Many of us still remember going to the grocery store and having the checker type in the cost of each individual package and food item. Today's checkers have the convenience of using automated bar code readers, which makes the process much faster and more accurate. In addition to the convenience factor, bar codes help improve the efficiency of inventory and help store owners quickly compile statistics about what products sell the best.
For the most part, Americans did not see scanners in supermarkets until the early 1980s, but they were actually invented several decades earlier. In 1952, Norman Woodland and Bernard Silver were granted a patent for the earliest form of a bar code and scanning machine which they built using parts from a movie projector and a light bulb. It wasn't until 1974 that a scanner was installed in a grocery store, and the very first product that went across the scanner was a pack of gum. This package is on display in Washington, D.C. at the National History Museum.
In 1966, the Universal Product Code was created which established guidelines for bar codes on grocery products. This is a 12-digit code that can be used to identify any grocery-related product. The first digit represents the type of product, while the next set of digits identifies the manufacturer. For example, if the first digit is a zero this means that the product is a national brand. A 2 would be placed on item that you had received at the deli, such as cheese or sliced meats or potato salad. A 3 is placed on items that are beauty products, such as shampoo.
Of course, the UPC numbers are certainly not the only types of numbers that are placed on products. Many products, particularly those that are food-related, have other numbers printed on the packaging using a type of printers that are called id printers and often also called id coders. These are handy because they work quickly, the ink dries very fast, and they can print on many surfaces from glass to foil to plastic.
There are many different brands of coders, and they are either continuous inkjet coders or drop-on-demand coders. If you are in the food product business, you can purchase a refurbished coder such as a Domino coder, Imaje printer or Maxima coder for much less than a new model. There are several product id companies that sell refurbished coders, as well as offering repairs and parts for every major brand.
In addition, a product id firm is a great place to buy replacement inks and make-up fluids. You can find companies that create generic Domino ink, Altima ink, Videojet inks, Willett inks as well as all the make-up fluids you need at considerably lower prices than you get from the manufactured.
For the most part, Americans did not see scanners in supermarkets until the early 1980s, but they were actually invented several decades earlier. In 1952, Norman Woodland and Bernard Silver were granted a patent for the earliest form of a bar code and scanning machine which they built using parts from a movie projector and a light bulb. It wasn't until 1974 that a scanner was installed in a grocery store, and the very first product that went across the scanner was a pack of gum. This package is on display in Washington, D.C. at the National History Museum.
In 1966, the Universal Product Code was created which established guidelines for bar codes on grocery products. This is a 12-digit code that can be used to identify any grocery-related product. The first digit represents the type of product, while the next set of digits identifies the manufacturer. For example, if the first digit is a zero this means that the product is a national brand. A 2 would be placed on item that you had received at the deli, such as cheese or sliced meats or potato salad. A 3 is placed on items that are beauty products, such as shampoo.
Of course, the UPC numbers are certainly not the only types of numbers that are placed on products. Many products, particularly those that are food-related, have other numbers printed on the packaging using a type of printers that are called id printers and often also called id coders. These are handy because they work quickly, the ink dries very fast, and they can print on many surfaces from glass to foil to plastic.
There are many different brands of coders, and they are either continuous inkjet coders or drop-on-demand coders. If you are in the food product business, you can purchase a refurbished coder such as a Domino coder, Imaje printer or Maxima coder for much less than a new model. There are several product id companies that sell refurbished coders, as well as offering repairs and parts for every major brand.
In addition, a product id firm is a great place to buy replacement inks and make-up fluids. You can find companies that create generic Domino ink, Altima ink, Videojet inks, Willett inks as well as all the make-up fluids you need at considerably lower prices than you get from the manufactured.
About the Author:
Keren Kipfer enjoys researching products for industrial manufacturers such as ink jet printers. To get more information on parts for a Video Jet printer or to discover Videojet equipment, please visit the PrintJet website today.