The Hardware
Scrap Dragon runs on an ordinary PC, running on an ordinary network and doesn't require any special hardware. However, the program has been designed to work more efficiently with this optional hardware installed on certain workstations. Prior to purchase, we will help you decide which of this hardware is appropriate in your situation.
Touch Screen Monitor
We recommend using a touch screen monitor at all of the scales and at the cashier. In these situations, the touch screen is much faster and easier to use than a keyboard and mouse. A touch screen monitor can be used by anyone who can read and point.
Electronic Scale Interface
We highly recommend that all of the scales be interfaced to Scrap Dragon for capturing weights directly from the scale without having to enter them manually. This does not actually require any separate hardware, just a cable connecting a serial port on the scale indicator to a serial port on the computer.
Thermal Receipt Printer
The Thermal Receipt Printer is used to print inspection tickets, scale tickets and cashier receipts. Scrap Dragon can also print these documents to a laser printer but the thermal printer is faster and is better suited for this purpose.
Laser Printer
A laser printer is used to print reports, checks, and forms. We require a multi-tray printer and Scrap Dragon automatically prints from the correct tray.
Bar Code Label Printer
The bar code label printer is used to print inventory tags in a nonferrous warehouse. The printed labels are made of kimdura and are attached to tyvek pre-wired tags, both are designed to withstand harsh weather.
Bar Code Reader
The bar code reader is the fastest and most accurate way of retrieving any previously entered information. In Scrap Dragon it is used to retrieve a ticket in process to enter a light weight or for payment. It can also be used to start a customer ticket from the customer's bar coded ID card or keychain tag. On the sell side, the bar code reader is used to scan the inventory tags to create a packing list.
ATM
The ATM, or automatic teller machine, is used to make cash payments for scrap purchases. The software that controls the ATM has been designed for this specific purpose and this ATM cannot be used for ordinary banking functions. The ATM provides the safest, most secure method of making cash payments to your customers.
Mag Card Encoder
Only required if you have an ATM, the mag card encoder is used to make the cash withdrawal cards. When these cards are used to withdraw cash from the ATM, they are retained in the ATM and then subsequently reused. The Mag Card Encoder also functions as a Mag Stripe Reader.
Mag Stripe Reader
The mag stripe reader is used to read information from the magnetic stripe on the back of a drivers license. If you live in a state that has a mag stipe on the drivers license then this is an extremely efficient way of adding new customers to the Scrap Dragon customer file.
Color card Scanner
The card scanner is used to capture the image of the drivers license. This image is kept in the customer file and can be optionally displayed whenever a scale purchase ticket is initiated for a customer. Scrap Dragon has the ability to 'read' the customer's information from this image using OCR technology. With this feature, the image of the drivers license and the customer information is captured in a single step without any data entry.
Networked video cameras
Used with jpegger, our companion imaging product. We support a variety of different cameras that can be strategically positioned to capture a complete visual audit trail of every transaction.