Reliably read barcodes in every position

Ready-to-use barcode-scanner portals for the omnidirectional reading of barcode labels

Leuze electronic: Reading unaligned barcode labels generally requires two or more barcode scanners that are aligned with respect to one another. The new MSPi systems from Leuze electronic are modularly structured and mechanically premounted scanner portals (figure 1). Electrically wired and preconfigured, they are delivered ready-to-use for nearly every application.

With their integrated code fragment technology and high scanning rate, the BCL 500i and BCL 501i series barcode readers used in the portals offer the essential prerequisites for detecting rotated barcode labels. The code fragment technology makes possible the identification of soiled, rotated or damaged codes, and the high, adjustable scanning rate of between 800 and 1,200 scans per second ensures identification even with very high conveyor speeds. With their large depth of field and wide opening angle, the devices can also be used on wide transport systems.

Thanks to the flexible design of the MSPi systems, up to 32 of these BCL 500i series barcode readers can be integrated in a single scanner portal. Depending on the application, i.e. depending on the barcode (barcode type and bar length) and conveyor speed, Leuze electronic adapts the scanners, which are prealigned for the given reading task, on a mounting plate. In this way, applications with rotated labels (tilt angle up to 360°) as well as multi-sided reading tasks of up to six sides can be realized.

Figure 2: MultiScan application on a package conveyor system

The scanners are already integrated in the fast, Leuze electronic multiNet plus network and are fully wired and configured: ready for use with no additional mounting or adjustments by the user. The MultiScan operating mode is based on Leuze multiNet plus and links individual barcode readings from multiple barcode scanners into a single decoding result. Thus, from the perspective of the host, the scanner network appears to be just a single barcode reader. This technology is used, for example, in package conveyor systems in which the label can be affixed to either the right or left side. Without MSPi, two read stations would be necessary in this case (figure 2). So that the host does not need to process one decoding result and one No Read, i.e. two readings for each package, a MultiScan arrangement is used to ensure that the MultiScan master passes on only one reading from the two read stations to the host.

With the new MSPi systems, applications can be quickly realized by means of plug-and-play without any additional mounting and cabling work. If users wish to change their application, they can use the integrated webConfig tool to easily configure the devices themselves via a web browser.