JP2000355149A - Printing system and system for detecting printing failure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect printing failures without errors by comparing character data with bar code data of an object, thereby detecting whether or not printed characters are intended ones, or comparing a pass time of the bar code of the object with a pass time of a print column, thereby detecting whether or not the bar code is out of the print column. SOLUTION: A bar code printed to an object 6 is read by a bar code reader 3, analyzed by a decoder 2 and converted to characters. Data expressed by the converted characters is compared with data for printing to a print column by characters in printing data. After the comparison, when the data do not agree, a signal is sent to a personal computer 1 to stop the printing system. When the object 6 passes a sensor 4, an output from the sensor 4 is turned on. On the other hand, when the object 6 does not pass the sensor 4, the output from the sensor 4 is turned off. A binary output from the bar code reader 2 is corrected in this manner.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to detecting a printing defect that occurs when an object is sequentially moved and printing is performed in a print column of each object in accordance with print data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Incorrect printing when information such as name, address, telephone number, etc. is printed in characters on a print column of an object such as a sheet of paper or a book, such as a destination of direct mail, in accordance with print data. There are two types. The first printing failure is when the printed characters are not intended. The second printing failure is a case where printing is performed out of the printing column of the object. Conventionally, there are the following methods for detecting this printing failure by a machine.

[0003] A first method is to print a printed character in an OCR format.
(Optical Character Reade
r), and by comparing this with the print data, it is detected whether or not the intended character is printed in the print column. However, in OCR, erroneous recognition often occurs, and there is a problem that even if a printed character is an intended character, it is often determined that it is not.

A second method is to detect a deviation of a printed character from a printing column based on shading of a picture. Naturally, in this method, it is possible to detect the second printing defect that the object is printed out of the printing column, but it is not possible to detect the first printing defect that the printed character is not the intended one. There's a problem.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, and it is possible to detect a printing defect which occurs when an object is sequentially moved and printed in a print column of each object in accordance with print data without errors. The task is to be able to do so.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a printing system for sequentially moving an object and printing in a print column of each object in accordance with print data. Means for supplying print data including data for printing in the print column with a bar code, and printing by comparing data for printing in the print column with characters and data decoded from the bar code of the object. Means for detecting whether the character is the intended character, and whether the barcode is out of the print box by comparing the bar code of the object and the respective time when the print box passes a certain point. And a means for detecting the print data.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for detecting a printing defect in a printing system for sequentially moving an object and printing in accordance with print data in a printing column of each object, wherein printing is performed in a printing column using characters and bar codes. Means for supplying print data including data for printing, and the character printed by comparing the data for printing in the print field with characters and the data decoded from the barcode of the object is intended. Means for detecting whether or not the barcode is out of the print box by comparing the barcode of the object and the respective time when the print box passes a certain point. This is a printing failure detection system characterized by the following.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First, a description will be given of a "printing system for sequentially moving objects and printing in a print column of each object in accordance with print data" according to claims 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is a system including a personal computer 1, a decoder 2, a barcode reader 3, a sensor 4, a print head 5, a transport conveyor 7, and an automatic supply device 8. The personal computer 1 controls the automatic supply device 8, the conveyor 7 and the print head 5. With this control, when the print field of the object 6 sequentially supplied from the automatic supply device 8 and flowing through the conveyor 7 passes through the print head 5, print data is sent from the personal computer 1 to the print head 5, and the print head 5 Print in the print column of. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the “printing system for sequentially moving an object and printing in a print column of each object in accordance with print data” according to claims 1 and 2 includes the personal computer 1, the automatic supply device 8, The system includes a conveyor 7 and a print head 5.

Examples of the object 6 include a sheet of paper and a book. Examples of the print head 5 include:
An ink jet print head may be used.

Next, a description will be given of "means for supplying print data including data for printing in a print column with characters and bar codes" according to claims 1 and 2. Here, the print data including data for printing characters and bar codes in the print column is data for printing characters in the print column for each object 6 sequentially supplied from the automatic supply device 8 and flowing through the conveyor 7. In addition to the print data, the print data includes data for printing in a print column with a barcode. At this time,
Information represented by characters is included in information represented by barcodes. For example, if the object 6 is a direct mail sheet, the print head 5 prints destination information such as a name, an address, and a telephone number in characters in a print column of the object 6, but also prints a bar code. This is performed by including, in the print data, data representing the destination information in characters and data representing the destination information in a barcode.

The print data may be created by the personal computer 1 or data created by another device may be taken into the personal computer 1. Alternatively, only data for printing with characters may be created by another device, and data for printing with a barcode may be created by the personal computer 1 based on the data to complete the printing data.

[0012] Further, the character "printed by comparing data for printing in a print column with data and data decoded from a bar code of an object" according to claims 1 and 2 is intended. Means for Detecting Whether or Not Is "?" When print data is sent from the personal computer 1 to the print head 5, the print data is also sent to the decoder 2 at the same time. On the other hand, the barcode printed on the object 6 is read by the barcode reader 3 and is read by the decoder 2.
And converted to characters. Then, the data represented by the character converted from the read barcode is compared with the data to be printed in the print column by the character in the print data. As a result of the comparison, if they do not match, a signal is sent to the personal computer 1 and the printing system stops.

[0013] Further, "means for detecting whether or not the barcode is out of the print box by comparing each time when the barcode of the object and the print box pass at a certain point". Will be described. The sensor 4 is for detecting the object 6 flowing on the conveyor 7. FIG. 2A shows a binary output from the sensor 4. When the object 6 passes through the sensor 4, the output from the sensor 4 turns ON. On the other hand, the object 6 is the sensor 4
, The output from the sensor 4 is turned off.

FIG. 2C shows a binary output from a timer built in the personal computer 1. At the time when the print field of the object 6 is scheduled to pass through the sensor 4, the output from the timer is O
It becomes N. On the other hand, the output from the timer is turned off at a time when the printing section of the object 6 is not going to pass through the sensor 4.

When the output of the sensor 4 and the output of the timer are both turned on by the personal computer 1, it is determined that the print field of the object 6 has passed the sensor 4. Accordingly, the print column has passed the sensor 4 at the times indicated by 11, 12, and 13 in FIG.

FIG. 2B shows a binary output signal from the bar code reader 3. When the barcode printed on the object 6 is passing through the barcode reader 3, the output from the barcode reader 3 is turned on. On the other hand, when the bar code printed on the object 6 does not pass through the bar code reader 3, the output from the bar code reader 3 is OF
It becomes F. More preferably, the binary output from the barcode reader 3 is corrected by the personal computer 1 in consideration of the time required for the object 6 to pass between the sensor 4 and the barcode reader 3. That is, when the barcode printed on the object 6 passes through the sensor 4, the output from the barcode reader 3 turns ON, while the barcode printed on the object 6 does not pass through the sensor 4. When
Correction is made so that the output from the barcode reader 3 is turned off. Thus, a, b, and c in FIG. 2 represent the time that the barcode is passing through the sensor 4.

The personal computer 1 determines whether or not a bar code detected from an output signal from the bar code reader 3 is printed on a print column determined from output signals from the sensor 4 and the timer. For example, since a in FIG. 2 is within 11 in FIG. 2, it is determined that the bar code is printed in the print column. In addition, FIG.
2, it is determined that the barcode is printed in the print column. However, since c in FIG. 2 is outside of 13 in FIG. 2, it is determined that the barcode is printed outside the print column. When it is determined that the print data is outside the print field, the personal computer 1 stops the print system.

The print defect detection system of the present invention refers to a portion for detecting a print defect in the print system of the present invention. Therefore, in the embodiment of the printing system of the present invention, the printing defect detecting system of the present invention is a system including the personal computer 1, the decoder 2, the barcode reader 3, and the sensor 4.

[0019]

As a result, since the barcode has a lower false recognition rate than the OCR, the present invention corrects a printing defect that occurs when an object is sequentially moved and printed in a print column of each object according to print data. There is an effect that it can be detected without detection.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a printing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a time chart for explaining a method of confirming whether or not a barcode has been printed in a print column;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Personal computer 2 ... Decoder 3 ... Bar code reader 4 ... Sensor 5 ... Print head 6 ... Object 7 ... Conveyor 8 ... Automatic supply device 11 ... Print column 12 ... Print column 13 ... Print column A ... Output signal from sensor B ... Output signal from barcode reader C ... Output signal from timer a ... Barcode b ... Barcode c ... Barcode

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A printing system for sequentially moving an object and printing in a print column of each object in accordance with print data, comprising: means for supplying print data including data for printing in a print column using characters and bar codes; Means for detecting whether the printed character is intended by comparing the data to be printed in the print column with the data decoded from the bar code of the object, and the bar code and printing of the object Means for detecting whether or not the barcode is out of the print field by comparing respective times when the field passes a certain point. 2. A system for detecting a printing failure in a printing system for sequentially moving an object and printing according to print data in a print column of each object, wherein the print includes data for printing characters and bar codes in the print column. Means for supplying data and detecting whether or not the printed character is intended by comparing the data to be printed in the print column with the character and the data decoded from the bar code of the object Means for detecting whether or not the barcode is out of the print field by comparing each time when the barcode of the object and the print field pass a certain point. Detection system.