Extended ribbon life for improved bar code printing

Abstract

Disclosed is an improved method, in an impact matrix printer, for extending print ribbon life when used in printing bar codes and for improving the quality of bar codes printed by the ribbon, the printer including a dot matrix print head having a plurality of print pins and print hammers. The printer includes a medium to receive printed indicia thereon, and a print ribbon intermediate the print head and the medium, and means for effecting relative movement between the print head, the medium and the print ribbon so as to position opposite the print head different portions of the medium from time to time when the printer is operational and printing and to position different portions of the print ribbon intermediate the print head and the medium at preselected times when the printer is operational and printing. As is shown, the method includes the steps of determining when, under normal operating conditions, the print ribbon should be replaced because of an increase in errors in reading the bar code printed by the printer, for example, the color density of the narrower width lines are too light. Two ways of increasing the density of selected bar code lines of print are disclosed: (1) increasing the number of PELS (Picture Elements) per inch of print in at least selected printed lines of bar code, or (2) impacting the same print lines a greater number of times to increase the color density of at least selected PELS. In this manner, the useful life of the printer ribbon for printing bar codes and the quality of bar codes produced by the ribbon is increased without incurring printer throughput loss.