JPH02279360A - Printing method for bar code - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To print a bar code of arbitrary magnification including an intermediate value of integer number times by inputting arbitrary magnification alpha, and obtaining total number of dots, black bar width, white bar width by calculating. CONSTITUTION:An arbitrary magnification alpha is input and set by a host computer, total number (n) of dots of one character is calculated based on n = 2.31alpha/gamma (where gamma is a dot pitch), the magnification alpha set in basic size set in advance is multiplied to obtain theoretical value of each bar (two black bars, two white bars). The number ki of dots of each bar is determined from the theoretical value with dot diameter by black bar ki = (B-beta)/gamma+1 and white bar ki = (C-2alpha+beta)/gamma+1beta. It is so checked that the sum of four bars becomes n, and if it is not satisfied, it is so regulated as to satisfy it. Thus, fine bar code length is set, and satisfactory bar code printing is performed in response to various printing places, etc.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a method for printing barcodes in which one character consists of two black bars and two white bars.

[Prior Art] Conventional barcode printers print barcodes based on data in which the length of one character is set in advance, or simply change the basic barcode length to an integer multiple using magnification change operation 1. It was to be printed by

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, with such conventional barcode printing methods, it is not possible to precisely set and print a barcode length depending on the printing location of the barcode.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, the present invention provides a barcode printing method that allows fine-grained barcode length settings and, therefore, good barcode printing depending on various printing locations.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a barcode in which one character consists of two black bars and two true bars, in which the diameter β of one dot and the interval γ of one pitch are set respectively. By manually adjusting an arbitrary magnification α in the state of 2A=2.
31α (however, 2, 3] is the basic dimension of one character with unit -) is obtained from the relationship n=2.31, a/γ, and calculated from this total number of dots n and the theoretical value. From the number of dots in each bar, find the black bar width B and white bar width C by calculating B (k, -1) γ + β C = (k + 1) γ + 2 (γ - β / 2), and The bar code is printed based on the bar width 81C1:M.

[Operation] In the present invention having such a configuration, the total number of dots n can be set to n= by manually adjusting an arbitrary magnification α while the diameter β of one dot and the interval γ of one pitch are set. 2
．． 31α/γ, and further calculate the black bar width B by B=(
Ic+ 1) γ+β, the own bar width C is C-(k+-1
) γ+2 (γ-β/2). By printing a barcode based on the bar width determined in this way, a barcode of any magnification including values intermediate to integer multiples can be printed.

[Example code] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a barcode printer using a thermal head. 1 is a CPU that constitutes the main body of the control unit, and 2 is a ROM (read/write) that stores program data for this CPU to control each part. only·
3 is a RAM that stores data received from the host computer, edited barcode printing data, etc.
(random access memory), 4 is an external interface for controlling data transmission and reception with the host computer, and 5 is an I10 port.

The CPUI, ROM 2 , RAM 3 , external interface 4 , and I10 board 5 are electrically connected by a path line 6 .

A head controller 8 that controls the thermal dot head 7, a carrier controller 10 that controls the carrier motor 9, a ribbon controller 12 that controls the ribbon motor 11, and a transport controller 14 that controls the transport motor 13 are connected to the I10 port 5, respectively. ing.

The carrier motor 9 functions to move the carrier carrying the thermal dot head 7 along the platen, the ribbon motor 11 functions to operate the ink ribbon, and the transport motor 13 functions to transport the paper. and functions to rotate the platen.

As shown in FIG. 2, the thermal dot head 7 is equipped with 576 heating elements 7a of, for example, R1 to R976, each of which is divided into blocks of 64, and the head controller I/roller 8 generates N%ff;! It is designed to be IH.

The CPU 1 is designed to perform the pattern creation process shown in FIG. 3 by receiving data from the host computer.

First, this is an arbitrary C set on the host computer.
8 rate α is taken in and stored in RAM3. Then, the size γ of one pitch and the size β of the diameter of one dot, which are preset according to this printer, are read out and the total number n of dots of one character is calculated.

As shown in the example of the left side character in Figure 4, the distance from the center of the first dot on the right end to the center of the nth dot on the left end is (n-1)γ, and from the right side, there is a black bar, a white bar, and a black bar. Since it is in the order of own bar, β/ is on the right end.
There is a part of the black bar of 2, and a part of the white bar of (γ-β/2) is at the left end, so the length A for one character is A-(n
-1) γ0 (γ - β/2) + β/2.

Also, the width of the basic dimension for one character is determined to be 2,311, so the length A for one character is A = 2.3
It is also 1α.

Using these two relational expressions, the total number of dots for one character n
is n=2.31α/γ.

Next, the basic dimensions are multiplied by an arbitrary magnification to find the theoretical value of each bar. Then, the number of dots in each bar is determined from the theoretical value.

First, the width B of the black bar is B-(kl-
1) γ+β. Further, the width C of the own bar is C-(k+-1)γ+2(γ-β/2), as shown in FIG.

Here, 1 indicates the number of dots forming each bar.

Therefore, the number of dots in the black bar is k, -(B-β)/
γ+1, and + in the number of dots on the white bar is k, =
(C-2α+β)/γ+1.

Here, if is a decimal point, it is converted to an integer value, which indicates that the sum of the number of dots in each bar must be the total number of dots n.

Finally, it is checked whether the width of each bar thus obtained is within the tolerance range of the JIS standard, and if so, the bar code is determined.

If it is not within the tolerance range of the JIS standard, the number of dots used for each bar is changed and it is checked again whether the width of n- is within the tolerance range of the JIS standard.

In this embodiment with such a configuration, the total number n of dots for one character is calculated based on n=2.31α/γ by inputting and setting an arbitrary magnification factor α on the host computer, and furthermore, the total number n of dots for one character is calculated based on n=2.31α/γ. The basic dimensions of each bar (2 black bars, 2 white bars) are multiplied by the arbitrary magnification α set.
Find the theoretical value of Then, from the theoretical values, the number of dots in each bar is determined by 1, the black bar is determined by +-(B-β)/γ+1, and the own bar 1c1=(C-2α+β)/γ+1.

Then, the sum of each of the four bars is n, that is, n
Check whether the relationship -Σk+ is satisfied or not by -1, and if it is not satisfied, adjust it so that it is satisfied.

Furthermore, it is checked whether the width of each bar is within the tolerance of the JIS standard, and if it is within the tolerance, a bar code is determined. Also, if it is not within the tolerance, 1(i
The number of dots used for each bar is changed by rounding up or down to the first decimal place so that the width of each bar is within the tolerance of the JIS standard.

In addition, since the six significant figures of the JIS standard are 3 digits, γ-1/36
When a dot such as 01nch is used, the value of 2γ differs from the actual value by the minimum number of digits, so correction is necessary. The formula representing the corrected ASBSC is A, = (27+0.001)INT(n-1)/
2+ 7 (n −1) mod 2+β/2+(γ−β/
2) B-(2γ10.001)INT(k,-1)/2
+γ (k+ 1) mod2 +βC-(2γ+
0.001) INT(kl-1)/2+ 7 (k+
1) a+od2+2 (γ - β/2).

By determining a one-character barcode in this way, it is possible not only to simply multiply the basic barcode by an integer, but also to set a fine-grained barcode length using a magnification including decimal points. Therefore, the size of the label on which the barcode is printed can be set as desired, and the location on which the label is attached can be freely selected.

In other words, good barcode printing can be performed depending on various printing locations.

Additionally, barcodes can be created while comparing the size with other printed content, eliminating imbalances in design.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a barcode printing method that allows fine-grained barcode length settings and, therefore, good barcode printing depending on various printing locations. It is.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figures show an embodiment of the present invention, in which Figure 1 is a block diagram, Figure 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a thermal dot head, and Figure 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a thermal dot head.
The figure is a flowchart showing the barcode pattern creation process, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the dot configuration of a one-character barcode,
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the dot configuration of a black bar, and FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the dot configuration of a white bar. 1...CPU, 2...ROM, 3...RAM. 4...External interface, 7...Thermal dot head. Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue Procedural amendment 1. Display of the case Japanese Patent Application No. 1-101916 2, Name of the invention barcode printing method 3, Person making the amendment Relationship to the case Patent applicant (35B) Tokyo Electric Co., Ltd. 4, Agent 3-chome, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo No. 7 No. 2 No. 2, Contents of amendment (1) The scope of claims is amended as shown in the attached sheet. (2) The phrase “integral multiple” on page 2, line 15 of the specification is r.
Fixed magnification determined in advance based on JIS standards.'' (3) From line 19 on page 3 of the specification to line 5 on page 4, the statement ``Determined from theoretical values...to be printed'' is corrected as follows. Black bar width B determined by the basic value Xα of the JIS standard
Calculate the number of dots on the black bar and white bar from The method is to print a bar code based on ζ on the calculated number of dots of the black bar and white bar. "Bar width...The bar width determined in this way" should be corrected as follows. Furthermore, from the black bar width B and the white bar width C, which are determined by the basic value of the JIS standard x α, the number of dots on the black bar is 1-(B-β)+1γ, and the number of dots on the white bar is: It is determined by sw (C-2α1β)+1γ. Number of dots in the black bar and own bar thus determined (5) In the 6th line of page 7 of the specification, the phrase ``also 1 character'' is corrected to ``according to J I 5XO501, 1 character''. (6) Lines 4 and 12 of page 8 of the specification and (7)
From the 9th line to the 10th line of page 10 of the specification, the statement ``not only multiplies the basic barcode by an integer, but also a magnification that includes the decimal point'' is corrected to ``any magnification that includes the decimal point.'' . 2. Scope of Claims In a barcode in which one character consists of two black bars and two white bars, the diameter of one dot β and the interval of one pitch γ are set respectively, and any By manually adjusting the magnification α, the total number of dots in one character, n, and the length of one character as A, are calculated as A−Cn−1)γ+(γ−β/2)+β/2A, =2.
31α (However, 2.31 is the basic dimension of one character in units of order) It is calculated by calculating n = 2.31α/γ obtained from the relationship, and this total number of dots n and JIS standard, -
(C-2a “β)+1 (white bar) γ

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a barcode in which one character consists of two black bars and two white bars, an arbitrary number of dots can be set with the diameter size β of one dot and the interval γ of one pitch set respectively. By inputting the magnification α, the total number of dots of one character is n, and the length of one character is A, A=(n-1)γ+(γ-β/2)+β/2A=2.3
1α (however, 2.31 is the basic dimension of 1 character in mm), calculated by calculating n = 2.31α/γ, and each bar calculated from this total number of dots n and the theoretical value. The black bar width B and white bar width C are calculated from the number of dots k_i by the following calculation: B=(k_i-1)γ+β C=(k_i-1)γ+2(γ-β/2), and the calculated bar width B , C. A barcode printing method characterized by printing a barcode based on .