JPS5911277A - barcode printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the generation of defective bar code labels, by a method wherein position of a label is set, and after setting a digit place, an overflow is checked. CONSTITUTION:When clearing of a memory and feeding of a ribbon are completed after conducting a power source, a position setting is performed by a label position detector 6, and a digit place setting is performed by a digit place setter 19 responding thereto. In accordance with whether the digit place setting is performed for 9 digit places, 11 digit places, 13 digit places, 15 digit places or 17 digit places, the overflow is checked for the set one of 9-17 digit places. This checking can be accomplished by checking a digit place bit in a registered value buffer memory and checking the number of digit places by a counter. When absence of any overflow is confirmed as a result of the checking, a bar code label is issued.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a needle printer that allows various settings for the number of digits of a barcode printed on a label.

In general, barcode printers that allow various settings for the number of digits of the parcode change the size of the label according to the number of digits of the barcode to be printed, so that the barcode is printed on the label according to a certain standard. ing.

Conventionally, in this type of label printer, even if you set the number of digits for the barcode and set the label size accordingly, the barcode printing mechanism prints out the barcode on the label based on the input data, so for example 1 even though the label size is for 9 digits
If there is 3-digit input data, the barcode printing mechanism prints out a 13-digit barcode on a 9-digit label, resulting in the issue of a defective I4-code label.

The present invention has been devised to solve such problems, and its entire purpose is to provide a needle printer that is free from the risk of issuing defective needle labels.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, what is shown in Fig. 1 is an external view of a barcode printer, in which 1 is a label supply reel, 2 is a label winding reel,
3 is a one-time ribbon supply reel, 4 is a one-time ribbon take-up reel, 5 is a bar code printing mechanism, and 6 is a label position detector. The label 7 wound on the label supply reel 1 is wound up by the label winding reel 2 via the label position detector 6 and the barcode printing mechanism 5. Further, the one-time ribbon 8 wound around the ribbon supply reel 3 is transferred to the barcode printing mechanism 5.
The previous day's ribbon winding is carried out using nine reels and four reels. Further, reference numeral 9 denotes an operation section having a keypad 10, a display 11, a group of operation switches 12, and a card insertion slot 13. The barcode printing mechanism 5 and label position detector 6 are constructed as shown in FIG. That is, the barcode printing mechanism 5 consists of a marking stand 5a that houses a printing drum (not shown) therein, and a hammer 5b provided opposite to the marking stand 5a. The label 7 and one-time ribbon 8 are passed together.

The labels 7 are attached, for example, to transparent chips 7''14 at predetermined intervals, and are intermittently fed to the printing mechanism 5.The label position detector 6 A flat base plate 6C with a rack 6a formed at one end thereof and a long hole 6b"f formed in the center thereof is provided at approximately the center of the other end thereof, and a vertically elongated detector body 6d is disposed perpendicularly to the base plate 6c. is installed. This detector main body 6d has a narrow vertically divided groove 6ef at its upper end.
A light emitting section 6f containing a lamp or the like is formed on one side, and a light receiving section 6g containing a transducer or the like is formed on the other side, and the tape 14 to which the label 7 is attached is passed through the groove 6e. There is. Further, the detector main body 6d has a permanent magnet 15 attached to the tip surface of its lower end as a switch driving member. The label position detector 6
A vinyl controller 16 is adapted to mesh with a rack 6a provided on a base plate 6c.

The vinyl control 16 is attached to the other end of an operating member 17 whose one end is entirely shaped like a knob. A plurality of, for example, five, reed switches 18*, 18b, 18 are located below the detector main body 6d of the label position detector 6.
c.lad.

A switch mechanism is provided in which the switches 18 and 18 are mounted on a flat plate 18f at a predetermined interval. Each reed switch 18a is attached to this switch mechanism.

18b, lea, 18d, 18m are the detector main body 6d
It is selectively energized by a permanent magnet 15 attached to the magnet 15, and when the permanent magnet 15 is exactly above the magnet 15, the magnetic force of the magnet 15 causes a switching operation. Each of the reed switches 18h, 18b, 1l
lc.

The positions of IFIcl and 18. are labels of different sizes, such as 9 digits 1, 11 digits, and 13 digits.

It is set corresponding to labels for 15 digits and 17 digits, and forms a digit setter 19 together with the permanent magnet 15. and the positional relationship between the barcode printing mechanism 5 and the label position detector 6, and the label position detector 6 and each switch 18a.

The positional relationship with 18b, 18c, 18d, and 18e is as shown in FIG. That is, when setting the label 7 to a position where the printing operation can start with respect to the barcode printing mechanism 5, the label 7a for which the position setting is to be performed is performed.
1 between the second and third labels 7b and 7c counting from
ii1 to label position detector 60 light emitting section 6f and light receiving section 6g
This is done by detecting the label feed motor (not shown) and stopping the feed of the chi fJ4 by the label feed motor (not shown) based on the detection output. At that time, the permanent magnet 15 causes the label 7 a r 7
Reed switches corresponding to the sizes of b * 7 c *... are energized. For example, the label position detector 6 is set so that the 13th digit label is currently being conveyed, and the barcode printing mechanism 5 can start printing the label and stop at a certain position. When this is done, the digit setter 19 is moved by the permanent magnet 15 to the reed switch 1Ba provided corresponding to the label for 13 digits.
It is set to energize f. The operation section 9 is the fourth
The formation σ is shown in the figure. Tsum 9 key γ tote 1
0 is provided with a number key lOa, a number designation key 10b1, a print key 10e, a clear key 10d, etc., and the display 1
There are a lamp 11* for displaying information such as operation, card-in, error, etc., and a label number display 11b and 3 consisting of one digit.
An issue number display 11c consisting of digits is provided, and the operation switch group 12 includes a power switch 12m and an online switch 12b that is operated when inputting data from an external device such as a weighing value marking device or other terminal device. , an offline switch 12a that is operated when inputting data from the keymate 10 or a card reader. The label number display 11b includes reed switches 18a, 18b, IBe, 18 of the digit setter 19 that respond to the set position of the label position detector 6.
It displays a label number indicating the label size according to the switching operation of d+18m, and when the detector 6 is set to a position corresponding to a 9-digit label and the reed switch 18a is energized, the number "1" is displayed. When the reed switch 18b is set to the position corresponding to the label for the 11th digit and is activated, the number "2" is displayed, and the position is set to correspond to the 2 bell for the 13th digit and the reed switch 18a is activated. When the reed switch 18d is activated, the number "3" is displayed, and the position is set corresponding to the 15-digit label, and the number "4" is displayed when the reed switch 18d is energized. When the position is set and the reed switch 18 is energized, the number "5" is displayed. The issue number display 11c is a set number key 10a in the keymate 10.

When the number of labels to be issued is set by operating the number designation key 10b, it is displayed. In addition,
Top 11i22 Bell number display 11b, issue number display 1
1e is formed by a seven segment display consisting of, for example, light emitting diodes.

Moreover, what is shown in FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration of the barcode printer. What is distinctive about this figure 5 is the random access memory (RAM).
A numeric buffer memory (BMCJ t-) is provided as a data storage unit for storing input data in the digit setter 20, and by the switching operation of each reed switch 18&~18e of the digit setter 19 according to the position setting of the label position setter 6. The generated digit number data is stored, and the stored digit number data is used to store the number buffer memory 21.
Digit number data storage unit (
DM) It is at the point where 22f is provided.

23 is a central processing circuit (CPU), and this central processing circuit 23 executes a program execution circuit (ROM) when the power is turned on.
) The initial program execution command is sent to 24. The program execution circuit 24 initializes the memory 9-rear and other programs using an initial program, and also operates a label feed motor 25 that drives the label supply reel 1 and a label take-up motor that drives the label take-up reel 2. 26 to feed the label 7, and the detection output supplied from the label position detector 6 causes the label 7 to be fed to the barcode printing machine 4i.
15 is stopped at a predetermined position where printing operation can be started. Further, the program execution circuit 24 writes the digit number data generated from the digit setter 19 according to the position setting of the label position detector 6 into the digit number data storage 22 of the RAM 20 according to an initial program.

Furthermore, prior to feeding the label 2, the program execution circuit 24 drives the ribbon feed motor 21 that drives the ribbon supply reel 3 and the ribbon take-up motor 28 that drives the ribbon take-up reel 4 according to an initial program. Then, the one-time ribbon 8 is fed by one digit.

10- The online switch 12b and the offline switch 12c are so-called mode changeover switches, and when the online switch 12b is operated, data is transferred from the weighing value adding device 29 or other terminal 30 through the data conversion circuits 31 and 32, respectively. The data is now sent to the program execution circuit 24', and the offline switch 1
When 2c is operated, necessary data is sent from the card reader 33 or the key date 10 to the program execution circuit 24.

The data sent to the program execution circuit 24 is stored in the RAM according to the program execution command from the central processing circuit 23.
20 and temporarily stored in a number buffer memory 21 provided within the RAM 20. However, R.A.
M20 compares the digit number data stored in the digit number data storage 22 with the digit number data stored in the digit number data storage 22 to check whether or not the number of digits of the data stored in the number notation buffer memory 21 is a set digit loss or not. As this detection means, for example, a signal @F'' is set in advance to all the digit bits of the numeric buffer memory 21, and the data memory 2
Check the digit bit that is one more digit than the digit specified by the digit number data stored in 2, and check whether the contents of the digit bit being checked "F" changes depending on the input data. A means for detecting an overflow, or a number pad, counts the number of digits of data input to the file memory 21 with a counter, and detects when the counted number exceeds the number of digits data stored in the data storage 22. It is sufficient to use a means to check and detect digit overflow.Then, RAM 20
If the number of digits of the input data does not exceed t, the RAM 20 inputs an in-operation display signal to the latch 34 by operating the print key 10a, and obtains coincidence with the control clock from the program execution circuit 24. The lamp l
lh is driven to display an in-operation display, and data is manually input to the printer interface 35, which is then printed out by the bar code printing mechanism 5 after matching with the control clock from the program execution circuit 24. Also R.A.
If the number of digits of the data input to M20 exceeds the number of digits, the RAM 20 receives a command from the central processing circuit 23 to prohibit data transmission, and drives the lamp lla to display an error. When data is sent to the barcode printing mechanism 5, the label is fed and scanned every time one digit of the barcode is printed out. Infeed is performed. Then, when the barcode label issuing operation and the printing out of the barcode for one label are completed, the program execution circuit 24
by label feed motor 25, label take-up 9 motor 26, reso/feed motor 27 and ribbon take-up 9
The motor 28 is driven to feed the labels and paper, and to place the next label to be printed out and the unused portion of the glue gun to be used next in a predetermined position. The RAM 20 sends the cycle bit timing clock to the program execution circuit 24 via the shift register 37 and the keyboard 1θ. It is possible to make a decision in 24 days.

Therefore, a flowchart showing the control over checking of the number of digits in this bar code printer is shown in FIG. That is, when the memory clear and ribbon feed are completed after the power is turned on, the label position detector 6 sets the position, and the corresponding digit setter 19 sets the digit. However, the digit settings are 9 digits, 11 digits, 13 digits, and 15 digits.

Depending on whether the number is 17 digits or not, any digits from 9 digits to 17 digits are overchecked. This digit overcheck is performed, for example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 by checking the number of digits using a counter, a digit bit check in the Noah memory 21, and a counter, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, for example. If digit overflow is checked, an error is processed and printing of the data is prohibited. Also, if the number of digits is not exceeded, a barcode label is issued.

In this way, if the number of digits in the input data exceeds the preset number of digits, an error will occur and a barcode label will not be issued, so a barcode with a predetermined number of digits will always be printed for a label of a predetermined size. There is no risk of issuing a defective barcode label.

Furthermore, when the position of the label position detector 6 is set so that the label 7 is stopped at a position where the barcode printing mechanism 5 can start the glint operation, the permanent magnet 15 of the digit setter 19
Since the digit setting is performed by energizing the reed switch corresponding to the number of digits on the label 7, the label size and digit setting can be made to correspond reliably.

In the above embodiment, the digit setting device is composed of a plurality of reed switches installed at predetermined intervals corresponding to various sizes of labels, and a permanent magnet that responds to changes in the position of the label position detector. Although we have described the above, it is needless to say that the invention is not limited to this. In addition, in the above embodiment, as a means for detecting over-digits of input data, there is a means for checking the signal set in the digit bit of the numeric buffer memory 21 to detect over-digits, and a counter counts the number of digits of input data. Although the means for detecting digit overflow has been described above, it is needless to say that the method is not limited to this.

As detailed above, according to the present invention, a barcode is printed out on a label by a printout operation using a barcode printing mechanism based on print data supplied from a data storage device that stores input data. , and the number of digits of the barcode to be printed on the label is set using a digit setter that responds to the position setting of the label position detector, and the number of digits set by the digit setter and the data storage are By comparing the number of digits of the input data to be stored, over-digits in the input data are detected, so it is possible to know for sure whether the input data is over-digit, and there is no risk of issuing a defective barcode label. Moreover, it is possible to provide a barcode printer that can reliably match label size and digit setting.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the main parts, and Fig. 3 is the positional relationship of the barcode printing mechanism, label position detector, and switch. 4 is a developed view showing the operating section, FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration, FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the control process of digit overcheck, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are digit It is a flowchart showing an over detector Rk. 6...Barcode printer, 6...Label position detector, 7...Label, 15...Permanent magnet, 18m. 18 b, 18 o, '18 d, 18
e...Reed switch, 19...Digit setter, 20
. . . Random access memory, 21 . . . Number buffer memory, 22 . . . Digit number data storage device. 17-

Claims (1)

[Claims] a data storage device that stores input data; a barcode printing mechanism that prints out a barcode on a label based on print data supplied from the data storage device during a printout operation; A label position detector that detects the transport position of the label and sets the label, and a digit setter that variably sets the number of digits of the barcode to be printed on the label in response to the position setting of the label position detector. , further comprising detection means for detecting over-digits in the input data by comparing the number of digits set in the digit setter and the number of digits in the input data stored in the data storage device. barcode printer.