Printing a bar in a bar code

A method for printing a bar in a bar code with an inkjet printer, comprising:

• computing a print resolution for printing the bar according to the equation
• Print Resolution=(Bar Width−Dot Size)−(Number of Dots−1)
• where Bar Width is a desired width of the bar, Dot Size is the nominal diameter of each ink dot and Number of Dots is the number of ink dots to be printed across the width of the bar;
• and
• adjusting a spacing between ink dots based on the computed print resolution.

A processor readable medium having instructions for:

• computing a print resolution for printing a bar in a bar code according to the equation
• Print Resolution=(Bar Width−Dot Size)+(Number of Dots−1)
• where Bar Width is a desired width of the bar, Dot Size is the nominal diameter of each ink dot and Number of Dots is the number of ink dots to be printed across the width of the bar;
• and
• adjusting a spacing between ink dots based on the computed print resolution.

An inkjet printer, comprising:

• a printhead;
• a carriage carrying the printhead;
• an ink supply operatively connected to the printhead;
• a print media transport configured to move print media past the printhead;
• and
• an electronic controller operative to control operation of the printhead and the print media transport, the controller configured to compute a print resolution for printing a bar in a bar code using Bar Width, Dot Size and Number of Dots where Bar Width is a desired width of the bar, Dot Size is a nominal diameter of each ink dot and Number of Dots is a number of ink dots to be printed across the width of the bar, and to adjust a spacing between ink dots based on the computed print resolution.

A method for printing bars in a bar code with an inkjet printer, comprising:

• computing a first print resolution for printing a first bar according to the equation
• First Print Resolution=(First Bar Width−Dot Size)−(First Number of Dots−1)
• where First Bar Width is a desired width of the first bar, Dot Size is the nominal diameter of each ink dot and First Number of Dots is the number of ink dots to be printed across the width of the first bar;
• adjusting a spacing between ink dots across the width of the first bar based on the computed first print resolution;
• computing a position of a first ink dot in a second bar according to the equation
• First Dot Position=Last Dot Position+Bar Spacing+Dot Size
• where Last Dot Position is the position of the center of the last ink dot in the first bar and Bar Spacing is the distance between the first and second bars;
• adjusting a timing of a firing pulse for ejecting an ink drop for the first ink dot to position the first ink dot at the computed position;
• computing a second print resolution for printing the second bar according to the equation
• Second Print Resolution=(Second Bar Width−Dot Size)+(Second Number of Dots−1)
• where Second Bar Width is a desired width of the second bar, Dot Size is the nominal diameter of each ink dot and Second Number of Dots is the number of ink dots to be printed across the width of the second bar;
• adjusting a spacing between ink dots across the width of the second bar based on the computed second print resolution;
• printing the first bar;
• and
• printing the second bar.

A processor readable medium having instructions for:

• computing a first print resolution for printing a first bar according to the equation
• First Print Resolution=(First Bar Width−Dot Size)−(First Number of Dots−1)
• where First Bar Width is a desired width of the first bar, Dot Size is the nominal diameter of each ink dot and First Number of Dots is the number of ink dots to be printed across the width of the first bar;
• adjusting a spacing between ink dots on the print media printed across the width of the first bar based on the computed first print resolution;
• computing a position of a first ink dot in a second bar according to the equation
• First Dot Position=Last Dot Position+Bar Spacing+Dot Size
• where Last Dot Postion is the position of the center of the last ink dot in the first bar and Bar Spacing is the distance between the first and second bars;
• adjusting a timing of a firing pulse for ejecting an ink drop for the first ink dot to position the first ink dot at the computed position;
• computing a second print resolution for printing the second bar according to the equation
• Second Print Resolution=(Second Bar Width−Dot Size)+(Second Number of Dots−1)
• where Second Bar Width is the desired width of the second bar, Dot Size is the nominal diameter of each ink dot and Second Number of Dots is the number of ink dots to be printed across the width of the second bar;
• and
• adjusting a spacing between ink dots across the width of the second bar based on the computed second print resolution.

A bar code, comprising:

• a first bar comprising first dots having a first center to center spacing computed according to the equation
• First Spacing=(First Bar Width−First Dot Size)+(First Number of Dots−1)
• where First Bar Width is a desired width of the first bar, First Dot Size is the nominal dimension of each of the first dots measured in a direction across the width of the first bar and First Number of Dots is the number of dots across the width of the first bar;
• a second bar comprising second dots having a second center to center spacing computed according to the equation
• Second Spacing=(Second Bar Width−Second Dot Size)+(Second Number of Dots−1)
• where Second Bar Width is a desired width of the second bar, Second Dot Size is the nominal dimension of each of the second dots measured in a direction across the width of the second bar and Second Number of Dots is the number of dots across the width of the second bar;
• and
• the second bar including a first dot positioned according to the equation
• First Dot Position=Last Dot Position+Bar Spacing+Second Dot Size
• where Last Dot Position is the position of the center of the last dot in the first bar, Bar Spacing is the distance between the first and second bars, and Second Dot Size is the nominal dimension of each of the second dots measured in a direction across the width of the second bar.

A method for printing a bar in a bar code, comprising:

• computing a dimensional error in a width of the bar according to the equation
• Error=Desired Bar Width−First Bar Width
• where Desired Bar Width is a desired width of the bar and First Bar Width is the width of the bar if all dots in the bar are printed at a first print resolution;
• printing all dots across the width of the bar except the first dot or the last dot at the first print resolution;
• and
• adjusting the spacing of only the first dot in the bar, only the last dot in the bar, or only the first and last dots in the bar from the first print resolution in an amount substantially equal to the computed Error.

A processor readable medium having instructions for:

• computing a dimensional error in a width of a bar in a bar code according to the equation
• Error=Desired Bar Width−First Bar Width
• where Desired Bar Width is the desired width of the bar and First Bar Width is the width of the bar if all dots in the bar are printed at a first print resolution;
• printing all dots across the width of the bar except the first dot or the last dot at the first print resolution;
• and
• adjusting the spacing of only the first dot in the bar, only the last dot in the bar, or only the first and last dots in the bar from the first print resolution in an amount substantially equal to the computed Error.