Cognex unveils hand-held industrial ID reader
designed to make traceability within food production more efficient
and easier to access.
The new products include two hand-held readers and a fixed-mount reader that run IDMax, which the company claims represents a breakthrough in Data Matrix reading software based on Cognex's patented technology. The readers are designed to deliver robust and reliable decoding for part-level traceability applications.
Cognex, a leading supplier of machine vision systems, vision sensors and industrial ID readers, believes that part tracking is becoming an essential in many production, assembly, test, and logistics operations. Fast ID readers are an efficient method of providing accurate results.
"Up until now, manufacturers haven't had access to products that combine the level of performance, ease of use, and choice of form factor that Cognex now provides," said Justin Testa, senior vice president of ID Products for Cognex. "These new ID readers enable manufacturers to move forward on part traceability projects with confidence that the readers will read reliably and quickly."
The DataMan 6400 and DataMan 6500 hand-held readers, and the In-Sight 5110 fixed-mount reader, all combine high-speed processing with optimised lighting, optics, and software for fast, accurate decoding of the most challenging 1D and 2D codes.
The DataMan 6400 is designed for reading codes produced by laser and ink jet marking. The DataMan 6500 reads very low contrast codes formed by electrochemical etching and dot pen marking, in addition to laser and ink jet marks.
The In-Sight 5110 supports ISO mark quality metrics for real-time 1D and 2D code verification at mark and read stations. The In-Sight 5110 is a self-contained, industrial-grade unit that meets IEC specifications for shock and vibration, and achieves an IP67 (NEMA 6) rating for dust and wash-down protection - without the need for a separate industrial enclosure.
Cognex claims that the ID reader is ideally suited for use on fully automated production lines where high-speed acquisition and processing assure it will keep pace with even the fastest production rates. A graphical user interface, specifically designed for ID reading, makes deployment fast and easy, and the Ethernet interface simplifies communications with other devices on the factory network.
DataMan 6400 and 6500 and In-Sight 5110 ID readers will be available in September, and complement existing machine vision systems already on the market. The Campbell Soup Company for example recently installed the MVS-8500 vision system to ensure proper product labelling throughout all of its plants in North America.
This machine is designed to ensure that each can of Campbell soup has the proper label by first verifying the inkjet-printed product code that is marked on the bottom of each can before the label is applied. These codes contain production information specific to each type of soup, and after the code is read, the appropriate label will then be automatically applied.
The MVS-8500 is capable of checking these codes while the cans are moving at the maximum production rate, virtually eliminating the possibility of product mislabelling.
Cognex claims that its vision systems can be installed to inspect everything from soup to nuts. "Our success in this application proves the versatility and flexibility of Cognex's software," said Cognex chief executive Robert Shillman. "Reading codes in Campbell's production environment is very different from reading codes on the surfaces of semiconductor wafers in clean rooms, which has historically been one of our largest applications."
Campbell Soup Company is a global manufacturer and marketer of high quality soup, sauce, beverage, biscuit, confectionery and prepared food products with nearly $7 billion in annual sales and a portfolio of more than 20 market-leading brands.
