Barcode verification with Cognex verifiers

The verification of barcodes helps ensuring the readability of the barcode throughout the complete supply chain. Barcode verification is the process of grading the quality of barcodes. A barcode verifier assigns an overall grade to a code based on measurements of several quality parameters. Depending on the code type they apply different national and international standards.

Code substrates affect reflectance differently and influence lighting angles

Barcode readers (top) are designed to reveal and read the data within a code. Some barcode reader software may provide print quality metrics useful for process control. Barcode verifiers (down), by contrast, grade codes according to international standards and generate printed reports to help demonstrate compliance

Verification reduces product returns, packaging waste, and other expenses. Barcode verification is an essential quality control tool to ensure a barcode’s complete scannability along the supply chain.
Many producers already monitor the quality of their codes using process control metrics (PCM) and validate their data using software on their barcode readers. But PCM test results are unique to a reader’s particular set-up, including lighting. Barcode verifiers, by contrast, ensure codes are marked correctly and meet an industry’s—rather than an individual producer’s—quality threshold.
A verifier checks all quality parameters, uses a specific lighting set-up, and requires regular calibration.