JP2020138458A - Printer and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To print a code image with a high degree of reading accuracy without printing an adjusting pattern.SOLUTION: A control part controls a recording head so that a first part 43 having an image recorded at a first density C1 and a second part 44 having the image recorded at a second density C2 different from the first density C1 can be formed in each printing region 41 for a code image 40, when the image including the primary code image 40, in which the plurality of printing regions 41 away from one another via a non-printing region 42 are arrayed in an array direction, is stored as image data in RAM.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a printing device and a program for printing a code image.

The one-dimensional code (bar code) standard defines the ratio of the width of the space between a bar and two adjacent bars, and the contrast between the bars and the space. When a code image is printed on a recording medium such as paper, the printed bar code image is read depending on the physical properties of the surface of the recording medium (easiness of bleeding of coloring material in a specific direction, color of the recording medium, etc.). In some cases, the width ratio and contrast of the bar and space of the bar code image may deviate from the reference range. In such a case, a read error will occur.

Patent Document 1 discloses a printer device capable of preventing a barcode image printed on a recording paper from causing a reading error by setting appropriate print parameters. In Patent Document 1, a scanner reads a plurality of adjustment patterns of barcode images printed on recording paper, and print parameters of the printer device are set according to the reading result.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-30054

In the printer apparatus of Patent Document 1, it is necessary to print a plurality of adjustment patterns on the recording paper in order to set the print parameters. Therefore, recording paper and coloring materials such as ink and toner are wasted.

An object of the present invention is to provide a printing device and a program capable of printing a code image with high reading accuracy without printing an adjustment pattern.

The printing apparatus of the present invention includes a storage unit, a recording unit that records an image on a recording medium based on the image data stored in the storage unit, and a control unit. The control unit includes a plurality of control units. When the storage unit stores an image including a code image including a print area and a plurality of non-print areas as image data, a first portion recorded at a first density in each print area of the code image. The recording unit is controlled so that a second portion recorded at a second concentration different from the first concentration is formed.

The program of the present invention is a program used for an electronic device that controls a printing device, and the printing device records an image on a recording medium based on a storage unit and image data stored by the storage unit. The program includes a unit, a storage process for storing image data in the storage unit, and an image including a code image including a plurality of print areas and a plurality of non-print areas in the electronic device. A judgment process for determining whether or not the image is formed on the medium based on the image data stored in the storage unit, and a case where the determination process determines that the image including the code image is formed on the recording medium. The recording unit is formed so that a first portion recorded at the first density and a second portion recorded at a second density different from the first density are formed in each print area of the code image. It is characterized in that a control process for controlling the above is executed.

According to the present invention, since the first part and the second part having different densities are recorded in each print area of the code image, even one of these two parts is out of the reference range defined by the code standard. Even so, the other is less likely to be out of the reference range, so reading errors are less likely to occur. Therefore, it is possible to print a code image with high reading accuracy without printing the adjustment pattern.

The control unit determines the first density based on the image data stored in the storage unit, and the second density represents the physical properties of the image data stored in the storage unit and the surface of the recording medium. Determined based on parameters. In this case, the reading accuracy can be further improved by determining the second density in consideration of the physical properties of the surface of the recording medium.

When the color density on the surface of the recording medium, which is a parameter representing the physical properties of the surface of the recording medium, is larger than a predetermined value, the control unit sets the second density to a value higher than the first density. .. When the code image is recorded on a recording medium having a color density higher than a predetermined value, the contrast between the printed area and the non-printing area is higher than when the code image is recorded on a recording medium having a color density equal to or less than a predetermined value. It becomes smaller. In such a case, by lowering the second density of the code image to be lower than the first density, the contrast of the second portion with respect to the recording medium can be increased. Therefore, the reading accuracy of the code image can be further improved.

The printing apparatus of the present invention further includes a media sensor that detects the color density on the surface of the recording medium. In this case, the media sensor facilitates the detection of the color density on the surface of the recording medium.

In the printing apparatus of the present invention, the recording unit is a recording head that records an image by adhering a coloring material to a recording medium, and a plurality of printing areas of the code image separated from each other via a non-printing area are in a predetermined direction. It is a one-dimensional code image arranged in the above, and the control unit is formed so that the first portion and the second portion are formed at different positions in each print area with respect to a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction. The bleeding property of the coloring material, which is a parameter representing the physical properties of the surface of the recording medium, is larger in the second direction orthogonal to the first direction than in the first direction, and the predetermined direction is the second direction. When the code images are printed so as to have the same orientation, the second density is set lower than the first density. When a one-dimensional code image is recorded on a bleeding recording medium, when the arrangement direction of a plurality of print areas coincides with the bleeding direction of the color material, the width of the print area becomes wide due to the bleeding. In such a case, by lowering the second density of the one-dimensional code image to be lower than the first density, it is possible to suppress the color material from bleeding in the second portion. Therefore, the reading accuracy of the code image can be further improved.

The control unit determines whether or not the code image is printed so that the predetermined direction coincides with the second direction in the bleeding property of the coloring material in the recording medium and in the image stored by the storage unit. It is determined based on the orientation of the code image in the above and the orientation of the image printed on the recording medium. In this case, it can be easily determined whether or not the predetermined direction is the direction in which the coloring material is likely to bleed.

When the recording medium is label paper, the control unit lowers the second concentration to be lower than the first concentration. Since the label paper is relatively easy to bleed, the reading accuracy of the code image can be improved more effectively.

The recording unit is a recording head that ejects ink onto a recording medium and records an image.

In the present invention, since the first part and the second part having different densities are recorded in each print area of the code image, even if one of these two parts is out of the reference range defined by the code standard. Since it is less likely that both the other and the other are out of the reference range, reading errors are less likely to occur. Therefore, it is possible to print a code image with high reading accuracy without printing the adjustment pattern.

It is a schematic side view which shows the internal structure of the printer which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing an electrical configuration of a printer shown in FIG. 1 and a PC connected to the printer. (A) is a diagram for explaining the structure of the code image, and (b) is a diagram showing the code image formed in the present embodiment. (A) is a diagram showing a code image formed when the color density of the paper is larger than a predetermined value, and (b) and (c) are two different parts of the code image shown in (a). The output signals of each case are shown. (A) is a diagram showing a code image formed when the arrangement direction coincides with the paper grain direction of the paper, and (b) is a diagram in which two different parts of the code image shown in (a) are read. The two output signals of the case are shown. (A) shows an example of an image including a code image, (b) shows a case where the image of (a) is printed so that the vertical direction coincides with the longitudinal direction of the paper, and (c) shows the case of (a). The case where the image is printed so that the vertical direction coincides with the width direction of the paper is shown.

Hereinafter, an inkjet printer (hereinafter, simply referred to as “printer”) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the vertical direction is defined with reference to the state in which the printer 10 is usably installed (the state in FIG. 1), and the side where the opening 13 of the housing 11 is provided is the front side (front). The front-back direction is defined, and the left-right direction is defined when the printer 10 is viewed from the front side (front side).

As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 10 includes a paper feed tray 4, a paper output tray 5, a recording unit 6, a transport unit 7, a control unit 8, and the like. The paper feed tray 4, the recording unit 6, the transport unit 7, and the control unit 8 are housed in the housing 11 of the printer 10. In the housing 11, the paper feed tray 4 is arranged below the recording unit 6.

The paper feed tray 4 is capable of supporting and accommodating a plurality of sheets 9 in a stacked state. The paper feed tray 4 can be inserted and removed in the front-rear direction with respect to the housing 11. The paper feed tray 4 has a support surface 4a that supports the paper 9. An inclined plate 4b is provided at the rear end of the paper feed tray 4.

The output tray 5 accommodates the paper 9 on which the image is recorded by the recording head 63 described later in the recording unit 6. The output tray 5 is arranged above the front side of the paper feed tray 4 and moves together with the paper feed tray 4.

The recording unit 6 has a carriage 61 and a recording head 63. The carriage 61 is supported by two guide rails 67a and 67b. The two guide rails 67a and 67b are arranged so as to be separated from each other in the front-rear direction, and each of them extends in the left-right direction. The carriage 61 is arranged so as to straddle the two guide rails 67a and 67b. The carriage 61 is reciprocated in the left-right direction, which is the main scanning direction, along the two guide rails 67a and 67b by the carriage drive motor 31 (see FIG. 2). The recording head 63 is mounted on the carriage 61 and reciprocates together with the carriage 61 in the main scanning direction. The recording head 63 records an image on the paper 9 by ejecting the ink supplied from the ink cartridge (not shown) from a nozzle (not shown) provided on the nozzle surface 69 on the lower surface.

The transport unit 7 transports the paper 9 inside the printer 10, and includes a paper feed roller 70, a transport roller pair 71, a discharge roller pair 72, a platen 75, and a guide member 17. The paper feed roller 70 is arranged above the paper feed tray 4. The paper feed roller 70 is rotated by being applied with a driving force from the paper feed motor 33 (see FIG. 2), and feeds the paper 9 in the paper feed tray 4 toward the rear. The transport roller pair 71 and the discharge roller pair 72 are arranged so as to sandwich the recording unit 6 in the front-rear direction, the transport roller pair 71 is arranged behind the recording unit 6, and the discharge roller pair 72 is arranged in front of the recording unit 6. Has been done. The transport roller pair 71 feeds the paper 9 to the region of the recording head 63 facing the nozzle surface 69. The discharge roller pair 72 receives the paper 9 sent by the transport roller pair 71, and discharges the paper 9 to the paper discharge tray 5. The transfer roller pair 71 and the discharge roller pair 72 are driven by a drive mechanism 35 (see FIG. 2) including a transfer motor 35a.

The platen 75 is arranged below the recording unit 6 so as to face the nozzle surface 69 of the recording unit 6. The guide member 17 defines a transport path 14 for feeding the paper 9 fed from the paper feed tray 4 to a region facing the nozzle surface 69 of the recording head 63. The guide member 17 extends from the vicinity of the rear end of the paper feed tray 4 to the vicinity of the transport roller pair 71.

The paper 9 fed backward from the paper feed tray 4 by the paper feed roller 70 faces diagonally upward by the inclined plate 4b provided at the rear end of the paper feed tray 4, and is a transport path 14 defined by the guide member 17. Through, it reaches a position sandwiched by the transport roller pair 71. The paper 9 sandwiched between the transfer roller pairs 71 is conveyed to the region of the recording head 63 facing the nozzle surface 69 by the transfer roller pairs 71. The paper 9 conveyed by the transfer roller pair 71 is supported by the platen 75, and ink is ejected from a nozzle (not shown) of the recording head 63 that moves in the main scanning direction to record an image. The recorded paper 9 is conveyed forward by the discharge roller pair 72 and discharged to the paper discharge tray 5.

A media sensor 37 is attached to the lower surface of the carriage 61. The media sensor 37 can detect the color density of the paper 9 passing under the recording unit 6 while being supported by the platen 75. Specifically, the media sensor 37 includes a light emitting unit made of a light emitting diode or the like and a light receiving unit made of an optical sensor or the like. The light emitted from the light emitting unit is reflected by the platen 75 or the paper 9 supported by the platen 75, and the reflected light is received by the light receiving unit. The media sensor 37 detects the color density of the paper 9 based on the amount of light received by the light receiving unit. At least the surface of the platen 75 facing the nozzle surface 69 is black. Therefore, when the platen 75 supports the paper 9, the amount of light received by the light receiving portion increases as compared with the case where the platen 75 does not support the paper 9. Further, the lower the color density of the paper 9 supported by the platen 75, the greater the amount of light received by the light receiving portion.

The control unit 8 controls the entire printer 10, and as shown in FIG. 2, the carriage drive motor 31, the recording head 63, the paper feed motor 33, the drive mechanism 35, the media sensor 37, and the like are electrically connected. ing. Further, the USB interface 25 is electrically connected to the control unit 8. The USB interface 25 is a USB standard interface, and a USB memory as a removable memory can be connected to the USB interface 25. In addition, a PC (Personal Computer) 20 which is an external device is connected to the control unit 8 of the printer 10. The printer 10 and the PC 20 may be connected via a LAN (Local Area Network) or may be connected without a LAN. Further, data transmission / reception between the printer 10 and the PC 20 may be performed by wireless communication or wired communication.

The control unit 8 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 81, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 82, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 83, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 85, and the like. The ROM 82 stores a program executed by the CPU 81, various fixed data, and the like. Data (image data, etc.) required for program execution is temporarily stored in the RAM 83. The ASIC 85 includes a carriage control circuit 85a, a head control circuit 85b, and a transport control circuit 85c.

The control unit 8 cooperates with the CPU 81 and the ASIC 85 to perform an image recording operation such as recording an image related to image data input from the USB memory connected to the USB interface 25 or the PC 20 on the paper 9. In the image recording operation, the carriage control circuit 85a controls the carriage drive motor 31 so that the carriage 61 reciprocates in the main scanning direction. Further, the head control circuit 85b controls the ink to be ejected from the nozzle (not shown) of the recording head 63 based on the image data stored in the RAM 83. The transport control circuit 85c controls the paper feed motor 33 and the drive mechanism 35 so that the paper 9 housed in the paper feed tray 4 passes through a position facing the recording head 63 and is discharged to the paper output tray 5. ..

Although the CPU 81 and the ASIC 85 are shown one by one in FIG. 2, the control unit 8 may include only one CPU 81 and the one CPU 81 collectively performs necessary processing. However, a plurality of CPUs 81 may be included, and the plurality of CPUs 81 may share the necessary processing. Further, the control unit 8 may include only one ASIC85 and perform necessary processing collectively by this one ASIC85, or may include a plurality of ASIC85s and share the necessary processing by these plurality of ASIC85s. It may be done by

The PC 20 has a CPU 21, a ROM 22, a RAM 23, and an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) 24. An OS (Operation System) 24a and a printer driver 24b are installed on the HDD 24. The CPU 21 can control the operation of the printer 10 by executing the printer driver 24b.

Here, the target image data in the present embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3A, the image data related to the image including the code image 40 including the plurality of print areas 41 and the plurality of non-print areas 42 is targeted. More specifically, the print area 41 has a bar shape. The plurality of print areas 41 are separated from each other via the non-print area 42, and are arranged in one direction (direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the print area 41). That is, the code image 40 is a one-dimensional code image. In the following description, the arrangement direction of the plurality of print areas 41 (horizontal direction in FIG. 3A) is simply referred to as "arrangement direction". Each print area 41 and each non-print area 42 has one of a plurality of types of widths (lengths in the arrangement direction) defined by the standard. The width of each print area 41 and each non-print area 42 in the code image 40 varies depending on the information to be displayed by the code image 40.

The control unit 8 can determine whether or not the code image 40 is included in the image related to the image data stored in the RAM 83 by analyzing the image data or the like. The determination as to whether or not the code image 40 is included in the image data may be determined by whether or not the user has input that the image includes the code image 40. Further, the image data may include information that the code image 40 is included in the image.

When the code image 40 is included in the image related to the image data stored in the RAM 83, the control unit 8 sets the code image 40 in each print area 41 of the code image 40 as shown in FIG. 3 (b). The recording head 63 is controlled so that the first portion 43 recorded at the first concentration C1 and the second portion 44 recorded at the second concentration C2 different from the first concentration C1 are formed. The density of the first portion 43 and the second portion 44 can be adjusted by adjusting the size and number of dots formed by the ink droplets ejected from the nozzle of the recording head 63 and landing on the paper 9, the amount of ink ejected from the nozzle, and the like. It is done by adjusting.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the first portion 43 is formed on one side (upper side in the middle of FIG. 3) of the bar-shaped print area 41 in the longitudinal direction, and the other side opposite to one side (lower middle in FIG. 3). The second portion 44 is formed on the side). In the present embodiment, the length of the first portion 43 and the length of the second portion 44 in the longitudinal direction of the print area 41 are substantially the same.

The control unit 8 determines the first density of the first portion 43 based on the image data stored in the RAM 83. Specifically, the density obtained from the image content of the portion corresponding to the print area 41 in the image data is defined as the first density C1. Further, the second density C2 of the second portion 44 is determined based on the image data stored in the RAM 83 and the parameters representing the physical properties of the surface of the paper 9. In the present embodiment, the parameter representing the physical property of the surface of the paper 9 is the color density of the surface of the paper 9 or the bleeding direction of the ink.

Here, consider the case where the paper 9 has a higher surface color density than the colored paper, that is, the white paper. When the code image 40 is recorded on such paper 9, the non-printing area 42 that is not printed becomes the background color of the paper 9, so that it is not as compared with the case where the code image 40 is recorded on white paper. The color density of the print area 42 becomes high. Therefore, the contrast between the print area 41 and the non-print area 42 becomes small. If the contrast is reduced and the result deviates from the reference range defined by the one-dimensional code standard, a reading error will occur when the recorded code image 40 is read by the bar code reader.

Therefore, the control unit 8 detects the color density of the surface of the paper 9 by the media sensor 37, and when the detected color density is larger than the predetermined value, as shown in FIG. 4A, the second portion 44 The second concentration C2 of the above is set to a value higher than the first concentration C1 of the first portion 43 (C2> C1). The second density C2 is sufficiently higher than the color density of the paper 9.

FIG. 4B shows an output signal when the code image 40 is read by a barcode scanner (not shown) so as to pass through the first portion 43 of the print area 41. Further, FIG. 4C shows an output signal when the code image 40 is read by a bar code scanner (not shown) so as to pass through the second portion 44 of the print area 41. As shown in FIGS. 4 (b) and 4 (c), the contrast between the second portion 44 of the print area 41 and the non-print area 42 is higher than the contrast between the first portion 43 of the print area 41 and the non-print area 42. Is bigger. As shown in FIG. 4B, the contrast between the first portion 43 of the print area 41 and the non-print area 42 does not reach the reference value defined by the one-dimensional code standard. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4C, the contrast between the second portion 44 of the print area 41 and the non-print area 42 has reached the reference value. Therefore, the code image 40 can be read by reading the code image 40 so as to pass through the second portion 44.

Next, consider a case where the code image 40 is printed so that the arrangement direction coincides with the grain direction, which is the arrangement direction of the fibers of the paper 9. Here, the bleeding property of the ink adhering to the paper 9 is larger in the paper grain direction than in the direction orthogonal to the paper grain direction. Therefore, when the arrangement direction coincides with the grain direction, the width of the print area 41 becomes large due to bleeding, and the ratio of the widths of the print area 41 and the non-print area 42 is a reference defined by the one-dimensional code standard. It may be out of range. In addition, when the paper 9 is a paper which is particularly liable to bleed like a label paper, such a problem becomes remarkable.

That is, for example, as a standard of a one-dimensional code, as shown in FIG. 3A, two types of a narrow print area 41a and a wide print area 41b wider than the narrow print area 41a are defined in the print area 41. ing. Further, as for the non-printing area 42, two types, a narrow non-printing area 42a and a wide non-printing area 42b wider than the narrow non-printing area 42a, are defined. The width ratio between the narrow print area 41a and the wide print area 41b is equal to the width ratio between the narrow non-print area 42a and the wide non-print area 42b, and both are defined as 1: 2 to 1: 3. Suppose you are. If the width of the print area 41 becomes large due to bleeding, the print area 41 deviates from the above reference range, and there is a risk of a reading error when reading the recorded code image 40 with a barcode reader.

Therefore, when the code image 40 is printed so that the paper 9 is the label paper and the arrangement direction coincides with the paper grain direction of the paper 9, the control unit 8 is the second portion 44. 2 The concentration C2 is made lower than the first concentration C1 of the first portion 43 (C1> C2). At this time, the bleeding of the first portion 43 is larger than the bleeding of the second portion 44 recorded at the second concentration C2, which is lower than the first concentration C1, and as shown in FIG. 5A, the first portion 43 is wider than the second portion 44.

FIG. 5B shows an output signal A when the code image 40 is read by a bar code scanner (not shown) so as to pass through the first portion 43 of the print area 41 by a alternate long and short dash line. Further, the output signal B when the code image 40 is read by a bar code scanner (not shown) so as to pass through the second portion 44 of the print area 41 is shown by a solid line. As shown in FIG. 5B, the pulse width W1a corresponding to the print area 41 (first part 43) in the output signal A is the pulse width corresponding to the print area 41 (second part 44) in the output signal B. Wider than W1b. On the other hand, the width W2a of the output signal A is narrower than the width W2b of the output signal in the width between the two adjacent pulses in each of the output signals A and B, that is, the portion corresponding to the non-printing area 42.

In this way, when the code image 40 is read so as to pass through the first portion 43 having a relatively large bleeding, the width ratio between the print area 41 and the non-print area 42 is defined by the one-dimensional code standard. There is a risk of deviation from the standard range. The one-dimensional code means one data in combination of a plurality of print areas 41 and a plurality of non-print areas 42. Further, as described above, the ratio of the widths of the printed area 41 and the non-printed area 42 is defined. Therefore, when the width of the print area 41 is widened due to bleeding, it is extremely unlikely that it will be read (misread) as data having a meaning different from the originally meant data, and it must be read as the originally meant data. In most cases, a read error (unreadable) will occur.

On the other hand, when the code image 40 is read so as to pass through the second portion 44 having relatively small bleeding, the width ratio between the print area 41 and the non-print area 42 is defined by the one-dimensional code standard. It is unlikely to deviate from the standard range. Therefore, the code image 40 can be read by reading the code image 40 so as to pass through the second portion 44.

The control unit 8 determines whether or not the code image 40 is printed so that the arrangement direction coincides with the paper grain direction of the paper 9 according to the bleeding property of the ink on the paper 9 (paper grain direction) and the RAM 83. It is also determined based on the orientation of the code image 40 in the stored image and the orientation of the image printed on the paper 9.

Here, with reference to FIGS. 6A to 6C, an example of a method for determining whether or not the code image 40 is printed so that the arrangement direction coincides with the grain direction of the paper 9. explain. For example, it is assumed that the image 45 of the delivery slip as shown in FIG. 6A is stored in the RAM 83. The image 45 includes a code image 40 such that the left-right direction of FIG. 6A is the arrangement direction.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 (b) and 6 (c), in the present embodiment, the case where the width direction of the rectangular paper 9 is the grain direction is considered. In general, there are papers whose width direction is the grain direction and papers whose longitudinal direction is the grain direction, and which paper is widely distributed differs depending on the region (country). The control unit 8 stores a table in which the name of the country in which the printer 10 is used is compared with the grain direction of the paper that is widely distributed in that country. As a result, the control unit 8 can determine whether the width direction of the paper 9 is the paper grain direction or the longitudinal direction is the paper grain direction according to the name of the country of use set at the time of setup or the like.

As shown in FIG. 6B, when printing so that the vertical direction of the image shown in FIG. 6A coincides with the longitudinal direction of the paper 9, the control unit 8 arranges the paper 9 in the arrangement direction. It is determined that the code image 40 is printed so that the orientation matches the direction of the eyes. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6C, when printing so that the vertical direction of the image shown in FIG. 6A coincides with the width direction of the paper 9, the control unit 8 arranges the paper 9 in the arrangement direction. It is not determined that the code image 40 is printed so that the orientation coincides with the paper grain direction of.

The control unit 8 determines whether or not the paper 9 is a label paper based on the information input by the user. Further, the printer 10 is provided with a dedicated paper feed tray for accommodating the label paper, and when the paper is fed from the label paper dedicated tray, it may be determined that the paper 9 is the label paper.

As described above, the printer 10 of the above-described embodiment includes a recording head 63 that records an image on the paper 9 based on the image data stored in the RAM 83, and a control unit 8. When the RAM 83 stores the image 45 including the code image 40 including the plurality of print areas 41 and the plurality of non-print areas 42 as image data, the control unit 8 displays the image 45 in each print area 41 of the code image 40. The recording head 63 is controlled so that the first portion 43 recorded at the first concentration C1 and the second portion 44 recorded at the second concentration C2 different from the first concentration C1 are formed. Therefore, the first portion 43 and the second portion 44 having different densities are recorded in each print area 41 of the code image 40. Therefore, even if one of the first portion 43 and the second portion 44 deviates from the reference range defined by the code standard, it is unlikely that the other portion also deviates from the reference range. Therefore, the code image 40 Read error is less likely to occur. Therefore, the code image 40 with high reading accuracy can be printed without printing the adjustment pattern.

Further, in the printer 10 of the above-described embodiment, the control unit 8 determines the first density C1 based on the image data stored in the RAM 83, and determines the second density C2 based on the image data stored in the RAM 83 and the paper 9. Determined based on parameters that represent the physical properties of the surface. Therefore, the reading accuracy can be further improved by determining the second density C2 in consideration of the physical properties of the surface of the paper 9.

Further, in the printer 10 of the above-described embodiment, when the color density of the surface of the paper 9, which is a parameter representing the physical properties of the surface of the paper 9, is larger than a predetermined value, the control unit 8 is the second portion 44. The second concentration C2 of the above is set to a value higher than the first concentration C1 of the first portion 43. When the code image 40 is recorded on the paper 9 having a color density higher than the predetermined value, the print area 41 and the non-print area 42 are compared with the case where the code image 40 is recorded on the paper 9 having the color density equal to or less than the predetermined value. The contrast with is reduced. Therefore, in such a case, by making the second density C2 of the second portion 44 in the print area 41 of the code image 40 lower than the first density C1 of the first portion 43, the second portion 44 with respect to the paper 9 The contrast can be increased. Therefore, the reading accuracy of the code image 40 can be further improved.

In addition, the printer 10 of the above-described embodiment further includes a media sensor 37 that detects the color density of the surface of the paper 9. Therefore, the media sensor 37 facilitates the detection of the color density on the surface of the paper 9.

Further, in the printer 10 of the above-described embodiment, the recording head 63 attaches ink to the paper 9 and records an image. Further, the code image 40 is a one-dimensional code image in which a plurality of print areas 41 separated from each other via a non-print area 42 are arranged in a predetermined direction (arrangement direction). The control unit 8 is such that the first portion 43 and the second portion 44 are formed at different positions in each print area 41 with respect to the direction orthogonal to the arrangement direction, and the arrangement direction is the paper grain direction of the paper 9. When the code image 40 is printed so as to have the same orientation, the second density C2 of the second portion 44 is made lower than the first density C1 of the first portion 43. The bleeding property of ink, which is a parameter representing the physical properties of the surface of the paper 9, is larger in the grain direction than in the direction orthogonal to the grain direction. Therefore, when the one-dimensional code image 40 is recorded on the bleeding paper 9, when the arrangement direction of the plurality of print areas 41 coincides with the ink bleeding direction, the width of the print area 41 becomes wide due to the bleeding. In such a case, by lowering the second density C2 of the second portion 44 in the print area 41 of the one-dimensional code image 40 to be lower than the first density C1 of the first portion 43, the ink bleeds in the second portion 44. Can be suppressed. Therefore, the reading accuracy of the code image 40 can be further improved.

Further, in the printer 10 of the above-described embodiment, the control unit 8 determines whether or not the code image 40 is printed so that the arrangement direction coincides with the paper grain direction, according to the bleeding property of the ink on the paper 9. It is determined based on the paper grain direction), the orientation of the code image 40 in the image stored in the RAM 83, and the orientation of the image printed on the paper 9. Therefore, it can be easily determined whether or not the arrangement direction is the direction in which the ink easily bleeds.

Further, in the printer 10 of the above-described embodiment, the control unit 8 lowers the second density C2 of the second portion 44 to be lower than the first density C1 of the first portion 43 when the paper 9 is the label paper. Since the label paper is a paper that is relatively easy to bleed, the reading accuracy of the code image 40 can be effectively improved.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, it should be considered that the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments. The scope of the present invention is shown by the scope of claims rather than the description of the above-described embodiment, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims.

In the above-described embodiment, the control unit 8 provided in the printer 10 has a first portion 43 recorded at the first density C1 in each print area 41 of the code image 40, and a second portion 43 different from the first density C1. Although the case where the recording head 63 is controlled so that the second portion 44 recorded at the concentration C2 is formed, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, for example, a printer driver 24b (see FIG. 1) installed in the HDD 24 of the PC 20 connected to the printer 10 causes the PC 20 to store image data in the RAM 83, a plurality of print areas 41, and a plurality of non-prints. In the determination process of determining whether or not an image including the code image 40 including the region 42 is formed on the paper 9 based on the image data stored in the RAM 83, and in the determination process, the image including the code image 40 When it is determined that the data is formed on the paper 9, the first portion 43 recorded at the first density C1 and the second density C2 different from the first density C1 are recorded in each print area 41 of the code image 40. A control process for controlling the recording head 63 may be executed so that the second portion 44 is formed.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where two portions having different densities are formed in each print area 41 of the code image 40 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, for example, three or more portions having different densities may be formed in each print area 41 of the code image 40.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the length of the first portion 43 and the length of the second portion 44 in the longitudinal direction of the print area 41 are substantially the same has been described, but the first portion 43 and the second portion 44 have been described. The length of may be different.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the density obtained from the image content of the portion corresponding to the print area 41 in the image data stored in the RAM 83 is set to the first density C1 of the first portion 43 has been described. , Not limited to this. That is, for example, the concentration of the first portion 43 may be a predetermined concentration set by the user.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the second density C2 of the second portion 44 is determined based on the image data stored in the RAM 83 and the parameters representing the physical properties of the surface of the paper 9 has been described. However, it is not limited to this. The second concentration C2 may be a concentration different from the first concentration C1.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the color density on the surface of the paper 9 is larger than a predetermined value, the second density C2 of the second portion 44 is set to a value higher than the first density C1 of the first portion 43. However, the case is not limited to this. That is, when the color density on the surface of the paper 9 is higher than the predetermined value, the second density C2 of the second portion 44 may be set to a value lower than the first density C1 of the first portion 43.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the color density of the paper 9 is detected by the media sensor 37 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, for example, the user may input a numerical value of the color density of the paper 9. Further, the control unit 8 stores a table in which the model number of the paper 9 and the color density are compared with each other, and the color density of the paper 9 may be determined based on the model number input by the user.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, when the code image 40 is printed so that the arrangement direction coincides with the grain direction of the paper 9, the second density C2 of the second portion 44 is used as the first portion. Although the case where the concentration is lower than the first concentration C1 of 43 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, when the code image 40 is printed so that the arrangement direction coincides with the grain direction of the paper 9, the second density C2 of the second portion 44 is higher than the first density C1 of the first portion 43. It may be increased.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the control unit 8 stores a table in which the name of the country of use of the printer 10 is compared with the grain direction of the paper widely distributed in that country, and the table is stored according to the set name of the country of use. The case where the paper grain direction of the paper 9 is determined has been described above, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the user may input whether the grain direction of the paper 9 is the width direction or the longitudinal direction. Further, the control unit 8 stores a table in which the model number of the paper 9 and the paper grain direction are compared, and the paper grain direction of the paper 9 may be determined based on the model number input by the user.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, when the paper 9 is a label paper, the case where the second density C2 of the second portion 44 is lower than the first density C1 of the first portion 43 has been described. Is not limited. That is, when the code image 40 is printed so that the arrangement direction coincides with the grain direction regardless of the type of the paper 9, the second density C2 of the second portion 44 is set to the second density C2 of the first portion 43. It may be made lower than 1 concentration C1.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the inkjet printer 10 that ejects ink from the recording head 63 that reciprocates in the main scanning direction to form an image has been described. Not limited. The present invention can also be applied to a printer having a fixed long line type recording head and a laser type printer using toner.

8 Control unit 10 Printer (printing device)
20 PC (electronic device)
37 Media sensor 63 Recording head (recording unit)
83 RAM (storage unit)

Claims (9)

Memory and
A recording unit that records an image on a recording medium based on the image data stored by the storage unit.
It has a control unit and
When the storage unit stores an image including a code image including a plurality of print areas and a plurality of non-print areas as image data, the control unit stores the first density in each print area of the code image. A printing apparatus characterized in that the recording unit is controlled so that a first portion recorded in 1 and a second portion recorded at a second density different from the first density are formed. The control unit determines the first density based on the image data stored in the storage unit, and the second density represents the physical properties of the image data stored in the storage unit and the surface of the recording medium. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus is determined based on parameters. When the color density on the surface of the recording medium, which is a parameter representing the physical properties of the surface of the recording medium, is larger than a predetermined value, the control unit sets the second density to a value higher than the first density. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the printing apparatus is characterized by the above. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a media sensor for detecting the color density on the surface of the recording medium. The recording unit is a recording head that records an image by attaching a coloring material to a recording medium.
The code image is a one-dimensional code image in which a plurality of print areas separated from each other via a non-print area are arranged in a predetermined direction.
The control unit is a parameter that causes the first portion and the second portion to be formed at different positions in each print area with respect to a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction, and represents the physical properties of the surface of the recording medium. The code image is printed on a recording medium in which the bleeding property of the coloring material is larger in the second direction orthogonal to the first direction than in the first direction so that the predetermined direction coincides with the second direction. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second density is made lower than the first density. The control unit determines whether or not the code image is printed so that the predetermined direction coincides with the second direction in the bleeding property of the color material in the recording medium and in the image stored by the storage unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the printing apparatus is determined based on the orientation of the code image in the above and the orientation of the image printed on the recording medium. The printing apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the control unit makes the second density lower than the first density when the recording medium is label paper. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the recording unit is a recording head that ejects ink to a recording medium and records an image. A program used in electronic devices that control printing equipment.
The printing device is
Memory and
A recording unit that records an image on a recording medium based on the image data stored by the storage unit is provided.
The program is applied to the electronic device.
A storage process for storing image data in the storage unit,
Judgment processing for determining whether or not an image including a code image composed of a plurality of print areas and a plurality of non-print areas is formed on a recording medium based on image data stored in the storage unit.
When it is determined in the determination process that an image including the code image is formed on the recording medium, the first portion recorded at the first density and the first density are added to each print area of the code image. Is a program characterized in that a control process for controlling the recording unit is executed so that a second portion recorded at a different second density is formed.