High Volume Code Reading Vision System

Traditional laser scanners are unreliable when working with a wide variety of code reading applications. Machine vision camera companies understand these issues and have been working to find ways to improve code reading with updated camera technology.

Cognex has developed a new machine vision camera that can replace laser scanners with more reliability and durability. The Cognex Dataman 500 is a robust, highly flexible and accurate solution that is recommended for many code reading applications.

When properly integrated, it can read a wide variety of codes not recognizable by a traditional laser scanner and can tolerate numerous defects while still returning an accurate read at high speeds.

• Advantages to Machine Vision Code Reader Solutions

• EPIC Integration Advantages

• Vision System Inspection Features

• Codes read

• Defects tolerated

Advantages:

• • No moving parts: vision system inspection laser scanners have moving parts, but a vision based solution has a much longer life span by eliminating moving parts
  • Autofocus: liquid lens auto-focus technology uses fluid in the lens to auto-adjust the size of the aperture
  • Durable: machine vision system components come in an industrial housing that is ready for the manufacturing environment. The quality of the “scan” does not deteriorate over time, unlike a laser solution.
  • Greater depth and width of field: machine vision systems offer a much bigger range of ‘scan-able’ area, even reading codes at harsh, skewed angles
  • Simple: all camera and vision components contained within a single industrial housing
  • Image archiving: shows real time images on screen and archives images for later review
  • Optimally exposed image: manages image acquisition with fast auto-exposure algorithm and tracks object through field capturing multiple images in order to return the best image
  • Combines imager with vision optimized microprocessor chip (VSoc: Vision System On a Chip)
  • Flexibility: users can select/deselect codes to be read or ignored
  • Integrated solution for challenging DPM
  • Ultrafast auto-exposure and image acquisition speeds of up to 1,000 frames/second
  • Trigger-free reading reduces overall setup costs and deployment time
  • Minimizes the need for external lighting and precision alignment
  • Flexible lens options—C-mount lens or a variable focus liquid lens providing maximumdepth of field flexibility
  • Field interchangeable lighting—choose the integrated LED lighting or the high-powered illumination accessory
  • Highspeed communications over Ethernet (PoE) which doesn’t require a separate power supply or communications line

Why EPIC?

EPIC makes machine vision integration easy. Our state-of-the art vision lab and our experienced vision engineers are just the basic building blocks that make EPIC’s machine vision solutions stand apart. The things that truly ensure your vision solutions success include:

• • Front-End Engineering to ensure that the proper steps are taken during project scope development
  • Plant engineering experience that assists clients to identify needs, pinpoint objectives and provide the most appropriate machine vision equipment for the application
  • Open door client policy to promote innovation. We invite clients to visit EPIC to experiment with new processes, technologies and techniques that push the limits of traditional engineering.
  • Accountability to responsibly manage our clients’ projects from start-to-finish and beyond.
  • A transfer of knowledge (not just a basic training) for the systems and equipment we provide
  • Single point of direct contact during the entirety of the project

Features:

• • Image acquisition speeds of up to 1,000 frames/second
  • Depth of field = 10 inches with fixed focus lens
  • Read up to 90 codes per secondCognex
  • Connect™ communications suite supports EtherNet/IP and PROFINET protocols
  • Power over Ethernet (POE) eliminates a separate power supply or communication line
  • Supports RS-232 for integration into legacy systems
  • Omni-directional

Codes

The high volume code reader can read the following types of codes:

• 1D codes
  • • UPC/EAN/JAN
    • Codabar
    • Interleaved 2 of 5
    • Code 39
    • Code 128
    • Code 93
    • PostNet
    • Planet Code
    • Australia 4-state
    • Japan 4-state
    • UPU 4-state
    • Intelligent Mail Bar Code
    • Pharma Code
    • GS1 Databar

   

• 2D matrix codes
  • • Data Matrix
    • QR Codemicro
    • QR Code

   

• Composite Symbology
  • • (CC-A, CC-B)
    • PDF417
    • MicroPDF

   

Code Defects

This type of vision system can accurately read codes even if they are:

• • Washed out
  • Badly printed
  • Warped
  • Have a noisy background
  • Blurred
  • At an extreme perspective
  • Scratched
  • Unevenly lit
  • Damaged
  • Distorted
  • Have low height

An EPIC vision system inspection can help you program and install a machine vision solution that meets your high volume code reading needs. Contact an engineer today or learn more about machine vision solutions.