Data-Imaging: Associate images with barcodes

 

Pictures play an important role in many barcode-based working-processes.Taking pictures of entering and exiting goods is a standard process for logistic companies to have proof if it’s needed. Was the ware undamaged when leaving the conveyance? Has the shipping container been properly packed?

The RICOH Caplio 500SE unites digital camera, barcode scanner and memo function in one device. The memo function makes associating textbased data with pictures possible. In combination with the barcode these informations are written in the Exif-Header of each picture. Currently available scanners do not offer those options yet.

In combination with the alta4 software ExifExtractor the Ricoh Caplio 500SE offers the complete Data-Imaging-Solution.

Barcode Scanner SE-4:
The barcode scanner SE-4 is available in combination with the RICOH 500SE and is screwed on to the upper side of the camera.
The SE-4 is a professional Class-2-Laser-Scanner that even works under difficult lighting circumstances and reads all popular 1D-Barcodes (z. B. Code 39, EAN 128, Interleaved 2 of 5). The scanned barcode is written together with the information into the so called Exif-Header of the picture. That way the data and the pictures are connected to each other.

 

Benefits

• Faster workflow completion and sigificantly reduced risk for human failure.
• Images and related metadata is available on the spot.
• Several steps in the workflow become unnecessary (seperate download of barcodes and images, association of the files).
• With the WLAN function (only model 500SE-W) the datasets can be transferred to the office right away. Shipping or transport of data carriers become dispensable.

Workflow

1. Activate memo function of the camera and scan barcode through the camera lens.
2. Select attribute data from the memo list.
3. Take a photo.
4. Barcode and memo entries are written to the Exif header of the photo. All successive photos are associated with the same barcode until a different barcode is scanned or the memo function deactivated.
5. Transfer data to the PC using WLAN or an USB cable.
6. Use ExifExtractor for an efficient photo management based on the Exif content.

Application example

A typical application area is the logistics sector.

Scan barcode through the SE-4.
Select attributes from the memo list, such as Employee, status of the freight, class of goods.
Take the photo. Barcode and memo entries are automatically stored in the Exif header.
Transfer data to your PC. Use ExifExtractor to extract the Exif content, rename your files based on Exif information (e.g. barcode) and create the preferred output file, e.g. a csv-file.
Integrate datasets into the existing database.