JPH0446930Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a barcode printing device that prints a barcode symbol for displaying a common product code.

[Conventional technology]

Barcode symbols for displaying common product codes (product identification) are already widely used in distribution information systems centered on POS (Point of Sales) systems for foods, miscellaneous goods, etc. Barcode symbols for displaying common product codes have been standardized (JAN) to promote the systemization of distribution.
There are standard versions and shortened versions of such barcode symbols. The barcode symbol 11 in the shortened version, an example of which is shown in FIG.
It has a center bar CB with a module width, and data characters with a width of 7 modules between the center bar CB and the left and right guard bars LG and RG.
It has a configuration with multiple LCs and multiple RCs.

This barcode symbol 11 is printed using a barcode printing device. A typical barcode printing device, as shown in FIG. It is configured to print a barcode symbol 11. In such a barcode printing device, while the sheets of paper that are sequentially fed to the print drum 12 are stationary, the print drum 12 is also kept stationary, and the barcode symbol 11 is printed on the sheet 14 by the left guard bar LG and the left data character bar. Print in the following order: LC, center bar CB, right data character bar RC, right guard bar RG. Print drum 1
2 has a plurality of barcode elements arranged on its circumferential surface to be printed on paper with a module width corresponding to the module width of each bar LG, CB, RC, and RG. Here, the module width is the width of one unit module (one white bar or one black bar) composed of multiple unit modules (a combination of white bars and black bars), and each bar (LG, RG), ( CB), (LC, RC)
Each module has a different width. Each barcode type 13 is provided so that its center coincides with each position (hereinafter these positions are referred to as "drum center line") formed by equally dividing the circumferential surface of the printing drum 12 in the circumferential direction. There is. Specifically, the barcode element for the center bar, that is, the printed text cb, the barcode element for the left and right guard bars, that is, the printed characters lg, rg, and the barcode elements for the 10 left and right data characters, that is, the printed characters lc, rc, are as follows. Both are positioned so that their centers coincide with the drum centerline. Each printing operation is performed with the drum center line aligned with the center of the printing operation (hereinafter referred to as "operation center") 15. The printed barcode symbol 11 has its lines, width, line-to-line dimensions,
Reflectance etc. are strictly regulated.

Therefore, in the actual barcode printing operation, first print the left guard bar LG with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. Next, send the paper 14 for 5 modules, and then send the first data character.
Print LC ₁ . In the same way, after sending 7 modules of paper 14, the left data character LC ₂ ,
Print LC ₃ and LC ₄ . Thereafter, after feeding 6 modules of paper 14, the center bar CB is printed. Next, the paper 14 for 6 modules is sent and the right data character RC ₁ is printed. Similarly, 7
After sending the paper 14 for the module, the right data characters RC ₂ , RC ₃ , and RC ₄ are printed. Finally 5
After feeding the paper 14 for the module, print the right guard bar RG. Paper 14 is fed using a stepping motor (not shown). The feed width of the paper 14 per step of the stepping motor is:
It is set to 1 module or less.

Also, instead of a stepping motor, a paper feed mechanism may be used that uses an ordinary motor and a clutch that stops its rotation, for example, every half turn.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, the stepping motor itself is expensive, and the latter requires multiple paper feeding mechanisms. Moreover, the control of the operation of the stepping motor or clutch is complicated, especially since the feed width of the sheet 14 may have to be varied depending on the individual bar code elements. Furthermore, since it is not possible to increase the feeding speed of the paper 14, there is a problem that the printing speed cannot be sufficiently increased.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a barcode printing device that can print a desired barcode symbol on a sheet of paper without changing its feed width midway.

[Means and effects for solving the problem] A left guard bar, a right guard bar, a center bar arranged in the center between the left and right guard bars, and a plurality of data arranged between the left and right guard bars and the center bar. It has a printing drum that prints barcode symbols including character bars on paper,
Each bar of the guard bar, center bar, and data character bar has a predetermined module width composed of one unit module to a plurality of unit modules, and each bar is defined by a different predetermined module width, and A plurality of barcode elements having a predetermined module width corresponding to each of the above-mentioned predetermined module widths are arranged on the peripheral surface,
In a barcode printing device that prints each of the desired bars on a sheet of paper by selective marking, the sheet of paper is fed with a constant module width and remains stationary during the printing operation, and the above-mentioned bars of the printing drum are The barcode element is provided on the circumferential surface at a position corresponding one-to-one to each of a plurality of drum center lines that are divided in the circumferential direction and intersect with each other at the center of the printing drum, and the barcode element is When printing, press the guard bar above at the center line of the drum.
Each bar of the center bar and data character bar is printed on the paper, and among the barcode elements, the center of the center bar barcode element on which the center bar is printed is aligned with the center line of the drum. and the other barcode elements on both sides of the center bar barcode element are arranged so that their centers are located along the circumferential surface of the printing drum and closer to the center line of the drum center line than the center bar code element. There is obtained a barcode printing device characterized in that the barcode printing device is provided at a position shifted by a predetermined unit module so that printing can be performed with a constant feeding amount of the paper.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of bar code characters 13 are arranged at intervals around the rotatable print drum 12. Each barcode type 13 is printed on a printing drum 12.
While being made to face the paper 14 one after another by rotation, the printing hammer 16 contributes to printing a desired barcode symbol 11 on the paper 14 by stamping. The positions of the individual barcode characters 13 are approximately as follows:
There is a one-to-one correspondence with each drum centerline. As described above, the centers of these drums are made to coincide with the work center 15 during printing work.
Furthermore, among the plurality of barcode typefaces 13, the center bar barcode typeface cb is provided at a position where its center coincides with the drum center line. In addition, the other barcode prints on both sides of the center bar barcode print cb, that is, the 10 left and right barcode prints lc, rc, and the left and right guard bar code prints lg, rg, have their centers aligned with each other. is also provided at a position shifted from the center line of the drum along the circumferential surface of the printing drum 12 toward the center bar barcode type cb side. Positional deviation of 10 left and right barcode characters lc and rc for data characters
m ₁ are all equal and specifically correspond to 1 module. Further, the specific positional deviation amount m ₂ of the left and right guard bar barcode type letters lg and rg corresponds to 3 modules.

FIG. 2 shows the printing concept of a shortened version of the bar code symbol printed using the bar code printing apparatus shown in FIG. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, barcode symbol 11 in the shortened version has guard bars of 3 module width at the left and right ends.
LG, RG, 5 module width center bar in the center
It has a CB and four data characters LC and RC of 7 modules each on its left and right sides. During printing, the desired barcode symbol 11 can be printed by simply feeding the paper 14 at equal pitches. For example, when printing the shortened version of barcode symbol 11,
Specifically, the paper 14 is fed in units of 7 modules. That is, barcode type (lg, rg, cb, lc,
rc) 13, when the paper 14 is pressed by the printing hammer 16 at the position of the drum center line corresponding to the printing operation, the left guard bar LG of the barcode symbol 11,
The left data character LC, center bar CB, right data character RG, and right guard bar are each stamped on the paper 14. The paper 14 is fed at a constant module width (7 modules) and is printed in a stationary state during the printing operation.

In reality, the printing operation is performed at a position where the centers of the left data characters LC ₁ to _{LC 4} are all shifted by m ₁ (one unit module) from the drum center line toward the center bar CB. In addition, the centers of data characters RC ₁ to _{RC 4} on the right are all m ₁ from the drum center line to the center bar CB side.
The printing operation is performed at a position shifted by (1 module).

Also, the centers of the left and right guard bars LG and RG are both m ₂ from the drum center line to the center bar CB side.
The printing operation is performed at a position shifted by (3 unit modules).

In addition, the center bar CB is the center and the work center 1
The printing operation is performed at the position where the numbers 5 and 5 match.

Therefore, if the paper 14 is fed by a constant module width (7 modules), the paper 14 is fed by a constant width.
7-6-7-5 module) There is no need for a control means for printing by changing the drive time of the motor for feeding. Further, a motor control means for feeding the print drum 12 at an unequal angle is also unnecessary.

In the above description, an example has been described in which the circumferential surface of the print drum 12 is equally divided in the circumferential direction and each position is set as the drum center line, but the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, the drum centerline should be interpreted to mean the point that is aligned with the work center during printing work.

[Effect of idea]

As described above in the embodiments, the present invention provides a barcode printing device that can print a desired barcode symbol on a sheet of paper without changing its feed width midway. Therefore, since it is not necessary to use a stepping motor or the like to feed the paper, an inexpensive product can be provided. Furthermore, controlling the amount of paper feed is also extremely simple. Furthermore, since the paper feed amount is constant and relatively large, it is possible to increase the speed, and it is also possible to improve the printing speed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a barcode printing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of barcode symbols printed using the barcode printing device of FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of an example of a code symbol, FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of printing a bar code symbol printed using a conventional bar code printing device, and FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional example of a bar code printing device. 11... Barcode symbol, 12... Printing drum, 13... Barcode type, 14... Paper,
15...Work center, 16...Printing hammer, lg...
Barcode element for left guard bar, rg...barcode element for right guard bar, lc...barcode element for left data character, rc...barcode element for right data character, cb...barcode element for center bar.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A barcode symbol is printed on paper, including a left guard bar, a right guard bar, a center bar placed in the center between the left and right guard bars, and a plurality of data character bars placed between the left and right guard bars and the center bar. The printing drum includes a printing drum, each of the guard bar, center bar, and data character bar has a predetermined module width composed of one unit module and a plurality of unit modules, and each of the bars is defined by a different predetermined module width. The circumferential surface of the above printing drum is
In a barcode printing device that arranges a plurality of barcode elements each having a predetermined module width corresponding to each of the above predetermined module widths and prints each desired bar on a sheet of paper by selective stamping, the above-mentioned paper is The printing drum is fed with a fixed module width and remains stationary during printing work, and the printing drum has a plurality of drum center lines divided in the circumferential direction and intersecting each other at the center of the printing drum. The barcode element is provided at a position that corresponds one-to-one to the barcode element, and the barcode element connects each bar of the guard bar, center bar, and data character bar at the position of the drum center line during the printing operation. The barcode element is printed on paper, and among the barcode elements, the center of the center bar barcode element on which the center bar is printed is located at a position that coincides with the center line of the drum, and both sides of the center bar barcode element are provided. other barcode elements, all of whose centers are closer to the center bar barcode element than the drum center line along the circumferential surface of the printing drum, so that the paper can be printed at a constant feeding amount. A barcode printing device characterized in that the barcode printing device is provided at a position shifted by a predetermined unit module.