JP2009083365A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which prints bar codes in a constantly reading-accuracy enhancing direction, without a user's preliminary knowledge, on printing bar codes and a control method of the image forming device. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming device is provided with a discrimination means for discriminating whether printing data contains coding information including thin lines arranged in a predetermined direction or not and an image processing means for processing printing image data. When the discrimination means discriminates the coding information to be included, and the direction of the coding image corresponding to the coding information in the printing image data to be generated based on the printing data does not match the predetermined direction established beforehand in the paper feeding direction of a printer which prints printing image data, the image processing means processes printing image data so that the direction of a coding image matches the predetermined direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

  In a conventional printing apparatus, there is a slight difference depending on whether the width of one dot line is horizontal or vertical with respect to the developing direction due to characteristics unique to the apparatus such as a laser beam diameter.

  For this reason, in printing such as EAN 128 barcodes, which require very fine line width and high precision printing, even with the same barcode pattern, a barcode reader can be used depending on the orientation of the bar with respect to the developing direction of the printing apparatus. Difference in reading accuracy.

  Accordingly, the user of the printing apparatus has to change the sheet setting direction in advance for each form to be printed in order to print the barcode in a direction in which the reading accuracy is increased.

  Also, depending on the printing device, there are black and white bar widths that become thicker and thinner as the number of printed sheets increases, and the black and white bar width varies depending on the surrounding environment such as temperature and humidity. There was a problem that would occur.

  In addition, depending on the model, due to variations in the beam diameter of the laser beam and variations in the speed of paper conveyance, the thickness of the black and white bar differs depending on the model in the direction perpendicular to and parallel to the development direction. was there.

  In order to solve these problems, for example, Patent Document 1 always reproduces the black and white bar widths of a stable line width regardless of the aging of the printing apparatus, environmental fluctuations, and the barcode direction. Have been proposed for printing a program, a control device for the printing apparatus, and a printing apparatus.

In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, barcode print data is created based on image data including barcode information, and then a black bar and a white bar (also referred to as “white space”) of the barcode for the print data. Correct the number of dots of one module width as the number of printed sheets increases, or correct the number of dots of one module width according to the ambient temperature and humidity of the printer, or the barcode bar of the print data After performing a correction process that varies the number of black bar dots and white bar dots depending on whether the direction matches the development direction during printing, a barcode is printed on the recording paper with the corrected print data. A configuration for printing is disclosed.
JP 2006-293916 A

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that always prints a barcode in a direction in which the reading accuracy is high, even when the user does not have prior knowledge when printing the barcode.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a determination unit that determines whether or not code data including thin lines arranged in a predetermined direction is included in print data, and the determination unit. It is determined that the code information is included, and the direction of the code image corresponding to the code information in the print image data generated based on the print data is relative to the paper feed direction of the printing apparatus that prints the print image data. And an image processing means for processing the print image data so that the direction of the code image matches the predetermined direction when the predetermined direction does not match the predetermined direction.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the image processing means includes a first direction in which a direction of the code image coincides with the paper feed direction and a direction of the code image orthogonal to the paper feed direction. Storage means for storing one of the second directions to be performed, specifying means for specifying the direction of the code image based on the code information, the direction of the code image, and the direction stored in the storage means If they do not match, the image processing apparatus includes rotation processing means for rotating the print image data so that the direction of the code image matches the predetermined direction.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the specifying means corresponds to the code corresponding to a combination of a direction of the code image and a direction of a sheet on which an image corresponding to the print image data is formed. The direction of the code image is specified based on the determination result of whether the image direction is the first direction or the second direction, and the rotation processing unit stores the first direction in the storage unit. Is stored, and the direction specified by the specifying means is the second direction, the print image data is rotated so that the direction of the code image becomes the first direction, and the storage means Is stored in the second direction, and the direction specified by the specifying means is the first direction, the print image data is rotated so that the direction of the code image is the second direction. Process.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of paper storage portions storing paper in a portrait orientation or a landscape orientation coincide with the direction of print image data processed by the image processing means. Corresponding to the print image data on the paper fed from the paper storage unit selected by the paper selection unit, a paper selection unit for selecting a paper storage unit storing paper in the direction from the plurality of paper storage units Image forming means for forming an image to be processed.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the paper selection unit does not have a paper storage unit in which the paper is stored in a direction that matches the direction of the print image data processed by the image processing unit. In the case, it is provided with an informing means for informing that effect.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when printing the print data including the barcode, the direction of the fine line of the barcode coincides with the direction in which the fine line reproduction performance is good with respect to the paper feeding direction of the printing apparatus. The print image data generated from the print data is rotated, and the bar code can be printed in the direction in which the reading accuracy is always increased.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to specify whether the direction of the barcode included in the print data is a direction that coincides with the paper feed direction of the printing apparatus or a direction that is orthogonal to the paper feed direction. It has the effect.

  According to the third aspect of the invention, the direction of the barcode coincides with the paper feed direction from the combination of the direction of the barcode included in the print data and the direction of the paper forming the image of the print image data. There is an effect that it is possible to specify whether there is a direction or a direction orthogonal to the paper feed direction.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, it is possible to select a sheet placed in an optimum orientation for forming print image data rotated in a direction in which the fine line reproducibility of the printing apparatus is good. , Have an effect.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 5, it is possible to set the paper in the optimum orientation for forming the print image data rotated in the direction in which the fine line reproducibility of the printing apparatus is good. Have.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematic configuration of a main part of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus 1 is connected to a host computer 2 via a network 3 such as a LAN (= Local Area Network), and print data instructed to be printed by the host computer 2 is transmitted via the network 3. It is configured to receive and form the received print data on a sheet provided in the image forming apparatus 1 in accordance with a print condition instructed to be printed.

  The host computer 2 and the image forming apparatus 1 may be directly connected without using the network 3.

  The host computer 2 includes an input device (for example, a keyboard and a mouse), an output device (for example, a display), a central processing unit (for example, a CPU), a storage device (ROM, RAM, a hard disk, an external storage device, etc.) and the like. General computer.

  The image forming apparatus 1 includes a control unit 10, an image processing unit 11 (a portion surrounded by a dashed square), a communication interface unit (hereinafter referred to as “communication I / F unit”) 12, a user interface unit (hereinafter referred to as “ User I / F section ”) 13, a print mechanism section 14, and a paper cassette section 140 (portion surrounded by a broken-line square). The paper cassette section 140 includes a paper cassette 140-1 and a paper cassette 140. -2,... A plurality of paper cassettes 140-n are provided.

  The control unit 10 is a CPU that controls each part of the image forming apparatus 1 and controls the entire image forming apparatus 1.

  The communication I / F unit 12 performs communication control for transmitting and receiving control signals and data signals via the network 3 based on the control of the control unit 10.

  The user I / F unit 13 includes a display device such as an LCD (= Liquid Crystal Display) and operation buttons. The user I / F unit 13 inputs instruction information to the image forming apparatus 1 by user operation and forms an image from the image forming apparatus 1 to the user. Interface processing between the user and the image forming apparatus 1 such as displaying status information of the apparatus 1 and various information is performed.

  The image processing unit 11 is a unit that analyzes print data (for example, PDL data) transmitted in response to a print instruction from the host computer 2 or the like based on the control of the control unit 10 and generates image data. ) 110, a reception memory 111, an image memory 112, and a ROM 113.

  The MPU 110 is a control unit that performs overall control of the entire image processing unit 11 for realizing the functional operation of the image processing unit 11, and the reception memory 111 stores print data received by the communication I / F unit 12. Storage device.

  The image memory 112 is a storage device that stores image data generated by analyzing print data, and the ROM 113 is a read-only storage that stores various parameter information for realizing the control operation of the present invention. Device.

  The ROM 113 stores, for example, each information of a discrimination table 40 to be described later for specifying the bar direction of the bar code included in the print data, information of the dot line reproduction performance to be described later unique to the print mechanism unit 14, and the like. Has been.

  The print mechanism unit 14 includes various motors and sensors necessary for a printing operation for forming and outputting image data on paper, an exposure device including a laser beam emitting device, a photosensitive member, a developing device, and a paper transport mechanism. And control the operation of these various devices.

  For example, when printing print data that includes a barcode, select the paper with the optimum orientation for the image direction of the print data that has been rotated in a direction that increases the reading accuracy of the printed barcode. A control operation for forming and outputting an image is performed.

  As described above, the sheets forming the image are stored in the sheet cassette 140-1, the sheet cassette 140-2,..., The sheet cassette 140-n included in the sheet cassette unit 140. For each paper size, paper placed in either the vertical or horizontal direction (vertical or horizontal) is stored, and the print mechanism unit 14 is rotated in a direction that increases the barcode reading accuracy. The paper orientation that is optimal for the direction of the image is specified, a paper cassette that stores the paper in the specified orientation is selected, and an image is formed on the paper.

  In addition, the orientation (vertical orientation, lateral orientation) of the paper stored in each paper cassette can be detected by a sensor.

  CPU stands for Central Processing Unit, ROM stands for Read Only Memory, RAM stands for Random Access Memory, and MPU stands for Micro Processing Unit.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 configured as described above, when the print data to be printed includes a barcode, the read accuracy of the printed barcode is increased based on the dot line reproduction performance of the image forming apparatus 1. Rotate the image data so that the barcode is printed in the orientation, select the paper with the optimal orientation to form the rotated image data, and print the image data on the selected paper It is configured.

  The dot line reproduction performance described above will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing dot lines for explaining the dot line reproduction performance. FIG. 2A shows a barcode 21 in which bars are formed in a direction perpendicular to the developing direction. FIG. 2B shows an example of an enlarged view of the dot lines of the bar of the barcode 21, and FIG. 2C shows a bar formed in a direction parallel to the developing direction. FIG. 2D is a diagram illustrating an example of the bar code 31, and FIG. 2D is a diagram illustrating an example of an enlarged view of a dot line of the bar of the bar code 31.

  In general, dot lines formed on paper in an image forming apparatus such as a printing apparatus are horizontal or vertical with respect to the developing direction depending on the performance inherent to the apparatus such as the laser beam diameter of the apparatus. Depending on the reason, there is a slight difference in the width of one dot line.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2A, for example, the barcode 21 formed on the paper 20 is composed of a plurality of bars perpendicular to the developing direction (paper feeding direction). As shown in FIG. 2B, the bar is a single dot line in which the bar 21-b having the narrowest line width is continuously formed with dots corresponding to the laser beam diameter in the direction perpendicular to the developing direction. (Hereinafter referred to as “dot line (vertical direction)”), the next thin bar 21-c is composed of two dot lines (vertical direction), and the thickest bar 21-a is four dots. It consists of lines (vertical direction).

  As shown in FIG. 2C, the bar code 31 formed on the paper 30 is composed of a plurality of bars parallel to the developing direction, and each bar is shown in FIG. As shown in the drawing, a bar 31-b having the narrowest line width is formed by a single dot line (hereinafter referred to as “dot line (parallel direction) formed by dots corresponding to the laser beam diameter in a direction parallel to the developing direction”. Next, the thin bar 31-c is composed of two dot lines (parallel direction), and the thickest bar 31-a is composed of four dot lines (parallel direction). Yes.

  When comparing the barcode 21 and the barcode 31, the dot line of the bar of the barcode 21 has a characteristic that the line width is formed narrower than the dot line of the bar of the barcode 31. The dot line reproduction performance is said to be perpendicular to the development direction.

  The difference in the dot line width with respect to the developing direction is that the diameter of the laser beam, the exposure method, the developing method, and the like differ depending on the apparatus. Therefore, the dot line reproduction performance may be parallel to the developing direction depending on the apparatus.

  The dot line reproduction performance of the image forming apparatus 1 in the present embodiment will be described as being in a direction perpendicular to the developing direction.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, a barcode 21 formed by arranging a plurality of bars perpendicular to the developing direction in the developing direction is referred to as a “vertical writing” barcode format. As shown in b), a barcode 31 formed by arranging a plurality of bars parallel to the developing direction in a direction perpendicular to the developing direction is referred to as a “horizontal writing” barcode format.

  The relationship between the rotation processing in which the image forming apparatus 1 rotates the image data including the barcode based on the dot line reproduction performance and the orientation of the paper on which the image data is formed will be described with reference to FIGS. .

  3 and 4 are conceptual diagrams conceptually showing the relationship between the rotation processing of the image data based on the dot line reproduction performance of the image forming apparatus 1 and the paper orientation.

  3 and 4, it is assumed that the dot line reproduction performance of the image forming apparatus 1 is perpendicular to the developing direction.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the form format specified by, for example, PDL of the print data instructed to be printed is a portrait (vertically long image) of an image that is long in the development direction, and the barcode format is horizontal writing (development direction). In the case of a barcode that is formed by arranging a plurality of bars parallel to each other in a direction perpendicular to the developing direction, the direction of the bar-code bar direction is the direction of the dot line reproduction performance of the image forming apparatus 1 ( In this case, rotation processing is performed on the image data generated by analysis from the print data so as to coincide with the direction perpendicular to the development direction.

  In this case, the barcode bar direction of the print data is parallel to the development direction, and the direction of the dot line reproduction performance of the image forming apparatus 1 is perpendicular to the development direction. As shown in (b), the image data generated by analyzing the print data is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise so that the bar code direction is perpendicular to the developing direction. As shown in FIG. 3 (c), the most suitable landscape paper for forming image data rotated by 90 degrees is selected, and the image data rotated by 90 degrees is formed and output on the paper. .

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3D, when the form format of the print data instructed to be printed is a landscape (horizontal image) of an image that is long in the direction perpendicular to the development direction, and the barcode format is horizontal writing, As shown in FIG. 3E, image data generated by analyzing the print data so that the bar direction of the bar code matches the direction of the dot line reproduction performance of the image forming apparatus 1 is counterclockwise. After rotating 90 degrees, as shown in FIG. 3 (f), image data rotated 90 degrees on the sheet is selected by selecting the optimum vertical paper for forming the image data rotated 90 degrees. Is output.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4A, the form format of the print data instructed to be printed is a portrait (vertically long image), and the barcode format is vertically written (a plurality of bars perpendicular to the development direction are displayed). In the case of barcodes arranged in the developing direction), the barcode bar direction and the dot line reproduction performance direction of the image forming apparatus 1 coincide with each other. As shown in c), the image data generated by analyzing the print data is not subjected to the rotation process, and the optimum vertical paper for forming the image data is selected and the paper is selected. Image data is formed on the top and output.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 4D, when the form format of the print data instructed to be printed is landscape (landscape image) and the barcode format is vertical writing, the barcode direction and image formation Since the direction of the dot line reproduction performance of the apparatus 1 coincides, as shown in FIGS. 4E and 4F, rotation processing is performed on the image data generated by analysis from the print data. Without doing so, the most suitable landscape paper for forming the image data is selected, and the image data is formed and output on the paper.

  Due to the relationship between the rotation processing of the image data based on the dot line reproduction performance and the orientation of the paper on which the image data is formed, the barcode reading accuracy of the print data for which the image forming apparatus 1 is instructed to print increases. A control operation for printing image data will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the print data instructed to be printed from the host computer 2 to the image forming apparatus 1 is received by the communication I / F 12 of the image forming apparatus 1 via the network 3 (YES in step S301). The received print data is stored in the reception memory 111 based on the control of the MPU 110 of the control unit 10 and the image processing unit 11.

  When the print data is stored in the reception memory 111, the MPU 110 determines whether or not a barcode designation command is included in the print data form while sequentially analyzing the print data stored in the reception memory 111 (step S302). .

  If it is determined in step S302 that the barcode designation command is not included (NO in step S303), normal printing processing is performed, and if it is determined that the barcode designation command is included ( YES in step S303), with reference to the discrimination table 40 from the form format and barcode format specified in the PDL, for example, in the print data, the barcode bar direction in the print data is parallel to the development direction or It is determined whether the direction is the vertical direction (step S304).

  As shown in FIG. 6, the discrimination table 40 is configured by associating a form format 41, a barcode format 42, and information on the bar direction 43 of the barcode with respect to the developing direction. The bar direction of the bar code corresponding to the code format can be discriminated with reference to the discrimination table 40.

  Specifically, for example, when the form format specified by PDL in the print data is a portrait (portrait image) and the barcode format is horizontal writing, the portrait (portrait image) of the form format 41 of the discrimination table 40 is used. ) And the horizontal direction 46 of the barcode with respect to the development direction associated with the horizontal writing of the barcode format 42 can be determined as the bar direction of the barcode.

  When the barcode bar direction is determined from the form format and barcode format in the print data, the determined bar direction and the direction of the dot line reproduction performance of the image forming apparatus 1 (in this embodiment, (The vertical direction with respect to the developing direction) is compared (step S305), and if both the bar directions match (YES in step S306), the image data generated by analyzing the print data is stored in the image memory 112. If the two bar directions do not match (NO in step S306), the image data generated by analyzing the print data is rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise, and the image data is then stored in the image memory 112. To store.

  When the image data is stored in the image memory 112, the MPU 110 transfers the image data stored in the image memory 112 to the print mechanism unit 14, and the paper cassette unit 140 is based on the image data transferred by the print mechanism unit 14. Is selected from among the plurality of paper cassettes 140-n included in the paper cassette (step S308).

  In step S308, if the paper cassette of the paper placed in the direction that matches the direction of the image data is not set in the paper cassette unit 140 (NO in step S309), a display screen (not shown) of the user I / F 13 is displayed. 7, a message prompting the user to change the paper cassette setting direction, such as “Set A4 paper of paper cassette XX sideways” as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed, and the paper on which the paper cassette setting direction is displayed is displayed. The sensor is monitored until the direction is changed (step S312).

  When the setting direction of the paper cassette is changed to the displayed paper orientation and the paper cassette is selected, or in step S308, the paper cassette of the paper placed in the orientation that matches the direction of the image data is selected. If YES in step S309, the paper in the selected paper cassette is transported one by one, and image data is formed on the transported paper and output (step S310).

  In the control operation of the present invention described above, software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments are stored in the ROM 113 in advance, and the program codes are designated by the MPU 110 when the ROM 113 reads and executes the program codes. You may comprise so that it may implement | achieve based on.

  In this case, the program code itself realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  The present invention can be applied to image forming technologies corresponding to various usage forms in which fine lines of image data are formed and output with high accuracy.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a main part of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present invention. Explanatory diagram of dot lines schematically shown to explain dot line reproduction performance Explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the rotation process of the image data based on the reproduction performance of a dot line, and the direction of the paper which forms the image data Explanatory drawing showing the relationship between the rotation processing of image data based on the dot line reproduction performance and the orientation of the paper forming the image data (continued) Flow chart of control operation to print image data so that barcode reading accuracy of print data is high The block diagram which shows an example of a structure of the discrimination | determination table 40 Figure showing an example of a display message

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Host computer 3 Network 10 Control part 11 Image processing part 12 Communication I / F part 13 User I / F part 14 Print mechanism part 21-a, 31-a Four dot lines 21-b, 31- b One dot line 21-c, 31-c Two dot lines 140 Paper cassette section 140-1, 140-2, 140-n Paper cassette 20, 30 Paper 40 Discrimination table 110 MPU
111 Reception memory 112 Image memory 113 ROM

Claims (5)

A discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the print data includes code information including thin lines arranged in a predetermined direction;
Paper of a printing apparatus that determines that the code information is included by the determination means, and the direction of the code image corresponding to the code information in the print image data generated based on the print data prints the print image data An image forming apparatus comprising: an image processing unit configured to process the print image data so that a direction of the code image matches the predetermined direction when the predetermined direction does not match a predetermined direction with respect to a feeding direction. The image processing means includes
Storage means for storing one of a first direction in which the direction of the code image coincides with the paper feed direction and a second direction in which the direction of the code image is orthogonal to the paper feed direction;
Specifying means for specifying the direction of the code image based on the code information;
Rotation processing means for rotating the print image data so that the direction of the code image matches the predetermined direction when the direction of the code image does not match the direction stored in the storage means; The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The specifying means is:
Whether the direction of the code image is the first direction or the second direction corresponding to a combination of the direction of the code image and the direction of the paper on which the image corresponding to the print image data is formed The direction of the code image is specified based on the determination result of
The rotation processing means includes
When the first direction is stored in the storage unit and the direction specified by the specifying unit is the second direction, the direction of the code image becomes the first direction in the print image data. And when the second direction is stored in the storage unit and the direction specified by the specifying unit is the first direction, the direction of the code image is the direction of the code image. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the rotation processing is performed so as to be in the second direction. A plurality of paper storage units for storing paper vertically or horizontally;
Paper selection means for selecting, from the plurality of paper storage sections, a paper storage section in which paper is stored in a direction coinciding with the direction of the print image data processed by the image processing means;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an image forming unit that forms an image corresponding to the print image data on a sheet fed from a sheet storage unit selected by the sheet selecting unit. The paper selection means includes
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying unit that notifies that if there is no sheet storage unit that stores sheets in a direction that coincides with the direction of the print image data processed by the image processing unit.

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