What speeds can the inspection solutions accommodate?

The solutions are designed to operate in excess of the maximum speed of mailing and card processing equipment.  The solutions are capable at providing inspection at speeds in excess of 40,000 reads per hour (per camera)

What happens upon identification of defective piece?

The standard configuration is shipped with 8 discreet outputs for machine control.  These outputs can be automatically linked to take an action upon identification of a defective piece.  Most commonly, the systems will stop the processing equipment, trigger a divert gate, or trigger an alert light upon identification of an error.  

How many cameras can be installed per system?

The standard configuration allows up to 12 cameras per system.  Additional inputs are allowed for up to 8 other data acquisition devices such as bar-code readers and magnetic stripe readers. 

Do I have to use a camera as the data acquisition component of these solutions?

No, the system can also utilize any serial device for decoding of variable data.  These devices include bar-code readers and magnetic stripe readers.

What fonts and symboliges can the systems decode?

The camera based solutions decode human readable characters, Data Matrix codes, PDF417 codes, OMR marks and most common linear bar-codes. 

What are the specifications for reading human readable characters?

Human readable characters need to have vertical separation of characters (non-italicized and non-cursive) and must be a consistent font within a specific job.  These characters can be as small as 4 point size and must have some contrast between the characters and the background.  

What type of equipment can solutions be integrated on?

The most important factor in determining the integration possibilities of the equipment is the ability to integrate a camera such that it can reliably access the unique identifier which is being read.  Lake Image Systems has designed a wide range of camera and lighting configurations for integration on printing equipment, attaching equipment, mailing bases, and virtually all types of inserters.

What camera/lighting adjustments are required for job set-up and operation?

Most of our solutions contain sealed cameras and lighting which eliminate the need for any operator adjustments of the camera or lighting between jobs.  

Can the solutions read/decode invisible ink? 

Yes.  There is no real secret to decoding invisible ink.  These inks contain chemicals which enable the ink to become visible under certain wavelengths of light.  For these applications, the proper lighting is selected to ensure reliable reading and decoding for the specific range of UV or IR inks which are utilized.

Why do the Lake Image Solutions read and decode a unique identifier as opposed to reading a name or a full address?

The reading of a full name and/or address has many inherent pitfalls for practical implementation.  Since our business is document integrity, the opportunity for mismatching a full address or name is not one which we will entertain for most applications.  There are three primary reasons for this. 

1)       If two recipients within a job are very similar in name and address such as husband/wife documents (for instance Joan Smith and John Smith), a full address reading solution would have a high probability of allowing a mismatch

2)       Due to the complexities of full name/address reading, even the best solution would introduce frequent interruptions to the production process when the software becomes confused, thus reducing production throughput.

3)       When a mismatch occurs using a full name/address read, there is no easy reconciliation for identifying the error and reconciling the job.  When using a unique identifier (such as a sequence number) the operator can simply identify the next successive number in production and restart the job.  

How are documents tracked for in-line Read & Print applications to ensure the proper variable information is being applied to the correct corresponding envelope or document?

There are two methods for tracking documents for in-line “Read & Print” applications.  The most common is for the ink jet controller to track each document based on the camera read of the primary document.  This is done through a combination of encoder pulses, distance algorithms and temporal algorithms.  The second method is through a PLC which is operating within the inspection device which tracks each document based on encoder pulses, cycle counts and time.

How can selective inserting be added to a non-intelligent inserter?

Lake Image Systems solutions include the ability for rules based triggering of inserter feeders (or pockets) based on the camera read from the primary document.  The camera read from the primary document will contain the information which tells the inspection system what feeders need to be activated for that specific document.  Upon decoding, the solution triggers the appropriate feeders to allow recipient specific information to be added with the primary document.

What type of reporting does the inspection system provide?

The base system provides a log (text) file of all camera/scanner reads with a date and time stamp.  An optional recording package can be added to the solution to provide formal reports of missing, duplicate and all documents processed.

Can the solutions compare documents processed to the print file information to identify missing or duplicate document in a production run?

Yes.  The optional reporting package enables the user to input a delimited text file of all documents in the production run.  During production, the inspection system compares all reads to the print file information to verify and report the integrity of production.  These real time reports enable the user to identify any missing or duplicate items processed compared to the print file information and provide formal reports to enable the processing organization to prove the integrity of their production.