JP2015090669A - Printer, print control method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer which prevents printing of a bar-code which causes a reading error in the case where the gap between a print medium and a printing head is varied according to the state of the print medium.SOLUTION: The printer includes: bar-code data storage means for storing bar-code data; first printing means for printing two or more bar-codes corresponding to the bar-code data stored in the bar-code data storage means on a record medium; reading means for reading the two or more bar-codes printed by the first printing means; determination means for determining a bar-code which corresponds to barcode data not coinciding with the bar-code data stored in the bar-code data storage means among the bar-code data corresponding to the two or more bar-codes read by the reading means, and which is printed by the first printing means, as a wrong bar-code; and second printing means for painting out the bar-code determined as a wrong bar-code by the determination means.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing control method, and a program.

  When printing a bar code using a printer capable of printing a bar code, a part of the bar code may be printed thinly or missing due to an irregular print quality due to deterioration of the ribbon or the like. Since such a barcode is likely to cause an error when it is read by a barcode reader, it is necessary to determine whether printing is good or bad at the time of barcode printing.

  Conventionally, an operator reads a bar code on paper discharged from a printer with another bar code reader and checks whether there is an error. However, with the conventional barcode printing method, the printed barcode is checked on the paper ejected from the printer. If an error is detected, the paper must be discarded and reprinted. I had to.

  Therefore, there is a problem that extra labor is required and time is required for manual check and printer output operation for reprinting.

  To solve these problems, Patent Document 1 discloses a barcode printing method in which a barcode sensor is attached to a print head of a printer, and the barcode is read and checked immediately after barcode printing. In the barcode printing method disclosed in Patent Document 1, when an error is detected as a result of the above check, the barcode is automatically overprinted and corrected on the barcode, and only the correctly printed barcode is output. I am doing so.

  On the other hand, universal ink jet (UIJ) is known in which a printing unit of an ink jet printer is modularized as a printing module. Examples of the print module include a print head, a carriage, a head maintenance unit, an ink supply unit, and a carriage drive unit.

  2. Description of the Related Art An image printing system configured by combining each of the above printing modules and a conveying device that supports various printing media is known. Examples of print media include clothes, T-shirts, CD / DVDs, credit cards, ID cards, and the like.

  For example, a cardboard printer that can print a barcode or the like on a cardboard that is transported on the belt conveyor by applying a belt conveyor that transports the cardboard to the transport device is already known.

  Here, in a printing system in an ink jet printer, in order to ensure printing accuracy, a gap between the surface of the printing medium and the print head (hereinafter referred to as an “inter-head gap”) is set to a certain distance according to the ejection waveform. It is important to keep.

  However, for example, when printing on a cardboard in the above-described cardboard printer, the corrugated cardboard surface is large and it is difficult to keep the gap between the heads constant. The same applies to the case where the cardboard surface is curved due to the influence of the contents, such as when printing on a cardboard box in which the contents are packed.

  In addition, for example, it is difficult to land ink at a desired position with high accuracy due to the influence of vibration generated when the cardboard printer transports the cardboard using a belt conveyor.

  As described above, it is difficult to keep the gap between the heads constant depending on the state of the recording medium such as corrugated cardboard, and the printing accuracy is greatly reduced due to the influence of vibration generated during printing, so that the printed image is not displaced or blurred. Occur. For this reason, for example, when a barcode is printed on a printing medium such as the above-mentioned cardboard, if the printed barcode is misaligned or blurred, the printed barcode cannot be read by a barcode reader. Will occur.

  According to the barcode printing method disclosed in Patent Document 1, the barcode printed by itself is checked by itself, and if it is normal, the process is terminated as it is. The processing efficiency can be improved.

  However, in the barcode printing method disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the gap between the heads varies depending on the state of the recording medium, a barcode that cannot be read is printed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a printing apparatus that prevents bar code printing that causes reading failure when the gap between the heads varies depending on the state of the recording medium. Objective.

  In order to solve the above problems, a printing apparatus according to the present invention includes a barcode data storage unit for storing barcode data, and a barcode corresponding to the barcode data stored in the barcode data storage unit. Of the first printing means for printing above, the reading means for reading two or more barcodes printed by the first printing means, and the barcode data corresponding to the two or more barcodes read by the reading means, A determination unit that determines that the barcode printed by the first printing unit corresponding to the barcode data that does not match the barcode data stored in the barcode data storage unit is an unauthorized barcode; And a second printing means for painting the determined barcode.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent bar code printing that causes reading failure when the gap between the heads varies depending on the state of the recording medium.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a control block diagram of the printing apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example of the discharge waveform corresponding to the gap between heads set in embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining the process which stores a barcode reading confirmation result in embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram explaining the barcode printing process in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart explaining the barcode printing processing procedure in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram of the conventional cardboard printer. It is a schematic block diagram of a barcode reader.

  A printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment as long as the gist of the present invention is not exceeded. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is the same or it corresponds, The duplication description is simplified thru | or abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  The present invention generally has a configuration in which a barcode reader is provided between two print heads when performing barcode printing in a cardboard printer as a printing apparatus. A plurality of barcodes printed by the first print head are read and confirmed by a barcode reader. After that, it is a general feature that a portion other than the read barcode is painted with the second print head.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a corrugated cardboard printer is described.However, the present invention is not limited to a configuration for printing on a corrugated cardboard as a recording medium. The present invention may be applied to a case where the gap between the heads varies depending on the state of the recording medium. Accordingly, the printing apparatus is not limited to a cardboard printer, and may be a printing apparatus that prints on the above-described cardboard or cloth.

  First, a schematic configuration of a conventional cardboard printer will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7A is a schematic perspective view of a conventional cardboard printer 1. When printing a barcode by a cardboard printer, for example, a cardboard box B as a printing medium by a belt conveyor provided on the upper side of the base 2 from the left back direction (hereinafter referred to as “conveying direction A”) indicated by an arrow A in the figure. Is transported. Then, the barcode is printed by the printing unit 10 on the cardboard box B conveyed to the printing unit 10 provided on the front side of the base 2.

  Next, the cardboard printer 1 will be further described with reference to FIG. 7B showing a top view of the cardboard printer 1 described above. As described above, the arrow A indicates the conveyance direction of the cardboard box B. The cardboard printer 1 is largely composed of a printing unit 10, a pressure roller 11, and a belt conveyor 12.

  The printing unit 10 includes a conveyance guide 13, a carriage 14 that stores therein a print head for image formation, a maintenance unit 15 that performs head cleaning, an ink cartridge 16 that stores ink to be supplied to the print head, and printing. A controller 17 that controls the printing unit, and a power supply unit 18 that supplies power to the printing unit.

  The pressure roller 11 presses the conveyed cardboard box B against the carriage 14 in order to make the side surface of the cardboard box to be printed parallel to the print head. The conveyance guide 13 prevents the carriage 14 from contacting the cardboard box B pressed against the carriage 14 by the pressure roller 11.

  Next, a schematic configuration of a barcode reader as a reading unit applied also to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 8A, the barcode reader 20 includes a light source unit 21 that emits infrared light or laser light to the barcode, and a light reception unit that receives reflected light from the barcode and detects the brightness thereof. The unit 22 is configured.

  For example, a method of reading a barcode printed on a cardboard with the barcode reader 20 will be described with reference to FIG.

  A light wave S is emitted from the light source unit 21 to the barcode printed on the cardboard, and the lightness of the reflected light R is detected by the light receiving unit 22. When the detected brightness is lower than the threshold value, it is determined as a slit, and when it is higher, it is determined as a bar. Digital conversion is performed by converting the slit and bar by 0/1, respectively, and this is decoded into character data according to a character code or the like. This decoded data is called barcode data in this embodiment.

  For example, the barcode printed on the cardboard is encoded by the barcode data and printed by the printing unit 10 shown in FIG. 7 with 0/1 as a bar / slit, respectively. Therefore, when the barcode data used for printing by the printing unit 10 and the barcode data acquired by the barcode reader 20 do not match, it can be determined that the barcode is an illegal barcode due to imperfect printing.

  In the following, a case where the barcode data used for printing and the barcode data acquired by the barcode reader 20 coincide with each other will be referred to as a normal barcode, and a barcode that does not coincide with each other will be described as an illegal barcode.

  A schematic configuration of a cardboard printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The corrugated cardboard printer 100 according to the present embodiment includes two pressure rollers 110, a belt conveyor 120 as a conveying unit, a pre-printing unit 130 as a first printing unit, and a post-printing unit 140 as a second printing unit. And a barcode reader 20 as reading means.

  The pre-printing unit 130 and the post-printing unit 140 are arranged to face the pressure roller 110 via the belt conveyor 120, respectively. The barcode reader 20 is disposed between the front printing unit 130 and the rear printing unit 140.

  In the present embodiment, when the left side in the drawing of the belt conveyor 120 is upstream, the front printing unit 130 is disposed on the upstream side, and the rear printing unit 140 is disposed on the downstream side.

  Then, the preprint unit 130 prints two or more barcodes corresponding to the barcode data stored in, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory) as barcode data storage means on the recording medium. The barcode reader 20 reads two or more barcodes printed by the preprinting unit 130. The post-printing unit 140 paints a barcode that is determined to be an illegal barcode by a determination unit that will be described later.

  In the cardboard printer 100 of the present embodiment, first, a plurality of barcodes are printed on the cardboard box conveyed on the belt conveyor 120 by the pre-printing unit 130. After the barcode reader 20 confirms the reading, one normal barcode is left, and another barcode, that is, an unauthorized barcode is filled by the post-printing unit 140. The pre-printing unit 130 has a function of changing the ejection waveform of ink ejected from the head when printing a plurality of barcodes, but details will be described later.

  Next, the system configuration of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the control block of FIG. The printing apparatus of the present embodiment has a display unit 301, an operation unit 302, a control unit 303, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 304, a RAM 305, an image processing unit 306, and an error information output unit 307 as a system configuration. And a front printing unit 130, a rear printing unit 140, and a barcode reader 20.

  The display unit 301 displays various messages such as an error message described later to the user. The operation unit 302 is an input means such as a keyboard or a mouse for the user to input the printing surface width of the cardboard box.

  The control unit 303 uses the preprinting unit 130 corresponding to barcode data that does not match the barcode data stored in the RAM 305 among barcode data corresponding to two or more barcodes read by the barcode reader 20, for example. It functions as a determination means for determining a printed barcode as an illegal barcode.

  In addition, the control unit 303 functions as a print barcode number setting unit that sets the number of barcodes to be printed by the pre-printing unit 130 according to the size of the printing surface of the cardboard box.

  In addition, the control unit 303 controls the display unit 301, the operation unit 302, the ROM 304, the RAM 305, the image processing unit 306, the error information output unit 307, the preprinting unit 130, and the postprinting unit 140 described above.

  In the present embodiment, the ROM 304 stores two or more types of ejection waveform data for ejecting ink from the front printing unit 130 set according to the gap between the front printing unit 130 and the printing surface of the cardboard box. Means. The preprinter 130 prints a plurality of barcodes corresponding to the barcode data stored in the RAM 305 by ejecting ink using two or more types of ejection waveforms stored in the ROM 304.

  The RAM 305 stores an inter-head gap setting value, a corrugated cardboard printing surface width setting value, bar code data, a bar code image, the number of bar code prints, and a reading confirmation result of the printed bar code. In this embodiment, the RAM 305 is used as bar code data storage means for convenience. The RAM 305 is used as a work memory or the like.

  The image processing unit 306 forms a barcode image from an image to be printed on a cardboard box, for example, barcode data in this embodiment.

  The error information output unit 307 outputs error information when the control unit 303 serving as a determination unit determines that all of the plurality of barcodes printed by the preprint unit 130 are illegal barcodes. The error information may be output by sound from a speaker or the like, or may be output by displaying an error image on a display or the like.

  Next, ejection waveform data corresponding to the gap between the heads set in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  For example, in order to maintain printing accuracy in an ink jet printer, it is necessary to perform printing using an optimal ink ejection waveform according to the gap between the print head and the recording medium. In the corrugated cardboard printer 1 according to the present embodiment, the optimum discharge waveform is stored in the ROM 304 in advance in each of the plurality of head gaps. The ejection waveforms are associated with the corresponding gaps between the heads, and are stored in a state where the gaps between the heads are sorted in ascending order.

  And when printing on the printing surface of a cardboard box, it prints using the discharge waveform corresponding to the gap between heads set by the gap setting between heads. In addition to this, printing is performed using ejection waveforms corresponding to different gaps between the heads in the vicinity of the gap between the heads.

  In this figure, for example, the discharge waveform [1] is a discharge waveform set corresponding to the gap between heads of 0 to 0.5 mm. Further, the discharge waveform [2] is a discharge waveform set corresponding to the gap between heads of 0.5 to 1.0 mm. Further, the discharge waveform [3] is a discharge waveform set corresponding to the gap between heads of 1.0 to 1.5 mm.

  By setting the ejection waveform according to the gap between the heads, even if the gap between the heads fluctuates due to, for example, irregularities on the cardboard box printing surface, an appropriate barcode image can be printed in the fluctuating gap between the heads. .

  Next, a process of storing the barcode reading confirmation result in the RAM 305 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the present embodiment, the RAM 305 generates a reading confirmation result buffer that stores normal barcodes or illegal barcodes as reading confirmation results of a plurality of barcodes printed by the preprinting unit 130.

  First, after completion of printing by the pre-printing unit 130, a buffer is generated with all barcodes as illegal barcodes. Next, the reading confirmation result by the barcode reader 20 is set to the generated buffer. Then, the post-printing unit 140 confirms the buffer in which the reading confirmation result is set, fills the barcode other than the barcode in which the normal barcode is set, that is, the illegal barcode, and deletes the generated buffer.

  Next, barcode printing processing in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5A shows a plurality of barcodes printed on the printing surface of the cardboard box by the pre-printing unit 130 in the present embodiment.

  The pre-printing unit 130 prints a plurality of barcodes on the printing surface D of the cardboard box while changing the ejection waveform when ejecting ink from the head. Here, the barcode printed with the ejection waveform 1, the ejection waveform 2, the ejection waveform 4, and the ejection waveform 5 is unreadable, and the barcode printed with the ejection waveform 3 is readable. In the drawing, the printing surface width in the longitudinal direction of the printing surface D is D1, and the horizontal width of the barcode is B1.

  FIG. 5B shows the printing surface D of the cardboard box after the illegal barcode is filled by the post-printing unit 140 in the present embodiment.

  A plurality of barcodes printed by the pre-printing unit 130 are read and confirmed by the barcode reader 20 in the order of printing. At this time, the barcode that is determined to be normal for the first barcode is left as it is, and another barcode, that is, an unauthorized barcode is painted by the post-printing unit 140.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, a plurality of barcodes are printed on the printing surface D. The number of barcodes to be printed at this time requires that a plurality of printed barcode groups do not protrude from the left and right ends of the printing surface D. For this reason, it is assumed that the number corresponding to the number of barcode printing set with the maximum value obtained by dividing the printing surface width D1 by the horizontal width B1 of the barcode is printed.

  In other words, in the present embodiment, the number of barcodes to be printed by the preprinting unit 130 is set in accordance with the size of the printing surface of the cardboard box in the control unit 303 serving as a printing barcode number setting unit.

  Next, the barcode printing processing procedure in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  First, before executing the printing process, the user sets the cardboard printing surface width D1 and the number of printing barcodes from the operation unit 302 (step S1). Then, the barcode data to be printed is read into the RAM 305 (step S2).

  Next, the image processing unit 306 forms a barcode image based on the barcode data and stores it in the RAM 305 (step S3).

  The control unit 303 acquires a set value of the barcode printing number setting that is set in advance by the user and stored in the RAM 305. When the barcode printing number is not set, the control unit 303 uses a value obtained by dividing the cardboard printing surface width D1 by the barcode horizontal width B1 as the barcode printing number (step S4).

  Next, the preprinting unit 130 acquires the ejection waveform of ink used at the time of printing from the ROM 304 (step S5). Then, a barcode image is printed at a predetermined position on the printing surface D by the pre-printing unit 130 until the set barcode printing number is reached (step S6). Printing the barcode image is performed by switching the plurality of acquired ejection waveforms and ejecting ink using each ejection waveform. When the number of barcode printing is not reached (step S7, YES), the processing from step S5 is repeated.

  When the set barcode printing number is reached (step S7, NO), the barcode printed by the pre-printing unit 130 is read one by one by the barcode reader 20. (Step S8).

  If the read barcode data of the read barcode does not match the barcode data of the barcode printed by the pre-printing unit 130 (step S9, NO), the barcode read by the barcode reader 20 is set. When the number of printed barcodes is not reached (step S11, YES), the process returns to step S8 to read the next barcode.

  On the other hand, when the read barcode data of the read barcode matches the barcode data of the barcode printed by the pre-printing unit 130 (step S9, YES), the barcode corresponding to the matched barcode data is displayed as a normal barcode. Set as a code (step S10).

  Thereafter, when there is a readable barcode (step S12, YES), the post-printing unit 140 paints a barcode other than the normal barcode, that is, an illegal barcode (step S13). On the other hand, when there is no readable barcode (step S 12, NO), all illegal barcodes are filled, and error information is output by the error information output unit 307. For example, an error message indicating barcode printing failure is displayed on the display unit 301 (step S14).

  Each of the above-described embodiments is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, each process in the printing apparatus of the present embodiment described above can be executed using hardware, software, or a combined configuration of both.

  When executing processing using software, it is possible to install and execute a program in which a processing sequence is recorded in a memory in a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware. Alternatively, the program can be installed and executed on a general-purpose computer capable of executing various processes.

  On the other hand, according to the present invention, the front printing unit 130 and the rear printing unit 140 are attached to the conveying unit with a distance between them as in this embodiment, and after barcode printing is performed, the barcode reader 20 prints the print result. Is not limited to performing solid color printing on illegal barcodes.

  For example, with a configuration in which the pre-printing unit and the post-printing unit are switched in time order by a predetermined driving device, barcode printing is first performed by the pre-printing unit, and the printing result is read by the barcode reader, and then the pre-printing unit and post-printing The parts may be replaced, and the post-printing unit may fill in the illegal barcode. Alternatively, the pre-printing unit, the post-printing unit, and the barcode reader may be integrated, and similar processing may be performed by controlling them in time order by a predetermined control program.

  For example, the pre-printing part and the post-printing part are the same printing part, and the barcode printing is executed by executing an ink ejection program by barcode printing. After the printing result is read by the barcode reader, the filling program is executed. It is also possible to perform solid printing.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,100 Corrugated cardboard printer 11,110 Pressure roller 12,120 Belt conveyor 20 Bar code reader 21 Light source part 22 Light receiving part 130 Preprinting part 140 Rear printing part 301 Display part 302 Operation part 303 Control part 304 ROM
305 RAM
306 Image processing unit 307 Error information output unit

JP-A-63-007955

Claims (6)

Barcode data storage means for storing barcode data;
First printing means for printing two or more barcodes corresponding to barcode data stored in the barcode data storage means on a recording medium;
Reading means for reading two or more barcodes printed by the first printing means;
Of the barcode data corresponding to two or more barcodes read by the reading means, the first printing means corresponding to the barcode data that does not match the barcode data stored in the barcode data storage means Determination means for determining the printed barcode as an unauthorized barcode;
Second printing means for painting a barcode determined to be an unauthorized barcode by the determination means;
A printing apparatus comprising: An ejection waveform storage means for storing two or more ejection waveforms for ejecting ink from the first printing means set according to the gap between the first printing means and the recording medium;
The first printing unit is configured to eject a plurality of barcodes corresponding to the barcode data stored in the barcode data storage unit using two or more types of ejection waveforms stored in the ejection waveform storage unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein printing is performed.   The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a print barcode number setting unit that sets the number of barcodes to be printed by the first printing unit according to the size of the recording medium.   4. An error information output unit that outputs error information when the determination unit determines that all of the plurality of barcodes printed by the first printing unit are illegal barcodes. The printing apparatus according to any one of the above. Storing the desired barcode data in the storage unit;
Printing two or more barcodes corresponding to the barcode data stored in the storage unit on a recording medium;
Reading the two or more printed barcodes and storing them as read barcodes in the storage unit;
Of the barcode data corresponding to two or more read barcodes stored in the storage unit, the printed barcode corresponding to barcode data that does not match the intended barcode data stored in the storage unit Deciding that is an illegal barcode,
Painting the barcode determined to be the unauthorized barcode;
A printing control method comprising: Processing to store the desired barcode data in the storage unit;
A process for controlling the printing means so that two or more barcodes corresponding to the barcode data stored in the storage unit are printed on a recording medium;
A process of causing the reading unit to read the two or more printed barcodes, and storing the barcode read by the reading unit in the storage unit as a reading barcode;
Of the barcode data corresponding to two or more read barcodes stored in the storage unit, the printed barcode corresponding to barcode data that does not match the intended barcode data stored in the storage unit The process of determining the
A process for controlling the printing means to fill the barcode determined to be the unauthorized barcode;
A program that causes a computer to execute.

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