Image inspection apparatus, image recording apparatus, and image inspection method

An image recording apparatus comprising:

• an image recording part that performs non-plate image recording on a recording medium;
• and
• an image inspection apparatus for inspecting a recorded image in parallel with the image recording performed by said image recording part,
• said image inspection apparatus including:
• an image pickup part that acquires an inspection image by capturing the recorded image;
• a first accumulation part that obtains a reference accumulated value distribution by accumulating values of pixels in a reference image that are arranged in a predetermined image recording direction, said reference accumulated value distribution being a distribution of accumulated values in a direction that is perpendicular to said image recording direction, and said reference image being generated in accordance with data used in the image recording;
• a second accumulation part that obtains an inspection accumulated value distribution by accumulating values of pixels in said inspection image that are arranged in said image recording direction, said inspection accumulated value distribution being a distribution of accumulated values in the direction perpendicular to said image recording direction;
• a sensitivity correction part that performs sensitivity correction processing on at least one of said inspection accumulated value distribution and said reference accumulated value distribution;
• and
• a comparison part that compares said inspection accumulated value distribution and said reference accumulated value distribution after said sensitivity correction processing,
• wherein said sensitivity correction part performs, on at least one of said inspection accumulated value distribution and said reference accumulated value distribution, sensitivity correction in which a local peak in said inspection accumulated value distribution is removed based on surrounding accumulated values, and then, based on a difference between said inspection accumulated value distribution and said reference accumulated value distribution or a ratio between said inspection accumulated value distribution and said reference accumulated value distribution, a plurality of accumulated values other than said local peak in said inspection accumulated value distribution are corrected so as to relatively approach a plurality of corresponding accumulated values in said reference accumulated value distribution.

An image inspection method for inspecting an image recorded on a recording medium, comprising the steps of:

• a) acquiring an inspection image by capturing a recorded image;
• b) obtaining a reference accumulated value distribution by accumulating values of pixels in a reference image that are arranged in a predetermined image recording direction, said reference accumulated value distribution being a distribution of accumulated values in a direction that is perpendicular to said image recording direction, and said reference image being generated in accordance with data used in image recording;
• c) obtaining an inspection accumulated value distribution by accumulating values of pixels in said inspection image that are arranged in said image recording direction, said inspection accumulated value distribution being a distribution of accumulated values in the direction perpendicular to said image recording direction;
• d) performing sensitivity correction processing on at least one of said inspection accumulated value distribution and said reference accumulated value distribution;
• and
• e) comparing said inspection accumulated value distribution and said reference accumulated value distribution after said step d),
• wherein said step d) includes the steps of:
• d1) removing a local peak in said inspection accumulated value distribution based on surrounding accumulated values;
• and
• d2) performing, on at least one of said inspection accumulated value distribution and said reference accumulated value distribution, sensitivity correction in which a plurality of accumulated values other than said local peak in said inspection accumulated value distribution are corrected so as to relatively approach a plurality of corresponding accumulated values in said reference accumulated value distribution, based on a difference between said inspection accumulated value distribution and said reference accumulated value distribution or a ratio between said inspection accumulated value distribution and said reference accumulated value distribution.