Posted to News on 6th Jun 2013, 15:41
Low-cost AutoVISION smart camera barcode verification system
Microscan is offering a low-cost system for companies in need of high-speed inline barcode verification. The AutoVISION product suite, including compact smart cameras and machine vision software, offers a robust means to verify the quality both 1D and 2D barcodes against established industry standards, including ISO 15415, ISO 15416, and AIM DPM.
Unreadable barcodes can lead to process inefficiencies and downtime associated with re-labelling, re-scanning, or manual data entry. High-quality, readable barcodes are a requirement in many vendor contracts, and some customers and retailers may even impose a fine for each unreadable code they receive, in addition to rejecting the product. Inline verification with machine vision addresses this issue with quality inspection that is more reliable random sampling, and can also be used to detect printer faults before unreadable codes become problematic. Industry barcode quality standards such as ISO 15415 are used for verifying 1D and 2D barcodes that are printed or marked directly onto a part (DPM). Microscan's AutoVISION software includes 1D and 2D Symbol Quality Verification tools to evaluate the quality of each barcode against industry standards, and ensure that every product is processed and shipped with high quality barcodes for cradle-to-grave traceability and overall process efficiency.
Nico Hooiveld, Microscan's Machine Vision Product Manager, says: "What makes the AutoVISION suite unique is the fact that manufacturers from food and beverage, consumer goods, or pharmaceutical industries can error-proof each individual barcode on their packaging inline with either the Vision MINI and Vision HAWK smart cameras, without the need for a PC. If barcode quality verification to set standards is not necessary, manufacturers can easily modify the verification parameters for custom validation and ensure consistently readable codes for each of their processes."
Since a barcode that has not been adequately illuminated cannot be verified, effective lighting is critical in any smart camera verification system. Additionally, ISO and AIM standards require verification systems that are equipped with particular lighting geometries. Microscan's high-performance NERLITE lighting products are specifically engineered for integration with AutoVISION smart cameras, including built-in light controllers which can be directly managed from the camera.
For more information on verification using Microscan's AutoVISION software and smart cameras, visit www.microscan.com.
