JP2794966B2 - Barcode printer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bar code printer,
In particular, the present invention relates to a barcode printer that realizes a handy type low-cost barcode printer and enables simple and convenient use.

More specifically, the barcode printer of the present invention has no restriction on the length of a barcode symbol that can be printed. Is a bar code printer that can be widely used.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a handy type small barcode printer capable of immediately printing a barcode at a site where a barcode is required, a thermal recording method combining a thermal head and a thermal recording paper is known. There is something.

The printing section of the bar code printer using the thermal recording method will be described. FIG. 4 schematically shows the printing section. A thermal head (printer head) 1 is a so-called line type and has a 1 line of line. dot
Print in the format. To describe the printing method by chewing,
After printing one horizontal dot row, the recording paper 2 is fed in the direction of arrow 3, and then the next horizontal one dot row is printed. That is, the conveying direction 3 of the recording paper coincides with the height (described later) of the barcode symbol. When barcode symbols are printed by this recording method, the greatest advantage is that the quality of the barcode symbol, that is, the dimensional accuracy in the length direction of the bar or the space greatly depends on the resolution of the thermal head. The provision of the thermal head can guarantee the quality of the barcode symbol. However, there is a restriction that the length of a printable barcode (described later) is limited to the effective recording width 14 of the thermal head. That is, there is an upper limit on the number of recorded characters.

In order to improve such restrictions, if a long thermal head is mounted, mechanical restrictions on the length of the barcode are relieved, but the size and weight of the printer are increased, and the product is called a handy type. It will be far from the concept, and of course the production costs will increase. Further, the barcode printer normally develops an image pattern on a memory based on a code conversion table based on normally input information, and then sends a signal to a print head. This memory is usually called a print buffer. However, the print buffer also needs a large-capacity storage unit according to the effective recording width of the thermal head, and there is a problem that an increase in cost is inevitable in terms of an electric circuit.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, to cope with any bar code symbol length, and to provide a bar code symbol length.
Can print barcode symbols with variable
Can, moreover is to St. provide this can compact bar code printer to be subjected to simple use of low-cost.

[0007]

A bar code printer according to the present invention which achieves the above-mentioned object is a bar code printer for bar code symbols.
A print head unit for printing a bar code symbol having a variable length, a transport unit for a record carrier on which a bar code is printed, and the length direction of the bar code symbol to be printed and the record carrier And the direction in which the recording medium is transported is substantially the same direction , and the record carrier is a tape.
A bar code printer characterized in that the bar code printer is a continuous body .

In the bar code printer according to the present invention, preferably, a recording member for cutting a tape-shaped record carrier is provided.
Body cutting mechanism, or
In addition, the record carrier is coated with an adhesive on the back side and can be transposed.
It is characterized by the following. In addition, the present invention
Barcode printers allow barcode symbol lengths
Print head that prints strange barcode symbols
And a transport section for the record carrier on which the barcode is printed.
And the length direction of the printed barcode symbol
And the direction in which the record carrier is transported is substantially the same direction.
And information in a barcode pattern
The print head unit converts the bar code symbol
Is printed. In addition,
Ming barcode printer, the length of the barcode symbol
Print head that prints barcode symbols with variable
Section and a transport section for the record carrier on which the barcode is printed.
And the length direction of the printed barcode symbol
And the direction in which the record carrier is transported is substantially the same direction.
And the print head area is single
Drive type, which can drive the print head.
To print the basic element of the barcode symbol.
It is characterized by that. Such a barco of the present invention
Preferably, the print head area is
One of the single type, which drives the print head
Basic element of bar code symbol is printed
Or the record carrier is a tape.
Continuum, or tape-like
Record carrier cutting mechanism to cut record carriers
Or the record carrier adheres to the backside
It is characterized by being coated with material and can be pasted
Things.

[0009] In a bar code printer according the present invention, 1 preferably Printout head region of the single type
The basic element of the barcode symbol is printed by driving the print head, or the record carrier is a tape-like continuous body, or the record carrier is It is characterized by being capable of being applied with an adhesive and being transposed.

[0010]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.

The bar code symbol length 7 and the bar code symbol height 8 in the present invention are as shown in FIG. Originally, the height 8 of the barcode only affects the read operability and has nothing to do with information. However, as the amount of information to be recorded increases, the barcode length 7 naturally increases.

Although the barcode has a fixed information amount, that is, a variable number of characters, depending on the code system, there are two types of barcodes.
AN, CODE39, CODABA as the latter type
R, 2OF5 and interleaved 2OF5 are typical codes. The present invention, the length of the bar code symbol are particularly effective against the latter type is variable. In addition, the former JAN code is standardized as a common product code symbol and is usually assigned by a product manufacturer as called source marking, whereas the latter variable-length barcode is used for industrial applications such as FA. library,
It is widely used in medical institutions and the like, and in most cases, users print barcodes themselves. That is, the user prints barcode symbols of various kinds in small quantities as needed. Thus, from the viewpoint of the field of use, the low-priced small barcode printer of the present invention is suitable for the latter barcode symbol printing.

There are two types of barcodes, in which the amount of information, that is, the number of characters, is fixed or variable depending on the code system. The former type is J
AN, CODE39, CODABA as the latter type
R, 2OF5 and interleaved 2OF5 are typical codes. The present invention is not particularly limited, but is particularly effective for the latter type in which the length of the barcode symbol is variable. Also, the former JAN code is standardized as a common product code symbol,
In contrast to the so-called source marking, which is usually assigned by the product manufacturer, the latter variable-length barcode is widely used in industrial applications such as FA, libraries, medical institutions, etc., and users can print the barcode themselves. In most cases. That is, the user prints barcode symbols of various kinds in small quantities as needed. Thus, from the viewpoint of the field of use, the low-priced small barcode printer of the present invention is suitable for the latter barcode symbol printing.

Further, when printing a separate and independent bar code symbol, it can be developed into a bar code image pattern for each character or every several characters.
It is possible to reduce the memory capacity of the printer buffer.

The term "separate and independent type" as used in the present invention means that a character and its barcode pattern correspond one to one. Typical code system is CODE39, CODA
BAR. This means that a bar code pattern can be developed on a memory completely independently for each character, and sequential conversion is possible.

[0016]

The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the following examples.

FIG. 1 is a functional model diagram showing an embodiment of a bar code printer according to the present invention. 1 × 24 dots (1 in the figure) used for a print head such as a word processor
Printing is performed by combining the thermal head 1 having the heat generating area 11 of (× 5 dots) and the recording medium 2 which is a heat-sensitive recording paper. The relative arrangement of the thermal head 1 with respect to the recording paper transport direction 4 is such that 24 dots are arranged in the height direction of the bar code as shown in FIG. Can be printed. By synchronizing this with the recording paper feed mechanism, a bar code symbol can be completed.

More specifically, a barcode pattern is registered as a character font at a predetermined memory address in the same manner as the external character registration of a word processor. For example, CO
The DE 39, as shown in FIG.
One character is composed of nine bars or spaces (four spaces sandwiched by five bars), of which three are thick bars or thick spaces. Since the bar / space ratio is constant within one independent barcode symbol, all characters can be represented by barcode patterns of equal length. The start / stop codes arranged at the beginning and end of the barcode symbol are “*”, but this is no exception. That is, assuming that the thickness ratio is 2, the barcode pattern can be expressed by 12 [= 3 × 2 + (9-3)] unit elements in the barcode symbol length direction. This means that it is possible to develop a barcode pattern on a memory of a fixed capacity completely independently for each character. Based on the input information, a corresponding barcode pattern is extracted from the memory address correspondence table for each character, and drive signals synchronized with the printer head and the recording paper feed mechanism are sent. The bar code interval between the characters can be realized by feeding the recording paper so as to conform to the bar code code system to be printed. In addition, if the image of the human readable interpretation (characters) that is usually printed at the bottom of the barcode symbol is also registered along with the barcode pattern, the above procedure will be followed at the same time as the barcode pattern. It is also possible to print characters.

In the present invention, the material of the record carrier is not particularly limited, but a tape-shaped material such as synthetic resin or paper can be preferably used.

The transport section of the record carrier can be constituted by a known word processor, a feed mechanism using a stepping motor system as used in various facsimile printers and the like.

FIG. 2A is a functional model diagram showing another embodiment of the bar code printer of the present invention. The thermal head (printer head) 1 has a single heating area 1.
2 is a single type, and by driving this, a basic element of a barcode symbol can be printed. In this embodiment, printing can be easily performed by setting the feed speed of the record carrier (recording paper) to a constant speed and driving the thermal head with an electric signal shown in FIG. 2B. In this embodiment, it is not necessary to develop a character into a two-dimensional barcode image pattern, and a sequential signal pattern 6 consisting of a series of "0" and "1" signals may be used. A code printer can be realized.

The basic element is the most primitive element that forms a barcode symbol.
The bar code symbol of CODE 39 corresponds to a thin bar.

The bar code printer of the present invention does not limit the information input unit, and may be equipped with a keyboard-type input unit that can be used as a stand-alone unit. Alternatively, it may be of a type that incorporates various communication interfaces that have already been proposed and that can input information from an external computer.

Further, in the above embodiment, the thermal recording method has been described as an example, but the basic idea of the present invention can be used as it is in an optical printer using a light emitting element or an ink jet printer.

[0025]

As described above, the bar code printer according to the present invention can be reduced in size at a low price without any restrictions on the length of the bar code symbol, and can be used for an automatic dial system of a telephone. Various personal uses of barcodes, which have been spreading recently, can also be used effectively. In addition, the barcode symbol
To print barcode symbols of variable length
CODE39, CODEBAR,
Information represented by 2OF5 and interleaved 2OF5
Bar code symbol, a variable quantity type code system
Excellent effect when printing. That is, FA
Widely used in industrial applications, libraries, medical institutions, etc.
Users can print barcodes themselves,
In other words, if the user needs,
Low-cost small barcode printer that can print symbols
Can be provided.

[0026]

As described above, the bar code printer of the present invention is free from any restrictions on the length of the bar code symbol and can be used in an electric circuit such as a printer buffer.
Can be simplified, and at the same time , it can be made compact at low cost.
It is also effectively used for various personal uses of barcodes, which have recently been spreading, such as an automatic dial system for telephones.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a model diagram showing one embodiment of a printing portion of a barcode printer according to the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are model diagrams showing another embodiment of a printing portion of the barcode printer of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram in which the length and height of a barcode symbol are defined.

FIG. 4 is a model diagram of a printing unit of a conventional small barcode printer.

FIG. 5 is a code conversion table (C) for a bar code symbol.
ODE39).

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Printer head 11, 12, 13: Heating area 14: Effective recording width 2: Record carrier (recording paper) 3: Transport direction of recording paper 4: Voltage 5: Time 6: Signal 7: Barcode symbol length 8 : Height of barcode symbol

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] A bar code symbol having a variable length.
-A print head for printing code symbols and a bar code
And a transport section for a record carrier on which a mark is printed.
The length direction of the bar code symbol to be printed and the record carrier
The transport direction must be substantially the same as the transport direction.
And the record carrier is a tape-like continuous body.
And a bar code printer . 2. A record carrier for cutting said tape-shaped record carrier.
2. A cutting mechanism is provided.
Barcode printer as described. 3. An adhesive material is applied to the back surface of the record carrier,
3. The method according to claim 1, which can be applied.
Barcode printer as described. 4. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a print head for printing a bar code symbol having a variable length , and a transport section for a record carrier on which a bar code is printed. The length direction of the barcode symbol to be printed and the direction for transporting the record carrier are configured in substantially the same direction, and the information is sequentially converted to a barcode pattern,
A bar code printer, wherein the print head unit prints a bar code symbol. 5. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a print head for printing a bar code symbol having a variable length of a bar code symbol ; and a transport unit for a record carrier on which a bar code is printed. The length direction of the barcode symbol to be printed and the direction in which the record carrier is conveyed are substantially the same, and the printhead area is one of a single type, A bar code printer for printing a basic element of a bar code symbol by driving a bar code symbol. 6. The print head region comprising one of the single type, bar code printer according to claim 4 Symbol mounting, characterized in that the basic elements of the bar code symbol is printed by driving a printing head. 7. The record carrier according to claim 4, 5 or 6 Symbol mounting bar code printer, characterized in that a tape-like continuous body. 8. claims, characterized in that impart record carrier <br/> cutting mechanism for cutting the tape-like recording medium 7
Barcode printer as described. 9. The record carrier adhesive is applied to the back side, claim 4 and 5, characterized in that as it can be stuck rolling,
The barcode printer according to 6, 7, or 8 .