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Description  |
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FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a bar code information inputting method which can
check for the presence or absence of an input error or errors upon the
input of data in a bar code printer.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a bar code information
inputting method which can check for input error or errors upon the input
of bar code data.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bar code printer;
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an internal circuit;
FIG. 3 is a ram map;
FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a main flow;
FIG. 5 is a flow chart for error checking;
FIG.6 is a flow chart for mode checking;
FIGS. 7a-7c are flow charts for key processing;
FIGS. 8a and 8b are flow charts upon operation of a ten key;
FIG. 9 is a flow chart upon operation of a clear key; and
FIG. 10 is a flow chart for label issuing.
PRIOR ART
Generally, for bar code systems, each country provides its own standards,
and in each of such standards, in order to check for read errors upon
reading bar codes, a check digit is set so that the results of readings
may be checked under predetermined rules. However, while, upon issuing bar
code labels, pieces of bar code information are inputted manually one
after another, input errors are not particularly checked. Accordingly,
trouble can arise due to input errors, and thus bar code information
having erroneous contents are readily printed.
EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
A bar code printer 1 is provided, and a holding section 3 for holding label
paper 2 wound thereon is located on an upper face of the bar code printer
1 while a printer section 4 is located in juxtaposed relationship thereto.
A label issuing port 5 is formed at the front of the printer section 4. A
display section 6 and a keyboard 7 are located forwardly of the bar code
printer 1. The keyboard 7 includes thereon ten keys and additional various
keys 8 such as an issue number key, a price key, a department key, a stop
key, a register key, an issue key, and a fixed quantity issue key.
As shown in FIG. 2, a power supply station 12 is connected to a power
source 9 via a noise filter 10 and a transformer 11 and also to a CPU 13,
an LED driver 15 connected to an LED 14, a RAM 16, a buzzer 17, a printer
interface 19 connected to a printer 18, and a DC/DC converter 20. The
keyboard 7 is connected to the CPU 13 via a keyboard matrix 21. The CPU 13
is connected to the LED driver 15, another interface 22, the printer
interface 19, the RAM, and the buzzer 17.
While a common bar code format consists conventionally of up to 19 items,
the following description will be given as it consists of up to 6 items of
characters and one item of a check digit for simplification of
description. For example, it may be
C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C/D
where C1 to C6 are each bar code information. Here, when it is assumed that
the bar code information is "3 4 6 8 0 5", according to a conventional
calculating method, a check digit will be calculated as follows:
______________________________________
C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6
______________________________________
3 1 6 8 0 5
.times. 1 2 1 2 1 2
3 8 6 16 0 10
______________________________________
Here, 1 2 1 2 1 2 are values for weighting the individual items, and from
the results of the calculation,
3+8+6+1+6+0+1+0=25
is obtained. From this result, a greater multiple of 10 nearmost to 25 is
determined as 30, and then a calculation
30-25=5
is effected. As a result, the check digit is determined as "5".
While the conventional method is as described above, the present invention
will be described below.
In the present embodiment, the character C6 is used as a manual check digit
MC/D. In particular, the bar codes become as follows:
C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, MC/D, C/D
The codes are defined as follows: "MC/D" is a "manual check digit" as
described hereinabove.
Meanwhile, "C/D" is a "total check digit" determined by the calculations of
the aforementioned data items "C1, C2, C3, C4, C5"MC/D.
In addition, a recalculated check digit obtained by automatic calculations
of the aforementioned data items "C1, C2, C3, C4, C5" is represented as
"N".
In order to better understand the calculations described above, an example
will now be given based on the assumption that new codes in the present
embodiment are "3 4 6 8 0". In this case, the first 5 figures are the same
as in the above described calculations, based on the prior art, but in
fact they are a completely independent value. Now, in such codes, a value
which meets a following equation
MC/D=N
is found. That is, the value is automatically calculated based on a
plurality of digits.
______________________________________
C1 C2 C3 C4 C5
______________________________________
3 4 6 8 0
.times.
1 2 1 2 1
3 8 6 16 0
______________________________________
From the results of these calculations,
3+8+6+1+6+0=24
is obtained, and from the result of the calculation, a greater multiple of
10 nearmost to 24 is determined as 30, and hence
30-24=6
is obtained. As a result, the check digit is determined as "6". Thus, a
manually entered check digit is compared to a calculated check digit for
equality to detect an error.
In actual operations, an operator will operate ten numeral keys to input
numerals as 3 4 6 8 0 6. Then, the value "6" which has been manually
inputted is compared with the value "6" as a recalculated check digit N to
be automatically calculated, and if they coincide with each other, it is
determined that there is no input error in inputs of "3 4 6 8 0", and on
the contrary if they do not coincide with each other, it is determined
that there is an input error or errors.
The contents of the RAM 16 will be described in reference to FIG. 3. In
particular, below a data area, there are provided a bar code area
containing C1, C2, . . . , a total check digit (C/D) area containing Cn,
and a recalculated check digit N area containing AC, and further below
those areas, there are provided, in order, a manual input area I1, I2, . .
. , a manual check digit area AI, and areas for an error flag ERRF, an
issue requirement met flag ISSUOKF, an initial flag INITF, a set flag
SETF, an issue flag REGF, a count flag COUNTF, a department flag DPF, and
a price flag PRICF.
A description will be given of the operations of the bar code printer 1 in
reference to FIGS. 4 to 10. At first, a main flow is shown in FIG. 4.
After initialization of I/Os, a memory is initialized, and then after the
display section 6 is scanned, status reading, that is, reading of dip
switches and so on, is effected. Thereafter, error checking, mode checking
and key processing are effected in order.
In the process of error checking, if an error flag occurs as seen in FIG.
5, the buzzer 17 is operated until the delete key is depressed. When the
delete key is depressed, the error flag is reset to 0 and the buzzer 17 is
stopped to cancel the error.
Meanwhile in the process of mode checking, as seen in FIG. 6, a change-over
switch is read, and if it is in an initial set mode, an initial flag
(INITF) is set and the initial setting is initially indicated. If it is in
a setting mode, the set flag (SETF) is set and the setting mode is
initially indicated. Otherwise, if it is in the issue mode, an issue flag
(REGF) is set and the issue mode is initially indicated.
A routine for key processing will be described in reference to FIGS. 7a-7c.
If a key is depressed, key processings for the ten numeral keys, clear
key, issue number key, execution key, registration key, fixed quantity
issue key, issue key, department key, price key and some other keys will
be effected in order. A description of the ten keys and the clear key will
be given hereinbelow.
At first, if the issue number key is depressed, the counter flag (COUNTF)
is set and the department flag (DPF) and the price flag (PRICF) are reset
to 0. And then, control returns.
If the execution key is depressed, operations of the issue mode, setting
mode and initial mode are effected, and control returns.
If the registration key is depressed, registering operation and operation
for setting the initial flag are effected.
If the fixed quantity issue key is depressed, then if requirements for
issue are met, label issuing as hereinafter described is effected, but
otherwise, various operations upon initial setting are effected.
Also when the issue key is depressed, the label issuing as hereinafter
described is effected.
If the department key is depressed, the department flag (DPF) is set, but
otherwise if the price key is depressed, the price flag (PRICF) is set,
and then control returns.
However, if any of the ten keys are depressed in FIGS. 7a-7c, the operation
shown in FIGS. 8a and 8b is effected. At first, input data is put into a
ten key register (NREG), and then if REGF=1 is not met and SETF=1 is met,
processing for the set mode is effected, and then control returns.
However, when the SETF=1 is not met and INITF=1 is met, then the initial
counter is reset to 0, and the contents of the ten key register is
indicated in accordance with the initially set mode. Thereafter, control
returns.
Meanwhile, when REGF=1 and the counter flag (COUNTF) stands, the contents
of the ten key register are indicated and a column for the issue number,
and then control returns. When otherwise COUNTF=1 is not met, then the
department flag DPF is checked. And if this flag stands, then the contents
of the ten key register are indicated in a column for the department. But
if DPF=1 is not met and the price flag (PRICF) stands, then the contents
of the ten key register are indicated in a column for the price, and then
control returns. If otherwise PRICF=1 is not met and code inputting is not
yet completed, then the contents of the ten key register are indicated one
after another in a column for the code. But if code inputting is
completed, it is determined whether the specifications for the manual
check digit are present, and if there are such specifications, then the
aforementioned calculations for the manual check digit are effected. Then,
the resultant value is compared with the finally inputted data, and if
they are not equal to each other, an error flag is set, but on the
contrary if they are equal to each other, automatic calculations for a
check digit for the entirety are effected.
Here, a check is made to determine if there is an input of a check digit or
not, and if it is determined that there is an input, a check is made to
determine the input data is equal to the data obtained by the automatic
calculations or not. This check is a check of the last figure which is
conventionally conducted. If they are not equal to each other, then the
data was erroneous, but on the contrary if they are equal to each other,
then the input data is indicated in a column for the check of a code, and
then control returns. On the other hand, if there is no input of a check
digit, the check digit obtained by the automatic calculations is indicated
in the column for the ckeck digit of a code, and then as it is determined
that the issue requirements are met (ISSUOK=1), control returns.
FIG. 9 illustrates operations when the clear key is depressed. At first,
the ten key register is cleared, and then ERRF is reset to 0, whereafter
the mode is checked, and the contents of the ten key register are
indicated in respective indicating columns. Then, control returns.
In addition, FIG. 10 illustrates a routine for label issuing. At first, it
is checked if ITEMCB=0 is met, and if ITEMCB is 0, then the contents of
the indication are printed out, but on the contrary if ITEMCB is not 0,
registered data of the same number with the item are recalled and
indicated, and then ITEMCB is decremented and the contents of the
indication are printed out. Then, if ITEMCB=0, then control returns, but
otherwise if ITEMCB is not 0, then depending upon whether or not all the
items are to be continuously issued, selection is made if continuous
issuing is to be effected or if control is to return directly.
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