JP2010089412A - Bar code generating system and bar code generating program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To generate appropriate bar code constitutional information and accordingly, a bar code coinciding with the use condition of an individual user by using minimum amounts of paper and ink in a short period of time, and to perform bar code correction in accordance with the wavelength of a light source of a bar code reading apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: Based on a reading image of a test chart obtained by printing image data of the test chart by a specified printing apparatus, the widths of the bar and the space for the bar code are measured. In this instance, the measured results of the images on each of a plurality of color elements are obtained, and the widths of the bar and the space are obtained by taking a logical sum of these measuring results. Based on the measured results, dot numbers of the width of the bar and the width of the space to be set at printing are obtained as a bar code correcting value so that the width of the bar and the width of the space of the bar code after printing become regulated dimensions. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a barcode generation system using an inkjet printer.

  In general, a barcode generation system using an inkjet recording head has an advantage that an image can be formed in a non-contact manner on various recording media. A black bar tends to be thick, and a white bar adjacent to it (that is, a white space) tends to be thin. Originally, the bar code needs to have the same width as the black bar and the white bar, so the thickness of this bar greatly affects the reading accuracy of the bar code, sometimes resulting in an unreadable bar code. was there.

  In order to solve this problem, a barcode correction method in which the white bar of the barcode is enlarged in anticipation of the blur of dots in advance and a method of making the black bar portion less blurring have been proposed (Patent Document 1). .

  In addition, since the degree of ink bleeding largely depends on the paper material, there is a problem that the barcode cannot be read depending on the type of paper (paper type).

  In order to solve this problem, a technique has been proposed that covers the difference in paper type by preparing the number of black and white bar dots in advance as a table for each paper type (Patent Document 2).

  Furthermore, not only the paper material but also various factors such as the type of ink, individual differences in the recording head, and usage environment are factors that affect ink bleeding. There was also a problem that it could become unreadable.

To solve this problem, a technology has been proposed that enables bar code generation suitable for each usage environment by creating a number of bar codes with different correction values, actually printing them, and reading them with a bar code verifier. (Patent Document 3).
JP 2003-237059 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-123886 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-04807

  However, the conventional techniques have the following problems.

  The barcode generation system described in Patent Document 1 is effective when the degree of dot bleeding is known in advance, but the problem remains that it cannot cope with a change in paper type.

  The barcode generation system described in Patent Document 2 has a problem that the barcode correction table of software must be additionally corrected every time a new paper type is added.

  In the barcode generation system described in Patent Document 3, correction values are set for each parameter such as barcode conditions actually used, that is, the barcode type such as EAN128 and CODE39, and the number of digits and the size of the numeric value to be barcoded. This is a method that generates and prints a large number of barcodes with fine adjustments, and compares the results read by the verifier. In order to determine the appropriate barcode conditions, a lot of paper and time are wasted for printing. There was a problem to do. Further, when a sheet having a significantly different blur rate from the conventional condition is added, it is necessary to add a verification barcode with a wider correction range, which causes a problem in terms of maintenance of the verification pattern.

  In addition, in an inkjet recording type printing apparatus, even if an attempt is made to form a barcode with the same dot width by sub-drops separated from the main droplets of ejected ink, it is perpendicular to the case where the barcode is formed parallel to the transport direction. There was also a problem that the bar width was different depending on the configuration. This problem is particularly noticeable when printing in one pass.

  In response to such a conventional problem, the applicant of this application calculates correction values for the bars and spaces constituting the barcode in the actual printing environment as Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-151371 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-183745. A barcode generation system that prints a test chart for determining the barcode and determines a barcode correction value based on the print result and a test chart therefor have been proposed. This solved the above problem.

  By the way, bar code readers such as bar code verifiers and bar code readers irradiate a bar code with illumination light (light source) of a specific wavelength, collect the reflected light, convert it into an electrical signal, decode it, and decode it. Therefore, the reflectance data varies greatly depending on the wavelength, and the verification result or the reader reading rate may vary greatly. In particular, since there are colors that are easy to read and colors that are difficult to read depending on the wavelength of the light source, it is necessary to perform barcode correction according to the wavelength of the light source when printing color barcodes or printing on color paper.

  The present invention has been made in such a background, and the purpose of the present invention is to use a short time and a minimum amount of paper and ink, and to obtain an appropriate bar code configuration information and a bar code suitable for each user's use condition. An object of the present invention is to provide a barcode generation system and a barcode generation program that can generate and perform barcode correction according to the wavelength of the light source of the barcode reader.

  A barcode generation system according to the present invention is a barcode generation system that generates barcode configuration information for printing barcodes, and prints barcode bars and spaces with a plurality of different dot widths. Means for storing test chart image data, and based on the read image of the test chart obtained by printing the test chart image data with a specific printing device, the bar and space for the barcode Measuring means for measuring the width, and based on the measurement result of the measuring means, the bar width and the space width to be set at the time of printing so that the bar width and the space width of the bar code after printing become a prescribed size. Bar width correction means for determining the number of dots as a barcode correction value, and the measurement means measures an image for each of a plurality of color elements. The results obtained to determine the width of the bars and spaces by taking the logical sum of these measurement results.

  Measured values of actual widths of bar elements (bars and spaces) printed with various dot widths (indicated values) from a test chart printed under the conditions of a printing device and a certain type of paper by the measuring means. As a result, the relationship between the dot width and the actual width under that condition can be grasped. Therefore, the bar width correction means obtains the number of dots of the bar width and the space width that should be set at the time of printing as the bar code correction value so that the bar width and the space width of the barcode after printing have a prescribed size. Can do. If a barcode is printed using the barcode correction value under the above conditions, a barcode with an appropriate element width is printed even if there is a width variation factor such as dot bleeding in the element width of the barcode. It becomes possible. In addition, the measurement result of the image for each of the plurality of color elements is obtained when the test chart is read, and the bar and space widths are obtained by taking the logical sum of these measurement results. As a result, it is possible to cope with different wavelengths of light sources used in individual barcode readers.

  More specifically, the measuring means has a threshold value table in which thresholds for binarizing the read output for each of the plurality of color elements are associated with the wavelength of the light source of the barcode reader. In this case, preferably, a means for inputting the wavelength of the light source of the bar code reader is provided.

  The bar width correction means corresponds to the number of dots and the width of the bar and space based on the relationship between the number of dots of the bar and space width printed on the test chart and the measured value of the width of the bar and space. A corrected correction table is generated. More specifically, the bar width correction means has means for receiving an input of barcode type and reference element width information, and the received barcode type and reference element width information. Based on the correction table, the bar width and the space width to be set at the time of printing are set so that the widths of all the bars and spaces of the barcode of the type after printing match or approach the specified size. Select the number of dots.

  A barcode generation program according to the present invention is a barcode generation program for generating barcode configuration information for printing a barcode, and is a test obtained by printing image data of the test chart with a specific printing device. Based on the read image of the chart, a measurement result of the image for each of the plurality of color elements is obtained, and the width of the bar and space is measured by taking the logical sum of these measurement results, and based on this measurement result , Causing the computer to execute a step of obtaining, as a barcode correction value, the number of dots of the bar width and the space width to be set at the time of printing so that the bar width and the space width of the barcode after printing have a predetermined size. It is characterized by.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the barcode production | generation system which can produce | generate the appropriate barcode corresponding to user's use environment conditions, such as the installation environment of a printing apparatus, an individual difference of an apparatus, and the kind of paper, can be provided. In addition, an appropriate bar code correction value can be found in a short time, and the method is realized by reducing the consumption of ink and paper.

  In addition, since the present invention is a technique for measuring the thickness of dots by analyzing a test chart, system maintenance is not required even if the number of barcode types and paper types increases.

  In addition, since the barcode bar and space width are corrected in accordance with the wavelength of the light source of the barcode reader, the test chart analysis performance is improved and it is possible to handle color barcodes and color paper.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, the component described in the following embodiment is an illustration to the last, and is not a thing of the meaning which limits the scope of the present invention only to them.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a barcode generation system according to the present embodiment. This system includes an information processing apparatus 100, an image scanner 110, and a printing apparatus 200. The image scanner 110 reads a full-color image using a white (or RGB) light source to obtain a multi-tone output of a plurality of color elements (here, cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y)). Be possible.

  The printing apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment is an inkjet printing apparatus that employs an ink ejection method that uses thermal energy, and detects a conveyance unit 106 that conveys a sheet 103 as a type of recording medium, and a conveyance speed of the sheet 103. And an inkjet recording type recording unit 101 for recording image data. The recording unit 101 is connected to the information processing apparatus 100 via an interface cable 102 such as a USB. The information processing apparatus 100 is an apparatus such as a personal computer (PC), and control commands such as image data transfer and cleaning are transferred from the apparatus to the printing apparatus 200. An image scanner 110 for optically reading a test chart on which a test pattern to be described later is recorded is connected to the information processing apparatus 100 as one of its peripheral devices.

  Recording of image data by the recording unit 101 is performed on the conveyed paper 103 while being synchronized with the paper speed signal of the encoder 104 by using a paper detection signal from a paper sensor (not shown) in the transport unit 106 as a trigger. This is done by ejecting ink droplets. The recorded content is arbitrary, but in the example of FIG.

  In addition, the structure which conveys recording media, such as a sheet | seat, with the conveyance apparatus independent from the recording unit 101 at the arbitrary speeds which a user designates without using the encoder 104 may be sufficient.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of control hardware of the information processing apparatus 100 and the printing apparatus 200 in the system of FIG.

  The information processing apparatus 100 includes a control unit 111 configured by a central processing unit (CPU) or the like, and executes a control program stored in the storage unit 112 by the control unit 111 to control each unit. The storage unit 112 can include a ROM, a RAM, an HDD, and the like. The display unit 113 includes a display such as an LCD or CRT, and presents information to the user on the display screen. The operation unit 114 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and accepts user operations and information input. The USB interface 115 is shown as an example of a printer interface for connecting the information processing apparatus 100 to the printing apparatus 200. However, the printer interface is not limited to USB.

  The control unit 201 of the printing apparatus 200 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 202, and the CPU 202 executes a control program stored in a nonvolatile memory (ROM) 203 to control each unit. The control unit 201 also includes a memory (RAM) 204 used as a work area for various data processing and a reception buffer by the CPU 202, and an image memory 205 used as an image development unit via the control circuit 209. Further, the CPU 202, via the control circuit 209, drives a head driving circuit 210 that drives the recording heads 214 to 217, and various motors 206 that control a cleaning operation and a recording operation for keeping each recording head in an appropriate state for recording. Is configured to control an input / output interface control unit (I / O) 212 of a transport control I / F 207 for feeding paper under the recording head. In this example, it is assumed that the encoder 104 in FIG. 1 is included in the transport control I / F 207.

  The printing apparatus 200 basically includes a USB controller 208 that receives image data, a cleaning command, and the like transmitted from the information processing apparatus 100, which is an external apparatus, via the interface cable 102. The received various commands Works according to.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram when the recording unit 101 records a pattern composed of black bars and white bars such as a general barcode. Black bars are linear elements recorded with black ink. The white bar is a linear element composed of a blank portion of recording (the background color of the paper on which the barcode is recorded), and is also called a space. In this figure, recording was performed in the order of lines 21, 22 and 23. In the example of FIG. 3, the line 21 constitutes a thin bar, and the lines 22 and 23 constitute a thick bar.

  In an inkjet printing apparatus, the size of dots to be recorded is the amount of ink discharged depending on conditions such as the usage environment, individual differences in the recording head, and ink type, because of the characteristic of forming an image by discharging a liquid called ink. And the blur rate depending on the material of the paper. Usually, assuming a usage environment within a certain range, the ink dot size is determined by setting the ejection amount based on the relationship with the recording medium. However, bleeding and discharge amount change due to the influence of severe recording conditions such as industrial use, installation environment, individual differences of heads, and paper types. As a result, the printed dot size may change as shown as case 1 and case 2 in FIG. When the dot size changes, the space between the dots increases or decreases with respect to the specified value. As a result, barcode reading failure occurs, or in the worst case, reading becomes impossible.

  Even if there is no cause of variation in the bleeding method as described above, as long as the image is formed by blotting the ink, even if the bar and the space are formed with the same number of dots, they do not have the same width. . This is why some correction is required to generate the barcode in the ink jet printing apparatus.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state corresponding to the passage of time until the sub-droplet reaches the paper in the ink jet printing apparatus. When ink is ejected from the recording head (here, the recording head 214), the main droplet 40 of the ink that forms the image lands on the paper 103, and then the secondary ink remaining after the main ink droplet 40 is delayed. Droplets (also called satellites) 41 land on the paper. The sub droplet 41 is smaller in size than the main droplet 40. When the sheet 103 is conveyed in one direction (the direction in the figure) relative to the recording head 214, the sub-droplet 41 is always formed on the rear side in the sheet conveyance direction with respect to the landing of the main droplet 40. . Here, a line type recording head having nozzle rows arranged over the entire width of the paper is assumed, but a similar sub head is also used in a serial type recording head that is main-scanned in a direction orthogonal to the so-called paper transport direction. There can be drops. That is, the sub-droplet 41 is always formed on the rear side in the head scanning direction (after all, the movement direction of the recording head relative to the paper) with respect to the landing of the main droplet 40.

  FIG. 5A illustrates the state of sub-drops generated when a barcode having a bar parallel to the nozzle row 223 is configured in the inkjet printing apparatus. This shows a case where the sheet is conveyed in the A direction with respect to the line type recording head. As described above, since the sub-drop 41 is always formed on the rear side in the paper transport direction with respect to the landing of the main droplet 40, it is a bar perpendicular to the paper transport direction (that is, parallel to the nozzle row). In the constructed barcode, the width of the bar may become extremely larger than the width of the space due to the influence of the sub-drop dot row 220 adjacent to the main droplet dot row 221.

  FIG. 5B illustrates the state of sub-drops generated when a barcode having a bar parallel to the paper conveyance direction (that is, perpendicular to the nozzle row 223) is configured in the inkjet printing apparatus. . Compared to the case of FIG. 5A, in the barcode of FIG. 5B, the sub-drop dot rows overlap the main drop dot row, and most of the sub-drops overlap the main drop dot rows and cancel each other. In this case, the direction in which the sub-drop is displaced from the main drop is a direction that does not affect the bar width. For this reason, even if secondary droplets are generated, the bar width does not become extremely larger than the space width.

  When barcodes are printed in the inkjet printing apparatus in which sub-drops are generated in this manner, the barcode width and space width differ depending on the barcode direction, and therefore an appropriate barcode is generated for each case. There is a need.

  In order to cope with such a problem, the present invention uses a test pattern that can easily obtain the relationship between the bar constituting the bar code, the number of dots in the space, and the actual recorded bar and space width. By correcting the barcode based on the above, it is possible to record a barcode that can be read stably even if the recording environment changes.

  Next, a test chart used to determine a barcode correction value and a barcode width correction method according to the present embodiment will be described.

  FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show examples of test pattern configurations in which the states of bars and spaces can be confirmed in this embodiment, respectively.

  A test pattern 600p in FIG. 6 is a positive test pattern including a group of bars, and each bar is composed of a plurality of bars extending in a direction parallel to the nozzle array 223, and is perpendicular to the nozzle array. And a bar group 602p composed of a plurality of bars extending in various directions. In this example, each bar group is composed of 10 different bar widths having 1 to 10 dots. However, ten types of bar widths are not necessarily required, and at least two types of bar widths in this test pattern may be used. Each dot in the dot row 603p is composed of an isolated single dot (black or color dot) and is used for confirmation of each dot diameter or the like, but is not directly related to the operation in the present embodiment.

  A test pattern 600n in FIG. 7 is a negative (negative) test pattern including a space group, and each of the bars is a space group 601n including a plurality of spaces extending in a direction parallel to the nozzle row 223, and perpendicular to the nozzle row. And a space group 602n composed of a plurality of spaces extending in various directions. In this example, each space group is composed of 10 different bar widths having 1 to 10 dots. As for the space, such bar widths are not necessarily required, and it is sufficient that there are at least two types of space widths in the test pattern. Each dot in the dot row 603n is composed of an isolated single dot (white dot) and is used for confirmation of the diameter of each dot, but is not directly related to the operation in the present embodiment.

  The test chart 600 (FIG. 9) in which the test patterns 600p and 600n described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 are recorded is preferably a bar on the surface of the test chart printed on a sheet actually used for printing a barcode. By actually measuring the width, the relationship between the number of printed dots and the actual bar width on the paper surface can be grasped. Each test pattern is a data pattern for printing a bar and space for a barcode with a plurality of different dot widths. If the test chart of the present invention is printed under actual use conditions (apparatus, environment, and paper), the actual amount considering the difference in the ejection amount due to the individual difference of the recording heads and the difference in the bleeding rate due to the type of the paper are taken into consideration. It is possible to know the bar width and generate a bar code in which the bar / space size is corrected according to the actual bar width. An analysis method of an image obtained by reading a test chart will be described later.

  In this example, ten types of bar widths (number of dots 1 to 10) were used. In this way, it is not necessary to adopt a continuous number of dots, but when the test chart is configured with a relatively large number of dot widths, a larger number of dots constituting a relatively narrow bar are inserted. Is desirable. The actual dimensional tolerance of barcodes is such that the thinner the bar, the smaller the dimensional tolerance, and there is a risk that quality degradation will occur even with slight deviations in dimensions. On the other hand, the thicker the bar, the larger the allowable dimension range, so even if the dimensions are shifted to some extent, the reading rank is not affected. Therefore, when a plurality of types of dot rows are included in the test pattern, it is possible to increase the generation accuracy of the thin barcode and further improve the quality of the barcode by inserting many thin dot rows.

  Even in the case of having a plurality of types of test charts depending on the size of the paper, it is more advantageous to arrange the dot rows with a narrower width than the thicker dot rows in terms of the occupied area of the bar. .

  FIGS. 8A and 8B are graphs showing the measured values of the width of the bar and space of the actual printing result with respect to the number of dots when printing the bar and space of the test chart. This is for estimating the relationship between the number of dots not included in the test chart and the bar and space from each value obtained from the test chart. The measurement results when the bar code direction is “parallel” (horizontal direction) and “vertical” (vertical direction) are separately shown. As can be seen from this figure, the actual size of the bar is larger than the space even with the same number of dots. In “vertical” and “parallel”, “parallel” is larger for a bar, and “vertical” is larger for a space.

  It is also possible to employ a test pattern that uses a gap between adjacent bars as a space. In this case, the test pattern 600p in FIG. 6 also serves as the test pattern 600n in FIG. As a result, the area for arranging the bars and spaces to be included in the test chart can be minimized for creating the graph. In addition, it is not necessary to take a large test chart in consideration of the generation of a large bar code or to make a plurality of sheets.

  In this embodiment, bars and spaces up to 10 dots wide are created as test patterns. However, in order to draw the graph theoretically as described above, there are at least two types of bars and spaces to be included in the test chart. Anything with a different width is sufficient. Of course, if there is a margin in the printable area of the paper, it may be increased beyond this to improve accuracy.

  FIG. 9 shows an external configuration example of the barcode generation system according to the present embodiment.

  In order to obtain the test chart 600 in which the test pattern as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is recorded, the test chart image data 806 corresponding to the test pattern stored in the storage unit 112 of the information processing apparatus 100 is stored in the information. The data is transferred from the processing apparatus 100 to the printing apparatus 200 via the interface cable 102. As described above, recording of the test chart 600 by the recording unit 101 (FIG. 1) in the printing apparatus 200 is performed under the same conditions as the actual use conditions (printing apparatus, recording environment, used paper, etc.). The effect is obtained. In this example, the test chart image data 806 image is a monochrome image, but may be a color image. The paper color need not be white.

  The test chart 600 recorded and output on the paper is set in the image scanner 110, and color element data (CMY data) of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) is read as image information. The information processing apparatus 100 receives the read image information via the interface cable 805, and the control unit 111 (FIG. 2) obtains actual bar width information by recording bar elements of each width of the test chart 600. At this time, the control unit 111 also constitutes a measurement unit that performs measurement on the read output of the test chart 600 by the image scanner 110. This measuring means obtains image measurement results for each of a plurality of color elements, and obtains the widths of bars and spaces by taking the logical sum of these measurement results. Further, the control unit 111 generates a bar code correction value 1100 described later based on the actual bar width information as a bar width correcting unit, and stores it in the storage unit 112. The storage unit 112 also stores a correction table 1000 described later.

  Based on the measurement result of the test chart 600, the bar width correcting means sets the number of dots of the bar width and the space width to be set at the time of printing so that the bar width and the space width of the bar code after printing have a predetermined size. Is obtained as a barcode correction value. More specifically, select the number of dots for the bar width and space width that should be set during printing so that all bar and space widths of the bar code after printing of this type match or approach the specified size. To do.

  FIG. 10 shows the relationship between the number of dots, the bar, and the space estimated from the graph created based on the measurement result of the relationship between the number of dots, the bar width, and the space width obtained from reading and analysis of the test chart 600. Is a correction table 1000 in which dot numbers from 1 dot to 25 dots are described in increments of 1 dot. This includes the relationship between bars and spaces parallel to the nozzle row and the relationship between bars and spaces perpendicular to the nozzle row. This data is a bar that has actually landed and spread on the paper surface with respect to the number of dots (integer) of each bar width as an instruction value on the image data obtained by reading the test chart 600 with the image scanner 110. The results obtained by measuring the actual bar width (in units of micrometers) of the width and space width and the estimated values based on this result are shown. Here, corresponding to the above-described example, the measurement result of the number of dots of 1 to 10 and the estimated value for the number of dots of 11 to 25 are obtained. Specifically, for example, the bar width perpendicular to the nozzle row direction composed of 6 dots is 295 μm on the paper surface, and the space width of the same 6 dots is 165 μm. Further, it is shown that the bar width constituted by 10 dots is 465 μm on the paper surface, and the same 10-dot space width is 335 μm. Note that the data shown in FIG. 10 should match the result of the graph shown in FIG. 8, but in this example, the matching is not made for convenience.

  FIGS. 11A and 11B show barcode configuration information tables 1101 and 1102 that store barcode configuration information for different types of barcodes as examples of the barcode correction value 1100 of FIG.

  One-dimensional barcodes can be broadly classified into two types: binary level and multi-level. A binary-level barcode is a barcode composed of two types of width bars and two types of width spaces, and the widths of both types are configured in a ratio of 1: 2. Typical barcodes include Code 39 and ITF. A multi-level bar code is a bar code composed of four types of width bars and four types of width spaces, and all types of widths are configured in a ratio of 1: 2: 3: 4. Typical barcodes include JAN, EAN128, and Code128. For example, when correcting a multi-level barcode, the number of dots of a bar with an actual width size of 1: 2: 3: 4 is selected from the bar and space correction table 1000 shown in FIG. By selecting the number of dots with the same actual size width as the bar, it is possible to determine an appropriate barcode correction value and generate an appropriate barcode with high read quality.

  Hereinafter, a method for determining a correction value of a barcode constituted by a bar constructed perpendicular to the nozzle row of the binary level barcode Code 39 and the multi-level barcode EAN128 will be described in detail.

  The bar code configuration information table 1101 shown in FIG. 11A shows the corrected dot configuration of Code 39 when the narrow bar width (NB) is 5 dots according to the standard, and both “vertical” and “parallel” orientations. Have data about. This corrected dot configuration is obtained as follows. The thin bar width of 5 dots has a bar width of 250 μm from the correction table 1000 shown in FIG. The fine space is determined to be 8 dots by searching the correction table 1000 for the number of dots that is 250 μm, the same as the fine bar. Thereby, the bar width composed of 5 dots and the space width composed of 8 dots are the same as the actual size on the paper surface. The thick bar and the thick space are searched for the number of dots corresponding to the width closest to 250 μm × 2 = 500 μm from the correction table 1000 with the thin ratio of 1: 2, and the actual bar width is 505 μm closest to 500 μm. It is determined to be 11 dots and a thick space of 14 dots having an actual space width of 505 μm which is the closest to 500 μm. As a result, the standard conditions of “thin bar × 2 = thick bar” and “bar width = space”, which are one of the important factors of the barcode reading rate, can be guaranteed with the actual size on the paper.

  The bar code configuration information table 1102 shown in FIG. 11B indicates the corrected dot configuration of the EAN 128 when the narrow bar width (NB) is 4 dots according to the standard, and both “vertical” and “parallel” orientations. Have data about. For example, in the case of “vertical”, the corrected dot configuration is obtained as follows. Since the fine bar width of 4 dots is 210 μm as the actual bar width from the correction table 1000, the bar widths of the four values of the bar of 1: 2: 3: 4 are calculated to be 210 μm, 420 μm, 630 μm, and 840 μm, respectively. is there. Therefore, by the same method as described above, the number of dots corresponding to each bar width is determined as 4 dots, 9 dots, 14 dots, and 19 dots from the correction table 1000 of FIG. Similarly, the space widths of 210 μm, 420 μm, 630 μm, and 840 μm can be determined as 7 dots, 12 dots, 17 dots, and 22 dots. As a result, the standard conditions of “1: 2: 3: 4 ratio” and “bar width = space”, which are one of the important factors of the barcode reading rate, can be guaranteed with the actual size on the paper. The same applies to the case of “parallel”.

  These barcode configuration information tables 1101 and 1102 are stored in the storage unit 112 of the information processing apparatus 100 together with barcode type information.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of a screen for explaining the operation of the barcode generation system according to the present embodiment.

  An input screen 1200 of a barcode generation application executed on the information processing apparatus 100 includes a barcode type selection column 1201 for selecting a barcode type from options, and a selection column for selecting a barcode direction (direction). 1202, a dot number input field 1203 for inputting the number of fine bar (narrow bar) dots as width information of a reference element, a light wavelength input field 1204 for a barcode reader, and a test chart 600 are read. “Chart read” button 1205 and “End” button 1207 for receiving an end instruction.

  When “Read Chart” 1205 is instructed by the user, the barcode generation application reads the recording output of the test chart 600 set in the image scanner 110 and sets the number of dots of each element width based on the read image and the actual measurement value. Based on this, a correction table 1000 as shown in FIG. 10 is created. At this time, the threshold for determining the bar width is a value corresponding to the wavelength specified in the input field 1204. This threshold will be described later. Further, an appropriate barcode correction value that matches the barcode type specified by the user on the input screen 1200 and the number of fine bar dots is obtained, and the barcode configuration information screen 1210 is output. In the case of a binary-level barcode, the barcode configuration information screen 1210 has its narrow bar (narrow bar) 1211, narrow space (narrow space) 1213, and thick bar (wide bar) 1212 in accordance with the selection result of the bar direction. The appropriate number of constituent dots is displayed in each display field of the thick space (wide space) 1214. A bar code direction (vertical or parallel to the nozzle row) can be selected in the bar code direction selection field 1202. In accordance with an instruction of the “end” button 1206, the barcode configuration information (such as an appropriate number of configuration dots) is stored in the storage unit 112 in the information processing apparatus 100. The stored information is used for subsequent bar code recording. Further, each display column on the barcode configuration information screen 1210 may accept a correction input by the user. For example, although the quality of the barcode is lowered, the user may be able to perform fine adjustment input for reducing the dot width by, for example, one dot in order to reduce the size of the barcode. Further, both “vertical” and “parallel” data may be displayed simultaneously without providing the selection field 1202.

  When the barcode generation application does not have a barcode recording function, the barcode configuration information screen 1210 can be used by the user to confirm the correction value. After confirmation, the bar width and space width values can be set in a dot configuration input field (not shown) of general bar code generation software. As a result, it is possible to generate an appropriate barcode with a high reading rate.

  In the case of a multi-level bar code, although not shown, an appropriate number of constituent dots is displayed on a similar screen 1210 in the display column of each quaternary bar / space.

  Similarly, when generating a barcode parallel to the nozzle row, a barcode corresponding to the barcode direction can be generated by referring to a correction table corresponding to the barcode and generating the barcode. It becomes possible.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing processing related to creation of the correction table 1000 in the barcode generation system of this embodiment. A program representing the execution procedure of the processing of this flowchart is stored in the storage unit 112 (FIG. 2), and this processing is realized by the control unit 111 interpreting and executing the program.

  It is assumed that the user has printed the test chart 600 by the printing apparatus 200 by a predetermined operation before the processing of FIG. In a state where the printed test chart is set by the user on the image scanner 110, the user sets the barcode type, orientation, narrow bar width, and light source wavelength on the input screen 1200 (S11). Thereafter, the test chart 600 is read (S13) in response to pressing of the “chart read” button 1203 (S12). The width (μm) of the bar and space for each number of dots printed on the test chart 600 is measured with a threshold corresponding to the wavelength of the light source based on the read image (S14). From this measurement result, a relational expression between the number of dots and the length of the width is obtained and a graph is created (S15). Further, from this graph, the value of bar and space width (μm) corresponding to the number of dots in increments of 1 dot is calculated (S16). Based on this result, the dot number and width correction table 1000 (FIG. 10) is created (S17). The created correction table 1000 is stored in the storage unit 112 and used when an actual barcode is generated.

  Further, when it is not possible to generate a readable barcode (S18, No), that is, when it is determined that the read quality of the generated barcode does not reach a predetermined level according to a predetermined criterion, the user Is issued to end the present process (S21). This warning may be caused by the display or sound of an arbitrary message such as text, a symbol, or an image.

  If it is determined that a readable barcode can be generated (S18, Yes), the appropriate number of dots for the bar and space width of the barcode is determined (S19), and the appropriate dot is displayed on the barcode configuration information screen 1210. The number is displayed (S20).

  FIG. 14 shows the relationship between the wavelength of the light source used in the barcode reader and the reflectance of each color element (here, cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y)).

  The relationships (1401, 1402, 1403) between the wavelengths and reflectances of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) are different. For example, in the case of a barcode reader having a light source wavelength of 650 nm, for magenta (M) and yellow (Y), these bars are erroneously determined as spaces because of their high reflectivity. On the other hand, for cyan (C), the bar of that color is determined as a correct bar because of its low reflectance.

  In the case of a barcode reader having a light source wavelength of 450 nm, cyan (C) has a low reflectance, so that the color bar is correctly determined as a bar, and magenta (M) and yellow (Y) reflectivity. Is high, the color bar is mistakenly determined to be a space.

  As described above, since the color that can be read differs depending on the wavelength of the light source of the barcode reader, the threshold value for determining the print area and the non-print area of the test chart needs to correspond to the wavelength of the light source. That is, it is necessary to make the standard for distinguishing the bar and space from the bar code reader the same as the standard for distinguishing the print area and the non-print area of the test chart.

  Further, by making the reference the same, it is possible to accurately determine the color bar code correction or the print chart non-print area of the test chart even when the paper on which the bar code is printed is color.

  FIG. 15 shows a configuration example of the threshold value table 1500. The threshold value table 1500 is a data table for determining threshold values for discriminating between the bar that is the print area and the space that is the non-print area for the read output of the test chart. This threshold table 1500 is measured according to a barcode reader such as a barcode reader or a verification machine that reads the generated barcode when measuring the actual dot size (unit: micrometer) of the bar width and space width of the test chart. Therefore, an appropriate threshold value is associated with each wavelength of the light source. That is, a wavelength close to the wavelength of the light source input by the user is searched from the wavelength column 1501, and a threshold corresponding to the wavelength is searched from the threshold column 1502. Based on the threshold value obtained in this way, the area is discriminated from the print value and the non-print area from the measurement value for each color element.

  FIG. 16 shows a flowchart of processing for discriminating a print area and a non-print area (that is, binarization) for CMY data obtained by reading a test chart with an image scanner.

  First, CMY data is read by scanning a test chart with an image scanner (S31). Next, the threshold values for the CMY data are retrieved from the threshold value table 1500 (FIG. 15) and determined (S32).

  Therefore, paying attention to a certain pixel (S33), it is determined whether any one of the cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) data of the pixel exceeds the threshold value. (S34). This is nothing but taking the logical sum of the measurement results for a plurality of color elements.

  As long as the range (area) where the barcode exists is known in advance, the pixel to be determined may be limited to that range.

  If any one of the CMY data exceeds the threshold, the pixel is determined as a print area (S35). If none of them exceeds the threshold value, the pixel is determined as a non-printing area (S36).

  Until the determination of all data is completed (S37), the pixel position is updated (S38), the process returns to step S33, and the above processing is repeated.

  By such processing, data having a plurality of gradations with three colors at the time of reading can be converted into binary data of “1” for the print area and “0” for the non-print area. Further, by using the threshold value table 1500, it is possible to discriminate between a printing area and a non-printing area based on the same determination standard as that of the barcode reading apparatus, and correction can be made even with barcodes and color papers of ink colors other than black. Become.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but various modifications and changes other than those mentioned above can be made. For example, in the above test chart, a bar and a space composed of 1 to 10 dots are taken as an example, but the relationship between the number of dots and the actual size is roughly proportional as shown in the graph of FIG. If there are at least two points, such as 5, 10 dots, the intended purpose and effect can be achieved. Conversely, the dot configuration range may be expanded, for example, 1 to 100 dots in order to generate a higher quality barcode.

  Further, in the embodiment, as shown in the input screen 1200 of FIG. 12, the barcode is generated by inputting the size of the narrow bar as the reference element of the barcode, but the barcode drawing area is input and specified, An appropriate barcode that fits within the designated area may be generated. At this time, if a barcode that can satisfy the reading rank cannot be generated in the designated area, it is desirable to notify the user to that effect. In the above description, the number of constituent dots of each element width of the barcode is taken as an example of the output information, but barcode bitmap data may be used.

  In the above description, an image scanner is used as the test chart reading device. However, an optical detector specialized for barcodes such as a barcode reader or a barcode verifier may be used.

  Further, although the threshold value table 1500 is expressed with 100 gradations of the CMY color model, any other expression method may be used as long as it can express color gradations.

  Although the threshold value table 1500 is used as a method of discriminating the print area and the non-print area of the test chart, the threshold value may be obtained by arithmetic.

  Also, the bar code (including color bar code) and the bar color of the test chart, and the paper on which the bar code is printed (including color paper) and the color of the paper on which the test chart is printed are the same or close to each other. It is desirable that

  The program itself installed in the computer and the storage medium for storing the program for realizing the functions described in the above embodiments by the computer also constitute the present invention. The program may be in any form such as an object code program that can be directly interpreted and executed by a processor, a program executed by an interpreter, a script data format program that runs on an OS or an application, and the like. Examples of storage media for supplying the program include magnetic storage media (flexible disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes, etc.), optical disks (MO-optical disks such as MO and PD, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-). RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RAM, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD + RW, etc.), semiconductor storage, paper tape, and the like.

1 is a schematic diagram of a barcode generation system in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of control hardware of an information processing apparatus and a printing apparatus in the system of FIG. 1. It is the schematic at the time of recording the pattern comprised by black bar and white bar like a general barcode with a recording unit. It is a schematic diagram showing the state according to the passage of time until the sub-droplet in the inkjet printing apparatus reaches the paper. It is a figure which shows the state of the subdrop which generate | occur | produces when comprising the barcode which has a parallel and perpendicular | vertical bar with respect to a nozzle row in an inkjet printing apparatus. It is the figure which showed the structural example of the test pattern which can confirm the state of the thinning of the bar in embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the structural example of the test pattern which can confirm the state of the space thinness in embodiment of this invention. 6 is a graph showing measured values of the bar and space widths of the actual printing results with respect to the number of dots when printing the bars and spaces of the test chart in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the example of an external appearance structure of the barcode production | generation system in embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the example of a structure of the correction table in embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a barcode configuration information table that stores barcode configuration information for different types of barcodes as an example of the barcode correction value of FIG. 9. It is the figure which showed the example of a screen for demonstrating operation | movement of the barcode generation system of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart showing the process relevant to preparation of the correction table in the barcode production | generation system of embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the wavelength of the light source used for a barcode reader, and the reflectance of each color element. It is the figure which showed the structural example of the threshold value table in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the process which discriminate | determines a printing area | region and a non-printing area | region with respect to the CMY data which read the test chart in embodiment of this invention with the image scanner.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Information processing apparatus 101 ... Recording unit 102 ... Interface cable 103 ... Paper 104 ... Encoder 105 ... One-dimensional barcode 106 ... Conveyance unit 110 ... Image scanner 111 ... Control part 112 ... Storage part 113 ... Display part 114 ... Operation part 115 ... interface 200 ... printing apparatus 201 ... control unit 205 ... image memory 206 ... various motors 208 ... USB controller 209 ... control circuit 210 ... head drive circuit 211 ... motor driver 214 ... recording head 600 ... test chart 600n ... test pattern 600p ... test Pattern 806 ... Test chart image data 1000 ... Correction table 1100 ... Bar code correction values 1101, 1102 ... Bar code configuration information table 1200 ... Input screen 1210 ... Bar code configuration information screen 500 ... threshold table

Claims (9)

A barcode generation system for generating barcode configuration information for printing a barcode,
Means for storing image data of a test chart for printing a bar and space for a barcode with a plurality of different widths of dots, respectively;
Measurement means for measuring the width of the bar and space for the barcode based on the read image of the test chart obtained by printing the image data of the test chart with a specific printing device;
Based on the measurement result of the measurement means, the barcode correction value is the number of dots of the bar width and the space width to be set at the time of printing so that the bar width and the space width of the barcode after printing have a prescribed size. And a bar width correction means to be obtained,
The bar code generation system characterized in that the measurement means obtains image measurement results for each of a plurality of color elements, and obtains the bar and space widths by taking the logical sum of these measurement results.   2. The barcode generation according to claim 1, wherein the measurement unit includes a threshold value table in which thresholds for binarizing the read output for each of a plurality of color elements are associated with the wavelength of the light source of the barcode reader. system.   The barcode generation system according to claim 2, further comprising means for inputting a wavelength of a light source of the barcode reader.   The bar width correction means corresponds to the number of dots and the width of the bar and space based on the relationship between the number of dots of the bar and space width printed on the test chart and the measured value of the width of the bar and space. The barcode generation system according to claim 1, wherein the attached correction table is generated.   The bar width correcting means includes means for receiving input of bar code type and reference element width information, and the correction table is based on the received bar code type and reference element width information. To select the number of dots for the bar width and space width to be set at the time of printing so that the width of all bars and spaces of the bar code after printing of this type matches or approaches the specified size Item 5. The barcode generation system according to Item 4.   The barcode generation system according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is a printing apparatus that employs an inkjet recording method.   The bar includes a plurality of bars extending in parallel with each other in the vertical direction and a plurality of bars extending in parallel with each other in the horizontal direction, and the correction table and the barcode correction value are generated separately in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. The bar code generation system according to claim 4.   The bar code generation system according to claim 1, wherein each of the bar and the space recorded on the test chart has at least two types of widths. A barcode generation program for generating barcode configuration information for printing a barcode,
Based on the read image of the test chart obtained by printing the image data of the test chart with a specific printing device, the measurement result of the image for each of the plurality of color elements is obtained, and the logical sum of these measurement results is obtained. Measuring the width of the bars and spaces by
Based on this measurement result, a step of obtaining the bar width and the space width dot number to be set at the time of printing as a bar code correction value so that the bar width and space width of the bar code after printing have a predetermined size; ,
A barcode generation program for causing a computer to execute the above.