This document discusses the differences between barcode scanners and barcode verifiers. Barcode scanners are used to capture barcode data and forward it to a system, while verifiers examine and analyze the quality of printed barcodes to ensure they meet standards and can be scanned properly. Verifiers grade barcodes and identify issues that could prevent successful scanning, such as insufficient contrast or defective printing. Verification is important to ensure barcodes can be read by scanners in various applications and environments to avoid costly issues down the line. The document provides details on verification testing methods, quality parameters, and the information provided in verification results and analysis. Both offline and inline verification systems are discussed.

1. Axicon Auto ID Ltd.
William van Benthum
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2. Greetings from the Netherlands
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3. Holfeld Graphics
Rory Connaughton
Our partner in Ireland
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4. Barcode Verification
Why and how
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5. What’s the difference?
Barcode scanners
vs.
Barcode verifiers
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6. Barcode scanners
- Designed to capture barcode data content.
- Forward the decoded data to a system being used in
a certain application.
-
Such as…
a Point Of Sale cash register.
a baggage handling system.
various sorts of logistic environments.
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7. A variety of scanners
Hand held
Fixed
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8. A variety of scanners
Hand held
Fixed
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9. What’s a Barcode Verifier?
- It is a measuring or quality inspection device.
- Examines, analyses and reports the quality, and
therefore scanability of the (printed) barcode.
- It is not a scanner.
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10. Verifiers are about standards
- It compares the results of the measurements against
international industry standards and specifications.
- The ISO/IEC standard for print quality of linear codes
is 15416. For 2D Matrix codes it is 15415.
- The most well known application standard is the one
from GS1.
-Oh, and a verifier is NOT a scanner.
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11. Grading your barcode
- A verifier grades the barcode for quality.
- Grade A(4), B(3), C(2), D(1) or F(0).
- For most applications (such as the GS1 standard) a
grade 2.5 or higher is acceptable.
Did I tell you a verifier is NOT a scanner?
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12. Why verify?
- Verification makes sure that the printed barcode will
be read by the scanners in the various applications, by
various scanners in various places.
- If not, it can e.g. kill automated logistic processes.
- Non readable barcodes will cause loss of time, loads
of extra costs, goodwill, lost luggage, headaches, etc.
etc.
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13. Who verifies?
- Designers, Printers, Packaging.
- Manufacturers (food, non-food, pharmaceutical,
automotive, aerospace etc. etc.)
- Publishers
- Retail
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14. What can go wrong?
- Wrong data encoded
- Too little contrast
- Bars (and/or spaces) too wide or too narrow
- Insufficient light margins/quiet zones
- Defects caused by e.g. dust in print heads, wrinkled
ribbons, blocked (inkjet) nozzles etc. etc.
- Barcode is too small or too large (magnification)
- Code is truncated
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15. What can go wrong 2?
- Missing (or split) bars because of faulty print heads
- Using transparent substrates (plastic/glass)
- Placing barcodes too close to vertical corners or
even wrapping around corners.
- Barcodes on film distorted because of shrink wrap
- Using uncovered metal surfaces as a background for
the bars of a symbol
- Messing up the rules for using Application Identifiers
in GS1-128 for traded unit symbols
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16. Analysis
- A verifier analyses the problem area (if any) and
gives the user information how to correct the mistake
and/or improve the quality in order to achieve a
better grade.
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17. How to verify
- The scan reflectance profile (SRP)
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18. Parameters of quality
-
Edge Determination
Minimum Reflectance
Symbol Contrast
Minimum Edge Contrast
Modulation
Defects
Decode
Decodability
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19. A typical grading according to 15416
2.8/06/660
- Where 2.8 (or B) is the achieved grade.
-‘06’ is for 6 mil/150 microns. The size of the aperture
applied for the measurement.
- ‘660’ is for 660 nanometers, the wavelength of the
light source being used to illuminate the barcode.
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20. Are you still with me?
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21. Types of verification
- linear
- 2D
- all-in-one
- PC system
- Portable system
- off-line (>95%)
- in-line
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22. What does it look like
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23. What does it look like 2
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24. In-Line verification
- All codes are verified
- All results can be stored and kept as proof of ISO
compliance
- Will usually also do data content checking (AI check,
sequential numbering etc.)
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25. However…
- In-line verification requires a fixed distance from
verifier to barcode within small tolerances.
- It also requires a fixed angle of illumination to
comply with ISO/IEC standards
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26. In-Line verification
- Requires stable web printing
- Mind your speed!
- Barcode orientation is important
- What action should be taken when faulty barcodes
are detected?
- Can the printer/system be paused by an external
device?
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27. Thank you!
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