JPH0331147B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a barcode label printer with a product name, which prints a barcode on a label along with product name, price, and other printed data.

Technical Background and Problems Conventionally, as shown in Fig. 1, a label 2 issued from a label printer 1 has a product name 3 and a barcode 4 printed on it. 4 is printed only in one predetermined direction. Therefore, when pasting the barcode on a product 5 having a cylindrical outer peripheral surface, it is necessary to ensure that the reading direction of the barcode 4 is a straight line. The reason for attaching the barcode in this manner is to position the entire width of the barcode 4 within the optical depth of focus of the reader. That is, if the reading direction of the barcode 4 is set along a circular arc, the entire width of the barcode 4 cannot be focused, and the barcode 4 becomes unreadable.

If the direction in which the label 2 is attached is limited in this way, the direction of the product name 3 may be difficult to read in some cases. However, in reality, the inconvenience of visual reading is unavoidable because the directionality of the barcode 4 is important.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a barcode label printer with a product name, which makes it possible to easily obtain labels that are extremely easy to read visually.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is capable of inputting the font direction of either characters for product names or barcodes stored in a character generator into a print buffer in any direction. By doing this, when the barcode is determined to be the simplest and easiest to read depending on the shape of the product's external surface and the position where the label is attached, the direction of the characters such as the product name can be specified and printed in the direction that is easiest to read. It is configured so that it can be done.

Embodiment of the Invention A first embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. Components that are the same as those described with reference to FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. First, a CPU 6 is provided, to which a program ROM 7 consisting of a ROM, a character generator 8, and a memory 9 consisting of a RAM and a print buffer 10 are connected. In addition, a key switch 11, a printer 12,
Display sections 13 are connected to each. A direction changeover switch 14 is provided within the key switch 11 to change the printing direction.

In such a configuration, assume that the basic format is that the barcode 4 is arranged horizontally with respect to the label 2, and the characters such as product name 3 are written horizontally.

To explain its operation, a predetermined paper feed is performed, and data processing is performed when a print command is received. Then, the direction changeover switch 14
If it is not ON, it is in the normal state, so the necessary items are called from the character generator 8 according to the data, and the basic format is set in the print buffer 10. That is, the barcode 4, product name 3, etc. are written horizontally, and are printed in this horizontally written state. An example of such printing is the label 2 shown in FIG. 3a.

Next, when the direction switch 14 is on, the character generator 8 converts each character between vertical and horizontal during processing, inputs the vertical format into the print buffer 10, and prints it. . An example printed in this manner is shown in FIG. 3b. When such a label 2 is attached to the product 5 as shown in Fig. 4, the barcode 4 has a straight line in the reading direction and there is no problem in reading it, and the product name 3 etc. is attached to the product 5.
It is easy to read because it can be read along the shape of the . In other words, for product 5 that is displayed standing up, product name 3
The product name 3 is written vertically, making it extremely easy to read.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 6 and 7. In this example, label 2
This applies when the required information is pre-printed on the . The pre-printed contents include:
"Processing date", "Validity date", "Per 100g (yen)", "Price (yen)", "Contents (g)", "Storage temperature 10℃ or less"
,
``Thank you for your continued support.''

The contents printed by the printer 12 include, in addition to the product name 3, characters such as dates and data, and a bar code 4. First, a predetermined paper feed is performed, and when a print command is received, data processing is performed.
Then, the necessary material is pulled out from the character generator 8, but the direction changeover switch 14 is
Check whether it is turned on or not. If it is not turned on, print buffer 10 to see Figure 6a.
Create a basic format as shown below and print it out.

Further, if the direction switch 14 is ON, the barcode symbol is converted vertically and horizontally, and the print buffer 10 creates a format in which the barcodes 4 are arranged vertically as shown in FIG. 6b. and print it. Note that in this case, a different label paper is used than in the case of the basic format.

Effects of the Invention As described above, the present invention provides a method for changing the direction of the font of one of the barcodes and the characters for the product name called by the character generator when inputting the print content to the print buffer as described above. Since we made it possible to select whether or not to use the direction switch,
Even if the bar code is given priority and set in the most readable direction, the direction of the product name can also be selected, so it is possible to obtain a label that can be easily read visually.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional example, Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention, Figs. 3 a and b are plan views of the label, and Fig. 4 is a vertically written product name. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the label attached, FIG. 5 is a flowchart, FIGS. 6a and 6b are plan views of the label in the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart. 2...Label, 3...Product name, 4...Barcode, 8...Character generator, 10...Print buffer, 14...Direction switch.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A character generator is provided that stores the font of the characters, etc. for the product name and the barcode, and the font of either the characters, etc. or the barcode for the product name called from these character generators is stored. A barcode label printer with a product name, characterized in that it is equipped with a direction changeover switch for changing the direction of input to the print buffer.