JPH08155397A - Postal matter classifying device and bar code printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To avoid subjecting postal matter previously printed with bar codes to forming and printing of useless bar codes by detecting whether the bar codes are imparted on the postal matter or not and subjecting only the postal matter detected to be not formed with the bar codes to printing with the bar codes. CONSTITUTION: Illumination light is cast to the surface of the postal matter 100 and the reflected thereof is subjected to image pickup by a line sensor, by which the image data on the surface of the postal matter 100 is collected. This image data is sent to a bar code presence/absence detecting section 103. Whether the surface of the postal matter 100 is printed or not is then detected and a bar code presence/absence signal 106 is transmitted to a character reading section 104 and a sorting section 105. An address is read from the image data and a bar code signal 107 is formed only in the case of the bar code presence/ absence signal 106 is the absence of the bar codes. This signal is sent to a bar code printer section 110 which in turn prints the postal matter with the bar codes. As a result, the overlap printing of the postal matter 100 with the bar codes is averted.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mail sorting device and a bar code printing device, and more particularly to a mail sorting device for sorting a mail using a bar code and a bar code printed on the mail. The present invention relates to a barcode printing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A mail sorting device for sorting mail by using a bar code is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 124698/50. In this conventional mail sorting device, a 10-digit number (postal code) written in a red frame printed on a mail is read by a dispatching station, a bar code is generated therefrom, and the bar code is mailed. It is printed on the object and then the bar code is read, and it is classified according to the delivery station according to the first three digits of the obtained ten-digit number. On the other hand, at the delivery office, the bar code of the mail is read, and the obtained 10-digit number is sorted according to the delivery destination according to the number of the last 7 digits.

A bar code printing device for printing a bar code on a mail piece is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 50589/1993. In this conventional barcode printing apparatus, barcodes are printed on a single line.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned conventional mail sorting apparatus, ordinary mail (mail without a bar code) and mail with a bar code printed in advance are mixed. At this time, there is a problem that the bar code is generated and printed even for the postal matter on which the bar code is printed in advance.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional bar code printing apparatus, since the bar code is printed in a single line, if the blank area of the mail is small, the bar code may be printed overlapping the address or advertisement area. There is.

[0006] Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to provide a mail item sorting device which does not uselessly generate or print a bar code for a mail item having a bar code printed in advance.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a bar code printing apparatus capable of printing a bar code without overlapping the written characters even if the blank area of the mail is small. is there.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect, the present invention provides a bar code printing means for printing a bar code on the surface of a mail piece, a bar code reading means for reading a printed bar code, and a bar. In a mail sorting device equipped with sorting means for sorting mail according to the reading result of the code, a barcode presence / absence detecting means for detecting whether or not a barcode is attached to the mail, and a barcode are provided. There is provided a mail sorting device comprising bar code printing control means for causing the bar code printing means to print a bar code only for a mail piece detected as not present.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the mail sorting device having the above structure, the bar code presence / absence detecting means extracts a character line from an image of the mail, and the length and frequency of runs in each character line. There is provided a mail sorting device characterized in that a bar code line is identified based on the pattern.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the mail sorting device having the above structure, an address reading means for reading an address written on a mail and a bar code generating means for generating a bar code from the read address. And a bar code generation control means for reading an address and generating a bar code only for a postal item detected as not having a bar code attached. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in a bar code printing apparatus for printing a bar code on the surface of a mail, a blank area detecting means for detecting a blank area on the surface of the mail, and the detected blank area. Blank area size detecting means for detecting the size of the blank area, bar code line number determining means for determining the number of lines for printing a barcode based on the size of the blank area, and a bar code pattern for the determined number of lines. And a print execution unit that prints in the blank area.

[0012]

In the mail sorting device according to the first aspect, it is detected whether or not a bar code is attached to the mail, and the bar code is printed only for the mail detected if the bar code is not attached. Do not print the bar code on the postal items detected as having the bar code.
For this reason, it becomes possible to avoid the duplicate printing of the bar code on the postal matter on which the bar code is printed in advance.

In the mail sorting device according to the second aspect, the bar code presence / absence detecting means extracts character lines from the image of the mail, and based on the pattern of run length and frequency in each character line, the bar code is detected. Identify lines of code. Since the length and frequency patterns of runs are different between the character line with the postal code, address, and name, and the bar code line with the bar code, this makes it possible to detect the presence or absence of the bar code. .

In the mail sorting device according to the third aspect, only for the mail detected to have no bar code attached, the address written on the mail is read to generate the bar code, and the bar code is generated. Addresses are not read and bar codes are not generated for postal items that are detected as having a code. Therefore, it is possible to avoid useless generation of a bar code for a mail item on which a bar code is printed in advance.

In the bar code printer according to the fourth aspect, the blank area on the surface of the mail is detected, and the number of lines for printing the bar code is determined based on the size of the blank area.
A barcode pattern of the number of lines is generated and printed in the blank area. Therefore, even if the blank area of the postal matter is small, the bar code can be printed without overlapping the written characters.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The present invention is not limited to this.

First Embodiment In the mail sorting apparatus 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the mail 100 is carried in by a conveying path 101. The image scanning unit 102 includes an illumination optical system and an imaging optical system,
Illumination light is applied to the surface of the postal matter 100, the reflected light is imaged by a line sensor, and image data of the surface of the postal matter 100 is collected. The image data is the barcode presence / absence detection unit 1.
Sent to 03.

The bar code presence / absence detection unit 103 detects whether or not the bar code is printed on the front surface of the postal matter 100 based on the image data by utilizing the image characteristic of the bar code, and detects the bar code presence / absence signal. 106 is sent to the character reading unit 104 and the selection unit 105.

When the bar code presence / absence signal 106 is "present", the character reading section 104 does nothing. On the other hand, when the bar code presence / absence signal 106 is "absent", an address (a postal code or Address, etc.) to generate a bar code signal 107, and the bar code printer unit 110
Send to The selection unit 105 uses the barcode presence / absence signal 10
When 6 is “present”, the delivery destination of the postal matter 100 is the delivery path 10
8. On the other hand, the barcode presence / absence signal 106 is “none”.
In the case of, the transport destination of the postal matter 100 is the transport path 109.

The postal matter 100 conveyed to the conveying path 108
In the barcode printer unit 110, a barcode is printed on the front surface based on the barcode signal 107 and is sent to the hopper unit 111. On the other hand, the postal matter 100 conveyed to the conveyance path 109 has the barcode printer unit 11
It is sent to the hopper unit 111 without passing through 0.

In the hopper section 111, the postal matter 100 sent from the conveying path 108 or the conveying path 109 is stored to some extent, and the bar code reader section 1 is set at a predetermined timing.
Send to 12. The barcode reader unit 112 reads the barcode attached to or printed on the postal matter 100,
The reading result is notified to the sorting stacker unit 113. The sorting stacker unit 113 controls sorting of the postal matter 100 according to the barcode reading result, and
4. Send the postal matter 100 to any one of the items.

In the mail sorting device 1 of the first embodiment,
For the postal matter 100 to which the barcode is originally given, the character reading (104) is also performed by the barcode printing (11).
Since 0) is not performed, the processing time can be shortened. Also, duplicate printing of barcodes can be avoided.

-Second Embodiment- In the mail sorting device 2 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the mail 200 is carried in by a conveying path 201. The image scanning unit 202 includes an illumination optical system and an imaging optical system,
Illumination light is applied to the surface of the postal matter 200, the reflected light is imaged by a line sensor, and image data of the surface of the postal matter 200 is collected. The image data is the barcode presence / absence detection unit 2
Sent to 03. The bar code presence / absence detection unit 203 detects whether or not the bar code is attached to the surface of the postal matter 200 from the image data by utilizing the image characteristic of the bar code, and reads the bar code presence / absence signal as a character. It is sent to the section 204.

When the bar code presence / absence signal is "present", the character reading section 204 generates a bar code signal 205 having a content of "null", and the bar code printer section 21.
Send to 0. On the other hand, when the bar code presence / absence signal is “absent”, the address (postal code, address, etc.) is read from the image data, and the bar code signal 205 including the address information in the content is read.
Is generated and sent to the barcode printer unit 210. The bar code printer unit 210 does not print the bar code if the content of the bar code signal 205 is “null”, and prints the bar code on the postal matter 200 if the content of the bar code signal 205 is not “null”.

The bar code reader section 212 is used for the postal matter 20.
The barcode attached or printed to 0 is read, and the reading result is notified to the sorting stacker unit 213. The sorting stacker unit 213 controls the sorting of the postal matter 200 according to the barcode reading result, and sends the postal matter 200 to any of the stackers 214.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of processing in the mail sorting device 2. In step 300, the surface image of the postal matter 200 is scanned and image data is collected. Step 30
At 1, the presence or absence of a barcode is detected from the image data.
This processing will be described later with reference to FIG. In step 302, if the barcode is “none”, step 30
Go to step 6, and if the barcode is "Yes", go to step 303.
Proceed to.

At step 303, the bar code is read from the postal matter 200. This barcode reading process will be described later with reference to FIG. In step 304,
The classification of the postal matter 200 is determined according to the reading result of the barcode. In step 305, the postal matter 200 is stored in the stacker 214 according to the determined classification. Then, the process ends.

At step 306, the postal code is recognized from the image data. At step 307, the address is recognized from the image data. This address recognition processing will be described later with reference to FIG. In step 308, a user code is generated from the recognized address. In step 309, the user code is converted into a bar code. In step 310, the barcode is printed. Then, in step 30
Go to 3.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a mail item. The postal matter 420 in FIG. 4A is a postal matter to which a bar code is not attached. 421 is a postal code line, 425 is an address line, and 426 is a name line. Character lines 421, 425, 4
The direction of 26 is parallel to the transport direction 427. Such a row is called a horizontal row. Image data processing area 423
Is set by the position of the stamp 424 or the position of the edge of the mail. The postal matter 400 in FIG. 4B is a postal matter to which a barcode is attached. 401 is a postal code line, 405 is an address line, and 406 is a name line. Reference numeral 402 is a bar code line. Character lines 401, 405, 406
The direction of is parallel to the transport direction 407. Such a row is called a horizontal row. The image data processing area 403 is set according to the position of the stamp 404 and the position of the edge of the mail. A postal matter 410 in FIG. 4C is a postal matter to which a barcode is attached. 411 is a postal code line, 41
5, 416 is an address line and 417 is a name line. Reference numeral 412 is a bar code line. Character lines 411, 415, 41
The directions of 6, 417 are orthogonal to the transport direction 418.
Such lines are called vertical lines. The image data processing area 413 is set by the position of the stamp 414 or the position of the edge of the mail.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of the bar code presence / absence detection process shown in step 301 of FIG. Step 500
Then, the processing area of the image data is set by the position of the stamp or the position of the edge of the mail. In step 502, a horizontal line extraction process for extracting horizontal lines (character lines parallel to the transport direction) is performed. Here, a digital image represented by black and white binary pixels is converted into a run, which is a block of black pixels along the transport direction, and based on the run, a portion having a feature of a block as a row is determined. Extract. If the horizontal row can be extracted, the process proceeds to step 503. If the horizontal row cannot be extracted, the process proceeds to step 504. FIG. 6 shows the step 502.
5 is a flowchart of the horizontal row extraction processing of FIG. In step 600, a short white space parallel to the transport direction is replaced with a black run. In step 601, a connected component is extracted, and its circumscribed rectangle is taken out as a horizontal row. As shown in FIG. 13A, a plurality of horizontal rows 1301, 1302, 1303, 1304 are extracted for the mail 400.

Returning to FIG. 5, in step 503, a horizontal bar code row is identified from the plurality of extracted horizontal row. Then, the process proceeds to step 507. FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the horizontal bar code line identification processing in step 503. In step 700, a feature for identifying a horizontal barcode line (for example, a distribution of black runs parallel to the transport direction) is extracted. In step 701, a horizontal bar code line is determined based on the extracted features. FIG. 8 illustrates the distribution of black runs parallel to the transport direction in the horizontal row. FIG. 8A shows a distribution pattern of black runs in the horizontal barcode row. The horizontal axis 800 indicates the length of the black run. The vertical axis 801 shows the frequency (number) of runs in the horizontal row. A peak 803 appears at the length 802 of the black run corresponding to the width of the bar. Horizontal axis 800, 81
2 indicates the length of the black run. Also, the vertical axis 801,
811 indicates the frequency (number) of runs in the horizontal row. FIG. 8B is a black run distribution pattern in a character line that is not a horizontal bar code line. The horizontal axis 812 is
The length of the black run is shown. The vertical axis 811 represents the frequency (number) of runs in the horizontal row. Character stroke width 813 and character stroke length 814
Peaks 815 and 816 appear at.

Returning to FIG. 5, in step 504, the vertical and horizontal directions of the image are exchanged. In step 505, a vertical line extraction process for extracting vertical lines (character lines orthogonal to the transport direction) is performed (in practice, the same process as step 502 is performed because the vertical and horizontal exchanges have been performed in step 504). . If the vertical line can be extracted, the process proceeds to step 506. If the vertical line cannot be extracted, the process proceeds to step 507. As shown in FIG. 13B, for the postal matter 410, a plurality of vertical rows 1311, 1312, 1313.
1314 and 1315 are extracted. Returning to FIG. 5, in step 506, the vertical bar code line is identified (the same processing as step 503 is actually performed because the vertical and horizontal exchanges have been performed in step 504). Then, the process proceeds to step 507.

In step 507, it is checked whether the horizontal bar code line or the vertical bar code line has been identified. If it can be identified, it is determined that the barcode line is “present”, and the process proceeds to step 508. If it cannot be identified, it is determined that the barcode line is "absent", and the process ends. In step 508, the inclination, height, and position coordinates of the barcode line are detected.
Then, the process ends.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of the bar code reading process shown in step 303. It should be noted that, although this flowchart is a horizontal bar code reading process, the vertical bar code reading process is also the same. Further, the bar code to be read is assumed to be a 4-state bar code shown in FIG. 4, but the same applies to bar codes of other systems (2-state system, Vernon bar system, etc.). In step 900, a connected component (a connected set of black pixels) in the horizontal bar code row is extracted. In step 901, the vertex coordinates of the circumscribed rectangle of the connected component are detected. In step 902, the circumscribing rectangles arranged in the vertical direction are fused to correct the blurring of the bar. Figure 10
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a process of merging circumscribed rectangles in step 902. Circumscribed rectangle 1000,1001,1
When there is 002, the circumscribing rectangle 1000 is directly adopted as the bar 1010, but the circumscribing rectangle 1 arranged in the vertical direction
001 and 1002 are united into one bar 1011. As a result, the blur of the bar can be corrected.

Returning to FIG. 9, in step 903, the arrangement order of the bars is determined. Here, a number is sequentially assigned to a plurality of bars arranged in the horizontal direction. In step 904, the type of bar is determined. Here, the length of each bar,
The data such as the position in the bar code line, the upper and lower positions, the inclination of the bar arrangement, and the like are acquired, and the bar type is determined based on the data. FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the arrangement and types of bars in a 4-state barcode. Each bar 1100 to 1106 is numbered 1112 from "1" to "7" in the order of arrangement. Each bar 1100-11
There are three types of length 06: long, medium, and short. The position within the bar code line is determined by the number 1112. The upper end position and the lower end position are different for each bar 1100 to 1106. The inclination of the bar arrangement is determined by the inclinations of the broken lines 1110 and 1111. Therefore, there are four types of bars: long, upper semi-long, lower semi-long, and timing.

Returning to FIG. 9, in step 905, the bar arrangement pattern is converted into a code based on the bar arrangement and type. At step 906, the correctness of the code is verified. If it is valid, the barcode reading ends normally. If it is not legitimate, it will be rejected as unclassifiable mail.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the address recognition processing in step 307. The address area detection unit 1202 detects an address area (area of address line or name line) from the image data 1200. Next, the character line detection unit 1203 detects a character line in the area such as the address. Next, the address-and-name-line identifying unit 1204 identifies the address and name lines from the character lines by using the arrangement data and the length data of the address and name lines. By identifying the lines such as the address, the recognition target can be limited and the processing time can be shortened. Next, the character detection unit 1210 cuts out a character from the address line. Next, the individual character recognition unit 1211 recognizes the cut-out character. Here, the individual character recognition unit 1211 includes a print Chinese character recognition unit 1212, a handwritten Chinese character recognition unit 1213, a print katakana recognition unit 1211, a printed number recognition unit 1215, and a handwritten number recognition unit 1216, and each recognition unit 1212. Character recognition is performed by operating 1216 alone or in cooperation. The result of character recognition is collected line by line and sent to the knowledge processing unit 1205.

Word matching unit 1209 of knowledge processing unit 1205
In, the result of character recognition is collated with the word registered in the word dictionary. Next, in the place name collation unit 1207, the place name candidates are extracted using the collation result. At this time, the postal code 12 recognized in step 306 of FIG.
01 can be used to limit place name candidates.
In addition, the block processing unit 1208 detects the numbers of the chome and the address by using the character type. Next, the address detector 1
At 206, the destination is recognized from the place name candidates by using the hierarchical relation of place names. At this time, the postal code 1201 recognized in step 306 of FIG. 3 can be used to limit the address candidates. Finally, the knowledge processing unit 12
The address recognition result 1217 is output from 05.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart of the operation of the barcode printer section 210. In step 1600, the image on the surface of the mail is input by the camera provided in the barcode printer unit 210. In step 1601, the bar code signal 205 is input. In step 1602, a processing area for image data is set. This is set based on the position of the stamp and the edge position of the mail. Step 1603
Then, the character line and the advertisement area in the processing area are extracted. In step 1604, a blank area is extracted based on the extracted character line, advertisement area, and the processing area. Step 1605
Now, the size of the blank area is detected. In step 1606, the dimension when the barcode is generated as a single line is calculated. In step 1607, the size when the bar code is generated is divided into a plurality of lines to be calculated. Step 160
In step 8, the number of barcode lines is determined by comparing the size of the blank area, the size of the barcode of a single line, and the size of the barcode divided into a plurality of lines. In step 1609, the barcode pattern of the determined number of lines is generated and printed in the blank area.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of the barcode printing on the blank area of the mail. FIG. 15A shows a postal matter 1400 before the barcode is printed. The processing area 1401 is set based on the position of the stamp 1406 and the edge position of the mail. Then, from the processing area 1401, the character line 140
2,1403,1404 are extracted. Next, blank area 1
405 is extracted. Next, if the size of the blank area 1405 is larger than the size of the single line barcode, the single line barcode is printed. The blank area 141 is shown in FIG.
Mail 14 with single-line barcode 1417 printed on 5
10 is shown.

FIG. 16 is another illustration of bar code printing on a blank area of a mail piece. FIG. 16A shows a postal matter 1500 before the barcode is printed. Stamp 150
Processing area 1501 based on position 6 and edge position of mail
Set. Then, from the processing area 1501, the character line 1
502, 1503, 1504, 1505 are extracted. Next, the blank area 1507 is extracted. Next, the blank area 15
The size of 07 is smaller than the size of a single line barcode, and 2
If it is larger than the line barcode size, then print two line barcodes. FIG. 16B shows a postal matter 1510 in which two lines of barcodes 1518 and 1519 are printed in a blank area 1517.

In the mail sorting device 2 of the second embodiment,
For the postal matter 200 to which the barcode is originally given, the character reading (204) is also performed by the barcode printing (11).
Since 0) is not performed, the processing time can be shortened. Also,
Overprinting of barcodes can be avoided. Further, the selection unit 105 and the two conveyance paths 108 and 109 of the first embodiment are not required, and the configuration is simplified. Further, since the bar code is printed by deciding the number of lines so as to avoid the character line, the bar code can be accurately read without being printed by overlapping the bar code on the character line.

-Other Embodiments-In the above embodiment, the bar code printer units 110 and 210 are used.
It is assumed that a camera is provided in the image operating unit 10.
Image data from 2,202 is barcode printer unit 11
It may be sent to 0, 210.

Further, in the above embodiment, the bar code readers 112 and 212 read the bar codes of the postal matter 200 to which the bar codes are originally given. Image data of the barcode line from the barcode reader unit 112, 212
You may send it to.

[0045]

According to the mail sorting apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to avoid the duplicate printing of the bar code on the mail on which the bar code is printed in advance. For this reason, it is possible to omit the manual work for separating the normal mail without the barcode and the mail with the barcode printed in advance. Further, according to the mail sorting device of the present invention, it is possible to preferably detect the presence or absence of a barcode based on the pattern of run length and frequency. Further, according to the mail sorting device of the present invention, it is possible to avoid unnecessary generation of a bar code for a mail having a bar code printed in advance. Therefore, the processing can be speeded up.

According to the bar code printing apparatus of the present invention, even if the blank area of the mail is small, the bar code can be printed without overlapping the written characters. Therefore,
You will be able to read barcodes reliably.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mail sorting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a mail sorting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of processing of a mail sorting device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view of a surface of a mail piece.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a barcode presence / absence detection process.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of horizontal row extraction processing.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a horizontal barcode row identification process.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a black run distribution pattern.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a barcode reading process.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of fusion of circumscribed rectangles.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of arrangement and types of bars.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an address recognition process.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a row extraction result.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a barcode printing process.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of printing a single-line barcode on a large blank area.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of printing a two-line barcode on a small blank area.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 ... Mail sorting device 102, 202 ... Image scanning unit 103, 203 ... Bar code presence / absence detection unit 104, 204 ... Character reading unit 105 ... Sorting unit 107, 205 ... Bar code signal 110, 210 ... Bar code printer unit 112, 212 ... Bar code reader section 213 ... Sorting stacker section 1405, 1415, 1057, 1517 ... Blank area

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Hiro Hiroshi Shinjo 1-280 Higashi Koikeku, Kokubunji, Tokyo Metropolitan Research Center, Hitachi Ltd. (72) Kazuki Nakajima 1-280 Higashi Koikeku, Kokubunji, Tokyo Hitachi Ltd. Central Research Laboratory (72) Inventor Hisao Ogata 1-280 Higashi Koigokubo, Kokubunji, Tokyo Metropolitan Research Center, Hitachi, Ltd.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A bar code printing means for printing a bar code on the surface of a mail piece, a bar code reading means for reading the printed bar code, and a separating means for separating the mail piece according to the result of reading the bar code. In the provided mail sorting device, a bar code presence / absence detecting means for detecting whether or not a bar code is attached to the mail, and the bar code only for the mail detected if the bar code is not attached. A bar code printing control means for printing a bar code by a printing means, a mail sorting device. 2. The mail item sorting device according to claim 1, wherein the bar code presence / absence detecting unit extracts a character line from an image of the mail item and based on a pattern of run length and frequency in each character line. A mail sorting device characterized by identifying a bar code line. 3. The mail sorting device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: address reading means for reading an address written on the mail; and bar code generating means for generating a bar code from the read address. A mail sorting device further comprising bar code generation control means for reading an address and generating a bar code only for a mail detected to have no bar code attached. 4. A bar code printing device for printing a bar code on the surface of a mail piece, a blank area detecting means for detecting a blank area on the surface of a mail piece, and a blank area size for detecting a size of the detected blank area. A detecting means; and a barcode line number determining means for determining the number of lines for printing a barcode based on the size of the blank area,
A barcode printing apparatus, comprising: a print execution unit that creates a barcode pattern of a determined number of lines and prints the barcode pattern in the blank area.