Bar code printer

Abstract

A bar code printer is disclosed which may be used as a standard desk type bar code printer, a weighing bar code printer, etc. by connecting outer peripheral equipment, such as weighing instruments or price indicating balances, to the bar code printer. A change-over circuit can select an input signal from either the input unit of the bar code printer or from the outer peripheral equipment, the input signal energizing a control circuit which develops control signals to drive a bar code printing system and an indicating system. The printer has differing types of bar code systems stored therein and by entering a flag code, a specific bar code system may be selected. Also, the differing types of bar code systems may be accommodated since the bar code is divided into a fixed part (for common use in all systems) and a variable part (differing numerals between bar code systems). The column numbers of the variable part of the bar code may be identified prior to introducing print data via the input unit and the numerals from the input for the variable part may be input thereinto. The printing system includes a plurality of heating elements which contact a heat sensitive surface of the labels. This causes the printing of the bars on the bar code label. The control circuit may include means for maintaining a constant, uniform width of the bars on the bar code label.