Label Printer QR Code Alignment Control for Data Restorability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional label printers face challenges in printing QR codes at high speed while maintaining data restorability, as white streaks over finder patterns can prevent data restoration, especially when paper movement and printing are suspended and resumed.
Innovation Solution
A printer with print operation control means that determines the alignment of finder patterns in QR codes and adjusts the print operation to prevent both patterns from being at the print position simultaneously, either by correcting the print data or rotating the QR code by 90 degrees, ensuring data restorability during sequential printing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the paper movement and printing are suspended and resumed during sequential printing to prevent white streaks in bar codes, then the reliability of printed data is improved, but the productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of finder pattern positions before printing, and pre-adjusts the print operation or rotates the QR code to prevent both patterns from being at the print position simultaneously. This preliminary action eliminates the need for suspension and resumption during printing, thereby maintaining high productivity while ensuring data restorability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the print operation based on the detected alignment of finder patterns. When both patterns are detected at the print position, the system automatically corrects the print data or rotates the QR code by 90 degrees. This dynamic adjustment allows continuous printing without suspension, resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity.
2Manufacturing precision
If the print operation is corrected by rotating the QR code or adjusting alignment, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms with software-based solutions. Instead of physically adjusting the print head or paper position, the system uses print data correction or QR code rotation algorithms to achieve proper alignment. This substitution reduces device complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters of the print operation (such as print position coordinates or QR code orientation angle) based on detected finder pattern alignment. By adjusting these parameters through software rather than mechanical means, the system achieves precise alignment without increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A label printer prints a QR code on print areas (labels) sequentially arranged along a sheet of paper while maintaining the QR code in a state in which its data can be restored. The label printer determines, in the course of separating the printed label and suspending and resuming movement of the paper and while printing on each label of the paper, whether or not both of two finder patterns aligned along one side of the QR code in a following print area are at a position to be printed when a boundary portion between a leading label that has been printed and the following label reaches a cut position. A print operation correcting control controls printing when both of two finder patterns aligned along one side of the QR code are in position to be printed, but not printed at the same time.