The bar code used to represent the product identification code specified by the International Association of Article Numbers (EAN) and the Uniform Code Committee (UCC) is called the product bar code. Product barcode is a kind of symbol that can be recognized by electronic instruments. It is widely used in the field of commercial circulation. Its inherent characteristics determine that it is different from the printing process of other products. The commodity bar code is a special graphic that conveys information, and its symbol must meet the requirements of the bar code national standard regarding optical characteristics and dimensional accuracy in order to be successfully scanned by the bar code reader. The unsatisfactory printing of commodity bar code symbols not only cannot be read correctly, but also may cause confusion in business management. Its influence is self-evident. Therefore, bar code printing technology is one of the main contents of bar code technology, which supports the application of bar code technology. In order to ensure the quality of product barcodes, the country has successively issued and implemented GB12904-2003 "Product Bar Code", GB/T14257-2002 "Barcode Product Symbol Position", and GB/T18348-2001 "Product Bar Code Symbol Printing Quality Inspection", GB/T18805-2002. "Product Bar Code Printing Suitability Test" and other relevant national standards.
In recent years, relevant departments have conducted market surveys on bar code quality every year and have found many problems. How to identify problems, analyze problems and solve problems and improve bar code quality will be the issues we face.
1. Guizhou commodity bar code quality market survey
In recent years, the Guizhou Branch of China Article Numbering Center conducted a market survey on the quality of barcodes in Guizhou, and the situation is as follows:
In 2001, 1,398 products were investigated. The surveyed products were textiles (clothing, etc.) and frozen foods. There were 48 kinds of products with bar code quality problems, and the rate of disqualification was 3.43%; in 2002, 10,335 products were investigated, and products were investigated. The categories were foods, medicines, etc. The number of products with bar code quality was 152, and the rate of failure was 1.47%; in 2003, 2,907 products were investigated, and the types of products investigated were foods, drugs, etc., and products with bar code quality problems. The number of varieties was 46, and the disqualification rate was 1.58%. In 2004, 580 products were investigated. The surveyed products were food products. There were 8 kinds of products with barcode quality problems, and the disqualification rate was 1.38%; 2005 2269 kinds of commodities were surveyed, and the surveyed product type was food. The number of products with barcode quality problems was 30, and the failure rate was 1.32%. In the five years, the number of samples investigated was 17,489, and the number of products with bar code quality problems was 284. The average rate of disqualification was 1.62%. The main problems are: uniqueness of product barcodes, refusal to read, misreading, wrong position of printing, too small enlargement factor, insufficient size of blank area, use of non-product barcodes, counterfeit commodity barcodes, etc.
2. Analysis of market survey of commodity bar codes
In the “problem barcode†of the survey, the number of unique product issues was 93, accounting for 32.7% of “problem barcodesâ€; 140 cases were rejected, accounting for 49.3% of “problem barcodesâ€; and the magnification factor was 25. This accounted for 8.8% of “problem barcodesâ€; misreading 4 types, which accounted for 1.4% of “problem barcodesâ€; 5 types of printing positions, which accounted for 1.8% of “problem barcodesâ€; and sampled non-product barcodes. Ten species accounted for 3.52% of the “problem barcodesâ€; seven counterfeit species accounted for 2.46% of “problem barcodesâ€.
In the investigation of the "problem bar", the actual problem is: First, multi-product code. For example, different specifications, different colors, different materials, long-sleeved, short-sleeved clothing, different tastes of beverages, food, etc., use the same product identification code, in violation of the unique principle of product bar code. Second, the bar code marks are tainted, broken, indistinct, and unevenly inked. The color of the strips is not properly matched with the background color. Bright materials such as gold and silver cardboard are used as the background color of the barcode, and the magnification factor is too small. Barcode rejection. Third, bar code printing (blank) dimensional errors, smears, broken lines, deinking, irregular edges, etc., caused misreading of product barcodes. Fourth, the error in the printing position, the enlargement factor is too small, and the size of the blank area is not enough, making the product barcode difficult to read. Fifth, the bar code is a bar code used by the EAN and the UCC to indicate the product identification code. It was found in the investigation that some products used the bar code, organization code, etc. Self-produced barcodes and other non-standard codes as commodity barcodes. Sixth, the use of a non-approved registration of the manufacturer identification code, the use of other bar code impersonation bar code, counterfeit bar code and the use of the registered manufacturer identification code and the corresponding product bar code.
The reason, first of all, is that companies do not understand the barcode coding knowledge. Whether it is the use of bar codes by companies or barcode printers, it is not known whether "uniqueness" is the principle of use of bar codes, nor does it know how to compile commodity item codes. Followed by some bar code printing companies do not understand the bar code quality indicators, that bar code is a set of patterns, as long as the printing is clear and beautiful on the line. Again, some bar code printers do not know how to control the bar code printing quality.
3. Bar code printing quality indicators
According to the bar code national standards, the bar code printing quality has the following indicators.
3.1 The uniqueness of the encoding
In commercial POS systems, the characteristics and price of commodity barcodes are distinguished by different codes. Therefore, the encoding must be unique. The so-called uniqueness means that different commodity items compile different commodity item codes; the same commodity item compiles the same commodity item codes. Coding errors can cause confusing POS systems.
3.2 Appearance
The surface of commodity bar code symbol requires cleanliness, no obvious dirt, wrinkles, damage, perforation; the digital printing in bar code characters is complete, clear, and non-intentional; bar code characters have no obvious deinking, stain, or broken lines; the edges of bars are neat, no Obviously bent; the bar code characters are even and no significant difference.
3.3 empty colors
The reading of commodity bar codes is achieved by recognizing the boundary and width of bar spaces. Therefore, the greater the contrast between the bar and the empty bar, the better. Strip color should be dark, empty color should be light color. For black, white is the ideal color match. Table 6 of the National Standard GB12904-2003 "Product Bar Code" gives the bar code symbols empty color reference.
3.4 blank area width
A blank area is an area that has no printed symbols in the bar code symbol and that has the same empty color. The blank area width of the product barcode varies with the magnification factor. When the magnification factor is 1.00, the minimum width of the blank area on the left and right sides of the EAN-13 product bar code is 3. 6 3 mm and 2.31mm, EAN-8 The minimum width dimensions of the left and right side of the product bar code are 2.31mm. The function of the blank area on the left and right sides of the product barcode is to prompt the start and end of scanning reading equipment reading, and must be left enough for the scanning reading equipment to read correctly.
3.5 bars high
The bar height of the bar code refers to the bar height of the bar code. In order to ensure that product barcodes are read correctly and efficiently, the bar height must be guaranteed to a certain height. The bar height of the bar code varies with the magnification factor. When the magnification factor is 1.00, the bar height of the EAN-13 bar code is 22.85 mm, and the bar height of the EAN-8 bar code is 18.23 mm. The relationship between the bar height of the bar code and the magnification factor is shown in Table 5 of the National Standard GB12904-2003 "Barcode for Products".
3.6 amplification factor
The magnification factor of the product bar code refers to the enlargement or reduction of the bar code symbol on the basic size. When the magnification factor of the product bar code is 1.00 (basic size), the area of ​​the EAN-13 product bar code is 37.29×25.93 mm. Magnification factor determines the size of the product's barcode area. The bar code of the product is too large, which occupies the printing space and affects the beauty of the product packaging. The bar code area of ​​the product is too small, causing difficulties in printing and reading. GB12904-2003 "Commodity Barcode" requires the product bar code magnification factor is 0.80 to 2.00. It is best to choose a magnification factor of 0.90 to 1.20, which is not only beautiful, but also easy to print and read.