Optimal laser marking of 2D data matrix codeson Cavendish bananas

摘要

A traceability system is an effective tool to guarantee safety in horticultural products and to improve supply chaintransparency. A direct data matrix (DM) code created with carbon dioxide laser (wavelength 10.6 μm) can be used as atrust mark on bananas. In this study, green bananas were marked with the above-mentioned CO2laser. Subsequently,the samples were held under storage conditions. Images of the codes on bananas were captured by using two differentcameras; i.e. hyperspectral imaging camera and charge-couple device (CCD) camera. Image processing was used forevaluating print quality of 2D codes based on the ISO/IEC 15415 standard. The quality of the codes on bananas mainlydepends on some parameters: laser power, laser energy, marking time per module and storage time. The best readabilityresults were achieved by using laser power of 1.8 W and marking time of 0.09 s per data matrix module, whereby an80–100% readability of DM codes after the storage was obtained.