JP2946945B2 - Barcode terminal device - 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 terminal, and more particularly to a terminal having bar code printing, verification and reading functions.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional bar code terminal device,
To realize three functions of printing a barcode based on the received data, verifying the printed barcode, and reading a barcode inserted from the outside, for example, a bar with a barcode verification function is added. This required a system configuration in which a code printer, a barcode scanner, and a communication device were connected to a computer.

[0003] As a bar code printer to which a bar code verification function is added, there is a printer in which a verification device is installed at an outlet of a print sheet in addition to a printer device that prints a bar code in accordance with an instruction from a computer. The verification device includes a scanner that faces a print sheet to be discharged. Since the output signal of the scanner changes according to the black bar or white bar of the bar code, the verification device verifies the bar code from various items such as a PCS value (print contrast signal) based on the output signal. If it is determined that the bar code is non-conforming as a result of the verification, the bar code is marked as non-conforming.

[0004] The above system configuration operates as follows. Form data sent from a communication line (public line or dedicated line) is demodulated by a communication device and input to a computer. The computer analyzes the input data, converts it into an output format, and outputs it to a barcode printer. The barcode printer prints a form with a barcode based on the input data. At the same time, the form just printed is read by a scanner, and the barcode is verified from the read data. On the other hand, when reading a barcode printed on a form, the barcode is read by a barcode scanner, and the read data is processed by a computer. Thereafter, the computer outputs the processing data to the communication line via the communication device.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, since a computer, a barcode scanner, a printer, a communication device, and a barcode verification device are individually provided, there is a problem that an installation space is required. In addition, even if a configuration in which these devices are simply integrated is considered, there is a problem that a sufficient installation space cannot be reduced because the bar code scanner and the bar code verification device have dual scanners. .

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and realizes bar code printing, verification, integration of a reading device, and sharing of a scanner to reduce a sufficient installation space. It is an object of the present invention to provide a barcode terminal device capable of performing the following.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides a bar code terminal device having bar code printing, verification, and reading functions, and a printing device for printing a bar code based on input data. A scanner that is arranged in the middle of a transport path for transporting the document printed by the apparatus to the discharge port and outputs a signal corresponding to a barcode printed on the document, and an output signal of the scanner is input, and an output signal of the scanner A barcode verifying device that verifies a barcode printed by the printing device based on the printer, an insertion slot for inserting a printed document on which a barcode is printed in advance, and the transport of the printed document inserted in the insertion slot. A converging flow path for merging and conveying the printed document, and an output signal of the scanner, and a buffer for the inserted printed document based on the output signal of the scanner. It is to employ a bar code terminal apparatus characterized by a bar code reader for reading a code incorporated in 1 case.

[0008]

According to the above arrangement, when the printing apparatus prints a barcode based on input data, the document on which the barcode is printed is guided to the discharge port by the transport path. Since the scanner arranged in the middle of the conveyance path outputs a signal corresponding to the bar code, the output signal output by the scanner when the printed document is conveyed along the conveyance path is changed by reflecting the printed bar code. . Based on the output signal of the scanner, the barcode verification device verifies the printed barcode by various known methods. Further, a printed document on which a barcode is printed in advance is inserted from the insertion slot. The transport merging channel joins and transports the printed document inserted from the insertion port into the transport path. Therefore, the output signal output by the scanner when the printed document is transported along the transport path changes depending on the barcode of the printed document. The bar code reader reads the bar code of the printed document based on the output signal of the scanner.

Therefore, according to the above configuration, the functions of printing, verifying, and reading the barcode can be integrated into a single case, and can be realized by using one scanner.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a bar code terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a bar code terminal device includes a thermosensitive roll paper 3, paper feed rollers 5a, 5b, 5c, a thermal head 7, a print platen 8, discharge rollers 9a, 9b, a scanner 11, Retraction solenoid 13, drive motor 15,
Operation panel 17, electronic control unit 19, and communication line 2
1 and so on. Hereinafter, each configuration will be described.

The paper feed rollers 5 a and 5 b are arranged upstream of the thermal head 7 and guide the thermal roll paper 3 to the thermal head 7. The printing platen 8 is arranged to face the thermal head 7 and presses the thermal roll paper 3 against the thermal head 7 with an appropriate pressure. Discharge roller 9
Reference numerals a and 9b are disposed near the discharge port 1a, and discharge the thermal roll paper 3. The scanner (CCD or the like) 11 is disposed between the discharge rollers 9 a and 9 b and the thermal head 7.

The thermal head 7 and the paper feed roller 5b are connected to a head retraction solenoid 13, and the head retraction solenoid 13 performs a retraction operation for moving the thermal head 7 closer to or away from the printing platen 8. Do. Further, in synchronization with this retraction operation, the head retraction solenoid 13 arranges the paper feed roller 5b on the paper feed roller 5a side to sandwich the thermal roll paper 3 (configures a transport path), The roller 5b is arranged on the side of the paper feed roller 5c so that the document P inserted from the insertion slot 1b is sandwiched between the rollers 5b (constituting a transport junction). The paper feed roller 5
a, 5b, 5c are rotated by a drive motor 15.

The operation panel 17 incorporates various operation switches. The output of the operation panel 17 is connected to the electronic control unit 19. The thermal head 7, the scanner 11, the head retraction solenoid 13, the driving motor 15, the communication line 21, and the like are further connected to the electronic control unit 19.

Next, a detailed configuration of the electronic control unit 19 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the electronic control unit 19 in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG.
The electronic control unit 19 includes a microcomputer 22, an amplification circuit 23, a binarization circuit 25, an analog / digital conversion circuit (hereinafter, referred to as an ADC) 27, a counter 29, and a modem 31.

The output signal of the scanner 11 is connected to an amplifier circuit 23, and the output of the amplifier circuit 23 is output to a binarization circuit 25.
The output of the binarization circuit 25 is connected to a counter 29. The output of the ADC 27, the output of the counter 29, the output of the modem 31, the external thermal head 7, the head retraction solenoid 13, the driving motor 15, the control panel 17, and the document detection sensor 33 are connected to the microcomputer 22.

A communication line 21 is connected to the modem 31. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the document detection sensor 33 is for detecting the presence of the document P, and is disposed near the insertion opening of the document P.

The microcomputer 22 is a well-known CP.
It is an arithmetic and logic operation circuit incorporating U, ROM and RAM. In the ROM or the RAM, FIGS.
Are stored in advance.

The CPU always executes a main routine shown in FIG. 3 by using power supplied from a battery (not shown). When the main routine is started, the process first waits until the power is turned on by operating a power switch (not shown) (S100). In other words, the printer is on standby in the sleep state, and when the power is turned on, a reception printing process (S110) for printing a barcode is performed waiting for reception of data from the communication line 21. Thereafter, the operation of the operation panel 17 causes the process to proceed to the next step from the reception printing process (S110).

In the next step, it is determined whether or not the operation on the operation panel 17 is an instruction for the label issuing mode (S12).
0). If it is determined that the mode is the label issuing mode, a label issuing process (S130) for printing and verifying the barcode is executed. When the label is issued, the reception print processing (S10
Return to 0). If it is determined that the operation of the operation panel 17 is not an instruction of the label issuing mode (S120), it is determined whether the operation is an instruction of the transmission mode (S140). If it is determined that the mode is the transmission mode (S140), the transmission reading process (S15) for reading a manual document and transmitting the read data.
Perform 0). If the read data is transmitted or if it is determined in step S140 that the transmission mode is not set, the process returns to the reception printing process (S100).

Next, for each of the processes in S110, S130, and S150, the label issuing process (S1
30), the reception printing process (S110), and the transmission reading process (S150) will be described in detail in this order.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a label issuing processing routine. In FIG. 4, when the CPU starts the label issuing process based on the operation of the operation panel 17, first, the CPU inputs data such as instruction data from the operation panel 17 and print data from the communication line 21 (S200). Next, the thermal head 7 is brought close to the print platen 8, and the head retraction solenoid 13 is driven so that the paper feed roller 5b is set to the print state on the paper feed roller 5a side (S210). Thereafter, numerical bar data to be printed as a barcode is separated from the input data (S220), and barcode image data is generated based on the separated bar data (S230). Then, slip (form)
Format image data is generated (S24).
0).

Next, the generated data is output to the thermal head and one line of data is printed (S250).
After printing one line of data, the drive motor 15 is moved by one line (S260), and the thermal roll paper 3 is fed by one line.

When the thermal roll paper 3 is sent, a one-line bar code printed on the thermal roll paper 3 is scanned by the scanner 11.
Pass through. The scanner 11 outputs a voltage signal corresponding to light and dark, and the voltage signal when the bar code passes reflects the ground color (white) of the thermal roll paper 3, the white space of the bar code, and the light and dark of the black bar. You. The voltage signal output from the scanner 11 is amplified to a required level by the amplifier circuit 23 and digitized by the binarizing means 25 and the ADC 27. The output of the binarizing means 25 is output to a counter 29. The counter 29 counts the number of pulses of the binarized signal related to the bar code for one line. The outputs of the ADC 27 and the counter 29 are input to the microcomputer 22.

By driving the drive motor 15 for one line in step S260 in this manner, the output of the ADC 27 and the counter 29 relating to the printed one-line barcode is input to the microcomputer 22.

Next, the CPU executes a barcode verification process (S270) for detecting whether or not the printed barcode is normal according to the data thus input to the microcomputer 22. Barcode verification processing (S27
Details of 0) will be described later.

Subsequently, bar code verification processing (S270)
From the result, it is determined whether or not the bar code is normally printed (S
280), if the printing is normal, it is determined that the printing is completed (S29).
Until 0), the processes related to printing from step S250 onward are repeatedly executed. If it is determined in step S290 that printing has been completed, the process exits to "RETURN" and temporarily ends the main routine.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S280 that the printing is not normal, the improper marking process (S29)
Execute 5). In the impossible marking process (S295), a signal for printing a specific mark meaning "impossible" is output to the thermal head 7, and the "impossible mark" is printed on the thermal roll paper 3.

Next, the details of the barcode verification process (S270) will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an outline of the barcode verification process.

In FIG. 5, when the CPU starts the barcode verification processing, first, the PCS value verification processing (S300).
To determine whether the PCS value is normal (S31).
0). If the PCS value is normal, a module size verification process (S320) is performed next to determine whether the module size is normal, that is, whether the ratio of the narrow bar width to the narrow space width is within the reference range ( S330). If it is normal here, the narrow-wide verification process (S340) is performed, and subsequently, it is determined whether or not the narrow-width is normal, that is, whether the ratio of the width between the narrow bar and the wide bar is within the reference range (S350).

If the data is normal, a barcode data verification process (S360) is performed, and subsequently, it is determined whether the data is normal, that is, whether the data to be printed is the same as the printed data (S370). If it is determined that the process is normal, the above-described verification processes (S300, S320, S34) are performed.
0, S360), it is verified that everything is normal, so the process exits from “RETURN”, ends the main routine once, and moves to step S280 of the label verification process (FIG. 4).

On the other hand, each verification process (S300, S3
If an abnormality is detected (S310, S330, S350, S370) in any of the processes of S20, S340, and S360), a flag for performing nonconforming marking is set at that time (S380), and "RETURN" is set. And the process moves to step S280 of the label issuing process (FIG. 4). Step S2 of the label issuing process (FIG. 4)
At 80, if the flag is not set, it is determined that the printing is normal, and if it is set, it is determined that the printing is not normal.

Next, S300, S320, S340, S
The barcode verification processing in 360 will be described in detail.
When the CPU starts the PCS value verification process (S300),
As shown in FIG. 6, first, the output data of the ADC 27 is input (S400). Next, data relating to the white space is detected from the input data (S410). Here, the data relating to the white space is detected by utilizing the fact that the white space has a high reflectance and the output voltage of the scanner 11 is higher than that of the black bar portion.

Next, white reflectance calculation (S420) is performed.
Since the maximum output voltage of the scanner 11 is considered to correspond to the maximum output voltage of the ADC 27, the output voltage of the scanner 11 when a white space portion is read, that is, the ADC 27
And the maximum output voltage of the ADC 27, the white reflectance WCS is calculated according to the following equation 1.

[0034]

## EQU1 ## White reflectance WCS = (ADC in white space portion)
(Voltage of the ADC 27) / (maximum output voltage of the ADC 27) Subsequently, data on the black bar is detected from the data from the ADC 27 input in step S400 (S43).
0). Here, data relating to the black bar is detected by utilizing the fact that the black bar has a low reflectance and the output voltage of the scanner 11 is lower than that of the white space portion.

Then, black reflectance calculation (S440) is performed. At this time, the black reflectance BCS is obtained from the following equation (2).

[0036]

## EQU2 ## Black reflectance BCS = (ADC in black bar portion)
27) / (minimum output voltage of ADC 27) Finally, the white reflectance WCS and the black reflectance BC obtained above are obtained.
A PCS value (relative reflectance) is obtained from S (S450).
The PCS value is obtained from the following equation (3).

[0037]

## EQU3 ## PCS value = (WCS-BCS) / WCS When the PCS value is obtained as described above (S450), "RE
TURN "and the main routine ends.

The PCS value obtained in this processing routine is used in the determination in step S310 of the barcode verification processing routine (FIG. 5). Generally, when the PCS value is 0.75 or more, a good reading result can be obtained. Therefore, step S
In 310, the criterion is set to 0.75. If the PCS value is 0.75 or more, it is determined that the PCS is normal.

Next, the module size verification processing will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the module size verification processing. In FIG. 7, when starting the main routine, the CPU first inputs the count value of the counter 29 (S500). Subsequently, a black bar is detected from the count value (S510), and the minimum value among the detected count values of the black bar portion is stored (S520). The minimum corresponds to the width of the narrow bar. Then, a white space portion is detected from the count value input in step S500 (S53).
0), the minimum value among the detected count values of the white space portion is stored (S540). This minimum corresponds to the width of the narrow space.

When the above processing is completed, "RETUR"
N ", and the main routine is temporarily ended. And
The processing executed by the CPU shifts to step S330 (FIG. 5). In step S330, the above step S520
The minimum value of the narrow bar detected in step S5
Based on the minimum value of the narrow space detected at 40, it is determined whether the bar width is normal from a preset reference value of the bar width.

Next, the narrow-wide verification process will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the narrow-wide verification process. In FIG. 8, when starting the narrow-wide verification process, the CPU first inputs a count value from the counter 29 (S600). Subsequently, a black bar portion is detected from the count value (S610), and the minimum value among the detected count values of the black bar portion is stored (S620). The minimum corresponds to the width of the narrow bar. The acquisition of the minimum value for the black bar portion is performed in the above steps S600, S610,
In addition to the processing of S620, the minimum value obtained in step S520 of the module size verification processing (FIG. 7) may be used.

Then, the maximum value among the count values for the black bar portion detected in step S610 is stored (S
630). The maximum value corresponds to the width of the wide bar. Once the minimum and maximum values have been determined as described above,
A ratio calculation (S640) is performed. The ratio calculation is performed based on Equation 4 below.

[0043]

## EQU4 ## Ratio = Wide bar width / Narrow bar width = Wide space width / Narrow space width The ratio is obtained through the above processing, the process exits to "RETURN", and the main routine is temporarily terminated. Then, CPU
The process proceeds to step S350 of the barcode verification process (FIG. 5), and it is determined based on a known standard whether or not the narrow-width ratio value is normal (S350).

Next, the barcode data verification processing will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the barcode data verification processing. In FIG. 9, when the CPU starts barcode data verification processing, first, the CPU holds barcode data to be printed (S700),
Is input (S710). Next, the barcode is decoded from the count value (S720), and the print barcode data is compared with the decode data of the actual print barcode (S730). After the above processing, "R
ETURN ", and the main routine is temporarily ended.
Then, the CPU proceeds to step S370, and determines whether or not the print barcode data matches the decode data (normal) (S370).

Next, the reception printing process (S110) in the main routine (FIG. 3) will be described. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing details of the reception printing process.

In FIG. 10, when the CPU starts the print reception processing, it first receives data transmitted from the communication line 21 from the modem 31 (S800). Next, the thermal head 7 is moved closer to the printing platen 8, and the head retraction solenoid 13 is driven to move the paper feed roller 5b toward the paper feed roller 5a (S8).
10).

Subsequently, numerical data and bar data for bar code printing are separated from the received data (S82).
0). Then, barcode image data is generated from the separated bar data (S830), and a form in a slip (form) format is generated (S840). Each data thus generated is sent to the thermal head 7 (S8).
50) One line of data is printed. After printing one line of data, the drive motor 15 is moved by one line (S860), and the thermal roll paper 3 is moved by one line (S860).

Then, it is determined whether or not the printing is completed (S8).
70) If the printing is not completed, the processing from step S850 is repeatedly executed until it is determined that the printing is completed (S870), and if it is determined that the printing is completed, the processing exits to “RETURN” and the main routine is temporarily terminated.

Next, the transmission reading process (S150) in the main routine (FIG. 3) will be described. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the transmission reading process.

In FIG. 11, when the CPU starts the transmission reading process (S150), the CPU first waits until the document P is detected by the document detection sensor 33 (S900). Thermal roll paper 3
From the head retraction solenoid 13 so as to move the paper feed roller 5b toward the paper feed roller 5c.
Is driven (S910). As a result, the document P is sandwiched between the paper feed rollers 5c and 5b. Thereafter, the drive motor 15 is moved by one line (S920), and the document P is moved by one line.

Subsequently, the original is read by the scanner 11 (S9).
30), decode the read barcode (S94)
0). Then, it sends the decoded bar data to the modem 31 (S950), and outputs the bar data to the communication line 21 (S960). Next, it is determined whether the reading has been completed (S970), and if not, the processing from step S920 is repeatedly executed. When the reading is completed (S970), the process exits from “RETURN” and ends the main routine once.

As described above, according to the bar code terminal device of the first embodiment, a device for realizing bar code printing, verification and reading functions is built in one case 1 and one scanner is provided. Since the function of reading and verifying the bar code is realized by using the device 11, the size of the apparatus can be significantly reduced, and a sufficient installation space can be reduced.

(Second Embodiment) The barcode terminal device of the second embodiment does not perform the detailed verification of the barcode as in the first embodiment described above, and determines whether or not a predetermined printing accuracy is maintained. Judge. The internal configuration of the electronic control unit 19 is different from that of the first embodiment, and the other configurations are the same.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the electronic control unit 19 in the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12, in the second embodiment, there is no ADC 27 (FIG. 2) in the device of the first embodiment, and the signal of the amplification circuit 41 for amplifying the output signal of the scanner 11 is input to the binarization circuit 43. The output signal of the binarization circuit 43 is input to the counter 29. Further, a control signal from the microcomputer 22 is input to the amplification circuit 41 and the binarization unit 43.

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit configuration of the amplifier circuit 41 and the binarization circuit 43. The amplification circuit 41 includes an operational amplifier 44, resistors R1, R2, R3 and an analog switch 47. One end of the resistor R1 is connected to a signal input terminal 45 of the amplifier circuit 41. The binarizing means 43 includes a voltage comparator 48, analog switches 49 and 51, a diode D1,
D2, resistors R4 and R5 and a capacitor C. The output of the voltage comparator 48 is connected to the output terminal 57 of the binarization circuit 43. The analog switches 47, 49, and 51 of the amplifier circuit 41 and the binarization circuit 43 are connected to the microcomputer 2
This switch is turned on / off by a control signal from the control unit 2.

The electronic control device 19 including the amplifier circuit 41 and the binarizing circuit having the above configuration operates as follows.
In the transmission reading process (S150 in FIG. 3), it is necessary to read a barcode of a form whose printing state is not good. Therefore, the microcomputer 22 turns off all the analog switches 47, 49, and 51 by the output control signal. Then, the amplification factor A of the amplifier circuit 41 in this state is A = -R2 / R1, and the binarizing means 43 is of a tracking type, and the tracking time constant τ is τ = K · R4 · C. Note that K is a constant.

That is, A = -R2 / R in the amplifying circuit 41.
The signal from the scanner 11 amplified to 1 is converted to a binarizing means 4
Although the signal is binarized by 3, the voltage and the phase-shifted signal are added to the comparison input of the voltage comparator 48 based on the forward voltage Vf of the diodes D1 and D2 and the tracking time constant τ, and the binarization is performed.

The forward voltage Vf and the follow-up time constant τ of the diodes D1 and D2 act in such a direction that a voltage difference between the comparison input terminals of the voltage comparator 48 is obtained. do. The operation and effect of the forward voltage Vf of the diodes D1 and D2 are described in
The same operation and effect as those of the signal identification circuit described in Japanese Patent Application Publication No.

Next, the operation in the state of the label issuing process will be described. In the label issuing processing state, it is necessary to verify the barcode printed on the label to be issued. Therefore, the analog switches 47, 49, and 51 are all turned on by the control signal output from the microcomputer 22. The amplification factor A of the amplifier circuit 41 in this state is represented by A = − (R2‖R3) / R1. However, R2‖R3 is the parallel resistance value of R2 and R3, and therefore, the amplification factor decreases.

The following time constant τ of the binarizing means 43 is τ
= K · R4‖R5 · C. However, R4‖R5 is R
4 and the parallel resistance value of R5. Therefore, the following time constant τ becomes small. Forward voltage V of diodes D1 and D2
Since f is also short-circuited by the analog switch 49, Vf =
It becomes 0V.

Accordingly, if the PCS value of the printed form is low, the binarization is not properly performed due to a decrease in the amplification factor of the amplifier circuit 41. In addition, the decrease in the forward voltage Vf and the follow-up time constant τ make it difficult to obtain a voltage difference between the comparison input terminals of the voltage comparator 48, so that if the quality of the signal to be binarized is not good, the 2 Not valued. As a result, at the time of verification, the microcomputer 22 can grasp the printing quality based on whether or not the barcode has been correctly decoded, and can prevent the issuance of a form having a printing failure beforehand.

As described above, according to the bar code terminal device in the second embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, if the print quality is ensured, the bar code is correctly decoded, and the print quality is reduced. If they are not secured, decoding is not performed correctly, so that barcode verification processing can be simplified.

(Third Embodiment) The bar code terminal device of the third embodiment is designed to determine the reading performance of a scanner provided in the device, the reading performance at the time of transmission, and the reading performance at the time of bar code verification at the time of label issuance. In this case, the scanner is switched so as to further enhance the commonality of the scanner. Specifically, the threshold data is set prior to the bar code decoding process, and the threshold data is switched between reading at the time of transmission and reading at the time of bar code verification at the time of label issuance.

That is, in the label issuing processing routine in the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, after the drive motor 15 is moved by one line (S260), the threshold data is set to a value for bar code verification. (S261). Thereafter, the barcode decoding process (S2
62).

Similarly, in the transmission reading processing routine in the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, after one line of the original is read by the scanner 11 (S930),
Set the threshold data to a value for transmission processing (S
931). Thereafter, the barcode decoding process (S93)
2) is performed.

Here, the setting of the threshold data for bar code verification performed in step S261 of FIG. 15 is performed so as to reduce the variation range of the bar width, secure the PCS value, and narrow the bar code so as to satisfy the bar code standard value. Settings are made to reduce the wide ratio, increase the reflectance of white portions (generally spaces), and reduce the reflectance of black portions (generally bars).

On the other hand, the setting of the threshold data for the transmission processing performed in step S931 in FIG. 16 is based on the fact that the bar width variation range, the narrow wide ratio, the reflectivity of the white portion and the black portion, etc. In order to be able to read as much as possible even if it is off, it is set looser (wider) than the threshold data for barcode verification.

As a result, even if one scanner is shared, the value of the threshold data is set before the barcode decoding process so as to make use of the characteristics of each process, so that the scanner can be more commonly used. be able to.

Here, the operation of the above-described bar code decoding process will be described. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the operation of the barcode decoding process. In FIG. 17, initialization is performed in step S1000, and if it is determined in step S1010 that a start margin (a wide space at the left end of the barcode) has been detected, in step S1020, whether the first bar has been detected is determined. Is determined. If it is determined that the bar number has been detected, the bar count is increased by one in step S1030, and it is determined in step S1040 whether or not this count number has overflowed. If the result of this determination is that the count has overflowed, step S10
Returning to 00, the initialization is performed again. If not, the processing of steps S1030 to S1050 is repeated until it is detected that the space has been changed in step S1050.

When it is detected in step S1050 that the space has been changed to a space, in step S1060, the number of bars counted until reaching step S1060 is transferred to the buffer memory and stored therein.
At 70, initialization is performed for space counting. Thereafter, in step S1080, the space count is increased by one, and it is determined in step S1090 whether or not this count has overflown.

If the result of this determination is that the count has overflowed, the flow proceeds to step S1100, and
It is determined that the reading of the barcode has been completed, and the process proceeds to the decoding processing routine in step S262 in FIG. 15 and step S932 in FIG.

If the count has not overflown, the processing of steps S1080 to S1110 is repeated until it is detected in step S1110 that the bar has changed to a bar.

If it is detected in step S1110 that the space has been changed to a space, in step S1120, the count number of the space counted until the space reaches step S1120 is transferred to the buffer memory and stored therein.
In step 1130, initialization is performed for bar counting, the process returns to step S1030, and the above-described processing is performed again.

As described above, in the bar code terminal device of the third embodiment, even if one scanner is shared, the threshold data of the threshold data can be utilized before the bar code decoding process so as to make use of the characteristics of each process. By setting the value, the sharing of the scanner can be further improved.

Although various embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments at all, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the second embodiment, a configuration may be adopted in which the accuracy required for verification can be adjusted by changing the combination of ON and OFF of the analog switches 47, 49, and 51. Further, the gain A of the amplifier circuit 41 for obtaining the same effect as in the above embodiment, and the binarizing means 4
The manner of change of the tracking time constant τ of 3 and the forward voltage Vf of the diodes D1 and D2 is not limited to the present embodiment, but various variations are possible.

[0076]

As described above, according to the present invention, the functions of printing, verifying and reading barcodes can be integrated into a single case and realized by using one scanner. Therefore, there is an excellent effect that the apparatus can be miniaturized and a sufficient installation space can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a bar code terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an electronic control device according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a main routine according to the first embodiment, which is executed by the microcomputer.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a label issuing process according to the first embodiment, which is executed by the microcomputer.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of a barcode verification process executed in the microcomputer.

FIG. 6 shows a PC executed in a microcomputer.
It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of S value verification processing.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an operation of a module size verification process executed in the microcomputer.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation of a narrow-wide verification process executed in the microcomputer.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation of a barcode data verification process executed in the microcomputer.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation of a reception printing process executed in the microcomputer.

FIG. 11 is executed in a microcomputer;
It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the transmission reading process in 1st Example.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an electronic control device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration example of an amplifier circuit and a binarization circuit in the second embodiment.

FIG. 14 is executed in a microcomputer;
13 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a main routine in a third embodiment.

FIG. 15 is executed in a microcomputer;
It is a flow chart which shows operation of label issuing processing in a 3rd example.

FIG. 16 is executed in a microcomputer;
It is a flow chart which shows operation of transmission reading processing in a 3rd example.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the operation of a barcode decoding process in the third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 3 Thermal roll paper 5a, 5b, 5c Paper feed roller 7 Thermal head 11 Scanner 13 Head retraction solenoid 15 Driving motor 22 Microcomputer 31 Modem 41 Amplification circuit 43 Binarization circuit 47, 49, 51 Analog switch

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A bar code terminal device having a bar code printing, verification, and reading function, comprising: a printing device for printing a bar code based on input data; and a document printed by the printing device to an outlet. A scanner that is arranged in the middle of the transport path for transporting and outputs a signal corresponding to a barcode printed on a document, an output signal of the scanner is input, and the printing device performs printing based on the output signal of the scanner A barcode verification device for verifying a barcode, an insertion slot for inserting a printed document on which a barcode is pre-printed, and a transport merger for conveying the printed document inserted into the insertion port by converging it on the transport path. A bar code reading unit that receives an output signal of the scanner and reads a bar code of the inserted printed document based on the output signal of the scanner. A bar code terminal device, wherein the bar code terminal device is incorporated in one case.