High-speed industrial barcode scanners. Industrial barcode scanners: new technologies in AutoID

Industrial scanners barcodes are intended for use in difficult conditions. They withstand vibration, repeated impacts and falls on a concrete surface; some models can withstand frosts of thirty degrees.
In this article we will tell you what advanced technologies and know-how are used in such scanners.

Modern technologies in AutoID

Industrial barcode scanners are one of the types of devices required for automatic data identification (AutoID for short). There are many advanced technologies used in this field to make the devices as efficient and user-friendly as possible.

Zebra Technologies implements interesting solutions in its industrial scanners. One of them is Power Precision. It consists of two components: smart batteries and software for them (Power Precision Battery Management). Using this technology, you can track the condition of batteries on all batteries from one center. mobile devices Zebra. And also predict the service life of batteries for timely replacement.

"Indestructible" industrial scanner from Zebra, model DS3678-SR with PowerPrecision technology

Another interesting development by Zebra Technologies is SimulScan Document Capture. It allows, using a scanner, to capture barcodes, text fields, phone numbers, images, signatures and even checkboxes. You can recognize characters and edit text after reading. SimulScan Document Capture allows you to scan 1D and 2D barcodes simultaneously, even if they are damaged.

No less interesting are the achievements of another well-known manufacturer of industrial-class scanners – Datalogic. The company completes some models with liquid lenses. It is a variable focus system that uses two fluids: oil (insulator) and water (conductor). Liquid lenses have fast response times and are ideal for reading complex barcodes.

For more information on what liquid lenses are, watch the video:

The software used in Datalogic scanners allows you to read barcodes printed on different methods, such as: inkjet printing, needle impact marking, chemical or laser engraving, direct marking (Direct Part Marking).

Another one interesting technology– Datalogic 3 Green Lights. It is used to confirm that the barcode has been successfully read. In this case, one is displayed green signal on barcode and double – on the device body. The aiming system itself consists of a central crosshair and four dots in the corners, which allows you to clearly identify the captured area for scanning. A high-quality barcode reading Low quality provides the PuzzleSolver decoding algorithm.

This is what the barcode scanner aiming system looks like

A good solution is Datalogic STAR 2.0 Cordless System. This technology is used to transmit data in the 433 MHz or 910 MHz radio frequency range. As a result, interference from devices with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi is eliminated, and the sensitivity of communication to metal or concrete obstacles is reduced. Datalogic STAR 2.0 Cordless System provides two-way data transmission over a distance of up to 150 m with the ability to combine up to 32 scanners and one base station(for example, Datalogic PM9500 scanner).

The company was able to “teach” its scanners to predict operator actions using Datalogic Motionix technology. When the scanner is held in the hand, Datalogic Motionix automatically places the instrument in manual mode and activates the aiming system. If the scanner is on the stand, presentation mode is activated and the device is charged. The technology works intuitively and eliminates the need for the operator to manually switch operating modes. This option is important when you have to scan hundreds or thousands of titles.

In conclusion about barcode scanners for industrial use

Today, without automatic data identification technologies, it is difficult to imagine the organization of conveyor lines or warehouse facilities. The use of data collection terminals is not always justified; sometimes it is more optimal to use an industrial scanner to automate processes in production, warehouse or logistics. Where there are extreme conditions, dust or moisture, temperatures down to -30C, or where you need to scan a barcode from a distance of 10 meters, and at the same time do it accurately, quickly and accurately - high-tech industrial scanners can be indispensable.

A barcode scanner is a device that can read a manufacturer's label barcode. First, the scanner's reader reads the barcode labels, then it translates the black and white lines of the barcode into numbers and letters that make up, for example, an inventory number. After this, the scanner transmits the inventory number to the computer in the same way as if you had entered this number on the keyboard. Obviously, manually dialing numbers all day long will take too much time, and besides, the likelihood of errors in this case will be high, which is why barcode readers are considered an indispensable and reliable tool for retail trade.

The purpose of the scanner device is, first of all, to save time and increase accuracy when processing transactions. Barcodes will help you serve customers quickly and efficiently, reduce the number of errors in inventory and in settlements with customers, save employee time and reduce costs.

Types of barcode scanners

2D Barcode Scanners

2D scanners are a new type of barcode scanner. First, these scanners seem to capture the entire barcode, and only then recognize it. 2D scanners are not only faster and more accurate than laser scanners, they also offer more functionality. A 2D image scanner can read linear 1D barcodes, but can also read 2D barcodes, capture signatures, and scan data. They can read barcodes from any angle, work in bright sunlight and it is better to read damaged or Bad quality barcodes. Recently, 2D scanner technology has improved significantly to surpass the popularity of laser scanners. main reason This is because the cost of 2D scanner technology is gradually decreasing, which contributes to the spread of 2D barcodes in various industries (postal services, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, etc.). (pictured: Cino A770 - 2D barcode scanner).

Modern gadgets such as smartphones and tablets are capable of reading and displaying 2D codes. These two-dimensional 2D codes, also known as QR codes, have become very popular as a marketing tool. The trend of using 2D barcodes in marketing includes digital coupons, gift cards, loyalty cards, games and competitions. And to use these marketing tools V retail trade It must be possible to scan 2D barcodes from a customer's smartphone, which in turn means that stores will need 2D image scanners.

The rise in popularity of 2D barcode scanners has helped make this technology more accessible to retailers.

CCD barcode scanners

CCD scanners are low cost scanners low level, which can read barcodes only at a distance of up to 10 centimeters. CCD scanners function as follows: they analyze the scattered light emitted from a barcode through a series of light sensors. Although a CCD scanner is less versatile and less reliable than a laser scanner, it can be smart choice for retail stores with low traffic on a limited budget. In addition, as a rule, CCD scanners are quite durable. (pictured - CCD scanner Champtek SD500)

Laser scanners

A laser scanner emits a beam of light onto a barcode and then reads the reflected light to determine the information contained in the barcode. Laser scanners have been specifically designed to read linear or 1D barcodes, are more efficient and reliable than CCD scanners, and can handle uneven surfaces. Laser scanners can read barcodes from long distances- up to 12 meters for special long-range scanners. Some laser scanners have a function automatic detection: They turn themselves on and off depending on whether the scanning object is in front of them or not. With these features, laser scanners cost slightly more than CCD scanners, although for some applications this can be significant. 1D laser scanners are still very popular, and dominated the market until the recent rise of 2D image scanners. (pictured: model V-1030, laser scanner from Scantech ID).

Omnidirectional scanners

Omnidirectional scanners is a type of laser scanner, its difference is that it directs 15 or 20 laser beams from several angles at once in order to scan a barcode from any angle. You usually see these scanners at supermarket checkout counters; they read codes from packages as they pass through a glass window. They can also be installed in some commercial and industrial conveyor type installations. An example of such a scanner is the Nova N-4070 scanner from Scantech ID (see image above).

How to choose a barcode scanner

Type of shell

When choosing a barcode scanner, its shape or housing type is of great importance, which determines the conditions of use. Here are examples of these forms:

• hand scanner;
• stationary scanner (installed on a wall, table, sometimes at the cash register);
• cash scanner (built directly at the cash register);
• industrial scanner (often used on conveyor belts);
• tablet or laptop (with built-in barcode reader or separate barcode scanner).

Barcode Symbols

Most scanners can automatically detect Various types barcodes. But it's still best to know in advance what types of barcodes you'll be using and make sure you choose a compatible scanner.

Connection

You should make sure that the barcode reader you choose will work with your POS system. Scanners can be connected via RS232, PS/2 or USB port on the computer. Check with your POS software provider to see what type of connection they support, and make sure those ports are free on your computer.

Volume of orders

Low customer volume may mean that speed of customer service is not as important to you and you may want to switch to budget options. On the contrary, high customer traffic most likely means that you are better off investing in laser or photo scanners. Depending on your level of client traffic, you may also want to consider automatic on/off models, or omnidirectional scanners.

Some other questions about the barcode scanner or where you want to use it you can discuss with your equipment supplier:

• choose hand scanners or with a fixed mount;
• wireless options;
• high density, or unusually small barcodes;
• the need for long-distance scanning;
• good review;
• uneven reading surfaces;
• bright sunlight;
• reading speed;
• equipment durability;
• price.

Anticipating your expectations, needs and environment for using the scanner, we can say that the right barcode scanner for you will certainly provide a good return on investment in it.

The MetraSCAN 3D 750 scanner is designed for high-speed scanning and precision measurements objects complex shape. The measurement volume without moving the tracker is 16.6 m 3 with an accuracy of 64 microns.

The system consists of a laser emitter and two cameras high resolution to analyze the curvature of laser lines projected onto the surface of an object. The position of the scanner in space is determined using the C-Track optical tracker. As a result of scanning, a polygonal 3D model of the object is obtained, which is used both for geometry control and for reverse engineering. The main advantage of MetraSCAN 3D 750 is its versatility. The scanner is wireless, lightweight, and ergonomic, which allows you to monitor hard-to-reach areas. The measurement volume without moving the tracker of 16.6 m 3 makes it possible to control both small and large objects with an accuracy of up to 64 microns.

Technologies

The MetraSCAN 3D 750 scanner consists of a laser emitter and two high-resolution cameras for analyzing the curvature of laser lines projected onto the surface of an object. The position of the scanner in space is determined using the C-Track optical tracker, which links the coordinate system to the measurement object by determining the reflectors placed on it. This allows you to freely move the tracker, scanner and the object itself in space during the scanning process. The combination of information about the shape of laser lines projected onto the surface of an object (MetraSCAN 3D 750 scanner) and the relative position of the scanner and the object under study (C-Track tracker) provides data about the surface of the object under study.

IR LEDs used in the tracker to illuminate the reflectors allow you to step away from external sources illumination in the visible range and neutralize their influence on scanning results.

As a result of scanning, a polygonal 3D model of the object is obtained, which is used both for geometry control and for reverse engineering.

Application

MetraSCAN 3D 750 laser scanning systems are used for high-precision digitization of medium- and large-sized objects, reverse engineering, and quality control of finished products. This equipment Widely used to control the geometry of castings in mechanical engineering and automotive manufacturing, repair plants and production of energy equipment. MetraSCAN 3D 750 can be used to inspect and reverse engineer large enclosures. Mobility and light weight allow the system to be moved directly to the test object. Time for unpacking and readiness for work is 5-10 minutes. The equipment is protected from exposure external environment, which makes it possible to carry out measurements in various climatic conditions.

Industrial scanners Kodak Digital Science Scanner 3500 and Doc Scan 500

Well, finally, in my articles about computer hardware, I actually got to the hardware. There is a lot of iron in an industrial scanner, I think 90 percent. And the 86 kg of the Kodak Document Scanner 500 inspires respect, although perhaps this is because I have never worked with a barbell. But when I saw him, I immediately remembered that the occupational disease of opticians is not at all an eye disease, but a primitive hernia.

My six-hour acquaintance with two models of industrial scanners, Kodak Doc Scan 500 and Kodak Digital Science Scanner 3500, cannot be called testing: an industrial scanner needs industrial testing. That's right, inspection from the surface. In order to imagine how to test a scanner and what to expect from it, I turned to the encyclopedic dictionary and found out that “industry is the most important sector of the national economy, which has a decisive impact on the level of development of the productive forces of society. It consists of two large groups of industries: mining and manufacturing.” And then I stopped and thought: to which group do we classify an industrial scanner? It seems that it is possible to go towards mining: extracting information from deposits of old materials. Or you can go to the processing side: process the results of elections, lotteries, declarations, and so on.

To test the mining capabilities of the scanners, I prepared newspapers from the 50s, typewritten sheets, including the nth copies, company representatives offered me a napkin... And, in general, the scanner coped with these materials, although if you throw an arbitrary stack of old papers onto the scanner input tray, then despite very careful attitude to documents, he can still jam some of them, for example, a napkin the nth time. A newspaper folded 4 times passed through it uncrumpled, not the first time. But here it should be noted that the thickness of a folded newspaper is already at the limit of the scanner’s passport capabilities, and in addition, old paper becomes very brittle. Accessing a jammed document is very easy, and eliminating the consequences does not take much time. Everything was fine with the scanning quality, considering that the scanner’s strong point is not high quality, its quality is lower than that of a household scanner, 200-300 dpi.

You can evaluate the scanner’s ability to distinguish between different fonts and newspaper illustrations by clicking on the fragment.

But he himself unfolds the scanned image, and no matter how much I tried to confuse him by turning the sheet of paper, he clearly tracked: up to 44 degrees - portrait orientation of the paper, more than 45 degrees - landscape. That is absolute alignment not required: sheets of paper can be of different sizes and rotated differently; the only requirement is that the top border of all sheets be under the pressure roller.

And then, in a minute, you have a stack of 80 sheets scanned on both sides, with all the images aligned and entered into a database, a thumbnail of which can be viewed on the screen. You can ask the computer to remove images that do not contain information, you can rotate the image 90 or 180 degrees, and run an OCR program. It is natural that high speed is determined not only by the mechanics of the scanner, but also by the ability to transfer the image to a computer. In the considered version, the images were transmitted as black and white in an already compressed TIFF format. The scanner is connected to a computer via a SCSI-2 port; scanning results can be processed by a special MVCS program or transmitted via the TWAIN interface to other programs installed on the computer.

Appearance and internal organization You can appreciate the scanner from the photographs given; the abundance of parts inside the scanner, made on a lathe, suggests a solid military production, and not large-scale consumer goods. The main requirement for an industrial scanner is reliability, speed and long service life. The 500th scanner I was considering has been in use for a long time and is no longer produced (the 7500th model is now being produced, which is completely identical in mechanics), but I did not notice any visible signs of wear. I did not find any fundamental features in the optical design of the scanner. A lamp, several mirrors, a lens and a CCD ruler. All this is in duplicate, since scanning is done from both sides simultaneously.

However, the lamp reflector applied to part of the bulb is quite exotic; You can see how it looks in the photo. It is possible to install lamps of different colors, and not necessarily the same ones, to scan the top and bottom sides of the sheet.

The scanner is a broaching scanner; paper is pulled in one scanner using belts, and in the other, using drums. Since the main criterion for an industrial scanner is reliability, several algorithms for detecting paper jams (size, thickness, weight) are provided. In general, the scanner is capable of clearing away deposits of documents, but working with it does not contribute to an individual approach to individual copies. And it still doesn’t give a 100% guarantee of safety.

Probably, this scanner is more related to the manufacturing industry, that is, to the processing of machine-readable forms. Here, as in normal production, the main thing is technology, and technology begins with the designer. No, don’t think that it’s from the scanner designer, but from the form designer. To get the optimal result, you need to compose the form so that the icons and values ​​​​written into it, even by hand, can be read. Service information, which is needed only by the person who fills out this form, and is absolutely identical for all documents, can be made in a color that is not perceived by the lamp.

By choosing a lamp of the appropriate color, you can make the markings invisible

True, then you need to convince the person filling out to write with a certain ink or, even better, before filling out the document, give everyone a special pen. A specially prepared form, a pen and a scanner for scanning these forms. Here, as you yourself understand, the handle is a very important element of the technological process. You can get a card for each pen, and then, as in the book: “remove the characteristics from each pen: filled with green ink...”

But there is no need to worry here: the scanner is not designed to identify the person filling out the document: the resolution is not the same, and it does not sense color. One thing is important here: the light absorbed by the ink must differ (for the photodetector, not the human eye) from the absorption spectrum of the ink with which the form was printed. Otherwise, the company conducting the lottery will have big problems, when the scanner misses a ticket in which all 6 numbers are guessed. Machine-readable forms are all kinds of voting, lotteries, polls and referendums, bank payment documents, when it is necessary to process hundreds of thousands of pages per day on each of installed scanners. Moreover, a significant role here is played by software that recognizes the results, sorts them, and draws the operator’s attention to dubious cases. One of the most interesting programs for working with Kodak scanners is Fine Reader manuscript. This system designed for automated input of machine-readable forms filled in block letters.

In general, industrial scanners are not the virtuoso work of a jeweler with each specific paper pearl, but painstaking work on developing a technological process, starting from planning forms, scanning them and creating programs, and ending with scanner maintenance regulations. Here Kodak has implemented a completely cosmic approach. There is a connector inside the scanner specifically for connecting a computer service department- a kind of American analogue of the machine for routine checks of our missile forces.

WITH technical characteristics scanners can be found on the AKMIS website:

3D scanners are widely used in various areas industry: quality control, reverse engineering, design. Many enterprises have so tightly integrated technology into production that they see no alternative to it.

Quality control. Industrial 3D scanners are used for non-contact inspection of products in mass production conditions. The technology provides measurement and subsequent comparison with the drawing of the linear and angular geometric parameters of the product.

Reverse engineering. In the absence of design documentation for the product, it is extremely difficult to relaunch it in mass production. Most effective solution 3D scanners have become a problem. They are widely implemented in the reverse engineering system for products with complex shapes. Unlike standard means, a 3D device allows you to obtain the surface of all components and elements of a part with an accuracy of microns.

Design. To create or upgrade any object, there is no longer a need to spend hundreds of hours developing drawings. It is enough to scan the item and convert it into a format convenient for processing. Design in modern CAD programs allows you to quickly obtain the required model based on the scanned original.

Scan objects

A three-dimensional scanner is a device that analyzes a physical object and, based on the data obtained, creates a 3D model of it. The scanner, depending on the modules used, allows you to perform the entire cycle of analysis of parts:

• diameters, position of centers, holes, roundings;
• angles between edges, faces;
• technological displacement of parts of forged and cast products associated with displacement of mold elements;
• determine the shift of the mold halves;
• perform screening according to given parameters geometry and specified tolerances (hole diameter, taper, rounding radii, etc.).

Industrial 3D scanners have already been implemented in all high-tech industries in the USA and Western Europe. IN Lately and Russian manufacturers are showing interest in the technology, which allows us to hope for an increase in the competitiveness of domestic enterprises.

Why is it beneficial?

The devices allow you not only to quickly analyze data about an object, but also to load the scanned model into the system computer-aided design, as well as speed up the production process of goods, obtaining the most accurate models. The use of 3D scanners will also be useful when scanning samples self made and creation exact copies parts for a single order.

Using 3D scanners for quality control can significantly improve the compliance of physical parts with specifications technical requirements. The devices make it possible to detect defects in tooling and diagnose operational problems in the early stages of production.