WEBCAM Usage with Data Collection Points

Reading a barcode label with an automatic-scanner installation often performs the identification of car bodies. In some facilities this is an unattended operation: e.g. no production personal is present close to the identification point.

The read operation of the scanner is not 100% secure, round about 0.5 per cent reading failures can be expected. In order to overcome those failures and to reduce production delays a system configuration has been created, which features the following functionality:

• An approaching car is detected by means of two proximity switches, which form a reading window: at the start of the window a scanner is started and reading is allowed till the end of the window.

• If, at the end of the window the scanner did not read the barcode, the DCP starts sending alarm pulses to the web-camera. Each time the alarm pulse is detected by the camera it sends a TCP message to EDE, which collects the video image of the barcode from the camera, raises an audible alarm and allows the manual entry of the barcode number at the console of the EDE system. During this time the conveyor is stopped.

• After a valid number has been entered the EDE system sends this number via an UDP message to DCP, which in turn now releases the blocked car.

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