Different Types Of Bar Code Scanners
Product barcodes are read by barcode scanners in more everyday situations than most of us realize. One of the most familiar uses of this technology is with barcodes on product packages at grocery stores. When we buy something a bar code scanner scans and reads the barcodes on each package. Product information such as product name and unit cost is automatically read and processed by the stock control system. A short description and the amount of each item is automatically added to your bill as each new item is scanned.
At the same time the stock control system records the fact that you have purchased a can of soup or box of cereal, and the inventory tally maintained in the central database is reduced to reflect the fact that someone has purchased one of these items. Inventory control is more or less automatic, assuming that all the data was input correctly in the first place.
Consider a practical example of using this system. Suppose you own a small business, and are tracking inventory manually. You would typically total up your sales at the end of the day and update your records. This is a time-consuming and unreliable process. The use of a bar code system allows you to automatically update your stock control database each time an item is added or removed.
A system like this one can generate different bar codes for items that need them. The software will create a one of a kind bar code for each new item. The bar code printer will then print the code label which is then placed on the item.
The three most prevalent kinds of bar code scanners available now are:
1. Wand Scanners – The least expensive type of bar code scanner is the wand system. And even though it is less expensive, it still is a great choice for most uses. Typically wand prices are a tenth of laser gun prices and about a fifth of CCD scanner prices.
The wand system works well in most applications, and it is by far the least expensive type of bar code scanner. A typical wand costs about 1/10th the price of a laser gun, and about 1/5th the price of a CCD scanner.
However, wand scanners are limited in their operation. To succeed in obtaining a proper reading, the wand has to be positioned correctly with respect to the bar coding label. It is necessary as well to slide the wand along the label neither overly rapidly nor overly slowly. Wand scanners are limited by their resolution requirements too. If a bar code’s resolution is too fine, then the wand won’t be successful in scanning it properly. For instance, a 5 mil bar code cannot be read by a 10 mil device. You must remember that when you go out to buy a wand scanner.
2. The CCD Scanner – The charged coupled device or CCD scanner is a significant step up from the wand scanner. Similar to the wand scanning device, a CCD reader needs to directly touch the barcode label for it to be able to register the information. Unlike the wand scanner, however, the user does not have to move the scanner across the label. The user merely puts the scanner next to the reader and engages it. The CCD scanner then takes a picture of the barcode, digitizes it, and decodes it.
Of all the various types of bar code scanners, CCD readers tend to be the simplest to use. CCD readers can be found in widths from 2 to 4 inches and, while they are more expensive than a wand, CCD readers are less expensive than laser scanners.
A new barcode technology similar to CCD is called FFO (Fixed Focus Optics). And FFO scnner is a non-contact reader which can read barcodes from as much as 20″ away. They are also able to read two-dimensional barcodes which are going to become more widely used in the future.
3. Laser Scanners – A beam of light is used by a laser scanner in order to scan the bar code label. Instead of moving the scanner you move the bar code across the scanner. The scanner does not have to actually touch the bar code label in order to read it. The scanner will automatically read the scan whenever a bar code is held in front of it.
This system is widely used in many different types of installations. Scanning is such a quick process that it ss even possible to insert laser scanners directly into conveyor systems. As objects move along the conveyor, they are automatically scanned and recorded. You see this in grocery stores, where the cashier simply moves the items over the scanner to scan them. This type of system is quick enough to keep up with even the fastest motion of a cashier, and it is quicker and far more accurate than any other alternative system that could be used.
No matter what your ideal scanning system might be today, you need to make certain that you buy a stock control system that allows you to take advantage of future developments in bar code technology. This will allow you to keep your system updated without having to replace the entire system in the future.
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