JP2012071532A - Bar code printing control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control device for printing a bar code capable of performing fine bar code printing control matching the characteristics of paper used for printing.SOLUTION: When data designating a region A of a bar code B exists in printing data of a printing job, a correcting content is determined according to the degree of ink bleeding upon printing a narrow bar according to the kind of recording paper defined in attribute information and the color of a printing image portion R positioned on the back side of the bar code region A of the printing paper, and printing of the bar code B is performed using bar code printing multi-value data corrected by the determined correction content.

Description

  The present invention relates to a barcode printing control apparatus using a multi-drop inkjet printer.

  When printing a barcode in which narrow bars (solid black portions) and space bars (white portions) are alternately arranged with an ink jet printer, it is important to suppress a decrease in reading accuracy due to ink bleeding.

  From this point of view, a technique for printing dots having a diameter smaller than that of the other part of the narrow bar or the edge part (for example, Patent Document 1), a contour other than the narrow bar such as a table or a ruled line than the contour line of the narrow bar of the barcode. A technique for increasing the thickness (for example, Patent Document 2) has already been proposed.

JP 2009-66831 A JP 2008-3994 A

  However, by simply using small-diameter dots for narrow bar printing, it is not possible to perform fine barcode printing control that matches the characteristics of the paper used for printing. A similar problem arises if the narrow bar contour is simply made thinner than the non-barcode contour.

  There is also an idea of reducing the overall printing density to reduce bleeding, but there is a gap between dots that should originally be black solid, so that it does not fill, or there is a contrast difference between the narrow bar and the space bar. There is a concern that the reading accuracy will be adversely affected and the reading accuracy as a barcode will be adversely affected.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to perform fine bar code printing control in accordance with the characteristics of the paper used for printing in a multi-drop type ink jet printer. An object of the present invention is to provide a bar code printing control device.

In order to achieve the above object, the barcode printing control apparatus according to the present invention described in claim 1 comprises:
An apparatus for controlling barcode printing in which a barcode in a print image by an input print job is printed on a recording sheet by a multi-drop inkjet printer in which the number of ink droplets ejected to the same pixel is variable. ,
Detection means for detecting the presence of a barcode in the print image based on print data of the print job;
A discriminating means for discriminating the degree of ink bleeding on the recording paper when the printing image is printed on the recording paper of the type, based on the type of the recording paper used for printing the print image;
When the detection unit detects the presence of a barcode in the print image, the barcode printing multi-value data generated from the barcode data content in the print data is based on the determination result of the determination unit. Correcting means for correcting the barcode shape printed on the type of recording paper so as to approach the barcode shape on the data represented by the print data;
It is characterized by providing.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the barcode printing control apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the discrimination means further includes a step of identifying the barcode in the printing data. The degree of bleeding of the ink is determined based on attribute information indicating a background color.

  Furthermore, the barcode printing control apparatus of the present invention described in claim 3 is the barcode printing control apparatus of the present invention described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the discrimination means further includes a barcode in the printed image. Determining the degree of bleeding of the ink based on data indicating the color of the print image of the back side portion of the barcode on the recording paper in the print data. It is characterized by.

  Note that, as in the barcode printing control apparatus according to the modified example of the present invention, in the barcode printing control apparatus according to claim 1, 2, or 3, the correction means converts the barcode into a black ink single color. The multi-value data for barcode printing may be corrected so as to be printed at the same time.

  According to the barcode printing control apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, when a print job of a print image including a barcode is input, the barcode shape printed on the recording paper is determined by the print data of the print job. The barcode printing multi-value data generated from the print data is corrected according to the type of recording paper used for printing so as to approximate the barcode shape on the represented data. Therefore, the barcode can be printed on the recording paper in a shape close to the shape on the data with appropriate multi-value data according to the type of the recording paper.

  According to the barcode printing control apparatus of the present invention described in claim 2, in the barcode printing control apparatus of the present invention described in claim 1, the ink used for printing according to the background color of the barcode. Even if the color is different and the degree of ink bleeding varies depending on the temperature and composition, the bar code is printed with the appropriate multi-value data according to the color of the ink used, and the recording paper has a shape close to the shape on the data. Can be printed.

  Furthermore, according to the barcode printing control apparatus of the present invention described in claim 3, in the barcode printing control apparatus of the present invention described in claim 1 or 2, an image printed on the back side of the recording paper in duplex printing. Even when the degree of bleeding of the ink used to print the barcode on the front side of the recording paper varies depending on the color of the recording paper, the barcode is displayed with the appropriate multi-value data according to the color of the printed image on the back side. Can be printed on recording paper in a shape close to.

  According to the barcode printing control apparatus according to the modification of the present invention, the barcode printing control apparatus according to the first, second, or third aspect of the present invention is configured such that the barcode is black and inks of a plurality of other colors. By using single-color printing with black ink only instead of composite printing by printing, the barcode printing location for each color ink is shifted and multi-value data for barcode printing corrected for printing with each color ink can be used. It is possible to prevent the merit from being lost.

1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a multi-drop type ink jet printer to which the present invention is applied. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control system of the inkjet printer of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which expands and shows the shape on the data by the barcode print data in the print job input into the control unit of FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the degree of ink bleeding when the barcode B is printed with the print data of FIG. 3. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the correction | amendment process of the multi-value data for barcode printing which CPU of the control unit of FIG. 2 performs according to the program stored in ROM. It is explanatory drawing in the case of designating the barcode area | region in a print image using the input part and output part of the client terminal of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the ink bleed degree of the narrow bar of a barcode changes with the color of the printing image printed on the back side of the barcode area | region of FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of a procedure performed in a back surface color determination process during the correction process of the multi-value data for barcode printing in FIG. 5. It is explanatory drawing which shows the procedure of the hue check performed during the back surface color determination process of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the barcode edge part correction process of FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a print width difference between a narrow bar and a space bar for each background color when a barcode is printed on plain paper by the inkjet printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a print width difference between a narrow bar and a space bar for each background color when a barcode is printed on IJ paper by the inkjet printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a print width difference between a narrow bar and a space bar for each background color when a barcode is printed on IJ mat paper by the ink jet printer of FIG. 1. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of another example of the barcode edge part correction process of FIG. The barcode narrow bar and space bar print results printed using the barcode printing multi-value data subjected to barcode edge correction processing and the barcode printing multi-value data not performed in FIG. It is explanatory drawing shown in comparison with a typical printing result. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an output waveform of a read signal by a barcode scanner printed using the barcode printing multi-value data subjected to the barcode edge correction processing and the barcode printing multi-value data not performed in FIG. FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Throughout the drawings, the same or equivalent parts and components are denoted by the same or equivalent reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted or simplified.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a line type ink jet printer to which the present invention is applied. As shown in FIG. 1, a line-type inkjet printer (hereinafter abbreviated as “inkjet printer”) 1 of this embodiment includes a scanner unit 101 that reads a print image on a document and outputs an image signal, and a scanner unit. A printer unit 102 that prints (records) a print image on a recording sheet S (single side or double side) based on an image signal output from 101, a display 103 for various display inputs, and a control unit 10 for overall control. I have. The recording sheet S used for printing the print image in the printer unit 102 is conveyed from the paper supply unit 105 to the paper discharge unit 109 via the printer unit 102.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the control unit 10 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, an external interface unit 15 of a client terminal 14 to be described later is connected to the control unit 10 via an external interface unit 11. For this connection, for example, a 100BASE-TX wired LAN is used. The control unit 10 receives a print job of a print image from the client terminal 14. This print job includes postscript data (or GDI data) and print environment data. The control unit 10 generates raster data of the print image based on the postscript data (or GDI data) of the received print job. The ink jet printer 1 causes the printer unit 102 to print a print image on the recording paper S under the conditions specified in the print environment information of the print job.

  The printer unit 102 includes an inkjet head (not shown) that prints a print image using a multi-drop inkjet method that can change up to 5 dots to be ejected from a nozzle (not shown) to the same pixel. K (black), C (cyan), M (magenta), and Y (yellow) are provided for each color. Multi-value data for printing that defines the number of ejected dots of ink droplets from the inkjet head of each color of each pixel is generated by the CPU 90 of the control unit 10 based on the print data of the print job input from the client terminal 14. The

  A display 103 is connected to the CPU 90 of the control unit 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the display 103 is disposed on the upper part of the inkjet printer 1. The display 103 is an input operation unit that allows a user to select and input menus such as electronic data conversion of the read image and self-diagnosis when the inkjet printer 1 is used in a scanner mode in which the scanner unit 101 reads an image from the recording paper S. Can be used as

  The control unit 10 of the inkjet printer 1 that causes the printer unit 102 to perform a printing operation includes a CPU 90 as shown in FIG. The CPU 90 controls the operations of the scanner unit 101 and the printer unit 102 in accordance with the contents input and set from the display 103 based on the program and setting information stored in the ROM 91.

  Note that the control unit 10 is provided with a RAM 92, and the menu selection content input from the display 103 is stored in the RAM 92 as needed. The RAM 92 is provided with a frame memory area. In this frame memory area, print image raster data generated by the CPU 90 from the postscript data (or GDI data) of the print job input from the client terminal 14 to the control unit 10 is output to the printer unit 102. Temporarily stored.

  The control unit 10 is provided with a flash memory 93. The flash memory 93 is a non-volatile memory that can retain stored contents even when power supply to the inkjet printer 1 is cut off. The flash memory 93 stores the display 103, the color matching system and printer engine of the printer unit 102, and the firmware of the scanner unit 101 separately for each area to be used.

  The client terminal 14 is configured by a PC (personal computer) or the like, and includes a CPU 16 that executes various processes based on a control program stored in the ROM 17, a RAM 18 that functions as a working area of the CPU 16, a keyboard, An input unit 19 composed of a mouse or the like and an output unit 20 composed of a liquid crystal display or the like are provided.

  In addition to the external interface unit 15 described above, an external storage device 21 and a disk drive 22 are connected to the CPU 16. The external storage device 21 includes a storage area for an application program for generating print image data, a storage area for a printer driver program of the inkjet printer 1, a database area for print image data generated using the application program, In addition, a database area such as standard contents of the printing environment information in the printer driver program or contents customized by the user is secured. The print environment information is output to the control unit 10 as print information data in the print job.

  The CPU 16 activates the application program in the external storage device 21 in accordance with the activation request input from the input unit 19, and the print image data having the contents designated by the parameter input from the input unit 19 is activated. Generate on application program. The generated print image data is displayed and output by the output unit 20, and when a save request is input from the input unit 19, the print image data is stored in the print image data database area of the external storage device 21.

  The print image data stored in the database area of the external storage device 21 is read from the external storage device 21 when a read request is input from the input unit 19 during activation of the application program. The read print image data can be displayed and output on the output unit 20, or can be processed on the application program and regenerated as new print image data.

  Then, when a print command is input from the input unit 19 while the application program is running, the CPU 16 generates a print job for the print image to be printed, and sends the generated print job from the external interface unit 15 to the control unit 10. Is output to the external interface unit 11. This print job can be output to the control unit 10 by the CPU 16 executing a printer driver program stored in the external storage device 21.

  In addition, the CPU 16 reads various programs and data from the disk-shaped recording medium 50 such as an optical disk by the disk drive 22 of the client terminal 14 and installs (stores) them in the external storage device 21 or transmits them to the inkjet printer 1 side. Can do.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing, in an enlarged manner, the shape of the data based on the print data of the barcode B in the print job input from the client terminal 14 to the control unit 10 of the inkjet printer 1. The bar code B of FIG. 3 is configured with the same dimensions in terms of data as the width of the black solid narrow bar Bn and the width of the space bar Bs existing between the two narrow bars Bn.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of the degree of ink bleeding when the inkjet printer 1 prints the barcode B on the recording paper S using the print data of FIG. The printed barcode B1 shown in FIG. 4 is printed with ink droplets of 5 dots corresponding to the darkest density in each pixel of the narrow bar Bn portion. FIG. 4 shows a case where one narrow bar Bn is printed with five rows of dots.

  In the printed barcode B1 shown in FIG. 4, the width of the narrow bar Bn becomes wider than the normal dimension on the print data shown in FIG. 3 due to bleeding of dots in the outermost row in the width direction of the narrow bar Bn. Accordingly, the width of the space bar Bs is narrower than the normal dimension.

  Changes in the width of the narrow bar Bn and the space bar Bs of the printed barcode B1 due to such blurring of the dots are caused by the recording paper S and ink color used for printing, and the back side of the barcode B1 in the case of duplex printing. Depends on the color of the printed image printed on. Therefore, in the inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment, those elements are specified from the print job, and the contents of the barcode printing multi-value data used for printing the barcode B1 on the recording paper S are displayed on the data bar. Correction is made from the contents corresponding to the code B.

  Next, a procedure for correcting the multi-value data for barcode printing performed in the inkjet printer 1 of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The flowchart of FIG. 5 shows processing performed by the CPU 90 of the control unit 10 shown in FIG. 2 executing a program stored in the ROM 91.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 90 first checks whether or not data specifying a barcode area exists in the print data of a print image by a print job input from the client terminal 14 (step S1). . Here, the data specifying the barcode area is the print image I of the print job shown in the explanatory diagram of FIG. 6 (here, a case of a form is shown) on the liquid crystal display of the output unit 20 of the client terminal 14. In the displayed state, by using the mouse of the input unit 19 and the like to input the area A of the barcode B, the CPU 16 of the client terminal 14 can incorporate it into a part of the print data of the print job.

  Returning to the flowchart of FIG. 5, if there is no data specifying the barcode area A in the print data (NO in step S1), the normal print process is performed (step S3), and the series of processes is terminated. Here, the normal printing process is based on multi-drop ink jet printing using each color ink-jet head using multi-value data of each color of the print image generated by the CPU 90 according to the contents indicated by the print data of the input print job. This is a printing process.

  On the other hand, if there is data specifying the barcode area A in the print data (YES in step S1), an intra-area data monochrome conversion process is performed (step S5). In this process, the print data (RGB values) in the specified area is converted into K (black) one-color data (R, G, B = 0, 0, 0).

  Next, the CPU 90 confirms whether or not the input print job is double-sided print data (step S7). If it is not double-sided printing (NO in step S7), the color information on the back side of the recording paper S is set to “white” (step S9), and the process proceeds to step S23 described later. In the case of duplex printing (YES in step S7), the process proceeds to step S23 after executing the back color determination processing in steps S11 to S21.

  In this back surface color determination process, the degree of ink bleeding on the narrow bar Bn of the barcode B changes depending on the color of the printed image on the back side of the barcode area A in the case of duplex printing. This process is performed for the purpose of specifying.

  For example, compared to the barcode B1 printed on the recording paper S in the case of single-sided printing shown in the upper half of the explanatory diagram of FIG. In the barcode B1 printed on the recording paper S when it is red, the width of the narrow bar Bn is narrow and the width of the space bar Bs is wide. That is, it can be seen that the degree of bleeding of the ink of the narrow bar Bn of the barcode B1 printed on the recording paper S is smaller in the case where the color of the back surface is red in double-sided printing than in the case of single-sided printing.

Therefore, in the back surface color determination process, as shown in the explanatory diagram of FIG. 8, based on the print data of the print job input from the client terminal 14, The print image portion R on the back image image Ir that is located is specified from each pixel position. Then, the pixel data of the print image portion R on the back surface of the specified pixel position is converted from RGB data values into, for example, L ^* a ^* b ^* color system data, and the hue is calculated from the chromaticities represented by a ^* and b ^*. Find out.

  In the back surface color determination processing, as shown in FIG. 5, specifically, first, it is determined whether or not the print image to be printed on the print image portion R (FIG. 8) on the back surface of the recording paper S is an achromatic color. Confirm (step S11). If the color is achromatic (YES in step S11), the color information on the back side of the recording paper S is set to "black" (step S13), the back side color determination process is terminated, and the process proceeds to step S23. On the other hand, if it is not an achromatic color (NO in step S11), a hue check is performed for each pixel in the print image portion R (FIG. 8) located behind the barcode area A on the front surface of the recording paper S (step S15). In step S17, NO).

  If the hue check is performed for each pixel in the print image portion R (FIG. 8) (YES in step S17), the average hue of all pixels is determined from the hue of each pixel in the print image portion R (step S17). S19).

In steps S15 to S19 described above, processing is performed according to the procedure shown in the right half of the explanatory diagram of FIG. That is, in step S15 in FIG. 5, the RGB values defined in the print data for the respective pixels in the print image portion R (FIG. 8) on the back surface of the recording paper S are respectively expressed as L ^* a ^* b ^* colorimetry. It converts into the value of system data, and calculates | requires a hue from the chromaticity represented by a ^* and b ^* .

If the hues of all the pixels are determined in step S17 of FIG. 5 (YES), the hues of the determined pixels are averaged in step S19 of FIG. Determine the average hue of all pixels. In the example shown in the explanatory diagram of FIG. 9, when the average hue of all the pixels in the print image portion R is determined to be “red” in light of the L ^* a ^* b ^* color space in the left half of the drawing. Is shown.

  If the average hue of all the pixels in the print image portion R (FIG. 8) is determined in step S19 in FIG. 5, the color information of the color of the average hue determined in step S19 (corresponding) Color information: XX). And a back surface color determination process is complete | finished and it transfers to step S23.

  In step S23, the type of recording paper S (paper type) specified in the attribute information of the print job and the color of the print image portion R (FIG. 8) located behind the barcode area A in the print image (step S23). Color information set in step S9, step S13, and step S21). Then, the print jobs are classified according to the confirmed contents (paper A, paper B,..., A combination pattern of the paper N and the color of the print image portion R) (step S25a, step S25b,..., Step S25n). Further, after performing correction processing (density pattern / barcode edge correction processing) corresponding to each classified pattern, printing processing is performed (step S27a, step S27b,..., Step S27n).

  Here, with reference to the explanatory diagram of FIG. 10, the outline of the barcode edge correction processing performed in step S27a, step S27b,..., Step S27n of FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, when the narrow bar Bn of the barcode B1 printed on the recording paper S is printed with five dot rows, the print width is discharged to each pixel in the outermost row of the narrow bar Bn. Depends on the number of ink droplet drops. That is, the smaller the number of drops of ink droplets ejected to each pixel in the outermost row of the narrow bar Bn, the smaller the degree of ink bleeding and the narrower the print width of the narrow bar Bn.

  Therefore, in the barcode end correction processing performed in step S27a, step S27b,..., Step S27n in FIG. 5, how many ink droplets are to be ejected to each pixel in the outermost row of the narrow bar Bn. To decide.

  Next, the difference in print width between the narrow bar Bn for each background color and the space bar Bs when the barcode B1 is printed on the recording paper S by the inkjet printer 1 will be described with reference to the explanatory diagrams of FIGS. . Each table in the explanatory diagrams of FIG. 11 to FIG. 13 shows the print width of the narrow bar Bn and the space bar Bs and the difference between them for each background color of the barcode B1 printed on the recording paper S (unit: All μm).

  The number of drops (Drop) in each table in each figure indicates the number of drops of ink droplets (0 to 5 drops) ejected to each pixel in the outermost row of the narrow bar Bn. Moreover, the table | surface at the upper left of each figure has shown the case where a background color is colorless. Furthermore, the numbers in parentheses in the table indicate negative values.

  The explanatory diagram of FIG. 11 shows a case where the recording paper S is plain paper. The explanatory diagram of FIG. 12 shows a case where the recording paper S is an IJ (inkjet) paper. Further, the explanatory diagram of FIG. 13 shows a case where the recording paper S is IJ matte paper. As is clear from each table in each figure, the difference between the print width of the narrow bar Bn and the print width of the space bar Bs differs for each background color (including colorless) of the barcode B1, and the maximum of the narrow bar Bn. It differs depending on the number of drops of ink droplets ejected to each pixel in the outer row.

  For example, as shown in the explanatory diagram of FIG. 11, for plain paper, it is better to print each pixel in the outermost row of the narrow bar Bn with a smaller number of drops regardless of the background color of the barcode B1. The difference between the printing width of Bn and the printing width of the space bar Bs tends to be small.

  On the other hand, as shown in the explanatory diagrams of FIGS. 12 and 13, for IJ paper and IJ matte paper, the difference between the print width of the narrow bar Bn and the print width of the space bar Bs is the smallest depending on the background color of the barcode B1. The number of drops of ejected ink droplets for each pixel in the outermost row of the narrow bar Bn is different. Further, it differs between IJ paper and IJ matte paper.

  11 to 13 show the relationship between the background color of the barcode B1 to be printed and the print width difference between the narrow bar Bn and the space bar Bs, but the print image located on the back side of the barcode B1 to be printed. It is considered that there is a tendency similar to the tendency shown in the explanatory diagrams of FIGS. 11 to 13 between the color of the portion R (FIG. 8) and the print width difference between the narrow bar Bn and the space bar Bs. It is done.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, in step S27a, step S27b,..., Step S27n in FIG. 5, the type (sheet type) of the recording sheet S defined in the print job attribute information and the barcode area A in the print image are displayed. In accordance with the combination contents with the color information of the print image portion R (FIG. 8) located on the back side of the image, referring to the tendency shown in the explanatory diagrams of FIGS. The correction content of the multi-value data for barcode printing) is determined in advance.

  The determined correction contents are stored as, for example, a table (not shown) in the RAM 92 or the flash memory 93 of the control unit 10, and the bar code end correction in step S27a, step S27b,..., Step S27n in FIG. In the processing, the CPU 90 can be configured to take into account the determination of correction contents.

  When printing the narrow bar Bn of the barcode B1 with five dot rows, as shown in the explanatory diagram of FIG. 10, even if the number of drops of ink droplets is corrected for each pixel in the outermost row, the ink still remains. It is assumed that the degree of bleeding is large and the narrow bar Bn cannot be printed with the target print width.

  Therefore, as shown on the left side of the explanatory diagram of FIG. 14, the number of drops of ink droplets is corrected for each pixel in the innermost row of the outermost row as well as each pixel in the outermost row. May be. For example, the correction pattern shown in FIG. 14 shows a case where each pixel in the outermost row is printed with 3 drops of ink droplets, and each inner pixel is printed with 4 drops of ink droplets.

  In this way, the degree of ink bleeding when the narrow bar Bn is printed in relation to the color of the recording paper S to be used and the print image portion R (FIG. 8) located on the back side of the barcode B1 to be printed. It is possible to print the narrow bar Bn with a thin dimension with a reduced degree of bleeding even when the is relatively large.

  Further, even when the barcode B on the print data has a narrow bar Bn such as a 3-dot width or 2-dot width, the correction content can be made accordingly. For example, as shown in the center and right side of the explanatory diagram of FIG. 14, the number of ink droplets is corrected from 5 drops to 4 drops for each pixel in the outermost row of 3 dots wide, or one side of 2 dots wide The correction contents for correcting the number of drops of ink droplets from 5 drops to 4 drops for each pixel in this column may be used.

  In this embodiment, the outermost row of the narrow bar Bn of the barcode B1 printed by the five dot rows in the barcode edge correction processing performed in step S27a, step S27b,..., Step S27n in FIG. The number of ink droplets to be ejected to each pixel is determined based on the table of the RAM 92 or the flash memory 93 according to the patterns classified in step S25a, step S25b,..., Step S25n. Like to do.

  If the barcode edge correction process and the barcode B1 printing process are performed in step S27a, step S27b,..., Step S27n, the series of processes is terminated.

  As is clear from the above description, in the present embodiment, step S1 in the flowchart of FIG. 5 is processing corresponding to the detection means in the claims. In the present embodiment, step S5, step S23, and step S25a to step S25n in FIG. 5 are processes corresponding to the determination means in the claims. Further, in the present embodiment, steps S27a to S27n in FIG. 5 are processes corresponding to the correcting means in the claims.

  In the inkjet printer 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above, when there is data specifying the area A of the barcode B in the print data of the print job, the recording paper S defined in the attribute information is included. According to the type and the color of the print image portion R (FIG. 8) located on the back side of the barcode area A of the recording paper S, the correction content corresponding to the degree of ink bleeding when the narrow bar Bn is printed is determined. The barcode B1 is printed using the barcode printing multi-value data corrected with the determined correction content.

  Therefore, the barcode printing multi-value data generated from the print data is corrected so that the shape of the barcode B1 to be printed approaches the shape of the barcode B on the print data, and the type of the recording paper S The barcode B1 may be printed on the recording paper S in a shape close to the shape on the data with appropriate multi-value data corresponding to the color of the print image portion R (FIG. 8) located on the back side of the barcode area A. it can.

  FIGS. 15A and 15B are explanatory diagrams showing the barcode B1 printed by the multi-value data for barcode printing, where FIG. 15A is an ideal print image, and FIG. 15B is the recording paper S or print of the multi-value data for barcode printing. A print image when the correction according to the color of the image portion R (FIG. 8) is not performed, and (c) shows a print image when the correction is performed.

  In the print image without correction shown in FIG. 15B, the width of the narrow bar Bn is thicker than the ideal width of FIG. 15A due to ink bleeding. On the other hand, the print image with correction shown in FIG. 15C has a smaller degree of ink bleeding than that without correction, and becomes thinner so as to approach the ideal width of FIG. ing.

  FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing an output waveform when the barcode B1 of the print image shown in FIGS. 15A to 15C is read by a scanner, and FIG. 16A is an ideal print image. b) is a print image in which correction according to the color of the recording paper S or print image portion R (FIG. 8) of the multi-value data for barcode printing is not performed, and (c) is a print image with the same correction. Each case is shown.

  In the print image without correction shown in FIG. 16B, the read signal level of the space bar Bs is lower than that in the ideal print image in FIG. On the other hand, the print image with correction shown in FIG. 16C is more suppressed than the case without ink correction, and the read signal level of the space bar Bs is ideal as shown in FIG. It is equivalent to the case of a simple print image. That is, it can be seen that the print widths of the narrow bar Bn and the space bar Bs approach the ideal print width by correcting the multi-value data for barcode printing.

  In the procedure shown in FIG. 5 described above, the print data (in the barcode B) in the barcode area A is converted into black one-color data in step S5, but this may be omitted. In this case, in step S27a, step S27b,..., Step S27n, the type of recording paper S (paper) (paper A, paper B,..., Paper N) and the color of the print image portion R (FIG. 8) Depending on the combination, the correction contents of the multi-value data for barcode printing are determined for each ink color used for printing the barcode B1.

  However, if the procedure of step S5 in FIG. 5 is provided as in the present embodiment, and the barcode B1 is printed in a single color using only black ink instead of composite printing using black and a plurality of other colors, the following is performed. Benefits like this are obtained. That is, it is possible to prevent the printing portion of the barcode with each color ink from being shifted and the merit of using the barcode printing multi-value data corrected for printing with each color ink from being lost.

  In the above-described procedure of FIG. 5, the case where double-sided printing is performed has been described as an example. In that case, instead of the color of the print image portion R (FIG. 8) located on the back side of the barcode area A in the print image (color information set in step S9, step S13, and step S21), printing is performed. The background color of the barcode B1 to be checked is confirmed, and the input print job is classified in step S25a, step S25b,..., Step S25n according to the combination pattern of the barcode B1 and the type of recording paper S.

  Then, the correction contents of the multi-value data for barcode printing are set in steps S27a, S27b,..., As in the case of the present embodiment, according to the combination pattern of the type of classified recording paper S and the background color to be printed. It is determined in step S27n and printing processing is performed.

  Also in this case, the barcode printing multi-value data generated from the print data is corrected so that the shape of the barcode B1 to be printed approaches the shape of the barcode B on the print data. The barcode B1 can be printed on the recording paper S in a shape close to the shape on the data with appropriate multi-value data according to the type and the background color of the barcode B1 to be printed.

  Further, only the recording paper S is considered without considering the color of the print image portion R (FIG. 8) located on the back side of the barcode area A in duplex printing and the color of the background color of the barcode B1 to be printed. Thus, the correction content of the multi-value data for barcode printing may be determined.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the type of the recording paper S used for printing is specified by the attribute information in the print job has been described. However, when the recording paper S is automatically selected on the ink jet printer 1 side, the type of the recording paper S specified by means other than the print job attribute information is used to determine the correction contents of the multi-value data for barcode printing. It may be.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Line type inkjet printer 10 Control unit 11 External interface part 14 Client terminal 15 External interface part 16 CPU
17 ROM
18 RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 Input part 20 Output part 21 External storage device 22 Disk drive 50 Disk-shaped recording medium 90 CPU
91 ROM
92 RAM
93 Flash memory 101 Scanner unit 102 Printer unit 103 Display 105 Paper feed unit 109 Paper discharge unit A Bar code area B Bar code B1 Bar code Bn Narrow bar Bs Space bar I Print image If Front image image Ir Back image image R Print image part S Recording paper

Claims (3)

An apparatus for controlling barcode printing in which a barcode in a print image by an input print job is printed on a recording sheet by a multi-drop inkjet printer,
Detection means for detecting the presence of a barcode in the print image based on print data of the print job;
A discriminating means for discriminating the degree of ink bleeding on the recording paper when the printing image is printed on the recording paper of the type, based on the type of the recording paper used for printing the print image;
When the detection unit detects the presence of a barcode in the print image, the barcode printing multi-value data generated from the barcode data content in the print data is based on the determination result of the determination unit. Correcting means for correcting the barcode shape printed on the type of recording paper so as to approach the barcode shape on the data represented by the print data;
A barcode printing control apparatus comprising:   The barcode printing control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit further determines a degree of bleeding of the ink based on data indicating a background color of the barcode in the print data. The discriminating means further indicates the color of the print image at the back side portion of the bar code on the recording paper in the print data when the detecting means detects the presence of the bar code in the print image. Determining the degree of bleeding of the ink based on the data;
The barcode printing control apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein