Cognex Corporation introduced Cognex Tire Solutions, a suite of products designed to solve barcode and low-contrast embossed character reading challenges for tire manufacturers. Cognex Tire Solutions integrate proprietary machine vision knowledge, identification expertise and high-performance barcode reading technology into pre-configured systems that meet the specific requirements of the tire industry.

“We are excited to introduce a cost-competitive product strategy that improves read performance, lowers installation time and reduces cost of ownership,” said Carl Gerst, Vice President and Business Unit Manager, ID Products. “These solutions are designed to support code reading applications to minimize read failures and increase throughput and production efficiency, all while decreasing costly rework.”

Meeting the tire industry’s barcode reading challenges
Tire manufacturers require reliable barcode reading solutions in all stages of production, from the receipt of raw materials to final assembly and distribution. When the lifecycle of a tire spans multiple locations, buildings, and cities or countries, accurate tire identification is essential for managing compliance, work in progress, sorting and routing, and quality control.

With patented algorithms for high-speed barcode and Optical Character Recognition (OCR) reading technology, the new Cognex Tire Solutions provide advanced, reliable reading results. Designed to reduce costs and support process improvement, these Cognex Solutions offer tire manufacturers greater peace of mind with the following features:

• Industry-leading read rates: 1DMax+ with Hotbars algorithms provide the highest barcode read rates in the industry, even with damaged and low contrast 
• DataMan® fixed-mount readers: no moving parts; decreases maintenance costs
• Image-based readers: allow you to “see what the reader sees” for troubleshooting support and ongoing improvement efforts
• Xpand technology: enables barcode readers to cover a larger field of view with less equipment, reducing overall installation and maintenance costs
• DS1000 Series 3D Sensor: reads embossed characters on curved, dark surfaces at speeds up to one tire revolution per second
• OCRMax Vision Technology: yields high contrast reading results from low contrast reading environments
• DS1000 Software: 3D and 2D vision toolsets for additional inspection capabilities

The Cognex Connect communications suite also makes it easy to integrate the Cognex Tire Solutions with factory networks. Cognex Tire Solutions are common stocked products backed by dedicated support networks that provide expedited product delivery.