Software-Based Verifier & Barcode Analyzer

As the demands on barcode quality have increased and the technology of the barcode itself has changed, the once simple hardware-based barcode verifier is no longer adequate. Bell and Howell's Software Based Verifier (SBV) has the ability to read today’s POSTNET barcode as well as the Intelligent Mail barcode. And because it is software based, it has the potential to be updated for future barcode symbologies as well.

The Software Based Verifier uses long-life LED illumination and a digital camera to capture a high-quality image of the clear zone area of mailpieces. The software algorithms decode the barcode and send the data to WinSort, where it is used to verify the barcode for a sort decision.

Optional Barcode Analyzer

The Software Based Verifier has an available option to perform barcode quality analysis. The Software Based Verifier with Analysis (SBV/A) allows you to monitor barcodes and compare them to USPS quality standards. The SBV/A allows mail sorting operations to catch quality problems before the mail is presented for acceptance. By monitoring the mail as it is run on the sorter, the SBV/A allows quality control checks to be easily run before acceptance becomes a problem, potentially avoiding significant fines and/or delay of your mailing.

The system allows for a caution and a warning, and you can set the thresholds. Two sample sizes can be set, with either one triggering an audible and visual alarm when the threshold for the sample is met. The alarm is an indication that barcode quality is not meeting the thresholds set in the system, thus allowing correction of the problem before large volumes of mail are run.

Benefits

• Checks barcodes against USPS quality specifications
• Tests the mail immediately after a barcode is applied to quickly identify a problem
• Provides analysis reports
• User configurable

Specifications (SBV)

• Illumination: LED (1 white bank, 1 green bank)
• Camera: CCD
• PC: SBV Computer
• Image Lift: 2” H x up to 11.5” L (height is limited by belt position, which typically allows a 0.5” window at the bottom of the mailpiece)
• Barcode Types: POSTNET & Intelligent Mail barcode

Specifications (SBV/A)

• Illumination: LED (1 white bank, 1green bank)
• Camera: CCD
• PC: SBV Computer
• Image Lift: 2” H x up to 11.5” L (height is limited by belt position, which typically allows a 0.5” window at the bottom of the mailpiece)
• Barcode Types: POSTNET & Intelligent Mail barcode
• Sample Size: Customer definable for two sample sizes. Automatically analyzes total run (since last reset)
• Barcode Analysis Checks: No barcode; barcode unread; tilt; too thin; too wide; too short; too tall; void; BPI (bars per inch) low; BPI high; pitch too close; pitch too far; ink; space too close; spare too far; shift; delivery
• Alarm: Audible and visual alarms on light/buzzer pole
• Reports: Barcode statistics report

Platforms

• Criterion
• Jetstar
• Flexisort
• PTI sorters running WinSort UniversaLX

Indicia Verifier

Production mail operations cannot afford to have mail returned for lack of postage. A single returned mailpiece could result in a customer not receiving time-sensitive mail (credit card, credit card offer, bank statements, premium notices, etc).  While the USPS has an established mail acceptance process—and a single mailpiece without postage will not prevent the mailing from being accepted—letter carriers in the field have frequently returned mailpieces to their local Post Office for lack of postage attached. 

Recognizing this need, Bell and Howell has developed a quality tool to verify that each mailpiece has a postage mark (Indicia mark, meter mark, or postage stamp) affixed during sorting operations.

The Indicia Verifier looks for the postage mark in a predefined area of your mailpieces. Mailpieces that do not contain an affixed postage mark will be diverted to the reject bin for correction. The same verifier can also be enabled to verify that barcodes are present.

Features

• Verify existence of indicia mark. Correct mailpieces without indicia mark before sending mail to USPS
• Route mailpieces without indicia mark to operator-assigned bin
• Set custom area on mailpiece to review for indicia mark
• Review statistics on mailpieces in a job with and without an indicia mark
• Display last image of mailpiece image captured by camera

Benefits

• Correct mailpieces without postage mark early in mailing process
• Improve quality of outgoing mail
• Reduce the potential for costly errors associated with lack of postage
• Eliminate potential for mailpiece to be returned for lack of postage

Specifications

The Indicia Verifier can be placed on any Bell and Howell Criterion, Jetstar, PTI or other sorting systems. The Indicia Verifier is built into a Bell and Howell 6” SABRE network camera and interfaces with the WinSort operating system.

• 6” Inch SABRE HR network camera (capable of simultaneously verifying barcode and postage mark)
• SABRE computer
• WinSort operating system