Testing method and apparatus for judging a printing device on the basis of a test pattern recorded on a recording medium by the printing device

A testing apparatus for testing a printing device on the basis of a test pattern recorded on a recording medium by the printing device, said apparatus comprising:

• holding means for holding the printing device;
• driving means for driving the printing device held at a recording position by said holding means to record the test pattern on the recording medium;
• moving means for moving the recording medium relative to the printing device when the test pattern is printed;
• measurement means for measuring the test pattern recorded on the recording medium at a predetermined measurement position, said measurement means measuring the test pattern while said measurement means is moved relative to the recording medium on a reciprocating basis;
• release means for releasing the printing device from the holding condition by said holding means after the printing device records the test pattern;
• and
• processing means for obtaining test data for judging the printing device by means of practicing a predetermined operation processing of image data of the test pattern measured by said measurement means.

A testing method of testing a printing device on the basis of a test pattern recorded on a recording medium by the printing device which is adapted to record a dot image, said method comprising the steps of:

• forming the test pattern consisting of a plurality of dot images in which the dot images are arranged so as not to contact each other on the recording medium, using the printing device to be tested;
• picking up an image of the test pattern formed in the forming step with an image pick-up device, and converting the picked up image into image data;
• extracting a plurality of amounts of dot characters each representing at least one of a dot pattern and dot shape or size from the image data obtained in the image pick-up step;
• calculating pattern estimated values representing a state of the test pattern according to the dot character amounts in units of dots obtained in the extracting step;
• judging, using the pattern estimated values obtained in the calculating step, whether or not the printing device to be tested is normal;
• and
• informing of a discrimination result determined in the judging step.

A testing apparatus for testing a printing device on the basis of a test pattern recorded on a recording medium by the printing device which is adapted to record a dot image, said apparatus comprising:

• image input means for picking up an image of the test pattern on the recording medium consisting of a plurality of dots printed by the printing device to be tested, in which dots are arranged so as not to contact each other, and for converting the picked up image into image data;
• character amount extracting means for extracting an amount of dot character representing at least one of a dot pattern and dot shape or size of each dot based on the image data obtained from said image input means;
• and
• pattern estimated value calculation means for calculating pattern estimated values representing a state of the test pattern according to the dot character amounts in units of dots, which dot character amounts are extracted by said character amount extracting means,
• wherein said apparatus determines whether the printing device to be tested is normal, using the pattern estimated value.

A testing method of testing a printing device on the basis of a test pattern recorded on a recording medium by the printing device, said method comprising the steps of:

• forming the test pattern on the recording medium using a printing device to be estimated;
• picking up an image of the test pattern formed in the forming step using an image pick-up device, and storing density image data obtained by said image pick-up device;
• generating a first edge image based on the density image data obtained in the image pick-up step;
• performing enlargement/reduction processing of the first edge image obtained in the first edge image generating step to generate a second edge image;
• performing edge extraction processing of the second edge image obtained in the enlargement/reduction performing step to generate a third edge image;
• extracting shape character values in units of areas separated by edge lines in the third edge image;
• and
• determining, based on the shape character values, whether or not the printing device to be tested is normal.

A testing method of testing a printing device on the basis of a test pattern recorded on a recording medium by the printing device, said method comprising the steps of:

• forming the test pattern in which straight lines are aligned at regular intervals on the recording medium by the printing device to be tested;
• picking up an image of the test pattern formed in the forming step using an image pick-up device;
• storing density image data obtained by said image pick-up device in the image pick-up step;
• generating one-dimensional average density data in a line direction of the pattern on the basis of the density image data stored in the storing step;
• measuring a line width on the basis of the average density data obtained in the generating step;
• and
• determining, based on the line width measured in the measuring step, whether or not the printing device to be tested is normal.

A testing apparatus for testing a printing device on the basis of a test pattern recorded on a recording medium by the printing device, said apparatus comprising:

• image pick-up means for reading the test pattern drawn by a printing device to be tested;
• storage means for storing density image data corresponding to the test pattern output from said image pick-up means;
• first edge extraction means for generating first edge image on the basis of the density image data;
• processing means for generating a second edge image by performing enlargement/reduction processing for the first edge image generated by said first edge extraction means;
• second edge extraction means for generating a third edge image by performing edge extraction processing for the second edge image generated by said processing means;
• and
• calculation means for calculating shape character values in units of areas separated by edge lines in the third edge image generated by said second edge extraction means,
• wherein whether or not the printing device to be estimated is normal is determined on the basis of the shape character values.

A test apparatus for testing a printing device on the basis of a test pattern recorded on a recording medium by the printing device, said apparatus comprising:

• image pick-up means for reading a test pattern drawn by the printing device to be tested;
• storage means for storing density image data corresponding to the test pattern output from said image pick-up means;
• and
• processing means for obtaining one-dimensional average density data from the density image data stored in said storage means, and obtaining data associated with a line width on the basis of the average density data,
• wherein whether or not the printing device to be tested is normal is determined on the basis of the data associated with the line width.

A testing method of testing a printing device on the basis of a test pattern recorded on a recording medium by the printing device, said method comprising the steps of:

• setting the printing device;
• recording the test pattern on the recording medium by the printing device set in the printing device setting step;
• measuring the test pattern recorded on the recording medium in the recording step;
• generating data for estimation of the printing device on the basis of a measurement result in the measuring step;
• releasing the printing device from the setting condition thereof after the test pattern is recorded;
• and
• setting another printing device during execution of said measuring step after execution of said release step.

A testing method of testing a printing device on the basis of a test pattern recorded on a recording medium by the printing device, said method comprising the steps of:

• setting the printing device;
• recording the test pattern on the recording medium while the printing device set in the printing device setting step is moved relative to the recording medium;
• reading the test pattern recorded on the recording medium while image reading means is moved on a reciprocating basis relative to the recording medium;
• releasing the printing device from the setting condition thereof after the test pattern is recorded;
• and
• obtaining estimation data for testing of the printing device by effecting a predetermined operation processing of image data read in the reading step.