How barcode scanner and printer work?

Author: Michael Fisher

A barcode is the small images of lines (bars) and a readable machine that represented data that mainly describes something about the object.

There are mainly two types of barcodes.

1. Linear barcodes 2) Matrix (2D) barcodes

Barcode scanners: These are mainly designed to read imprinted bar/ matrix code symbologies. It is consists of a sensor, converter and the decoder which is a light source, a lens and a light sensor translating optical impulses into electrical ones. A scanner "scans" the white and black lines or element of a barcode by illuminating the code with red light. The sensor of the barcode scanner identify the reflected light from the illumination system and produce an analog signal with varying voltage that reveal the intensity of the reflection. Afterward, the converter changes the analog signal to a digital signal, which is forward to the decoder. Then, the decoder interprets the digital signal, confirms and validate that the barcodes are decipherable, change it into ASCII text, formats the text and send to the system the scanner is attached.

There are several types of barcode scanners as follows as:

  • Slot card bar/ matrix code scanner
  • Horizontal scanner
  • Vertical Scanner
  • Wand scanner
  • Gun type scanner
  • Image scanner
  • Laser scanner

Barcode Printer: It is a printer designed to formed barcode labels, which connected to other objects. The bar code printer used to label cartons before shipment or to label retail items with UPCs and EANs. There are mainly two different printing technologies that Thermal Transfer Printers and Direct Thermal Printers. The direct thermal printer used to generate heat that causes a chemical reaction in the specially designed paper that turns the paper black, whereas Thermal transfer printers also use heat but instead of reacting with paper, the heat to blacken the barcode onto the label. These are designs for different markets. Mostly, industrial barcode printers used in large warehouse and manufacture the facilities.

In a general, software designed for barcode printer purposes, in which user will require to create the label format and content and then select the type of barcode format and enter the information to represent by the barcode. Most of this barcode printer is supportive for multiple types of barcodes, depending on the users’ barcode printer needs.

How does a computer connect to the barcode printer and scanner?

There are generally five ways to connect a scanner or printer with a system: a) RS-232 serial interface b) Proprietary interfaces c) keyboard wedge (PS/2) d) USB e) Wireless Networking.

barcodes supplies to the tracking of things that move, entertainment tickets, a large number of items in a store and used to identify patients in a hospital and so on. There are numerous of benefits, in sales, barcodes can provide up-to-date information to help the business such as changes in price, things sold in the store, the product can track overtime, and help to predict seasonal changes in demand.

How does barcodes supplier help business?

It is not existence barcodes themselves that help business saves and makes money, it is the system behind them. For instance, Arizona cardinal is scoreboard crew, they recently implemented an assets tracking system (leveraging barcode technology) in order to track of the important parts involved in a flawless game-day experience. Thus, they were able to save over 500 hours per year.

In summary, the barcode is a small image that read by a machine and helps to save the time of customers as well as producer and seller. It can read by printer and scanner, printer helps to apply tags on the objects, while scanner helps to read tags and label from an object and convert the digital signal to text form. Both are supportive in rest effective and comfortable business.