Systems for 100% In-line Barcode Verification

Hi All,

Most of our finished products are packed into generic cardboard cases and then the barcode, product description, BBE, etc. are inkjet printed directly on to the case.

The quality of the barcode is important for the major multiples and we check these randomly with a verifier meeting the ISO 15426-1 requirements. Usually all is OK but with limited resources it is difficult to check more than a couple of times a shift. If there is a problem with a printer then it can usually be idenfied with the human eye as well (e.g. lost lines, judder in the belt, etc.).

One major multiple seems to be really clamping down on barcode quality and we received a £540 fine for one case not scanning correctly (this appeared to be some sort of abraision after the product was packed rather than a print issue).

With our current testing regime we cannot really argue about such fines or even be sure that the there is not a problem. I would like to look at putting 100% on-line checking in place, at least for a trial, but I am having problems finding something suitable. There seem to be 100% checkers / verifiers for label printing where the barcode can be pushed past a verifier from bottom to top but there does not seem to be a system for an injet printed barcode moving along a conveyor.

Does anyone one carry out a similar operation? Do you have any ideas or bettter still solutions?

Thanks

Hi monkeyman,

A number of years ago I designed such a system for a semi-automated packing line. At the time I couldn’t find anything suitable and within a reasonable budget so I decided to build it myself.

I positioned an infrared interruption sensor across the conveyer belt and immediately after this a Metrologic orbit scanner. Above the conveyer I installed a Patlite signal tower. I connected all three devices to the internal wireless network using serial-to-wireless Moxa boxes and I developed a back office web service to record the laser interruptions and the barcode scans, and to trigger the signal tower.

The objective was very simple. The box moves down the conveyer, interrupts the laser and barcode is scanned by scanner. If the web service receives two consecutive laser interruptions (without a successful barcode-scan in between) then it triggers the signal tower which sets off an audible and visual alarm. The line manager can remove the offending box for inspection.

It was a fun project and actually worked perfectly well despite the crude mishmash of technologies.

I think this might be what you are looking for: http://www.altech-uk...erification.htm (note video at end of page)

Philip.

Thanks for the info Philip.

The only problem I can see with your system is that it is only scanning 1 line (?) and not checking the whole barcode. This has got to be better than us not scanning at all, except at routine checks.

We thought of something similar with maybe 3 scanners on which would check 3 points on the print.

I will look at the Altech site and see what it looks like.

Have a good weekend :)

Hi Monkeyman

I appreciate this posting is quite old now but I wonder if you have found a solution to your issues?

Regards

Colin Morgan