ASTM_F_1851_-_98_2009.pdf

Designation:F185198(Reapproved 2009)Standard Practice forBar Code Verification1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1851;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This practice describes a specific procedure for using abar code verifier to measure and quantify the optical andsymbology characteristics relative to the print quality of a barcode symbol and its performance within a bar code readingsystem.Measurements taken with bar code verifiers shouldconform to ANSI ANS X3.1821995 R methodology.Vari-ous printing methods including direct thermal,thermal transfer,electrophotographic,dot matrix,and ink jet methods are usedto produce bar code symbols.Use of this procedure will helpassure repeatability of measurements between operators andpieces of equipment and traceability of those measurements.1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regardedas standard.The values given in parentheses are mathematicalconversions to SI units that are provided for information onlyand are not considered standard.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2F1294 Terminology Relating to Automatic IdentificationHard Copy Printing Systems2.2 ANSI Standard:ANSIANS X3.1821995 R Bar Code Print Quality Guide-line32.3 AIM Standard:AIM USA Laymans Guide to ANSI Print Quality42.4 Military Standard:MIL-STD 105E Sampling Procedures and Tables for Inspec-tion by Attributes53.Summary of Practice3.1 Printed bar codes can be analyzed with commerciallyavailable bar code verifiers to generate measurement valuesrelative to print quality.Verifiers can have various optical inputdevices and operate in varied spectral ranges with apertures ofdiffering sizes.The validity of the results of verification can beaffected greatly by the selection of the equipment,spectralresponse and aperture size,as well as the operators use of theequipment.Reporting structure of the test results(symbolgrade)only has meaning when the measuring aperture numberand nominal wavelength also are specified.The methodologycontained within this test method offers both a standard seriesof procedures for equipment set-up and use,and generalrecommendations,guidelines and information on bar codeverification.4.Significance and Use4.1 This test method provides a way to measure andquantify bar code print quality using commercially availablebar code verifiers.Possible uses include the following.4.1.1 Performance comparisons between media supplied bydifferent manufacturers.4.1.2 Performance comparisons between imaging materialssupplied by different manufacturers.4.1.3 Performance comparisons between printers suppliedby different manufacturers.4.1.4 Performance comparisons between different printingmethods.4.1.5 Research and development evaluation of developmen-tal coatings,ribbons and media for various printing methodsfor bar code imaging.4.1.6 Manufacturing process control can use this testmethod to audit product performance.5.Interferences5.1 To avoid interference from external causes,no lami-nates,overcoats or protective materials should be used on or1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F05 on BusinessImaging Productsand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F05.03 onResearch.Current edition approved Oct.1,2009.Published October 2009.Originallyapproved in 1998.Last previous edition approved in 2003 as F1851 98(2003).DOI:10.1520/F1851-98R09.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3Available from American National Standards Institute(ANSI),25 W.43rd St.,4th Floor,New York,NY 10036,http:/www.ansi.org.4Available from AIM USA,634 Alpha Dr.,Pittsburgh,PA 15238.5Available from Standardization Documents Order Desk,Bldg.4D,700 RobbinsAve.,Philadelphia,PA 19111-5094.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 over the samples.These may cause verification results that arenot characteristic of the process being tested.5.2 The equipment selected should be set-up,programmed(if necessary)and calibrated to the manufacturers recommen-dations.NOTE1This is extremely important as improper use of verificationequipment through incorrect set-up or calibration,or both,can causemisleading results.5.3 To avoid interference caused by operating power volt-age fluctuations,the e