FINAL WARNING: The Curtain Falls
Product Code Council had changed their name to the Uniform Product
Code Council, Inc., and had 21 representatives from manufacturers,
distributors, and trade associations on their Board. Around 2,600
companies, representing a total of $70.7 billion in annual sales, had
become members of the Code Council, and were utilizing the bar
coding on their products.The UPC system functions like this. The prices are marked on the
shelf and not the item (although some chains continue to put prices on
the items). As the items are carried down the conveyer belt, the cashier
pulls the item, symbol downward, across the scanner, and bags the
item. The scanner contains a laser beam which emits a beam of light.
The white bars or spaces will reflect more light than the black bars,
which is measured by a light detector. A time measurement of how
long the beam takes to move across the bar and space, is also used
for decoding. The scanner reads the symbol, no matter what direction
it is passed over the scanner, from several inches, to a foot away,
decoding the number and sending the number to a computer. The
computer transmits to the electronic cash register, the price of the
product, which is indicated on a display, and printed on the receipt
tape.Checkout time is speeded up by 60-70% over the conventional method,
eliminating the need for as many employees. When the register totals
the purchase, the printed receipt tape usually indicates the store name,
number, and location, item name, item price, whether it is taxable, and
the total. It allows for payment in cash, food stamps, check, debit card,
or credit card; and deducts the coupons which are presented. It tells
how much change is received, the date, time, and lane number.
Besides the quickness and efficiency, another feature of the system is
the ability to automatically keep track of inventory.Left Hand Guide Bar (101– 2 black bars and 1 white bar)
represents the number 6, and tells the computer that information
is coming.Center Bar (01010– 3 white bars and 2 black bars) which
represents the number 6, and separates the design.Right Hand Guide Bar (101– 2 black bars and 1 white bar)