JP2022097224A - Image processing apparatus and image processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent a reduction in quality of a bar code due to a reduction in its size.SOLUTION: A printer 1 comprises a printing unit 15 and a control unit 11. The control unit 11 compares sizes of a target bar code and an adjacent bar code based on image data including a plurality of bar codes represented by a plurality of bars alternately arranged along a bar code arrangement direction and a plurality of spaces arranged between the two bars adjacent to each other. The control unit 11 sets a small bar code arrangement area and a large bar code arrangement area such that a length along the bar code arrangement direction in a blank area included in the small bar code arrangement area becomes longer than a length along the bar code arrangement direction in a target blank area included in the large bar code arrangement area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present disclosure relates to a technique for processing image data representing a barcode.

Patent Document 1 describes a device that prints a plurality of barcodes configured by alternately arranging a plurality of bars and a plurality of spaces along a preset arrangement direction on a print medium.

If two barcodes are adjacent to each other and the placement areas of the adjacent barcodes overlap each other, the adjacent barcodes may overlap each other after reduction, or the quiet zone of each barcode may be insufficient. Problems can occur.

Therefore, conventionally, the blank area is divided at the center of the blank area formed between the barcodes adjacent to each other, and the arrangement area of the barcodes adjacent to each other is set.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-298465

If the barcode placement area is set so as to be divided at the center of the above blank area, the quality of the reduced barcode may deteriorate.
It is an object of the present disclosure to suppress deterioration of barcode quality due to reduction.

One aspect of the present disclosure includes a printing unit configured to print an image on a print medium and a control unit configured to control the printing unit, and the control unit performs comparison processing and large / small area setting. An image processing device configured to perform processing.

The comparison process is performed on image data including a plurality of barcodes represented by a plurality of bars arranged alternately along a preset arrangement direction and a plurality of spaces arranged between two bars adjacent to each other. Based on this, the magnitude of the target barcode and the adjacent barcode are compared. The target barcode is one of a plurality of barcodes. The adjacent barcode is one of a plurality of barcodes that is adjacent to the target barcode along the arrangement direction.

In the large / small area setting process, the length along the array direction in the target blank area included in the small barcode arrangement area is longer than the length along the array direction in the target blank area included in the large barcode arrangement area. Set the small bar code placement area and the large bar code placement area in.

The target blank area is a blank area arranged between the target barcode and the adjacent barcode. The small barcode is a barcode determined to be small in the comparison process. The large barcode is a barcode determined to be large in the comparison process. The small bar code placement area is an area set to include a small bar code and a blank area around the small bar code in order to place the small bar code. The large barcode placement area is an area set to include a large barcode and a blank area around the large barcode in order to place the large barcode.

The image processing apparatus of the present disclosure configured in this way can make the barcode arrangement area (that is, the small barcode arrangement area), which has a larger quality deterioration due to reduction, as wide as possible. As a result, the image processing apparatus of the present disclosure can suppress the degree of reduction of the barcode (that is, the small barcode) having the larger quality deterioration due to the reduction, and can suppress the deterioration of the quality of the barcode due to the reduction. can.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is an image processing apparatus comprising a printing unit and a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to execute a ratio calculation process and a ratio area setting process.
The ratio calculation process calculates the barcode ratio, which is the ratio between the size of the target barcode and the size of the adjacent barcode, based on the image data including a plurality of barcodes.

In the ratio area setting process, the ratio of the length along the array direction in the target blank area included in the target barcode placement area and the length along the array direction in the target blank area included in the adjacent barcode placement area is the barcode. Set the target barcode placement area and the adjacent barcode placement area so that they match the ratio.

The target barcode placement area is an area set to include the target barcode and a blank area around the target barcode in order to place the target barcode. The adjacent barcode placement area is an area set to include the adjacent barcode and a blank area around the adjacent barcode in order to arrange the adjacent barcode.

The image processing apparatus of the present disclosure configured in this way sets a barcode arrangement area according to the size of the barcode for each of the barcodes adjacent to each other.
Therefore, the image processing apparatus of the present disclosure can suppress the occurrence of a situation in which the reduction degree of the smaller barcode becomes larger than the reduction degree of the larger barcode. As a result, the image processing apparatus of the present disclosure can suppress an increase in the degree of reduction of the smaller barcode, and can suppress deterioration of the quality of the barcode due to the reduction.

Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is an image processing program configured to cause a control unit to execute a comparison process and a large / small area setting process in an image processing device including a printing unit and a control unit. be.

The computer controlled by the image processing program of the present disclosure can form a part of the image processing apparatus of one aspect of the present disclosure, and can obtain the same effect as the image processing apparatus of one aspect of the present disclosure. ..

Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is an image processing program configured to cause a control unit to execute a ratio calculation process and a ratio area setting process in an image processing device including a printing unit and a control unit. Is.

The computer controlled by the image processing program of the present disclosure can form a part of the image processing apparatus of another aspect of the present disclosure, and obtains the same effect as the image processing apparatus of another aspect of the present disclosure. Can be done.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a printer. It is a figure which shows the structure of a bar code. It is a figure which shows the shipping label. It is a flowchart which shows the shipping label reduction process. It is a flowchart which shows the resizing process of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the setting method of the bar code arrangement area in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the resizing process of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the setting method of the bar code arrangement area in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the setting method of the bar code arrangement area in the case which cannot be divided by a ratio.

[First Embodiment]
The first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below together with the drawings.
(1-1) Configuration of Printer 1 The printer 1 of the present embodiment is a label printer that prints an image on a label, and as shown in FIG. 1, a control unit 11, a display unit 12, an input unit 13, and the like. A communication unit 14 and a printing unit 15 are provided.

The control unit 11 includes a CPU 21 and a memory 22. The CPU 21 executes a program stored in the memory 22, thereby realizing various functions of the printer 1. The various functions realized by the control unit 11 are not limited to those realized by executing the program, and some or all of them may be realized by using one or a plurality of hardware. The memory 22 includes a semiconductor memory (for example, ROM, RAM and flash memory) which is a non-transitional substantive recording medium, and stores a program and data.

The display unit 12 includes a display device (not shown) and displays various images on the display device. The input unit 13 includes a switch installed around the display screen of the display unit 12. Then, the input unit 13 outputs input operation information for specifying the input operation performed by the user via the switch.

The communication unit 14 performs data communication by wired communication using LAN, wireless communication using LAN, wired communication using USB, or short-range wireless communication of a method compliant with the Bluetooth standard. LAN is an abbreviation for Local Area Network. USB is an abbreviation for Universal Serial Bus. Bluetooth is a registered trademark.

The printing unit 15 is provided with a heat-sensitive printing mechanism, and can print an image on a heat-sensitive roll paper having a predetermined width (for example, 4 inches). The printing unit 15 may be configured to be printable on cut paper, or may be configured to be printable by a well-known recording method (for example, an inkjet method) other than the thermal method.

(1-2) Bar Code Configuration The bar code used in this embodiment is a bar code created according to the specifications specified in Code 128, which is one of the bar code standards. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the barcodes are the start character STC, the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth data characters DC1, DC2, DC3, DC4, DC5 in order from the left along the barcode arrangement direction BD. , The symbol check character SC and the stop character SPC are arranged and configured. Then, the quiet zone QZ1 is added to the left end of the barcode, and the quiet zone QZ2 is added to the right end of the barcode.

The start character STC, the first to fifth data characters DC1 to DC5, and the symbol check character SC are configured by alternately arranging three bars and three spaces. The stop character SPC is configured by alternately arranging four bars and three spaces. The bar is a module having a low reflectance. Space is a module having a high reflectance. The module is one bar or space. The symbol character is a representation of numbers, letters, and symbols by bars, spaces, and the like.

In Code 128, there are four types of bar and space widths: 1 module width, 2 module width, 3 module width, and 4 module width. The width of one module is the narrowest width among the bars and spaces constituting the barcode. The width of two modules is twice the width of one module. The width of 3 modules is 3 times the width of 1 module. The width of 4 modules is 4 times the width of 1 module.

The symbol character is represented by arranging three bars and three spaces alternately. In the symbol character, the widths of the three bars and the three spaces are set so that the total width of the three bars and the three spaces is the width of 11 modules.

The quiet zones QZ1 and QZ2 are margins having a width 10 times the minimum module width or a width of 2.54 mm, whichever is larger. The minimum module width is 0.191 mm.

The start character STC is a character placed immediately before the data character and indicates the start of data. For the start character STC, any one of three types of code sets "CODE A", "CODE B", and "CODE C" indicating the character set used in the barcode is set.

The first to fifth data characters DC1 to DC5 are symbol characters representing data.
Data for checking whether or not the barcode data is correct is set in the symbol check character SC.

The stop character SPC is a character placed immediately after the symbol check character SC, and indicates the end of data. The stop character SPC is represented by arranging four bars and three spaces alternately. In the stop character SPC, the widths of the four bars and the three spaces are set so that the total width of the four bars and the three spaces is the width of 13 modules.

(1-3) Process executed in the printer 1 The printer 1 executes a shipping label reduction process in order to reduce the shipping label and print it.

The shipping label is affixed to the shipping box when the shipping box containing the goods is delivered to the sales agent. The shipping label is a sheet of a predetermined size (for example, A4 size), and describes predetermined items necessary for delivery to a sales agent. The distributor can obtain the shipping label data file by downloading it from the website of the distributor or the like. The seller creates a shipping label by printing the shipping label data file from the printer 1, and attaches the created shipping label to the shipping box.

Since the width of the print medium used in the printer 1 is, for example, 4 inches, when printing a data file of an A4 size shipping label, for example, it is necessary to reduce the shipping label so that the shipping label fits in the print medium. .. The A4 size is 11.69 inches x 8.27 inches.

As shown in FIG. 3, for example, the shipping label has a rectangular first barcode arrangement area R1 in which the first barcode BC1 is arranged and a rectangular second barcode arrangement in which the second barcode BC2 is arranged. It includes an area R2 and an information description area R3 in which characters, numbers, and the like indicating the delivery destination of the delivery box are described. That is, of all the areas constituting the shipping label, the area excluding the first barcode arrangement area R1 and the second barcode arrangement area R2 is the information description area R3. The first barcode BC1 is arranged substantially in the center of the first barcode arrangement area R1. The second barcode BC2 is arranged substantially in the center of the second barcode arrangement area R2.

Next, the procedure of the shipping label reduction process executed by the CPU 21 of the printer 1 will be described. The shipping label reduction process is a process started after an input operation for printing a shipping label data file is performed on the input unit 13.

When the shipping label reduction process is executed, the CPU 21 first searches the image data of the input image for a barcode-arrangeable area in S10, as shown in FIG. The input image is an image of the shipping label represented by the data file specified as the print target in the input operation that caused the shipping label reduction process to start.

The barcode-arrangeable area is a rectangular area set for each barcode included in the shipping label, and the widest area other than the corresponding barcode that does not include black in the binary data is set. For example, the region R11 indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 3 is the barcode-arrangeable region of the first barcode BC1, and the region R12 indicated by the alternate long-dotted line in FIG. 3 is the barcode-arrangeable region of the second barcode BC2.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 21 resizes the barcode arrangable area in S20 and executes a resizing process for setting the barcode arranging area. Specifically, the CPU 21 sets each of the one or a plurality of barcode-arrangeable areas set in S10 so as to be included in the area of the barcode-arrangeable area and in the barcode-arranged area adjacent to each other. The barcode arrangement area corresponding to each barcode arrangement area is set so that the barcodes arranged in the above do not overlap each other. The first barcode arrangement area R1 in FIG. 3 is a barcode arrangement area corresponding to the barcode arrangement area R11, and the second barcode arrangement area R2 in FIG. 3 is a bar corresponding to the barcode arrangement area R12. This is the code placement area. The detailed procedure of the resizing process will be described later.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the CPU 21 calculates in S30 the reduction ratio of the shipping label so that the shipping label fits in the print medium, based on the width of the shipping label and the width of the print medium. For example, the CPU 21 calculates the reduction ratio as (Wm / Ws) when the width of the shipping label is Ws and the width of the print medium is Wm. The width of the shipping label is, for example, the lateral length of the shipping label shown in FIG.

Then, in S40, the CPU 21 determines whether or not reduction is necessary based on the reduction ratio calculated in S30. Specifically, the CPU 21 determines that reduction is necessary when the reduction ratio calculated in S30 is less than 100%, and reduction is not necessary when the reduction ratio is 100% or more. Judge.

Here, when reduction is not necessary, the CPU 21 sets the input image as the output image in S50 and ends the shipping label reduction process.
On the other hand, when reduction is necessary, the CPU 21 separates the barcode and the background in the input image in S60. The background is a part other than the barcode in the input image.

Then, the CPU 21 determines in S70 whether or not there is a barcode (hereinafter, unprocessed barcode) that has not been processed in S80 to S120, which will be described later, among the barcodes separated in S60.

Here, if there is no unprocessed barcode, the CPU 21 shifts to S130. On the other hand, when there is an unprocessed barcode, the CPU 21 selects one unprocessed barcode in S80.

Then, the CPU 21 determines in S90 whether or not the barcode area selected in S80 is larger than the corresponding reduced barcode arrangement area. Specifically, the CPU 21 first generates a reduced barcode arrangement area in which the barcode arrangement area corresponding to the barcode selected in S80 is reduced by the reduction rate calculated in S30. Then, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the barcode area selected in S80 is larger than the generated reduced barcode arrangement area.

Here, when the barcode area is larger than the reduced barcode arrangement area, the CPU 21 reduces the barcode selected in S80 in S100. Specifically, the CPU 21 reduces the minimum module width in the barcode before reduction of the barcode selected in S80 in pixel units, so that the area of the barcode after reduction becomes equal to or less than the reduced barcode arrangement area. Calculate the reduced size of, and reduce the barcode with the calculated reduced size.

For example, assuming that the minimum module width in the barcode before reduction is 5 pixels, the reduction size candidate values are 4 pixels, 3 pixels, 2 pixels, and 1 pixel. For example, when the reduction size candidate value is 4 pixels, the reduction ratio is 80% (that is, 4/5 = 0.8), and when the reduction size candidate value is 3 pixels, the reduction ratio is. It is 60% (that is, 3/5 = 0.6).

However, the lower limit of the reduced size candidate value differs depending on the output resolution of the printer 1. For example, the lower limit of the reduced size candidate value is 3 pixels when the output resolution is 300 dpi, and 2 pixels when the output resolution is 200 dpi.

Then, the CPU 21 reduces the barcode by reconstructing the barcode with the calculated reduction size as the minimum module width in the barcode.
Further, the CPU 21 adjusts the position of the bar code reduced in S100 in the reduced bar code arrangement area in S130 so that the appearance of the bar code reduced in S100 does not differ between before and after the reduction. , S70.

Further, in S90, when the barcode area is not larger than the reduced barcode arrangement area, the CPU 21 does not differ in the appearance of the barcode arrangement selected in S80 before and after the reduction in S120. As described above, the position of the barcode selected in S80 in the reduced barcode arrangement area is adjusted, and the process shifts to S70.

Then, upon shifting to S130, the CPU 21 reduces the background image showing the background separated in S60 at the reduction rate calculated in S30 to generate a reduced background image.
Further, the CPU 21 executes a merge process in S140 to integrate the barcode separated in S60 and the reduced background image generated in S130.

In the merge process, specifically, the CPU 21 first determines whether or not the barcode has been reduced for each barcode separated in S60. Here, when the image is reduced, the CPU 21 arranges the reduced barcode at the position adjusted by S110 in the corresponding reduced barcode arrangement area in the reduced background image. On the other hand, when it is not reduced, the CPU 21 arranges the barcode separated in S60 as it is in the corresponding reduced barcode arrangement area in the reduced background image at the position adjusted in S120. Then, when the arrangement of all the barcodes on the reduced background image is completed, the CPU 21 sets the reduced background image on which all the barcodes are arranged as the output image, and ends the merging process.

When the merge process is completed, the CPU 21 ends the shipping label reduction process.
Next, the procedure of the resizing process executed in S20 will be described.
When the resizing process is executed, as shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 21 first in S210, among the barcodes included in the input image, the barcodes not selected in the process of S220 described later (hereinafter, unprocessed). Judge whether or not there is a barcode).

Here, if there is no unprocessed barcode, the CPU 21 ends the resizing process. On the other hand, when there is an unprocessed barcode, the CPU 21 selects one unprocessed barcode in S220.

Then, in S230, whether or not there is a barcode (hereinafter, adjacent barcode) adjacent to the barcode selected in S220 (hereinafter, target barcode) along the barcode arrangement direction BD in S230. To judge.

Here, if there is no adjacent barcode, the CPU 21 shifts to S210. On the other hand, when there is an adjacent barcode, the CPU 21 performs the processing of S250 to S280 described later in the blank area arranged between the target barcode and the adjacent barcode in S240. It is determined whether or not there is a blank area (hereinafter referred to as an unprocessed blank area).

Here, if there is no unprocessed blank area, the CPU 21 shifts to S210. On the other hand, when there is an unprocessed blank area, the CPU 21 selects one unprocessed blank area in S250.

Then, in S260, the CPU 21 has the minimum module width in the barcode of the barcode (hereinafter referred to as the first determination target barcode) arranged on one end side along the barcode arrangement direction BD in the blank area selected in S250. , The minimum module width in the barcode of the barcode (hereinafter referred to as the second determination target barcode) arranged on the other end side along the barcode arrangement direction BD in the blank area selected in S250 is calculated.

Further, in S270, the CPU 21 specifies the barcode having the smaller minimum module width in the barcode among the first determination target barcode and the second determination target barcode. Below, of the first judgment target barcode and the second judgment target barcode, the barcode with the smaller minimum module width in the barcode is the small barcode, and the barcode with the larger minimum module width in the barcode is the large barcode. It's called a code. The CPU 21 determines the size of the quiet zones QZ1 and QZ2 based on the size of the minimum module width in the barcode.

Then, in S280, the CPU 21 arranges the barcode of the large barcode by the length along the barcode arrangement direction BD in the blank area included in the barcode arrangement area of the small barcode (hereinafter referred to as the small barcode arrangement area). The small barcode arrangement area and the large barcode arrangement area are set so as to be longer than the length along the barcode arrangement direction BD in the blank area included in the area (hereinafter referred to as the large barcode arrangement area), and the process proceeds to S240. do.

Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, the small barcode arrangement area SR1 of the small barcode SBC and the large barcode arrangement area BR1 of the large barcode BBC are located on each other in the quiet zone BQZ of the large barcode BBC. The small barcode arrangement area SR1 and the large barcode arrangement area BR1 are set so as to be in contact with the end on the side not in contact with the barcode BBC.

The small bar code placement area SR1 includes the quiet zone SQZ of the small bar code SBC, and the large bar code placement area BR1 includes the quiet zone BQZ of the large bar code BBC. The length SL1 along the barcode arrangement direction BD in the blank area included in the small barcode arrangement area SR1 is the length BL1 along the barcode arrangement direction BD in the blank area included in the large barcode arrangement area BR1. Longer.

(1-4) Effect The printer 1 configured as described above includes a printing unit 15 and a control unit 11. The printing unit 15 prints an image on a printing medium. The control unit 11 controls the printing unit 15.

Then, the control unit 11 converts image data including a plurality of barcodes represented by a plurality of bars arranged alternately along the barcode arrangement direction BD and a plurality of spaces arranged between two bars adjacent to each other. Based on this, the magnitude of the target barcode and the adjacent barcode are compared.

Further, the control unit 11 has a length along the barcode arrangement direction BD in the blank area included in the small barcode arrangement area along the barcode arrangement direction BD in the target blank area included in the large barcode arrangement area. Set the small barcode placement area and the large barcode placement area so that they are longer than the above.

The printer 1 configured in this way can make the barcode arrangement area (that is, the small barcode arrangement area) on which the quality deterioration due to reduction is large as wide as possible. As a result, the printer 1 can suppress the degree of reduction of the barcode (that is, the small barcode) having the larger quality deterioration due to the reduction, and can suppress the deterioration of the quality of the barcode due to the reduction.

In the embodiment described above, the printer 1 corresponds to an image processing device, S260 and S270 correspond to comparison processing, S280 corresponds to large / small area setting processing, and the barcode arrangement direction BD corresponds to the arrangement direction.

[Second Embodiment]
The second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below together with the drawings. In the second embodiment, a part different from the first embodiment will be described. The same reference numerals are given to common configurations.

(2-1) Resizing process The printer 1 of the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the resizing process is changed.
Next, the procedure of the resizing process of the second embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 7, the resizing process of the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the processes of S270 and S280 are omitted and the processes of S410 to S440 are added.
That is, when the processing of S260 is completed, the CPU 21 in S410, in S410, the ratio of the minimum module width in the barcode of the first determination target barcode to the minimum module width in the barcode of the second determination target barcode (hereinafter, Minimum module width ratio) is calculated. If the minimum module width in the barcode of the small barcode SBC is 1 and the minimum module width in the barcode of the large barcode BBC is k, the minimum module width ratio is k.

Then, the CPU 21 determines in S420 whether or not the division according to the minimum module width ratio is possible. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the CPU 21 has a small bar code obtained by dividing the length along the barcode arrangement direction BD in the blank area (hereinafter, blank area length L _BA ) by (1 + k). When the width of the quiet zone SQZ of the SBC is W _SQZ or more, it is determined that the division by the minimum module width ratio is possible. Note that FIG. 8 shows a barcode arrangement area when k = 2.

Here, when the division by the minimum module width ratio is possible, the CPU 21 sets the barcode arrangement area according to the minimum module width ratio in S430 and shifts to S240 as shown in FIG. 7. Specifically, the CPU 21 has a length along the barcode arrangement direction BD in the blank area included in the small barcode arrangement area and a length along the barcode arrangement direction BD in the blank area included in the large barcode arrangement area. Set the small barcode placement area and the large barcode placement area so that the ratio matches the minimum module width ratio.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the CPU 21 has a length of L _BA / (1 + k) along the barcode arrangement direction BD in the blank area included in the small barcode arrangement area SR21, and the large barcode arrangement area BR21. The small barcode arrangement area SR21 and the large barcode arrangement area BR21 are set so that the length along the barcode arrangement direction BD in the blank area included in is k × L _BA / (1 + k).

On the other hand, when the division by the minimum module width ratio is not possible, the CPU 21 sets the barcode arrangement area according to the width of the quiet zone in S440 as shown in FIG. 7, and shifts to S240. Specifically, the CPU 21 has a small barcode arrangement area such that the small barcode arrangement area includes the quiet zone SQZ of the small barcode SBC and the large barcode arrangement area includes the quiet zone BQZ of the large barcode BBC. And set the large barcode placement area.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the small barcode arrangement area SR31 includes the quiet zone SQZ of the small barcode SBC, and the large barcode arrangement area BR31 includes the quiet zone BQZ of the large barcode BBC. Then, at the end where the small barcode arrangement area SR31 of the small barcode SBC and the large barcode arrangement area BR31 of the large barcode BBC are not in contact with each other in the quiet zone SQZ of the small barcode SBC. The small barcode arrangement area SR31 and the large barcode arrangement area BR31 are set so as to be in contact with each other.

The CPU 21 sets the large bar code placement area BR41 in S440 so as to include the quiet zone SQZ of the small bar code SBC as shown by the small bar code placement area SR41 and the large bar code placement area BR41 in FIG. You may.

(2-2) Effect The printer 1 configured as described above includes a printing unit 15 and a control unit 11.
Then, the control unit 11 determines the ratio between the minimum module width in the barcode of the target barcode and the minimum module width in the barcode of the adjacent barcode (hereinafter, the minimum module width ratio) based on the image data including a plurality of barcodes. calculate.

Further, the control unit 11 has a length along the barcode arrangement direction BD in the blank area included in the target barcode arrangement area and a length along the barcode arrangement direction BD in the blank area included in the adjacent barcode arrangement area. Set the target barcode placement area and the adjacent barcode placement area so that the ratio matches the minimum module width ratio. The target barcode placement area is an area set to include the target barcode and a blank area around the target barcode in order to place the target barcode. The adjacent barcode placement area is an area set to include the adjacent barcode and a blank area around the adjacent barcode in order to arrange the adjacent barcode.

In this way, the printer 1 sets a bar code arrangement area according to the size of the bar code for each of the bar codes adjacent to each other.
Therefore, the printer 1 can suppress the occurrence of a situation in which the reduction degree of the smaller barcode becomes larger than the reduction degree of the larger barcode. As a result, the printer 1 can suppress the degree of reduction of the smaller barcode from becoming large, and can suppress the deterioration of the quality of the barcode due to the reduction.

Further, the control unit 11 has a length along the barcode arrangement direction BD in the blank area included in the target barcode arrangement area and a length along the barcode arrangement direction BD in the blank area included in the adjacent barcode arrangement area. It is determined whether or not the target barcode arrangement area and the adjacent barcode arrangement area can be set so that the ratio matches the minimum module width ratio.

Then, when the control unit 11 determines that it is not possible to set the target barcode arrangement area and the adjacent barcode arrangement area so as to match the minimum module width ratio, the target barcode arrangement area is the target barcode. The target barcode arrangement area and the adjacent barcode arrangement area are set so as to include the quiet zone and the adjacent barcode arrangement area includes the quiet zone of the adjacent barcode.

As a result, the printer 1 can set the barcode arrangement area even when the barcode arrangement area cannot be set according to the minimum module width ratio.
In the embodiment described above, S410 corresponds to the ratio calculation process, S430 corresponds to the ratio area setting process, and the minimum module width ratio corresponds to the barcode ratio.

Further, S420 corresponds to the possible judgment process, and S440 corresponds to the impossible time area setting process.
Although one embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be variously modified and implemented.

[Modification 1]
For example, in the above embodiment, the small bar code placement area SR1 and the large bar code placement area BR1 are set so that the small bar code placement area SR1 and the large bar code placement area BR1 are in contact with each other at the end of the quiet zone BQZ. Indicated. However, in S280, as shown by the small barcode arrangement area SR11 and the large barcode arrangement area BR11 in FIG. 6, the CPU 21 arranges the barcodes in a length equal to or less than the width _WSQZ of the quiet zone SQZ of the small barcode SBC. The small barcode arrangement area SR11 may be set so as to overlap the large barcode arrangement area BR11 along the direction BD. As a result, the printer 1 can further widen the barcode arrangement area on which the quality deterioration due to the reduction is large, and can further suppress the deterioration of the barcode quality due to the reduction.

[Modification 2]
In the first embodiment, the magnitude of the target barcode and the adjacent barcode are compared based on the minimum module width in the barcode. However, the size of the barcode may be compared without using the minimum module width in the barcode. For example, the size of the barcode may be compared based on the length along the barcode arrangement direction BD of the barcode.
[Modification 3]
In the above embodiment, the barcode created with the specifications specified by Code 128 is used, but the barcode may be created with the specifications specified by other barcode standards. Examples of other barcode standards include GS1-128, ITF, CODE39, CODABAR (NW-7), CODE93, UPC, JAN, EAN and the like.

A plurality of functions possessed by one component in the above embodiment may be realized by a plurality of components, or one function possessed by one component may be realized by a plurality of components. Further, a plurality of functions possessed by the plurality of components may be realized by one component, or one function realized by the plurality of components may be realized by one component. Further, a part of the configuration of the above embodiment may be omitted. Further, at least a part of the configuration of the above embodiment may be added or replaced with the configuration of the other above embodiment.

In addition to the printer 1 described above, a system having the printer 1 as a component, a program for operating a computer as the printer 1, a non-transitional substantive recording medium such as a semiconductor memory in which this program is recorded, an image processing method, and the like. , The present disclosure can also be realized in various forms.

1 ... Printer, 11 ... Control unit, 15 ... Printing unit

Claims (6)

A printing unit configured to print an image on a printing medium,
An image processing device including a control unit configured to control the printing unit.
The control unit
Based on image data containing a plurality of barcodes represented by a plurality of bars alternately arranged along a preset arrangement direction and a plurality of spaces arranged between two adjacent bars. Of the plurality of the barcodes, one of the barcodes is used as a target barcode, and one of the barcodes adjacent to the target barcode along the arrangement direction is used as an adjacent barcode. Comparison processing that compares the magnitude of the code and the adjacent barcode, and
The blank area arranged between the target bar code and the adjacent bar code is set as the target blank area, the bar code determined to be small in the comparison process is set as a small bar code, and the blank area is determined to be large in the comparison process. The bar code is a large bar code, and an area set to include the small bar code and a blank area around the small bar code for arranging the small bar code is set as a small bar code placement area. The area set to include the large barcode and the blank area around the large barcode for arranging the large barcode is included in the small barcode arrangement area as the large barcode arrangement area. The small barcode arrangement area and the small barcode arrangement area and the target blank area so that the length along the arrangement direction in the target blank area is longer than the length along the arrangement direction in the target blank area included in the large barcode arrangement area. An image processing device configured to execute the large / small area setting process for setting the large barcode arrangement area. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1.
The large / small area setting process is performed with the large bar code arrangement area along the arrangement direction with a length equal to or less than the small quiet zone width, which is the length of the quiet zone added to the small bar code along the arrangement direction. An image processing device that sets the small barcode arrangement area so as to overlap. A printing unit configured to print an image on a printing medium,
An image processing device including a control unit configured to control the printing unit.
The control unit
Based on image data containing a plurality of barcodes represented by a plurality of bars alternately arranged along a preset arrangement direction and a plurality of spaces arranged between two adjacent bars. Of the plurality of the barcodes, one of the barcodes is used as a target barcode, and one of the barcodes adjacent to the target barcode along the arrangement direction is used as an adjacent barcode. The ratio calculation process for calculating the barcode ratio, which is the ratio between the size of the code and the size of the adjacent barcode, and
The blank area arranged between the target barcode and the adjacent barcode is set as the target blank area, and the target barcode and the blank area around the target barcode are set in order to arrange the target barcode. The area set to include is set as the target barcode placement area, and the area set to include the adjacent barcode and the blank area around the adjacent barcode in order to arrange the adjacent barcode is the adjacent bar. As the code arrangement area, the length along the arrangement direction in the target blank area included in the target barcode arrangement area and the length along the arrangement direction in the target blank area included in the adjacent barcode arrangement area. An image processing apparatus configured to execute a ratio area setting process for setting the target barcode arrangement area and the adjacent barcode arrangement area so that the ratio of the barcode matches the barcode ratio. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3.
The control unit
The bar is the ratio of the length of the target blank area included in the target barcode arrangement area along the arrangement direction to the length of the target blank area included in the adjacent barcode arrangement area along the arrangement direction. A possibility determination process for determining whether or not the target barcode arrangement area and the adjacent barcode arrangement area can be set so as to match the code ratio, and
When the possibility determination process determines that it is not possible to set the target barcode arrangement area and the adjacent barcode arrangement area so as to match the barcode ratio, the target barcode arrangement area is the target. Impossible area setting process for setting the target barcode arrangement area and the adjacent barcode arrangement area so as to include the barcode quiet zone and the adjacent barcode arrangement area includes the adjacent barcode quiet zone. An image processing device that is configured to perform and. A printing unit configured to print an image on a printing medium,
An image processing program that can be executed by the control unit in an image processing apparatus including a control unit configured to control the printing unit.
In the control unit
Based on image data containing a plurality of barcodes represented by a plurality of bars alternately arranged along a preset arrangement direction and a plurality of spaces arranged between two adjacent bars. Of the plurality of the barcodes, one of the barcodes is used as a target barcode, and one of the barcodes adjacent to the target barcode along the arrangement direction is used as an adjacent barcode. Comparison processing that compares the magnitude of the code and the adjacent barcode, and
The blank area arranged between the target bar code and the adjacent bar code is set as the target blank area, the bar code determined to be small in the comparison process is set as a small bar code, and the blank area is determined to be large in the comparison process. The bar code is a large bar code, and an area set to include the small bar code and a blank area around the small bar code for arranging the small bar code is set as a small bar code placement area. The area set to include the large barcode and the blank area around the large barcode for arranging the large barcode is included in the small barcode arrangement area as the large barcode arrangement area. The small barcode arrangement area and the small barcode arrangement area and the target blank area so that the length along the arrangement direction in the target blank area is longer than the length along the arrangement direction in the target blank area included in the large barcode arrangement area. An image processing program configured to execute the large / small area setting process for setting the large barcode arrangement area. A printing unit configured to print an image on a printing medium,
An image processing program that can be executed by the control unit in an image processing apparatus including a control unit configured to control the printing unit.
In the control unit
Based on image data containing a plurality of barcodes represented by a plurality of bars alternately arranged along a preset arrangement direction and a plurality of spaces arranged between two adjacent bars. Of the plurality of the barcodes, one of the barcodes is used as a target barcode, and one of the barcodes adjacent to the target barcode along the arrangement direction is used as an adjacent barcode. The ratio calculation process for calculating the barcode ratio, which is the ratio between the size of the code and the size of the adjacent barcode, and
The blank area arranged between the target barcode and the adjacent barcode is set as the target blank area, and the target barcode and the blank area around the target barcode are set in order to arrange the target barcode. The area set to include is set as the target barcode placement area, and the area set to include the adjacent barcode and the blank area around the adjacent barcode in order to arrange the adjacent barcode is the adjacent bar. As the code arrangement area, the length along the arrangement direction in the target blank area included in the target barcode arrangement area and the length along the arrangement direction in the target blank area included in the adjacent barcode arrangement area. An image processing program configured to execute a ratio area setting process for setting the target barcode arrangement area and the adjacent barcode arrangement area so that the ratio of the barcode matches the barcode ratio.

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