News about Barcode Scanners
[22/05/2010] Hand-held versus fixed scanners
Barcode scanners come in all shapes and forms, from small and lightweight models to massive industrial ones that are mounted on walls.
All readers are made with the specific user in mind; the simplest barcode readers are the hand-held ones, often called wand scanners, and almost all of them have a trigger that turns the light source on or off. In order to read a barcode label, the reader is pointed directly at the barcode, with the scanner held at a position perpendicular to the vertical barcode lines, and the label is read by pressing the trigger.
Even though simple to use, convenient and reliable, the hand-held scanners aren’t suitable for most retail outlets, where thousands of barcodes are processed daily. The barcode scanners typically found in the retail stores are the fixed scanners; again, they have a light source and a photodiode (most often) that processes the reflected light and sends a waveform to a decoder, which transforms the waveform into plain text. The fixed scanners read labels when the products are passed over; many of the fixed scanners use superior technology, which allows them to read labels that are wrinkled, dirtied, or even partially damaged.
Hybrid models – some scanners combine the best of both worlds. They are light enough to be used as hand-held barcode scanners, but come with a stand, which allows them to be used as fixed scanners as well. They are ideal for smaller stores and organizations, which need to process a lot of products, but need some mobility as well. Some of these models can be switched from a hand-held mode to a fixed scanner mode with the push of a button; when in hand-held mode an operator has to press the trigger every time a barcode has to be read and when in fixed scanner mode, the scanner works without the need of operator’s intervention.
The most commonly used barcode scanners today have many tiny light sources, which are positioned in a row. In order to read a barcode label, the scanner has to be pointed in such way that the line of light is perpendicular to the vertical bars of the label. If the scanner is held at an angle, then the barcode label won’t be read correctly. More advanced models of barcode readers use multiple light sources, which are arranged in a two-dimensional array pattern and this allows the barcode to be read every single time, regardless of the position of the scanner. These barcode readers are called omni-directional and almost in all cases they use laser beams; they are ideal for places, where thousands of products are processed, and are often used for sorting parcels.
Other articles from this category:
[27/04/2010] What is Barcode Scanner?
[27/04/2010] What are the scanning methods available?
[22/05/2010] Barcode reader - general explanation
[22/05/2010] What are the scanning methods?
[22/05/2010] Types of technology in barcode scanners.
[22/05/2010] Housing types
[22/05/2010] Methods of connection
[22/05/2010] Resolution of barcode labels
[22/05/2010] Manhattan Barcode Scanner Quick Setup Guide
[22/05/2010] Corded Barcode Scanners
[22/05/2010] What are barcodes used for?
[22/05/2010] Barcode symbology
[09/07/2010] Why Track Inventory
[11/01/2011] Cordless Scanner Benefits
[11/01/2011] Wireless Barcode Scanners
[11/01/2011] CCD Barcode Scanners
[11/01/2011] Symbol Barcode Scanners
[11/01/2011] Barcode scanners not only useful in supermarkets
[11/01/2011] Barcode Advancements
[11/01/2011] Barcode Scanners and Barcode Printers
