JPH03214375A - Printer device provided with bar-code read function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To stably read a low density bar-code, as well by using a high density mark sensor by setting a distance between the sensor and the bar-code to what is called an out-of-focus position shifted from an optimal position by an automatic paper thickness adjusting mechanism at the time of reading the low density bar-code. CONSTITUTION:At the time of reading a high density bar-code, a distance between a sensor 2 and a bar-code (paper surface) is set to an optimal position in which a high resolution characteristic of the sensor 2 can be displayed enough. On the other hand, at the time of reading a low density bar-code, the distance between the sensor 2 and the bar-code is set to what is called an out-of- focus position shifted from the optimal position by an automatic paper thickness adjusting mechanism 20. In such a way, the device comes to scarcely respond to minute dust or contamination, and a defect at the time of reading a low density bar-code by a high resolution sensor is obviated.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Summary] This invention relates to a printer device equipped with a barcode reading function that can stably read both low-density barcodes and high-density barcodes. The purpose is to be able to stably read not only high-density barcodes but also low-density barcodes, and when reading high-density barcodes with a high-resolution sensor, the distance between the sensor and the barcode (paper surface) is determined by the high-resolution characteristics of the sensor. When reading low-density barcodes, an automatic paper thickness adjustment mechanism is used to set the distance between the sensor and the barcode to a so-called blurred position that is shifted from the optimal position.

(Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a printer device equipped with a hard code reading function that can stably read both low-density barcodes and high-density barcodes.

[Prior Art] - I'IQ's pen-type barcode league includes low-density type and high-density type. It is impossible for a low-density reader to read a high-quality barcode, but a low-density league can read a low-density barcode.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

A high-quality reader should be able to read low-density Harcoat easily, but since it uses a high-resolution sensor, it reacts quickly to minute dust, dirt, and chips. Read rate may decrease.

The present invention was created in view of this point, and has a barcode reading function that uses a high-density mark sensor to stably read not only high-density barcodes but also low-density barcodes. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a printer device equipped with the following functions.

[Means for Solving the Problems] FIG. 1 is a diagram explaining the principle of the present invention. Printer control unit 1
7 includes barcode reading processing means 18. The printer mechanism section 19 includes a carrier 1 equipped with a mark sensor 2 and a print head 3 for reading high-density barcodes.
and an automatic controller for adjusting the distance between the print head 3 and the platen.
He has 20 J.

The barcode reading processing means 18 (a) controls the automatic paper thickness adjustment mechanism 20 to read marks and
Set the distance between sensor 2 and the paper to the optimum distance, (b) scan the barcode, and (c) if the barcode is not recognized, check whether the barcode on the paper is a low-density barcode. (d) In the case of a low-density barcode, control the automatic paper thickness adjustment mechanism 20 and reset the distance between the mark sensor 2 and the paper surface; (e) Check whether the barcode is configured to scan.

[Effect]

When reading high-density barcodes, set the distance between sensor 2 and the barcode (paper surface) to the optimal position to fully utilize the high-resolution characteristics of sensor 2, and when reading low-density barcodes, automatically adjust the paper thickness. The mechanism 20 sets the distance between the sensor and the barcode to a so-called out-of-focus position that is shifted from the optimum position. This makes it difficult to react to minute dust and dirt, and eliminates the drawbacks when reading low-density barcodes with high-resolution sensors.

[Embodiments of the invention]

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the electric circuit of the printer.

In the figure, 1 is a carrier, 2 is a mark/sensor for high-density barcodes, 3 is a print head, 4 is a hammer dryer, 5 is a sensor circuit, 6 is a motor, 7 is a motor dryer, and 8 is an operation panel. 9 is a setting data storage non-volatile memory, 10 is a program ROM, 11 is a data storage RA
M, 12 is the interface, l3 is the main unit, 14 is C
PU, 15 indicates a data bus, and 16 indicates an address bus, respectively.

A mark sensor 2 and a print head 3 are mounted on the carrier 1. The mark sensor 2 reads barcodes and the like written on paper. The hammer dryer 4 drives the solenoid of the print head 3. The sensor circuit 5 amplifies the read signal from the mark sensor 2 and shapes its waveform.

Although only one motor 6 is shown, the motor 6 represents a paper feed motor, a carrier movement motor, a pulse motor for an automatic paper thickness adjustment mechanism, etc. Note that the printer device to which the present invention is applied has an automatic paper thickness adjustment mechanism, and can freely change the distance between the print head and the platen. A printer device having an automatic paper thickness adjustment mechanism is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 199969/1983.

The operation panel 8 includes various switches, a liquid crystal display, and the like. The setting data storage nonvolatile memory 9 stores mode setting data and the like that determine the mode of the printer. The program ROM 10 stores various programs.

Hanofa and various work areas exist in the data storage RAM IIO. The interface 12 is the main unit 1
It controls data transfer between 3 and 3. CPU1
4 executes the program ROMIO.

When reading barcodes on paper, control the carrier movement motor and paper feed motor to read the marks and
The carrier 1 may be moved so that the sensor 2 scans the barcode on the paper, and the sensor output from the mark sensor 2 may be stored in the data storage RAM II.

To adjust the distance between the mark sensor 2 and the barcode on the paper, it is sufficient to rotate the pulse motor for automatic thickness adjustment.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a high-density barcode and a low-density barcode. Barcodes include high-density barcodes and low-density barcodes.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the distance between the sensor and the barcode in the present invention. In the figure, S indicates a sensor spot.

When reading a high-density barcode, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the distance between the sensor and the barcode (paper surface) is set at an optimal position where the high-resolution characteristics of the sensor can be fully utilized. When reading low-density barcodes, as shown in Figure 4(b), the automatic paper thickness adjustment mechanism sets the distance between the sensor and the barcode to the optimum distance → -α, and the so-called out-of-focus position is shifted from the optimum position. Set to position. The value of the distance between the sensor and the barcode at which the high resolution characteristics of the sensor can be fully demonstrated can be determined by measurement. The obtained value (optimal distance) is stored in the nonvolatile memory 9 or the like. Further, the value of α mentioned above is also determined by measurement, and the determined value is stored in the nonvolatile memory 9 or the like.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a barcode reading sequence in the present invention. This barcode reading sequence is performed by the CPU 14 executing a barcode reading program stored in the program ROM 10.

■ Set the distance between the sensor and the paper surface for high-density mode.

That is, so that the size of the sensor spont is minimized,
Set the distance between the sensor and the paper surface.

■ Perform a barcode scan. That is, a barcode on a paper surface is scanned by a mark sensor, and an analog signal output from the mark sensor is converted into a digital signal.

■ Analyze scan data. That is, the barcode type is identified and the code data is analyzed.

■ Check whether recognition is OK. That is, it is checked whether the scan data conforms to Novacode standards such as NW-7, JAN, Code 3 of 9, etc.

If the answer is YES, select END, and if the answer is NO, proceed to ■.

■ Detect the module width of white and black parts.

In the high density mode, the module width of the black area is 1.0 dots or 1.5 dots, and in the low density mode, the module width of the black area is 2.0 dots, 3.0 dots, or 4.0 dots.

■ Check whether it is a low-density barcode. If YES, proceed to ■; if NO, start the try sequence.

■ Change the setting of the distance between the sensor and the paper surface for low density mode. That is, the distance between the sensor and the paper surface is reset so that the size of the sensor spont is more out of focus than the minimum size.

■ Scan the barcode in the same way as ■ ■
Analyze the scan data in the same way.

[Phase] In the same manner as ■, check whether recognition is OK.

If YES, it is set as END, and if NO, the try sequence is started.

[Effect of the invention] As is clear from the above explanation, according to the present invention, high e
Stable reading of both high-density and low-density barcodes using a high-density barcode mark sensor 2
becomes possible.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a diagram explaining the principle of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an electric circuit of a printer, Part 3 is a diagram showing an example of a bar code, and Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the connection between the sensor and Harcourt in the present invention. FIG. 5, which is a diagram for explaining distance, is a diagram showing a barcode reading sequence in the present invention. ■...Carrier, 2...Mark sensor for high-density barcode, 3...Printing hand, 4...Hammer dryer, 5...Sensor circuit, 6...Motor, 7...・
・Motor tricycle, 8...Operation panel, 9...Setting data storage non-volatile memory, 10...Program R
OM, 11...Data storage RAM, 12...Interface, 13...Wooden device, 14...CPU, 15...Data bus, 16...Address bus.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Mark sensor (2) for reading high-density barcodes
) and print head (3) attached to the carrier (1)
and a printer mechanism section (19) having an automatic paper thickness adjustment mechanism (20) for adjusting the distance between the print head (3) and the platen, and a barcode reading processing means (18) for reading the barcode on the paper surface. ) and a printer control unit (17), the barcode reading processing means (18) (a) controlling an automatic paper thickness adjustment mechanism (20); Hey, Mark
Set the distance between the sensor (2) and the paper surface to the optimal distance, and (b)
(c) If the barcode is not recognized, check whether the barcode on the paper is a low-density barcode; (d) If it is a low-density barcode, , controlling the automatic paper thickness adjustment mechanism (20) to reset the distance between the mark sensor (2) and the paper surface; and (e) barcode scanning. Printer device with reading function.