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Bar code scanners are used to read the bar codes found on products in a wide variety of situations. Most of us are familiar with bar codes found on packages at the grocery store. When you purchase an item, the bar code on the package is scanned by a bar code scanner. This automatically calls up the item particulars such as the item name and unit cost. The cost is then calculated automatically and added to your bill.

At the same time the stock control system records the fact that you have purchased a can of soup or box of cereal, and the inventory tally maintained in the central database is reduced to reflect the fact that someone has purchased one of these items. Inventory control is more or less automatic, assuming that all the data was input correctly in the first place.

In a small business setting implementing such a system starts with stock control software where information about inventory items is stored. Bar code scanners are used to input data into the stock control system. Each time an item passes in or out of inventory it is scanned and the appropriate change of status is recorded in the inventory database.

Such a system can even create unique bar codes for items that do not already have them. For new items a unique bar code is generated by the software, and then a bar code printer is used to print a bar code label that is then affixed to the item.

These are the top three kinds of bar code scanners that are used today:

1. Wand Scanners - The least expensive type of bar code scanner is the wand system. And even though it is less expensive, it still is a great choice for most uses. Typically wand prices are a tenth of laser gun prices and about a fifth of CCD scanner prices.

The wand system works well in most applications, and it is by far the least expensive type of bar code scanner. A typical wand costs about 1/10th the price of a laser gun, and about 1/5th the price of a CCD scanner.

But wand scanners have their limitations. In order to get an accurate scan the wand must be held at a fairly precise angle relative to the bar code. It must also be slid across the bar code at a speed that is neither too fast nor too slow. And all wand bar code scanners have a resolution limit. If a bar code has a resolution that is significantly finer than the wand scanner, the scanner will not be able to read it correctly. For example, a 10 mil wand cannot read a 5 mil bar code. It is important to keep this in mind when purchasing a wand scanner.

2. The CCD Scanner - The charged coupled device or CCD scanner is a significant step up from the wand scanner. Similar to the wand scanning device, a CCD reader needs to directly touch the barcode label for it to be able to register the information. Unlike the wand scanner, however, the user does not have to move the scanner across the label. The user merely puts the scanner next to the reader and engages it. The CCD scanner then takes a picture of the barcode, digitizes it, and decodes it.

Of all the different types of bar code scanners, CCD readers are considered the most straight-forward to use. They are manufactured in widths that start at about 2 and go up to 4 inches. A CCD reader is expensive compared to a wand (about four times the cost), but is a bargain compared to the laser scanner (about one third the cost).

A promising new technology similar to CCD is called FFO (Fixed Focus Optics). These scanners are non-contact readers, which means they can read bar codes from as much as 20" away. They will also be able to read two-dimensional bar codes as they become more popular.

3. The Laser Scanner - More sophisticated high volume applications use laser scanners to read and record bar codes. The bar code label is scanned quickly by a laser scanner using a beam of light. This means that there is no need for the bar code label to touch the scanner, and the scanner isn't portable. Since scanning occurs when the object is simply held in front of the scanner, item scanning is essentially automatic.

This system is widely used in many different types of installations. Scanning is such a quick process that it ss even possible to insert laser scanners directly into conveyor systems. As objects move along the conveyor, they are automatically scanned and recorded. You see this in grocery stores, where the cashier simply moves the items over the scanner to scan them. This type of system is quick enough to keep up with even the fastest motion of a cashier, and it is quicker and far more accurate than any other alternative system that could be used.

When choosing a bar code scanner and an inventory control system, it is important to take into consideration the ability to adapt new scanning technologies to your system as they become available. This will allow you to keep your system updated without having to upgrade or replace the entire system in the future.