Barcode Scanners

What is a barcode scanner?

A barcode scanner or barcode reader is an electronic device for reading printed barcodes. Also known as price scanner and Point Of Sale scanner the device effectively captures information contained in a bar code. It consists of a scanner, a built-in or external decoder and a cable that helps in connecting the barcode reader with the computer.

What a barcode scanner does is translating the barcode into numbers or/and letters. This then is sent to a computer so that the software application can derive some sense out of it.

How a barcode scanner works?

A barcode consists of dark bars and white spaces. The scanner works by projecting a beam of light on the barcode and then measures the amount of light that is reflected from it. The dark bars reflect less light as compared to the white spaces. This light is converted into electrical energy first and later into data by the decoder and sent to the computer. From retail to warehousing, barcode scanners are an essential requirement for a lot of industries.

There are various types of barcode scanners available in the market to read barcodes in any environment. Go for one that best suits your business requirements.

Single Line barcode scanner

Single line barcode scanners come across as a great linear scanning solution. Here a spot of laser light is made to move right and left fast by the mirror so that it appears as a beam to the naked human eye. These scanners can read 1D barcodes only.

2D Barcode Scanner

A 2D barcode reader offers exceptional reading of both one and two dimensional barcodes. Two dimensional barcodes appear as a series of traditional barcodes stacked one on top of the other. They use both imaging and CCD technology to read the barcodes. You can now minimise “no reads” with a great 2D barcode reader that can even read damaged or worn barcodes.

Omni Directional Barcode Scanners

Omni directional scanners mostly use a laser. They have several mirrors and reflective devices that help transform one laser line into many, producing a pattern of beams in different orientations. This enables the scanner to fast read barcodes presented at any angle. Omni directional price scanners are a popular choice for POS installations at supermarkets or local grocery stores. The most important feature of these price scanners is that they are better at sensing wrinkled, poorly printed or even torn barcodes.

Handled Barcode Scanner

Handheld barcode scanner is one that needs to be held in the hands of the user during operation. It is designed as a handgun and has a grip and a trigger button for turning the light source off and on.

The term “handheld barcode scanner” is also used for high end scanners popularly known as Mobile computer that has its own full-scale operating system.

Cordless or Wireless Barcode Scanners

A cordless/wireless barcode scanner as the name suggests has a battery and need not be connected to the electricity mains.  It uses radio frequencies that cordless phones use to send back the barcode information to the computer attached base station. A cordless scanner offers flexibility of movement and can dramatically improve applications where a cable limits the access to items that are to be scanned or when there are chances of a cable getting damaged. Flexibility of range can vary from 33 feet to over 200 feet.

Image Scanner

An image scanner or camera reader has a small video camera to capture the bar code image and uses highly sophisticated digital image processing techniques for decoding it.  An image scanner can read a barcode from 3 to 9 inches away.

POS Central high performance point-of-sale barcode scanners at the most competitive prices with fast shipping all across Australia. For more details, call our pos expert @ 1300 590 094