Device for processing printing defects detected in a printing machine

A device (51) for processing printing defects detected in a printing machine which, in a first phase, delivers a printed product (37) starting from a support (1) which, once printed, comprises a number of reference markers (14) attached at rigorously regular intervals and also comprises a mosaic of patterns (5) constituting packaging material disposed in one or more adjacent rows or tracks (11, 12, 13) together with printing defects (20, 21, 22) which are detected during the advance of the support (1) in a detection station (33) for displaying and locating the positions of the printing defects (20, 21, 22) by using a Cartesian reference system applying to the support (1), the processing device (51) being connected to a database (47) connected to the detection station (33) capable of simultaneously storing information relating to each detected printing defect, the device being characterised in that it is connected to the database (47) in order, in a second phase, to process the stored information in order to evaluate the quality of overall printing of the printed product (37) and, before cutting the support (1) in a third phase, to define all those portions (23) thereof which should be removed in order to improve the final quality of the printed product (37).