JPS6132996B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to equipment related to POS (point of sale) systems, and particularly to a barcode printing device for printing barcode symbols on labels, tags, price tags, etc.

In recent years, the desire for products among general consumers has become more individualized and diversified, and the life cycle of products has been significantly shortened. POS systems are being implemented in department stores, large supermarkets, etc. as a management strategy to accurately grasp these consumer trends and respond quickly. For example, a POS system is a cash register with an automatic reading system, which records information such as price and product name for each product, and processes this information using a computer. This is a system that processes information such as product inventory information and best-seller information, and transmits it to each department of the company for effective use. In this case, the information medium read by an automatic reading register (hereinafter referred to as a scanner) may be of a barcode type, for example.
This barcode type has a structure in which black bars and white bars are arranged alternately in one direction, and this is usually called a barcode symbol, which cannot be directly read by the human eye. This barcode symbol consists of numbers (characters) from 0 to 9, whose width is determined by a combination of various black bars and white bars, each with a specified value.
It represents.

In Japan, under the guidance of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, this barcode symbol has been designated as JAN as a unique code for Japan.
(Japanese Article Number) code has been established. As shown in Figure 1, this JAN code consists of two black bars and two white bars that combine to form one character, and the width of this character is 2.31m/m. Tolerance is ±0.101
m/m requires fairly strict accuracy. In recent years, JAN code printers with special structures have been devised that can meet these strict conditions. That is, in order to eliminate gaps between characters during printing, the barcode type characters placed side by side are pressed from one side, resulting in the printing of barcode type characters. Furthermore, when selecting a desired print, the pressed barcode type ring group is released and a slight gap is created between the characters to select each individual barcode type. Regarding such technology, please refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1973-
127829, disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 52-34816.

However, when printing barcode symbols on labels to be attached to products at actual work sites, it has been reported that due to busy schedules, printing is often done without pressing the barcode type ring group. has been done. Barcode symbols printed without the barcode type wheels being pressed do not meet the JAN code standards and cannot be read by scanners. Normally, it is difficult for the human eye to determine whether or not a printed barcode symbol can be read by a scanner, so labels with unreadable barcode symbols printed on them may not be affixed to products. Sometimes I put it away. Then, even if a purchaser brings a product to a cash register equipped with a scanner, the scanner cannot read information such as the price and name of the product, providing efficient accounting services to the purchaser. Not only is it not possible to
Needless to say, this will cause a fatal problem in that the operation of the entire system will stop.

In addition, the barcode symbol is usually
Even if a barcode symbol that meets the code specifications is printed, if the amount of ink supplied is small, the printing density will become thinner and the border between the black bar and the white bar will not be sharp, so the printed barcode symbol may be printed again. This results in voids in the surface of the black bar, which prevents it from being read by the scanner. It is difficult for the human eye to accurately judge at what printing density a scanner can read or not. In this way, it is difficult to judge whether or not the appropriate amount of ink is being supplied to the barcode type wheel group so that it can be reliably read by the scanner.
This was causing problems in the operation of the entire system.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is configured such that printing is not performed on the label until after the barcode type ring group is firmly pressed. - The purpose is to provide a barcode printing device that allows symbols to be reliably read by a scanner.

The present invention provides a barcode printing head having a mechanism that presses a group of barcode type wheels to print a barcode typeface and releases this pressure to select a barcode typeface. By providing a print drive switch that is activated by pressing or releasing the press,
It is constructed so that the printing operation is not performed until after the barcode type ring group is pressed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a barcode printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

First, in FIG. 2, a bar code printing machine 2 is provided above a box-shaped base 1, and an ink application counter 3 is provided on the right side. A barcode printing head 4, an operation panel 5, and a capstan 6 for transporting labels are provided on the front side of the barcode printing machine 2. The operation panel 5 includes a power switch 7 for driving the motor, a print counter 8 for presetting the number of times a predetermined number of labels are printed, a start switch 9 for starting printing, and a stop switch 9 for stopping printing. A start/stop switch section 57 consisting of a switch 10, and an indicator lamp 11 for indicating when a group of barcode type wheels is selected, which will be described later, are provided.

The structure of the above-mentioned barcode printing head 4 will be explained using FIGS. 3 and 4. first,
As shown in the figure, inside the case 12 and the lid frame 13, a plurality of barcode type wheels 14 and a plurality of index wheels 15 that mesh with the barcode type wheels 14 are rotatably arranged in parallel on the same axis. , has been accepted. A large number of index wheels 15 located above inside the barcode printing head 4 have gears 16 on their outer peripheral surfaces.
is formed, and ten types of index numbers 17 from 0 to 9 are displayed on the outer circumferential surface between the gears 16, while a pinion 1 of a selection shaft 18, which will be described later, is displayed in the inner hole in the center.
Internal teeth 20 that mesh with 9 are formed.

A plurality of barcode type wheels 14 that mesh with the indexing wheel 15 are located inside and below the barcode printing head 4, and an engagement recess 21 that meshes with the gear 16 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the barcode printing head 4. Between the engagement recesses 21, there is a printing surface on which barcode type characters 22 are formed.
The barcode type 22 has a prescribed shape corresponding to the heading numeral 17 of the heading wheel 15, and is set so as to protrude from directly below the barcode printing head 4. Further, internal teeth 24 are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the inner hole 23 of the barcode type ring 14, and a pivot shaft member 2 fixed to the main shaft 25 is provided in the inner hole 23.
6 is placed. A pair of elastic engagement pieces 27 are integrally formed on each pivot shaft member 26 disposed corresponding to each barcode type ring 14, and a convex portion at the tip of these engagement pieces 27 is connected to the barcode type. ring 14
By elastically engaging the inner teeth 24 on the inner peripheral surface of the
The rotational positioning of the type wheel 14 is effected. Note that the main shaft 2 to which the pivot shaft member 26 is fixed is
Both ends of 5 are screwed and fixed to the side frame of the box 12 and the lid frame 13, respectively.

Next, a cylindrical selection shaft 18 that engages with a desired one of the group of finder wheels 15 and rotates to select it is fitted into a guide shaft 28 attached to the case 12 and slides in the axial direction. It is movable. At the tip of this selection shaft 18 is a pinion 1 that engages with the internal teeth 20 of each index wheel 15.
9 is provided, the base of which is connected to the guide hole 29 of the lid frame 13.
An indicator 31 with an indicator 30 for indicating the indicator numeral 17 of the indicator wheel 15 is attached through the indicator wheel 15, and a selection knob 32 is screwed to the end.

A through hole 33 is bored between the upper surface of the lid frame 13 and the guide hole 29, and a steel ball 35, which is sprung by a coil spring 34, is inserted into the through hole 33.
is accommodated. The steel ball 35 is inserted into the guide hole 29
The selection shaft 1
8 axial positioning action is performed.

Next, between the group of index wheels 15 and the lid frame 13 is a rotary body 38 that displays whether or not a plurality of barcode type wheels 14 are being pressed and operates a print selection changeover switch 37 to be described later. is installed.
A barcode type ring 14 is provided on the outer periphery of the rotating body 38.
a "print display" 39 indicating when the barcode type ring 14 is pressed; a "selection display" 40 indicating when the barcode type ring 14 is released;
A notch deep groove 41 for operating the print selection switch 37 is formed in this order. A print selection changeover switch 37 is provided at the lower front side of the box 12 (on the right side in FIG. 4), and a switch portion 42 of this print selection changeover switch 37 can be releasably engaged with the notched deep groove 41. It's becoming like that. Also,
A boss portion 43 is integrally molded on one side of the rotating body 38, and a selection shaft 18 is provided at the center of the boss portion 43.
Internal teeth 44 that mesh with the pinion 19 are formed. External teeth 45 are provided on a part of the outer peripheral surface of the boss portion 43.
is formed. The external teeth 45 are configured to mesh with a rack 47 of an actuating member 46 that moves vertically up and down with respect to the housing 12 of the barcode printing head 4.

The operating member 46 has an elongated hole 48 formed in its lower part that loosely fits into the main shaft 25, and is disposed in front of the barcode type ring 14. Further, each of the surfaces of the actuating member 46 facing the barcode type ring 14 has a protruding surface 4 having a tapered surface.
9,50 are formed. Furthermore, this operating member 4
6 and the barcode type ring 14 is a pressing member 51.
is mediated. One side of this pressing member 51 is formed with receiving portions 52 and 53 corresponding to the protruding surfaces 49 and 50 of the operating member 46, and the other side is provided with a notch for pressing the barcode type ring 14. A plurality of elastic flaps 54 are formed.

Next, the electric circuit of the barcode printing device will be explained based on the block diagram shown in FIG. It is connected to the input ends of relay 58 and relay 59. The print selection changeover switch 37 is composed of, for example, a microswitch, and is connected to the display lamp 11 via a display lamp drive circuit 61. At the same time, the print selection switch 37
is also connected to the excitation coil section of the relay 56 via the relay drive circuit 63. It should be noted that when the print selection switch 37 is turned on to its selection side, it is turned on and outputs a drive signal to the relay drive circuit 63.

Further, the relay 56 is normally in a conductive state, and the relay drive circuit 63 is connected to its excitation coil portion.
It is configured to become non-conductive when a drive signal is supplied from. The output end of the relay 58 is connected to the motor 64. The power of the motor 64 is configured to be transmitted to the printing mechanism 65 and the ink application mechanism 66 by a power transmission mechanism (not shown). In this case, the printing mechanism 65 includes a barcode printing head 4 that prints barcode symbols on the label, and a barcode printing head support member (not shown) that moves the barcode printing head 4 up and down for printing. has been done. The ink application mechanism 66 also includes an ink roller (not shown) that applies ink to the barcode type wheel 14, an ink roller support member (not shown) that supports the ink roller under the barcode type wheel 14 so as to roll, etc. It consists of The printing number counter 8 is used to manually set the number of printing times on a label in advance so that a desired number of labels are printed with barcode symbols. Further, the printing number counter 8 counts the number of printing each time the barcode printing head 4 of the printing mechanism 65 moves up and down once.
In cooperation with the movement of the barcode printing head 4, the number of printings set at any time is counted while being decremented. When the set number of prints has been decremented, that is, by counting the zero number of prints, the print number counter 8 functions to issue a signal to stop printing. The output terminal of the printing number counter 8 is connected to a relay drive circuit 67.
The relay drive circuit 67 is connected so that the drive signal from the relay drive circuit 67 is supplied to the excitation coil portions of the relays 58 and 59, respectively. The relays 58 and 59 are normally in a conductive state, and are configured to become non-conductive when a drive signal from the relay drive circuit 67 is supplied to the excitation coil section of the relay. The ink application counter 3 is a subtractive counter that functions in the same way as the printing number counter 8 described above, and monitors the amount of ink applied to the barcode type wheel 14. In other words, barcode type wheel 1
4. Regarding the amount of ink applied by the rolling of the ink roller, it is known in advance at what number of times the ink is applied before the printed bar code symbol becomes unreadable by the scanner. Therefore, the ink application number counter 3 is manually set to a predetermined number of ink applications at the time of initial startup operation of the barcode printing apparatus. Further, the ink application number counter 3 is connected to the ink application mechanism 66.
Each time the ink roller rolls on the barcode type wheel 14, that is, each time the barcode type wheel 14 is coated with ink, the number of ink applications is counted. It counts the set number of ink applications while decrementing the number as needed. When the set number of ink applications has been decremented, the ink application number counter 3 functions to issue a signal to stop printing.

The output end of the ink application counter 3 is connected to the input end of the relay drive circuit 67 mentioned above, and is also connected to the input end of the indicator lamp 11 via the indicator lamp drive circuit 68. The output end of the relay 59 is connected to a stepping motor 69. The power of the stepping motor 69 is configured to be transmitted to the label transport mechanism 70 by a power transmission mechanism (not shown). The label transport mechanism 70 receives power from the capstein 6 and the stepping motor 69 for transporting the label to the printing position.
It is composed of a belt (not shown) and the like that transmits data to the capstein 6. The output of a label transfer control circuit 71, which controls the transfer of the label so as to transfer the label to a predetermined printing position at any time, is connected to be supplied to the power control section of the stepping motor 69. In this case, the label transfer control circuit 71
detects the vertical movement state of the barcode printing head 4 in the printing mechanism 65 and the feeding position of the next label to be printed, and uses the detected signal to control the movement of the label to the printing position as needed every time the label is printed once. It functions to supply a control signal to the power control section.

Next, the operation of the barcode printing apparatus according to the present invention will be explained using FIGS. 2, 5, and 6a and 6b. First, when selecting printing to print a desired barcode symbol on a label, Figure 6a shows the state of barcode type selection.
At the top of the rotating body 38, there is a “selection display” 4.
0 is located and can be seen through the window, and the notch deep groove 41 on the outer periphery of the rotating body 38 is located at the switch portion 42.
It is in a state where it is separated without being in pressure contact with. At this time, the print selection switch 37 is
It is in the ON state. The actuating member 46 is in a state of being pushed upward, and the protruding surfaces 49, 5
0 does not press the receiving parts 52 and 53 of the pressing member 51. Therefore, since the pressing member 51 does not press the barcode type ring 14, a gap is created between each barcode type ring 14, and the index wheel 1
A desired barcode type wheel 14 can be easily selected by rotating the barcode type wheels 5 by the selection shafts 18, respectively. After completing the type selection work, select axis 1
The pinion 19 of No. 8 is fitted into the internal teeth 44 of the rotating body 38 and rotated counterclockwise. Then, Fig. 6b showing the printed state of the barcode type
As shown, the rotary body 38 is rotated counterclockwise so that the "print display" 39 is positioned in the window, and the notch deep groove 41 of the rotary body 38 comes into pressure contact with the switch part 42. At this time, the print selection switch 37 is in the OFF state. At the same time, the rotating body 38 pushes down the operating member 46 having the rack 47 that engages with the external teeth 45 of the boss portion 43. At this time, the protruding surfaces 49 and 50 of the actuating member 46 are connected to the receiving portion 5 of the pressing member 51.
2, 53 to press the barcode type ring 14 via the elastic flap 54 of the pressing member 51. At this time, the gaps between the barcode type wheels 14 are eliminated, allowing the printing of a barcode symbol that can be read by a scanner.

Next, the operation of the barcode printing device will be explained with the barcode type selection work completed and the barcode type wheel 14 pressed. First, in FIGS. 2 and 5, the motor drive power switch 7 is turned on.
When it is set, the motor drive power supply 55 is turned on. Then, in order to print a desired number of labels, the number of labels is set in the printing number counter 8. Furthermore, the amount of ink supplied until the scanner can reliably read the printed bar code symbol is converted into the number of times of ink application, and the number of times of ink application is set in the ink application number counter 3 in advance. In this case, the printing number counter 8 and the ink application number counter 3 do not supply a printing stop signal to the relay drive circuit 67, and the relays 58 and 59 are in a conductive state. Furthermore, since the barcode type wheel 14 is in the pressed state, the print selection switch 37 is in the OFF state, so the relay drive circuit 63 is not driven and the relay 5
6 is in a conductive state. Next, when the start/stop switch 57 is closed by pressing the start switch 9,
The current from the motor drive power supply 55 is passed through the relay 5.
6, transmitted through start/stop switch 57, relay 5
8. Energize the inputs of the motor 64 and stepping motor 69 through the relays 59, respectively.
The power of the motor 64 is then transmitted to the printing mechanism 65 to move the barcode printing head 4 up and down for label printing, and the ink application mechanism 6 to apply ink to the barcode type wheel 14.
It is also transmitted to 6. In this case, each time one printing is performed, the ink application number counter 3 and the printing number counter 8 count the number of ink applications and the number of times each label is printed, respectively. On the other hand, the power of the stepping motor 69 is transmitted to a label transport mechanism 70 which transports the label to a printing position as needed while receiving a control signal from a label transport control circuit 71.

In this way, barcode symbols are printed on the labels one by one, but when the predetermined number of labels initially set by the print count counter 8 has been printed, that is, the print count counter 8 is set. When the print count has been decremented, the print count counter 8 issues a signal to stop printing. The relay drive circuit 67 is activated by this signal, and the relay 5
8. Relay 59 becomes non-conductive. Then, the motor 64 and the stepping motor 69 are powered off from the motor drive power supply 55.
The power is transferred to the printing mechanism 65, the ink application mechanism 66,
There is no transmission to the label transport mechanism 70, and printing of the label stops. Also, as mentioned above, the stop switch 1 is activated before printing of a predetermined number of labels is completed.
Needless to say, when 0 is pressed, the start/stop switch 57 is opened and no current is supplied to the motor 64 and stepping motor 69, so printing of the label is stopped.

When a predetermined number of labels have been printed and a new barcode symbol of new information is to be printed on the label, the barcode type wheel 14 is selected.
In FIG. 6b, which shows the printing state of the barcode type, the rotating body 38 is rotated clockwise using the selection knob 32 to bring the barcode type into the selected state as shown in FIG. 6a. At this time, as the operating member 46 is pushed upward, the pressing member 51 moves each barcode type so that the desired barcode type ring 14 can be easily selected without pressing the barcode type ring 14. A gap will be created between the rings 14. At the same time, the notch deep groove 41 of the rotating body 38 separates from the switch portion 42 that was in pressure contact with it, and the print selection changeover switch 37 is turned on.

Then, the signal from the print selection changeover switch 37 is supplied to the relay drive circuit 63, so that the relay drive circuit 63 is driven to excite the excitation coil portion of the relay 56. At this time, the relay 56 becomes non-conductive. Further, the signal from the print selection changeover switch 37 is transmitted to the display lap drive circuit 6.
1 is driven to light the display lamp 11.

Therefore, in order to print the barcode symbol on the label with a gap between each barcode type wheel, that is, with the barcode type wheel 14 still selected, the start switch 9 was pressed again and the start/stop switch 57 was closed. However, since the relay 56 is in a non-conductive state, no current is passed from the motor drive power supply 55 to the motor 64 and the stepping motor 69, and no printing is performed. Also,
Look at the display lamp 11 and see that the barcode type wheel 1 is currently displayed.
You can see the warning that 4 is in the selection state.

Next, the barcode type wheel 14 is put into a printing state,
If the start/stop switch 57 is closed and normal label printing continues, the ink application number counter 3 will be as follows.
The number of ink applications is continuously decremented from when the amount of ink is sufficient for the first time, and when the preset number of ink applications is decremented until the barcode symbol printed by the scanner becomes unreadable. , will issue a signal to stop printing. Then, the relay drive circuit 67 is driven by the issued printing stop signal. The relays 58 and 59 are brought into a non-conductive state by the excitation coils being excited by the drive of the relay drive circuit 67. In addition, the ink application number counter 3
The print stop signal issued from the printer drives the display lamp drive circuit 68 to turn on the display lamp 11.

Therefore, by continuing to print a considerable number of labels,
Even if the amount of ink applied to the barcode type wheel 14 is reduced, the ink application counter 3 automatically issues a signal to stop printing, and the barcode printing device stops printing. At the same time, the display lamp 11 also provides a warning that the ink roller needs to be replaced because the amount of ink in the ink roller has decreased. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent barcode symbols that cannot be read by the scanner from being printed on the label.

As explained above, in the present invention, when the type of the barcode type wheel is selected, the operations of the printing mechanism, ink application mechanism, etc. for label printing are reliably stopped, and after the type selection, the barcode type wheel group is The printing mechanism, ink application mechanism, etc. are configured to operate only when the bar code type is printed by pressing. Therefore, a barcode symbol that can be reliably read by a scanner is printed on the label, and the possibility of causing a fatal hindrance to the operation of the entire POS system is completely eliminated.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a label piece on which a barcode symbol is printed, Fig. 2 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of the barcode printing device according to the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a plan view of a label piece on which a barcode symbol is printed. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the barcode printing head; FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the electrical circuit of the barcode printing device; FIGS. 6a and b 3 is a sectional view taken along the line - in FIG. 3, where a shows the state when barcode type is selected and b shows the state when the barcode is printed. In the drawings, 4...Barcode printing head, 37...Print selection switch, 38...Rotating body, 41...Notch deep groove, 42...Switch part, 55...Motor drive power supply, 56...Relay, 63...Relay drive circuit, 6
4...Motor, 65...Printing mechanism.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Barcode printing having a mechanism that presses a plurality of barcode type wheels arranged in parallel in the axial direction to print barcode type, and releases this pressure to select barcode type. In a printing device that includes a printing head, a printing mechanism that operates the barcode printing head, a motor that operates the printing mechanism, and a motor drive power source that serves as a drive source for the motor, printing of the barcode type is performed. A barcode printing device characterized in that a detection means for detecting a state and a selection state is interposed between the printing mechanism and the motor drive power source.