Printing device and printing method

Abstract

To solve such a problem that there is a large burden on a user for printing a code according to a type of a medium so as to prevent reduction in the quality.SOLUTION: A printer comprises: a conveyance unit which conveys a medium along a prescribed conveyance direction; a printing unit which performs printing on the medium conveyed by the conveyance unit; a reading unit which reads the medium to which printing is performed by the printing unit; and a control unit which controls the conveyance unit and the printing unit to execute first printing processing and second printing processing. The control unit, in the first printing processing, prints a code group including a first code in a first size and a second code in a second size larger than the first size to a first medium being the medium, acquires reading data being a reading result by the reading unit of the code group printed on the first medium, determines a code size adopted for the second printing processing on the basis of the reading data, in the second printing processing, prints a third code in the code size to a medium in the same type as the first medium.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing device and a printing method. [Background technology]

[0002] An inkjet recording device is disclosed that includes an image forming means that uses a recording head capable of ejecting ink to form an image including a barcode on a recording medium, a transport means that moves the image forming means and the recording medium relatively, a recording medium selection means that selects the type of recording medium, and a control means that changes the configuration of the barcode depending on the selected type of recording medium (see Patent Document 1). According to Document 1, a barcode correction table is referenced based on the type of recording medium, and barcode printing is performed by correcting the dot configuration of bars and spaces that corresponds to the recording medium. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-47169 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The aim of Reference 1 is to automatically change the barcode printing method depending on the media being used, thereby providing barcode printing of consistent quality even when printing barcodes on multiple types of media. However, for media for which the corresponding correction information is not pre-stored in a table, it is not possible to prevent degradation of barcode printing quality. When using such media, correction requires the user to find the appropriate value through trial and error, which places a heavy burden on the user. Therefore, improvements are needed to maintain the quality of codes such as barcodes and 2D codes while reducing the burden on the user. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The printing device includes a transport unit that transports a medium along a predetermined transport direction, a printing unit that prints on the medium transported by the transport unit, a reading unit that reads the medium printed by the printing unit, and a control unit that controls the transport unit and the printing unit to execute a first printing process and a second printing process, wherein the control unit, in the first printing process, prints a code group including a first code of a first size and a second code of a second size larger than the first size on a first medium, obtains read data that is a reading result of the code group printed on the first medium by the reading unit, and determines a code size to be used in the second printing process based on the read data; storing the determined code size in association with the type of the first medium; In the second printing process, a third code having the code size is printed on a medium of the same type as the first medium. Another printing device is a transport unit that transports the medium along a predetermined transport direction; a printing unit that prints on the medium transported by the transport unit; a reading unit that reads a medium printed by the printing unit; a control unit that controls the transport unit and the printing unit to execute a first printing process and a second printing process, The control unit In the first printing process, a code group including a first code of a first size and a second code of a second size larger than the first size is printed on a first medium, acquiring read data that is a result of reading the group of codes printed on the first medium by the reading unit; determining a code size to be used in the second printing process based on the read data; In the second printing process, a third code having the code size is printed on a medium of the same type as the first medium; In the first printing process, the number of codes constituting the code group in the transport direction and in a width direction intersecting the transport direction is determined according to an area that can be read by the reading unit; The code group in which the plurality of codes are arranged according to the decision is printed. Another printing device is a transport unit that transports the medium along a predetermined transport direction; a printing unit that prints on the medium transported by the transport unit; a reading unit that reads a medium printed by the printing unit; a control unit that controls the transport unit and the printing unit to execute a first printing process and a second printing process, The control unit In the first printing process, a code group including a first code of a first size and a second code of a second size larger than the first size is printed on a first medium, acquiring read data that is a result of reading the group of codes printed on the first medium by the reading unit; determining a code size to be used in the second printing process based on the read data; In the second printing process, a third code having the code size is printed on a medium of the same type as the first medium; In the first printing process, the number of codes constituting the code group in the transport direction and in a width direction intersecting the transport direction is determined according to the length of the first medium in the width direction; The code group in which the plurality of codes are arranged according to the decision is printed. Another printing device is a transport unit that transports the medium along a predetermined transport direction; a printing unit that prints on the medium transported by the transport unit; a reading unit that reads a medium printed by the printing unit; a control unit that controls the transport unit and the printing unit to execute a first printing process and a second printing process, The control unit In the first printing process, a code group including a first code of a first size and a second code of a second size larger than the first size is printed on a first medium, acquiring read data that is a result of reading the group of codes printed on the first medium by the reading unit; determining a code size to be used in the second printing process based on the read data; In the second printing process, a third code having the code size is printed on a medium of the same type as the first medium; the second printing process is a process of printing the third code and an image represented by a print job, In the second printing process, the control unit prints the third code in which identification information indicating printing conditions for the image is recorded. Another printing device is a transport unit that transports the medium along a predetermined transport direction; a printing unit that prints on the medium transported by the transport unit; a reading unit that reads a medium printed by the printing unit; a control unit that controls the transport unit and the printing unit to execute a first printing process and a second printing process, The control unit In the first printing process, a code group including a first code of a first size and a second code of a second size larger than the first size is printed on a first medium, acquiring read data that is a result of reading the group of codes printed on the first medium by the reading unit; determining a code size to be used in the second printing process based on the read data; In the second printing process, a third code having the code size is printed on a medium of the same type as the first medium; acquiring read data that is a result of reading the third code printed on the medium by the second printing process by the reading unit, and determining whether or not the third code has been successfully read by analyzing the read data of the third code; If it is determined that the reading of the third code was not successful, the code size of the third code is changed to a larger size, and the second printing process is executed again using the changed code size. Another printing device is a transport unit that transports the medium along a predetermined transport direction; a printing unit that prints on the medium transported by the transport unit; a reading unit that reads a medium printed by the printing unit; a control unit that controls the transport unit and the printing unit to execute a first printing process and a second printing process, The control unit In the first printing process, a code group including a first code of a first size and a second code of a second size larger than the first size is printed on a first medium, acquiring read data that is a result of reading the group of codes printed on the first medium by the reading unit; determining a code size to be used in the second printing process based on the read data; In the second printing process, a third code having the code size is printed on a medium of the same type as the first medium; acquiring read data that is a result of reading the third code printed on the medium by the second printing process by the reading unit, and determining whether or not the third code has been successfully read by analyzing the read data of the third code; If it is determined that the reading of the third code was not successful, the first printing process, the acquisition of the read data of the code group, and the determination of the code size based on the read data of the code group are executed again. Another printing device is a transport unit that transports the medium along a predetermined transport direction; a printing unit that prints on the medium transported by the transport unit; a reading unit that reads a medium printed by the printing unit; a control unit that controls the transport unit and the printing unit to execute a first printing process and a second printing process, The control unit In the first printing process, a code group including a first code of a first size and a second code of a second size larger than the first size is printed on a first medium, acquiring read data that is a result of reading the group of codes printed on the first medium by the reading unit; determining a code size to be used in the second printing process based on the read data; In the second printing process, a third code having the code size is printed on a medium of the same type as the first medium; acquiring read data that is a result of reading the third code printed on the medium by the second printing process by the reading unit, and determining whether or not the third code has been successfully read by analyzing the read data of the third code; If it is determined that the reading of the third code was not successful, a notification is sent to the outside that the first printing process, the acquisition of the read data of the code group, and the determination of the code size based on the read data of the code group should be executed again. Another printing device is a transport unit that transports the medium along a predetermined transport direction; a printing unit that prints on the medium transported by the transport unit; a reading unit that reads a medium printed by the printing unit; a control unit that controls the transport unit and the printing unit to execute a first printing process and a second printing process, The control unit In the first printing process, a code group including a first code of a first size and a second code of a second size larger than the first size is printed on a first medium, acquiring read data that is a result of reading the group of codes printed on the first medium by the reading unit; determining a code size to be used in the second printing process based on the read data; In the second printing process, a third code having the code size is printed on a medium of the same type as the first medium; At each lapse of a predetermined time, the first printing process, acquisition of the read data of the code group, and determination of the code size based on the read data of the code group are repeatedly executed. Another printing device is a transport unit that transports the medium along a predetermined transport direction; a printing unit that prints on the medium transported by the transport unit; a reading unit that reads a medium printed by the printing unit; a control unit that controls the transport unit and the printing unit to execute a first printing process and a second printing process, The control unit In the first printing process, a code group including a first code of a first size and a second code of a second size larger than the first size is printed on a first medium, acquiring read data that is a result of reading the group of codes printed on the first medium by the reading unit; determining a code size to be used in the second printing process based on the read data; In the second printing process, a third code having the code size is printed on a medium of the same type as the first medium; A notification is sent to an external device every time a predetermined time elapses that a code size determination process should be performed, which includes the first printing process, obtaining the read data of the code group, and determining the code size based on the read data of the code group.

[0006] A printing method performed by a printing device including a transport unit that transports a medium along a predetermined transport direction and a printing unit that prints on the medium transported by the transport unit includes a first printing step and a second printing step that control the transport unit and the printing unit, wherein the first printing step prints a code group including a first code of a first size and a second code of a second size larger than the first size on a first medium, and an acquisition step that acquires read data that is a result of reading the code group printed on the first medium by a reading unit; and an acquisition step that prints the code group on the first medium based on the read data. Process a determining step of determining a code size to be adopted for the a storage step of storing the code size determined in the determination step in association with the type of the first medium; In the second printing step, a third code having the code size is printed on a medium of the same type as the first medium. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a simplified configuration of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1A and 1B are diagrams simply illustrating the relationship between a medium, a print head, and the like, from a perspective perpendicular to the transport direction and from above. [Figure 3] 10 is a flowchart showing a code size determination process. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of test code generation condition information. [Figure 5] 5A and 5B are diagrams each showing an example of code group image data. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an errata sheet as an analysis result in step S140. [Figure 7] 7A and 7B are diagrams each showing an example of code group image data. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing the main printing process. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of print data including this code and a target image. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the drawings are merely examples for explaining the present embodiment. Because the drawings are examples, the proportions and shapes may not be accurate, the drawings may not match each other, and some parts may be omitted.

[0009] 1. Brief description of the device configuration: 1 shows a simplified configuration of a printing device 10 according to this embodiment. The printing device 10 executes the printing method of this embodiment.

[0010] The printing device 10 includes a control unit 11, a display unit 13, an operation reception unit 14, a storage unit 15, a communication IF 16, a transport unit 17, a printing unit 18, and a reading unit 19. IF stands for interface. The control unit 11 includes one or more ICs having a CPU 11a as a processor, a ROM 11b, a RAM 11c, and other non-volatile memories.

[0011] In the control unit 11, a processor, i.e., a CPU 11a, executes arithmetic processing in accordance with a program 12 stored in a ROM 11b or other memory, using a RAM 11c or the like as a work area, thereby realizing various functions such as a test code generation unit 12a, a print control unit 12b, a code size determination unit 12c, a print job acquisition unit 12d, and a success / failure determination unit 12e. The processor is not limited to a single CPU, and may be configured to perform processing using multiple CPUs or hardware circuits such as ASICs, or may be configured to perform processing in cooperation with a CPU and a hardware circuit.

[0012] The display unit 13 is a means for displaying visual information and is configured, for example, by a liquid crystal display, an organic electroluminescence (EL) display, or the like. The display unit 13 may be configured to include a display and a drive circuit for driving the display. The operation reception unit 14 is a means for receiving input from a user and is realized, for example, by physical buttons, a touch panel, a mouse, a keyboard, or the like. Of course, the touch panel may be realized as one function of the display unit 13. The display unit 13 and the operation reception unit 14 may be collectively referred to as the operation panel of the printing device 10. The display unit 13 and the operation reception unit 14 may be part of the configuration of the printing device 10, or may be peripheral devices external to the printing device 10.

[0013] The storage unit 15 is, for example, a hard disk drive, a solid state drive, or other memory storage means. Part of the memory of the control unit 11 may be regarded as the storage unit 15. The storage unit 15 may also be regarded as part of the control unit 11. The communication IF 16 is a general term for one or more IFs that allow the printing device 10 to communicate with external devices via wired or wireless connections in accordance with a predetermined communication protocol, including known communication standards. Examples of external devices include communication devices such as personal computers, servers, smartphones, and tablet terminals.

[0014] The conveying unit 17 is a means for conveying the medium 30 in a predetermined conveying direction under the control of the control unit 11. The conveying unit 17 includes, for example, rollers that rotate to convey the medium 30, and a motor as a power source for the rotation. The conveying unit 17 may also be a mechanism that conveys the medium 30 by placing the medium 30 on a belt or pallet that is driven by a motor. The medium 30 is, for example, paper, but may also be any medium that can be printed on, and may be a material other than paper, such as film or fabric.

[0015] The printing unit 18 is a means for ejecting liquid such as ink from multiple nozzles using an inkjet method under the control of the control unit 11 to print on the medium 30 transported by the transport unit 17, and includes a print head 20, which will be described later. The droplets ejected from the nozzles of the print head 20 are called dots. The print head 20 is capable of ejecting various inks, such as cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K). The print head 20 may also be called a liquid ejection head, a recording head, a print head, an inkjet head, etc.

[0016] The reading unit 19 is a means for optically reading the medium 30 on which printing has been performed by the printing unit 18. The reading unit 19 may also be called a camera or a scanner. The reading unit 19 has an image sensor capable of reading a certain area of ​​the medium 30, and transfers image data (hereinafter referred to as read data) as a result of reading by the image sensor to the control unit 11. In the example of FIG. 1, the reading unit 19 is included in the configuration of the printing device 10, but the reading unit 19 may also be an external device connected to the printing device 10 so as to be able to communicate with it.

[0017] Printing device 10 may be realized by a single printer, or may be realized by a system having multiple devices connected to each other so that they can communicate with each other. For example, printing device 10 may be a system including an information processing device that functions as control unit 11, a printer that has transport unit 17 and printing unit 18 and performs printing under the control of the information processing device, and a device that corresponds to reading unit 19. In this case, the information processing device can be understood as a print control device, an image processing device, or the like.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a simplified view of the relationship between the medium 30, the print head 20, and other components from a perspective perpendicular to the conveyance direction D1 and from above. In the example of FIG. 2, the printing device 10 includes a feeder 22, an endless belt 23, and a winder 24. The feeder 22, the endless belt 23, and the winder 24 constitute at least a part of the conveyance section 17. A sheet of medium 30 is wound around the feeder 22 in a roll, and the medium 30 is fed from the roll toward the winder 24. The winder 24 winds up the printed medium 30 into a roll. Both the feeder 22 and the winder 24 are rotatable by motors and feed and wind up the medium 30.

[0019] An endless belt 23 is disposed on the transport path between the feeder 22 and the winder 24. The endless belt 23 is looped around the outside of two rollers 23a and 23b and moves in accordance with the rotation of the rollers 23a and 23b. On the transport path between the feeder 22 and the winder 24, the medium 30 is transported while being supported by the endless belt 23. Although details are omitted, the feeder 22, rollers 23a and 23b, and winder 24 rotate synchronously to transport the medium 30.

[0020] The conveying direction D1 is the direction of conveyance by the conveying unit 17 in the section of the conveying path of the medium 30 that is supported by the endless belt 23. The upstream and downstream of the conveying direction D1 will be simply referred to as upstream and downstream hereinafter. The direction D2 that intersects with the conveying direction D1 will be referred to as the width direction D2. The intersection here refers to a perpendicular or nearly perpendicular direction.

[0021] A carriage 21 and print head 20 are supported above the endless belt 23. The print head 20 is mounted on the carriage 21. In the example of FIG. 2, the carriage 21 receives power from a carriage motor (not shown) and is able to move back and forth parallel to the width direction D2, and the print head 20 moves together with the carriage 21. In other words, in the example of FIG. 2, the printing unit 18 has the carriage 21 and the print head 20.

[0022] A reading unit 19 is supported at a predetermined position above the endless belt 23 and downstream of the print head 20. In Fig. 2, the area surrounded by a two-dot chain line around the reading unit 19 illustrates the area that the image sensor of the reading unit 19 can read in one image capture. In the example of Fig. 2, the reading unit 19 does not move.

[0023] 2, the control unit 11 moves the carriage 21 parallel to the width direction D2 while the transport unit 17 stops transporting the medium 30, and during this movement causes the print head 20 to eject ink, thereby printing one scan of the medium 30. The control unit 11 proceeds with printing on the medium 30 by alternately repeating such printing for one scan and transporting the medium 30 a predetermined distance.

[0024] Of course, this printing method is merely one example. For example, the carriage 21 may be capable of reciprocating not only parallel to the width direction D2 but also parallel to the transport direction D1. In other words, the print head 20 may be moved two-dimensionally by the carriage 21 parallel to the surface of the medium 30, thereby printing on a predetermined area of ​​the stationary medium 30, and the control unit 11 may repeat this printing and transport of the medium 30.

[0025] Alternatively, the print head 20 may be a line-type head having a length sufficient to cover the length of the medium 30 in the width direction D2 (hereinafter referred to as the medium width) without the carriage 21 on which the print head 20 is mounted. In other words, the line-type print head 20 may be fixed above the endless belt 23, and the control unit 11 may perform printing by ejecting ink from the print head 20 onto the medium 30 while it is being moved by the endless belt 23.

[0026] 2, the conveying unit 17 may have other components necessary for conveying the medium 30, such as rollers for adjusting the tension of the medium 30. Alternatively, a platform without a conveying capacity may be installed instead of the endless belt 23, and the medium 30 may be moved from upstream to downstream on the platform using the conveying capacity of other rollers or the like.

[0027] 2. Code size determination process: 3 is a flowchart showing the "code size determination process" executed by the control unit 11 in accordance with the program 12. In this embodiment, the "code" refers to an image in which any information such as a character string is coded and recorded, and specifically refers to a barcode, a two-dimensional code, etc. In the following explanation, it is assumed that the code is a two-dimensional code.

[0028] The control unit 11 repeatedly executes the code size determination process, for example, every time a predetermined time has elapsed. Specifically, the control unit 11 executes the code size determination process every time a predetermined interval of time has elapsed. Alternatively, the control unit 11 may execute the code size determination process when a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous code size determination process was completed.

[0029] The control unit 11 may execute the code size determination process when the medium 30 is set in the conveyance unit 17. In the example of Fig. 2, the control unit 11 can execute the code size determination process when it recognizes from a sensor or input from the user that the medium 30 has been loaded in the feeder 22.

[0030] In this embodiment, it is assumed that the control unit 11 recognizes the type of medium 30 loaded in the transport unit 17. Examples of the type of medium 30 include paper, fabric, and film. Of course, paper, fabric, and film may each be further divided into various types. The medium 30 loaded in the transport unit 17 is also referred to as the "medium to be used" to refer to the medium to be used for printing. For example, a user inputs the type of medium to be used via the operation reception unit 14, and the control unit 11 recognizes this input type as the type of medium to be used. Alternatively, the printing device 10 may have a sensor for detecting the type of medium to be used, and the control unit 11 may recognize the type of medium to be used based on the detection results of this sensor. In the code size determination process, the control unit 11 determines the optimal size of the code to be printed on the medium to be used.

[0031] The control unit 11 controls the transport unit 17 and the printing unit 18 to execute a "first printing process" and a "second printing process." The first printing process is included in the flowchart of the code size determination process, and specifically, steps S100, S110, and S120 correspond to the first printing process. The second printing process will be described later with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. For example, the first printing process may be referred to as a pre-printing process or a code group printing process. The second printing process may be referred to as a main printing process. The first printing process corresponds to the first printing step, and the second printing process corresponds to the second printing step.

[0032] In step S100, the test code generation unit 12a of the control unit 11 generates "code group image data" that represents a "code group" consisting of multiple codes of different sizes. Each code that makes up the code group may be called a test code. When generating the code group image data, the test code generation unit 12a refers to test code generation condition information 40, as exemplified in FIG. 4. The test code generation condition information 40 is stored in the storage unit 15.

[0033] The test code generation condition information 40 includes items such as code area size, read area size, code size, number of repetitions, and test character string. The code area size is the size of the area reserved for printing one code, and its value is, for example, 10 cm x 10 cm in length x width. Here, "length" means the conveyance direction D1, and "width" means the width direction D2. The code area size is set to be larger than the maximum code size so that the codes do not get too close to each other.

[0034] The reading area size is the area that the image sensor of the reading unit 19 can read in one image capture, and as described above, is shown by the two-dot chain line in Figure 2. The reading area size is a value determined by the performance of the reading unit 19, and is, for example, 20 cm long x 50 cm wide.

[0035] The code size specified by the test code generation condition information 40 is the size of each code included in the code group. In the example of Fig. 4, the code is simply assumed to be a square, and five different code sizes are specified, with each side having a length of 1 cm, 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm, and 5 cm. These multiple code sizes are specific examples of the "first size" and the "second size" larger than the first size in this embodiment.

[0036] Expressions such as "first size" and "second size" do not mean that they are unique sizes, but rather that they are two different sizes. For example, if 1 cm is considered the first size, then sizes 2 cm, 3 cm, 4 cm, and 5 cm would each correspond to the second size. Also, if 4 cm is considered the second size, then sizes 1 cm, 2 cm, and 3 cm would each correspond to the first size. The code for the first size can be called the "first code," and the code for the second size can be called the "second code."

[0037] The number of repetitions is the number of codes of the same size included in the code group, and in the example of Figure 4, it is "4". In other words, four codes of each of five sizes, 1cm, 2cm, 3cm, 4cm, and 5cm, are printed. If the number of repetitions is set to 1, one code of each of the five sizes is printed.

[0038] The test character string is a character string to be recorded in each code included in the code group. In other words, all codes included in the code group may have the same content. The test character string may have any content as long as it is predetermined. In FIG. 4, the test character string is simply the character string "ABCDEFGHIJK." Such test code generation condition information 40 is pre-stored in the storage unit 15, but the values ​​of the code area size, code size, number of repetitions, and test character string may be set arbitrarily by the user by operating the operation reception unit 14.

[0039] The test code generation unit 12a generates code group image data by referring to the test code generation condition information 40. According to the example shown in FIG. 4, a single reading area can accommodate 10 code area sizes, two vertically (in the conveying direction D1) and five horizontally (in the width direction D2), resulting in 20 codes to be printed. Therefore, the test code generation unit 12a generates code group image data by arranging 20 codes (four codes of five different sizes each), each containing the test string "ABCDEFGHIJK," in 20 code area sizes (four by five) within the two vertically arranged reading area sizes. The code group image data is, for example, bitmap data having brightness and color gradation values ​​for each pixel. In this way, the test code generation unit 12a determines the number of codes in the conveying direction D1 and the width direction D2 that constitute the code group based on the area (reading area size) that can be read by the reading unit 19, and generates code group image data in which multiple codes are arranged according to the determination.

[0040] FIG. 5A illustrates code group image data 41 generated in step S100 with reference to test code generation condition information 40. In FIG. 5A and other figures, the data orientation is shown in relation to directions D1 and D2. In code group image data 41, 20 rectangles separated by solid lines correspond to code area sizes. These separating lines may or may not be present. When the five code area sizes arranged horizontally in code group image data 41 are collectively referred to as "code rows," two code rows correspond to one read area size. In the example of FIG. 5A, in code group image data 41, codes of five different sizes are arranged in order of size within one code row, and four codes of the same size are arranged vertically in a single row.

[0041] FIG. 5B shows an example of code group image data 42 generated in step S100 with reference to test code generation condition information 40, which is different from code group image data 41 in FIG. The differences between code group image data 42 and code group image data 41 will be explained. While both code group image data 41 and 42 have the same feature of including codes of five different sizes within a single code line, in code group image data 42, the positions of the codes of each size in the width direction D2 differ for each code line. In other words, four codes of the same size are positioned differently in the width direction D2. The print quality produced by print head 20 can vary depending on the position in the width direction D2. Therefore, by varying the positions of each code of the same size in the width direction D2, as shown in FIG. 5B, it is possible to suppress the variation in average print quality between codes of different sizes that is caused by the influence of position.

[0042] In step S110, the print control unit 12b converts the code group image data generated in step S100 into print data to be used for printing by the print head 20. In other words, the print control unit 12b performs color conversion on the gradation values ​​of each pixel that makes up the code group image data into gradation values ​​that represent the ink amounts of each CMYK ink that the print head 20 will use for printing, and converts the values ​​of each pixel after color conversion into values ​​that represent dot formation or non-formation of each color ink by halftone processing.

[0043] In step S120, print control unit 12b controls transport unit 17 and print unit 18 based on the print data converted from the code group image data in step S110 to print the code group on medium 30 by ejecting ink from print head 20. According to the example in FIG. 2, the position of reading unit 19 is predetermined based on product specifications. Therefore, control unit 11 recognizes in advance the position of reading unit 19 in width direction D2 and the size of the reading area. Therefore, in step S120, print control unit 12b adjusts the position of the print data in width direction D2 so that the code group is printed in a position where it can be read by reading unit 19, and controls print head 20 to print the code group based on the print data.

[0044] The medium 30 on which the code group is printed in step S120 is, of course, the medium recognized by the control unit 11. In this embodiment, the medium 30 used to print the code group in the first printing process is also referred to as the "first medium" for convenience. The term "first medium" does not refer to a specific type of medium, but rather to the medium used when printing the code group. According to this first printing process, a code group including a first code and a second code is printed on the first medium. Furthermore, according to the examples in FIGS. 4, 5A, and 5B, a code group including multiple codes of multiple sizes, including the first code and the second code, is printed on the first medium.

[0045] In step S130, the code size determination unit 12c acquires read data (hereinafter, code group read data) that is the result of reading the code group printed on the medium 30 in step S120 by the reading unit 19. Step S130 corresponds to an acquisition step. In this case, control unit 11 controls transport unit 17 to transport medium 30 downstream so that the code group printed on medium 30 by print head 20 reaches a position the size of the reading area of ​​reading unit 19. According to the examples described above, the code group has an area in transport direction D1 that is twice the size of the reading area. Therefore, control unit 11 first causes reading unit 19 to capture an image of the area of ​​the two code lines on the downstream side of the code group, and then causes reading unit 19 to capture an image of the area of ​​the two code lines on the upstream side of the code group.

[0046] Of course, after the control unit 11 has imaged the two downstream code lines, it causes the transport unit 17 to transport the medium 30 so that the two upstream code lines reach a position within the reading area size of the reading unit 19, and then causes the reading unit 19 to perform imaging. The code size determination unit 12c obtains the read data from the reading unit 19 as the reading results of these two imaging operations, and combines them to obtain code group read data for the entire code group, as exemplified in Figures 5A and 5B.

[0047] The code size determination unit 12c analyzes the code group read data acquired in step S130 (step S140) and determines the code size to be used in the second printing process based on the analysis results (step S150). Steps S140 and S150 correspond to a determination process. Specifically, in step S140, the code size determination unit 12c decodes each code included in the code group read data and reads out a character string. If the test character string "ABCDEFGHIJK" can be read out from a certain code, the code is deemed to have been read correctly. Therefore, the code size determination unit 12c may tally up the reading accuracy rate for each code size and determine the code size according to the reading accuracy rate.

[0048] FIG. 6 shows an errata 50 as the analysis result of step S140. The code size determination unit 12c generates the errata 50. The errata 50 indicates, for each code by line number and code size, whether the test character string was successfully read or not, with an O if the test character string failed to be read. The line number is the number assigned to each code line within a code group. Here, the line numbers are assigned sequentially from the most downstream code line to the most upstream code line, such as 1, 2, and so on. According to the example in FIG. 6, for all four codes with a code size of 1 cm, the test character string failed to be read, resulting in a reading accuracy rate of 0%. On the other hand, for codes with a code size of 4 cm and 5 cm, the test character string was successfully read, resulting in a reading accuracy rate of 100%.

[0049] Basically, the larger the code, the higher the accuracy of reading the information. On the other hand, printing a large code can increase ink consumption and impair the design of the printed matter. Furthermore, various factors that affect the print quality of a code, such as the degree or presence of surface irregularities and the susceptibility of ink bleeding, vary depending on the type of medium 30. Therefore, the code size required to maintain code quality, i.e., the minimum code size required for accurate reading, varies depending on the type of medium 30. According to the example in FIG. 6, the reading accuracy rate is 100% for code sizes of 4 cm or more, so in step S150, the code size determination unit 12c determines the code size to be used in the second printing process to be 4 cm.

[0050] However, a reading accuracy rate of 100% is not necessarily required. The code size determination unit 12c may determine, as the code size to be used in the second printing process, a code size from among a plurality of code sizes whose reading accuracy rate is equal to or higher than a predetermined rate as a result of the analysis, for example, a code size whose reading accuracy rate is equal to or higher than 70%. Furthermore, the reading accuracy rate used as a threshold value for determining the code size in step S150 may be set according to a user's specification.

[0051] In step S160, the code size determination unit 12c stores the code size determined in step S150 in the storage unit 15 in association with the type of medium 30, i.e., the type of medium used at the time of execution of step S120, and ends the flowchart of FIG. 3. This can be said to store the code size in association with the type of the first medium. By automatically executing this code size determination process at various times as described above, optimal code sizes are determined and stored for the medium used at each time, i.e., for various types of medium 30. Furthermore, the code size determined and stored by the code size determination process when a certain type of medium 30 is used is updated by a subsequent code size determination process when the same type of medium 30 is used.

[0052] Step S100 will now be explained in more detail. The size of the medium 30 may be smaller than the reading area size of the reading unit 19. According to the test code generation condition information 40 in Figure 4, the reading area size is 20 cm x 50 cm. However, if the width of the medium used is 40 cm, for example, it is not possible to arrange five 10 cm x 10 cm code area sizes horizontally when generating code group image data, as in the examples of Figures 5A and 5B. The control unit 11 can recognize the size of the medium used by input from the user or detection by a specified sensor, etc.

[0053] In consideration of this situation, the test code generation unit 12a may determine the number of codes constituting a code group in the transport direction D1 (vertical) and width direction D2 (horizontal) according to the width of the medium used, and generate code group image data in which multiple codes are arranged according to this determination. According to the test code generation condition information 40 in FIG. 4, the number of codes to be printed is 20. If the width of the medium used is 40 cm, the test code generation unit 12a generates code group image data by arranging 20 codes (four codes of five different sizes each), each recording the test string "ABCDEFGHIJK," in a code area size of 5 by 4, for a total of 20 codes.

[0054] 7A illustrates code group image data 43 generated in step S100 by referencing test code generation condition information 40 and the medium width of the medium used. Compared to code group image data 41 and 42 in FIGS. 5A and 5B, code group image data 43 differs in that the code region size is four lines horizontally and five lines vertically, but both contain 20 codes overall. According to the previous examples, reading unit 19 can read two code lines in one capture. Therefore, when code group image data 43 is generated in step S100, control unit 11 causes reading unit 19 to read a code group consisting of five code lines printed on the medium used based on code group image data 43 in three captures.

[0055] FIG. 7B shows an example of code group image data 44 generated in step S100 with reference to test code generation condition information 40, which is different from those shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 7A. FIG. 7B is a modified example of FIG. 5B. Regarding FIG. 7B, the number of repetitions in test code generation condition information 40 is set to "5." Therefore, the number of codes constituting the code group is 25 (five codes of five different sizes). Considering the size of the reading area of ​​the reading unit 19, the number of code lines is five. In the code group image data 44, each of the five different-sized codes is arranged one per five code lines, and codes of the same size are arranged at different positions in the width direction D2. In other words, while codes of the same size are arranged at different positions in the width direction D2 to prevent quality variations due to print position, as in FIG. 5B, codes of all sizes may be printed at all positions in the width direction D2 within the reading area size, as shown in FIG. 7B.

[0056] 3. Book printing process: Next, the second printing process, that is, the main printing process, will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the actual printing process that the control unit 11 executes in accordance with the program 12. In step S200, the print job acquisition unit 12d of the control unit 11 acquires a print job. For example, the print job acquisition unit 12d reads and acquires a print job specified by a user through an operation of the operation acceptance unit 14 from a memory inside or outside the printing device 10, or receives and acquires a print job sent from an external device via the communication IF 16.

[0057] A print job includes the image represented by the print job, i.e., the image data to be printed, and a print job ID. The image data to be printed is also simply called the "target image." The target image is the image the user wants to obtain as the printed result. The print job ID is identification information that indicates the printing conditions of the target image. Printing conditions include, for example, the print length of the target image in the transport direction D1, the length of the target image in the width direction (image width), the print mode, and various other conditions and settings related to printing the target image. The print job ID is information that can uniquely identify the contents of such printing conditions.

[0058] In step S210, the print control unit 12b obtains the code size stored in the storage unit 15 in association with the type of medium used, and generates a code of this code size. The code generated in this printing process corresponds to the "third code." The third code is also referred to as the "main code" to distinguish it from the code (test code) that makes up the code group described above. For example, if the code size stored in the storage unit 15 in association with the type of medium used is 4 cm, then in step S210, a main code measuring 4 cm x 4 cm is generated. Here, the explanation will continue assuming that, at the time of step S210, the code size for the type of medium used has already been stored in the storage unit 15 by the code size determination process described above.

[0059] The print control unit 12b generates a real code that records the print job ID and print date and time included in the print job acquired in step S200. The print date and time is the current date and time. The date and time may include the time, or may be year, month, and day information without the time. Like the code group image data, the real code generated in step S210 is bitmap data. Of course, the information recorded in the real code is not limited to the print job ID and print date and time, and may include various information useful to the user. For example, the real code may record information about the user who instructed the printing of the print job, information about the organization or department to which the user belongs, environmental information such as humidity and temperature during printing, identification information for the printing device 10 used, and information about the customer who plans to purchase the printed product.

[0060] In step S220, the print control unit 12b converts image data that combines the real code generated in step S210 with the target image included in the print job acquired in step S200 into print data to be used for printing by the print head 20. In step S220, when generating image data that combines the real code with the target image, the print control unit 12b positions the real code downstream of the target image and in a position that can be read by the reading unit 19 so that the real code is printed by the print head 20 before the target image and then read by the reading unit 19.

[0061] 9 shows an example of print data 60 obtained by the conversion in step S220. This print data 60 may be considered as image data that combines the original code and a target image. The original code 61 is placed at a predetermined downstream position in the print data 60. The image of a series of star-shaped patterns in the print data 60 is an example of a target image.

[0062] In step S230, the print control unit 12b controls the transport unit 17 and the printing unit 18 based on the print data obtained by the conversion in step S220 to start actual printing, which prints the actual code and the target image on the medium 30 by ejecting ink from the print head 20. In this way, the second printing process can be said to be a process of printing a third code of a code size determined for the type of the first medium on a medium of the same type as the first medium. The second printing process is also a process of printing the third code and the target image.

[0063] In step S240, the success / failure determination unit 12e acquires read data (hereinafter, "main code read data") that is the result of reading by the reading unit 19 of the main code printed on the medium 30 in step S230. As can be seen from the description of step S220, the main code is printed on the medium 30 before the target image. Therefore, after printing starts in step S230, as the printing of the target image continues, for example, by alternately discharging ink from the print head 20 and transporting the medium 30 by the transport unit 17, the main code that has been printed on the medium 30 reaches the position of the reading unit 19. Therefore, the control unit 11 causes the reading unit 19 to capture an image of the main code, and the success / failure determination unit 12e acquires the main code read data from the reading unit 19 as the reading result of this image.

[0064] The success / failure determination unit 12e analyzes the real code read data acquired in step S240 (step S250) and determines whether the real code was successfully read based on the analysis result (step S260). As described above, in step S210, the print control unit 12b generated the real code, which recorded the print job ID and the print date and time. Therefore, the correct information recorded in the real code, such as the print job ID and the print date and time, is known to the success / failure determination unit 12e from the result of step S210. Therefore, in step S250, the success / failure determination unit 12e determines whether the character string read by decoding the code included in the real code read data matches the information recorded in the real code, such as the print job ID and the print date and time. If they match, the success / failure determination unit 12e determines that the real code was successfully read ("Yes" in step S260) and proceeds to step S280. On the other hand, if a character string matching the information recorded in the code, such as the print job ID and print date and time, cannot be read from the code reading data, the success / failure determination unit 12e determines that reading of the code has failed ("No" in step S260), and proceeds to step S270.

[0065] In step S280, the print control unit 12b prints the print job to the end, that is, prints the target image to the end, and then ends the flowchart of FIG. Meanwhile, in step S270, the print control unit 12b regenerates the main code by increasing its code size from the current size. The information recorded in the main code itself remains unchanged from step S210. For example, if the test code generation condition information 40 specifies multiple code sizes in 1-cm increments, the code size is increased by 1 cm in both length and width. Alternatively, regardless of the code size specified in the test code generation condition information 40, the code size of the current main code may be increased by multiplying it by a constant greater than 1, such as 1.1.

[0066] The print control unit 12b executes step S220 after step S270. In step S220 after step S270, the print control unit 12b converts the image data obtained by combining the resized main code in step S270 with the target image into print data, and then executes step S230 and subsequent steps. In other words, the second print process is executed again after step S270. The code size used to generate the main code in step S210 is an appropriate size determined by the code size determination process for the type of medium used, so it is unlikely that step S260 will return "No." However, even if step S260 returns "No," by ensuring a cycle that returns to step S220 after step S270, it is possible to output a printout of the target image with a main code of a size that can be reliably read.

[0067] The printed product according to the flowchart in Figure 8 can be used as desired by the user or customer after collection, and this code is attached to it. Therefore, by reading this code attached to the printed product with a code reader or the like, the user or customer can check the printing conditions from the print job ID, check various information such as the printing date and time, and use it for their own business or work.

[0068] Furthermore, in the flowchart of FIG. 8 , after starting printing based on the print data in step S230, the print control unit 12b may print the main code on the medium 30 but not print the target image until it determines “Yes” in step S260. That is, after printing the main code and steps S240 and S250, it determines “Yes” in step S260, and then starts printing the target image based on the print data. This prevents a situation in which the print control unit 12b determines “No” in step S260 after the printing of the target image has progressed to a certain extent, resulting in wasting the medium 30 and ink used to print the target image up to that point. When starting printing of the target image after determining “Yes” in step S260, the print control unit 12b may control the transport unit 17 to backfeed the medium 30 and start printing the target image with the print head 20 from a position on the medium 30 near the position of the main code. This further reduces consumption of the medium 30. Backfeeding is a process of transporting the medium 30 from downstream to upstream.

[0069] 4. Summary: As described above, according to this embodiment, the printing device 10 includes a transport unit 17 that transports the medium 30 along a predetermined transport direction D1, a printing unit 18 that prints on the medium 30 transported by the transport unit 17, a reading unit 19 that reads the medium 30 printed by the printing unit 18, and a control unit 11 that controls the transport unit 17 and the printing unit 18 to execute a first printing process and a second printing process. In the first printing process, the control unit 11 prints a code group including a first code of a first size and a second code of a second size larger than the first size on the first medium, which is the medium 30, obtains read data that is the result of the reading by the reading unit 19 of the code group printed on the first medium, determines a code size to be used in the second printing process based on the read data, and prints a third code of the code size on the medium 30 of the same type as the first medium, in the second printing process.

[0070] According to the above configuration, the printing device 10 prints a code group including codes of multiple sizes on a first medium, determines the code size based on the scanned data of the code group, and prints a third code of the determined code size on a medium 30 of the same type as the first medium. In other words, the code size determined based on the code group printed on a certain type of medium 30 when that type of medium 30 is loaded in the transport unit 17 is later used when printing a third code on that type of medium 30. Therefore, an appropriate code size is automatically determined for each type of medium 30, and a third code of a code size appropriate for that type is printed on that type of medium 30. This reduces the burden on the user and provides printed codes of consistent quality, i.e., codes that can be read properly, compared to the conventional method in which users had to resort to trial and error to print codes on media for which there was no information required to print codes of appropriate quality.

[0071] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the control unit 11 may print a code group including a plurality of codes of a plurality of sizes including the first code and the second code in the first printing process. According to the above configuration, each code size of the multiple sizes that make up the code group is printed multiple times, which allows the control unit 11 to make a more accurate decision on which code size is appropriate based on the read data of the code group.

[0072] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, in the first printing process, the control unit 11 may determine the number of codes in the conveying direction D1 and the width direction D2 intersecting the conveying direction D1 that constitute the code group in accordance with the area that can be read by the reading unit 19, and print a code group in which multiple codes are arranged in accordance with this determination. According to the above configuration, the number of codes in the vertical and horizontal directions that make up the code group is determined according to the area that can be read by the reading unit 19, so that the reading unit 19 can read the code group efficiently.

[0073] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, in the first printing process, the control unit 11 may determine the number of codes in the conveying direction D1 and the width direction D2 intersecting the conveying direction D1 that constitute the code group based on the length of the first medium in the width direction D2, and print a code group in which multiple codes are arranged according to this determination. According to the above configuration, the number of codes in the vertical and horizontal directions that make up the code group is determined according to the medium width, making it possible to reliably print the code group on the first medium.

[0074] For example, if the medium width of the first medium is longer than the length in the width direction D2 of the reading area size of the reading unit 19, the control unit 11 may determine the number of vertical and horizontal codes that make up the code group according to the reading area size of the reading unit 19, and if the medium width of the first medium is shorter than the length in the width direction D2 of the reading area size of the reading unit 19, the control unit 11 may determine the number of vertical and horizontal codes that make up the code group according to the medium width of the first medium.

[0075] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the second printing process is a process of printing a third code and an image represented by the print job, and the control unit 11 may print a third code that records identification information indicating the printing conditions of the image in the second printing process. According to the above configuration, when a target image represented by a print job is printed on a medium 30 of the same type as the first medium, a third code having identification information indicating the printing conditions of the target image recorded thereon and having an optimized size can be printed together with the target image.

[0076] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the control unit 11 acquires read data, which is the result of reading by the reading unit 19 of the third code printed on the medium 30 by the second printing process, and determines whether or not the third code was successfully read by analyzing the read data of the third code.If it determines that the third code was not successfully read, it may change the code size of the third code to a larger size and execute the second printing process again using the changed code size. According to the above configuration, in the second printing process, it is possible to reliably print the third code in a size that allows accurate reading.

[0077] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the control unit 11 may repeatedly execute a code size determination process, which includes the first printing process, obtaining the read data of the code group, and determining the code size based on the read data of the code group, every time a predetermined time elapses. According to the above configuration, the code size determination process is executed periodically, which is automatic for the user, and the optimum code size for each of the various types of media 30 is updated accordingly.

[0078] This embodiment discloses inventions in various categories, such as not only devices and systems, but also methods executed by devices and systems, and programs 12 that cause a processor to execute the methods. For example, a printing method performed by a printing device 10 equipped with a conveying unit 17 that conveys a medium 30 along a predetermined conveying direction D1 and a printing unit 18 that prints on the medium 30 conveyed by the conveying unit 17 includes a first printing step and a second printing step that control the conveying unit 17 and the printing unit 18, and in the first printing step, a code group including a first code of a first size and a second code of a second size larger than the first size is printed on the first medium, which is the medium 30, and further includes an acquisition step that acquires read data that is the reading result of the code group printed on the first medium by a reading unit 19, and a determination step that determines the code size to be used in the second printing process based on the read data, and in the second printing step, a third code of the code size is printed on a medium of the same type as the first medium.

[0079] 5. Variations: Several modifications included in this embodiment will be described below. Naturally, combinations of the modifications are also included in this embodiment.

[0080] First variant: The control unit 11 may cause the reading unit 19 to read the code group printed on the first medium multiple times, thereby obtaining multiple pieces of code group read data corresponding to the multiple readings (step S130), and may determine the code size based on this multiple code group read data (steps S140 and S150). In the examples of FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 7A, a total of 20 codes, including four codes of each of five different sizes, are printed as a code group as a result of step S120. The control unit 11 causes the reading unit 19 to read all of the codes in this code group, for example, twice. As a result, the number of readings per code size required to calculate the reading accuracy rate as described above is eight, which is twice the four times described in FIG. 6. This makes it possible to obtain a more precise reading accuracy rate for each code size.

[0081] Furthermore, if the code group printed on the first medium is read multiple times by the reading unit 19, the code group may be configured to include one code of each of multiple different sizes. For example, the test code generation unit 12a generates code group image data that represents a code group consisting of five codes in total, including one code of each of five different sizes (step S100), and the print control unit 12b prints the code group on the medium to be used based on this code group image data (steps S110, S120).

[0082] The control unit 11 may cause the reading unit 19 to read a code group consisting of five codes, each of which has one code of each of five different sizes, printed on the first medium (the medium to be used), four times, for example, to obtain code group read data corresponding to the four reads (step S130), and determine the code size based on the four code group read data (steps S140 and S150). In this way, the number of reads per code size required to calculate the reading accuracy rate is the same as four, as described in Figure 6. In other words, by printing only one code of each of the multiple sizes and reading it multiple times, the reading accuracy rate for each code size can be calculated in the same way as when multiple codes of each of the multiple sizes are printed and read.

[0083] Second variant: As described above, the control unit 11 acquires the read data, which is the result of the reading of the third code printed on the medium 30 by the second printing process by the reading unit 19, and analyzes the read data of the third code to determine whether the third code was successfully read (step S260). If the control unit 11 determines that the third code was not successfully read, it may execute the first printing process, acquire the read data of the code group, and determine the code size based on the read data of the code group again. In other words, if the determination in step S260 is "No," the control unit 11 executes the code size determination process of FIG. 3 again instead of proceeding to step S270. This configuration allows the optimal code size for the medium being used to be determined anew under the current state of the reading unit 19. Note that in the second modification and the third modification described below, if the determination in step S260 is "No," the main printing process of FIG. 8 is canceled.

[0084] Third variant: If the control unit 11 determines "No" in step S260, it may notify the outside that the code size determination process should be executed again, rather than proceeding to step S270. In other words, in the second modification, if the control unit 11 determines "No" in step S260, the code size determination process is executed again. However, in the third modification, the control unit 11 notifies the user and leaves it up to the user to decide whether to execute the code size determination process again. The external notification may be realized, for example, by displaying a message on the display unit 13 or by outputting audio from a speaker (not shown). For example, the control unit 11 may display a message such as "Please execute the 2D code size determination process for the media being used again." Recognizing such a notification, the user may instruct the printing device 10 to execute the code size determination process.

[0085] Fourth variant: The control unit 11 may notify the outside at predetermined intervals that the code size determination process (FIG. 3) should be executed, which involves the first printing process, obtaining the scanned data of the code group, and determining the code size based on the scanned data of the code group. In other words, rather than automatically executing the code size determination process periodically, the control unit 11 may notify the outside that the code size determination process should be executed, leaving it up to the user to decide whether or not to execute the code size determination process each time. Upon receiving such a notification, the user can instruct the printing device 10 to execute the code size determination process.

[0086] Other examples: Needless to say, all of the specific numerical values ​​used in the above description are examples, and these numerical values ​​do not narrow the scope of the disclosure of the present embodiment. 2, the position of the reading unit 19 is fixed, but the reading unit 19 may be movable parallel to the width direction D2 or parallel to the conveying direction D1. If the reading unit 19 is movable, the size of the reading area is also determined based on the size of the range in which the reading unit 19 can move.

[0087] The medium 30 conveyed by the conveying unit 17 is not limited to a roll of long medium as shown in FIG. 2, but may be media such as cut sheets of paper cut into page units. The printing unit 18 is not limited to the inkjet method, and can print on the medium 30 using various printing methods such as electrophotography. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 10...printing device, 11...controller, 12...program, 12a...test code generator, 12b...printing controller, 12c...code size determination unit, 12d...print job acquisition unit, 12e...success / failure determination unit, 13...display unit, 14...operation acceptance unit, 15...storage unit, 16...communication IF, 17...transport unit, 18...printing unit, 19...reading unit, 20...print head, 21...carriage, 30...medium, 40...test code generation condition information, 41, 42, 43, 44...code group image data, 50...errata, 60...printing data, 61...actual code

Claims

1. a transport unit that transports the medium along a predetermined transport direction; a printing unit that prints on the medium transported by the transport unit; a reading unit that reads a medium printed by the printing unit; a control unit that controls the transport unit and the printing unit to execute a first printing process and a second printing process, The control unit In the first printing process, a code group including a first code of a first size and a second code of a second size larger than the first size is printed on a first medium, which is the medium; acquiring read data that is a result of reading the group of codes printed on the first medium by the reading unit; determining a code size to be used in the second printing process based on the read data; storing the determined code size in association with the type of the first medium; The printing device is characterized in that, in the second printing process, a third code having the code size is printed on a medium of the same type as the first medium.

2. The printing device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit prints the code group including a plurality of codes of a plurality of sizes including the first code and the second code in the first printing process.

3. The control unit By causing the reading unit to read the code group printed on the first medium a plurality of times, a plurality of read data corresponding to the plurality of readings is obtained; 3. The printing device according to claim 1, wherein the code size is determined based on a plurality of the read data.

4. A conveying unit that conveys the medium along a predetermined conveying direction; a printing unit that prints on the medium transported by the transport unit; a reading unit that reads a medium printed by the printing unit; a control unit that controls the transport unit and the printing unit to execute a first printing process and a second printing process, The control unit In the first printing process, a code group including a first code of a first size and a second code of a second size larger than the first size is printed on a first medium, which is the medium; acquiring read data that is a result of reading the group of codes printed on the first medium by the reading unit; determining a code size to be used in the second printing process based on the read data; In the second printing process, a third code having the code size is printed on a medium of the same type as the first medium; In the first printing process, the number of codes constituting the code group in the transport direction and in a width direction intersecting the transport direction is determined according to an area that can be read by the reading unit; A printing device that prints the code group in which a plurality of codes are arranged according to the determination.

5. A conveying unit that conveys the medium along a predetermined conveying direction; a printing unit that prints on the medium transported by the transport unit; a reading unit that reads a medium printed by the printing unit; a control unit that controls the transport unit and the printing unit to execute a first printing process and a second printing process, The control unit In the first printing process, a code group including a first code of a first size and a second code of a second size larger than the first size is printed on a first medium, which is the medium; acquiring read data that is a result of reading the group of codes printed on the first medium by the reading unit; determining a code size to be used in the second printing process based on the read data; In the second printing process, a third code having the code size is printed on a medium of the same type as the first medium; In the first printing process, the number of codes constituting the code group in the transport direction and in a width direction intersecting the transport direction is determined according to the length of the first medium in the width direction; A printing device that prints the code group in which a plurality of codes are arranged according to the determination.

6. A conveying unit that conveys the medium along a predetermined conveying direction; a printing unit that prints on the medium transported by the transport unit; a reading unit that reads a medium printed by the printing unit; a control unit that controls the transport unit and the printing unit to execute a first printing process and a second printing process, The control unit In the first printing process, a code group including a first code of a first size and a second code of a second size larger than the first size is printed on a first medium, which is the medium; acquiring read data that is a result of reading the group of codes printed on the first medium by the reading unit; determining a code size to be used in the second printing process based on the read data; In the second printing process, a third code having the code size is printed on a medium of the same type as the first medium; the second printing process is a process of printing the third code and an image represented by a print job, The printing device, wherein the control unit prints the third code in which identification information indicating printing conditions for the image is recorded in the second printing process.

7. A conveying unit that conveys the medium along a predetermined conveying direction; a printing unit that prints on the medium transported by the transport unit; a reading unit that reads a medium printed by the printing unit; a control unit that controls the transport unit and the printing unit to execute a first printing process and a second printing process, The control unit In the first printing process, a code group including a first code of a first size and a second code of a second size larger than the first size is printed on a first medium, which is the medium; acquiring read data that is a result of reading the group of codes printed on the first medium by the reading unit; determining a code size to be used in the second printing process based on the read data; In the second printing process, a third code having the code size is printed on a medium of the same type as the first medium; acquiring read data that is a result of reading the third code printed on the medium by the second printing process by the reading unit, and analyzing the read data of the third code to determine whether or not the third code has been successfully read; A printing device characterized in that, if it is determined that the reading of the third code was not successful, the code size of the third code is changed to a larger size, and the second printing process is executed again using the changed code size.

8. A conveying unit that conveys the medium along a predetermined conveying direction; a printing unit that prints on the medium transported by the transport unit; a reading unit that reads a medium printed by the printing unit; a control unit that controls the transport unit and the printing unit to execute a first printing process and a second printing process, The control unit In the first printing process, a code group including a first code of a first size and a second code of a second size larger than the first size is printed on a first medium, which is the medium; acquiring read data that is a result of reading the group of codes printed on the first medium by the reading unit; determining a code size to be used in the second printing process based on the read data; In the second printing process, a third code having the code size is printed on a medium of the same type as the first medium; acquiring read data that is a result of reading the third code printed on the medium by the second printing process by the reading unit, and analyzing the read data of the third code to determine whether or not the third code has been successfully read; A printing device characterized in that, if it is determined that reading of the third code was not successful, the first printing process, acquisition of read data of the code group, and determination of the code size based on the read data of the code group are executed again.

9. A conveying unit that conveys the medium along a predetermined conveying direction; a printing unit that prints on the medium transported by the transport unit; a reading unit that reads a medium printed by the printing unit; a control unit that controls the transport unit and the printing unit to execute a first printing process and a second printing process, The control unit In the first printing process, a code group including a first code of a first size and a second code of a second size larger than the first size is printed on a first medium, which is the medium; acquiring read data that is a result of reading the group of codes printed on the first medium by the reading unit; determining a code size to be used in the second printing process based on the read data; In the second printing process, a third code having the code size is printed on a medium of the same type as the first medium; acquiring read data that is a result of reading the third code printed on the medium by the second printing process by the reading unit, and analyzing the read data of the third code to determine whether or not the third code has been successfully read; A printing device characterized in that, if it determines that the reading of the third code was not successful, it notifies an external device that the first printing process, the acquisition of the read data of the code group, and the determination of the code size based on the read data of the code group should be executed again.

10. A conveying unit that conveys the medium along a predetermined conveying direction; a printing unit that prints on the medium transported by the transport unit; a reading unit that reads a medium printed by the printing unit; a control unit that controls the transport unit and the printing unit to execute a first printing process and a second printing process, The control unit In the first printing process, a code group including a first code of a first size and a second code of a second size larger than the first size is printed on a first medium, which is the medium; acquiring read data that is a result of reading the group of codes printed on the first medium by the reading unit; determining a code size to be used in the second printing process based on the read data; In the second printing process, a third code having the code size is printed on a medium of the same type as the first medium; A printing device characterized in that, every time a predetermined time elapses, a code size determination process is repeatedly executed, which includes the first printing process, obtaining read data of the code group, and determining the code size based on the read data of the code group.

11. A conveying unit that conveys the medium along a predetermined conveying direction; a printing unit that prints on the medium transported by the transport unit; a reading unit that reads a medium printed by the printing unit; a control unit that controls the transport unit and the printing unit to execute a first printing process and a second printing process, The control unit In the first printing process, a code group including a first code of a first size and a second code of a second size larger than the first size is printed on a first medium, which is the medium; acquiring read data that is a result of reading the group of codes printed on the first medium by the reading unit; determining a code size to be used in the second printing process based on the read data; In the second printing process, a third code having the code size is printed on a medium of the same type as the first medium; A printing device characterized in that it notifies an external device every time a predetermined time has elapsed that a code size determination process should be executed, which includes the first printing process, obtaining read data of the code group, and determining the code size based on the read data of the code group.

12. A printing method executed by a printing device including a transport unit that transports a medium along a predetermined transport direction and a printing unit that prints on the medium transported by the transport unit, a first printing process and a second printing process that control the transport unit and the printing unit; In the first printing step, a code group including a first code of a first size and a second code of a second size larger than the first size is printed on a first medium, an acquiring step of acquiring read data that is a result of reading the group of codes printed on the first medium by a reading unit; a determining step of determining a code size to be used in the second printing step based on the read data; a storage step of storing the code size determined in the determination step in association with the type of the first medium, The printing method, wherein the second printing step prints a third code having the code size on a medium of the same type as the first medium.

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