Logistics Solutions Using Barcode Readers

Barcodes are increasingly common in today's industrial environment. The ability to quickly and accurately read those barcodes can make or break a business. Barcodes determine sortation routing, shipping batch assignment, product and container matching and more. There are many applications where a barcode reader makes all the difference in how well your business does business.

Logistics starts in receiving

Improving materials handling efficiencies begins as raw materials and goods are brought into the production facility or warehouse. Scanning as items are unloaded takes the manual counting and routing assignment out of the picture and allows materials to travel to pre-determined destinations via conveyor as they are scanned and sorted.

Shipping label verification

As packages move to the shipping sorters, utilize barcode reader technology to speed throughput and increase destination accuracy by scanning to verify the labels applied are readable and correct when compared to order pick records. Also allow those barcodes readers to work with your conveyor sorting system to accurately sort the packages into the correct shipping lanes.

Verifying Tax Stamps

Liquor wholesalers must apply a tax stamp to every bottle sold. Tax stamps can vary according to locale sold to, and the type of liquor bottled. Barcode readers make the process of verifying stamp applications and recording the tax valuations in a database a fairly easy process. Scan the barcodes for destination information, tax data and send the information to your warehouse management system as well as to the sorter conveyor. Sort and ship to the correct locations while the accounting department is running reports on taxes paid. You've got the documentation already stored in case of an audit!

Small package sorting

You've picked the pieces, packaged them in plastic heat-sealed bags, hand applied shipping labels, now what? Manually sort all those little packages for shipping locations? Of course not. Keep those packages on the conveyor and let a barcode reader trigger sortation and routing.

High speed reading on a conveyor with closely spaced packages of frozen food requires something more than quick eyes and a fast hand found in manual sortation. With barcode labels on box ends, barcode readers can quickly identify boxes, verify which shipment they belong in and trigger sortation to appropriate shipping lanes. The ability to verify and sort on the fly is a considerable benefit in high speed operations.

Certain barcode readers have the ability to capture barcode data despite the background type or color as well as contrast levels. These high-tech readers utilize special illumination techniques as well as special algorithms that capture all data available and extrapolate missing elements.

When packaging and barcode labeling lead to low contrast levels or there is low light at the barcode reading location, certain readers have the ability to illuminate the reading area and use algorithms to adjust contrast levels the reader sees, making it possible to verify and match package contents against the barcode on the package itself.

Sometimes packaging methods will cause distortion in the label image seen by standard barcode readers. Fortunately, there are readers with the ability to rebuild the label image internally, thereby removing the majority of read errors due to tape over labels, plastic overwrap, or oddly shaped packaging.

Today's barcode readers have the capability to work in conjunction with one another, providing a sortation or WMS system with multiple data points per package such as weight verification and shipping location in order to calculate accurate freight charges.

New technologies in barcoding allow not only single dimension (1-D) barcodes, but also two-dimensional (2-D) barcodes wherein codes have different formats than the standard barcode. Readers with 2-D technology are able to read QR codes as well as other 2-D code systems.

Sometimes packages require multiple code types such as EAN128 and a 2-D code. Often those codes made be covered by a clear plastic layer such as an envelope window or outer clear plastic packaging. Products such as the Cognex Dataman 500 can handle multiple code types even at high read rates with minimal read errors.

Small size and high performance at high-speed code reading make these readers the choice for conveyor lines and high-speed sortation operations. The Cognex Dataman series of readers scan and read all code types from simple 1-D barcodes to highly complex 2-D codes. Features such as autofocus and Ethernet capability greatly benefit read accuracy and networking with warehouse management systems.

Cognex handheld readers offer self-illumination, special image acquisition and code reading algorithms for reliable reading of codes on most any surface.