JP5096224B2 - Laser printer and barcode printing system for barcode printing - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a laser printer for barcode printing and a barcode printing system, and in particular, a barcode for printing a barcode formed by combining a plurality of bars formed by printing a space and a plurality of dots. The present invention relates to a laser printer for printing and a barcode printing system including such a laser printer for barcode printing.

  Conventionally, for barcode-related printing, a barcode-dedicated printer such as letterpress printing or offset printing has been used to ensure that the barcode reader can perform reading. In recent years, the reading rate with a barcode reader has been improved, and even a low-density barcode can be read. For example, a barcode can be printed with a laser printer that prints with dots.

  The bar code is formed by combining a part called a black bar (black bar) and a part called a white space (white bar). The bar is configured by printing a plurality of dots. The space is formed by providing a blank portion between the bars. In Japan, a JAN (Japan Article Number) code is adopted as a basic rule of a bar code, and a fine allowable error range and the like are defined for the width of a bar or space. The basic unit of bar and space width is called a module. In the JAN code, one to four modules are selected for the bar width. One character corresponding to one number is composed of 7 modules.

  When printing a bar code with the laser printer described above, when forming a bar and a space having the same width, the dot rows of the bar and the width of the space located between the bars are made the same. However, the width of the bar and the space may not be the same due to a change in the dot diameter of the toner fixed on the paper, a difference in the diameter of the laser light in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, or the like. For the same reason, the bar to space width ratio may be different from the theoretical value.

Techniques relating to the barcode printing apparatus that can cope with such problems are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-99590 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-54165 (Patent Document 2). According to Patent Document 1, a temporary bar pattern replacement table is created in which the bar pattern module configuration for each character is replaced with the number of dots for the sum of the bar modules that make up the bar code, thereby changing the number of dots. A table is created so that it is within the allowable error range. According to Patent Document 2, the number of dots in the bar is uniformly reduced, and the width of the space is uniformly increased to prevent the reading rate from being lowered when ink bleeding occurs.
JP-A-9-99590 JP-A-5-54165

  In Patent Document 1, since correction is performed for each character, correction between characters and correction in consideration of the influence on each bar and each space cannot be performed. In Patent Document 2, since correction is performed so as to uniformly reduce the number of dots in the bar, correction may be inappropriate.

  Here, it is conceivable to correct the bar width as follows. FIGS. 8A to 8C are diagrams showing a state in which the theoretical value of the bar width is compared with the actual measured value of the bar width when dots are actually printed. FIG. 8A shows a bar for one module, FIG. 8B shows a bar for two modules, and FIG. 8C shows a bar for three modules. Here, the theoretical value of the width of the bar represents a plurality of 600 dpi (dot per inch) square pixels, which are indicated by hatching in the drawing. The width of one pixel is 42.25 μm. Here, the bar is basically composed of four dots per module.

  First, referring to FIG. 8A, the width of the bar 101 for one module is represented by four pixels 102a to 102d, and its theoretical value is 169 μm. Here, if the width of the bar 101 for one module is represented by four dots 103a to 103d, the measured value of the width of the four dots 103a to 103d is 245 μm. In this case, the dots 103a and 103d located at both ends protrude from the pixels 102a and 102d located at both ends by 38 μm. Here, the two dots 103a and 103d are reduced. Then, the width of the dots 103b to 103c is about 160 μm. This actual measurement value is closer to the theoretical value and is within the specified allowable error range. In this way, the bar width for one module is corrected. Specifically, printing is performed with 2 dots reduced.

  Similarly, referring to FIG. 8B, the theoretical value of the width of the bar 104 for two modules is 338 μm, and the actual measured value of the width of the eight dots 106a to 106h is 377 μm. In this case, the dots 106a and 106h located at both ends protrude from the pixels 105a and 105h located at both ends by 19.5 μm. Here, one dot 106h is reduced. Then, the widths of the dots 106a to 106g are about 335 μm. This actual measurement value is closer to the theoretical value and is within the specified allowable error range. Referring to FIG. 8C, the theoretical value of the width of the bar 107 for three modules is 507 μm, and the actual measured value of the width of the twelve dots 109a to 109l is 521 μm. In this case, since the actual measurement value is close to the theoretical value and within the allowable error range, it is not necessary to correct the number of dots 109a to 109l.

  In this way, it is conceivable to perform the correction described above for each bar. However, when the above correction is performed, the width of the adjacent space is affected. Specifically, the width of the bar and the start position and end position of the bar are deviated from the theoretical value, thereby affecting the width of the adjacent space and the start position and end position of the space. In this case, depending on the width of the bar, specifically, each differs depending on the number of modules. Here, the width of the adjacent space also needs to be within an allowable error range, so the bar adjacent to the space is also affected. As described above, the width of each bar and each space is affected by the adjacent bar for the space and the adjacent space for the bar. Such problems cannot be dealt with in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a bar code printing laser printer capable of appropriately correcting the width of the bar forming the bar code and the space.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a bar code printing system capable of appropriately correcting the width of the bar and space forming the bar code.

  The barcode printer laser printer according to the present invention prints a barcode formed by combining a plurality of bars formed by printing a space and a plurality of dots. Here, the barcode printer laser printer refers to the width of the bar and the width of the space adjacent to at least one side of the bar, changes the number of dots constituting the bar, and reduces the width of the bar. Correction means for correcting is provided.

  Preferably, the correcting means corrects the width of the bar with reference to the width of the space adjacent to both sides of the bar.

  More preferably, the correction means corrects the width of the bar with reference to a correction table storing correction values for the number of dots corresponding to the width of the bar and the width of the space adjacent to the bar.

  More preferably, the correction unit varies depending on the printing direction of the printing unit.

  In another aspect of the present invention, a barcode printing system transmits one of the barcode printing laser printers described above and data serving as a basis for forming a barcode to the barcode printing laser printer. And a computer making a print request.

  According to such a barcode printing laser printer and barcode printing system, the number of dots constituting the bar is changed by referring to the width of the bar and the width of the space adjacent to at least one side of the bar. Correct the width. As a result, the bar width can be corrected more appropriately in consideration of the influence of the adjacent space. Also, appropriate correction can be performed for the space located between the bars. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately correct the widths of the bars and spaces forming the barcode. Further, the barcode printed in this way can improve the reading rate.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a barcode printing system including a barcode printing laser printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a barcode printing system 19 is disposed outside a barcode printing laser printer 10 via a barcode printing laser printer 10 and a network 17. And a plurality of personal computers (computers) 18 that transmit data serving as a basis for forming a barcode and make a barcode printing request.

  The barcode printing laser printer 10 displays a control unit 11 that controls the barcode printing laser printer 10 as a whole, a DRAM 12 for writing and reading data, and information that the barcode printing laser printer 10 has. An image that includes a display screen, forms a barcode from the operation unit 13 that serves as an interface with the user in the laser printer 10 for barcode printing, and the data that is the basis for forming the received barcode, and fixes and outputs the barcode to the paper. It includes a forming unit 14, a hard disk 15 for storing data, and a network IF (interface) unit 16 for connecting to a network 17.

  The bar code printing laser printer 10 uses the data that is the basis for forming the bar code received from the personal computer 18 connected to the network 17 through the network IF unit 16, and the bar code printing in the image forming unit 14 through the DRAM 12. To print. The barcode printing laser printer 10 forms an image in the image forming unit 14 via the DRAM 12 using image data input from the personal computer 18 in addition to data serving as a basis for forming the barcode, Can be printed.

  The image forming unit 14 includes a photoconductor that forms an electrostatic latent image and a laser (none of which is shown) that irradiates light on the surface of the photoconductor. For the development of the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor by irradiation with laser light based on the data, toner as a developer is used. The laser beam has a different beam diameter in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.

  The hard disk 15 stores a plurality of correction tables for correcting the width of the bar constituting the barcode. Details of the correction table will be described later.

  In FIG. 1, thick arrows indicate the flow of image data, and thin arrows indicate the flow of control signals or control data.

  Next, a case where a barcode is printed in the barcode printing system 19 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for printing a barcode using the barcode printing system 19 including the barcode printing laser printer 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, first, a user transmits a data to be a basis for forming a barcode to be printed from the personal computer 18 to the barcode printing laser printer 10 to make a barcode printing request. . If it does so, the control part 11 will receive the data used as the basis which forms the transmitted barcode. Then, it is determined whether the barcode to be formed is a barcode that extends in the main scanning direction or a barcode that extends in the sub-scanning direction, and a corresponding correction table is selected (step S11 in FIG. 2, hereinafter, steps are omitted). To do).

  3 and 4 are diagrams illustrating an example of the correction table. FIG. 3 shows a bar start position correction table, that is, a correction table 21 when a space is located on the right side of the bar. FIG. 4 shows a bar end position correction table, ie, a space is located on the left side of the bar. The correction table 22 in this case is shown. 3 and 4, the vertical column indicates the space width in module units, the horizontal column indicates the bar width in module units, and the dot number change value, that is, dot correction that increases or decreases the number of dots at the intersection column. The value is shown. 3 and 4 are correction tables for barcodes extending in the main scanning direction. In this embodiment, the control unit 11 selects the correction tables shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

  Next, the control unit 11 displays a barcode pattern formed based on the received data in units of modules on the DRAM 12 (S12). FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C are diagrams showing an example of a barcode pattern displayed in module units, and each shows the same barcode. In FIG. 5 (a) to FIG. 5 (c), 1 square surrounded by a square is defined as one module, hatched ridges are bars, and white ridges between bars are spaces. FIG. 5D to FIG. 5F are diagrams showing the bar and space widths and modules by symbols in the barcode patterns shown in FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C. FIGS. 5D to 5F correspond to FIGS. 5A to 5C, respectively. In FIG. 5D to FIG. 5F, B indicates a bar, S indicates a space, and a numerical value indicates the width of the bar and the space in four stages in units of modules. Here, the four stages of module units correspond to the columns and rows in FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 5G shows dot correction values for the width of each bar and each space. FIG. 5H shows the dot pattern values of each bar and each space reflecting the dot correction value.

  With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5H, a method of correcting the width of the bar and the space forming the barcode will be described in detail. First, it is assumed that the bar to be corrected is a bar 31 surrounded by a dotted line in FIG. Then, a space adjacent to this is referred to (S13). In this case, the space 32 adjacent to the right is referred to. Since the space adjacent to the right is 1S (space 32 having a width of 1), a dot correction value for correcting the end position of the bar 31 is derived with reference to the correction table 21 shown in FIG. 3 (S14). Here, the vertical column is the first column and the horizontal column is the second column, and the dot correction value “−1” in the column 23 is derived. Here, when the width of the bar 31 is represented by the number of dots, 2 (module) × 4 (number of dots per module) −1 (dot correction value) = 7. In this way, correction is performed and the width of the bar 31 is determined (S15). The determined width of the corrected bar 31 is temporarily stored in the DRAM 12.

  Next, the correction target bar is moved to the right side (S16). Here, the bar 33 surrounded by the dotted line in FIG. 5B is selected as the next correction target bar. The bar 33 is the second bar from the left end side. Next, a space 32 located between the bar 31 and the bar 33 and adjacent to the left side of the bar 33 is referred to (S17). Since the space 32 is 1S, the dot correction value is derived with reference to the correction table 22 shown in FIG. 4 (S18). In this case, the vertical column is the first column and the horizontal column is the first column, and the dot correction value “+1” in the column 24 is derived. Here, when the dot correction value for correcting the start position of the bar 33 is derived, the width of the space 32 can be corrected. That is, when the width of the space 32 is represented by the number of dots, 1 (module) × 4 (number of dots per module) +1 (dot correction value) = 5. In this way, correction is performed and the width of the space 32 is determined (S19). The determined width of the corrected space 32 is also temporarily stored in the DRAM 12.

  Next, similarly to the bar 31, the space 34 adjacent to the right side of the bar 33 is referred to derive the dot correction value “0” in the column 25, and the width of the bar 33 is determined (S20). In this case, when the width of the bar 33 is represented by the number of dots, 1 (module) × 4 (number of dots per module) +0 (dot correction value) = 4. Then, the width of the bar 33 is determined, and the determined width of the corrected bar 33 is stored in the DRAM 12.

  In this way, the bar and space widths are alternately corrected and determined in order from the left side, and are sequentially stored in the DRAM 12 (S21).

  Then, when the last bar 35 at the right end is the bar to be corrected (YES in S21), the rear bar 35 is referred to in the column 26 with reference to the correction table 21 shown in FIG. The end bar end position correction value “−1” is derived (S22). Thereafter, the width of the rear end bar 35 is determined and stored in the DRAM 12 (S23).

  Note that dot correction values for all bars and spaces are shown in FIG. 5G, and dot pattern values for all bars and spaces after dot correction are shown in FIG.

  After the widths of all the bars and spaces are determined, data is expanded on the DRAM 12 (S24). Then, based on the corrected barcode data, a plurality of dots are printed at predetermined intervals, and the barcode is printed (S25).

  By configuring in this way, it is possible to perform more appropriate correction with respect to the width of the bar in consideration of the influence of the adjacent space. Also, appropriate correction can be performed for the space located between the bars. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately correct the widths of the bars and spaces forming the barcode. Further, the barcode printed in this way can improve the reading rate.

  In the above embodiment, the case of the bar code extending in the main scanning direction has been described. However, for the bar code extending in the sub scanning direction, the correction table 27 shown in FIG. 6 and the correction table 28 shown in FIG. 7 are used. And a dot correction value can be derived. That is, when it is determined that the barcode extending direction is the sub-scanning direction, the control unit 11 selects the correction table 27 shown in FIG. 6 and the correction table 28 shown in FIG. The correction table 27 shows a bar start position correction table and corresponds to FIG. The correction table 28 shows a bar end position correction table and corresponds to FIG.

  The dot width differs between the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction depending on the beam diameter of the laser beam. However, with this configuration, it is possible to appropriately correct a barcode that extends in the sub-scanning direction. Furthermore, not only the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction but also a plurality of different correction tables may be provided according to various printing directions, and different corrections may be performed according to the printing direction.

  In the above embodiment, the width of the bar is corrected by referring to the width of the space adjacent to both sides of the bar. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the space adjacent to at least one side of the bar is used. The width of the bar may be corrected by changing the number of dots constituting the bar.

  In the above embodiment, the dot correction value is derived by referring to the correction table, and the width of each bar and each space is corrected. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the hard disk supports the correction table. A dot correction value calculation formula to be stored may be stored, and a dot correction value may be calculated using this calculation formula and used as a dot correction value.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described with reference to drawings, this invention is not limited to the thing of embodiment shown in figure. Various modifications and variations can be made to the illustrated embodiment within the same range or equivalent range as the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a barcode printing system including a barcode printing laser printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart in the case of printing using the barcode printing system containing the laser printer for barcode printing which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the bar start position correction table with respect to the barcode extended in the main scanning direction. It is a figure which shows an example of the bar end position correction table with respect to the barcode extended in the main scanning direction. It is a figure which shows an example of the barcode pattern and dot correction value which were displayed per module. It is a figure which shows an example of the bar start position correction table with respect to the barcode extended in a subscanning direction. It is a figure which shows an example of the bar end position correction table with respect to the barcode extended in a subscanning direction. It is a figure which shows the state which compared the theoretical value of the bar width, and the measured value of the bar width at the time of actually performing dot printing.

Explanation of symbols

  10 Barcode printing laser printer, 11 control unit, 12 DRAM, 13 operation unit, 14 image forming unit, 15 hard disk, 16 network IF unit, 17 network, 18 personal computer, 19 barcode printing system, 21, 22, 27, 28 Correction table, 23, 24, 25, 26 columns, 31, 33, 35 bar, 32, 34 spaces.

Claims (5)

A bar code printing laser printer that prints a bar code formed by combining a plurality of bars formed by printing a space and a plurality of dots,
Correction means for correcting the width of the bar by changing the number of dots constituting the bar with reference to the width of the bar and the width of the space adjacent to at least one side of the bar A laser printer for barcode printing. The laser printer for barcode printing according to claim 1, wherein the correcting unit corrects the width of the bar with reference to the width of the space adjacent to both sides of the bar. The correction means corrects the width of the bar with reference to a correction table storing a change value of the number of dots corresponding to the width of the bar and the width of the space adjacent to the bar. Or the laser printer for barcode printing of 2. The barcode printer laser printer according to claim 1, wherein the correction unit is different depending on a printing direction by the printing unit. A laser printer for barcode printing according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A barcode printing system, comprising: a computer that transmits data to form a barcode to the barcode printing laser printer and requests printing of the barcode.

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