Barcode and 2D Code Reading

Standard barcode readers need a fixed distance and orientation; wrinkled packaging, shiny metal or curved surfaces lower the read rate. In camera-based reading the image is first enhanced, then the code is located and decoded; several codes can be read in one frame, and special lighting setups are used for direct part marking (DPM) codes.

In our panel radiator line application, the camera reads the barcode on each packed radiator as it moves along the roller conveyor. Our software determines the product type and dimensions from the code, selects which robot will stack it on which pallet, and passes this information to the PLC over UDP. The operator screen shows the last code read, the product data, the robot and pallet assigned and the image of every package, and the symbol contrast is measured on every read to track print quality.

We apply barcode reading in other fields as well: at the inspection station for gel cards used in blood group typing, the card's barcode is read and verified together with the gel and liquid level checks in the tubes. The image on this page is the screen of our line software, which carries the brand of Merlicon, our company in the Netherlands.