US 2007/0175912 A1 · SHEET SORTING METHOD AND APPARATUS

Abstract

Disclosed is a sheet sorting method in which, on paper sheets each with a plurality of identical patterns printed thereon side by side in a longitudinal direction and in a lateral direction, a quality of the patterns thereof is inspected; in a case where the quality of the patterns on the sheets in all of groups into which the plurality of patterns are grouped is determined to be non-defective, these paper sheets are discharged to non-defective sheet discharge locations; in a case where a defect is determined to exist among the patterns in only one of the groups on each of the sheets, these paper sheets are discharged to single-column defective discharge locations (single-group defective sheet discharge locations); and in a case where defects are determined to exist among the patterns in a plurality of groups on each of the sheets, these paper sheets are discharged to plural-group defective discharge locations.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A sheet sorting method, in which sheets, each of which with a plurality of patterns, printed thereon are inspected with respect to a printing quality of the patterns, and in which the sheets are sorted and discharged on the basis of results of the inspections, the method comprising:

sorting into and discharging the sheets as:
non-defective sheets on which all of the patterns are determined as non-defectives;
single-group defective sheets each determined to have a defective pattern only in one of a plurality of groups formed by grouping the plurality of patterns into the plurality of groups;
and plural-group defective sheets each determined to have a defective pattern in each of at least two groups out of the plurality of groups into which the plurality of patterns are grouped.

1 more element

A sheet sorting apparatus which inspects, by use of an inspection device, sheets each with a plurality of patterns printed thereon, with respect to a printing quality of the patterns, and which sorts and discharges the sheets on the basis of results of the inspections, the apparatus comprising:

discharge means which discharges the sheets inspected by the inspection device;
and
control means which controls the discharge means on the basis of the results of the inspection so that the discharge means is allowed to sort out, and discharge the sheets as:
non-defective sheets on which all of the patterns are determined as non-defectives;
single-group defective sheets each determined to have a defective pattern only in one of a plurality of groups formed by grouping the plurality of patterns into the plurality of groups;
and plural-group defective sheets each determined to have a defective pattern in each of at least two groups out of the plurality of groups into which the plurality of patterns are grouped.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sheet sorting method and apparatus

Life of this patent

Sheet sorting method and apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26