to be definitely confirmed by visual inspection with human eyes, becomes clear.

Thus, even in the case where a preset initial level, that is, the default level, is High or even in the case where the High level is set by the user, the CPU12bautomatically performs an inspection at the Standard inspection level concurrently with or subsequently to the inspection at High level, and stores the result of the inspection that has been automatically performed into the storage device12gor the RAM12d. Then, the CPU12bpromptly displays the inspection result on the display12fin accordance with an operation by the user for changing the inspection level. In other words, the CPU12bautomatically performs, in the background, an inspection at an inspection level different from the set inspection level, stores the result of the inspection, and displays, in accordance with a changing operation by the user, the result obtained by the inspection that has been automatically performed.

In the case where the preset initial level, that is, the default level, is High or in the case where the High level is set by the user, the CPU12bmay automatically perform an inspection at the Standard inspection level and an inspection at the Low inspection level concurrently with or subsequently to the inspection at the High level and store the results of the inspections that have been automatically performed into the storage device12gor the RAM12d. This is because the case where the user performs an operation for changing the inspection level from High to Standard and further to Low may be expected.

FIG.6schematically illustrates other results of inspections at the three inspection levels illustrated inFIG.4, that is, the High inspection level30, the Standard inspection level32, and the Low inspection level34. InFIG.6, a position where a defect is detected is indicated as a rectangular region.

In the case where the preset initial level, that is, the default level, is Standard or Low or in the case where the Standard level or the Low level is set by the user, the CPU12bdetects no defect in a printed material and no display is made on the display12f. However, a defect may be potentially present and a defect that needs to be confirmed by visual inspection with human eyes may be present.

Thus, even in the case where the preset initial level, that is, the default level, is Standard or Low or even in the case where the Standard level or the Low level is set by the user, the CPU12bautomatically performs an inspection at the High inspection level concurrently with or subsequently to the inspection at the Standard level or the Low level, and stores the result of the inspection that has been automatically performed into the storage device12gor the RAM12d. Then, the CPU12bpromptly displays the inspection result on the display12fin accordance with an operation by the user for changing the inspection level. When the inspection level is changed to High, the defect40, which is not detected by the inspection at the Standard level or the Low level, is detected, and the detected defect40is displayed on the display12f. Finally, the user is able to confirm normality or abnormality by confirming the defect40by visual inspection with eyes.

FIG.7schematically illustrates other results of inspections at the three inspection levels illustrated inFIG.4, that is, the High inspection level30, the Standard inspection level32, and the Low inspection level34. InFIG.7, positions where defects are detected are indicated by rectangular regions. A job includes multiple pages, and inspection results for the first page and the second page among the multiple pages are illustrated inFIG.7.

At the High inspection level, the defect40is detected in the first page, the defects40and42are detected in the second page, and the detected defects are displayed on the display12f. At the Standard inspection level, no defect is detected in the first page, the defects42are detected in the second page, and the detected defects are displayed on the display12f. At the Low inspection level, no defect is detected in the first and second pages, and no defect is displayed on the display12f.

Provided that the defects42are defects that are to be detected, the defects42are unable to be detected at the Low level but are able to be detected at the Standard level and the High level. The lowest inspection level at which all the defects42to be detected are able to be detected is the Standard level.

Thus, regardless of which level is set as the preset initial level, that is, the default level, or set by the user, the CPU12bautomatically performs inspections at the three inspection levels, that is, the High level, the Standard level, and the Low level, concurrently with or subsequently to the inspection at the preset initial level or the level set by the user, and stores the results of the inspections that have been automatically performed into the storage device12gor the RAM12d. Then, the CPU12bdisplays the lowest inspection level at which a defect that is to be detected is able to be detected as the optimal inspection level on the display12f. In this case, the CPU12bdisplays the inspection result for the Standard level on the display12fin accordance with an operation by the user for changing the inspection level to the optimal inspection level.

FIG.8is a flowchart of a process according to an exemplary embodiment. The process is performed when the CPU12bexecutes a program.

First, the CPU12bperforms an inspection at a preset initial level, that is, the default level, or an inspection level set by a user, and displays a result of the inspection on the display12f(S101). Concurrently with this processing, the CPU12bautomatically performs an inspection at an inspection level that is different from the preset initial level or the inspection level set by the user, and stores a result of the inspection into the storage device12gor the RAM12d.

Then, the CPU12bdetermines whether or not the user has performed an operation for changing the inspection level (S102). In the case where the user has performed the changing operation (YES in S102), the CPU12bnotifies the print server10of the change of the inspection level (S103).

In the case where the user has not performed an operation for changing the inspection level (NO in S102) or after the CPU12bnotifies the print server10of the change in accordance with the operation by the user for changing the inspection level, the CPU12bdetermines whether or not the inspection result is to be changed (S104).

In the case where the user has performed an operation for changing the inspection result, the CPU12bdisplays a changed inspection result in accordance with the changing operation by the user, and the determination result in S104is “YES”. The CPU12bnotifies the print server10that the inspection result has been changed (S105).

Next, the CPU12bdetermines whether or not the inspection result at the changed inspection level indicates absence of a defect (S106). Then, the CPU12bsupplies a control signal corresponding to presence or absence of a defect to the print server10to control a printing operation at the printer14. That is, in the case where there is no defect (YES in S106), the CPU12bsupplies a control signal indicating that a printed material is normal to the print server10. The print server10treats the inspection target job as being normal and continues the printing operation (S107). In contrast, in the case where there is a defect in the inspection result at the changed inspection level (NO in S106), the CPU12bsupplies a control signal indicating that there is a defect in the printed material to the print server10. The print server10treats the target inspection job as an error (S108).

In the case where a job is treated as an error when there is a defect in the job, the job is basically suspended. However, the user may be able to set a condition for the suspension, an operation after the suspension, and the like. For example, the proportion of the number of defective pages to the number of total pages may be set as a condition for suspension, error processing may be performed or an operation by the user may be waited for as an operation after the suspension, or insertion of a recovery sheet or offsetting with a resumption sheet may be performed as offsetting at the time when a defect occurs. The CPU12bsupplies a control signal corresponding to the presence of a defect to the print server10in accordance with the condition mentioned above. The print server10performs error processing in accordance with the condition set by the user.

Furthermore, inspection results described below may be obtained from inspections at a plurality of inspection levels:(a) Case where a defect is detected at an inspection level set in advance for a job,(b) Case where no defect is detected at an inspection level set in advance for a job but a defect is detected at a different inspection level, and(c) Case where no defect is detected at any inspection level.

In the cases (a) and (b) out of the cases (a) to (c) described above, an inspection result at a different inspection level is displayed on the display12fin accordance with an operation by the user. However, no detection result would need to be displayed for the case (c). Even in the case (c), the CPU12bmay display a notification indicating that there is no display of an inspection result on the display12fso that the user is notified.

When an inspection result at a different inspection level is displayed in accordance with an operation by the user, there may be cases (d) to (f):(d) the inspection result is not changed,(e) the inspection result is changed from “presence of a defect” to “absence of a defect”, and(f) the inspection result is changed from “absence of a defect” to “presence of a defect”.

In the cases (e) and (f), the inspection level set in advance for the job is highly required to be changed. Thus, it is desirable that the CPU12bnotify the print server10of the changed inspection level.

Next, specific examples of screens displayed on the display12fin an exemplary embodiment will be described.

FIG.9is a display screen for an inspection result in the case where inspection level is set to High. On the display screen for the inspection result displayed on the display12f, an inspection level input field50for setting an inspection level and a checkbox52for setting whether or not an inspection target page is regarded as being defective are displayed. In the inspection level input field50, a pull-down menu including “High”, “Standard”, “Low”, and “Optimal” is displayed, so that the user is able to select any one of the inspection levels. InFIG.9, an example of the screen for the case where the user has selected “High” is displayed. At the center of the screen, a reference image60serving as a reference for an inspection created based on a rasterization result of a job and a scanned image62obtained by scanning with the built-in scanner a printed material printed by the printer14are displayed in parallel. InFIG.9, the reference image60for the second page out of multiple pages forming the job and the scanned image62corresponding to the reference image60are displayed. Within the scanned image62, positions of the defects40and42detected by the inspection at the inspection level “High” are indicated as rectangular regions.

Furthermore, in a left part of the screen, an inspection result display field54for each of the multiple pages forming the job is displayed. A mark56is displayed such that presence or absence of a defect in each page is able to be identified. That is, in the case where a defect is detected in the second page, the mark56indicating a defect is displayed for the second page.

The CPU12bperforms an inspection at the inspection level “High”, and at the same time, automatically performs inspections at the inspection levels “Standard”, “Low”, and “Optimal” and stores results of the inspections into the storage device12gor the RAM12d. “Optimal” represents the lowest inspection level at which a defect with the lowest “color difference” and lowest “size” set in advance by the user is able to be detected.

FIG.10illustrates a display screen for an inspection result for the case where the user has changed the inspection level from “High” on the screen illustrated inFIG.9to “Standard”. At the center of the screen, the reference image60serving as a reference for the inspection created based on the rasterization result of the job and the scanned image62obtained by scanning with the built-in scanner the printed material printed by the printer14are displayed in parallel. Within the scanned image62, positions of the defects42detected by the inspection at the inspection level “Standard” are indicated as rectangular regions. Furthermore, in a left part of the screen, the inspection result display field54for each of the multiple pages forming the job is displayed, and the mark56is displayed such that presence or absence of a defect in each page is able to be identified.

In the case where the user has determined, by visually checking the inspection result for the inspection level “High” and the inspection result for the inspection level “Standard”, that the defects40and42displayed for the inspection level “High” are complicated and the inspection result at the inspection level “High” is thus not appropriate and that the defects42are able to be clearly visually recognized at the inspection level “Standard” and defects are thus clearly present, the user ticks the checkbox52“Regard this page as being defective”. Thus, it is confirmed that defects are present in the second page as an inspection target. The CPU12bnotifies the print server10of the inspection level “Standard”, which is used for this inspection, and information indicating that defects are present in the second page.

Because out of the defects40and42illustrated in inFIGS.9and10, the defects40and42are defects that are detected at the “High” inspection level and the defects42are defects that are detected at the “Standard” inspection level, it is desirable that the CPU12bdisplay the defects40and42such that they are able to be distinguished from each other inFIGS.9and10. For example, the defects40are displayed in red, and the defects42are displayed in yellow.

Furthermore, inFIG.10, in the case where the checkbox52“Regard this page as being defective” is ticked for the inspection level “Standard”, it is suitable that the mark56for the inspection result for the inspection level “High” is able to be identified by, for example, displaying the mark56in gray or changing the shape or color of the mark56.

FIG.11illustrates a display screen for an inspection result for the case where the user has changed the inspection level from “High” on the screen illustrated inFIG.9to “Optimal”. At the center of the screen, the reference image60serving as a reference for the inspection created based on the rasterization result of the job and the scanned image62obtained by scanning with the built-in scanner the printed material printed by the printer14are displayed in parallel. Within the scanned image62, positions of the defects42detected by the inspection at the inspection level “Optimal” are indicated as rectangular regions. Furthermore, in a left part of the screen, the inspection result display field54for each of the multiple pages forming the job is displayed, and the mark56is displayed such that presence or absence of a defect in each page is able to be identified.

In the case where the user has determined, by visually checking the inspection result for the inspection level “High” and the inspection result for the inspection level “Optimal”, that the defects40and42displayed for the inspection level “High” are complicated and the inspection result at the inspection level “High” is thus not appropriate and that the defects42are able to be clearly visually recognized at the inspection level “Optimal” and defects are thus clearly present, the user ticks the checkbox52“Regard this page as being defective”. Thus, it is confirmed that defects are present in the second page as an inspection target. The CPU12bnotifies the print server10of the inspection level “Optimal”, which is used for this inspection, and information indicating that defects are present in the second page.

InFIG.11, the inspection level “Optimal” is the same as the inspection level “Standard”. Thus, the inspection result screens inFIGS.10and11are the same. Obviously, however, the inspection level “Optimal” may be the same as the inspection level “Low”.

In the case where the user has performed an operation for changing the inspection level from “High” to “Standard”, when the user visually recognizes the inspection result for the inspection level “Standard” and closes the inspection screen, the CPU12bmay display a message for confirming whether or not to change the default inspection level for the job on the display12f.

For example, in the case where the user has performed an operation for closing the inspection result screen, a confirmation message “Do you wish to change the inspection level set for Job XX from High to Standard?” and selection buttons “YES” and “NO” are displayed on the display12fin accordance with the operation by the user. When the user operates the “YES” button, the CPU12bnotifies the print server10of information indicating that the default inspection level for the job will be changed to “Standard”.

As described above, according to this exemplary embodiment, the printed material inspection apparatus12performs an inspection at a preset inspection level, and at the same time, automatically performs an inspection at an inspection level that is different from the preset inspection level and stores the result of the inspection. Then, the printed material inspection apparatus12displays the inspection result in accordance with an operation by a user. Thus, a printed material that is determined to be defective by the inspection at the preset inspection level may be regarded as being non-defective and does not require re-printing.

Furthermore, a result of a stricter inspection of a printed material that has once been inspected at a looser inspection level is able to be obtained easily. If there is an issue in the result of the stricter inspection, it may be determined, if necessary, that there is a defect.

Thus, according to this exemplary embodiment, the range of inspection level used for the printed material inspection apparatus12may be widened, and adjustment (tuning) of the inspection level is simplified. Furthermore, by changing the inspection level or inspection result of a job and notifying the change to the print server10, re-printing of the job may be reduced.

The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described above, and various modifications may be made.

In an exemplary embodiment described above, a user selects and sets an inspection level from among “High”, “Standard”, and “Low”, (and “Optimal”) that are incorporated in advance in the system. However, the user may be able to adjust and set an inspection level in a desired manner.

FIG.12illustrates another example of a plurality of inspection levels used by the CPU12bfor performing inspections of whether or not a defect is present in a printed material.FIG.12corresponds toFIG.4. Although the three levels, the High inspection level30, the Standard inspection level32, and the Low inspection level34, are set in advance as inspection levels, the user is further able to set an inspection level in a desired manner, in addition to the three inspection levels. InFIG.12, as a range of the combination of color and size, a Customized inspection level36is added. The Customized inspection level36is stricter in terms of color difference and looser in terms of size than the Low inspection level34. The user is able to set the Customized inspection level36in a desired range for the combination of color difference and size.

Instead of the combination of color difference and size, other indices may be used for setting the Customized inspection level36. For example, by taking into consideration the degree of defect and setting the number of defects that are detected at the “High” inspection level to 100%, an inspection level at which a certain percentage of the number of defects that are detected at the “High” inspection level is detected may be set as the Customized inspection level36. The user is able to set a desired Customized inspection level36by specifying what percentage of the total defects the user wants to detect.

FIG.13illustrates an example of a screen for the case where the user sets a customized inspection level. When “Customize” is set for the input field50for the inspection level, an input field58for a defect extraction percentage is displayed, and a defect extraction percentage for the entire job is input. For example, the user sets the defect extraction percentage to “10%”.

At the center of the screen, a table70of the combination of color difference and size and a rectangular region72indicating an inspection level corresponding to the defect extraction percentage of “10%” are displayed. An inspection level at which the degree of defect is 10% when the number of defects that are detected at the “High” inspection level is set to 100%, is calculated by an arithmetic operation.

FIG.14illustrates an example of a screen for an inspection result for the case where an inspection is performed at the Customized inspection level illustrated inFIG.13. At the center of the screen, the reference image60serving as a reference for the inspection created based on the rasterization result of the job and the scanned image62obtained by scanning with the built-in scanner the printed material printed by the printer14are displayed in parallel. Within the scanned image62, positions of the defects40and42detected by the inspection at the inspection level “Customize” are indicated as rectangular regions. Furthermore, in a left part of the screen, the inspection result display field54for each of the multiple pages forming the job is displayed, and the mark56is displayed such that presence or absence of a defect in each page is able to be identified.

When the user visually recognizes the inspection result screen, ticks the checkbox52, and performs an operation for closing the screen, the CPU12bdisplays a confirmation message “Do you wish to change the inspection level set for Job XX to Customize?” and selection buttons “YES” and “NO” on the display12fin accordance with the operation by the user. When the user operates the “YES” button, the CPU12bnotifies the print server10of information indicating that the default inspection level for the job will be changed to “Customize”.

In an exemplary embodiment described above, in the case where the default inspection level or the inspection level set by the user is “Low”, an inspection at the inspection level “Standard” or “High” is automatically performed concurrently with or subsequently to the inspection at the default inspection level or the inspection level set by the user and a result of the inspection that has been automatically performed is stored in the storage device12gor the RAM12d. In the case where the user ticks the checkbox52for the default inspection level or the inspection level set by the user, a defect is detected also in “Standard” or “High”. Thus, the CPU12bdoes not necessarily display the inspection result at the inspection level “Standard” or “High” on the display12f.

In an exemplary embodiment, in the case where the CPU12bperforms inspections at four inspection levels, “High”, “Standard”, “Low”, and “optimal, the degree of defect at each of the four inspection levels when the number of defects that are detected at the “High” inspection level is set to 100%, may be calculated and displayed on the display12f.

For example, the degree of defect is set as described below:“High” inspection level: 100%,“Standard” inspection level: 20%,“Low” inspection level: 5%, and“Optimal” inspection level: 10%.

FIG.15illustrates an example of a screen for the case described above. The degree of defect detected by an inspection at an inspection level is displayed as a defect extraction percentage51in a region below the input field50for the inspection level. The user is able to set an inspection level suitable for the job by referencing the degree of defect at each of the inspection levels.