Symbol US AUTOMATION EP-1 User Manual

US AUTOMATION EP-1

BARCODE SCANNER

USER MANUAL

Table of Contents

Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................................. 2

Table of Figures ............................................................................................................................................... 3

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 4

Getting Started.................................................................................................................................................. 4

TRG3000 Trigger Handle................................................................................................................................. 7

Installation/Setup of the EP1............................................................................................................................ 7

Options Button ..............................................................................................................................................9

Mode Selection............................................................................................................................................ 10

Mode Menu .................................................................................................................................................11

Scanning 1-D Bar Codes with the EP1 .......................................................................................................16

Scanning PDF417 (2-D) Bar Codes with the EP1 ......................................................................................17

Pick Ticket Setup ........................................................................................................................................18

Pick Ticket Setup Menu..............................................................................................................................19

Parts Bin Setup............................................................................................................................................ 20

Parts Bin Setup Menu.................................................................................................................................. 21

Counters Selection.......................................................................................................................................22

Counters Menu............................................................................................................................................23

Counter Explanations..................................................................................................................................... 24

What Happens When an Operator Encounters an Error? ............................................................................. 27

History Options Menu ....................................................................................................................................28

JSN History Menu........................................................................................................................................... 29

JSN History Display ....................................................................................................................................... 30

Alerts Options Menu....................................................................................................................................... 31

Alerts Menu................................................................................................................................................. 32

Edit Part Number Alert Menu..................................................................................................................... 33

Alerts Setup Completed Menu....................................................................................................................35

Part Number Alert Box ...............................................................................................................................36

Is Your EP1 Scanner Ready to Use? .............................................................................................................. 37

Scanning Barcodes for the First Time............................................................................................................ 37

Troubleshooting.............................................................................................................................................. 38

Index ............................................................................................................................................................... 41

Table of Figures

FIGURE 1. OVERVIEW OF YOUR NEW EP1................................................................................................................ 5

FIGURE 2. HOW TO CHARGE YOUR EP1...................................................................................................................6

FIGURE 3. EP1 TRG3000 TRIGGER HANDLE.......................................................................................................... 7

FIGURE 4. EP1 APPLICATION STARTUP................................................................................................................... 8

FIGURE 5. OPTIONS MENU ......................................................................................................................................9

FIGURE 6. MODE SELECTION................................................................................................................................. 10

FIGURE 7. MODE MENU ........................................................................................................................................14

FIGURE 8. PART # PICK TICKET BARCODE EXAMPLE............................................................................................ 15

FIGURE 9. PART # PARTS BIN BARCODE EXAMPLE ............................................................................................... 15

FIGURE 10. HOW TO SCAN A 1-D BARCODE LABEL. .............................................................................................16

FIGURE 11. HOW TO SCAN A 2-D BARCODE LABEL. .............................................................................................17

FIGURE 12. PICK TICKET SETUP ............................................................................................................................18

FIGURE 13. PICK TICKET SETUP MENU .................................................................................................................19

FIGURE 14. PARTS BIN SETUP ...............................................................................................................................20

FIGURE 15. PARTS BIN SETUP MENU ....................................................................................................................21

FIGURE 16. COUNTERS SELECTION ....................................................................................................................... 22

FIGURE 17. PICK TICKET/PARTS BIN COUNTER MENU.......................................................................................... 23

FIGURE 18. PICK TICKET/PARTS BIN & JSN (DUAL OPTION) COUNTER MENUS................................................... 26

FIGURE 19. HISTORY OPTIONS MENU ...................................................................................................................28

FIGURE 20. JSN HISTORY MENU ..........................................................................................................................29

FIGURE 21. JSN HISTORY DISPLAY ...................................................................................................................... 30

FIGURE 22. ALERTS OPTIONS MENU .....................................................................................................................31

FIGURE 23. ALERTS MENU....................................................................................................................................32

FIGURE 24. EDIT PART NUMBER ALERT MENU.....................................................................................................33

FIGURE 25. KEYBOARD NUMBERS AND LETTERS MENUS .....................................................................................34

FIGURE 26. ALERTS SETUP COMPLETED MENU ....................................................................................................35

FIGURE 27. PART NUMBER ALERT BOX ................................................................................................................36

Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of the US Automation EP1 Barcode Scanner. This manual refers to your new

scanner as the EP1, which is based on Symbol’s SPT 1700 Series scanner with an integrated Palm OS computer. This guide covers the installation/setup of the barcode scanner. All units are tested prior to being shipped and can be used upon arrival; however, it is recommended that you read this manual before operating the EP1 unit.

Getting Started

Before the US Automation EP1 scanner can begin error proofing at a job operation, you will need to do the following:

1.) You should become familiar with: A. All the different parts of your EP1 (see figure 1). B. How to charge the battery on your EP1 (see figure 2). The unit must be fully charged before

beginning usage of it.

C. Using the trigger handle (if purchased).

2.) With the unit fully charged select and set a mode of operation for the EP1 (see page 8).

3.) Request new barcode labels be printed out at the operation where you want error proofing to be performed.

The new barcode label printed must match the mode that you have selected in step 2) above. This request is made to your local IT or Flex printer support person. The EP1 works with all standard GM/EDS printers.

4.) When step 3) is complete and new barcode labels are being printed out at the operation, then you are ready

to run the “Pick ticket setup” and the “Parts bin setup” (see page 20).

FIGURE 1. OVERVIEW OF YOUR NEW EP1

FIGURE 2. HOW TO CHARGE YOUR EP1.

TRG3000 Trigger Handle

The TRG3000 Trigger Handle adds a pistol grip with a trigger to your EP1, increasing ergonomic comfort when using the terminal in scan-intensive applications for extended periods of time.

To insert the EP1 into the trigger handle:

1. Slide the EP1 into the trigger handle until it locks into place (see figure 3).

To Remove the EP1 from the trigger handle:

2. To remove the EP1, press down the release spring and pull the EP1 forward (see figure 3).

FIGURE 3. EP1 TRG3000 TRIGGER HANDLE.

Installation/Setup of the EP1

Before using your new EP1 you must scan a sample of each of the barcodes that will be used in your application. The EP1 will then build a rules set and know how to properly check the barcodes. In other words by showing samples of the barcodes that you will be using at your operation to the EP1 while it is in setup mode, you will be able teach your EP1 which type of barcodes to use when performing error proofing checks.

Start by getting samples of the barcodes that will be scanned. The mode selected will determine how many and of which type of barcodes you need to scan.

1. Part Number mode – 2-barcode labels required (one pick ticket barcode and one parts bin label barcode).

2. Job Sequence Number mode – 1 Job Sequence Number barcode label required.

3. JSN/ Part Number mode – 2-barcode labels required (one pick ticket barcode and one parts bin label barcode).

From the main desktop, start up the EP1 application (see figure 4, item 1). Note: Your EP1 application may not be in the same location as the picture below, but the icon will look the same.

FIGURE 4. EP1 APPLICATION STARTUP

Options Button

Then press the options button (Menu Icon) figure 5, item 1 shown below.

FIGURE 5. OPTIONS MENU

Mode Selection

From the Options listed, select Mode (figure 6, item 1 shown below).

FIGURE 6. MODE SELECTION

Mode Menu

The mode determines what kind of error proofing the EP1 will perform, and therefore what kind of barcode labels will be required. From the Options listed in figure 7, select one of the following modes:

1. Part Number – checks to make sure part numbers match, requires 2 barcode labels one pick ticket and

one parts bin label.

2. Job Sequence Number – checks for a valid Job Sequence Number, requires 1 barcode label with JSN only.

3. JSN/ Part Number – checks for a valid part number and valid Job Sequence Number, requires 2 barcode labels one pick ticket and one parts bin label.

1.) Part Number mode: This mode is the easiest to set up and use. This mode checks part numbers only. To use the Part Number Mode the user will scan the pick ticket and then scan a parts bin barcode and the EP1 will perform a check to make sure the part numbers match. The pick ticket can be scanned before the parts bin barcode, or the parts bin can be scanned before the pick ticket, the order doesn’t matter. The EP1 is looking for pairs of barcodes.

Barcodes for the Part Number Mode can be configured in any of a number of ways. If you find you are running short on space on your pick tickets then you might want to consider reducing your part number barcode down to a subset of the original part number. For example by using only the last 4 digits of the part number you can reduce your barcode length by half. Figure 8 shows an example of a Pick Ticket barcode label where this has been done. Figure 9, item 1 is an example of a 2-dimensional Parts Bin Barcode label in the GM standard 1724A format (also known as PD417 format). Notice in figure 9, item 2 that the lower four-digits of the part number matches the number in figure 8; this is an example of a subset. The EP1 makes the assumption that you will remove the upper digits of a part number if you have to reduce the size of the barcode. To reduce the size of a barcode you must remove the upper digits first and leave the lower digits for checking. This is called a subset of the original part number. The EP1 performs a subset check automatically for you if you supply it with barcodes, which are a subset of the original full part number. For example, look at fig 8 & 9, your Parts bin barcode is 10310099 and your Pick Ticket barcode is 0099. Simply strip 1031 off your parts bin barcode and the end result is 0099. Your Pick Ticket and Parts Bin barcode numbers now match. So you can reduce a part number from an 8-digit format to a 4-digit format as long as you always remove the upper 4 digits and leave the lower 4 digits for parts matching. As a user you are responsible to make sure that you have left enough digits in place to accurately discriminate between different parts.

The following are valid barcode formats for part numbers.

Parts Bin Pick Ticket 10020099 10020099 10020099 0099 0099 10020099 0099 0099 10020099 20099 10020099 099

As long as there is some difference between the pick ticket and parts bin barcode format, the EP1 can determine if the user has made mistakes like scanning 2 pick tickets in a row, or scanning 2 parts bins in a row, and will report any such deviation as an error. In the example shown above there are two differences between the parts bin and pick ticket barcode. One difference is that the length of the part number is not the same, and the other is that one uses a 1D format and the other a 2D format.

IMPORTANT NOTE: When choosing parts bin barcodes, the parts bin label can be either a label

directly on the part from the supplier, or it can be the label on the parts bin itself. But once a barcode is chosen for error proofing, then the operator must stick with that barcode unless a decision is made to

change which barcode to scan. If a decision is made to change the parts bin barcode, then the “Parts bin setup” on page 20 would have to be performed again while scanning the proper barcode label.

2.) Job Sequence Number: These labels will contain numbers that are in order. It is recommended that this mode be used mainly to double-check your work. An example would be to use the part number mode at station 1 to check the parts loaded onto a rack. When the rack arrives at station 2, a second scanner would be used to check each part for the correct Job Sequence Numbers (JSN) before shipping. A typical label will resemble figure 8 and each number scanned after the first should be in sequence or an alarm will sound.

3.) JSN/Part Number: This mode generates the most thorough checking. A pick ticket will have both a job sequence number and part number so two checks are performed at once. A pick ticket barcode label will contain a dot (a period) separating the job sequence number and part number (ex. 1234567.12345678)

( JSN.PARTNUMBER).

4.) Each scan will then check for a part number that is different (unless you have checked the Dual JSN box) and a correct sequence number.

When you request a pick ticket barcode be printed for this mode you must request the following format: Job Sequence Number. Part Number

The following are valid barcode formats for JSN / Part number mode.

Parts Bin Pick Ticket 10020099 10003001.10020099 10020099 3001.0099 0099 10003001.10020099 0099 10003001.0099 10020099 10003001.20099 10020099 03001.099

NOTE: It is required that you use at least 5 digits for the JSN portion of the barcode which would be

99999 jobs before a roll over of job sequence numbers occurs.

NOTE: When using the JSN mode or the JSN/Part number, remember that there will be a JSN Error on

your first scan because no previous numbers are on record. The error should not reappear unless the JSN scanned is out of order.

*Dual JSN: Check this box if you have 2 (dual) Job Sequence Numbers (JSN). An example of a dual JSN

would be a left and right side part of a car, or a front and rear bumper. This mode cannot be used with the Part Number mode. If you are error proofing Job Sequence Numbers and you have pairs of parts like a right and left

door, you must check the Dual JSN option. If you don’t check the Dual JSN option and scan two of the same part numbers in a row, you will receive a Back to Back Parts Bin Error or a Back to Back Part Number Error, depending on which barcode you scan.

* OPTIONAL, you should only select the item if you need it.

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Symbol US AUTOMATION EP-1 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual