Patent ID: 8662615
Filing Date: 2014-03-04
Classification: B41J,G06K

Abstract:
1. A method of printing a barcode using a line print head to print a barcode having bars of specific widths arranged in a specific pattern in a direction perpendicular to a recording medium transportation direction, comprising: a normal/faulty data calculation step that acquires normal/faulty data representing a normal or faulty state of each printing element in a printing element array of the line head in a line direction of the printing element array; a determination step that compares the normal/faulty data with barcode print data, and determines if a faulty printing element is included in the printing element array of the line print head in a barcode printing range in the line direction; a shiftable range calculation step that calculates a shift range to which the barcode can be shifted in the line direction and printed when a faulty printing element is contained in the printing element array, the shift range having a maximum width in the line direction that is less than a maximum width of the printing element array in the line direction and that is greater than a maximum width of the barcode printing range; a shift destination calculation step that performs a shift operation to find a normal printing range where the barcode can be printed correctly in the line direction of the line print head by alternately executing a printing process step that executes a printing process to print the barcode using the printing elements contained in the normal printing range when the normal printing range is found in the shift range, wherein: the normal/faulty data includes first normal/faulty data representing the position of a first faulty printing element that does not print even when driven, and second normal/faulty data representing the position of a second faulty printing element that prints even when not driven; the normal/faulty data calculation step calculates both the first normal/faulty data and the second normal/faulty data; the determination step makes a first determination that compares the first normal/faulty data and the barcode print data, and determines if the first faulty printing element is contained in the printing element array corresponding to a barcode printing position in the line direction, and makes a second determination that compares the second normal/faulty data and the barcode print data, and determines if the second faulty printing element is contained in the printing element array corresponding to the barcode printing position in the line direction; and the shift destination calculation step performs a shift operation to find a normal printing range not containing the first faulty printing element at any print dot formation position of the barcode shifted in the line direction, and not containing the second faulty printing element at any position in the barcode where a print dot is not formed.