JPH0930054A - Bar code printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent occurrence of errors in reading of bar codes without performing more maintenance than needed, by providing a means for setting on a bar code printing data generating means values, which designate thicknesses of white bar and black bar of a bar code corresponding to a pattern judged. SOLUTION: Printing information from a host computer 76 is inputted into a data processing unit 80, which extracts an information commanding printing of a bar code, when such information is included in the inputted printing information, and outputs such information to a printing data forming and processing unit 82. Preset in the printing data forming and processing unit 82 are kinds of bar codes and designated values, by which thicknesses of white bar and black bar are allotted each character in dot number. On the basis of a command information inputted from the data processing unit 80, the printing data forming and processing unit 82 generates printing data for printing of bar codes while referring to designated values, and outputs the same to a printing unit 14.

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 bar code suitable for the state of the printing apparatus when the printing is executed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a bar code printer for printing a bar code on a recording medium such as paper based on predetermined bar code data. By the way, a reference value is set in advance for each character code according to the width dimension standard of the white bar and the black bar of the barcode, and a reference value is also set for the contrast between the white bar and the black bar. Depending on the state of the device, the width and contrast of the white and black bars of the barcode printed on the recording medium may deviate from the standard values specified in the standard, and the content of the information represented by the barcode may be erroneously recognized when reading the barcode. Or, there is a possibility that a reading error such as not being able to read the bar code occurs.

For this reason, a scanner for reading a bar code is provided in the bar code printing apparatus, and the bar code printed by the bar code printing apparatus based on the predetermined bar code data is read by the scanner to obtain the predetermined bar code data. If the read data does not match, the system has been proposed to stop printing by determining that the width and contrast of the white and black bars of the barcode are significantly different from the predetermined reference value. (Refer to No. Sho 63-10404). If printing is stopped in the above technology,
Since it can be determined that the barcode printing apparatus is in an unsuitable state for printing the barcode, the user performs maintenance such as cleaning of the photosensitive drum of the printing unit and density adjustment.

[0004]

However, in a laser beam printer which is widely used as a printing unit of a bar code printing apparatus, the laser beam printer may be affected by the degree of deterioration of the photosensitive drum, the variation of the toner charge amount, or the printing density during printing. Even when images of the same image data are printed by laser beam printers of the same resolution, the line thickness and density of the printed images are often different for each printing device. Therefore, even when the barcode of the same barcode data is printed by each of the plurality of barcode printers, depending on the state of the printing unit of the barcode printer, the white bar of the barcode actually printed and the The width and contrast of the black bar will differ from device to device.

Therefore, it is not possible to bring the state of each bar code printing device to a completely constant state by simply performing uniform adjustments such as cleaning of the photosensitive drum and density adjustment on the bar code printing device. There are cases in which code reading errors cannot be eliminated, and there is a possibility that frequent maintenance is required.

The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and an object thereof is to obtain a bar code printer capable of preventing the occurrence of a bar code reading error without performing unnecessary maintenance. is there.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a bar code printing apparatus according to the invention of claim 1 is configured such that, when an instruction to print a bar code is input, a white bar and a black which are set in advance are set. A bar code print data generation unit that generates and outputs bar code print data according to the designated value of the bar thickness, a print unit that prints a bar code on a recording medium according to the input print data, and a bar code Adjusting data output means for outputting to the printing means adjustment print data for printing a plurality of adjustment patterns having different specified thicknesses of the white bar and the black bar, and the printing means Width dimension detecting means for detecting the width dimensions of the white bar and the black bar of the plurality of adjustment patterns of the barcode printed on the recording medium according to the print data for adjustment,
Of the plurality of adjustment patterns of the barcode printed on the recording medium according to the adjustment print data, the width dimension of the white bar and the black bar detected by the width dimension detection means is the most suitable for the predetermined reference value. Judge a close pattern,
Setting means for setting the designated values of the thickness of the white bar and the black bar of the barcode corresponding to the judged pattern in the barcode print data generating means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, as the instruction to print the barcode, an instruction to print a barcode representing predetermined information composed of a combination of unit information is input. The barcode print data generating means generates the print data of the barcode representing the predetermined information according to the preset values of the thickness of the white bar and the black bar which are preset for each type of unit data, and performs the adjustment. The data output unit outputs the print data for adjustment for each type of unit data, and the setting unit sets the width dimension of the detected white bar and black bar among the plurality of adjustment patterns to a predetermined reference. A pattern closest to the value is determined, and the designated values of the thickness of the white bar and the black bar of the barcode corresponding to the determined pattern are set in the barcode print data generating means. It is characterized by performing for each type of unit data.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the printing density of the printing means is gradually changed while the printing means prints the bar code on the recording medium. Density change control means for changing, light reflectance detection means for detecting the light reflectance of the white bar and the black bar of the bar code printed on the recording medium by the printing means, and recording with different print densities by the density change control means Among the plurality of barcodes printed on the medium, determine the barcode having the highest contrast obtained from the light reflectance of the white bar and the black bar detected by the light reflectance detecting means,
The print density setting means for setting the print density when the barcode is printed in the printing means is further provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the white bar and the black bar of each of the plurality of adjustment patterns of the bar code printed on the recording medium. If the width dimension of the bar code is out of the predetermined tolerance range, or if the contrast of each of the barcodes printed on the recording medium with different print densities is out of the predetermined tolerance range, notification is given. It is characterized in that a notification means is further provided.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the adjustment data is output by the adjustment data output means to print a plurality of adjustment patterns having different specified values of the thickness of the white bar and the black bar of the bar code. The data is output to the printing means, and the width dimension detecting means detects the width dimensions of the white and black bars of the plurality of adjustment patterns of the barcode printed on the recording medium according to the adjustment print data by the printing means. .
Further, in the setting means, among the plurality of adjustment patterns of the barcode printed on the recording medium according to the adjustment print data, the pattern in which the width dimensions of the detected white bar and black bar are the closest to the predetermined reference value And the designated values of the thickness of the white bar and the black bar of the barcode corresponding to the determined pattern are set in the barcode print data generating means.
As the reference value, a value defined by the barcode standard can be used.

Since the width dimensions of the white bar and the black bar in the above-mentioned adjustment pattern vary depending on the above-mentioned designated value and the state of the printing means when the adjustment pattern is printed, the present state of the printing means The optimum combination of the designated values of the white bar and the black bar is selected according to the above, and is set in the barcode print data generating means. When the instruction to print the barcode is input, the barcode print data generation means generates and outputs the barcode print data in accordance with the specified values of the thicknesses of the set white bar and black bar, and the printing means. As a result, the bar code is printed on the recording medium according to the print data, so that the bar code conforming to the optimum adjustment pattern according to the current state of the printing unit is printed on the recording medium.

As described above, in the above description, even when the width of the white bar and the black bar of the bar code recorded on the recording medium changes due to the change of the state of the printing means, the bar code printed according to the instruction. The specified values of the thickness of the white bar and the black bar are changed so that the width dimensions of the white bar and the black bar are the same as or close to the predetermined reference value. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a barcode reading error without performing maintenance of.

In general, a bar code represents information consisting of a combination of unit information, and in the bar code standard, a white bar and a black bar are provided for each type of unit information (for example, "0" to "9" characters). The width dimension is defined.
Here, when the optimum adjustment pattern according to the current state of the printing unit is determined from among the plurality of adjustment patterns of the barcode corresponding to the predetermined unit information, the barcode corresponding to the other unit information is determined. Also when the optimum adjustment pattern of the plurality of adjustment patterns is automatically determined (that is, the optimum adjustment pattern of the plurality of adjustment patterns of each barcode corresponding to various unit information is printed). In the case where each is uniquely determined according to the state of the means), if the optimum adjustment pattern is determined for the barcode corresponding to the predetermined unit information among the barcodes corresponding to each unit information as described above. , The optimum adjustment pattern (and the specified value corresponding to this pattern) of the barcode corresponding to other unit information is automatically determined. It is not necessary to determine the optimum adjustment pattern for each over de.

On the other hand, when the optimum pattern of the plurality of adjustment patterns of each bar code corresponding to various unit information is not uniquely determined for the state of the printing means, As described in 2, the adjustment data output means outputs the adjustment print data for each type of unit data, and the setting means outputs the width of the detected white bar and black bar among the plurality of adjustment patterns. A pattern whose dimensions are closest to a predetermined reference value is determined, and the designated values of the thickness of the white bar and the black bar of the barcode corresponding to the determined pattern are set in the barcode print data generating means. It is preferable to perform each type of unit data. As a result, even if the optimum pattern of the plurality of adjustment patterns for each barcode corresponding to various unit information is not uniquely determined for the state of the printing unit, The specified values of the thickness of the white bar and the black bar can be changed so that the width dimensions of the white bar and the black bar are values that match or approximate a predetermined reference value.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the density change control means changes the print density stepwise by the density setting means while the printing means is printing the bar code on the recording medium, and the light reflectance is changed. The detection means detects the light reflectance of the white bar and the black bar of the barcode printed on the recording medium by the printing means. Further, the print density setting means selects the barcode having the highest contrast obtained from the light reflectances of the detected white and black bars among the plurality of barcodes printed on the recording medium with different print densities by the density change control means. It is determined and the print density when the barcode is printed is set in the printing unit.

The contrast of the white bar and the black bar of the bar code recorded on the recording medium also changes depending on the print density set in the printing means and the state of the printing means when the bar code is printed. The optimum print density according to the current state of the printing unit is selected, and the selected print density is set in the printing unit. Since the printing unit prints the barcode according to the set printing density, the printing of the barcode on the recording medium is performed at the optimum printing density according to the current state of the printing unit. As described above, according to the third aspect of the present invention, even when the state of the printing unit changes and the contrast of the white bar and the black bar of the bar code recorded on the recording medium decreases, printing is performed according to the instruction. Since the print density is changed so that the barcode contrast has a high value, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of barcode reading errors without performing maintenance of the printing unit or the like more than necessary.

By the way, when the state of the printing means is largely deviated from the standard state, it is determined that the designated value of the white bar and the black bar of the bar code or the print density is changed. However, in some cases, the width and contrast of the white bar and the black bar of the barcode cannot be prevented from being outside the allowable range. In consideration of such a case, as described in claim 4, the width dimensions of the white bar and the black bar of each of the plurality of adjustment patterns of the barcode printed on the recording medium are within a predetermined allowable range. It is preferable to provide a notifying unit for notifying when the contrast of each of the plurality of barcodes printed on the recording medium with different print densities is outside the predetermined allowable range.

As described above, even if the designated values of the white bar and the black bar of the bar code are changed or the print density is changed, the width dimension or the contrast of the white bar and the black bar of the bar code cannot be within the allowable range. In this case, that is, when the maintenance for the bar code printer is required, the notification means gives the notification. Therefore, it becomes possible to perform maintenance of the barcode printing apparatus at an appropriate timing.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following, description will be made using numerical values that do not hinder the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the numerical values described below. Further, in the following, of the many bar code standards existing, the “JAN” standard which is widely used at present will be described as an example.

FIG. 1 shows a printer device 10 having a function as a bar code printing device according to the present invention. The printer device 10 includes a recording sheet 1 as a recording medium.
The printing unit 14 includes a printing unit 14 as a printing unit of the present invention that records an image including a barcode on the second printing unit 2, and a control unit 16 that controls the operation of the printing unit 14. The printing unit 14 and the control unit 16 operate when AC power is supplied from a power supply unit 18 connected to a commercial power supply (not shown).

The control unit 16 inputs various operation command signals 20 including a print density instruction and an image signal 22 representing image data to be recorded to the printing unit 14. Although not shown, the printing unit 14 includes a cylindrical image carrier and
A charger that charges the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier, and a light beam modulated according to an input image signal is applied to the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image on the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier. An image recording unit, and a developing device that generates a developing bias voltage to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the outer peripheral surface of the image carrier with toner to form a toner image,
The toner image formed on the image carrier by the image recording unit and the developing device is transferred to the recording paper 12, and the transferred toner image is fixed by the fixing unit, so that the image is recorded on the recording paper 12. Done.

The print density in the print unit 14 is changed by at least the charge amount by the charger, the exposure amount at the time of electrostatic latent image formation by the image recording unit, and the developing bias voltage at the time of developing by the developing device. It is realized by changing any one.

The recording paper 12 on which an image is recorded is discharged to the outside of the casing 10A (see FIG. 3) of the printer device 10, and the discharge bin 6 provided on the side of the casing 10A.
The image recording surface is placed on the upper surface of the sheet 2. The printing unit 14 also outputs a status signal 2 indicating the status of each unit (for example, the size of the recording paper 12 accommodated in a cassette tray (not shown), whether or not the fixing unit has reached the fixing temperature).
4, and a synchronization pulse 26 for synchronizing with the control unit 16.
Is output to the control unit 16.

As shown in FIG. 3, the discharge bin 62 has a predetermined thickness dimension, and is constituted by a flat glass plate 64 having a transparent upper surface. Below the flat glass plate 64 (the discharge bin 62).
Inside), the scanner unit 66 as the width dimension detecting means and the light reflectance detecting means of the present invention is provided.

The scanner unit 66 includes a flat glass plate 64.
3 includes a light emitting unit that irradiates the recording paper 12 placed thereon with light, and a light receiving unit (not shown) that receives the light emitted from the light emitting unit and reflected by the recording paper 12. The arrow A direction and the arrow B direction orthogonal to the arrow A direction are movable. The scanner unit 66 is connected to the control unit 16, and when the operation instruction signal 68 is input from the control unit 16, the scanner unit 66 is two-dimensional along the arrow A direction and the arrow B direction with the light emitting unit emitting light. The control unit 16 outputs a signal indicating the amount of light reflected by the recording paper 12 and received by the light receiving unit to the control unit 16 as a read signal 70.

Further, the casing 10 of the printer device 10
On the front surface of A, there is provided an operation panel 28 having a plurality of keys 72 for the operator to input commands and the like, and a display section 74 configured by an LCD or the like for visually confirming the processing status. There is. Operation panel 2 as shown in FIG.
Reference numeral 8 is connected to the control unit 16, and an instruction input by the operator operating the key 72 of the operation panel 28 is input to the control unit 16 as an instruction signal 30 from the operation panel 28. Further, an instruction signal 30 is sent from the control unit 16.
The instruction signal 32 indicating the response of the above or the information to be displayed on the display unit is output to the operation panel 28.

The printer device 10 has a machine interface as a terminal for an information processing device such as a host computer 76 (see FIG. 3 for example) to input print information including various commands and data to the printer device 10. An (I / F) terminal 34 and a network interface (I / F) terminal 36 are provided. The machine I / F terminal 34 includes a printer device 10 and a host computer 76.
Is a terminal used when connecting the printer device 10 and the like via a communication cable, and the network I / F terminal 36 is a terminal used when connecting the printer device 10 to the network to which the host computer 76 and the like are connected. Examples of networks connectable via the network I / F terminal 36 include a digital network such as ISDN and a LAN such as Ethernet.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 16 includes a CPU 4
0, and the CPU 40 is connected to the system bus 42. A panel interface (I / F) circuit 44 is connected to the system bus 42. Panel I / F
The circuit 44 is a circuit for interfacing with the operation panel 28, and when the instruction signal 30 is input from the operation panel 28, the instruction signal 30 is input from the panel I / F circuit 44.
Is output, and the output instruction information is transferred on the system bus 42. In addition, the operation panel 2
The instruction information for displaying predetermined information on the display unit 74 of 8 is transferred to the panel I / F circuit 44 via the system bus 42, and is output from the panel I / F circuit 44 to the operation panel 28 as the instruction signal 32. It

The system bus 42 has a machine interface (I / F) circuit 46 and a non-volatile memory device (NVM:
Non-Volatile Memory) 48 is connected. Machine I
The / F circuit 46 is connected to the machine interface terminal 34 and the network interface terminal 36, and print information input via the machine interface terminal 34 and the network interface terminal 36 is RS232.
It is received according to the C standard or Centronics interface. The NVM 48 is a storage device backed up by a battery (not shown), and can retain stored data even when the power of the printer device 10 main body is turned off.

The system bus 42 has a RAM 50,
The program memory 52 and the character pattern memory 54 are connected. The RAM 50 is a working memory, and temporarily stores data necessary for performing various controls of the printer device 10, data input via the machine I / F circuit 46, and the like. A part of the storage area of the RAM 50 is used as a page buffer 56 for temporarily storing image data (bitmap data) of images for a plurality of pages to be recorded on the recording paper 12. The program memory 52 is a non-volatile memory, and the printer device 10
Various programs for controlling the are stored.
Further, the character pattern memory 54 is also composed of a non-volatile memory, and stores many kinds of font data used when printing characters.

A print interface (I / F) circuit 58 and a bit map controller 60 are connected to the system bus 42. The print unit I / F circuit 58 sequentially reads the image data temporarily stored in the page buffer 56 to generate the image signal 22, and outputs the generated image signal 22 to the print unit 14. Further, the status signal 24, the synchronization pulse 26, and the operation command signal 20
(See FIG. 1) is sent to and received from the print unit 14 via the print unit I / F circuit 58. The bitmap controller 60 includes a page buffer 56 and a print unit I /
The page buffer 56 is connected to each of the F circuits 58.
The transfer of the image data between the print unit I / F circuit 58 and the print unit I / F circuit 58 is controlled.

A scanner interface (I / F) circuit 78 is connected to the system bus 42. The scanner I / F circuit 78 is connected to the scanner unit 66, and the operation instruction signal 68 and the read signal 70 are transmitted and received through the scanner I / F circuit 78.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. FIG.
Of the various functions realized by the CPU 40 of the image supply unit 16, the process relating to the printing of the barcode and the adjustment of the barcode is shown for each block.

When printing the results of processing performed by the host computer 76, the host computer 76
Generates print information representing an image corresponding to the processing result, and outputs this print information to the printer device 10. When the image representing the processing result includes the barcode representing the predetermined information, the host computer 76 generates and outputs the print information including the instruction information instructing the printing of the barcode. The instruction information is configured to include a code of a character to be represented by the barcode, information indicating the printing position of the barcode on the recording paper 12, and the like.

The print information from the host computer 76 is input to the data input processing section 80. In the data input processing unit 80, when the input print information includes the instruction information for instructing the printing of the barcode, this is extracted,
The data is output to the print data creation processing unit 82. The print data creation processing unit 82 is preset with a bar code type (described later) and a specified value for specifying the thickness of the white bar and the black bar for each character by the number of dots, which is input from the data input processing unit 80. Based on the designated information, the print data for printing the barcode is generated while referring to the designated value, and is output to the printing unit 14.

On the other hand, print data for printing a barcode adjustment sheet is stored in advance in the barcode adjustment sheet printing data processing section 84. In the barcode adjustment sheet printing data processing unit 84, when the execution of the barcode adjustment processing is instructed by operating the key 72 of the operation panel 28, the above-mentioned barcode adjustment sheet printing data (details will be described later). ) Is taken in and output to the print unit 14. The print unit 14 is input when print data is input from the data input processing unit 80 or when print data including the barcode adjustment sheet printing data is input from the barcode adjustment sheet printing data processing unit 84. The image including the barcode is printed on the recording paper 12 with the print density set according to the data.

The recording paper 12 in which the image is stored by the printing unit 14 is the casing 10A of the printing apparatus 10.
It is discharged to the outside and placed on the flat glass plate 64 of the discharge bottle 62. The scanner unit 66 is operated when the barcode adjustment sheet is printed by the printing unit 14, and moves along the arrow A direction and the arrow B direction in FIG. 3 while moving the recording sheet 12 placed on the flat glass plate 64. The bar code recorded on the bar code is detected, and the detection result (more specifically, a signal indicating the amount of light reflected by each part of the bar code and received by the light receiving section) is output to the bar code detection result processing section 86. .

The bar code detection result processing section 86, based on the bar code detection result input from the scanner unit 66, carries out the print data creation processing section 8 as described later.
Change of the specified value set to 2 and the print unit 14
Change the print density in. The barcode designated value is changed via the barcode designated value setting unit 88, and the print density of the printing unit 14 is changed via the print density instruction unit 90. When an error is detected by the barcode detection result processing unit 86, the user is notified via the error notification unit 92 that an error has occurred.

Next, the bar code adjusting sheet according to the present embodiment will be described. According to the "JAN" standard, which is a type of bar code standard, one module whose basic dimension (width dimension) is 0.33 mm (however, it can be reduced and expanded up to 0.8 to 2.0 times) is the basic unit, and each module is an integral multiple of one module. A single character as unit information is represented by two white bars and a black bar whose width dimensions are 7 modules in total. Characters defined by the "JAN" standard are 10 types from "0" to "9",
For each character, a total of three types of bar codes are defined: odd parity for the left data character, even parity for the left data character, and even parity for the right data character and modular check character. The width dimension of the black bar and the arrangement order of the white bar and the black bar are different from each other (the left data character is in the order of "black and white and black and white", and the right data character and the modular check character are in the order of "black and white and white") 30
Types of barcodes are defined.

Based on the above, in the present embodiment, "JAN"
As a barcode adjusting sheet conforming to the standard, a barcode adjusting sheet 96 as shown in FIG. 6 is used.
The barcode adjustment sheet 96 is provided with 30 barcode adjustment pattern rows corresponding to the above-mentioned 30 types of barcodes. Of the 30 bar code adjusting pattern strings, the first 10 bar code adjusting pattern strings correspond to the characters "0" to "9" in the type "odd parity of the left data character". It is used as a bar code adjustment pattern sequence.
The 10 bar code adjustment pattern strings are of 10 kinds of bar code adjustment pattern strings whose type is "even parity of the left data character", and the next 10 bar code adjustment pattern strings are of the type It is "even parity of right data character and modular check character".
It is used as an adjustment pattern sequence for various types of barcodes.

Further, in printing the bar code, the width of each bar is converted into the number of dots which is the minimum unit of image recording (for example, 1
It is performed based on the information obtained by converting the module into 4 dots), and the 30 bar code adjustment pattern strings have the width of each bar defined in the “JAN” standard as a reference value and are also shown in FIG. 7. As described above, a plurality of adjustment patterns in which the number of dots of each bar is changed in 1-dot units with respect to the reference value are arranged in order. Table 1 below shows an example of the amount of change in the number of dots in each bar with respect to the reference value in each adjustment pattern.

[0043]

[Table 1]

In this embodiment, the print data for printing the image shown in FIG. 6 on the recording paper 12 to form the barcode adjusting sheet 96 (hereinafter referred to as barcode adjusting sheet printing data) is NVM48. Stored in advance. The bar code adjusting sheet 96 shown in FIG.
Is just an example, the number of barcode adjustment patterns,
The change value of the number of dots of each bar in each of the plurality of patterns forming each adjustment pattern is not limited to the above.

Next, the bar code adjusting process executed by the CPU 40 of the image supply unit 16 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. It should be noted that this bar code adjustment processing is executed by the CPU 40 when execution of the bar code adjustment processing is instructed via the key 72 of the operation panel 28.

In step 100, the bar code adjustment sheet print data is fetched from the NVM 48, and in step 10
In 2, the bar code adjustment sheet print data is output to the print unit 14. The steps 100 and 102 correspond to the adjustment data output means of the present invention, and correspond to the processing performed by the barcode adjustment sheet printing data processing unit 84. In step 104, the print unit 14
At, it is determined whether or not the printing of the barcode adjustment sheet is completed, and the process waits until the printing is completed.

When the printing of the barcode adjustment sheet is completed, the process proceeds to step 106, the scanner unit 66 is operated to read all the barcode adjustment pattern rows on the barcode adjustment sheet, and the scanner unit 6 is read.
The read signal 70 output from 6 is stored in the RAM 50 as read data. Note that, as shown in FIG. 6, since each bar code adjustment pattern row is located at a fixed position on the bar code adjustment sheet, the bar code adjustment pattern row is read when the bar code adjustment pattern row is read. It is not necessary to determine the print position of the column.

In step 108, of the read data stored in the RAM 50, the read data of the bar code adjusting pattern row corresponding to the specific bar code type and the specific character is fetched. In step 110, the width dimension of each bar (two white bars and two black bars) is set for each of the plurality of adjustment patterns forming the adjustment pattern row based on the read data that has been read. Calculate

In step 112, the width dimensions of the white bar and the black bar calculated above, and the reference values of the width dimensions of the white bar and the black bar which are predetermined by the bar code standard,
Is calculated, and it is determined whether or not there is a pattern in which the difference is within an allowable range predetermined by the bar code standard. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 142, but if the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 114, and each bar calculated for the adjustment pattern in which the difference is within the allowable range is used. The sum (absolute error) d of the absolute value of the difference between the width dimension of the bar and the reference value of the width dimension of each bar is calculated for each adjustment pattern according to the following equation (1).

D = | D _W1 −d _W1 | + | D _B1 −d _B1 | + | D _W2 −d _W2 | + | D _B2 −d _B2 | (1) However, D _W1 , D _B1 , D _W2 , D _B2 is the reference value of the width dimension of the first white bar, the first black bar, the second white bar, and the second black bar, d _W1 ,
d _B1 , d _W2 and d _B2 are measured values of the width dimension of the first white bar, the first black bar, the second white bar and the second black bar. Table 2 below shows an example of the measured value of each bar in each adjustment pattern, the error with respect to the reference value, and the sum d of the errors.

[0051]

[Table 2]

At the next step 116, the pattern having the smallest sum d of the errors calculated above is selected. For example, in the example of Table 2 above, “pattern 6” having the smallest sum d of errors is selected. In step 118, the number of dots representing the width dimension of each bar corresponding to the pattern selected above is set as a specified value of the thickness of each bar in a specific barcode type and a specific character barcode. In the next step 120, it is determined whether or not the above processing has been performed for all bar code adjustment pattern rows. If the determination is negative, the process returns to step 108, and steps 108 to 120 are repeated until the determination of step 120 is positive. Note that steps 108 to 120 correspond to the setting means of the present invention, among which steps 108 to 116 are
Corresponds to the processing in the barcode detection result processing unit 86, and step 118 corresponds to the processing in the barcode designated value setting unit 88.

As a result, for each bar code type and each bar code corresponding to each character, the optimum adjustment pattern corresponding to the current state of the print unit 14 is selected, and each adjustment pattern in the selected adjustment pattern is selected. The number of dots on each bar is set as the specified value for the thickness of each bar. When printing a barcode in accordance with the instruction information included in the print data input from the host computer 76,
Since the print data for printing the barcode is generated based on the specified value and the barcode is printed, the width dimension of each bar of the printed barcode does not require maintenance of the printing unit 14. The value is the same as or close to the reference value, and the occurrence of bar code reading errors is prevented.

By the way, if the determination at step 120 is affirmative, the routine proceeds to step 122. In step 122, the print unit 14 is instructed to change the print density, and in the next step 124, the data for a predetermined line of the barcode adjustment sheet print data fetched in the previous step 100 is output to the print unit 14. To do. Note that step 122 corresponds to the density change control means of the present invention,
This corresponds to the process in the print density instruction unit 90. In step 126, it is determined whether or not all the barcode adjustment sheet print data has been output. If the determination is positive, the process returns to step 122, and steps 122 to 126 are repeated until the determination is positive. As a result, one bar code adjustment sheet is printed while the print density is changed step by step in the print section 14.

If the determination at step 126 is affirmative, the routine proceeds to step 128, at which it is determined whether or not the printing of the bar code adjustment sheet is completed, and the process waits until the determination is affirmative. If the determination in step 128 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 130, the scanner unit 66 is operated, and all the barcodes (barcode adjustment pattern rows) on the barcode adjustment sheet printed at each print density are scanned by the scanner unit. All the read data of the bar code printed with each print density is read and stored in the RAM 50 in the next step 132.

At the next step 134, the PCS value is calculated according to the following equation (2) for each bar code having a different print density, based on the bar code read data stored in the RAM 50.

[0057]

[Equation 1]

However, R _L represents the light reflectance of the white bar, and R ₀ represents the light reflectance of the black bar. As is clear from the equation (2),
The PCS value increases as the difference in light reflectance between the white bar and the black bar increases, and thus represents the contrast between the white bar and the black bar of the barcode. In step 136, it is determined whether or not there is a barcode whose contrast (PCS value) calculated above is within the allowable range.
Since it is generally said that a barcode having a higher contrast value is more desirable, the above determination specifically determines whether or not there is a barcode whose contrast value is equal to or less than an allowable value.

If the above determination is denied, step 1
If the above determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 138, and the barcode having the highest contrast is selected from the barcodes having the contrast within the allowable range. In step 140, the print density at the time of printing the selected barcode is set in the print unit 14 as the print density at the time of normal printing for printing the barcode according to the instruction from the host computer 76, and the process ends. Note that steps 132 to 140 correspond to the print density setting means of the present invention, of which steps 132 to 138 correspond to the processing in the barcode detection result processing unit 86, and step 140 corresponds to the print density instruction unit 90.
Corresponds to the processing in.

On the other hand, step 112 or step 136
If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 142, and a message notifying that the width dimension or the contrast of each bar is out of the allowable range is displayed on the display unit 7 of the operation panel 28.
And the process is terminated. This step 142 corresponds to the notification means of the present invention, and corresponds to the processing in the error notification unit 92. If the determination in step 112 is negative, it means that the difference from the reference value of the width dimension of each bar does not fall within the allowable range even if the number of dots of the white bar and the black bar of the barcode is changed, and the print is performed. It is conceivable that the state of the portion 14 is largely deviated from the standard state. Even when the determination in step 136 is negative, the barcode contrast is low even if the print density is adjusted, and the state of the printing unit 14 may deviate significantly from the standard state as described above. It is highly likely.

For this reason, when a message is displayed on the display unit 74 in step 142 informing that the outside of the allowable range, the user performs maintenance such as cleaning of the photosensitive drum and replacement of consumables. As a result, the user can easily know the appropriate timing for performing maintenance on the printer device 10.

Although an example has been described above in which the optimum adjustment pattern is selected for each of the 30 types of barcodes corresponding to each barcode type and each character, the present invention is not limited to this. In the case where the optimal pattern correspondences in various barcodes are known in advance (that is, the optimal patterns of various barcodes when the printing unit 14 is in various states are known in advance), The optimum adjustment pattern may be selected only for a single barcode, and the designated value of the thickness of each bar of various barcodes may be set based on the selected pattern.

Further, in the above description, all the bar code types and the bar code adjustment patterns corresponding to the respective characters are printed on one recording sheet, but the present invention is not limited to this. It may be possible to print on a plurality of recording sheets separately for each barcode type.

Further, in the above, the scanner unit 66 which moves two-dimensionally as the width dimension detecting means and the light reflectance detecting means.
However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a line sensor or the like in which the light receiving elements are arranged only in a single direction and which can move along a direction substantially orthogonal to the arrangement direction of the light receiving elements is applied. May be.

Further, although the "JAN" standard has been described above as an example, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to other standards. Further, the barcode printing apparatus according to the present invention may be compatible with a plurality of types of barcode standards. In this case, for each standard, the designated value of the thickness of each bar of all the bar codes defined in each standard is stored, and the bar code adjustment processing shown in FIG. 5 is performed for each standard ( Step 122
It is not always necessary to carry out the processing up to 140 for each standard.)
What should I do?

[0066]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the adjustment for printing the plurality of adjustment patterns of the bar code in which the designated values of the thicknesses of the white bar and the black bar are different from each other. The print data is output to the printing means, and the width dimensions of the white bar and the black bar of the plurality of adjustment patterns of the barcode printed on the recording medium according to the adjustment print data are detected by the printing means, and the adjustment print is performed. Of the plurality of adjustment patterns of the barcode printed on the recording medium according to the data, the pattern in which the width dimension of the detected white bar and black bar is closest to the predetermined reference value is determined, and the determined pattern is determined. Since the specified values of the thickness of the white bar and the black bar of the corresponding bar code are set, the bar code reading error is generated without performing maintenance of printing means more than necessary. Can be prevented, it has an excellent effect that.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the print data for adjustment is output for each type of unit data, and the detected white bar and black bar of the plurality of adjustment patterns are output. For each type of unit data, the pattern whose width dimension is closest to the predetermined reference value is determined, and the designated value of the thickness of the white bar and the black bar of the barcode corresponding to the determined pattern is set. In addition to the above effect, the optimum pattern among the plurality of adjustment patterns of each barcode corresponding to various unit information is not uniquely determined with respect to the state of the printing unit. However, the effect that the specified value of the thickness of the white bar and the black bar can be changed so that the width dimension of the white bar and the black bar of each barcode becomes a value that matches or approximates the predetermined reference value. Have.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the print density is changed stepwise while the bar code is being printed on the recording medium, and the printing means causes the recording medium to change. The light reflectance of the white bar and the black bar of the barcode printed on the is detected, and from the detected light reflectance of the white bar and the black bar of the multiple barcodes printed on the recording medium with different printing densities. Since the bar code having the highest contrast to be obtained is determined and the print density when the bar code is printed is set, in addition to the above effects, the bar code recorded on the recording medium when the state of the printing means changes Even when the contrast of the white bar and the black bar is lowered, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a barcode reading error without performing maintenance of the printing means or the like more than necessary. It has the effect of.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, in any one of the first to third aspects of the invention, the width dimension of each of the white bar and the black bar of each of the plurality of adjustment patterns of the barcode printed on the recording medium. If it is out of the predetermined tolerance range, or if the contrast of each of the multiple barcodes printed on the recording medium with different print densities is out of the predetermined tolerance range, it is notified. So
In addition to the above effects, there is an effect that it is possible to perform maintenance of the barcode printing apparatus at an appropriate timing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a printer device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control unit of the printer device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a printer device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating various functions included in a CPU of a control unit.
It is a functional block diagram showing a function concerning printing of a barcode divided into blocks.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the contents of barcode adjustment processing.

FIG. 6 is an image diagram showing an example of a barcode adjustment sheet.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of a plurality of adjustment patterns recorded on a barcode adjustment sheet for each barcode type and for each character.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Printer Device 12 Recording Paper 14 Printing Section 16 Control Section 40 CPU 66 Scanner Unit 14 Printing Section 96 Bar Code Adjustment Sheet

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A barcode print data generation means for generating and outputting print data of a barcode according to preset thickness designation values of white and black bars when an instruction to print a barcode is input. To print a barcode on the recording medium according to the input print data, and to print a plurality of adjustment patterns with different specified thicknesses of the white and black bars of the barcode. Adjusting data output means for outputting the adjusting print data to the printing means, and white bars and black of a plurality of adjusting patterns of the barcode printed on the recording medium according to the adjusting print data by the printing means. A width dimension detecting means for detecting each width dimension of the bar, and the width dimension among the plurality of adjustment patterns of the barcode printed on the recording medium according to the adjustment print data. Determining closest pattern to the reference value width of the detected white bars and black bars predetermined by the detection means,
A barcode printing apparatus, comprising: setting means for setting the designated values of the thickness of the white bar and the black bar of the barcode corresponding to the judged pattern in the barcode print data generating means. 2. As an instruction to print the barcode,
An instruction to print a bar code representing predetermined information composed of a combination of unit information is input, and the bar code print data generation unit is configured to set the thickness of the white bar and the black bar preset for each type of unit data. Generate the print data of the bar code representing the predetermined information according to the specified value of, the adjustment data output unit outputs the adjustment print data for each type of unit data, the setting unit, a plurality of Of the adjustment patterns, the width of the detected white and black bars is determined to be the closest to the predetermined reference value, and the thickness of the white and black bars of the barcode corresponding to the determined pattern is determined. 2. The barcode printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the designated value is set in the barcode printing data generation means for each type of unit data. 3. A density change control unit for gradually changing the print density by the printing unit while the printing unit is printing a bar code on the recording medium, and the printing unit prints on the recording medium. Light reflectance detection means for detecting the light reflectance of the white bar and the black bar of the barcode, and the light reflectance detection of the plurality of barcodes printed on the recording medium at different print densities by the density change control means. A print density setting means for determining a barcode having the highest contrast obtained from the light reflectances of the white bar and the black bar detected by the means, and setting the print density when the barcode is printed in the printing means; The bar code printer according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: 4. When the width dimensions of the white bar and the black bar of each of the plurality of adjustment patterns of the barcode printed on the recording medium are out of a predetermined allowable range, or the recording is performed at different print densities. 4. A notification means for notifying when the contrast of each of a plurality of barcodes printed on a medium is out of a predetermined allowable range, further comprising notification means. A bar code printing device as described in the paragraph.