JPH05298464A - Barcode printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a bar code printer where a barcode and a required charac ter string are simultaneously printed at an optional position and also the charac ter string can be printed in a vertical or longitudinal direction in its printing direction. CONSTITUTION:When a printing key is operated, the printing direction is set (S72) and, then, printing data is generated (S76) from a read character code or bar code data, a character is printed (S79) in the vertical direction by printing mechanism in the case of setting in the vertical direction (S77: No) and the bars of the bar code are printed (S87) so as to be set in array in the feeding direction of a printing tape. When the longitudinal direction is set (S77: Yes), character printing data is rotation-processed (S78) by 90 deg.C so as to be printed (S79) and the bars are printed (S87) so as to be set in array in the feeding direction of the printing tape in the same way as that of the vertical direction.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bar code printing apparatus, and more particularly to a bar code printing apparatus for printing a character string in a horizontal writing direction or a vertical writing direction when simultaneously printing input characters or a bar code. ..

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a bar code, which is generally a product code, is printed on each of a wide variety of products. As this barcode, especially in Japan, JAN (Ja
pan Article Number) is widely used as source marking. By the way, this bar code is usually printed by a dedicated printing device using a dot printing method including dot printing elements.

[0003]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, recently,
With the spread of OA equipment, it is required to manage a magnetic medium such as MT (magnetic tape) or a floppy disk or a large amount of books in a library using a computer. Therefore, it is possible to attach the bar code printed by the bar code printing device to each of these magnetic media and books, and these bar codes can be read by a bar code reader connected to a computer. However, since this bar code printing device can print only bar codes, the character strings that can be recognized by humans are often described at the same time for these magnetic media and books, but these character strings are separately printed by other printing devices. There are problems such as the fact that it must be printed, and this limits the use of barcodes. Therefore, in addition to printing the bar code, the character string related to the bar code can be printed at the same time, and these character strings can be printed in any direction of the bar arrangement direction of the bar code or the direction orthogonal to the bar arrangement direction. There is a need for such a bar code printer.

An object of the present invention is to provide a bar code printing apparatus capable of printing a bar code and a desired character string at arbitrary printing positions at the same time, and printing the character string in a horizontal writing direction or a vertical writing direction. To provide.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a bar code printer according to a first aspect of the present invention, as shown in a functional block diagram of FIG. 1, is a print head including a plurality of dot-shaped print elements. A bar code printing device capable of printing a bar code by a printing means comprising: input means capable of inputting characters and symbols and various commands; and character and symbol data input from the input means, Input data storage means for storing barcode data and characters and symbols,
Of the data read from the input data storage means, the bar code data, and the mode setting means for selectively setting the first mode for printing in the horizontal writing direction and the second mode for printing in the vertical writing direction. Is converted into dot pattern data for printing so that the bars of the barcode are arranged in the horizontal writing direction,
Further, the data of character or symbol is provided with a data conversion means for converting into the dot pattern data for printing oriented in the direction set by the mode setting means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the bar code printing apparatus according to the first aspect, the printing means includes a thermal print head, and the tape printing means prints while feeding a tape-shaped print medium in its length direction. It is composed of.

[0007]

In the bar code printing apparatus according to the first aspect, character and symbol data inputted from the input means,
The barcode data is stored in the input data storage means. On the other hand, the first mode for printing characters or symbols in the horizontal writing direction and the second mode for printing characters or symbols in the vertical writing direction are selectively set by the mode setting means. Of the data read from the input data storage means, the bar code data is converted by the data conversion means into printing dot pattern data in which the bars of the bar code are arranged in the horizontal writing direction. The data is converted by the data conversion unit into printing dot pattern data oriented in the direction set by the mode setting unit. As a result, since this printing dot pattern data is printed by the printing means provided with the print head composed of a plurality of dot-shaped printing elements, the characters and symbols in the input order and the bar code are mixed and printed. In addition, the characters and symbols are printed in the orientation according to the set first or second mode.

In the bar code printing apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, the printing means is a tape printing means, and the tape-shaped printing medium is provided in the longitudinal direction thereof in addition to the function of the first aspect. While printing, the characters and the bar code are mixedly printed, and the characters and the symbols are printed in the direction corresponding to the set first or second mode.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is a case where the present invention is applied to a tape printer capable of printing a large number of characters such as kanji, hiragana, katakana and alphabet characters and a barcode on a printing tape. As shown in FIG. 2, a keyboard 3 is arranged in the front part of the main body frame 2 of the tape printer 1, a printing mechanism PM is arranged in the main body frame 2 behind the keyboard 3, and the keyboard 3 A liquid crystal display 22 capable of displaying characters and symbols is provided on the rear side. On the keyboard 3, character keys for inputting alphabets, hiragana and katakana, numeric keys,
A symbol key, a return key, a cursor movement key for moving the cursor K on the display 22 to the left and right, a non-conversion key, a conversion key, a backspace key for erasing a character or a symbol to the left of one digit at the cursor display position, A size key for setting the size of characters to be printed, a bar code key for inputting bar code data, a print key for instructing printing, an execution key for storing bar code data in the text memory 41, and a tape 5 for printing. A tape feed key for feeding and a power key for turning the power on and off are provided.

The printing mechanism PM will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 3. A rectangular tape storage cassette CS is detachably attached to the printing mechanism PM, and the tape storage cassette CS is transparent. Width of about 2 films
Tape spool 6 around which 4mm printing tape 5 is wound
And a ribbon supply spool 8 around which the ink ribbon 7 is wound.
And a take-up spool 9 for taking up the ink ribbon 7,
A supply spool 11 in which a double-sided tape 10 having the same width as the printing tape 5 is wound with a release paper outside and a joining roller 12 for joining the printing tape 5 and the double-sided tape 10 are rotatably provided. Has been. A thermal head 13 is erected at a position where the printing tape 5 and the ink ribbon 7 overlap each other, and a platen roller 14 that presses the printing tape 5 and the ink ribbon 7 against the thermal head 13, and the printing tape 5 are provided. A feed roller 15 for pressing the double-sided tape 10 against the joining roller 12 is rotatably supported by a support body 16. In this thermal head 13,
A heating element group including 128 heating elements is arranged in a row in the vertical direction.

Therefore, when the tape feed motor 24 (see FIG. 4) is driven in the predetermined rotation direction, the joining roller 12 and the take-up spool 9 are driven in synchronism with each other in the predetermined rotation direction, and the heating elements are energized. When printing tape 5
Characters and bar codes are printed on the upper side by a plurality of dot rows, and the printing tape 5 is fed in the tape feeding direction A with the double-sided tape 10 joined. For details of the printing mechanism PM, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-106555. The print mechanism PM includes a feed roller 1
There is provided a cutting mechanism (not shown) for cutting the printing tape 5 fed from the printing tape 5.

Next, the control system of the tape printer 1 is shown in FIG.
The block diagram of FIG. The keyboard 3, a display controller (LCDC) 23 having a video RAM 23a for outputting display data to a liquid crystal display (LCD) 22, and a thermal head 13.
Drive circuit 25 for driving the tape feeding motor 24
A drive circuit 26 for driving the control device C and a drive circuit 21 for the warning buzzer 20 are connected to the input / output interface 27 of the control device C, respectively. The control device C is the CPU 2
9, an input / output interface 27 connected to the CPU 29 via a bus 28 such as a data bus, CGRO
It is composed of an M30, ROMs 31 and 32, and a RAM 40.

CGROM (pattern data memory) 30
For each of a large number of characters, the dot pattern data for display is stored in the column corresponding to the code data. A ROM (outline data memory) 31 has contour data (outline data) that defines the contour of each character for printing characters, such as a Gothic typeface and a Mincho typeface. It is classified for each and stored corresponding to the code data.

In the ROM 32, a display drive control program for controlling the display controller 23 in accordance with character code data such as characters, numbers and symbols input from the keyboard 3, and an outline corresponding to each code data in the text memory 41. An image development processing control program for converting data into dot data and developing it in the print buffer 46, and sequentially reading data in the print buffer 46 to read the thermal head 13 and the tape feed motor 2.
A print drive control program for driving the drive No. 4 and a tape print control control program, which will be described later, peculiar to the present application are stored. The tape print control is performed by the text memory 41.
A bar code data conversion processing control subroutine for converting the data into the data of the bar code based on the data of the data character consisting of the 13-digit number stored in is stored.

In this bar code data conversion processing control, based on the JAN (Japan Article Number) standard, data of 13 numbers including a data character (11 digit number) and a modular check character (1 digit number). Is converted to standard version barcode data. That is, the bar code data is 3 modules for the left guard bar, 42 modules for the left six data characters, 5 modules for the center bar, 35 modules for the five right data characters, and 7 for the modular check character. Modules and light guard bars are converted into 3 modules.

A text memory 41 of the RAM 40 stores document data and bar code data input from the keyboard 3. One address of the text memory 41 is stored in the text pointer (whose content is the pointer value TP) 42. The display pointer (this content is referred to as a display pointer value DP) 43 has a display 22
One address of the text memory 41 corresponding to the character displayed at the leftmost position of the predetermined number of character strings displayed in is stored. The character size memory 44 stores data of the set size used for printing. The bar code buffer 45 stores data of data characters consisting of 13-digit numbers for printing a bar code. The print buffer 46 stores print data for characters and symbols and print data for barcodes. The print pointer (whose content is the print pointer value PP) 47 is
The text memory 41 is used to read the code data to be printed.
Is stored. The flag memory 48 stores flag data of a print direction flag DF which is set when the "vertical writing direction" is set as the direction of the print character and is reset when the "horizontal writing direction" is set.

Next, the tape print control routine executed by the controller C of the tape printer 1 will be described with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. Incidentally, reference numeral S in the figure
i (i = 10, 11, 12, ...) Is each step. When the power is turned on by the power key, the main control shown in FIG. 5 is started, initialization such as clearing each of the memories 41 to 47 is executed (S10), and printable keys such as character keys and space keys are operated. When it is done (S11.
(S12: Yes), the code data corresponding to the key is stored in the text memory 41 (S13), the display process control is executed (S16), and the process returns to S11. For example, when the characters "A", "B", and "C" are input, the code data of the character "ABC" is sequentially stored in the text memory 41 as shown in FIG.

Next, when the bar code key is operated to print the bar code (S11: Yes, S1).
2: No, S14: Yes), the barcode data input process (see FIG. 6) is executed (S15), and through S16,
Return to S11. When this control is started, the bar code input screen is first displayed (S30), and the bar code start code is stored in the bar code buffer 45 (S3).
1). For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the start code is stored in the top address of the barcode buffer 45, and as shown in FIG. 13, the left triangle start mark MS is displayed at the top display position of the cleared display 22. The symbol K is a cursor.

Next, when the numeric key is operated (S
32.S33: Yes), the numerical code is stored in the barcode buffer 45 (S34), the dot pattern corresponding to the numerical code is read from the CGROM 30 and output to the video RAM 23a (S35), and the process returns to S32. For example, a 13-digit number for a bar code, that is,
When a 1-digit prefix character, an 11-digit data character, and a 1-digit modular check character "12345678890128" are input, these 13 numeric codes are used as the data character data as shown in FIG. 45
, And these thirteen numbers are displayed on the display 22 as shown in FIG.

Next, when the execution key is operated to instruct the end of the bar code data input (S32: Yes
s, S33: No, S36: Yes), and when the 13-digit numerical code is stored in the barcode buffer 45 (S37: Yes), the barcode end code is additionally stored in the barcode buffer 45 (S38). , All the code strings in the bar code buffer 45 are stored in the text memory 41 (S39), the bar code buffer 45 is cleared (S40), the video RAM 23a is cleared (S41), and this control is terminated to execute the main process. Return to control. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, an end code is additionally stored in the barcode buffer 45, and
All the code strings in the barcode buffer 45 are shown in FIG.
As shown in, the text is additionally stored in the text memory 41 and the display on the display 22 is erased.

By the way, when the cancel key is operated (S32: Yes, S33 / S36: No, S42:
Yes), the barcode buffer 45 and the video RAM 23
a is cleared respectively (S40 and S41), and the process returns to the main control. When the execution key is operated and the 13-digit numeric code is not stored in the bar code buffer 45 (S37: No), the buzzer 20 sounds to warn (S44) and the process returns to S32. Further, when any key other than the numeric keys, the execute key, and the cancel key is operated (S32: Yes, S33, S36, S42:
No), the process corresponding to the operated key is executed (S
43) and returns to S32.

Next, the display processing control (see FIG. 7) will be described. First, the video RAM 23a is cleared (S
50), display pointer value DP and text pointer value TP
The start addresses of the text memory 41 are stored in the respective fields (S51), and a predetermined number of characters are displayed on the display 22 based on the display pointer value DP (S52). next,
When the data at the address designated by the text pointer value TP is read (S53) and the data is not the start code of the barcode (S54: No), the pattern data corresponding to the code data is read and the video RAM is read.
23a and displayed on the display 22 (S
66). Next, the text pointer value TP is incremented by 1 (S67), and when the code data exists in the text memory 41 (S62: Yes), when it is displayable, that is, the current display position is the final display position of the display 22. If not (S63: Yes), S53 and subsequent steps are repeated. When the current display position is the final display position (S63: No), the display pointer value DP is incremented by 1 (S64), and all display data is moved by one digit toward the display start position. Is executed (S65), and the process returns to S53.

On the other hand, when the read data is the start code (S54: Yes), the pattern data of the start mark MS corresponding to the start code is first output to the video RAM 23a and displayed (S55). Next, when displayable (S56: Yes), the pattern data of the end mark ME (see FIG. 5) corresponding to the end code is recorded in the video RAM.
23a is output and displayed (S59), the end code in the text memory 41 is searched (S60), the next address of the end code is stored in the text pointer value TP (S61), and S62 and the subsequent steps are executed. Incidentally, N in S56
When it is determined to be o, the scroll display processing is executed as in S64 and S65 (S57 and S58).
Then, when the characters are displayed for all the data in the text memory 41 (S62: No), this control is ended and the process returns to the main control. For example,
When the data shown in FIG. 11 is stored in the text memory 41, as shown in FIG. 15, S53 to S54,
Characters "ABC" by S66-S67, S62-S65
Is displayed, and thereafter, the start mark MS and the end mark ME are displayed in S53 to S65, and thereafter, the character string “XYZ” is displayed similarly to the display of the character string “ABC”.

Next, when the backspace key is operated (S11: Yes, S12 / S14: No, S1).
7: Yes), when the cursor K is not at the display position corresponding to the first character in the text memory 41 (S18: No), and the code data on the left side of the cursor K is neither a start code nor an end code, that is, a character code. (S19 / S20: No), while the code data on the left side of the cursor K is deleted from the text memory 41,
Each code data following the erased code data is moved toward the head address (S22), and the display process is executed (S16).

However, when the code data on the left side of the cursor K is the start code (S19: Yes) or the end code (S19: No, S20: Yes), the start code and the end code and the data between these codes. All of the character data is erased from the text memory 41, each code data following the erased bar code data is moved toward the head address (S23), and the display process is executed (S16). .. For example, when the data shown in FIG. 11 is stored in the text memory 41 and the backspace key is operated while the cursor K is displayed at the display position shown by the phantom line in FIG. 15, as shown in FIG. And text memory 4
In 1, the bar code data is erased from the start code to the end code, and the code data of "XYZ" is moved. As a result, as shown in FIG. 16, only the characters “ABCXYZ” are displayed on the display 22. Next, when the operated key is a key other than the character key, the bar code key, the backspace key, and the print key (S11: Yes, S12, S14, S17).
-S24: No), the process corresponding to the operated key is executed (S26). In particular, when the size key is operated and the character size is set, the size data is stored in the character size memory 44.

On the other hand, when the print key is operated (S
11: Yes, S12, S14, S17: No, S2
4: Yes), and the print processing control (see FIG. 8) is executed (S25). When document data exists in the text memory 41 when this control is started (S70:
Yes), and a setting screen for setting the printing direction is displayed (S71). For example, as shown in FIG. 17, as the print direction setting screen, “horizontal writing direction” corresponding to the number “1” and “vertical writing direction” corresponding to the number “2” are displayed on the display 22. It should be noted that the horizontal writing direction is a printing direction in which characters are printed so as to be arranged in the horizontal direction along the feeding direction of the printing tape 5, and the vertical writing direction is the characters along the feeding direction of the printing tape 5. Is a printing direction in which the printing is performed so as to be aligned in the vertical direction. Next, a print direction setting process for setting a desired print direction by operating the numeric keys is executed (S7).
2). Here, the printing direction flag DF is set or reset by setting control (not shown) based on the printing direction set by this setting process.

Next, the start address of the text memory 41 is set to the print pointer value PP (S73), the code data designated by the print pointer value PP is read (S74), and when the code data is a character code ( S75: Yes), the enlargement ratio is obtained based on the data of the set size, the outline data is enlarged using this enlargement ratio, and the print data, which is the dot data, is created from the outline data and the print buffer is created. It is stored in 46 (S76). Next, when the print direction flag DF is reset, that is, when the print direction is the "horizontal writing direction" (S77: No), the print data in the print buffer 46 is output to the print mechanism PM for print processing ( S79). For details of the dot data conversion processing control for converting outline data into dot data using the enlargement ratio, see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
See 9-129447.

Next, the print pointer value PP is incremented by 1 (S80), and when the code data exists in the text memory 41 (S81: Yes), S74 and subsequent steps are repeated. On the other hand, when the read code data is the start code (S74, S75: No, S83: Y
es), the bar code data stored from the next address over the end code is read from the text memory 41 (S84), and based on the data of the 13 character data, the bar code data described above is read. It is converted into standard version barcode data by the conversion processing control (S85), and the height (size) of the barcode symbol becomes a set size based on the standard version barcode data. , Print data for bar code printing is recreated (S86). Then, this print data is output to the print mechanism PM and subjected to print processing (S87). Next, the address of the end code is set in the print pointer value PP (S88), and S80 and subsequent steps are executed.

By the way, when the read code data is neither a character code nor a start code, for example, a space code (S74, S75, S83: No),
A command corresponding to the code data is output to the printing mechanism PM (S89), and the process proceeds to S80. When all the data in the text memory 41 has been printed (S81: No), a drive signal for causing the tape feed motor 24 to feed a predetermined amount of tape is output, and an instruction to execute the cutting process is issued ( S82), this control is ended and it returns to the said main control. Here, for example, when the data of the character "ABC" and the data of the barcode stored in the text memory 41 are printed in the "horizontal writing direction" as shown in FIG. 11, as shown in FIG.
Standard version barcode and character strings "ABC", "X
"YZ" is printed on the printing tape 5 with the printing direction as the normal "horizontal writing direction". Moreover, this bar code is printed at the same height as the height of the character string.

On the other hand, the read code data is a character code (S74, S75: Yes), and the above S7.
In the print direction setting process in 2, "vertical writing direction"
Is set and the printing direction flag DF is set (S77: Yes), a rotation process of rotating the print data composed of the dot data created in S76 by 90 ° in the counterclockwise direction is executed (S78), The rotation-processed print data in the print buffer 46 is output to the print mechanism PM for print processing (S79). However, as described above, when the read code data is the start code, that is, the barcode data (S74, S75: N
o, S83: Yes), and the "vertical writing direction" is set, the printing is performed in the normal "horizontal writing direction" in S84 to S88. That is, the bar of the bar code is printed so as to be aligned in the feeding direction of the printing tape 5. Therefore, for example, when the data of the character "ABC" or the data of the bar code stored in the text memory 41 is printed in the "vertical writing direction" as shown in FIG. 11, the character string " The letters "ABC" and "XYZ" are printed in the vertical writing direction, but the barcode of the standard version is printed on the printing tape 5 with the normal writing direction as the printing direction.

By the way, in the bar code data conversion processing control, it is possible to convert the bar code data into the bar code data of the shortened version in addition to the standard version. In this case, the number of data characters can be changed. Since it can be converted into standard version or shortened version bar code data and the data can be converted into printing dot pattern data, it is possible to print two types of bar codes of different versions at the same time as a character string.

As described above, the bar code data is converted into the print data that always faces in the horizontal direction, and the character and symbol data is based on the set "horizontal writing direction" or "vertical writing direction". The print data is converted to print data that is oriented in the specified printing direction, the characters and symbols and the barcode are mixed and printed on the printing tape 5, and the characters and symbols are set in the "horizontal writing direction" or "vertical writing". Since the printing is performed in the direction corresponding to the "direction", a separate printing device for printing the character string is not required, a wide variety of product management is facilitated, and the versatility of the barcode can be improved. Further, since the characters and the bar code are printed on the tape-shaped printing tape 5, the printing tape 5 on which the characters and the bar code are printed can be directly attached to a wide variety of articles as it is.

It is also possible to provide an erase key instead of the backspace key so as to erase the character at the cursor display position. It is also possible to input at least data character data as the barcode data. In the bar code data conversion processing control, "EAN (European Artic
le number) ”or“ CODE 39 ”, and can be configured to be converted into barcode data based on various barcode standards. It is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to various bar code printers that are equipped with a dot printing type print head and are capable of bar code printing.

[0034]

According to the bar code printer according to the first aspect of the present invention, the input means, the input data storage means, the mode setting means, and the data converting means are provided as described in the section [Operation]. , The input barcode data is converted into printing dot pattern data such that the barcode bars are arranged in the horizontal writing direction, and the character and symbol data is directed by the data conversion means in the direction set by the mode setting means. Since it is converted into such printing dot pattern data and the characters and symbols and the barcode are mixed and printed, the characters and symbols are printed in the direction corresponding to the set first or second mode. In addition, a separate printing device for printing a character string is not required, a wide variety of products can be easily managed, and the versatility of barcodes can be improved.

According to the bar code printing apparatus of the second aspect, as described in [Operation], the printing means is composed of the tape printing means for printing on the tape-shaped printing medium. The print medium on which the code is printed can be directly attached to a wide variety of articles as it is.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configurations of claims 1 and 2. FIG.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the tape printer.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a printing mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system of the tape printer.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a tape print control routine.

FIG. 6 is a schematic flowchart of a barcode data input processing control routine.

FIG. 7 is a schematic flowchart of a display processing control routine.

FIG. 8 is a schematic flowchart of a print processing control routine.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a data configuration in a text memory.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a data configuration in a barcode buffer.

FIG. 11 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 9 in which barcode data is stored.

12 is a view corresponding to FIG. 9 in which code data of a character string is stored.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display example of a display when barcode data is input.

FIG. 14 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 13 when a number corresponding to a data character is input.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a display example in which a character string and a barcode are displayed in a mixed manner.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a display example in which only character strings are displayed.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a display example of a print direction setting screen.

FIG. 18 is a plan view of a printing tape in which a character string and a barcode are printed in the horizontal writing direction.

FIG. 19 is a plan view of a printing tape in which a character string and a barcode are printed in the vertical writing direction.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Tape Printing Device 3 Keyboard 5 Printing Tape 13 Thermal Head 24 Tape Feed Motor 29 CPU 31 ROM 32 ROM 40 RAM 41 Text Memory C Controller CS Tape Storage Cassette PM Printing Mechanism

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location B41J 5/30 B 8907-2C

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A bar code printing apparatus capable of printing a bar code by a printing means having a print head composed of a plurality of dot-shaped printing elements, the input means capable of inputting characters, symbols and various commands. And character and symbol data input from the input means,
Input data storage means for storing bar code data, a first mode for printing the characters or symbols in the horizontal writing direction, and a second mode for printing in the vertical writing direction are selectively set. Of the data read from the mode setting means and the input data storage means, the barcode data is converted into printing dot pattern data in which the barcode bars are arranged in the horizontal writing direction, and the character and symbol data is the mode. A bar code printing apparatus comprising: a data conversion unit that converts into printing dot pattern data oriented in a direction set by the setting unit. 2. The bar code printing according to claim 1, wherein the printing unit is a tape printing unit that includes a thermal print head and prints while feeding a tape-shaped print medium in a length direction thereof. apparatus.