Barcodes - General information
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During the last 20 years the use of bar codes has increased in the retail trade, industry and the supply chain. Barcodes are an easy and cheap way to print much data on just a very small space. A barcode is an optical machine-readable representation of data. A barcode consists of widths, lines and spacings of parallel lines. In the beginning, barcodes were used to label railroad cars. The success story begun when barcodes were used in automated supermarket checkout systems. Nowadays, barcodes have become an essential part of modern civilization. Their use is widespread.
The mapping between massages and barcodes is called a symbology. The specification of a symbology includes the encoding of the single digits of the massage as well as the start and stop markers into bars and spaces. This symbologies are optimized to be read by a laser scanner, usually at the checkout counter. A scanner sweeps a beam of light across the barcode in a straight line. These scanners read the barcode and allow the software to link the article number with a database. This database contains additional information about the product.
Bar codes are not protected by copyright basically and usable free of charge. Except of it is the use of the EAN codes which are awarded by the EAN internationally.
Two technologies are available to print the barcode on your labels. Direct thermal printers use a printhead to generate heat which causes a chemical reaction in a specially designed paper. Due to the heat, the paper turns black. Thermal transfer printers also use heat, but instead of reacting the paper, the heat melts a wax or resin ribbon that runs over the label material.
Thermal direct vs. thermal transfer barcode labels
Bar code labels are available in the most different dimensions and qualities.
Basically there are two different systems with which the labels can be printed. Standard labels using thermo transfer printers with an extra ribbon. Thermal direct labels react directly with the heat of the printing head, no additional ribbon is needed.
Both, thermal direct and thermal transfer labels are available in various colours and adhesions. Thermal transfer and thermal direct labels are available in various sizes. Even in our range, about 120 different sizes are available. For next-door shipment, we offer some off-the-shelf labels, please find the sizes on our special website.
Barcode scanner – barcode reader
A barcode reader is an electronic device for reading printed barcodes. It consists of a light source and lens and a light sensor translating optical impulses into electrical ones. Barcode scanners are available in various types. There are fix-mounted readers for automatic reading but also handheld scanners for the manual use.
Barcodes
According to requirements different barcode types can be used. Some bar codes contain only numerical information (UPC/EAN, Interleaved 2 of 5), other figures and letters (code 93, code 128 or code 39). The bar code 128 allows to encode all 128 signs. With linear bar codes there are only two different widths. Other codes permit 3 widths and more. The more detailed the bar code information is, the higher must be the quality of the barcode print.
For new barcode projects, one has to check whether there are already standardizations for this product. If there is no restriction, the barcode 39 will be chosen often. This code is a 2-wide code with big spreading and can be read by almost any barcode system and scanner. Besides, no special printing quality is necessary. For food, the code 128 is a standard code.
The most popular bar codes are:
EAN Codes: EAN 13
The code EAN 13 is used primarily by food supermarkets. The barcode is usually printed on the packaging, the code mostly contain the European article number (EAN). The standard code EAN has 13 figures, however,for smaller products there is also a shortened form which contains only 8 figures (EAN 8)
EAN Codes: EAN 39
The code 39 is an alphanumeric code wih 9 elements (5 lines, 4 gaps). This code disposes of a high sign stock, however, has only one very low density of information and tolerance. The code 39 is widespread in the industry and in commerce.
EAN Codes: ISBN-13 EAN
The ISBN-13 code is a coding of order numbers for books. This code removed the ISBN-10 code and has been valid since 1/1/2007, because the capacity of the old code was exhausted. The ISBN-13 code is still often complemented with an EAN-5 code for pricing.
EAN Codes: 128
The code 128 enables to show the full ASCII. Moreover it is toggled automatically between 3 sign sentences A, B and C to encode so alphanumeric data in most briefly possible form.
EAN Codes: EAN 128
The code EAN-128 is a special form of the code 128. It is a logistics code for trade. This code has as a specific feature, a sign which follows immediately after the start sign. The length of the code is variable, however,the length should not exceed 165 mm. All together a maximum of 48 signs may be encoded.
With this code several data can be encoded at the same time. Thus it is usual, for example to distinguish food palettes beside the product code, in addition, with declarations of weight and the durability date.
