JP2008173869A - Image processing apparatus and test controlling method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve detectability of abnormality and to efficiently detect the abnormality. <P>SOLUTION: An multi-function peripheral (MFP) 1 performs print-output of an image to be printed in a printer part 3, and a non-volatile memory 12 stores a plurality of kinds of test images for confirming the image condition of the image print-outputted. A main body controlling part 11 selects any one or a plurality of the test images among a plurality of the kinds of the test images stored, and the selected test image is print-outputted by the printer part 3 by an outputting condition in accordance with the kind of the selected test image. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that prints out a test image in order to confirm an image state, and a test control method that performs print output control of the test image.

In a printer, a copier, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine of these (hereinafter referred to as an image processing apparatus), the image state may fluctuate during print output. For example, density reduction, density unevenness, noise generation, and the like can be mentioned. These are caused by abnormalities occurring in the image processing apparatus such as wear of parts of the image processing apparatus and fluctuations in image processing conditions. Conventionally, when a large amount of print output is performed continuously, a test image is periodically printed out to prevent a large amount of print defects from occurring due to such image state fluctuations. It is comprised so that a state can be confirmed (for example, refer patent document 1). At this time, an efficient method of outputting a test image during continuous printing without interrupting print output has been considered (for example, see Patent Documents 2 and 3).
JP-A-8-197779 JP 2004-28423 A JP 2005-153374 A

  As described above, there are various items to be confirmed depending on the image state, such as density reproducibility, density unevenness, noise, character / line drawing reproducibility, etc. is there. Nevertheless, conventionally, the image state is determined using the same test image. In this case, a certain abnormality is easy to detect, but it may be difficult to detect a certain abnormality, and the abnormality may not be sufficiently detected depending on the type.

  Also, the occurrence cycle of the abnormality varies depending on the type of abnormality. However, in the past, since the test image print output cycle was also a fixed condition, the test image may not be printed out at a time when anomalies are likely to occur, resulting in low detectability and efficient detection. That wasn't true.

  An object of the present invention is to improve abnormality detectability and efficiently perform abnormality detection.

The invention described in claim 1
In an image processing apparatus including a printer unit that prints an image and a storage unit that stores a test image for confirming an image state.
The storage unit stores a plurality of types of test images,
Select one or a plurality of test images from the plurality of stored test images, and select the selected test image under an output condition according to the type of the selected test image. A main body control unit for outputting an image by the printer unit is provided.

The invention according to claim 2 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
The test image is an image created corresponding to each type of abnormality to be detected.

The invention according to claim 3 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The test image includes a band-shaped image arranged on a diagonal line of the print range.

The invention according to claim 4 is the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The main body control unit causes the test image to be output during print output of the image to be printed, and outputs the test image to be discharged to a different discharge destination from the image to be printed. Control is performed.

The invention according to claim 5 is the image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The output condition is an output cycle of the test image set for each abnormal species to be detected by the test image,
The main body control unit prints out the selected test image for each output cycle set for the selected test image.

The invention according to claim 6 is a test control method,
Select one or a plurality of test images from among a plurality of types of test images for confirming the image state, and select the selected image under an output condition corresponding to the type of the selected test image. It includes a control step of printing out a test image by a printer unit.

The invention according to claim 7 is the test control method according to claim 6,
The test image is an image created corresponding to each type of abnormality to be detected.

The invention according to claim 8 is the test control method according to claim 6 or 7,
The test image includes a band-shaped image arranged on a diagonal line of the print range.

The invention according to claim 9 is the test control method according to any one of claims 6 to 8,
In the control step, during the print output of the image to be printed, the output of the test image is output, and the output control is performed so that the test image is discharged to a different discharge destination from the image to be printed. It is characterized by performing.

The invention according to claim 10 is the test control method according to any one of claims 6 to 9,
The output condition is an output cycle of the test image set for each abnormal species to be detected by the test image,
In the control step, printout of the selected test image is performed for each output cycle set for the selected test image.

  According to the first, second, fifth, sixth, seventh and tenth aspects of the present invention, a plurality of types of test images can be used for confirming the image state after print output, and for each test. Can be output under the output conditions according to the image. As a result, it is possible to perform a test output in accordance with a period in which an abnormality is likely to occur, using a test image that is easy to detect for each abnormality type to be detected. Therefore, a test output specialized for each abnormal species can be performed, and the detection of an abnormality can be enhanced and efficient detection can be performed.

  According to the third and eighth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to confirm the uniformity of density in both the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction of the test image by arranging the belt-like image on the diagonal line. In addition, since the image is not the entire surface of the print range but only the band portion, the cost for print output such as toner consumption can be reduced.

  According to the fourth and ninth aspects of the present invention, the test image can be discharged separately from the image to be printed. When there are a large number of images to be printed, it is difficult to find a printed image of a test image from among printed images of the image to be printed if the same discharge destination is used. Therefore, by separately discharging the images, it is possible to easily check a test image even during mass printing.

In the present embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral) will be described.
First, the configuration will be described.
FIG. 1 shows the MFP 1.
The MFP 1 is an image processing apparatus that prints and outputs an image on a print sheet. As shown in FIG. 1, the MFP 1 can be connected to optional devices such as a document feeder 50a, a post-processing device 50b, and a paper feed unit 50c. The document feeder 50a automatically conveys a set document to the MFP 1, and the post-processing device 50b processes a printed matter output from the MFP 1. The paper feed unit 50 c includes a plurality of large capacity paper feed trays, and supplies print paper from the paper feed tray to the MFP 1.

  The MFP 1 includes an image reading unit 2 that reads an image of a document conveyed by the document feeder 50a, a printer unit 3 that prints out the read image, and an operation display unit 4 that performs setting operations and the like. ing.

FIG. 2 shows a functional block diagram of the MFP 1.
As shown in FIG. 2, the MFP 1 includes a main body unit 10 that performs image processing, image output control, and the like in addition to the image reading unit 2, the printer unit 3, and the operation display unit 4. The main body unit 10 includes a main body control unit 11, a nonvolatile memory 12, a reading processing unit 13, a compression IC 14, a DRAM control IC 15, an image memory 16, a decompression IC 17, a writing processing unit 18, an I / F 19, and the like. .

  The image reading unit 2 includes a light source, an A / D converter, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 21, a reading control unit 22, and the like, and reads an image of a document. At the time of image reading, the reflected light of the light scanned from the light source to the original is imaged and photoelectrically converted by the CCD 21 to read the original image and generate an image signal (analog signal). Thereafter, the image signal is converted into digital image data by an A / D converter and output to the reading processing unit 13 of the main body unit 10. The reading control unit 22 controls the above-described reading operation in accordance with instructions from the main body control unit 11.

  The printer unit 3 includes an image forming unit 31, a printer control unit 32, and the like. The printer unit 3 prints an image on a print sheet by the image forming unit 31 under the control of the printer control unit 32. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming unit 31 includes an exposure unit 311 having a photosensitive drum, a developing unit 312 for attaching toner, a fixing unit 313 for performing toner fixing processing, and the like. At the time of printing, an electrostatic latent image based on an image to be printed is written on the photosensitive drum in the exposure unit 311, and toner is attached to the photosensitive drum in the developing unit 312 to form a toner image. This toner image is transferred onto the print paper conveyed from the paper feed tray. Thereafter, the print sheet is conveyed to the fixing unit 313, subjected to a fixing process, and output to a designated discharge destination tray. The printing method is not limited to the above-described electrophotographic method, but may be other methods such as an ink jet method.

  The operation display unit 4 includes various display keys, a display display, a touch panel, and the like. The operation display unit 4 displays various operation screens on a display display or a touch panel in accordance with instructions from the main body control unit 11 of the main body unit 10. When an operation is performed on each key or touch panel, an operation signal corresponding to the operation is generated and output to the main body control unit 11.

Next, each part of the main body 10 will be described.
The main body control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like, and performs operations of each unit of the MFP 1 main body and optional devices 50 a to 50 c according to various processing programs stored in the nonvolatile memory 12. Control all over. For example, according to an operation signal input from the operation display unit 4, the mode of copy, printer, and scanner is switched, a document is read by the image reading unit 2, stored in the image memory 16, and image data is output to the printer unit 3. Process control. The printer output is linked with the printer control unit 32 to control its operation.

  The main body control unit 11 performs execution control of a confirmation test for confirming an image state of an image printed out by the printer unit 3.

  The nonvolatile memory 12 stores various programs and files and data necessary for executing the programs. The nonvolatile memory 12 is a storage unit that stores test images used for the confirmation test and other setting information related to the confirmation test.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of the setting table 121 showing setting information examples related to the confirmation test.
As shown in FIG. 3, the setting table 121 includes ON (executed) / OFF (not executed) indicating whether or not a confirmation test is performed for each type of image to be printed out for the confirmation test. Flag information is stored. Only one of the flag information that is set to ON / OFF is stored in the setting table 121.

As types of images used for the confirmation test, there are an image to be printed according to a print instruction (hereinafter referred to as a print image) and a test image (hereinafter referred to as a test image) prepared in advance for the confirmation test. The test image is prepared for an abnormality type to be detected, and for detecting an electrode contamination for detecting an abnormality of a member of the image forming unit 31 and detecting an abnormality of an image processing condition related to density / gradation reproducibility. There are three types: for confirmation of density / gradation for confirmation, and for confirmation of character / line drawing for detecting abnormal image forming conditions related to reproducibility of character / line drawing. Details of each test image will be described later.
In the setting table 121, output cycle setting information is stored as an output condition when a confirmation test is executed using the image. The output cycle is indicated by the number of print pages.

  The reading processing unit 13 performs various processing such as analog processing and shading correction processing on the analog image signal input from the image reading unit 2, and then performs A / D conversion processing to generate digital image data. The generated image data is output to the compression IC 14 as print image data.

  The DRAM control IC 15 controls image compression processing by the compression IC 14 and decompression processing of the compressed image by the decompression IC according to the control of the main body control unit 11. Also, image input / output control to the image memory 16 is performed. For example, when an instruction to save a print image read by the image reading unit 2 is given, the compression IC 14 executes compression processing of the print image input from the reading processing unit 13. The generated compressed image is stored in a compression memory in the image memory 16. When a print output of the compressed image stored in the compression memory is instructed, the compressed image is read from the compression memory and the decompression IC 17 executes the decompression process. The expanded print image is stored in the page memory in the image memory 16 and is output to the writing processing unit 18 in response to a print instruction.

  The image memory 16 includes a compression memory such as a DRAM and a page memory. The compression memory is a memory for storing a compressed image. The page memory is a memory for temporarily storing a print image or a test image (uncompressed image) immediately before output.

The decompression IC 17 performs decompression processing on the input compressed image.
The writing processing unit 18 generates an output image for print output based on the print image input from the decompression IC, and outputs the output image to the printer unit 3.

  The I / F 19 is a communication interface such as a network interface card, and receives a print image from an external user terminal PC or the like. The received print image is output to the DRAM control IC 15 via the PCI bus.

Next, the operation of the MFP 1 will be described.
The MFP 1 can execute an image state confirmation test without interrupting continuous printing when continuous printing is performed.
In the confirmation test, it is possible to perform a confirmation test using a print image that is an original print target, or it is possible to use a test image prepared in advance for confirmation. The print image may be used when it is desired to check the image state of the actual print image, such as the image quality of the print image, and the test image may be used when the abnormal species to be detected is specified. As described above, a plurality of test images are prepared for each abnormal species to be detected, and are specialized images according to the abnormal species.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a test image.
4A shows a test image A for confirming electrode contamination, and FIG. 4B shows a test image B for confirming density / gradation. FIG. 4C shows a test image C for character / line drawing confirmation. The arrows in the figure indicate the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum, that is, the sub-scanning direction.
As shown in FIG. 4A, the test image A is an image in which strip-shaped images are arranged on the diagonal line of a rectangular print range. The band-like image has a halftone output density. By arranging the belt-like image on the diagonal line, in addition to the uniformity of the output density in the rotation direction and the axial direction of the photosensitive drum (that is, the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction of the image), the image forming unit 31 such as streaks It is possible to obtain an image that can easily detect noise caused by dirt or malfunction. For example, due to primary / secondary transfer failure, photoconductor rotation failure, print paper conveyance drive failure, fixing failure, etc., density unevenness occurs in the halftone belt-like image output to the print paper, and the photoconductor becomes dirty. Noise such as streaks is generated due to a pressing failure of the print paper. Therefore, it is possible to detect an abnormality in the image forming unit 31 by confirming the presence or absence of density unevenness or noise in the belt-like image.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the test image B is a patch image in which the output density is changed stepwise. Confirmation of gradation reproducibility and density characteristics by comparing the output density set for the test image B with the density measured from the output image of the test image B actually output on the print paper. Can do. If the processing conditions of the γ correction process, setting of the offset value, etc. are inappropriate, the reproducibility of the gradation will decrease and the density characteristics will vary, so check the reproducibility of the gradation etc. An abnormality in image processing conditions for a print image can be detected.

  As shown in FIG. 4C, the test image C is an image in which images such as numbers, letters, symbols, and thin lines are arranged. The reproducibility of the characters / line images can be confirmed by the characters, fine lines, etc. of the test image C output to the print paper. If there is an abnormality in the setting of the amount of light written in the exposure unit 311 or other process conditions in the developing unit 312 or the like, or if there is a transfer defect, a part of the characters may blur and become thicker or the thin line may be blurred. Since the reproducibility is lowered, it is possible to detect an abnormality in the image forming conditions in the image forming unit 31 by confirming the reproducibility of the characters / line drawings.

  Prior to the confirmation test, it is necessary to set which of the test images A to C or the print image is used for the confirmation test and the output cycle of the confirmation test. The confirmation test can be set to be executed using all of the test images A to C and the print image, or can be set to be executed using one or a plurality selected from the test images.

In the MFP 1, the setting screen is displayed on the operation display unit 4 under the control of the main body control unit 11. In the setting screen, an item for selecting an image type (test images A to C and a print image) and an item for inputting an output cycle for the selected image type are provided. Here, the operator selects one or a plurality of image types, and inputs the number of print pages as an output cycle for each of the selected image types. For example, test images A and B and a print image are selected as image types, and output periods “aaa”, “bbb”, and “ddd” are input for each. The MFP 1 stores the input image type and output cycle setting information in the setting table 121 of the nonvolatile memory 12.
In the following description, a print image used for the confirmation test is described as a test image D in order to distinguish the print image used for the confirmation test from the print image output according to the original print instruction.

Next, a confirmation test process executed in the MFP 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
Here, in the above-mentioned pre-setting, a setting for performing a confirmation test for all image types is made, and the output cycle (unit page) is aaa for test image A, bbb for test image B, ccc for test image C, and test image D. The content of the confirmation test process will be described assuming that (print image) is set to ddd.

  In the confirmation test process shown in FIG. 5, when a print job (refers to a processing unit for which a print instruction has been issued and includes print image designation information and output condition setting information), the main body control unit 11 prints a print page. Is set to an initial value N = 1 (step S1). Next, the main body control unit 11 performs output control of the print image of page N, and the printer unit 3 performs print output according to the output control (step S2). At this time, the main body control unit 11 discharges the printed image of the print image of page N to a discharge tray (hereinafter referred to as a normal tray) designated by the output condition.

  Next, the main body control unit 11 determines whether N is a multiple of aaa (step S3). When N is a multiple of aaa (step S3; Y), since the output cycle of the test image A has been reached, the main body control unit 11 controls the output of the test image A. First, the main body control unit 11 performs an output size selection process for the test image A (step S4). In the selection process, as shown in FIG. 6, the main body control unit 11 determines whether or not the test images A to C are to be output (step S21). If the test images are A to C, the print job is output. Among the output sizes of the print image set according to the conditions, the maximum output size is selected as the output size of the test images A to C (step S22). On the other hand, if the output is a print image, the output size set according to the output condition is selected as the output size of page N (step S23).

  Among print jobs, there is a mixed job in which a plurality of print image output sizes are set in one job. In the case of such a print job, the output size of the print image differs depending on the page N for the print image. Test images A to D have an output size suitable for checking the image state. Therefore, as described above, it is necessary to select the output size according to the output condition specified for the print image for the print image and according to the output condition different from the output condition for the print image for the test images A to D.

  In the case of the test image A, since the maximum output size is selected in the print job, the main body control unit 11 performs output control so that the test image A is printed out with the output size. The printer unit 3 performs print output according to the output control (step S5). At this time, the main body control unit 11 discharges the printed matter of the test image A to a discharge tray (hereinafter referred to as a sub-tray) different from the normal tray that is a discharge destination of the print image.

  On the other hand, when the page N is not a multiple of aaa (step S3; N), the main body control unit 11 determines whether N is a multiple of bbb (step S6). When N is a multiple of bbb (step S6; Y), since the output cycle of the test image B has been reached, the main body control unit 11 controls the output of the test image B. First, the main body control unit 11 selects the output size of the test image B (step S7). Since this selection process has the same contents as the selection process (see FIG. 6) described in step S4, description thereof is omitted here. In the case of the test image B, the maximum size in the print job is selected as the output size.

  Next, the main body control unit 11 controls the printer unit 3 to output the test image B with the selected output size (step S8). At this time, as in the case of the test image A, the main body control unit 11 outputs the printed matter of the test image B to a discharge tray (sub-tray) different from the print image.

  When the page N is not a multiple of bbb (step S6; N), the main body control unit 11 determines whether N is a multiple of ccc (step S9). When N is a multiple of ccc (step S9; Y), since the output cycle of the test image C has been reached, the main body control unit 11 controls the output of the test image C. Here, similarly to the test images A and B, first, an output size selection process is performed (step S10), and then the test image C is printed out with the selected output size (step S11).

  If the page N is not ccc (step S9; N), the main body control unit 11 determines whether the page N is a multiple of ddd (step S12). If the page N is a multiple of ddd (step S12). S12; Y), an output size selection process for the test image D (print image) is performed on the assumption that the output cycle of the confirmation test using the print image has been reached (step S13). When the image type of the confirmation test is the test image D, the output size of the print image of page N is selected in the selection process (see step S23 in FIG. 6), so that the main body control unit 11 uses the selected output size. The test image D is output by the printer unit 3 (step S14). At this time, since the printed matter of the test image D to be output is not a print job but a confirmation test, the main body control unit 11 outputs the printed matter to the sub-tray instead of the normal tray. To control.

Next, the main body control unit 11 determines whether or not the page N is the last page to be printed (step S15). If it is not the last page (step S15; N), the main body control unit 11 increments and sets the page N by +1 (step S16), returns to the process of step S2, and repeats the above process. That is, it is determined whether the output cycle of the confirmation test has been reached while performing the print output of the print image of the next page.
On the other hand, if the page N is the last page (step S15; Y), the print job is completed, and the process is terminated.

  When execution of the confirmation test is not set for all image types, it is not determined whether or not the output cycle has been reached for the image types that are not set. For example, if the test image A, B, and D are set to perform a confirmation test, but the test image C is set not to be executed, the process of steps S9 to S11 is omitted after the process of step S8. Then, the process proceeds to step S12.

FIG. 7 is a time chart showing the print output status of the confirmation test process.
FIG. 7 shows a print output state when a setting for performing a confirmation test using test images A, B, and D is made at the time of print output of a mixed job that outputs print images in A3 size and A4 size, respectively. Note that the number of pages is ddd <aaa <bbb.

  As shown in FIG. 7, first, when the page N reaches the minimum ddd, after the print image of the ddd page is output, the print image is further printed as a test image D for a confirmation test. This print output is performed in A4 size which is the same output size as the print image of the ddd page, and the printed matter is discharged to the sub-tray.

  Next, when the page N reaches bbb, which is the second largest page after ddd, the print image is output using the test image B for the confirmation test after the print image of the bbb page is output. This print output is performed in the A3 size which is the maximum size among the output sizes A3 and A4 of the print image, and the printed matter is discharged to the sub-tray.

Thereafter, the print output further proceeds. When the page N reaches aaa, the print image is output using the test image A for the confirmation test after outputting the print image of the aaa page. Similarly to the test image B, this print output is performed in the A3 size which is the maximum size among the output sizes A3 and A4 of the print image, and the printed matter is discharged to the sub-tray.
Such print output is executed for each multiple of ddd, bbb, and aaa until the print output of the print image for N pages is completed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the confirmation test is performed using a plurality of types of test images A to C corresponding to the abnormal species to be detected, or using the test image D that is the print image itself. Thereby, the image printed out by the confirmation test can be an image specialized for the detection purpose, and the presence or absence of abnormality can be easily determined from the image state. Furthermore, it becomes easy to specify an abnormal species as well as whether there is an abnormality and which abnormality is occurring. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the detectability of abnormality by the confirmation test.

The test image is printed out under the output conditions (output cycle and output size) corresponding to the type of the test image.
The output period can be set for each image type of the test images A to D, that is, for each abnormal type to be detected. As a result, when an output cycle comes for each image type, a printout of a confirmation test is performed using the image of that image type, so that the confirmation test can be performed in accordance with the occurrence cycle of each abnormality. Since the occurrence period of an abnormality may vary depending on the type of abnormality, checking the image state of the output image at an appropriate period according to the type of abnormality improves the detectability of the abnormality and performs efficient detection. It becomes possible.

  In particular, the test image A is a belt-like image arranged on the diagonal line of the print range. By arranging them on the diagonal line, it is possible to detect the uniformity of the density of the test image A in both the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. In addition, by using a band-like halftone image instead of the entire print range, toner consumption can be suppressed and an economical confirmation test can be performed.

  The output sizes of the test images A to D are selected according to different output conditions, not the output conditions of the print image to be printed according to the print job. As a result, even when print output for a confirmation test is performed during continuous printing of a print job, the test images A to D for the confirmation test are output with an output size suitable for the confirmation test regardless of the output size of the print image. Print output can be performed.

  Further, output control is performed so that the printed matter printed out for the confirmation test is discharged to a different discharge destination from the printed matter of the printed image printed out according to the print job. Therefore, it is possible to save the trouble of searching for a printed matter by a confirmation test from a large number of printed images.

  Since the maximum output size is selected from the output sizes specified by the print job output conditions as the output sizes of the test images A to D during the confirmation test, the test images A to C or the output images of the print images can be selected as much as possible. The size can be increased, and the visibility of the output image can be improved. As a result, the image state of the output image can be easily confirmed, and the abnormality detectability can be improved.

The above description is a preferred example to which the present invention is applied, and the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the maximum output size is selected as the output size of the test images A to D among the output sizes specified by the output conditions of the print job. The maximum output size may be selected from among the output sizes that can be output at. The output size that can be output in the MFP 1 refers to the output size of the print paper stored in the paper feed tray in the MFP 1 or the paper feed tray in the paper feed unit 50c. For example, when the output sizes of print sheets that can be fed in the MFP 1 are B5, A4, and A3 sizes, the largest A3 size is selected.

  Further, instead of selecting the maximum output size specified by the print job or the output size that can be printed by the MFP 1, the size required for checking the image state is obtained and the required size. As described above, the output size may be arbitrarily selected.

  Alternatively, the test images A to C may be stored in an external server or the like instead of in the MFP 1 and downloaded when necessary.

1 is a diagram illustrating an MFP according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the functional block diagram of MFP. It is a figure which shows the example of the setting information memorize | stored in the non-volatile memory of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of a test image, (a) is a test image for electrode dirt confirmation, (b) is a test image for density and gradation confirmation, (c) is a figure which shows a test image for character and line drawing confirmation It is. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a confirmation test process executed by the MFP. It is a flowchart explaining the selection process of an output size. It is a time chart which shows the output condition of a confirmation test.

Explanation of symbols

1 MFP
11 Main body control unit 12 Non-volatile memory 121 Setting table 3 Printer unit A to C Test image

Claims (10)

In an image processing apparatus including a printer unit that prints an image and a storage unit that stores a test image for confirming an image state.
The storage unit stores a plurality of types of test images,
Select one or a plurality of test images from the plurality of stored test images, and select the selected test image under an output condition according to the type of the selected test image. An image processing apparatus, comprising: a main body control unit that prints out an image by the printer unit.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the test image is an image created corresponding to each type of abnormality to be detected.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the test image includes a band-shaped image arranged on a diagonal line of a print range.   The main body control unit causes the test image to be output during print output of the image to be printed, and outputs the test image to be discharged to a different discharge destination from the image to be printed. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein control is performed. The output condition is an output cycle of the test image set for each abnormal species to be detected by the test image,
5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main body control unit causes the selected test image to be printed out for each output cycle set for the selected test image. 6. The image processing apparatus described.   Select one or a plurality of test images from among a plurality of types of test images for confirming the image state, and select the selected image under an output condition corresponding to the type of the selected test image. A test control method comprising a control step of outputting a test image by a printer unit.   The test control method according to claim 6, wherein the test image is an image created corresponding to each type of abnormality to be detected.   The test control method according to claim 6, wherein the test image includes a band-shaped image arranged on a diagonal line of a print range.   In the control step, during the print output of the image to be printed, the output of the test image is output, and the output control is performed so that the test image is discharged to a different discharge destination from the image to be printed. The test control method according to claim 6, wherein the test control method is performed. The output condition is an output cycle of the test image set for each abnormal species to be detected by the test image,
10. The control process according to claim 6, wherein the selected test image is printed out for each output cycle set for the selected test image. 11. Test control method.

Images