A method of performing error notification and error recovery functions in an image forming apparatus includes detecting by one or more sub-processors an error of a main processor for controlling the sub-processors; controlling an interface function of the image forming apparatus if the error is detected; outputting information about the detected error; and recovering the detected error by controlling an operation of the main processor.

According to the present disclosure, an image-processing apparatus acquires scan information of the read images read by the image-reading apparatus, generates temporal change data based on the statistical information and the scan information, determines whether the temporal change data satisfy a threshold, and outputs notice information when the temporal change data are determined as failing to satisfy the threshold.

Provided are image inspection method and apparatus, and an ink jet printing apparatus that can highly accurately detect a stripe defect. An inspection image obtained by an imaging device imaging a printed matter printed by an ink jet printing apparatus including a line head is acquired. Each of at least one non-scanning direction linear structural element that is a linear structural element in a direction not parallel to a direction of scanning by the line head relative to a medium is used to execute morphology processing of a grayscale image to thereby smooth the inspection image to create a first smoothed inspection image (S22, S24). A stripe defect extending in the scanning direction is detected by using at least (1) one of the inspection image and a second smoothed inspection image created based on the inspection image and (2) the first smoothed inspection image.

An image reading device includes: a scanner glass; photo-sensors arranged at intervals in a main scanning direction to read a document conveyed in a sub-scanning direction; an adjuster that adjusts the size of an overlapping area between a first and second image obtained by neighboring photo-sensors, the overlapping area constituting a first area of the first image and a second area of the second image; a superimposing portion that shifts either one of images of the first and second area to the other one; a judgment portion that judges whether the images having different focal depths exist based on the degree of matching between the first and second area; and a detector that detects a foreign body on the scanner glass platen by detecting a continuous image stretching in a document conveying direction in both of the images having different focal depths, if the images having different focal depths exist.

There is provided with an information processing apparatus. A first obtaining unit obtains data of a reference image indicating a target of printing output to be performed by a printing apparatus. A second obtaining unit obtains data of an image printed by the printing apparatus. A correcting unit corrects a local image density difference or the reference image based on a global image density difference between the reference image and the printed image. An evaluating unit evaluates quality of the printed image based on the local image density difference between the corrected reference image and the printed image.

An electronic device that checks a connected state of a signal line is provided. The electronic device includes a controller configured to transmit a check signal and at least one module configured to include a closed loop and receive the check signal. When the controller receives the check signal through the closed loop, the controller determines that the at least one module is connected to the controller.

A lighting device (23) irradiates a web under conveyance with light. The lighting device includes a light source (43), and an irradiation port (61) configured to open linearly in a widthwise direction of the web at an end portion facing the web. The irradiation port (61) is formed between first and second parallel portions (62b, 63b) where a first plate member (62) and a second plate member (63) parallelly face each other. The web under conveyance is irradiated with linear light. It is possible to provide a lighting device capable of irradiating only an inspection region of a sheet or a web with light.

A chart includes a plurality of area images. Each area image of the plurality of area images includes a figure. The figure indicates positional information of each area image of the plurality of area images in the chart. An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device configured to form an image on a sheet to create the chart, and an image reading device configured to read the image in the chart.

As set forth herein, methods and systems for automated image defect detection. An input image is subjected to skew detection and contaminant detection. Upon detection of skew of and/or contaminants in the image data, correction data, including indicia of the contaminants/skew, correction angles and directions are calculated and displayed on an electronic representation of the document. Automatic correction may then be performed to correct the detected defects, allow the defects to remain, or re-scan the original document to generate new image data without the detected defects.

A position of a first registration mark printed on a substrate during an earlier printing operation is detected. A second registration mark is printed on the substrate during a current printing operation at a position on the substrate relative to the first registration mark based on the detected position of the first registration mark and a correction factor. An alignment difference between the position of the first registration mark and the position of the second registration mark is measured. A new correction factor for a subsequent printing operation is calculated by weighting the measured alignment difference according to a difference between the measured alignment difference and a previous measured alignment difference.