Caught in 12K: Datalogic’s AV7000 Barcode Camera System

Datalogic launched the AV7000 12K barcode reader camera system, capable of taking high-speed, high-resolution images. This new camera system is capable of reading both one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) barcodes. It is an enhancement over their previous AV7000 8K barcode reader camera.

The AV7000 12K camera system scans packages from six angles. Image used courtesy of Datalogic

Barcode Usage

Both 1D and 2D barcodes are used in industry for asset tracking purposes. The barcodes can be individual, linking to a specific package, or to signify a SKU across a product line. In the former case, the barcode is used to track an individual product through processing steps. Barcodes representing a SKU are used for counting or retrieving product details; these are the ones that get scanned at the grocery store.

The grocery store barcodes are one-dimensional; the lines and spaces are read by a linear sensor. They are inexpensive to print and read by virtually any scanner. There are several common standards for 1D barcodes, such as Universal Product Code (UPC), European Article Number (EAN), Code 39, and Code 128. However, 1D codes are easily damaged and have limited data capacity.

QR codes and other 2D barcodes solve this problem. DataMatrix, PDF417, and Aztec are several other examples of 2D barcode standards. They are more resilient to damage and have increased data capacity as compared to 1D barcodes. Typically, they take more time to scan than 1D barcodes.

Challenges With Reading Barcodes

Today’s manufacturing assembly lines can run at speeds over 3.5 m/s and are wide enough to handle many products at a time. Traditional, linear barcode scanners can fail due to the need to cover a wide belt and the requirement that 1D codes must be scanned with a specific alignment.

These same lines also challenge 2D code readers. While they can read codes in multiple orientations, they are much slower, and the production line must be slowed for them to read all codes properly.

AV7000 12K Specifications

The Datalogic AV7000 12K offers a faster alternative to barcode reading. As the name implies, it offers a 12K camera, providing the high resolution needed to locate the 1D codes, regardless of their orientation and placement on the belt. It also features a high-speed decoding algorithm for rapid image processing across all codes, including 2D codes.

The AV7000 is available in 8K and now 12K models. Image used courtesy of Datalogic

The AV7000 also offers a patented lighting system that ensures codes can be read reliably, even if the barcode has been damaged. Besides damaged barcodes, dirty mirrors on the camera can also cause misreads. The software can detect dirty mirrors, which are easily cleaned, as they slide out in a matter of seconds.

With all this capability, the AV7000 series camera systems are 50% smaller than industry averages, making them a good fit for high-volume facilities with limited free space.

Target Markets

Datalogic envisions deployment of these cameras in shipping and receiving departments as well as for commercial or public mail handling applications. The high-speed image capture means mail can be quickly cataloged and sorted when the camera is integrated with automated sorting systems.