OCR/OCV and code inspection for production lines
Best-before date, batch code and barcode checks on cartons, bottles, cans, pouches and labels, whatever coder printed them.
Technical review: Frank GuoReviewed
A camera station can read best-before dates, batch codes and barcodes on each pack and compare them with the values expected for the run. OCR reads the characters; OCV checks that the expected text is present, complete and legible. It works when the code lands in a predictable area with consistent contrast. Reading a barcode is not the same as grading its print quality. We confirm what is achievable on your own coded samples first.
What a code inspection station checks
Four checks cover most coding faults. Which you need, and how strict the limits are, is set at the sample test.
Read the code (OCR)
Reads the printed characters so the code can be logged or passed to a traceability system.
Verify the expected text (OCV)
Compares the printed date and batch code with the string expected for the run.
Code print quality
Faint, broken or smeared characters, and codes printed outside their area.
Barcode and 2D code reading
Decodes barcodes and 2D codes such as Data Matrix and QR, and checks the content matches the product.
OCR, OCV, reading and grading compared
| Capability | Question it answers | What you get | From us |
|---|---|---|---|
| OCR | What is printed here? | The text as read, for logging or comparison. | Offered |
| OCV | Is the expected text printed and legible? | Pass or fail against the expected string. | Offered |
| Barcode reading | Does the code decode with the right content? | The decoded data, matched to the product. | Offered |
| Barcode grading | How good is the print, to a formal standard? | A quality grade from a dedicated verifier. | Not offered |
Coding technologies we check
Inkjet
Characters made of dots; ink spread changes their look, so we test codes from your own coder.
Thermal transfer
Ribbon print on film or labels; worn print heads leave white lines through characters.
Laser
Marks the material or its coating; contrast depends on the material.
We inspect the output of the coder you already run. We do not sell or service coders.
Where code inspection stops
We agree these boundaries before a project starts, so nobody expects the camera to do what it cannot.
Not covered by this station
- Formal barcode grading. Reading shows a code decodes with the right data; a formal print-quality grade needs a dedicated verifier.
- Codes out of view. Codes underneath, under a fold or on a freely rotating container cannot be read from one fixed view.
- Wrong data at source. If the recipe and the coder both hold the wrong date, they agree and the error passes.
Works reliably when
- The code lands in a predictable area. Stable presentation keeps the code inside the camera's view.
- Contrast is stable. Shielded station lighting, chosen for shiny films or curved surfaces.
- The expected string arrives automatically. From the recipe, coder or PLC, not typed in at each changeover.
How a code inspection station is laid out
Plan view of a typical station after the coder. The real layout follows the site survey.
Swipe sideways to see the whole drawing →
What a pass and a reject look like
Illustrations of three common outcomes, not images from a real line. How faint a character may be before it fails is agreed with you during the sample test.
Code correct
Date and lot code are complete and legible, and match the expected text for the run.
Characters broken
Some characters are faint or missing dots, below the agreed print limit.
Wrong lot code
The lot code does not match the run: the typical fault when the coder was not updated at changeover.
What we need to know about your line
These conditions decide the station design. None of them has a fixed answer; each is confirmed on site or during the sample test.
| Condition | What we need to know | Why it matters | Confirmed during |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coder and model | Coder type and model, and whether it can send out the printed string. | Decides lighting and whether the expected string can come from the coder. | Site survey |
| Expected data source | Where the correct date and batch code are held: recipe, coder, PLC or a production system. | OCV needs to know what should be printed for every run. | Design review |
| Code position and material | Where the code sits, and the material and colour underneath. | Sets camera angle, lighting and the number of views. | Sample test |
| Line speed and spacing | Packs per minute and the gap between them. | Sets exposure and trigger method. | Site survey |
| PLC and reject | PLC make and model, spare I/O or network ports, existing reject. | Decides how results and the expected string are exchanged, and whether read results are logged. | Design review |
How the station is accepted
False rejects and missed defects pull against each other. We define both, and how they are measured, before FAT and SAT.
False reject rate
The share of correctly coded packs rejected, measured on agreed good samples at line speed. The acceptable level is agreed per project.
Missed defect rate
The share of wrong, missing or illegible codes that pass, measured with seeded faulty codes. The target is set with you.
Changeover handling
A test that the expected string updates at every product or date change.
What to prepare for the sample test
We check codes from your own coder before proposing a station. We confirm quantities and shipping with you first.
Sample preparation guideGood samples
Packs coded on the production coder, covering each material and code position.
Defective samples
Faint, smeared, incomplete and wrong codes, clearly marked.
Code specification
Date and batch code format, example strings, and the barcode types used.
Line information
Coder and PLC models, line speed, and where the expected data is held.
Code inspection questions
What is the difference between OCR and OCV?
How can expiry dates and batch codes be verified on a bottling line?
Is barcode reading the same as barcode quality verification?
Which software runs the inspection?
Sources
- HIKROBOT VisionMaster product page (OCR and code reading) (vendor page, checked 2026-09-24)
Request an assessment for this application
Tell us which codes you print and where the correct values are held, and send good and bad samples. We will tell you what a station can check.